Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[ampaterry]

I see the DOW went into the tank again yesterday, as it has been doing for many weeks now. This morning in the NYT I read that more and more local governments are petitioning the Fed to bail them out because their social programs are broke. And the Fed itself is broke - more than broke, it is bankrupt. What is wrong?
Today, I want to address what is at least a PART of the answer:

Newsweek carried this several years ago:
The effects of virtue-free social policy have been devastating--but we don't seem quite ready to accept the alternative. Few politicians are comfortable about using words like "right" and "wrong," especially when the subject is sexual irresponsibility (which remains the surest predictor of criminality, ill health and welfare dependency among the poor). ... In fact, it isn't easy. It requires the fortitude to sometimes cast people into the outer darkness. ...
That Newsweek article makes a good point. It has become near impossible for a people as rights-conscious and tolerant as ours to admit that some people who behave badly, if not quite criminally, aren't worthy of our support--to kick them off welfare, or out of schools and housing projects. But it is inescapable; the system can't work without sanctions--even if they require the sort of stiff, humorless, un-American propriety that gave morality such a bad name.
How can we be in this mess in this country? It is because we, as a nation, are contradictory in our own beliefs! We hold two opposing viewpoints at the same time, and refuse to admit either might be wrong! Consider, for instance, a poll that was published in U.S. News and World Report:
Percentage of Americans who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God: 80. Percentage who believe there is no one set of values that is right: 48.
We must get it together, folks. We must return to our core values, to the Word of God, and STUDY it, BELIEVE it, and FOLLOW it!
We are directed in scripture:
Habakkuk 1:13 (NCV);
"Your eyes are too good to look at evil; you cannot stand to see those who do wrong. So how can you put up with those evil people? How can you be quiet when the wicked swallow up people who are better than they are?"
We must stand up, and speak out, and do battle against the evil in this world, even when such views are politically incorrect and unpopular with those around us.

May God have mercy on all of us -

[Woodnut]

Big AMEN, Terry.

[Juker]

Big Amen, Terry.

A verse I quote often:

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thess. 3:10)

Charity is not to be extended to the lazy, only to the needy. Too many politicians buy their reelections with social programs.

[Just One Shot]

AMEN!

[terryu1]

Ditto.. and thanks Terry

[ampaterry]

Wow! I appreciate the support, guys!

For today, I took a trip down memory lane.

Thinking back to the days of my youth, I am forced to contemplate the effect that the laws had upon my behavior. It was not legal for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol in IL at that time. Did I taste alcohol before I reached that age? Yes I did. It was illegal to drive faster than the posted speed limits. Did I ever exceed those limits? Yes I did. Drag racing on public roads was illegal. Did I ever do it? Yes I did. Interfering with television and radio broadcasts by unlicensed transmissions was illegal. Did I ever do that? Yes I did.
Now, if I apply the philosophy of today to those laws, I would conclude that, since people break them anyway, the laws are useless and should be removed from the books. Although that may sound logical, it is not. The reason it is not logical is that many of the laws DID prevent me from certain activity; Recreational drugs were illegal, and I never tried them. Robbery was illegal, and I never robbed anyone. Even when I DID break a law, it was done discreetly; the law itself prevented my drinking in public, drag racing in traffic, or speeding in areas where people would see me. This is no small contribution. When a society abandons its ideals just because most people don't live up to them, behavior gets very ugly indeed.
Compare it to the laws of God. Does anyone obey God in all matters, never sinning? Of course not. Is that sufficient reason to just drop the whole thing and stop trying? Not at all! For it is in the trying that we improve ourselves. We will not always win, but we must always try.
The Word of God tells us:
1 Corinthians 15:34 (KJV);
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."
2 Timothy 3:1-2 (KJV);
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
Romans 1:18 (KJV);
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

I pray that we would all strive to follow the laws of man and the laws of God, even knowing we will not always succeed.

[Woodnut]

AMEN!

Terry, you are definately gifted with words, and getting the point accross. Always spot on, when the words are backed up with the word of God.

[Warith]

Amen indeed Terry.

I am remind of the verse that goes "Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasars and give unto God what is Gods"

Give unto both your best has been my motto even though I know my best at times is not good enough its the effort that counts more then the succedding.

[ampaterry]

I deal every day with atheists who openly attack God. One of the common complaints they have against Him is the fact that he is not always smiling and happy, he is not a Pollyanna ; there are times when he is wrathful. They cannot accept a God of wrath, they say.
I once read this from Christianity Today, and I think it holds their answer. It’s an actual conversation between an atheist school teacher named Kate and a friend of hers who was Jewish:
Kate said: "There were a dozen different religions among the children at my school. We seemed always to be celebrating some kind of feast or ceremony. Usually it required making a noise and dressing up. The official line was that all religions were equally important. I must say that the result was to leave me with the conviction that they were equally unimportant. I suppose if you don't teach religion with conviction it becomes just one more boring subject. Perhaps I'm a natural pagan. I don't go in for all this emphasis on sin, suffering and judgment. If I had a God I'd like Him to be intelligent, cheerful and amusing."
Her friend responded: "I doubt whether you'd find him much of a comfort when they herded you into the gas chambers. You might prefer a god of vengeance."

Deuteronomy 32:35-38 (NCV);
"I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them. Soon their foot will slip, because their day of trouble is near, and their punishment will come quickly." The LORD will defend his people and have mercy on his servants. He will see that their strength is gone, that nobody is left, slaves or free. Then he will say, "Where are their gods? Where is the rock they trusted? Who ate the fat from their sacrifices, and who drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let those gods come to help you! Let them protect you!"
John 3:36 (KJV);
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

May God bless each one of you -

[Woodnut]

AMEN!
Thanks Terry

[Juker]

Amen!

[ampaterry]

Today is fathers day. May God bless all fathers on this day, and cause them to be aware of the awesome responsibility they bear as the male parent of a child in the twenty first century.
The history of this day is quite surprising; while Mothers Day was a designated holiday by act of congress in 1914, it took 58 years before Congress gave the same recognition to Fathers day, which Richard Nixon signed into law. There were many attempts, but they all ended in failure and were even greeted with laughter.
Most countries have a day dedicated to Fathers, but they fall all year long, from February in Russia to December in Bulgaria. Even the Islam calendar has a Fathers day, but due to their calendar it can fall any time of year in our calendar, because the Islamic calendar does not agree with the years length, the seasons, or any other real world cycles which all other calendars are based upon.
While everyone had a father, only some were blessed to have a good one.
Scripture tells us how to fall in that latter category when it outlines the duties of a good father.
A good father instructs his child:
Proverbs 4:1 (KJV); Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
A good father corrects his child:
Proverbs 3:12 (KJV); For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
A good father rejoices in his child:
Proverbs 23:24 (KJV); The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Heavenly Father, be with all fathers today, and impress upon them that the responsibilities of fatherhood continue throughout the life of the child. Help each one, Lord, to instruct, correct, and rejoice in their children.
And I ask this in the name of Jesus, the Christ, our Heavenly Father.

Amen -

[jack404]

Amen

[Woodnut]

AMEN !
Thanks Terry.

[reflex1]

Amen and thanks Terry! And may the Good Lord lay His blessings on you for bringing His word to us!

[ampaterry]

Thank you for the words of support, guys!

Reflex, he has - and does - every day.
I walk outside, look at the wild turkeys and deer in the lawn, look up at the sky, spread my arms and say "THANK YOU, LORD!!"

[permafrost]

Good Morning!
And thank you.

[ampaterry]

The Dover Area School district in Pennsylvania passed a rule that required biology teachers to read a statement at the beginning of the school year to each of their 9th grade classes. The statement was four short paragraphs, and took about one minute to read. It simply stated that Evolution is a theory, not a fact. It also pointed out that evolution should be approached with an open mind, understanding that there were areas in biology for which it did not have an answer. The statement also said that ID (Intelligent Design) was a competing theory that would NOT be taught, but a book on it was available in the school library. Classes would continue to teach evolution, and evolution is what would be tested for in the tests.
The NCSE got in the act, and had eight teachers sign a form letter objecting, saying they would not read the statement. A lawsuit against the school district was mounted, and was successful, and the reading of this simple factual statement was not done.
Another school district placed small stickers on the inside cover of their Biology textbooks stating that Evolution was a theory, not a fact. A subsequent lawsuit by the NCSE forced them to peel the stickers out of all the textbooks in spite of the fact that the stickers were completely honest and accurate.
What is the big problem here? Every HONEST scientist, whether or not they believe in Evolution, recognizes that evolution, as it pertains to Common Descent (the belief that all life on earth descended from original single celled lifeforms), is a theory at best. there are areas of trouble for it, for which there ARE no answers.
In a poll reported in National & International Religion Report, it was found that, while 50 percent of those polled were troubled about the influence of religious fundamentalism, only 36 percent expressed concern about secular humanism's influence.
Houston, we have a problem!
There is a THEORY that evolution is the mechanism whereby Man descended from a blob of goo through a long line of increasingly complex creatures. There is scant evidence for this theory, and there is ZERO proof for it, yet it is being taught in all public schools here in the US as the ONLY POSSIBLE method whereby we came into being. When anyone dares to even tell the kids that it is a THEORY, a flock of NCSE supporters descends on the school involved and whips them back into the proper party line through threats of potentially devastatingly expensive lawsuits.

The Word of God tells us:
1 Corinthians 15:34 (KJV);
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."
1 Timothy 6:20-21 (KJV);
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Our kids deserve better than this, guys.
They deserve to hear the truth about the difference between theoretical science and factual science.

May God have mercy on us for allowing this to continue.

[Woodnut]

AMEN!!

[Juker]

Amen, amen!!

If we descended from apes, why do apes still exist? And where are all the evolving mid-range monkeyman fossils?

Isn't it sad that people can cling to made-up science as truth, and scoff at God's word - ?

[Double D]

My brother claims he doesnt believe in God. I will have conversations with him about engines or computers and he admits that those things had to have a creator. But, something as complex as the human body, well, that just "happened". Some peoples logic.

[ampaterry]

It is disgusting.
I am a scientist; I have worked most of my life in various science fields.
Science has always been a PASSION with me; I love it.
But this crud they are pumping to our kids is not science, it is speculation. It is a specious attempt to explain all that exists by some natural means rather than the obvious source, God. It is exactly what Paul told Timothy it was: Science falsely so called!

[ampaterry]

"No one's behavior is entirely his or her own business. Even slight departures from health have their unseen eventual consequences. In our day of prized individuality and "it's nobody's business but mine" attitude, we trip each other up in more ways than we recognize. But when I set my mood tuned to joy, I create far-reaching results in health that I may never see."
Lloyd H. Ahlem wrote that in "The Covenant Companion" in Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 2. Setting my mood to joy is something which I strive to always do, and almost always succeed in it. When someone asks me that commonplace and almost rhetorical question, "How you doin'?", my normal response is "Fantastic!", and I mean it. I consider any time I can be out and about and able to meet people a fantastic time. I have been so ill at times that I could not leave the house, and therefore I feel great when I can get out. I have spent seven years in Smithville, away from my wife, family and friends. Any time I am in my chosen area, with my wife, friends and family, I feel I am doing 'fantastic' indeed! I have seen times when I was suffering from physical hunger, such as the flood in Fairbanks in 1967. Anytime I am not suffering from hunger, I believe I am doing great! I have seen times when we were first married when we had bad apartment living conditions, no transportation, and very little money. Anytime I have a permanent mailing address is a good time. Anytime I don't have to hitch-hike to work is a good time. Anytime I can open my wallet and find at least $20 inside is a good time.
You can have this attitude: stop dwelling on what you do not have, and think instead of what you do have.
Philippians 1:27 (KJV);
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"
1 John 2:10-11 (KJV);
"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."

I pray for each one of you to have a FANTASTIC day - both in claim and in reality.

[Airdale]

Amen

Thank you Terry. If some people could only learn this simple lesson their happiness and
contentment would improve by leaps and bounds.

[Woodnut]

Originally Posted by Airdale

Amen

Thank you Terry. If some people could only learn this simple lesson their happiness and
contentment would improve by leaps and bounds.

AMEN !