I can't believe it!! Read this..."Most kids complain bitterly when they are grounded. Some will sneak out, while others will settle for slamming doors and announcing that they hate the person making the rules. But sometimes, kids get creative when they're punished: A 6th grader in Quebec sued her dad because she felt that his punishment was too harsh. The 12-year-old girl's parents are divorced; in the spring of 2008, the girl's mom gave her permission to go on a class trip to Quebec City in June. But the middle-schooler lived with her father, and after she disobeyed daddy's orders to stay off the Internet, he told her she couldn't go. So what did she do? She took him to court. Of course. A lower court ruled in favor of the girl, who went on the embattled class trip. Her father appealed -- on principle -- and, amazingly, the girl won again. The father's attorney, Kim Beaudoin, says that her client is "flabbergasted" and they are considering another appeal, this time to Canada's Supreme Court. But, the attorney adds, the father has no regrets about the court proceedings. "Either way, he doesn't have authority over this child anymore. She sued him because she doesn't respect his rules," Beaudoin said. "It's very hard to raise a child who is the boss."
I hardly know what to say. Unfortunately, precedent rules in our nation's courts, so we may begin to see the United States follow suit, with kids taking their parents to court because they don't like how they are being disciplined. Really...people should not put all of their efforts into addressing climate control, education and political correctness, and instead start to think about how to ratchet up their common sense. That seems to be evaporating faster than water in a tin cup on a hot beach.
But...should we be surprised that any court system would be undiscerning about issues of discipline and right and wrong when moral standards are as certain in today's society as a GM employee's future retirement fund? People are stumbling through life, flopping from one decision to another based on their desires and emotions, rather than on truth and principles of right and wrong. We have seen fundamental family values usurped by a "justice" system and many have surrendered our society's foundation to "political correctness" (talk about an oxymoron). I don't know whether to be stunned, angry, disillusioned or heartbroken. Perhaps all of those.
It should be noted that none of this is news to God. The ineptness of humanity has been gaining steam since Adam and Eve ate that fruit dish served up by Satan. Sin will never develop wisdom. Disobedience to Christ will never foster understanding. Human arrogance will never make the lens of day-to-day living any clearer. If you doubt that...just listen to the news and be prepared to scrap the disbelief from your brain as it collects like barnacles on a ship.
But...the good news is that God has addressed this and offers help and hope. That's what Easter is all about. Jesus Christ came to address sin, conquer sin, and offer life, peace, forgiveness and wisdom to all who desire it. Christ rose up from the grave, He rose above those who thought they could "discipline" the Messiah. He rose above the systems of humanity and demonstrated the power of God. The resurrection is the doorway to eternity. It is the opening to a holy reality. It is the pardon the world has waited for...and still stands as a valid gift from God.
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Are you experiencing the resurrection of Christ in your own life?
"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26
Read this: "MADISON, Wis. - An atheists' group and a church are taking their rivalry on the road, using ad space on Madison Transit buses to display their competing messages. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation is spending $2,100 on six signs appearing for up to two months inside 50 buses. Each sign has a quotation questioning religion or giving reasons for not believing. A quote from the late actress Butterfly McQueen, who appeared in the movie "Gone With the Wind," says, "As my ancestors are free from slavery, I am free from the slavery of religion." In response to the ads, Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe said this week it purchased space on the outside of 11 Metro Transit buses for an ad quoting Psalm 14, verse 1: "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" The church's ads cover a large part of one side of each bus. The Rev. Ralph Ovadal said the foundation has a right to air its opinion, and the church has "the privilege to respond with truth from the word of God." The church's ads cost about $5,000. Madison Metro spokesman Mick Rusch said any ad sales help the bus system."
Of course, the obvious question of "Why?" always arises when people spend time, effort and resources to combat what they believe doesn't exist. On their Web site, the Freedom From Religion Foundation members advertise themselves as "freethinkers." I honestly don't know what they mean by that. I'm assuming they believe that anyone who espouses "religion" has somehow lost the ability to think freely for themselves. If so, we must assume, then, that (according to that line of reasoning) anyone who does not line up with non-faith-based logic is considered mentally handicapped in some form or another. But...again...it appears that their freethinking is costing them money, time and effort to fight against something they don't even believe exists. Maybe I'm not thinking clearly...but I don't get it.
Now...I do admire people who have convictions and stand their ground. Obviously, these individuals believe there is no God. They must. One does not spit in the face of God in a cavalier fashion or casually blaspheme His name. This group would not believe they are doing such...since they don't believe God exists. I'm guessing their understanding is that a mammoth number of people in the world have been duped by believing in God and they are seeking to awaken those people to their belief that He does not exist. From my perspective, the Feedom From Religion Foundation seems to be on a crusade to alter reality...a power they don't possess. Yes...I know that is my belief...and it is predicated on what I believe to be God's Word, the Bible. The Bible defines reality and eternity. It contextualizes life within the framework of God's creation and His will for His creation. And...free thinking, contrary to any other assumption, is very much built into God's creation. We are not puppets. We all choose to believe, do and pursue whatever we want. And...there are rewards and consequences to our pursuits. We must remember some important truths.
- Denying or ignoring God won't cause Him to disappear.
- Attacking believers in God won't eliminate belief in God.
- Calling yourself a "freethinker" doesn't make you one or cause someone else who thinks differently to not be one.
- Regardless of what any of us believe...we will all stand before God someday. (Yes...I know. You can say that is only my opinion. Time will tell and I am certain that is true.)
The Freedom From Religion Foundation Web site quotes atheist Richard Dawkins, who said: "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction." Again...I ask...if that is true, why would Dawkins or anyone else waste their lives fighting fiction? For myself, I would rather build my life on a foundation of truth and pursue it. So...I build my life on Christ. What about you?
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 53:1
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:20
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16, 17
This week, amidst a panoramic spread of balls, parties, media events and hype, we inaugurated the 44th president of the United States. Inaugurations are always historic events and never fail to stir the emotions and imaginations of a watching public. This event was even more memorable as we swore into office the first black president in our nation's history. If you watched the event, you know it was electric and filled with excitement. Regardless of your political preferences, inaugurations are always meaningful as they put the spotlight on one of the unique and profound characteristics of our democracy...a peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another. No bloody coup...no hostile takeover (in spite of acrimonious political rhetoric); only a dignified ceremony where one president steps aside and joins the rest of the nation in welcoming a new commander-in-chief.
Now...we're past the festivities and back into the trenches. The political battles will heat up again, sparks will fly and amazingly...our country will go on.
One of the dynamics I've noted in this election...and in other elections...is the tendency on the part of some to ascribe differences of political opinion as "evil." For example, I received an e-mail last week equating President Obama's bent toward big government as an example of a biblical evil. Listen...I am firmly against big government and socialism...but neither are evil or anti-scripture. They are simply philosphical differences.
Why is it important to remember this? If we ascribe the label of "evil" to that which is simply a difference of opinion, we risk losing our voice when it comes to addressing what is really evil. All too often, unnecessary issues are created out of differing opinions. This is so true in the political realm. I admire people who stay in the hunt to seek to bring their ideas to the floor. There is a lot to be said for tenacity and conviction. But again...let's not confuse personal conviction with ultimate truth. Let's not make differing opinions of others synonomous with evil.
I remind all of us, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians or whatever our alliance may be, what Ephesians 6:12,13 says: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
There is such a thing as evil...the Bible is clear on it. But people aren't our ultimate enemy and they aren't the source of evil. Certainly people are sinners, misguided and do engage in evil behavior. That's what happens when we purposely or foolishly become pawns of Satan. But let's also remember that these same people are the objects of God's love. Christ died for each and every one of us. That merits attention...and that means people have hope.
Evil is emobdied in Satan...and he is hopeless. Holiness is emobodied in Christ and He is our hope. As the political wars heat up...let's be sure to extend hope and not hate. Let's distinguish between truth and opinion. Let's not hold fellow believers at bay over their politics, let's seek to lock arms with them in taking the gospel out to the world. There is something that really matters and possesses eternal consequences. That's what we need to defend. How's your supply of grace? If it's low...maybe you've disconnected yourself from the supplier of everlasting grace...Jesus Christ. It's time to reconnect.
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