A small victory for liberty

Lawmakers quickly point fingers after bailout fails

Energy Efficient Homes

A link was passed my way and I thought I'd pass it on. Although I think it applies more to new construction, it should still offer many tips to current homeowners.

http://www.dougrye.com/

Managed "Free" Market

Conservatives: 'Take a breath' before passing bailout

"Nobody wants to do this. Nobody wants to be involved in this. Nobody wants to take the chance, but I would argue... if we do nothing, we are jeopardizing our economy, jobs and people's retirement security," [Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, the top Republican in the House] said.

"[I]f we do nothing" is exactly what this country needs from you Sir. Please do nothing and allow the economy to right itself.

Shameful behavior

Commentary: Christian bookstore's shameful actions

Story Highlights
Lifeway stores put Christian magazine behind counter

Magazine featured female pastors on its cover

Lifeway has no respect for freedom of the press, Martin says

Lifeway, Southern Baptist Convention should apologize, he says

What gives religion a bad name? Behavior so described and responses of the like. Yes, it is true the bookstores should have been more professional. But deal with it on that level. The moment you start making it a religious issue then professionalism isn't what the true story is about, but the real story is one of retaliation for hurting his wife's feelings.

We can deal with the polemics in another forum but to give your interpretation of doctrine is to add insult to injury. Furthermore you undermine the authority of scripture by claiming that not all of scripture is God breathed and given by Him. Even when Paul said "this is my own thoughts," was he not carried along by the Spirit?

The very breath of God

John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Interesting, C.S. Lewis makes use of this picture of Christ with his character of Aslan. God breathing is an amazing thing. Oh, what wonders wrought by the very breath of God!

Whether He meant for them then to receive or later to receive, it would seem very awkward if it was Jesus returning only in a different form. Other passages would also be awkward to read if there are not three distinct persons in the Godhead.

May God heal our land

2 Chronicles 32:25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. 26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

And that folks is the only mention of sin in Hezekiah. Not that he was nearly perfect or any other such nonsense, but it goes to show you that no one is perfect. Even those we would highly esteem are not perfect. I do not remember where I read this but someone pointed out that the only person mentioned in the Bible (besides Jesus) who is mentioned without a speaking of his sin is Joseph (assuming that Jesus did not sin and for Joseph it is not spoken of).

Even after these verses it goes on to laud Hezekiah with more praise. Just remember, he was but a man. Getting beyond that however he is worthy of looking up to and we should all strive to be like him (amongst others we should be like of course). He came out of a time of wickedness and restored a godly social order. No he was not perfect but what he did was acceptable to God so that God would heal the land. I pray that we too could restore a godly social order and that we might do the right thing if not in exactly the right way but that God may still heal our land.

God and War

2 Chronicles 32:8 "With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Does this apply today? Could we say that "God is with us" when we go to battle (i.e. given a just war)? Does this mean we wouldn't have to fight or be the best war fighters we could be?

I think that would be an extremist view of the verse. Notice in the second part of the verse that God would "help" them and "fight" their battles. But God cannot help those who do nothing. God could fight the battle for those who do nothing but it appears that He wouldn't always do that. So given the case that He 'merely' helps, what is the scenario? Men fight with all their ability and they win because God has deemed it so. That is true in any case. If we win or lose it is because God has deemed it so.

So when was the last time that America won? Makes you wonder...

2 Chronicles 32:17 He also wrote letters to insult the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand." 18 They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city. 19 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men's hands. 20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven. 21 And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword. 22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

The God of the Old Testament

Selections from the narrative:

2 Chronicles 30:3 since they could not celebrate [the Passover] at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem.

9 "...For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him."

but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. (vs. 10)

11 Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD. 16 They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to the LORD. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD pardon 19 everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary." 20 So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (Emphasis mine.)

25 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. 27 Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

2 Chronicles 31:20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God. 21 Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.

God requires holiness.

God accepts less.

God requires absolute obedience to a rigid standard.

God helps us to keep His law by direct aid through the Holy Spirit and by declaring us righteous because of the work of Christ on the cross.

Perfectionism is an unachievable earthly ideal. In heaven we will be perfect. Moderation and a heart that desires/loves God is an achievable earthly concept.

God wants true worshipers, He wants people who will come to His marriage supper when He invites them, He wants people who are poor in spirit, He wants obedience rather than sacrifice, He wants us to be fully devoted to Him.

In our current state we will not give God what He requires without Him first giving it to us to give to Him. All in all we will become more like Him each day and will continue this process of growth through all of eternity. If this is true then why fret the small stuff? Worry first about the big picture: am I saved? do I love God and follow Him? am I giving Him His due in my life? in every area of my life? and so on...working towards the details understanding that God still does require holiness.

Truly this man was the Son of God

John 18:38-40 38 Pilate said..."I find no guilt in Him.

John 19:1-42 1 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him.

John 19:7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God." 8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; 9 and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" 11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

A response only the Son of God would give. Any mere mortal would have cowered at the thought of the loss of his life but Jesus had no reason to fear. Previously Pilate said "Behold, the Man!" but after this exchange with Jesus, Pilate was a bit more subdued and said "Behold, your King!" Even Pilate was afraid of what might God do to him if he had Jesus crucified.

But his superstitious fear was not greater than his fear that the people would spread the word that Pilate was an enemy of Caesar. His immediate situation was at stake and this proved to be a stronger incentive for Pilate, but to try and become an outsider to this Jewish affair he "washes his hands" of the situation and "Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified."

God's or man's works?

2 Chronicles 29:36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

Did Hezekiah restore a godly order on his own initiative? Was it by God's direction? Is free will and sovereignty antithetical?

Psalm 85:1 O LORD, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin. Selah. 3 You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Your salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven. 12 Indeed, the LORD will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce. 13 Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.

I guess it is God. But don't think that human responsibility is denied by affirming God as sovereign. Just because it may not make sense right now to affirm both doesn't mean you should throw one of these biblical truths away. Hezekiah did some amazing things, inspiring really. But God also worked out some wonderful things through Hezekiah and Judah/Israel. So we ought to pray that what we do is God's will because He is going to get His way no matter what. And we should be thankful when what we do is acceptable to God.