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Daily Archives: April 16, 2015
Motivate Your Child: A Review
I’ve often found that Christian parenting books begin to sound the same after you read a handful of them. I wouldn’t quite say, “If you’ve read one, you’ve read them all,” but there is significant overlap in quite a few Christian parenting books.
Motivate Your Child by Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller is not exactly like other parenting books. It is a Christian book written from a Christian perspective, but it is different in that it gives parents practical and biblical advice on getting children to do what they’re supposed to do without being told over and over (and over!). That does sound impossible, I realize. (I think I’ve told my three boys to brush their teeth around 10,000 times in their lives, and they still don’t quite get it!) This book helps in that area.
Motivate Your Child is divided into two main parts: 1) Moral development in children…
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April 16, 2015 Truth2Freedom Daily Briefing Collection
The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him. —F.F. Bruce
Apr. 16, 2015
BLOOMBERG
Electric companies are breaking with longtime allies in the coal industry over state-level legislation that would stymie President Obama’s carbon-emissions limits.
If some Tennessee Republicans get their way, the Holy Bible will soon join the largemouth bass, the tomato, and the mockingbird as an officially recognized state symbol. The Tennessee House voted to make the Bible the official state book, passing the measure by a vote of 55-38.
The Clinton Foundation will continue taking contributions from six foreign governments while barring those from all others and begin disclosing all donations more frequently.
Hillary Clinton believes the Supreme Court should rule in favor of same-sex couples, a Clinton campaign spokesperson said
Fewer than 300,000 American workers filed applications for unemployment benefits for the sixth consecutive week, pointing to labor-market strength even as hiring cooled last month, while a Labor Department report in Washington showed jobless claims increased by 12,000 to 294,000 in the week ended April 11.
Consumer confidence cooled last week from an almost eight-year high as Americans took a less favorable view of their finances and the economy amid smaller gains in hiring.
Goldman Sachs posted the highest earnings per share in more than five years as all of its major businesses topped analysts’ estimates and the firm paid out a smaller portion of revenue to compensate employees.
Citigroup Inc., the third-largest U.S. bank, boosted profit more than analysts estimated after a cost-cutting push helped it weather a slump in trading.
President Obama’s handling of the economy is being seen more positively than negatively for the first time in more than five years, 49 percent to 46 percent-his best number in this poll since September 2009.
Retail sales rose less than expected in March after declining for three consecutive months. Since the U.S. began collecting data in 1967, only twice has it seen three-month stretches of waning retail sales in non-recessionary times.
For Norway’s $890 billion sovereign-wealth fund, the investment risks stemming from monetary policy have never been greater. Like most global investors, the Oslo-based fund is trying to navigate uncharted terrain as central banks across the world push out stimulus to protect economic growth and spur inflation.
AP Top Stories
The search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be expanded by another 23,000 square miles in the Indian Ocean if the jetliner is not found by May, officials said, affirming their commitment to not give up until it is located.
Police arrested a Florida Postal Service worker who steered his tiny aircraft onto the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol after flying through restricted airspace around the National Mall on Wednesday.
The US state of Texas killed its sixth death row inmate of the year, prison officials said, after replenishing a lethal injection drug that some manufacturers have refused to sell for executions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will launch energy and infrastructure projects worth $46 billion on a visit to Pakistan next week as China cements links with its old ally and generates opportunities for firms hit by slack growth at home.
Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, the military said.
BBC
More than 40 people have drowned off Sicily in the latest sinking of a migrant boat between Libya and Italy.
Hospital officials say that five baby girls in Texas have set a new record. They are the first quintuplet sisters ever born in the US, according to the Women’s Hospital of Texas in Houston.
Mexican authorities have issued an alert for five states after the theft of potentially dangerous radioactive materials.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has suspended death sentences passed by controversial new military tribunals, until it rules on the legality of the sentences.
Japan is scrambling fighters at near-unprecedented levels in response to foreign aircraft – mainly Russian and Chinese – approaching its airspace, the defense ministry said. Jets were scrambled 943 times in fiscal year 2014, a 16% increase on 2013.
Fears of a Greek debt default have seen the country’s borrowing costs in the markets rise rapidly.
Islamic State (IS) has stepped up its assault on the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, launching a series of suicide bomb attacks, official said.
WND
A Milford, Michigan, veterans’ group is up in arms after a proposal to place a memorial containing a battlefield cross – a military helmet and dog tags atop a semiautomatic rifle mounted on boots – was deemed too pro-violence by the local council.
Christians are leaving the U.S. military or are discouraged from joining in the first place because of a “hostile work environment” that doesn’t let them express their beliefs openly.
Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to make the Holy Bible the official state book, beating back an attempt to elevate Andrew Jackson’s Bible to the same level. But some see the vote as an act of Satan.
New research suggests that old age now starts at 74, with middle age lasting at least nine years longer than current estimates.
It is likely the first person who will live to be 1,000 years old is already alive today.
EU Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide
Following Pope Francis’s lead, EU lawmakers vote overwhelmingly to recognize genocide in move likely to trigger Turkish anger.
Obama and Netanyahu in Public Diplomacy War
Despite wanting otherwise, President Obama will likely have to confer with Prime Minister Netanyahu on final Iran deal, says expert.
Cyprus jolted by strongest quake in 16 years
Cyprus was rocked by its strongest earthquake in 16 years today, sending some office workers scurrying into the streets but with no immediate reports of casualties, authorities said.
Netanyahu Warns ‘Bad Deal’ with Iran Repeats Appeasement to Hitler
Just as the Nazis aspired to crush civilization and to establish a “master race” to replace it in controlling the world while annihilating the Jewish people, so too does Iran strive to gain control over the region, from which it would spread further, with the explicit intent of obliterating the Jewish state.
Experts’ warning over volcanic eruption that could push Europe into darkness THIS CENTURY
TWO HUNDRED years since a huge volcanic eruption turned Europe’s summer into winter – forcing people to eat cats and dogs in the street to stay alive – experts have warned mankind is NOT prepared for a similar event THIS century.
Statewide Weapons Of Mass Destruction Drill Underway in Des Moines
This week you may notice extra emergency vehicles and public safety officers running around in tactical gear, Hazmat suits, and bomb suits. It’s a part of a statewide drill Des Moines is hosting Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare emergency personnel for dealing with weapons of mass destruction. Brian O’Keefe with the Des Moines Fire Department said emergency officials in Iowa need to be prepared for anything.
Statue of Liberty-sized ASTEROID on collision course to hit EARTH, experts fear
Asteroid 2012 TC4 is set to whizz dangerously close to our planet for the second time after the space rock narrowly missed Earth in October 2012. Astronomers estimate 2012 TC4 could be as large as 40m wide…The impact of the larger 2012 TC4 asteroid, predicted to near Earth on October 12 2017, could be even more devastating.
‘Dangerous’ radioactive material stolen in Mexico
Mexican authorities have issued an alert for five states after the theft of potentially dangerous radioactive materials. A container of Iridium-192 used for industrial radiography was taken from a truck in the town of Cardenas in Tabasco state. The states of Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz are also on alert.
Putin sees sanctions as stimulus for Russian economy
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country can use Western sanctions to boost economic development by becoming more self-reliant. He is taking part in a live televised phone-in, with Russia’s economic problems figuring prominently. Mr Putin said he had told business leaders that he did not expect EU-US sanctions – imposed over Russia’s actions in Ukraine – to be lifted soon.
Al-Shabab recruiting in Kenyan towns
Somalia’s Islamist al-Shabab militants are recruiting heavily in north-eastern Kenya, according to evidence gathered by the BBC. The recruitment marks a new tactic for al-Shabab, underscoring fears voiced by Kenyan intelligence services and MPs. In one town alone, the BBC has learnt of 26 young men whose disappearance was reported to police because they were suspected to have joined the militants.
Hackers have ‘begun targeting nuclear power plants,’ cyber warfare expert warns
Computer hackers have begun targeting electric and nuclear power plants around the world, as well as other critical infrastructure sites in increasingly audacious attacks… Col. (res.) Dr. Gabi Siboni, director of the Cyber Security Program…said …“The disruption and possible infiltration of critical infrastructure is the most severe form of cyber attack…
America upgrades its biggest bomb
If diplomatic efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program fail, the country’s underground nuclear facilities could expect a surprise package delivery from Uncle Sam and his stealthy B-2 bomber.
Israel’s Netanyahu Likens Iran To Nazis
As Israel marked its Holocaust memorial day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Iran to the Nazis on Wednesday and warned the Islamic Republic must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons. Netanyahu linked the Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews in World War II to Iran’s contested nuclear program and some of the Islamic Republic leaders’ repeated references to the destruction of Israel.
Japan jet scrambles ‘near Cold War record’
Japan is scrambling fighters at near-unprecedented levels in response to foreign aircraft – mainly Russian and Chinese – approaching its airspace, the defence ministry says. Jets were scrambled 943 times in fiscal year 2014, a 16% increase on 2013.
Vandals attack Christian graveyard in northern Israel
Vandals have smashed gravestones at a Maronite Christian cemetery in a village near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, Israeli police said on Wednesday. Police opened an investigation after receiving a report about damage to a number of graves at a Christian cemetery in the village of Kufr Bir’im, spokeswoman Luba Samri said, indicating that the tombstones were “broken and displaced”.
Hamas is using heavy machinery to accelerate the construction of ‘attack tunnels’ in Gaza
Hamas has begun using heavy machinery and engineering tools to accelerate the excavation of attack tunnels leading from the Gaza Strip under the Israeli border, sources in the Palestinian enclave told the Times of Israel Wednesday.
Iran is redeploying its soldiers around Syria’s capital after ‘heavy losses’
Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops fighting on behalf of the Bashar al-Assad regime have reportedly withdrawn from a number of battlefronts and redeployed to strategic points around the Syrian capital.
Signs That The Elite Are Feverishly Preparing For Something BIG
What in the world are the elite up to? In recent days, we have learned that the New York Fed is moving a lot of operations to Chicago because of concerns about what a “natural disaster” could do, the federal government is buying 62 million rounds of ammunition commonly used in AR-15 semi-automatic rifles for “training” purposes, and NORAD is moving back into Cheyenne Mountain because it is “EMP-hardened”. In addition, government authorities have scheduled a whole host of unusual “training exercises” all over the nation. So are the elite doing all of this in order to prepare for something really BIG, or should we just chalk up all of this strange activity to rampant government paranoia? (Read More…)
Huge Trouble Is Percolating Just Under The Surface Of The Global Economy
Did you know that the number of publicly traded companies declaring bankruptcy has reached a five year high? And did you know that Chinese exports are absolutely collapsing and that Chinese economic growth in 2014 was the weakest in over 20 years? Even though things may seem to be okay on the surface for the global economy at the moment, that does not mean that big trouble is not percolating just under the surface. On Wednesday, investors cheered as stocks soared to new highs, but almost all of the economic news coming in from around the planet has been bad. The credit rating on Greek debt has been slashed again, global economic trade is really slowing down, and many of the exact same financial patterns that we saw just before the crash of 2008 are repeating once again. All of this reminds me of the months leading up to the implosion of Lehman Brothers. Most people were feeling really good about things, but huge trouble was brewing just underneath the surface. Finally, one day we learned that Lehman Brothers had “suddenly” collapsed, and then all hell broke loose. (Read More….)
Hillary’s Wall Street backers: We know she has to placate the serfs with populist rhetoric
Everyone on Wall Street knows that Hillary is there for them. Sure she’s going to talk a good lefty-populist game but everyone knows that it’s bull. It’s part of the game. Tell the “politically unsophisticated” whatever they want to hear. People will forget. They always do. Accountability? Shoot this is 2015, post bailout. Accountability is for suckers.
Having a hard time making your car payment? Oh I understand. I eat at Chipotle too. Late on rent? CEOs make too much money!
Just say whatever. The American people are too “politically unsophisticated” to realize they’re being played. Ready for Hillary!
The income tax in 1913 (when it began) and now, in current dollars (INFOGRAPHIC)
The Trans Pacific Partnership, A massive, secret, crony agreement you are supposed to know nothing about (Video)
We’ve covered the TPP negotiations a few times. From Hollywood – which is seeking to expand draconian copyright around the world, to Pharma, to the big industrial companies, everyone is in on this thing, except apparently the public.
Bachmann Points to Lateness of the Hour
The Jerusalem Post took note of Bachmann’s words of support for Israel on “Understanding the Times” radio, quoting her as saying: “We recognize that we have been singularly blessed in the United States because of the way the United States has blessed Israel over and over from 1948 until recent times.”
Bachmann added: “We need to be so on fire right now about the things of Christ and the things of God. That needs to occupy our time and our thoughts virtually from morning to night because we have very little time, in my opinion, left before the second return of Christ. That’s good news!
Facebook’s facial recognition software is now as accurate as the human brain
It would also be irresponsible if we didn’t mention the true power of facial recognition, which Facebook is surely investigating: Tracking your face across the entirety of the web, and in real life, as you move from shop to shop, producing some very lucrative behavioral tracking data indeed.
72 Types Of Americans That Are Considered “Potential Terrorists” In Official Government Documents
NOTE: While this article is two years old, we post it as a reminder that it is not ISIS that scares our government. — OTM
Are you a conservative, a libertarian, a Christian or a gun owner? Are you opposed to abortion, globalism, Communism, illegal immigration, the United Nations or the New World Order? Do you believe in conspiracy theories, do you believe that we are living in the “end times” or do you ever visit alternative news websites (such as this one)?
At issue: Obama’s decreasing popularity among U.S. Jews – Markell
Ministry leader Jan Markell is encouraged by a report that indicates President Obama is losing his advantage among Jewish voters.
“I am encouraged to see that some of them are backing away from Barack Obama because of this Iran deal – and I think what remains to be seen is [the] position Hillary Clinton is going to be taking on this Iran deal,” Markell shares. “And thus far she’s sticking with most of the talking points from the Obama administration.”
Today’s confluence of evil: Supernatural in origin
As a Christian, it is difficult for me not to view this confluence of wicked and degenerate forces as undeniably apparent, unprecedented in our nation’s history, or as anything other than human beings operating under the influence of purposeful and increasingly powerful supernatural evil.
Of course, it is up to individuals to determine for themselves what they believe. If we are soon propelled from economic wasteland to societal implosion to cataclysm of biblical proportions, it won’t much matter in the practical sense if, as heretofore liberty-loving Americans, we differ on the nature of the beast.
Yom Ha Shoah: Retell the Story or Repeat History!
The importance of perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust cannot be underestimated. It is not about dwelling on the past for the sake of dwelling on the darkest days of Jewish history, but rather for the sake of preventing another “Catastrophe” in the future.
General Dwight Eisenhower caught the importance of documenting and remembering the Holocaust the minute that he walked inside the camps.
1995 Video: Obama Praises Communist Mentor Frank Marshall Davis
“Schools me” on getting used to white privilege
Video of Barack Obama in 1995 has surfaced online from the vault of Cambridge Public Library where a discussion of his book Dreams from My Father was hosted. Speaking to the crowd, Obama reveals that “Frank,” whom he mentions “schooled” him on how to “get used to” white racism, is really Frank Marshall Davis.
Davis was known as a card-carrying member of the Communist Party USA; according to a Breitbart report, he was also on the federal government’s Security Index during the Cold War era for his extreme politics.
Daily Digest
April 16, 2015
THE FOUNDATION
“Has force, exerted for the purposes of malevolance, a right to command? Can it impose an obligation to obey? No. Resistance to such force is a right, and, if resistance can prove effectual, it is a duty also.” —James Wilson, Lectures on Law, 1791
TOP 5 RIGHT HOOKS
Clinton Foundation Decides to Keep Appearance of Impropriety
Once Hillary Clinton made her run for the White House official, the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation had to decide what it was going to do with its finances. Was it going to clamp down on who could donate to it, or keep the status quo? How would the changes affect the appearance of Clinton’s campaign? On Thursday, the board released a new policy that would continue to allow donations from the governments of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. It would restrict the donations from other foreign governments. Still, if Hillary were to rise in the polls and, say, a Russian oligarch decided he had a change of heart, he could participate in the Clinton Global Initiative. Would Clinton, in turn, have a certain change of heart also? Furthermore, Clinton used the foundation as a way to avoid paying taxes on the fat stacks she received for speaking gigs. As Clinton progresses in her campaign trying to convince “everyday Americans” that she’s their champion, watch as the Clinton Foundation bangs around behind her everywhere she goes. Like a certain email server, the Clinton Foundation illustrates another part of Hillary’s character that makes her a terrible pick for the White House. More…
Only a Leftist Gyrocopter Protest Could Get Positive Reaction
You have to give the Florida mailman credit: Doug Hughes had the creativity and guts to pull off one of the most memorable protests. On April 15, he flew his gyrocopter through restricted airspace, down the Washington Mall, and landed on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol — catching the Secret Service unawares. He had 535 letters for the lawmakers in Congress demanding campaign finance reform. “I’m demanding reform and declaring a voter’s rebellion in a manner consistent with Jefferson’s description of rights in the Declaration of Independence,” he wrote. “As a member of Congress, you have three options. 1. You may pretend corruption does not exist. 2. You may pretend to oppose corruption while you sabotage reform. 3. You may actively participate in real reform.” Capitol police arrested Hughes and charged him with violating the U.S. code governing transportation — a slap on the wrist considering. If a conservative tried the same stunt, at least one talking head would have drawn the conclusion the person was commemorating the anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. But everybody sure loves a quirky leftist and his gyrocopter. More…
Congress to Hillary in 2012: Use Private Email Much?
How much time did Hillary Clinton have to cover up her tracks on her private email server? Quite a bit, according to The New York Times: “Hillary Rodham Clinton was directly asked by congressional investigators in a December 2012 letter whether she had used a private email account while serving as secretary of state, according to letters obtained by The New York Times. But Mrs. Clinton did not reply to the letter. And when the State Department answered in March 2013, nearly two months after she left office, it ignored the question and provided no response.” One letter, from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, asked pointedly, “Have you or any senior agency official ever used a personal email account to conduct official business? If so, please identify the account used.” So Hillary acted contrary to State Department policy and then ignored Congress’ request for disclosure and transparency. Later, she deleted anything she deemed “personal,” printed the rest for the State Department to review and then wiped the server clean. And yet it seems the only real accountability left for Hillary is for voters to reject her bid for the White House. More…
Long Live the Death Tax?
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “[I]n this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” In 1916, Congress decided to combine those two unfortunate aspects of the human condition by enacting the modern estate tax, otherwise known as the death tax — a tax on a dead person’s assets above a certain level. The rate and money subject to the tax has changed over the years, but the House is scheduled to vote today on repealing it entirely. That has class-warfare-waging Democrats, who think your money is really theirs, up in arms. They claim all the money collected is put to good use (i.e., redistributed to their constituents), we can’t “afford” the drop in federal revenue, and eliminating the death tax would only help the wealthy. As The Hill explains, “[I]ndividuals with estates valued at less than $5.43 million this year, and married couples with estates worth less than $10.86 million, are exempt.” But the economic price is a steep one. Those estates were already taxed while a person — often a small business owner — was alive, and many family-owned businesses are forced to sell just to cover the death tax bill. Somehow, Sweden, Russia and China all get along with a death tax. It’s time the U.S. did, too.
DOD Course Says Founding Documents Are Sexist
Forgive us for thinking that when a soldier or elected official takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution, they swear to protect the whole Constitution. But a Department of Defense course on sexism classifies that very document as one of the great hindrances to a sexism-free culture — along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bible. The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute created the sexism-training course. While the course was never required for soldiers, the Pentagon gave its stamp of approval. When the training covered the historical influences that perpetuate sexism, one of the presentation’s slides pegged the problem on Christianity, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. “Quotes from The Bible can be misinterpreted as having a sexist influence wen brought out of context and not fully understood,” the slide read. The slide then went on to quote the preambles of the nation’s founding documents as evidence of sexism. Funny because without those documents, the very idea of equality would not have existed and grown to the extent it has today. More…
Don’t Miss Alexander’s Column
Read Taxing Patriots — Liberty v the U.S. Tax Code, on how Democrats are redistributing your income to firm up their voter constituencies..
RIGHT ANALYSIS
Are We Doomed to Repeat the Past?
By John J. Bastiat
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Seven decades after one of the most embarrassing lessons in modern military history, every nation is now familiar with the infamous promise of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain when he haplessly enabled Adolf Hitler’s World War II kickoff by appeasing the enemy: “Peace in our time.” Unfortunately, America’s leaders have not learned that lesson because they also failed to internalize the wisdom of 19th-century philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.”
There are, of course, the standard lessons and adages. These include the lesson of hubris — that is, a leader will unvaryingly become politically blind when arrogance and pride take over — as well as the lesson that nations should measure each other by their actions, not by empty words. And then there’s the truism that a leopard cannot change its spots. All of these are especially applicable, of course, in dealing with Iran.
But by far the most important maxim for the leader of any nation faced with a critical issue is this: “There is wisdom in the counsel of many” (Proverbs 15:22). His Anointedness, Barack Obama, has ignored this time-tested axiom repeatedly since taking office, choosing instead to go it alone in setting national priorities, including national security priorities. While the stakes in these conceits have always been high, they are now, well, thermonuclear hot.
This fact comes glaringly to light in the wake of congressional efforts to rein in President Peace-Deal-at-Any-Price and keep him from giving away the store, essentially allowing Iran to develop and deploy nuclear weapons without any real consequences. The most recent battle climaxed earlier this week when Obama learned he would likely face a swift override of a presidential veto on a bill requiring a Senate vote on any deal with Iran. That resulted in Olympic-level back-peddling by Team Obama, which attempted to recast itself as a staunch supporter of congressional involvement in the nuclear talks process. Uh, sure, we believe you…
Credit goes to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN), who marshaled a 19-zip vote by senators in that committee to approve a compromise bill giving Congress 30 days to review and approve or reject any deal the administration brokers with Iran. Unfortunately, to gain support for the bill, Corker had to add a few warts and flaws. Obama could veto a rejection, for instance, and then both houses of Congress would have to vote to override that veto — something that hasn’t yet happened in either of Obama’s terms. Also, 30 days is half the time originally proposed, compressing the timeline for decision-making and potentially leading to errors or political weakness on the part of congressional members. To be sure, the fact that Democrat leadership is lining up in lockstep behind the compromise bill stands the hair on the back of our necks straight up.
Also troubling is the fact that Obama wants to delegate enforcement responsibility for any nuclear deal we make with Iran to the UN. Still, it’s possible public pressure against a nuclear-tipped Iran will prevail against single-minded visions of winning another Nobel Peace Prize. We should stipulate in passing that we feel a second such prize would be just as richly deserved as the first … (ahem).
Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear weapons program continues apace. A thousand centrifuges churn out weapons-grade nuclear bomb material day and night, non-stop, at Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility. North Korea continues to supply Iran with long-range ballistic missiles and missile technology. The latest shipment, in clear violation of UN sanctions on Iran, occurred during nuclear talks with the U.S. and included upgraded, large-diameter engines to power Iran’s long-range missiles even farther. China just agreed to build five new nuclear plants for Iran. Oh yeah, one more: Russian President Vladimir Putin also just authorized the sale of five highly capable S-300 surface-to-air missile squadrons to Iran to help protect nuclear facilities from air strikes.
Here are a few silly questions: If Iran truly seeks only “peaceful uses of nuclear power,” why the ballistic missiles? Why the upgrades? Why the centrifuges? Why more nuke plants? Why the SAMs? And what does it say about Obama’s deal that our adversaries are lining up to take advantage?
In light of the stakes, a closing question: Why, when this agreement looks like, smells like, quacks like and has all the trappings of a treaty, does Congress not treat it as such, and hence mandate a two-thirds-majority treaty ratification vote by the Senate? Requiring such a measure would at the very least kill virtually all of the buffoonery-laden provisions of any deal Team Obama negotiates with Iran.
Perhaps the clowns on the negotiating team have been listening too much to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who flatly stated, “We are in talks with the major powers and not with the Congress.” But unlike in Iran, the U.S. — despite Obama’s best efforts — does not feature a Supreme Dictator. That said, we suspect the only reason Obama is agreeing to go along with Congress now is so that when it becomes apparent the deal has failed he can blame Republicans.
The ‘Doc Fix’ Will See You Now
By Allyne Caan
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In a Congress known for enacting temporary stopgap measures to save face while repeatedly kicking the proverbial can down the road, legislators actually did something permanent this week. Unfortunately, the solution may prove worse than the problem.
On Tuesday, the Senate, by an overwhelming 92-8 vote, passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, a Medicare overhaul bill commonly known as the “doc fix.” The bill, which the House passed last month with 392 votes, will end the annual threats of Medicare-reimbursement cuts to doctors stemming from the 1997 Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) law. Under SGR, Medicare’s budget was calculated by linking Medicare spending to economic growth. This became problematic once health care costs began rising faster than the growth of the economy — meaning, physicians were regularly at risk of Medicare reimbursement cuts. So, 17 times over the last 14 years, Congress passed temporary “doc fixes” to protect physician reimbursements. The new measure eliminates the need for these fixes by repealing the SGR law.
It sounds well and good at first glance — and, indeed, a permanent fix was needed for a flawed system — but beware of bipartisan legislation that sounds well and good. For starters, the bill adds at least $141 billion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years. Remember all those Republican promises of fiscal responsibility? Well, the dodo bird’s got nothing on them.
To his credit, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah introduced an amendment removing the bill’s exemption from the 2010 Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act (PAYGO) — signed, laughably, by Barack Obama — which requires spending increases be offset by savings elsewhere within the same legislative session. The amendment failed 42-58. Additionally, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas proposed paying for the bill by repealing ObamaCare’s individual mandate; this amendment, which needed 60 votes to pass, failed 54-45.
So, thanks to the brave Republican majority, the president will soon sign into law a $141 billion increase to our federal deficit.
Sadly, though, this may not be the worst of it. The bill entrenches government even more in the exam room through increased federal controls and a national link-up of patient electronic health records (EHRs).
First, the bill offers physicians two questionable payment models: either a Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), under which physicians will be paid based on how well they comply with certain federal quality metrics (metrics which, incidentally, have yet to be determined), or an “alternative payment model” in which a group of doctors bands together to receive lump-sum payments to care for patients. If those physicians can deliver the care for less, and, of course, meet those “quality metrics,” then they benefit from some of the leftover funds.
If you liked ObamaCare regulating your insurance options, then you’ll love government rating your doctors.
Second, the bill paves the way and plants flowers alongside the road for mandatory connectivity of patient data nationwide. Section 106(b) states, “Congress declares it a national objective to achieve widespread exchange of health information through interoperable certified EHR technology nationwide by December 31, 2018.” In other words, this doc fix requires EHRs to become “interoperable” so Americans’ private medical information can be shared nationwide. That could improve convenience for referrals, but, given the horrible security performance of Healthcare.gov, it’s not terribly comforting to know medical records could be hacked.
Of course, none of this should be surprising given that the bill was originally brokered by Nancy “You-have-to-pass-the-bill-to-find-out-what’s-in-it” Pelosi and John “How-else-can-we-cave-to-Democrat-demands?” Boehner. Still, the fact that it passed so overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate demonstrates the power rhetoric holds over principle for the vast majority of our nation’s elected officials.
The “fix” may be in, but the cure is worse than the disease.
TOP 5 RIGHT OPINION COLUMNS
- George Will: Sustainability Gone Wild
- Tony Perkins: Repeal the Death Tax
- Ben Shapiro: The Romance of Poverty
- Victor Davis Hanson: Ethnic Constructs Are Pointless in Our Multiracial Society
- Cal Thomas: ‘Little Boy’: A Classic Modern Film
OPINION IN BRIEF
Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790): “Every man is, no doubt, by nature, first and principally recommended to his own care; and as he is fitter to take care of himself than of any other person, it is fit and right that it should be so.”
Columnist George Will: “Syracuse University alumni are new additions to the lengthening list of persons who can stop contributing to their alma maters. The university has succumbed — after, one suspects, not much agonizing — to the temptation to indulge in progressive gestures. It will divest all fossil fuel stocks from its endowment. … The effect of these decisions on consumption of fossil fuels will be nil; the effect on the growth of institutions’ endowments will be negative. The effect on alumni giving should be substantial, because divesting institutions are proclaiming that the goal of expanding educational resources is less important than the striking of righteous poses — if there can be anything righteous about flamboyant futility. … There is a social benefit from the sustainability mania: the further marginalization of academia. It prevents colleges and universities from trading on what they are rapidly forfeiting, their reputations for seriousness. … College tuitions are soaring in tandem with thickening layers of administrative bloat. So here is a proposal: Hundreds of millions could be saved, with no cost to any institution’s core educational mission, by eliminating every position whose title contains the word ‘sustainability’ — and, while we are at it, ‘diversity,’ ‘multicultural’ or ‘inclusivity.’ The result would be higher education higher than the propaganda-saturated version we have, and more sustainable.”
Columnist Tony Perkins: “If this President gets his way, the meek won’t inherit the earth — the U.S. government will! That’s because our current tax code never says die, even when the person it’s taxing does. Thanks to the ‘death tax,’ Americans have been mourning the loss, not just of their loved ones, but of the assets they spent their whole life building. To cushion the blow, the new Republican majority is doing its best to give America some relief by introducing the ‘Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015.’ … Under the current system, the government takes a slice of the money, income, or property when it’s transferred from a deceased family member to the beneficiary. It’s especially outrageous when you consider that this is money that’s already been taxed when it’s earned! … Will Rogers once said, ‘The difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.’ Well, death may not get worse, but it certainly gets more expensive. And it’s time for our leaders to do something about it.”
Fred Thompson: “Fed Chair Janet Yellen said she’d like to see more studies done to answer the question ‘how do some places advance economically?’ Well, for starters, by not blowing money on pointless studies.”
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis!
Managing Editor Nate Jackson
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families.
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Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:38 AM PDT
The post US military now training among civilians to prepare for war in your back yard, labels Texas a ‘hostile’ state appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| China’s World Bank to put an end to dollar imperialism in developing nations
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:35 AM PDT
The post China’s World Bank to put an end to dollar imperialism in developing nations appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Greece Might Allow Russia to Use its Military Bases
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:31 AM PDT
The post Greece Might Allow Russia to Use its Military Bases appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Israel May Send Arms to Ukraine if Russia Delivers S-300 to Iran
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:25 AM PDT
The post Israel May Send Arms to Ukraine if Russia Delivers S-300 to Iran appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Signs That The Elite Are Feverishly Preparing For Something BIG
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:20 AM PDT
The post Signs That The Elite Are Feverishly Preparing For Something BIG appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Fish Rain in Streets of Thailand
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:16 AM PDT
The post Fish Rain in Streets of Thailand appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Fukushima Reactor Radiation Can Kill Humans Within Hour
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:11 AM PDT
The post Fukushima Reactor Radiation Can Kill Humans Within Hour appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Oil-Rich Nations Are Selling Off Their Petrodollar Assets at Record Pace
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 06:02 AM PDT
The post Oil-Rich Nations Are Selling Off Their Petrodollar Assets at Record Pace appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| IMF fears ‘cascade’ of woes as Fed crunch nears
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 05:57 AM PDT
The post IMF fears ‘cascade’ of woes as Fed crunch nears appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
| Wary of natural disaster, NY Fed bulks up in Chicago
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 05:49 AM PDT
The post Wary of natural disaster, NY Fed bulks up in Chicago appeared first on End Time Headlines. |
Hillary Clinton Launches 2016 Campaign With Over 2 Million FAKE Twitter And Facebook Followers
Although Hillary Clinton boasts a robust 3.6 million Twitter followers, not even a vast right-wing conspiracy would be able to interact with 2 million of them.
According to two popular online measuring tools, no more than 44 per cent of her Twitter fan base consists of real people who are active in using the social media platform. And at least 15 per cent – more than 544,000 – are completely fake.
StatusPeople.com, the oldest publicly available Twitter-auditing tool, reports that 44 per cent of the former secretary of state’s followers are ‘good’; 15 per cent are ‘fake’; and 41 per cent are ‘inactive,’ meaning that they never tweet or reply to any tweets.
Fake on Facebook, too
Clinton boasts two-thirds of a million Facebook ‘likes,’ but more than 46,000 of them list ‘Baghdad’ as their hometown. Hmm, can you smell the fakery wafting through the air?
Now I ask you — are you surprised?? This woman will say anything, do anything, and be anything it takes in order for you to be convinced to vote for her. The only thing real about her is her phoniness.
Don’t vote for Obama’s third term.
The post Hillary Clinton Launches 2016 Campaign With Over 2 Million FAKE Twitter And Facebook Followers appeared first on Now The End Begins.
Netanyahu On Holocaust Remembrance Day 2015 Delivers Sober Warning To A Restless World
70 years after the end of WWII, antisemitism around the world is on the rise on eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day
“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isaiah 11:12 (KJV)
I remember as a child, seeing the photos and news reels of the concentration camps. I remember wondering how the Germans could do this to my people. What did we do to deserve this? How could they starve my people, and how could they line them up and shoot them like dogs? How could they gas them and then throw them in incinerators? Six million……..
One day in school, our teacher showed a Holocaust film. There were some boys in the back of the class who were laughing at the piles of emaciated bodies. I ran out of the class and began to cry. My teacher came out and apologized for the behavior of the boys.
In synagogue, my teacher would tell us that we were the most hated people on the earth. She said that we were scapegoats for any bad thing that happened. She said that Christians called us Christ killers. I didn’t like being Jewish as a young girl. I’m sorry if that sounds horrible, but I’m just being honest. Who in the world would want to be a Jew and be hated by the whole world?
The parents of my best friend in high school were survivors of Auschwitz. They had the tattooed numbers on their arms. They had survived because her mom was a translator, and her dad was a tailor. The Nazis used them for their services. When they came to America, they changed their last name so it wouldn’t sound Jewish. They changed it to Ross.
“Has the world really learned from the incomprehensible, universal and Jewish tragedy of the last century? I wish I could tell you that the answer is yes,” Netanyahu said. source
My friend and I lost touch after high school, but we found each other on Facebook. We were so excited until she realized that I believed in Jesus. She told me that she was going to block me. She said that many in her family had died in the camps, and when they saw anything about Christianity, it made them very anxious. I told her that I was so sad to lose her after finding her, but she blocked me. I did send her an email, before she blocked that too, and shared that Yeshua was truly the Messiah of the Jews. I told her what she must do to be saved. She never wrote back and blocked my email.
I was saved in 1983, and only then did I begin to realize why the Jews were so hated. It was spiritual — Satan hated my people and wanted to kill them! All those years I thought that people just hated us for no reason. Mom would say they were jealous, but that never made sense to me. It was Satan all along, putting that hatred in the hearts of men and women for the Jews.
Holocaust Uncovered 1945 – WARNING: Graphic Images
Jesus came from the Jewish people. The law and the prophets came from us. Grace came through Jesus through us. No wonder Satan hates us so much. I heard Pastor JD Farag say that ISIS and all of the radical jihadist Muslims were just Nazism re-packaged. That made so much sense to me!
I started wondering why people in this world cannot understand that something else is at work here. Think about this — a piece of real estate the size of New Jersey, with enemies surrounding them, and they are always in the headlines on the news! Don’t people begin to wonder? But I suppose that if they are lost and blind, that they wouldn’t even give it a thought. They would just hate the Jews like most of the world.
“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” Joel 3:2 (KJV)
But God is always working; always fulfilling His prophetic Word for His people. Israel was established n 1948 because of the Holocaust! It’s a terrible price to pay, but His Word was fulfilled.
Before then, my people were scattered all over the world. My people were from Ukraine and Russia, and came to America in 1903 through Ellis Island, NY. It was a blessing that they did come, because years later there was a mass slaughter of my people in Kiev, Ukraine. That is where most of my people lived.
When Bibi Netanyahu says “Never Again” he means that we will never again let the world slaughter us without a fight. And to that I say amein and amein!!
Am Yisrael Chai!! The people of Israel LIVE!!!
SHALOM B’YESHUA
MARANATHA!
The post Netanyahu On Holocaust Remembrance Day 2015 Delivers Sober Warning To A Restless World appeared first on Now The End Begins.
Would You Eat This Nasty Michelle Obama-Approved Public School Lunch?
A school district in Virginia has admitted concerns over the presentation of a student’s lunch served Tuesday at an elementary school.
Thanks to Michelle Obama’s meddling efforts to destroy the Public School lunch program, school kids all over America are presented with slop like this on a daily basis. Tens of thousands of kids have tweeted their rank disgust with the new system. And while my kids and your kids are served this junk, the Obama children dine on gourmet school lunch fare fit for a king.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Dozens of people reached out to WAVY-TV after a student’s mother posted a picture of the meal on social media. It shows cooked corn on a lunch platter, alongside a fish filet with a bun placed on top.
According to Portsmouth Public Schools lunch menu, which is posted online, the lunch choices served Tuesday were the following:
- Spicy Cajun Fish w/Brown Rice
- Cold Cut Turkey Sub (w/g)
- Assorted Chef Salad (Croutons & Crackers)
- Steamed Carrots & Side Salad
- Fresh Orange or Canned Fruit
- 1% & Skim Milk
WAVY-TV contacted Portsmouth Public Schools about the controversy. They released the following statement from Food Service Coordinator Jim Gehlhoff:
We appreciate this parent’s concern about the presentation of this school lunch. Poor lighting and food presentation make this lunch unappealing. Other lunch options on the day this photo was taken included a chef’s salad and turkey sub sandwiches. The meal in this photo and other meals served by Portsmouth Public Schools meet nutritional and USDA requirements. The presentation of the meal pictured concerns us and we plan to address presentation of food items in a training session with all cafeteria managers. Our goal is to provide healthy food options that students will want to eat. We will take actions to ensure that presentation is addressed. source
The Obama’s are better than you, much better
Well now, lunch looks just a tad different at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, where the Obama kids go. This is what they have for lunch five days a week:
Now there is nothing wrong with feeding your kids the very best, we all want that for our children. But there is something horrifically amiss when you force other people’s children to eat at a level that is markedly below what you give to your kids.
Michelle Obama clearly has one standard for her children, a really good standard, and another standard for your children, a really crappy one.
The post Would You Eat This Nasty Michelle Obama-Approved Public School Lunch? appeared first on Now The End Begins.
Christian Headlines
12-Year-Old Girl Who Survived 30-Foot Fall Says She Met Jesus while Unconscious
Nigeria Marks One Year since Boko Haram Kidnapped Schoolgirls
Abortion Pill Reversal Gaining Attention in Health Field
Islamic Terrorist Lays Down Jihad for Jesus Christ
Student Kicked Out of College for Being Homeschooled
Court Tells North Korea to Pay US Family $330 Million for Missionary’s Death
Oklahoma Satanist Church Wants Permission to Distribute Books in Elementary School
Pentagon Training Course Says Sexism is Rooted in Bible, Constitution
This Western Nation is Calling for Urgent Prayer Over the United States
ISIS Kidnaps 120 Children from Mosul Schools
5 Things to Watch as the 2016 Campaign Gets Underway
Elvis Presley’s ‘It Is No Secret’ Tells of God’s Restorative Power
Why Presidential Candidates Want to Appear Down-to-Earth
Redefining Marriage Redefines Parenthood
Why Conservatives Want Obama to Say ‘Islamic’ Terrorism
ISIS Has Camps On The U.S. Border, But Obama Says ‘Right-Wing Extremists’ Are The Greatest Terror Threat
ISIS camps have now been discovered directly across the U.S. border with Mexico, ISIS operatives have been captured illegally entering the United States, and ISIS is threatening to conduct a massive campaign of terror against U.S. targets, and yet Barack Obama continues to insist that “right-wing extremists” are the greatest terror threat that this nation is facing …………. Click here for full story
Israeli Officials: Iran Massively Ramping Up Arming Of Hezbollah In Preparation For Major Assault On Israel
Senior Israeli officials warned on Monday evening that, over the last few weeks, Iran has considerably stepped up its operations to arm Hezbollah in order to prepare its terrorist proxy for a large-scale conflict with Israel………. Click here for full story
Russia-Iran Missile Deal Major Threat To Middle East
Middle East regional instability is set to worsen after Russia’s lifting of its ban on the delivery of the advanced S-300 air defense missile system to Iran ……….. Click here for full story
Could Every Israeli Soon Be Obligated To Get A Biometric ID?
Israel is one step closer to a national biometric identification system Monday, after outgoing Interior Minister Gilad Erdan announced that he would be advancing legislation to make a nationwide – and mandatory – switch to the system ……….. Click here for full story
Jihad-Minded Muslims Setting Christian Children On Fire In Pakistan
Brutal persecution is putting Pakistan back in the headlines. At least two Pakistani Christians in Lahore were recently targeted by Muslims……… Click here for full story
On today’s Episode of The Briefing
1) Increasing opposition to Christians in the Muslim world reinforces threat of radical Islam
Middle East Christians Trapped by Islamist Extremists Forge Alliances With Former Foes, Wall Street Journal (Sam Dagher)
2) Marriage as life goal declining in millenial values for sake of ‘happiness’
Ready for the marriage apocalypse?, CNN (Carol Costello)
3) Intrusion of corporate ‘Big Tobacco’ into marijuana industry parable of growth of sin
Will Big Tobacco become Big Marijuana?, USA Today (Trevor Hughes)
In other news…
Aaron Hernandez Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder, New York Times (Ken Belson and Victor Mather)
Latest on Aaron Hernandez Verdict: Victim’s Family Grateful, New York Times (Associated Press)
Divided no longer, Hollywood poised to put big money behind Clinton, Los Angeles Times (Richard Verrier AND Daniel Miller)
E.U. Charges Google With Violating Antitrust Laws, New York Times (James Kanter and Mark Scott)
Rouhani Dismisses White House Compromise With Congress on Iran Nuclear Deal, New York Times (Thomas Erdbrink and Rick Gladstone)
Video – Justin Peters: Why the Bible Does Not Teach Praying a “Hedge”
Seven Unbiblical Statements Christians Believe
U.S. military ‘hostile’ to Christians under Obama; morale, retention devastated
It’s up to Dalai Lama whether he’ll be reborn (reincarnated), Buddhist leader says
Our Time is Short
Ready to start your new life with God?
Who do you think that I am?
With that brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers with the most important issue they would ever face. He had spent much time with them and made some bold claims about His identity and authority. Now the time had come for them either to believe or deny His teachings.
Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well.
Consider what the Bible says about Him: Read more
Look to Jesus
Have you ever felt a little lost and wished there was a quick-start guide to your relationship with God? This is it!
30 Day Next Steps
John Beckett, a leading Christian businessman, has written a series to read over 30 days for new believers.
New Believers Guide
The New Believer’s Guide is a series of articles designed to show you how to walk in the new life Christ has given you— a life of faith and freedom.
Jesus Booklet
Jesus is the Savior of the world. Discover who Jesus is today in this series.
About Christianity
Know Jesus Christ and your life will be transformed
Truth2Freedom Blog Disclaimer
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(Alternative News, Apologetics, Current Events, Commentary, Opinion, Theology, Discernment Blog, Devotionals, Christian Internet Evangelism & Missions Activist)
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April 16, 2015 Truth2Freedom Daily Blogroll Collection
The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him. —F.F. Bruce
5,000 Parents Rally In Toronto Against Sex Ed: ‘We Will Not Co-Parent With Kathleen Wynne’
“The government is going to ram something down your throats that you haven’t even been asked about,” MacLaren, MPP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills said. “And if you had have been asked, what would you have said?” At which point the crowd roared, “No!” Charles McVety of the Institute for Canadian Values, rhetorically told Premier Kathleen Wynne “we are not your subjects. You have no right to decree” to parents what they teach their children.
The Modern University Is Failing Students in Every Respect
Administrators should decide whether they see students as mature, independent adults who handle life’s vicissitudes with courage and without need for restrictions on free expression. Or should students remain perennial weepy adolescents, requiring constant sheltering, solicitousness, and self-esteem building? Diversity might be better redefined in its most ancient and idealistic sense as differences in opinion and thought rather than just variety in appearance, race, gender, or religion.
A Note From Creator Cakes
Though we’ve never been asked to service a same-sex wedding, and though it looks increasingly that we someday will, we want to notify our customers of a policy that Creator Cakes will pursue. We’ve decided that if asked, we will provide a cake at a same-sex wedding ceremony. But we will take every dollar from that sale and donate it to an organization fighting to protect and advance religious liberty—organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom, Manhattan Declaration, or the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
This Church’s Legal Battle Against New York City Shows What Real Discrimination Looks Like
What’s happening in New York City shows why we need religious-liberty legislation, like Indiana’s. Bronx Household of Faith, a small, intrepid church ministering to people in a poor area north of Yankee Stadium, challenged New York City’s anti-worship-service policy back in 1995… If New York had a state religious-freedom-restoration act like Indiana and 19 other states now do, the Bronx church could have cited it in its lawsuit, and that would have made it more difficult for the federal appeals court to reject the church’s claim to equal access.
So You Can’t Wait to Retire?
Ultimately, the whole retirement debate is about the faithfulness of God. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all your basic needs will be supplied by him (Mt. 6:33). We must be wise in our planning, but also we must never lose sight of this promise.
Sex After Christianity
by Dominic Aquila
Conservative Christians have lost the fight over gay marriage and, as we have seen, did so decades before anyone even thought same-sex marriage was a possibility. Gay-marriage proponents succeeded so quickly because they showed the public that what they were fighting for was consonant with what most post-1960s Americans already believed about the meaning of sex and marriage. The question Western Christians face now is whether or not they are going to lose Christianity altogether in this new dispensation.
Spurgeon Almost Quit
Spurgeon’s joy was based not only on his own ability to recover, but on God’s ability to replenish. It was a joy that would balm Spurgeon in future controversies when he felt beleaguered and bewildered. The joy Spurgeon had after 1856 was a radical joy — a joy deeply rooted in the soil of the supremacy of the God who was great and grand enough to make good things come out of evil.
Sex, God, and a Generation That Can’t Tell the Difference
Before, the sexually moral judged the sexually amoral; today, the sexually amoral judge the sexually moral. If you have a sexual ethic more solid than your average Jello mold, you’re free game for Millennial judgment. Millennials are incredibly judgmental when it comes to sexuality—if you’re not doing something you’re a loser, and if you have convictions you’re a bigot.
The Seventh Age and the Second Fall – Church & Culture Blog
One of the more intriguing observations about the flow of history surfaced in an important essay written just after the Second World War that I was introduced to while studying at Oxford. It was written by a historian named Christopher Dawson.
In it, he makes the case that there have been six identifiable “ages” in relation to the Christian church and faith, each lasting for three or four centuries, and each following a similar course.
He argued that each of these ages began, and then ended, in crisis. The heart of each crisis was the same: intense attack by new enemies, within and without the church, which in turn demanded new spiritual determination and drive. Without this determination and drive, the Church would have lost the day.
Dawson accounted for six such ages at the time of his writing. I believe we are now living at the start of another. We are at the end of an age, and stand at the beginning of another.
A “seventh” age.
But what is going to mark this seventh age?
What are the trends, the patterns, the movements, and most of all, what is the crisis from within and without that we should pay attention to?
There is much to choose from.
Discerners of the Discerning: Hypocrisy Cloaked in Piety
by Landon
Last week Dave Miller, of SBC Voices, published an article entitled Peas in a Pod: The Self-Appointed Prophet/Discernment Enforcer Playbook which attempted to summarize the folly of charismaniacs and discerners in one fell swoop. Sadly, the piece was rife with hypocrisy, mischaracterizations, and broad-brush shaming all in the name of “God’s love”. In fact, I hate to have to write this rejoinder as I’ve grown weary of the inter-Christian tit-for-tat pettiness now running rampant. However, I’ve grown just as weary of brothers in the faith scoffing at even the slightest whiff of biblical discernment.
Before I address the issues, I want to first say that the article wasn’t all bad. Mr. Miller made some cogent points regarding both the extreme charismatic and extreme discernment positions. Further, he is spot on when he writes, “It is utter folly to abandon doctrinal discernment.” It was also refreshing to read, “Please hear me – this is not about every charismatic or every person who attempts to exercise doctrinal discernment.”
Some thoughts concerning Hymns on Christ’s Resurrection
by Ryan Martin
I know this post is somewhat badly timed, but I wanted to provide a bit of help for those who are looking for good resurrection hymns, either for personal devotion, to teach to their families, or to teach to congregations. ((Churches that follow the ecclesiastical calendar should not find this post ill-timed, since they have only observed the second Sunday of Easter at this point. There are five more Sundays of Easter to go before Pentecost on May 24th!)) Sometimes I hear the lament that there aren’t that many good Easter hymns. There are probably more than you think. ((Indeed, I am quite confident that there are more than I think exist!)) Perhaps this post will introduce you to some good, suitable hymns for your congregation’s exaltation of our Savior Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
First, a word about my recommendations. I am not interested in new, faddish gospel songs. I’m blissfully unaware of trends in contemporary Christian music. I know of some good “modern hymn” writers, but I want the sound of the hymn to sound, well, like a hymn. That is, I want the music to represent the Christian hymn tradition, even if it is a more recent composition. So if you’re looking for a list of some hip, trendy, newly written hymns on the resurrection of Christ, you’re barking up the wrong blog post. You can go to any other blog for that. If you’re looking for sound, theological, glorious, traditional-sounding hymns that you and others you know will enjoy singing to praise the risen Christ, then you should continue reading. You shouldn’t be too disappointed, even though you may already know some or even most of them.
Delighting in Death? – This is a good question: “Why is it that the people most vocally committed to causes connected to death (abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia) are often the same who are committed to progressive sexual causes?”
How compromise happens
Today we are talking about how compromise can happen so easily in this age of political correctness, even to those who are known for standing for God’s Word as truth. Could it happen to you? No Compromise Radio‘s Mike Abendroth joins us for today’s discussion. Pastor Abendroth serves as pastor of Bethlehem Bible Church in […]
Our voice and social media
SUFTT’s mission is to educate, empower and connect Christians to understand what the Bible teaches us about the times in which we live. We believe the Bible is clear that in the latter days the world will grow increasingly hostile toward God and His Word, and that deception will increase, causing some professing Christians to […]
Eschatology and Fatalism: Doing Right, Fighting Evil, and the End Times
by Bill Muehlenberg
When I write on something over and over again, it is usually because it is a very important matter, or because some folks just don’t seem to get it. Thus I have often written on eschatology, and the need to not let end-times fixations become excuses for inactivity or even fatalism.
There are many concerns about those believers who are inordinately fixated on all this eschatological. The fact that they seems to spend all their time setting dates, but doing little to make an impact in the world around them can be a real worry.
Redefining Marriage Redefines Parenthood
Redefining marriage doesn’t just redefine marriage. It also redefines parenthood. Just ask the kids.
Listen Now | Download
From Sticks and Stones to Microagression
Be careful what you say these days, because you wouldn’t want to commit an act of microagression. Micro what?
Listen Now | Download
Will Christians Replace Commitment to the Gospel for Commitment to a Unified Dominionist Agenda to “Save the Country”?
As America is fast approaching another presidential election year, Dominionist/Kingdom Now political and religious figures are joining forces with evangelical Christian groups. While having concern for the state of America is more than legitimate, will Christians replace commitment and loyalty to the Gospel for commitment and loyalty to a dominionist agenda?
Breaking Your Approval Addiction
by Erin Davis | 4/16/15
“My name is Erin, and I have an approval addiction.”
It’s true. I crave compliments, praise, and adoration more than almost anything else. I’d jump through almost any hoop to get people to rise to their feet and applaud for me. I really, really, really, really want you (and everyone else in the world) to like me.
When we live for the approval of others, it’s like pouring water into a leaky bucket.
It’s always been this way. As a little girl I told the same jokes over and over pandering for a laugh. As a student I wanted an A++ on every assignment and in every class because that was the measure of approval in that world. As a wife and mama I want my family to think I hung the moon. If they could write that on a card for me and leave it at the breakfast table every morning, that would be top notch.
I’ve been an approval addict for more than thirty years now. Even as I type that sentence, I worry you will think I’m old and therefore, not approve. But all that time craving gold stars has taught me a thing or two. Namely, that approval addiction is exhausting. More seriously, it’s idolatry, a sin God takes very seriously, because God is the only one worthy to sit on the throne of my heart. I also think God takes living for something other than Him, including the approval of others, so seriously because it robs us of the abundant life He died to give. That’s why Jonah 2:8 says,
“Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake the hope of their steadfast love.”
With the Lord’s gracious help, I’ve spent years combatting my approval addiction. While I’ve not yet crossed the finish line, I no longer live purely for praise. I’m okay if everyone doesn’t like me. I don’t crumple under criticism. And a bigger, more important shift has happened—I want God’s approval more than man’s. Here are three strategies I’ve learned for breaking my approval addiction.
Heaven Tourism: The Saga Continues
In the wake of Alex Malarkey’s courageous confession that he lied about his trip to Heaven as a young boy in his book, The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven, it appeared as the whole Heaven Tourism issue was beginning to lose ground. The massive outcry by #The15 against Lifeway bookstores, in conjunction with Alex’s recantation of his story, prompted Lifeway to remove all Heaven Tourism books from the stores shelves, though they won’t admit that as the reason.
The recantation of Alex’s story also caused many to doubt Colton Burpo’s story as well, regarding his story of visiting Heaven in his book and upcoming movie Heaven is for Real. Burpo then felt he needed to come out and make a statement— one where he unabashedly claimed that he stands by his story. Just when it seems like all of this doubt being cast upon the subject was causing people to rethink their beliefs on these fictional stories, the publicity of a new miracle tale is refueling the old fire.
Enter Annabel.
Annabel Beam, a nine year old Burleson, TX girl, claims she visited Heaven while unconscious after falling 30 feet head-first inside of a hollow tree. Her mother, Christy, and father, Kevin, stand by her story and believe that what she claims she witnessed is real. In face, Christy tells the story in her new book which was just released, Miracles from Heaven. During her ordeal she claims that as she fell inside of the tree and was knocked unconscious. While unconscious, she was ‘transported’ to Heaven and entered through the gates which were made of gold. She then proceeded to come in contact with Jesus, who looks like Santa Claus, and sit on his lap. This Santa Jesus then tells her that he is going to cure her of her lifelong disease.
She also sees her recently passed Grandmother in her alleged experience and claims that she knows she is in Heaven because of this. (Note, she doesn’t claim she knows she’s in heaven because of Jesus, but because of her Grandmother.) Upon beginning to wake up from her unconscious state, God tells her it isn’t her time and sends a small angel, the size of a fairy, to stay with her until she is rescued by the crew who is pulling her from the tree.
As if her story doesn’t sound outlandish enough to anyone who knows anything about the Bible, I find the timing absolutely astonishingly perfect for the release of this new book. It’s as if the Heaven Tourism industry planned it this way in order to keep the industry alive. The public response and comments to this story are mind-boggling. It’s amazing how many people will buy into this and discount anyone who tries to approach it with any semblance of reason. Some of the comments posted below the Fox News video are:
Juanita Elgin I believe this! I died many years ago, and you can see, feel, and speak. It was not my time. Jesus is real, and He is the Son of God, and He is coming back very soon for His Children.
— and —
Tanya Newland It always amazes me that people can’t seem to wrap their heads around a miracle. I see them everyday! God does exist, ya know.
First off, we don’t necessarily discount miracles from God. We believe that God is absolutely sovereign over all things, so if this girl’s life was spared, and her disease is cured, there is no doubt that God is behind it. What we do discount, however, is her fictional story of visiting heaven and sitting on Jesus’ lap. For one thing she didn’t die, she was unconscious, so if she really did have some experience it was in her mind. Children are very imaginative and the story she tells sounds more like a fairy tale cartoon she’d recently seen on TV than a biblical description of Heaven. Sadly, people are going to believe what they want to believe anyways.
Secondly, and I’m no doctor or medical expert here, but it’s not uncommon for the body to spontaneously cure itself of a disease. It happens all the time. In fact, the Journal of Pediatric Surgery states that in her disease, Pseudo-obstruction, surgery is recommended to be avoided because the disease often resolves itself spontaneously. The Star Telegram says the following regarding the spontaneous curing of her disease:
Annabel’s Boston-based gastroenterologist, Dr. Samuel Nurko, didn’t call it a miracle, but he did release the girl from his care last November, noting that she “is completely asymptomatic, is leading a normal life and is not requiring any therapies.”
This sounds to me like he too is surprised by the condition of her disease. Again, I’m not discounting the fact that God is behind the healing of any disease, but I don’t believe for one second Jesus told her that.
The problem with these Heaven Tourism tales isn’t really the fact that their experience was real or not, but the fact that one needs a source outside of God’s Word in order to give them hope. People who read these books and follow these stories ultimately find the Word of God insufficient or untrustworthy and this is very dangerous. When you start placing your trust into the fallible experiences of men (and women) instead of solely on the shed blood of Jesus Christ, you run the risk losing yourself to sin and not knowing Christ.
I feel especially sorry for the children who are being taken advantage of in these cases as they don’t have parents who are willing or able to guide them to the Truth of Scripture, with the exception of Alex Malarkey, who’s mother has fearlessly and shamelessly spoken out against the book from the beginning. Praise God for that. But this industry doesn’t appear as though it’s going to die any time soon. I think Paul’s commentary covers this topic best where he says in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Guest Author
This article was originally published at Psalm12Outreach.com and has been published to EntreatingFavor.com w/ permission from the author.
The post Heaven Tourism: The Saga Continues appeared first on Entreating Favor.
Words of Comfort: Zoom lens.
Do you ever think about how many faces there are upon the earth? As you line up in a store, do you sometimes feel like a tiny grain of sand in the massive desert? Then lift your head and look to the heavens—God Almighty is your Maker. Like a giant heavenly zoom lens, He focused in on you from eternity. He foreknew every sinew of your fearfully and wonderfully made body. He is the lover of your soul. He breathed life into your human frame, and is at work in you to will and do of His good pleasure.
His good pleasure is to conform you to the image of His Son. Never let discouragement fall upon your mind, for God will complete the good work He has begun in you. He picked you out of the ranks of the masses, called you by His Grace, justified you through faith, and glorified you in Christ.
10 Reasons Everybody at Church Should Wear a Nametag
By Chuck Lawless
At many conferences and meetings I attend, I am expected to wear a nametag. The business world thinks about nametags, but the church world gives them too little thought. Here are ten reasons EVERYONE in church ought to wear a nametag.
- Few people know everybody in the church. Even in the smallest churches, it’s sometimes difficult to remember everybody’s name. If/as the church grows, that task becomes even more difficult. Nametags allow us to admit that struggle while providing a way to overcome it.
- Leaders need help with names. I want to know everybody’s name in my church, but I’m not gifted with that kind of memory. I admit I need help if I want to be the best church leader I can be. I would much prefer calling people by name as I minister to them – and nametags allow me to do so.
- Nametags invite conversation. Knowing another person’s name breaks down one barrier to conversations that church folks ought to feel comfortable having. It’s simply easier to talk with others when you are on a first-name basis.
- Knowing names makes fellowship more personal. While calling each other “brother” or “sister” sounds good (and is theologically on target), that nomenclature is often a cover up for “I’m sorry I don’t know your name, and I’m embarrassed to ask.” As long as conversations remain at the anonymous “brother” and “sister” level, fellowship will remain surface level.
- Nametags save embarrassment. We’ve probably all called someone by the wrong name, only to realize it later (or perhaps even within the same conversation). If “brother” or “sister” is a gentle way of saying, “I don’t know your name,” using the wrong name is an undeniable way of doing so. That’s embarrassing for both parties.
- Nametags are an inexpensive way to promote outward focus. The church that says, “We don’t need nametags since we already know everyone anyway” is probably saying more than they care to admit. My guess is they see few guests at their church, and they probably aren’t expecting any. On the other hand, using nametags is one way to say, “We expect God to send us guests, and we want to be ready for them.”
- Guests feel less conspicuous. I understand why we might give guests a nametag, but doing so for them alone actually makes them even more noticeable – and puts them at a disadvantage in conversations. I know their name, but they don’t know mine if I’m not also wearing a nametag. Guests should never be the ones who must do the asking.
- Saying to someone, “Please let us know your name” also says, “We want to know you.” Much has been written about guests’ desire for anonymity in churches, but I take a different slant on that issue. People who come to a church are looking for something. They often welcome care and concern. What they don’t want is to be smothered and made uncomfortable. That’s a different issue, though, than simply wanting to know them by name.
- A “nametag” ministry provides opportunities for service. Somebody must purchase the nametags. Somebody must distribute them. Greeters must remind folks to get their nametags. And, likely, somebody must clean up the “peel and press” nametags that wind up on the floor after the service. The opportunities for members to get involved in a simple but significant ministry are numerous.
- Leaders risk little by trying this approach. We’re not omitting a ministry from the budget, re-writing the church constitution, or killing a sacred cow with this approach. We’re simply asking people to wear a nametag to promote fellowship and welcome guests. If this ministry fails – and I don’t think it will if leaders promote it properly and patiently wait for it to enter the DNA of a congregation – the church has lost little.
What are your thoughts about nametags?
Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.
photo credit: Hello, my name is anonymous via photopin
The post 10 Reasons Everybody at Church Should Wear a Nametag appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
Six Ways Millennials Are Educating Their Churches Theologically
Over the past few decades, the seeker-sensitive movement, and before that the church growth movement, taught us much about the importance of contextualization in the church.
The strengths of these movements included a relentless evangelistic focus and a willingness to question status quo methodology and some extra-biblical traditions. On the other hand, their weaknesses were exposed as well. There was a tendency by some to downplay the importance of biblical truths and theological education. The practical sometimes overshadowed the theological.
In recent years, however, I have noticed a remarkable—and welcomed—return by younger leaders to the fundamentals of the faith, basic theological education, and the deepening of doctrinal roots.
Recently I sat down and studied these trends and identified six ways Millennial leaders in the church are increasing the importance and effectiveness of theological education in the local church.
- Emphasizing the big story of the Bible. Millennial leaders understand the need for Christians to be grounded in the grand narrative of Scripture, and the resources they use range from chronological Bible reading plans to theologically robust kids’ Bibles. The overwhelming success of The Gospel Project (video below), a curriculum that uses the storyline of Scripture to teach essential doctrines, shows that church leaders today see the need for theological education and are acting accordingly.
- Utilizing a catechism-like resource with their kids. In the previous point I mentioned theologically rich children’s Bibles, but it doesn’t just stop there. Millennial parents are using other resources and even smartphone apps to teach theological concepts and lessons to their children at home. While they aren’t typically formal catechisms, they emphasize building a foundation of correct answers to Biblical questions. The Big Picture question and answer section in The Gospel Project for Kids curriculum is just one example of a resource for this practice.
- Study groups working through systematic theology. I know of several churches that have weekly study groups who cover basic systematic theology. This is not just donuts and devotions. These groups intensely study Scripture and theology and in many cases have seen an increase in theological education and evangelistic fervor.
- A return to theological hymnody and songs. We’ve had Keith Getty on the podcast to discuss hymnody and trends in the worship services, but again, it doesn’t stop there. Many Millennial parents are using time in the car with their children to reinforce biblical truth through song. Several musicians have responded to this trend with albums full of songs with lyrics made entirely of Scripture.
- Recommended reading on church websites. Many churches no longer have an official library on their campus, but church leaders are still recommending books. Many church websites now include a “recommended reading” section that features a mix of devotional classics, theological books, and the resources that have been most helpful to the pastor and staff.
- Church membership classes. This should not be a surprise to regular readers of this blog. As I’ve stated several times on the blog and in the podcast, the two main things you should communicate in church membership classes are information and expectations. And both of those must be firmly built on a biblical foundation of good theology.
There are surely other ways that churches are educating members with theological truths. I’d love to hear from you about ways in which you are doing this at your church. Please share them in the comment section below.
Bonus: Here is a new video from The Gospel Project I’ve recently shared on Twitter.
The post Six Ways Millennials Are Educating Their Churches Theologically appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
Satan’s Attack Program on Your Family (True Woman 201, part 3)
I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty hard for me to read the news these days. Everywhere I look, I see a call for the redefinition of marriage and a push to get past my biblical viewpoint, which is regularly deemed archaic and intolerant. It leaves me feeling discouraged and hopeless, not so much for myself, but for my children and their future.
But it’s not hopeless! And there is a purpose (and a great pay-off) when we live out God’s design in our homes. Here’s what Mary Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss have to say on this subject that traces all the way back to Genesis 3.
Sometimes it may be hard to see in messiness of life, but our families can point people to the family of God.
How have you seen this lived out in families around you? And what’s one way your family could be an arrow to Christ today?
Get Mary Kassian and Nancy’s new study, True Woman 201 (available for a gift of any amount through April 26), and discover a bold, fresh look at what the New Testament has to say about womanhood.
Like today’s video? Catch the entire conversation for each chapter of the study at TrueWoman201.com.
The Daily Discovery (April 16, 2015)
Why Same-Sex Marriage Can’t Afford to Be Tolerant – “Mere Orthodoxy’s Matt Anderson explains why “an anti-liberal approach toward dissenting views is part of the DNA of the logic of the current gay rights argument…”
It’s All Demonic Fun and Games Until Someone Puts God In A Box – “There is nothing more irritating than when deceived Christians use platitudes and clichés to defend their unbiblical viewpoints. You can sense them coming – ‘Don’t be divisive!’,’Touch not God’s anointed!’ Lately, I’ve been hearing ‘Don’t put God in a box!’ in reference to debunking false prophecies and supernatural experiences. As mystical practices in the church rise in popularity, I don’t foresee this going away anytime soon. It’s not because I received a vision, or because God whispered it to me, it’s because the sufficiency of scripture is being questioned.”
Verifiability Is A Christian Distinctive – “Christianity is unique among theistic worldviews. Some religious systems are based purely on the doctrinal, proverbial statements of their founders. The wisdom statements of Buddha, for example, lay the foundation for Buddhism.”
Ed Young’s Swing and a Miss – “Ed Young delivers the epitome of the typical seeker-driven “felt needs” type sermon. His usual style is addressing only the surface issues that trigger sin. Ed has his own ideas for fixing emotional issues, such as anger, but like every other pastor trying to meet the felt needs of their hearers, Ed completely misses the point. These guys simply put a band-aide over the real issue of sin. And they sure don’t like to talk about sin besides a few seconds at the end of their talks.”
Scoffers Have the Last Word? – “It seems that our society and our culture has shifted from respecting people’s rights to free speech and faith practices, to out and out mocking and silencing Christians. Joining us on air to discuss our freedom of speech is Elijah Abraham who travels around the world preaching the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Elijah will also be joining us for our Watchman Conference on May 1st and 2nd.”
SERMON:
John MacArthur – The Truth About Divorce, Part 1
VIDEOS:
Pilgrim’s Conflict with Sloth
What is the most important “thing” about your church?
“If you alter or obscure the Biblical portrait of God in order to attract converts, you don’t get converts to God, you get converts to an illusion. This is not evangelism but deception.” – John Piper
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GTY Blog: What Does It Mean to Be the Head of the Home?
1 Corinthians 11:3
Code: B150415
by John Macarthur
Male headship is a taboo topic for the world. That’s not a surprise in a society that has comprehensively rejected God’s design for the family. But even within the church today it’s a topic that ruffles feathers and makes people uncomfortable.
And yet we can’t hope to understand or apply God’s design for marriage and family if we sidestep this important biblical doctrine.
Marriage itself is founded on the principle of mutuality. Don’t imagine for a moment that the husband’s God-ordained headship relegates the wife to some secondary status or destroys the essential oneness of the marriage relationship. Marriage is a partnership, not a private fiefdom for dominant husbands. That truth is woven into everything Scripture teaches about the principles of marriage and the husband’s headship.
Different but Equal
In the first place, Scripture makes it perfectly clear that men and women are spiritual equals in the sight of God. They have an equal standing in Christ and equal spiritual privileges, because we are all united with Him in the same way. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” There is no second-class spiritual citizenship. In Christ and before God, there’s only oneness. We are equal. Men are not spiritually superior to women.
It’s nonetheless true (and perfectly obvious) that both Scripture and nature assign different roles and different functions to men and women. The Bible is quite clear in assigning headship in every family to the husband, not the wife (Ephesians 5:23). The responsibilities of teaching and leading the church are given to men, not women (1 Timothy 2:12). But women are uniquely and exclusively equipped to bear and nurture young children, and the fulfillment of that role assures that they can never be relegated to any second-class status.
Men are, as a rule, physically stronger (1 Peter 3:7 NKJV refers to the wife as “the weaker vessel”). Men are therefore responsible to carry the weight and the brunt of labor in order to provide for and protect the family. Scripture teaches that God designed the physical differences and the functional differences between men and women for a purpose—and that is why God clearly distinguishes the roles and responsibilities of husbands and wives.
Remember, however, that while their roles are clearly different, the spiritual standing of men and women in Christ is perfectly equal. Even the biblical language of two becoming one flesh underscores the essential oneness of husband and wife in a way that rules out the very notion of inequality.
Biblical Headship
In fact, the way Scripture describes the husband’s role as head of his wife underscores the essential spiritual equality of men and women. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul wrote, “I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”
Notice several significant truths that emerge from that one simple verse. First, God has given every husband a clear responsibility for spiritual leadership, and men dare not abdicate that duty. The husband, not the wife, is to be head of the family. That is God’s design. Within every home, someone must ultimately have the responsibility of leadership, and Scripture unambiguously assigns that duty to men, not women.
Second, the model for the husband’s headship is Christ. Christlike headship involves not only authority for spiritual leadership, but also the duties of care, nurture, protection, and self-sacrifice. In the words of Ephesians 5:28–29,
Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.
That text demolishes any notion that the husband’s headship makes him in any way superior to the wife.
Headship Within the Trinity
But third, notice the statement that comes at the end of 1 Corinthians 11:3: “God is the head of Christ.” In other words, even within the Trinity, one person is head. God the Father is head over Christ.
Aren’t all the persons of the Trinity fully God, and perfectly equal in essence? Of course. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). He said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Christ “is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). There is no inequality whatsoever among the persons of the Trinity.
But there are nonetheless differences in function. The Son willingly submits to the Father’s headship. The same Jesus who said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) also said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34). He said, “I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30, cf. 6:38). In other words, although Father and Son are the same in essence and equally God, they function in different roles. By God’s own design, the Son submits to the Father’s headship. The Son’s role is by no means a lesser role; merely a different one. Christ is in no sense inferior to His Father, even though He willingly submits to the Father’s headship.
Marital Submission
The same is true in marriage. Wives are in no way inferior to husbands, even though God has assigned husbands and wives different roles. The two are one flesh. They are absolutely equal in essence. Although the woman takes the place of submission to the headship of the man, God commands the man to recognize the essential equality of his wife and love her as his own body.
All of this beautifully illustrates the principle of mutual submission. And it is further illustrated by what Scripture teaches about the physical union of husband and wife. In 1 Corinthians 7:3, Paul wrote: “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.” He clearly recognized that each member of the marriage union has a duty to the other, and he commanded them both to fulfill that duty. But he also expressly stated that each partner has a kind of authority over the other’s body: “The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does” (v. 4). Again, we see that each must submit to the other. That same principle of mutual submission is built into every aspect of the marital relationship, beginning with the physical union.
Once again, none of that negates what Scripture plainly teaches about the husband’s headship. But it does demonstrate clearly that the man’s headship is not a kind of dictatorship where the rest of the family exists just to do his will.
In other words, the God-ordained roles in the family have nothing to do with superiority or inferiority. Many wives are frankly smarter, wiser, better educated, more disciplined, or more discerning than their husbands. God has nevertheless ordered the family so that the man is the head, because the wife is the “weaker vessel” (1 Peter 3:7 NKJV) and the husband therefore owes his wife self-sacrifice and protection. The wife is not thereby relegated to an inferior role; she is, rather, a joint heir, who shares in all the mutual richness of the marriage.
Foundational Truth
Above all, the husband as head and the wife as weaker vessel must practice mutual submission, where each esteems the other as better than (never inferior to) self. The principle of mutual submission also permeates both family and church, so that in some sense every family member, as well as every Christian, should “be devoted to one another in brotherly love; giv[ing] preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:10).
That is the essential starting point for everything Paul had to say about the family. The rest of his teaching—in which he outlined the distinct roles of husbands, wives, and children—is therefore set in the context of this all-important lesson about Spirit-filled humility. This one essential precept therefore establishes the bedrock principles of mutual submission, spiritual equality, tender self-sacrifice, godly humility, and loving service. Those are the keys to family harmony, and everything that comes afterward is simply an explanation of the ideal family environment—the foundation for building a true home.
(Adapted from The Fulfilled Family.)
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Professor explains how his study of the historical Jesus made him leave atheism
Sherlock Holmes and John Watson: let’s investigate Jesus!
Dr. Michael F. Bird has a great article in Christianity Today. I’ve featured his debates with atheist historican James Crossley on this blog before, and I have the book they co-wrote.
In the article, Dr. Bird writes:
I grew up in a secular home in suburban Australia, where religion was categorically rejected—it was seen as a crutch, and people of faith were derided as morally deviant hypocrites. Rates for church attendance in Australia are some of the lowest in the Western world, and the country’s political leaders feel no need to feign religious devotion. In fact, they think it’s better to avoid religion altogether.
As a teenager, I wrote poetry mocking belief in God. My mother threw enough profanity at religious door knockers to make even a sailor blush.
Many years later, however, I read the New Testament for myself. The…
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Godlife: Read this to find out something awesome about prayer.
Scripture: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” – Romans 8:26
Do you ever feel like you know you need to pray, but you just don’t know what to say or how to say it?
One great thing about prayer is that the Bible says that when we are too weak to even pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Another way to put that simply is that the Holy Spirit prays for us. So when you just can’t put into words the things you want to say to the Lord, ask the Holy Spirit to pray for you.
What is the difference between Justification and Sanctification?
by Mike Ratliff
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 NASB)
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 NASB)
justify
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): jus·ti·fied; jus·ti·fy·ing
Etymology:…
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