54 YEAR OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER SHOT TO DEATH BY UNJUST POLICE

Here is yet another example of injustice in our legal system. This should make us all very angry.

SEVERING THE ROOT OF SIN TAKES MORE THAN MERE HUMAN MEANS

Often people make feeble attempts to manage sin. For example, one who is addicted to sex or pornography might make every effort to get help (meaning counseling, group therapy, etc.). While all of that is well and good, however, it does not severe the root of the problem. Even statistics show that people who claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ are more successful with addictions and struggles than those who claim to not, but both groups of people seek the same methods of help. The difference is that one group of people has the changing power of God in their lives while the other does not. This does not mean that those who claim to have a relationship with Christ are perfect in fixing their addictions; nor does it mean that they do not struggle. It does, however, mean that there is a supernatural helper taking care of their issues. In other words, those who do not have a relationship with God are merely attempting to fix their issues by human means. While helpful, those means are not enough. We must severe the root of sin in our lives, and the only one who can do so is God himself, no one else.

OUR LEGAL SYSTEM JUST A BIG GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY

Some of you viewed this video I found on the web the other day. It has, in fact, gone viral and rightfully so because it reveals the injustice of our legal system. We may claim to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, but the truth is that we only live in the home of the brave because our freedoms are rapidly vanishing before our very eyes. I have recently considered the injustice in our legal system, and it causes me to wonder if (like many other government entities) it has become just another big government bureaucracy. Even in the corrections departments, we see this. Drug charges should not receive years and years behind bars; neither should victimless crimes. Yet this is the case. We keep pushing people into the corrections system to create more government jobs and pay people who have not earned it. While there indeed should be corrective actions taken at times, we should not take it to the extremes that we do so often. We lock up more people in the United States than any other country in the world including China and Russia, and for what? It is merely to grow the system of injustice we live in. It is time we take a stand to stop locking and start helping.

AMOS 7:7-9: THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S JUDGMENT

AMOS 7:7-9: THE CERTAINTY OF GOD’S JUDGMENT

            We are living in uncertain times, not uncertain because of financial instability but because of the vast sin in our culture that is sure to bring the judgment of God. We make light of the judgment of God and consider people to speak of it to be crazy. The fact is, however, that God does and will judge sin; he will not stand for it. The prophet, Amos, prophesied primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel but also to the southern kingdom of Judah, and like our current society, God’s judgment was certain on theirs. Because of that, there are some conclusions that we must draw from Amos’ prophesy in Amos 7:7-9.

Amos 7:7-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. ⁸ And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

“Behold, I am setting a plumb line
    in the midst of my people Israel;
    I will never again pass by them;
⁹ the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
    and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
    and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

We Are Seeing Signs of God’s Judgment for Sin (vv. 7-8a)

            Like Amos, we are currently seeing signs of God’s judgment upon our society. When asked what he saw, Amos responded to God by saying that he saw God standing beside a wall with a plumb line, a measuring instrument if you will. Most people interpret this to mean Israel being judged to see if they measure up to God’s standard.[1] The obvious answer is no since no one measures up to God’s standard. Others, however, interpret this image by realizing that the word, “plumb,” closely resembles the Accadian word for “tin.” Therefore many scholars render this a wall of tin, symbolizing military capability, specifically pointing to the source of military power that the Lord would use to judge Israel. Whatever the case, the fact is that the signs of judgment were there. Israel did not measure up to the Lord’s standards, and therefore, God was going to judge them.

            We also live in a time where the signs of God’s judgment are present. The most obvious sign of God’s judgment is the fact that he is allowing rampant sin to take place. On scripture, before God judged a people, he always allowed them to do things their way. That is what he is doing in our society. This means that judgment is sure to come.

God’s Judgment Will Be Confirmed (vv. 8b-9)

            We should also realize from this passage that God’s judgment will be confirmed as it was with Amos. Once Amos told God what he saw, God then told Amos that he was indeed measuring Israel and that he would judge the people. This was confirmation of God’s judgment and God was going to use Amos to preach and tell of the coming judgment. God has chosen people today to foretell of his coming judgment; yet people do not listen and write those chosen by God off. We have been given confirmation that God’s judgment is certain so why do we refuse to acknowledge the warnings? Perhaps it is pride; perhaps it is naivety; or even worse perhaps it is because we just don’t care.

            Let us take precaution and observe the warning signs. God’s judgment is coming.

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[1] ESV Study Bible.

PORN IN PERSPECTIVE GIVEN BY MARK DRISCOLL

I watched this video recently, a message given by Mark Driscoll. It is fascinating and really puts things in perspective.

DADDY OR FATHER?

I recently heard someone refer to God as “Daddy.” I have heard it and read it before, and it has angered me in the past without me realizing why. Well, I decided to do a study on the word, Abba, which derives the “Daddy” concept of God in our English language. What I found is interesting. While the term, Abba, was commonly used in Hebrew culture for children to refer to their fathers, it still symbolized strength rather than affection. The reason many people refer to God as “Daddy” in our culture is because they feel that is symbolizes the affectionate love of God. However, God is also a God of strength. Why can’t the term, “Father,” be used in the same way? A father loves but also disciplines his children. The biggest reason this term angers me, however, is because it weakens people’s perception of God. There is a reason people look at Christianity as weak. Consider the songs we sing, feminine and emotional in nature; consider the language we use, again weak in nature; now consider the implication of a daddy as opposed to a father. We really do a great job at revealing a weak faith to the rest of the world. This is why the word, “Daddy,” significantly bothers me. We need a father, someone who realizes our fallen nature but will love and discipline us, not just a daddy who thinks we can do no wrong.

SICK POLICE SHOOT POOR DOG

I found this video today of a Hawthorne police officer shooting a helpless dog. When you watch the video, first of all, if you're a dog lover, this will anger you. Secondly, it becomes clear that the dog was not lunging at the officer but was, in fact, simply barking at him because the officer was messing with his owner and wrongly arresting him if I might add. The man was simply listening to loud music, which should not be a crime last time I checked. If it is, someone needs to do something about it. This just goes to show the injustice in our legal system.