Written 2010 The fight is on to decide if the American people will pay more in income taxes in 2011. Our congressional leaders are busy positioning themselves right and left. Some say they want no more tax increases of any kind while others are saying we ought to tax the rich another bite. Taxes… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachGod gives us many unlimited blessings—grace, forgiveness, peace, but one gift that is not unlimited is time. The Bible instructs us to redeem the time and this is a lesson that God is teaching me. When my oldest children were very young, each day dragged. I counted the hours and minutes until Daddy came home,… Read more »
Posted by Kara MurphyThe spectacle of the Kermit Gosnell trial has captured the attention of quite a lot of Americans these past few weeks. At first the major news outlets refused to air the story but eventually they were shamed into talking about this sordid case. We have been dragged (shall we say) kicking and screaming through the… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachAlex was all of five years old. Her sibling had done something to her, I don’t remember what, and she was scandalized. She pointed up the stairs where the hardened little criminal had disappeared, and she looked at Brett, her eyes blazing fire. “Get him!” He was ‘got.’ And that was the end of that…. Read more »
Posted by Noel AdamsHalf the church was there. It’s not a large church. About three hundred souls in total. But they were there. Truly there. Fully there. There for her. She lay in bed, above them, directly in the path of hymns and spiritual songs wafting to heaven, to God’s ears. To hers through a small opening in… Read more »
Posted by Eric OwensWe went to a party today. And when I say party, I don’t mean the sanitized Christian kind where there are…Christians. I mean PARTYYYY party. One of Brett’s old co-workers had turned 50, and she was throwing a big bash out at the lake house. She even invited Brett and me–and our whole family. She… Read more »
Posted by Noel AdamsThere is a lot of fear out there over what our government will do next. Will we be taxed insensible? Will our guns and gold be seized? Will homeschooling remain legal? Must we obtain more registrations and numbers from the central government? Are the banks going bankrupt? Will the dollar devalue into uselessness? Things have… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachIt is Holy Week, and this season, always grabs me by surprise. The word of its coming blows past my unlistening ears carried away on winds of hurry, work, and inattention. The days approach, but my soul may be prepared—unprepared. How precisely, does one prepare for the greatest solemn gift without somehow diminishing its value?… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachWhat is Patriotism? Patriotism seems to have a distinctive meaning. It is difficult to think of a synonym. For instance, ‘loyalty’ does not exactly capture the heart of what patriotism is. Love of country is closer, but, ‘love of country’ is not one word and so cannot be a synonym for anything (Do I have… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThere is a lot of wailing right now about the coming crash, the mid-east spoiling for war, Israel at battle stations, and the general unwinding of the American system. There are a whole lot of my evangelical brethren who believe we are at the end of the age. Not just the end of politics as… Read more »
Posted by Donald Schanzenbach“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings” Psalm 17:8 Rand Paul’s grand filibuster speech this week pointed up the concerns many of us have about the growing fleets of drones being operated by agencies of government at every level. It seems the governments find it almost… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachSuper Storm Sandy, Katrina, western drought, northern snow records, have all been supposed evidence of global climate change. With every troubling weather event we are informed with dire assertions and breathless prophetic assurances that surely, we are seeing the hand of omnipotent nature slapping us again for our infractions against the planet. Have we angered… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThe drug war, so called, has become a fixture in the news cycle as every city, county, federal agent, cop, detective, undercover agent, or agency hack of whatever stripe, has stacked up his career arrest record picking up anybody that has a bit of weed or a little package of naughty powder stuffed under a… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThe great sin we all remember from the Old Testament stories is that of idolatry. With tiresome repetition we have read of the Israelites whoring after the idol gods of Baal, Asherah, Moloch and others. We read how they burned incense to them on every hill and under every green tree. They were sent prophets who warned… Read more »
Posted by Donald Schanzenbach…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ Colossians 2:8 The idea that neutrality may exist in any classroom is an evil illusion. It… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachOne of the key Scriptures delineating God’s mind is found at Deuteronomy 6:6–9: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThe old insult, “Your mama wears combat boots” may reflect an out-dated sentiment pretty soon. With Leon Panetta’s approval of women in combat we are forced to ask if mama ought to be issued those boots? Or, have we now pushed a supposedly good idea beyond its useful application? Some people want to make this… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachIn politics we are told, the art of compromise is brought to bear fruitfully in the struggle between parties and opposing ideals. The cherished hopes of right and left, conservative and liberal, are often fought under the precept that everyone must give a little in order to reach an agreement. Compromise then, is seen as… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachAfter 40 years of public battles over this American holocaust there is no end in sight. Pro-life (or ostensibly pro-life as we shall see) activists have lobbied, picketed, introduced legislation, worked on committees, and in general made noise for their position. Entrenched against the pro-life advocates stands the unyielding pro-abortion crowd. As we enter this… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThe Lion is on the move in Myanmar. As the Son of God breaths on the snow-covered hills of what was once called Burma, we can now begin to see lush green meadows crowned with the flowers of faith. Shut off from the rest of the world for many years by a repressive military junta,… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Mark RobinetteIn this first week of January, 2013, the Hobby Lobby legal fight is an opening salvo marking an historic moment for America and the American church. With the results of the presidential election in, and the direction seemingly set for our aggregate futures, it may be more than a bit surprising to the non-Christian (even… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachIt started in 1866, that is, the beginning of gun control laws in Ottoman Turkey. Article 166 was the first, then further laws were enacted in 1911 and 1915. First permits were required, then came a government list of all gun owners, and finally, a ban on possession. It was gradual. The entire process took… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachWith Christmas now at hand, our hearts are naturally turned toward the mystery and wonder of Jesus. I say mystery and wonder because everywhere I look in Scripture the writing about the incarnation is revealing, and yet shrouded where we cannot penetrate, or, at least defies full understanding. Jesus told us He is our brother… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThis week’s mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut instantly became the talk across America. Everyone wondered how anyone could so callously murder twenty little kids, and six adults, with seemingly no remorse. It is an ugly day, a tragic era, when these kinds of things are brought before our faces. It is disconcerting to me though,… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachReporting From Gnome Alaska In what may be a disturbing report, Mission to Restore America researchers have uncovered a previously frozen, block-buster story of the most famous resident residing north of the Yukon, Chris Kringle, AKA Santa Claus, occasionally also using the alias St. Nick. Normally sheltered from public scrutiny, Mr. Claus has recently been… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachAll this talk about the fiscal cliff has gotten the attention of more Americans than any economic question in recent months. A problem like this is made more quantifiable when a date is attached, January 1st. It is like a cheap alien flick where the invading space ships have been detected, their speed calculated, and… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThe spirit of thanksgiving invaded some of our homes this week. It is queer how, while knowing we ought always to be thankful, the habit is so little practiced. I am like you. We are all busy, distracted might be accurate. Life, in its multi-facets careens around us. Ohhhh, shiny object, look what I bought!… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachIt has been popular of late for liberals and atheists to agitate for, Taxing the Church. Facebook has their graphics traveling about with claims that the civil government could raise $70,000,000,000 a year by this means. Man, that is a huge sum! As a practical matter we can be certain the idea would never work as… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachWith a gasp of horror, conservative Christians felt their hearts ripped loose as the election counts came in. Anyone having the slightest caution of Biblical understanding reasoned that the American people have just received a severing blow to their pocketbooks and their freedom. Like a gravity bomb from 10,000 feet, the impending crash appears predestined…. Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachI am blessed to serve a wonderful church full of many unique and gifted households. While there is great diversity in our congregation, we also share many important commonalities and goals, one of which is to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. This… Read more »
Posted by Rev. James McDonaldAs the number of innocents killed mounts it seems to me that we have to ask ‘how many are too many’ in our war against terror. Now, I understand that in an absolute measure there are no innocent people. I am speaking about innocent people in the sense that they have not violated God’s law… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachIt is strange how normal it is for us 21st century Christians to assume, just like the society around us, that if anybody needs help it is the duty of the government to provide that help. It’s hard to think about life in any other way. If people can not afford rent we expect government rent… Read more »
Posted by Donald SchanzenbachThe author gives us an unflinching look at the human condition. This statement could be a back of the cover publicity blurb for the Old Testament probably written by J.I. Packer. Surely few of us would eagerly attend the motion picture entitled: All The Stuff That Happened In The Pages Of The Old Testament. We’d… Read more »
Posted by Eric OwensIt is hard to convince your average American citizen that they live in a tyranny. If you look at the sheer quantity of laws, the take of government as a percentage of the Gross National Product, and the abrogation of the bill of rights, this country is far more tyrannical than it was for George… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Kevin SwansonWhile recently enjoying the company of another family in our home, the conversation segued from the possible benefits of a college education to post-apocalyptic survival (Maybe I put too many chilies in the beans). As you can imagine, the discussion was stimulating and we had plenty of chips and salsa to munch on so a… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Laurence WindhamWe read in 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Wait a second, the greatest of these is “love”? Does Paul really mean that? That love comes before, is the ground perhaps for faith and hope? In the Reformed world we place faith as… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Jeff SwansonHear the words of this preacher. In all thy preaching, preach grace. Preach God’s glorious unmerited favor. Forget her not: neither decline from the words of God’s mouth. Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee (from another gospel); love her and she shall keep thee (from offering another Christ). Grace is the principal thing,… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Mark RobinetteEvery Monday we receive a basket full of organic fruits and vegetables grown by our local farmer friend. I know a little about the hard work and toil that goes into each basket. It requires good seed, good soil, good water, and plenty of good hard work. There is no short cutting the process. There… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Marion LovettWe live on two beautiful acres in the middle of nowhereIllinois. When God moved us from the concrete suburbs ofKaty,Texasto the fertile soil of theMidwest, we had dreams of a lush garden filled with easy-to-grow vegetables and fruit trees. Though we had enjoyed our backyard garden in southeastTexas, we looked forward to a more extensive… Read more »
Posted by Rev. James McDonaldAttending to the funeral and burial of a parent, as I did last week, does something to you. It violates the way things should be. I imagine everyone who has done this has experienced hard to explain, but very real topsy-turvy feelings that accompany this event. Reflection upon the past, revisiting past pleasures and hurts… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Robert BarnesIt’s too bad that Dickens’ old Scrooge is remembered in terms of “bah, humbug.” I mean, after all he did change, and his latter end was night and day compared to his rough start. I can say the same for myself… In fact, even David prayed that the Lord would not remember the sins of… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Roger ErberIn the 20th century, it became common to dismiss the visible church as an unnecessary tradition of men. The modern said, “You don’t have to join a church to be a Christian.” We had become “wise” and discarded the outdated church. Contrary to this, stood Cyprian’s ancient claim, “You cannot have God for your Father… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Steven WarhurstIt is interesting to note when looking at the account of Adam and Eve in the garden that, before the fall, they had only one temptation to deal with. ONE. Don’t eat the forbidden fruit. Now, we know that the fall had more to do with eating fruit. In fact, one could make the case… Read more »
Posted by Rev. Jay Barfield