Schaeffer’s Manifesto: A Revolution Realized
April 29, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Abortion, Activism, Book Review, Books, Christianity, Church, Culture War, Current Affairs, Ex-Gay, Exodus, Gay, Homosexuality, Jesus, Life, People, Politics, Public Policy, Religion, Sexuality, Worldview, family, marriage
The following was originally published on Boundless last October. I thought I would add it here as well.
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Schaeffer’s Manifesto: A Revolution Realized
by Randy Thomas
The culture war is coming to an inevitable and dangerous turning point and Francis Schaeffer knew it would. The battle between Christianity and secular humanism - absolute Truth versus personal truth - is one that cannot be ignored or mixed.
Sadly, absolute Truth is being drowned out by the myriad chorus of personal truths shaped in the over-arching context of secular humanism and its materialistic end. In the end it is the Truth of God versus the lies offered by secular humanism that mankind is self-sufficient - that mankind can determine what god, if any, they individually serve instead of submitting to the one Creator’s divine intent.
Every generation has faced some sort of cultural issue which directly challenges the application of the gospel. Church history is replete with the battles brought against the gospel, from direct opposition of pagan or secular forces to the Reformation battles starting with Luther against the Catholic Church. There have been “culture wars” over baptism, prohibition, evolution and most recently human sexual ethics. Francis Schaeffer’s A Christian Manifesto speaks powerfully to the true condition of the modern Christian church in the United States and the battles currently being waged.
War Against Whining - Will It Ever End?
Times are bleak … the world is in peril … the judges on American Idol don’t have a large repertoire of feedback beyond “Dawg, Dude … it’s kind of pitchy” “Your Amazing so just hold on to your dreams” and “That was horribly karaoke and you look like a haunted wombat” … we demand change!
YOU … yes YOU are being called on to serve the world by combating the evils of whiny-ness by coming up with no less than 10 things to be grateful for.
I know, it might be difficult … nay even to the point of personally sacrificing snarkiness and whining for a whole five to ten minutes.
BUT if Randy Thomas can stop whining for the time it takes to come up with a list… anyone can!
Just do it, and don’t go for only the obvious, k? … Here I go … ::: Pulling goggles down over my eyes and taking a deep breath :::
- Long naps on Sunday afternoon
- Having my own home
- Baby Lizards are cute
- Signs of Spring are all around
- Pictures of family and friends (awwww….)
- My soap opera name is Maximilian Kensington ( you can just call me Max)
- I am grateful to live in the United States
- Fresh Air
- New Co-workers tomorrow
- And of course the Triune Nature of a God who exists in every moment as if it were Now. (read … eternal.)
New Study Finds Abortions can Lead to PTSD
February 14, 2008 by Mike Ensley
Filed under Abortion, Women
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A new study published in the journal BMC Psychiatry finds that women who have abortions typically experience high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings mirror other research reports showing women are more likely to suffer mental health issues following abortions compared with keeping the baby.The study appeared in the July 2007 issue of the professional psychological publication but it only coming to light now.The research involved 155 women from South Africa who had abortions and were evaluated one month and three months afterwards.
Approximately 20 percent of the women had post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms just one month later. The results led the authors to note that “high rates of PTSD characterize women who have undergone voluntary pregnancy termination.
Looking at the women three months after the abortion, the number of women experiencing the PTSD symptoms increased 61 percent.
It’s always perplexed me how abortion is promoted as some sort of boon to women. You can read more of my thoughts on the subject here, if you’re interested. It’s sad that the data is there to collect–but hopefully it will open more women’s eyes to the lie that the “pro-choice” movement has ever had their interests at heart.
“Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.” — Alice Paul
Toddler Time
“Ranny…come get me!” the toddler screams and then tears off down the hallway with little sister squealing behind him. So Mr. Ranny (me) roars like Godzilla and I lunge with big steps, slowly toward the kids rooms. Lots of tickling and giggling ensues … then it’s my turn to tickle and make them giggle. Somehow, 20 minutes later, pillows are all over the room, Baby Girls ribbon slipped from the top of her head to somewhere over near her right ear. Baby Boy is somewhere under his comforter near the foot of the bed. I ask him if he can breath and he says muffled under the covers,”Yeth Ranny.”
Ranny got worn out quick and drops dramatically to the floor begging for mercy. The two toddlers pounce on him like World Wrestling Federation champs. When they figured out that Mr. Ranny wasn’t about to get up any time soon, the boy brings Mr. Ranny a banky and a teddy bear.
That was so freakin’ cute! Oh… Toddler Mom and Dad…if your kids start saying “freakin’”…it’s definitely my fault. I apologize.
Then we all pretended we were taking a nap and I taught them how to snore. I am sure Mom is going to love that.
Mr. Ranny may not be the best influence but he, and the kids, sure had fun.
Getting to Know the Neighbors
I watched the show Bewitched a lot after school when I was growing up. I loved that show. One of the characters was named Gladys Kravitz. Gladys was always peeking out of her windows and she knew everything that everyone was up too. Invariably, some sort of Bewitching would happen, Samantha flying over the moon, Esmerelda pouting on the roof with a goat or something along those lines. This would send Gladys screaming to her husband, “AAAABBBBBNAH, AAAAAABBBBBBNAH!!!!” (his name was Abner Kravitz.)
Well, my neighbors aren’t like that… so far. However they are very personable. Today I got a new bed from a friend and I rented a UHaul truck to get it. I was unloading the smaller stuff while waiting on another friend to show up to help with the mattress and box springs. One of the walking ladies (and there are a lot all throughout the day) was walking by and she said, “Oh goodness, do be careful… that looks very heavy.” I told her I was only moving the small stuff until a friend arrived. She looked genuinely relieved.
I know … awwwwww.
Allie Gallie has baby boy!
For those of you who have been around a while you may have seen a comment or two from a good friend of mine named AllieGallie. Well she and her husband had a beautiful baby boy Yesterday morning. Here is the announcement email (edited to protect privacy.)
Bottle, rattles and cute little socks.
Lullabies, laughter and alphabet blocks…
Every good and perfect gift comes from above
We’ve been blessed with a new son to love!Offspring de Mr. & Mrs. AllieGallie was Born May 9, 2006 at 4:11 a.m. Weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces Measuring 21 inches
Woohoo! I am so happy for you all! What a great Mother’s day this will be!
(Sidenote: PDub, this is our mutual friend AllieGallie.)
