Once again our state has a problem with paperwork and accounting.
Link
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Reagan on Cures
"When government decides to solve something, we have learned to be wary. The cure may not always be worse than the disease, but it is usually bigger and it costs more."
- Ronald Reagan
October 29, 1972
- Ronald Reagan
October 29, 1972
Public Libraries Not Safe
Why is it that in California it is against the law to rent an "R" rated video to a minor but they can go to their local public library and get the same "R" rated film for free? A minor in some places can have full access to pornography on the internet and in books at their public library! These institutions, which used to be so helpful in educating children and teaching them to do research are not a detriment to the moral makeup of our society. Teens can be seduced into the porn industry online at their local public library.
One public library in downtown Sacramento erases their cache of visited websites every hour for fear that the FBI will find out what goes on there.
This either needs to be halted immediately. Kids are not safe in our own public libraries any more.
I suppose another option would be to establish private libraries. Some private christian groups have already done this. They would start out small for sure but an interlibrary loan system works wonders.
Why are some libraries doing this? A supreme court decision written by Rehnquist back in 2003 (United States, et al., Appellants v. American Library Association, Inc., et al.) [PDF] discussed the threat of pornography and other harmful materials in public libraries. Some have argued that this case forces all public libraries accepting E-rate and/or LSTA funding to allow adults access to pornography.
Quote:
One public library in downtown Sacramento erases their cache of visited websites every hour for fear that the FBI will find out what goes on there.
This either needs to be halted immediately. Kids are not safe in our own public libraries any more.
I suppose another option would be to establish private libraries. Some private christian groups have already done this. They would start out small for sure but an interlibrary loan system works wonders.
Why are some libraries doing this? A supreme court decision written by Rehnquist back in 2003 (United States, et al., Appellants v. American Library Association, Inc., et al.) [PDF] discussed the threat of pornography and other harmful materials in public libraries. Some have argued that this case forces all public libraries accepting E-rate and/or LSTA funding to allow adults access to pornography.
Quote:
Some of the obscenity freely available is so offensive, so far beyond the moral standard of the society, that laymen have no trouble recognizing it for what it is . .. simple, hardcore pornography, roduced and sold for profit.
- Ronald Reagan, October 29, 1972
Monday, June 26, 2006
Reverse Racism?
Isn't racism racism no mater what race the racist is from?
I recently read on FOXNEWS.COM that whites were being discriminated against and FOX called it “Reverse Racism”.
The point needs to be made that no matter what race is being discriminated against no matter who is the one with prejudice racism is racism. There is no “reverse” about this. We are talking about black people who are racists here. This means that they have a prejudice against some other people group, who in this case happens to be white people. Perhaps this is a difficult thing for some folks to grasp but there is such a thing.
I recently read on FOXNEWS.COM that whites were being discriminated against and FOX called it “Reverse Racism”.
EEOC sides with white police officers in small Ohio town who say they were fired by black mayor because of their race
The point needs to be made that no matter what race is being discriminated against no matter who is the one with prejudice racism is racism. There is no “reverse” about this. We are talking about black people who are racists here. This means that they have a prejudice against some other people group, who in this case happens to be white people. Perhaps this is a difficult thing for some folks to grasp but there is such a thing.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Theistic Rationalism
Many of us would like to think that our nation was founded on Biblical, upright, honest, principles. The problem is most of us live our whole lives that such an assumption is true rather than trying to find out if it actually is true. It is not my desire to deflate anyone's pride of country, although today I'm not so sure I would condone in a country such as ours. Perhaps it would behoove us to recognize that the plain facts are often overlooked to make way for preference.
The only work I know of that has gone this direction with solid, honest study is a dissertation by Dr. Gregg Frazer. I studied under Dr. Frazer as he was writing this work after he had done most of his research and believe that he truly sticks to the truth and is willing to go where the truth leads him.
Dr. Gregg Frazer coined the term "Theistic Rationalist" to help describe the "religion" of many of the key founders.
The only work I know of that has gone this direction with solid, honest study is a dissertation by Dr. Gregg Frazer. I studied under Dr. Frazer as he was writing this work after he had done most of his research and believe that he truly sticks to the truth and is willing to go where the truth leads him.
Dr. Gregg Frazer coined the term "Theistic Rationalist" to help describe the "religion" of many of the key founders.
Bush's Private Property Executive Order
I'm not sure whether to be proud of a president who has done this or be ashamed that he has refrained this long from doing something. For now, at least, I think it is best to be thankful for what I have and to thank our President for his apparent willingness to stand up for private property rights. President Bush today published an executive order
Regardless of whether this actioin will do any good, it is good to see that at least one branch of government is willing to stand up against a loose court to say that they've gone too far.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Is the right to private property given in scripture? Is it a biblical principle?
It is the policy of the United States to protect the rights of Americans to their private property, including by limiting the taking of private property by the Federal Government to situations in which the taking is for public use, with just compensation, and for the purpose of benefiting the general public and not merely for the purpose of advancing the economic interest of private parties to be given ownership or use of the property taken.
Regardless of whether this actioin will do any good, it is good to see that at least one branch of government is willing to stand up against a loose court to say that they've gone too far.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Is the right to private property given in scripture? Is it a biblical principle?
Thursday, June 01, 2006
FCF Men's Prayer Retreat
Last weekend I attended the Men’s Prayer Retreat put on by our church (Foothill Christian Fellowship). It was an awesome experience. Although this wasn’t my first time at this event, it was still far beyond my expectations. Let me tell you some of what I have learned this weekend.
The theme this year was “Walk as Children of Light”
The theme verse: Psalm 43:3-4
“O send out thy light and Thy truth let them lead me; to thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling places. Then I will go to the alter of God, to God, my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise Thee, O God, my God.”
Thursday Night we talked about the Holiness of God. He is light and in him there is no darkness at all, none. He is perfect. We talked about what light is and what it does. What does light do? It uncovers things that are in the dark. So as light, Gods word uncovers things in darkness as well. It reveals to us our sin.
On Friday when we arrived, our first session started at 3:00 in the afternoon. We were sent to spend an hour and a half in private prayer to God. We were encouraged to talk to God and not just about Him in our prayers.
I went to go find a quiet place to pray under some pine trees. It was pretty cold outside so I was crouching down under the trees to keep from being out in the wind. I first started to repent of not spending more time with the Lord in prayer. Then I asked myself why it was that I didn’t. I opened my Bible up to Isaiah 57:13 “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up and a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me will inherit the land and will possess my holy mountain.” This verse really hit me hard because it helped me to realize an issue in my life.
For a while I have been really into gadgets and computers. I wanted a nice laptop and recently my work got me one that was better than I ever anticipated. You would think my desire was fulfilled now. The problem is that since I got it I’ve been wasting a lot of time on it doing things I don’t really need to. If I didn’t do that, and if I used the computer for the things that I originally wanted to get it for (bible study, preparing Sunday school lessons, and organizing AWANA) then I would have been more productive.
If I cry out in my troubles, I want something to happen. I don’t want worthless idols in a situation like that! I want something that is worthwhile, something that is going to help me. What I realized from this verse, is that it was my idols that were keeping me from being a praying man. I need to spend more time in prayer and those things like my computer, movies, more sleep (that I really don’t need) and other things, are keeping me not only from prayer, but also from a better relationship with my wife, from reading my Bible, and from helping others and serving at church and sharing the gospel with the lost. This was a very significant discovery for me. I decided to make a list of things that were maybe keeping me from more worthwhile things. Then I started to really plead with God that he would help me to overcome my worldly desires and my lusting after idols. I prayed that God would help me to have the discipline to overcome those desires and to have a fervent, strong desire to spend more time in prayer.
I read Nehemiah 1:5-11 “I said, “I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. “We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. “Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ “They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. “O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”
I have not prayed scripture much in my whole life, but these verses came so alive to me that I just started to pray them as I read them. I prayed that God would forgive me for my lack of self-discipline and to truly pursue holiness in a totally dedicated manner.
Oh God, I want to be a praying man. I don’t want to be distracted by the things of this world and kept from loving and serving you as I ought. God please help me to be a praying man. Please hear my prayer and answer me according to it. God, I need your strength to change and to be strong. I want to be your servant. Please help me to put away the things that distract me. I know that it will be hard. I know that it will be painful. But God, do whatever it takes to draw me closer to you. That is what I want more than anything else on earth. That is what I truly desire. Psa. 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Oh God, I want you. You are all I need. And Please help me to lead my family in prayer and devotion to you as your son and as one who is totally and completely yours. I want to know you. I want to be like you.
This was the core of what God taught me over the weekend. I need the word of God to shed the light of truth on my life to expose my sin (show me that I am being distracted from God by lusting after various idols and giving my time to them rather than to God). Next I need to acknowledge that sin and repent of it (recognize my idols and get rid of them). Then I need to go in the opposite direction striving toward serving God, praying to Him, and doing the things that He would want me to do like spend time with my wife and with the Lord rather than on my computer or PDA. I need to use the scripture not only to confront my sin but also for positive direction and hope. Scripture shows me what is wrong in my life and also what I need to focus on.
2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
The theme this year was “Walk as Children of Light”
The theme verse: Psalm 43:3-4
“O send out thy light and Thy truth let them lead me; to thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling places. Then I will go to the alter of God, to God, my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise Thee, O God, my God.”
Thursday Night we talked about the Holiness of God. He is light and in him there is no darkness at all, none. He is perfect. We talked about what light is and what it does. What does light do? It uncovers things that are in the dark. So as light, Gods word uncovers things in darkness as well. It reveals to us our sin.
On Friday when we arrived, our first session started at 3:00 in the afternoon. We were sent to spend an hour and a half in private prayer to God. We were encouraged to talk to God and not just about Him in our prayers.
I went to go find a quiet place to pray under some pine trees. It was pretty cold outside so I was crouching down under the trees to keep from being out in the wind. I first started to repent of not spending more time with the Lord in prayer. Then I asked myself why it was that I didn’t. I opened my Bible up to Isaiah 57:13 “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up and a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me will inherit the land and will possess my holy mountain.” This verse really hit me hard because it helped me to realize an issue in my life.
For a while I have been really into gadgets and computers. I wanted a nice laptop and recently my work got me one that was better than I ever anticipated. You would think my desire was fulfilled now. The problem is that since I got it I’ve been wasting a lot of time on it doing things I don’t really need to. If I didn’t do that, and if I used the computer for the things that I originally wanted to get it for (bible study, preparing Sunday school lessons, and organizing AWANA) then I would have been more productive.
If I cry out in my troubles, I want something to happen. I don’t want worthless idols in a situation like that! I want something that is worthwhile, something that is going to help me. What I realized from this verse, is that it was my idols that were keeping me from being a praying man. I need to spend more time in prayer and those things like my computer, movies, more sleep (that I really don’t need) and other things, are keeping me not only from prayer, but also from a better relationship with my wife, from reading my Bible, and from helping others and serving at church and sharing the gospel with the lost. This was a very significant discovery for me. I decided to make a list of things that were maybe keeping me from more worthwhile things. Then I started to really plead with God that he would help me to overcome my worldly desires and my lusting after idols. I prayed that God would help me to have the discipline to overcome those desires and to have a fervent, strong desire to spend more time in prayer.
I read Nehemiah 1:5-11 “I said, “I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. “We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. “Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’ “They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. “O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”
I have not prayed scripture much in my whole life, but these verses came so alive to me that I just started to pray them as I read them. I prayed that God would forgive me for my lack of self-discipline and to truly pursue holiness in a totally dedicated manner.
Oh God, I want to be a praying man. I don’t want to be distracted by the things of this world and kept from loving and serving you as I ought. God please help me to be a praying man. Please hear my prayer and answer me according to it. God, I need your strength to change and to be strong. I want to be your servant. Please help me to put away the things that distract me. I know that it will be hard. I know that it will be painful. But God, do whatever it takes to draw me closer to you. That is what I want more than anything else on earth. That is what I truly desire. Psa. 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Oh God, I want you. You are all I need. And Please help me to lead my family in prayer and devotion to you as your son and as one who is totally and completely yours. I want to know you. I want to be like you.
This was the core of what God taught me over the weekend. I need the word of God to shed the light of truth on my life to expose my sin (show me that I am being distracted from God by lusting after various idols and giving my time to them rather than to God). Next I need to acknowledge that sin and repent of it (recognize my idols and get rid of them). Then I need to go in the opposite direction striving toward serving God, praying to Him, and doing the things that He would want me to do like spend time with my wife and with the Lord rather than on my computer or PDA. I need to use the scripture not only to confront my sin but also for positive direction and hope. Scripture shows me what is wrong in my life and also what I need to focus on.
2Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
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