Teaching Santa Slaps God In The Face

Have you ever considered the verse "every good and perfect gift is from above"? And have you ever considered the concept of "Santa" in light of this verse? I believe that it does God an irreverence to even jokingly point to another as the giver when God makes it clear in His word where our gifts come from.

Children's hearts are easily deceived and confused by such myths as an old man with a white beard who lives at the North Pole and who drives a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer. This imaginary story might do more harm than many parents realize.

We show disrespect ourselves by denying that God is the great giver.

God uses people to bear his gifts. His own Son Jesus received gifts which were given by God. Tradition holds that Saint Nicholas was a bearer of gifts to the poor. If he truly was a man of God, he would never point to himself as the one placing presents under a tree or in a stocking. He would have pointed to God, the giver of every good thing.

K. Alan Snyder: something has gone awry

The United States still maintains its original structure. People vote for their representatives, the powers are still technically separated, and state and local governments continue to operate. Yet something has gone awry. The same representatives keep getting elected even though there is almost universal disdain for the national Congress. The judicial power has stepped into the legislative role. And state and local governments are often little more than extensions of the national power, receiving grants and following the regulations issued from on high.

-K. Alan Snyder,
If The Foundations Are Destroyed: Biblical Principles in Civil Government
(Leesburg, VA, Principle Press, 2004) 129-130.

CAPITALISM - Reagan

There was a student in North Carolina state who signed up for and then cancelled a course in history when he bought the assigned textbook, the title of which was Up Against the American Myth. The first line of the textbook read, "Capitalism stinks; we can solve the social problems by doing away with capitalism and the institutions that support it." When the professor was asked if he intended to assign another text that defended capitalism, he looked blank and said he knew of no such text.

Ronald Reagan, Speech - Jan. 9, 1972

Love One Another

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

John 15:17 “This I command you, that you love one another.

Rom. 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1Th. 4:9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

1Pet. 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

1John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

1John 3:23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

2John 1:5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Gates says U.S. isn't winning Iraq war

Gates, Bush's nominee for secretary of defense said yesterday that he didn't think we are currently winning in Iraq. Some say that this puts him at odds with the President. Gates later said that we aren't winning or losing at this point. Bush has said that he isn't at all pleased with the progress we are making at this point; obviously, he would like to see more progress. I'm sure that if I were in his shoes I would too. Bush has put an immense amount of energy into Iraq. I doubt that anyone can say that nothing good has come from it either. While many challenges have arisen and there is much still to accomplish, much ground has been gained, both in the war on terror, and in our hope to bring some semblance of peace to the Middle East.

I pray that President Bush will have wisdom and that God's hand would guide him as he continues to serve our country in such a difficult and strenuous position.

Thank you and God bless you President Bush for your hard work.

New Legislative Session in California

December 4, 2006

The California Legislature is Back!!

Of the 120 state legislators (80 Assembly Members and 40 Senators) there are many who are brand new legislators at the state capitol. As these new legislators struggle to stay afloat in their new jobs they will be trying to figure out what bills to present, support, and oppose.

In the Senate we have 15 Republicans and 25 Democrats.
In the Assembly we have 32 Republicans and 48 Democrats.

I have been encouraged to see several new legislators who seem to be very conservative and solid on many issues that should be of concern to Christians.

Among these are:

• Ted Gaines - Small business owner
• Anthony Adams - The former Director of Legislative Affairs for the County of San Bernardino
• Joel Anderson - Businessman
  
• Tom Berryhill - Farmer
  
• Kevin Jeffries - Businessman, Firefighter
  
• Martin Garrick - Worked for Ronald Reagan
  

Many bills were introduced this first day in the legislature. In the Assembly 81 bills and in the Senate 46. Notable legislation that has been introduced includes a gay marriage bill by Leno (AB 43) which he calls the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. Please WRITE YOUR LEGISLATOR NOW to oppose this bill.

Other general areas of interest to legislators who have gotten bills introduced so far seem to be education and healthcare.

There has been talk of introducing a bill which would modify term limits. Some are lobbying for this specifically so that Fabian Nunez can stay on as Speaker of the Assembly.

I pray that God would have mercy on California!

Information on the legislature or on bills.

Common Sense - Calvin Coolidge

The people know the difference between pretense and reality. They want to be told the truth. They want to be trusted. They want a chance to work out their own material and spiritual salvation. The people want a government of common sense.

- Calvin Coolidge
August 14, 1924