FtFoC #10

10: “The idea of millions of years ago was come up with only 200 years ago” -Dr. Terry Mortenson

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FtFoC #9

9: “If the flood is responsible for most of the rock layers and fossils, then those rocks and fossils cannot represent the history of the earth over millions of years, as evolutionists claim.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson

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FtFoC #8

8: “Noah’s flood would produce exactly the kind of geological record that we see today worldwide: thousands of feet of sediments clearly deposited by water and later hardened into rock and containing billions of fossils.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson

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FtFoC #7

7: “If you start with biblical assumptions about a supernatural creation, about a global flood at the time of Noah, and you look at those same facts you will actually see things that the evolutionist misses and that will guide you in your interpretation and you will see that the fossils and rock actually confirm what the bible says about earth history.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson

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Georgia, On the Rebound

Hello all!

I doubt many of you will be interested in the following link, but I thought I'd share it anyway because A) it's very significant in international affairs, and B) I think it's interesting. :-)   If you will recall, Georgia, a country struggling to implement a westernized values system emphasizing personal and economic freedom, was shamelessly invaded by Russia last year in a blatant power grab involving an oil pipeline running through Georgia, a pipeline that threatened a Russian monopoly on the oil supply to Europe.  This article gives you an update on what's going on in Georgia as they try to recover and continue their forward progress.   I hope you find it enlightening and encouraging, if not interesting.  I believe it's important to support the efforts of Georgia.  They are not a large country, but they are struggling to bring about social and political change that is desperately needed in that region of the world.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/05/AR2009080503091.html?wprss=rss_opinions

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

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Oakland "Bubble Zone" Ordinance Upheld

Hey all!

I ran across this story today and thought it was worth passing along.

In 2008, the city of Oakland, California, passed a “Bubble Ordinance” that prohibits pro-life protestors from outside abortion clinics from standing within 8 feet of women seeking abortions.   This ruling was challenged as unconstitutional, specifically as a violation of free speech rights.   The following (slightly edited) story from lifesitenews.com updates the story and fills in some details.

Oakland Abortion 'Bubble Zone' Ordinance Upheld by Federal Judge

By Patrick B. Craine

SAN FRANCISCO, California, August 4, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A federal judge ruled yesterday that the City of Oakland's 2008 'bubble' ordinance, which prohibits pro-life protesters outside abortion facilities from standing within 8 feet of women seeking abortions, is constitutional.

The law was enacted in response to the efforts of Baptist Rev. Walter Hoye, 52, who has protested for several years outside the Oakland abortion mill, Family Planning Specialists Medical Group. Hoye would approach women to offer alternatives to abortion. He was fined and jailed for 18 days this March and April for breaching the law.

In a federal lawsuit, Hoye argued that the law violated his free-speech rights and the Constitution's equal protection clause.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, however, found that the law's content was neutral and that it had been appropriately applied by the police who arrested Hoye.  He said the law protects access to healthcare, while also allowing protesters to express their opinion.

While Hoye "appears to take a relatively mild-mannered approach to demonstrating," the judge said, not all protesters would necessarily follow his example.

"I am horribly disappointed," commented Hoye, who has vowed to continue his pro-life witness.

One of his lawyers, Michael Millen of the Life Legal Defense Foundation (LLDF), has announced their intention to appeal the ruling.  "My reaction is, 'We'll see you in the Ninth Circuit,' " Millen said, referring to the federal appellate court.  "It is now illegal to stand still on the sidewalk and extend your arm to hand out a piece of literature," he said.  "I don't think the Ninth Circuit is going to buy it."

"Mark this day down," he commented in a press release today.  "On this day, a federal court judge ruled that it is constitutional to put someone in jail for a year for holding out a hand with a leaflet."

Meanwhile, the district attorney has announced that he will be seeking to permanently ban Hoye from coming within 100 feet of the abortion facility. Hoye is currently appealing a three-year probation that requires him to stay 100 feet away.

"The District Attorney is now arguing the standard pro-abort line," said Catherine Short of LLDF. "They are arguing that Rev. Hoye should be banned from ever going to the clinic because his mere presence could upset some women. They have abandoned any pretense of 'seeking justice,' which is the prosecutor's duty. This is now blatantly ideological."

It should be noted that Paster Walter Hoye is a pro-life (obviously) African American Pastor who has been protesting abortion for many years and is described as mild mannered and non-confrontational.  It is his misfortune to have been gutsy too, I guess, thus his targeting.

Keep tuned into this story as I am sure there will be more to follow!

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

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FtFoC #6

6: “It is not true to say that there is different evidence for creation and evolution. Everyone has the same evidence – it is just interpreted in different ways. -Roger Patterson

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FtFoC #5

5: “Many people have difficulty in accepting a Creator God because if this Creator God did create all things, then all things, including man, would have to obey the rules He places on them. Believing that
man arose by chance alleviates this responsibility and man can rule his own life.” -Ken Ham

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Face the Facts of Creation

Hello everybody!

Well, it’s obviously been a long time since I’ve posted anything due to circumstances and general business, but I’m doubling back down on several things I have neglected of late, including blogging, so you should be seeing more of me for now. :-)  Hopefully my mind won’t be completely emptied of ideas now that I have actually determined to post more. :-)   For today, I’m just posting to let you know that I am here, and to post my first installment of “Face the Facts of Creation”.

For some background on FtFoC (taken from FtFoC Facebook page), “The purpose of face the facts of creationism is to educate people about the facts of creation. We believe that the Bible’s account of creation is the truth and that science, while it cannot definitely prove any account of creation, actually fits into this account.”  I like the facts they have accumulated a lot and hope that you find them edifying and/or thought-provoking.

The plan is to post one fact for everyday of August, so I’m posting today’s fact and the three days facts that I missed.

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

1: “Genesis is the foundation of the rest of the Bible, therefore if a person were to believe in creation as described in Genesis they would be more apt to believe the rest of the Bible.” -Ken Ham

2: “Facts exist in the present, and our interpretations are an attempt to connect the past to the present. The evolutionists must assume everything about the past, while biblical creationists have the Bible as a “time machine” that can provide valuable insights into the past” -Roger Patterson

3: “Faith is believing in something that cannot be seen or fully explained. Faith in God is logical and defensible. Evidence all over the world points to an all-powerful God. Faith in God is not a blind faith that goes against real science. Believing that information can arise from disorder by chance is blind faith since it contradicts real science.” -Ken Ham

4: “Design is not something that happens by chance. Design shows intelligence, and intelligence requires a source. That source as explained in the Bible is God.” -Ken Ham

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Taxes: Basic Biblical Principles

Hello all!

In response to a reminder (or friendly prodding) from a long time friend, I would like to share a few thoughts on taxes. I would like to base them only on what the Bible says concerning the issue and will not discuss other practical or philosophical arguments that also merit consideration. This post will not be a comprehensive study by any means, merely a highlight of fundamental biblical principles that I believe have been largely forgotten. I do not necessarily believe the Bible speaks frequently or with can’t-miss-it clarity to the issue of taxes. But, I do believe the Bible speaks to the issue with more than adequate clarity, thus eliminating any excuse on our part not train our minds to think in a biblical orientation on the issue.

First, a disclaimer. I am not touching on the “render unto Caesar” principle in this post because I think it is the most universally known and understood of all biblical principles relating to taxation, so in the interest of time I am not devoting space to it in this post.

Here goes!

-Men have a right to all the fruits (i.e. end result) of their labor, and to use them in the manner they choose

II Timothy 2:6 states: “The hard working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.”

I Timothy 5:18 says, “For the Scripture says ‘YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING’, and, ‘the laborer is worthy of his wages’.”

Deuteronomy 25:4 says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.”

These passages, as well as others, teach clearly that men have a right (and a responsibility) to receive and manage ALL of their wages. I believe an income tax violates this principle by unnecessarily taking a percentage of a person’s wages away from him. I also believe capital gains taxes violate this principle for the same basic reason, only in the case of capital gains taxes they are taxing the wages of a person before he or she receives it instead of after. Withholding (keeping a certain amount of a person’s total salary from being included in the check received by the employee in order to pay for certain benefits) also violates this principle, I believe.

-The state has no right to tax the private possessions of a man

If you believe that a person has a right to own what he has earned, I believe it is then logical to agree that imposing an unnecessary tax on that person's private property is also wrong. Therefore, I believe it is logical and biblical to conclude that Property Taxes are wrong.

Ecclesiastes 5:19. It says, “Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.” So, it is plain that riches and wealth are a gift from God, and it is a God given right of man to use and rejoice in the fruit of his labor.

Before I move on I think it is important to make a short disclaimer here. In our system of government we are not taxed without representation. Laws concerning taxes are instituted by elected representatives of the citizens, so in theory we tax ourselves through our elected officials. Thus, taxes can be justly and lawfully levied on behalf of the people with the consent of the people; so make no mistake, I am not opposed to taxes. I am only opposed to certain kinds of taxation. Others I am very much supportive of.

-Men have a right to pass ALL their possessions on to their children as an inheritance

I’ll cheat here thanks to time constraints. The following quoted section is from a David Barton article found on www.wallbuilders.com titled “The Bible and Taxes” (04/27/2006).

“The Bible speaks to the issue of inheritance numerous times. Proverbs 13:22 states “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (something that is not likely with the current Estate Tax which can take up to 55% of an estate, leaving 45% to the children; when the children pass it on to the grandchildren, up to 55% of the remaining 45% can be taken. Leaving only 27% of the original that would be passed on to the “children’s children”). Ezekiel 46:18 states that “the prince shall not take any of the people’s inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property.” Other scriptures that deal with inheritance are Proverbs 19:14, I Chronicles 28:8, and Ezra 9:12.”

I agree with Barton. If people have the right to the fruits of their labor then they must also have the right to pass that on to the person or persons of their choosing, especially their family.

In summary: as previously mentioned, the above is by no means an exhaustive study of what the scriptures say in regards to the issue of taxation; but, I believe we have seen enough to conclude that all riches are from God both as reward and blessing. God has endowed man to have the free use of them, to rejoice in them and to pass them on to their children and their children’s children. Therefore, it is a violation of God given rights to unlawfully take from the wages of man or to take of his property without his consent. Principally, I believe Income Taxes, Property Taxes, Inheritance Taxes, Capital Gains Taxes, and Withholding are biblically dubious at best, and clearly contrary to God’s will at worst. I personally hold the latter view.

As usual, I welcome comments. This issue is not one I am experienced in handling, and I am still learning a lot - at least I hope I am. I am definitely open to corrections and challenges and am willing to change my position if I can be persuaded that my position is in need of change.

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

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