Of Great Concern

I saw an article today that told of the Ontario Minister of education telling the Catholic school board that they cannot teach pro-life, even though they are a religious based school and it is part of their faith.  Whether you like the catholics or not you have to see that this is a matter of great concern.  The idea that any religious group should be told by the government that they cannot teach their faith should concern us.  It would be different if this was a matter of a group that was teaching "hate" or "violence" but this is not related to teaching against the laws of our country.  

This is another evidence that these supposed laws like ones about "abortion" are actually now being used to restrict freedom and not to grant it.  So instead of such laws that are contrary to the Christian faith, allowing those who have a different belief to not be restricted in this area, instead now faith groups are going to be restricted unless they teach what the government says is ok.  This sounds really scary.  

Not only is this a poor precedent but this particular issue is of great importance.  The teaching of the sanctity of life and the precious gift of children is deeply rooted in the Bible.  Yet our society has decided that human life is not very important, it can be thrown away like trash.  Yet we have groups that seek to preserve and conserve the eggs of birds and their nests, we have scientists that look for signs of life in strange places and even on other planets, they would see the smallest microbe and proclaim life, yet a child that has not yet been born does not rate as life.  This is a sad state and a matter of great concern.

Our politicians went out on a limb to attempt to re-open this discussion and I applaud them.  Yet many groups claimed they did not respect women due to wanting to make sure life is properly defined.  But what about the unborn female?  Currently there is no protection for the unborn female in Canada.  A family with a background that puts greater value on male children can elect to have a female child aborted.  This is a horrible situation, that we would allow gender selection in our country is so very scary.

We need to be a people who really think these things through, the decisions of that past did not see the big picture and now we are in a situation that should give us Great Concern!

Please pray for our nation, that people would turn to God through Jesus Christ and see the error of our ways.

Preacherman

The Rest Principle

In the Bible, very early on in the book of Genesis we are called to take a day of rest.  God called it the 7th day a Sabbath and we as people are to rest.  So fast forward a few thousand years and you would meet Jesus, God in the flesh.  The Jewish people of the time had taken God's Sabbath and made it into something it was not meant to be, they had made it into an "idol".  Jesus when confronted about His actions on the Sabbath responded that mankind was not created for the Sabbath day, but rather the Sabbath day was created for mankind.  Jesus was not saying that the Sabbath was invalid but that it needs to kept in the right place and not placed above its purpose.

So fast forward another couple thousand years and today we have a variety of views.  Some believe we need to legalistically keep the Sabbath on Saturday, some on Sunday, and still others that we need not bother with any Sabbath.  I believe that Jesus completely fulfilled the law requirement for Christians and as such we are not bound to keep a specific Sabbath day.  However we are those who live under the Lordship of Jesus are called to follow Him and His Word.  So I have become convicted that we are to seek to live in the "principle" of Sabbath as Christians.  We are supposed to set aside a regular day of rest, to show that we do not rely on our own work, but on God.  It is also a lot healthier to take a regular day of rest.  

So is it Sunday?  Saturday?  Well I think the specific day is not so important.  There has been a lot of confusion over the day of corporate worship and the Sabbath.  In our day it is almost foolish to really believe Sunday is a day of rest for most Christians.  At least Pastors, Church workers and key volunteers, they all do not get a day of rest on Sunday.  And most of the rest of western Christianity does not really rest on Sunday either.  So I suggest that everyone pick a day of rest and a day of worship.  So I have corporate worship with my Church family on Sunday but my day of Sabbath is Monday.  What about you?  

Preacherman

A Prayer for today

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your great patience with me
Thank you for the Grace that you extend to me through the work of Jesus
Thank you for providing forgiveness of my sins and victory over them through the power of the Holy Spirit
Thank you for the opportunities You are giving me to serve You today
Lord I ask that you will shape me and direct me so that I will be the man you created me to be
Please lord use me in the work of Your Kingdom
May my desires be Your desires
Help me to walk in humility as an example of your work in process here on earth
Give me the words and ability to accurately share the Truth of the Gospel to all who will hear them
Above all my prayer is that my life this day will bring honor and glory to You my God
I ask these Lord in the name of Jesus
Amen