A lot of Christian leaders today are expressing concern at President Obama’s messages about America being no longer being a “Christian nation”. The President said it once in his inaugural address and again when he traveled in Europe this year. Let’s look a minute at that. What exactly is “A Christian Nation”? Does such a thing actually exist?

What is a Christian Nation?

The early followers of Christ were called “Christians” because they acted like Christ.

….And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 11:26b NKJV

The word was used for men and women who had repented of their sins and turned to Jesus and were following Him in their actions and words. They had a personal relationship with Jesus and were anointed by the Holy Spirit. Christ was Lord of their life. They often died for their faith.

Since Christianity was – and is - a personal thing between a man or woman and God, you really can’t have a “Christian Nation.” The term in common usage today might refer to:
1. A nation that has repented of its sin and turned to God (as Nineveh did to the disappointment of Jonah)
2. It might also refer to a nation in which the majority of its citizens are followers of Christ.
3. A third definition might be a nation that has embraced Judeo-Christian values and leads from the moral and spiritual integrity of those values.
If you look at America today against any of these three definitions, at least by items 1 and 3, it is certainly not a Christian Nation and President Obama is right.

Is the American Majority Christian?

The recent (2008) American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut was based on a survey of 54,000 interviews. This survey shows that 75% of Americans identified themselves as Christians, down from 90% in 1990. That is a majority Americans if those that that called themselves Christians actively professed, lived, and acted their faith.

You might have an interesting discussion on whether we were even once a Christian nation on the basis of the faith of early Americans, but we seem to have lost our way somewhere along the line. I like George Barna’s story of the frog in the kettle. Put the frog in the water and bring the heat up slowly and the frog won’t jump out. The frog never realizes the danger. The American church is at much of the same place.

America’s Spiritual History

Let’s begin by first realizing that God is not “for” or “against” America. God has a Plan – a big one – in redeeming Man (as you) to Himself. God created the world, then created the man and woman, and then placed them in the Garden. God loved Man – in fact, that is why He created you. God’s purpose in creation was for Man to love and glorify God. But then that whole Plan fell apart when Satan came into the Garden and led the man and the woman to disobey God. God then promised a Redeemer who would come and restore the relationship again between Man and God. That Redeemer did come in Jesus, who died and rose to restore the original relationship. For love to be love, however, God had to leave Man the choice. God is still acting today. The choice is there for you. The Plan continues.

Israel became the chosen nation for the coming of Christ – their role in the Plan. America is also a chosen nation in turns of what God wants to do through that Plan. That doesn’t make it a Christian nation. Just like you are chosen by God for what He wants to do through you – whether you are a Christian or not. And God’s chosenness doesn’t make you a Christian. God chose Pharaoh to release the Israelites, but that didn’t make him a Christian. Before the white man ever came to America, God was already at work here in terms of that Plan. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to discover that Plan and help make it happen.

Christopher Columbus and the Spaniards

Columbus had near mutiny on his hands as he pursued a vision he apparently never shared with anyone on those ships. Our only clues to this vision are in his journals, where he even quoted Scripture to support his vision. Columbus wanted to carry the Light of Christ into the darkness of undiscovered heathen lands. His very name meant Christ-bearer. Columbus felt called by God to carry the Christ to the heathen lands. Columbus and his ships first landed in the area of the Bahamas in 1492; and after they had explored the islands there they went on to what is now Cuba. On each island they planted a large wooden cross.

Unfortunately, Columbus lost sight of his calling as his greed for the gold in the new land increased. Moreover, those early settlers indulged their sexual appetites with the Indian women, resolving by violence when the Indians protested. The settlers broke into factions, fighting each other instead of working together. Columbus tried to use their thirst for gold to unite the men and eventually he lost sight of any spiritual vision God had given him. The entire Columbus era in Central America soon deteriorated into plunder, lust, and murder.

The Spanish with the Portuguese began exploring the New World at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Their mission was gold, conquest, and colonization. Ruthless in their conquest, the Spanish Conquistadors also brought with them some monks - Franciscan and Dominican Friars. These monks had a deep love for God and very committed to their relationship with God. They planted orphanages, schools, and missions.

The Reformation Reaches the New World

In Germany, Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation with his 95 Thesis nailed to the door of the All Saint’s Church in Wittenberg in 1517. The paper was in Latin (so that the common people could not read it), but it was quickly translated into German and then printed on the Gutenberg Press and circulated. Luther’s basic thesis was that salvation was by faith and faith alone – a premise that cut dramatically into the sale of indulgences. The theses spread quickly – in two weeks the theses was circulating throughout Germany, and in two months throughout Europe. In 1529 the Church of England (Anglican Church) separated itself from Rome, thus bringing England under the broader aspects of the Reformation movement.

As this Reformation swept Europe, the Lord’s’ work grew in America as the influence of the Franciscans continued into the southwest area of America. The first white man to explore America was a Spanish Franciscan friar named Marcos de Niza. His journey into New Mexico (1539) led later to Coronado’s famous expedition to search for the seven cities with the streets paved with gold.

Spain tried with several attempts to colonize Florida, but each attempt failed. Finally, in 1562, a group of French Huguenots (Calvin Protestants) trying to escape religious persecution settled northward of Florida in what is now South Carolina. Another group of Huguenots tried to settle in Florida but were massacred by a Spanish expedition. In the larger picture, one wonders if the Huguenots became the martyrs for the larger vision God had for America.

The Coming of the French

The French were the next group to attempt to settle America. The Jesuits began their settlements in the northeast area to the country. These were brilliant and strong men with deep convictions and committed to the service of God under the leadership of Jesus Christ. Their ministry began around 1534-1540. The Jesuits took their mission or reaching the Native Americans for Christ in humility and seeing them as equals. There were many French and Spanish martyrs during this early time of the Church in America.

Administrator Uncategorized

Here is the update on that pastor’s Bible Study in California:
http://www.10news.com/news/19606760/detail.html

Notice he only had about 15 people attending. Also notice the ACLU was supporting the pastor!

Here is something that happened in Pennsylvania where a mother tried to read from the Bible for show & Tell in a kindergartner’s class.
http://news.aol.com/article/bible-show-and-tell/507859?icid=main|hp-desktop|dl1|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fbible-show-and-tell%2F507859
Check out the vote results on the poll on this page.
(P.S. – They do teach a religion in our failing schools. It’s called humanism. Maybe we can’t read the Bible in our schools now; but we can refuse to fund the schools that teach this humanism. I vote against every single school funding issue unless a voucher system has been established. A very large number of parents now are sending their kids to Christian schools or home school them.)
We must be ever vigilant.

Administrator Government, freedom education, freedom, Government

San Diego, CA - Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told by the county that they can no long have a Bible Study in their home with friends unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a permit from the county. This interference is in direct violation of the First Admendment and their right of free speech.

Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center for Law and Policy was shocked at what is happening to the pastor and is now representing him. The pastor and wife throught the attorney plan to give a demand letter to the county this week. If the pastor and his wife are not released from obtaining the permit they will consider a lawsuit in a Federal Court.

Apparently it is fine for Wall Street CEOs, the Administration, and the leaders in Congress to rip the taxpayers off and make their own moral and ethical rules. But it is not ok for a pastor to hold a Bible Study in his home. Where have our freedoms gone? And the legal bills for this will go the county and its taxpayers as the taxpayers are trying to survive recession and unemployment.

Report in San Diego News: http://www.10news.com/news/19562217/detail.html

Report on Fox news: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522637,00.html?test=latestnews

Blog the info here to as many friends as possible. Write the county,

Administrator Government, freedom freedom, Government

Is America a Christain Nation? - Part I

The following is a mailing from Dutch Sheets and reprinted by permission. My purpose here is to raise some questions for dialog:

What is a Christian Nation?
Is America a Christian Nation?
Was America Ever a Christian Nation?

Pray for America!

“Your heart is free - have the courage to follow it.”
Braveheart’s dying father to Braveheart.

To read the message, go to: http://www.creatingnewworlds.org/dutchsheets.htm

Administrator Government, freedom Christian Nation, freedom, Government

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote any day on a federal “hate crimes” bill that will pave the way for persecuting Christians and threatening our freedoms of religion, speech, and association.

Dr. D. James Kennedy, and Coral Ridge Ministries have warned for many years against this threat to our way of life and our children’s freedom to live out their faith.

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909) is the Senate version of a bill that passed the House in April. A cornerstone of the “gay” political agenda, it would raise “sexual orientation” to a legal status equivalent to that of real civil rights categories such as race or ethnicity, and it would introduce for the first time into federal law the radical concept of “gender identity.” Since “sexual orientation” is not clearly defined, it would afford special legal protections to pedophiles and other sexual deviants that ordinary Americans won’t get.

In addition, S. 909 would:
• Put pressure on police and prosecutors to devote more time and money to some victims’ cases and not others.
• Vastly expand the federal government’s power to intervene in criminal cases, whether local authorities want this or not.
• Create a taxpayer-funded slush fund for “education” programs that lump conservative Christians among “hate groups.”
• Have a chilling effect on free speech by making unpopular ideas a basis for harsher treatment in criminal proceedings.
• Add a layer of law that is utterly unnecessary. There is no evidence that “hate crime” victims receive less justice. Everyone deserves equal treatment under the law—no more, no less.

Widely known homosexual activist Andrew Sullivan recently said this:
The real reason for hate crimes is not the defense of human beings from crime. There are already laws against that-and Matthew Shepard’s murderers were successfully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in a state with no hate crimes at the time. The real reason for the invention of hate crimes was a hard-left critique of conventional liberal justice and the emergence of special interest groups which need boutique legislation to raise funds for their large staffs and luxurious buildings.
Please call or email your senators now to voice opposition to this dangerous bill. The Senate switchboard is (202) 224-3121 or (202) 225-3121. To identify your senators and reach them directly by phone or email, click here and then choose your state near the top.
Here are three key points to tell your senators:

This bill:

Is an Assault on Liberty of Conscience. In free countries, criminal acts are punished—not beliefs or views. The proposed hate crimes bill would result in two convictions—one for the criminal act, and another for the beliefs or thoughts behind it. This is a road to “thought crime” tyranny that is unfolding already in Europe and Canada.

Is not needed. Every state legal code already protects men and women, whatever their “actual or perceived … sexual orientation,” against criminal assault. There is no hate-crime “epidemic” in America. The FBI reports that so-called hate crimes, which are difficult to identify because only God can know the human heart, are a tiny fraction of all crimes.

Puts Pastors At Risk For Prosecution. Anyone, including pastors, can be accused of creating a “climate of hate” that leads to violence, merely for speaking biblical truth. Under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law, 11 Christians were arrested and jailed in 2004 merely for preaching the gospel at a Philadelphia homosexual street festival. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), a former judge, said that under this federal bill, clergymen and others could be charged with encouraging or inducing a “hate crime” if they preach against homosexuality.

Please call your senators now to respectfully request their position on this bill and to urge them to vote “No” on S. 909. Among other things, this bill is a giant step toward the criminalization of Christianity.

Administrator Government, freedom, politics freedom, Government, politics

John Eldredge (mega-selling author of Wild at Heart, Sacred Romance, and others) is speaking on a tour now, and in the Portland area May 16. John is taking his sequel to Wild at Heart, which was The Way of the Wild at Heart (2006) and releasing it in a shorter and less expensive version. This evening is part of a tour that is launching the sale of the of this book. Although he will be speaking primarily to men, John feels it is important for women to be there as well so as to better understand the man’s heart. For more information see Fathered by God.

Administrator Eldredge, Healing, Uncategorized, men Eldredge, forgiveness, Healing, men

This May 1 (Friday), at 8 AM, Alice Tang, Vice President of the Business Planning Group, will be making a special presentation to address some of the questions facing people who are currently looking for employment. Questions like what to do with your health insurance (Cobra, other options?), life insurance, 401K or retirement plan, college savings accounts, health savings accounts, other investments, budgets, or what you can or can’t earn to affect unemployment benefits, etc. This is not an advertisement for the Business Planning Group. Alice is a Christian, and donates 10 hours of every week to serving in the community and is doing this presentation as a service to us. Even if you have many of your questions answered, there might be something for you to learn, and maybe you can share something that will help others.

To make the best use of Alice’s time and presentation, we will be meeting in the church Activity Center. We’ll have coffee and pastries, so come and get some financial questions answered.

If you wish to attend, it would be a good idea to let the church know. The contact information is:

Kerry Francetich
Associate Pastor
Southwest Hills Baptist Church
9100 SW 135th Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97008
503-524-8686
kerry@southwesthills.org
www.southwesthills.org

Administrator jobs, unemployment jobs, unemployment

The latest TIME magazine showed the results of a survey of people on this question. Some 12% said six months. Some 53% said 1-2 years. Some 25% said more than three years or either we are in a long-term decline. I think the latter group is correct. You want to know why?

First, the guys that got us in this mess are still there. In Congress Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Roy Blunt, and Judd Gregg got over 20 million dollars in lobbyist money the last few years and made sure the bailout they created kept the Wall Street Executives wealthy and happy with lots of money, bonuses, and parachutes at the expense of using our tax payer money. GM got taxpayer money so they could buy placement ads for their Hummer on CSI:Miami. The rest of Congress has turned their backs to this and have done nothing. They keep bailing out AIG with your taxpayer money because AIG holds their pensions. Nothing has changed. As long as these people are not held responsible, no one - and I mean no one - has any faith in the system.

In all fairness, there are people in Washington investigating and plan prosecutions. Meanwhile, the bad guys enjoy your tax money. Also, do you really think it will change? Or is this another Libbygate where the real baddies go free?

And it’s not just the government. Our educational systems have failed. In my church, most families home school, use the church school, or send their kids to Christian schools. The health system, business system, and even a lot of the churches haven’t figured what is going on yet.

The paradigm the world is moving into is a major shift from where we have been. To understand this, look at a quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin that he made about 1930 or 1931.

“For the Observers of the Future, the greatest event will be the sudden appearance of a collective human conscience and a human work to make.”

What does that mean? Even back then, Teilhard saw a global consciousness emerging, and now the Internet has become the tool for initiating this change. President Obama saw this and understood it when he ran for President. I’m not saying Obama is the answer. We’re on a Titanic that hit the iceberg and we are trying to turn it around and get home. President Obama is right in one thing, however. If the ship gets turned around, it won’t be President Obama that turns it. It will be our collective consciousness hearing the words that the Holy Spirit is speaking to the Church and then with us willing to take the risks necessary to make a difference.

Now here’s a tip if you are trying to get in there, change your life, make a difference, and need a job for it: If you are a professional, start with a membership in Linkedin.com and aggressively start your personal network. That doesn’t cost a dime. Then join a few groups on Linkedin.com that interest you. Make social networking work. Do all types of networking with and without the Internet. Then network with others in your church and build a network raising the consciousness in your church. Put your church group as a group on http://www.Linkedin.com. Pull the larger church into working with you. Then join Facebook, another social network. And then start publishing a blog (maybe use WordPress.com, it’s free). Remember, for this change we are in for the long haul and you need to be involved in changing things if things are going to be changed.

Administrator Government, Healing, Illusion, Uncategorized, change, church, economy, employment, jobs, leadership, make a difference, unemployment change, church, economics, Government, Healing, jobs, leadership, politics, unemployment

If you know someone looking for a high-tech job, Mentor can help. And so can you.

For years, our Displaced Worker Program has trained unemployed workers to use Mentor Graphics products – a great job credential for them and great customer potential for us. And a great way to serve the communities where we live and work.

In today’s tough job market, Mentor is expanding its efforts by offering a new seminar series called Reinvent Your Job Search.

The Wilsonville event takes place here on campus – in the Commons Cafeteria – on Thursday, April 30 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The seminar is for anyone who’s unemployed, so invite anyone you know who’s looking for work in the high-tech industry to register online. Space is limited.

Seminar attendees will learn how to:
Create a “searchable” and “noticeable” online profile
Leverage social networking to make connections
Identify sources for job listings beyond the big job-search boards
Update a resume with the latest tips from experienced recruiters
Prepare for interviews in the high-tech industry
Work effectively with an internal or agency recruiter

The Mentor Graphics Recruiting team, with a combined experience of 50+ years, is conducting this fast-paced, interactive session. Recruiters from Volt Services Group will be attending to network with attendees.

For more information, go to http://www.mentor.com/events/job-search-seminar.cfm. Or better yet, pass this link to friends who are seeking work so they can register. If they’re unable to attend in person, they can sign up for an online seminar taking place on Thursday, May 7.

Thanks for your part in helping Mentor help others find new opportunities.

For an informational flyer, go to http://communities.mentor.com/mgcx/message/5239#5239. You’ll find a link to a PDF file at the bottom of the page.

For more information on the Mentor product training available through The Mentor Graphics Displaced Worker Program, visit http://www.mentor.com/training_and_services/training/dwp/

Note: Mentor Graphics is doing this in several cites as well as online. Check their site given here.

Administrator Uncategorized, economy, employment, jobs economics, jobs, unemployment

“Toto, I’ve got a felling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz

No matter how one looks at our world, the nation, and our personal lives today, one thing is certain. Extremely major shifts are taking place at this point in history on a global scale, and it is essential for even our survival to understand these. Our institutions as we know them: government, medical, economic, educational, and even the church have often become nonfunctional. Unless you understand this shift and how to lead through this you are going to have a serious problem.

Unfortunately for most of us, we build an illusion around that somehow, in some way, things will keep on going. And we keep on going like we always gone. We stay in our illusion and try to muddle on. Like the old cliché, however, if you keep on doing what you always done, you will keep on getting what you’ve always got. Unless there is a sense of desperateness (dissatisfaction), it is difficult to initiate change. This sense of desperateness is already sweeping a nation.

I like the story in the Bible of blind Bartimaeus as Jesus is leaving Jericho on his way to Jerusalem for the last week of his life. As the man is screaming to Jesus for mercy, Jesus replies with what seems like a really stupid question.

“What do you want Me to do for you?” Mark 10:51

The reply of the man is the heart cry of each of us.

“Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Mark 10:51b

Each of us is trapped in our illusions and we can’t see what God is really doing and our part in the Kingdom Enterprise. Until we can see that and claim authority in our lives in terms of this, nothing changes and we remain trapped in our illusions. Jesus will give us that vision if we ask, just like He did with Bartimaeus.

Administrator Government, Healing, Illusion, Portland, Transfomation, economy, jobs, leadership, make a difference, politics, purpose, unemployment, visioning change, economics, leadership, make a difference, transformation, unemployment