Search 'YeahImABeliever' for specific subjects, words, and Scriptures.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

A Dumb Decision, or What?

The facts of how what has always been a topic of controversy came into being have never been hidden from people, they just haven't been learned by a great many people, both Christians and non-Believers alike. 

'8 Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.  4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”  6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”  10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”  19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”  21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. 22 So the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.”  And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”  (I Samuel 8:1-22    NKJV)

First we have here what it was that changed in regards to the life of the Children of Israel, that Samuel, who had been the judge over Israel for some time, was getting old, and so appointed his sons to carry on his judgeship.  It wouldn't be a reach here to assume that Samuel did this so as to not leave a vacuum in this important office should his death come suddenly, which is still not uncommon amongst those who have a long life behind them.  Now, whether Samuel's sons had always lived in ways contrary to what God would require from any of us, or only began the type of behavior discussed in the beginning of our Scripture with their judicial appointments we don't know from the reading of it.  The only real reason for this to become an issue would be for those who would want to question Samuel's judgement in appointing his offspring as successors, and exactly what point that would serve, I've no idea.  So, let's get on with our purpose here today, shall we?  The point we're looking at here is that the people gathered together and let Samuel know that they wanted a real, live, flesh and blood king.  They didn't want to have a king they couldn't see anymore to rule over them, and as God pointed out to Samuel, who it sounds like got his feelings hurt  (See I Samuel 8:7), the people were not rejecting Samuel, but God Himself.  Samuel warned the people of what to expect, that they would be used and abused by any earthly king, but the people persisted, with God finally telling the retiring judge to give the people what they wanted, and to send all the people home.  (See 1 Samuel 9 and 1 Samuel 10 for more on the first king of the Children of Israel).  

Now let's jump ahead several thousand years to when the Pharisees were attempting, yet again, to entrap Jesus with a combination of legalism, Old Testament Law and traditions, and downright orneriness.   

' 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”  18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”  So they brought Him a denarius.  20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”  21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”  And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.'  (Matthew 22:15-22    NKJV)

A good friend of mine acually brought up the subject a couple of weeks ago of just where the line was that Christians have no business crossing in regards to getting the Church (the one built without hands) involved in secular politics.  The whole reason I got into the history of how God's Chosen People, and have no doubt that New Testament Believers are just as much His Chosen People today as the Children of Israel were during the days of the Old Testament, was to get in firmly in mind that God never intended, by His choice, that mankind would have a secular government leadership apparatus.  In God's Perfect Will for His people, He and He alone, would be our only King, in all respects.  Just one of the reasons for this is illustrated in our Scripture from the book of Matthew we've just looked at.  Man, and it doesn't matter for this point whether they were Pharisees or Sadducees or Babylonians or Muslims, has always and will always use anything to attempt to undermine the authority of God.  We're warned about this throughout the New Testament, to ever be on watch for any kind of contrary teachings and rifts and dissension amongst those who profess Christ.

'17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.'  (Romans 16:17-20    NKJV) 

And,

'10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  '14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.'  (I Corinthians 1:10-17    NKJV) 

As we can easily see here, what we refer to as the 'Early Church' was no stranger to people trying to use God's people, His Words, and His Will to accomplish their own ends.  In both of these excerpts from epistles, or letters, written by the apostle Paul to the churches in Rome and Corinth, Paul warned of what we still see today.  I included these last two bits of Scripture for the purpose of making it clear that what we had looked at earlier for the account of Matthew wasn't, and isn't, limited to just those who are openly adverse to the teachings of Christ and the Will of God.  There are many in this world [gone mad] that we live in today who do their best to distort the Word of God while at the same time professing the [shed] blood of Christ.  So, a word of caution to my Brothers and Sisters, 'Beware!' 

In getting back to the attempted trickery of the Pharisees, they were trying to trip Jesus up by mixing secular statutes up with what should be Spiritual worship of God.  If Jesus had been anyone other than who He was, and is, He would have found Himself crossing the line that we all should learn by His example to not cross.  We, as Christians, have available to us an invaluable weapon in our Spiritual arsenal, if we'll only use it.

2 My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, 2   So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;  3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.  6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.  9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.  10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,  (Proverbs 2:1-12    NKJV),
The very important Spiritual weapon I'm talking about is identified by name in verse three up above here, as discernment, and then verse four stresses just how valuable discernment can, and should, be to those who believe in God.  It's important to have developed the habit of praying for discernment on a whole multitude of issues, with this line between secular politics and New Testament worship of God being right near the top of the list.

Let's talk some more about this line I keep going on about.  I'm not talking about not voting for elected officials and public issues put up for a vote.  Neither am I talking about isolating ourselves from the secular world in its entirety.  What I am talking about is first and foremost seeking direction from God, often in the form of the  discernment we just looked at in the book of Proverbs.  What I've often heard from people when this subject comes up is something like, 'Well, that don't always work.'  Hey, here's a newsflash, if praying for discernment doesn't always work, then maybe you aren't always praying!  God will never abandon any of His chosen ones when the need and the petition is real and sincere. 

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”  (Hebrews 13:5-6    NKJV)


These two verses are what I think of as 'promise verses' from God to all Christians everywhere.  If anybody says that they've prayed for discernment from a sincere heart based on a real need and didn't get an answer, they are a liar.  The alternative is that God lied when He made the two promises recorded here in the book of Hebrews, and God is not a liar! 

So where exactly is this line I've been going on about, the one we should never cross between secular politics and our Spiritual worship of God?  That's the tricky thing about this whole issue, which is why discernment is so important.  The line doesn't stay in one place, it can and does move around quite a bit, but what else should we expect from something firmly anchored in a world ruled by satan?  One easy test to conduct that will show us whether an issue is something we need to get involved with is a simple question, 'Does this issue have any impact on my, or anybody elses, ability to start and maintain a relationship with God?'  This is the ultimate 'litmus' test.  It's a pass or fail situation.  If you find yourself having to qualify your answer, then something is already wrong.  

Be right, and be strong in all that you are before the Lord!

Be Blessed Don B., and we thank God everyday that you and your wife are who you are!

Serving Him in Absarokee MT and all points of the compass,
Reverend Terry and Faith Keiner 

Monday, May 14, 2012

Chains of Life!

One of the most basics of dealing with 'signed' numbers in math is that when we multiply a negative with a positive, the answer is consistently a negative.  But there is a special and unique situation in which the only way to end up with a positive is to add a negative. 

'For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.'  (Ezra 9:9    NKJV)
What we have here is the prophet Ezra before the Lord in prayer for the sake of the people.  Earlier on God had told the people, who by this time in Biblical history were His Chosen, to separate themselves from the people, and by direct contribution their [practised] abominations, of the land(s) (See Ezra 9:1).  The people had failed to do so, and now faced the anger of a loving Parent defied by His much loved children.  Let's break this verse down just a bit, and get it into manageable pieces.  Right at the beginning, Ezra acknowledges the Children of Israels' status before man and God, that they 'were slaves.'  Notice that the prophet did not specify as to what or whom the people were enslaved to, and that is something we'll look at closer in just a minute.  Next, we have a statement, which can also be viewed as a promise, which we'll also get more into shortly. The verse is finished by documenting the proof that God did not abandon or give up on, the Children of Israel as the results of their disobedience in not separating themselves from the other peoples.  My question to you is this, 'Does anything from the words written by the prophet Ezra remind you of anything?'  If his words does not describe every one of our conditions before coming to the Throne of Grace then I have to question whether or not we really understood just how precarious our standing was before the Lord, prior to having claimed the shed blood of Christ as the atonement for our sins.  Let's go on and take a look at the apostle Paul's words to those members of the church at Rome, and see if this helps us to understand what can be described as the 'before and after' state of man.

'16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.'  (Romans 6:16-19    NKJV)

Now do you see where I'm headed today with my rambling?  Just as the Old Testament prophet told us, 'we were slaves.'  Have no doubt that his words, though written at least five hundred years before Christ walked the earth as Jesus the Man, are just as relavant to us today as to the wayward Children of Israel then.  While they were literally, physically, enslaved by real life captors, their condition was just as desparate and fatal as we are today before coming to accept Christ as Savior and Lord.  Also, just as God never gave up on them, so He never gives up on us.  But there the simularities end, as regards their condition versus ours today.  God never called for the Jewish people to basically trade one slave master for another, but that is exactly what He requires of us today when we come to the Throne of Grace.  A mental image of being enslaved brings to mind being secured into our bondage by real life chains and shackles accompanied by those charged with preventing our escape by whatever means necessary, including death.  Now, here's the kicker, when we 'trade up', and are freed from the enslavement to sin, which is one hundred percent fatal, and are redeemed by the [shed] blood of Christ, we are willingly placing ourselves in bondage  to 'obedience leading to righteousness'  and as 'slaves of  righteousness for holiness.'  Is this trading a negative, being enslaved to sin, for a negative, being 'slaves of righteousness for holiness?'  Think about it this way, being held captive in bondage that is contrary to everything this world claims as good and normal has it's own dangers and is quite often just as physically fatal as the slavery of those captive Hebrews almost twenty-six hundred years ago.  There is a difference though, and it's a huge difference.  We, as Christians delivered from the condemnation of sin, have joy in our captivity to righteousness unheard of by any people or person living in the agony of slavery.  So the equation we have here is the positive of being delivered from slavery to sin being added to what some may view as the negative of choosing being enslaved to righteousness and ending up with the positive of having eternal life with our Lord Father in heaven.  The chains we choose are truly chains of life!

Be Blessed,
Reverend Terry Keiner
Absarokee MT

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Life, or a Way to Live?

Godliness, or the presence of the attributes of Godliness?  Just what is it that makes man feel that a choice has to be made to either pursue Godliness as life itself, or to acquire the attributes of God as a lifestyle? Sometimes the facts of Godliness are confused with the desire to possess the characteristics or traits of Godliness.  Just because a person acts in a certain way doesn't necessarily mean that the person is of a certain type.  Let's look first at the inspired words of David, who laid it out straight and simple as to just what it was, and is, the Lord desires from man in order to be [found] righteous.

'15 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  who may dwell in Your holy hill?  2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;  3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;  4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LordHe who swears to his own hurt and does not change;  5 He who does not put out his money at usury,  nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.'  ( Psalms 15:1-5    NKJV)  (See Psalms 24:1-5)

While it's acknowledged that this particular Psalms was written during the time of moving the ark of the covenant to Mount Zion (See II Samuel 6:12-19), it's obvious that this Scripture is just as relevant for us today as it was to the peoples of the time of the Psalmist.  David didn't waste any words here, he kept it simple, for people like me who have trouble with two-dollar words and one-page sentences.  First, in verse one we have the all important question.  I think its safe to say that David's references to God's tabernacle and holy hill  was referring to God's Kingdom, both within men now and the new heavens and earths of our future.  The question is an honest query more to the point of what type, or kind, of person God would accept into His Home than what makes a person eligible to receive His gift of Grace.  These are words spoken from the heart, not just some whimsical and random jottings of an idle mind, and so they should be read with a sincere desire from an earnest heart for understandings.  This is so for this entire passage we're looking at, so let's take a look at the next three verses, which answers the question in verse one.  Again, just as in the first verse, David uses plain, straightforward language with no hidden mysteries.  We need to walk uprightly, and by these words we can understand that this is a figurative description of how our Spiritual posture should be maintained at all times.  Look at it like this, what is the opposite of walking uprightly from a literal point of view?  To slouch, to not keep your back straight, to not hold your shoulders up, maybe a combination of all of these.  What is your first impression when you see two people walking past, one with good posture while the other is slouching?  Which one of the two would you feel would be more dependable and trustworthy?  Now, let's apply this scenario to a strictly Spiritual setting.  What do you think of when you hear the words, 'good Spiritual posture?'  How about the opposite of that, 'Spiritual slouching?'  Do I need say more about walk[ing] uprightly?  The next part of verse two tells us that those chosen to abide with God works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart.  What we're not going to do here is go down that old, much worn road of faith by works or works by faith while we're looking at the works righteousness part of this verse.  It's well established that our faith produces good works, and by a direct connection, those works are not only done in a righteous manner, but also for a righteous purpose.  Another very important thing about works [of] righteousness is the motivation behind the works.  It's very easy in this world to get caught up in a 'keeping up with the Jones' cycle.  If we do something that on its surface appears good, but our motivation, which only we and God may know, is flawed, then we are giving no glory to God.  The last part of verse two identifies those who've answered God's call as those who speaks the truth in his heart.  Right about now I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some readers questioned how someone would go about speaking anything, truth or otherwise, in his heart.  It a person doesn't understand this very simple ideal, then I have to question whether or not there is the accurate grasp of believing in your heart (See Romans 10:9) necessary to salvation.  Our relationship with God is not based in the intellectual center of our selves, the brain.  Our relationship with God has to be based in spirit and in truth (See John 4:23-24), and these are concepts that the human intellect can only have a basic academic knowledge of.  When Jesus answered the Pharisees question as to where the Kingdom of God was, He certainly was not talking about a part of the human body that only was able to grasp academic truths.

'20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."'  (Luke 17:20-21    NKJV)

The physician apostle could not have made it much clearer when he recorded this actual event and exchange of question and answer.  When we tie this Scripture from the book of Luke with Scripture from one of the apostle Pauls letters to the church at Corinth, it's even more obvious that knowing with our brains has nothing to do with what we believe, and speak, from our hearts.

'Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?'  (I Corinthians 1:20    NKJV)

The next verse, verse three from our Scripture up above, covers a lot of ground in a hurry.  Basically giving us three things that a child of God will not do, nor should we have any desire or urge to backbite, or slander, anyone, or do anything evil, or bad to anyone, including our neighbor(s), or to take up a reproach towards our friends, or anyone else.  There isn't much opporatunity for the fools of this world to distort this particular verse, it's pretty plainly written in plain speech.  Always remember that we do not have a God of coincidence.  Verse four gives us an idea of how we should percieve those who've elected to not answer God's call along with our recognition of those who choose to come to the Throne of Grace.  While we're told that we should despise a vile person, this is in no way telling us to completely separate ourselves from those not walking with the Lord.  If we did this, how could the testimony of our lives have any impact on them, and besides, Jesus taught us by the examples He set, and He specifically identified those who were without God as the ones He came to minister to  (See Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:32).  Next we're told to honor those who fear the Lord.  Remember that the translated word 'fear' has several contextual meanings, including 'to hold in awe' which is without doubt the meaning when this word is used in regards to the Christians perception of God.  David now addresses the issue of vows by identifying those who swear to his own hurt and does not change.  The main thing about vows to God is this; it's very rare that God calls on man to make a vow.  But, man has repeatedly chosen to make a vow to God over different issues, and so God requires a vow made to be kept.  David stressed this with the last few words of this verse, and does not change.  This requirement of God, to not change, is relevant in the Christians life in more than just this application.

'11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.'  (Ephesians 4:11-16    NKJV)

Now let's finish up our mini-study of Psalms 15 with a look at the last verse, verse five.  Under the earliest Jewish traditions and ordinances, Jews were prohibited from taking advantage of their fellows who were in bad positions by charging them high interest rates on loans (See Leviticus 25:35-37).  When we expand this Scripture to include Christians today in their dealings with the less fortunate, it's simple enough to gain from this verse that we are not to take advantage of anyone.  Then we're also told that should we ever be in a position to be swayed, by any means, from giving  truthful testimony against someone in exchange for a bribe, in any form, to do so would certainly not gain us any points with God.  Finally, we're given a promise, that, he who does these things shall never be moved.  So long as we keep what I think of as our Spiritual focus locked firmly in on God and His Will, His, Word, and His Way, nothing can separate us from our eternity with Him.

,31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:


                                    “For Your sake we are killed all day long;
                                   We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'  (Romans 8:31-39    NKJV)

Be Blessed, on this day and every day to follow!
Terry



 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Duhh!

I heard it said not long ago, and the tone of voice was extremely sarcastic, that it appeared as if the Christian population of the United States will not be satisfied until the White House administration was made up completely of Christians.  Also, the Senate and Congress along with every other office of every agency in our government.  My response to all of this is, "You betcha!"  To me, this is a
no-brainer.  Remember the final words of Jesus before He Ascended?

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalme, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  (Acts 1:8    NKJV)

Let's take a quick look at this Scripture, and let's reverse engineer it.  Okay then, I know that it's coming at it backwards, but just humor me for a second.

What does the verse above not say?  Well, it doesn't say we should do these things directed at all people except those individuals holding public office, does it?  It also does not give any indication that politicians are given a pass in regards to the salvation thing, does it?  I mean, isn't that the reason for all Christians to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and then go out and spread the Word?  Have we taken this reverse engineering look far enough?  Do we all get the picture now?  Right about now some will undoubtedly be hollering about the separation of church and state.  Okay, let's take a quick peek at that issue.  First of all, nowhere does any law or statute in this country disqualify any person from seeking election to public office because they are a Christian.  Secondly, the intent of the framers of the separation of church and state amendment was to address a major sore point found in European governments, one that had played a very large part in this countries desire for freedom from Great Britain.  This issue was not about people bringing their religious beliefs into either public office or public view, but to prevent the government from deciding that a certain belief system would be adhered to by all the citizens of the country.  As usual, those stupid enough to deny God cannot even get their facts straight.

Hey! Guess what?  I'm finished for now!  Can you believe it, not even a whole page.  Don't worry for a minute, those of you who might feel short-changed, I'll make up for this short post with the next one, it's going to be a doosy!

Be Blessed before the Lord!
Terry