Monday, June 29, 2009

Religious Values and Government

By Tom Moore


The second President of the United States, John Adams, said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for a government of any other.” In other words, unless we abide by biblical principles the Constitution will not function properly. Is John Adams right? Can our society survive without a biblically based faith? There are many who would say that religion does not have the influence it once had. That may be true. But they go on to say that religion is no longer relevant, that is, not necessary to creating a good world, but there are no absolutes, no objective truth. The former Governor of Minnesota, Jessie Ventura, said, “Religion is for those weak in mind.” Was he right?


Say you are walking down an alley at 11:00 p.m. in New York, Miami, or Los Angeles. The dim streetlights illumine your car 300 yards away. Suddenly you see ten young men wearing leather jackets swaggering down the alley toward you. Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable if you knew that those young men had just come out of a Bible study? In spite of what they say in polls, on the most practical level, people acknowledge religion’s positive influence.


Our society cannot exist without Christianity. This is why Solomon declared, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to my people” (Prov. 14:34).


–Tom Moore, Temple, TX; via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com You may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Cross & The Flag


"It is an infallible reminder that our greatest hope and faith rests upon two mighty symbols-the cross and the flag; the one based upon those immutable teachings which provide the spiritual strength to persevere along the course which is just and right, the other based upon the invincible will that human freedom shall not perish from the earth."

- Gen. Douglas MacArthur; via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com You may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com


Monday, June 15, 2009

Some Views of Government


“I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” (Winston Churchill)

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” (George Bernard Shaw)

“Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.” (Frederic Bastiat, French Economist, 1801-1850)

“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.” (P.J. O’Rourke)

“Talk is cheap—except when Congress does it.” (Unknown)

“I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” (Will Rogers)

-Submitted by Don Henwood; via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com You may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com


Sunday, June 7, 2009

Service

A MAN WAS discussing how empty his life was, and he knew that something had to be changed...

This might appear strange, because he had all of the outward signs of success -- at least those the world prized highly.

To illustrate the void in his life he said, "The only happiness I have had lately was something that happened the last time I came to services. That was a day when the temperatures dropped noticeably while we were at worship. As I began to drive off the parking lot, I noticed an elderly couple leaving. They did not have coats because they lived so close, and they had walked to services. It was cold, so I turned around and drove over to them. I rolled my window down and insisted, in spite of their reluctance, that they let me take them home. That feeling of being helpful was the greatest thing I had felt in a long, long time."

THOUGHT: Life is at its best when we're doing good for others. Much of the depression experienced by millions stems from being too self-focused. The harder people try to please themselves and lay hold of happiness, the more frustratingly elusive satisfaction becomes. God made our eyes to look outward not inward. As we key in on the hurts and pains of our neighbors, surprisingly our own petty grievances seem to shrink in proportion. Maybe, secretly, we realize that if we can help others cope with life, there is hope for us too. (Kerry Knight)

KneEmail: "...I know that here is nothing better for man than to be happy and do good while they live" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Bible reading for 02.06.09: Mark 10:1-31; Deuteronomy 1, 2

- Mike Benson edits an on-line devotional entitled KneEmail. To subscribe, send ANY message to: kneemail-subscribe@welovegod.org Mike may be contacted at mlbenson@wowway.com


Monday, June 1, 2009

Dad - This Is For You

This is for you, Dad, for the father I love, for the one who has cared all these years but has never heard enough about how much I care.

So this is for you, for the one who has helped me through all my childhood fears and failures, and turned all that he could into successes and dreams; For the man who is a wonderful example of what more men should be; for the person whose devotion to his family is marked by gentle strength and direction, and down-to-earth wisdom make more sense to me now than nearly any other thing I learned.

If you knew how much I respect you, I want you to know it now, Dad, and if you never knew how much I admire you, let me just say that I think you’re the best father that any child ever had.

These words are filled with love, Dad, and they’re all for you.

- Author Unknown