Category: Uncategorized

Super Sunday 2011 (Guest Blogpost by Wesley Andrew Macy)

[My brother, Wesley, lacking his own blog, submits at various times, random musings that I find most enjoyable. For context and a reference point for “near east” and “far east,” the reader should know that this writer hails from Viking country, central Minnesota. Unlike my brother who half heartedly chooses one team over the other, my support is unquestionably for the Packers]

It is a perplexing conundrum for the citizens of our great republic when the annual super festival featuring the two teams most notable for delivering bone jarring, teeth rattling, brain bruising collisions face each other on the field of battle. Continue reading “Super Sunday 2011 (Guest Blogpost by Wesley Andrew Macy)” →

Hard Passages, Relevant Application – Joshua and Judges

Are there parts of the Bible you hope others never read because you aren’t sure how you would defend it?  In the past week, I’ve just finished the Book of Joshua and started Judges, which include some of those difficult passages. 

Joshua stands tall as a man of faith and courage, but it was while he presided over the conquering and thus, the killing of thousands of people as entire populations were destroyed in Israel’s claiming the land promised to Abraham.  And what’s more, the first part of the Book of Judges is an indictment against Israel for not completing the job, that is, for not killing all of them.  Why?  How can this be defended?  Continue reading “Hard Passages, Relevant Application – Joshua and Judges” →

Retired Christians, Retired Missionaries – Oxymorons

Among the people I admire most in this world are the “retired” missionaries in our church. Each of them support my contention that retirement is not a biblical concept, not that I or they object to a transition from a career of earning to a more relaxed period of time in the older years, but that our calling as followers and servants of Jesus does not have an expiration date.  Continue reading “Retired Christians, Retired Missionaries – Oxymorons” →

Simple Tests

It’s easy to pick on ancient Israel.  After they were delivered from Egyptian slavery through the Passover (Exodus 11, 12 –  judgment on Egypt by the angel of death and salvation for Israel by the substitute sacrifice of the lamb, the primary Old Testament picture prophecy of the Cross of Jesus Christ); and after God’s presence was even more manifestly revealed, leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:17-22); and after they had experienced deliverance through the Red Sea (Exodus 14, 15 – by human standards, one of the really big miracles, but no stretch at all for Omnipotent God); after all this, you would think they would find obedience to God almost natural. Wouldn’t we have fully trusted and obeyed God in these circumstances? Be careful of your answer to that one! Continue reading “Simple Tests” →

The Manhattan Declaration – Should You Sign It?

Last November 20, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the Manhattan Declaration was announced and released to the press, what Charles Colson called “one of the most important documents produced by the American Church.”

Drafted by two Baptists and a Roman Catholic; Colson, Timothy George of Beeson Divinity School, and Robert George of Princeton University; and originally signed by 140 Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Evangelical Christians, the Manhattan Declaration addresses three of the most pressing moral and social justice issues of our day; the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, and religious liberty (including the rights of conscience).  Continue reading “The Manhattan Declaration – Should You Sign It?” →

Anniversaries Come and Go – January 22, 1973

The fallout from the Supreme Court this week is about free speech and campaign spending limits, the setting aside of McCain/Feingold and other restrictions. I have opinions about that, but I don’t have a firm enough grasp of the issue to voice them, so I’ll leave that to others. And anyway, though I have strong political views, I generally consider them outside the purpose of this blog.

But where I cannot be silent is in regard to the infamous decision made by the Supremes thirty seven years ago today that struck down existing laws against abortion. The Court arbitrarily established a trimester system for pregnancy, but even then, effectively declared all the unborn not sufficiently human to deserve even the most basic right to life, let alone liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Continue reading “Anniversaries Come and Go – January 22, 1973” →

What does the LORD require?

With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high?

 

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

 

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

 

Micah 6:6-8 English Standard Version

 

“What does the LORD Require?” is the heading over this passage in the ESV Study Bible. The danger of even that question is that it is incomplete.  What does the LORD require for what purpose? Continue reading “What does the LORD require?” →

George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:” Continue reading “George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation” →