Get Real

Seen Any Good Movies Lately?

Depending on your view of the world, the adjective “good” can be quite relevant. For me, one characteristic of a good movie is whether it gets people talking.

Ben Stein’s controversial movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed opens nationwide in theaters on April 18^th. The heightened anticipation from scientists and atheists has cyberspace electric with the buzz of this documentary’s release:

LOS ANGELES, March 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- According to Technoranati's BlogPulse which surveys the hottest topics and sites in the world of blogs, a site featuring Ben Stein's controversial new film Expelled is the #1 blog on the net.

The web traffic spiked when P.Z. Meyers, a biology professor at the University of Minnesota,  Morris, attempted to sneak into a private, invitation-only screening of Ben Stein's highly controversial upcoming movie, EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed (www.expelledthemovie.com). But Myers, who is an outspoken atheist and author of the science blog "Pharyngula" got caught and has used his blog to bitterly complain about not being allowed to see the film before its release.

Myers, who was interviewed in Expelled, has apparently been asking supporters to sneak into the private screenings which are being conducted by marketing company Motive Entertainment (www.motivemarketing.biz; which handled grassroots marketing for blockbusters The Passion of the Christ and Chronicles of Narnia) for various leaders as part of the grass roots marketing of the film.

When confronted at the screening by Myers' friend Richard Dawkins, a prominent atheist who is himself featured in the film… (read more)

I hope you will add, “see this movie” to your to-do list this month. You can bet I will and then we can talk about it.

Expelled. Rebelled. Synonomous?

Looks like it!   

Check out this soon to be released movie.

(More on this one later)

Clinton, McCain, Obama, Romney, et al…

Politics is not my forte. But, recently, I’ve come to consider how the worldviews, or basic beliefs of each of these individuals running for president would affect me once elected.

A few months ago, I posted about two bills in California that may ultimately impact what I do—teach from the Bible and proclaim absolutes about what is written therein. My beliefs could “offend” someone, and in some circumstances, I could be fined or jailed. These laws are in effect because of the individual(s) who signed them into law. They did so based on their worldview.

It is nearly impossible to vote for a political party based purely on its original foundational values and be certain that those values will be honored.

There is a plethora of issues to consider before we vote, right? Do they support abortion? Will they fund illegal immigration? How hard will they push to get homosexual rights passed into law? Are they for the war in Iraq or against it? Will they support a divided Israel? Will they raise taxes or balance the budget? Will they save the rain forest or cut it down? The list is endless depending on what is important to you.

The answers, or lack thereof, could keep you awake at night, or be the cause of many heated arguments. As for me, I anchor all of this worry on the Rock of my salvation—Jesus Christ.

You see, when you base your worldview on the absolutes of the Bible, you needn’t worry about the answers to these questions. Educate yourself on the individual running for office before you vote? Yes. But worry and argue about it? No. God has it under control. The earth and all that is in it, is His. He knows the beginning from the end and has our future in his loving hands—if you call on Him as your God and your Savior.

Who Should Teach Our Children What?

Yesterday, I mentioned my first blurb on politics, today I offer a second based on a quote that captures another piece of California legislature in a nutshell.

(SB 777) Sacramento, California –– In a repeat of legislation vetoed last year by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, homosexual-bisexual-transsexual activists are pushing a pair of bills (SB 777 and AB 394) that would require all textbooks, instructional materials, school-sponsored activities, all school policies, and all teacher training courses to promote the transsexual, bisexual and homosexual lifestyles to children as young as kindergarten…

…This means boys becoming girls and girls becoming boys would have to be positively portrayed in health textbooks, sex education classes and school assemblies…

…Additionally, because parental units are gender-specific, married couples or a family with a “father and a mother” would be portrayed as mere stereotypes – outdated ideas –– and could be prohibited from textbooks because their discriminatory inclusion “reflects adversely.” Under SB 777, school curriculum in every public school throughout California, in every grade K-12, would have to portray transsexual and bisexual “parents” as normal. In essence, SB 777 would teach schoolchildren that there is no such thing as the natural family.¹ (SB 777 has since been signed into law)

The 1987 R.E.M. song with the lyrics, “it’s the end of the world as we know it…and I feel fine” is one we could be singing at stadiums throughout our land. Twenty years later and two decades farther away from a sense of what’s right and wrong, laws are governing what’s natural regarding sexual orientation and gender.

Consider how this bill “will permit transgender students to enter the locker rooms and restrooms of the gender with which they identify…Under the guise of preventing discrimination and bias against homosexuals, transgenders and other sexual variants, SB 777 will force innocent school children to accept alternative lifestyles.”

Oh, it won’t happen right away. It could take a few years before transsexual men or those posing as such feel comfortable using women’s public restrooms—or vice versa. And just because you don’t live in California, doesn’t mean you can disregard the news. You know Cali just sets the pace for the rest.

We, the parents, should teach our children biblical truths. Why? Because there are no others that stand the test of time. With these truths, we live in the brilliance of eternal hope, not the end of the world in the shadow of doom.

I can’t help it. I have an opinion. Jesus is the only way. So, what do you say? Would you like to know more about him today? (I said I was opinionated, not a great poet).

As always, I welcome your feedback and would like to show you the Way.

¹ Read the entire article here.

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.keytofreedom.org/resources.html

Banning “Hate Speech” and Other Ludicrous Ideals

I am not one to rant on my Blog. However, I am known to be very opinionated in life. So allow me to pull back the curtain on one of two recent pieces of legislature in my former home state (which I am deeply disturbed to be associated with at this moment) and voice my opinion.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California recently signed into law SB1234 which:

…classifies as "hate speech" any public expression that makes certain favored citizens feel "unwelcome" or "intimidated." Anyone found guilty of using such expressions could face six months in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Homosexuals, transsexuals, women, the homeless and assorted minority groups have been given the authority to decide what constitutes "hate speech." It's all based on their emotional response to a speech, a conversation, a book or article, a poster, a radio broadcast--whatever. If it makes them feel uncomfortable, it's hate speech.¹

I find this disturbing because it goes against the absolutes of right and wrong that I value. I find this absurd because it is inconsistent with a culture that shouts and teaches “tolerance at all cost!” yet it will not tolerate someone speaking his or her mind if it offends another. Lastly, I find it ludicrous because there is no way to identify every “minority” group thereby offering them protection from some sort of emotional offense.

As a Bible teacher am I not in the minority? Does this mean I can sue someone who offends me because their doctrine of immorality (based on my values) makes me feel unwelcome? On the other hand, will I have to suppress my doctrine in order to avoid offending them lest I find myself in jail?

It is impossible to capture the complexity of this issue in a few words on a blogsite. It is wise to realize the important aspect of this legislation is more than merely protecting the emotions or rights of a few minority groups. In America, we’re seeing the fruit of a seed was planted more than 20 years ago. It will affect every American citizen regardless of what you believe about absolutes and right and wrong.

I have said before, without absolutes we’re all subject to the relative winds of those with the loudest voice, the most political clout or the most money. But, those who build their lives on the rock-solid absolute foundation of the one and only God through Jesus Christ can withstand the ludicrous ideals of our mislead culture.

¹ Read the entire article here. Other articles on this subject may be found at NPN; California Family Council

You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.keytofreedom.org/resources.html