Archive for April 29, 2009

Mike Hall | April 29, 2009
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Evil Has A Name…It’s Called Sin

sinman

“To sin is a human business, to justify sins is a devilish business.”

- Leo Tolstoy

I like this quote from the great Russian novelist because it admits to a reality-sin exists. It is amazing to what lengths some in our society will go to excuse all manner of behavior instead of calling it what it is-sin. So that there be no confusion let me define sin:

Sin – any act that is contrary to the nature and person of God.

This has to be the basis of our understanding of evil in this world. It must define how we shape our laws and how we determine our foreign policy. It has to be the reason why we force dictators like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong Il, and Fidel Castro to cease and desist. Calling them misguided, wayward, or misunderstood only facilitates their sin.

Why is it so hard to take such a stance? Why do our current leaders seek to coddle such men instead of confronting them? Well, I believe that to have a worldview that allows for the existence of sin is to open the door to the fact that you may be a sinner. This is obviously not palpable by 21st century sensibilities and therefore cannot be allowed-so the line goes. I would argue, however, that the admittance of sin is what helped us develop such concepts as divided government, and just laws that have made our nation safe and prosperous.

Authentic Christians know that if there is no sin then there is no need for a savior. Let it be clear that sin does exist, that there is a great need for a savior and His name is Jesus Christ. To deny this doesn’t just endanger your soul but it endangers our national security. Evil has a name and it is called sin.

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Mike Hall | April 27, 2009
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Servant of the People?

repdemring“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,“

- Matthew 20:25-27 (ESV)

Is it just me or do you ever feel like you elected a servant but ended up with master? Does it seem like we have a political class in this country much like the nobility of antiquity? Maybe you don’t even think of your elected officials in such terms…but you should.

The Bible is very clear about the style of leadership that all who have authority over others should follow – politicians not excepted. I believe that the mess we see coming out of Washington D.C. can be directly traced to this one issue. If we had officials who were authentic Christians and who took Christs words seriously we would have leaders who serve us instead of ones who expect us to serve them.

So how are your leaders doing? Do you believe that they are serving the people well? If you are a leader are you serving those under your authority and putting their needs above your own? Have we by our greed, selfishness, and sense of entitlement elected officials that represent our vices or our virtues?

Do you want to be a great leader? Are you a servant of the people?

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Mike Hall | April 22, 2009
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Wisdom From A Beauty Pageant

tiara

It’s not very often when you can say that something profound or wise was said at a beauty pageant. We all laugh at the answers the stunningly beautiful but not overly bright young ladies give to the questions they are asked. Such responses as “give the world a hug,” or “end world hunger” come to mind. That is why what one brave young lady from California said deserves a mention.

Last Sunday at the Miss USA pageant, Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked her opinion of same sex marriage. Watch her response:











Miss Prejean deserves respect for being willing to proclaim what many misguided individuals deny. Marriage is defined by God not the culture. By God’s definition without one woman and one man there is no marriage. This is not just a preference it is an absolute truth.

I am proud of Miss Prejean as I think all authentic Christians should be. We should follow her example and be willing to take criticism if that is what results from lovingly but firmly holding to the truth. Especially since truth is in such short supply in our culture.

She may not have called for “hugging the world” but Miss Prejean did say something very wise and very unpopular in the midst of a popularity contest. Miss Prejean, our tiara’s are off to you.

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Mike Hall | April 20, 2009
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Dissent Is Not Racist

protestI saw this coming the moment President Obama was elected. Because he is a minority, the left is using his status to silence all criticism. In other words, no matter the substance of your argument, if you disagree with the president, you are a racist. This is not productive, its not American, and its not moral. Watch the first minute of the following video and you will see what I mean:















I feel sorry for Jeanine Garafalo. I believe that she must be very bitter and empty inside to be so closed minded, and to be painting with such a broad brush. It is incumbent on those who are authentic Christians not to trash Jeanine Garafalo, but to pray for her. We must, by our conduct, establish the kind of moral authority that displays to the world that such thinking is wrong and that the answers to life’s problems don’t come from the Hollywood “elite” but the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, don’t be afraid to disagree respectfully and lawfully with the President or any other elected official regardless of their race. Disagreement is fundamental to the right of the pursuit of happiness written about in the constitution and guaranteed in the 1st Amendment.

I’m sorry Miss Garafalo, dissent is not racist.

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