Pastor Mike's Weblog

Bible Studies for Life - February 4, 2007

THE WORD FROM GOD - John 1:1-9, 14-17

"Why is Jesus Unique?"

American Scholar Sam Pascoe said, "Christianity started out in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe  and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise." Is this the view of most of society? Is Jesus unique? If so, What distinquishes Him from leaders of other world religions?

I watched with interest the President's State of the Union Address last night, and the Democratic Response that followed. The telling indicators were not what the President said, or even what the strident Democrat said afterwards. It was in the little things.

In Genesis 11 the inhabitants of the earth begin constructing the Tower of Babel with the stated intention of making a name for themselves (vs. 4). Their intent was to develop a favorable reputation in their own eyes, disregarding God in the process. You know the rest of the story - God confounded their language and scattered them across the face of the earth, forcing them to obey His command to scatter and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28; 9:1).

It seems that both Democrats and Republicans have but one goal in mind, and that is not the welfare of their constituents. It is to "make a name for themselves". It is to further their own personal agendas. Perhaps the most telling evidence of this was what was reported by FOX News before the President's address ever began. As the cameras panned the crowd in the House chamber the FOX News commentator commented that, as was a long-standing practice, many legislators arrived at the chamber hours before the address to obtain seats alongside the center aisle. This would provide them with a good shot on camera of shaking the President's hand as he entered the chamber and would look good for them back home. The commentator even pointed out, as the President entered the chamber, some that were shaking hands with the President who were his vehement opposition. But they smiled for the cameras and the folks back home. Business as usual in the fake and hollow world of politics. 

Here's another telling factor. Recently a new bill in the Senate, attached to another good bill I understand, would have required organizations that inform citizens of congressional activity to report such activity and how much money that is spent to the federal government. Section 220 of S.1, was narrowly defeated by the vote of an amendment to strike it from the bill. The interesting thing is to note who voted to strike this invasive violation of free speech, and who voted to keep it. Check the Senate Roll-Call web site for the 'yea' and 'nay' votes.  Among some notables voting to violate your free-speech right to know what Congress is up to are Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barak Obama, Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Rockefeller, Senator Leiberman, and Senator John Kerry. What did you expect from the anti-religion crowd? For your information, both senators from Tennessee voted to strike Section 220 from the bill. I have written them to express my gratitude. 

What can we expect from a Republican President and a Democratic Congress? More of the same from the past, I expect. Partisan battles with no room for cooperation on issues that all Americans deem important. Both sides struggling to "make a name for themselves" and the American people lost in the shuffle.  

No news yet from my CAT scan; I'll try to post when I do hear something. I will be traveling this week and next week, leaving tomorrow morning, so no Sunday School commentaries for this week or next week. Sorry - just no time. I will resume writing when I get back. If you are going to Glorieta or Ridgecrest for the Vacation Bible School Institutes or Previews look me up - I would love to meet you!

Dear Friends;

          My yearly CAT scan is tomorrow at 8:15 AM. I would appreciate your prayers. I anticipate no surprises, and I am having none of the cancer symptoms from before. I will post the results when I receive them in a few days. Thanks and Happy New Year!

WHY AM I HERE?

Genesis 1:1-4, 26-31; 2:1-3

Props: Easel with a painting, covered by a blank canvas or blank poster board

Lesson Introduction: The famous philosopher Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living. The atheist is best suited to pursue an unexamined life devoted to gratifying one's personal wants and needs. The Christian, however, should be more willing, not less willing, to ask probing questions and seek out core truths that govern life. This month we will explore crucial questions that frame our understanding of the world, and our place in it. To move toward biblically informed answers, we begin at the beginning, in Genesis. The answers we find will lead us to realism, and to God.