Joy to the World

Let earth receive her King!...He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.

The Spark of Patriotic Fire

Reading the news (although scantily covered by democrat-allied media, formerly known as the mainstream media) this past weekend, I was encouraged to see hundreds of thousands of people that protested in Washington. And the thing that was most encouraging was that they spoke out against out-of-control spending and intrusiveness of the American mega-state. I am convinced that our greatest threat today is the exaltation of the state (i.e. statism) in place of God. It seems like the state bailing out banks and companies, paying for more education or health care, etc, etc is something that is benign, perhaps even "good." But when God saw them building a great tower at Babel it was not an obvious evil, yet God saw the danger and decided to "come down" (i.e. intervene in human affairs) and stop it (Genesis 11). Statism is a problem in both major parties today. George Bush saw no problem with his major increase in funding of education at the beginning of his presidency and then did not flinch to spend billions at the end of his term in office. In his first 6 months Obama has spent fourfold what Bush did!
All of it was unconstitutional but it no longer matters. Many of our founders (Thomas Jefferson was one) died in debt and bankruptcy because they neglected their farms and businesses for so many years during the Revolution and then suffered in the economic chaos that followed. Yet not one expected the government to bail them out, even though they were so beloved by the American public. Our founders said that government funds were never to go to anything that was not consistent with the powers listed in the constitution and certainly never for anything that did not serve every citizen at once (called the "general welfare" as in contrast to special welfare).
When the British government first started to increase taxes in the early 1770s few people spoke out. One person wrote to Boston's Sam Adams and complained that “They are dead, and the dead cannot be raised without a miracle. But Adams responded: “Never Despair. That is a motto for you and me. All are not dead, and where there is a spark of patriotic fire, we will rekindle it.” Soon thereafter Adams went on to start the committees of correspondence that helped unite people to stand up for their "rights as Christians."
I think I see new sparks.
Yet at the same time I grieve over the murder of a prolife activist this past weekend. It has been hardly noticed, yet I find in it even deeper resolve as the high cost that some of us must pay is made more clear. But the blood of martyrs is like seed. May it sprout up and grow until all of our God-given rights to life and liberty are restored to our land.

New Granddaughter

My second grandchild was born this week! My son's second daughter, Micah Anne Beliles, was born in Guam. The mother, Carrie, and the older sister, Faith, are doing well, and grandmother, Nancy, is departing Monday for Guam for three weeks. Meanwhile, I will be guarding the home front and taking care of our two dogs, Maggie and Beau.
Sometimes family matters like these may appear relatively unimportant in the big picture of transforming nations, but really all lasting change in culture is done multi-generationally through institutions such as the family and church.
I have been reading Deuteronomy lately and have been especially attune to the frequency of references to parents having duties to teach and mentor their children and even their grandchildren.
Thank you Lord for entrusting me with three wonderful children and two grandchildren so far.
(I have posted a photo of my two granddaughters.)

Governor Mark Sanford's disclosure of infidelity in his marriage was a disappointment to many religious conservatives, as is any similar incident when a political leader who generally holds to policies closer to a Biblical Worldview, effectively ruins his potential for national leadership. An article today entitled Will Scandals Inspire Stray of Evangelicals from GOP? asks if this would discourage loyalty of conservative Christians to the Republican Party.
I don't think most Evangelicals vote Republican because of a belief that it's leaders are less subject to such sins. Democrats only rarely feel the need to confess their sins, even though they are surely guilty of such things as much or more (John Edwards reluctantly confessed and was forced to do so because of his national status as a recent vice-Presidential candidate.) Name the last state political leader or congressman among Democrats who has humbly confessed wrong in this way. No, Democrats tend to yawn at such things and even frequently begin to champion such vices as rights.
That Republican conservatives confess and often resign over their moral failures is all due to the dominant presence of religious conservatives in the party. Twenty five years ago, Sanford's marriage failure would not have been an issue. That there really are moral standards in the party today and that it costs one's trust and respect when they violate those standards, is what makes me more proud to be associated with Republicans. If religious conservatives were not here, then a Sanford confession would not occur, and other political leaders would be even more likely to do such things, and this behavior would then causes fewer religious conservatives to be a part of the party.
It is the same in a church. A minister who confesses his failure does not normally destroy a congregation. It ends up strengthening the beliefs and morals and lifestyle that it stands for in the first place. This is the very reason that the Bible, unlike every other holy book in world religions, never hides the moral failures of its heroes. Beliefs are deepened and a perfect and holy God who chooses to call and use imperfect sinners for His purposes, is revealed in even more glory and awe.

Between Feb 24 and May 13 this year I spoke to over 15,000 people in six countries (in the following order): Hungary, Netherlands, Zambia, South Africa, Ukraine and South Korea. (I was seen on television by millions more in these places.) Several thousand of those I taught were influential leaders of governments, businesses, schools and churches. Significant partnerships were established with universities and other academic institutions in South Africa, Hungary, and South Korea. I am posting one photo of some of those I taught in Korea. More will come soon.

This blog will attempt to share stories and offer commentary on the role of Christians in influencing their nations.