I had the opportunity to speak at a women's retreat this past weekend near Nashville on the subject of befriending the lost. I did two sessions on the subject and was overwhelmed with the favorable responses I received. It was very exciting to see so many interested in reaching out to others and choosing to attend the class, but even more so, it was exciting to here the comments and have so many share their experiences with me.
The New Testament tells us and makes it abundantly clear that Jesus' sole purpose for coming to this earth was to seek and save those who were lost. If we are to be disciples, truly followers of Him, then we too must be about the business of seeking and saving the lost and that must start with befriending them.
If a friend knows that we love them, then we can tell them most anything, even that they are lost and headed to an eternal hell. They may not like "what" we say, but they know we love them and hopefully will listen.
I think we often forget this simple truth. We somehow think that we can go out and start "preaching" to everyone that they are headed straight to hell without Jesus when we have made no effort to become their friend, no effort to show them we personally care about their souls and then we are shocked when they reject "the truth". Jesus went to great pains to befriend people. He showed them over and over that He loved them and that He cared about them personally. Think about the Samaritan woman at the well, the sinful woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears, the woman caught in the act of adultery and even Zacchaeus. They each knew that He cared personally about them and then He made it clear they needed repentance.
We must be like Jesus, love people, let them know we love them (befreind them), then seek out those who want to be saved. May God richly bless your efforts as you seek to save the lost.
Dana Burk
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Here I Go Again!
Well, it's been two months plus since I plugged in here and boy have I gotten lazy. Let me fill you in on what's going on in my life.
We have feverishly been preparing for our move back to the Caribbean--the island of Puerto Rico--since January. In mid Feb. I had abdominal surgery and around the 10th of March we listed our house with the realtor. That same afternoon people came to see it and three days later we accepted their contract for it. We closed on the 27th of March. We had to have everything moved into storage and out of the house in 17 days, start to finish. Tol and I left for Puerto Rico on the 29th hoping to be able to look at some houses and see what was available to live in. We were so amazed that we not only looked at a lot of houses, but found one to purchase (see the picture at top), put a contract on it, got the mortgage process well on its way, opened a bank account and even got a P. O. Box all in 5 days. In the land where everything moves at a snail's pace we felt we accomplished the impossible.
It has been very apparent that the Lord has worked constantly on our behalf, lining up the support that Tol will need to do his work in the Caribbean, selling our home, finding us another home and even providing temporary housing for us in the meantime. Lord willing, our last Sunday here will be May 6th, at which time we will be going to Texas for a week or so then on to Florida where we will be shipping our vehicle. We should arrive in PR around the 18th or 19th of May.
I am ready to make this move and get settled once again. When we were in PR a couple of weeks ago, we met with the brethren there and they were very excited about our coming. They seem ready to work and help us reach out to the lost in their area. We already have a hectic schedule planned for the summer with two vacation Bible schools and trips to at least two other islands for gospel meetings. We will hit the ground running once we move.
I'll be speaking at a women's retreat near Nashville this weekend on the subject of "Befriending the Lost" and as I have prepared for this lecture it has reminded me why we are making this move. It truly is all about Him and His glory. I have struggled for months over having to move back to the Caribbean. After having lived there for 8 years in the nineties, I thought I was back home to stay (home in the states), but I know this is what God has set before us and know that He will help me adjust once again.
Remember us in your prayers and if you would ever like to come and help in any way with the work there, you would be welcome.
God Bless, Dana Burk
Monday, February 05, 2007
Cancer Is So Limited
I was reading an excerpt from a memorial service of someone who had succumbed to cancer recently and I think it worth sharing with you.
Cancer is limited:
Cancer is limited:
- It cannot cripple love,
- It cannot corrode faith,
- It cannot eat away peace,
- It cannot destroy confidence,
- It cannot kill friendship,
- It cannot shut out memories,
- It cannot silence courage,
- It cannot invade the soul,
- It cannot reduce eternal life,
- It cannot quench the Spirit,
- It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.
How truly powerless this and other deadly diseases are. The things that are of real value are totally unaffected. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
We may fear the unknown and the suffering we may face, but we can, at the same time, confidently face all that troubles us knowing that He waits to take us home with Him for eternity. Cancer is so limited. This world is so limited. Satan is soooo limited. Praise God for His power over ALL things.
Dana Burk
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Grandparent Humor
A grandmother was surprised by her 7-year-old grandson one morning. He had made her coffee. She drank what was the worst cup of coffee in her life. When she got to the bottom, there were three of those little green Army men in the cup. She said, "Honey, what are these army men doing in my coffee?" Her grandson said, "Grandma, it says on TV, 'The best part of waking up is soliers in your cup!'" --via housetohouse.com
Making Members Out of Visitors
I was reading an article today that only reconfirms what I already knew--hospitality is essential to church growth. The writer of the article began to notice the correlation between those who had visited at "his church" and those who had become members of his congregation in the past six months. What he found was that of the visitors that had been invited to other member's homes and had "socially" connected with them, had become friends with the members, these ALL eventually became members of that congregation, however, of the ones who had visited and been greeted by a friendly congregation, but never been in member's homes and never connected socially, none of them had become members there.
He stated that George Barna's research indicates that 33% of people who are not in church are open to attending services and that the thing that is most likely to attract them is an invitation by a friend. He further indicates that if hospitality is extended to those visitors, 90% of them will stay with that church! Those are impressive statistics.
It has been said that "People are not interested in a friendly church; they are looking for friends." There is a big difference in the two. The Bible repeatedly commands us to pursue hospitality--do you suppose God knows the connection between hospitality and evangelism?
Dana Burk
He stated that George Barna's research indicates that 33% of people who are not in church are open to attending services and that the thing that is most likely to attract them is an invitation by a friend. He further indicates that if hospitality is extended to those visitors, 90% of them will stay with that church! Those are impressive statistics.
It has been said that "People are not interested in a friendly church; they are looking for friends." There is a big difference in the two. The Bible repeatedly commands us to pursue hospitality--do you suppose God knows the connection between hospitality and evangelism?
Dana Burk
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Value Of...
To realize The value of a sister/brother:
Ask someone who doesn't have one.
To realize The value of ten years:
Ask a newly Divorced couple.
To realize The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize The value of one year:
Ask a student who Has failed a final exam!
To realize The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize The value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize The value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.
(unknown)
This is worth pondering over.
Dana
Ask someone who doesn't have one.
To realize The value of ten years:
Ask a newly Divorced couple.
To realize The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize The value of one year:
Ask a student who Has failed a final exam!
To realize The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize The value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize The value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize The value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.
(unknown)
This is worth pondering over.
Dana
Monday, January 01, 2007
What Was He Thinking?
I am not at all opposed to capital punishment: indeed, I believe it is God's vengeance on the unrighteous. (Romans 13:4) But, I was quite moved the other day as I saw the noose being place around Sadam's neck on a video clip on MSN.
The expression on his face made me wonder, "What was he thinking? What must have been going through his mind? Did he even realize he was about to meet his maker? Was he sorry for his crimes to humanity? Was he scared?"
Sadam has had weeks, even months to prepare for the day of his death. Did he? Did he talk to his God and beg for forgiveness? Did he repent? I heard someone say that afternoon that he had been quite defiant even minutes before they executed him. I did not see that part. What I saw was a seemingly nervous, scared, little man.
Sadam is in the hands of a merciful and yet righteous judge. I pity him if he was not in a right relationship with God. I fear for him. The horror of a certain hell I would not wish on even my worst enemy which Sadam was certainly one of.
At times like these, I think it does me good to see the reality of death we must all face someday. It especially did me good to see that wickedness will be punished. If not here, certainly in the hereafter.
Dana Burk
The expression on his face made me wonder, "What was he thinking? What must have been going through his mind? Did he even realize he was about to meet his maker? Was he sorry for his crimes to humanity? Was he scared?"
Sadam has had weeks, even months to prepare for the day of his death. Did he? Did he talk to his God and beg for forgiveness? Did he repent? I heard someone say that afternoon that he had been quite defiant even minutes before they executed him. I did not see that part. What I saw was a seemingly nervous, scared, little man.
Sadam is in the hands of a merciful and yet righteous judge. I pity him if he was not in a right relationship with God. I fear for him. The horror of a certain hell I would not wish on even my worst enemy which Sadam was certainly one of.
At times like these, I think it does me good to see the reality of death we must all face someday. It especially did me good to see that wickedness will be punished. If not here, certainly in the hereafter.
Dana Burk
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Most Treasured
I took down all the vestiges of Christmas yesterday and cleaned the house thoroughly. While putting away the decorations and cleaning the guest bedrooms, I found left behind toys of the grand kids, cookie crumbs their parents had dropped and pieces of torn wrapping paper and bows scattered here and there. Sweet memories of a festive holiday enjoyed.
Reflecting over the past year is something I always find myself doing after the holidays. Someone has said, "Remember that when you take inventory of the things you treasure most, none will have been purchased with money." Isn't that the truth! We had an additional member this year at our Christmas celebration--our youngest grandchild is only 9 months so this was her first Christmas with us. Her three year old sister and 6 year old cousin will have you hurting from laughter with their country accents and hilarious anectdotes. What a joy each of the grandchildren are.
Our daughter, not yet married, came and spent five days with us -- some much coveted time -- she and I are very close and yet have little time together. One of our sons helped his father finish a small project on the shed--time they enjoyed together.
All the things that I enjoyed this holiday season were not bought with money. Yeah, we purchased gifts for everyone and it was fun watching them each open them, but that isn't what I treasure most. As I reflect back on the past year, none of the things I treasure can be bought with money. I have learned that the material things of this life are temporary and can be gone in a moment, but relationships and memories will last a lifetime and no one or nothing can take them from you. Take time this coming year to put your effort and time into things that are truley meaningful.
"Remeber that when you take inventory of the things you treasure most, none will have been purchased with money."
Dana Burk
Reflecting over the past year is something I always find myself doing after the holidays. Someone has said, "Remember that when you take inventory of the things you treasure most, none will have been purchased with money." Isn't that the truth! We had an additional member this year at our Christmas celebration--our youngest grandchild is only 9 months so this was her first Christmas with us. Her three year old sister and 6 year old cousin will have you hurting from laughter with their country accents and hilarious anectdotes. What a joy each of the grandchildren are.
Our daughter, not yet married, came and spent five days with us -- some much coveted time -- she and I are very close and yet have little time together. One of our sons helped his father finish a small project on the shed--time they enjoyed together.
All the things that I enjoyed this holiday season were not bought with money. Yeah, we purchased gifts for everyone and it was fun watching them each open them, but that isn't what I treasure most. As I reflect back on the past year, none of the things I treasure can be bought with money. I have learned that the material things of this life are temporary and can be gone in a moment, but relationships and memories will last a lifetime and no one or nothing can take them from you. Take time this coming year to put your effort and time into things that are truley meaningful.
"Remeber that when you take inventory of the things you treasure most, none will have been purchased with money."
Dana Burk
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Sacrificing?
Trying to teach Kindergartners from affluent families about sacrificing for God can be quite a challenge. I'm afraid I didn't do too well with that assignment tonight in the Bible class I taught. I think the closest I came was establishing the fact that we should share what we have with God and give Him back a portion of what He has given us, but even that brought up some really interesting comments and questions from the little ones.
After Bible class, I saw two friends that were visiting; one, a preacher that I have known for over 25 years, the other is a young woman who's husband is a young preacher looking for a place to preach. As the preacher friend and I were reminiscing and talking about my husband's and my impending move to Puerto Rico the young preacher's wife came up to me to talk about a post I had on the blog a week or so ago. I had stated it seemed harder for women to make some of the sacrifices for living for God than it was for men. Particularly I was talking about the sacrifices a preacher makes in moving around. The preacher and I continued our conversation after she left and he talked about how he had "drug" his wife for two years over to Hungary to preach sometime back and some of the frustrations with that difficult move.
Yesterday, some ladies and I were discussing the sacrifices for God that Christians must make. One sister said she didn't feel that we really had to make sacrifices as Christians. After a few minutes of discussing how different ones did sacrifice as Christians, one lady said to her, "You have grown to the point in your life that serving God is not a sacrifice to you because you have seen the fruits that come from serving Him."
I was thinking about all of these conversations about sacrificing...and it is obvious that none of us "ENJOY" making them. We look at the word SACRIFICE as ugly and demanding--obtrusive, interfering with our "want to's". Something that forces us to do what God wants. Yet Paul tells us in Romans 12 that, because of all that God had done for us in providing salvation through sacrificing His own Son, we are to present ourselves as "living sacrifices".
Sacrificing for God should be something I gladly do, something I consider an honor or privilege knowing I can never repay all He has done for and continues to do for me each day. And seeing the fruit that comes from living for God will cause us to grow to the point in our lives that my sister expressed--I want feel that I am sacrificing anything by serving Him. It will be my pleasure.
Dana Burk
After Bible class, I saw two friends that were visiting; one, a preacher that I have known for over 25 years, the other is a young woman who's husband is a young preacher looking for a place to preach. As the preacher friend and I were reminiscing and talking about my husband's and my impending move to Puerto Rico the young preacher's wife came up to me to talk about a post I had on the blog a week or so ago. I had stated it seemed harder for women to make some of the sacrifices for living for God than it was for men. Particularly I was talking about the sacrifices a preacher makes in moving around. The preacher and I continued our conversation after she left and he talked about how he had "drug" his wife for two years over to Hungary to preach sometime back and some of the frustrations with that difficult move.
Yesterday, some ladies and I were discussing the sacrifices for God that Christians must make. One sister said she didn't feel that we really had to make sacrifices as Christians. After a few minutes of discussing how different ones did sacrifice as Christians, one lady said to her, "You have grown to the point in your life that serving God is not a sacrifice to you because you have seen the fruits that come from serving Him."
I was thinking about all of these conversations about sacrificing...and it is obvious that none of us "ENJOY" making them. We look at the word SACRIFICE as ugly and demanding--obtrusive, interfering with our "want to's". Something that forces us to do what God wants. Yet Paul tells us in Romans 12 that, because of all that God had done for us in providing salvation through sacrificing His own Son, we are to present ourselves as "living sacrifices".
Sacrificing for God should be something I gladly do, something I consider an honor or privilege knowing I can never repay all He has done for and continues to do for me each day. And seeing the fruit that comes from living for God will cause us to grow to the point in our lives that my sister expressed--I want feel that I am sacrificing anything by serving Him. It will be my pleasure.
Dana Burk
Friday, December 08, 2006
The Church is Decorated for Christmas!
I live in a small, middle Tennessee town in a county of about 65,000 people. There are over 50 "churches of Christ" in our small county, it being the dominant faith here. These congregations span the gamut from ultra conservative to ultra liberal in their thinking.
One of the congregations that is in the center of downtown, one of the oldest, is in my way of thinking somewhat liberal and yet they have a number of older members who have resisted the full blown liberalism that so many around here practice and teach. (My 87 year old neighbor is a member there.) I have had a number of discussion about the liberalism creeping into the Lord's church with my neighbor and she has expressed concern for the congregation of which I am speaking.
Yesterday, as I passed through town, I was a little taken back by what I saw--Christmas wreaths decked out with holly and bright red velvet bows streaming down on each of the eight doors leading into the church auditorium. The church is decorated for Christmas!
Don't misunderstand me...I love to decorate for Christmas--my home is decked out with poinsettias, Christmas lights inside and out and stockings hanging from the mantel. But I have a difficult time seeing how it is the place of the Lord's church to participate in the secular things of the world. Neither do I see how the Lord's church should involve itself in things we have no authority for such as celebrating a special holiday for the birth of Christ when the Bible is silent about such celebrations.
It was quite noteworthy that the wreaths and bows on the doors of the church of Christ looked just like the ones on the Methodist's and Presbyterian's buildings just down the block. I was reminded of the verses in 1Samuel 8:6-20 where the people of God said give us a king that we might be like the nations around us. Even in this town dominated by believers, the church is being influenced by the denominations around it.
I love this time of year and the spirit that pervades it, but I fear when the Lord's church leaves its God given purpose and role and involves itself in things secular or unauthorized. I will go worship our Lord and King on Christmas Eve, but not because we will be having a special Christmas service or pageant, but because it will be on a Sunday this year and I always go to worship on Sundays...that is what the Lord has commanded. And I will continue to worship Him throughout the year, not just during the month of December.
What do you think??
Dana Burk
One of the congregations that is in the center of downtown, one of the oldest, is in my way of thinking somewhat liberal and yet they have a number of older members who have resisted the full blown liberalism that so many around here practice and teach. (My 87 year old neighbor is a member there.) I have had a number of discussion about the liberalism creeping into the Lord's church with my neighbor and she has expressed concern for the congregation of which I am speaking.
Yesterday, as I passed through town, I was a little taken back by what I saw--Christmas wreaths decked out with holly and bright red velvet bows streaming down on each of the eight doors leading into the church auditorium. The church is decorated for Christmas!
Don't misunderstand me...I love to decorate for Christmas--my home is decked out with poinsettias, Christmas lights inside and out and stockings hanging from the mantel. But I have a difficult time seeing how it is the place of the Lord's church to participate in the secular things of the world. Neither do I see how the Lord's church should involve itself in things we have no authority for such as celebrating a special holiday for the birth of Christ when the Bible is silent about such celebrations.
It was quite noteworthy that the wreaths and bows on the doors of the church of Christ looked just like the ones on the Methodist's and Presbyterian's buildings just down the block. I was reminded of the verses in 1Samuel 8:6-20 where the people of God said give us a king that we might be like the nations around us. Even in this town dominated by believers, the church is being influenced by the denominations around it.
I love this time of year and the spirit that pervades it, but I fear when the Lord's church leaves its God given purpose and role and involves itself in things secular or unauthorized. I will go worship our Lord and King on Christmas Eve, but not because we will be having a special Christmas service or pageant, but because it will be on a Sunday this year and I always go to worship on Sundays...that is what the Lord has commanded. And I will continue to worship Him throughout the year, not just during the month of December.
What do you think??
Dana Burk
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Spirit of the Season
"Friends are God's way of taking care of us."
This was written by a Hospice physician of Metro Denver.
I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends: I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.
Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her ! Eyes. Sh e dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City . Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there. So she packed up everything she owned in the car She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?" This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings. Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whether we believe in miracles or not, whether we celebrate Christmas or not, you have to admit there is something about the sweet spirit of people this time of year. I often wish we could hang on to the generous attitudes and the caring for one another that prevails in the month of December thoughout the year. But, I am thankful for it if only for the short season.
Look around you and see who you can help this holiday season...or for that matter, this coming year.
Dana Burk
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Why Is it Harder For Women?
We have a preacher from Puerto Rico (where we will be moving Lord willing in May) visiting us this week and so my husband invited a couple of other men who have an interest in Spanish work over for lunch today. As I was cleaning the kitchen and overhearing their conversations I began to think about how for each of them going on "mission trips" and working in foreign cultures seems to be no big deal. The sacrifices that it requires for each of them doesn't appear to be a sacrifice in their minds.
In our ladies Bible class this morning we were discussing in Romans 12 where Paul encourages us to be "living sacrifices" in our service to Him. I don't know about you, but I struggle with that. And it seems to me that it is harder for women than for men (or maybe we just wear our feelings on our sleeves and it is much more obvious). The move we are about to make is very, very difficult for me, but not to the same degree for my husband. I suppose that is a good thing or we would not be going. You think God knew what he was doing when he made man different than woman?
I do envy at times the "toughness" of my beloved husband.
Dana Burk
In our ladies Bible class this morning we were discussing in Romans 12 where Paul encourages us to be "living sacrifices" in our service to Him. I don't know about you, but I struggle with that. And it seems to me that it is harder for women than for men (or maybe we just wear our feelings on our sleeves and it is much more obvious). The move we are about to make is very, very difficult for me, but not to the same degree for my husband. I suppose that is a good thing or we would not be going. You think God knew what he was doing when he made man different than woman?
I do envy at times the "toughness" of my beloved husband.
Dana Burk
Monday, December 04, 2006
All Human Knowledge on an IPod?
I was reading an article that was talking about the amount of human knowledge that has been recorded over the millenniums. It stated; "at least 32 million books, 750 million articles and essays, 25 million songs, 500 million images, 500,000 movies, 3 million videos, TV shows and short films and 100 billion public web pages. All this material is currently in all the libraries and archives of the world." (Michael Duduit)
The article went on to say that when all of this material is fully digitized, at the current technological rates, it could be compressed onto a 50 petabyte hard disk. According to the author, you would need a building about the size of a small-town library to house 50 petabytes. It is almost unimaginable to me that all of the world's knowledge can be housed in my local library and yet, that is what technology has done for us. The article went on to make the point that with tomorrow's technology, it will all fit on your personal iPod. Do we live in a great time or what?
God has granted us with the greatest knowledge of all times and the means with which to spread that knowledge literally all over the world. We live in a day when we all enjoy sharing that knowledge with one another. We each have TV's and radios. Almost all of us have e-mail accounts that we check multiple times a day (even my 78 year old father checks his regularly). We surf the web with ease and many of us share our opinions and "knowledge" on blogs and at personal web-sites. We are so free to tell others what we think and how we feel and to espouse the knowledge that we possess.
Francis Bacon said, "For knowledge itself is power". We are a nation and people of knowledge thus a nation of power. How are we using that knowledge and power for God?
In Col 1:23, Paul says the Gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven in his time; "if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister." How was it possible for these early Christians to preach the Gospel to everyone without the Internet and pod casting? If they could do that, why haven't we? We are, as a church, without excuse?
What are you personally doing to spread the gospel?
The article went on to say that when all of this material is fully digitized, at the current technological rates, it could be compressed onto a 50 petabyte hard disk. According to the author, you would need a building about the size of a small-town library to house 50 petabytes. It is almost unimaginable to me that all of the world's knowledge can be housed in my local library and yet, that is what technology has done for us. The article went on to make the point that with tomorrow's technology, it will all fit on your personal iPod. Do we live in a great time or what?
God has granted us with the greatest knowledge of all times and the means with which to spread that knowledge literally all over the world. We live in a day when we all enjoy sharing that knowledge with one another. We each have TV's and radios. Almost all of us have e-mail accounts that we check multiple times a day (even my 78 year old father checks his regularly). We surf the web with ease and many of us share our opinions and "knowledge" on blogs and at personal web-sites. We are so free to tell others what we think and how we feel and to espouse the knowledge that we possess.
Francis Bacon said, "For knowledge itself is power". We are a nation and people of knowledge thus a nation of power. How are we using that knowledge and power for God?
In Col 1:23, Paul says the Gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven in his time; "if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister." How was it possible for these early Christians to preach the Gospel to everyone without the Internet and pod casting? If they could do that, why haven't we? We are, as a church, without excuse?
What are you personally doing to spread the gospel?
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Cell Phone vs. Bible
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
- What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
- What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
- What if we flipped through it several times a day?
- What if we used it to receive text messages?
- what if we treated it like we could not live without it?
- What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
- What if we used it as we traveled?
- What if we used it in cases of emergency?
This is something to make you go hmmmm...where is my Bible? (borrowed)
Did this make you think as much as me? I am not as cell phone conscience as many and yet I never leave home without it. I often leave home without my Bible and I often wish I had my Bible with me. Think I'll get myself a small one to keep in my purse.
Dana Burk
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Food for Thought
I'm going out of town for the holidays to visit friends and family so the blog will not be blogged til after next Saturday. But, here are some things that are worthy of thinking on during this next week.
- Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.
- Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all.
- He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all!
Have a great Thanksgiving and may God bless you and yours.
Dana Burk
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
One More Thought...Or maybe more!
The point was made that there are two different types of marriage (marriage by law and marriage by the church [I assume by the church is meant to be by God]). I'm not sure I agree with that. I understand that the government allows many to marry who have no right in the eyes of the Lord, however, I do not believe that we as Christians should "recognize" those marriages anymore than God does.
You remember when Jesus was talking with the woman at the well in John 4 what He said:
17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."
Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." NKJV
Jesus understood that the "Samaritan government" had allowed this woman to be married six times and yet, He did not recognize that she was married (not even civilly). In Matt. 19:9, He says, "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." NKJV
I don't say all of this to say that we are to be hateful or ugly to those in "adulterous marriages", but accepting and condoning such does nothing to help convict them of their sin. And, just because the government has now begun to recognize divorce and remarriage for any cause does not make it OK. (Even in the 1940's and 50's divorce for any cause was looked upon as shameful in our society and by our government.) As a Christian, I cannot condone that which is wrong. Again, I would say, as we begin to go back to the point of this discussion, I am all for the government standing against the gay marriage issue. In so doing, the government, at least in this one area, stands with God and that is where I shall stand.
As for depriving a citizen of privileges that go along with marriage.....Isn't the whole point to encourage that which is right--to reward those "who do good" and punish those "who do evil", Rom. 13:4. I guess that is "forcing" people to do what is right. But, once again, what is the purpose of government if not to encourage us to "be good" and punish us when we are not? This may not seem "fair" but, as your mother probably told you, "Life isn't fair!"
We, as Americans, have come to believe that we should have NO rules or regulations. Nonsense! God's book is one long list of rules and regulations..."His ways are not our ways" and His salvation is conditional upon obedience. He set up government, so, it only makes sense that it will have restrictions, rules and regulations which we are to abide by. The further our government ventures from adherence to God's laws, the more corrupt and perverted our society will become. Prov 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. NKJV
Dana Burk
You remember when Jesus was talking with the woman at the well in John 4 what He said:
17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."
Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." NKJV
Jesus understood that the "Samaritan government" had allowed this woman to be married six times and yet, He did not recognize that she was married (not even civilly). In Matt. 19:9, He says, "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." NKJV
I don't say all of this to say that we are to be hateful or ugly to those in "adulterous marriages", but accepting and condoning such does nothing to help convict them of their sin. And, just because the government has now begun to recognize divorce and remarriage for any cause does not make it OK. (Even in the 1940's and 50's divorce for any cause was looked upon as shameful in our society and by our government.) As a Christian, I cannot condone that which is wrong. Again, I would say, as we begin to go back to the point of this discussion, I am all for the government standing against the gay marriage issue. In so doing, the government, at least in this one area, stands with God and that is where I shall stand.
As for depriving a citizen of privileges that go along with marriage.....Isn't the whole point to encourage that which is right--to reward those "who do good" and punish those "who do evil", Rom. 13:4. I guess that is "forcing" people to do what is right. But, once again, what is the purpose of government if not to encourage us to "be good" and punish us when we are not? This may not seem "fair" but, as your mother probably told you, "Life isn't fair!"
We, as Americans, have come to believe that we should have NO rules or regulations. Nonsense! God's book is one long list of rules and regulations..."His ways are not our ways" and His salvation is conditional upon obedience. He set up government, so, it only makes sense that it will have restrictions, rules and regulations which we are to abide by. The further our government ventures from adherence to God's laws, the more corrupt and perverted our society will become. Prov 14:34 says, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. NKJV
Dana Burk
Monday, November 13, 2006
My Thoughts
One of the big "issues" in our recent discussions has been: Does or should government legislate morality? My answer is a resounding YES! Government always has, and to a great extent, currently does regulate morality. Murder is a matter of morality. Incest is a matter of morality. Stealing is a matter of morality. Drunkeness in public is a matter of morality. Indecency (not being allowed to walk around in the nude) is a matter of morality. Isn't lying to a Grand Jury (a "white collar" crime many are sitting in jail for right now) a matter of morality? Government still, granted to a very limited extent, legislates our television and radio airwaves against indecent language, lewdness and sexual content (remember Janet Jackson's Super Bowl exposure?) Isn't that all about morality, limited though it may be?
Can you picture a world where government does not legislate morality in any way? In fact, I would propose that that is one of the primary purposes of government. In Rom 13:1-4, Paul tells us that we have nothing to fear if we "do what is good". But, if we "do evil", then we should be afraid. This certainly cannot be talking about road building and traffic lights, but rather, morality issues. And Paul is not talking about the Jewish Law of Moses, but rather the secular Roman Government. "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (NKJV)
A society that has NO moral legislation would be a society in total chaos--anarchy! God has ordained government for the purpose of legislating morality knowing that man will not voluntarily choose to "be moral". I recognize that our government has strayed far from the laws of God and yet, what laws of God they will adhere to and legislate, I welcome. The nearer we, as a nation, stand to God the easier it is for me, as a Christian, to practice my religion.
The idea that the government legislating moral issues makes it restrictive; prevents the persuit of life, liberty and happiness is just plain nonesense!!! Living in a free society comes with a price. Restrictions! We must all be willing to obey the laws of the land in order to not live in a chaotic mess. Not to be redundant, but....do you want to do away with the laws preventing murder, incest, stealing, lying, cheating, etc. If not why not? They restrict your freedoms don't they? Pursuing life, liberty and happiness has NOTHING to do with the lack of restrictions.
Legalizing anything that God has forbidden only allows it to grow in its acceptance and propagate. That includes gay marriages and homosexuality. Eventually, this acceptance WILL filter even into the church. It is being incredibly naive to think otherwise. Look around you at the denominations who staunchly opposed the gay agenda 15 to 20 years ago and today are ordaining gays to everything infinitum. Brethren in the Lord's church have followed the lead of denominations in their liberal thinking on everything else...if brethren fail to follow the pursuit of the acceptance of homosexuality it will be the first thing they have not tried to immitate.
Satan's incredibley subtle methods of legalizing and accepting sin have convinced so many (even within the church) that these issues have nothing to do with me--they do not REALLY affect my life and beliefs. If you believe that lie you are decieved already. It is Satan's lie about "freedom of choice" that has allowed millions of babies to be murdered. A woman DOES NOT have the right to choose the death of her child. Only God has that right. God's laws are very restrictive and we would live in a far better society if our government chose to obey them.
Dana Burk
Can you picture a world where government does not legislate morality in any way? In fact, I would propose that that is one of the primary purposes of government. In Rom 13:1-4, Paul tells us that we have nothing to fear if we "do what is good". But, if we "do evil", then we should be afraid. This certainly cannot be talking about road building and traffic lights, but rather, morality issues. And Paul is not talking about the Jewish Law of Moses, but rather the secular Roman Government. "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (NKJV)
A society that has NO moral legislation would be a society in total chaos--anarchy! God has ordained government for the purpose of legislating morality knowing that man will not voluntarily choose to "be moral". I recognize that our government has strayed far from the laws of God and yet, what laws of God they will adhere to and legislate, I welcome. The nearer we, as a nation, stand to God the easier it is for me, as a Christian, to practice my religion.
The idea that the government legislating moral issues makes it restrictive; prevents the persuit of life, liberty and happiness is just plain nonesense!!! Living in a free society comes with a price. Restrictions! We must all be willing to obey the laws of the land in order to not live in a chaotic mess. Not to be redundant, but....do you want to do away with the laws preventing murder, incest, stealing, lying, cheating, etc. If not why not? They restrict your freedoms don't they? Pursuing life, liberty and happiness has NOTHING to do with the lack of restrictions.
Legalizing anything that God has forbidden only allows it to grow in its acceptance and propagate. That includes gay marriages and homosexuality. Eventually, this acceptance WILL filter even into the church. It is being incredibly naive to think otherwise. Look around you at the denominations who staunchly opposed the gay agenda 15 to 20 years ago and today are ordaining gays to everything infinitum. Brethren in the Lord's church have followed the lead of denominations in their liberal thinking on everything else...if brethren fail to follow the pursuit of the acceptance of homosexuality it will be the first thing they have not tried to immitate.
Satan's incredibley subtle methods of legalizing and accepting sin have convinced so many (even within the church) that these issues have nothing to do with me--they do not REALLY affect my life and beliefs. If you believe that lie you are decieved already. It is Satan's lie about "freedom of choice" that has allowed millions of babies to be murdered. A woman DOES NOT have the right to choose the death of her child. Only God has that right. God's laws are very restrictive and we would live in a far better society if our government chose to obey them.
Dana Burk
WOW!! I Asked You What You Thought!
These are some of the comments I have recieved concerning the article posted last Thursday.
Ed Rangel's comment:
It seems like some Christians think that the government should outlaw all kinds of immoral things and to some extent I agree with that ideology. However, a people that is forced to be moral will not have a change of heart, the law will be obeyed because of the fear of retribution. King Hezekiah failed miserably when he forced the people to do away with idolatry. He left us the lesson that a people as a whole can only be changed one person at a time and not by force. Although, a preemptive attack on moral issues might not be such a bad idea, but what would it accomplish? Several years ago a Texas law on sodomy was challenged yet sodomy still takes place in that very place wherein it is outlawed. Obviously, as you can perceive, my feelings are mixed towards this ideology.
This type of thinking might also bleed into the church, as you already pointed out. Nonetheless, in this holy realm we cannot legislate only abide and comply.
Tracy's comment:
My fiancée and I have debated this very issue a few times. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Should government legislate morality? I agree with Ed Rangel when he says that this can have disastrous consequences, not only because one cannot force a change of heart on someone, but also because I believe it is the Church who should primarily be doing this work. Often, we as Christians hide behind government, asking it to witness for us, instead of doing it ourselves.
2. There are two types of marriage: I see a distinction between marriage by law and marriage by the church. The first we do to follow governmental protocol (giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s), whereas the second is a union before God, designed by Him, one which no man is to break (Matt 19:6). If these are two separate things, then should we dictate what secular marriage is to be?
3. What is government’s purpose in defining marriage? Since the government is secular and for the people, there must be a secular, beneficial purpose to marriage. If there is such a reason for not allowing non-heterosexual marriage, then this amendment is valid. By faith I know that God does not make mistakes; He designed marriage to be between a man and a woman because He knew it was best. Hence, I can trust that marriage between a man and a woman is beneficial to society, whereas homosexual marriage is not.
4. Would legalizing homosexual marriage make homosexuality more commonplace and give people the impression that it is not displeasing to God? If God hates homosexual relations, then would it be wrong for me to “encourage” it by not voting against it? Is voting for this amendment a way that I can do God’s work, influencing society by the laws I choose to support? On the other hand, a key part of the gospel is our freedom to choose who or what to follow, a principle we can reflect by the form of government we support.
5. What are we withholding from couples by not allowing them to get married? I don’t know the answer to this question, but there are privileges marriage confers in the world, such as the right to know medical information about your spouse when he/she has been in an accident, inheritance, tax cuts, etc., that seem wrong to withhold from a couple who want to be married but legally can’t. I can go on and on in circles about this issue, but the bottom line is that I am quite confused about it and I would really like to understand what God’s will is in all of this.
Ed's comment:
I have been studying Ezekiel 22-23 and the prophet paints a frightening picture of the morality in his society. The priests were a joke and themselves liars and thieves. The political leaders were no better and thus created a corrupt citizenship. Having thought more about Dana's post I feel even stronger that the judicial system is not the place to legislate morality. What propels this thought process is the fact that most of our leaders have a warped sense of what morality really is; what they think instead of what God says. No doubt that many politicians prey on our fears and offer us what we want to hear in order to elect them (hopefully I'm just cynical). Someone once said in reference to the immoral lifestyle of Ezekiel's time: "Ezekiel 23 is a mirror reflecting what current society, including national and state leaders, does behind closed doors. A steady lifestyle of this no longer bars the path to the White House. Such men and women as these are not answers to our moral and spiritual problems; they are part of the problems themselves!"
ukce1861's comment: (These are comments posted in answer to the original blog which my daughter sent me thus explaining this first paragraph. Dana)
I have a few comments on your post and some of the responses. Quite a few actually… I’d be happy to discuss things further or leave it altogether. I would have posted on your blog, but I’m not “Gold” and didn’t feel like paying the $5 a month to do that…
1. “Anybody but a Republican”, huh? So you voted FOR the party that advocates abortion and advancing the gay agenda? You voted FOR the party that advocates for a pull-out from Iraq leading to the further destabilization of an already destabilized and dangerous region? That’s interesting. Why? I can’t believe no one has asked that question in the comments yet, so I’ll be the first. To a point, I understand your frustration with the Republican Party. I too am frustrated. On many issues, they have sold out. Immigration and Prescription Drugs come to mind. However, the Democratic Party is as bad and worse on most issues. I can’t think of an issue where my stance is closer to that of the Democrats than the Republicans. And I’ll be honest with you; this election, I was pretty close to a one-issue voter. We must “stay the course” in Iraq. Osama bin Laden and President Ahmadinejad (of Iran) have made it very clear that Iraq is central to their plan for the worldwide Islamic Caliphate. May I remind you this is the guy who prayed for Armageddon on the floor of the UN? These people are actively working to bring about the “end of the world” as they understand it. They are preparing facilities right now for the return of the Mahdi (their version of the Messiah). It doesn’t matter whether you believe in this stuff or not; they do. We ARE involved in a Holy War, even if it’s not one of our choosing. For that reason, I can’t support the Democrats.
2. Item by item on your gay marriage points.
“Government should not legislate morality.”
So you support giving children access to pornography at any age?
So you support allowing abortions at any time for any reason?
So you support allowing polygamy, marriage to the household pet, etc?
And of course you support the legalization of prostitution and “recreational” drugs, right?
Of course the government legislates morality. I don’t see how the passage from Romans that was posted previously couldn’t apply here. If God appoints government as his minister, you don’t think he’d want them to minister with morality?
“Knee-jerk constitutional amendments are a very bad idea, and are very seldom beneficial.”
Isn’t this a knee-jerk reaction to a knee-jerk amendment? Just because something is “bad” some or even most of the time, doesn’t not mean it is always bad. I don’t know about you, but if there were a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, I don’t care if it was “knee-jerk” or not, I’d vote for it in a heart beat. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
“’Same sex marriage’ is not legal in TN now. We don't need language added to the constitution that is already handled by other legislation.”The judiciary has demonstrated numerous times that it WILL legislate from the bench. The only way to keep existing laws from being struck down as unconstitutional is to add them to the constitution. It will be interesting to see how these [State Constitutional Amendments] stand up when they are appealed to the Supreme Court for conformance to the US Constitution, but it is at least an additional layer of protection. Especially with controversial and “hip” issues like gay marriage, the only protection we have is constitutional amendments. Existing laws have been demonstrated repeatedly to be inadequate.
“The amendment does nothing to "protect" existing marriage. Even if gay people were allowed to marry, it won't affect a straight marriage one bit. Over 50% of marriages end in divorce now already; its a misnomer to cast this initiative as ‘protecting families and marriage.’”
While it might be a BIT of a misnomer, I don’t really see it as inaccurate. Currently, marriage is basically defined by most common sense people as 1 man, 1 woman. There are those who would like to change that to 2 men; 2 women; 1 man, multiple women; 1 man, 1 dog; ad infinitum. So formally and legally defining the institution of marriage as 1 man, 1 woman, will protect marriage. How could it not? Do we need to strengthen marriage between 1 man and 1 woman? Yes. Does that mean we should allow further dilution in the process? Absurd. As for families, it does strengthen them. God has defined a family as 1 father, 1 mother and children. Legal marriage entitles a couple to a whole host of rights. Among those is the right to adopt children much easier. I realize this happens now, but it will become much more widespread if gay marriage is legalized. Not to mention, if you think the gay agenda in education is bad now, just wait till gay marriage is legalized and that becomes even more of an accepted lifestyle. Oh, and if you want to laugh at me for saying gay marriage opens the door for polygamy and other forms of marriage, don’t. What stops those people? Why don’t they have the same right to define marriage as they see fit? What legal standing do you have to deny them? None. The battle for cultural acceptance of polygamy has already started and will intensify in the near future. HBO started a series (http://www.hbo.com/biglove/) featuring a polygamous family and I would say within 5 years there will be at least one network show featuring such a relationship. The gay agenda was advanced in the same way. Remember all the controversy about Candice Bergen being an unwed mother on Murphy Brown? That was 1992, folks, 1992! Less than 15 years ago. Look how far we’ve come now. Gays were introduced into television shows and shown to be an “acceptable lifestyle choice”. If we cave on gay marriage now, we will have NO STANDING WHATSOEVER when polygamy and marrying nonhuman or inanimate objects comes up, and trust me, it will.
“Its restrictive legislation, and does not promote ‘life, liberty, and happiness’ for all citizens.”
I really think this is just a subset of #1. We have all kinds of “restrictive legislation” and I’m not in favor of getting rid of much of it.
Just a couple of other comments I wanted to respond to.
“I think it is equally sinful of government to deprive someone of medical benefits because they are a homosexual... or worse, because their parents are homosexuals.”
What exactly does this mean? I’m totally lost on this one. How is the government depriving someone of medical benefits? Help me understand this, please. If you’re saying it’s a right to have medical insurance and somehow that’s a function of the government, I couldn’t disagree more…
“It is not the job of government to save souls.”
I don’t see how this law has anything to do with saving souls. I see it as protecting families and our society.
“And we will not save souls by alienating them and depriving them of their needs.”
How are we alienating them? Don’t you think we should tell them that their lifestyle is wrong?
“I don't think Christ would have denied someone of health insurance”Is that really what this is all about? Wow… I always thought Christ had bigger fish to fry than health insurance…
Ed Rangel's comment:
It seems like some Christians think that the government should outlaw all kinds of immoral things and to some extent I agree with that ideology. However, a people that is forced to be moral will not have a change of heart, the law will be obeyed because of the fear of retribution. King Hezekiah failed miserably when he forced the people to do away with idolatry. He left us the lesson that a people as a whole can only be changed one person at a time and not by force. Although, a preemptive attack on moral issues might not be such a bad idea, but what would it accomplish? Several years ago a Texas law on sodomy was challenged yet sodomy still takes place in that very place wherein it is outlawed. Obviously, as you can perceive, my feelings are mixed towards this ideology.
This type of thinking might also bleed into the church, as you already pointed out. Nonetheless, in this holy realm we cannot legislate only abide and comply.
Tracy's comment:
My fiancée and I have debated this very issue a few times. Here are a few points to consider:
1. Should government legislate morality? I agree with Ed Rangel when he says that this can have disastrous consequences, not only because one cannot force a change of heart on someone, but also because I believe it is the Church who should primarily be doing this work. Often, we as Christians hide behind government, asking it to witness for us, instead of doing it ourselves.
2. There are two types of marriage: I see a distinction between marriage by law and marriage by the church. The first we do to follow governmental protocol (giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s), whereas the second is a union before God, designed by Him, one which no man is to break (Matt 19:6). If these are two separate things, then should we dictate what secular marriage is to be?
3. What is government’s purpose in defining marriage? Since the government is secular and for the people, there must be a secular, beneficial purpose to marriage. If there is such a reason for not allowing non-heterosexual marriage, then this amendment is valid. By faith I know that God does not make mistakes; He designed marriage to be between a man and a woman because He knew it was best. Hence, I can trust that marriage between a man and a woman is beneficial to society, whereas homosexual marriage is not.
4. Would legalizing homosexual marriage make homosexuality more commonplace and give people the impression that it is not displeasing to God? If God hates homosexual relations, then would it be wrong for me to “encourage” it by not voting against it? Is voting for this amendment a way that I can do God’s work, influencing society by the laws I choose to support? On the other hand, a key part of the gospel is our freedom to choose who or what to follow, a principle we can reflect by the form of government we support.
5. What are we withholding from couples by not allowing them to get married? I don’t know the answer to this question, but there are privileges marriage confers in the world, such as the right to know medical information about your spouse when he/she has been in an accident, inheritance, tax cuts, etc., that seem wrong to withhold from a couple who want to be married but legally can’t. I can go on and on in circles about this issue, but the bottom line is that I am quite confused about it and I would really like to understand what God’s will is in all of this.
Ed's comment:
I have been studying Ezekiel 22-23 and the prophet paints a frightening picture of the morality in his society. The priests were a joke and themselves liars and thieves. The political leaders were no better and thus created a corrupt citizenship. Having thought more about Dana's post I feel even stronger that the judicial system is not the place to legislate morality. What propels this thought process is the fact that most of our leaders have a warped sense of what morality really is; what they think instead of what God says. No doubt that many politicians prey on our fears and offer us what we want to hear in order to elect them (hopefully I'm just cynical). Someone once said in reference to the immoral lifestyle of Ezekiel's time: "Ezekiel 23 is a mirror reflecting what current society, including national and state leaders, does behind closed doors. A steady lifestyle of this no longer bars the path to the White House. Such men and women as these are not answers to our moral and spiritual problems; they are part of the problems themselves!"
ukce1861's comment: (These are comments posted in answer to the original blog which my daughter sent me thus explaining this first paragraph. Dana)
I have a few comments on your post and some of the responses. Quite a few actually… I’d be happy to discuss things further or leave it altogether. I would have posted on your blog, but I’m not “Gold” and didn’t feel like paying the $5 a month to do that…
1. “Anybody but a Republican”, huh? So you voted FOR the party that advocates abortion and advancing the gay agenda? You voted FOR the party that advocates for a pull-out from Iraq leading to the further destabilization of an already destabilized and dangerous region? That’s interesting. Why? I can’t believe no one has asked that question in the comments yet, so I’ll be the first. To a point, I understand your frustration with the Republican Party. I too am frustrated. On many issues, they have sold out. Immigration and Prescription Drugs come to mind. However, the Democratic Party is as bad and worse on most issues. I can’t think of an issue where my stance is closer to that of the Democrats than the Republicans. And I’ll be honest with you; this election, I was pretty close to a one-issue voter. We must “stay the course” in Iraq. Osama bin Laden and President Ahmadinejad (of Iran) have made it very clear that Iraq is central to their plan for the worldwide Islamic Caliphate. May I remind you this is the guy who prayed for Armageddon on the floor of the UN? These people are actively working to bring about the “end of the world” as they understand it. They are preparing facilities right now for the return of the Mahdi (their version of the Messiah). It doesn’t matter whether you believe in this stuff or not; they do. We ARE involved in a Holy War, even if it’s not one of our choosing. For that reason, I can’t support the Democrats.
2. Item by item on your gay marriage points.
“Government should not legislate morality.”
So you support giving children access to pornography at any age?
So you support allowing abortions at any time for any reason?
So you support allowing polygamy, marriage to the household pet, etc?
And of course you support the legalization of prostitution and “recreational” drugs, right?
Of course the government legislates morality. I don’t see how the passage from Romans that was posted previously couldn’t apply here. If God appoints government as his minister, you don’t think he’d want them to minister with morality?
“Knee-jerk constitutional amendments are a very bad idea, and are very seldom beneficial.”
Isn’t this a knee-jerk reaction to a knee-jerk amendment? Just because something is “bad” some or even most of the time, doesn’t not mean it is always bad. I don’t know about you, but if there were a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, I don’t care if it was “knee-jerk” or not, I’d vote for it in a heart beat. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
“’Same sex marriage’ is not legal in TN now. We don't need language added to the constitution that is already handled by other legislation.”The judiciary has demonstrated numerous times that it WILL legislate from the bench. The only way to keep existing laws from being struck down as unconstitutional is to add them to the constitution. It will be interesting to see how these [State Constitutional Amendments] stand up when they are appealed to the Supreme Court for conformance to the US Constitution, but it is at least an additional layer of protection. Especially with controversial and “hip” issues like gay marriage, the only protection we have is constitutional amendments. Existing laws have been demonstrated repeatedly to be inadequate.
“The amendment does nothing to "protect" existing marriage. Even if gay people were allowed to marry, it won't affect a straight marriage one bit. Over 50% of marriages end in divorce now already; its a misnomer to cast this initiative as ‘protecting families and marriage.’”
While it might be a BIT of a misnomer, I don’t really see it as inaccurate. Currently, marriage is basically defined by most common sense people as 1 man, 1 woman. There are those who would like to change that to 2 men; 2 women; 1 man, multiple women; 1 man, 1 dog; ad infinitum. So formally and legally defining the institution of marriage as 1 man, 1 woman, will protect marriage. How could it not? Do we need to strengthen marriage between 1 man and 1 woman? Yes. Does that mean we should allow further dilution in the process? Absurd. As for families, it does strengthen them. God has defined a family as 1 father, 1 mother and children. Legal marriage entitles a couple to a whole host of rights. Among those is the right to adopt children much easier. I realize this happens now, but it will become much more widespread if gay marriage is legalized. Not to mention, if you think the gay agenda in education is bad now, just wait till gay marriage is legalized and that becomes even more of an accepted lifestyle. Oh, and if you want to laugh at me for saying gay marriage opens the door for polygamy and other forms of marriage, don’t. What stops those people? Why don’t they have the same right to define marriage as they see fit? What legal standing do you have to deny them? None. The battle for cultural acceptance of polygamy has already started and will intensify in the near future. HBO started a series (http://www.hbo.com/biglove/) featuring a polygamous family and I would say within 5 years there will be at least one network show featuring such a relationship. The gay agenda was advanced in the same way. Remember all the controversy about Candice Bergen being an unwed mother on Murphy Brown? That was 1992, folks, 1992! Less than 15 years ago. Look how far we’ve come now. Gays were introduced into television shows and shown to be an “acceptable lifestyle choice”. If we cave on gay marriage now, we will have NO STANDING WHATSOEVER when polygamy and marrying nonhuman or inanimate objects comes up, and trust me, it will.
“Its restrictive legislation, and does not promote ‘life, liberty, and happiness’ for all citizens.”
I really think this is just a subset of #1. We have all kinds of “restrictive legislation” and I’m not in favor of getting rid of much of it.
Just a couple of other comments I wanted to respond to.
“I think it is equally sinful of government to deprive someone of medical benefits because they are a homosexual... or worse, because their parents are homosexuals.”
What exactly does this mean? I’m totally lost on this one. How is the government depriving someone of medical benefits? Help me understand this, please. If you’re saying it’s a right to have medical insurance and somehow that’s a function of the government, I couldn’t disagree more…
“It is not the job of government to save souls.”
I don’t see how this law has anything to do with saving souls. I see it as protecting families and our society.
“And we will not save souls by alienating them and depriving them of their needs.”
How are we alienating them? Don’t you think we should tell them that their lifestyle is wrong?
“I don't think Christ would have denied someone of health insurance”Is that really what this is all about? Wow… I always thought Christ had bigger fish to fry than health insurance…
One Flaw in Woman
By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart and she will do everything with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this Creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself whenshe is sick AND can work 18 hour days."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, herpain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing."
And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They Give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR OWN WORTH.
(borrowed)
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart and she will do everything with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this Creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself whenshe is sick AND can work 18 hour days."
The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, herpain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing."
And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They Give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR OWN WORTH.
(borrowed)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
What Do You Think?
My daughter sent me this e-mail last night of a discussion she and one of her Christian friends had via an e-mail discussion. She asked her father and me, as well as one of her brothers, what our thoughts were and we expressed them to her. She also responded to the young man in a much longer conversation than is recorded here, but I am curious what some of my readers thoughts are concerning his views. How do you think these types of views will affect the future of the church?
Mom,
One of my Christian friends from TN wrote this on his blog:
"Voted AGAINST the "marriage amendment" to the state constitution. I figure its going to pass anyway, but I'm steadfastly against it. "
so I asked him -
"Why vote against the marriage amendment? interested in hearing your thought process...your comments about politics they are always intriguing :) "
he said:
"Well, there are several reasons.
1. Government should not legislate morality.
2. Knee-jerk constitutional amendments are a very bad idea, and are very seldom beneficial.
3. "Same sex marriage" is not legal in TN now. We don't need language added to the constitution that is already handled by other legislation.
4. The amendment does nothing to "protect" existing marriage. Even if gay people were allowed to marry, it won't affect a straight marriage one bit. Over 50% of marriages end in divorce now already; its a misnomer to cast this initiative as "protecting families and marriage"
5. Its restrictive legislation, and does not promote "life, liberty, and happiness" for all citizens. I'm not FOR gay/same-sex marriage.
It is already illegal, and amending the state constitution for a morality initiative is bad, bad, bad public policy."
Let me know your thoughts on this. I will address this more in the next few days.
Dana Burk
Mom,
One of my Christian friends from TN wrote this on his blog:
"Voted AGAINST the "marriage amendment" to the state constitution. I figure its going to pass anyway, but I'm steadfastly against it. "
so I asked him -
"Why vote against the marriage amendment? interested in hearing your thought process...your comments about politics they are always intriguing :) "
he said:
"Well, there are several reasons.
1. Government should not legislate morality.
2. Knee-jerk constitutional amendments are a very bad idea, and are very seldom beneficial.
3. "Same sex marriage" is not legal in TN now. We don't need language added to the constitution that is already handled by other legislation.
4. The amendment does nothing to "protect" existing marriage. Even if gay people were allowed to marry, it won't affect a straight marriage one bit. Over 50% of marriages end in divorce now already; its a misnomer to cast this initiative as "protecting families and marriage"
5. Its restrictive legislation, and does not promote "life, liberty, and happiness" for all citizens. I'm not FOR gay/same-sex marriage.
It is already illegal, and amending the state constitution for a morality initiative is bad, bad, bad public policy."
Let me know your thoughts on this. I will address this more in the next few days.
Dana Burk
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