Crony Capitalism & The Destruction of Economic Freedom in America

I have an aunt who is now in her later years, but something very disturbing happened to her when she was younger. Listen to her story.

My great aunt is an excellent baker and is renowned in the local community for her delicious cakes. I can taste one of those multi-layered red velvet cakes right now …  mmmm. Make you wanna slap ya mama  At some point, she decided to market her pastries to individual and businesses like local restaurants.  Then she hit a massive set back. Were there complaints about her cakes? Absolutely not. Were there suspicions about the cleanliness of her kitchen? Never. Was she losing money? Nope.  What then was threatening to devour her faster than a lion after a sick zebra?

A REGULATORY AGENCY.

A local bakery decided that they were going to close her business by using the law to do it. Instead of competing with better cakes and more competitive prices, they used the legal route. She used her own kitchen, which is a big no-no! This is why we and many others can’t sell food products.
Crony Capitalism at its best. If you can’t compete, then eliminate.

Providentially, she was able to continue because there was another large room in their home that could be converted into an additional separate kitchen. It wasn’t cheap because she had to purchase a whole gob of stuff, but she did it. Many cannot stomach the expense, so they just never open their doors to begin with, and this destroys home based businesses. Businesses that are built at home so that people can spend more time with their family.

What’s the solution?

First of all, call out this nonsense, and condemn it as evil. Second of all, if you want to own a home based business, look for a niche that is not as regulated … well not yet anyway.

Vanity of Vanities

A life apart from Christ is vain and without meaning. Why? At the end of the day, all die. However, in Christ lies the hope of what every man seeks: eternal life.

In The News: School Shooting in Ohio

Another tragedy speaks volumes as to the depravity of man and downfall of government education.  This morning yet another school shooting occured. Details were still sketchy.

I hope that this is a wake up call for parents to take their children out of government education. It has truly become an issue of life and death. As one who was living in Colorado during Columbine, I have vivid memories of what can happen. Therefore, take your kids out and educate them yourself.

In The News: Austere Measures in Greece

Greece has been slow to implement necessary cuts, which has exacerbated  its debt crisis.  However, in order to avoid bankruptcy, an agreement was made for Greece to make deep cuts, and this has caused considerable rioting.  This inevitably shows us that long term debt cannot go unchecked.  Without a doubt, a runaway credit card leads to financial disaster both personally and nationally.

How should we look at this as Christians?

God's Word is replete with commands of financial stewardship, and it is imperative that we live accordingly. The less debt we have, the less enslaved we are to another and the less likely we are subject to the whims of lenders.  As citizens of this country, we currently have the right to vote, so we have the ability to elect officials who take good financial management seriously.  If we refuse to elect those who will make hard financial decisions, we will reap the consequences and become like Greece.

Human Resource: Cog in a Machine

The term human resource makes man out to be a mere expendable machine. He is nothing more than a cog in a machine.  This mentality is why we immediately start asking people for something without even acknowledging their humanity (that is being made in the image of God). Instead of at least saying hello, we just rattle off a list of demands. No 'thank you' or 'you're welcome'.  After all, I don't say 'thank you' to my computer when it works, so, assuming that people are merely evolved machines, why should I acknowledge those more complex machines we call human beings?

When man abandoned the Biblical worldview, he left himself in a state of misery.  In his attempt to become liberated from God and live in autonomous indulgence, he diminished his value to nothing.  Before, he was created in the image of God; now he is but an expendable part that is worthless once it cannot produce any more. This is the end of evolution: a black hole of despair, which is the focal point of government education.

However, God does sit on the throne, and man does have value because he is made in the image God. Therefore, show respect to those around you by acknowledging their presence before giving them a laundry list of things you 'need' them to do.

In saying that, it is a reminder that our loyalty must be towards God, His Church, and our families first. All else tends to view man as a mere machine.  Truly, will your corporation or government employer be there for comfort when you are in ailing health or on your death bed?  No, so be careful where your highest loyalty and commitment lies.

Hebrew & The Greek New Testament

The Old Testament Hebrew (or the New Testament Greek/Old Testament Septuagint for that matter), often uses several different means to describe/command the same thing.  This demonstrates emphasis and not necessarily a sequence of things to do or particularly look for. It may show sequence, but, in prophetic literature, such constructions are often used to magnify a particular point and not many.

For example, Isaiah uses a litany of phrases when he commands the people to repent in light of God's coming judgement, for he may use many lines to say the same thing about how wretched the people are as opposed to how righteous God is.  This is important because emphasis occurs not only with the repetition of the same word like Holy, Holy, Holy, but it is also brought out by using different words and phrases when describing a particular event or a command to do something.  For this reason, word studies are useful but must be used with caution because 1) the word can be very interchangeable and/or 2) the writer is simply using several different words or phrases in a close context to magnify the situation.

A further issue arises in the realm of eschatology because some expositors tend to take a prophetic passage (which uses a tremendous amount of allegorical and figurative language) and parcel it out into a whole list of things to note versus seeing the list as an extended metaphor for the magnitude of an event that will indeed come about. For example, if speaking of judgment, said judgment is real and inevitable, yet the descriptions are often there to bring attention to the gravity of a situation and not necessarily provide elaborate details. However, when the prophet explicitly explains what the figurative language represents in detail (like Daniel often does), then the passage is not simply magnifying a situation; rather, a detailed list is also in mind. When comparing prophetic or poetic literature with narratives, the situation is different.  For example, when God gave Joshua a sequential plan to take out Ai, He meant for Joshua to follow this sequence of events, though narratives can use repetition and emphasis to magnify a point. Context is key. 

How does this relate to the Greek New Testament?  Most of the writers were either Jewish/Semitic or were heavily influenced by Jewish/Semitic thinkers. For this reason, understanding Hebrew provides critical insight into the mind of a Jewish thinker who is writing in Greek. Though he is writing in Greek, he will still think like a Semitic/Hebrew minded person. For example, when I speak or write in Spanish, it will still have an English taste because I am most trained to think in English syntax and grammar.  My Spanish will be correct, but it will contain a strong flavor of American English thought.  Such was the case in the First Century with the Greek New Testament, and this language relationship is predicated upon the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), which was translated into Greek from Hebrew just before the time of Christ.

Therefore, when I observe strong language, intentional repetition, or other Hebrew syntactical grammatical flavors in the Greek New Testament (which is usually hit upon in a well translated English version as well), I  take notice and become keenly aware of what the author intends to convey. That is when the hard work of linguistic study starts to pay off and become useful in exegesis, exposition, and ultimately application.

Kind vs Species

Noah's Ark has been a vessel of ridicule for quite some time. One popular caricature is the impossibility of Noah taking two of every species aboard the Ark.  This entire issue is laid to rest by simply reading the text. 

First of all, only the land animals were taken on the Ark. That solves most of the problems because much of the animal kingdom lives in the water. Besides, though many marine animals were buried in the Flood waters, a large number would have been able to survive and procreate, thus they would have not needed the Ark.

Second of all, the Bible doesn't use the word species; rather, it uses kind. To understand what that is, we have to go back to Genesis 1.  God created the kinds to multiply after themselves.  This implies a set order that then produces many variations from those original created kinds.  Created kinds would then best be understood at the genus or even family levels (ie dog/wolf kind, etc.).

As for dinosaurs, most were quite small, and Noah probably took juvenile representatives for the larger ones, which ensures longer procreation. However, because the climate was different after the Flood, their ability to multiply and adapt was likely limited.  Those that did survive for a time were probably hunted into extinction, while the rest died off because of the climate, disease, etc.

The real problem is not the Ark; it is rather a biased worldview that is exposed by the text itself. Man hates God and can only develop straw men, which only magnifies the holes in his arguments against the Bible.

Independence In Perspective

American Independence has been treasured for generations, though there is very little of it left.  Most of America was once an assembly of independent homesteads.  However, they were not totally independent because man cannot provide everything himself. 

Truthfully, rugged individualism can become idolatrous when God is not recognized as the Ultimate Provider. Though man was created to be creative and to do things for himself on a broad spectrum, only God can cause the sun to rise and the rain to fall.

The Rise of Expository Preaching

In the place of sound verse by verse expository preaching has come a montage of topical sermons. Topical sermons aren't bad, they just get worn out because topics are limited.  Their greatest deficiency is when large portions of rich Scriptural texts are inevitably passed over, sometimes on purpose.  Even moreso, many of these topical sermons have become ineffective because they have turned from merely topical to altogether superficial.  It's one thing to preach on the issue of debt on a given Lord's Day (which is badly needed), yet it is another thing to talk endlessly about money and how God is going to give you a boatload of it.

In spite of all the bad topical sermons and even an overabundance of good ones, there has been a return in orthodox circles to sound verse by verse expository preaching.  Expository sermons, when crafted and delivered well, have tremendous impact because they bring full exposure to the Word of God. Each section is read and preached through carefully, which reduces the amount of eisegesis (a reading into the text what is not there).  This takes extensive time and effort, yet its fruit is far more plentiful.

Expository preaching also protects the pastor from false charges, and, likewise, it keeps the pastor from maliciously directing sermons towards any given person.  Because the expositor is preaching through a large text (perhaps a book of Scripture), everyone knows what the next sermon will be about, so accusations to embarrass a particular sheep from the pulpit will generally reduce and/or go unfounded. In the same way, if someone has a beef against the pastor before the sermon, an effort by the pastor to attack individuals personally from the pulpit will be prevented because that is not part of the expected sermon.

Therefore, let us preach expositorily for the betterment of both the Church and its pastor.

Liberty to Worship God

There is much talk of liberty these days amidst endless litigation, extensive regulation, and high taxation. However, even if one has greater liberty in all of these areas, slavery to sin is still the main issue. To be free from the power of sin to worship the living God is the greatest liberty of all, for sin brings an infinitely greater magnitude of burden than lawsuits, regulation, and taxation combined.

Man was created to worship God, yet He exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever, Amen. He rejected true liberty and enslaved himself to sin. Nevertheless, where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, for Christ atoned for the sins of His sheep as the Good Shepherd. 

Therefore, repent you wicked sinner, and turn to Christ placing of all your faith in Him, for He alone is the Living Hope that we desperately need.  He alone sets men free from their bondage of slavery to sin to worship the One True and Living God. 

It is a terrifying the thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, yet it is sweet joy when empowered to worship Him and not the vain trifles of this passing world of sin, disdain, and death.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Right In His Own Eyes

The end of Judges proclaims that there was no king in Israel and that every man did what was right in his own eyes. This is moral relativism; it is an old philosophy that corrupts. Lawlessness results because no standard of law is enforced. Truly, any society without a basis for law will turn into this. The only solution is tyranny or basing law on Biblical principles. Man often chooses tyranny over Scripture because he wants autonomy apart from God. Sadly, magnifies man's hatred and contempt for God. Might we repent instead.

Politics: Nothing New Under The Sun

We tend to complain or even become apathetic about politics because of all the 'corruption', but there is nothing new under the sun. As bad as it is, tyranny of the elite has become the norm for six thousand years. Man is inherently sinful, so he will seize power, and use it to his advantage. For this reason, America was started as a nation that recognized man's lust for power. However, the system will continue to degrade the more America leaves her basis for justice: a Judeo-Christian ethic. We will soon find out that direction. Even so, our God is sovereign, and nothing comes to pass apart from his decree. We rest in that as Christians.

Decades of Abortion

Abortion has been legal in America for almost 40 years. This is a testament to the depravity of our society. We are ruthless with the unborn yet lenient upon the most hardened of criminals. Why then are we not surprised when God does not bless us? Truly, our current financial meltdown is only the tip of an imposing iceberg.

In The News: Oil Pipeline

There has been much debate over a pipeline that could create jobs and improve America's energy independence. However, it has far reaching political implications, so it has stalled out because of radical environmentalism. As Christians, we are called to good stewardship, but that does not mean that we cannot develop and use the world that God has given us.

In the News: The President--He's Not Our Savoior

The upcoming primary and general election has brought a key question back to the forefront.  What are we looking for in a president?  That is an important question, but, in this blog, I would like to address another question that often goes overlooked.  What are we not looking for in a president?

Anyone that runs for public office is fallen and has baggage.  Even the best Christian representative is still in need of the grace and mercy of God.  We must take that into account when we elect our officials; if we don't, then we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment and future apathy.  No man will ever be perfect this side of death, and so we must not see any candidate as our potential Savior. 

A politician is not our Messiah.  He must govern with a righteous attitude, but he is not the King of kings and LORD of Lords.  Only Christ is our Savior. He alone washes away sin. He alone laid down His life for His sheep who were enemies of God.  No one else can do that. 

Therefore, when we vote, we must consider what an official must possess, but we must also know who he is not.

The King of Glory May Come In!

Christ is the King of Glory! He is the One Who has clean hands and a pure heart. He is the Suffering Servant who laid down His life for His sheep.

No other was capable of atoning for the sins of sinners, so let us be thankful that the LORD strong and mighty died upon a cross to set men free.  May we never take for granted the burden that Christ lifted from His people: their sins.

Self-Sufficiency And Being Home

Besides disciplined budgeting practices, self-sufficiency is a critical attribute if you want to be able to spend more time with your family.  Most people in America work extensively outside of the home to support a lifestyle at the expense of family (which often times isn't as joyous as it is advertised), and/or they are incapable of doing things themselves.  Even large complex tasks are simple tasks strung together, though meticulous at times. 

You may think, "Well, I can make more money at work and just pay someone else to do it faster than I can, which means I will save money because time is money."  However, that kind of thinking is the reason you have to spend so much time at work and away from family to begin with.  As a society, we are pegged into one or a small handful of skill sets will results in slavery to the 'experts', which are, ironically, just like you.  They too are pegged into a small handful of skill sets.

How does one begin to become more self-sufficient like the patriarchs found in Scripture?

1) Start taking on small tasks yourself.  If you don't take care of your own lawn, then start with that.  Over time, you will become both self-sufficient and efficient, and let your children help out.  They need to learn self-sufficiency themselves.  Do some research on lawn care, home improvement, mechanics, gardening, sewing, etc., and ease into it.  If you try to do too much at one time, you'll get burned out and frustrated. 

2) Don't let the 'experts' tell you that you can't do it; they say that because they don't want you to realize that you don't need them.  You may make some mistakes along the way, but most of these experts are just faster than you because they do these tasks every day.  Read some books, watch some videos (YouTube is a great start), and learn to think yourself out of a jam by being creative. In time, you will be just as fast or even faster than they are.  The difference is that you will not be doing the same thing everyday, and so you won't get burned out like they do.  Moreover, you can enjoy yourself because it is at your pace and no one is looking over your shoulder with a whip.

3) Learn how to cook good meals, and plan inexpensive side items to keep everyone full. Learning to cook is just a skill. Start small, and then progress over time.  Eventually, your meals will taste better and will be healthier than the restaurant you go to on a regular basis.  In time, your desire to eat out as much will be greatly reduced.  This will also increase your hospitality skills when cooking for several families at a time.

Following some of these basic principles take discipline, and it's not always easy to start out with, but it can be done. We do it everyday. I love my family, and I'd rather be with them than at work. Eventually, I'll be financially independent and self-sufficient enough to be with them instead of being reduced to a 'human resource' at work.

Hide God's Word In Your Heart

We are commanded to hide God's Word in our hearts that we may not sin against Him, so we rightly conclude that Scripture memory is a vital discipline of the Christian life, yet many overlook or dismiss this as 'legalistic'.  However, it should come as no surprise that a nation which lacks godliness does little Scripture memory.

How then does Scripture memory affect the heart and mind?

Memorizing the Scripture gives you the ability to chew on the Bible regularly because it is so close to the heart and mind.  You then cannot help but meditate on it, and, when temptation comes, you are far more capable of fighting against the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

Regular Scripture memory also reduces misquoting and vague generalizations.  Furthermore, I encourage Christians to memorize several passages in context so as to reduce taking verses out of context, which is a regular occurrence.  The more text that is memorized in context, the greater the impact as well. Not only is more of it being learned, but the scope of the larger theme is being understood along with is application.

Finally, as we memorize God's Word, it becomes more and more of our general vocabulary and conversation.  For example, the statement I made previously about the world, the flesh, and the Devil is from a collection of passages that speak of the spiritual warfare that we face from each of these foes.  Though different passages speak of these enemies independently, we see a common vein throughout the Bible, which allows us to make a doctrinal affirmation about them as a whole.

Therefore, what are you memorizing, and what are you encouraging your family to memorize?

Liberty To Raise Your Children: Fight For It!

Today, the religious elite in the Church of Nanny Statism has enacted a massive amount of legislation that is incredibly intrusive in all facets of life, especially in the raising of children.  These institutional churches are everywhere, and their priests are as the sand of the sea. They want nothing more than the heart, mind, soul, and strength of your child. 

Where are they?  They are everywhere.  You can run, but you can't hide. 

These churches are government schools, and her priests are the educators and administrators.  You will find them in urban centers and in the far reaches of America's grasslands, farms, and mountains.  Now you are sorely afraid, and you should be.  These statists will go to great lengths to set their will against the family like spending about $8,000/child each year to pay their priests and maintain this massively expensive infrastructure.

However, you must fight for your children, and you can begin by taking them out of government education. Join the mass exodus and raise your child with the liberty that God gave you.  Raise them in truth and righteousness instead of in the gang and drug infested cesspools that we call public schools.  There will be sacrifice and you will have to give up a times of leisure, but the sacrifice is worth it.  God has given you the ability and resource, His Word, to raise your children and educate them yourself. 

Praise Him, for He is The God of Liberty that entrusts families to raise children and not priests of the state. He is the Creator and knows the best means to raise children, and that is via Mom and Dad under the instruction of God's Word.

Children & Voting

As time goes on, the far left inevitable loses voters, so they must steal the minds of our children. Their worldview self-destructs because many on the far left have few or no children by choice.  In contrast, those on the right have children, and if not biologically they adopt.  This causes great consternation to the left because the absurdity of their worldview is put on display every time a child is born.

Though times appear to be going stagnant for years to come, God always preserves a remnant, and that remnant has children. We do not have children to influence elections, but a large number of godly children who grow into adulthood inevitably affect society.

Let us therefore raise children to the glory of God that He might be made known in our society. So remember, the next time that you are ridiculed for having children, especially a lot of them, point out that our worldview is not the one the rocks because it is built on The Rock, He Who is LORD of lords and King of kings! Amen!

To Him be the glory!