The Truth of Islam

"It is difficult for many to accept that such an ideology can be real and that people kill and die for it; we see the truth of Islam in word and deed but pretend that it is not so."

Read the rest of this thought-provoking article here.

Basic Christianity, Gender Neutrality, and Dumbing Us Down

Scribe and I are reading John Stott's Basic Christianity together this first term of the school year.  Because I like to mark in my books:), I bought a second copy.

However,  I got more than just an another copy of the book...I got a dose of gender-neutral language changes and well as a more "modernized" version of the original. 

Here's Mr. Stott's explanation:  "It was obviously necessary to udate the language....and to respond to sensitivities relating to gender."  Sensitivities? 

I had already started reading the original, and I wasn't in the least bothered by the use of "man" to refer to all of us.  In fact, I didn't really focus on it until I read the preface to the newer version explaining some of the changes made to the text and then thought of some recent comments I heard from Pastor Tim Bayly about the importance of using the word "man."

Consider his points:

"One day I realized that when God named the human race "adam," He used the same Hebrew word that Genesis records as the name of the first man.  So when we see this same Hebrew word, "adam," used by the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament to refer to Adam's descendants, the whole race of them, if I were committed to the plenary verbal inspiration of Scripture--that every single word of Scripture is inspired by God and useful--I would name the race as He did.  And that meant, of course, that I would repent of my scrupulously neutered habits of speech."


"Through His words and Word, God is training us to think Biblically about the Fall, but also about the authority of our Heavenly Father that is resident in early fatherhood, starting with Adam and coming down to us today.  God could have decreed that it be otherwise, that Eve represent the race with Adam, but He didn't.  And every single time the Holy Spirit speaks in Scripture about the distinction between the sexes, reinforcing the Edenic truth that creation is neither matriarchal nor egalitarian, but patriarchal--that God is the Father from Whom all fatherhood gets its name--we need to listen up, believe, and then confess this glorious truth with our actions and words."


"Over a hundred words are in the English language because early translators like John Wycliffe and William Tyndale knew they'd need to bring Hebrew and Greek usage in, coining new words and phrases in English in order to assure the proper communication of the Word of God.  So today, why are we allowing feminists and their willing helpers to strip usages common in the English language for centuries out of our vocabularies?  Are we really so naive that we don't know they're doing this because they hate the Biblical concepts communicated through that usage?"

So, not only is the new Basic Christianity full of "human race" instead of "man," it's also updated to make it "easier" to understand.  Sadly, "modernized" often simply means "dumbed down" and politically correct.

Consider the differences in the old and new versions.  Is the old version truly too difficult to understand?

"He is altogether beyond our comprehension.  Therefore our minds, though wonderfully effective instruments in the empirical sciences, cannot immediately help us here." (original)

"He is altogether beyond our understanding.  Therefore our minds, wonderfully effective instruments though they are when it comes to scientific investigation, cannot immediately help us here." (modernized)

"We are not concerned primarily to discuss the nature of His philosophy, the value of His system, or the quality of His ethic.  Our concern is fundmentally with the character of His person.  Who was He?" (original)

"We are not concerned primarily with the effect He has had on the world, important though that is.  Our concern is basically with the man Himself.  Who was He?" (modernized)

"That Jesus did in fact claim this intimate relation to God is further confirmed by the indignation which he aroused in the Jews." (original)

"That Jesus did in fact claim this very close relationship with God is further confirmed by the indignation that He aroused in the religious leaders who opposed Him."  (modernized)

(hmm....why didn't they just keep the word "Jews.")

In some cases, modern translations can be very helpful, but truly, the original of this book is not written in such a sophisticated fashion as to have the reader scratching his head wondering what has just been said.   
The original is just fine..."man" and all, and if we're challenged by the language, isn't that a good thing?

So, all of that said, Scribe and I will be sharing the original version.  Because, especially with books, old is often much better than new.

Pressing On,
Queen Mom

Won't You Join Us? Red Envelope Day

**Sorry for the incorrect link. I've corrected it below...www.redenvelopeday.com


As Dr. George Grant reminds us, "President Barack Obama has established quite a portolio of extreme pro-abortion advocacy--already making his administration the most radical anti-life, anti-family administration in American history."

During the month of March, many pro-lifers will be participating in "Red Envelope Day." The concept is simple. We send red envelopes to the White House to arrive on or before the last day of March. On the back of each envelope will be written the following message:

"This envelope represents one child who died because of abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world." (The red envelope website actually adds another sentence. George Grant, on his website, wrote just the above.)

You can go to www.redenvelopeday.com for more information and to even order packages of red envelopes. Check out George Grant's website www.ppgi.blogspot.com "The Quick and the Dead" to read updates and information on the pro-abortion movement, including Obama's assault on unborn children. When you read what Obama has put in place (or rather WHO he has put in places) in just the past six weeks, you'll be shocked and grieved.

Don't think this affects you? Consider this statement from Martin Niemoller, who was part of the Confessing Church during Hitler's regime and who spent eight years in prison for his resistance to the regime: "First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak our because I was not a trade unionist. They they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. They they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." Do we really think that someone who is so anti-life would have any more regard for a disabled child or an elderly person? When you disrespect life at the beginning, your logic leads you to horrific conclusions.

"The most dangerous form of sentimental debauch is to give expression to good wishes on behalf of virtue while you do nothing about it. Justice is not merely words. It is to be translated into living acts." (Theodore Roosevelt 1858-1919)

"Big Brother" - When the Government Oversteps Its Authority

I recently read an article about a court case in Canada which was like a story from a horror novel - a story which really just goes to show how eager the Government is to take over every aspect of our lives...

A Canadian father prohibited his 12-year-old daughter from internet use after finding out that she was doing some very inappropriate and dangerous things online. His daughter disobeyed and used a friend's computer instead to carry on her foolish activities, and as a result, her father grounded her, prohibiting her from participating in "the three-day overnight trip that her school was taking to celebrate their graduation from 6th grade."

So what did the disobedient child do? Did she submit to her father's just correction and repent of her sin? Not a bit of it. Instead, she takes her father - her father, mind you - to court, and "challenges his right to prohibit her from attending a school trip."

Read that paragraph over again. It should make you sick.

And guess what? The judge, a woman, decides in the daughter's favor, ruling "that the father had in fact overstepped his authority, and that the punishment was too severe."

This is what happens when a nation steps away from the Lord, forsaking Him and the things pertaining to Him, and pursuing their own, worldly wisdom (Prov. 3:7; 14:12). This is what happens when parents fail to pass down God's precepts to their children (Duet. 6:6-7). This is what happens when children no longer honor and respect authority (Exo. 20:12). This is what happens when "Big Brother" oversteps his God-given boundaries to meddle in things that are not his to meddle with.

We live in a "crooked and perverse generation (Phil. 2:15)." Slowly but steadily the nations of the world are turning their backs on God, His Word, and His Laws. It is a sad decline, and the Devil no doubt rejoices mightily as he watches his minions go on with their filthy work. Christians dwell in an age where it is requisite that they stand firm against the World, the Flesh, and Satan, and raise up Godly seed to carry on Christ's work and continue the fight. Sadly, that is just what many "Christians" are not doing. They gradually become more and more like the world, blending in, and going with the flow as if there were nothing different between Christ's followers and Worldlings. How is Christian Light going to make any difference in the Darkness if we hide it (Matt. 5:14-16)?

That court case occurred in Canada. But America is next. We now have a president who, despite his claims to Christianity, upholds perversion, child-slaughter, and a host of other unbiblical principals and ideas. Things can only get worse unless God intervenes on behalf of a country that is sinking deep into the Slough of Sin. We can only hope and pray that He does.

Already, the Children's Rights Convention describes corporal punishment as"physical violence." Under the articles of this Convention, parents would no longer be able to "deprive" their children of liberties, like the Canadian father did. If a parent did "deprive" his/her child of certain freedoms, the child could bring the matter to court, and get "legal or other appropriate assistance". In essence, parents would no longer have the right to discipline their children or restrict them in any way without concern of Big Brother interceding to do what's really best for the children. The UNCRC is a fire bomb which will only result in destruction if it goes through and the US signs on as 192 other countries already have.

It rejects the right of fathers and mothers to be fathers and mothers. It defies the mandated guidelines found in Scripture. If it is passed, it would have serious repercussions. We see bumper stickers saying "God Bless America". Rather, why don't we say, "God Forgive America".

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7

Persevero,

Scribe

P.S. ~ If you would like to read the entire article about the aforementioned court case in Canada, here it is at http://www.parentalrights.org/blog/courts-the-law/much-ado

"Omnipotent Ideological Busybodies"

If you're one of the few who hasn't heard about the insane law coming into effect on February 9th, please read about it here. The implications are so far-reaching and utterly devastating to many homeschool families and their businesses as well as to many others. I've received two notices just today from homeschool businesses who are having to sell off their inventories and possibly close their doors. This isn't just about homeschoolers, either. Do you like to buy used toys or books? Read here and find out what you can do....

http://handsandhearts.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=98&emc=intellicontact&m=41155488&v=1023266597&l=5

This quote from C.S. Lewis perfectly describes this entire dilemma......

"Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely expressed for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent ideological busybodies."