Random Thoughts On Saturday Morning

Headlines in a story in today's "Herald-Dispatch" - "Figures show toll hikes boost Turnpike revenue". Ya think? Who could have foreseen that result from increased toll fees?

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We preachers are an odd sort. Each of us so different, yet all working for the same boss, a former Jewish carpenter.

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This week, Maine voters overturned a state law which had previously made so called "Same Sex Marriage" legal in that state. What makes this more interesting is that Maine is a very, very liberal state on social issues. Voters in Maine on Tuesday, and twice in California (another very liberal state) have spoken out in favor of traditional marriage, in spite of the laws thrust upon them by social engineering legislators. Isn't it interesting that in the 31 states where the people have been allowed to vote on the issue, they have all come down on the side of the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman? In the five states where same sex marriage is allowed, each of these laws came about by legislative action or judicial activist decisions - NOT by the vote of the people.

The most interesting thing about the Maine results to me, is that the action taken by those voters came down in spite of a two to one spending advantage by the gay rights crowd and the endorsement by the state's largest newspaper. This majority vote in the liberal state of Maine was not a reflection of "right wing, religious, homophobic bigots" but simply an understanding of the people that the institution of marriage involves one man and one woman. Period.

The West Virginia Legislature needs to man up and let the people of the Mountain State vote for a constitutional ammendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This would ensure that no activist court could impose it's will on the people of West Virginia. C'mon. Let them vote!

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Unemployment reached 10% in America today, the second highest total since World War II. The current administration continues to blame the former administration for the economic woes. President Bush and the congressional spending certainly didn't do us any favors, but at some point President Obama and the Democratically controlled Congress have to begin to take ownership in this situation. Enough excuses! It is their baby now, and has been since the corporate bailouts, government takeover of the automobile industries, and other elements of the "stimulus package". Where are the results of all the promises? Why do we seem to be hurling twoard socialism?

Question to the average American - "How's that hopey changy thing working for you now"?

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As Mark Twain once said, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated". Some regular readers may think I have met my demise since I have been absent from this site for the past week. We'll it's been an incredibly busy week, what with Doctor's appointments, preparations for hosting the WV Convention of Southern Baptists Annual Meeting, and the actual convention itself. Busy week, but a really good one.

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The news coverage on the tragedy in Fort Hood, Texas underscores the political correctness of the major media outlets. It is amazing how the perpetrator, who is a Muslim, is being portrayed as a victim himself. There is very little coverage on the fact that he is a Muslim and that he allegedly dressed in Muslim attire and shouted "Allah Akbar" (Allah is great) as he brutally killed 13 unarmed soldiers and injured many others. Had that dastardly deed been done by someone who claimed to be an evangelical Christian, the fact would be splashed across every newspaper headline in the nation, and the major broadcast news outlets would be trumpeting it 24/7. In the final analysis, it is not really just a "Muslim thing" it's an evil thing - and extremist Muslims simply fall in to that category. But one doesn't have to be a Muslim to be evil. The sinful nature of man is to blame. The prophet said it best. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

The only remedy for our avarice is a personal relationship with God, and the only way to such a relationship is through Jesus Christ.