What I find interesting today is what I read here, Hurricane Katrina: The Prophetic Significance by Dr. David R. Reagan. Then, when you read about Hurricane Katrina Scams and Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force homepage you begin to wonder if Dr. Reagan's web page is not a sign of worse judgements to come to our country. When the likes of Enron, WorldCom, and Tyco CEO greed. It states in the Bible that we, both believers and unbelievers are:
"not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding" (2 Corinthians 10:12) because doing so will lead us away from God and His Purpose.
When will people listen? When will people quit seeking something that has no value in and of itself? I guess I have to kick off the dust from my shoes and move on to those that might listen elsewhere.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Our Founding Fathers viewpoints of our country
Here are some quotes from some of our country's founding fathers as we near our Nation's Independence Day on July 4th:
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed…" -The Declaration of Independence
"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power." -Alexander Hamilton
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." -John Adams
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." -John Jay, First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
"Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention...The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other." -Alexis de Tocqueville, French Historian
"The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government." -Noah Webster
"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever." -Thomas Jefferson
"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." -George Washington
"The Almighty God has blessed our land in many ways. He has given our people stout hearts and strong arms with which to strike mighty blows for freedom and truth. He has given to our country a faith which has become the hope of all peoples in an anguished world." -Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The right to freedom being the gift of the Almighty...The rights of the colonists as Christians...may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institution of The Great Law Giver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament." -Samuel Adams
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and, with the help of God, I will do!" -Everett Hale, Chaplain of the United States Senate
"Almighty God...I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated to thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me. Give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and for ever for His sake, who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." -From the Prayer Journal of George Washington
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." -William Penn
Question is: do these comments ever make it into our schools textbooks?
"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed…" -The Declaration of Independence
"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power." -Alexander Hamilton
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." -John Adams
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." -John Jay, First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
"Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention...The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other." -Alexis de Tocqueville, French Historian
"The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and his apostles, which enjoins humility, piety and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government." -Noah Webster
"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever." -Thomas Jefferson
"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." -George Washington
"The Almighty God has blessed our land in many ways. He has given our people stout hearts and strong arms with which to strike mighty blows for freedom and truth. He has given to our country a faith which has become the hope of all peoples in an anguished world." -Franklin D. Roosevelt
"The right to freedom being the gift of the Almighty...The rights of the colonists as Christians...may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institution of The Great Law Giver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament." -Samuel Adams
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do and, with the help of God, I will do!" -Everett Hale, Chaplain of the United States Senate
"Almighty God...I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated to thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me. Give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and for ever for His sake, who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." -From the Prayer Journal of George Washington
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." -William Penn
Question is: do these comments ever make it into our schools textbooks?
Is the rise of Extremist Islam the same as the Old Communism?
After reading this web article Somali Islamists seize checkpoints, demand sharia it seems that there is little difference between Islam's Sharia and Communism's approach to its people: extreme limitation to people's freedoms.
However, when you look at the other exteme of not giving citizens the right to protect themselves as it shows in Belgium in this aritcle “Youths” Kick Man to Death on Crowded Antwerp Bus it shows that governments that don't have the means to which to protect its citizens cause fear. But notice what the paper stated "Three Moroccans, two of whom are minors, were arrested today." While most Moroccans are muslims, these may not be following Islam or follow an extemist viewpoint.
What are the answers?
However, when you look at the other exteme of not giving citizens the right to protect themselves as it shows in Belgium in this aritcle “Youths” Kick Man to Death on Crowded Antwerp Bus it shows that governments that don't have the means to which to protect its citizens cause fear. But notice what the paper stated "Three Moroccans, two of whom are minors, were arrested today." While most Moroccans are muslims, these may not be following Islam or follow an extemist viewpoint.
What are the answers?
Friday, June 23, 2006
Call to cancel AOL Account
OK, you've got Vincent Ferrari recording his Customer Service call and trying to cancel his account and according to an AOL spokesperson, the person was fired. Typical corporate baloney. Regardless of the company most larger companies have measurements of how well things are going and those metrics are to help the company, not help the customers. While it may show up in the bottom line in the short term positively, it goes to show in the long term how bad this type of measurement and metrics can hurt a firm, not help it.
Another interesting thing is that there are laws that are on the books that allow for Vincent to record these calls without the other party's consent. According to this web site Can We Tape? it states that journalists can record anything without anything being wrong. This site states:
"Federal law allows recording of phone calls and other electronic communications with the consent of at least one party to the call. A majority of the states and territories have adopted wiretapping statutes based on the federal law, although most also have extended the law to cover in-person conversations. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia permit individuals to record conversations to which they are a party without informing the other parties that they are doing so. These laws are referred to as "one-party consent" statutes, and as long as you are a party to the conversation, it is legal for you to record it."
OK, so while most customers are not going to make a phone call and try and snag you into saying something which is bad for you and your company, what this implies is that anyone can call anyone and record their phone call and put it on YouTube or their web site for the whole world to know. So if you work for any company, remember that anyone can record your conversaion without your knowledge and based on the above incident, you could be fired for following "company policy" of "zero tolerance" of something or what not.
Maybe that's why phone calls waiting times get longer and longer? Or just maybe it gets tiring of hearing "I Win, You Lose" attitude from companies.
Oh, and by the way, the reverse is also true. How many customers lie to get out of paying something to a company?
It works both ways!!!!
Another interesting thing is that there are laws that are on the books that allow for Vincent to record these calls without the other party's consent. According to this web site Can We Tape? it states that journalists can record anything without anything being wrong. This site states:
"Federal law allows recording of phone calls and other electronic communications with the consent of at least one party to the call. A majority of the states and territories have adopted wiretapping statutes based on the federal law, although most also have extended the law to cover in-person conversations. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia permit individuals to record conversations to which they are a party without informing the other parties that they are doing so. These laws are referred to as "one-party consent" statutes, and as long as you are a party to the conversation, it is legal for you to record it."
OK, so while most customers are not going to make a phone call and try and snag you into saying something which is bad for you and your company, what this implies is that anyone can call anyone and record their phone call and put it on YouTube or their web site for the whole world to know. So if you work for any company, remember that anyone can record your conversaion without your knowledge and based on the above incident, you could be fired for following "company policy" of "zero tolerance" of something or what not.
Maybe that's why phone calls waiting times get longer and longer? Or just maybe it gets tiring of hearing "I Win, You Lose" attitude from companies.
Oh, and by the way, the reverse is also true. How many customers lie to get out of paying something to a company?
It works both ways!!!!
Friday, June 16, 2006
Al Aqsa official: Jewish temples existed
In what is astounding is that the article Al Aqsa official: Jewish temples existed it states
"Contradicting most of his colleagues, a former senior leader of the Waqf, the Islamic custodians of the Temple Mount, told WorldNetDaily in an exclusive interview he has come to believe the first and second Jewish Temples existed and stood at the current location of the Al Aqsa Mosque.
The leader, who was dismissed from his Waqf position after he quietly made his beliefs known, said Al Aqsa custodians passed down stories for centuries from generation to generation indicating the mosque was built at the site of the former Jewish temples.
He said the Muslim world's widespread denial of the existence of the Jewish temples is political in nature and is not rooted in facts.
The former leader, who is well known to Al Aqsa scholars and Waqf officials, spoke on condition his name be withheld, claiming an on-the-record interview would endanger his life.
There you have it folks, the Islamic religion and culture denies anything or very little about Jewish history. Blame the clerics and extremists for "dumbing down" the Arab people. No different than Galelio being suppressed by the Christian clergy in years gone past.
Statements of facts are one thing, statements of beliefs are another. it is when statements of beliefs are NOT based on facts or half truths that problems arise.
"Contradicting most of his colleagues, a former senior leader of the Waqf, the Islamic custodians of the Temple Mount, told WorldNetDaily in an exclusive interview he has come to believe the first and second Jewish Temples existed and stood at the current location of the Al Aqsa Mosque.
The leader, who was dismissed from his Waqf position after he quietly made his beliefs known, said Al Aqsa custodians passed down stories for centuries from generation to generation indicating the mosque was built at the site of the former Jewish temples.
He said the Muslim world's widespread denial of the existence of the Jewish temples is political in nature and is not rooted in facts.
The former leader, who is well known to Al Aqsa scholars and Waqf officials, spoke on condition his name be withheld, claiming an on-the-record interview would endanger his life.
There you have it folks, the Islamic religion and culture denies anything or very little about Jewish history. Blame the clerics and extremists for "dumbing down" the Arab people. No different than Galelio being suppressed by the Christian clergy in years gone past.
Statements of facts are one thing, statements of beliefs are another. it is when statements of beliefs are NOT based on facts or half truths that problems arise.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Is the info on the web site "God Hates Fags" really true?
After taking a look at the God Hates Fags web site you begin to wonder: Is what they say 100% true?
Well, as a matter of fact, no. But then again, there are very few people in the world both in the past and into the future that are or will be 100% correct, not even me, because we're all fallible. But, from this perspective there are some that are more accurate and correct than others.
Their web site is more accurate than most in describing God's judgements, but where they fail is in HOW they tell about God's judgement and pervert God's love for each individual. Telling a person that they are destined for Hell is correct in expressing God's judgement, but if you don't talk even more about God's LOVE of the person in order NOT for that person to end up in Hell which is provided by God's Son Jesus Christ then you are failing to preach the gospel according to Jesus Christ.
In their FAQ: Doesn't the Bible say that God loves everyone? they state "No. You are probably thinking of John 3:16, which says no such thing. The word translated "world" in that verse (kosmos) NEVER means every individual of mankind who has ever lived (see, e.g., John 17:9)." While they are very accurate, they miss HOW God loves the World. In John 3:16 "God so LOVED the World" means that God judgement was looking to condemn every individual in the world because of the inherant Sin that is in each of us, but that God's LOVE for each of us He was looking NOT to condemned us by His Judgement but it caused Him to offer HIs Son as a sacrifice for each of our sins. Once Jesus Christ satisfied this Judgement, God is able to OFFER salvation to each of us. But, it is up to each of us to RESPOND this this LOVE and accept His Son's Salvation.
But where they really err really bad is when they discuss the Unforgiveable Sin. In their FAQ Aren't all sins equal in God's eyes? they incorrectly state "What is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? It is attributing the work of God to Beelzebub." This is 100% false!! In the Bible and God's eyes this is works related, not Grace related. This is a SALVATION passage and it's in regard to the Holy Spirit convicting the person of their need for a Savior in Jesus Christ, both with Judgement in that they are a sinner, but also with LOVE in that He has provided a way for them to be accepted into His family by their belief in what Jesus Christ has done for them. We are to SHARE the gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to CONVICT the person. But understand, God expresses Himself regarding salvation depending on where the individual is coming from. In the story in Luke 17:36-50 Jesus states that the one who is forgiven more will love the forgiver more. The prostitute that feels unloved by God will get much more love from Him than condemnation, however, the arrogant will get more judgement than love to show them that their self-righteousness is never acceptable in His eyes.
Where Churches and Christians go wrong is when the church or Christian through their OWN works (see 1 Cor 3:11-15 under "wood, hay, straw" convicts the person that they need Jesus Christ and not allowing the Holy Spirit to convict them. This results in a false salvation and if the person "leaves the faith" then the Christians or church state "they were not really saved then" which causes irreparable harm with the inaccuracy of their knowledge of the Bible and God.
When they state in their FAQ When it says in the Bible that God is not willing that any should perish, doesn't that mean God wants everyone to be saved? that "It is clear by any plain reading of this verse that the "not willing that any should perish" language is directed at and applies to only a specific group of people, here called the 'us-ward.' " Now the NASB version of the Bible is more accurate by stating "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." Yes, God does want everyone to be saved, but not everyone HAS BEEN or WILL BE saved. This reference is not for a select group of people other than the whole world, including the scoffers, and it is intended to show that if they don't come to the conclusion about God's judgement about their own life and sinfulness they WILL perish if they don't make a salvation decision!
Read John 3:16-18 and you'll see that each person is condemned already, but God has provided an answer to your situation. Once you are saved you CANNOT lose your salvation and place in heaven as per 1 Cor 3:11-15 under "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved". You may lose your rewards that have glorified God, but you will still end up in heaven no matter what you do here on earth.
Does that mean i hate homosexuals? No!! For instance, I don't hate alcoholics, I hate what alcohol does to the person. I don't hate arrogant CEOs, I hate what unbridled power does to a person. I don't hate drug addicts, I hate what drugs does to a person. Judgement is about figuring out right and wrong regarding what a person is doing, love is about how to correct in a way that is meaningful to the person to let go of the addictions they have.
You can also see on YouTube WBC on Fox News 061006 on YouTube describing an encounter with a member of their church.
Well, as a matter of fact, no. But then again, there are very few people in the world both in the past and into the future that are or will be 100% correct, not even me, because we're all fallible. But, from this perspective there are some that are more accurate and correct than others.
Their web site is more accurate than most in describing God's judgements, but where they fail is in HOW they tell about God's judgement and pervert God's love for each individual. Telling a person that they are destined for Hell is correct in expressing God's judgement, but if you don't talk even more about God's LOVE of the person in order NOT for that person to end up in Hell which is provided by God's Son Jesus Christ then you are failing to preach the gospel according to Jesus Christ.
In their FAQ: Doesn't the Bible say that God loves everyone? they state "No. You are probably thinking of John 3:16, which says no such thing. The word translated "world" in that verse (kosmos) NEVER means every individual of mankind who has ever lived (see, e.g., John 17:9)." While they are very accurate, they miss HOW God loves the World. In John 3:16 "God so LOVED the World" means that God judgement was looking to condemn every individual in the world because of the inherant Sin that is in each of us, but that God's LOVE for each of us He was looking NOT to condemned us by His Judgement but it caused Him to offer HIs Son as a sacrifice for each of our sins. Once Jesus Christ satisfied this Judgement, God is able to OFFER salvation to each of us. But, it is up to each of us to RESPOND this this LOVE and accept His Son's Salvation.
But where they really err really bad is when they discuss the Unforgiveable Sin. In their FAQ Aren't all sins equal in God's eyes? they incorrectly state "What is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? It is attributing the work of God to Beelzebub." This is 100% false!! In the Bible and God's eyes this is works related, not Grace related. This is a SALVATION passage and it's in regard to the Holy Spirit convicting the person of their need for a Savior in Jesus Christ, both with Judgement in that they are a sinner, but also with LOVE in that He has provided a way for them to be accepted into His family by their belief in what Jesus Christ has done for them. We are to SHARE the gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to CONVICT the person. But understand, God expresses Himself regarding salvation depending on where the individual is coming from. In the story in Luke 17:36-50 Jesus states that the one who is forgiven more will love the forgiver more. The prostitute that feels unloved by God will get much more love from Him than condemnation, however, the arrogant will get more judgement than love to show them that their self-righteousness is never acceptable in His eyes.
Where Churches and Christians go wrong is when the church or Christian through their OWN works (see 1 Cor 3:11-15 under "wood, hay, straw" convicts the person that they need Jesus Christ and not allowing the Holy Spirit to convict them. This results in a false salvation and if the person "leaves the faith" then the Christians or church state "they were not really saved then" which causes irreparable harm with the inaccuracy of their knowledge of the Bible and God.
When they state in their FAQ When it says in the Bible that God is not willing that any should perish, doesn't that mean God wants everyone to be saved? that "It is clear by any plain reading of this verse that the "not willing that any should perish" language is directed at and applies to only a specific group of people, here called the 'us-ward.' " Now the NASB version of the Bible is more accurate by stating "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." Yes, God does want everyone to be saved, but not everyone HAS BEEN or WILL BE saved. This reference is not for a select group of people other than the whole world, including the scoffers, and it is intended to show that if they don't come to the conclusion about God's judgement about their own life and sinfulness they WILL perish if they don't make a salvation decision!
Read John 3:16-18 and you'll see that each person is condemned already, but God has provided an answer to your situation. Once you are saved you CANNOT lose your salvation and place in heaven as per 1 Cor 3:11-15 under "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved". You may lose your rewards that have glorified God, but you will still end up in heaven no matter what you do here on earth.
Does that mean i hate homosexuals? No!! For instance, I don't hate alcoholics, I hate what alcohol does to the person. I don't hate arrogant CEOs, I hate what unbridled power does to a person. I don't hate drug addicts, I hate what drugs does to a person. Judgement is about figuring out right and wrong regarding what a person is doing, love is about how to correct in a way that is meaningful to the person to let go of the addictions they have.
You can also see on YouTube WBC on Fox News 061006 on YouTube describing an encounter with a member of their church.
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