Author Archive
War Is Hell
Writing about the following is difficult in that things are changing rapidly.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza began over 2000 years ago in a Bedouin’s tent in the desert when Abraham had one son too many. Those sons Ishmael and Isaac, are the progenitors of the two groups now at war.
War has been best described by one who knew how to rage it, General George Patton, who said, “War is hell.” Can I get an amen?
Get ready for a deep peep into hell, d/b/a Gaza.
There is a statement that has been attributed to a number of Israelis, most recently Benjamin Netanyahu: “If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel”. Based on the record that appears to be true.
With only one provocative reason Hamas, a terrorist group in the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel by breaching 15 holes in the defensive fence separating the two and sending more than 1,000 terrorist fighters into Israel to pillage, murder, and take hostage citizens from a number of countries. Oh, the one provocation. It is the mere existence of Israel. That is it, nothing else.
The Gaza Strip is a 140-square-mile stretch of land located along the Mediterranean coast between Egypt and Israel. It has endured decades of protest, military operations and violence. It is one of the most densely populated places on earth with over 2,000,000 people. Many are innocent Palestinians who are pawns of Hamas, a terrorist organization led by Ismail Haniyeh, the leader behind Hamas’s deadliest ever attack on Israel. He watched it unfold on television with delight from the safety of Qatar. Footage shows him and colleagues rolled on the floor praising God. Praising God, for what.
Israel has urged citizens in Gaza City to get out and go into the country. Israel got no such warning before untold scores of their people along with guests in Israel from many countries were attacked. Many people from Gaza have heeded the warning and gone to NATO schools and the open country.
I have been in touch with friends in Jerusalem who tell me the holy sites are safe, but the citizens are not. Understandably the people feel vulnerable and they are. The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years. Gaza was ruled, destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples. In the early 16th century, it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. During World War I, it fell to the British forces and became part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt has administered the newly formed Gaza Strip. Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years. No one has ever been able to successfully govern the people. Israel conquered it during the Six Day War and gave it back after the war rather than investing resources trying to govern it. It was hoped it would be the Singapore of the Mediterranean.
All of my contacts in Israel ask for prayers. Please respond positively with their entreaty.
Civility = Common Sense
Civility has been replaced by cynicisms in our society. One reason is civility has been diminished in our schools and cynicism is being fostered by the media. Free speech is caught in a vice. It is the heritage of American citizens.
On one hand we are told opposition to a certain political figure is not accepted dialogue. In this way the public figure is insulated from criticism and opposing voices silenced.
Conversely, abusers of the right of free speech think they have the right to use any tone and say anything they want at any time.
The reason for this milieu is a lack of understanding of civility. An over simplistic definition of civility is acting toward each other in a courteous way. There is such a lack of civility even the word “civil” needs to be defined for some. It is adhering to norms of polite social intercourse; not being deficient in common courtesy. Civility means to show courtesy, that is, behave yourself, show manners.
If it is not taught at home, schools have little chance of teaching it. The entertainment media is teaching many youths that their combative conduct is the civil norm.
When added to the word “government,” as in civil government, then it relates to the standards set for orderly government. Most people have little or no understanding of the civil order of a democratic republic such as ours. Basically it is defined in our Constitution and Amendments. It is how statesmen are to get along and do business civilly. It embodies such things as decorum, protocol, dignity, grace, courtesy, and etiquette. Professional manners might be a good way to explain it.
As a child I can remember my grandparents talking about the fact members of congress would never “tell on one another.” Now many of them exploit each other.
There is room for civil debate. It is essential for forging truth and reaching appropriate decisions. However, personal assaults are an affront to civility.
In our personal relationships as well as in civil government for there to be civility we must deal with principles not personalities; issues not individuals.
“That is a nutty idea” is a much more civil expression than “You are nuts.”
Societal civility involves social concern, social responsibility, and social involvement.
Among the general population do you see concern for one another in general? Has me-ism replaced a sense of “one nation?”
Has a sense of entitlement taken the place of social responsibility?
Has isolation prevailed over social involvement?
A sense of being overwhelmed by personal affronts, insults, and assaults causes many to feel helpless regarding being a change agent. Start by making your sphere of influence a civility zone and work out from there.
If in standing for Jesus you are met with a lack of civility you should be encouraged and feel sorry for such an uncivil person. In response show holy boldness with grace.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,”
Brighten the Corner Where You Are
Does this sound like an expose` on the society page of the paper? “People are totally self-centered, money hungry, blowhards. They are proud and crafty, having no regard for the morals taught by their parents. They are without appreciation, morality, and basic regard for others. They lack self-control and are haughty. Their passions are without principles, slippery, self-centered, stuck-up, absorbed at all times with that which gives them pleasure, and not what pleases the Lord. In matters of religion they are hypocritical, but their conduct exposes their lack of genuine faith.”
If that sounds descriptive of our time it should. A different rendition is found in the Bible book of II Timothy 3: 1-5. There it goes like this.
“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
In verse 1 of the text it is introduced like this, “…know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” It will be a time of great danger.
It concludes with how Christians should relate to such people if at all possible, “from such people turn away!” That is, don’t hang out with such people.
It is as though the doctor has made a diagnosis, but offered no prescription. We know what is wrong, but as individuals we do not know what to do.
Start by noting the 10 points in the text one by one and check your behavior on each. That is, brighten the corner where you are.
Thomas Jefferson noted in his writings that the streets at night in Philadelphia were dark and full of bad conduct. He put up a pole in his yard and hung a lamp on it. Soon a neighbor did the same. The process resulted in all the streets eventually lighted.
Billy Sunday, the Billy Graham of his day, had a vocal group sing this little chorus at all of his crusades.
“Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.
Refrain:
Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!
Become involved in the events of your community. Study the social and political issues of the day and let your voice be heard. There is another little chorus that supports this concept. Sing it and do it.
“This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine.”
Shine on.
Your Self-Worth
Do you ever feel worthless, perhaps even unloved? No one is and no one should feel they are.
If you ever feel no one ever gives me anything, rethink it. Whether it is yours is dependent upon you having received the gift.
A traveler overseas bought an amber necklace at a modest price. Coming back to the country, customs charged a high fee. His curiosity motivated him to have it appraised. Under a magnifying glass could be seen a tiny inscription “From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.” It was worth over $50,000 because of its association. You are valuable because of association with Christ.
My wife has an unpretentious pair of amber earrings. Their value is derived from them having been given to her by former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Their value is derived from the association with the fourth Prime Minister of Israel.
Association with Jesus gives you value, great value. Your inheritance is of inestimable value.
In the New Testament era pearls were considered the most highly prized ornament by Gentiles. They were more highly valued than diamonds. At a supper, Cleopatra demonstrated her affection for Mark Anthony by dissolving a pearl valued at $500,000 in vinegar and drinking it.
Her love was shown by what she gave to prove it. The love God the Father has for you was shown by what He gave to demonstrate it, His only begotten Son.
Your redemption results from the giving of His best, His life’s blood.
“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (I Corinthians 6:20)
When we come to Jesus what is gained is worth far more than what we give up. To forsake all and follow Jesus does not always mean you have to abandon everything. It means you put Jesus in charge of everything. You give everything to Him and you become His manager known as a steward. At that point all of your assets become His resources and everything is at His disposal, for His use — including you, yourself.
When we forsake all and come to Christ He greatly over pays our outlay and gives us a fortune beside.
Another perspective of value comes from missionary Nate Saint, killed by the Auqua Indians in Central America, who had this entry in his diary: “One is no fool to give up what he can’t keep to gain what he can’t lose.”
Never allow yourself to have a feeling of worthlessness. Never consider that no one has ever given you anything of worth.
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (II Corinthians 10:12)
May your self-worth be elevated in light of these truths.
Thomas Jefferson On Religious Freedom
There is no more complex man in American history than Thomas Jefferson. He issued conflicting comments on several issues. Some conclude he was hostile to Christianity. He was not. He was cool toward organized religion, but not Christianity. He left little doubt of this by writing: “I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.”
Further evidence of this is his close friendship with Baptist minister John Leland, a dynamic voice in the issue of religious freedom. As Leland’s gratitude for Jefferson’s friendship and support for his endeavors on behalf of religious freedom Leland did a most uncommon thing. An ardent supporter of Thomas Jefferson, Leland became famous for his media-savvy strategy to signal the Baptists’ support of the newly elected president in 1801: the gift of a giant wheel of cheese. Reportedly made from the milk of 900 Republican cows, the cheese measured 4 feet in diameter, 13 feet in circumference, and weighed 1,235 pounds. Emblazoned on its red crust was Jefferson’s favorite motto: “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” As the giant cheese made the month-long journey from western Massachusetts to Washington, D. C., pundits lampooned, ridiculed and celebrated the “mammoth cheese.” On Jan. 1, 1802, Jefferson welcomed Leland and his flamboyant gift into the White House. Two days later, Leland delivered the Sunday sermon to the church which regularly met in the House of Representatives, with the president in attendance.
As an aside, Jefferson reputedly gave more money to more churches in Washington than anyone. He often attended the church that regularly met in the House of Representatives. Another church met regularly in the Supreme Court building.
Jefferson’s letter to the Baptists, of which Leland was one, was to assure them there would be no state supported church and all churches would be equal.
So much for separation of church and state.
Quoting Jefferson on the subject, he said: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever…”
Having freedom and not using it is little better than not having it. Having religious faith and not using it is little better than not having it.
Evaluate evidences of your faith by this exam. When did you last pray, when did you last engage in studiously reading the Bible, what is your current record of attending public worship?