Don't Ask Don't Tell - Inevitably Here To Stay

Douglas Wilson always has something interesting to say regarding ever changing/never changing political ethos. His recent post titled Political Kabuki is no different. Wilson writes of the inevitability of the military's don't ask don't tell policy on homosexuals. Though someday overturned don't ask don't tell will be applied to someone, he writes this:

The issue before the house is not whether or not to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." This whole thing is one of those pesky inescapable concepts, and this means that the debate before us is this -- to which group will we apply "don't ask, don't tell"? It is not whether, but which. The homosexuals or the evangelicals?...Somebody will be disciplined inevitably, and we are talking about which group it will be.

Wilson goes on to make the point that the question isn't about the soldier-to-soldier relationships, it goes deeper than that. He goes on to write this:

I am asking if the serviceman who is evangelical will be permitted to witness to his fellow serviceman, who is now out of the closet. Will he be allowed to believe that homosexuality is a sin that God will judge at the last day? Sure. Don't ask. Will he be allowed to call his fellow serviceman to repentance? Surely not. Don't tell.

These questions should be the first and foremost questions on minds of Americans as well as the troops rooted in the Christian faith, not to mention Chaplains. Can they preach out of the whole bible...what about Romans? He sums up his point here:

Don't tell me that this is about whether homosexuals should be able to come out of the closet. It is whether evangelicals will be permitted to extend the love of Christ to them when they do. Everybody is acting as though the question concerns whether open homosexuals can serve in the military. The real question is whether open evangelicals will be allowed to do so.

from Blog and Mablog by dougwils@christkirk.com (Douglas Wilson)

Political Kabuki

The Sieve 2/3/10

THE MOHLER REVERB
Al Mohler's recent post regarding pornography and it's current availability...very good post. I've been trudging my way through the most recent Family Research Council's Research Synthesis on the effects of pornography on marriages, individuals, families, and communities. Mohler's post goes well with it. I'll link to both.

Hijacking the Brain — How Pornography Works

EN-VIRAL-MENTAL-ISTS
The recent post by The Foundary works through a new paper published by the journal Environmental Science & Technology regarding the consumer choices being effected by environmental policies. The specific choice covered in the article is regarding schools.

School Choice Bad for the Environment?

FUNDITUS PRAVUS
Ray Ortlund's quick post this morning is excellent regarding our perspective of others. Must Read!

Companions in a common misery

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Obama is in serious trouble; stuck between the Pro-Life people foaming mad that his agenda pushed for healthcare reform that would force them to pay for abortions via tax money and the Reproductive Rights people foaming mad he didn't get it done. I could give you examples of seathing articles from both sides but I like this one the best. It's from the Pro-choice side of the isle.

""He can't make eye contact with abortion," an observation those of us in the reproductive justice movement can't help but agree with. His failure to stand up for the human rights of women -- and to trust us -- began to make me wonder about his commitment to those of us who were his core constituents and helped elect him. He's like the prom date I had last night who can't remember my name this morning." 
from RHRealityCheck.org by Loretta Ross

Read the rest:

(VIDEO) Obama Can’t Make Eye Contact With Abortion Rights

POLITICS
This is a good article from The Foundary regarding the fight for Obama's health care reform. It maps out the procedural strategies and tactics of the Republicans and Democrats very well. It's a back and forth battle from super-majority (democrats) to filibuster (republicans) to nuclear option (democrats) to unlimited amendments (republicans). This outlines the progression!

Fighting the Nuclear Option

BEST ARTICLE TITLE OF THE DAY
I thought this was the best title I've seen in a while...you can also read the article too. It's by the Family Research Council.

Obama's HOPE Is That He Gets All of Your CHANGE

GOOD OL ARTICLE
I'll through this short one in...very good by Douglas Wilson!

Nostalgia Is Not An Eschatology

The Sieve 1/20/09

Al Mohler Reverb
This is a new dedicated title in the Sieve for Al Mohler's Blog. I've never read his blog without profoundly walking away changed. Today is no different:

How Will They Hear Without a Preacher?

The Superbowl is Coming

Here are a couple good short post regarding the up coming media frenzy:

Enjoy Those 11 Minutes This Weekend

Football Player to Feature in Anti-choice Super Bowl Ad

A Great Private Enterprise

For those of you who enjoy firearms and all the cool stuff that goes along with it...you'll enjoy this article. Trijicon - Founded on Christian principles is under scrutiny!

Gunsights' biblical references concern US and UK forces

Raising Children

A blurb on the Ligonier site:

Evangelizing Our Children

All this talk about "RIGHTS"

Whether on news cast, blogs, legislation, or any other communicable platform the elevation of "rights" has become a force for pushing agendas along. Here is a good post from the Pure Church by Thabiti Anyabwile:

The Gospel, Love, and Rights

Politics

The new 2010 Index of Economic Freedom released recently by the Heritage Foundation is another huge nail in the coffin of the current government regime. Worth Reading!

The U.S. Isn’t as Free as It Used to Be

Swing....and aaaaaaaaaa MISS!

To NOT have a post today regarding the Senate race in Massachusetts you would have to chain me to my bedpost and listen to my incessant screaming for 24 hours. It's probably impossible! I woke up this morning singing at the top of my lungs an off pitch, multiple key hybrid combination of the Hallalujah Chorus and the Doxology. It scared my son!

I can sum up my sentiments of obama-tics with a baseball metaphor. Obama's decision to make sweeping reform based on far leftist principles is the equivalent of a baseball player swinging for the fences. Knowing that a base hit will further steady progress, he decides to up-the-stakes. Swinging for the fences, in one foul swoop, could perpetuate the team into an instant win and depending on the circumstance...into the hall of fame. Conversely, a miss could be devastating. In the case of the Democrats it is the beginning of the end. From health care to majorities in the house and senate the ramifications will be huge. The decision to push through the desires of the American people has bitten Obama and teammates in the proverbial ass! Unlike the dog that sends a warning bite...the american people will see their backsides as a giant raw pot roast and we've been forced to hunger after founding principles of this great republic! Children...look away...it's not going to be pretty! Swing...and aaaaaaaaaaaaa Miss!

We don't deserve news and the deliverance from this legislation, but God has bestowed it upon us anyway. This is the very reason I celebrate!

A few good reads regarding this post:

Of All Places - Blog and Mablog

A Brief Explanation for the Europeans - Blog and Mablog

What Now on ObamaCare? -  The Foundry

The Sieve 1/19/10

MISSIONS
Here is good info regarding missions from THE GOSPEL COALITION. Here is a taste of the article:

They should also cause us to consider the sacrifice that will be necessary to reach Muslim countries with the gospel. Muslim nations have the fewest Christians and the most persecution.  For example, eight out of the top ten countries on Open Doors’ World Watch List are Muslim nations.

The kind of Christian who gets offended when a clerk at Target says “happy holidays” rather than “merry Christmas” when checking out, probably won’t consider moving to a city where Christians are gunned down on Christmas Eve or shot at a wedding. Yet that is exactly what needs to happen.

Read the rest here:

Doing Missions When Dying Is a Distinct Possibility

PRO-LIFE RALLY TODAY IN OLYMPIA

The general public will be marching with the Silent No More Awareness Campaign today. This march for awareness...It's estimated that 25,000 woman each year have an abortion in Washington State!

Read the rest here:

Silent No More Set to March

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Thank GOD for the home school movement...it's literally the salvation to redeeming education for our children. Sorry for those of you who are public school teachers you are fighting against all odds to educate children. You won't get my child!

Read this regarding head start program:

Head Start: A $150 Billion Failure

Also Obama's RACE TO THE TOP program! Major tax money in the form of grants for those states willing to make major change to their school systems. 30 states will sell their souls to this program. Texas, the largest opponent to the program, turns down millions of dollars to keep the feds from mucking around with their curriculum. I can hear the country song in my head right now...God bless Texas with his own hand!

Read this from the Washington Post:

Obama to seek $1.35 billion more for Race to the Top program

Read this from THE FOUNDARY:

Why Texas Skipped the “Race to the Top”

POLITICS

Today's a big news day include the race for the Massachusetts Senate seat. This could lead to the destruction of the filibuster proof majority the democrats enjoy at this moment. This definitely could throw a monkey wrench in the health care situation for the demon-crats. 

Read this from the Associated Press via Yahoo News:

Coakley, Brown cast votes in closely-watched race

GREAT MEN

From Ortlund Jr. Blog...A tribute to Richard Baxter via J.I. Packer. Very short and good!

Read here: 

He made Christianity attractive

The Sieve 1/18/10

POLITICS
This coming weeks work for the House and Senate:

The House and Senate Cloakrooms: Jan. 19 – 24

This also from THE FOUNDARY welfare!

Government Welfare: Cell Phones for the Poor

Finally a couple of good words from Doug Wilson on politics.

A Conservative What?

Whatever You Do, Don't Reify Nothing

OBAMA-TICs

More regarding Obama's promises...can anyone blow as much hot air up someones skirt more than HE!

Fathering Confusion

WORK PLACE

Good post on Justin Taylor's site on the work place. 

The Only Christian Work Is Good Work Done Well unto God

LORD'S DAY 

Again Doug Wilson on how we worship in song. Intentionality, Intentionality, Intentionality!

The Heart and Musical Vocabulary

Tim Challies writes some weighty quotes regarding how we listen the God's Word on the Lord's Day.

The Responsibility to Listen

ENVIRO-MENTALIST

I often keep track of the environmental seen via blogs and websites. It is one the easiest exercises of discernment to see that the cause is more than a cause but a religion and its supporters those who are followers of that religion. Al Mohler once again says it better than most on the Gospel Coalition site.

Thinking Green — The New Religion

Marxaethists

Most atheists when thinking about the existence of all things have to believe in an ordering of them (things/matter) apart from God. Some process must take place apart from intelligent design! In terms of governing themselves, Christopher Hitchens claims, in a recent debate hosted by Christianity Today, you practically have to be an atheist to be a communist, which I am in agreement. All heavily leaning social type governments whether it is Marxism, communism or socialism have at their foundation atheism. Social justice is the duty of the state apart from God! What about Capitolist? Can you be an atheist and a capitalist? In his book Money, Greed, and God Jay Richard says this

"…the key source of material wealth in a modern market economy is immaterial. It’s spiritual. Wealth is created when our creative freedom is allowed to prosper in a free-market environment undergirded by the rule of law and suffused with a rich moral culture."

 Can any governing principle that has for itself an undergirding of the rule of law suffused with any kind of morals be attributed to or from anyone embracing atheism? In Is Christianity Good for the World Douglas Wilson writes in response to Hitchens

"…you now tell us that we have an innate predisposition to both good and wicked behavior…what warrant you have for calling some behaviors “good” and others “wicked”."

And..

"Your notion of morality, and the evolution it rode in on, can only be concern itself with what is. But morality as Christians understand it, and the kind you surreptitiously draw upon , is concerned with ought...You believe yourself to live in a universe where there is no such thing as any fixed ought or ought not."

Finally…

"If there is no God, then who cares?"

According to Wilson atheist have no rational basis for calling anything good or bad, furthermore given atheism ‘Who cares’! Thus, it would seem to me, the core principles capitalism cannot be achieved under atheistic principles and thereby capitalism cannot be achieved under those governing according to those principles. Can atheists live under such rule? Will the propensity to breakdown the very principles in such a capitalist society be too great (or should I say to innate)?

You may say that capitalism with its ingredients of competition, private property, self interest, and free market principles can stand on their own without God. This is obviously an idolatrous delusion; left to our own the affects of sin only lead to death. I leave this thought with this:

"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." - Alexis de Tocqueville

See the post Timber Wolf Poo and Rabbit Poo on Doug Wilson's Blog for one the best recent posts regarding this issue!