Welcome to my randomized study & miscellaneous thoughts about the Awesome God of the universe, who He is and what He wants us to be.

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Today's Quote

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Judge Roy Moore, the Ten Commandments and the U.S. Constitution


While (or "whilst" for those of you who may be KJV-only) I typically do not comment upon or add my $0.02 into commentary upon politics, daily events and the like...I feel compelled to make mention of the stand that Judge Roy Moore is making in Alabama vis-a-vis the ordered removal of a engraved monument featuring the 10 Commandments from the Alabama judicial complex.

It seems to me, from what I've seen, heard and read, that the vast majority in the media, entertainment and educational industries and those individuals with a liberal political viewpoint, all tend to "gloss over" what the US Constitiution actually states regarding "the separation of church and state"...which is nothing! That's correct, read it again... nowhere in the United States Constitiution will you find the words "separation of church and state" or words to that meaning. It says absolutely nothing regarding this separation! The original intent of our Founding Fathers was to allow the religious freedom that so many had come to America to find, escaping the state-mandated Church of England. The Constitiution intended to avoid having the federal government establish the Church of America or some such entity which would be the "state's" (government's) official religious arm.

For what I believe is a clear and concise read on this issue, I quote the following, in its entirety, from The Mighty Barrister (8/22/03)

(quote)
Like a boxer fighting for vengeance, Judge Roy Moore refuses to drop his gloves, even between rounds. I like his style; I like his hubris. We must all stand up before this secular society - at every level, and before every institution - and stand by our right to call ourselves the followers of Christ, and to follow our sworn oaths.

Don't misunderstand Moore's position. While he did pick this fight, he did it for a good, solid reason - not to shove his religion down anyone's throat, but to stand up to what he perceived (rightly so) as a secular attack (driven by a religious fervor) upon the very roots of our freedom and system of legal jurisprudence. Call him what you will, but he is an honorable and moral man.

In Judge Moore's case, his oath of office required him to acknowledge God; the state constitution of Alabama says so. The United States Constitution, on the other hand, is silent on the issue - the only prohibition even close to the issue is that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

How this got twisted around is anyone's guess, but twisted it is. Read it again, carefully.

Who or what is prohibited from acting?

Congress.

What is Congress prohibited from doing?

Establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

So Judge Moore comes along and installs the Ten Commandments - God's "codification" of Natural Law, the very basis of Western Civilization, the cornerstone of the Constitution of the United States, and the springboard from which all legal jurisprudence has arisen - in the courthouse as an monument to the law and as a reminder to the people of the origin of those laws. Setting aside the fact that Judge Moore is not "Congress," he did not establish a religion, nor did he prohibit the free exercise thereof. If a Muslim woman in a burka comes walking through the courthouse, Judge Moore is not going to be standing there with a shotgun, forcing her to her knees to recite the Ten Commandments.

There is no doubt that there will be a liberal feeding frenzy around Judge Moore, who has previously been targeted by the extreme left for his Christian beliefs. (WARNING - extremely foul language). Another example is this article from Slate, in which the author accuses Moore of being a "demagogue," and states, "Moore, who's made a career of confusing his bench with a pulpit, has evinced such contempt for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the rest of this nation that he's unworthy of another word." Despite this protest, the author spends many more words attacking Moore. Of course, the author fails to note any distinction between what Moore is permitted to do and what Congress is permitted to do, evincing his ignorance of the issue more succintly than I can do in this space.

It is fittingly symbolic that Judge Moore choose a 5,000 pound plus block of granite as the base for these laws, laws that have lasted through time, unchanged in substance and appearance. After all, we don't use the words "carved in stone" to refer to ever-changing and alterable things. Just as Peter was the rock upon whom Jesus built his Church, so too were the laws of God as handed down to Moses the rock upon which civilization was built. Without these laws, without resort to the natural laws of God, our civilization will be built upon the ever-changing, maleable opinions of men, and everyone knows that a house built upon a shifting foundation will fall.

God is not only mentioned in the Constitution itself, but He was part and parcel of the life of every found father. To believe that the founding fathers of this nation intended to wipe God from the face of public life anywhere in this country is beyond ludicrous. The mere thought of banning the Ten Commandments from a courthouse would have been absolutely inconceivable to Jefferson, Washington, or any of the other founders of this great nation.

But Barrister, you cry, what about the other religions?

One anti-religious zealot has already attacked Moore on this issue, stating "But Moore, true to form, didn't stop there. He said he would not permit Buddhists, Hindus or Muslims to erect monuments to their faiths, because they have nothing to do with what he sees as the moral foundation of law."

Well, Mr. Sullivan-County guy, Moore's right, and you're wrong. Please tell me where, and in what way, any clause, phrase, law or foundation of law in American Jurisprudence is drawn from Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim law? What's that? Do they practice sharia in your neck of the woods? No, our law is derived from God's law as handed down to Moses.

At least it was when the Constitution was written.
(endquote)

Additional background information regarding the church/state issue comes from the Jeremiah Project's Separation of Church and State web pages.

(quote)
The assault on America's religious underpinnings is based on a distorted interpretation of the establishment and free-exercise clauses of the First Amendment.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ..."
Only a lawyer could claim not to understand the plain meaning of those words.

The Supreme Court has taken Jefferson's "separation" clause (divorced from Jefferson's own explanation of the phrase) and used it to create a new, and completely arbitrary, interpretation of the First Amendment.

In 1947, with the United States Supreme Court's decision in Everson v. Board of Education, Justice Hugo Black construed the First Amendment in a more restrictive fashion, giving an absolute definition of the First Amendment Establishment Clause which went well beyond the original intent of the framers of the United States Constitution and paved the way for future cases that would further restrict religious expression in American public life. This ruling declares that any aid or benefit to religion from governmental actions is unconstitutional. As Justice Black said: "The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breach."

Hardly what Thomas Jefferson meant or what the constitution guaranteed!

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" had always meant that Congress was prohibited from establishing a national religious denomination, that Congress could not require that all Americans become Catholics, Anglicans, or members of any other denomination.

This understanding of "separation of church and state" was applied not only during the time of the Founders, but for 170 years afterwards. James Madison (1751-1836) clearly articulated this concept of separation when explaining the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty. He said that the First Amendment to the Constitution was prompted because "The people feared one sect might obtain a preeminence, or two combine together, and establish a religion to which they would compel others to conform."

The complete and radical disassociation between Christianity and the State that is sometimes advocated now is not what they had in mind. It's clear that they had seen entirely too many religious wars and religious tyrannies in Europe, and thus that they did want to make sure that no specific church or creed had authority over the State.

Recognizing their failure to win their arguments on fact, the lastest tactic among liberals is simply to deny the very documents that contain the facts.

Schools and courthouses in eastern Kentucky are removing their displays of historical documents - including the Mayflower Compact, an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, the national motto, "In God we trust", and the preamble to the state's constitution - to comply with an order from Federal District Judge Jennifer Coffman, who said the displays are a violation of the First Amendment. [Dr. Billy James Hargis, Christian Crusade, June 2000]
(endquote)

Maybe the folks that believe that church and state should be entirely separate should stop using the religiously-infected money they carry in their wallets.

"In God we Trust"...yeah, right...how we have strayed....


Be not ashamed to proclaim Him Lord today,
Dr. Larry
scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 5:47 PM (0) comments      

 
God of the New Beginning…not Jehovah-Do Over


Our 5 year old son, Zachary Robert, began Kindergarten yesterday morning at Phoenix Christian School. This is not only the beginning of a new and exciting adventure for him but also for his mom and me! In honor of this momentous occasion, I write...

How many times have we heard it said that God is a “God of second-chances?” I'm sure that some folks are blessed by that thought, but I can't really say that like the way that sounds. I guess it’s just a matter of semantics anyway, but I prefer to state it thusly, “Ours is a God of New Beginnings, a Fresh Start.”


New Beginnings When We Succumb To Pride
The first example is from the life of Joseph. (See Genesis 37:1 – 47:31)

Genesis 37:2-8
2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. 5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf." 8 Then his brothers said to him, "Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

So, the pride demonstrated by Joseph led to hatred by his brothers which led to…

Genesis 37:23-24, 28
23 So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.

28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

This is Joseph’s New Beginning. Read on in Genesis to see additional new beginnings that God favors Joseph with until God ultimately allows a new beginning for Joseph’s brothers through Joseph!

Genesis 45:7-8
7 "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 "Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

New Beginnings When We Fall Due To Lust
King David’s life appears to be a continuous saga of trials, tribulations and victories. But we also see an example of a fallen sinner who, when confronted by his own sin, repents, turns back to God and although God punishes David by the death of his first son, is offered a new beginning with the birth of his second son, Solomon. (See 2 Samuel)

2 Samuel 11:3-5
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. 5 The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, "I am pregnant."

2 Samuel 12:13-14, 19
13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. 14 "However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die."

19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead."

2 Samuel 12:24
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved him.

New Beginnings When We Admit Our Ignorance
In his own words, read about Saul/Paul’s new beginning,

Acts 22:1-21
1 "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you." 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said, 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. 4 "I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished. 6 "But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 "And I answered, "Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, "I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' 9 "And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 "And I said, "What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, "Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.' 11 "But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus. 12 "A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 "And he said, "The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 “For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.' 17 "It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, "Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.' 19 "And I said, "Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20 "And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.' 21 "And He said to me, "Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

New Beginnings to Glorify Himself
Sometimes, God just allows us to experience new beginnings as a means to glorify Himself. (See the book of Job)

Job 1:1-3, 9-11
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 "But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face."

God then allowed Satan to take away all of Job’s possessions, kill his children and torment Job with great physical ailments.

Job 1:20-22
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
21 He said,
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."
22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

No, Job did not sin toward God, instead he sought after God even more passionately.

Job 23:3, 8-13
3 "Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat

8 "Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
10 "But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 "My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

And after remaining steadfast and true to God, even defending God to his own friends, Job is rewarded with a new beginning,

Job 42:10-17
10 The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. 11 Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. 12 The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were found so fair as Job's daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man and full of days.

New Beginnings When We Accept Him as Lord and Savior!
Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

2 Corinthians 5:14-17
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Though we may stumble and though we may fall,
Our God has patience and love for us all.
He wants us to draw near, His Son for He gave,
Who died on the cross but arose from the grave!
So this is the time, there's never any better,
Open that Bible and read every letter.
Begin a God-dialogue (we call it prayer),
Ask Him to meet you - go on now, I dare!
Open your heart, He'll lead not astray
A New Beginning in Christ may you have today.


May today be a New Beginning in your relationship with Him,
Dr. Larry

scribbled with crayon by dr. larry at 10:29 AM (0) comments