Quote of the Day: Martin Luther on Grace vs. the Law

Quote of the Day:

By Martin Luther

"But because they try to get the right of children and heirs by the righteousness of the law or by their own righteousness, they are slaves and never receive the inheritance, even though they tire themselves to death with continual labor, for they set about obtaining, by their own works rather than by the will of God, what God by mere grace gives to all believers for Christ's sake.  Faithful people also work well, but it is not by doing so that they are made sons and heirs (that is what their birth brings them); they do so in order that, being now made children and heirs, they might glorify God by their good works and help their neighbors."~Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians

When Life Goes Wrong...He Will Make It Right!

My plans are laid out, every part carefully thought over. I know what I want out of this life, and now it's my chance to get it. I begin the journey with a courage that borders on arrogance. Nothing can stop me! I pursue the glorious halls of knowledge with a voracious appetite, devouring every last morsel. I work and work until I reach that first goal...I walk to the podium and stretch out my hand to receive the document that claims I am educated. There is a distant emptiness that beckons as I suddenly feel loneliness, but I shake off the feeling and press on. Next step, find the love of my life and begin the process of building a family. With effort, I have achieved another goal! My soul rejoices as the achievements continue to stack up. Again there is that tugging at the corner of my mind and heart, but this time it is a familiar feeling. It is from a friend I have been conversing with throughout my life, but I don't have time right now because there is so much to do. I go out and become the entrepreneur I always felt I was meant to be, things are getting even brighter. Financial success is coming my way, and my head continues to grow as everything is going along perfectly. Then a mighty blow hits the economy and my plan, and again there is that calling that is now getting louder, but I put my head down even more determined to live the life I have planned. The business is now gone, and I have brought a life into this world that depends on me. I begin to listen to that still small voice that seems to be pleading with me, but I don't understand. I start a revised plan now, and this time it will work because I will try even harder! Things begin to turn around and I'm riding high again, basking in the glory of what I have achieved. I begin to enjoy the pleasures of this world, and I think I am full...Then the thunders begin to shake the heavens, and my life begins to crumble around me, but I will not let this happen. I was born to be victorious! I stand proud as everything is taken from me, my plan is going just as I had planned, or is it? Suddenly, my soul falters, and I'm exposed to my faults and weaknesses. I cry out in pain, and rebellion. How could this have happened to me? I had everything planned so perfect...I lie in a puddle of my own tears and look for the family that was chosen meticulously, but they are gone. I am alone and lost, the sand is washing away beneath me. I manage to stand defiantly and shake my fist at every perceived wrong and wrongdoer. I haven't learned and begin to plan again, but this time it will definitely work, because I have planned against those calamities that have happened before! Again the heavens shake and thunder, but with more ferocity than before. I look around in terror and fear, realizing that every physical possession is gone. I despair of life itself, and cry out to that still small voice, my soul being ripped apart...It is at this moment I wipe away the tears from my eyes and look up seeing a pierced wrist reaching down to help me up. As His hand grasps my own, my thoughts are flooded with memories of all the times He tried to guide my paths, but I stubbornly refused. He also shows me the times He carried me through times of grief, choosing to look past my selfish and sinful acts. I look at His eyes and my heart breaks. Not because of judgment, but because of the mercy and grace I see there. He lifts me to my feet and embraces me, and calls me son. Without a word, He begins to flood my mind again, but this time with purpose, His purpose. He shows me the humility that comes with being His child, and the promises He has for those that obey His commands. Again, He shows me the points in life where I should have come to Him for guidance and direction. My heart can no longer handle the guilt of the past. He turns to me and lifts my head to meet His eyes again. 'My grace is sufficient my son. I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.' Love begins to poor through my heart and fill my spirit. He begins to rise to the clouds above and gently whispers 'I will never leave you nor forsake you, not even unto the end of the age.' With that He is gone, but I feel Him in my heart smiling at me. I turn to the future and the bridges that must be repaired and quietly say to myself 'I am ready Lord, guide me in the direction you wish.'

Dark Night of the Soul

     What is the dark night of the soul?  This is a question asked by many when they hit the very bottom of life.  The point at which they question whether life is worth living at all.  You may cry out to all those around you and ask that they understand, and they do seem to relate, but in the end they do not really hear.  You cry out to God, but He also does not seem to hear...

     I heard a man in Colorado Springs recently call into to a local Christian radio station, his name was Paul, and his story had me in tears.  He had been married for 48 years to his childhood sweetheart, but she decided that she no longer loved him and decided that divorce was the best way.  Paul was destroyed and in tears, questioning his very existence.  The radio host was VERY accommodating and  provided needed resources, but that brings us to what I would like to discuss.  When I was listening I could hear the depth of the pain this man was feeling, I also heard the compassion the radio host was showing, but I also understood the grave choice that faced this man.

     When we face the dark night of the soul...our fellow Christians can offer platitudes, but most often they cannot relate.  I will say that there was one person who called in and asked that Paul call back and contact them and this man acted in Christ, but I want to say one thing.  In the end, when we face that deepest, darkest, most dreadful night...where we question our very existence...you must have courage!  When God finally takes everything from us, and we see no one in our corner, we stand face to face with our maker...Chose you that day who you will serve.  It s a hard choice, and the easy way is ever inviting, but have courage, and know that He will bring you through.  You will no longer need the friends to affirm you, you will know that you stood face to face with evil and accepted God's grace and His forgiveness.   

Quote of the Day: Dante's, The Divine Comedy: Dante's Inferno

Quote of the Day:
Dante's The Divine Comedy


"And she to me.  "There's no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery, and that thy teacher knows."

Canto V 

Government Shutdown: The Lies From Our President

     With a country that is entranced with shows like Jersey Shore and Two and Half Men, it is not surprising that we value the stand up comedian qualities of Obama, over his honesty.  I have never, in my lifetime, witnessed a man get away with so many untruthful statements.  The three I want to deal with briefly are; the influence of large corporations, deficit ceiling, and 'affordable healthcare'.

     Yesterday, Obama met with the heads of the 19 largest banks and investment banks in an effort to push them to pressure Republicans to cave on the government shutdown.  This is understandable, since 6 out of his top 7 campaign contributors were those very same companies.  Historically and Constitutionally I don't have a big problem with this kind of interaction, because you never want a government that is too far removed from the business sector, but I do have a problem with how the President spins it to the average American.  Today, Obama got up in front of a crowd and said that big corporations should not have a say in how government is run...What???  Wasn't he just using those same companies to get his way?  Blatant deception.

     The deficit ceiling is the most amusing of them all to this author.  The President stood in front of that same crowd and said that he had cut the deficit in half since he took office, but he has increased the debt twice as much as Bush did in 8 years, in just over 5.  I don't have a degree in Fuzzy Math, but I can still add.  That just isn't mathematically possible, and when he says he decreased it by the largest percentage in 60 years...well, when you have by far the largest deficit in history, and you cut it by even 30-40%, it is still the largest deficit in history, but it sounds great when you put it in percentage terms, which confuses the American public.  As far as the ceiling goes, do any of you readers actually believe that by increasing it another trillion dollars, that it won't increase our debt?  Obama proclaimed it was money we had already agreed to pay, but there is a problem with that statement, because the Democrats in the Senate have not approved a budget since Obama took office.  So how can we have agreed to this new debt, if we never even approved it with an act of Congress?  Another lie.

    Affordable healthcare is my favorite item.  Obama and the Democrats went nationwide touting that we would get 'free healthcare' for those that can't afford it, and that it wouldn't hurt the economy at all.  Is this an honest statement?  Not at all.  In fact, the people on the bottom rung are having their hours slashed to less than 30, and on top of that, they will be forced to pay $200-$300 month for one person to get health insurance, or pay an approximate $95 fine.  So not only are they losing money in wages, but they are being forced to pay more out of pocket.  Not very affordable.  Many people are not also aware that there are different tiers of service in this new program.  If you have money you can purchase a gold or silver plan, but if you're poor you have to purchase a bronze plan, which gives you less coverage and access to less services.  Sounds like the same system as before, only now the government controls it and they will get to decide what you're covered for or not.  Another outrageous lie.

     The sad part about our country today was trumpeted by Mark Levin yesterday, when he stated that out of 22 news articles on the government shutdown, not one was against the President.  He mentioned that not even in the Soviet Union would the press have been in the pocket of government to that extent.  So now we have a few small voices trying to save our union, but they're being drowned out by big liberal media, and soon we will go the way of the Soviet Union, where we no longer know if anything the news or government tells us is true or not, because they will be controlling its output.  Lastly, for those of you who like the idea of income equality...are you aware that under Obama the top 1% have seen their wages increase 300%, but the poor have seen theirs decrease 26%?  They controlled all of congress for two years, and have had control of 2/3 of the government for the last 3+.  And they blame Republicans, who have no power?  The reality is the Democrats are the new 'Landed Gentry' and they shout 'We Love the Poor.', but their laws weaken and make the poor more dependent on government, thus increasing their power.  Wake up America.

By Jeffrey Brandon Lee