I'm a strong supporter of free speech, but some things should go unsaid. The Florida pastor who had planned to burn copies of the Koran in the name of free speech was dead wrong.
Certainly, the book of the Islamic religion is not a holy book and will lead to the damnation of those who follow it because Jesus is the only way to God. But, to antagonize, provoke, anger those who believe it is a holy book, and stoke the fire is wrong. What possible good can be accomplished by this tactic?
The pastor provoked the ire of many. There were protests across the country and rightfully so. Fortunately, this nutty preacher did not follow through with his plan to burn the Koran. But I wonder: Would there have been that kind of outrage if it had been a Bible? Or would it have been dismissed as an expression of free speech?
Many Christians today are afraid to stand up for God and defend His holy word.
One thing that really stood out to me in all of this is the message of the protesters. They carried signs calling for "Peace" and urging religions to "Co-exist." But the fact is that religions cannot co-exist nor should they.
The Bible instructs us to separate ourselves from the ways of the world. As Christians, we are "in the world but not of the world."
Protesters called for peace. The world is hungry for peace, especially in the Middle East. People are looking for someone who will bring peace and change. That's why voters embraced Obama's message during the 2008 election. He ran on a campaign of hope and change.
That's also the message the anti-Christ will bring when he is revealed in the world. He will promise to bring peace, and many people will be deceived into following him, just as they were deceived by Obama.
Obama is not the anti-Christ. He is in fact a forerunner of the anti-Christ. I do believe the anti-Christ is alive and that it won't be long before he is revealed. The world is ripe for the anti-Christ to come onto the world stage with his message of peace and hope.
I don't plan to be here when that happens. Thankfully, the saints of God will be raptured out just before the anti-Christ comes onto the scene. That alone should motivate us to stay prayed up and watching for Jesus to appear. It won't be long now. Stay alert and watching!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Remembering Sept. 11
Most of us remember where we were on Sept. 11, 2001. I do. It was a day that changed our country and the world.
For me, it started like any other work day. I was listening to the radio that morning when the first tower was hit. When the second tower was hit, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. America was under attack. I just began to pray.
I got to work at the newspaper around noon. Normally, the newsroom was deserted at that time of day. But that day people were standing around a TV set, and work had already started on special coverage in our paper. There would have been even more people in the newsroom but, oddly enough, the paper had laid off several staffers just the day before Sept 11. One of the affected workers said he kept expecting a call that day to come back to help with the special coverage. But no call came.
That day seemed to last forever. It was like everyone was in shock, but we still had to get the paper out. I remember looking at the vivid images as they came across the wires. The newspaper was expanded that day and for several days afterward to cover all aspects of the terrorist attacks.
It was hard to read and edit those stories. As a journalist, I knew it was our duty to report on the largest terrorist attacks in our nation's history and give our readers as much information as possible. But as an American, I kept wondering how something like that could happen in the U.S. and why.
Now, nine years later, I still wonder why. It still seems so senseless, and we are still feeling the effects of Sept. 11 through the war on terrorism. I think about all the troops who have fought in the war and the ones who lost their lives. I think about the families who lost loved ones. We need to remember them today and honor them always. We must never forget.
I love this country, and I'm proud to be an American. This is still the greatest country on earth. And the best thing we can do for our country is to pray for it. Pray and seek God. Then God will hear our prayers and heal our land. God bless America.
For me, it started like any other work day. I was listening to the radio that morning when the first tower was hit. When the second tower was hit, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. America was under attack. I just began to pray.
I got to work at the newspaper around noon. Normally, the newsroom was deserted at that time of day. But that day people were standing around a TV set, and work had already started on special coverage in our paper. There would have been even more people in the newsroom but, oddly enough, the paper had laid off several staffers just the day before Sept 11. One of the affected workers said he kept expecting a call that day to come back to help with the special coverage. But no call came.
That day seemed to last forever. It was like everyone was in shock, but we still had to get the paper out. I remember looking at the vivid images as they came across the wires. The newspaper was expanded that day and for several days afterward to cover all aspects of the terrorist attacks.
It was hard to read and edit those stories. As a journalist, I knew it was our duty to report on the largest terrorist attacks in our nation's history and give our readers as much information as possible. But as an American, I kept wondering how something like that could happen in the U.S. and why.
Now, nine years later, I still wonder why. It still seems so senseless, and we are still feeling the effects of Sept. 11 through the war on terrorism. I think about all the troops who have fought in the war and the ones who lost their lives. I think about the families who lost loved ones. We need to remember them today and honor them always. We must never forget.
I love this country, and I'm proud to be an American. This is still the greatest country on earth. And the best thing we can do for our country is to pray for it. Pray and seek God. Then God will hear our prayers and heal our land. God bless America.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Don't Worry, Just Believe
I heard a statistic this week that I found very interesting but not really that surprising. It said that only 8 percent of the things people worry about are legitimate worries. In other words, 92 percent of things that we worry might happen never actually happen. So why worry at all?
I used to worry a lot. I would worry about things at work. I would worry about the future and about getting older. Most of the time, I found that I was worried for nothing.
Jesus said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
If Jesus tells us not to worry or fret, I think we should listen to Him. In Luke 12, He tells us, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."
I like the illustrations Jesus gives us. He says look at the ravens. They have no storeroom or barn. Yet, God feeds them. Then, He tells us to consider how the lilies grow. They don't labor or spin, but "not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
We are worth more to God than the birds and the flowers. If He takes such good care of them, we certainly should trust Him to take care of us. God knows we have needs, and He is able to meet every need. The Bible says He knows all our needs, even before we tell Him. And He will give us all these things if we come to Him and seek Him first.
So why should we worry about anything? Worry is the opposite of faith. We need to have the faith to simply believe that God will take care of everything in our lives. He wants us to trust Him. So cast all your cares on Him and then let them go and simply believe. God is faithful. He will never let you down when you look to Him in faith.
I used to worry a lot. I would worry about things at work. I would worry about the future and about getting older. Most of the time, I found that I was worried for nothing.
Jesus said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
If Jesus tells us not to worry or fret, I think we should listen to Him. In Luke 12, He tells us, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."
I like the illustrations Jesus gives us. He says look at the ravens. They have no storeroom or barn. Yet, God feeds them. Then, He tells us to consider how the lilies grow. They don't labor or spin, but "not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."
We are worth more to God than the birds and the flowers. If He takes such good care of them, we certainly should trust Him to take care of us. God knows we have needs, and He is able to meet every need. The Bible says He knows all our needs, even before we tell Him. And He will give us all these things if we come to Him and seek Him first.
So why should we worry about anything? Worry is the opposite of faith. We need to have the faith to simply believe that God will take care of everything in our lives. He wants us to trust Him. So cast all your cares on Him and then let them go and simply believe. God is faithful. He will never let you down when you look to Him in faith.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Digital Age
I don't read newspapers much anymore. That's quite a change for me after working for a newspaper and having to read the paper every day for nearly 17 years. Newspapers just don't interest me much anymore. I'm still the news junky I've always been, but there are so many other ways to get the news these days.
The Internet has changed the newspaper industry greatly. More and more, newspapers are using the Internet to attract readers and provide more up-to-the-minute news.
The Amarillo Globe-News recently launched its new and expanded Web site. It has some neat new features. It even has profiles of all of the reporters and editors. Most reporters and editors also have blogs on the new site. They didn't have all of that when I worked there.
I think it's a great way to personalize the news. Readers feel like they know the reporters. I like it because I can keep up with some of my friends and former co-workers at the paper.
Amarillo's other newspaper, The Independent, has done away with its print edition altogether and is now just online. The Indy has always been far too liberal for me. But when it's not attacking conservatives or the Globe-News, it does have some good investigative pieces, It's worth a quick look sometimes.
For the truth, though, I usually look to Web sites like World Net Daily and the Drudge Report for news about mainstream issues. And, of course, there's Fox News, which I'm addicted to.
Newspapers still have a place, even in this digital age. But as readership dies off with the older population and the younger generation turns to other forms of media, it will be harder for newspapers to survive. Will newspapers ever go away completely? Some smaller papers might, but I think larger ones will still be around for a long time.
The Internet has changed the newspaper industry greatly. More and more, newspapers are using the Internet to attract readers and provide more up-to-the-minute news.
The Amarillo Globe-News recently launched its new and expanded Web site. It has some neat new features. It even has profiles of all of the reporters and editors. Most reporters and editors also have blogs on the new site. They didn't have all of that when I worked there.
I think it's a great way to personalize the news. Readers feel like they know the reporters. I like it because I can keep up with some of my friends and former co-workers at the paper.
Amarillo's other newspaper, The Independent, has done away with its print edition altogether and is now just online. The Indy has always been far too liberal for me. But when it's not attacking conservatives or the Globe-News, it does have some good investigative pieces, It's worth a quick look sometimes.
For the truth, though, I usually look to Web sites like World Net Daily and the Drudge Report for news about mainstream issues. And, of course, there's Fox News, which I'm addicted to.
Newspapers still have a place, even in this digital age. But as readership dies off with the older population and the younger generation turns to other forms of media, it will be harder for newspapers to survive. Will newspapers ever go away completely? Some smaller papers might, but I think larger ones will still be around for a long time.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Heavenly Thoughts
I find myself thinking more and more about heaven. Like the popular MercyMe song "I Can Only Imagine," I really can't comprehend in my limited human thinking how wonderful heaven is going to be.
I've always been one who tries to live life to the full, as it says in John 10:10. Sure, life has its share of trials and hardships, but I love life. I want to experience all I can while I'm here. But this is nothing compared to what awaits us on the other side.
As things in the world grow darker and darker, I can't help but think that we must be getting so close to the return of Jesus and the rapture of the saints.
I don't know a lot about biblical prophesy. But I know that the rapture is the next great event on God's calendar. Nothing has to happen before the rapture takes place. The Bible says "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the return of the Lord." If you look around at the world today, I think we're there. People are going about their business, many without a thought to the return of the Lord.
Some prophesy scholars believe the return of Christ will coincide with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. This year, Rosh Hashanah is Sept. 9. That's this Thursday, by the way.
Knowing this, and in light of world events, we would all be wise to examine our lives to make sure we are ready and watching for Jesus' return. No one will want to be left here after He comes to gather His followers.
Whether His return is today, next week or next year, Jesus IS coming. Will you be ready? It's not too late to turn to God, but time is running out. Heaven is a real place, and it's going to be wonderful. Don't miss it. Make sure you're ready!
I've always been one who tries to live life to the full, as it says in John 10:10. Sure, life has its share of trials and hardships, but I love life. I want to experience all I can while I'm here. But this is nothing compared to what awaits us on the other side.
As things in the world grow darker and darker, I can't help but think that we must be getting so close to the return of Jesus and the rapture of the saints.
I don't know a lot about biblical prophesy. But I know that the rapture is the next great event on God's calendar. Nothing has to happen before the rapture takes place. The Bible says "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the return of the Lord." If you look around at the world today, I think we're there. People are going about their business, many without a thought to the return of the Lord.
Some prophesy scholars believe the return of Christ will coincide with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. This year, Rosh Hashanah is Sept. 9. That's this Thursday, by the way.
Knowing this, and in light of world events, we would all be wise to examine our lives to make sure we are ready and watching for Jesus' return. No one will want to be left here after He comes to gather His followers.
Whether His return is today, next week or next year, Jesus IS coming. Will you be ready? It's not too late to turn to God, but time is running out. Heaven is a real place, and it's going to be wonderful. Don't miss it. Make sure you're ready!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Call Me Crazy
How can someone so smart be so dumb? In his new book, prominent physicist Stephen Hawking says modern physics leaves no role for God in the creation of the universe. He attributes the creation of the world to "randomness."
Hawking wrote, "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing."
So this whole universe just came out of nothing? How ridiculous is that! I have never understood how anyone could believe in the "big bang" theory or in evolution. It just doesn't make sense.
Think about it. Think about how complex the universe is, with all the stars and planets. There's no way that could "just happen." When I see a spectacular sunrise or sunset, I have no doubt that there's a Creator. When I see a rainbow, I know there is a God. When I think about the complexity of the human body, I'm amazed at how wonderfully God made us.
I feel sorry for people like Hawking. They just don't get it. But one day, they will meet the Creator.
Thankfully, Hawking's new book, "The Grand Design," is already being debunked by Christian groups. Evangelist Ray Comfort, who wrote "You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, but You Can't Make Him Think," said, "it is embarrassingly unscientific to speak of anything creating itself from nothing."
Comfort put it best when he wrote, "Common sense says that if something possessed the ability to create itself from nothing, then that something wasn't nothing, it was something -- a very intelligent creative power of some sort."
If atheists just had a little common sense, they would see how crazy their ridiculous theories are. Instead, they call Christians crazy for believing in God. Well, call me crazy, then. I know there is a God, and He is the Creator of all!
Hawking wrote, "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing."
So this whole universe just came out of nothing? How ridiculous is that! I have never understood how anyone could believe in the "big bang" theory or in evolution. It just doesn't make sense.
Think about it. Think about how complex the universe is, with all the stars and planets. There's no way that could "just happen." When I see a spectacular sunrise or sunset, I have no doubt that there's a Creator. When I see a rainbow, I know there is a God. When I think about the complexity of the human body, I'm amazed at how wonderfully God made us.
I feel sorry for people like Hawking. They just don't get it. But one day, they will meet the Creator.
Thankfully, Hawking's new book, "The Grand Design," is already being debunked by Christian groups. Evangelist Ray Comfort, who wrote "You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, but You Can't Make Him Think," said, "it is embarrassingly unscientific to speak of anything creating itself from nothing."
Comfort put it best when he wrote, "Common sense says that if something possessed the ability to create itself from nothing, then that something wasn't nothing, it was something -- a very intelligent creative power of some sort."
If atheists just had a little common sense, they would see how crazy their ridiculous theories are. Instead, they call Christians crazy for believing in God. Well, call me crazy, then. I know there is a God, and He is the Creator of all!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Seasons of Life
Ahhh. September. It's the start of one of my favorite times of the year. Fall will be here soon, bringing cooler weather and the changing colors on the trees.
After a long, hot summer, I always look forward to fall. I love the crisp air in the mornings. It's already starting to get cooler. Lately, I have been getting up a little earlier and taking a ride around the apartment complex on my scooter. It's really been refreshing. It's a time when I can think and pray before I get my day started.
When fall arrives, it seems like time speeds up. Soon, the holidays are upon us, and before you know it, it's the end of another year. You look back and wonder where the year went.
Life is like that, too. We get so busy living our lives that we forget to stop and enjoy life. If we're not careful, life will pass us by and we'll come to the end of this life and wonder where all the time went.
Like the distinct seasons of the year, we all go through different seasons of life. God gives us an allotted time on Earth. Some have a little more time, some a little less. It's our job to make the most of every season of our lives.
We shouldn't let the little things and the cares of the world distract us. Life is too short. Forget about those little things. In the end, they will all burn up. We were put here for a purpose: To serve the Lord and to point others to Christ.
Since I stopped working last year, I've had more time to concentrate on the things that really matter. I want my life to make a difference. I know God has a purpose for me in this season of my life. So soon this life can be over and I will be faced with the question: Did I make the most of my time and fulfill my purpose here on Earth?
When I get to heaven, I want to hear the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant." How about you?
After a long, hot summer, I always look forward to fall. I love the crisp air in the mornings. It's already starting to get cooler. Lately, I have been getting up a little earlier and taking a ride around the apartment complex on my scooter. It's really been refreshing. It's a time when I can think and pray before I get my day started.
When fall arrives, it seems like time speeds up. Soon, the holidays are upon us, and before you know it, it's the end of another year. You look back and wonder where the year went.
Life is like that, too. We get so busy living our lives that we forget to stop and enjoy life. If we're not careful, life will pass us by and we'll come to the end of this life and wonder where all the time went.
Like the distinct seasons of the year, we all go through different seasons of life. God gives us an allotted time on Earth. Some have a little more time, some a little less. It's our job to make the most of every season of our lives.
We shouldn't let the little things and the cares of the world distract us. Life is too short. Forget about those little things. In the end, they will all burn up. We were put here for a purpose: To serve the Lord and to point others to Christ.
Since I stopped working last year, I've had more time to concentrate on the things that really matter. I want my life to make a difference. I know God has a purpose for me in this season of my life. So soon this life can be over and I will be faced with the question: Did I make the most of my time and fulfill my purpose here on Earth?
When I get to heaven, I want to hear the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant." How about you?
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