MY CONFESSION

The   following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him  on CBS  Sunday Morning  Commentary.

My  confession:
I don't like getting pushed around for  being a  Jew, and I don't think Christians like  getting pushed around for  being  Christians.  I think people who believe in God  are  sick and tired of getting pushed around,  period. I have no idea where the concept came from,  that America is an explicitly  atheist country. I  can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it  being shoved down my throat.

 

Or maybe I   can put it another way: where did the idea come from  that we  should worship celebrities and we aren't  allowed to worship God  as we understand  Him?  I guess that's a sign that I'm   getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who  are  wondering where these celebrities came from  and where the America we knew went to.

 

In  light of the many  jokes we  send to one  another for a laugh, this is a little  different:  This is not intended to be a joke; it's not   funny, it's intended to get you  thinking.
    
       In  light of recent events--terrorists attacks, school  shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine  Murray O'Hare (she  was murdered, her body found  a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in  our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you  better not read the Bible in school  .
       
        
       The  Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal,  and love your neighbor as yourself.  And we  said  OK.

 

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we  shouldn't spank our  children when they  misbehave, because their little personalities   would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem  (Dr.  Spock's son committed suicide).  We  said an expert should  know what he's talking  about.  And we said  okay.
      
Now  we're asking ourselves why our children have no  conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and  why it  doesn't bother them to kill strangers,  their classmates, and themselves.

 

Probably, if  we think about it long and hard  enough, we can  figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with,  'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' 

 

Funny how simple it  is  for people to trash God and then wonder why  the world's going to  hell. Funny how we believe  what the newspapers say, but  question what the  Bible says.  Funny how you can send  'jokes'  through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but  when  you start sending messages regarding the  Lord, people think  twice about sharing.   Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles  pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion  of God is suppressed in the school and  workplace. 

 

Are you laughing yet? 

 

Funny how when you forward  this message,  you will not send it to many on your address list  because you're not sure what they believe, or what  they will  think of you for sending it. 

 

Funny how we can be more  worried about  what other people think of us than what God  thinks  of us.

 

Pass it on if you think it  has merit. 
   
If not, then just  discard it. No one will know you did. But, if you  discard this thought process, don't sit  back and  complain about what bad shape the world is  in.  

 

My Best Regards, Honestly and  Respectfully,

 

Ben  Stein

CHARACTER BUILDING

"We can't really know the depth of our own character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask Him to solve your problems or give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; He will stay close by and help you grow through them." Alistair Begg

ALMIGHTY SAVIOR

El Shaddai, Almighty Father
Elohim, Almighty Lord
You have raised us by Your mercy
Through the Power of Your Word.

We lift high the Name of Jesus
Every knee before You bows
Heaven and earth proclaims Your glory
Holiness enthrones Your brow.

So in glad and full surrender
May Your blood remove all stain
So that through the Holy Spirit
Worship crowns Your Holy Name.

Spirit, clothe us in Your fullness
Melt the dross, ignite the Flame
That in body, soul and spirit
Holy, blameless, we remain!
B. Pent

SURPRISED BY JOY!

I pass by the graveyard
My loved ones lie there
As memories fall round me
Emotions I share.

The laughter of children
At mealtime and play
The stories at bedtime
Then mommy would pray.

But youth and adulthood
So quickly pass by
With pain and life's pleasures
Then death bids me cry.

Soon hope floods my darkness
Of gloom and despair
The grave that contains them
Is empty and bare!

The message of Easter
The angels declare:
"The Lord has arisen
He's no longer there!"

My soul fills with wonder
As joy floods my heart
With Jesus my Savior
We're never apart.
---B. Pent

THE SHADOW OF A CROSS

Lingering in the shadow
Standing on Golgotha's street
I catch sight along a hillside
Of a skull whose gaze I meet.

Voices seem to echo
From the hallow of its lair
Cries of bitter accusation
Poisoning words hang everywhere.

Peace from Pax Romana
Is the empty promise made
Clanging armor is the vise-grip
That rebellion often paid.

Crowds begin to gather
As the shadow passes by
Seems the bloody figure walking
Is condemned to hang and die!

Via Delarosa!
Crosses often pass that way
Carried by some guilty sinner
Blood-stained prints are seen by day.

Terrifying anguish
As the spikes pierce hands and feet
Soldiers hoisting up the cross-bars
Hear the tear of bone and meat.

Then a Voice speaks clearly
With the Gift of saving Grace
"Father grant complete forgiveness
Through My blood to Adam's race."

I alone am standing
Tears keep falling from my eyes
Death and hell the load I carry
Jesus ransom is the prize!

"Take my sin, dear Savior 
Nail it to that cursed Tree
Come and rule my heart Lord Jesus
By Your Spirit set me free!"

I am His forever
Heaven's Gates are open wide
All who call on Jesus' name
Through His death, are Justified!
--B.Pent

FREE AT LAST

Once I lived for earthly pleasures

By sin's blindness I was bound

Chained by guilt & things they offered

Only darkness hung around.

Then I heard that Jesus loved me

That He came to set me free

And His death for my redemption

Was the price for you and me.

Oh the pain He bore on Calvary!

From His lips He spoke my name

"Please forgive this guilty sinner!"

Then He died to take my blame.

When I saw the God of Glory

Pouring out His life for me

I cried out in faith for mercy

Then He came and set me free.

Now I stand redeemed, forgiven

All the past is wiped away.

To the Lamb be all the glory

I am saved by grace today!

--B. Pent 

BETHLEHEM'S CRY

It took nine months before that cry was heard!

The strangers could not find a room that night

Yet labor pains had forced them from the Inn

To find a stable bed to birth a King.

The Virgin Mary wiped His tears away

While Joseph cleaned the stable cave that day

The Baby's cry once heard on Christmas morn

Foreshadowed days His heart for man was torn.

One day beside the tomb of His dear friend

The Savior wept because of sin's dread curse

He later cried when Judah turned from grace

By spewing hate upon His thorn crowned face.

On Calvary's hill a painful cry was heard

“Oh! why have You forsaken Me, My God?”

Another cry soon echoed through the night

“Tetelestai! then Satan fled from sight.

One final cry will shake the world again

The Lord Himself from heav'n to earth descend

The Church in white will rise to meet the Groom

His promise to return is very soon.

B. Pent