tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60853508263899388972024-03-13T13:06:43.620-06:00Salt and Light PerspectiveSalt and Light Perspective is a Christian worldview blog.
What is the Christian Worldview? Everyone has a worldview. Whether or not we realize it, we all have certain presuppositions and biases that affect the way we view all of life and reality. The foundation of the Christian worldview is Christ Jesus. To follow the teachings of Jesus which are recorded in the Bible is understood to be Christian worldview. Join the discussion and share your thoughts in the comments section.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-49213138019243614322016-07-02T11:46:00.000-06:002018-04-28T14:24:31.782-06:00The Grand Illusion...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why Conservatives Have Lost Cultural and Political Ground to Liberals:</span></b></h4>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3AwG7FQlek/V3f8HwQGrMI/AAAAAAAAA7w/teLmgn8ExUw1iVniBdWSOjaZCo8HJU_PgCLcB/s1600/Rabbit%2BHole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3AwG7FQlek/V3f8HwQGrMI/AAAAAAAAA7w/teLmgn8ExUw1iVniBdWSOjaZCo8HJU_PgCLcB/s320/Rabbit%2BHole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Conservatives accept the logically flawed premise that liberals employ. Consequently conservatives often end up not even arguing for their cause. Rather they get drawn down the rabbit hole of illusion which often helps advance the liberal argument and/or makes the conservative seem out of touch or incoherent. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This tactic is successfully complete when conservatives actually adopt the liberal approach of using logical fallacies to construct and support their argument. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-72388704521985842342016-04-01T08:32:00.001-06:002016-04-01T08:32:40.374-06:00Atheism: Analytic Thinking Results in Qualified Belief, not Disbelief<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></em></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DItLeEBzTjk/Vv6FkYm_JqI/AAAAAAAAA60/2gxwzBMkdCQ1ThYyCY_8oDK7iFuppQGgg/s1600/atheist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DItLeEBzTjk/Vv6FkYm_JqI/AAAAAAAAA60/2gxwzBMkdCQ1ThYyCY_8oDK7iFuppQGgg/s1600/atheist.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It has become fashionable to assert that Atheism
is <em>simply a lack of belief. </em><em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Of course position denies the definition of Atheism
and skews the meaning of belief. I have included the definitions of these words
at the end of the article for reference.</span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Analytic Thinking Results in
Qualified Belief, not Disbelief</span></b></u></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Disbelief is the result of
"Intuitive″ type of thinking. Intuitive thinking is spontaneous,
unreflective thinking which generally results in short, easy, binary answers
like "Yes" or "No" to questions.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Belief is the result of
"Analytic″ type of thinking. Analytical thinking is careful (suspicious
due to skepticism), deliberative and reasoned thinking. Conclusions from this
type of thinking result in qualified belief. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">People who initially answer questions
in an intuitive mode, which is prone to easy binary answers, will say,
"Yes" or "No." But when you engage their analytic traits,
they will begin qualifying their response through a process of cognitive
thinking or reasoning based upon a body of evidence whether seen or unseen. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Consequently<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>
if an Atheist is going to present an intellectual argument, denying a supreme
being or beings, they would be doing so from an analytic perspective which is
grounded in qualified belief. Therefore, they too are subject to the same
"burden of proof" as those they oppose. Otherwise there is no
opposition and their entire argument fails by default. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is
none that doeth good. (Psalm 14: 1)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">a·the·ism</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">noun</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">1.
the doctrine or belief that there is no God.</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">2.
disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">be-lief:</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>noun</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">1.
something believed; an opinion or conviction: a belief that the earth is flat.</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">2.
confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible
to rigorous proof: a statement unworthy of belief.</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">3.
confidence; faith; trust: a child's belief in his parents.</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">dis-belief:</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>noun</span></em></div>
1. the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-37203121992334980212016-02-19T09:10:00.001-07:002016-02-26T09:36:31.379-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tiC3AjW7vng/Vsc8Mi5GbUI/AAAAAAAAA54/bg2H90NGCPQ/s1600/Why%2BWould%2BGod%2BCreate%2BA%2BPlace%2BLike%2BHell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tiC3AjW7vng/Vsc8Mi5GbUI/AAAAAAAAA54/bg2H90NGCPQ/s320/Why%2BWould%2BGod%2BCreate%2BA%2BPlace%2BLike%2BHell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
February 18, 2016<br />
Author: Brett Kunkle<br />
<a href="http://www.str.org/blog/is-religion-the-cause-of-most-wars#.VscMQ-bD6VQ" target="_blank">Stand to Reason Ministries</a><br />
<br />
On Sunday, I returned home from another <a href="http://www.str.org/training/mission-trips" target="_blank">Berkeley Mission trip</a>, where I intentionally exposed high school students to some of my atheist friends in the Bay Area. For the last six months, we’ve taught apologetics to these high schoolers from Upland Christian Academy. Now it was time for them to “get off the sidelines and into the game” and engage non-Christians with the truth. Of course, my atheist friends are more than happy to oblige, so they meet with our missions teams, challenge them with a short lecture, and then dive into some rigorous dialogue.<br />
<br />
Without fail, a couple of our atheist guests will contend, “Religion is the cause of most wars.” This cultural mantra has been uttered so often and with so much force, it has come to be accepted as an undeniable declaration. Prominent atheists like Sam Harris contribute to the chorus of voices, arguing religion is “the most prolific source of violence in our history” (The End of Faith page 27). <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfYrNz3zhno" target="_blank">Richard Dawkins claims</a>, “There’s no doubt that throughout history religious faith has been a major motivator for war and for destruction.”<br />
<br />
But as we trained students for this trip, we equipped them with a simple question to expose such claims: “How did you come to that conclusion?” (also known as <a href="http://www.str.org/articles/the-columbo-tactic#.Vsc9DebD6VR" target="_blank">Columbo Question #2</a>). We simply taught students to recognize when someone makes a claim and then to request their supporting reasons. When our atheist presenters were challenged to provide justification, they could only offer up the Crusades, the Inquisition, 9-11, or vague references to Islamic terrorism. Certainly we recognize religion’s role in these examples, but three or four references cannot support the claim that most wars are caused by religion.<br />
<br />
Not only were students able to demonstrate the paucity of evidence for this claim, but we helped them discover that the facts of history show the opposite: religion is the cause of a very small minority of wars. Phillips and Axelrod’s three-volume <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Wars-Volume-Library-History/dp/0816028516" target="_blank">Encyclopedia of Wars</a> lays out the simple facts. They examined 5 millennia worth of wars—1,763 total—and found that only 123 (or about 7%) were “religious in nature.” If you remove the 66 wars waged in the name of Islam, it cuts the number down to a little more than 3%. A second scholarly source, <a href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-140519037X.html" target="_blank">The Encyclopedia of War</a> edited by Gordon Martel, confirms this data, concluding that only 6% of the wars listed in its pages can be labelled religious wars. Thirdly, William Cavanaugh’s book, The Myth of Religious Violence, exposes the “wars of religion” claim. And finally, <a href="http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/news/1085" target="_blank">a recent report</a> (2014) from the Institute for Economics and Peace further debunks this myth.<br />
<br />
We didn’t stop there. We showed students it gets worse for the atheists’ claim. A strong case can be made that atheism, not religion, and certainly not Christianity, is responsible <a href="http://www.str.org/articles/the-real-murderers-atheism-or-christianity#.Vsc9uubD6VR" target="_blank">for a far greater degree of bloodshed</a>. Indeed, R.J. Rummel’s work in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lethal-Politics-Soviet-Genocide-Murder/dp/1560008873" target="_blank">Lethal Politics</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Government-R-J-Rummel/dp/1560001453/" target="_blank">Death by Government</a> has the secular body count at more than 100 million...in the 20th century alone.<br />
<br />
Our students were able to see that a simple examination of the facts relieves religion from blame for most of the world’s wars. In addition, we were able to help cultivate in students a healthy skepticism of atheistic claims. If the skeptic will shout such an unsubstantiated claim so loudly and with so much force, what other skeptical claims might quickly fall apart under rational scrutiny? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-88413978202574415382014-08-11T06:18:00.001-06:002014-08-11T06:25:25.120-06:00Gambling, Drugs, and Odd Political Bedfellows<h2>
Personal Autonomy and Big Government</h2>
<div class="byline">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By: John Stonestreet<span class="byline_sep">|</span>Published: August 5, 2014 6:04 AM</span></div>
<div class="byline">
</div>
<div class="byline">
What do legalized gambling and legalized pot have in common? They fill <br />
government coffers and fuel social pathologies -- all in the name of <br />
personal freedom.</div>
<div class="byline">
</div>
<div class="byline">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BIUhGgqIXs/U-i0KknHJII/AAAAAAAAA3M/EA8VPJmzhAM/s1600/freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BIUhGgqIXs/U-i0KknHJII/AAAAAAAAA3M/EA8VPJmzhAM/s1600/freedom.jpg" height="124" width="320" /></a></div>
In most political commentary, libertarians and liberal advocates of an expanded role for government are considered to be on the opposite sides of the political spectrum. Libertarians oppose increased government revenues as an assault on personal freedom, while the people they deride as “big government” supporters argue that these revenues are needed if government is going to perform its proper role. <br />
<br />
As it turns out, the reality is not nearly as clear as the theory. There are times when their interests coincide to the detriment of many.<br />
<br />
This was the subject of a recent Washington Post op-ed by one-time Chuck Colson colleague and former White House speechwriter Michael Gerson. According to Gerson, both “the growth of payday gambling and the legalization of marijuana” are “justified as the expansion of personal liberty,” and at the same time “they serve the interests of an expanding government.” <br />
<br />
The latter is, or should be, obvious: legalizing various forms of gambling allows states to raise revenues “without the political inconvenience of requesting broad tax increases.” For instance, Maryland voters legalized video slot machines in 2008 and approved the addition of a casino just outside Washington, DC in 2012. <br />
<br />
As Gerson pointed out, Maryland’s motives had nothing to do with “personal autonomy.” Its motives were the 61 percent tax it collects on video slot machine revenue. <br />
<br />
The same is true of every other state with legalized gambling. State-sponsored gambling allows elected officials to provide voters with government services without asking voters to pay for the services if they don’t want to. Instead, they can stick other people, often those who can least afford it, with the tab: between 40 and 60 percent of all video slot revenue comes from problem gamblers. And, as if to reinforce the whole “free lunch” idea, “casinos are often sited to attract working-class” customers. <br />
<br />
And as Gerson tells us, history seems poised to repeat itself. My state of Colorado is expected to collect $114 million in its first year of marijuana legalization. Other states are watching, and it’s safe to say that many will follow the money trail. The political logic that drives the spread of legalized gambling also drives legalized drug use. <br />
<br />
Of course, no elected official will acknowledge the cynical political calculation at work here. Instead, the preferred rhetoric is that of personal freedom. Thus, as Gerson writes, “libertarians are now, <br />
paradoxically, providing ideological cover for irresponsible government.” <br />
<br />
Missing in all of this is any consideration of the impact of government’s trafficking in human weakness. Just as there is ample evidence of the damage that problem gambling causes to individuals, <br />
families, and communities, there are reasons to be concerned about the impact of legalized marijuana, especially on children. <br />
<br />
But all of this takes a back seat to government’s need for revenue and the libertarian desire to maximize personal freedom. As Gerson writes, “the idea of a political community upholding standards, in order to help other institutions (such as families) pass healthy cultural norms between generations, is anathema.” <br />
<br />
As Chuck Colson pointed out on this program 15 years ago, it’s as if government were deliberately setting about “to increase crime, divorce, suicide, child abuse, bankruptcy, and domestic violence.” <br />
<br />
Come to <a href="http://www.breakpoint.org/bp-home" target="_blank">BreakPoint.org</a> and click on this commentary. We’ll link you <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/michael-gerson-corrupting-citizens-for-fun-and-profit/2014/07/14/da321826-0b87-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html" target="_blank">Mike Gerson’s excellent editorial.</a> We’ll also link you to Focus on the Family’s resources on the scourge of gambling—as well as the Family Research Council’s work on marijuana. <br />
<br />
As Gerson says, “politicians increasingly benefit when citizens are addicted, exploited, impoverished and stoned.” And, the oddest of political bedfellows—libertarians and the advocates of big government—are calling it the “advance of freedom.” Gerson is correct when he says that a better word is “contemptible.”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-87543670097377381202013-08-14T21:33:00.000-06:002013-08-14T21:33:09.565-06:00Do You Know Why Economics Is a Moral Issue?<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/" target="_blank">Summit Ministries</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">August 7, 2013 </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CN3Tod1NRpg/UgxLTjnabbI/AAAAAAAAA1g/XEUWxqUiRrA/s1600/helping+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CN3Tod1NRpg/UgxLTjnabbI/AAAAAAAAA1g/XEUWxqUiRrA/s1600/helping+hand.jpg" /></a>Every liberal economic policy is predicated on the assumption that
coercive governments are morally superior to free markets. But how would
progressives react if they realized the exact opposite is true?<br />
Bad economic ideas lead to bad — and immoral — economic decisions. As the <a href="http://www.acton.org/" title="Acton Institute">Acton Institute’s</a> Dr. Samuel Gregg puts it in <em>Becoming Europe</em>,
quoting economist Arthur Brooks, the goal of a free market system of
economics is not “the endless acquisition of wealth.” Rather, it is
human flourishing<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#1" title="Note 1">1</a>
— our ability to, inasmuch as we can after the fall, be fruitful and
multiply, fill the earth, and rule over creation (Genesis 1:28).<br />
<br />
The Bible doesn’t instruct us on specific tax policies. Nowhere does
it prescribe what percentage of gross domestic product the federal
government ought to be spending. But it does give us a framework from
which to orient our economic thinking: people are made in the image of
God and carry inherent dignity and the ability to produce good things.
Economic systems that affirm these truths lead to human flourishing.
It’s for that reason that the free market system, when coupled with
personal virtue and community responsibility, better aligns with a
biblical worldview than any other economic system. Christians ought to
learn to articulate this: what is immoral is not the free market system,
but the diminishment of opportunity and dignity when it is corrupted by
greed or destroyed by power.<br />
As <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author and Summit faculty
member Jay W. Richards recently said in an interview with Summit, “If
we, as Christians, care about people, economic reality is something that
impinges on people in a thousand different ways. We need to learn
something about it.”<br />
<h4>
Our Economic Responsibility Includes Learning Basic Principles</h4>
Aside from basic economic principles like the law of supply and
demand or the function of price in a market, two key principles can help
us rightly order our economic thinking.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. Prudence</strong><br />
As Richards says in <em><a href="http://www.summit.org/store/Money-Greed-and-God-Why-Capitalism-Is-the-Solution-and-Not-the-Problem/" title="Money, Greed, and God | Jay W. Richards | Summit Store">Money, Greed, and God</a></em>, “Prudence means to ‘see reality as it is and to act accordingly’ to conform your mind, and then your actions, to reality.”<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#2" title="Note 2">2</a>
Elsewhere in the book, Richards recounts the story of Bob Geldof, who
helped organize movements in the 1980s to fight poverty in Africa,
including Live Aid and Band Aid. Those movements have done little to
lift struggling nations out of poverty, mostly because they
misunderstand what creates prosperity. Geldof’s take: “Something must be
done, even if it doesn’t work.”<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#3" title="Note 3">3</a><br />
<br />
Well, his plan didn’t work. Unthinking aid creates lifelong
dependence and stamps out the entrepreneurial spirit of whole nations.
Though his intentions were good, the outcome was deeply immoral. “We
spend too much time focusing on what we mean to do and what we like to
do instead of putting serious empirical work into what’s actually going
to work,” Richards said in an interview.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. Subsidiarity</strong><br />
The principle of subsidiarity goes back to medieval thinker Thomas
Aquinas. Subsidiarity claims that it is wrong for a “larger or higher
association” to step in and try to fix a problem when an institution
closer to the issue can act.<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#4" title="Note 4">4</a>
So, for example, when a young family finds itself in trouble, it’s
inappropriate — even unjust — for the state or federal government to
provide aid when extended family members, a local church, or neighbors
can help the family in need.<br />
<br />
This principle has significant implications for fighting poverty. In
the face of federal welfare, poverty rates in the U.S. have remained
between 12 and 15 percent for the last fifty years. Prior to President
Lyndon Johnson’s welfare programs, local communities were primarily
responsible for taking care of the poor. Poverty was actually on the
decline in the years leading up to Johnson’s War on Poverty; federal
welfare halted that decline.<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#5" title="Note 5">5</a><br />
<h4>
Economic Responsibility Also Means Having the Right Cultural Values</h4>
In Becoming Europe Gregg pinpoints the differences between European
economies and that of the U.S., demonstrating how the U.S. can avoid
plunging into the sort of economic crises in which Europe currently
finds itself. At the root of Gregg’s argument is a study of the cultural
values that undergird economic realities. As Gregg puts it, “. . . any
given economic setting . . . is influenced by a range of value
commitments, ideas, and movements.”<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#6" title="Note 6">6</a> In other words, economies serve as cultural barometers for their respective countries:<br />
<blockquote>
A market economy, for example, relies on processes such as
market prices and the exchange of goods and services, institutions such
as private property and rule of law, as well as actions such as
innovation and economic entrepreneurship. Note, however, how every
single one of these economic processes, actions, and institutions
assumes a commitment to freedom.<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#7" title="Note 7">7</a></blockquote>
As Gregg explains, top-down economies necessarily restrict freedom,
ignoring prudence and subsidiarity and thus denying essential truths
about humans and the <em>imago Dei</em>. Ignoring these realities, in
turn, creates a negative view of entrepreneurship. A biblical view, on
the other hand, begins with God as creator. Bearing his image, we too
know how to create. God wants abundance; bearing his image, we are by
nature equipped to produce more than we consume.<br />
<br />
Thus, coercive economic policies have the effect of suffocating the
entrepreneurial impulse. In the European Union 45 percent of citizens
preferred to be self-employed, while 46 percent preferred to be an
employee. What happens in a nation when a majority of the citizens
expect others to take care of them instead of taking responsibility
themselves? Interestingly, too much economic despotism may actually
cause people to wake up to their servitude. In China, where citizens
have lived under severe state planning, entrepreneurship is much more
highly valued: 71 percent of Chinese citizens preferred to be
self-employed, as opposed to 28 percent who said they wanted to be an
employee.<a href="http://www.summit.org/blogs/summit-announcements/do-you-know-why-economics-is-a-moral-issue/#8" title="Note 8">8</a><br />
<br />
So is it possible to avoid Europe’s path? Gregg says yes, but only if
we affirm five values that stave off an immoral economic despotism and
create an environment for freedom and flourishing:<br />
<ol>
<li><strong>Wealth Creation Over Wealth Redistribution.</strong> History
— and the principle of subsidiarity — shows us that people benefit when
they can work to improve their lots themselves. This value affirms the
fact that God made people to be co-creators of culture, not passive
consumers.</li>
<li><strong>Accountability and Transparency: Truth Over Falsehood.</strong>
In a true market economy, people are held accountable for poor economic
decisions by the outcomes of those decisions. A culture of bailouts and
corporate welfare undermines this value.</li>
<li><strong>Justice: Rule of Law Over Rule of Men.</strong> None of
these values will amount to much if the government fails to enforce just
laws. In addition to protecting the innocent and punishing wrongdoers,
securing justice provides a climate of stability in which wealth
creators can reap the rewards of their risk and create greater
abundance.</li>
<li><strong>Property Rights Over “Dirigisme.”</strong> Dirigisme is
simply the government stepping into the private sector to directly
manage wealth. Leaders who regularly threaten to diminish private
property rights create uncertainty, diminish investment, and generate a
climate of fear.</li>
<li><strong>Hope Over Fear: Openness vs. Defensiveness.</strong> Productive people are not the bad guys, and our government ought to stop portraying them as such.</li>
</ol>
So how do we reclaim the moral high ground from those advocating leftist policies? Bill Whittle thinks he knows. Bill is the “<a class="lightwindow" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/BillWhittleChannel" title="Bill Whittle YouTube Channel">Virtual President</a>” whose mock presidential addresses have gone viral on the Internet for articulating what our president <em>should</em>
say. Whittle suggests using simple questions to communicate three
central components of free market morality: freedom, private property,
and virtue:<br />
<ol>
<li>On freedom: ask, “Are you the kind of person who wants to be left
alone, or are you the kind of person who likes to tell other people what
to do?” Leftists assume that they are so smart that they deserve to
coerce the rest of us. But very few people will admit to wanting to be a
busybody.</li>
<li>On private property: ask, “If you believe in ‘From each according to
his ability, to each according to his need,’ are you willing to donate
your smart phone and other possessions to charity? How can you justify
eating every day when others are starving?” Why do they expect others to
make their sacrifices for them?</li>
<li>On virtue “Do you believe it is okay to hit someone and take their
stuff if they have more stuff than you do?” If it is not okay on a
personal level, it’s not okay for governments to do it either. Obviously
we all must pay taxes. But to base tax policy on jealousy is to
institutionalize theft.</li>
</ol>
People may not have a clear idea of what freedom, private property or
virtue are, but when you put these simple questions to them, you’ll
leave them thinking. You might even get them to see the moral basis of
the free enterprise system.<br />
<h4>
Notes</h4>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="1"></a>Samuel Gregg, <em>Becoming Europe: Economic Decline, Culture, and How America Can Avoid a European Future</em> (New York: Encounter Books, 2013), 300.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a>Jay W. Richards, <em>Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution and Not the Problem</em> (New York: HarperOne, 2009), 46.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a>Ibid, 45.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="4"></a>Ibid, 51.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="5"></a>Ibid, 47.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="6"></a>Gregg, 41.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="7"></a>Ibid, 8.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="8"></a>Ibid, 19.</li>
</ol>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-49048176273409759892013-07-27T16:50:00.000-06:002013-07-27T16:50:31.452-06:00Pulpits Are Silent<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Jeremiah 5:26-31</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like
fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of
birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and
rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they
judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and
they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these
things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as
this?” An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets
prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to
have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? </div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYqOF91Ds5o/UfROEMFYejI/AAAAAAAAA04/zJivKu_IROM/s1600/church_state.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aYqOF91Ds5o/UfROEMFYejI/AAAAAAAAA04/zJivKu_IROM/s1600/church_state.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite what the political parties would like you to
believe, the problem in America
is not the politicians, it is the pulpits. I hate to break the news to you, but
most of America’s
pulpits are filled with cowardly men unwilling to address the issues that have
swept over our country like a tidal wave.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am about fed-up with what I see. How did we ever get such
man-pleasing leaders? All that our fore-fathers held dear is being destroyed
before our very eyes and hardly a peep from the pulpit. They don’t want to hear
it. It's the pulpiteers that I am talking about. They are concerned with being
too harsh, they tell me that “Jesus is in control,” that they are not “called”
to fight evil and that "we should pray for our enemies.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What we need is a return of the Voice of God thundering
through the prophets standing in America’s pulpits. Not the prissy purpose
driven therapeutic Christianity drivel passing as the Gospel today. Few of the
feminized-preachers of the day can hold a candle to those who ushered in The
Great Awakening which led to the American Revolution, and the abolition of
slavery -- two world-changing events spearheaded by the pulpit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfFpnI7Zvg4/UfRNY1-XxKI/AAAAAAAAA0w/Ide8d5VH5Uc/s1600/silance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfFpnI7Zvg4/UfRNY1-XxKI/AAAAAAAAA0w/Ide8d5VH5Uc/s1600/silance.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Public schools are destroying the faith of
Christian children and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Legislation is introduced to remove the rights
of parents and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Children are taught they came from apes and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Millions of children are “medicated” to control
their behavior and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Gambling is promoted to pay for schools and the
pulpit is silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Precious babies are being murdered in the womb
and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Planned Parenthood kills babies with our tax
dollars and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Judges make laws and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Tolerance trumps Truth and the pulpits are
silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Sodomy is granted legal protection and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The institution of marriage is crumbling and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Obama says the Sermon on the Mount justifies gay
marriage and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Government has replaced God as defender and
provider and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Faith-based initiatives invite the government
into the Church and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The IRS muzzles the voice of the Church and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Taxes are levied to do the work of the Church
and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The Church locks arms with
compassionate-conservativism and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Children’s service agencies separate family
members and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Self-help books replace the Bible and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A Purpose Driven Life is elevated above dying to
self and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Leaders say Christians and Muslims worship the
same God and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The Constitution is ignored and the pulpits are
silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Pagans pray to open a session of Congress and
the pulpits are silent.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Our elected officials lie and steal and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Private property is stolen by government and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Mother Earth is protected more than Father God
is defended and the pulpits are silent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 48.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 48.75pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Illegal aliens over-run our borders and the
pulpits are silent.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The entertainment industry celebrates debauchery
and the pulpits are silent.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-22807503858896561512013-07-01T09:01:00.000-06:002013-07-01T09:09:25.265-06:00Learning from Young Atheists<div class="title">
Learning from Young Atheists</div>
<div class="title">
What Turned Them off Christianity</div>
<div class="byline">
By: Eric Metaxas<span class="byline_sep">|</span>Published: July 1, 2013 <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBcvpEaAqH4/UdGXo3kcgzI/AAAAAAAAAzs/6GsP7FTeIFM/s120/right+way+wrong+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBcvpEaAqH4/UdGXo3kcgzI/AAAAAAAAAzs/6GsP7FTeIFM/s120/right+way+wrong+way.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="byline">
</div>
<div class="byline">
Have you ever asked a young atheist why he or she doesn’t believe? Well, one researcher did. And the answers may surprise you.</div>
<div class="byline">
</div>
<div class="byline">
It’s something most Christian parents worry about: You send your kids
off to college and when they come back, you find they’ve lost their
faith. The prospect of this happening is why many parents nudge their
kids towards Christian colleges, or at least schools with a strong
Christian presence on campus.<br />
<br />
But in many ways, the damage has been done long before our children
set foot on campus. That’s the message from a recent article in the
Atlantic Monthly.<br />
<br />
My friend Larry Taunton of the Fixed Point Foundation set out to find
out why so many young Christians lose their faith in college. He did
this by employing a method I don’t recall being used before: He asked
them.<br />
<br />
The Fixed Point Foundation asked members of the Secular Students
Associations on campuses around the nation to tell them about their
“journey to unbelief.” Taunton was not only surprised by the level of
response but, more importantly, about the stories he and his colleagues
heard.<br />
<br />
Instead of would-be Richard Dawkins’, the typical respondent was more
like Phil, a student Taunton interviewed. Phil had grown up in church;
he had even been the president of his youth group. What drove Phil away
wasn’t the lure of secular materialism or even Christian moral teaching.
And he was specifically upset when his church changed youth pastors.<br />
<br />
Whereas his old youth pastor “knew the Bible” and made Phil “feel
smart” about his faith even when he didn’t have all the answers, the new
youth pastor taught less and played more.<br />
<br />
Phil’s loss of faith coincided with his church’s attempt to
ingratiate itself to him instead of challenging him. According to
Taunton, Phil’s story “was on the whole typical of the stories we would
hear from students across the country.”<br />
<br />
These kids had attended church but “the mission and message of their
churches was vague,” and manifested itself in offering “superficial
answers to life’s difficult questions.” The ministers they respected
were those “who took the Bible seriously,” not those who sought to
entertain them or be their “buddy.”<br />
<br />
Taunton also learned that, for many kids, their journey to unbelief was an emotional, not just an intellectual one.<br />
<br />
Taunton’s findings are counter-intuitive. Much of what passes for
youth ministry these days is driven by a morbid fear of boring our young
charges. As a result, a lot of time is spent trying to devise ways to
entertain them.<br />
<br />
The rest of the time is spent worrying about whether the Christian
message will turn kids off. But as Taunton found, young people, like the
not-so-young, respect people with conviction—provided they know what
they’re talking about.<br />
<br />
Taunton talks about his experiences with the late Christopher
Hitchens, who, in their debates, refrained from attacking him. When
asked why, Hitchens replied, “Because you believe it.”<br />
<br />
I don’t know what that says about Hitchens’ other Christian debate
partners, but it is a potent reminder that playing down the truth claims
of the Christian faith doesn’t work. People don’t believe those they
don’t respect.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O4EtCaJA5K4/UdGYwmIJvzI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Mbs6KWdcbXU/s268/Exit+Youth+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O4EtCaJA5K4/UdGYwmIJvzI/AAAAAAAAAz8/Mbs6KWdcbXU/s268/Exit+Youth+Group.jpg" /></a></div>
Here’s something that one of the students told Larry Taunton; he said, “Christianity is something that if you <em>really</em> believed it, it would change your life and you would want to change [the lives] of others. I haven’t seen too much of that.”<br />
<br />
Folks, that’s pretty sobering. This puts the ball in our court. Are
we living lives that show our children that we actually believe what we
say we believe? And here’s another question—do we actually believe it? I
have to say, as a parent I’m taking this very seriously. If possible,
join me in reading <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/listening-to-young-atheists-lessons-for-a-stronger-christianity/276584/" target="_blank">Taunton’s excellent article</a>. Come to <a href="http://www.breakpoint.org/bp-home" target="_blank">BreakPoint.org </a> for other resources to equip young adults to contend for the faith.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-17497378416340812502013-06-07T12:08:00.001-06:002013-06-07T12:10:38.027-06:00My Apology to Mormon Readers<a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/">Mike Adams</a><span class="divider"> | </span>Jun 05, 2013<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wuuYd6S_cdI/UbIhWBJZoaI/AAAAAAAAAzU/plZT9y9Bljg/s1600/mormon_temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wuuYd6S_cdI/UbIhWBJZoaI/AAAAAAAAAzU/plZT9y9Bljg/s1600/mormon_temple.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Dear Stacey:<br />
<br />
You have written demanding an apology for my recent characterization
of the Mormon religion as "non-Christian." I am happy to write a public
letter of apology to you and to the countless Mormon readers who
responded negatively to my characterization.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that so many of my Mormon readers have brazenly accused me
of ignorance of their religion and suggested that I read the Book of
Mormon. I am sorry that they were unaware that I read the Book of Mormon
back in 2006.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that the science of genetics has refuted claims made in
the Book of Mormon concerning the relationship between Native Americans
and Semitic people. These refutations undermine the entire historical
premise of the Book of Mormon.<br />
<br />
I am also sorry that while archeological discovery supports the
claims of the Bible it clearly does not support the claims of the Book
of Mormon. Battles that were supposed to have occurred in specific
locations in North America simply never took place. The archeological
evidence just isn't there.<br />
<br />
I am sorry about the plagiarism of the Holy Bible that runs through
the Book of Mormon. I am sorry that Mormons cannot see that Joseph
Smith's refusal to reveal the golden tablets is strong evidence of their
nonexistence. The heavy plagiarism in the Book of Mormon puts the lie
to the rest of the story of Smith, the former seeker of the lost
treasures of Captain Kidd.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that my Mormon readers have put all their eggs in one
basket by constantly writing to me quoting Matthew 7:16. So I am sorry
that I must now apply that verse to the very first Mormon.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that among the 33 well-documented plural wives of Joseph
Smith, there were close to a dozen unions in which the wife was already
married to another man.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that in his lifetime, Joseph Smith married four different
pairs of sisters. I am sorry that Joseph Smith married a young woman and
also married her mother.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that some of Joseph Smith's marriages were the result of
religious coercion secured only after he told the prospective bride that
marrying him would ensure the bride’s place in heaven. I am sorry that
Smith also coerced teenagers into marrying him by promising their
families a place in heaven.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that Joseph Smith kept fourteen-year-old Helen Mar Kimball
from marrying her sweetheart Horace Whitney because he wanted to marry
the teenager instead. I am sorry that Joseph Smith also asked Helen’s
father Heber C. Kimball to give him his wife.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that before he eventually married Helen, Joseph Smith gave
her a 24-hour deadline to give in to his offer of a place in heaven. I
am sorry that two years after the death of Joseph Smith, Helen married
her old sweetheart Horace Whitney. I am sorry that the marriage between
Helen and Horace was only temporary because Helen was already "sealed"
by marriage to Joseph Smith for eternity. I am sorry that Horace Whitney
was "sealed" to an already dead Mormon woman before his “temporary”
marriage to Helen.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that after her mother died, Joseph Smith approached
teenager Lucy Walker with a command that she marry Smith with the threat
of eternal damnation as the punishment if she refused. I am sorry that
the year before Joseph Smith died, he said the following to Lucy: “I
will give you until tomorrow to decide (whether to marry me). If you
reject this message the gate will be closed forever against you.”<br />
<br />
I am sorry that the Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith claims to have
transcribed from the golden plates given to him by the Angel Moroni,
says the following: “Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and
concubines, which thing was abominable before me, Saith the Lord.”
(Jacob 2:24).<br />
<br />
I am sorry that Joseph Smith said the following shortly before his
death: "(W)hen I get my kingdom, I shall present it to my father, so
that he may obtain kingdom among kingdom, and it will exalt him in
glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take his place,
and thereby become exalted myself.”<br />
<br />
I am sorry that Smith’s polytheism is not consistent with John 14:6. I
am also sorry that since these are the words of Christ, polytheism
cannot be Christian. Moreover, I am sorry, my Mormon friends, but the
the words of Christ trump the words of Joseph Smith who will never be
God.<br />
<br />
I am sorry that Mormonism teaches that Christ was not there in the
beginning, that god was just a man who became God by following a moral
code he did not create, and that we may all become gods by following the
same moral code that predates the existence of Jesus. I am sorry that
the theological mess caused by Joseph Smith is irreconcilable with the
teachings of the Holy Bible.<br />
<br />
Finally, I am sorry that my Mormon readers have unfairly accused me
of criticizing Mormonism without doing my homework. But I am glad I did.
Now I understand the significance of Galatians 1:6-9. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-65490692307564405522012-11-30T21:58:00.000-07:002012-11-30T22:00:16.480-07:00The Magician's Twin - The Case Against Scientism - C.S. Lewis<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FPeyJvXU68k" width="560"></iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-11916676309435047792012-11-10T09:22:00.000-07:002012-11-10T09:22:35.905-07:00School District Reverses Policy, Allows Equal Access to Religious Viewpoints <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dSwS_nJgAY/UJ5-cjZVf7I/AAAAAAAAAvY/7hbyzWLYchc/s1600/cilldren_classroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dSwS_nJgAY/UJ5-cjZVf7I/AAAAAAAAAvY/7hbyzWLYchc/s1600/cilldren_classroom.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a>The <a href="http://aclj.org/" target="_blank">American Center for Law & Justice</a> (ACLJ) recently assisted a Church in gaining equal access at a
public school to distribute materials related to release time religious
and moral instruction. Under California law, parents are permitted to
request that their children be released from school supervision for a
limited period every month in order for their child to receive religious
and moral instruction that the child does not receive from the public
school.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the school district had a policy that prohibited
anyone from distributing “religious materials” including information
related to the release time religious and moral instruction that was
authorized under state law. To make matters worse, the district allowed
distribution of secular materials and specifically targeted religious
materials for discrimination.<br />
<br />
After discussing the issue with our client, the ACLJ drafted a letter
explaining that the school’s policy constitutes viewpoint
discrimination against religious speech and that the policy violated the
First Amendment’s prohibition on restricting free speech. In addition,
we explained that the policy was facially inconsistent with the state
law which allows supervised release time for religious and moral
instruction.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, after church representatives presented the letter to the
school district explaining the law, the school district has agreed to
change its policy to comply with First Amendment requirements and give
equal access to all viewpoints. The Church will now have equal access to
distribute material related to the release time religious and moral
instruction.<br />
<br />
The ACLJ is pleased with this outcome and looks forward to continuing
to vigilantly protect and ensure the ongoing viability of religious
freedom and liberty in the United States and around the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-33930480874364786072012-09-04T08:54:00.000-06:002012-09-04T08:54:47.967-06:00Vote "Yes" on Wyoming's Constitutional Amendment A<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5GXHfHXNcCg/UEYVy7cZ1cI/AAAAAAAAAuk/tUXegem5HKk/s1600/Wyo_Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5GXHfHXNcCg/UEYVy7cZ1cI/AAAAAAAAAuk/tUXegem5HKk/s1600/Wyo_Flag.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Hw5yYV5eFeb6zkYuM-ngzER9MsEcEKXgdL9pnfC7dP8eUQfFCqSU-UuuDMYZAMky_drZOzyAd4H_xDT4LctVAJD-VG_4ROY6uC32pDeFKQjbARnJKoCoLvuPLoYS6gBGLKdVD-NtcA78jB8keiEfntApY5cvzzbLz3yu8yjXjF1Z5EfWJ_jvdaCIpVdLNKjcVmM29Kz4ZR7Z8bB3J-LAEA9zGlV0T40a" shape="rect" style="color: #004db4; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Constitutional Amendment A</a><span>
is an amendment to the WYOMING Constitution and does not change our
U.S. Constitution. It is an amendment that was sponsored by our dear
friend Senator Leslie Nutting (R-Cheyenne) in 2011. The goal was to make
sure that Obamacare or future federal mandated healthcare programs
cannot be implemented against the will of the people in Wyoming. The
need for this Wyoming Amendment is quite clear when we are all being
faced with Obamacare' s burdensome tax (or should I say penalties) when
fully implemented. We hope we can count on your support of this
amendment as well as your help in spreading the word of how important it
is to vote YES on it. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Hw5yYV5eFeaPURCaTl2a28N4ZWdBkxdOyWJW1cobJTPHpirSJJ_HpZNj_Byqj7TXOs3tWaLLKWaUuGzK3-33aA_AsxaBpShPv8rp66IMuh4cedaQSShy1FRYag_8qw2oa3N-xiuCXl493Ojn7zma1AN2v1U6PdJtnkcPcSVhuyfZCm1DuF8Tdg==" shape="rect" style="color: #004db4; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click here to view the ballot language.</a> </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>In the event President Obama is re-elected, this amendment is the<strong> ONLY</strong> protection the citizens of Wyoming have against Obamacare!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>However, the <em>Wyoming Watchdogs</em> (not affiliated with WyWatch) is an organization who is spreading misinformation about this amendment, stating <em><strong>incorrectly</strong></em> that it creates new powers or new rights for the legislature to control healthcare in Wyoming. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Wyoming Legislature already has these powers with or without the ballot initiative known as <em>Constitutional Amendment A. </em></strong></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>Here is a part of the legislative record of <em>Wyoming Watchdogs</em> (again, no affiliation to WyWatch): </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="color: #004db4; font-family: Georgia,Palatino;"><span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Hw5yYV5eFeaG6zasTsz4I7b16IZhlSwWZUScndFC8kZ06O4mDvmuS4GXTZv7f-6Ps0OTT8Uu5lagVLxB3MTwGnOBEURCG3CuAS-WL8AN8PLP4-udG1e9Ppi7ifANTizcIVycSSolGiAnAP-437Q8010Qxs7FvLz1d4i1jxQdUhHLI7cFx1UeAw==" shape="rect" style="color: #004db4; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">They opposed the constitutional amendment to protect the sanctity of marriage.</a></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino;"><span>They opposed the sanctity of life bill nicknamed the ultrasound bill.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino;"><span>They opposed a 2nd amendment rights bill ran by Wyoming Gun Owners Association.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino;"><span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Hw5yYV5eFeb3Z6HRv2bvQ91iwdmxGAg-BPQIJzNx-RNSvGL4NesyIEiU9fsai6GSiagntTYAS8BEocv58eoKNaKX37Ua8t6JH8RmrnZ3Ia3LzG7MbkGetbHc-18dk6bQkqnO1VpgB_B85hnJ-uBjFlAAGN9P5ugO6f9GGFKw-SkhfqPp5n7VAxp8E29rCyVNKaMs0EiVHTk=" shape="rect" style="color: #004db4; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">They opposed the Constitutional Amendment to defend you from Obamacare in its original form</a> (not just in its amended form that passed the House and the Senate). </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino;"><span>They called Representative Bob Brechtel "dangerous to Wyoming" publicly.</span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>The <em>Wyoming Watchdogs</em>
claim to be conservative, but they have helped the progressive, liberal
left with their efforts at the state legislature more than they have
defended the sanctity of LIFE, MARRIAGE, and Constitutional FREEDOM. Can
you trust them or anyone associated with them?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span> <img border="0" hspace="5" name="13990f319aa0afb7_ACCOUNT.IMAGE.7" vspace="5" /> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>WyWatch
has never been one to think that we are more intelligent than the
average citizen. Our job, or mission as we see it, has been about
analyzing legislation or documents and seeking out experts who can help
us understand important nuances. When conflicts of interpretation come
up, we work diligently to get these expert opinions to you, our members.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>Because
WyWatch has learned it is best to seek PROFESSIONAL and EXPERT opinions
on issues concerning our state statutes and constitution we went to a <strong><em>Hillsdale College</em></strong> graduate attorney and a <strong><em>Harvard Law School</em></strong> graduate who worked for Home School Legal Defense Association, which resides on <strong>Patrick Henry College's</strong> campus. These two fine attorneys did an excellent job of reviewing the ballot initiative known as <em>Constitutional Amendment A</em> and we would be thrilled if you would take the time to read their analysis. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Hw5yYV5eFeZjqNjqM3LOXBNcVZolLKoy6ixDCQnpv4jJKlUfI7Fj5y7pVO9Wluz_A91hXLRuyUt2DeAc4uoBv9mMVhC4E8mkFGgorDHii0Q8hiCeHJqil-fZVVKzOfoYxxBGeUffbsS-3St_46Oh-8rvea3DRk821undZK0pNGrZP2rtq4uGAhpG7WUXxQ00cFgU9SDsLR5A7JMtu5Vn1fqulGlKFeHRmHq64WSycc4=" shape="rect" style="color: #004db4; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to view Steve Klein's comments from the <em>Wyoming Liberty Group</em> (the Hillsdale graduate).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Hw5yYV5eFeYn6ew5M2-3AnAf58gn_uNQjVr_W1jku7x-e8GERfERAk8tdZIJRwzUdlO-ncTp65md_upejv5mJfMY7faxqULAE4zKv7oEe5rvI-UpF5RbPJbJRdpQCA0zUyZ3QxaFP8nwcL7X8h0TS5QCp2pTGczs3cmmawabxxSIxW5FEJSXSPsjsc2Z-d2M4f498CpmqKS-ID43Bn_q_x-29kFTtIIgAXxQXFxgxZCPYKHnWTudulY11ZnHeQ0rcThk1LqnKhreISHLmVsKpg==" shape="rect" style="color: #004db4; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Click Here </a>to view Scott W. Somerville's comments who worked for HSLDA for years which is associated with <em>Patrick Henry College</em>.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>However, I want to point out something to you. Steve Kline from the <em>Wyoming Liberty Group</em>
took the arguments from a concerned patriot who did a side by side
comparison of the original amendment vs. what actually passed both
houses with overwhelming majorities, and refuted the side by side
arguments. Steve's comments are in <span style="color: red;">RED</span>. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>The
other attorney, Scott W. Somerville, reviewed the ballot language and
the enrolled act that passed both the house and the senate in 2011 and
did a beautiful job of explaining the importance of passing <em>Constitutional Amendment A.</em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>We
encourage you all to compare what you hear and what you read between
now and November 6th with what these constitutional attorneys have
written. We hope that the links to the two documents we provide above
will solidify your trust in the legislative and lobbying process that
WyWatch uses now and will continue to use in the future.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,Palatino; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span>If
you have any further questions we will be happy to discuss them with
you or better yet, put you in touch with the experts who can answer them
for you. We are not afraid to tell you that we depend heavily on
alliances with experts across the country to make sure what we do is not
only Biblical, but also Constitutional. We hope we have earned your
trust enough to depend on us for that. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-82041703721090650612012-06-16T08:49:00.001-06:002012-06-16T08:49:56.847-06:00Principal Replaces ‘God Bless The USA’ With Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’The principal, Kilmeade explained, banned “God Bless the USA” because she felt it was “too grown-up” for the young children to sing at their “moving up” ceremony, particularly a line about starting over with one’s children and wife. <br /><br /><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="421" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://videos.mediaite.com/embed/player/?content=ZBR11C0D3YPYG5DX&content_type=content_item&layout=&playlist_cid=&media_type=video&widget_type_cid=svp&read_more=1" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-38825189387789015612012-06-14T20:01:00.000-06:002012-06-14T20:01:55.394-06:00A Hailstorm of Tax Hikes Heading for Wyoming<a href="http://wyliberty.org/feature/a-hailstorm-of-tax-hikes-heading-for-wyoming/" target="_blank">Wyoming Liberty Group</a> | By Sven Larson<br />
June 14, 2012<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeKSuXH9svU/T9oP-DH5NaI/AAAAAAAAAoY/rU6ZpGiufgg/s1600/tax_burdon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeKSuXH9svU/T9oP-DH5NaI/AAAAAAAAAoY/rU6ZpGiufgg/s1600/tax_burdon.jpg" /></a>On Thursday June 14, the <a href="http://www.heritage.org/" target="_blank">Heritage Foundation</a> releases its
“<a href="http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/pdf/fs105.pdf" target="_blank">Taxmageddon</a>” report. Taxmageddon is a $494-billion tax increase waiting
to hit the U.S. economy on January 1, 2013. Time is running out for
Congress to prevent this disaster, but even if it does, the Wyoming
economy could be hit by its own hailstorm of tax hikes.<br />
<br />
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports (Wednesday June 13):<br />
<br />
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
"An increase in the state’s fuel tax is on
the table. Toll roads are not. On Tuesday a state legislative
supercommittee reviewed ways to raise money for Wyoming highways. The
group will develop a draft bill for state lawmakers to consider in 2013.
The draft bill will include a proposal for a higher gasoline tax, based
on the committee’s direction. The amount has not been determined. It
will also include increases in motor vehicle registration and driver
license and services fees. It will apply a sales tax to fuel, too."</div>
<br />
A higher gasoline tax is nothing new. In October 2010 the
Transportation Committee sponsored a bill that would phase in a ten-cent
increase over three years. The idea was to take the state gasoline tax
to 24 cents per gallon. Conservative estimates showed that the higher
tax would cost drivers $35 million extra per year, though some estimates
suggested higher numbers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBYg_EFAy30/T9oQAJ-62MI/AAAAAAAAAog/S11go52xf_I/s1600/tax_clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBYg_EFAy30/T9oQAJ-62MI/AAAAAAAAAog/S11go52xf_I/s1600/tax_clock.jpg" /></a>These proposals are not the only ones that will raise our taxes. The
2012 legislative session authorized counties to seek voter approval for a
one-cent increase in sales taxes. At the end of the legislative session
some legislators also speculated about a one-cent increase in the state
sales tax.<br />
<br />
It is not good for Wyoming that whenever our legislators talk about
our economy, their conversation centers in on tax increases. This is not
a good trend, especially since there is a risk that the state will face
spending cuts up to $75 million.<br />
<br />
When spending cuts are coupled with tax cuts they are good for the
economy. When spending cuts are coupled with higher taxes, the opposite
is true. This combination increases government’s drainage of resources
from the economy. Government is a burden on the private sector already
as it is; we don’t need to increase that burden by having government
take more of our money and give even less back.<br />
<br />
Even if at the end of the day there will be no spending cuts, higher
taxes will be bad enough for the Wyoming economy. It is fair to assume
that the gasoline tax increase would be somewhere in the neighborhood of
the 2010 proposal, phased in over three years. Furthermore, let us also
assume that all counties vote to raise the sales taxes by one percent.
Lastly, we add a one-cent state sales tax increase and allow the higher
total sales tax to cover gasoline as well.<br />
<br />
A simulation using a so called CGE macroeconomic model of the Wyoming
economy gives a rather disturbing picture of what these proposed tax
increases would do to the Wyoming economy. The following numbers are for
2015 and compare to a scenario without any tax increases:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>There will be 6,800 fewer private-sector jobs;</li>
<li>Private corporate investments will be $110 million lower;</li>
<li>Wyoming families will have $458 million less in disposable income;</li>
<li>Local governments will see a net loss of $28 million in tax revenue.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Depending on what type of spending cuts would be added to this, the net effect could be considerably worse.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt that Wyoming needs better roads. However, massive
tax increases is not the way to pay for them. A much better approach is
to build closer ties between road usage and the cost of that usage. A
gasoline tax is an imprecise instrument in this respect: the gasoline
tax affects all drivers, even those who do mostly local driving. At the
same time, interstate drivers are increasingly able to get through the
state without paying anything for using our highways. More and more
passenger cars can, for example, travel the entire stretch of the I-80
through Wyoming without filling up even once, leaving Wyoming drivers
with the entire bill for road maintenance.<br />
<br />
The tax hikes currently being discussed will actually increase the
incentives of out-of-state drivers to avoid a gas fill-up within our
borders. This makes it even more surprising that our legislators are
entirely unwilling to consider a tolling system or find cost reductions.<br />
<br />
By talking tax increases and generic spending cuts, our elected
officials are showing us that they are stuck in the same old
conventional thinking about government’s role in the economy. Rather
than trying to squeeze a fiscally obese government into an economy that
is already too small to fit into, our lawmakers should reconsider what
role government should actually play in our economy. A smaller, leaner
government with fewer spending programs is more able to focus on such
things as highway maintenance–and the net burden on taxpayers would go
down in the bargain.<br />
<br />
The road to a smaller, leaner government goes through
principles-based, thoughtfully executed structural elimination of
entitlement programs. That takes time, but Wyoming has the financial
padding to take that time. Best of all, the payoff from concentrating
government to non-redistributive functions are enormous for the state
economy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-42683105877206675212012-06-08T19:02:00.000-06:002012-06-08T19:03:10.403-06:00Death of Common Sense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/mCpiL9ByYOI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-44184491179268504662012-05-22T19:23:00.001-06:002012-05-22T19:23:43.772-06:00The Gay Divorcees<span style="font-size: large;">There are more than you might think. </span><br />By <span class="bioline"><i>Charles C. W. Cooke is an editorial associate for
</i><span class="biolineNR">National Review</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL5U9BbDEq4/T7w76oo-P0I/AAAAAAAAAm0/zkSAshPx0bg/s1600/gay+union+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wL5U9BbDEq4/T7w76oo-P0I/AAAAAAAAAm0/zkSAshPx0bg/s320/gay+union+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="drop">A</span>nnouncing
the results of his long-term “evolution” on the subject last week, President
Obama revived the debate over gay marriage. In the widespread discussion,
however, there is one question that’s rarely asked: How interested are gay
couples in getting married?</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Heretofore at least, the answer seems to be “not really.” Since 1997, when
Hawaii became the first state in the union to allow reciprocal-beneficiary
registration for same-sex couples, 19 states and the District of Columbia have
granted some form of legal recognition to the relationships of same-sex couples.
These variants include marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, and
reciprocal-beneficiary relationships; and the most recent U.S. Census data
reveal that, in the last 15 years, only 150,000 same-sex couples have elected to
take advantage of them — equivalent to around one in five of the self-identified
same-sex couples in the United States. This number does not appear to be low
because of the fact that only a few states have allowed full “marriage”; indeed,
in the first four years when gay marriage was an option in trailblazing
Massachusetts, there were an average of only about 3,000 per year, and that
number included many who came from out of state.<br />
<br />
This dearth of early adopters is not peculiar to America. Research conducted in
2004 by Gunnar Anderson, a professor of demography at Sweden’s Stockholm
University, seems to confirm the trend. Anderson looked at legal partnerships in
both Norway and Sweden and found that in Norway, which legalized civil unions in
1993, only 1,300 homosexual couples registered in the first eight years,
compared with 190,000 heterosexual marriages; in Sweden, between initial passage
in 1995 and a review in 2002, 1,526 legal partnerships were registered, compared
with 280,000 heterosexual marriages. In the Netherlands, gay marriage is
actually declining in popularity: 2,500 gay couples married in 2001 — the year
it was legalized — and that number dropped to 1,800 in 2002, 1,200 in 2004, and
1,100 in 2005. In 2009, the last year for which figures are available, less than
2 percent of marriages in the Netherlands were between same-sex couples.<br />
<br />
Controlling for the ratio of homosexuals to heterosexuals does little to
explain the enthusiasm gap. For rates to be similar, we would have to pretend
that only 0.5 percent of the population of Sweden, 0.7 percent of the population
of Norway, and less than 2 percent of the population of Holland is gay. In fact,
the numbers tend closer to an average of 4 percent, which suggests that
heterosexual couples are up to eight times more interested in registering their
relationships than homosexual couples. It is, of course, possible that the
estimated number of homosexuals is wrong, but, if anything, gay-rights groups
tend to argue that the projected numbers are too low, and statistics show that
the numbers of self-identified gay citizens are going up in every Western
country.<br />
<br />
Enthusiasm for marriage is somewhat lopsided by gender. Divorces, too.
According to UCLA’s Williams Institute, two-thirds of legally recognized
same-sex couples in the United States are lesbian. (Solely on the “marriage”
front, in Massachusetts’s first four years, this statistic was 62 percent.)
While data in the United States are clearly limited, Scandinavian countries have
been at this a little longer. Denmark was the first country to introduce
recognition of same-sex partnerships, coining the term “registered partnership”
in 1989. Norway followed suit in 1993, and then Sweden in 1995. Again, Stockholm
University’s study seems to confirm the American trend. In Norway, male same-sex
marriages are 50 percent more likely to end in divorce than heterosexual
marriages, and female same-sex marriages are an astonishing 167 percent more
likely to be dissolved. In Sweden, the divorce risk for male-male partnerships
is 50 percent higher than for heterosexual marriages, and the divorce risk for
female partnerships is nearly double that for men. This should not be
surprising: In the United States, women request approximately two-thirds of
divorces in all forms of relationships — and have done so since the start of the
19th century — so it reasonably follows that relationships in which both
partners are women are more likely to include someone who wishes to exit.<br />
<br />
The debate over marriage does not necessarily hinge on its popularity among
the eligible, and advocates of gay unions would no doubt assert that “equality”
is not a numerical proposition as quickly as their opponents would aver that the
very idea is a hopeless category mistake. But it is nonetheless worth noting
that there is no particular groundswell — even in states and cities that have
both legal gay marriage and significant numbers of homosexuals — and that, when
gay couples do decide to get married, they are more likely than their straight
equivalents to change their minds later.<br />
<span class="bioline"><i>— </i><span class="biolineNR"></span></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-24790960434170155792012-05-14T19:31:00.000-06:002012-05-14T19:31:21.120-06:00Cultivating Courage<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">The First Cardinal Virtue</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By: <a href="http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/19347" target="_blank">Eric Metaxas</a></span></h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4 style="font-weight: normal;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZUFgW5SgaI/T6xw-OnF8VI/AAAAAAAAAlk/cDj-3a0nqNI/s1600/Spiral_of_Silence.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZUFgW5SgaI/T6xw-OnF8VI/AAAAAAAAAlk/cDj-3a0nqNI/s1600/Spiral_of_Silence.jpeg" /></a>
Sometimes it takes courage to do the right thing. But what is courage, and why does the Church need it in spades?</h4>
The day before Chuck Colson fell ill at the Break the Spiral of
Silence conference, he filmed a series of “Two-Minute Warning” videos on
a topic he felt was crucial for the survival of our culture and our
nation: The cultivation of virtue.<br />
<br />
So starting today and continuing through the next three Wednesdays,
you can watch the final four “Two-Minute Warnings” Chuck recorded — all
at <a href="http://colsoncenter.org/">ColsonCenter.org</a>.<br />
<br />
Just as there are laws we must follow for physical health, so too
there are laws we must follow for the health of the soul. That's what
virtues are: laws for a healthy soul. And healthy souls are a
prerequisite for a healthy civilization. As John Adams once wrote,
“Public virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private Virtue, and
public Virtue is the only Foundation of Republics.”<br />
<br />
Greek and Roman thinkers placed a high value on cultivating virtue.
And four virtues in particular — prudence, justice, courage, and
temperance — they ranked as the cardinal virtues, meaning that they are
foundational to all the others. For example, courage is a cardinal
virtue because doing the right thing — practicing any of the virtues —
under pressure takes moral courage.<br />
<br />
So what is courage? It’s not the <i>absence</i> of fear. Courage is
overcoming a natural fear. Courage means saying yes to right action
even at risk of pain or loss, just as Chuck did during Watergate.<br />
<br />
At that time he was offered a plea bargain: He could plead guilty to
something he didn’t do and be charged with a misdemeanor, or he could
face years in prison. But Chuck could not swear to a falsehood. Instead,
he pled guilty to a different charge, and he and his family paid the
price. The story is all in “Born Again.” If you’ve never read it, we
have it for you at the Colson Center bookstore online.<br />
<br />
Another important aspect of courage is that it is not a momentary,
one-time thing. Courage sticks with a challenge, however difficult,
until it is finished.<br />
<br />
The fact is, friends, we’re facing a challenge in America today
that’s going to require a good dose of courageous stick-to-itiveness.
That challenge is defending religious liberty. Chuck made it very clear
in his final months and days — and I agree with him — religious liberty
is under assault in America today like never before.<br />
<br />
We have been alerted to the danger, and we must act, regardless of
the risks. The Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops has just completed a statement on this
topic called “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty.”<br />
<br />
As Catholic scholar George Weigel points out, the document not only
tackles the so-called HHS contraception mandate, it highlights “state
laws that impede the Church’s service to immigrants, attempts by state
legislatures to turn religious communities into bureaus of state
government, discrimination against Christian students on university
campuses, and restrictions on the Church’s capacity to draw on public
funds in its service to orphans and victims of human trafficking.”<br />
<br />
The bishops rightly say, “Restrictions on religious liberty are an
attack on civil society and the American genius for voluntary
associations.”<br />
<br />
Folks, they are right. And even though we will face a lot of opposition, this is a battle worth having. But we will need <i>courage</i>.<br />
<br />
Editors Note: This week’s “Two-Minute Warning” is hosted by John
Stonestreet and Timothy George. Next week, Chuck Colson’s pre-recorded
broadcast on the cardinal virtues starts. In total, we have an
eight-part series, four of which Chuck recorded.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-3842730594335274542012-05-09T19:33:00.000-06:002012-05-09T19:33:55.701-06:00A Savage Attack<span style="font-size: large;">Redefining Bullying</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">By: <a href="http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/19343" target="_blank">Eric Metasxas</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0KgVhlFlur0/T6qYy8gsFPI/AAAAAAAAAlY/WAly_pxNDgA/s1600/hate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0KgVhlFlur0/T6qYy8gsFPI/AAAAAAAAAlY/WAly_pxNDgA/s1600/hate.jpg" /></a><span class="byline_sep">A few days ago, Americans got a lesson in hypocrisy -- and of how dangerous it can be to redefine words.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="byline_sep">It all began when the National High School Journalism Conference
invited a gay rights activist named Dan Savage to speak to students in
Seattle about the need to prevent bullying. But it turned out that this
was a lesson Savage badly needed to learn himself.<br />
<br />
To the shock of the students, Savage launched a vicious attack on the
Bible and Christian beliefs. As he put it, “We can learn to ignore the
[BS] in the Bible about gay people.” Of course he didn’t say "BS." As
Savage continued his attack, some students broke into tears. Dozens of
offended students walked out of the auditorium. As they left, Savage
heckled them with vulgar words I can’t repeat on the air.<br />
<br />
One of the teachers present — Rick Tuttle of Sutter Union High School
in California — said the speech “took a real dark, hostile turn ... It
became very hostile toward Christianity.”<br />
<br />
Savage later apologized for using vulgarity to describe the students.
But he refused to back down on his other comments —including his
offensive comments about the Bible.<br />
<br />
Now, what are we to make of this conundrum?<br />
<br />
First, I think we can safely assume that the term “bullying” has gone the way of “tolerance.”<br />
<br />
<i>Tolerance</i> used to be defined as a willingness to put up with the beliefs or practices of those with whom we disagree. Today, <i>tolerance </i>means
we must accept the beliefs and practices of others as correct — or risk
being called a bigot. It's interesting that this redefinition of <i>tolerance </i>almost
always involves debates over homosexuality — and it always seems to be
people on just one side of the debate calling those with whom they
disagree “intolerant.”<br />
<br />
I mean, when was the last time you heard a Christian accusing a
gay-rights activist of intolerance because he refused to acknowledge
that biblical teachings about homosexuality are correct?<br />
<br />
And now we're seeing the same kind of redefinition going on regarding the word <i>bullying. </i>If
you so much as whisper that you believe that true marriage can take
place only between one man and one woman, you're accused of bullying.<br />
<br />
You and I need to be aware of changes in word definitions that are
used as weapons against Christians. But we need to do a couple of other
things, as well.<br />
<br />
First of all, whatever the subject, we must always take care to make
our case winsomely, and with great civility. No one should ever be able
to truthfully accuse Christians of bullying, including the kind of
verbal bullying Dan Savage demonstrated last week.<br />
<br />
This insistence on graciousness and civility for those on the other
side of these issues was the hallmark of what Chuck Colson believed, and
let it be ours as well. As for intolerance towards homosexuals,
Christians ought to be — and often have been — the first to volunteer at
AIDS hospices, to demonstrate kindness to the children of same-sex
couples, and otherwise display the love of Christ to those with whom we
have such different views. In other words, we should demonstrate love
and true <i>tolerance</i>. In this way, as the Bible teaches, we heap ashes upon the heads of those who dislike us for our views.<br />
<br />
Second we need to pray for people like Dan Savage — so filled with
anger and hurt — that their eyes would be opened to God's love and
mercy, just as we pray for our own loved ones.<br />
<br />
Finally, three cheers for those high school students who refused to
sit still and listen to attacks on their faith. We should never be
bullied into silence.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-67521166193904775502012-05-08T20:12:00.000-06:002012-05-08T20:12:21.953-06:00School Bullying Webinar<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NR6-lMO1kNA/T6iLYz5gZpI/AAAAAAAAAlA/QB4AqRH6gU4/s1600/webinar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NR6-lMO1kNA/T6iLYz5gZpI/AAAAAAAAAlA/QB4AqRH6gU4/s320/webinar.jpg" width="247" /></a><a href="http://bullyinghurts.com/" target="_blank">Bullying Hurts</a> & <a href="http://www.kgab.com/" target="_blank">KGAB Radio</a> have partnered to bring
parents and students a free webinar </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday May 15<sup>th</sup>. 6:30 – 7: 30 p.m. Mountain Time</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The focus</b> of this webinar is to inform parents and equip
students how to identify and better deal with bullying incidents in all
settings. Many parents don’t know the correct protocol for communicating
concerns and details effectively. <b>Take part</b> in this webinar to learn how to
successfully communicate in a positive and safe manner to the proper school
administrators and/or authorities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Log onto <a href="http://kgab.com/">KGAB.com</a> on <b>Tuesday May 15<sup>th</sup> at 6:30
p.m</b>. and click on the webinar link.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Send questions</b> to <a href="mailto:bullyinghurts@aol.com">bullyinghurts@aol.com</a> before or during
the webinar. For more information call 307/287-6711.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-5555970716045527992012-05-02T19:06:00.000-06:002012-05-02T20:35:45.705-06:001st Pres Colorado Springs votes to leave PC(USA)<div class="reporter">
By <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/author/michael-gryboski/">Michael Gryboski</a> , <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/largest-presbyterian-church-in-colorado-votes-to-leave-pcusa-73748/" target="_blank">Christian Post</a> Reporter</div>
<div class="date">
April 23, 2012|5:01 pm</div>
<h2 class="FP">
The
largest Colorado congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has
voted to leave the denomination over theological differences.</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8UBZoipDRo/T6GzoBgAAkI/AAAAAAAAAko/itTl_93xwq4/s1600/pcusa_colorado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8UBZoipDRo/T6GzoBgAAkI/AAAAAAAAAko/itTl_93xwq4/s1600/pcusa_colorado.jpg" /></a></div>
First
Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs voted Sunday morning to leave
the Pueblo Presbytery of PC(USA) in large part due to the denomination's
decision in 2010 to allow the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals.<br />
<br />
Of
the 1,769 congregants of the 4,000-strong church present for the vote,
1,689 members voted in favor of dismissal from PC(USA) to join the
recently created Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians.<br />
<br />
Ronald
D. Anderson, executive presbyter for the Pueblo Presbytery, told The
Christian Post that he was not surprised by the result of the vote.<br />
<br />
"I
was not surprised at the overwhelming vote because of the earlier
'straw vote' and the extensive process the church has enacted since to
address the questions of people who had unanswered questions," said
Anderson.<br />
<br />
When asked if he felt that there might be a large
percentage of the members who did not vote that would have supported
remaining in PC(USA), Anderson stated that he had "no indication that
this was the case."<br />
<br />
First Presbyterian is one of many PC(USA) congregations across the
country that have voted to leave the mainline Protestant denomination
due to the decision at the 219th General Assembly of PC(USA) to allow
presbyteries to decide to ordain non-celibate homosexuals to church
positions.<br />
<br />
Amendment 10A, which amended the PC(USA) rules to allow
for this, was passed by a vote of the presbyteries with 373 yeas, 323
nays, and 4 abstentions. Pueblo Presbytery voted nay.<br />
<br />
In the
months that followed, efforts organized by the Fellowship of
Presbyterians, a conservative group within PC(USA), led to the creation
of a new reformed church body known as the <a href="http://www.fellowship-pres.org/eco/" target="_blank">Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians</a> (ECO).<br />
<br />
Last month, as part of the process First
Presbyterian was taking for dismissal, leaders at the church asked the
congregation to vote on whether or not the church should continue to
consider leaving PC(USA).<br />
<br />
In that vote, also held on a Sunday, 88
percent of the members approved the continuation of the process for
dismissal. In an interview with CP not long after that vote, Alison
Murray, leader of staff for First Presbyterian Church, explained that
there were many reasons connected to "the decline in the PC(USA)" that
prompted members to want to join ECO.<br />
<br />
"What we are trying to do is
make an adaptive change that would keep us engaged and relevant as a
faith community in today's culture," said Murray.<br />
<br />
"We don't feel
that the PC(USA), the way its structured, is really supporting the local
churches in their outreach Kingdom building efforts. So really that is
what this is about."<br />
<br />
"Under Presbyterian polity only the
presbytery can dismiss a congregation," said Anderson, regarding what
step in the dismissal process would come next.<br />
<br />
"The congregation's request to be dismissed to ECO will come before the presbytery at its next meeting, which is June 16th."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-56566683555919578762012-05-01T21:16:00.000-06:002012-05-01T21:16:14.596-06:00By What Standard?A few years ago, a documentary called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/COLLISIONChristopherHitchensvsDouglasWilson/dp/B002M3SHTO/?tag=theresurgence-20" target="_blank"><i>Collision</i></a> was made where <a href="http://theresurgence.com/authors/douglas-wilson" target="_self">Douglas Wilson</a> debated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hitchens" target="_blank">Christopher Hitchens</a> on <i>Is Christianity Good for the World?</i>
Hundreds of hours of footage was shot and edited down to 90 minutes of
solid debate and conversation. The clip you see above didn't make into
that 90 minutes. Consider it deleted scenes. This is the first time it's
being released, and we have it here for you to learn what it means and
looks like to make a defense for your faith.<br />
<br />
<object height="315" width="504"><param name="movie" value="http://theresurgence.com/v/vqmbjn3snie6">
</param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always">
</param>
<param name="allowfullscreen" value="true">
</param>
<embed src="http://theresurgence.com/v/vqmbjn3snie6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="504" allowscriptaccess="always" height="315"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://theresurgence.com/2012/04/29/by-what-standard" target="_blank">Notes from Douglas Wilson</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-62479015924535024522012-04-29T22:02:00.000-06:002012-04-29T22:02:09.148-06:00Vandals smash windows at Mars Hill Church in southeast Portland<h3 style="text-align: center;">
"Hate Crime"?</h3>
<script src="http://KPTV.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=53486;hostDomain=www.kptv.com;playerWidth=630;playerHeight=355;isShowIcon=true;clipId=7032547;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<br />
<span id="WNStoryDateline">PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - </span><br />
Vandals smashed nine windows with rocks at Mars Hill Church in southeast Portland overnight and a group claimed responsibility in an email sent to <a href="http://www.kptv.com/story/17689989/vandals-smash-windows-at-mars-hill-church-in-southeast-portland" target="_blank">FOX 12</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-12167346386219035592012-04-25T21:06:00.000-06:002012-04-25T21:06:13.461-06:00Editor threatens on-line contributor for reporting abusive comments<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZjoanEi4i4/T5eBbarLbBI/AAAAAAAAAj4/LNMgo8V_rOI/s1600/tribcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZjoanEi4i4/T5eBbarLbBI/AAAAAAAAAj4/LNMgo8V_rOI/s1600/tribcom.jpg" /></a>By now we have all witnessed malicious comments on news
articles and editorials by on-line readers. Most on-line communities have
guidelines encouraging proper and civil conduct in posting comments along with
a method to report improper comments to the on-line community moderator.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I seldom use this method because I have felt that by
allowing inappropriate comments to remain on articles readers get a better
insight towards the character of the agency publishing the content article.
However, I have communicated concern with comments on several occasions to our
local newspaper, the Casper Star Tribune. My most recent encounter was
interesting to say the least.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The editorial board ran an <a href="http://trib.com/opinion/editorial/now-is-the-time-to-try-charter-schools-in-wyo/article_22a46d4f-39f8-55dd-9b55-fb64d6fa71a9.html" target="_blank">editorial</a> suggesting that Wyoming begin
considering charter schools in an attempt to help improve graduation rate and
overall academic improvement. I posted a <a href="http://trib.com/opinion/editorial/now-is-the-time-to-try-charter-schools-in-wyo/article_22a46d4f-39f8-55dd-9b55-fb64d6fa71a9.html?mode=comments&page=2" target="_blank">comment</a> supporting the idea and gave
examples of how the local school district wastes money and is “top heavy”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moments after I commented another reader, screen name <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sean+Patrick+Larvie" target="_blank">embarcadero</a>,
commented, personally attacking me and with completely off topic remarks. I
reported the distasteful comment through the “<i>report to moderator</i>” process. I
then posted another comment referring back to the editorial article in an
attempt to keep any further discussion on topic. Again, moments after posting, <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sean+Patrick+Larvie" target="_blank">embarcadero</a>
fired another round of similarly distasteful remarks towards me and others; also
mentioning them by name. These people were not mentioned in the editorial or
commenting on the article. This was especially troubling to me so I reported
that comment to be removed also. My second request read as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: black;">Report
number two</span></b><span style="color: black;">: Continued personal attacks -
"Hate Group". Also in violation of the following "Rules for
Commenting":</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black;">Be
truthful. Don't lie about anyone or anything. Value</span><span style="color: black;"></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Be nice. No racism, sexism or any other sort of -ism that
degrades another person.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">Stay focused, and ask questions. Keep on the story's topic.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">If
<a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sean+Patrick+Larvie" target="_blank">embarcadero's</a> (Sean Patrick Larvie) slanderous comments are not removed
immediately I will follow-up in person on Monday April 23rd. by 9:00 A.M.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">Thanks
you,</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Marc</span> </span></blockquote>
This happened in the late evening hours on Sunday so I knew
that moderation would not be immediate. Consequently, with my second “<i>report of
abuse</i>” I added that if the slanderous comments were not removed by 9:00 am Monday morning
I would be following up in person.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TYx_FsBvQUk/T5eB7NQc1LI/AAAAAAAAAkI/WXM247O3iAw/s1600/Darrell+Ehrlick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TYx_FsBvQUk/T5eB7NQc1LI/AAAAAAAAAkI/WXM247O3iAw/s1600/Darrell+Ehrlick.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The comments were removed as requested but later in the day
I received an e-mail from the Editor, Darrell Ehrlick . It is posted here in its entirety:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Mr. Smith, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
William Zeiders, our online editor, forwarded a concern
written by you regarding another online comment. When comments escalate or
cause us concern, we review them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your comment is particularly concerning to me. One of the
challenges anyone has is reading tone and intent into email. In this instance,
I have opted to handle your comment internally, rather than follow another
protocol that we could have employed. We have reviewed the comment you found
offensive, like we do with all that are reported to us. However, in the future
if you make similar reports that include a specific threat, then I will have to
take the following action. You will be banned from online commenting on our
site. Secondly, I will report it to law enforcement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, I don’t believe this was your intent. However, I
cannot intuit intention in email. If you have questions about our policies or
have concerns, you can contact me. We must take all threats seriously, though.
We have to believe you meant what you said. We will continue to take you at
your word. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for your understanding, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Darrell</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Editor Ehrlick apparently felt that by me saying that I
would follow-up if the comments were not removed was some kind of a personal
threat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAmRNVCYAKs/T5h3VSopsJI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/luLwhoKh1yQ/s1600/hand_cuffed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kAmRNVCYAKs/T5h3VSopsJI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/luLwhoKh1yQ/s200/hand_cuffed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It is amazing to me that the chief editor of a statewide
newspaper doesn’t know what <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/follow-up" target="_blank">follow-up means</a> and would take it as a threat that
would warrant banning me from their on-line community and secondly report it to
law enforcement before consulting his dictionary. After all, Mr. Ehrlick is working in the field of journalism. The response by this newspaper and their chief editor is
unfounded, absolutely absurd and completely beyond reason. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can assure you that the comments directed towards me and others by <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sean+Patrick+Larvie" target="_blank">embarcadero</a>
and then the threat by editor Ehrlick were far more concerning than me letting
the Casper Star Tribune know that I would <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/follow-up" target="_blank">follow-up</a> to make sure that action
was taken to remove the comments as their policy outlines.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The obvious over reaction by Mr. Ehrlick suggests a number
of things, not the least of which is that they truly don’t want to be bothered
by well meaning readers who assume that the Casper Star Tribune is actually
serious about maintaining civility within their on-line community comments
area. Of greater concern should be; what is the motive behind someone who
believes that reporting abuse and following-up on the report is in any way a threat which would justify banning the person reporting abuse and then threatening to notify law
enforcement? Something else is obviously at play
here, bubbling under the surface. When someone in Mr. Ehrlick’s position can’t
correctly identify a threat in a situation as simple as this, one must ask; what
is the real issue? Could it be something as simple as insecurity or is it
something larger, like a clash of worldviews and an editor with an agenda?<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sean+Patrick+Larvie" target="_blank">embarcadero</a>, who is Sean Patrick Larvie, and <a href="http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_ca5f9f4e-7504-11e0-99f0-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story" target="_blank">Darrell Ehrlick’s agenda</a> should become a little more clear as you gain perspective. Any and all who disagree with either one of these gentleman are simply labeled as bigots. I have discovered that Mr Ehrlick believes these "bigots" must be banned from commenting and reported to law enforcement. Should the head editor of Wyoming's only statewide newspaper be so prejudiced? </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://trib.com/opinion/editorial/now-is-the-time-to-try-charter-schools-in-wyo/article_22a46d4f-39f8-55dd-9b55-fb64d6fa71a9.html?mode=comments&page=2"></a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-25381614646020398162012-04-16T21:33:00.001-06:002012-04-16T21:33:40.594-06:00Authentic Love“Authentic Love” - Phil. 1:9-10<br />
<br />Hi, I'm Crawford Loritts with a <a href="http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_programmainpage.aspx?id=26976" target="_blank">Legacy Moment</a>.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DalzisS0BAw/T4zj9PE8GqI/AAAAAAAAAjM/Md6uRb001WY/s1600/CrawfordLorrits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DalzisS0BAw/T4zj9PE8GqI/AAAAAAAAAjM/Md6uRb001WY/s1600/CrawfordLorrits.jpg" /></a><br />Some years ago, I had a disturbing conversation with a pastor. Without going into all the details, he told me of some families in his church who were breaking the law. This was not questionable stuff or gray area things, it was flat out wrong, no question about it. He said if the police came, they would be in big trouble.<br />
<br />I asked him if he or the other leaders in his church confronted them. I was fully expecting for him to say “yes.” His response made my jaw drop. He said, “We’ve chosen the law of love in this case. We’re looking past their behavior and affirming them as people.”<br />
<br />Now listen, love never ever endorses what is wrong. That’s not love. Love never says, “I’m going to ignore the wrong you’re doing, the self-destructive behavior, and the poor testimony this is projecting because I just want to affirm you as an individual.” No, true love cares enough to overcome fear of confrontation and speak the truth.<br />
<br />Philippians chapter 1, verses 9 and 10, really underscore this principle; “And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.”<br />
<br />Did you hear those words? God is calling us to operate from informed love. He says “real knowledge and discernment,” not just sentiment, not just a warm feeling. This type of authentic love produces Christ likeness. He says right here, “so you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.”<br />
<br />Here’s what I want you to remember today. Love is more than just a feeling. It is surrounded by knowledge and discernment, and it will never, ever endorse what is wrong.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-11597871386581982872012-04-11T18:21:00.000-06:002012-04-11T18:22:58.792-06:00Wyoming Supreme Court: Ban on abortion protest unconstitutional<span style="font-size: x-small;">BEN NEARY Associated Press</span><br />
<br />
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A state court order that barred abortion protesters
from appearing at Jackson's town square last year violated the
protesters' constitutional rights, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled
Tuesday [April 10, 2012].<br />
<br />
In a lengthy 3-2 decision, the state Supreme Court
ruled the temporary restraining order issued by District Judge Timothy
Day violated the First Amendment rights of protesters with the group
Operation Save America.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRZRMowFx3E/T4XXh8VwjnI/AAAAAAAAAiU/EfXQHxzHIwg/s1600/Operation+Save+America+Jackson+arrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRZRMowFx3E/T4XXh8VwjnI/AAAAAAAAAiU/EfXQHxzHIwg/s1600/Operation+Save+America+Jackson+arrest.jpg" /></a></div>
Dozens of members of Operation Save America, based in
Concord, N.C., descended on Jackson last May with graphic signs of
aborted fetuses that they showed around town.<br />
<br />
The group said it picked Jackson for its campaign in an
effort to make Wyoming the first state in which no doctors would
provide abortions. The group targeted a family practitioner whom it said
was the only doctor in the state to offer abortions.<br />
<br />
The restraining order that Jackson secured from Day
last year barred the protesters from appearing within two blocks of the
town square. The town's lawyer told Day that city police feared violence
if the protesters came together with about 200 Boy Scouts and their
families who were gathering for Elkfest, an annual auction of elk
antlers.<br />
<br />
The protesters weren't alerted beforehand that the town was seeking the court order.<br />
<br />
"Assuming the town had established a compelling
interest in the protection of its youth and in maintaining the peace, we
would nonetheless find the temporary restraining order
unconstitutional," Justice Michael Golden wrote for the court majority.
"The town has not met its burden of establishing that the temporary
restraining order ban was necessary to serve the town's interest and
that less restrictive measures would not have been adequate."<br />
<br />
Chief Justice Marilyn S. Kite and Justice William U.
Hill wrote a dissent saying they believed the case was moot and that the
constitutionality question shouldn't have reached the court.<br />
<br />
"No evidence was presented in this case that Operation
Save America will return to Jackson and attempt to assemble or display
posters during another scheduled event such as the Boy Scouts expo and
auction or, in the event it does, that the town will again file for a
temporary restraining order without providing notice and an opportunity
to be heard," Kite and Hill stated.<br />
<br />
Rusty Thomas of Waco, Texas, is assistant director of
operations for Operation Save America. He said Tuesday his group intends
to return to Jackson next month. "I just got the news, and just tears
of rejoicing," he said of the court ruling. "The timing is incredible."<br />
<br />
Thomas said the group believes the ruling "strikes a
blow for liberty and puts our government, both the federal and state
authorities, on notice that the First Amendment is alive and well in the
United States of America."<br />
<br />
Flip Benham, director of Operation Save America in
Concord, said Tuesday the group has applied to the town of Jackson for
permits to hand out materials next month but hasn't received them yet.<br />
<br />
"What they've done is put us off. They've said they're
going through new criteria for permits," Benham said. He said the
group's experience in Jackson was the first time it has ever been
restrained "from presenting the gospel."<br />
<br />
Attempts to reach town officials were not immediately successful Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Audrey Cohen-Davis, lawyer for the town, argued before
the Wyoming Supreme Court in November that it was proper for the town to
secure the restraining order.<br />
<br />
"Parents taking their Boy Scouts to the Elkfest event
did not expect to have a group subjecting their children to such
material," Cohen-Davis said in November.<br />
<br />
Jack Edwards, a lawyer in Etna, represented Operation Save America.<br />
<br />
"I think it's important to realize that the First
Amendment, and the cases from the U.S. Supreme Court that have
interpreted that amendment, were not to protect speech that people
welcome and that people enjoy, but the basis for that amendment is to
protect speech that causes arguments and dissent in the public square,"
Edwards said Tuesday.<br />
<br />
The state supreme court ruling comes just days after
the state of Wyoming reached a settlement with another anti-abortion
group, WyWatch Family Action.<br />
<br />
In the agreement approved last week by U.S. District
Judge Nancy Freudenthal of Cheyenne, Wyoming admitted it violated
WyWatch's constitutional rights by removing anti-abortion placards from a
tunnel leading to the state Capitol during last year's legislative
session.<br />
<br />
The state agreed to pay WyWatch $1 in nominal damages
and $30,000 in attorney fees. WyWatch was represented by the Alliance
Defense Fund, a national advocacy group for social conservatives.<br />
<br />
Freudenthal allowed the American Civil Liberties Union
to enter the WyWatch case to argue on the group's behalf that the state
had violated the group's constitutional rights. Linda Burt, director of
the Wyoming ACLU, said Tuesday that the courts decided both cases
correctly by protecting public speech.<br />
<br />
"While we disagree with both of the organizations
involved in these cases, we firmly respect their right to discuss these
issues in the public square," Burt said. "The remedy for speech that you
disagree with is more speech, and more debate and more information, and
disallowing this kind of speech that you disagree with does not support
that."<br />
<br />
Related: <a href="http://slperspective.blogspot.com/2011/11/wyoming-supreme-court-considers.html" target="_blank">Original story</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6085350826389938897.post-7463975406539254672012-04-09T21:21:00.001-06:002012-04-09T21:21:55.070-06:00Mike Wallace Interview With Margaret Sanger Surfaces After Death<i class="date">by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2012/04/09/mike-wallace-interview-with-margaret-sanger-surfaces-after-death/" target="_blank">LifeNews.com</a> | 4/9/12</i><br />
<br />
Following the death of journalist and reporter Mike Wallace, an
interview he conducted with Planned Parenthood founder and eugenicist
Margaret Sanger made the rounds across the Internet over the weekend.<br />
<br />
Below are clips from the interview Margaret Sanger gave to Mike
Wallace in 1957. During the interview, the full version of which can be <a href="http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/sanger_margaret.html">seen here</a>,
Sanger talks to Wallace about why she became an advocate for birth
control, abortion, stopping so-called overpopulation, and talks about
the Catholic Church, and morality.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6J4cTGZ1Pdw" width="560"></iframe> <br />
Angela Franks is one of the foremost authorities on the life and pro-abortion and pro-eugenics views of Sanger. <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/02/margaret-sanger-committed-to-eugenics-population-control/">She profiled Sanger</a> for LifeNews in February:<br />
<br />
Margaret Sanger was many things admirable: a vibrant personality, a
brilliant organizer, a canny reader of the temperature of the times, a
woman who built powerful institutions in a man’s world. But she was also
many things ugly and even despicable: an egotist who frequently clashed
with others; a free-love advocate who had a dizzying number of affairs
and who hurt many men as a result; and a eugenicist who argued that
“birth control is nothing more or less than the facilitation of the
process of weeding out the unfit, of preventing the birth of defectives
or of those who will become defective.”<br />
<br />
Even Planned Parenthood has had to drop the denials of Sanger’s
commitment to eugenics and now urges us all instead to avoid judging
those of another historical era. After all, as Hillary Clinton basically
said in 2009, Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, and he still did some
pretty nifty things. Take what you like and leave the rest, that’s the
new approach to Sanger.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03882305948046926754noreply@blogger.com0