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Tag Archives: Spirituality
The battle of grace vs religion
On Jan 10, 2012, a man named Jeffrey Bethke posted a video on YouTube titled, Why I Hate Religion.” In the short, four minute video, Jeffrey Bethke premised his view of Christianity and described an active faith in Jesus Christ that detests religion. Eight days later, on January 18, 2012, a Catholic priest, named Father Claude Burns posted a video response titled, “Why I Love Religion.” In his video, Father Burns defends religion and appears to refute the arguments laid …
The reason I write
I am a subscriber to Terry Whalin’s blog, The Writing Life, and Terry’s post on Sunday, January 15, 2011, gave me great pause. The question that he posed in the title of that particular post was, “Why do you write?” As someone who can never remember a time when I did not enjoy writing, this question stopped me in my mental tracks. I am not usually a person without an answer, even if it takes me some time to fully …
Become a blessing by kicking the bucket
For those of you who do not know what a “bucket list” is, it is simply a list of ideas, dreams and goals that individuals desire to achieve before they die. I have always found the basic premise behind the bucket list to be intriguing and could be a fun way to experience life. However, yesterday this idea was challenged with me in a seemingly simple post. The new idea would be to replace the bucket list with a blessings list.
Separation of Church and State – Part 2
The following is a list of cases that I have compiled that have relevance to the topic of separation of Church and State, 86 in all. A number of these aren’t specifically SoCS cases, but they do deal greatly with either the establishment clause or the free exercise clause of the first amendment. As such, I consider them pertinent to the discussion.
A Knocking on the Door
As many millions of parents and children prepare any number of costumes, from angels to zombies, a highly significant part of history is being forgotten. While October 31 has become widely accepted as a day and night to illicit questionable behavior, it was in the year 1517 that one man went knocking on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. On October 31, 1517, a man named Martin Luther attached a document to the doors of this church …
Political Activism and the Social Gospel
As the nineteenth century drew to a close, the political landscape became the new home for religious activism and promotion of what would become known as the “social gospel.” This social gospel took the moral tenets of the bible and applied them to common societal woes such as assisting the poor as well as increased pressure upon the population at large to accept the teachings of the church and in doing so to promote social righteousness.
Posted in Blog, History
Tagged Men and Religion Forward, politics, Separation of Church and State, social gospel, Spirituality
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Separation of Church and State – Overview
There are indeed moral issues at stake in our land, but grace is given as a gift of the Father, not of the Congress. In order to establish Christian grace, love and purity, the followers of Jesus Christ must take up His cross daily and teach about His love and liberty to their neighbors.
The heart of God cannot come from the top down, it must come from the bottom to the top.
Separation of Church and State – Part 1
The Constitution was ratified and adopted on September 17, 1787 and the original 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. By 1830 however, the First amendment religious rights began to experience their first legal challenges in the United States Supreme Court.
Tuesday Tract #5
The eclipse is on the sun. Darkness is now over all the land. The glow is faded from the heavens, and all isles and continents, even to distant most Asia and Africa, gaze with awe and sadness at the pale, cold light which we shed upon their dreary realms. But yesterday the nation “Stood against the world; now lies she here, And none so poor to do her reverence.
Tuesday Tract #4
Among the faithless, faithful stood a few. Seven thousand were found who bent not the knee to this Baal of America. May they soon become seventy times seven, and deliver the land from this idolatry and the Jezreel abominations which so fiercely flourish under its dominion.
The Shack, by William P. Young
Few books reach the amount of controversy that overshadow this interesting fictional tale. When I first picked up the book, I did so because of the attractive cover. As I am want to do, I read the blurb on the back and I became further interested. As the cashier ran the book over the scanner she exclaimed, “You are going to love this book! I couldn’t put it down.” I knew of course that I would be able to put …
Posted in Book Discussions
Tagged book review, Faith, Positive, Spirituality, Writing
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Happy Eostre
No, I didn’t ignore my spell-checker on this one. Before I delve a little deeper, please note that my intended use for this blog is rarely, if ever, to publish intrinsically researched facts and opinions. From day-to-day I experience a myriad of thoughts and ideas and sometimes my eyes come across things that either surprise or intrigue me. Such items are kindling for further study, but in the meantime, such incomplete thoughts and ideas are placed upon this medium for …
Happy Saint Patrick's Day
What would be more fitting today than a St. Patrick’s Day message? I contemplated writing a little about the man who was Saint Patrick, but after reading his Confessio, I decided to simply post some of what he wrote. I believe that once you read some of this, and go beyond to the entire document, you will have a better idea of who Patrick was than any biography I can give. 1. I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, …