It is old papers that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has not lived privately in concert with his public espousal of conservatism.
While leading the charge to impeach President Bill Clinton for lying under oath about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, Gingrich was engaged in a long-standing affair with another staffer in Congress.
If the American People are willing to consider electing a man who has fallen far short of the glorious ideal, then perhaps there is a future for other candidates who have declined to run for public office because of past failings.
The broken marriage of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels discouraged him from launching a presidential campaign, as he had no desire to see his family's personal trials dragged through the tabloid mud. Many commentators, including this writer and George Will, had enthusiastically supported his candidacy, as were dismayed that Daniels decided not to run.
It is a well-understood legacy that moral men in private do not necessarily make them mighty men in the public sector. Former Georgia Governor and 39th President Jimmy Carter expressed regret about having lust in his heart. An open evangelical, he did not possess the capacity to deal and negotiate forcefully or effectively with a Democratic Congress throughout his woeful term in office. The Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 capped his abortive presidency, marked with indecision and derision, as the chief executive even pandered to his young daughter for an opinion on nuclear disarmament.
Warren G. Harding cut taxes and limited government, all while cheating on his wife in embarrassing letters and flagrant misconduct.l Ronald Reagan was the first divorced president to enter the office. Bill Clinton signed into law balanced budgets and welfare reform, despite his personal perversions. Other masterful statesmen, like Winston Churchill, were overweight overwrought individuals lacking in self control, yet possessed masterful control over party and country during trying times. Good leadership does not demand exceptional private conduct
Democratic governments do not need heroes; they need committed leadership willing to compromise with corrupting principles, powers, or people. If former House Speaker Newt Gingrich can persuade a sizable majority to elect him GOP nominee, then perhaps he can best Obama, seize the White House, and save this country from the outrageous encroachment of Leviathan Government in the several states and the individual taxpayer.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Jindal Jamboree
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has pledged three straight years of tax cuts to the overburdened citizens of the Garden State.
Wisconsin Scott Walker took on the public sector unions in his state, curbing their collective bargaining rights. His controversial moves have saved the state millions, without raising taxes or laying off public workers.
Now Louisiana Booby Jindal has joined the limited government Jamboree. Not content merely to curb benefits to future employees, Jindal is moving to lower the benefits received, raise the payments invested, and delay the release of benefits to current government employees.
This governor has led his state through hurricanes, oil spills, political realignments, and now he is taking on the costly public benefits accorded to state employees during more flush times, which now threaten to bankrupt the Bayou state to the tune of $18.5 billion dollars in unfunded liabilities.
Would the governor care to pay a visit to the tarnished Golden State? We could use the Cajun boldness that has prompted this governor to demand the unthinkable: force state employees to serve their state and citizens by taking less, giving more, and doing so in a timely fashion.
Merci Beaucoup pour votre exemple, M. Le Gouverneur!
Wisconsin Scott Walker took on the public sector unions in his state, curbing their collective bargaining rights. His controversial moves have saved the state millions, without raising taxes or laying off public workers.
Now Louisiana Booby Jindal has joined the limited government Jamboree. Not content merely to curb benefits to future employees, Jindal is moving to lower the benefits received, raise the payments invested, and delay the release of benefits to current government employees.
This governor has led his state through hurricanes, oil spills, political realignments, and now he is taking on the costly public benefits accorded to state employees during more flush times, which now threaten to bankrupt the Bayou state to the tune of $18.5 billion dollars in unfunded liabilities.
Would the governor care to pay a visit to the tarnished Golden State? We could use the Cajun boldness that has prompted this governor to demand the unthinkable: force state employees to serve their state and citizens by taking less, giving more, and doing so in a timely fashion.
Merci Beaucoup pour votre exemple, M. Le Gouverneur!
"People" on John John
When national weeklies have a dearth of information or dirt to report to the masses, they fall back on the reliable source -- another tale or secret from the Kennedy.
What is the United States' fascination with this Irish legal mob of Boston infamy? Former President John F. Kennedy was an inept military commander and philander. His poor leadership nearly doomed this country during the Cuban Missle Crisis.
His son John John (JFK Jr.) was an empty socialite who died in a tragic, unnecessary plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. The tabloid tales surrounding this fatal accident exude an aura of "Kennedy Curse", but in reality this report is just another dig at a family of rich people doing ignoble things, which never fails to inflame the schadenfreude of the masses.
Instead of dredging up the past failures of a dead and gone playboy from a playboy family, why not tell us more about the real heroes of this country, like the Tuskegee Airmen? They deserved the generous treatment trivialized on the wasted potential of a defunct and long-forgotten Kennedy.
What is the United States' fascination with this Irish legal mob of Boston infamy? Former President John F. Kennedy was an inept military commander and philander. His poor leadership nearly doomed this country during the Cuban Missle Crisis.
His son John John (JFK Jr.) was an empty socialite who died in a tragic, unnecessary plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. The tabloid tales surrounding this fatal accident exude an aura of "Kennedy Curse", but in reality this report is just another dig at a family of rich people doing ignoble things, which never fails to inflame the schadenfreude of the masses.
Instead of dredging up the past failures of a dead and gone playboy from a playboy family, why not tell us more about the real heroes of this country, like the Tuskegee Airmen? They deserved the generous treatment trivialized on the wasted potential of a defunct and long-forgotten Kennedy.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Revision of Primary Choices for Florida
With Governor Mitt Romney, it's not about getting the nomination; it's more about wearing down the GOP electorate to accept that he has the staying power lacking with Senator Rick Santorum and the moderation certainly lacking in Congressman Ron Paul's campaign.
Republican voters want to beat Obama, and so does a majority of Americans in this country, many of whom are moving not just to the right, but right into the Republican caucus. One of the prime movers of this political realignment is the Tea Party, whose intellectual godfather is Congressman Ron Paul.
Up to now, Texas Congressman has been "unpersuasive" with other members of Congress throughout his outspoken tenure in the House of Representatives. However, he has argued that his outsider status reflects just how out of touch Congress is with the will of the American voters.
Congressman Paul may not satisfactorily persuade a respectable legislative majority to elect him as president. Still, his ascendancy to the White House would at least prolong the gridlock of a do-nothing Congress that would be forced to leave us alone -- and more Americans are taking up the rallying cry of "Don't Tread on Me, Washington D.C."
Governor Mitt Romney is a cool businessman of considerable acumen as a manager and a leader. Unfortunately, his record has been a slow and unconvincing ascent from New England moderation to National conservatism, and understandably many are simply not buying it.
Newt Gingrich is a fiery orator. He has tapped into the burgeoning populism which has infiltrated and motivated the national consciousness, disillusioned with Barack Obama's "hope and change". The voters in Florida may be wary of a man who consulted with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, yet the former House Speaker's contributions discouraged further allocations of taxpayer money to the public-private firms from the federal government.
Rick Santorum has been the cheerleader for faith and family values, but the American people are also looking for a candidate who respects fiscal conservatism and political freedom, as well.
If the GOP primary process turns into a brokered convention in July to secure a nominee, so be it -- but the GOP better pay attention to the general pressure of voters who demand ideological purity, political consistency, and overall respect for constitutional government.
The citizens of Florida have a starring role in determining the future trajectory of this heated race. No matter who carries the majority vote on January 31, Barack Obama will still have no record to run on as he runs again to keep his post as Chief Executive of the United States.
Republican voters want to beat Obama, and so does a majority of Americans in this country, many of whom are moving not just to the right, but right into the Republican caucus. One of the prime movers of this political realignment is the Tea Party, whose intellectual godfather is Congressman Ron Paul.
Up to now, Texas Congressman has been "unpersuasive" with other members of Congress throughout his outspoken tenure in the House of Representatives. However, he has argued that his outsider status reflects just how out of touch Congress is with the will of the American voters.
Congressman Paul may not satisfactorily persuade a respectable legislative majority to elect him as president. Still, his ascendancy to the White House would at least prolong the gridlock of a do-nothing Congress that would be forced to leave us alone -- and more Americans are taking up the rallying cry of "Don't Tread on Me, Washington D.C."
Governor Mitt Romney is a cool businessman of considerable acumen as a manager and a leader. Unfortunately, his record has been a slow and unconvincing ascent from New England moderation to National conservatism, and understandably many are simply not buying it.
Newt Gingrich is a fiery orator. He has tapped into the burgeoning populism which has infiltrated and motivated the national consciousness, disillusioned with Barack Obama's "hope and change". The voters in Florida may be wary of a man who consulted with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, yet the former House Speaker's contributions discouraged further allocations of taxpayer money to the public-private firms from the federal government.
Rick Santorum has been the cheerleader for faith and family values, but the American people are also looking for a candidate who respects fiscal conservatism and political freedom, as well.
If the GOP primary process turns into a brokered convention in July to secure a nominee, so be it -- but the GOP better pay attention to the general pressure of voters who demand ideological purity, political consistency, and overall respect for constitutional government.
The citizens of Florida have a starring role in determining the future trajectory of this heated race. No matter who carries the majority vote on January 31, Barack Obama will still have no record to run on as he runs again to keep his post as Chief Executive of the United States.
Governor Walker's Approval and Success Against Recall High
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker enjoys a modest yet meaningful following from the voters of his state.
51% in a recent poll approve of his work as a chief executive leading the charge to tackle outrageous pensions and health care benefits handed out in the public sector.
The Governor's PR staff have published the stunning and supportable report that the Governor and the Republican caucus accomplished their promised tasks of closing a huge budget deficit without raising taxes or laying off state employees.
The public sector unions decry this surprising and pleasant turn of events only because the necessary budget reforms curbed the collective their bargaining rights. The outraged Progressive elements of Wisconsin ought to check their history of their past sympathizers. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of the most radically progressive presidents in history, dismissed the right of public unions to bargain collectively. If this argument is insufficient, George Meany, the President of the AFL-CIO (a visible and vocal force for labor unions) condemned public sector collective bargaining because of the harm it would inflict on the tax payer. This dire prediction came to pass in Wisconsin, and Governor Walker took the necessary steps to curb this disturbing trend.
If public unions would unified on behalf of the public, receiving benefits in relation to the well-being of the states and communities that they serve, then the Governor and his team would not have been forced to implement the necessary reforms which have benefit the state of Wisconsin and her citizens. Governor Walker will overcome this vocal yet minority challenge to his office with little trouble and growing support from the voters.
51% in a recent poll approve of his work as a chief executive leading the charge to tackle outrageous pensions and health care benefits handed out in the public sector.
The Governor's PR staff have published the stunning and supportable report that the Governor and the Republican caucus accomplished their promised tasks of closing a huge budget deficit without raising taxes or laying off state employees.
The public sector unions decry this surprising and pleasant turn of events only because the necessary budget reforms curbed the collective their bargaining rights. The outraged Progressive elements of Wisconsin ought to check their history of their past sympathizers. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of the most radically progressive presidents in history, dismissed the right of public unions to bargain collectively. If this argument is insufficient, George Meany, the President of the AFL-CIO (a visible and vocal force for labor unions) condemned public sector collective bargaining because of the harm it would inflict on the tax payer. This dire prediction came to pass in Wisconsin, and Governor Walker took the necessary steps to curb this disturbing trend.
If public unions would unified on behalf of the public, receiving benefits in relation to the well-being of the states and communities that they serve, then the Governor and his team would not have been forced to implement the necessary reforms which have benefit the state of Wisconsin and her citizens. Governor Walker will overcome this vocal yet minority challenge to his office with little trouble and growing support from the voters.
No Pro-Bono Civil Litigation in Wisconsin
Do the residents of Wisconsin really need more litigation in the states? Has it improved the well-being of the working classes, the poor, and the unemplyed?
Have the poor and working classes not learned anything during the course of the current Vanity-in-Chief's Presidency?
Government stimulus packages do not stimulate anything but waste, corruption, and inflation, all of which harm the poor and unemployed.
Government mandates like ObamaCare erode the liberties of the states and the people, forcing insurance companies out of business while overburdening hospitals and employers with more costs, more regulations, and less certain to hire and expand -- all of which harm the poor and unemployment.
Litigation en masse and class action (read "frivolous) lawsuits clog up our court systems, invest the infiltration of the state into matters beyond the scope of one judge or a jury to resolve, and undermine the freedom of the free market -- all of which harm the poor and unemployment.
Contrary to the wagging heads of dismay coming out of legal aid programs and lawsuit happy litigators in the Dairy State, less access to litigation is a win for everyone, including the poor and unemployed. Rather than wasting years fighting for needs and necessities that are neither basic rights or responsibilities of the state, Madison can invests its limited resources in cutting costs to the cities and counties, reducing bureaucratic procedures, and relaxing the constricting regulations on the middle classes -- all of which will help the poor and unemployed, all of which can be effected without resorting to free legal assistance in a court of law.
It is a boon for the state of Wisconsin that the State Supreme Court has dismissed the requirement of pro-bono counsel in civil disputes for the poor and unemployed. A state with less litigation all around is in the public good of everyone.
Have the poor and working classes not learned anything during the course of the current Vanity-in-Chief's Presidency?
Government stimulus packages do not stimulate anything but waste, corruption, and inflation, all of which harm the poor and unemployed.
Government mandates like ObamaCare erode the liberties of the states and the people, forcing insurance companies out of business while overburdening hospitals and employers with more costs, more regulations, and less certain to hire and expand -- all of which harm the poor and unemployment.
Litigation en masse and class action (read "frivolous) lawsuits clog up our court systems, invest the infiltration of the state into matters beyond the scope of one judge or a jury to resolve, and undermine the freedom of the free market -- all of which harm the poor and unemployment.
Contrary to the wagging heads of dismay coming out of legal aid programs and lawsuit happy litigators in the Dairy State, less access to litigation is a win for everyone, including the poor and unemployed. Rather than wasting years fighting for needs and necessities that are neither basic rights or responsibilities of the state, Madison can invests its limited resources in cutting costs to the cities and counties, reducing bureaucratic procedures, and relaxing the constricting regulations on the middle classes -- all of which will help the poor and unemployed, all of which can be effected without resorting to free legal assistance in a court of law.
It is a boon for the state of Wisconsin that the State Supreme Court has dismissed the requirement of pro-bono counsel in civil disputes for the poor and unemployed. A state with less litigation all around is in the public good of everyone.
On Thompson's Bid for U.S. Senate
High-speed rail is a high-speed waste of money. Governor Brown in California is already juggling deprecation and support for the outrageous outlays for a similar billion dollar boondoggle.
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is a Washington insider who has trumpeted support for government encroachment into the states and the daily lives of the American People. Amtrak is a failed investment, costing overruns in the millions every year. The nation could begin settling its debt easily by ending this abortive program of "I know I can't" proportions.
Regarding Thompson's bid for the U.S. Senate: forget about his connection with Amtrak. This guy is a front-and-center supporter of ObamaCare. That should be enough to shoot him down during the GOP primary!
I would not vote for the guy. He puts the BIG in Big Government Conservatism.
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is a Washington insider who has trumpeted support for government encroachment into the states and the daily lives of the American People. Amtrak is a failed investment, costing overruns in the millions every year. The nation could begin settling its debt easily by ending this abortive program of "I know I can't" proportions.
Regarding Thompson's bid for the U.S. Senate: forget about his connection with Amtrak. This guy is a front-and-center supporter of ObamaCare. That should be enough to shoot him down during the GOP primary!
I would not vote for the guy. He puts the BIG in Big Government Conservatism.
Response to Oswald Chambers January 25 Part II
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
He is already one with us! Let us use our faith to realize and grow in recognition of this union!
before His trial and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father:
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:21)
This prayer is confirmed for all believers:
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." (Romans 12:5)
How about this?:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
And of course.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
We must away these tired tropes of looking for Jesus, reaching out for Him, or trying to find Him. He has already found us, and now every believer is found in Him!
He is already one with us! Let us use our faith to realize and grow in recognition of this union!
before His trial and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father:
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:21)
This prayer is confirmed for all believers:
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." (Romans 12:5)
How about this?:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
And of course.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
We must away these tired tropes of looking for Jesus, reaching out for Him, or trying to find Him. He has already found us, and now every believer is found in Him!
Response to Oswald Chambers January 25
Leave Room For God
But when it pleased God. . . — Galatians 1:15
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room."
Immediately there is a problem. We do not work for God; He works through us. We have nothing on our that we can give to God:
"Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?" (Isaiah 66:1)
Jesus solidifies OUR uselessness apart from Him:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
When Jesus died on the Cross, He declared fully to the world that nothing else was needed:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30)
We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses.
There is a simple answer to this:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6:25)
Followed by:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33)
Why worry about tomorrow, or its needs, when Jesus has supplied us all things through His death and resurrection:
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
Besides, we have no business calculating from our own limited and limiting intellect what the future may hold for us:
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
"For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4: 13-15)
He wills, He instills within us the skills and the thrills (cf Philippians 2: 12-13); what more can we ask for?
Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him.
"Look for Him" implies that He is outside of us. He lives within us!
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)
"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4:19)
That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
He is always at work! He is always breaking in! The issue for the believer is that we must grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, that we may receive His power and realize His work in our lives (cf 2 Peter 3:18). We appropriate this grace by faith (cf Ephesians 2:8-9)
As for the "good pleasure of God", look no further than Jesus' promise in the Gospel of Luke:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
It is God's good pleasure to work within us by the power of His Holy Spirit! All we have to do is walk in the Spirit (cf Galatians 5:16) by faith (cf 2 Corinthians 5:7).
That's not a which we have to perform; neither is this a work which we have to look for -- it's a wonderful gift which keeps on giving (cf Romans 5:17)!
But when it pleased God. . . — Galatians 1:15
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God – to give God "elbow room."
Immediately there is a problem. We do not work for God; He works through us. We have nothing on our that we can give to God:
"Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?" (Isaiah 66:1)
Jesus solidifies OUR uselessness apart from Him:
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
When Jesus died on the Cross, He declared fully to the world that nothing else was needed:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30)
We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses.
There is a simple answer to this:
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6:25)
Followed by:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt 6:33)
Why worry about tomorrow, or its needs, when Jesus has supplied us all things through His death and resurrection:
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
Besides, we have no business calculating from our own limited and limiting intellect what the future may hold for us:
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
"For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4: 13-15)
He wills, He instills within us the skills and the thrills (cf Philippians 2: 12-13); what more can we ask for?
Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him.
"Look for Him" implies that He is outside of us. He lives within us!
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)
"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4:19)
That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to over look this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life – "When it was the good pleasure of God. . ."
He is always at work! He is always breaking in! The issue for the believer is that we must grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, that we may receive His power and realize His work in our lives (cf 2 Peter 3:18). We appropriate this grace by faith (cf Ephesians 2:8-9)
As for the "good pleasure of God", look no further than Jesus' promise in the Gospel of Luke:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
It is God's good pleasure to work within us by the power of His Holy Spirit! All we have to do is walk in the Spirit (cf Galatians 5:16) by faith (cf 2 Corinthians 5:7).
That's not a which we have to perform; neither is this a work which we have to look for -- it's a wonderful gift which keeps on giving (cf Romans 5:17)!
Response to Oswald Chambers 1/25/2012
God created man to be master of the life in the earth and sea and sky, and the reason he is not is because he took the law into his own hands, and became master of himself, but of nothing else. -- Oswald Chambers
Exactly! -- Adam and Eve insisted on knowing right and wrong for themselves.
Eve was deceived by the serpent, who questioned God's simple directive, which caused Eve to doubt, to suffer lack (when there was none),and they to take what was not hers to have, or hers to need.
She and her man Adam were already like God. They already like God, knowing that right is to receive from Him, wrong is to take for oneself.
When they took of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, they knew that they were sinners. They trusted their senses, they trusted in their own efforts, and so they fell from God's perfect world.
I would only challenge the notion that Adam and Eve were masters of themselves. Jesus disputed this when He indicted the Pharisees for their arrogance:
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
"They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
"And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
"I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
"I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father." (John 8: 31-38)
We are servants of sin because of the sin of the first Adam (cf Romans 5:12),into which even He fell into bondage; yet the obedience of one Man, Jesus Christ, makes us righteous and one with God once again (cf Romans 5:15), with a standing greater than Adam and Eve ever had, for they did not sit in high places with Jesus Christ, at the right hand of the Father (cf Ephesians 2:6)
Exactly! -- Adam and Eve insisted on knowing right and wrong for themselves.
Eve was deceived by the serpent, who questioned God's simple directive, which caused Eve to doubt, to suffer lack (when there was none),and they to take what was not hers to have, or hers to need.
She and her man Adam were already like God. They already like God, knowing that right is to receive from Him, wrong is to take for oneself.
When they took of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, they knew that they were sinners. They trusted their senses, they trusted in their own efforts, and so they fell from God's perfect world.
I would only challenge the notion that Adam and Eve were masters of themselves. Jesus disputed this when He indicted the Pharisees for their arrogance:
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
"They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
"And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
"I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
"I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father." (John 8: 31-38)
We are servants of sin because of the sin of the first Adam (cf Romans 5:12),into which even He fell into bondage; yet the obedience of one Man, Jesus Christ, makes us righteous and one with God once again (cf Romans 5:15), with a standing greater than Adam and Eve ever had, for they did not sit in high places with Jesus Christ, at the right hand of the Father (cf Ephesians 2:6)
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