Sunday, August 4, 2013
Sunday Faith Blog
Is this SO egregious to some Americans?... to believe that a man of faith in the White House, who shares the faith of most Americans, can speak out about it?
This type of open faith will never grace the White House again. We all know that.
Do you think it COULD come back?
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
Z
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Matthew 19:26. New International Version (NIV). 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
There are libertarians who want God out of our government also.
Many believe that this country could not have come about without the Christian worldview of our founders and original populace.
I don't believe it will come back without the same.
Pray for revival.
"There are libertarians who want God out of our government also."
These Libertarians [of which I am one] do not think that the affairs of State are the proper venue for a belief system that is neither a provable truth nor adhered to by the entirety of the polity that the State exists to serve.
Religious liberty should be cherished and protected, but not enshrined in the business of governance.
Like it or not the Judeo-Christian ethic has been an integral part of the formation of this Nation, an envy of the World. While such shouldn't be a government edict, it should continue to reside in and among the populace as long as we remain free to choose our fate!
Ed and JonBerg..right, and, of course, it has NEVER EVER been intended or forced as a government edict ever.
And Reagan's prayers are not forcing anything on anyone, either.
There are even prominent Jewish Conservatives who believe that this country would not have started or lasted as long as it did without Christians at the helm.
Ed, you could do a chart of when Christianity began the fodder for mockery and when our country began going so far downhill, couldn't you.
I believe Christianity is still said to be the faith of approximately 73-75% Americans ...pretty much a majority.
CI..thank God nobody has ever enshrined it into our business of governance. In contrast to the left's new religion of socialism and division they truly are foisting on us. The comparison is vivid.
I posted this so we Christians could at least remember when it wasn't shameful for a president to voice his and the views of (at that time) approximately 85% of America. Nice, encouraging and inspiring at the time. But, of course, they didn't have to cringe wondering what the left or so-called libertarians would say.
Bliss.
I've asked Jewish friends if these things bothered them and they laugh at me...they, too, are inspired.
Please, Christian friends, let's talk today about the inspiration and encouragement Reagan gave us.
Did we need it? No, I personally don't remember even thinking about his faith so it was hardly foisted on anybody... But, was it a joy?
I imagine, some day and it's probably now, we will either not allow anything (which it's getting to now) or we'll have to mention every single religion represented in these once United States.
It's one thing to say the faith isn't provable truth and another to realize how far the strength of our founding fathers went because of the strength and morality and character they admittedly derived from their Christianity. And, please, let's not get into an argument about that today, either.
I'll hear about THomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin now because they were about the only two deists...I get that. 2 weren't believers. Fine. :-)
and I believe we'll have to mention every religion because we've turned our backs on our Judeo-Christian roots. We've become a doormat upon which any tiniest sect can demand whatever they want.
As a COUNTRY, we should acknowledge the majority faith and stand by it..Christianity and Judaism have lifted this country up.
We do not stand up for ourselves as America anymore. We bow now.
That's not working.
CI: if the revival I spoke of (another Great Awakening) occurred, the populace would demand better leaders.
We're not looking to ram our religion down anyones throat.
As for unproven.
That Jesus rose from the dead has been proven.
Christianity follows from that.
As a demonstration of how idiotic this society has become, can anyone imagine a nation that is unable distinguish between preserving a secular society while maintaining religious and moral conviction on a personal level? There is but one explanation for this: leftist educators have done their job.
Ed: "...the populace would demand better leaders."
That's is a honorable goal, irrespective of religion or secularism.
"That Jesus rose from the dead has been proven."
I respect your opinion on this.
CI: Thanks, and I yours.
Until people can once again speak of their faith in causal conversation, religion will get relegated to Sunday morning anomalous conversations and closeted the rest of the week.
The "liberally" biased hate people of faith. Faith "offends" them. And if you practice it in front of them, they will openly discriminate against you and make sure that you never achieve any social position of responsibility. ESPECIALLY in politics.
The "liberally" biased believe that government exists for the sole purpose of preventing them from ever feeling "offended". Because people who "offend" others are racists, bigots, and backward rustic domestic terrorists.
Liberals only love "decaffeinated" religions.
From France to Germany, from Austria to Holland, in the new spirit of pride in one's cultural and historical identity, the main parties now find it acceptable to stress that immigrants are guests who have to accommodate themselves to the cultural values that define the host society - "it is our country, love it or leave it" is the message.
Progressive liberals are, of course, horrified by such populist racism. However, a closer look reveals how their multicultural tolerance and respect of differences share with those who oppose immigration the need to keep others at a proper distance. "The others are OK, I respect them," the liberals say, "but they must not intrude too much on my own space. The moment they do, they harass me - I fully support affirmative action, but I am in no way ready to listen to loud rap music."
What is increasingly emerging as the central human right in late-capitalist societies is the right not to be harassed, which is the right to be kept at a safe distance from others.
A terrorist whose deadly plans should be prevented belongs in Guantanamo, the empty zone exempted from the rule of law, and a fundamentalist ideologist should be silenced because he spreads hatred. Such people are toxic subjects who disturb my peace.
On today's market, we find a whole series of products deprived of their malignant property: coffee without caffeine, cream without fat, beer without alcohol. And the list goes on: what about virtual sex as sex without sex? The Colin Powell doctrine of warfare with no casualties - on our side, of course - as warfare without warfare?
The contemporary redefinition of politics as the art of expert administration as politics without politics? This leads us to today's tolerant liberal multiculturalism as an experience of the Other deprived of its Otherness - the decaffeinated Other.
The mechanism of such neutralisation was best formulated back in 1938 by Robert Brasillach, the French fascist intellectual, who saw himself as a "moderate" anti-semite and invented the formula of reasonable anti-semitism.
"We grant ourselves permission to applaud Charlie Chaplin, a half Jew, at the movies; to admire Proust, a half Jew; to applaud Yehudi Menuhin, a Jew; ... We don't want to kill anyone, we don't want to organise any pogrom. But we also think that the best way to hinder the always unpredictable actions of instinctual anti-semitism is to organise a reasonable anti-semitism."
Is this same attitude not at work in the way our governments are dealing with the "immigrant threat"? After righteously rejecting direct populist racism as "unreasonable" and unacceptable for our democratic standards, they endorse "reasonably" racist protective measures.
Or, as today's Brasillachs, some of them even Social Democrats, tell us: "We grant ourselves permission to applaud African and east European sportsmen, Asian doctors, Indian software programmers. We don't want to kill anyone, we don't want to organise any pogrom. But we also think that the best way to hinder the always unpredictable violent anti-immigrant defensive measures is to organise a reasonable anti-immigrant protection."
This vision of the detoxification of one's neighbour suggests a clear passage from direct barbarism to barbarism with a human face. It reveals the regression from the Christian love of one's neighbour back to the pagan privileging of our tribe versus the barbarian Other.
Even if it is cloaked as a defence of Christian values, it is itself the greatest threat to Christian legacy. Savoj Zizek
Liberals feel "superior" to conservatives because they openly profess a "love" for the "decaffeinated other," whereas conservatives see "the other" complete with the dangers and threats to security that he brings to the table in his holistic un-decaffeinated form.
Let go of your "fetishes", liberals. Stop suspending belief in the "harmful" qualities of "the decaffeinated other" and either speak truthfully about them, or stop feeling "morally superior." Because harbouring delusions does NOT confer superiority.
...and instead of inflicting policies of "rational" discrimination (ala hijab in Paris), STOP letting Moslem immigrants into your country! It's a LOT more honest.
Thersites - "Until people can once again speak of their faith in causal conversation..."
Would you humor me and show how people currently cannot speak of their faith in casual conversation?
I've never understood the need to invent an argument, if one's position is sound to begin with.
Thersites, the Left is pushing this philosophical homogeneity in the name of tolerance...trouble is the contradictions are of no matter to them....post modernism I expect. Their using it to justify doing away with private schools and homeschooling. The jackboots are coming.
They're not their
Thersites you might be interested in reading this.
you have to sign in but that's it
Here is the abstract.
What can be proven in a secular society?
After President Carter's leadership or lack of it, I believe that America did need this. President Reagan lifted Americans out of the malaise Carter talked about. Negativity and lack of faith, doesn't help to raise us up.
President Reagan, with his optimism and belief that we as a nation are a "shining city on the hill", were not merely words. He believed what he was saying, and the American people responded with gladness to have a President who had no problem citing his faith in our country, our people, and God.
While the Govt. may not be enshrined with belief in Christianity, President Reagan was.
May God bless him, and all which he did to bring us once again to the light and hope which America was founded upon.
When I was in the hospital back in 2001,I was ejected from the patient "commons" for discussing the Bible with another patient, who WANTED to discuss the bible. Evidently our conversation upset other patients in the room, who were "offended" by our conversation.
A nurse informed us that we had to leave the common area, and that the Bible didn't "belong" there.
And so, no,this is not an "invented" argument Pris.
...and elbro, we need to get back to the America the founders envisioned. America, as founded, wasn't a monocultural society that forced conformity. It was a society that demanded that its government stay OUT of the business of trying to do "good" (that was the various church's job) and instead concentrate on maintaining a "level" playing field. It also wasn't the "government's job to keep their citizens from being verbally harrassed by one another. It was the 2nd Amendments purpose to allow us to do so ourselves.
Americans are not sheep in need of shepherds. We are lions who take care of ourselves.
...and sometimes, we BITE!
Excuse me, this is not an "invented" argument, CI.
...but don't just believe me, CI.
Thersites - "Excuse me, this is not an "invented" argument, CI."
If it somehow is not, then you have my apology. I tend to read statements through my mental filter, where in this case, it simply isn't isn't plausible that nobody can speak of their faith in casual conversation.
Theses sorts of misunderstandings [if it is indeed not an invented argument] can be mitigated by not making generally applicable characterizations based on a single, personal anecdote.
Thersites, that line about Germans and French is not a true representation...Alas, only their conservatives in those countries want illegals and others to accomodate to THEIR culture. And, those conservatives are mocked and insulted by their left (Sound familiar?)
Until we do the same, standing up for ourselves with a codified language (that'd be English if we do it in the next five years, or maybe three?), holding fast to the Judeo-Christian tenets, not paying for illegals as if we're one dirty doormat instead of the great America, we're dead meat. But our libs, as well as theirs, are making sure our beautiful cultures are relegated to the historical s*** piles because 'we don't deserve to be better'.
Very dangerous and the lefties don't even realize it.
CI, it says a lot to me that you ask Thersites how people can't talk about, particularly, Christianity. Today, even mentioning you went to church this morning can get quite the reaction...
Z - "CI, it says a lot to me that you ask Thersites how people can't talk about, particularly, Christianity. Today, even mentioning you went to church this morning can get quite the reaction..."
I'd have to say that I'm sorry you have to live in such a place. Or that I'm incredibly lucky to not have been literally surrounded by people who get their shorts in a twist over the mention of church.
Perhaps, CI, that you should not make generally applicable characterizations based upon a single, personal anecdote. ;)
Thersites - "Perhaps, CI, that you should not make generally applicable characterizations based upon a single, personal anecdote. ;)"
Touche'. You are indeed correct.
I diagree, Z. The Left in Germany and France want to believe that thevimmigrants will/have adapt(ed) to their culture, AND the conservatives to also speak as if THEY believe that they already have, as well.
The Left is only tolerant of their own opinions...about the existence of the decaffeinated "other."
Affirmative action represents an ideological injunction to decaffeinate the "other."
So all Hispanic "dreamers" are high school validictorians and none are drug running mules with calves the size of cantelopes. ;)
Thersites: You said this, not me!
"From France to Germany, from Austria to Holland, in the new spirit of pride in one's cultural and historical identity, the main parties now find it acceptable to stress that immigrants are guests who have to accommodate themselves to the cultural values that define the host society -"
It's just plain incorrect. Sorry, but it just is. The Right parties, too, know very well that immigrants are NOT adapting anymore. They did, by the way, but not anymore.
CI...I'm surprised you've mentioned whatever your faith feelings are enough to notice if anybody's reacted.
I could care less, personally, what people say to me, it doesn't color my faith one bit, but I've seen this frequently happen to others, too.
I'm glad you haven't.
I will admit that there seems to be a swing, however, now that I think about it.
I must admit I've seen a lot more homes with Christmas lights lately at Christmas time, others have mentioned that to me, too....and that more people wear crosses, etc.
Interesting. maybe the secular onslaught is causing people to stand up for their faith; I don't know.
Thersites, did you see Boehner slam Peter King for even mentioning how many hispanic illegals are in the drug trade in this country?
Apparently, Boehner didn't think King was kind enough?
And, apparently, we're not allowed to tell the truth.
Obviously, with 12 million illegals, most are NOT drug runners, but to ignore that some are very active in that 'business' is stupid...
Z - "CI...I'm surprised you've mentioned whatever your faith feelings are enough to notice if anybody's reacted."
Faith and where it intersects politics and policy, are insanely interesting to me.
CI..to me, too.
So, do you mostly go on your own feelings about it or do you bring it up in your personal life to see others' thoughts/feelings about it?
Interesting stuff, isn't it.
When we are with God, ALL things are possible.
Without Him things quickly degenerate and become filled with jealousy, rage, spitefulness, clamor, dissension, confusion, etc.
I don't favor loud showy exhibitions of "religiosity" like Tent Meetings,and Revival Preachers bellowing Sin and damnation from the pulpits, and all that, BUT we are in desperate need of awakening a TRUE spirit of REVIVAL in ourselves -- a quiet INNER thing that affirms the presence of God in our lives and acknowledgement of His Grace with dedicated, determined daily exercises in devotion.
Don't believe in God?
Just start talking to Him as if you did, and I guarantee your thoughts will clear, your spirits will life, your energy restored, your hope will be renewed, you will find courage to carry on in spite of the clamor and din of the world raging all around you.
If you read the link Z, the left does see our religious values as dangerous. So much so that they're arguing to essentially give the state priority over parents and their childs education.....sound familiar?
"From France to Germany, from Austria to Holland, in the new spirit of pride in one's cultural and historical identity, the main parties now find it acceptable to stress that immigrants are guests who have to accommodate themselves to the cultural values that define the host society -"
from Wikipedia In October 2010 Merkel told a meeting of younger members of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party at Potsdam that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany had "utterly failed",[50] stating: "The concept that we are now living side by side and are happy about it does not work"[51] and that "we feel attached to the Christian concept of mankind, that is what defines us. Anyone who doesn't accept that is in the wrong place here."[52] She continued to say that immigrants should integrate and adopt Germany's culture and values. This has added to a growing debate within Germany[53] on the levels of immigration, its effect on Germany and the degree to which Muslim immigrants have integrated into German society.
Boehner was out of line. King was making the point that for every "dreamer" that was a validictorian, there were 100 drug dealers. I suspect that statistics would bear King's point, out.
Message attributed to a U.S. Marine just received in email:
"The American Dream ended on November 6, 2012. The second term of Barack Obama will be the final nail in the coffin for the legacy of the honorable white Christian males who discovered, explored, pioneered, settled and developed the greatest Republic in the history of mankind.
"A coalition of Blacks, Latinos, Feminists, Gays, government workers, Union members, Environmental extremists, mainstream Media, Hollywood liberals, welfare cheats, clueless young people, Occupy Wall Street types, the "forever needy" and chronically unemployed, illegal aliens, home-grown terrorists and others who hate this country have ended Norman Rockwell's America. The Cocker Spaniel is off the front porch... replaced by the Pit Bull, and he's not always chained.
"The American Constitution has been replaced with Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals,' and Chicago shyster David Axelrod-- along with international Socialist George Soros-- will continue
to pull the strings of their halfbreed puppet to bring us Act Two of the New World Order.
"Our side ran two candidates who couldn't even win their own home states, and circus clown Chris Christie helped Obama over the top with his glowing post Sandy tributes that elevated our arrogant "Campaigner-in-Chief" to a Mother Teresa-like status.
"Citizens like me have become completely irrelevant politically ... and I will never again comment on or concern myself with the aforementioned coalition which has laid siege to our culture, our Heritage and our traditions and maneuvered us into surrendering all without a shot being fired.
"You will never again out-vote these usurpers. It will take individual acts of defiance and massive displays of civil disobedience to get back the rights we have allowed them to take away. It will take fanatics -- not moderates -- not RINOs -- to right this ship of state and restore our beloved country to its former glory.
"Those who come after us will -- like the Founders -- have to risk their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to bring back the republic this generation has stupidly frittered away because of "White Guilt" and Political Correctness.
"Okay. I'm done."
That sounds about right to me, and Oh! how I wish it didn't. ~ FT
FT, you often write these "BELIEVE IN GOD" comments and I highly applaud them but I get the weirdest feeling you think some of us don't?
The point is that we remain good stewards for God on this planet...yes, we believe in Him and His word will be the final Word, but I still think we should fight, do you not?
Thersites, I think it's wonderful that Merkel is saying that but I have many ties in Germany and, trust me, my stepson keeps writing "you should see what muslims are doing in Germany and how Merkel and even the local police turn their heads to it, and the media says nothing..."
There are DEATHS in subway stations and so many muslims killed a German that they get off in court because nobody could prove WHO did it...and the families give the finger to the victims' family and friends after the verdict. It's astonishing.
My poor stepson is 42 and simply can't believe what's going on.
Merkel's talking but it's not happening.
And yes, that's my point; Boehner was WAY out of line to Peter King (not the NY Peter King, by the way)..
Elbro, I know that's how many on the left think...Believe me.
They disdain homeschooling, too, because they want our kids believing the rewritten history books they've worked on. America is bad, racist, too capitalistic, etc.
And far too religious :-)
FT...some bloggers have quit for those reasons. I, too, could very well stop blogging because the news is so much more upsetting than it has EVER been and I seriously need to rethink my watching it/reading it, so I can blog on relevant things.
I'm going to try to pull back on the politics, but that's hard for me, too.
FT quoted:
"Our side ran two candidates who couldn't even win their own home states, and circus clown Chris Christie helped Obama over the top with his glowing post Sandy tributes that elevated our arrogant "Campaigner-in-Chief" to a Mother Teresa-like status.
Today I heard that McCain said he could vote for Hillaroid.
And that was the "Republican" candidate for president.
Ed and FT; I have always said "Republicans eat their young"
Tonight, I put CNN on just now and there's a REALLY critical slam on Nixon; think the timing's accidental? Think we'll have more in the next year? Maybe it's a birthday present for Barack today?!
Meanwhile, two networks are making films on Hillary and one, I heard, is slated for theaters! But, of course, that's not campaigning :-)
AXELROD IS BEHIND ALL OF THIS, FOLKS! And he hides in the comfort of the WH protection.
It's only Republicans CONSTANTLY criticized.
And, they sometimes deserve it. I didn't quite forgive Christie the first time with the big Obama hug right before the election, but when Obama went BACK to the hurricane damaged areas which STILL don't have help and Christie sucked up to him again, that did it for me.
" I, too, could very well stop blogging ":
And that's just what [they] want! Come on, [we] are the last hope! I'm sorry about McCain; the "Stockholm Syndrome" may have had an effect on him but the rest of us must not quit!
Jon..I'm still here. :-)
"Jon..I'm still here"
And please stay here!!!!
Jon, that is so kind of you; thanks!
I'm glad you're here, too!
Not me, I go to bed at an almost decent hour.
I never said that or meant to imply that the leaders of France and/or Germany were "effective" in their efforts to make immigrants conform to their host country's cultures. The point that I believe Zizek was making was that instead of "pretending" that the immigrants WERE conforming to host country culture, and instead of passing ineffective laws that require French women to remove their "veils", we need to understand and ACCEPT the fact that they are different. And because they ARE different, WE need to "act" accordingly, be either "shutting them OUT of our culture OR adapting out culture so that it recognizes and accepts those differences. This means, stop all politically correct NONSENSE extolling the virtues of "decaffeinated others" and "neutralizing" their toxicity with extensive and permissive "concealed carry" permits.
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