Miraculous Signs

"...we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:1a,2)

Miraculous signs. Some people get'em, some don't. Nicodemus here tells Jesus that he knows he is from God by the miraculous signs he performs. I don't think it's clear exactly who the, "we" is in the actual quote. Some say it refers generically to the Pharisees of the ruling council, as if somehow they all knew that Jesus was from God. I don't think so, because the Pharisees obviously knew he raised Lazarus from the dead, acknowledged it as a miraculous sign, yet rather than acknowledge that Jesus was from God, wanted to kill him for it. (John 11: 38ff)

There are ministries, television or otherwise, who bill themselves as, "signs and wonders" ministries, often using the term, "...with signs and wonders following," as if a sign or a wonder would force or cause someone to believe. Frankly, and forgive me if I am out of line, but I often find this kind of claim rather pretentious, possibly having more to do with the ego of the leaders than anything else. Mind you, Jesus did perform many miraculous signs, but I think they were rather an affirmation for those who did believe than mere tricks by which to convince people to believe. Many people saw them and still did not believe. There are veils over some eyes that even the most miraculous sign cannot penetrate.

Having said all that, I do believe that many of us can look back and see miracles surrounding our own coming to faith. We may be able to see certain signs or events that God used, meant only for us, to draw us to Him. The greatest miracle, of course, is that God wass able to take a dead heart, a heart of stone, and give us a living one, one of flesh. But I know in my own case, that God used certain signs, events and circumstances that would be meaningful only to me, and that others might dismiss as mere happenstance.

Let me tell you of another case. I heard the testimony, years ago now, of a woman who had not been walking with the Lord. I don't remember many of the details of her life. It would make a wonderful story if she had been involved with a life of drugs, or prostitution, or biker gangs, or something else equally dramatic, but I don't think she was. But whatever the case, this woman told me that she came to the point where she intended to take her own life. She was in her car, driving along a highway when, at rock bottom, she pulled into a service station. She asked for the key to the washroom and went in. She did not intend to come out. It was there she was going to end everything. I don't remember whether she was going to take pills, or slash her wrists, or something else, but while she was there, looking at her miserable self in the mirror, she glanced down and saw that there were some gospel tracts on the back of the toilet. She sat down and began to read them. And there, in a dingy service station washroom, she surrendered her life to Christ. She had entered that room alive and intended to come out dead. Instead, she entered dead and came out alive.

Now, she was and is convinced that the appearance of those tracts was a miracle, and frankly, I am not one to dispute it. The skeptic might brush it off as a mere coincidence; anyone could have put them there. But in any case, someone felt called to leave some tracts in the washroom of some anonymous service station, on some anonymous highway, in the hope, no doubt, that someone might read them. And even if it was by a human hand, God led them to do that. And someone else just happened to choose that same washroom as the place to end it all. Little might that anonymous evangelist have known that they would save a life, and begin a new one.

And neither one will ever know who the other was... until they meet in glory. And what a meeting that will be!

Take Care

Islamophobia? No... Islamophilia!

Have I just coined a new word?

I find it fascinating how many people of a liberal slant are afraid to entertain any criticism of the Islamic faith. Case in point is the latest mass shooting at the Fort Hood army base in the US. Liberals are tripping all over themselves to avoid any connection between the shootings and the alleged shooters Muslim faith. From Dr Phil on CNN to the liberal panelists on the Michael Coren Show, they have, practically without exception, refused to admit that the alleged shooter's faith had anything to do with his actions, even though, as he unloaded his weapons into an unsuspecting crowd of people, he shouted, "Allah achbah," and, as has come to light, frequented radical Islamic websites and defented the actions of suicide bombers.

I came across an interesting analysis of a related phenomenon, that is, the tendency of these same liberals to raise past Christian wrongs when attempting to answer for current wrongs of other religions, particularly Islam.

Often, when I am criticizing crimes inspired by Islamic extremism, I am interrupted by the remark that Christianity was once culpable of similar abuses. That Christianity may have been intolerant in the past, however, does not make criticisms of Islam’s present-day intolerance any less valid. Also, Islamic intolerance is an immediate danger, whereas Christian intolerance is generally a historical phenomenon and no longer a threat to civilization. And Christendom’s crimes were recorded by Christians themselves—a stark contrast to our politically correct climate, in which many, especially Muslims, are reluctant to criticize Islam.

Read it all here...

Take Care

Is It This Bad Here Yet?

Massachusetts man fired from corporation over Christian belief in traditional marriage

A female manager from another store was in the store and began talking to Peter about her upcoming marriage. When Peter asked “where is he taking you for the honeymoon,” she corrected him and said she was not getting married to "he" but to another woman.

Peter did not immediately react, but when the manager sensed Peter’s discomfort with the subject of same-sex “marriage”, the woman apparently continued bringing it up to Peter throughout the day, reiterating that she was getting married to another woman. Finally, after the fourth or fifth time she brought it up, Peter remarked that his Christian beliefs did not accept same-sex marriage. At that point the woman became very angry and bluntly told Peter that he needed to “get over it” and said that she would be immediately contacting the Human Resources department.

A few hours later Peter was notified by a Human Resources representative that he was suspended from work without pay, effective immediately. Two days later, on August 12, after some further interaction with the Human Resources department, he was formally notified that he was terminated from the company. (emphasis mine, JK)

This,if this report is accurate, appears to me to be a clear case of entrapment. It was the female who was the aggressor. The, "harassment" seems to have come directly from her. It was she who kept bringing up the subject. Then, when the man responded, merely by expressing his opinion, she immediately went into, "litigation" mode.

I always thought that Canada was more liberal in these matters than the US, but this case gives me pause. Would this happen here?

Our society has bent over so far backwards not to offend the homosexual community it is in danger of falling over. But the juggernaut of various sexual selfishness movements must run its course, and all who disagree are in danger of being run over or ploughed under. The homosexual community has largely succeeded in convincing the rest of society that disapproval or disagreement is unacceptable. We are on the verge, I believe, of seeing the same happening for polygamy or (or polyamory, as the euphamism will probably be), and I can guarantee that another push for sympathy and acceptance will be pedophilia, under the softer sounding banner, "inter-generational love," or some other less offensive term. Look, in future years, for an increasing call for the abolition of age-of-consent laws. We're not there yet, but my very real fear is that it will come.

And my fear is that, short of a miraculous pendalum swing, that continuing in these directions might easily, eventually, result in the collapse of our Western society as we know it. If the empire is to fall, so to speak, this is what will help that fall along greatly.

Take Care

Fun With English

A site I just discovered, Fake AP Stylebook purports to be a guide to proper writing for writers and journalists. Some of the tips, I must admit, are in questionable taste, some make no sense at all, but some had me laughing out loud. Here are a few examples.

A 'queue' is a short line of people or other objects. A 'queueueueueue' is a longer line.

In a byline, "With additional reporting by" can be shortened to "Big Ups To."

"Redneck" is considered a derogatory term but you know what? Who cares about those stupid rednecks.

When covering a flood always include a photo of a dog stranded on a roof. Throw your own dog up there if needed

United States of America - Named for its original Norse discoverer, Erik Unitedstatesofamerica

For unnamed sources, agree on an attribution that gives the reader an idea of who it is. Ex.: "rhymes with President Bobama" (As far as my favourites, this was a close second, JK)

Do not use "Whoomp! There it is!" unless it actually is there.

The term for word misuses such as "irregardless" and "supposably" is "uncorrect."

The plural of July is "Steves." I know that doesn't make sense, but that's our crazy English language for you.

To describe more than one octopus, use sixteentopus, twentyfourtopus, thirtytwotopus, and so on.

“Buggy jockey" is an insulting term to the Amish and should only be used in the online edition. (My favourite - you have to think about it, JK)

It is poor newsroom etiquette to throw yourself out of the window to prove that your co-worker is Superman.

When embedded in a military unit, give precise locations so worried mothers at home know their children are safe.

(In the spelling of “Hallowe’en”) The apostrophe is correct, as the word is a contraction of "Halloweddiedeezen".

You may use "ghost whisperer" in a generic sense, but if referring to the CBS TV character, use her name: Cleavage McGee.

We are uncertain about the plural of 'apocalypse' ourselves, but we bet it would be cool to watch.

This is true. Correct spellings are: Sanford & Son, Five & Dime, ham s&wich, &y Gibb, ampers&, etc.

Questions regarding the spelling out of acronyms should be addressed to the GCCAAPT.

Take Care
h/t to Midwest Conservative Journal

Lotteries in the Temple Courts

In our Sunday morning adult class this morning, we studied Jesus' clearing of temple as recorded in John chapter 2

This episode can be seen on many levels, but one new one (new to me, anyway) came to my mind as we studied and shared.

The story revolves around the fact that, among other commercial endeavors, sacrifices for the Passover were being sold in the temple courts. Jesus drove them out with the cry, "How dare you turn my Father's house into a market."

Then I read This Blog on the Anglican Essentials blog, concerning the Anglican diocese of Niagara's need for $750,000.00 to cover, "...all those costs incurred, in part, when the four parishes left the Anglican church for the Network." These costs involve, "lost revenue" and legal expenses for lawsuits that, of course, should never have been instituted.

"Lost revenue..." Revenue... Just like the merchants in the temple courts needed (or coveted) revenue.

When the Passover was instituted, Exodus chapter 12 we see that if a family was too small for a whole lamb for themselves, one was to be shared. It occurred to me that there shouldn't have been any selling or purchasing of sacrifices at all in the temple courts. There should have been no need for selling or purchasing because there should have been sharing, according to the LORD's own command. Somewhere along the line, a sense of community, and caring for those in that community who needed help, was lost.

The point was also raised, this morning, that, in connection with all the Jewish feasts, the people were always to bring their, "firstfruits" to present to the LORD.

He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me.Deut 26:9-10

The LORD has also brought us to this place, the place of salvation through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. How can we also not offer Him our firstfruits. A community of true Christians, born-again believers, should be at the very least a tithing community.

And a church of tithers should never need to do fundraising for its own support. There should not be a need for bake sales, or garage sales, or lotteries, or any other kind of selling in the temple courts, simply to keep the organization afloat. Our community should be one of sharing with those among us who are in need, and one who brings our firstfruits to the LORD in grateful thanks for what He has done.

Take Care

Addressing the 'Environmental Nincompoops'

Lord Christopher Monckton on the Michael Coren Show
Addressing the current 'global warming/sky is falling' hysteria.
Watch it all -- it's refreshing.

Take Care

Next Gretzky?

I remember years ago, when I lived in Southern Ontario, hearing about this precocious young 12-year-old hockey player in Brantford named Wayne Gretzky. Take a look at this video and imagine where this 9-year-old might be in ten years. He's playing with 12-year-olds now.

From Yahoo Sports
Take Care