Don’t Get Too Proud

Posted on 8 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

Formerly one of the big guns of world government, Gordon Brown could only get one reporter to show up for one of his speeches.

It made me wonder how many speeches scheduled by former rulers never make the news, because not even one reporter shows up to report that there was only one reporter there. 🙂

The U.N. — providing opportunities for former leaders to make speeches no one cares to hear.

OK, now that I’ve had my fun at the expense of Gordon Brown and the U.N., there really is a point here.  No matter how important I think I am, I could be within a couple years of planning a speech and have no one come….

Posted in Thoughts on the News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

When Compassion isn’t Compassionate

Posted on 8 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

‘Traumatic Wounds’ for Families of Victims

“Compassion” at the expense of others is not compassion, and is not justice.

When God showed compassion on us in our great need, His compassion did not consist of lessening the penalty, but of making sure that He Himself was the One who took the penalty. True compassion never violates justice.

If I steal your money and give it to someone else in the name of compassion, I’m not being compassionate, I’m being a thief.  It is you, not I, that will pay the price for my decision.  If I set free a person who attacked you, or killed your loved one, I’m not being compassionate.  It is you, not I, that has to pay the price for my decision.

The “justices” who have decided this matter have abandoned the principle of equal protection under the law.  It’s really quite simple.  Those who are killed by a sixteen / seventeen-year-old murderer have less protection than those who are killed by a legal adult.  They have exercised compassion for the killer at the expense of compassion for the victims.

Posted in Thoughts on the News | Tagged , | Leave a comment

You can Usually Tell….

Posted on 8 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

From NBC News:  “Weak Jobs Growth Beyond Government’s Control.”

A Romney-supporter would not write this article.  An Obama supporter would not have written this article four years ago.  The person who writes this article is generally the person who is supporting an incumbent who has failed to keep his promises about jobs.

Much of what the article says is true.  There are forces beyond government’s control that are hindering economic progress.  However, the article gives no attention to governmental actions that also hinder economic progress.  It is a wonderful example of selective reporting.

This is not a post about American politics.  This is a post about being aware of how “news” sources (and others) will try to influence to think a certain way on morality, Biblical truth, etc.  We do well to limit their influence by asking ourselves, “What is the rest of the story that they are leaving out?  Is there a motive for this ‘news’ story?  Why are they choosing to highlight this particular thing and deciding that it is newsworthy?”

Posted in Thoughts on the News | Leave a comment

Darkness Over All the Land

Posted on 8 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

(I’m posting several quick things today.  This and the previous one are quick thoughts from the text of yesterday’s sermon — others are things I’ve been meaning to post for a while.)

Matthew 27:45-46

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Exodus 10:21-22

21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

In Exodus, darkness over the land was the ninth plague, immediately preceding the final one — the death of the firstborn son.  I found the parallels interesting, given the links between the Passover and Christ.

Posted in Quick Thoughts | 2 Comments

He Was Forsaken — That We Need Never Be Forsaken

Posted on 8 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Hebrews 13:5

….for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

 

Posted in Quick Thoughts | Leave a comment

Bible Translation — “Tongues Translationism” Defined

Posted on 5 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

“That Book in Your Hand”

In my last post in this series, I discussed the authority of translations.  Next, I’d like to discuss two views of Biblical translation, which I call “tongues translationism” (sometimes called “double inspiration”) and “scientific translationism.”  In this post, I’ll explain / define “tongues translationism,” and in the next I’ll evaluate it Biblically.  Then, I’ll move on to “scientific translationism.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How to Make Everyone Look Really, Really Bad

Posted on 4 October, 2012 by Jon Gleason

What would you think of a minister who taught that you have to be baptised to be saved, but he won’t do a baptism unless you pay a percentage of your income to his church?

What would you think of a person who doesn’t attend church regularly, give regularly, or support the church in any way, but still expects the church to be there for weddings, funerals, special occasions, or when they want the church for something?

Continue reading →

Posted in Thoughts on the News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment