I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is!


Friday, December 25, 2009

Does God sanction the celebrating of Jesus’ birth?

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BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 14:  Palestini...Image by Getty Images via Daylife
There is not a Christmas season that arrives that does not bring with it discussion and even discord over the actual birthday of Jesus. It seems to me that Christian brothers and sisters would not squabble over such a small thing. It might be a good thing to remember the teachings of Jesus relating to loving each other. But, since many seem stuck on resolving minor meaningless differences I decided to put my 2 cents worth in.

Let’s start with what we know for sure about His date of birth.  What we know for sure is we really don’t know. We do know that there are several dates that have people who will swear are the correct birth date.  There are some that say it had to be in May, and they can provide their “evidence” proving it. And there are those who say it had to be in September, and they also can provide their “evidence” proving it.  Of course there is the ongoing debate regarding December 25th vs. January 6th.  Yes, there are those who have “proof” that the birth of Jesus truly is December 25th.  If you are interested is some of the pro December 25th arguments you may want to visit the Wikipedia site at the bottom of this article.

The truth is rather than focusing on whether the date we celebrate His birth is the correct date, we probably ought to think about if we should celebrate it at all.  There are some out there that think we should not.  Usually they will point to Deuteronomy 12:28-31, which reads:

28 Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.
29 The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, 30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same." 31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.


Personally, I do not believe that the above scripture prohibits Christians recognizing or celebrating the birth of Jesus.

In any event, the date really doesn’t matter. If God had decided it was important He would have made the date clear. He did not, however He did give us quite a bit of information about the birth, so He felt that it was important. I would agree it is not as important as the resurrection, but it did have to happen first. I think what is important is our attitude towards Christmas. There are those who believe Christmas is a compromise with paganism and others who have other problems with Christmas. Trust me, I have heard it all. Having said that, December 25th happens to be the day we observe as the birth of Jesus. If I am going to observe it at all, I will do so on that date. I guess I could observe it in May or September but I probably won’t see quite as many Nativity scenes. 

So, how should Christians celebrate Christmas?  I believe it is important to remember that Christmas is really about gifts. Oh, not the temporal material gifts that it seems to have become about, but the gifts Jesus gave us.  Christ gave us gifts of eternal value: His love and companionship along with gifts of salvation, forgiveness of sins, the indwelling Holy Spirit, His righteousness, peace, joy, wise counsel, healed minds, restored relationships, and adoption into His eternal home.  Now those are some gifts I am glad I received! 

I hope you always appreciate Christmas but from the correct perspective.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Jesus#Year_of_birth

Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Monday, December 21, 2009

CHRISTmas Message

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Because we are celebrating the birthday of our Lord. I thought it would be meaningful to look at Isaiah's prophecy, made more than 700 years before the birth of Jesus, and then the fulfillment of that prophecy in the New Testament.


A Child Is Born
Isaiah 9:6,7
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Commentary
Isaiah includes many direct predictions of the coming Messiah, including this passage, which established that the Messiah will come from Galilee (read verse 1). The lands Isaiah mentions as "humbled" in verse 1 are the very regions devastated by Assyria's armies (2 Kings 15:29). Thus Isaiah offers a word of distant hope for those parts of his nation most affected by war.

Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Commentary
1:18 Pledged to be married. There were no sexual relations during a Jewish betrothal period, but it was a much more binding relationship than a modern
engagement and could be broken only by divorce (see v. 19). In Dt. 22:24 a betrothed woman is called a "wife," though the preceding verse speaks of her as being "pledged to be married." Matthew uses the terms "husband" (v. 19) and "wife" (v. 24) of Joseph and Mary before they were married. 1:19 righteous. To Jews this meant being zealous in keeping the law. Divorce her quietly. He would sign the necessary legal papers but not have her judged publicly and stoned (see Dt. 22:23-24). 1:20 In a dream. The phrase occurs five times in the first two chapters of Matthew (here; 2:12-13,19,22) and indicates the means the Lord used for speaking to Joseph. son of David. Perhaps a hint that the message of the angel related to the expected Messiah. take Mary home as your wife. They were legally bound to each other, but not yet living together as husband and wife. What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. This agrees perfectly with the announcement to Mary (Lk 1:35), except that the latter is more specific.

Have a blessed CHRISTmas,
Wayne

PS: Please do two things for me. First, please email or otherwise notify your contacts about this post as ask them to come and read it. Second, become a follower of this blog. You can do that on the left. thanks, Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Is Infant Baptism Valid?

Question: My parents told me that I was baptized as an infant. Some of my Christian friends say I need to be baptized again. Why?

Baptism is one part of your overall commitment to Christ. It is a public proclamation of that commitment. That being so, the person being baptized must be old enough to have made a sincere commitment to Christ himself or herself. Children can do this at a fairly early age in some cases. I see baptism of infants as the parents committing the child to Christ, and that is OK, but I believe the biblical pattern is for people to be baptized following conversion (see Acts 16:29-34 for one example). Baptism is not necessary for salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:17 Lets not forget the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He was saved though never baptized. Having said that I want to say baptism is biblical and important. If you were baptized young, and/or are not sure you had given your life to Christ prior to your baptism, just do it again. Jesus considered baptism so important that He did it Himself, and made it part of His instructions in "The Great Commission" (read Matthew 28:16-20)


Revenant Scripture
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. Matthew 3:16


In the grip of grace,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Evolution vs. Creation

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The evolution vs. creation debate is a question of origins. Were we intelligently created or did we simply evolve randomly? How did we get here? Are we the products of Creation by a higher intelligent power with a purpose, or are we simply an accident? Are we the result of a cosmic accident or a series of such accidents?

The media of today likes to portray the evolution vs. creation debate as science vs. religion, with creation being religious and evolution being scientific. Often, if you don't agree with this label, you too may well be labeled. It really does not matter which camp you are in. If you are an evolutionist or creationist, and you don’t agree with the type cast you receive, you can be criticized and maybe even called a religious fanatic who is trying to pass off religion as science or, perhaps even worse, trying to disprove science to promote a religious worldview. I think we can agree that neither model of our origin has been proven and certainly there remains doubt. Otherwise, the theory of evolution wouldn't be called a "theory.” Whether we like to admit it or not, those who subscribe to the theory of evolution do so by faith. And it takes just as much faith as believing in creation, maybe even more.

Since there is no doubt that I am a Creationist the balance of this article will be written with that slant. After all, why would I want to argue the Evolutionist position since I believe them to be wrong?

Evolutionists, as hard as they try, can not come up with reasonable answers to a couple of very fundamental questions about Evolution.

Question #1. Most Evolutionists say the “Big Bang” exploded into our perfectly formed universe as we have it today. If that is the case where did the mass of matter come from? Science does not explain scientifically where the matter came from that “Big Banged” it's way into our universe, as we know it today.

Question #2. How did living things initiate life in themselves? Science cannot explain scientifically how living things initiated life in themselves.

Question #3. How did life not only initiate life in itself, but how did it do it from absolute sterility? Again science cannot answer how life begot itself from absolute sterility.

These are three very basic questions that, as far as I am concerned, must be answered if Evolution is to be given any credence at all. And, as I indicated, science is unable to provide any credible answers here. In order to accept this “science” you must accept, on faith, that these things “just happened.” You must swallow hook, line and sinker all the unexplained parts they simply can not answer.

So, let’s attempt to establish some examples of the thought processes. To accept the thinking of the Evolutionists you would have to believe that it is possible to have a skyscraper where construction began on the 5th floor and progressed upward from there. The Creationists of course will ask, “where is the foundation?” To answer honestly the Evolutionists will have to respond "well, there is no foundation. " This answer assumes the Evolutionist will answer honestly.

Applying the Evolutionists form of thinking in another way, I seriously doubt an
Evolutionist would get on a train which they know passes over a bridge that is missing some tracks.

I really don’t consider these really good demonstrating examples, but I don’t see them much more difficult to conceive and believe than the lack of reasonable answers to the three above fundamental questions.

As for me – I find Creation much easier to believe than Evolution. Creation takes less faith.

Be blessed,

Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Does God punish children for the sin of the parents?

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I remember reading in the Bible that God punishes children for their parents sin. Is that so?

No, not exactly. In fact there is scripture to the contrary. Please read Ezekiel 18:14-20, and the promise of the new covenant -- Jeremiah 31:28-34. Children often do inherit problems from the parents. Sinful patterns of behavior are often passed on to family members. An environment of alcoholism, sexual abuse or violence can scar children for life, but these children will answer to God for their own lives, not for those of their parents. Your question probably came from reading Numbers 14:18. I believe scripture is consistent in that God punishes people for their own sins, and Numbers 14:18 is referring to passing on of a sinful nature, or the sad results of sinful parents. Are not "crack babies" punished for the sins of their parents? The parents do it though, not God.


Revelent Scripture
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16

In the grip of grace,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Thursday, December 3, 2009

Why Pray if God is in Control?

If God is in control of everything; if God is sovereign and rules all, why should we pray?

While it is true that God is sovereign and rules over all, we must understand that God has ordained not only the "ends" but also the "means" to those ends. God has not only predetermined to bring certain things about, but also He has ordained to accomplish some specific things as a result of the individual prayers of His saints (us). Therefore, we absolutely should pray for specific needs. Let us not forget the teaching of James 4:2 "You do not have, because you do not ask God." (also see 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Further, our God is the God of love and a God of personal relationships. He desires that we be in communion with Him. He wants a close personal relationship with each one of us. How could that be possible without intimate conversation? That alone is reason enough to pray.

Relevant Scripture
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6


Be blessed,
Wayne

http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org


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Saturday, November 7, 2009

Does God ever change his mind?

Some people believe that God cannot change his mind contradicting his unchanging nature. Others believe that since God knows all things, he does not change his mind. However, the Bible often speaks of God's mercy in terms of God changing his mind about judgment. God does change his mind, but not the way we humans do. God, being sovereign can predetermine to change his course of action in response to our prayers, while leaving his ultimate purposes unchanged. He simply builds in options into his purposes from the start. Its kind of like taking a trip and altering the route along the way, but ending up at the pre-planned destination. Our God never changes, but can change his mind in response to our prayers. For examples of God changing his mind see: Exodus 32:9-14; Isaiah 38:1-4; Hosea 11:8,9; Jonah 3:10


Relevant Scripture
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:10


Be blessed,

Wayne

Capstone Christian Ministries

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

DOES GOD ESTABLISH ALL GOVERNMENTS?

The Bible seems to say that God establishes all governments. Does He establish the bad ones too?

In some cases God allows unjust or even evil leaders to obtain positions of power and leadership. Sometime they even become rulers over nations. That does not mean that God participates in their evil activities. God can, however, use human deeds -- good or evil -- to help accomplish
his greater purposes, which are always good. A Biblical example is His use of evil Babylon to discipline the nation of Judah. He permitted brutal rulers to conquer his people in the hopes that his people would turn again to him. See Habakkuk 1:6

God always wants leaders to govern fairly and justly. Sometimes they don't.

Relevant scripture
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1

Be blessed,
Wayne

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http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Friday, October 16, 2009

WHY DID GOD WIPE OUT ENTIRE CITIES?

If God is a God of mercy and love, why did He find it necessary to wipe out entire cities or populations of people? Why didn't He at least exclude the children? Surely they were innocent of any wrongdoing.

Answer
There are several places in the Old Testament where God opted to kill entire groups of people; men, women, children and in some cases even the animals. (see Deuteronomy 2:34 and 3:6,
Joshua 6:21 and Jeremiah 11:11; 14:11-12; 15:1-2) God takes no pleasure in death (Ezekiel 18:32 and 33:11), but being a just God did what was necessary for the overall good of His perfect plan.

In every case where the people were killed in mass they were steeped in sin, and were worshipping other gods. Clearly God finds this intolerable, and in fact tells us this, and tells us of the consequence. Read Deuteronomy 8:19-20. This verse is pivotal to understanding the nature of God relating to obedience and commitment to Him. It's not like they weren't warned. While God would have preferred that these people repented and turned to Him, they did not and in fact went so far off track that God's judgment became inevitable. They were so degenerate that they were beyond repentance. Prominent among their sins were: idol worship, sexual perversion, and the sacrificial slaughter of infants. Their societies were contaminated at every level. Left alone their degenerate lifestyles and practices would have infected more of God's people. So God dealt with the problem directly and forcefully. As far as the destruction of innocent children is concerned, we cannot know why God included them, but must remember that God's ways are just and He does no wrong (Deuteronomy 32:4). We can rest in the knowledge that it was the right thing to do. Remember, the physical death of a baby is not the same as eternal death. God simply moved these infants from one existence to another, and no doubt far better, existence (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16).

These children are in heaven with God (Romans 2:12-16). One of the characteristics of us humans is that we try to figure out, with our finite knowledge and ability to understand, why God does what He does . We can not and we will not be able to fully understand
Him, until we dwell with Him in heaven. This is not to say we shouldn't continue to learn about Him and to strive to know Him, but we must understand that He is God and we are not. God's ways are not our ways and God's thoughts are not our thoughts, but as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). We cannot "put him in a box."

Relevant scripture

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond tracing out! (Romans 11:33)


Be blessed,
Wayne

http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org


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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WHY DOES GOD TEMPT US TO SIN?

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Question:
I struggle to do the right thing, but it seems I often do the wrong thing. Why does God tempt us to sin?


God does not tempt us. That is one of Satan's specialties. God does test us at times, but he does not tempt us. What's the difference? Tempting is trying to get a person to do something wrong. A trial (or test) is a situation in which God gives a person an opportunity
to do something right. God never tries to trip us up, but he does allow tough circumstances to build our character and spiritual maturity. On occasion God may test us by putting us directly into Satan's line of fire. God doesn't test us so that we may fall into sin. He tests
us so that we might be victorious. As far as your struggle to do the right thing, we all struggle there. You are not alone. Even the Apostle Paul faced this struggle. Romans 7:7-25 Make up your mind that you will not be tempted by sin, and then do the best you can. Ask God for forgiveness when you fail.


Relavant Scripture
At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:12,13

Also see: Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13


God bless,
Wayne

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Bible speaks of "fear of God." Should we live in fear or terror of God?

The Bible speaks of "fear of God." Should we live in fear or terror of God?

No, we should not. The fear the Bible is referring to is not the kind of fear that makes us tremble. This fear is actually another word for reverence or worship. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge. I think this suggests that if we properly acknowledge God and give Him the worship He deserves we will begin to gain wisdom. We are to approach God with an attitude of humility and awe, not dread and fright. We should fear God in our daily lives, whether relating to money, work, marriage or other issues we face, giving God the honor due Him by obeying His will in each of these areas. A wise person will seek God's perspective on matters before acting. God deserves our fear, but we are not to be afraid of Him.

Relevant Scripture:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7

Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Jonah spends three days and nights in the belly of a big fish – Truth or Fiction?

Interpretations of the Book of Jonah

Perhaps the greatest difficulty connected with this book is the matter of determining the method of interpretation. The following are the main theories of interpretation:

* ALLEGORICAL --- "An allegory is a story consisting of a series of incidents which are analogous to a parallel series of happenings that they are intended to illustrate." Thus: Jonah = Israel ....... Jonah's flight = Israel's failure to fulfill its spiritual mission to the nations ....... The "great fish" = Babylon, which swallows up Israel in the captivity ....... Spitting out Jonah = the restoration of Israel to their homeland ....... Etc ....... Etc. (Jeremiah 51:34 speaks of Babylon "swallowing" Israel "like a monster," and it "filled his stomach." Then, in vs. 44, God says He will "bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up.") --- Some regard this as biblical proof of their theory that Jonah is merely an allegory.

* PARABOLIC --- "A parable is a short, pithy story with a didactic aim." The moral of this story --- God's love for the nations. Jonah typifies "the narrow-minded, exclusive Jew with no love for the nations beyond its borders."

* MYTHICAL --- This point of view assumes that the whole story is nothing but a myth or legend which arose around some incident in the history of Israel.

* HISTORICAL --- This view holds that the narrative describes events which actually took place. This is the most likely view. Those who object to this view do so primarily on the basis of the miraculous element in the account (the "great fish" incident, for example). "Jesus placed His sanction on the story as historical fact ..... therefore, the historical interpretation is the only interpretation worthy of acceptance to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ"


The fact that this account should be regarded as historical, however, does not mean there are no parabolic or allegorical or spiritual lessons to be derived from it. However, the only way you can consider it a myth is to be a non-Christian, and ergo, not believe any of the miracles.


An Argument for the Historic Accuracy of the Book of Jonah

The story of Jonah spending three days and three nights in the belly of a big fish
has called forth much disbelief. I am not sure why. This is the story of another miracle and is no greater a miracle than the virgin birth or the resurrection of Jesus. So, I really can’t understand the disbelief.

The question each believer needs to ask him/herself is: Do I believe our God is capable of performing miracles, and am I ready to accept them ALL? If my answer is yes, then why do I have a problem with Jonah? Remember that the Jonah miracle was confirmed and vouched for by Jesus himself in Matthew 12:39-40. He vouches for this historicity and literalness of Jonah by seizing upon it as an example of His own literal Death and Resurrection.

If you have doubts as to the miracle of Jonah in the fish, your issue is not with the historic record of Jonah, but with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Also see Luke 11: 29-30. So… Christ said that the Book of Jonah is true. That settles the matter for all of those who believe in the authority of Christ. If you don’t believe in the authority of Christ, you probably should not even have read this far.

There is some room for speculation, but not on whether or not the story is accurate. We can speculate as to how Jonah survived in the big fish. Perhaps it is a simple as God protected him, just as He protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in The Fiery Furnace. Or could it be that Jonah actually died and was resurrected three days later?

Was the miracle one of keeping him alive, or was the miracle in raising him from the dead? Since The Book of Jonah illustrates the resurrection, I'm of the opinion that God raised him from the dead. But clearly that is my opinion and subject to debate.

In any event the Bible is full of accounts of God doing miracles. The Christian faith rests on the miracle of Christ's resurrection. Jonah and the big fish is simply another miracle.

God said it… I believe it!

Be blessed,

Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Will Christ followers be judged?

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Since the sins of believers were washed away by Christ on the cross, how can believers be judged?


Good Question. Since we are justified by faith and not by works, how can we be judged at all? 2 Corinthians 5:10 is telling us of the importance of living according to what we believe. While salvation is a matter of faith, other eternal rewards depend on our faithfulness. See
1 Cor.3:8 & 3:13-15. We believers are judged righteous in Christ, but will also be rewarded in accordance with the things we do while in the body, whether good or bad. It does matter what we do. God expects our behavior to reflect Him in us. The details of this judgment are not important. What is important is that the Judge is fair and will reward us as we deserve.


Relevant Scripture

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Be blessed,
Wayne

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Are we saved by grace alone?

Are we saved by grace alone, or do we need to do good works?

Our salvation is a gracious gift of God. God gave us this gift when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. No one can take this gift from us. It is irrevocable. You cannot earn your way into heaven. Works are not necessary. Having said that, you will notice many Christians who spend a lot of time doing "works." That is normal and natural byproduct of Christianity. The Holy Spirit residing in us moves us to do good works. In fact it is difficult not to do good works, considering God prepared them in advance for us to do. We cannot earn salvation through works. When you really consider it, isn't it a bit silly to think we (us sinners) could do anything for a sinless Holy God that would get Him to change his mind and let us into heaven? After what He did for us! For more on faith and deeds Read James 2:14-24. In reading don't confuse justification with salvation.


Relevant Scripture

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.


Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.


James 2:14-24
Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.


Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org
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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Someone recently asked me if someone who is saved, someone who has accepted Jesus, fall away and lose their salvation?


In a word -- no. Having said that, some explanation is in order. When a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they must be sincere in that acceptance. They must have a right heart. They cannot just be playing a game or dabbling in Christianity. They must develop a personal relationship with Jesus. True believers won't fall away though they may have times where they "backslide." Luke 8:13 speaks of falling away, but I believe this is referring to the appearance of falling away, rather than truly falling away. I think anyone who "falls away" was not truly sincere in their acceptance. John 10:28 says "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." Since "no one" includes us, we cannot do anything to take ourselves away from God. Again this assumes we were sincere in our acceptance. Salvation is a gracious gift of God. Once accepted, it is ours and we cannot lose it.


Relevant Scripture

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8


I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:28–29

Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org


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Monday, July 27, 2009

How can a loving God sentence people to eternal suffering in hell?

Our God is indeed a God of love. As such he gives us free will. He does not "sentence" us to hell. We get to make that choice. Hell is eternal separation from God. Since God is love, hell is the absence of love. Since God is light, hell is the absence of light.

Our God is not only the God of love, He is also perfect righteousness and absolute holiness. As such, there can be absolutely no sin in his presence in heaven. We are all sinners, forgiven by God's grace and Christ's sacrifice in place of us. The truth is we all deserve hell, but God provided an alternative: heaven.

God's word makes it clear that He would prefer every human being spend eternity in heaven with Him, but He left the choice to us. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, or accept hell. Easy choice for me!

So God does not "sentence" anyone to hell. He gives us a choice. It is truly up to each of us individually. Choose heaven, or choose hell.

In the grip of grace,
Wayne

Love all - Trust some - Harm none

http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God... - Romans 8:28
'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.'- Ronald Reagan
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson
We are always the same age inside.
Gertrude Stein (1874 - 1946)
Football is a mistake. It combines the two worst elements of American life. Violence and committee meetings.
George F. Will (1941 - )
Good morning to all... I am on Cabo countdown. 11 days. It will be a great 2 weeks. Have a blessed week. Let me know if I can pray for you.

Monday, July 20, 2009

SAINT WAYNE

Yep… that’s right I am a saint. Oh, I am not saying I have been declared a saint by the Catholic church or anything like that. I have been declared a saint by God. He’s even higher than the Catholic church, you know…


Seriously, a while back I was asked: I have heard Christians refer to one another as saints. Why is that?

I answered: Because that is what we are. Let me explain. The word “saint” literally means one who is set apart. As used around the time that both Romans and Philippians were written (about A.D. 57 to A.D. 62) it meant those who were dedicated to God. This included all who believed in Jesus, regardless of their individual character or spiritual maturity. Today it means the same thing. A saint is not someone who, through their own power or strength, has attained a certain level of purity. A saint is someone who believes in Jesus Christ and because of that belief has had the stain of sin washed away by the blood of Jesus. Because of Jesus, saints are clean. We are saints because of what Jesus did for us, and not because of anything we do. His death on the cross did away with the sin problem for all who believe in Him. That sets us apart, and makes us saints.

Some relevant Scripture

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints; Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Philippians 1:1


Saint Wayne signing off. Thanks for reading!

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

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The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.
Thomas Jefferson
'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.'- Ronald Reagan
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson
When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it.
Bernard Bailey
Remember -- Love all – Trust some – Harm none

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities.
Aldous Huxley
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson
The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' - Ronald Reagan
Never take your own revenge... "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. -- Romans 12:19
Good day all…God wants you to let Him know your needs. I will gladly do that for you. Feel free to send me your prayer requests. DM ok.

Friday, July 17, 2009

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson
'The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' -Ronald Reagan
Love all - Trust some - Harm none

Thursday, July 16, 2009

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe.
Thomas Jefferson
Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage.
Evan Esar (1899 - 1995)
This is my first post via ping.fm. Just checking it out.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

THE BATTLE is GETTING HOT

THE BATTLE is GETTING HOT
-Darren Smith. (5 Jul 09).

[Author of the "FALL OF BABYLON" word - reprinted below at the end]

Many people have labeled me as a doomsday prophet over the
last few weeks as God has sent the Words He gave me all over
the world. The overwhelming response has stretched us to the
breaking point....

I would like to share a couple of things with you guys about the
whole doomsday thing. I believe that Gods Kingdom will crush
all the kingdoms of the world. I also believe that we bring forth His
Kingdom when we live the Gospel and not just talk about it.

Just yesterday in the street in Galveston we saw 4 people
receive healing and all 4 where born again on the spot. We also
had testimony of several that received healing the week before as
well. 3 different people received the miracle of getting a house and
off the street after we prayed with them last week. As we minister
to these people, we share with them the power of God over every
aspect of their life and the fact that if they die to this life they are
raised with Christ and it is Christ in them, the hope of glory that
rules their life.

It's amazing that people who are in such bondage to sin and
so broken by this life can receive and step right into the Kingdom
so quickly when many who have been religious all their life still do
not live in the power of God. These miracles are available to all who
believe and enter into Christ but few ever enter in. We see so many
miracles because we are trying to expand the Kingdom of God and
not trying to build our own kingdom. Everyday we live a faith walk
trusting God for our daily bread and to use us in His Kingdom with
no care for what this world has to offer.

The freedom is understanding that if you are in Christ you are
dead to this world. Dead men have no rights but you do have an
inheritance that is secure in Christ.

With this said I will be faithful to speak what the Lord has me speak.
I believe words such as the Fall of Babylon are warnings to come
out of her and live for Christ. As far as the timing I believe that these
shaking's are already in motion, but I do realize that God may have
mercy and hold back giving more time to repent. Either way I stand
ready to advance His Kingdom in times of wrath or in times of peace.

Last, I would ask you to pray for us as we have come under attack
for the very words the Lord gave me to send out. Many have taken
these words as an attack on the USA, but they are not an attack,
they are indeed an indictment on the hedonistic culture that we
have created and the god of self that rules this land. This government
is so corrupt and is a tool in Satan's hand to hinder the Kingdom of
God, but many still hold to the thought that it is a God fearing
government to the point that they have sent the message of Fall of
Babylon to the authorities. I have been called a terrorist,
anti-American, anti-government, as well as a false prophet just for
simply sending out the word that God gave me. Even though this
troubles me, I will stand on the Word of God and continue to shout
from the mountains this message, as well as spreading the word of
the Gospel with signs and wonders without fear of man.

The time may come that the true church has to go underground, if
so we are ready for what ever comes. With this said, we will increase
the call to repent to this nation and its leaders who are spinning out
of control. May God give us time to bring in the harvest. If you are
dead to this world step into faith and live the Gospel.

"FALL of BABYLON" - REPRINTED from 4 WEEKS AGO
-by Darren Smith. (1 Jun 09).

The Lord kept me up most of the night bringing a word for me to
share and to share now. Many times I wait until I have prayed over
what I hear in my spirit, but I can't wait to send this word out.

Last night while praying before I went to bed, The Lord gave me a
vision that really rattled me. In the vision I saw this land split into
four parts with each one under its own flag. Each region had terrible
destruction and many people were dead. As I looked over the
destruction I was crying and the Lord asked me, "Why are you
crying over the fall of Babylon? As a matter of fact, why have you
been praying for the healing of Babylon?"

In this vision I didn't have an answer and the Lord opened a scroll
and started reading off the indictments against our country, but
before each one he clearly called the USA Babylon.

The list was long and to the point, with such points as the killing
of several generations of unborn children. Beside this charge He
added that these babies had been sacrificed to the god of self. The
list also included greed, idolatry, pride, fornication, and many others,
so many I could not even read them all.

As I looked at the list of charges I was overwhelmed and broken
by the fact that we live every day in a nation that is so far removed
from God and in total opposition to the Kingdom of God, yet we are
comfortable here. We have become just like Lot living in Sodom,
the prosperity that the nation offers us has blinded us from the evil
that rules this land. We complain about how bad it is but still stay
attached to it with every ounce of strength we have.

The Lord told me to look at the nation as He sees it, not through
my eyes but through His. I could not look too long before I had to
agree and repent of loving Babylon. Once I repented the Lord told
me to prepare for the fall as time is running out. I must preach the
Gospel of The Kingdom not the Gospel of America. America is
already judged, the time of shaking is now and will increase rapidly
this summer. Water shortages and food shortages will become
common this summer, as well as fuel shortages. Civil unrest will
become common place in large cities first but will spill over into
the rural areas as well.

Natural disasters will stretch the resources of the nation to the
breaking point and the government will use this to take freedom
away. Brothers up north take note, you will see this start to happen
quickly. Please seek the Lord for direction as you are out of time.
The west coast will see this soon as well, please prepare.

In this vision there was a great wasteland that appeared to be in
the center of the nation where everything was wiped out and I saw
masses of people wandering without direction. They were dirty and
ragged, almost dead and there was no relief in sight. Most of you
reading this think I'm crazy I'm sure, but I must be faithful to share
what I'm given to share.

The Lord told me to cry from the mountain tops to repent and seek
the Lord now!! We don't have any more time to seek after the things
of this world. He has also given me teaching to prepare people to
pass through this time of shaking into the Kingdom and I must be
faithful to preach this word anywhere I have an open door.

If you want to hear this word please contact me to set up times
and places, but again I must warn you, we are running out of time.
We must stop living like we have all the time in the world. We
must stop crying over the fall of Babylon and press into the Kingdom.

-Darren Smith - EMAIL -
streetscapeministries@yahoo.com

--
YES! - You have permission to post these emails
to friends or other groups, blogs, boards, etc. Go for it!


God bless,
Wayne

Love all - Trust some - Harm none

.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Arizona Woman's Open Letter to U.S. Leadership

The following letter, read on Glenn Beck's show, is rapidly circulating around the country. Americans everywhere identify with this 53-year-old woman. She has gi ven us a voice. Once you read this, you will want to forward it to all of your friends...

GLENN BECK: I got a letter from a woman in Arizona . She writes an open letter to our nation's leadership:

"I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues a re that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the STIMULUS bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why -- what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band-Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try -- please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the busines s of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far o ff course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington . Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when he will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming."



Makes sense to me...

Wayne

Love all - Trust some - Harm none

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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The Biggest Economic Mistake Since The Days Of Herbert Hoover

Rep. McClintock gave the following floor speech in opposition to the Cap and Trade legislation on June 26, 2009.

I had a strange sense of Deja Vu as I watched the self-congratulatory rhetoric on the house floor tonight, and I feel compelled to offer this warning from the Left Coast.

Three years ago, I stood on the floor of the California Senate and watched a similar celebration over a similar bill, AB 32. And I have spend the last three years watching as that law has dangerously deepened California’s recession. It uses a different mechanism than Cap and Trade, but the objective is the same: to force a dramatic reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Up until that bill took effect, California’s unemployment numbers tracked very closely with the national unemployment rate. But then in January of 2007, California’s unemployment rate began a steady upward divergence from the national jobless figures. Today, California’s unemployment rate is more than two points above the national rate, and at its highest point since 1941.

What is it that happened in January of 2007? AB 32 took effect and began shutting down entire segments of California’s economy. Let me give you one example from my district. The City of Truckee, California was about to sign a long-term power contract to get its electricity from a new, EPA-approved coal-fired electricity plant in Utah. AB 32 and companion legislation caused them to abandon that contract. The replacement power they acquired literally doubled their electricity costs.

So when economists warn that we can expect electricity prices to double under the cap and trade bill, I can tell you from bitter experience that in my district, that’s not a future prediction, that is an historical fact.

Gov. Schwarzenegger assured us that AB 32 would mean an explosion of new, green jobs — exactly the same promises we’re hearing from cap and trade supporters. In California, exactly the opposite has happened. We have lost so many jobs that the UCSB economic forecast is now using the D-word – Depression – to discuss California’s job market.

M. Speaker, the Cap and Trade bill proposes what amounts to endlessly increasing taxes on any enterprises that produce carbon dioxide or other so-called greenhouse gas emissions. We need to understand what that means. It has profound implications for agriculture, construction, cargo and passenger transportation, energy production, baking and brewing – all of which produce enormous quantities this innocuous and ubiquitous compound. In fact, every human being produces 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide every day – just by breathing.

So applying a tax to the economy designed to radically constrict carbon dioxide emissions means radically constricting the economy.

And this brings us to the fine point of it.

When you discuss the folly of the Hoover Administration – how it turned the recession of 1929 into the depression of the 1930’s, the first thing that economists point to is the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act that imposed new taxes on over 20,000 imported products.

Waxman Markey is our generation’s Smoot Hawley. In fact, it’s worse because it imposes new taxes on an infinitely larger number of domestic products on a scale that utterly dwarfs Smoot-Hawley.

Let’s ignore for the moment the fact that the planet’s climate is constantly changing and that long term global warming has been going on since the last ice age. Let’s ignore the fact that within recorded history we know of periods when the earth’s climate has been much warmer than it is today and others when it has been much cooler. Let’s ignore the thousands of climate scientists and meteorologists who have concluded that human-produced greenhouse gases are a negligible factor in global warming or climate change.

Ignore all of that and still we are left with one lousy sense of timing. In the most serious recession since the Great Depression – why would members of this house want to repeat the same mistakes that produced that Great Depression? Watching how California has just wrecked its economy and destroyed its finances, why would they want to do the same thing to our nation?

M. Speaker, this is deadly serious stuff. It transcends ideology and politics. This House has just made the biggest economic mistake since the days of Herbert Hoover.

If this measure becomes law, two things are certain.

First, our planet will continue to warm and cool as it has been doing for billions of years.

Second: Congress will have delivered a staggering blow to our nation’s economy at precisely that moment when that economy was the most vulnerable.


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE





"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson










1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.


2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.


3. Colt: The original point and click interface.



4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.


5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?


6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.


7. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.


8. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.


9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.


10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.


11. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you not understand?


12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.


13. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.


14. Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians.


15. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.


16. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.


17. 911: Government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.



18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.


19. Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer.

20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.

21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.


22. You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.

23. Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don't make more.


24. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.


25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.


God Bless America!













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Friday, June 19, 2009

The Plantation

Article by:

Star Parker - Syndicated Columnist

Six years ago I wrote a book called Uncle Sam’s Plantation. I wrote the book to tell my own story of what I saw living inside the welfare state and my own transformation out of it. I said in that book that indeed there are twoAmericas - a poor America on socialism and a wealthy America on capitalism.

I talked about government programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS), Emergency Assistance to Needy Families with Children (EANF), Section 8 Housing, and Food Stamps. A vast sea of perhaps well-intentioned government programs, all initially set into motion in the 1960s that were going to lift the nation's poor out of poverty. A benevolent Uncle Sam welcomed mostly poor black Americans onto the government plantation. Those who accepted the invitation switched mindsets from "How do I take care of myself?" to "What do I have to do to stay on the plantation?"

Instead of solving economic problems, government welfare socialism created monstrous moral and spiritual problems - the kind of problems that are inevitable when individuals turn responsibility for their lives over to others. The legacy of American socialism is our blighted inner cities, dysfunctional inner city schools, and broken black families.

Through God’s grace, I found my way out. It was then that I understood what freedom meant and how great this country is.

I had the privilege of working on welfare reform in 1996, passed by a Republican Congress and signed 50 percent. I thought we were on the road to moving socialism out of our poor black communities and replacing it with wealth-producing American capitalism. But, incredibly, we are going in the opposite direction.

Instead of poorAmerica on socialism becoming more like rich American on capitalism, richAmerica on capitalism is becoming like poorAmerica on socialism. Uncle Sam has welcomed our banks onto the plantation and they have said, "Thank you, Suh."

Now, instead of thinking about what creative things need to be done to serve customers, they are thinking about what they have to tell Massah in order to get their cash. There is some kind of irony that this is all happening under our first black president on the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln.

Worse, socialism seems to be the element of our new young president. And maybe even more troubling, our corporate executives seem happy to move onto the plantation.

In an op-ed on the opinion page of the Washington Post, Mr. Obama is clear that the goal of his trillion dollar spending plan is much more than short term economic stimulus. "This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending - it's a strategy forAmerica ’s long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, healthcare, and education."

Perhaps more incredibly, Obama seems to think that government taking over an economy is a new idea. Or that massive growth in government can take place "with unprecedented transparency and accountability."

Yes, sir, we heard it from Jimmy Carter when he created the Department of Energy, the Synfuels Corporation, and the Department of Education. Or how about the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 - The War on Poverty - which President Johnson said "...does not merely expand old programs or improve what is already being done.. It charts a new course. It strikes at the causes, not just the consequences of poverty.”

Trillions of dollars later, black poverty is the same. But black families are not, with triple the incidence of single-parent homes and out-of-wedlock births.

It's not complicated. Americans can accept Barack Obama’s invitation to move onto the plantation. Or they can choose personal responsibility and freedom. Does anyone really need to think about what the choice should be?

"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Labor Unions Have Outlived Their Usefulness and Must Go

*********************************************************************

Labor Unions in the United States have outlived their usefulness and need to be outlawed. As we look back we see that the Labor Union movement is barely over 125 years old. It can be tracked back to about 1880, maybe a bit beyond. When we consider the conditions for workers back then and through the Great Depression, the need for labor unions is apparent. If not for unions, children would be working in factories, people would be working much longer hours every day, and there would be no weekends off; all these are important facts. I believe unions were absolutely necessary and historically served a good purpose. I also believe they no longer serve a positive purpose, but they have actually contributed in a big way to our current economic crisis. We have come too far for our society to allow the conditions mentioned above, even without labor unions.

Consider that in modern times there is not one major corporation subject to labor union organization of its employees that has been successful. Not a single one! Oh, you will be able to find some second tier companies that seem successful in spite of unionization, but on some of these the jury is still out. Additionally, if you look at heavily unionized states, like California, it is pretty easy to see the enormous negative impact of the labor unions. If the state of California were not controlled by the unions and their unreasonable contracts, it would have a far easier path out of its financial woes.

Let’s take a look at the General Motors situation. With the U.S. economy continuing to shed jobs—In Detroit, the UAW has been in the way of a reasonable solution. While they have agreed to some concessions as part of the GM's bankruptcy negotiations with the federal government, their real goal was and is to keep GM afloat to provide jobs for their membership. GM has become about jobs, not about building automobiles. It should have been allowed to fail without government intervention, and it most likely would have were it not for the labor unions. Let’s face it… had the labor unions been eliminated five years ago GM would probably not have found itself in it’s current financial condition. Oh, I know there are some other factors, but those probably could have been dealt with were it not for the unions.

So, GM exists only to provide jobs for the union workers, and for no other reason. Even our government has acknowledged that allowing GM to disappear would cause such unemployment directly and in allied businesses, that it may be the kiss of death for our economy. However, having said that, it is my bet that GM will be allowed to fail as soon as it is determined that the economy could survive the impact.

A wise move by the United States government would be to outlaw all labor unions right now, before it has to deal with the Union Bosses when the time to let GM fail arrives. Outlawing all labor unions at this time would also prove to be an economic blessing to California and other states finding themselves in a similar position.

Tough times require tough decisions. I hope we are up to the challenge.

Be blessed,
Wayne

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

Link to me at: www.LinkedIn.com/in/wcweeks

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A Review of "Historic Photos of the Chinese in California"

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Text and Captions by Hannah Clayborn – Copyright (c) 2009 – Turner Publishing Company, Nashville, TN 37219
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The book "Historic Photos of the Chinese in California" recently came into my possession. It looked like the standard coffee table book of photos. However, there was something about the picture on the cover that caused me to examine it carefully. I was then compelled to turn it over and look at the nine photos reproduced on the back cover. Each one commanded a bit of my time to study it fully. I was drawn to each photo.

I found the same thing happened when I opened the book. I was not able to put it down and, in fact went completely through it twice, and no doubt will visit it again.

Being a California native, I have a modicum of knowledge about how the Chinese fit into the development of California. I think most of us know there was a significant Chinese contribution to the establishment of the railroads, at least in the west, but the enormous offering made to railroad construction overshadowed some of their other contributions to California. Having lived in northern California, I was also aware of the hundreds of miles of rock walls built by the Chinese as fences for the ranchers marking the boundaries of their lands. Beyond that, I knew very little of California Chinese history.

Hannah Clayborn has done a stellar job of bringing some of the other Chinese contributions to light by way of an excellent photographic journal, combined with on-target comments and captions. Like many others, the Chinese were attracted to California in part as a result of the Gold Rush. However, because they were unable to own land or file gold claims they mostly ended up working for others for very low laborer’s wages. Their dreams of riches by way of gold were pretty much wiped away.

In 1850 there were 25,000 Chinese in California as recorded in California’s 1852 census. Many left the gold fields to seek employment and income elsewhere. As Chinese women were somewhat restricted from immigrating, this was a largely male population and a very able work force. By 1870 Chinese made up ten percent of California’s population, but accounted for almost 25 percent of the unskilled labor force. Chinese laborers were active in farming, fishing, sharecropping resulting in vegetable sales and other menial labor-intensive tasks as well as working the gold fields. In addition they proved to be very adept as cooks and shopkeepers.

While I am able to relay a bit of Chinese history here, I want to credit Hannah Clayborn, as this book is the only reference I used as a source of information. If you have found what I have written interesting, I must tell you it pales in comparison to Hannah’s book. The book "Historic Photos of the Chinese in California" is a must see. From beginning to end, with hundreds of photos and comments, the history unfolds. If you are at all like me you will be spellbound.

I understand this review may seem more like a promotional piece for the book rather than an objective review, but there was just no other way I could write it. This book is an exciting piece of work.


Be blessed,
Wayne

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

Link to me at: www.LinkedIn.com/in/wcweeks
Follow me at: http://twitter.com/wcweeks
Be a friend at: http://www.facebook.com/

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