Treasure In Clay Jars

I was watching an episode of Law & Order the other night where a young girl with some type of “cognitive disability” was a main character. She was a witness to an attack on her mother. The girl’s disability rendered her incapable of deception, so the cops used her as their star witness because she would not lie. Watching her in this episode was such a refreshing diversion from the sick, disingenuous and perverted world in which we live, and which so realistically is portrayed on virtually all Law & Order programs. This terrific little girl was so endearing and honest, as she exposed the deception of her father (who was not the attacker), and the people that her adulterous mother allowed into their lives. There was a scene in which she in the most innocent and pure personality imaginable contradicted her father to the police (while he sat present in the room), and then when finished, she ran over to him and gave him a big bear hug smiling in his face, her true love for him compl...

One of the more amusing aspects of watching the steady and sure decline of the mainstream media (MSM) such as ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, most major city newspapers and CNN among others, is to see how despite their obvious desire for improved ratings and publication, they struggle with connecting to regular people (the ones they privately decry as living in ‘flyover country’). Reading the liberal blogs one can easily see why the contributors to these outlets demonstrate the lack of connection between regular Americans, and the mainstream media, who’s worldview and narrative are more closely aligned with these bloggers than that of middle America.  An object lesson in the hot button issues that unite the MSM with their liberal blogging colleagues can be seen in the response to the Ann Coulter book “Godless” – which despite Ms. Coulter’s consistent over-the-top rhetoric, aptly captures the malaise of those on the left and their mouthpieces in the MSM. These groups are at minimum il...

I find the political and regulatory demand that churches must refrain from supporting political candidates to be an interesting study in how self avowed Christians worship God. By regulatory law, Churches cannot openly support one candidate in a political race or else risk their tax-exempt status. By cultural “law” Christians are told that their Christianity should be private. It should not be part of their political thinking. Of course that demand is typically made by people who are not informed about the true tenets of Christianity –a Christian is WHO you are, NOT what you do. You should behave as a Christian in your home watching TV, in your car driving around, in the mall shopping and YES in the voting booth voting for a political candidate. People who are not truly submitted to God’s complete leading can easily, and subconsciously, turn on and turn off their being led by the Word of God. “My Christianity is private” (or the more sanitized) “my religion is private” is what you will...

This post is an open letter to James Carroll (Op-Ed writer for the Boston Globe) on his article which appeared previously on the Globe's website. Mr. Carroll...I admire your piece as ostensibly a Christmas Day tribute to Jesus Christ, however as I see it, yours is an example of the misunderstanding (or understatement) of the true message left by Jesus and now carried out today by His Holy Spirit in the lives of common people. To illustrate my point, I have taken the liberty to excerpt a few points taken directly from quotes throughout your piece. My point here is not to deride for the sake of being contrarian or argumentative, but to perhaps provide some sharper points of clarity on the Jesus about which you write. Your quotes are in bold below: "Those who in the first place had come to love him did not give up their affection for him." It was in that "not giving up affection" for the dead Jesus that the Jesus movement was born. Jesus' followers do ...

I am writing this post in November as we (in the Western world) prepare to start the season of giving. The season of Christmas. Gifts will be given in accordance with the Christian tradition started when the wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus on the morning of His birth. The giving season about which I am writing is however something slightly different. It too is drawing near (it my be nearer than the upcoming Christmas season). What I am writing about is the gifts (or rewards) Jesus promises His believers in the Biblical Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 3: If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. ...

I just finished reading an article on Foxnews.com about the struggle of prison ministries to remain active because of lawsuits being brought by organizations who ultimately want no part of God being presented to people anywhere. These organizations maintain opinions like the following: “…that state funds were used for religious indoctrination. It alleges that cooperative inmates received preferential treatment, while some Roman Catholic inmates — not embracing the evangelical approach — were denigrated”. So far according to the article, a federal judge has already ordered a prison ministry program in Iowa to be shut down: A federal judge agreed with Americans United. He ordered the program be shut down, and said InnerChange must reimburse its $1.5 million (euro1 million) payment from the state. The case could have ramifications for faith-based programs across the United States . It's now under appeal, and the program has been allowed to continue temporarily using only private fund...

I was listening the other day to a Christian commentator whom I have listened to infrequently for the last year or two. This gentleman who shall remain nameless in this post, generally provides sound biblical principles, delivers his remarks with apparent humility and comes across as an earnest representative for the furthering of Jesus Christ. I preface my remarks in this way, because I do think such a description is a necessary part of presenting God’s Word in a matter that is consistent with biblical direction: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:16-18 NIV) I must say then that it was with dismay when I heard this same commentator “attack” fellow Christians who happen to differ philo...