World News Through the Third Lens: Connect the Dots

"Teachers won't budge on contract. Union rejects concessions to help shortfall." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"State to pull troopers from schools. Officials cite lack of funding." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"3 arrested in Times Square bomb searches." The Associated Press, May 14, 2010.

"Thailand: Chaos in capital reignited by shooting." The Associated Press, May 14, 2010.

"Hispanics, rest of U.S. split on immigrants." AP-UNIVISION POLL, May 14, 2010.

"Top General: It's a draw in Afghanistan." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"BP will try to suck spewing oil to the surface." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"Business lobby joins health care lawsuit." Norwich Bulletin, May 14, 2010.

"Netanyahu: The battle for Jerusalem is a battle for truth." JNN News, May 13, 2010

"Israel's gestures to Palestinians met with slap in the face." JNN News, May 13, 2010

"59 women showed up, 13 turned around or changed their mind, 46 babies were killed." OSA-CT Street Report, May 1-11, 2010 (Summary of activity at Women's Summit in Bridgeport and Planned Parenthood in New Haven, where abortions are performed on a regular basis.

"Iran test-fires same missiles as handed to Hizballah." DEBKAfile, May 13, 2010

"PA finds Bibi's biblical reference distasteful" israelnationalnews.com May 14, 2010

"ACLU trying to stop Enfield graduations." Peter Wolfgang, Exec. Dir. Family Institute of CT, May 13, 2010

I could go on and on and on - "ad infinitum, ad nauseum" as some would say. There was nothing special about today, other than when I asked the Lord what to write, that still small voice responded, "Connect the dots!" The Lord God, knowing how each of us is wired, worked with me a bit until I understood to just gather together a few random headlines. I was not to do a search based on a particular subject; having been convinced that some common threads would be revealed in the process.

So I have completed my rather limited, albeit random survey of news banners from various sources, and there is a connection. I understand that there is some risk of being labeled as a fanatic (or worse) by suggesting that all of these headlines are connected. Risks aside, they are connected. They are not specifically connected to any one political party; they are not even specifically connected to some a-nationalistic group like the CFR or the Bildebergers; and they are not specifically connected to President Obama. They are all connected, however, to the Bible - the inerrant Word of God, and he who fails to connect the dots, does so at his own peril.

Through the third lens of Scripture: All of the world's problems, ranging from shortfalls in school budgets to violence in Bangkok, to environmental disasters in the Gulf, to continued unrest in the Middle East, all find their origin in man challenging the very first sentence in God's revealed word. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Ken Ham, founder of the ministry, Answers in Genesis, claims that the reason many pastors fail to preach with power and authority is because they "have compromised with some of the books of the Bible - such as Genesis - and therefore don't really have a firm foundation for their doctrine." I agree with brother Ham, and when this happens in our pulpits, is it any wonder that the truth of God's Word is being challenged, dismissed and dishonored by virtually every facet of our western post modern culture?

The first challenge to God's Word is recorded in Genesis 3, when Satan, in the form of the serpent (we can only imagine what that beast looked like before he was cursed by God to crawl in the dust, ultimately to be defeated by the Messiah [Genesis 3:14-15]) said, "Has God indeed said.....?" (v. 1), "You will not surely die." (v. 4), "....eat of it....and you will be like God.." (v.5). Being deceived, believing the lie, disobeying God, the forbidden fruit which appealed to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (v. 6) man ate of the forbidden fruit and death and the curse entered the Paradise of Eden (v. 8-24) and has spread throughout the whole earth (Romans 5:12-13).

When it comes to each one of us as individuals, responsible for our own actions, the Bible states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). This is the good news, offered as a gift, meaning that it will benefit only those who truly receive it. So, while the Bible gives us an accurate record of how the trouble got started, and what the remedy is, it also gives us a pretty clear view of the future - which is now!

In 2 Peter 3:3-7, Peter outlines four things about which people in the last days would scoff at, sort of complimenting or rationalizing their own lustful life styles. They are: 1) the Second Coming of Christ (v. 4), 2) creation (v. 4-5), 3) the flood (v. 5-6), and 4) judgment (v.7). When men begin to scoff at these truths, such as a literal creation (which is made compatible with much that is currently observable by natural science by #3 in the list - the flood), he begins to forget God. He begins to forget that he is a created being, subject to his creator. He forgets that he is prone to deception and believing the lie that he can know it all and do it all. He joins together with his fellow creatures, where ultimately some form of human government, bereft of God and His laws, is presented as the savior of the world.

Consequently, individually and corporately we violate the first three commandments, thinking there shall be no adverse effects. The nanny state gives us public education, which began with the best of intentions, where now moral absolutes have been removed; replaced by relativism, diversity and tolerance. 50 years later, we have a problem because all this has led to a need for police officers in our school halls, but we no longer have the money to pay them. We have a healthcare problem because we have done precious little to punish the abusers and the thieves. Our medical ethics have become so messed up that we require parental permission for a 14-year old to receive an aspirin from the school nurse, but that same 14-year old can be taken by the school to get an abortion while the parents are kept in the dark.

The Scriptures declare that parents are to raise their children "in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4). So what are we considering here in Connecticut as a possible means to raise more revenue? Lowering the gambling age at the casinos to 18. There are two verses which, while following one another, are profoundly connected. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:6-7). A couple generations of parents teaching their children that nothing should be denied, thrift doesn't matter but the latest fashions do, and our debt-driven economy is about ready to implode. Governments need more, so legalizing gambling and promoting gambling look like good ideas. A decade or two later and all the increased revenues have done is stoke the the fires of spending other peoples money and promote the vices of greed and control. "A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him." (Proverbs 28:22).

I hope it is becoming clear to some that the dots are connected. All of our troubles stem from ignoring or rejecting God's Word. Teaching evolution instead of creation eventually devalues human life and produces a whole new vocabulary. A baby in the womb is called a fetus (check Luke 1:41). Abortion is not called murder but Women's Reproductive Health Care. The USA ignores the promise that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed by God (Genesis 12:3), and sets itself up as arbitrator to an ungodly 2-state solution. We quickly forget that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34). Judgment has not yet come (except in limited warning signs which are more dots that need to be connected), so collectively we scoff. We say, "If there is a God, where/why...........?" May I remind you "The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." (Proverbs 29:2) If that leads you to trusting God instead of man and government, that's a good thing. Connect the dots while you still can.

World News Through the Third Lens: Free Speech and the First Amendment

Free speech is a right that must be used with wisdom said the headline in an editorial by Kent Bush, of GateHouse News Service, May 4, 2010. Don't let the date bother you - the applications are timeless. Mr. Bush states: "There is a fine line between a tool and a weapon. A hammer is a very useful tool. Few structures would be built without one. But in a fit of rage, a hammer can be used in a gruesome attack." He goes on to state that the First Amendment gives all Americans the right to free speech, and that like a hammer, most applications are beneficial.

While espousing the value of the First Amendment, Mr. Bush wishes that more people would use this basic right with more restraint and wisdom. He says, "The difference is one of can and should. He points out the work of Matt Stone and Trey Parker in their crudely drawn and written cartoon, "South Park" as something that constantly pushes the bounds of decency, with mockery, blasphemy and obscenity in almost every episode. Recently they took a swipe at Islam by making a not so flattering depiction of the prophet Muhammad, just to show that they could.

A website called revolutionmuslim.com posted a poorly veiled threat saying that Parker and Stone might end up like Dutch Filmmaker, Theo Van Gogh - dead. So the South Park episode went in the tank. In response, Molly Norris, and artist from Seattle declared May 20 to be celebrated as "Everyone Draw Muhammad Day." She has since stated she is not involved with this any more. We may have freedom to speak, but words - like actions - often have consequences. Bush concludes his editorial with these words: "You have to choose wisely if you should say everything you can say. (My note: Today's issue of the Norwich Bulletin ran a blurb that Comedy Central was developing a cartoon series that would be titled "J.C." depicting Christ as a "regular guy" who moves to New York to "escape his father's enormous shadow." I think a typical Christian response to insult is seen by most people as being a polar opposite to an Islamic response to insult.)

Through the third lens of Scripture: The Bible has a lot to say about our manner of speech. I good place to start would probably be the Golden Rule. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12) The Bible tells us that "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check....The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and itself set on fire by hell." (James 3:2,6)

As Christians find themselves aligned with Conservatives and Tea Partiers on many issues, we must be careful not to pick up on hurtful and defaming rhetoric. If there are things wrong in government, society, culture or even the church, we should "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose (reprove) them." (Ephesians 5:11) If we, as followers of Christ, feel we must engage in such activities, "Let your speech be always seasoned with salt, that you may know how you should answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) We should remember and apply the words of wisdom from David and Solomon: "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." (Psalms 34:13) "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin." (Proverbs 13:3) Although much more could be written on this topic, we'll close with words from James, the brother of Jesus. "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26). The First Amendment grants us freedom, not license.