The Lens of Truth

Good point, Monica. While I think the Amish have a...

2011-07-12T06:33:47.901-04:00

Good point, Monica. While I think the Amish have a good principle in their separation from the world, the principle itself has become a form of idolatry to them. We have to go no further than the Great Commission to see that their lifestyle and communities are not being obedient to the word of God. Like many other takes of man-made religion, the one the Amish have built is a works-based salvation that will get them nowhere no matter how appealing their "separated from the world" lifestyle may be.

Sounds like a good read! Do you ever wonder if the...

2011-07-11T18:23:20.635-04:00

Sounds like a good read! Do you ever wonder if the Amish have the right idea?

BTW- good comeback on the previous post.

2009-04-28T12:21:00.000-04:00

BTW- good comeback on the previous post.

Any people who lower the value of another based on...

2009-04-25T14:31:00.000-04:00

Any people who lower the value of another based on some perceived characteristic of inferiority are not following Biblical principles which tell us that all are made in the image of God and therefor deserve to be treated with honor.

The issue at hand regarding the Miss USA pageant revolves around the hypocrisy of the gay agenda. All the world is supposed to just go along with their "opinion" that homosexual unions are to be given the same status as heterosexual unions. But don't you dare disagree or you are automatically categorized as a hateful, bigotted homophobe. That is hypocrisy. They want their views given respect but no one else's.

What about Miss CA's opinion is discriminatory? I think that would fall under your opinion but you expressing it does not automatically make it true. It seems that Californians voted on the issue and the majority decided to not accept same-sex marriage. And it's not that a majority means it's right, but even the common man understands the bedrock of society rests with families and their ability to procreate, grow up and repeat the cycle.

As far as Christianity and hypocrisy, I dare you to find some people group or religion anywhere in the world that does not exhibit hypocrisy. I'll save you some time and effort by saying that you won't. To make a blanket statement like you did is indicative of an ad hominen attack and makes no point at all (except about your own lack of understanding and use of illogical arguments).

And if your job is to help point out people's biases to them, I think you had better start with your own. Somehow you are right (and probably those that happen to agree with you) but everyone else is wrong? Like hypocrisy, no one ever born is without bias (and usually a lot of them).

Regarding hate and tolerance you couldn't be more wrong. First, point out to me where it has been said anywhere in these arguments where anyone has said that we need to hate homosexuals? Again, I'll save you some time and tell you that it hasn't happened. This is another "argument" you've just thrown out there without any basis in fact in an effort to appeal to a peopl's emotions. As for tolerance, why don't you seem to tolerate a dissimilar viewpoint?

And what's next. When a group of pedophiles wants to lower the age of sexual consent to 10 years or age (or whatever), are you going to fight for them as well? Are we to be tolerant of those who would wish to do sexual harm to your children or someone else's? Remember, you have to be tolerant. Denying someone any wish of theirs will be considered "hate" you know?

The arguments that you use are like many others and they do not work with anyone who has even an inkling of what basic logic is. You don't just conjure up some magical guidelines of "tolerance" and then expect a society to work properly and orderly. You have to have some basis of morality that states what is right and wrong for all times and for all people.

We, and those like me, believe that basis of morality comes from the Bible; the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God Himself.

We don't rely on some fuzzy notion of what is right and wrong. We don't base it on emotions or some guidelines set down by men whose views change over time (and usually for the worse). What God has said is wrong, is wrong. And God says a man shall not lay with a man the way he lays with a woman. That's not our opinion. It's not something we dreamed up. It's not something we put to a vote for a majority to rule on. We look to God's word which we have had for thousands of years and do our best to live according to it.

And it does not change just because some 1-2% minority in the US says they disagree. I'm sorry, but that's just they way it is, like it or not. That's God's "opinion", not mine.

Yes indeed, and Mr Martin ends his hypocritical di...

2009-04-25T09:37:00.000-04:00

Yes indeed, and Mr Martin ends his hypocritical diatribe with this little gem:
"The day we condemn folks for speaking honestly is the day we become a bland society."

Well, I'm sure that many people honestly believed and openly stated at one time, that "Negroes", (I'm just making a point here), should sit at the back of the bus.

I'm guessing that Mr Martin has no problem with someone openly expressing that opinion either, right?

The problem is, (in case you don't get my point) is that Miss Califorinia is publicly expressing an opinion that is discriminatory and should *NOT* be tolerated.

Christianity seems rife with hypocrisy.

In case anyone is wondering I'm a heterosexual male and my only agenda is to make people aware of their own biases. What we need is more tolerance and less hate!

Yeah, Jen told me about this, she watched the page...

2009-04-23T09:19:00.000-04:00

Yeah, Jen told me about this, she watched the pageant- I hate that I missed it.

As of last week, the states which officially recog...

2009-04-08T09:29:00.000-04:00

As of last week, the states which officially recognize SSM are Connecticut and Massachusetts.

California did at one time and then the people voted to overturn it. It's now being hotly debated to once again accept it. Given the past voting of the ultra-liberal judges on their courts I'm certain that SSM will soon be allowed again.

Late last week the Iowa Supreme Court determined that the state's constitution which upheld heterosexual marriage was unconstitutional. So expect legal proceedings to begin there soon and pushed through rapidly to allow official recognition of SSM.

And just this week, the Vermont legislature approved SSM which the governor vetoed and then the legislature overruled.

Also this week, Wash D.C. now has a bill before it which seeks to officially recognize SSM in other states.

Other states which are hot on the heels of recognizing SSM with bills being debated are New Hampshire, Maine, New York and New Jersey.

Since NC is one of the few states left with no direct recognition of hetersexual marriage in its state constitution, I fully expect it to fall soon.

I'd like you to post a list of all the states that...

2009-04-08T08:03:00.000-04:00

I'd like you to post a list of all the states that are giving up on marriage as God intended. I know it's around 3 or 4 by now, right?

Word verification: Calicar- a car full of calico cats.

You know I have been terribly frustrated the past ...

2009-03-26T15:15:00.000-04:00

You know I have been terribly frustrated the past few weeks. Thanks for posting all the garbage. I find it interesting that although the White House wants to use a different lexicon; you're so right about the Church too. When are we going to get back to calling it what it is? Sin is sin; war is war, etc...Thanks Rich! (Nice to know there are others out there that are seeing this muck)

Good post, I'm going to link to it!

2009-02-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

Good post, I'm going to link to it!

This is off the subject (sort of). PLease keep me...

2009-02-08T21:08:00.000-05:00

This is off the subject (sort of). PLease keep me informed if you start a Truth Project group. I'm still hoping Chris and I can attend this. I also emailed my pastor the information. Thanks for the links (esp. the one that was a petition).
I hope Lauren is doing better. I dont do facebook, so I'm not up to date (that's ok). Jenn will fill me in Tuesday.

-Amy Niewoehner

Well, it's hard to take the church to task when th...

2009-02-02T10:45:00.000-05:00

Well, it's hard to take the church to task when there really is no "true" church left in America. Almost every single survey confirms what we know and why the "church" acts just the same as the rest of our secular society.

As Todd Frield of Wretched Radio always points out, "I'm a devout member of PETA but I love a good steak every now and then." It doesn't make any sense. Nor does it when the "chuch" is no different from the world. You can call yourself a Christian all you want but when almost everything about you gives the opposite testimony, words mean nothing.

"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." [Mt 7:14 ESV]

Have you seen the latest Christian Law Association...

2009-01-30T08:12:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the latest Christian Law Association newsletter? They're really taking the church to task for failing to uphold Biblical standards on marriage. And they've got some valid points. How can we cry "sanctity of marriage" when so many churches are treating marriage as anything but sacred?

Sick. I want kids but don't want to raise them in ...

2009-01-23T14:19:00.000-05:00

Sick. I want kids but don't want to raise them in today's culture:(

Well, Obama went and did it! He repeated the "So H...

2009-01-20T17:22:00.000-05:00

Well, Obama went and did it! He repeated the "So Help me, God" in his oath. What now?

Thanks for posting this. I'm have a pile already,...

2009-01-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks for posting this. I'm have a pile already, but this Marketing of Evil looks fascinating. May be on my Bday list.

Hmmm...lots to think about and I admit, something ...

2009-01-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

Hmmm...lots to think about and I admit, something I've thought about pretty often.

When the boys get a little older there is a Ryle b...

2008-12-31T21:50:00.000-05:00

When the boys get a little older there is a Ryle book Vince did with our boys. I found it easy to read and just right for 11-13yr olds/Dads to share on life. Some things just don't change from century to century! We enjoyed our revisit to Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire , Cymbala. I loved Weight of Glory by CS Lewis! Love your reviews, for iffy books use the library, for older books check out thrift stores for a cheaper way to read! Happy New Year! I think I may read some more Piper this year, Elizabeth Elliot, and Elizabeth George.

Pam, I, too REALLY enjoyed reading Holiness and ca...

2008-12-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

Pam, I, too REALLY enjoyed reading Holiness and can't wait to go back through it again. Other Ryle material looks equally illuminating!

And thanks for the recommendation, John. I will definitely check into that one!

I recommend adding "Beyond Suffering: Discovering ...

2008-12-29T19:56:00.000-05:00

I recommend adding "Beyond Suffering: Discovering the message of Job" by Layton Talbert to your reading list for 2010 if you can't squeeze it in for 2009. This is an impressive exposition of Job.

I'll read a couple of these you've mentioned this ...

2008-12-29T18:31:00.000-05:00

I'll read a couple of these you've mentioned this next year. I need to think about what my favs for this past year were...hmm...

I see several I would like to read in 2009. I thi...

2008-12-29T15:27:00.000-05:00

I see several I would like to read in 2009. I think the best book I read in 2008 was JC Ryle's Holiness. Rich, thanks for introducing us to Mr. Ryle. I hope to read quite a bit from his 4volume commentaries on the Gospels in 2009.

Thanks for posting this! What a clear statement o...

2008-12-04T08:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks for posting this! What a clear statement of why and to whom we should be thankful!

Joel (nutuba)

Thanks for the heads-up, Karen!

2008-12-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the heads-up, Karen!

Yeah, it is pretty nasty how we are slowing boilin...

2008-12-03T19:22:00.000-05:00

Yeah, it is pretty nasty how we are slowing boiling ourselves.
btw check out Randy Alcorns site
http://www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com/
they have an offer for books, don't know if your church would be interested. (pro life for Jan service)