As I see it!

St. Cyprian

2012-01-15T11:59:00.001-06:00

Cyprian (died 258 AD) was the bishop of Carthage from 249 AD until he was executed by the Romans for his Christian faith and for his leadership of Christ Church in North Africa. Cyprian is one of my personal favourites among the early Church fathers. He was born into family of privilege and wealth, but he willingly gave that up to serve his Saviour Jesus Christ and Christ’s Church. He was

A quote

2011-12-28T20:30:00.001-06:00

Here is a quote from Lewis’s book Surprised By Joy: “This is why, though it was a terro, it was no surprise to learn that God is to be obeyed because of what He is in Himself. If you ask why we should obey God, inn the last resort the answer is, “I am.” To know God is to know that our obedience is due to Him.”

A quote by CS Lewis

2011-12-10T22:03:00.001-06:00

“I was at this time living, like so many Atheists or Antitheists, in a whirl of contradictions. I maintained that God did not exist. I was also very angry with God for not existing. I was equally angry with Him for creating a world. “ C.S. Lewis in Surprised By Joy: The Shape of My Early Life.

Mythopoeia by J.R.R. Tolkien

2011-06-15T10:19:00.001-05:00

Mythopoeia By J.R.R. Tolkien Philomythus to Misomythus You look at trees and label them just so, (for trees are 'trees', and growing is 'to grow'); you walk the earth and tread with solemn pace one of the many minor globes of Space: a star's a star, some matter in a ball compelled to courses mathematical amid the regimented, cold, inane, where destined atoms are each moment slain. At

A letter from David Greely

2011-03-04T19:30:00.001-06:00

Many thanks from David Greely, (Français suivant) Thank you all very much for all your kind compliments for the work I’ve done with the Mamou Playboys over the last 23 years. For nearly twenty years before I ever met Steve Riley, I played traditional fiddle and dreamed of playing music of my own culture- music that would make me proud, would make a difference, and that would take me all over

What I've Been Reading

2010-09-06T02:06:00.004-05:00

I've finished five chapters in Darwin’s Origin of Species (I only read this book when relaxing in the tube, so if I ever do finish it, it will not be any time soon). If have, for the second time, started reading The Sword of the Prophet: Islam History, Theology, Impact on the World by Serge Trifkovic. I'm also several chapters into Like Father, Like Son: The Trinity Imaged in Our Humanity by Tom

The Book of Bertram

2010-08-17T11:14:00.002-05:00

The link is what I believe to be a very interesting book (The Book of Bertram) written about 840 AD by a French monk (Bertram). It is written to King Charles the Bald, the grandson of Charlemagne. This small book is written to answer questions the king asked concerning the Lord’s Supper. Bertram’s view of the Eucharist differs significantly from the Roman Catholic doctrine of

St. Cyprian and the Bishop of Rome

2010-08-09T02:17:00.004-05:00

I have read the writings of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, which were written during the middle of the third century. Cyprian served as bishop during a time of great persecution and controversy in the Church of Jesus Christ. He served the Christ and His Church during a very trying time for the people of God. In the year 250 AD, the Roman Emperor Decius ordered that all the inhabitants of the

More On St. Paul's Advice

2010-07-11T22:38:00.001-05:00

I’ve mentioned before that my favourite text of Scripture is found in St. Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. It reads, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice! Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God

What About Tradition?

2010-06-23T01:36:00.003-05:00

The idea of tradition can be, and often is, a controversial subject among Christians. Still, it is a fact that all Christians observe and follow some type of tradition in what they believe and in their forms of worship. Let's look at one modern evangelical tradition, as an example of what I mean. Baptists, and many other evangelical churches, have a tradition in which, at the end of their

My Radical Political Views

2010-06-11T19:59:00.003-05:00

Long a go I read the Federalists and many of the Anti-federalists. My political views would be closer to both those groups than to modern Reps. or Dems.As to the Federal Government, I am a Jeffersonian -- I would like a federal government that is truly federal and not the Nation State that now exist in the District of Columbia. (You know the one described in the Constitution and debated in the

New Job and Audio

2010-05-27T04:15:00.001-05:00

My new job at is proving to be a great blessing. It is a stress free job, while my old job as Top Operator over a couple of HDS units, two Reformer units and a clean fuels unit was often very stressful and busy. My new unit has few if any surprises and I was warned that I would become bored doing the same routine job everyday. I told them that after working as top operator for as many years

Examine More Fully the Scriptures

2010-05-18T22:33:00.004-05:00

Regrettably, in the history of the church, there have been times when the study of Scripture was discouraged by the Church. With the Protestant Reformation came a great push and emphasis on the importance Bible reading and study. Thanks to the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440, the Bible and other books became cheaper and much more accessible by the time Luther nailed

Unmoved Against all the Terrors

2010-05-16T13:31:00.001-05:00

Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, served Christ and His Church during a time of fearful persecution. It was common for Christians to be killed and maimed simply because they would worship no other God other than the triune God of the Bible. In a treatise written to Demetrianus, Roman proconsul of Africa, Cyprian addressed the persecution that the Church was then having to enduring at the hands of

Video on Texting while Driving

2010-05-13T05:21:00.001-05:00

Texting while driving...it is not gory, but it is an eye opener!!! http://zerofatalities.s3.amazonaws.com/1085-Echo_TRANSCRIBED.wmv

St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage

2010-05-11T19:38:00.005-05:00

I've mentioned before how much I enjoy reading the Church Fathers (I know it's kinda weird). About five years ago, I purchased a massive 38 volume set of books, which contains much of the Christian writings written during the first 500 years after Christ. Of the Church Fathers, St. Cyprian is one of my favourites. Cyprian was born about the year 208 AD, into a wealthy pagan family in what is

Thoughts about a Quote

2010-05-08T20:30:00.003-05:00

"For it is written that the just lives by faith. If you are just, and live by faith, if you truly believe in Christ, why, since you are about to be with Christ, and are secure of the Lord’s promise, do you not embrace the assurance that you are called to Christ, and rejoice that you are freed from the devil?" The other morning, while out on my front porch drinking coffee and reading, I ran

Wine and Worship

2010-04-05T20:31:00.001-05:00

For more than 1800 years wine was used in all Christian churches when the Lord's Supper was celebrated. There was no other option because Dr. Welch did not apply Louis Pasteur discovery, which inhibited fermentation, to grape juice until after the mid 1800's. Before that time ALL communion wine was really wine, and not grape juice. Of course wine was a part biblical worship long before it was

Its All Still Pork

2010-03-16T15:32:00.003-05:00

Republicans and Democrats in Washington both love pork. It is true that they don't like the same cut of the pig. Republicans may the (slightly) leaner cuts of meat, but no matter how you slice up the hog it is all still pork.Each side are very concerned about balancing the budget when it is out of power. When in power they see no reason to do so.A pox on both parties.Coram Deo,Kenith

About the Constitution

2010-03-14T18:14:00.004-05:00

My good friend Gary sent a quote by Ron Paul to myself and a number of our co-workers. I then did a “reply all” and voiced my approval of Congressman Paul’s statement. My comments lead to a response to “all” from Sky. This then lead to an exchange of emails between me and my co-worker, which our friends were able to keep up with. I’ve decided to place the whole exchange here, for anyone else

C.S. Lewis in His Own Voice

2010-03-02T11:33:00.003-06:00

Below are two You Tube installments of Lewis' one surviving BBC broadcast of radio talks he gave during World War II.Part IIWhat a great thing to have. I love the Works of C.S. Lewis!Coram Deo,Kenith

Rome Agrees with Calvin and Luther

2010-02-21T21:38:00.009-06:00

I am a first generation Protestant. My parents pulled my siblings and I out of the Roman Catholic Church when I was seven, not long following the momentous actions of the Second Vatican Council. Although from that point onward I was reared a Southern Baptist, I was never too far from the Church of Rome.I am a Cajun and when I was a youngster, in Southern Louisiana, Cajun and Catholic were

Evangelicals and Harry Potter

2010-01-20T20:10:00.003-06:00

I've done it. I finished the Harry Potter series a few days ago. I first picked up Harry Potter many years ago because may daughter was a fan and I wanted to see if it was OK to let her read the books. At that time there was a great deal of passion from some Evangelical circles condemning the books because they were about wizards and witches. After reading the first book I was convinced that if

To Live There

2010-01-11T21:32:00.004-06:00

Q: What kind of religious liberty do Christians, or other non-Muslims, have in nations that are predominantly Muslim?A: Not very many.Did you know that it is against the law in many (most?) Islamic countries to leave Islam. It is punishable by death in some Islamic countries to convert and become a Christian (or any thing else). It is a crime to witness to a Muslim in these Muslim countries.

Audio: Lincoln's Tariff War

2010-01-10T23:21:00.006-06:00

Deo Vindice,Kenith

Death and Faith

2010-01-03T21:48:00.006-06:00

Jesus Christ set the tone for the Christian faith - He suffered mockery and humiliation. He also gave his life to save others. Jesus spread His Gospel by preaching and discussion and love. His early followers were also non violent. They, like their Lord spread His Gospel through preaching and teaching. Christians did not take up the sword to promote the faith of Christ, instead they willingly

Conversion in Arabia

2009-12-28T09:12:00.005-06:00

It seems that we can not go a day with out hearing of another terror attack by some Muslim or group of Muslims against innocent civilians (be they pagan, Christian, Jew, or Muslim) somewhere in the world. Our politicians insist that Islam is a peaceful religion that has been "hijacked" by violent radicals.I hate to differ with brilliant men like George Bush and Barak Obama, who both parrot the "

Civil Government and Me

2009-12-21T14:01:00.004-06:00

I know from Scripture that the civil authorities are ordained of God to do good by suppression of evil (i.e. crimes). As a Christian I am to pay due respect to those in authority. This does not mean that I have trust those who rule over us, which is good, because I distrust both major political parties in this country and believe most elected officials (Dem or Rep) are moral midgets.In the U.S.

A little Something to Say

2009-12-15T05:13:00.002-06:00

I am quickly approaching my 50th birthday. I know many people that hate having their 30th, 40th or 50th birthdays. I assume this is because they fear or dread growing older. Our own mortality is made all the more clear when we go from 39 to 40 or from 49 to 50. I have never had a fear of starting the next decade. When (if) I turn fifty in three months it will mean that I am still alive and

Liturgia Expurgata

2009-11-21T23:27:00.002-06:00

I like and prefer to worship in a more liturgical manner. I was born and raised Roman Catholic for a time, then (with my parents) switched to being Baptist and as a young person I attended some Pentecostal and charismatic churches as well. I’ve also experienced worship at Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Church of Christ, and Eastern Orthodox churches as well. These churches have a great

Presbyterian Stuff

2009-10-24T06:24:00.003-05:00

Here is an interesting find on Google Books:Presbyterian Book of Common PrayerLiturgia ExpurgataEutaxia or The Presbyterian LiturgiesKenith

Great yard sign

2009-10-24T06:20:00.001-05:00

C.S. Lewis' introduction to St. Athanasius' book "On the Incarnation"

2009-10-23T00:10:00.001-05:00

I read the essay below, which is written by C.S. Lewis, many years ago and I consider it to be one of the most enlightening papers that I have ever read. Reading this introduction by Lewis was one of those eureka moments for me. St Athanasius’ little book, which this essay was written as an introduction to, is a work that I recommend as well. I think this essay will let you know why I think

Pay Honour and Taxes

2009-10-15T22:57:00.001-05:00

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good,

Honour Those in Power, But

2009-10-15T01:40:00.000-05:00

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men -- as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as

A Few Mysteries.

2009-09-30T04:28:00.001-05:00

The Christian faith is a faith of mysteries. We worship one God and yet our one God is three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We worship our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son, who is wholly God and wholly man. We are told in Scripture that God created us free moral agents and that we are fully responsible for every sinful thought, word and deed. We are also told that God has predestined

A Prayer from Jon

2009-09-01T21:53:00.002-05:00

Jon, who turned 50 on 3 August died on 27 August. He was a very good man, a friend and an elder at the Church where we worship (Bethel Presbyterian PCA). As an Elder Jon would take his turn giving opening prayer for worship. What follows is a prayer that Jon wrote and gave at the start of worship services earlier this year.A Prayer For WorshipWe praise You, Triune God. We praise you Father, Son

Justice -- Not a Meaningless Word

2009-08-24T00:31:00.000-05:00

My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? If the whole show was bad and senseless from A to Z, so to speak, why did I, who was supposed to be part of the show, find myself in

Thoughts About the Faith

2009-08-05T23:27:00.003-05:00

I was born into a Cajun French family and baptised as a Roman Catholic. At the age of seven, while living in Eunice, LA my parents took us out of the RCC and we became Baptist. We were, for a time Independent Baptist, but eventually settled in as Southern Baptist. My parents agreed with Baptist teachings, but they were open to visiting other Churches as well. I remember attending a Pentecostal

Happy Birthday John Calvin

2009-07-09T22:57:00.003-05:00

July 10 is the 500 birthday of John Calvin. Calvin is one of the great theological minds of all history and has been greatly used by God. His influence is still strong today.Coram Deo,Kenith

On Christian Foundations

2009-07-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

Patrick Henry: It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here. (Patrick Henry played an important role in the War for Independence and was a leading

Remembering Gerry

2009-06-30T22:06:00.001-05:00

Today is the 48th birthday of my brother Gerry. Gerry died almost six years ago, after succumbing to a three year battle with colon and liver cancer. My sister and two brothers were all born close together. Gerry was the closest of my siblings to me in age. He was born less than 15 months after me and we grew up close. Of course, being boys close in age, he and I had our share of fist fights

Harmless As Doves

2009-06-27T22:57:00.001-05:00

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (II Tim 2:24-26) In St. Paul’s epistles to Timothy and

More "Mere Christianity"

2009-06-25T02:59:00.000-05:00

One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because we have heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts to. I mean the claim to forgive sin: any sins. Now unless the speaker is God, this is really so preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my foot and I forgive you, you steal money from me and I forgive

C.S. Lewis on Temperance

2009-06-17T19:37:00.001-05:00

“Temperance is, unfortunately, one of those words that has changed its meaning. It now usually means teetotalism. But in the days when the second Cardinal virtue was christened ‘Temperance’, it meant nothing of the sort. Temperance referred, not specially to drink, but to all pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going the right length and no further

A Quote: C.S. Lewis

2009-06-17T03:36:00.002-05:00

"…as St. Paul points out, Christ never meant that we are to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary. He told us to be not only 'as harmless as doves', but also "as wise as serpents'. He wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every

Simple?

2009-06-14T04:31:00.001-05:00

If Christianity were something we were making up, of course we could make it easier, but it is not. We can not compete in simplicity with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We are dealing with fact; of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about. C.S. Lewis The Bible is not a simple book, and the Christian faith is, in

Sound Advice from Saint Paul

2009-06-13T05:14:00.001-05:00

I have to confess that I do not read the Bible as I should. I have, at times, had very long periods when I consistently read the Bible everyday. There have also been times when I did in depth studies on certain books or themes in Scripture. The opposite has also been true. At times, I've seriously neglected the Word of God and I've found such neglect has

D-Day: 6 June 1944

2009-06-06T07:01:00.003-05:00

Operation OVERLORD was the name for the greatest invasion by sea in human history. 65 years ago today thousands upon thousands of Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Free French troops parachuted, glided or made an amphibious landing onto the beaches of Normandy France.Today we remember those brave men who did their duty and fought for an allied toe hold in Nazi occupied France. In the West, this

Murder of a Lawful Killer

2009-06-01T21:41:00.005-05:00

No person has the authority to take the law into his own hands, becoming judge, jury and executioner. That is what the Scott Roeder did, when he killed Dr. Tiller. What Roeder did was kill another human being. It was a lawless act that he had no authority to do.I have no sympathy for Dr. Tiller. He was a mass killer of viable, innocent, unborn children. He was a man soaked with the blood of

God Communes With Us

2009-05-24T15:51:00.002-05:00

Sermon on the Lord's Supper Rev. Stephen Wright.

Discussion on Dr. Welch and Wine

2009-05-14T07:23:00.010-05:00

A very good friend sent a reply to the Dr. Welch and Communion Wine blog I wrote. Below are his comments that he sent to me after he read my comments. After his comments is my own reply to his email. Kenith************This is a great article, but one thing disturbs me, and that is this a direct attack on the convictions of one man. A conviction that me nor you know anything about. Maybe he had

Dr. Welch and Communion Wine

2009-05-03T18:46:00.008-05:00

For more than 1800 years Christians drank wine when participating in the Lord's Supper. There was no debate or question as to the use of an "alcoholic beverage" in the Church of Jesus Christ, how could so.The reason for no debate about the correctness of wine in the Eucharist has several causes. One reason was because all Churches from the time of Christ had always used wine and this was simply

Fret Not

2009-03-26T10:25:00.004-05:00

After every national election, no mater who wins, some segment of the American populace is disturbed and fearful because of the out come. Many Christians are concerned about our current president and his administration, some are fearful because of the people who now control the Congress as well.I used to be one of those people who got all worked up about our political leadership. Thankfully that

Recent Books

2009-03-24T14:22:00.002-05:00

I've recently finished reading Clement of Alexandria 's Second book of his three books of the Instructor. I also just finished C.S. Lewis' The Problem With Pain. Though I was wonderfully impressed with the first book that I read by St. Clement's, Exhortation to the Heathen, I've not found the first two books of the Instructor to be all that great. There is much good advice in them and a good bit

Marriage--God's Grace

2009-03-19T21:46:00.006-05:00

Twenty-six years ago today my wife and I went on our first date. That was 19 March 1983, I was still 22 years old and and she had just turned 19. Five and a half months later we were married at Faithway Baptist Church.We have had our ups and downs, but twenty-six years and four children later we are still going strong. Sometimes I'm amazed to realise that she not only loves me, Lisa actually

A Mere Christian: C.S. Lewis

2009-03-17T21:39:00.011-05:00

I read my first book by C.S. Lewis in 1980 while serving aboard the USS Francis Hammond in the Gulf of Oman, during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. During that time I read The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters.I enjoyed both those books then, and I have enjoyed re-reading them from time to time over the years. I also read The Chronicles of Narnia, many years ago to my now grown children. The

Water Boarding Again

2009-03-02T21:57:00.008-06:00

Once again water boarding is back in the news. Water boarding was once a normal part of some special military training. In 1979, while serving in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter aircrewman, I experienced water boarding first hand.Water boarding was a common part of S.E.R.E. School (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape). This school trained special forces and aircrews how to survive if you

2009-02-23T21:42:00.002-06:00

Christian FoundationsThese are quotes that I wrote down some years ago they are still important today. There's lots more like these if your read the founders.Patrick Henry: It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths

2009-02-20T20:35:00.005-06:00

Father Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009)I received my latest copy of First Things this week and I was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of its founder and editor Father Richard John Neuhaus. Father Neuhaus was a man who made major shifts and grew with the times.Richard Neuhaus, the son of a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod pastor, first entered Christian ministry as a Lutheran Pastor but in

2009-02-12T14:22:00.010-06:00

Abe Lincoln and the Birth of a NationThe Founding Fathers of the United States, by writing and ratifying the Constitution, created a federal republic, made up of smaller republics (i.e. states). The federal republic, granted to Americans in the U.S. Constitution, was destroyed by Abe Lincoln and his war of aggression against Southern states, which had lawfully seceded from the federation created

2009-02-06T13:27:00.003-06:00

The Pope and Sola Fide There is an interesing article that is VERY interesting in Christian Today Australia. It is titled Luther, Rome and the Bible. According to the article (which can be read by clicking on the title) Pope Benedict XVI supposedly said that Luther was write in his reading of St. Paul's letter to the Romans and salvation by faith alone (i.e. Sola Fide).Before discussing what the

2009-02-03T15:47:00.007-06:00

Clement of Alexandria Wow, what a great read. I finished Clement's Exhortation to the Heathen and it is a GREAT read. In the first part of the the good bishop examines the popular pagan religions of his day. He deals with Roman, Greek and Egyptian religion and finds that it is false and morally reprehensible.Clement (c. 150 AD-C. 215AD) sheds light on paganism common to the Roman empire. He also

2009-01-28T16:31:00.002-06:00

Theophilus, Creation and Tri-UnityTheophilus, second century bishop of Antioch (circa 169-183 AD), wrote an interesting defence of the Christian faith to his pagan friend Autolycus. This is a wonderful early work. Theophilus makes clear the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of Greco-Roman paganism and gives positive witness to the faith of Jesus Christ.Below is a quote from his work where he is

2009-01-23T05:13:00.005-06:00

The Second AmendmentThe lady in this video got it right. Deo Vindice,Kenith

2009-01-22T21:34:00.012-06:00

Sour Grapes and PoliticsI did not vote for president Obama, nor did I vote for anyone in the Democratically held House or Senate. I am no fan of the Democratic Party. I left that party in the 80's after borrowing and reading Jimmy Carter's presidential platform. I was so put off by what I read, the very next time I had a day off during the week, I went down to the parish court house (that is

2009-01-12T23:05:00.003-06:00

The Future, the Bible and Long Life I just finished watching a a program on Discovery Channel about new technologies that can potentially make us live much longer and keep us healthier in both body and mind. It was a fascinating show, that made me think of the Bible and especially the writings of the prophet Isaiah.Why, you may ask, would a science show about extending and improving human life

2008-12-30T21:38:00.009-06:00

St. Theophilus and Us St. Theophilus was the sixth Bishop of Antioch. He became bishop in 168 AD and was an important leader in the early church. It is known, from Eusibius and other early church writers, that Bishop Theophilus wrote a very early commentary on the Gospels and a number of other works defending the faith recieved by the Church of Jesus Christ.All of this godly bishop's writings

2008-12-23T13:26:00.010-06:00

Bahnsen Verses SteinDr. Greg Bahnsen died in 1995, before then he was one of 20th century's greatest defenders of the Christian faith. I have read a number of his books and listened to countless hours of his lectures as well. The clip below is from a tremendous debate that took place between Dr. Bahnsen and Dr. Gordon Stein. It is worth every minute that it will cost you to listen to it.You can

2008-12-22T17:31:00.006-06:00

Christ Our Lord I am an unapologetic Christian. I believe in the triune God of the Christian Scriptures. I believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, that He lived a sinless life, that He died on a cross outside of Jerusalem, and I believe that He rose again on the third.Was Jesus born on December 25? Probably not, but it does not matter. Far more then a millennium ago Christians chose to

2008-12-18T17:32:00.008-06:00

Rick Warren, Prayer and HateHomosexual groups are upset because Rev. Rick Warren has been asked by President elect Obama to say the opening invocation at his inauguration. Pastor Warren accepts the Bibles teaching that homosexual relationships are sinful. On this point he stands solidly within the mainstream of the ancient and common Christian position on the subject.Today on the news I heard

2008-12-06T00:29:00.007-06:00

Prop 8, Faith or HateFor many decades the political left and Hollywood elite have laboured to convince us that homosexuality is a legitimate and acceptable lifestyle. This issue, like abortion, sets much of the the political left and most of Hollywood in opposition to what we know to be "traditional moral values" and the teachings of the historic Christian faith.The Western world is presently in

2008-11-29T23:15:00.008-06:00

Some Thoughts My eldest son is (as far as I know) now in the Middle East and will be flying over the wars zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a family we have been praying for our military personnel fighting in those two countries for years. I have a number of friends who have children that have served on the ground in those countries.I am thankful that my son is not (as far as I know) on the

2008-11-12T17:06:00.006-06:00

Orthodox Episcopalians: Contending For the FaithThe Episcopal Bishop of Fort Worth has taken a stand against the heterodox teachings (i.e. heresies) that long ago became the norm The Episcopal Church in the U.S. (TEC). Bishop Jack Iker issued an open letter titled: We Are Contending for the Faith It is a good letter and it is encouraging to see that there are still godly believers in that once

2008-11-10T15:08:00.006-06:00

For The Record In the presidential my own state (Louisiana) supported John McCain. I have very high regard for Senator McCain for his military service, for his courage as a POW in Hanoi, and for some of his actions in the U.S. Senate, especially is position own earmarks.However, when I entered the poll both I did not vote for Senator McCain. Instead I followed my conscience and voted for

2008-11-08T07:36:00.004-06:00

A Christian Response to the Election of Barack ObamaAs a theologically conservative Christian, I was not able to vote for Barack Obama in the Presidential election. Obama' views on abortion and gay rights made voting for him an impossibility for me and millions of other Christians (Catholic, Protestant, etc...)While I could not vote for Obama, he has been elected President of the United States,

2008-11-08T01:21:00.005-06:00

Protestant America?I've been working an awful lot of hours and have not had much of a chance to read very much. But I did read a little bit and the most striking thing that I've read recently is an article in First Things titled The Death of Protestant America: A Political Theory of the Protestant Mainline. The article discusses the decline of the once culturally dominant "mainline" Protestant

2008-09-23T22:53:00.005-05:00

Political Parties and MeI grew up in the rural and suburban South during the 1960's and 70's. When I was a young child we were poor and as I grew our economic circumstances slowly improved. By the time I graduated from high school my family was blue collar and middle class. In Louisiana, at that time, was just starting to have a bit of a two party system, but if you were blue collar, poor or

2008-09-04T19:37:00.001-05:00

Thoughts About New OrleansThe parts of New Orleans that flooded during Katrina, was built on drained swamps that required a levee to keep the waters of Lake Pontchartrain from filling back in. The Old part of the city was built on the natural levee that was built up over the centuries by the Mississippi River.The flooding like that of Katrina had happened before, for example, the Crescent City

2008-08-16T23:04:00.009-05:00

My BrethrenTomorrow morning my family and I will wake, eat breakfast, dress and then go to worship at Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCA). We will join other believers at Bethel to worship the true and living God. While we are worshipping at Bethel our Christian brethren will be worshipping at other Christian congregations throughout the city, state, country, world and before the the face of God in

2008-08-04T21:52:00.005-05:00

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn RIPI first read Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago while I was serving in the USN. I knew I was reading an important, great work. Some years later I read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, another important book.Solzhenitsyn was a Christian man how was a sound critic of both Soviet communism and Western materialism.He will be missed.Coram Deo,Kenith

2008-08-03T20:59:00.006-05:00

Thomas Jefferson and SecessionThomas Jefferson, in 1816, wrote about his view of the Union to then Secretary of War (soon to be Sec. of the Treasury) William Crawford, “If any State in the Union will declare that it prefers separation with the first alternative, to a continuance in union without it, I have no hesitation in saying “let us separate." I would rather the States should withdraw which

2008-07-28T08:17:00.007-05:00

Secession and LibertyThe idea of secession is something I written about on this forum a number of times. It is not something that I was planning on writing about again, but in the last few days the subject has come up on Christian Forums and on a couple of my favourite blogs. So I want to make just a few brief comments on the subject.I would like to know what my anti-secessionists friends thought

2008-07-19T23:28:00.011-05:00

Beer a Christian Beverage?Some years ago I got into an email debate with a Baptist friend about Christians drinking alcohol. It was an interesting discussion, but it was also an eye opener for me. My friend is a conservative, independent Baptist but in our debate he resorted to arguments that are more in line with liberalism.I believe that the Bible (Old and New Testament) clearly allows for the

2008-06-25T10:56:00.004-05:00

Phillip MelanchthonPhilip Melanchthon is one of my heroes of the time of the Protestant Reformation. Phillip was one of the great minds of his day. He, like Martin Bucer, was a reformer who managed to be held in high regard by friend and foe alike.Melachthon was, for his on day, a man far ahead of his time. Philip was not willing to compromise on essential issues, but he was always looking for

2008-06-09T23:00:00.004-05:00

TestEvery few years I take a test similar to the Political Compass test and I have consistently landed in the same place:I am a slightly right/libertarian. I believe this is becuse I am a conservative Christian who believes that the state is controlled by fallen men, so it must be limited in authority. The state can not stop all evil, but it does have limited authority which comes from God.The

2008-04-19T12:22:00.016-05:00

My Music and CultureI am, obviously, a Cajun descended from the Acadians exiled from Acadia (modern Nova Scotia) in the 1750's. On this blog I mostly write about how I view religion and history, but a major part of who I am is my South Louisiana heritage. It is a cultural Gumbo, influenced by many that has grown out of the coming together of many cultures. Acadian, French, Spanish, African,

2008-04-13T19:15:00.010-05:00

Renaissance Popes – Julius IIPope Julius II (reign 1503- 1513) is more popularly remembered as the “Warrior Pope.” His given name is Giuliano della Rovere and he was born in 1543. He was educated by the Franciscans and entered the priesthood.In 1471 his uncle Francesco became Pope Sixtus IV. After his uncle took the Chair of Peter, and in the same year, young Giuliano became first and bishop and

2008-04-04T06:05:00.006-05:00

Renaissance Popes – Alexander VIPope Alexander VI was Pope from 1492 -1503. He was a Pope with no less than four illegitimate children. These four children were born of his long time mistress, Vannozza dei Cattanei, and were all born while he served as a Cardinal in the Church.Pope Alexander’s main goal as Pope was to secure high places in the world for His children. His most famous child, Cesare

2008-04-03T07:48:00.003-05:00

A MUST Read ArticleRead this article in the National Review about Islam's Public Enemy #1 by Raymond Ibrahim. If you are a Christian, and pray for the salvation of Muslims, this article will thrill your soul.The article is about a Coptic Priest who is seen on Arabic television by millions of Muslims. Takes this time to compare Islam to the Christian Faith and the Koran to the Bible. He is a

2008-03-29T20:15:00.004-05:00

Opinionated CatholicOne of the blogs I go to often is by a fellow from North Louisiana. It is Opinionated Catholic (OC). James (the writer of OC) wrote a response to a couple of my blogs (Luther and Rome and Erasmus and Folly) and titled it Martin Luther- Saint or Villian or a Bit of Both? -Intro. I think it is worth reading and I hope I can comment on it soon. I am also looking forward to the

2008-03-28T12:01:00.009-05:00

Luther and Erasmus--------------------Erasmus was a strong and biting critic of the corruptions in the Western Church in the years prior to the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation. Erasmus was an a Monk and a priest, but most of his life was spent in academic study and translations. He did much to make the Greek New Testament available in the West.Martin Luther certainly benefited from Erasmus

2008-03-23T22:50:00.009-05:00

Erasmus and FollyErasmus of Rotterdam was the great Christian Humanist prior to the start of the Reformation. He was a brilliant scholar and linguist. He was also one of the most influential critics of the corruptions of the Western Church and though he remained in the Catholic Church, his writings certainly laid the ground work for the coming divide.Erasmus' most famous work, The Praise of Folly

2008-03-19T15:20:00.005-05:00

Iraq and Moral ResponsibilityIn the pasts several months I've had discussions with three close friends in which they have told me that five years ago they were mistaken and I was correct about the then just beginning war in Iraq. These three friends were each pro-invasion. I was opposed to America's invasion of Iraq.They, like most Americans then, believed it would be a intense but quick war and

2008-03-11T23:33:00.006-05:00

Luther and RomeTonight I once again watched the movie Luther, starring Joseph Fiennes. This is a great movie and I recommend it to everyone. With that said I do have to add that it is a movie and therefore it is not to be taken has a total history of Luther or his times. But it is, I believe, a fairly accurate account of those parts of history that it touches.Luther was a very interesting man. He

2008-03-05T15:58:00.005-06:00

The internet is a great tool and I use it often. There are so many useful tools on it for study and research. When I discovered Google Book Search, I was like a child in a candy store. I love old books and they have countless numbers of old books that have been scanned and placed there to be read or downloaded and best off all is these old Public Domain books are FREE.I’ve already downloaded

2008-02-25T06:00:00.005-06:00

Charles Hodge and SlaveryI have downloaded and read a number of really good books from Google Book Search. These downloadable books are all in public domain and are free on the web for anyone interested in getting them. One book that I've downloaded is an 1857 publication of a number of Charles Hodge's articles that had been previously published in the Princeton Review. The book is titled Essays

2008-02-04T12:41:00.000-06:00

A Hero of MineI love history, but it’s not just because I like to know trivia. I love history because it is a valuable thing to know. I enjoy all history and find that there are nuggets of value in most any time in history.American history is one of my favourites. I especially enjoy era just before, during and after the War for Independence. I find our history of the writing and ratification of

2008-01-28T21:54:00.000-06:00

Louisiana Presidential PrimariesI don't write about politics very often, though I do vote almost every time there is an election in my area. I do admit to missing one or two local elections but that is very rare.As an eighteen year old teenager, like almost everyone in Louisiana back then, I joined the Democratic party and when I voted I usually voted democratic. I did not vote in the 1980

2008-01-28T07:49:00.000-06:00

What I'm ReadingI don't read very fast, in fact I read at about the pace of a crippled turtle, but I do try to read when ever I have spare time. These days I'm reading a number of things. My latest read was John Nevin's 1840's book, A Mystical Presence: A Vindication of the Reformed or Calvinistic Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. I found this to be a very telling and exciting book. I found Charles