I write on a very historical day for our nation. Today we watched as, for the first time, a black man was sworn in as President. I rejoice in this day for that reason. I am well aware of the fact that racisim is still rife in this country. But, as a people, we have progressed from a place of restricting blacks from using the same bathrooms as whites to electing a black man to inhabit the White House and lead all Americans regardless of race or any other factor. It truly is a day worth celebrating from that standpoint.
However, this same man is arguably the most pro-abortion, anti-life, anit-family man to ever inhabit the White House. In a mere two days we will go from the euphoria of this day to the most grievous remembrance of the 36th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision to allow abortion on demand throughout this nation. In that time period an estimated 1.4 million children have lost their lives to "choice" each year for the last 36 years. That's over 50 million people eliminated from our society.
President Obama steps into one of the bleakest economic situations to face an incoming President. What you will never hear reported or read in the papers is that a critical reason for this situation is abortion. Social Security has become the great leaking point in the nation's budget. The reason is that when the program was instituted in the late 40's there were numerous working people to support one retired person. Now the ratio is about 1:1. The reason is the 50 million people I mentioned above. Without them in the workforce, there can be no Social Security. Meanwhile the Baby Boomers are retiring and we are having an increasingly difficult time keeping the budget together.
In the face of this, what does our new President intend to do? Will he pave the way for even more abortions? Will he begin to implement even more radical pro-death policies to eliminate the many retired people "burdening" our economy? Or will he be one of the first liberal politicians to realize that one can embrace the poor, fix health care, and accomplish many other liberal social issues while simultaneously caring for the unborn and life at every level?
His decision on this issue will determine whether he is a man of history or destiny. Today he is a man of history. He always will be. But if he will work to preserve life, he will be known as a man of destiny as he guides our nation back to so many of the principles that made us a great nation. The first unalienable right outlined in our Declaration of Independence is the right to life. A consistent preservation of life from conception to natural death is in keeping with that principle. President Obama cannot speak of equality of all people without addressing the needs of these people.
So today, Mr. President, we salute you. We honor you. We pledge to pray for you. And we hope that this momentous historical day will be merely the first in your date with destiny. Please, Mr. President, don't let us down.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
God and the Weather?
Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20
God speaks to us continually. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through people. He speaks to us in prayer. But God also speaks to us through His creation.
The Sacred Scriptures open by telling us that In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, (Gen. 1:1). God is the beginning, and history as we know it begins with Him creating. He creates through His Word, that is, through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made, (Jn. 1:1-3).
St. Paul tells us in the text quoted above that even those who have never heard the Gospel are without excuse because God speaks to us through His creation. They cannot plead ignorance to the moral law written in their conscience because they cannot ignore the natural revelation of God all around them. While that may make for some interesting theological and missiological debate, something else caught my attention as I was reading it lately.
If God is continually speaking through His creation, then what is He saying to us? Just because we have the fullness of His revelation in Christ and through His Church, does this mean that He no longer communicates to us through creation? I don't think so. The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork, (Ps. 19:1). So even while we have the fullness of revelation, yet God continues to speak through creation. So what is He saying?
I think each one of us needs to take some time every day to ask this question. God is speaking in so many ways at so many times. We miss most of what He is saying. Part of our own ongoing conversion is the ability to pick up on more of these messages from the Lord.
Where I live we are in the midst of record cold temperatures as we are in the thick of winter. Yet, there have been times of sun. I have mixed feelings about snow. I hate shoveling it. I don't like driving in it. But it is beautiful to look at and fun to play in. So what is God saying to me through creation today. He is reminding me that the dark and cold of winter reflect a world that is in the grip of sin. Before the Fall of man into sin, there was perpetual summer (or warm spring, if you like). Everything was alive and fruitful. All was together in harmony.
Autumn represents dying and winter represents death. There are still beautiful parts about it, but that is what they represent. So on this cold winter day I hear God reminding me that even in the midst of a fallen world, He is still present with us. For I see the sun and there is beauty even in fallen creation.
What is God saying to us every day through nature, the animals, the climate, or the weather? Listen closely to these often unheard and unheeded messages. God is continually speaking to us. He is speaking to us right now in this moment. Look outside and listen. What is He saying to you now?
Romans 1:20
God speaks to us continually. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through people. He speaks to us in prayer. But God also speaks to us through His creation.
The Sacred Scriptures open by telling us that In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, (Gen. 1:1). God is the beginning, and history as we know it begins with Him creating. He creates through His Word, that is, through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made, (Jn. 1:1-3).
St. Paul tells us in the text quoted above that even those who have never heard the Gospel are without excuse because God speaks to us through His creation. They cannot plead ignorance to the moral law written in their conscience because they cannot ignore the natural revelation of God all around them. While that may make for some interesting theological and missiological debate, something else caught my attention as I was reading it lately.
If God is continually speaking through His creation, then what is He saying to us? Just because we have the fullness of His revelation in Christ and through His Church, does this mean that He no longer communicates to us through creation? I don't think so. The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork, (Ps. 19:1). So even while we have the fullness of revelation, yet God continues to speak through creation. So what is He saying?
I think each one of us needs to take some time every day to ask this question. God is speaking in so many ways at so many times. We miss most of what He is saying. Part of our own ongoing conversion is the ability to pick up on more of these messages from the Lord.
Where I live we are in the midst of record cold temperatures as we are in the thick of winter. Yet, there have been times of sun. I have mixed feelings about snow. I hate shoveling it. I don't like driving in it. But it is beautiful to look at and fun to play in. So what is God saying to me through creation today. He is reminding me that the dark and cold of winter reflect a world that is in the grip of sin. Before the Fall of man into sin, there was perpetual summer (or warm spring, if you like). Everything was alive and fruitful. All was together in harmony.
Autumn represents dying and winter represents death. There are still beautiful parts about it, but that is what they represent. So on this cold winter day I hear God reminding me that even in the midst of a fallen world, He is still present with us. For I see the sun and there is beauty even in fallen creation.
What is God saying to us every day through nature, the animals, the climate, or the weather? Listen closely to these often unheard and unheeded messages. God is continually speaking to us. He is speaking to us right now in this moment. Look outside and listen. What is He saying to you now?
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