Lately I've been writing some pretty heavy stuff. Once again, Ron is downstairs and I'm sitting in my lonely office trying to be logical about another heavy subject. I clicked on an e-mail from a friend, Jerry Parker. I laughed and laughed. Maybe it's because I'm recovering from surgery. Maybe it's because I know I have another surgery soon. Maybe it's because "Breaking up is hard to do" was one of my favorite songs. Or maybe just maybe I'm ready for a little silliness. Hope you enjoy!
5 Minnesota nurse-anesthetists who can really sing!
Singing Anesthetists
God loves you, and yes....he loves to laugh too!
Debbie
Sunday, October 24, 2010
President William Howard Taft
Brought to you by American Minute
The only U.S. President to also serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he had previously been appointed by President McKinley to be the first governor of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War and was later appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Secretary of War.
The largest President, weighing over 300 lbs, a bathtub was installed for him in the White House big enough to hold four men.
His name was William Howard Taft, and he was born SEPTEMBER 15, 1857.
On Thanksgiving, November 7, 1912, President Taft proclaimed:
"A God-fearing nation, like ours, owes it to its inborn and sincere sense of moral duty to testify its devout gratitude to the All-Giver for the countless benefits it has enjoyed."
At a missionary conference, 1908, William Howard Taft stated:
"No man can study the movement of modern civilization from an impartial standpoint and not realize that Christianity, and the spread of Christianity, are the basis of hope of modern civilization in the growth of popular self government."
William Howard Taft ended:
"The spirit of Christianity is pure democracy.
It is equality of man before God - the equality of man before the law, which is the most God-like manifestation that man has been able to make."
I'm glad to know a president made the point that Christianity is democracy. I personally don't believe we will ever find the best in a democracy without Christianity. It's the compassion coupled with responsibility and sacrifice that brings out the best in man. Unfortunately - or fortunately that coupling can't be accomplished without the help of Almighty God.
God loves you,
Debbie
The largest President, weighing over 300 lbs, a bathtub was installed for him in the White House big enough to hold four men.
His name was William Howard Taft, and he was born SEPTEMBER 15, 1857.
On Thanksgiving, November 7, 1912, President Taft proclaimed:
"A God-fearing nation, like ours, owes it to its inborn and sincere sense of moral duty to testify its devout gratitude to the All-Giver for the countless benefits it has enjoyed."
At a missionary conference, 1908, William Howard Taft stated:
"No man can study the movement of modern civilization from an impartial standpoint and not realize that Christianity, and the spread of Christianity, are the basis of hope of modern civilization in the growth of popular self government."
William Howard Taft ended:
"The spirit of Christianity is pure democracy.
It is equality of man before God - the equality of man before the law, which is the most God-like manifestation that man has been able to make."
I'm glad to know a president made the point that Christianity is democracy. I personally don't believe we will ever find the best in a democracy without Christianity. It's the compassion coupled with responsibility and sacrifice that brings out the best in man. Unfortunately - or fortunately that coupling can't be accomplished without the help of Almighty God.
God loves you,
Debbie
Darlene Daily
Thanks Darlene for finding these fun items!
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
Those who live with too much tension seldom live to enjoy a pension.
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
This one happened few years ago in Switzerland:
A man went to a photo shop, had pictures taken, and - while the photographer developed the pictures -
he took off with the cash register. Leaving behind, of course, the pictures of himself.
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
It is difficult to save money when your neighbors keep buying things you can't afford.
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
It had been snowing for hours when an announcement came over the intercom: "Will the students who are
parked on University Drive please move their cars so that we may begin plowing."
Twenty minutes later there was another announcement: "Will the twelve hundred students who went to move 26 cars please return to class!"
***********************************
Hospitality is making your guests feel at home,even if you wish they were.
':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':
Cherish yesterday. Dream tomorrow. Live today.
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':
We were thoroughly confused. While transcribing medical audiotapes, my co-worker came upon
the following garbled diagnosis: "This man has pholenfrometry."
Knowing nothing about that particular condition, she double-checked with the doctor. After listening
to the tape, he shook his head. "This man," he said, translating for her, "has fallen
from a tree."
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`
The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails.-- Author Unknown
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`
KID JOKES
Q. At what time of day was Adam created?
A. A little before Eve.
Q. Did Eve never have a date with Adam?
A. No, it was an apple.
Q. Where is the first math problem mentioned in the Bible?
A. When God told Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':
We are called to stand on the Promises, not to merely sit on the premises.
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`'
A blonde was visiting Washington, DC. This was her first time to the city, so she wanted to see the Capitol Building. Unfortunately, she couldn't find it, so she asked a police officer for directions.
"Excuse me, officer," the blonde said, "how do I get to the Capitol Building?"
The officer said, "Wait here at this bus stop for the number 54 bus. It'll take you right there."
The blonde thanked the officer and he drove off.
Three hours later the police officer came back to the same area, and sure enough, the blonde was still waiting at the same bus stop.
The officer got out of his car and said, "Excuse me, but to get to the Capitol Building, I said to wait here for the number 54 bus. That was three hours ago. Why are you still waiting?"
The blonde said, "Don't worry, officer, it won't be long now. The 45th bus just went by!"
Ha ha ha ha ha ......
It's a beautiful Sunday here. Let's go out and enjoy God's blessings!
**Little known fact....When we visited Washington last month Ron and I took a tour of the capital. Our tour guide informed us that there are 88,000 school children in the city limits of Washington, DC. There are also 85,000 lawyers within the city limits. A few years ago someone tried to get it on the ballot to have every school child adopt an attorney. It didn't pass. Hum...Go figure?
God loves you,
Debbie
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
Those who live with too much tension seldom live to enjoy a pension.
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
This one happened few years ago in Switzerland:
A man went to a photo shop, had pictures taken, and - while the photographer developed the pictures -
he took off with the cash register. Leaving behind, of course, the pictures of himself.
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
It is difficult to save money when your neighbors keep buying things you can't afford.
``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*``*:*
It had been snowing for hours when an announcement came over the intercom: "Will the students who are
parked on University Drive please move their cars so that we may begin plowing."
Twenty minutes later there was another announcement: "Will the twelve hundred students who went to move 26 cars please return to class!"
***********************************
Hospitality is making your guests feel at home,even if you wish they were.
':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':
Cherish yesterday. Dream tomorrow. Live today.
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':
We were thoroughly confused. While transcribing medical audiotapes, my co-worker came upon
the following garbled diagnosis: "This man has pholenfrometry."
Knowing nothing about that particular condition, she double-checked with the doctor. After listening
to the tape, he shook his head. "This man," he said, translating for her, "has fallen
from a tree."
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`
The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails.-- Author Unknown
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`
KID JOKES
Q. At what time of day was Adam created?
A. A little before Eve.
Q. Did Eve never have a date with Adam?
A. No, it was an apple.
Q. Where is the first math problem mentioned in the Bible?
A. When God told Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':
We are called to stand on the Promises, not to merely sit on the premises.
:*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`':*`'
A blonde was visiting Washington, DC. This was her first time to the city, so she wanted to see the Capitol Building. Unfortunately, she couldn't find it, so she asked a police officer for directions.
"Excuse me, officer," the blonde said, "how do I get to the Capitol Building?"
The officer said, "Wait here at this bus stop for the number 54 bus. It'll take you right there."
The blonde thanked the officer and he drove off.
Three hours later the police officer came back to the same area, and sure enough, the blonde was still waiting at the same bus stop.
The officer got out of his car and said, "Excuse me, but to get to the Capitol Building, I said to wait here for the number 54 bus. That was three hours ago. Why are you still waiting?"
The blonde said, "Don't worry, officer, it won't be long now. The 45th bus just went by!"
Ha ha ha ha ha ......
It's a beautiful Sunday here. Let's go out and enjoy God's blessings!
**Little known fact....When we visited Washington last month Ron and I took a tour of the capital. Our tour guide informed us that there are 88,000 school children in the city limits of Washington, DC. There are also 85,000 lawyers within the city limits. A few years ago someone tried to get it on the ballot to have every school child adopt an attorney. It didn't pass. Hum...Go figure?
God loves you,
Debbie
Friday, October 22, 2010
Does Faith Hide Marital Abuse?
I'll do several posts that deal with different areas of this subject....so stay tuned.
I've counseled with many abuse victims. Mental abuse, physical abuse, terroristic abuse, pastoral abuse, members abuse, parent to child abuse and child to parent abuse. You name it, I've probably heard about it. At one point I spent several days riding with a protective services agent. I saw a lot of child abuse. But...I wasn't prepared for "neighbor" abuse. The child we were investigating was fine. The neighbor was angry because the parents wouldn't share keys to the enclosed pool. Logical....they didn't want neighborhood children getting in there unsupervised so they refused to give keys to anyone - even the next door neighbor. The neighbor finally admitted she didn't think that was fair to any child so...abuse...call social services. Hum...
Most people can understand painful abuse issues that make the news. It's more difficult to define abuse that may be as damaging but can be explained with a flippant "ah...that's just family."
Let's start with the biggest problem for Christians that are being abused.....Does the Bible give a man or a woman the right to abuse their spouse?
Absolutely not! People who insist that you have to stay with an abusing spouse will quickly agree that the abuser shouldn't do that. But....they still insist the victim has to take it. Why do they believe that you have to stay in an abusive situation if they don't agree with the abuse?
This disturbing thought is most often based in the belief that God does not have compassion. Every desire and will of God is unmovable and therefore if you break even one commandment - God may forgive but his punishment will be severe. Since marriage is a big deal and is basically a covenant - contract - with God, if you break it - you will be punished.
One young lady that was being severely mentally abused was told by her father-in-law that if she dared to go against her husband in any way that God would never forgive her and that she would be in constant danger of Hell. What???
That type of thinking stabs at the very heart of God's love for us. While I believe that we "may" be required to suffer the consequences of our sin. I also believe that God will always forgive a truly repentant heart. People who think God doesn't have situational compassion should read Luke 7: 37-50. It's a beautiful story about a "sinful" woman who heard about Jesus. She came to the house where he was. "as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." Of course this made the Pharisees angry. "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."
Jesus used an example of two men being forgiven a debt. One owed a lot and the other owed very little. When asked, Simon agreed that the man with the large debt would have felt more gratitude. Then Jesus pointed out that the woman had not stopped anointing or kissing his feet while the owners of the house hadn't offered him anything to wash his feet with (Huge custom of respect). "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Why would he do that? If it's all about keeping the law, why would he forgive a woman who simply anointed his feet with her tears and some expensive perfume? Compassion. The Bible is filled with God's grace and compassion. We humans are constantly doing the wrong stuff. We run from God, we lash out in anger, we mess up our lives and yes....sometimes we marry the wrong people. But...God's forgiveness and love is always there.
We do need more sermons on making good on our commitments. We need to understand that when we make a covenant with God that we should do everything in our power to honor it. But honoring our commitments and covenants goes hand in hand with God's compassion. And without compassion none of us are safe.
This is where I think about Disney's Aladdin and the magic lamp. What??? If you've ever seen the movie, the genie is talking to Aladdin about what he can do. Sort of giving him the "contractual" agreement rundown. He stops and softly tells him that there are some things he can't do. He can't kill anyone, he can't bring anyone back from the dead and he can't make people fall in love.
While God has done the first two, God doesn't do the last one. God doesn't make us fall in love. That's something we do when we find a mate. God doesn't even make us fall in love with him....It's all about free will. God may put us in the same vicinity as another person, but the falling in love....that's our doing. There was even an instance where God brought a good wife to the door of a prophet...but the falling in love - that was for the two of them to do. Since we are the one doing the "falling in love" thing, it's inevitable that we are going to make mistakes.
Should we, must we, is it a commandment that we take the marriage covenant seriously?!? YES! Will there be consequences if we don't? YES! But is divorce or any other stupid thing we do - the unpardonable sin? NO! There's only one unpardonable sin and that's found in Mark 3:22-30 ( of course many people have the wrong interpretation of this scripture as well).
So, if Divorce or not doing everything your husband asks for.....if that isn't the unpardonable sin - what is it? Why are people so dogmatic about the fact that somehow it's more Godly for someone to be abused than it is for them to seek safety?
I personally think that it comes down to one subconscious thought. If abuse (especially mental abuse) were the grounds for divorce - every married person on the planet would have grounds for divorce. We are all sinners when it comes to that issue. We may not have thrown a punch or even a punch bowl at our loved one - but we have yelled some harsh hurtful words that we deeply regret. We may have watched our loved one carry the burden of those stinging remarks for months or maybe even years. We remember the tears and the sleepless nights. We know that we've all been jerks at one time or another. If we agree that mental abuse or a few bruises should not be tolerated and may be reasons for divorce....then maybe we too are in danger of losing our marriages. Maybe.....our spouse won't forgive us the next time we are jerks. It just feels safer to say no one can escape marriage. It feels like we are somehow being uncommitted if we agree that some situations are not healthy and that we have the right to leave.
For those of us that can easily receive and give forgiveness, we understand an occasional mistake. For those of us that have trouble with forgiveness, trouble giving it as well as accepting it - we don't want to open the floodgates and give our spouse or anyone else a get out of jail free card.
When you study the forgiving nature of God....Moses, David, all the disciples.....you begin to see that he truly loves his creations. His desire is for us to grow and to become all he created us to be. He loves us through all our bad decisions and helps us grow into mature Christian adults who have the potential to make better decisions. And yes....for many of us - we learn from our mistakes and we go on to have beautiful marriages that are all God created them to be.
Unfortunately, some abusers will never change. They will always hurt those closest to them and in those cases it is right for the victim to leave. God will not destroy them or us. God will not abandon the victim or them. As one of my dear friends said. "God loves us. He wants us to be our best. Besides...you can't atone for another person's sin. That's Jesus' job. And victims can't atone for their abusers sin."
She's exactly right. The emphasis should be on the abuser. The abuser has sinned. All too often in these discussions it seems more emphasis is placed on "loving" the sinner rather than the victim. I asked one lady to answer this question, "Why would God say that he loves your abuser more than he loves his own child? If you stay in a situation that might ultimately take your life that's exactly what you are saying." She couldn't answer me - neither could her parents. In a separate session the abuser pipped in..."Yeah, he does love me better." (Almost lost my cool over that one.)
I'm afraid too many spouses stay with the abuser and enable him to continue his sinful ways. Perhaps God's true will is for the victim to leave and cause the abuser to have to face his own sin. Leaving may actually help more than staying.
A dear friend of mine was abused for over 20 years. Most Saturday nights were filled with anger and physical abuse. Most Sunday mornings I watched her pray and ask for God's help. My Dad - her pastor - continued to tell her that alcoholics had to reach the bottom before they considered change. He continued to tell her that it was her decision but she might help him more if she left. Finally after 20 years of broken arms and a bruised body - she left him. Within two months he faced his problem, got help, courted her and won her back. She waited two years to marry him. In the meantime he went to church and became a devout member. After their marriage he was so respected that after 7 years of hard work he was asked to become a board member of the church. Now that's God's love in action. Can you imagine the thrill of this precious woman???
Every situation is unique. Everyone is different. I wouldn't dare tell you what to do in your situation. What I will tell you is that God hates abuse as much as he hates divorce. Be careful that you don't allow someone to hurt God's most prized possession - YOU!
God loves you,
Debbie
Thursday, October 21, 2010
New booklet - Scriptures Against Abuse - is done!
November is National Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Check out my newest article with Marriage Partnership. Does Faith Hide Marital Abuse?
I've just finished a new booklet called, "Scriptures Against Abuse". This is a very important booklet. Many Christians remain in abusive relationships thinking that suffering may help their spouse come to Christ. Pastors and church members often use the verse "God hates Divorce" to insist that abused victims remain in dangerous homes.
God does not require his children to suffer abuse! Does it happen....yes....but it is never his will for you to "willingly" remain in an abusive situation.
So....what scriptures support that? Is there theology that encourages a victim to seek escape?
Yes! Scriptures against Abuse gives scriptures and theological basics that will help you understand God's will for your life.
You can order this booklet on CD for $5.00. The accompanying workbook is in process and will be available by 10/25. You can pre-order the workbook for and extra $2.00 When you order the CD, you will be able to print up to 500 copies to use at church, in Sunday schools or in small groups.
Order your CD today. You can check out all our resources at The Store
God Loves You,
Debbie
Check out my newest article with Marriage Partnership. Does Faith Hide Marital Abuse?
I've just finished a new booklet called, "Scriptures Against Abuse". This is a very important booklet. Many Christians remain in abusive relationships thinking that suffering may help their spouse come to Christ. Pastors and church members often use the verse "God hates Divorce" to insist that abused victims remain in dangerous homes.
God does not require his children to suffer abuse! Does it happen....yes....but it is never his will for you to "willingly" remain in an abusive situation.
So....what scriptures support that? Is there theology that encourages a victim to seek escape?
Yes! Scriptures against Abuse gives scriptures and theological basics that will help you understand God's will for your life.
You can order this booklet on CD for $5.00. The accompanying workbook is in process and will be available by 10/25. You can pre-order the workbook for and extra $2.00 When you order the CD, you will be able to print up to 500 copies to use at church, in Sunday schools or in small groups.
Order your CD today. You can check out all our resources at The Store
God Loves You,
Debbie
Thursday, October 14, 2010
It's honorable to beat your wife????
I'm not a fan of Islam. I have deep questions about it and I'm still chewing on the fact of whether or not it's even classified as "faith". But...I've stayed away from discussing it a lot on this blog. I've provided a link in the sidebar where you can read problems with this so called faith and make up your own mind.
However, I read an article today on OneNewsNow.com. Dr. Michael Youssef was asking a question I've wondered about for years....."Where have all the feminists gone?"
He makes a great point. Here's his article
I remember back in the late '60s or early '70s, Germaine Greer and many of her feminist cohorts used to appear on Australian television and "pile on" Christianity as an oppressor of women.
Coming fresh out of the Middle East into the West and knowing how Christian women are lovingly treated in comparison to their Muslim counterparts, I wanted to scream at the television:
Do these people understand that Jesus is the only true liberator of women?
Have they ever read the Bible?
Do they really know what it means to truly oppress women?
Are they so clueless they don't understand that Western civilization came into being because of the light of Christianity?
But fast forward just a few decades later. Today you see Islamic ideology, with its emphasis on beating women into submission to men, openly and boldly broadcast through the media. Proclaiming that a woman is only equal to half of a man, Sharia courts are spreading (like Kudzu in July here in the South) in England, Europe, and the United States.
And yet, I have not heard Hillary Clinton or any of her feminist foot soldiers say a mumbling word against Islam's open warfare against women's rights.
Before I make some of you angry and before you protest and say, "You are intolerant," I want you to watch this video file. Watch and read the subtitles of this television interview with an Islamic authority figure. He explains the "etiquette" a husband is to use when beating his wife. Without giving away anything, after watching it, ask yourself:
Where have all the feminists gone?
Is the feminist movement dead?
Or, are those lashing tongues reserved only for use against loving Christians? And by the same token, are they terrified and silenced by Islamic power and money?
If you have an answer, please let me know.
You can read his article here... Where have all the feminist gone?
The saddest part of this article is the video. I clicked over and listened to it on You Tube and couldn't believe what I was hearing. And stupid people like Rosie O'Donnell dare call Christianity militant. Maybe we should put a Burqa on her and give her 30 days to find out just how non-militant Christians really are. Nope.....I wouldn't even wish that fate on her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E30kBYzPEoA
God have mercy on us!
God loves you,
Debbie
However, I read an article today on OneNewsNow.com. Dr. Michael Youssef was asking a question I've wondered about for years....."Where have all the feminists gone?"
He makes a great point. Here's his article
I remember back in the late '60s or early '70s, Germaine Greer and many of her feminist cohorts used to appear on Australian television and "pile on" Christianity as an oppressor of women.
Coming fresh out of the Middle East into the West and knowing how Christian women are lovingly treated in comparison to their Muslim counterparts, I wanted to scream at the television:
Do these people understand that Jesus is the only true liberator of women?
Have they ever read the Bible?
Do they really know what it means to truly oppress women?
Are they so clueless they don't understand that Western civilization came into being because of the light of Christianity?
But fast forward just a few decades later. Today you see Islamic ideology, with its emphasis on beating women into submission to men, openly and boldly broadcast through the media. Proclaiming that a woman is only equal to half of a man, Sharia courts are spreading (like Kudzu in July here in the South) in England, Europe, and the United States.
And yet, I have not heard Hillary Clinton or any of her feminist foot soldiers say a mumbling word against Islam's open warfare against women's rights.
Before I make some of you angry and before you protest and say, "You are intolerant," I want you to watch this video file. Watch and read the subtitles of this television interview with an Islamic authority figure. He explains the "etiquette" a husband is to use when beating his wife. Without giving away anything, after watching it, ask yourself:
Where have all the feminists gone?
Is the feminist movement dead?
Or, are those lashing tongues reserved only for use against loving Christians? And by the same token, are they terrified and silenced by Islamic power and money?
If you have an answer, please let me know.
You can read his article here... Where have all the feminist gone?
The saddest part of this article is the video. I clicked over and listened to it on You Tube and couldn't believe what I was hearing. And stupid people like Rosie O'Donnell dare call Christianity militant. Maybe we should put a Burqa on her and give her 30 days to find out just how non-militant Christians really are. Nope.....I wouldn't even wish that fate on her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E30kBYzPEoA
God have mercy on us!
God loves you,
Debbie
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Rev. John Harvard
Brought to you by American Minute
Son of a butcher, his family died when a plague swept England, leaving him an estate.
He attended Emmanuel College, was ordained, married and sailed for Massachusetts where he pastored the First Church of Charlestown.
At age 31, he died of tuberculosis on SEPTEMBER 14, 1638.
His name was Rev. John Harvard.
The College at Cambridge was renamed for Rev. Harvard.
Fifty-percent of 17th-century graduates were ministers, as were 10 out of 12 of Harvard's presidents prior to the Revolution.
Harvard's founders wrote:
"After God had carried us safe to New England, and we...rear'd convenient places for God's worship...dreading to leave an illiterate Ministry to the Churches, when our present Ministers shall lie in the Dust...it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard, a godly gentleman and a lover of learning...to give the one half of his estate...towards the erecting of a college and all his Library."
As 106 of the first 108 schools in America were founded on Christianity, Harvard's Rules & Precepts stated September 26, 1642:
"Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life. John 17:3."
It's amazing to see how far from the original rules and precepts this now ungodly university has become. I am a big promoter of learning and believe that it's only through the pursuit of knowledge that we can make this a better world. I also believe however, that unless the pursuit of knowledge is tempered through the acceptance of God, the ideas we produce can become self-centered, distorted and incredibly destructive.
God loves you,
Debbie
Son of a butcher, his family died when a plague swept England, leaving him an estate.
He attended Emmanuel College, was ordained, married and sailed for Massachusetts where he pastored the First Church of Charlestown.
At age 31, he died of tuberculosis on SEPTEMBER 14, 1638.
His name was Rev. John Harvard.
The College at Cambridge was renamed for Rev. Harvard.
Fifty-percent of 17th-century graduates were ministers, as were 10 out of 12 of Harvard's presidents prior to the Revolution.
Harvard's founders wrote:
"After God had carried us safe to New England, and we...rear'd convenient places for God's worship...dreading to leave an illiterate Ministry to the Churches, when our present Ministers shall lie in the Dust...it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard, a godly gentleman and a lover of learning...to give the one half of his estate...towards the erecting of a college and all his Library."
As 106 of the first 108 schools in America were founded on Christianity, Harvard's Rules & Precepts stated September 26, 1642:
"Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life. John 17:3."
It's amazing to see how far from the original rules and precepts this now ungodly university has become. I am a big promoter of learning and believe that it's only through the pursuit of knowledge that we can make this a better world. I also believe however, that unless the pursuit of knowledge is tempered through the acceptance of God, the ideas we produce can become self-centered, distorted and incredibly destructive.
God loves you,
Debbie
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday prayers for this country
Every where you go someone has something bad to say about America. I'm a fix-it-person. If I see something wrong I want to fix it. I love to take something old and make it new again. But the problem is so big and so intertwined with corruption and evil that I'm not sure I can do anything but pray.
About 5 years ago I was fed up with the liberal views of the main media. I just didn't believe that most people actually agreed with their views. When liberal progressive thought began to show up in their entertainment, I stopped watching. I haven't watched a show on ABC,NBC or CBS in over 5 years now. Marketing people should take note....their companies have lost the ability to reach me - but that's a side note.
What I do watch is Fox cable news, TV land - for shows like Andy Griffith and a few old movies on TCM. Most of the time if I want to watch a movie I purchase my own. That way I control what I spend my precious time on.
Being more responsible for the content that gets my time led me to watch a Glenn Beck show. I was amazed. I liked the way he provided a lot of research for every idea or philosophy or accusation he made. He backed up his opinions not with just the written word which can so often be misleading - but rather video's of actual speeches and conversations. I began to watch him regularly. I found him to be a humble man. I liked the way he could feel deeply about this country or his family. When his concern was overwhelming and brought him to tears, I cried with him.
When he began to talk about the founding of this country and presented his "Faith, Hope and Charity" programs, I was moved to finally hear a teacher talk about the exceptionalism of this great country. Now it was my turn to start the tears flowing. I cried as he shared the faith of our founding fathers and how that faith was the cornerstone of building this country.
I thought about doing this post many times. But....so many good Christians were negative about his mission and his show that I decided to continue to listen and be sure that I could give him a 100% recommendation. Yes, he is a Mormon. But over and over I've heard him say, "Return to your own church and your own faith and reconnect with God." He does not push his Mormon faith - he is trying to inspire people to return to their own faith! He's had multiple ministers and faith leaders on his show and he's announced many times that he is not a minister. Do I agree with everything he says about faith or personal convictions - no. But the truth is that I rarely agree 100% with anyone I know. I have friends that totally disagree with me about spiritual points. So I asked myself....do I believe that his overall message of turning this country back to God is right? Absolutely! Do I believe that his research is honest and without prejudice? Absolutely!
The most extraordinary thing he does is to encourage his listeners to do their own research and make up their own minds. He gives you the websites and places to go to read what he's read and make up your own mind. He often says that he does NOT want you to follow him or his ideas but rather that he wants you to "Question with boldness" and make up your own mind.
I believe 100% that he is promoting the only way that this country will ever be healed and restored to her great purpose. We must be willing to dedicate our lives to God and to restoring this country to a Christian Nation. Does that mean I believe in taking away the freedoms or opinions of those that disagree with my faith? NO, absolutely Not. What I do believe is that this country was founded on Christian principles and that we must respect that, honor people that are Christians and refuse to ignore their contribution to this country. If atheist and progressives are trying to shove Christians out of the way and make this a non-Christian nation - then we better speak up and speak up quickly before we lose our right to worship freely. I personally believe that God has blessed this country because we honored God. To turn our backs on Him and deny that He is the author of this great land would be disastrous.
I'm not going to insist that I know how you should participate in this movement back to God. I just wanted you to know that you can get a lot of good information from The Glenn Beck show. I do believe that we all have a part to play and that we should be involved in some way. I will pray that God will lead us all and help us know what to do to help our struggling nation.
As you all know, I'm caring for my 82-year old mother who broke her foot. Getting around is very difficult and because of that we haven't been attending church. This beautiful Sunday morning I decided to click over to The Restoring Honor Rally and watch the entire rally. Until now I've only watched pieces. I cried and prayed and was so moved by what happened there that I decided now was the time to do this post.
I encourage you to go to the Watch Glenn Beck Show website as often as you can and get involved in the process to turn this country around. I believe that Glenn is sincere and that he does not want to side track you from your own faith. I also believe he is doing all he can to present the "truth" about what is happening to this country. If you want to get to the show website quickly, you can use my link in the right sidebar.
I hope you will watch the rally and pray for our country. I hope you will be as moved as I am to join the fight to restore America to her best. I pray that together we can have the same impact as our forefathers and make this country once again a light on a hill for the entire world!
God Bless America!
God loves you,
Debbie
Thursday, October 7, 2010
This is so true! Thanks Rodney Atkins!
Get out your kleenex and be prepared to get on your knees!
God loves you,
Debbie
God loves you,
Debbie
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Johnathan Edwards
He entered Yale College at age 13 and graduated with honors.
He became a pastor, and his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God," started the Great Awakening, a revival that swept America, uniting the colonies prior to the Revolution.
He became President of Princeton College.
His name was Jonathan Edwards and he was born OCTOBER 5, 1703.
Jonathan Edwards married Sarah Pierrepont, and according to A Study in Education and Heredity by A.E. Winship (1900), their descendants included a U.S. Vice-President, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 65 professors, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers and 100 missionaries.
This same study examined a family known as "Jukes."
In 1877, while visiting New York's prisons, Richard Dugdale found inmates with 42 different last names all descending from one man, called "Max."
Born around 1720 of Dutch stock, Max was a hard drinker, idle, irreverent and uneducated. His descendants included 310 paupers, who, combined spent 2,300 years in poorhouses, 50 women of debauchery, 400 physically wrecked by indulgent living, 7 murderers, 60 thieves, and 130 other convicts.
The "Jukes" descendants cost the state more than $1,250,000.
This story depresses me. I don't understand the current philosophy of good Christian men and women who decide to look the other way when young couples don't apply discipline and raise brats that will infect this world. Every child matters! Every home matters! When you become lazy about helping your children succeed - the entire world suffers. For every lazy, spoiled, selfish, unmannerly, ignorant, beer guzzling, perverted, ungodly life - there will be consequences for everyone. We will suffer not only as the society that surrounds the low life....we will also suffer from their offspring. Their descendants will cost us dearly for generations to come. Every parent must understand that when you choose to have a child your abilities as a parent will impact society for hundreds of years. You can't just say..."Oh well, he is what he is and I can't help it." Saying that is the same as stabbing every decent person in the heart.
Can you tell this gets me worked up? I'm sick to death of parents that ruin lives and then want to opt out of the blame with some lame excuse. I'm sorry....there is no excuse for a parent to refuse to learn how to raise a decent adult. There is no perfect parent and no perfect child.....but we do have the right to blame parents for not getting the information they need, for not trying and for not applying that information to their parenting skills.
Whew!
It's very long and some sections are hard to read....but for those that want a deeper understanding of God you must read Johnathan Edwards sermon, "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" It sent me to my knees for a prayer session I will never forget. No wonder this simple preacher who stood and simply read this sermon started a nationwide revival. This sermon was anointed with heavenly power!
God loves you,
Debbie
Monday, October 4, 2010
A reason to vote on November 2nd.
Some people still think that Glenn Beck and the republicans are spreading fear about the future of our country. Last week-end the far left held a rally in Washington. I could comment, but this video is far more effective than I could be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkw7n9Qagu8&feature=player_embedded
You can see the future of any philosophy by looking at the actions and lives of those supporting that philosophy. When over 300,000 people gathered in Washington on 8/28 for the Restoring Honor rally, Glenn Beck posted pictures of how the Lincoln Memorial looked when they left. The only two pieces of paper they could find were so old it was evident they were not from the rally but had been there for months.
Part of my problem with the philosophies of the left is that it removes personal responsibility from individuals. It teaches people to be lazy and depend on handouts. It teaches people to look the other way when a job needs to be done and to leave messes for others to clean up. Take a look at how the hard working left decided to leave the grounds around the Lincoln Memorial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZCWFBJ1nwA&feature=player_embedded
God have mercy on us!
God loves you,
Debbie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkw7n9Qagu8&feature=player_embedded
You can see the future of any philosophy by looking at the actions and lives of those supporting that philosophy. When over 300,000 people gathered in Washington on 8/28 for the Restoring Honor rally, Glenn Beck posted pictures of how the Lincoln Memorial looked when they left. The only two pieces of paper they could find were so old it was evident they were not from the rally but had been there for months.
Part of my problem with the philosophies of the left is that it removes personal responsibility from individuals. It teaches people to be lazy and depend on handouts. It teaches people to look the other way when a job needs to be done and to leave messes for others to clean up. Take a look at how the hard working left decided to leave the grounds around the Lincoln Memorial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZCWFBJ1nwA&feature=player_embedded
God have mercy on us!
God loves you,
Debbie
Friday, October 1, 2010
Francis Scott Key
Brought to you by American Minute
Just weeks after the British burned the U.S. Capitol, they set out for Baltimore. On the way they caught an elderly physician of Upper Marlboro, Dr.William Beanes.
The town feared Dr. Beanes would be hanged so they asked a young lawyer, Francis Scott Key, to sail with Colonel John Skinner under a flag of truce to the British flagship TONNANT and arrange a prisoner exchange.
Concerned their plans of attacking Baltimore would be revealed, the British placed Francis Scott Key and Colonel Skinner under armed guard aboard the H.M.S. SURPRISE, then on a sloop where they watched the night of SEPTEMBER 13, 1814, as Fort McHenry was bombarded.
The next morning, "through the dawn's early light," Key saw the flag still flying. Elated, Key penned The Star-Spangled Banner.
On March 22, 1814, Francis Scott Key told the Washington Society of Alexandria:
"The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and will find His Word in his greatest darkness, 'a lantern to his feet and a lamp unto his paths'...He will therefore seek to establish for his country in the eyes of the world, such a character as shall make her not unworthy of the name of a Christian nation."
Like many of you I am deeply stressed to know that the present congress is okay with the statement that "we are no longer a Christian Nation." Parents....we must unite against this attack on our country and our founding principles. But....as parents we have an even greater responsibility. We MUST teach our children the founders wishes for this country. If we don't help them return to those Christian principles, we will forever lose our freedoms and our ability to worship God. We must instill in our children the will and determination to protect America and all she once stood for!
God loves you,
Debbie
Just weeks after the British burned the U.S. Capitol, they set out for Baltimore. On the way they caught an elderly physician of Upper Marlboro, Dr.William Beanes.
The town feared Dr. Beanes would be hanged so they asked a young lawyer, Francis Scott Key, to sail with Colonel John Skinner under a flag of truce to the British flagship TONNANT and arrange a prisoner exchange.
Concerned their plans of attacking Baltimore would be revealed, the British placed Francis Scott Key and Colonel Skinner under armed guard aboard the H.M.S. SURPRISE, then on a sloop where they watched the night of SEPTEMBER 13, 1814, as Fort McHenry was bombarded.
The next morning, "through the dawn's early light," Key saw the flag still flying. Elated, Key penned The Star-Spangled Banner.
On March 22, 1814, Francis Scott Key told the Washington Society of Alexandria:
"The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and will find His Word in his greatest darkness, 'a lantern to his feet and a lamp unto his paths'...He will therefore seek to establish for his country in the eyes of the world, such a character as shall make her not unworthy of the name of a Christian nation."
Like many of you I am deeply stressed to know that the present congress is okay with the statement that "we are no longer a Christian Nation." Parents....we must unite against this attack on our country and our founding principles. But....as parents we have an even greater responsibility. We MUST teach our children the founders wishes for this country. If we don't help them return to those Christian principles, we will forever lose our freedoms and our ability to worship God. We must instill in our children the will and determination to protect America and all she once stood for!
God loves you,
Debbie