Pray, Prepare, and Participate in the Election

Regardless of your party affiliation, please read this essay by Dr. Joe Haas, Jr. and vote the way God leads you. HE is in control, no matter what the outcome!

Andrea

I want to remind all of us that we have a Biblical mandate to be involved in public policy, to be heard in the public square, and to be involved in electing leaders who will govern according to Biblical principles – to be salt and light.

Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” There are many passages that affirm that a nation’s righteousness is determined by its public policies and how well they conform to God’s standards. Therefore, only God-honoring policies that lead to God-honoring actions can exalt a nation. How does this happen? God-honoring polices in a nation are the result of God-honoring public officials enacting those policies. If righteousness is going to exalt our country, then we have to elect leaders who honor God in how they will govern.

There is no Biblical basis for those in the church and in Christianity today who believe that Christians are NOT to be involved. This is something that is promoted by the liberal press that wants to mute our God-given right and responsibility to be involved.

Today we hear a lot about the litmus test that folks use to choice their candidates. Some use the litmus test of age, or race, or experience, or lack of experience, or prior associations, television ads, and even the opinions of others to chose their candidates.

I believe we must apply the greatest litmus test we have: the litmus test of the truths and principles of God’s Word – the Bible. We must view every candidate though the litmus test of the Word of God. That means that we have to FIRST look at the candidates to see if they will advance Biblical standards of righteousness AND oppose policies that encourage sinful or unrighteous behavior. To the Christian, Biblical principles must always take precedence over economic, environmental, health care, energy, and other issues.


Let me quickly give some Biblical issues that we must use to “test” where a candidate stands.

1. Judicial appointments

· Isa. 1:26 says, “I will restore your judges as at the first…then you will be called the city of righteousness..”
· Ezra 7:25 says, “..set (appoint) judges, which may judge all the people… all such as know the laws of God;
· II Chron. 19:6-7 says, “ Judges, take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord,….take heed and do it..”

Knowing what kind of judges a candidate will appoint is very vital when selecting a candidate.

2. Abortion & Inalienable Rights

· Psalm 139:13-16
· Isa. 44:2, 24
· Defending the life of the unborn child must always remain a priority for Biblical voters.

The right to life is our most precious inalienable right. IF a candidate is wrong on abortion, he will disregard other rights- protection of private property (5th Amendment), self-defense (the right to bear arms – 2nd Amendment), and sanctity of the home (3rd Amendment). IF a candidate refuses to recognize the role of God in the creation of life and does not promise to protect that first of all inalienable rights, then all other individual rights are also in danger.

We should test a candidate’s stand on moral issues like homosexuality.

· Today we are seeing a massive effort to make homosexuality moral or a right – i.e. legislation allowing same-sex marriages, etc.
· For the Christian, the Bible is very plain, calling homosexuality a sin in passages in Leviticus, Romans, Jeremiah, etc.
· Where a candidate stands on moral issues is one of the best indicators of whether that candidate embraces the moral absolutes found in God’s Word; this will show how he will govern and must be a priority when choosing a candidate.

We should test what a candidate believes about the separation of the church and state – remember that the intent was not the separation of the church FROM the state – somehow the press today has made this separation issue into a divorce. That is not the Biblical model, and neither was that the intent of the framers of our constitution.

I believe there are some non-negotiable principles that every Biblical voter should verify about a candidate before voting. I also believe that every Christian will give an account before God someday for whether we were involved in advancing the righteousness of our nation by voting and being involved (being salt and light), and whether we voted for the candidates that best stood for Biblical principles.

PRAY – Pray that God will give you wisdom to discern the best candidate.

PREPARE – Test each candidate by the “litmus test” of the principles found in God’s Word

PARTICIPATE – Go VOTE. This is your Biblical and civic responsibility. The duty is ours, and the results are up to God.

Pray, Prepare, and Participate – Be sure you continue to encourage everyone you can to go out and vote tomorrow.


Joe R. Haas, Ed.D.

Executive Director
North Carolina Christian School Association
P.O. Box 231
Goldsboro, NC 27533

Office: 919.731.4844
Fax: 919.731.4847
Email: joehaas@nccsa.org
Web: www.nccsa.org

Less than 200 Saving Days Until Christmas--Read on with an article from FrugalDad.

With less than 200 days (185, to be exact) until Christmas it is comforting to know that our budget debacles of previous years will not repeat themselves.

Read on with an article from FrugalDad.

5 Reasons to Eat More Chocolate

It may be hard to believe that something as delicious as chocolate could actually be good for you. But according to a growing body of research, America’s favorite sweet treat comes with a host of surprising health benefits—from lowering cholesterol levels to boosting your brainpower. Read on for five guilt-free reasons to indulge in this decadent dessert (as if you needed any more convincing).

1. Healthier Cholesterol Levels. A recent study conducted at Penn State University found that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol and higher levels of HDL “good” cholesterol.
2. Better Blood Pressure. According to a German study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a bite of dark chocolate a day may help regulate high blood pressure. The study’s authors suspect that the cocoa increases levels of nitric oxide, a compound that helps to relax and open the blood vessels.
3. Muscle Magic. It might seem like a strange choice for a sports drink, but chocolate milk may help boost athletic performance. In a recent Indiana University study, cyclists who drank chocolate milk between workouts scored better on fatigue and endurance tests than those who consumed standard sports beverages.
4. Brain Gains. According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, consuming dark chocolate can help reduce your chances of developing dementia later in life. In fact, a local chapter of the organization recently included dark chocolate in all the gift baskets it gave to attendees at the Maintain Your Brain program.
5. Disease-Fighting Power. Cornell University researchers recently found that cocoa contains nearly twice the disease-fighting antioxidants of red wine and up to three times more than green tea.

Check out this site.

Bloggers Attack Time Magazine for Billy Graham Cover

Bloggers Attack Time Magazine for Billy Graham Cover
AP

(08/14/07 -- CHARLOTTE) - Internet bloggers see something devilish on this week's cover of Time magazine.

Some are accusing the magazine of putting horns on evangelist Billy Graham.

On the cover, Graham appears to be in thought with his hands clasped. The image is from his left, and the "M" in the magazine's logo appears behind his head, partially obscured and forming what looks like horns sticking out.

Conservative blogger John Ruskin suggests that the image is not a mistake.

This week's cover story focuses on Graham's 50-plus years as a pastor and sometimes political adviser to a parade of presidents. The article was adapted from a new book, "The Preacher and the Presidents," by Time's Michael Duffy and Nancy Gibbs.

There's been no comment from Graham's people. A Time spokesman says any resemblance between the "M" and horns is coincidental.