The True Meaning of XMas

Never mind that Jesus was not born in December (probably October) - as long as we remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Never mind that angels don't sing (at least, the Bible doesn't say so) - as long as we remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Never mind that the wise men didn't show up until the baby was a couple of years old - as long as etc.

Never mind that the whole "mother and child" symbology was taken over from paganism to make the pagan "converts" feel wellcome - as long as; well, you get the idea.

Never mind that Christmas was not observed by our Pilgrim/Puritan forbears (in fact, it was illegal) - as long as ..

Never mind that the Christmas Tree was invented by Martin Luther and imported to America by German immigrants  - as long as, blah, blah, blah.

So, what is the True meaning of Christmas?

"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD.

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope:

"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall.

"And, ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of our feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" Malachi, 3:1-3; 4:1-4, 5 & 6.

Merry Christmas

It's all Gene's fault

So, all we need to do is develop a genetic “blueprint” for potential mass murders, test everyone purchasing a weapon, and lock them up if they fit the profile.

What the heck; let's test everyone.

Think worldview doesn’t matter in addressing/solving these problems?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/adam-lanza-motive_n_2332641.html

Solutions to Mass shootings

A review of the data from this website reveals three startling facts:

            Most mass shootings are the result of semi-automatic pistols, not “assault rifles – 68% vs 35%

            Most mass shootings are carried out by children – 20 years or younger.

            All mass shootings occur at places where large numbers of unprotected people gather.

These data suggest several solutions:

            Outlaw gatherings of unprotected people: Close all public schools; have machine gun emplacements at the entrances to all malls (shoot first, ask questions later); outlaw manufacturing facilities with 5 or more employees and require all employees to work naked.

            Outlaw children, 20 years or younger.

            In light of the above, there is no need to address the semi-automatic pistol issue.

I realize that, at first glance, these suggestions might appear as cynical and even insensitive, but they are no more so than the knee-jerk demands to "control" the infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens. After all, one politician has said that "everything must be on the table" in discussions for curbing violence.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/mass-shootings-map

The Real Tragedy of the Newtown shooting.

What happened in Newton, CT last Friday was a tragedy, but it was not a national tragedy. Calling it such diminishes the true significance of the event.

It was a personal tragedy - the parents of the murdered children will never forget. The memory will fade for everyone else; the other children; the teachers; the townspeople; but the parents of the children killed will never forget. There will never be a day that they do not remember.

There was nothing "national" about this event. It was not a political act; it was not an act against the city government, or the state government, or the federal government. It was not an act against the people of the city, state, or nation.

It was a tragedy. It would have been a tragedy if only one child had been killed. The tragedy was magnified because so many were killed. But, children are killed everyday in cities all over the country; some of them have not even been born.

This is the world we live in. Such tragedies seem like a violation of the natural order, but they are the natural order. It is only through the mercy of God that life has not descended into the absolute chaos which the entrance of sin brought into creation. Occasionally, God lifts his hand of mercy to reveal the true nature of our world. This does not, and should not diminish the heartbreak that such tragedies engender. In fact, it should increase our hatred of the sin that lies behind every tragedy.

It is sickening that the usual suspects intruded into the sadness of this event to advance their misdirected agenda. Not just the gun control maniacs, but the misguided Christians like Mike Huckabee who try to find a linkage to removing God from public schools. Have these people no compassion? Have they no shame? The children are not yet buried; the parents have not yet had time to mourn and grieve.

The ceaseless, mind-numbing media coverage and analysis betrays a kind of voyeurism; a kind of national obsession. If there is a national aspect to this tragedy, it is the attempts by politicians to declare the cause and cure. The loving thing to do in such circumstances is to look away; to let the real victims heal and to be silent.

The End has Come

I have nothing more to say.

What's Missing from the London Riots?

Dead rioters.

Mark of The Beast

It is seldom the case that people are aware of the historical significance of the times in which they are living; the founding fathers apparently realized that they were living during a time that was truly history making, but this was exceptional. Most people believe that they live in “ordinary” times and, if there are difficulties, they will pass and things will get back to normal.

I believe that we are witnessing nothing less than the end of Western Civilization as we have known it. The economic and social turmoil in the US and Western Europe can be interpreted as nothing less. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The collapse is not, as most Christian pundits would have it, because of the rise of homosexuality, or abortion; these are symptoms of the collapse not the cause. The collapse is the result of nothing less than the abandonment, by Christians, of a distinctly Christian worldview. Christians have, by and large, pursued the same goals of personal peace and prosperity as the general culture. Christians have sought prosperity as a goal rather than recognizing it as a by-product of “seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”

Think I’m exaggerating? Then why do most “born-again Christians” continue to send their children to state controlled schools where they are indoctrinated with anti-Christ values? There is only one reason; because removing their children would disrupt their personal ease and require the abandonment of a lifestyle that requires “double incomes” to satisfy worldly lusts.

What can be done? Nothing, if the goal is to “save” America. We have no mandate to save America. Our only mandate is to glorify Jesus Christ and acknowledge his lordship over every area of life – not society’s life, but OUR life. The only safety for Christians is true holiness - the separation of heart, soul and, in some cases body, from worldly ambitions.

II Chronicles 7:14 is often cited at political rallies as the means of “saving America,” but this promise is clearly and exclusively directed to the people of God, Israel. Its demands are clear: “repent, turn from their evil ways, humble them-selves and pray.” That is the prescription for the saving of “my people.” Its scope is corporate, as well as individual.

There is no way to know what our culture will look like after a total collapse. I do not look forward to it.

p.s. If you think the title is misleading, consider whether you would have read a post titled "The End of Western Civilization."