Do not asked me when and how I get into Ben Witherington's blog? Sometime I look for something and found something. I like his blog and hope you enjoy it too.
Ben Witherington
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Ben Stein's Confession--- on Christian Religion in the Public Sphere
Ben Stein is always worth listening to, even when one strongly disagrees with him. The following is a column of his from CBS Morning News Commentary, and appears to be genuine, for all you Snopes fans out there. I find myself quite agreeing with this little confession. BW3----My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a Church it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away .
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says .
Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.
Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.Are you laughing?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards .Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein .
posted by Ben Witherington at 1:01 PM
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Photos- Helen playing Tennis 7th October 2008
In Shan State, I climbed the trees!
In Thailand and Florida, I play Tennis!
My son is the best in our family. He is
really good for his age.
In Thailand and Florida, I play Tennis!
My son is the best in our family. He is
really good for his age.
unfinish blog
My apology to my subscribers. I accidentally hit the wrong key and my unfinished blog gone through to you all. Sorry! No blog to day. Helen
Prayer
The following are base on my thought and my believe only.
2007 November 14th, after long stayed in US, I plan to go back to Bangkok, Thailand via Israel with my new liver. I like to go pray there because I am a Christian and I desire to see the place. I am so glad that what I did and so please with what I saw. Very happy that I were there among the millions of tourists per year who go there for different reasons.
Same as Buddish go to India, Christian, Jewish and Muslim goes to Israel and Mecca for a Pilgrims Trips. I think Atheists go no where!
Of Course I know and believe that a place for praying is not only in Israel. Whether I pray in Israel or who pray in North Pole, the blessing or out come will be the same. This is not up to us, this is up to the Good God.
2007 November 14th, after long stayed in US, I plan to go back to Bangkok, Thailand via Israel with my new liver. I like to go pray there because I am a Christian and I desire to see the place. I am so glad that what I did and so please with what I saw. Very happy that I were there among the millions of tourists per year who go there for different reasons.
Same as Buddish go to India, Christian, Jewish and Muslim goes to Israel and Mecca for a Pilgrims Trips. I think Atheists go no where!
Of Course I know and believe that a place for praying is not only in Israel. Whether I pray in Israel or who pray in North Pole, the blessing or out come will be the same. This is not up to us, this is up to the Good God.
This is what I see on prayer. Lord Jesus teach us how to pray as every Christians know or hear, may be at least once in your life. Beside that Jesus never tell us that we can't pray more than he teach us.
For me prayer goes like this...
Believers part: Yes..you can pray what ever you want. This is between you and God.(No one can't judge and said "Look at him/her how foolish , see what he is praying for! A good Christians never do that.) You can pray for your health, for your children, for your needs etc.... I do have my need and I am praying for it too. I put my faith in God.
I would like to share this.......
I want a child right after my married to Robins. I prayed and prayed..for 3 year I was praying often, trust me for that. I thought I will never get a baby as so long for praying but no baby. I never gave up for begging to my God to get a baby. I said to myself if I deserved it, I will be blessed. Yes... after 3 year came my healthy boy, born with exactly 10 lbs. Then after 2 years, I want another baby till now I never get it. Yes I prayed for it just I do not get it. Why? I do not know, one thing I can answer to you is..."Not my will, thy will be done. I am still much faith in my good God. I am so thankful to the Lord for this my only one child.
Now, someone can come up with "Look Helen, there are so many stories like yours, how can you say that God give to you that child"... Here my answer is "this is between me and my God. This is my believing and my trust in God. Who are you to judge me or to other believers, saying or asking like you know everything?"
God Part: I will never ever knows how God works or how God is thinking about my prayers. Again I say, God is too big for me to understand or read God's mind. I know What God wants us to walk on (10 commandments), I know one more thing too..."Have faith in God" "Pray with faith"..the rest is God's part. Remember here one important thing, do not say "I have huge faith in God and I can do what ever I want". This is only a foolish say.
Yes God put us "the brain" in our head, we have to use our head . I often heard the story about "the Priest and the flood" (some recall this story as not Priest but a person), Actually in Lance Armstrong 's book too.
I love my God and trust him with all my heart but I will never Jump off my 16/17 floors of my condominium, saying "My God is saver and God has power to save me. I will jump off and he will save me!!!"...Let me tell you clearly "This is nothing to do with the trust and faith, this is testing or mocking the God's will".. God give you a beautiful pair of brain, use it wisely. Of course I will be flat dead if I jump off from 17 floor without any cushion.
The Priest who dead in the flood, obviously, he forgot to use his brain. (If you want God to feed you like a baby he will, but you have to open you mouth!). For me I did see that, the good God sent him a boat and helicopter etc... Did you see God help him? This story has tow views, it's depend on what you want to see.
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