Robby's Pancake House

What's So Bad About Worship?

2009-12-14T01:14:00.004-07:00

Below is a comment I posted on CreateDebate.com in regard to a conversation titled; What we think we know about God and not-God. The issue of worship was being discussed, so I weighed in on it. This is what I wrote;

Hope you both don't mind if I drop in. I can't figure out your objection to worship. You both seem to be hostile to the concept and I can't figure out why.

Worship to me seems to be a natural reflex of the human spirit to something that inspires awe. For example; As a kid I was into stunt riding bicycles, I was just a punk kid riding around. But some were professionals and man could they do some really cool stunts. When I watched them, I was in awe. I wanted to be just like them; you might say I worshiped them. In fact I did. Worship to me seems like something we do all the time to all sorts of things. People worship actors, musicians, sports figures, money, fame, sex, and power: just to list a few. So that's why I can't figure out the objection. It seems to be just a natural reflex of the human spirit.

So therefore it would only seem reasonable to have this response to the one who spoke everything into existence by the word of His mouth; that is awe inspiring just to think about. Our just think what you would have to know about chemistry to make a human being and then think what it takes to take that concept and write into a DNA code. And that's just small things. What does it take to set the heavens into motion and set up everything just right so that life is possible on earth. And make it in such a way that a man can stand on the surface of earth and see the heavens. That is mind blowing and all I can think of to say is; whoa! that's awesome.

If you can look at the inner workings of a cell, see the world around you and gaze into the heavens and not fall down in worship to the one who made it all; something is amiss. And that is exactly what you'd expect to find if the Bible is true.

Now to the title of your conversation. God by definition is transcendent. Therefore if we are to know anything about God it will because He chooses to reveal Himself to us. There is no way we can come to know Him by our efforts. So the question becomes; has He spoken? Seeing that He can write the blueprints for very complex creatures, like humans, in DNA: I doubt He would have a hard time communicating something simple to us.

So to answer the question (and rephrase it) What we know about God only comes through His general revelation and special revelation. Apart from that, we are in the dark and without hope of every knowing. But praise be to God who has given us minds so that we may know Him by understanding His revelation to us. And it would seem that it was designed in such a way that we might have something in common so that there might be some point of contact and some means of communication. Hence why I think humans worship and are the only creatures who do.

So I would say were are designed to worship. And I would also say that there is a proper and improper object of worship. Our creator would be the proper and creation would be the improper. That is something I think we can know by the simple use of reason.

Final thought; I believe in God for the same reason I believe in the mailman. I may never see the mailman but by the sheer fact that there is mail in my mailbox I know there must be a mailman. Likewise; when I walk out my front door and see something instead of nothing I know there must be a cause sufficient to explain the effect. And that cause must be an uncaused cause with the power of being in and of itself; otherwise there would be nothing. And please don't tell me the cosmos have always existed like Carl Sagan did. Because the cosmos would have burned themselves out a long time ago the way they are set up. Or to put it another way; everything would have gone cold and black a long time ago.

To check your worship function check out the following DVD's;

Unlocking the Mystery of Life

The Privileged Planet

Health Care

2009-10-23T07:09:00.002-07:00

I wanted to weigh in on the current debate in the United States over health care. The first thing we need to remember is that we as Americans do better if each of us help our neighbor. And if we do it out of our own free will with our own money; that's real charity. It's not charity if it is done by coercion using the money of someone else. We need to get government out of our wallets so we can have money to help the people we want.

We also do need to ask why health care is so expensive. The simple answer is malpractice insurance. And why is that high? frivolous law suits. So we need tort reform first. The next question then is; why are personal insurance rates so high? simple answer; lack of competition. The car insurance industry is in the middle of price wars. Who hasn't heard of Geico? Why is this not happening with health insurance? because it's not sold the same way due to regulation.

So real health care looks like this;

Reduce taxes so people can give their money were they want and help who they want.

Lower the number of frivolous lawsuits through tort reform so as to reduce the cost of providing health care.

Deregulate the health insurance industry so it can be sold across state lines; allowing competition.

In short we need competition in health care. We need more choices and the freedom to make those choices. Creating a monopoly in health care would be a blow to quality health care for the same reasons monopolies are bad; it kills competition. And we know what competition brings, better service and lower cost. It's just plain simple economics.

God Bless the whole World?

2009-10-03T05:48:00.003-07:00

While I was sitting at a stop light the other day I read a bumper sticker that at first seemed really nice but on further reflection made my stomach turn. The bumper sticker read, God bless the whole world, no exceptions.Now that sounds very nice and loving doesn't. I mean God should bless the whole world, not just America right. So what's wrong with that you ask. The trouble lies in the word bless. So I ask, what does it mean for God to "bless" something? In short it's like putting His stamp of approval on something. God looks at something and says, that's good, I like that and I want to support and encourage that kind of behavior.

So if we take that definition and reread the bumper sticker we have got a serious problem don't we. In short it means that if God were to look at the world He would like what he sees and declare it "good" That means all the wars, murder, rape,lying, adulteries, death, disease, abortions, stealing, theft and corruption God looks at and says, That's good, I like that and I want to support and encourage that kind of behavior. So this nice sounding bumper sticker turns out to be an indictment of God. In short it says God likes evil and approves of it. But does He? If God is good and just what should His response be to the World and America when he looks at it? I'll look at that in my next post and reflect a little on the problem of evil which ask the question; If God is good and all powerful why is there evil in the world?

A Simple Solution

2009-09-09T22:09:00.003-07:00

So I drove by one of those weird billboards, you know the kind or maybe you've heard the ad on TV. The pitch goes like this: switch to company A for your auto insurance and you could save X amount of dollars. Now what's so odd about that you ask. Well, what is the crisis Obama is responding to in his health care bill? The rising cost of health care. Now could someone please tell why we are having price wars for car insurance and at the same time the cost of health insurance is so bad that Obama thinks the federal government needs to step in and fix it. Maybe the solution is to sell health insurance like car insurance. Come on Obama get a clue, deregulation is the key, not starting another government program we can't pay for and that will run out of money like Social Security and Medicare.

The Death of Martin Luther King's Dream in the Election of Barak Obama

2009-07-28T16:07:00.004-07:00

In Martin Luther King's famous speech he said that he had a vision that someday a man would be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.

In all the hype about Obama's election to the highest office in our land. I noticed how this vision of Mr. Kings had failed; although everyone heralded it as the fulfillment of it. Why do I say this? Because all the hype is about the fact the he is an African American and their is no talk about his character. That to me is the opposite of what Mr. King envisioned.

I've also noticed this same failure in Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the US Supreme Court. Again, all the talk is about her ethnicity and not her character.

This is a disturbing trend that I have noticed. We as a people no longer think in categories of right and wrong but in categories of race, rich, poor, weak and strong. We think in terms of social justice, leveling the playing field, taking from the rich and giving it to the poor. We think it's OK to elevate an African American and put down the white male because he is the one with too much power and wealth. It is class warfare with a vengeance because it disguises it's self as tolerant and culturally sensitive while doing the very thing it condemns, discriminates. It sounds eerily similar to the Communist view of society and I think we have bought into it. So next time you listen to the news or read the paper notice the silence about right and wrong; And the things that really matter like character. And listen to the noise of the class warfare. Were it is all about the color of a man's skin and not the content of his character.

A study of Mattew 7:24-29

2008-11-30T23:47:00.002-07:00

Matthew 7:24-29

The Two Foundations

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

"The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

In these verses you have two people who hear the same thing but have two different responses and therefore two different ends. But what I want to draw your attention to first is the promise of these verses. Christ promises that if you respond in one way, act upon, you will still have problems in life. That doesn't differ between the two people; the same calamity happens to both people. But what differs is that one stands, he who acted, and one falls, he who didn't act. So Christ promises that if you do something, you will be able to stand no matter what life throws at you and you will not be carried away with the flood that is coming.

That is a promise that ought to make any sane person ask; What must I do? Well, glad you asked. The first thing is that you need to hear something; and something very specific. these words of mine, whose words? The very words of Christ, the word of God. See John 1 And just for clarity this doesn't just mean the four gospels, it means toto Scriptura, all of scripture. See Luke 24:27 and Hebrews 1
Now the second thing that must happen is the difference that makes all the difference; you must act upon what you hear. This however opens a huge discussion on why the two different responses. If somebody with that much authority says something to you, you ought to do it and do it quickly.
But this idea of someone having authority over us and telling us what we ought to do and not do cuts to the very heart of the matter. Men who have not been born of the spirit have inherited from their first father, Adam, a spirit and nature that will not have anyone else rule over them. You can see this quite well, everyone is busy building their life as they see best. Then along comes the master builder and he says; hey if you use those materials and that foundation your structure will collapse. And what is the natural response? Thank you very much, but this is my life I'll do with it what I want and you will not tell me what I should do or not do with it. I will decide what is good and bad, I'll decide what is true and false, and I'll decide what is beautiful and ugly. Is that not everyone of us? Because of that nature, that is in rebellion against God, The natural man can't and will not act upon the words of Christ. And therefore he will perish, unless God himself intervenes. Hence the ultimate meaning of this text. So, the very first thing that must happen, is that one must be born again. Or to put it another way, you must receive a new nature, one that willing submits to the law and authority of God. And only God can cause that to happen and that's what we call sovereign grace.

So the promise of these verses for the ability to stand can only be applied to those for whom Christ is King, their authority and their sovereign. To those who have put down their arms and surrendered their wills and life to God. Because, only those for whom Christ is King, will Christ save. All others will perish and that without exception, for there can be no rebellion in the Kingdom of Heaven for it is a kingdom of peace.

The last thing I want to point out is that this passage is a contrast between a wise man and a foolish man. Now, no one wants to be the foolish man. But isn't that the tragedy of all tragedies to spend your whole life thinking you are wise only to get the end and realize you were a fool. That's why scripture implores us to seek wisdom, but the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And there we go back again to the issue of authority. Who rules over you? you or God? If it is God, then go get your Bible and seek wisdom and seek the face of God. A good place to start is the book of Proverbs. It works out really nice because there are thirty one chapters in it and thirty one days in a month, most times. So here is a place you can go daily, like you do for food, and find wisdom. And remember Christ said that man doesn't live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. So if you go to the word very little, you'll starve and have no vitality. Give us this day our daily bread takes on a whole new meaning.. And keep in mind that faith is active trust; it requires action. It's the difference between saying; yes if I put on that parachute and jump out of this plane, the parachute will save me and putting on the parachute and jumping out of the plane. So, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and jump because nothing else will prove your faith in Him than trusting Him to catch you. So read His word and then go do it, for the Lord promises you success, you will stand and not fall, for underneath you are the everlasting arms Deuteronomy 33:27

Walking Through The Book of Romans

2008-10-01T20:45:00.002-07:00

I confess, I'm an avid Podcaster. But my profession lends it's self to that sort of thing. Being a professional driver gives me lot's of time to listen to podcast, sermons being my favorite variety. It might make your head hurt if I told you how many I consume daily. But recently one of my favorites came to an end, Desiring God by John Piper. He had been preaching through the book of Romans and I had been so edified by it. So I thought, what now? So that's when I got the idea, let's go back to the beginning and work through them. Now mind you this is no small task, there is eight and a half years of preaching here. So I cut out everything, except Stand to Reason and started in the beginning. Oh what a joy it is to hear the word of God opened up and exposited so well. I have been a follower of Christ for sometime, but I must say, I didn't fully understand the Gospel until now. So if you are a follower of Christ I strongly urge you to work through this series, it will be well worth your time. Here is the link to the sermons. To get a taste click here Every one of these sermons has been enlightening for me and shown me things in God's word I have never seen.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Romans 11:33

Breaking The Silence and Lunch With the Jehovah's Witnesses

2008-09-14T19:46:00.002-07:00

Well my friend Paul reminded me today that I have a blog, something I seem to have forgotten. So Paul, this blog is for you.

I've decided that I will at least try and post something at least once a week; either Friday or Monday. If time permits I'll offer a daily special. So my apologies to all the patrons of Robby's Pancake House who I have left famished for the last several months.

So, Thursday I had lunch with some Jehovah's witnesses; not intentionally though. And I would like to share my thoughts about that with those of you who are followers of Jesus of Nazareth. The rest of you might find the following odd.

So Thursday I was starting to enjoy my Lunch as I sat in my truck at work. When I was approached by two Ladies representing the Jehovah's witnesses. I thought this was a little bold of them and I respect them for their zeal; I wish all Christians were this bold in sharing their faith. Now I had an encounter with some witnesses several days ago, so the topic was fresh on my mind. That conversation didn't go as well has I had planned, so I was rethinking my tactics. When talking with those who are trying to work their way into heaven I take them to Matthew 5:20. But I had taken the conversation to Matthew 7:21. This approach fails because they believe they are the ones doing the will of the Father. And then trying to argue against that takes you away from the cross and the need for a savior. So this time I was going to stick to Matthew 5:20 and open up the law as Christ does in His sermon. But the conversation turned to the deity of Christ and I didn't want to go there because they love to debate this. And I want to show them their true state in the mirror of God's law. Now this is where I think I stumbled in the conversation; not that I can't argue for the deity of Christ. Which is something they agree with only that He is not Jehovah, God himself. But this begs the question; Why must the Christ be God himself and nothing less. This is why I think Matthew 5:20 is helpful but there is somewhere else I would have gone as a follow up, but I'll get to that in a minute. They agreed that Christ had paid our debt. And I agree with that, but that's only half the story. There are two problems I see in their position; First, Can a christ who is not fully God pay that debt fully? and second the payment of the debt only brings the balance to zero. And we need righteousness to get into heaven. And according to Matthew 5:20 we need an amount that no human can acheive, not even the most religious and devout. Which ought to frighten any sober minded individual. So where does one get this kind of righteousness? I did press this point with them, but In hindsight I should have gone to Matthew 19:17 as a follow up and here is why. Matthew 19:17 makes it clear that their is only one who is good, who posses the kind of righteousness we need; God himself. This is why the Christ must be God himself and nothing less as the Jehovah's Witnesses teach. So next time I'll be sure to take them their. Also if you read this passage carefully you will notice that Jesus is making a claim to deity here and not denying it as some would teach.

And just as a side note; Heaven should never be the goal of the Christian, God himself should be. Heaven is only the place where we enjoy the presence of God, forever. So we are saved from God, by God, to God so that God himself my receive all the praise. Change any of those objects and God is robbed of His glory. The Jehovah's Witnesses change the "by God" to "by a lesser deity" People like Joel Stohl change the "from God" to "from a bad life" and most Christians, not all, change the "to God" to "to heaven" So let's examine ourselves to make sure we don't make these errors and the next time you are talking to someone who is religious listen to see who or what they have substituted for God himself as the means and object of all things.

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

EAT CROW, IRAQ WAR SKEPTICS

2008-06-13T22:08:00.002-07:00

By ARTHUR HERMAN

June 9, 2008 -- AMERICA has won, or is about to win, the Iraq war.

The latest proof came last month, as the Iraqi army - just a few months ago the target of scorn and abuse from Democratic politicians and journalists - forcefully reoccupied three cities that had served as key insurgency bases (Basra, Sadr City and Mosul).

Sunnis and Shias alike applauded as their nation's army compelled insurgent militias to lay down their arms. The country's leading opposition newspaper, Azzaman, led the applause for the move into Mosul - a sign that national reconciliation in Iraq is under way and probably irreversible. For complete article EAT CROW, IRAQ WAR SKEPTICS

Is hating ‘haters’ hateful?

2008-04-17T07:02:00.002-07:00

Is hating ‘haters’ hateful?
THERE’S A DOUBLE STANDARD BEING USED IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE ON HOMOSEXUALITY

BY DR. SCOTT LIVELY, president of Defend the Family - AFA Journal May 2008

Is hating haters hateful?

Hate has a pretty bad name in the world today. No one wants to be called a hater, especially Christians, which is probably why we get accused of it all the time by our opponents. Homosexuals are especially fond of calling people haters. They even invented the word homophobia, which means hate and fear of homosexuals, envisaged as a mental illness. (A phobia is an anxiety disorder.)
I hate being called a homophobe. It has such an ugly connotation. It’s especially unpleasant because, as a Christian, I’m supposed to have a reputation for loving people, not hating them. So I’ve worked really hard over the years to try to get the homosexuals to stop calling me a homophobe. I’ve pointed out the difference between hating people and hating their behavior (loving the sinner but hating the sin). They hated that. more

The just shall live by faith

2008-03-09T08:37:00.003-07:00

Do you think there is a difference between believing in God and believing God?

I ask that question because I doubt any of us don't believe in God. But I do doubt that any of us really believe God. Sure we can all say we do when things are good. But how many of us could sit on the ashes of our lives, naked and scraping the sores that cover our body and say; The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD as Job did. When things don't go as we planned, do we worry? When our country seems corrupt, do we worry? When everything in your life is shaken or removed, where will your confidence and hope be? Will it be in someone else or perhaps yourself? Is it in your things or were you live? What is it in life, that if you lost it you would be troubled by? If your hope is not in God alone, then you have just found your idol. What I see is everyone worried about all sorts of things, worry is the opposite of faith. But how many of us even care that the one who gave us life, eyes to see, ears to hear and filled our lives with beauty, that His name is blasphemed constantly. Does it break our hearts when God is lied about? Does it concern us that we honor Him with our lips, but our hearts are far from Him. Does our soul yearn for God as King David's did in Psalm 42; As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? When is the last time you picked up your Bible because you thirsted after God and wanted to meet Him? Some don't even believe God when He says that it is His word. How many of us call God a liar by our thoughts and actions every moment? If the things that are done to God were done to someone you love, you would be outraged. Yet we yawn or turn away when God is dragged through the mud and sometimes we are the ones doing it to Him. Let's get passionate about something that really matters, God and His honor. The rest of the stuff is just window dressing. This is not to say that I'm a perfect representative of God and everyone should be more like me, I dishonor Him more than I care to remember, and it breaks my heart. Honestly, I wish I was more like a door than a wall. I want people to see God, in all His beauty, and fall madly in love with Him. I don't want them to see me, but he has chosen this imperfect vessel of clay to proclaim His majesty. So my question is; do we believe that God is good and He always does what is right? We can rattle of so easily all we know about God and talk as If we know Him. But remember, even the demons believe in God, yet they tremble James 2:19 Do we tremble? or do we mock Him and say Ah! He doesn't really mean that and He most certainly won't do that. God has sworn that a day is coming when he will balance the scales of justice and that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 That righteousness is found only in Christ. You don't posses it, nor can you earn it. It is the free gift of God by faith alone, in Christ alone. It is attained by believing that God has done for you what He promised He would do. Remember that Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Galatians 3:6 And faith is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8 So my challenge is this; Tolle Lege, take up and read. Go get your Bible and knock of the dust. And when you do, do it with the eyes of faith, believing God and His word. Seek His face. For He promises that all who seek, shall find Matthew 7:7

To kill or not to kill

2008-02-25T17:52:00.002-07:00

Is it inconsistent to be against abortion and for the death penalty ? At first glance it might appear to be, but on further inquiry it is not at all.

The first question that must be asked is; what's at stake? It is human life. And human life is not the sort of thing that should be taken in a careless manner. It must have the proper justification, and that of the highest degree, to be taken. So my objection to abortion is that human life is valuable and the reasons for abortion don't rise to the level of proper justification. In the case of capital punishment; it is because of the value of human life that the highest penalty is demanded and with proper justification. This is not to say that it is always carried out justly. We are mostly certainly prone to abuse our powers, that is why a system of checks and balances is so important.

So in summary; abortion doesn't have proper justification and capital punishment does. So there is no inconsistency. I start with the same premise in both cases, the value of human life, and apply it consistently through out.

As a side note; it would seem to me that the case for capital punishment would be getting stronger with DNA testing, not weaker.

Ariz. Leaders Mull Gay 'Marriage' Ban Anew

2008-02-19T15:48:00.002-07:00

February 12, 2008
Associated Press

Republican lawmakers on Monday proposed asking voters in November to amend the Arizona Constitution to ban same-sex "marriage" in the state, which was the first to turn down such a measure.

The proposal was backed by 16 of 30 state senators, and an identical proposal was introduced in the House. Both chambers would have to approve the measure in a vote for it to be included on the ballot. continued

The war in Iraq

2008-02-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Proverbs 2:27

Of all that is said about the war in Iraq, the majority of it is bad. I would however like to offer another perspective, one that is seldom considered. But let me say this first; All wars are evil but not everyones involvement in them is evil.

In America we cling to these words in the Declaration of Independence;

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

However it seems to me that we read the "all men" part as "all Americans" But I would argue that this statement, because it is grounded in creation, applies to all human beings. Even Iraqis.

Why do I raise this point? Because we as Americans tend to be isolationists, we are fat and happy, to bad about the rest of the world, good luck! seems to be our attitude. We don't want to get involved and pay the price to ensure that all men are free, when it is in our power to do good to our neighbor. I'm sure we all know the story of the good Samaritan. For those who don't, it may be found in Luke 10:25-37. Take the time to read that discourse because my argument rest on it and Proverbs 2:27. As a side note in the story of the good Samaritan. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews. In fact the Jews would go way out of their way to avoid walking through Samaria. So don't let the fact that this is a Jew being helped by a Samaritan, escape your attention. Verses 36-37 are my main point however, 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Most people don't know that if the borders of Iraq could be sealed, all violence would cease. What we are dealing with here is a group of fellow human beings who are living under tyranny and oppression from forces outside. These are people like you and me, with the same wants and desire. Human beings with certain unalienable rights endowed to them by their creator. However, some people don't think so and wish to bring them into submission to their desires. It's like the schoolyard bully only on a national level.

So my question is this, do we have a moral obligation to help our neighbor, our fellow human beings liberate themselves from tyranny and oppression when it is within our power to do so?

When I see Iraqis holding up their purple thumbs because they can now vote, when I hear of schools and hospitals being built, girls being allowed to go to school for the first time, Iraqis coming out of hiding and joining the police force and military, small business owners opening up their shops again, Iraqis coming out of hiding and turning over insurgents, I see a people who love freedom and peace as much as we do. I see a people who are grateful that we came to help them.

I'm afraid that we as Americans are a very self-centered people, just consider all the self-help material that's available to us. We spend thousands to comfort and please ourselves, consider the Super-Bowl. We have no trouble spending on things that have a direct benefit for us. Yes, we are the most generous nation in the world as of right now, but that is fading fast. Convenience and comfort have become our gods and we sacrifice joyfully at their alters. When our creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, asks us to give to our neighbor with no expectation of return, we shrug off our responsibility and turn a blind eye to the suffering all around us.

So yes, the war has cost us and that cost has been heavy, but the cost didn't concern the Samaritan, he was willing to pay it on behalf of his neighbor with no expectation of return. I firmly believe that it is wiser to pay a small price now, than a much greater one later. If we save the lives of hundreds of thousands at the cost of several thousand, than it was worth it. This is the "bloody arithmetic" that won the civil war here and gained liberty for all men and women who call America their home.

So do we cower in the face of evil because it might cost us our very lives. Our do we put it down at great cost to ourselves because we understand the gravity of what is at stake. Are we the good Samaritan who does good to his neighbor when it is within our power to do so, regardless of cost?

"All it takes for evil to succeed, is for good men to do nothing." -Anonymous

Faith of our Fathers

2008-01-29T22:23:00.001-07:00

Well I'm up way to late because I found the most fascinating web site. The American Colonist's Library. As I was browsing around I found this beautiful prayer from George Washington and just had to share it. This site could be habit forming, there is just way to much good stuff here to read, enjoy

George Washington's Prayer Journal

1) Sunday Morning

Almighty God, and most merciful father, who didst command the children of Israel to offer a daily sacrifice to thee, that thereby they might glorify and praise thee for thy protection both night and day, receive, O Lord, my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to thee; I yield thee humble and hearty thanks that thou has preserved me from the danger of the night past, and brought me to the light of the day, and the comforts thereof, a day which is consecrated ot thine own service and for thine own honor. Let my heart, therefore, Gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works, but wait on thee, and discharge those weighty duties thou requirest of me, and since thou art a God of pure eyes, and wilt be sanctified in all who draww near unto thee, who doest not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in thy courts, pardon, I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into thy temple, and compass thine altar, my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and for ever for his sake, who ay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

From William J. Johnson George Washington, the Christian(New York: The Abingdon Press, New York & Cincinnati, 1919), pp. 24-35.

Pick me please

2008-01-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

With the presidential campaign in full swing, I have two thoughts. I'm glad we don't run campaigns like some do around the world. Picture if you will this headline; radical supporters of Hillary Clinton bombed a public gathering injuring dozens today. Her campaign headquarters endorsed the action, saying vote for Hillary or we'll bomb you too. But I'm a little, ok a lot, worried about how we do it here. We tend to fall off the other side of the horse and be to casual about it and not give it much thought. How did the people in Iowa and New Hampshire decide so quickly? Which brings me to my point. What is it that we should look for in a candidate? Some would argue that it is their position on a particular issue. Others would say that it is what the candidate promises they will do or not do once in office. But I and others would say it is something else. I don't think those first two options are good for several reasons. Let's use Obama and Ron Paul as examples here. Both men are on opposite ends of the spectrum here, but appeal to the same thing; promise. One promises what he will do, solve all our problems by government intervention, Obama. The other promises that he will solve all our problems by limiting government, Paul. So what is wrong with promises? One word, Congress. You may have all the good intentions in the world but you have to work with other people who disagree with you. And these people probably don't think your idea is a good one. Which is the beauty of our government. So basing your decision on promises that most likely will not see the light of day is not a good plan. And what's wrong with issues or values? same thing. Ideally our government works on the art of persuasion, the best idea wins, as opposed to coercion. It is a system of checks and balances designed to keep all parties in check. We have a plethora of agendas and ideas in the political field and all are competing for a place at the table. So we have to make it fair for all parties involved, equal under the law. That is the American way. However, that is not to say all ideas or agendas are equally valid. A mistake that is to easily made. We must debate the ideas and views and let the best idea win. Which is why I and others look for character in a candidate. I like to put myself across the table, if you will, and imagine what it would be like to negotiate with this person. How would they come across and would I be able to work with them. Is it their way or the highway? If I was a foreign leader, how would the exchange be? would it be like working with Homer Simpson? The fact is we all have to work with people and the better we do it, the better results we get. We need someone who is a statesman, a diplomat and a leader. Someone who knows the limits of his office and works within them. A candidate like this is more likely to actually accomplish something. What about the issues and values? These things naturally flow from a good character. So a candidate who has good character will get their job done and be right on the main issues. However, this is a little harder to judge than promises or issues. I can look at a candidates claims but I can't see their heart. This requires that I actually know the person and have worked with them. Voting records give us a limited view in this area. I think the best measure we have is what their colleagues say about them. Which takes work and time. Here is a great article I came across this morning on townhall.com that sheds some light on this. Click here to read it .

Say something to them would you

2008-01-12T23:29:00.000-07:00

What do you say when you don't have the time to type out whats on your mind and it's been over a month since you said anything?

Well, let's not reinvent the wheel, there is a lot of people smarter than me, so I'll just quote them.
I found these quotes on Wall builders website, enjoy.

Robert Winthrop

Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet.

(Source: Robert Winthrop, Addresses and Speeches on Various Occasions (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1852), p. 172 from his "Either by the Bible or the Bayonet.")

Noah Webster

Founding Educator

The most perfect maxims and examples for regulating your social conduct and domestic economy, as well as the best rules of morality and religion, are to be found in the Bible. . . . The moral principles and precepts found in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. These principles and precepts have truth, immutable truth, for their foundation. . . . All the evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. . . . For instruction then in social, religious and civil duties resort to the scriptures for the best precepts.

(Source: Noah Webster, History of the United States, "Advice to the Young" (New Haven: Durrie & Peck, 1832), pp. 338-340, par. 51, 53, 56.)

Quote of the day

2007-12-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Come, ye dead, Christless, unconverted sinner, come and see the place where they laid the body of the deceased Lazarus; behold him laid out, bound hand and foot with graveclothes, locked up and stinking in a dark cave, with a great stone placed on top of it. View him again and again; go nearer to him; be not afraid; smell him, Ah! how he stinketh. Stop there now, pause a while; and whilst thou art gazing upon the corpse of Lazarus, give me leave to tell thee with great plainness, but greater love, that this dead, bound, entombed, stinking carcase, is but a faint representation of thy poor soul in it natural state;...thy spirit which thou bearest about with thee, sepulchered in flesh and blood, is literally dead to God, and as truly dead in trespasses and sins, as the body of Lazarus was in the cave. Was he bound hand and foot with graveclothes? So art thou bound hand and foot with thy corruptions; and as a stone was laid on the sepulchre, so there is a stone of unbelief upon thy stupid heart. Perhaps thou has lain in this estate, not only four days, but many years, stinking in God’s nostrils. And, what is still more effecting, thou art as unable to raise thyself out of this loathsome, dead state, to a life of righteousness and true holiness, as ever Lazarus was to raise himself from the cave in which he lay so long. Thou mayest try the power of thy boasted free will, and the force and energy of moral persuasion and rational arguments (which, without doubt, have their proper place in religion); but all thy efforts, exerted with never so much vigor, will prove quite fruitless and abortive, till that same Jesus, who said ‘take away the stone” and cried “Lazarus, come forth,” also quicken you. This is grace, graciously offered, and grace graciously applied. Or as the Confession originally puts it, “grace offered and conveyed." ~George Whitefield

Law and Order

2007-12-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Is the world we live in one of chaos or oder? A cursory glance of the world around us would certainly point to the conclusion that it is one of order. What I mean by order would be better defined by uniformity, consistency, and predictability. In short does this world and universe function in a way that we can know how it will function in the next moment. Will the sun come up in the east? Will water always run downhill? There are laws that govern and determine the way the world works. These laws are knowable and testable. This realm of inquiry is known as natural law. This is were one branch of science comes into play; it is an endeavor to know and understand the way the world works. It is a descriptive enterprise, it describes for us how things work. So a ordered universe would be necessary for any scientific endeavor because if the way things worked changed; a description would be impossible. Now I'm not arguing that things don't change, they most certainly do. What I'm saying is that their are laws which govern our world that don't change. Water runs downhill in China, just like it does in the USA. These laws apply to all people, in all places, at all times. It is what we call natural law or the way things work. Now any reasonable person wouldn't disagree with this because it is easily verifiable. Natural law is very important to know because it ensures our survival. For example; ignorance of the law of gravity can be very costly. Now I have given this subject a very brief overview, their certainly is a lot more that could be said about natural law. My point of this brief look at natural law is to make an observation. When it comes to natural law, there is no disagreement as to it existence, nor would any reasonable person argue that these laws are the product of the human mind or culture. Natural law is independent of the human experience. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, it still makes a noise. It might even be said that these laws are forced upon us and inescapable. We have to order our lives around them and yes we have learned to override certain laws with others. Aerodynamics can override gravity. But we are still governed by them. In this realm of natural law we have no trouble making judgments and saying this is true and that is false. We can do research and say this theory is right and that one is wrong. We do this all the time and often times without thinking, in fact we would be dead if we didn't. In the physical realm; to make judgments, to speak of right and wrong and claim true or false is common language that no reasonable person disagrees with. But something funny and inconsistent happens when we shift into the realm of metaphysics. All of sudden everything goes out the window. I think this has to do with the shift in focus, we are no longer talking about out there, but in there. We are talking about ourselves. It gets personal. For example take the works of Aristotle and Plato on logic; were they describing something that existed independent of themselves or were they defining something they made up? Is it a law that describes the metaphysical world and the way it works? The rub comes because these laws are inescapable and they govern the way we work, they are imposed on us. Some would like to throw out these laws when they bump up against them or it contradicts a treasured view of theirs. The way I see it is that metaphysical laws can be a little deceptive, we can break them without any apparent consequence, or can we? So we tend to think they are optional or even non existent. Some might even think they are in flux, always changing and evolving. In a sense we can ignore them when we want and use them when we want. Natural law is a lot more rigid, break one and pay immediately. Stand in front of a speeding semi and deny the law of inertia. You can't deny natural law you have to order your life in light of it. It is really hard to see natural law as optional, in flux or even non existent. In my next post I will explore this a little further. So my closing question for today is; why do you think we acknowledge natural law and dismiss metaphysical laws?

On The Solid Rock I Stand

2007-11-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:23-25 (New King James Version)

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

As I get older and study history; I notice that a lot of philosophies and ideas come and go. But one remains the same and still stands. Take for example the hottest book out right now The Secret; in a few years this book will fade into history like all the other ideas of men. But I can certainly understand the reasons for all these philosophies. We instinctively understand that the world is not as it should be, something has gone wrong. Why do children die? Why do people murder each other? Why is it easier for me to lie than tell the truth? The questions could go on and on. But the question remains, why? What has gone wrong with the world? We know that things are not as the should be or could be. We have a sense of right and wrong and we want things to be right, but they're not. We are desperately looking for answers and constantly trying out new theories. We want to know what we can do to fix it. Yet, after thousands of years we (collectively speaking, people in general) are no closer to the answers then when we first began, which ought to tell us that the answer lies outside of ourselves. We can not get there from here. And where is "there", from where does this notion of the good come from and why don't we experience it? Some would say "don't worry, be happy" or "love is the answer" or any other empty platitude. But those notions will not help when someone walks into the mall where you are sipping your latte and starts gunning people down. How do you make sense of that? How do you make sense when your son is born with a birth defect that takes his life before he can ever say " I love you" . I don't know about you, but I need real answers to these questions. I need to base my life on something that can carry me through tragedies, loss, suffering, old age and death. Passing fads, and empty platitudes are like chasing bubbles, touch them and they are gone. I need something I can stand on, build my life on and die on.

Let's consider the Pilgrims, since it is Thanksgiving. On what did they build there lives? What was it that was so sure and so strong that in spite of all they faced, they carried on. When faced with months at sea, cold, hunger, lack of comfort and death, even the death of their own children what carried them through? They could've gone back to their homes, in fact they could've never left. What was it that motivated them, what was it that they were so sure of that they gave their fortunes and lives for. Do you have that kind of passion and confidence in life? Some might say they were just stupid. Were they? their children were more educated and more read than any college graduate today. What was it that they built their lives on and on what did they build our government? A little study of history will show that these people knew in whom they believed and knew that scripture was given by Him to them and us. History is filled with men and women like this; they are Christian Martyrs. These are people who gave their lives for the cause of Christ, not taking the lives of others for their cause. These are the people who founded the greatest nation the world has ever known. These are people who started hospitals, founded universities, and have done more to relieve human suffering than any other group of people the world has ever know. You might say they knew why there is suffering and sorrow in the world and they knew what to do about it. And they most certainly knew were to find answers to life's toughest questions. Consider Horatio G. Spafford who lost his four daughters at sea and only his wife survived. On his way to join his wife, he stopped at the place where they died and pen the words to the classic Hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.
Faced with that kind of loss, could you say "it is well with my soul"

That is what I want to build my life on, the word of God as contained in scripture. History ought to tell us that those who stand on scripture alone, stand on solid ground. And those who stand on the philosophies of men, stand on shifting sand. The Bible has withstood thousands of years of criticism. Countless philosophies have come and gone but God's word remains. We as a people need to see in scripture what these great people saw in scripture, a complete and sufficient worldveiw, not just some place to get some personal values. The word of God is so much more than that. So the question is; Will you be the wise person who builds on the Rock or the foolish one who builds on sand?

Matthew 7:23-25 (New King James Version)

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

On this day, let us remember to whom we give thanks and from whom all our blessings come.
The great men who laid the foundation of our country on God's word certainly did. May we never forget it, lest we have to shed our blood, as they did, to regain it.

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god."-Charter of Berkeley Hundred.

"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country...for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed...and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually...To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best." George Washington's national Thanksgiving Proclamation in of 1789

Are you born again ?

2007-11-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

In recent studies the Barna Group has determined that Born Again Christians are no different from the world. Is it possible for someone to change and not change? The Barna Group would say yes, but the New Testament clearly says no. John Piper has started a series on defining what the New Testament means by born again or regenerate. Here is a quote from the first installment, to read the whole article and follow along as he explores this topic, click here.

The New Testament Moves the Opposite Direction

I’m not saying their research is wrong. It appears to be appallingly right. I am not saying that the church is not as worldly as they say it is. I am saying that the writers of the New Testament think in exactly the opposite direction about being born again. Instead of moving from a profession of faith, to the label “born again,” to the worldliness of these so-called born again people, to the conclusion that the new birth does not radically change people, the New Testament moves the other direction. It moves from the absolute certainty that the new birth radically changes people, to the observation that many professing Christians are indeed (as the Barna Group says) not radically changed, to the conclusion that they are not born again. The New Testament, unlike the Barna Group, does not defile the new birth with the worldliness of unregenerate, professing American Christians. Quoted from John Piper at desiringgod.org

Shoving Grandma and Politics

2007-11-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

Greg Koukl, from Stand to Reason, raised some very interesting thoughts on his weekly radio program this past Sunday, November 11th. And honestly, I have changed my view on the upcoming election because of them. There has been quite a lot of discussion in evangelical circles regarding the upcoming presidential election. The discussion has focused on the hypothetical scenario of what should evangelicals do if both candidates are pro-abortion. How should we vote? Dr. Dobson has taken a lot of flack for his position and comments he made during a recent interview where he said he would not vote for a pro-abortion candidate, and he stands by that. The media has misrepresented him even to the point of claiming that Dr. Dobson wants to start a third party, which is not the case. At first, I applauded Dr. Dobson and others like him for their convictions and agreed with them, but on second thought I think their convictions aren't well thought out. Let me explain. Is it wise to make our decisions with no regard for the outcome? Christ would argue that we should "count the cost" Dr. Dobson could keep his word and actually cause more deaths and I don't think that is a viable option.

Is it ever right to vote for a pro-abortion candidate? And if I'm pro-life, how could I vote for someone who is pro-abortion? (which could be the dilemma pro-lifers face if Rudy Giuliani gets the Republican nomination.) Some would argue that it is a compromise to our position if we do, but is it? Well, that depends. Is it wrong to shove Grandma? Yes and no, it depends on the situation. If I shove Grandma because I'm mad at her, yes that is clearly wrong. But, if I shove her out of the way of a speeding car that's an entirely different thing. It is the motive, not the act, that determines the morality of an act. Our obligation is to cast our vote in a way that does the greatest good possible given the circumstances we are facing. Or to put it another way; we try to do the moral thing. So we see that it is not necessarily what we do, but why. Then we must also ask; what is the standard by which we judge.

Now some might claim this is Situational Ethics, but it is not, nor is it Relativism (moral subjectivism). Situational Ethics as a philosophy is actually objective in nature because it grounds itself outside itself in love, but I'm not grounding my position in love or myself. My position is moral objectivitism because it is dependent on the details of the objective situation. It's truthfulness is not based on me (the subject), but on those things outside myself (the object). Because all truth claims depend on the circumstances and circumstances are always relevant questions to whether an act is moral; this is the correspondence theory of truth. True truth is the way things really are.

So here is the way I see it. If we are placed in this situation between two pro-abortion candidates and our objective is to save as many lives as we can given the circumstances we face, then which candidate will do that best? Clearly the Republican.

Welcome

2007-11-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Robby's Pancake House

I have started this blog as a means to share those things I have learned and those things I'm pondering. Not because I think I'm some great person, but because I love to get down to the fundamentals of things and wrestle with things like epistemology. I reject the postmodern notion that truth is not knowable, I think truth is knowable. Truth is worth knowing and pursuing with all your heart. I believe in the correspondence theory of truth. I'm egalitarian regarding persons and an elitist regarding ideas, Some ideas are simply superior to others. This site will be explicitly Christian and my thinking will be done from an explicitly Christian worldview. Sound thinking will be the rule and I will do my best to use language carefully so as to avoid confusion. For after all, clarity is more important than agreement. However, I'm fallible, so if I blunder please let me know. If you do correct, be prepared to substantiate it. This will be a place where politics, religion, philosophy and what ever else is on my mind will be discussed regularly. So hopefully this will become a place you visit regularly to get some food for thought.

Robby's Pancake House is officially open for business.