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posted by James on 10/10/07

November 7, 2008 may very well be the most important date in United States history. The presidential election is fast approaching. Are you prepared? Candidates in both the Republican and Democratic parties have poured time, money, and effort into their campaigns for months, if not years. But time and money do not decide the victory. This decision rests on the shoulders of voting US citizens; namely, you and me.

Perhaps, the result of the November ’08 election pivots on the Republican primaries earlier in the year. If a moderate Republican is nominated as the party’s presidential nominee, who would conservatives vote for? The choice would be either to vote for the “lesser of two evils” or hope to form a 3rd, Independent party. Whether a 3rd party would split the Republican votes and seal Democratic victory, or whether it would draw enough votes from both Dems and Reps to make a winning majority, is unknown and only time will reveal. But what we do know is that if the Republicans are going to win, they have to win together. “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” Mark 3:25.

So, how do we keep this from happening? First and foremost we must, as individuals, understand the issues and wholeheartedly support the one who has the capability of leading America to both moral and economic success. The issues are numerous, but a quick look at how a candidate stands on Scriptural issues, such as marriage and sanctity of life, will enable us to perceive his moral condition, and ultimately his leadership abilities. “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” Proverbs 14:32-33.

Having said thus, let us review the most influential candidates running on the Republican ticket by giving their former occupation, present office, embraced religion, and current stand on abortion, a delicate, but imperative moral issue:

Sam Brownback - Lawyer and senator from Kansas. Roman Catholic. “When we overturn Roe v. Wade, that will have a magnifying effect on the world.”
 
 

Rudy Giuliani - Lawyer. Also Roman Catholic. “I ultimately do believe in a woman’s right of choice, but I think that there are ways in which we can reduce abortions.”
 
 

Mike Huckabee - Businessman and senator from Arkansas. A former Baptist minister. “I’m pro-life because I believe life begins at conception, and I believe that we should do everything possible to protect that life because it is the centerpiece of what makes us unique as an American people.”

John McCain - Military officer and senator from Arizona. Baptist, formerly Episcopal. “I’d love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade…”

Ron Paul - Medical doctor and senator from Texas. Protestant. “Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, but not because the Supreme Court presumed to legalize abortion rather than ban it. Roe was wrongly decided because abortion simply is not a constitutional issue.”

Mitt Romney - Businessman. Mormon. “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country.”
 
 
 

Abortion is not the only concern. I challenge you to look into the issues, prepare to vote, and understand the importance of nominating a conservative Republican. Who will you vote for in the primaries? What issues concern you most? Will the formation of a 3rd party succeed or divide? Comment your answers, your remarks, your ideas; I will be back to present more details on this exciting, essential, and world-effecting subject! “In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince” Proverbs 14:28. 

14 Comments » | posted in Historical Glimpses

posted by Robert on 10/9/07

The recent Eternal Impact Summit was a refreshing time spiritually for the many young adults who took time out to enjoy seeking the Lord with others of like heart.

The IBLP staff working behind the scenes experienced the incredible joy of serving the Lord in ministry together. One particularly fun event for us was serving the formal dinner on Saturday night.

During the dinner we sang a beautiful poem of Psalm 42 that Pastor Pierpont taught us earlier in the week. It expressed the longing of each of us to know God more intimately and to always remember these “days of praise” during the difficult times that will come our way. Pastor Pierpont strummed the beautiful melody on the guitar as we sang:

As the heart longs for flowing streams,
So longs my soul my soul for You, O God,
My soul doth thirst for the living God,
When shall I come to see Your face?

My tears had fed me day and night,
While men have said, “Where is Your God?”
But I recall as my soul pours dry,
The days of praise within Your house.

Why do I morn and toil within
When it is mine to hope in God,
I shall again sing praise to Him
He is my help, He is my God!

5 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Robert on 10/6/07

After an incredibly busy conference season, the IBLP Headquarters staff took a few days off in the beautiful Northwoods of Michigan. The autumn colors were right around their peak, proclaiming the glory of God in creation and painting a gorgeous canvas of vibrant color all over the landscape

This refreshing time of fellowship and rest encouraged our hearts and brought us closer together. We also enjoyed some good, competitive games of volleyball!

A group of Filipino students, led by Matt Stewart and Andrew Jorgensen, went through a Journey to the Heart in the Northwoods and were going through the Basic Seminar the week that we were there. They also served diligently in the kitchen and were a big blessing to all of us. Daniel Shipley told me, “I have been with many groups of orphans over the past five years, but I’ve never seen a group with such an eagerness to learn and seek the Lord.”

One night Pastor Pierpont shared a classic message with us on the glory of the Lord. Every time he talks about the glory or God, 2 Corinthians 3:18 stands out to me in a whole new way, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

May God glorify Himself in us more and more as we are conformed to His image!

4 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Daniel on 10/5/07

A few months ago I received a gift from a cousin for participating in his wedding. It was a medium-sized book by C.S. Lewis. Not expecting much, I started it that evening, but little did I know how strongly it would enthrall me from the very first chapter.

With a comprehensive vocabulary and astounding way of describing things, C.S. Lewis outlines his intellectual and spiritual journey through the early years of his life, telling of his espousal of atheism and return to Christianity. In this autobiography of a conversion, I was continually amazed at C.S. Lewis’ literary genius and ability to put into words thoughts and feelings we have all experieneced, and which I’ve been aware of but never attempted to define before!

At one point, when describing a situation from his own life, he makes an interesting observation: “Nothing, I suspect, is more astonishing” (and, may I add, more exciting) “in any man’s life than the discovery that there do exist people very, very like himself.” This fact is, I believe, the reason this book was so thrilling for me to read.

The central motif of his story is the course of “Joy” in his life, which he defines as “the sublime experience of the transcendent” and must be strictly distinguished from both happiness and pleasure. It is that “unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction”, and which, when experienced, becomes of incalculable importance and causes all else to appear insignificant in comparison.

It is at the culmination of the book when he discovers that this “Joy” - that fleeting glimpse of the eternal - is actually a harbinger, a precursor of a greater Something (or rather, Someone), and finds true satisfaction in a fulfilling relationship with That which Joy was pointing towards.

I had previously associated C.S. Lewis exclusively with “The Chronicles of Narnia”, but reading “Surprised by Joy”  has broadened my understanding of him as an author. If his other works are as spiritually and intellectually rich and engrossing as this one, I certainly anticipate reading them!

6 Comments » | posted in Book Reports

posted by David on 10/3/07

This month our family has been studying the character quality of “love” (Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward). To help us learn this quality we made a “love tree.” Here’s how it works: each person gets a different colored heart. Every time someone does a good deed” they write it down on their color heart and tape it to the tree. Here are specific things that members of the family shared with me about how the love tree changed the way they think of doing good for others during this mornings Flash News Interviews. The question is: how has the love tree changed the way you think of doing good for others?

Jonathan answered:
“Instead of doing loving things for others so they will do good for me, I’ve been encouraged to do good to others without expecting anything in return.”

Daniel answered:
“It totally changed my outlook throughout the day. Instead of just thinking of ways to save my own time and make things easer on myself, it challenged me to “Look also on the things of others” Phil 2:4.

James answered:
“Hmmm, good question. It has shown me how little I take the initiative to go out of my way to help others.”

Mom answered:
“The more I was able to do the extra things for other people the more joyful I became”

5 Comments » | posted in Family News