Dan's Directory

When You Don’t Know What to Pray

2021-06-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

When you don’t know what to pray, pray slowly.

Jesus isn’t rushed and pushed by the stresses of life,

Like we so often are. Instead He calls you away from the strife,

And says, “My child, wait here and know Me.”

When you don’t know what to pray, pray honestly.

He can handle how you feel, your questions and your pain.

You don’t have to pretend, perform or even explain.

He listens and He cares; this He has promised me.

When you don’t know what to pray, pray boldly.

We often ask for less when He wants to give us more.

His promise is greater – you can’t even think it; for Him it’s not a chore.

He has everything just for you. He told me.

When you don’t know what to pray, pray His Word.

He knew you’d be here with nothing to say.

He’s experienced it all. He’s led the way!

Say back to Him what He’s already said. I guarantee that you will be heard.

When hurt runs deep and pain blocks your way,

He’ll carry you; He’ll hold you; He’ll never let you go.

Reach out to Him. It doesn’t matter what you say. Just let Him know.

So when you don’t know what to pray, pray anyway.

June 13, 2021

Thank You

2015-05-17T18:43:00.001-07:00

Listening to Senior Testimonies at Kentucky Mountain Bible College and reflecting back to my graduation 6 years ago. So many people have invested in my life, before college, during, and after. More than anyone else is my family, and your impact is more than I can describe. But if I could name 3 people other than my family that have had the biggest impact on me during college and the years after, these are they:

Mr. Randy Huff, you invested so much in me during college to help shape and mold me into the leader that I am today. You spent hours upon hours helping me to study the Bible in General Epistles, to think in Philosophy, and teaching me how to work with people as Student Body President. I couldn't count the hours you put aside everything else in your busy schedule to work with me one on one. Your investment shaped and continues to shape my life and ministry in a huge way.

Dr. John Neihof, other than my family, I think you have made the biggest impact on my life. You and my father were my favorite teachers, and I learned so much under your instruction. You made me into a communicator and taught me the professional skills I have today. When I started at Mountain Gospel Radio, your wisdom, insight, and encouragement kept me going. You were my advisor and model, and I continue to shape my own classes and teaching after yours. I don't think I'll ever reach your level of exceptionalism, but it's a goal I strive for.

Dr. Philip Speas - You took a great risk and put your confidence in me when it was dangerous. I started at the radio station with little experience, but you believed in me, invested in me, counseled and directed me, and stood behind me to make me successful. You gave me the freedom to fail, the resources to succeed, and the challenge to go farther than I thought was possible. You've taught me a lot and encouraged me every step of the way. Both myself and the radio station are where we are today because of your faith and investment in me.

I praise the Lord for the many people that have invested in my life to make me who I am, and continue to help me grow and develop. Thank you so much for giving of yourself and making a difference in others. There is no way I can ever repay you, but I strive to make the same investment in those God places in my sphere of influence. By God's grace, your investment will continue to reap dividends in the lives of others.

Haters Gonna Hate

2014-12-18T18:13:00.002-08:00

When I was a kid, police were wonderful, friendly, and helpful, and they were there to protect me. I didn't have to be afraid of them, run from them, or attack them. What's changed? What has turned these "protectors of the innocent" into violent, cruel killers who have no care for people and instead turn and attack the innocent?

Hang with me just a moment, and don't react until the end. This is rather long, so if you don't have time to experience the whole journey, then feel free to jump to the conclusion at the end.

It seems like the news recently has been all about these corrupt people who have taken the power and authority entrusted to them and abused it. They're using their power to hurt people, to force minorities into subjection, and to show their dominance by attacking innocent and unsuspecting citizens.

It's evil, right? This sort of thing is absolutely wrong, and so we should stand up against them and fight for freedom. We are free after all, right? That means we can do anything we want. And if these corrupt people get in our way, then it's up to us to take things in our own hands. After all, that's our heritage. That's what our founders did. They were "freedom fighters" who took things in their own hands to overcome a cruel and unfair police force that was trying to push them as a minority into subjection to the ruling class.

Before we let our emotions control our actions, we should pause for just a moment and think. This is the story. This is what is being told. The first question we need to ask is: "is it true?" Not everything we hear is true, and not everything in the news is true. The second question we need to ask is: "is it right?" Ultimately, "Truth" and"Rightness" will always match, but sometimes things happen (the story is true) but they are not right.

First, I believe that most of the hype in these stories is simply false. Second, I believe that the story of our founders as "freedom fighters" is also false. And third, I believe that the general response we have seen in the media to these events is wrong. And I believe the driving force behind much of it is perception. Let's investigate.

When I was growing up, I was taught 3 things about the law. In fact, I think many kids were taught similarly. Overall, cartoons, programs, games, and things like that also emphasized the same three points. What were they?

1) obey the law (law is good, it's there to protect you)
2) respect and obey those who are law enforcers (i.e. police)
3) if you obey the law, then law enforcers are there to protect you

If this is our perception, it has an impact on the way we act. Sadly today, the perception has changed. Cartoons, programs, video games and other things have shifted away from displaying laws and law enforcers as good things to something that is infringing on our right of personal expression. Our games now teach us to kill the cops, steal what we can and get away as fast as possible. Our cartoons and shows teach us to misbehave, treat others rudely, and watch out for number one. This also has an impact on the way we act.

So the truth is that we have different perceptions. Which of these perceptions is right? Let's see where they come from.

The first perception, lifting up the law as a good thing and law enforcers as positive forces in society is coming under fire. But I would say that it's been the general understanding and perception in our US history. It may or may not surprise you that this is a Biblical concept. Check this out:

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake." (Rom 13:1-5)

Wow, that's basically exactly the three principles I mentioned above that I was taught as a child. We could look at other Scriptures as well and we see resounding from the beginning to the end of the Bible these same principles. And this Biblical concept has been the general understanding in the history of the United States? How can that be, if we were founded by rebels and "freedom fighters?" Frankly, because we weren't. We were founded by men and women who believed in Biblical principles. Many of them were indeed Christians. Many were not, but still held many of the Biblical principles in place in their lives. To support this claim, I point you to the Declaration of Independence. I was going to quote part of it here, but you just need to read it. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html. It addresses this very issue, making the statement that Law ultimately comes from God, that the current government has been unjust, that they have tried numerous times to use the correct courses of appeal but all have been in vain. So the declaration says that under the ultimate authority of God, because their current government has broken the law and failed to address their appeals within the law, that they then have the authority to establish a new government, under that same ultimate Authority. And please note, that this was not a personal action, but a collective action - a governmental action. The Declaration and Revolution was not an attack against law, but rather an act to uphold the Law.

Why do I spend the time to make this point when it doesn't really fit with what we are talking about? Because it's the foundation of what we are talking about. It also gives us another clue into the perceptions we are seeing.

So let's recap. The principles of law being good, law enforcers being good, and people being subject to the law are Biblical. The United States was founded on these Biblical principles and in fact were the principles that made the United States what it was. For many years, these principles were the generally accepted and popular ideas of the culture.

So what's happened? Let me make a suggestion of a cause that will have a particular effect. Then see if we are seeing that effect in our culture today. If the effect seems to be a good fit to our situation today, then we will assume that the cause suggested is likely the true cause. Then let me suggest a solution based on the root cause that will also deal with the effect.

I suggest that the cause of what we are seeing today is a cultural rejection of Christ and the Bible. Christ is the standard of Law and the ultimate Law Giver. Therefore, lawlessness and rebellion are anti-Christ. They are sin. As people reject God, they often also reject law, because law ultimately points back to God. As the cultural movers (news, media, etc.) also reject God, they begin to paint the things that reflect God in a negative light as well, meaning they begin painting law and law-enforcers negatively. Thus we see a change in some of our cultural perceptions. Many of the United States' cultural perceptions were Biblical, because of the historical Biblical foundation. As more people turned away from God, some of those cultural perceptions have shifted as well.

If this is indeed the cause, then what we're seeing today as a result makes perfectly good sense. The solution personally is a return to Christ. The solution nationally is a return to Biblical principles and teachings.

------- CONCLUSION -------

The more this nation rejects God, the more lawless people will be, the more lawless people are, the more they will hate those who protect the law (i.e. police), the more people hate those who protect the law, the more difficult protecting the law will become and the more fatalities and "atrocities" we will see.

Fixing it won't be a protest in favor of lawbreakers, it won't be looting and killing people in demonstrations, it will be by obeying the Law, and ultimately, the One Lawgiver.

The devil's trick is this: "Look, some of these lawgivers and law protectors are corrupt, so we should reject all laws and law protectors." It sounds good because it's a partial truth, but it's a trap of the devil to bring destruction.

More people dying isn't a sign of corruption and wrongdoing on the part of the enforcers. It could be, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, in these recent cases, the process of law has determined that those law enforcers were doing what they were supposed to be doing, and were therefore under the protection of those who entrusted those duties to them - even if something went wrong, they are held blameless because they were acting properly under the law they were given.

The same can't be said for those breaking the law, for those looting, for those killing, for those acting unlawfully in the name of "freedom." Their freedom is their destruction, and they are headed on a path to ultimate destruction. The only way to change course is not with protests, but with repentance and salvation in Christ Jesus.

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" (Matthew 7:21-23)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Twenty-Five

2013-04-23T19:17:00.001-07:00

Twenty-Five: It's quite a common place number.

We see it often – enough that it's significance is brushed aside.

There's twenty-five days in every month.

Every hour has twenty-five minutes.

Twenty-five is in time, money, and so much more.

But there's one place we don't find twenty-five.

There's not twenty-five hours in every day.

We lead busy lives. Hours pass by quickly.

Sometimes I wish that God would give me a 25^th hour in the day.

An hour just for me, something no one else gets.

An extra hour of work, and extra hour of sleep.

An extra hour of prayer – even though I probably don't mean that.

But nothing is changed.

Every day has only twenty-four hours.

What do I expect? Should I get special treatment?

God's told us he's no respecter of persons.

He's the same God who gives rain to all,

And allows storms and tragedy with no exemptions.

But when He does give more, He expects more in return.

But I'm looking at it all wrong.

It's not what I lack, but what I've already received.

Every hour is a blessing from God,

And He gives twenty-four every day!

Is twenty-four somehow not enough?

Just because He gives to everyone the same,

Must I venture to ask for another?

But again I miss the point!

Because He's already given me twenty-five!

If I've been praying for a twenty-fifth hour,

I'm praying for what I've already received.

For in His goodness, I've lived to twenty-five!

Millions have died before even seeing the world.

Twenty-five thousand times four just today.

So do I deserve twenty-five? Not at all!

Do I deserve twenty-four? Not that either!

Am I worried about what more I'll receive?

Or am I grateful for what I've been given?

Do I somehow deserve these gifts from above?

If I get twenty-five or if I get one-hundred,

Every hour is a gift nonetheless.

The truth is, I'm already living in that 25^th hour . . .

An extra blessing from God not deserved.

But back to the years, hours, and time.

Is it really the quantity that matters?

Should I judge based on how much I receive?

Observe Christ, he had only thirty-three here on earth.

But look at what He accomplished!

So my focus is wrong when I ask for more,

Because I think that more means better.

It's not about how many hours you have,

But how you spend the hours you're given.

It's not about how many years you get,

But what you do with the years you live in.

It's not how long you live – but how you live.

Things make sense when I fix my thinking.

So what am I doing with what God's already given?

It's not about whether Bob got more, the same, or less.

It's about what I've been given and how I respond?

I stop my begging for that twenty-fifth hour.

Why should He give me twenty-five hours in every day?

He's already given me twenty-four!

And yet, He still gives twenty-five all the time!

May I honor Him with every gift He's given.

April 20, 2013

For my 25^th Birthday.

After the Battle

2012-09-11T16:33:00.002-07:00

After the battle has broken,
The strong men are down.
All that's left are the pieces
Strewn on the ground.

So many years of hatred,
Decades of war.
All that's left are the pieces
Floating back to the shore.

The fighting has ended,
The smoke lifting to see.
All that's left is the rubble,
Nothing tidy and neat.

Here we stand in the ashes,
Those left from the fray.
It's our job to rebuild
Without any delay.

We stand not alone,
Though battered and flawed.
For after the battle,
God is still God.

© Daniel Lorimer
October 2, 2009

Freedom Pt 2 - Freedom and Selfishness

2012-07-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

– Star Spangled Banner

Please Note: This is a longer blog. If you don't have time for the full journey, please read the Introduction and the Summary at the end.

Introduction:
The United States of America: the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” This month, we remember once again our Day of Independence, when the United States began her quest as an independent proponent of freedom. This freedom is at the core of who we are. Without freedom, we would not be the United States of America. This freedom has suffered many challenges because as the old adage goes, “freedom is not free.” We have lived for it, fought for it, died for it. But yet, freedom stands. But freedom is such a fragile thing, so difficultly gained, so easily lost. As a nation, we are once again at a crossroads. How can we ensure that freedom is maintained and passed on to our posterity?

In my last post (part one) I talked about freedom and suffering. If you missed it, catch it here: http://dplorimer.blogspot.com/2012/07/freedom-pt-1-freedom-and-suffering.html

Now I want to share part two, and look at yet a different perspective of freedom – in the realm of the personal. What does selfishness have to do with freedom?

The Journey: (The Journey is best, but if you don't have time, please skip to the “Summary” in bold at the end.)
The dictionary defines freedom as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” If we have freedom, then we can do whatever we want, right? Isn't that the purpose of freedom, so that we can do as we please? This is the philosophy of many. But what impact does this have on freedom? The truth is that this view of freedom is rooted in selfishness and attacks the very foundation of freedom. Selfishness is the very antagonist of freedom and nothing will destroy freedom more quickly. How can I say that?

The Biblical concept of freedom/liberty is not license to do whatever we please. In fact, Paul addresses this very issue in Galatians: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” - Gal 5:13

Rather than self-pleasing, the Biblical concept of freedom/liberty is the liberty to serve others. It is a selfless pouring out of ourselves to do what is best for someone else.

So we have two competing principles: selfishness and selflessness. Selflessness is the preserver of freedom and selfishness is the destroyer of freedom. So what do we do about it? How do we preserve freedom?

Let me start by saying that all freedom is personal and internal. If someone is free internally, you can't take that freedom away with external bonds. If someone is bound internally, you can't set them free with external means. So to address the core issues of freedom, we must address the core issues of the person. To really deal with selfishness and freedom, it takes us right to the heart of man.

The real issue behind selfishness is carnality. At the root of the carnal nature is selfishness. The result of selfishness is bondage – you cannot be free and selfish because the selfishness will put you in bondage. Selfishness will control you. It will dictate your life. You are bound, and unable to act as you should. Selfishness puts you in chains to money, greed, government, sex, hate, something. There is no question, selfishness will make you its slave. It will control you.

The solution? “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” - Gal 13:16-18. The Spirit of God brings freedom. He is the source of selflessness, and it is only selflessness that brings true freedom.

But there it said it again – if we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law, so that means we can do what we want, right? No. Because this freedom is freedom to serve others (Gal 5:13). And you find that by serving others you are preserving freedom – both your own freedom and theirs. A society of internally free (selfless) people is the only society that will remain free.

For that reason, freedom apart from Christianity cannot exist. Because God is the giver of real freedom, and any freedom without Christ is a mere fantasy. But we speak in the personal level. Does this really have an impact on whole societies? Yes.

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” - John Adams (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31)

“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." - Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence

“Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.” - Benjamin Franklin

“It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” - Patrick Henry

Take for example Islam. We hear a lot about Islam being a religion of peace and freedom. It is not a religion of either. Islam is a religion of fear and bondage. In Islamic countries that have been given freedom, does it last? Some have overthrown their government. Who comes into power but more tyrants? Some have been given freedom externally, and they struggle to maintain it, because the people are not internally free. They are bound, because they have forsaken the true God.

But it's not just Islam. Every godless country in history has fallen because freedom cannot be maintained. Without God, America is headed toward the same end. The only thing that can save her is a return to Christ, who gives true freedom.

Summary:
Freedom and Selfishness – Here's how it works.

Carnal Nature → Selfishness → Person does what self wants; disregards others; disregards laws → Laws are required to contain this person → the more selfish, the more external rules are imposed → the more external rules imposed, the less freedom → the cycle continues until freedom is lost.
The end result is the loss of freedom altogether. The root cause is selfishness.

The only way to reverse this trend is to reverse the beginning. The root of selfishness must be replaced with selflessness, the very essence of Christianity. We start over:

Spiritual Nature → Selflessness ---> Person does what is best for others; follows rules; obeys laws → Rules/laws are not necessary to contain this person because the person is self-governed → the more selfless, the less external rules are imposed → the cycle continues toward greater and greater freedom.
The end result is absolute freedom. The root cause is selflessness.

This equation applies in personal life, the church, school, work, government, everywhere. If you want to have freedom, you must be self-governed. You cannot be selfish and self-governed.

All freedom is personal; All bondage is personal. If you are in bondage internally, you will be in bondage externally. If you are free internally, you will be free externally.

“Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.” - Patrick Henry

The Bible teaches it. The founders believed it. People must be free internally in order to maintain freedom externally. If the United States is to stay free, it will only be because the citizens are truly free, free with the liberty in Christ to do what is best for others, and not just serve themselves.

To preserve freedom we don't need better laws, we need better people. For the sake of freedom, will you be one?

Freedom Pt 1 - Freedom and Suffering

2012-07-03T22:16:00.003-07:00

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

– Star Spangled Banner

Please Note: This is a longer blog. If you don't have time for the full journey, please read the Introduction and the Summary at the end.

Introduction:
The United States of America: the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” This month, we remember once again our Day of Independence, when the United States began her quest as an independent proponent of freedom. This freedom is at the core of who we are. Without freedom, we would not be the United States of America. This freedom has suffered many challenges because as the old adage goes, “freedom is not free.” We have lived for it, fought for it, died for it. But yet, freedom stands. But freedom is such a fragile thing, so difficultly gained, so easily lost. As a nation, we are once again at a crossroads. How can we ensure that freedom is maintained and passed on to our posterity?

In part one of this 4th of July blog, I want to look at freedom from a little different perspective. What does suffering have to do with freedom?

This journey takes me back several years to a book written by Peter Kreeft titled Making Sense out of Suffering. If you haven't read it, it's a good read. He makes an interesting case: “Freedom is both the source and the solution to suffering. Freedom both makes suffering possible and makes suffering meaningful.” (p.99) That's quite a pill to swallow right off the bat and doesn't seem to make sense. He's basically making a double-sided statement, so let's look at each side.

The Journey: (If you don't want to read all this, please skip to the "Summary" in bold at the end.)
First, how is freedom the source of suffering? This may not seem logical, so let's look at it. Freedom necessitates choice – you can't have freedom without the ability to choose. To have the ability to choose, there must be more than one option (or it's not really a choice). Every option logically must have a negative counter-option. For example, I may choose to eat, or choose to not eat. Freedom also necessitates consequences – you can't have freedom unless your choices actually have some impact. If all choices have the same outcome, then it it not really freedom, because you didn't actually choose anything – the end was already dictated before-hand. If choices have consequences, there must be a possibility of suffering, because suffering is the negative counter-option to wellness. Thus is how freedom is the source of suffering, because without freedom suffering would not have to be an option. But with freedom, suffering must be a possibility, or it is not really freedom. Before you go to far, let me point out that non-freedom does in no way guarantee that there is not suffering. Whoever dictates when there is no freedom could dictate suffering. But if the dictator were all powerful, etc., they could dictate no suffering, because there would be no choice. So, in summary, non-freedom does NOT guarantee non-suffering, but freedom requires or creates the possibility of suffering.

Second, how is freedom the solution to suffering? The answer to this question is very practical, because this is where it hits home. If freedom is the source of suffering, how could it be the solution? Here's how. Non-freedom does not guarantee non-suffering, and if suffering is mandated without choice, then we can do nothing about it and there is no hope. If there is suffering because of freedom then there is a possibility of a different outcome and we can make a difference in that outcome, and therefore there is hope. Suffering without freedom is not tolerable. It is pointless. Would you willingly suffer if it would not change the outcome? Would you take a bullet for someone if it wouldn't make any difference? Would you endure hardship if it couldn't change anything? No. See, freedom gives meaning to suffering. We face suffering because we can make a difference. We endure suffering because we hope for a better future (a future that we have a choice in). Freedom infuses suffering with meaning and purpose because we can look past the suffering to what we are suffering for. Suffering only has any purpose if we have freedom. Freedom is the solution to suffering because it gives purpose to suffering.

What is the purpose to suffering? Some suffering is the necessary consequence of choice (either one's own or someone else's). But there's another kind of suffering, and that is the suffering that we willingly accept. It seems logical to think that the purpose of this suffering is to end suffering. See, if you can make a difference in the outcome, then suffering is tolerable if you can lesson suffering in the future. But this contains the seeds of its own destruction, because freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering. Therefore, suffering to destroy suffering is in reality suffering to destroy freedom. Instead of suffering to destroy suffering, let me venture to say that the purpose of this kind of suffering is someone else's freedom. Look at Christ as an example. He willingly suffered, because He could make a difference. Did He suffer to destroy suffering? Not primarily. He suffered to give us freedom, and “by His wounds we are healed” (Is. 53:5). Freedom is only possible through suffering. Someone must suffer for another to have freedom. See how this all fits together? Freedom gives purpose to suffering in part because suffering is what makes freedom possible.

Having this background, let's look at the world. There is suffering in the world. That either means that there is freedom or that suffering has been mandated without choice. If it has been mandated, then there is nothing we can do and there is no hope. If there is freedom, then there is hope because we can make a difference. If there's hope, we can endure or tolerate suffering because we have something better to look forward to. In fact, we will accept suffering for the sake of granting freedom to another. We will suffer so someone else doesn't have to.

So, if we have freedom, what should be our primary goal? To end suffering? Or to grant freedom? One might think it best to pursue the end of suffering, but be careful. Remember that freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering? Therefore, pursuing the goal of ending suffering is actually pursuing the goal of ending freedom and thus destroys freedom (and does not end suffering). We should pursue the goal of granting freedom primarily, because it is freedom that makes suffering tolerable. And we find that pursuing freedom lessons suffering because one person willingly suffers so another doesn't have to.

Can I give you one major example of this controversy in our world today? It's called “Capitalism” and “Socialism.”

Capitalism is a system of private ownership. Capitalism pursues freedom to ensure the continuation of the private ownership. Capitalism works because of freedom. People are willing to suffer because they are free. They own things and they make the choices. They are willing to suffer because they can make a difference in the outcome.

Socialism is a system of state/government ownership. Socialism pursues non-freedom to ensure the continuation of government ownership. Most people don't like that idea, however, because there is suffering in the world and suffering is not tolerable without freedom. So socialism often takes on a “happy face” with the primary purpose to end suffering. People are drawn toward socialism because they desire both freedom and the absence of suffering. Socialism seems to offer that. But it's a lie. Remember that freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering? To destroy suffering on earth there must by necessity be the destruction of freedom. Therefore socialism seeks to take away freedom under the guise of ending suffering. But you remember that non-freedom does not guarantee non-suffering, and socialism can't eliminate all suffering. But it does eliminate freedom and thus takes away people's acceptance of suffering. But suffering still exists. No one wants to suffer because they are no longer free, and suffering has lost any sense of acceptability. If no one will suffer for the good of all, then all end up suffering. Thus, the downfall of socialism.

Summary: For all you “to the point” people.

Premises:
One is either free or not free.
Freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering.
Non-freedom is the only possible way for suffering not to exist.
Non-freedom does not guarantee non-suffering.
Suffering exists.
Suffering is either the necessary result of freedom or the imposed result of non-freedom.
Suffering is not tolerable if the sufferer cannot make a difference.
Non-freedom makes suffering non-tolerable because the sufferer can't make a difference.
Freedom makes suffering tolerable because the sufferer can make a difference.

Socialism:
To end suffering, freedom must be destroyed.
When freedom is destroyed, suffering is no longer meaningful.
When suffering is no longer meaningful, no one will willingly suffer.
If no one will willingly suffer, all must of necessity suffer.
Socialism fails to eliminate suffering and destroys freedom in the process.

Capitalism:
To ensure freedom, suffering is a possibility.
With freedom, suffering has purpose and is tolerable.
Because suffering has purpose, some will willingly suffer.
When some willingly suffer, others do not suffer as much.
Capitalism maintains freedom and makes suffering tolerable in the process.

So what of Freedom and Suffering? For freedom to endure, we need people who will step up and say: “I am willing to suffer for the sake of someone else. I will accept suffering for myself with the redemptive purpose of granting another freedom and reducing their suffering.” They've had many names: founder, patriot, marine, preacher, missionary, . . . . For the sake of freedom, will you be one?

P.S. How does all this work in Heaven? I'm afraid I can't speak to that here. This blog is "earthly" in nature, dealing only with the issues of freedom and suffering as they relate to us here on earth.

If

2011-10-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

If I only had more money . . .

If I were only smarter . . .

If I could do that . . .

If I looked like her . . .

If they loved me like . . .

If I were faster . . .

If I had better parents . . .

If I had grown up in a better area . . .

If I could be like . . .

If I could sing like . . .

If I could speak like . . .

If I were more talented . . .

If I had been given . . .

If they only knew . . .

If only . . .

If . . .

Fill it in:

If (your greatest if thought) . . .

Some ifs matter. Some don't. Most we can't do anything about. But they hold us back, they keep us down, they stop of from being who and what God wants us to be.

But the more important ifs have already been answered for us:

"If Christ is not risen . . . your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! But now Christ is risen from the dead!" (1 Cor 15:17, 20)

"If God is for us, . . . who can be against us? In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!" (Rom 8:31,37)

Let's stop living in our own (if) excuses and fear, and start living in Christ's victory!

How Not to Build

2011-08-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

Verse 1:

“I love you! - What's your name?”

Somehow those words always sound the same.

“You're the prettiest one that my eyes have seen.

I've said that before but this I really mean.”

The very first kiss after the very first date –

How long can you stand falling at that rate?

You're saying things now that shouldn't be said.

You're feeding a fire that shouldn't be fed.

Chorus:

That's how not to build a relationship.

You're pushing too fast and you're gonna slip.

You're building up a fire that cannot be tamed -

Destroying a plan that God ordained.

Verse 2:

“I love you! Baby, you're mine –

Handsome and attractive and you're just fine!”

A touch on the hand, just a little hug,

Leads to a kiss to express your love.

As time goes on, you're moving too fast.

Saying things, touching things – can this last?

You're real good at making this sport.

But look to your house – there's no support!

Chorus:

That's how not to build a relationship.

You're pushing too fast and you're gonna slip.

You're building up a fire that cannot be tamed -

Destroying a plan that God ordained.

Verse 3:

“Look into my eyes as together we stay –

Baby, we might get married some day."

You're digging your grave as the clock goes tick.

But you don't see you're making God sick!

“I want you – don't want anyone else.

Why don't you come over to my house?

Everything's all right 'cause our love's the same.”

But you don't realize what you're gonna defame!

Chorus:

That's how not to build a relationship.

You're pushing too fast and you're gonna slip.

You're building up a fire that cannot be tamed -

Destroying a plan that God ordained.

Verse 4:

Time has passed – now you're falling apart,

'Cause you built wrong from the very start.

Said things when they shouldn't be said.

Did things that could have left you dead.

Storms of life came – you're facing divorce.

Don't you wish now you would have changed course?

When you build on the sand this much is true:

Your house will fall in on you!

Chorus:

That's how not to build a relationship.

You're pushing too fast and you're gonna slip.

You're building up a fire that cannot be tamed -

Destroying a plan that God ordained.

February 26, 2011

Does Purity Matter?

2011-07-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

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I'm going to speak from from the perspective of what I see in Scripture as right and good. I realize that we live in a fallen world and sin has corrupted. Things aren't always as they should be, and praise the Lord, He can redeem! But I still believe that we should look at the should as what should be. I also realize we live in a world where someone can be a victim of another person's sin. If you have been abused, you are not responsible for that. God does not hold you guilty, no matter what the Devil tells you, and God has special healing grace just for you.

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Does Purity Matter?

I value purity because God values purity. God created sexuality and placed it within marriage. The Bible is very clear that sex outside of marriage is sexual immorality and sin. It's wrong. Ex 20:14 - "You shall not commit adultery." Jesus took that farther by saying that lusting was the same as committing adultery (Matt 5:27-28 ) - WHOA! He went on to say that it'd be better to cut out your eye than to go to hell because of it (Matt 5:29-30) - WHOA! That's a pretty high value on purity. Jesus thought it was important.

God's relationship with Israel was pictured as marriage (Is 54:5, others). Idolatry was pictured as infidelity. We see this throughout the Old Testament. In Hosea we see God's example of His redemptive plan, but God states "the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord" (Hos 1:2). Jeremiah talks about the many lovers that Israel has had. They had forsaken God through idolatry and become impure. God's desire was that they would keep themselves only for Him, that they would be pure.

Marriage is an image of Christ's relationship with the church (Eph 5:22-33) - a relationship that should be undefiled, holy, blameless, not polluted with the world. Christ is pure, and because we are in a relationship with a pure Christ, we seek to be pure, like Him (1 John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:13-15; 2 Pet 3:11, 14).

We see elsewhere in Scripture the sinfulness of sexual immorality and the value placed on purity. Acts 15:20; Rom 13:13. 1 Cor 6:12-20 – (actually go ahead and read all of chapters 5 and 6, and then go ahead and read the rest of the book :). this is an interesting concept that is also found elsewhere, that the body is not made for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; so if we participate in sexual immorality we are actually robbing God of what was made for Him; also the concept that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and so sexual immorality in the Christian is a defamation of God's temple. He also remembers that there were those in the Corinthian church that were fornicators before they knew Christ, and Christ had redeemed them from it.) 1 Cor 10:8 (it's in a list, not just by itself); 1 Cor 12:21 (also not alone); Gal 5:19-21 (contrasted with vv. 22-26); 1 Pet 4:1-6 (here he's talking about how they used to live.); Col 3:5; Heb 13:4; 1 Thess 4:3-8. There's a lot more. I've only scratched the surface. And I don't list the verses just to list them, I'd encourage you to read them, as I have done, and read the context of them, as I have done, even as I was gathering them to put in this post. They show us a lot about the heart of God (as does the whole Bible) :)

I believe in grace because God believes in grace. But I believe that grace is given because we fell short of what God wanted or required. Situations that require grace are not the ideal – that's why it's grace. Grace is a good thing. We wouldn't be here without it. In Rom 6, Paul asks, well if grace is so good, should we sin more so we can get more grace? Absolutely not! It breaks my heart to think of God's grace cheaply. You know how much God paid in order to extend grace? You know what it cost?

Grace is important. I need to extend grace just as I have been extended grace. I deserve nothing but God's wrath, and yet He showed grace. Therefore I can't prop myself up and look down at people. I'm nothing. But I dare not presume upon God's grace if I really love Him. I dare not say, "sin is a trifle because God forgives." Sin is tragic! Sin separates us from God! Sin breaks the heart of God!

God wants me to be pure. God wants you to be pure. God wants purity in His church. Purity is valuable.

Is there value in sexual purity? Yes! Does being sexually pure give us the right to be prideful and look down on those who are not? No! If someone has lost their sexual purity, does that mean they are less valuable? No! But I would say that it does mean they have lost the value that there is in being pure. They're not less of a person, and God still redeems, but there is something that is lost when purity is lost.

Physical and sexual purity is important and valuable because God has made it valuable. It is also an image of spiritual purity, which is crucially valuable.

Is there value in someone who has grown up and kept themselves for God and not rebelled or wandered off into a lot of gross sin? Yes! Does that mean they can be prideful and look down on those who have gone into gross sin? No! (Remember, we've all sinned, Rom 3:23.) If someone has been involved in deep sin, does that mean they are less valuable? No! However, I have often seen those who were saved at an early age feel inferior to those with great stories of sinfulness and wickedness out of which God redeemed them. But that's not the ideal. The ideal is that we would not become engrossed in deep sin, but accept Him early, and innocently, and purely. I'm often afraid the same thing can happen to those who keep themselves sexually pure, because the world says there's something wrong with you if you're pure. But God says, there's value in purity.

In summary, here's what I see as God's heart on the issue: He values purity. That's why I value purity. If I've lost it, it was sin, and that's tragic, and condemned me to hell. Christ died to give grace and redeem me from that. But every sin that I commit still has lasting effects on my life. Sin has real consequences. Once you lose your sexual purity, you can never get it back. Yes, God will forgive. Yes, God can miraculously heal the effects of sin, but He doesn't always do so. If I have baggage, God will give grace - that can be healed. Though most of the time the scars will never go completely away. Now, He doesn't stand over me and say you "you miserable little person you!" No, He weeps over my brokenness and is broken over my sin - we should have the same attitude. But even through it all, God still *wants* purity. That's His desire. And if you have kept yourself pure and continue to keep yourself pure, that is of huge value. If you find someone who has also kept themselves pure, that is of huge value. Never doubt the value of what God values.

Contentment

2011-06-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

We have a tendency to be discontented. Maybe it's because we're Americans. Maybe it's because we're modern. Maybe it's because we're fallen human beings. Why is it that we so often think that life isn't fair, that our lot should be better than it is?

Comparing ourselves to others – But we most often compare ourselves to those who have it 'better off,' and never is it holistic: We don't say, “Oh, they have it better here, but in this area they really have it rough.” We just look at what they have going for them and say, “why not me?”
Thinking we deserve better. We are bombarded with this thinking, in commercials, advertising. We need this. We deserve that. We should not face problems. Tough times are so 50 years ago – it's silver platter time now!
Perfectionism. Ok, go ahead and say it, perfectionism rocks! Perfectionism creates a state of discontentment in order to make things better, right? Sometimes. But perhaps more often it creates a goal unreachable which results in . . . discontentment.
Too high of expectations. Ok, so this is sort of the same. But it's easy to get too high of expectations for ourselves, for others, for God. We think we know what God's blessings should look like, or when we should get them. We can make them something much nicer than God ever promised.
Not trusting God. Discontentment stems from a lack of trust in God. Does He know what He's doing? Does He really love me? Does He really care?

I'm sure there are other sources or leads of discontentment, but I don't want to talk all night about discontentment, since that's not what this blog is about. I really want to talk about contentment.

I was reading Philippians 4 recently. It struck me in a different way, because I happened to read a verse out of order. Context is important, and the Scripture below is rearranged for emphasis, so I'm trusting that if you're not familiar with the full context of Philippians and especially chapter 4, that you go back and read it – but NOT until after you finish reading this blog :)

(4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

(11) For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

(6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

(12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

(9) The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

(7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

(8) Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

(19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

A couple things stood out to me in a different way than ever before. First, Paul is talking about God supplying needs when he himself was so often 'needy' (and yet he was content). Second, meditating on the true, pure, lovely, and good applies to more than simply good vs. evil. It also applies to positive vs. negative. Given the choice between focusing on how bad our lives are, or how well off we are, which is easier to think about? For me, the negative, which leads to complaining. Is that really true? Is that at all lovely? Is that praiseworthy? I don't think so. It becomes an exhortation not just to shun evil, but also to focus on the positive.

Here's the basic framework I see happening here: (Again, go back to Philippians for the full story and correct context.)

Rejoicing -->

Contentment -->

Dispelling Anxiety -->

Humility -->

Peace -->

Guarding/Security -->

Christ -->

Positive focus -->

Supply --> (Which brings us back to:)

Rejoicing and Contentment -->

We can Rejoice always

Because we've learned to be content

Instead of anxiety, we go to God in prayer

In humility – having learned how to suffer and abound (we don't assume that we should always have the best life)

Practicing this principle of humility, peace comes

Peace guards our heart and mind

through Christ (who enables us to do everything)

meditate on the positive

He will supply all our needs

Brings us back to the beginning, we can rejoice and be content

Our responsibility is to rejoice; to humble ourselves, realizing that we can both abound and suffer need; and to meditate on (focus on/think about) the positive.

And God will give His peace, which dispels anxiety and guards are heart and mind; give us the power of Christ, which is the enabling power in our lives; supply our needs.

God's supply may not fit our perception of what He should do, or what we think we deserve. But He still supplies our needs. We need to learn to be content with His supply, as Paul learned to be content no matter the circumstances. Now that releases anxiety. Now that brings peace. Now that is trusting God!

Here's some ways to help learn contentment (taken from a devotional book):

Consider how much harder others have it.
Ask God how He wants you to use your challenges for the growth of you and others.
Realize that just because something looks good doesn't mean it is. Erma Bombeck put it this way: “The grass usually looks greener over someone else's septic system.”
Pray for:

the courage to change what you can;
the grace to accept what you cannot change;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Facebook LifeStreaming

2011-06-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought, "I wish it were easier to tell my friends what I'm up to" or "I wish everybody could just see the real me"?

Well, your dreams have just come true. Facebook is introducing a new feature that will revolutionize social networking and change the way you interact with your friends, both online and offline. Scheduled for release on July 18, 2011, "Facebook LifeStreaming" brings the ultimate social experience to play and also boasts the easiest connection tools ever.

Facebook LifeStreaming works by simply inserting the wireless FLS chip near your brain, interfacing your thoughts with your cell phone app, computer, or any mobile device. The FLS chip then automatically streams directly to your Facebook LifeStream. With no need for any interaction from you, the FLS chip instantly posts all your actions, thoughts, and feelings on your LifeStream for all your friends to see, like, and comment. What's better, because LifeStreaming is instant and automatic, as soon as you make a move, or think a thought, it is instantly posted online for your friends to view, with no burdensome typing, posting, or thinking about what you'll say. No longer will your online representation be a static and partial picture of yourself. With Facebook LifeStreaming, friends will see the Real You like never before!

This never-before-seen experience allows you to communicate with your friends simply by thinking about them or mentioning their name, as LifeStreaming will also automatically tag them in your LifeStream post. All of your thoughts, feelings, actions, and more, all stored in one convenient place with absolutely no effort on your part - it couldn't get better! Except that the best part about LifeStreaming is that because it's connected directly to your brain, it will even share your subconscious thoughts and desires.

Some examples of posts you might see on the LifeStream include:

Jan is in love with Mark
Mark is lusting
Phyllis is gossiping about Jan - just told a secret that she promised not to tell
Jim is angry with Mark, wants to kill him right now
John just told a lie
Pat is crying because nobody cares
Jim really wants a new ipad, doesn't have the money, thinking about stealing one from the store
Josie just cut in front of an elderly lady and almost made her wreck

Of course, there's nothing stopping posts like this from showing up either:

Harold is doing the dishes, nobody knows
Janet is getting groceries for a neighbor who is bedfast
Frank is telling Jim how awesome his coworker Phil is
Margaret is praying for her mother's salvation
Paul is giving a lollypop to a little autistic boy
Charles just gave up his opportunity for a promotion so that he can spend more time with his wife and kids

All the good. All the bad. Everything that nobody knows. It's all out there - for everybody to see.

"For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops." (Luke 12:2-3, NKJV)

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NKJV)

Facebook LifeStreaming. What is your life streaming?

The Rime of the Ancient College Grad (Abridged Version)

2011-04-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

Part I

It is an ancient College Grad,

And he stoppeth one of three.

`By thy clean-shaven face and glittering eye,

Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?

The classroom doors are closing soon,

And I must speak today;

The bell hath rung, I'm all-nigh late:

Please let me hurry away.'

He holds him with his skinny hand,

"There was a hat," quoth he.

`Hold off! unhand me, clean-shaven loon!'

Eftsoons his hand dropped he.

He holds him with his glittering eye -

The Freshman Lad stood still,

And listens like a three years' child:

The College Grad hath his will.

“This hat werth new, it 'twerth not old,

Stealthily did it come,

Into the hall, onto our heads,

And perched upon us some.

It came as new but soon was called

A legend and tradition,

Some said 'no' – an imposter,

but was there no remission.

Day after day, on happiest days

This hat would show its brim.

The bringer cheered, the victim feared

And left the wearer grim.

Alas my part to end this strife

Upon me it was sat

'Why thence thou said?' - “From mine own head

I crushed the Birthday Hat.”

Part II

Birthdays, birthdays, everywhere,

And all the peeps did sing.

Birthdays, birthdays, everywhere,

But not a hat did bring.

Ah! well-a-day! What cheerful looks

Had I from old and young!

Flat it sat, the Birthday Hat

And praises of me were sung.”

Part III

(skipped in abridged version)

Part IV

The selfsame moment I could sing;

And from my head so free

The Birthday Hat fell to the floor

Like lead into the sea."

Part V

Alas then heard another voice,

As soft as honey-dew:

Quoth he, `The man hath greatness done,

And greater more will do.'

Part VI

I saw a third -I heard his voice:

It is the Hermit good!

He singeth loud his godly hymns

That he maketh in the glen.

He made of me this tale to tell:

The Birthday Hat's sad end.

Part VII

I pass, like night, from land to land;

I have strange power of speech;

That moment that his face I see,

I know the man that must hear me:

To him my tale I teach.

Farewell, farewell! but this I tell

To thee, thou Freshman Lad!

He prayeth well, who loveth well

Both man and bird and lid.

He prayeth best, who loveth best

All things both great and small;

For the dear God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all."

The College Grad, whose eye is mad,

Whose beard is shaven all,

Is gone; and now the Freshman Lad

Turned from the classroom wall.

He went like one that hath been stunned,

And is of sense forlorn:

A sadder and a wiser man

He rose the morrow morn.

April 20, 2011

Numbers

2011-01-31T19:00:00.000-08:00

I'm just one

What's this world coming two

If we're gonna be three

Then what's it really four

I'm feeling so divided

There's way too much subtracting

What more can I somehow add

'Cause I want one life two count!

Got to stay at five

So don't try any six

When you find yourself in seven

Then you'll really know you're eight

I'm feeling so divided

There's way too much subtracting

What more can I somehow add

'Cause I want one life two count!

Feelin' just nine

Don't want to stop ten

They've turned into X

And I don't know Y

I'm feeling so divided

There's way too much subtracting

What more can I somehow add

'Cause I want one life two count!

January 27, 2011

2011: Year of the Giants

2011-01-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

(Note: this is longer than usual, but it is mostly Scripture, so it's well worth reading :) )

We face giants. They come in many shapes and forms, but always the same size – big! Circumstances, situations, people, past, addictions, future, relationships, fears, hurts, trouble, the list goes on. There is always something bigger than us, beyond our abilities, greater than we can handle.

There they are now, those giants meeting us as we move into 2011: Staring us in the face, filling our lives with nothing but fear and promising us nothing but defeat.

Ah, but there is One greater than the giants! He specializes in defeating giants! And He's on your side!

He's even told us about some of them! Of Goliath (1 Sam 17).

4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the dservants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

20 So David . . . came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.

26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away othe reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

32 Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, druddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

But Goliath wasn't the only giant defeated!

Deuteronomy 3:11 (NKJV)

11 “For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants. Indeed his bedstead was an iron bedstead. (Is it not in Rabbah of the people of Ammon?) Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit.

Numbers 21:33-55 (NKJV)

33 And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.”

35 So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

Refusing to face the giants that God had placed before them won Israel 40 years in the wilderness and the death of all those Israelites who refused to face them (Num 13-14).

But for Caleb, the man that trusted in God, it meant victory.

Joshua 14:6-15 (NKJV)

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea.

7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’

10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim [giants] were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

15 And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim [giants]). Then the land had rest from war.

Judges 1:20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said. Then he expelled from there the three sons of Anak.

Joshua 11:21-22 (NKJV)

21 And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim [giants] from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.

22 None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.

Joshua 17:15-18 (NKJV)

15 So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”

16 But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.”

17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot,

18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”

2 Samuel 21:15-22 (NKJV) (cf. 1 Chronicles 20:4-8)

15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.

16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. . . .

18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant.

19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant.

21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

We could tell endless stories of giants defeated by God through His servants, of impossible situations overcome through God's power, of seemingly impossible transformations in people's lives, of the impossible not only becoming possible, but reality. The truth is, God is in the business of defeating giants. He did it for Moses, for David, for the New Testament church, all through church history, last year. And He's going to do it again this year, in 2011, the Year of the Giants.

Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."

Revelation 3:7-8 (NKJV)

7 "‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;'"

And so I'm asking you, right at the start of 2011, is anything too big for God? He wants to defeat some giants in your life this year Are you ready? God's going to defeat some giants in your life this year! Are you preparing?

Unfinished Song

2010-11-22T19:18:00.001-08:00

I feel like I'm falling with nowhere to land.

From peoples and nations I have been banned.

Lost with no compass, no vision, no map,

My constant condition: one sorry chap.

I'm a ship in the ocean tossed to and fro,

Lost out in space, I don't know where to go.

Wherever I end up, I don't belong

And I feel like an unfinished song.

Birds sing to others sweet melodies

But when I get near their songs quickly freeze.

I live in a vacuum – there's nothing else here –

My only companions: Confusion and Fear.

I'm a ship in the ocean tossed to and fro,

Lost out in space, I don't know where to go.

Wherever I end up, I don't belong

And I feel like an unfinished song.

My life is a mystery, I don't see the end;

I speak of great meaning but only pretend;

I just reach the finish to find that it's gone;

My only conclusion: an unfinished song.

I'm a ship in the ocean tossed to and fro,

Lost out in space, I don't know where to go.

Wherever I end up, I don't belong

And I feel like an unfinished song.

I'm a ship in the ocean tossed to and fro,

Lost out in space, I don't know where to go.

Wherever I end up, I don't belong

And I feel like an unfinished

June 25, 2010

This is not how I feel, but rather how I feel that I would feel if I were not a Christian. I have seen too many people lost without Christ that have absolutely no meaning or purpose. And I would have been one of them, if not for God's gracious intervention in my life, bringing me to the point of repentance and faith in Him. And He transformed my life, giving me meaning, purpose, hope, joy, peace, and thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving I am truly grateful for God's grace in making me His son, for giving my life purpose and meaning, and saving me from being an Unfinished Song.

". . . you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:12-13, NKJV)

Will You? (Give Up)

2010-11-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

There's a castle standing deep inside your soul.

You are still ruling: you're in complete control.

But God is calling; Give up the throne.

Let Him be King – Lord of everything!

Will you? Will you surrender?

Will you give up?

Will you give in?

Will you die to self?

Will you die to sin?

Will you step down?

Will you end the dual?

Will you give Him the crown?

Will you let Christ rule?

Will you?

You're the warrior fighting, struggling to survive.

Your head is spinning; you can't make it out alive.

And God is waiting for you to quit the fight.

Come live in Christ – yourself crucify!

Will you? Will you die?

Will you give up?

Will you give in?

Will you die to self?

Will you die to sin?

Will you step down?

Will you end the dual?

Will you give Him the crown?

Will you let Christ rule?

Will you?

You're sitting at a crossroads, which way will you go?

Part of you says yes, the other part screams no.

And God is weeping for your struggling soul.

End this fight today – give up anyway!

Will you? Will you now?

Will you give up?

Will you give in?

Will you die to self?

Will you die to sin?

Will you step down?

Will you end the dual?

Will you give Him the crown?

Will you let Christ rule?

Will you?

Strength, power, fame, control;

Work, job, money, soul;

Reputation, chance for fame;

Understanding, questions, brain;

Past, hurts, who you've been;

Need to fix, failures, sin;

Forgot, emotions, pain, weak;

Self, spirit, outlook, bleak

Thoughts, mind, what you'll be;

Plans, will, hopes, dreams;

Time, heart, love, strife

Things, lacks, all your life!

Will you give up?

Will you give in?

Will you die to self?

Will you die to sin?

Will you step down?

Will you end the dual?

Will you give Him the crown?

Will you let Christ rule?

Will you give up?

Will you give in?

Will you die to self?

Will you die to sin?

Will you step down?

Will you end the dual?

Will you give Him the crown?

Will you let Christ rule?

Will you?

Will you surrender?

Will you?

Will you die?

Will you?

Will you now?

Will you?

September 16, 2010

Cockroach

2010-08-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

Poor little cockroach, friend I just met,
I'd like to keep you as a pet. . . .
But that's too bad; that's too bad.

Poor little cockroach, friend I see,
Everybody thinks you're the enemy!
But that's too bad; that's too bad.

Poor little cockroach, friend of mine,
I never meant to cross the line. . . .
But that's too bad; that's too bad.

Poor little cockroach, friend I squished,
Aimed at the fly, but then I missed.
But that's too bad; that's too bad.

Poor little cockroach, friend of the past,
I always hoped our friendship would last.
But that's too bad; that's too bad.

Poor little cockroach, my best friend:
Never thought this would be the end.
But that's too bad; that's too bad.

Poor little cockroach, from long ago,
I want to tell you, want you to know:
That it's too bad; that's too bad.

© Daniel Lorimer
August 21, 2010

Burnt Chicken

2010-08-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Verse 1:
Early one fine afternoon I went into town,
Never would have guessed what was on the ground,
Sitting by the road all black with char.
I picked it up and put it in my car.

Chorus:
Burnt chicken: It's what's for supper tonight!
Burnt chicken: Yeah, it's a wondrous sight!
Burnt chicken:
Burnt chicken: That's when you know it's cooked right!

Verse 2:
Came up on the campus and what did I see?
People running out of the buildings!
Cooks had gotten just a little carried away.
Guess what we'll be eating this very day!

Verse 3:
A girl in the dorm tried to microwave.
But to her frustration it misbehaved.
Sadly that poor fowl was all she had to eat.
She was not so happy but it really is a treat!

Verse 4:
Went out in the woods for a mens' dorm party.
One of the guys fixed a specialty.
Hours on the grill charring in its own grease.
After they combusted we had a feast!

Verse 5:
Many, many years have passed since then.
I still like to keep a poultry pen.
Cook 'em up, fry 'em up, just a little scorched,
Sit back and eat 'em up on my front porch.

© Daniel Lorimer
August 15, 2010

8/9/10

2010-08-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

This day in history, I was alive.

8/9/10 is a significant day in history. It is a significant day for me, for you, for everyone. Why? Because this is a very unique date that will never happen again as long as we are alive (unless something very strange were to happen). It starts with 8 and increases linearly. Very unique. 8/9/10 - mark it down. Remember it.

Well, you can go ahead and forget it since you probably won't remember it anyway. Besides that, it's almost over. It's one of those once in a lifetime experiences that you might have missed. Maybe you did miss it. I almost did.

But every day is an 8/9/10 in its own way. Each a unique gift from God with unique opportunities, challenges, and experiences. You'll never get to revisit them. It will never come back again. Very unique. Every day - mark it down. Remember it.

West 64

2010-07-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

I'm ready to take a trip on West 64.
'Cause this life ain't worth living no more.
Without you by my side,
I'm ready to take this ride.
So I'll just take your car and go
East, on West 64.

If you ever miss me, I don't want to know.
You've had your chance, but were too slow.
This is the end.
I won't be back again.
I'm in your car going
East, on West 64.

232 cars have come and gone.
But I'm still right here going strong.
No one can stop me,
Just you wait and see.
I'm in your car going
East, on West 64.

Next time you go driving on West 64.
Maybe you'll stop to love just once more.
I'm one of those crosses -
One of those losses -
I took your car and went
East, on West 64.

© Daniel Lorimer
July 3, 2010

Little Red Riding Hood

2010-05-20T20:12:00.001-07:00

Little Red Riding Hood
Did what she knew she should,
Lived by good principle.

But kids scorned and mocked her
Be-cause of her color,
Made her life miserable.

She went home to mom and dad,
But that's what made life so sad.

They both were working,
Their real job shirking.
They never were there for their child.

They worked all day
Just to repay
All of the debt they'd acquired.

A house and a boat and three cars:
Had to live life like the stars.

That's not what she needed
When she was mistreated.
She needed a mom and a dad.

But they were not home.
She lived on her own;
Left by herself she was sad.

The days dragged on like years.
She lived her life in tears.

She went back to school;
The kids there were cruel.
They laughed and they mocked her again.

Her grades started failing;
Her face started paling.
Her parents were still busy then.

They'd bring her gifts but then go.
Their girl they never did know.

She went through the forest
To grandmother Norris;
She knew that her grandma would care.

She stopped for a rest,
Still quite depressed;
She broke down and cried again there.

Oh, what had her life become?
She'd reached the very bottom.

A wolf came in view,
Said that he knew
All of her struggle and strife.

He said that he'd help her
To make it all better,
Then reached out and gave her a knife.

Her grandmother found her that day,
But by then it was too late!

Her body was lifeless,
Though she had been priceless,
But love she never did know.

Her parents, still busy,
Now made time to be
What they should have been long ago.

If only before today –
It might not have ended this way.

© Daniel Lorimer
May 19, 2010

(Backstage: This is a part of a series of songs that play off of familiar childhood stories, rewritten toward a broader audience with a twist (or rewrite) in the storyline to convey a new message.)

Ever Been Lied to?

2010-05-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a book entitled "American Education" by Joel Spring. I recently was struck by comments he made about the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II. He asks the question, “Why were Japanese Americans interned in concentration camps but not the descendants of other U.S. enemies, such as German and Italian Americans?”(1) He then goes on to explain that it was because of racial prejudice.

Ah, yes. The Japanese internments during WWII. I've heard about that. I'm sure most people read about it in school. In fact, this is the truth that we've been taught in schools for years. Tens of thousands of Japanese were sent to detention camps, many of very poor quality, resulting in many Japanese Americans dying in those camps during the war.(2) This is the story we've been told, and apparently, we're sticking to it.

But, have you ever stopped to question what you've been told? Just how much of it is true?

I asked this question when I read Spring's statements because not too many weeks prior, I read a news article that the Texas Board of Education passed an amendment to their curriculum to include information about the internment of German and Italian Americans during WWII as well as Japanese internment.(3) This curriculum change would indicate that the major reason for internment was war-time activity, not so much racial prejudice as Spring claims.

On the opposite side, the Texas Board ruling has drawn flak claiming that they are twisting history to fit their own views.(4) So I asked the question, who's twisting history?

Huge numbers of Japanese Americans were relocated during World War II. This relocation effort started after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Through the extent of the war, about 110 thousand Japanese were relocated.(5)

Also during the war were intern camps that housed German and Italian Americans. Though the numbers were not as high for these other nationalities, their numbers were still significant. About fifteen thousand German and Italians were interned during the course of the war.(6) Not all of those held in intern camps had been in the United States. Some were from Latin America. However, these intern camps were not dedicated to only Japanese, they were shared by descendants of the enemy Axis powers.(7) We even have stories of Germans and Italians who were interned during the war.(8) It is obvious that the treatment of the Japanese in America during World War II was not limited to the Japanese. One article also points out the difference between the Japanese that were relocated and those who were actually placed in intern camps (which were different). According to that estimate, the number of Japanese who were actually interned was much closer to the number of Germans, even though many more Japanese were relocated.(9)

Even so, it may do us good to take a look at the numbers for the Japanese and some of the reasons that they were relocated or interned.

Numbers can lie, and we don't want to fall into that trap. Wes Injerd has done extensive study regarding the Japanese Americans during World War II. He gives details regarding the figures of Japanese who were relocated. Many Japanese Americans were not relocated at all. Of the 110 thousand relocated, seventy-two thousand were U.S. citizens and over half of the citizens were minors. The significance here is that many children who were U.S. citizens had parents who were first-generation immigrants (and thus would be more likely to be connected with Japan). Also, around thirteen thousand of the Japanese Americans joined the military, thousands of others were not at the relocation camps very much either because of seasonal leave for work, and other gone to colleges and universities.(10)

Several other things may be interesting to note in discerning the racial discrimination against the Japanese. If the discrimination were again Asians or Orientals in general, why were Japanese the only Asian nationality treated as they were during the war? Other nationalities, like Chinese (China was an ally) served alongside other Americans in the military and other functions and were not forced to relocate or placed in intern camps.

Injerd points out that many of the Japanese relocated willingly or volunteered to relocate, that there were no escape attempts from the relocation camps (he also confirms the distinction between the relocation camps that were very lenient and housed most Japanese, and the internment camps that were more like prison camps for people who had been arrested for various reasons), that the living conditions, though poor, were similar to or better than what many of them had before.(11)

Also, as I've already pointed out, and as Injern emphasizes in his work, Japanese relocation came as a result (or immediate effect) of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese had invaded U.S. soil and there was a lot of legitimate fear that they would try to invade the west coast. And why fear Japanese Americans? For one, there were several Japanese organizations and clubs in the west coast area that were very anti-U.S (and would thus pose a security threat).(12) The truth is, there were loyalists among all of the Axis nationalities in the Unites States. The sad part of any war is that many who are innocent will suffer with the guilty.

Was there racism? Yes. Racism is always a problem. There were Americans of many nationalities (even Japanese) that were prejudiced against the Japanese. But was racism the cause of the massive Japanese relocation during World War II? After my research, I don't think so. Excuse me, Mr. Spring, but I think you need to do a little more research before making statements that are false. When I study, I would like to be studying the truth.

So what do you think? Do you believe the stories of extreme racism that prompted the relocation of so many Japanese Americans during the war? Or might it have been mostly an attempt to protect ourselves against all of our enemy nations?

Who's lying to who? Who are the ones trying to contort history?

References

(1) Spring, Joel. (2008). American Education (13th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

(2) Kareem, Nandra. (2010, March 18). Texas Board of Education's Controversial New Curriculum. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://racerelations.about.com/b/2010/03/18/texas-board-of-educations-controversial-new-curriculum.htm

(3) New York Times. (2010, March 12). Texas Conservatives Win Curriculum Change. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html

(4) Kareem, 2010; New York Times, 2010.

(5) Truman Library. (n.d.). The War Relocation Authority and The Incarceration of Japanese-Americans During World War II. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/japanese_internment/1943.htm

(6) Everything2.com. (2001, September 7). German Internment Camps in World War II. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://everything2.com/title/German+Internment+Camps+in+World+War+II

(7) Brosveen, Emily. (n.d.). WORLD WAR II INTERNMENT CAMPS. Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/quwby.html

(8) Davies, David. (n.d.). Germans Interned in Texas during WWII. Texas Public Radio. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://www.tpr.org/news/2009/01/news0901141.html; Kerr, K. (2009, September 20). Italian-Americans Imprisoned: The Internment of Italian-Americans during World War II. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://modern-us-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/betrayed_by_america

(9) Everything2.com.

(10) Injerd, Wes. (n.d.). The Preservation of a People: A Look at the Evacuation and Relocation of the People of Japanese Ancestry in the United States during World War II. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://home.comcast.net/~eo9066/Intro.html

(11) Injerd, Wes. (n.d.).

(12) Injerd, Wes. (n.d.).

Birthday Song

2010-04-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

In the days leading up to my birthday, I was thinking about John Paul Stevens and his recent news that he is retiring from the supreme court. That may not matter as much to others, but you see, Justice Stevens and I have something in common. We share the same date of birth.

That got me thinking about others born on my birthday:
There were many, and had different paths and different routes, some were kings, composers, politicians, actors, sport stars....
571 - Muhammad, (traditional date) Prophet and founder of Islam
1494 - Johannes Agricola, German Protestant reformer
1718 - David Brainerd
1889 - Adolf Hitler
1920 - John Paul Stevens, as I mentioned, retiring from Supreme Court - 2nd oldest Supreme Court Justice
1972 - Carmen Electra
1936 - Pat Roberts

But I wasn't just thinking about people born on my birthday, for many also died on the day that I was born:
1314 - Pope Clement V, Bertrand Got, pope (1305-14) move papacy to Avignon, dies
1759 - George Friedrich Handel, buried in Westminster Abbey (died 6 days before)
1769 - Pontiac, indian chief of the Ottawa, murdered
1812 - George Clinton, 4th U.S. Vice President, dies at 73 1st Vice President to die in office
1906 - Australian wombat; oldest known marsupial, dies in London Zoo at 26
1947 - Christian X, king of Denmark (1912-47), dies at 76
1999 - Cassie Bernall, Rachel Joy Scott, many others, Columbine High School massacre
2010 - Today, it is estimated that over 100 thousand children will be denied the opportunity of having a birthday. 3,700 of those in the United States alone.

But not only have their been births and deaths - there have been many notable events on my birthday as well:
295 - 8th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet
1770 - Captain Cook arrives in New South Wales
1775 - British begin siege of Boston (Revolutionary War)
1792 - France declares war on Austria, the beginning of French Revolutionary Wars.
1777 - New York adopts new constitution as an independent state
1799 - Napoleon issues a decree calling for establishing Jerusalem for Jews
1853 - Harriet Tubman starts Underground Railroad
1861 - Colonel Robert E. Lee resigns from Union army
1879 - 1st mobile home (horse drawn) used in a journey from London and Cyprus
1902 - Marie and Pierre Curie isolate radioactive element radium
1904 - Louisiana Purchase Exposition opens in St. Louis (1904 World's Fair)
1910 - Halley's Comet passes 29th recorded perihelion at 87.9 million km
1916 - German-British sea battle off Belgian coast
1918 - Manfred von Richthofen, The Red Baron, shoots down his 79th + 80th victims marking his final victories before his death the following day.
1920 - Tornadoes kill 219 in Alabama and Mississippi
1920 - 7th modern Olympic games opens in Antwerp Belgium
1936 - Jews repel an Arab attack in Petach Tikvah Palestine
1941 - 100 German bombers attack Athens
1944 - NFL legalizes coaching from bench
1945 - Soviet troops enter Berlin
1947 - Frederik IX becomes king of Denmark
1961 - Failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of US-backed troops against Cuba.
1963 - All Africa Conferences of Churches opens in Kampala Uganda
1967 - U.S. planes bomb Haiphong for 1st time during Vietnam War
1970 - Bruno Kreisky becomes 1st socialist chancellor of Austria
1971 - U.S. Supreme Court upholds use of busing to achieve racial desegregation
1972 - Apollo 16 landed on the moon commanded by John Young.
1976 - George Harrison sings lumberjack song with Monty Python
1978 - Korean Airlines flight 902 shot down by Soviets in Russian airspace
1983 - President Reagan signs a $165B bail out for Social Security
1986 - U.S. performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1986 - Michael Jordan sets all-time record for points in NBA playoff game with 63 against Boston Celtics
1988 - Baltimore Orioles set worst record to start a season 0-14 (will go 0-21)
1992 - Madonna signs $60-million deal with Time Warner
1993 - Uranus passes Neptune (once every 171 years)
1994 - Serbian army bombs hospital in Goradze Bosnia, 47 killed
1996 - Chicago Bulls win record 72 games in a season
1999 - Columbine High School massacre
2007 - Johnson Space Center Shooting

Sources:
http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_20
http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysbirth/birth_april_20.html

All of these wonderings led to the Birthday Song:

Birthday Song

Everybody's singing that “Happy Birthday” song.
One day in the year that nothing can go wrong.
Everybody knows you so you need not sing along.
It's the time of year when you feel like you be-long.

Chorus:
Happy Birth-day, It's a great day.
Happy Birth-day, In a new way.
Happy Birth-day!

But not everybody's birthday is a time that they rejoice.
They feel they've been shortchanged in their life's grand invoice.
They look back at all the years wasted by their choice.
And we hear the lingering sorrow wafting in their voice.

But God can make a birthday something greater than the past.
A day of new beginnings; horizons that are vast.
As we pummel through the years moving very fast.
God can turn your day of birth into a life that will last!

So don't look back on your birth day and wish that you had died.
Don't accept a life that takes you on a constant downhill slide.
Look to Christ who will redeem from without and from inside.
Make your Birthday a reminder of your God in whom you abide.

© Daniel Lorimer
April 20, 2010

Ever Wondered What I'm Thinking?

2010-04-07T19:37:00.001-07:00