With Apologies . . . Not!

A couple of brief comments on the latest pastor-related contretemps in the 2008 presidential election.

It’s interesting that John McCain sought endorsements from reasonably high-profile evangelical leaders when conservatives were seriously questioning whether or not to support him for president. McCain can’t seem to get far enough away from Rod Parsley and John Hagee these days. Hagee is in trouble for preaching against Roman Catholic doctrine, while Parsley is under fire for remarks critical of Islam. Hagee even recently apologized to Catholics for his reported remarks.

Now, I haven’t reviewed in detail each specific statement by these men. I don’t agree with Parsley for his alleged statement that “America was founded to destroy Islam.” However, as a Christian, I do agree with him that Islam is a false religion, and that believing its teachings will result in eternal separation from God. There are other criticisms of Islam that I have made, and will continue to make. And I make no apologies for them either.

As for Hagee and Roman Catholicism, I don’t know why Hagee felt it necessary to apologize. Rome preaches a false Gospel of faith plus works, in addition to numerous other false doctrines. Perhaps Hagee went overboard with his rhetoric, perhaps not. I’d have to see the specific statements. But I make no apologies for my disagreement with the Roman Magisterium on doctrine. None. Period.

Since everyone is so interested in apologies, perhaps Rome will repeal the Council of Trent with it’s multiplicity of anathemas (curses) against Protestants and their doctrines. Perhaps Muslim leaders will apologize for not only the murderous acts being done in the name of Islam around the world, but also for saying that God has no Son. I find that offensive. Will they apologize? I doubt it.

I feel badly that Republicans (not to mention a growing number of evangelicals) are growing so lily-livered.

And while I'm at it, James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal's Online Journal posted this very interesting observation on Sen. Ted Kennedy and his possibly soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat in Massachussetts . . .

One-Party State

On Wednesday we wrote that if the ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy resigns or dies before his term ends, his seat will be filled by a special election, not a gubernatorial appointment. That is true under current law, but the Eagle-Times of North Andover, Mass., reports that one leader of the Great and General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is making noises about changing the law:

"The leader of the Massachusetts House says he will support giving Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint an interim successor to U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy if that becomes necessary. The Democratic-controlled Legislature stripped Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of that authority in 2004 because of fears he would name a Republican to replace U.S. Sen. John Kerry if he had been elected president. . . .

But House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said yesterday if Kennedy should step aside or have to be replaced because of his brain tumor diagnosis, he'd be in favor of a gubernatorial appointment. "That was a good political reason (then)," DiMasi said of taking the power away from Romney. "It's a good political reason to change it back."

Well, one cheer to DiMasi for acknowledging his partisan motivation rather than pretending to be standing for some high-minded procedural principle. If the Legislature goes ahead and changes the law, though, it's conceivable it could backfire--if, that is, Massachusettsans are sufficiently put off by the opportunism to take it out on Patrick's appointee when he does face the voters.

In relation to this issue, I think it notable that Sen. Kennedy has already expressed the wish that his wife take his place in the Senate if it becomes necessary.

While I wish Sen. Kennedy well in terms of his health, I am very bugged by the notion of dynasties in the United States, whether said dynasty is Kennedy, Bush or Clinton. No one has the inherent "right" to the presidency or any other political office in this country. Perhaps Massachusetts would be served well by having someone other than a Kennedy in that position.

Time For a Little Partisanship

I make little secret that I am a conservative in both theology and politics. These days, politicians in both parties can raise my blood pressure, but my general philosophy is fairly constant.

As we go into the fall election, you'll no doubt hear about how much the country has suffered under a Republican president (and earlier GOP-controlled Congress). Let me share with you a comparison recently sent to me via email from a pastor friend . . .

Remember the 2006 election? A little more than a year ago:

1. Consumer confidence stood at a 2-1/2 year high.

2. Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon.

3. The unemployment rate was at 4.5%

Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006:

1. Consumer confidence has plummeted.

2. The cost of regular gasoline has soared to more than $3.50 a gallon.

3. Unemployment has gone up to 5%

4. American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate.

5. Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars.

6. 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.

America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!

Remember, it's Congress that makes the law, not the president. He has to work with what's handed to him.

Now, my comment. I think the Republicans share some blame here. The GOP-controlled Congress abandoned conservative principles and spent like drunken sailors. They tried to out-Democrat the Democrats. But did we expect that electing a liberal Democratic Congress would fix things? The only good thing about it is that, hopefully, the GOP got the message. But I'll believe that when I see it. Until RINOs are soundly defeated in large enough numbers, and enough true conservatives can get elected to the Senate in sufficient enough numbers to break a Democratic filibuster, nothing will change for the better. Change? Barack Obama uses that term a lot, doesn't he?

So Barack Obama wants change. He just won't tell us specifics. I guess I don't need any. I know liberal philosophy well enough. We'll just get the Pelosi philosophy on steroids. If you think the above stats are bad enough, just wait.

As Bachman-Turner Overdrive once sang, "You ain't seen nuthin' yet!"

I Love the Ozarks!

Enough said.

Another Polar Bear

Yeah, I know. There goes Joel and his bears again. Don't worry, I'll be back to the serious again tomorrow or the next day, but I couldn't resist. Besides, it's my blog.

Anyway, isn't this a great polar bear photo? According to AP (who credits the photo to Mary Sage), the bear is watching a whaling crew, but he looks like he could be sitting in front of a chessboard waiting for you to castle or sacrifice a pawn. Or even offer you a cup of tea.

Gotta love it.

It's Only the Beginning . . .

The sun is going down on this Sunday night, and -- Lord willing -- a new day begins tomorrow. Before I hit the hay, I wanted to share a bit of what's been on my mind lately, no doubt spurred on by all the global disasters of late. First, a couple of Scripture passages, first from the Gospel of Luke, which records the Lord's words. . .

There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:25-28).

Next, the Revelation of the Apostle John, and the famous passage on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse . . .

Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come." I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.” When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand (Revelation 6:1-17).

Interesting, isn't it?

Now, I certainly make no secret of my own eschatological convictions. I believe in the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth, which is required for basic orthodoxy. Furthermore, I am premillennial and dispensational, although I haven't come to a firm view on the timing of the Rapture of the church. It isn't my purpose with this post to argue eschatology. The main thing is that Jesus told us He was coming back, He told us to watch, and He gave us signs for which to watch.

There have always been disasters throughout human history, but this rash of late and the huge death tolls are astounding. It does make you wonder whether or not the birthpangs are beginning.

Varying Degrees of Silliness

Actor Sean Penn is pretty well known for being outspoken and far left. This past week, the London Telegraph printed an interview with Penn where he said "it is impossible to separate film from politics."

Oh, really? During Hollywood's Golden Age, they managed to make non-political films by some miraculous process. I don't mean to suggest that there weren't any political message films from 1930-1955 -- far from it. But there were also plenty of films that weren't overtly political. The intent was to tell a good story to help people forget their troubles for a while. Impossible? I think Mr. Penn needs to rethink that one.

Personally, I am getting a bit tired of entertainers with Messianic complexes. Mr. Penn might not have one per se, but the virus is out there. In this day and age, whenever entertainers use their craft to make political statements, all they do is alienate half of their audience no matter what side of the fence they are on. If I go to a concert or a film, I go to let down my hair (all three of them) and relax, not to be subjected to propaganda.

Oh, I know. It's supposed to be "socially conscious," which is code for politically correct and sufficiently left-wing. I'd like to see more entertainers buck the trend and George Soros, and stand up for traditional values for a change.

Now let's pick on Republicans a bit.

This article from Breitbart says that Republicans are looking to John McCain as their "savior." Aside from that blasphemous line, the GOP is in really deep trouble if that is genuinely the case.

Republicans got in trouble precisely because they stopped acting like Republicans. In recent years, all they have done is to see how fast they can out-Democrat the Democrats. The Republicans have a conservative base, but as soon as the Establishment gets the conservative vote through blackmail (just think if Hillary gets in office), they basically give conservatives the middle finger. They do it every time, and the conservative base never seems to learn the lesson.

I am tired of being used, and I am tired of Republicans in name only, or RINOs. I am tired of Republicans who love to boast of their conservative "80 percent ACU" voting records. They vote conservative until it comes to something that really matters, and then they're ready to clink glasses with Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank. I don't want them in office. I want them gone. Now. Go join the Democrats and leave us alone.

Okay, that's my political post for now. Hopefully with the next few, I can dig into something edifying from Scripture. I might have to shut off the television to do it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it?

Methinks Obama and the Dems Protesteth Too Much

In this speech to the Israeli Knesset, President Bush makes a valid point without naming names, and the Democrats are coming unglued. Obama started fuming first, with Hillary, Nanci Pelosi, Joe Biden and others piling on.

Um, where was this outrage when Jimmy Carter met with dictators and generally trashed his country while overseas on numerous occasions? Where was the outrage when Obama actually said that he'd talk to Iran? Aside from these fairly recent matters, the record of liberal appeasement through the years speaks for itself. Gone are Democrats like Franklin Roosevelt and Scoop Jackson. Jimmy Carter sat on his hands for 444 days while Iran held our hostages. As Monty Python used to nudge and wink, "Say no more!"

Excuse me while I laugh. Given the overwrought outrage of the Dems, Bush must have hit a nerve.

Methinks they protesteth too much.

My Summation of Global Warming

As Christians, of course we ought to be good stewards of God's creation. But we don't worship Earth Mother Gaia. We are also supposed to be sensible and - I hope - wary of the latest crises du jour, which are usually smokescreens for global/governmental/socialistic power-grabbing schemes or clever ways for a few people to haul in a lot of money. I would hope Republicans would know better to fall for leftist, socialist hoaxes, but true Republicans are scarce these days.

Now that John McCain is the latest Republican to fall for the global warming nonsense, I thought it would be beneficial to look at this from a more divine perspective.

First, here's what God Himself says to those politicians and "scientists" pushing the panic button that human action will destroy the planet, and that global government action is needed to stop it:

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).

And here's what God's Word says about true global warming, which He Himself will bring to pass and no one can do anything about it:

But by His Word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men . . . But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and all its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? (2 Peter 3:7,10 and 11).

Now THAT'S global warming. And none of Al Gore's phony carbon credits will help in the least.