General Thanksgiving
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houfes of Congress have, by their joint committee, requefted me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to eftablifh a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of thefe States to the fervice of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our fincere and humble thanksfor His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the fignal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpofitions of His providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have fince enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for our fafety and happinefs, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleafed to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in moft humbly offering our prayers and fupplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and befeech Him to pardon our national and other tranfgreffions;– to enable us all, whether in publick or private ftations, to perform our feveral and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by conftantly being a Government of wife, juft, and conftitutional laws, difcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all fovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn kindnefs unto us); and to blefs them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increafe of fcience among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind fuch a degree of temporal profperity as he alone knows to be beft.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

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You promote by action as much as by word.

Words often say things that we do not intend but deeds are disturbingly accurate measurements of character. Sins of omission are less obvious than overt acts but cumulatively, what we chose to leave undone speaks volumes. These days it’s popular to say that it doesn’t matter what you think, but what you do. Really, what you do is what you think, just out here in the air.

There’s a lot to be said about “being conscious” of something. I know the odd sounding frame can carry all kinds of loose thinking, but if we are doing something, something that we either don’t intend or at least would not do otherwise, shouldn’t we try to see these things?

I used to know a man that would say rude things to his children. One day I asked him, “Why do you do that?” He was shocked, not that I asked, but that it was something he did. He said, “My Dad always did that. I always thought I never would.” From then on he was very conscious of that and as far as I know, never did so again. I wouldn’t have asked just anyone, but in this case the actions had such a dramatically contrary character in relation to the rest of his life that the question begged asking. There was something about it that just seemed so foreign to his general life and worldview. I started to think it was impossible that he actually knew what he was doing or that he knew and did so with conscious intent. He was not trying to produce in his children the actual effect of his words. So what then? Why do it? I don’t know, and really, it doesn’t matter as much as that he observed himself enough to guard his tongue. We can figure out why we do the things we do at a more appropriate opportunity but that we change our behaviour is an immediate need.

This is not to be confused into a runny psychologism but just to guard ourselves from being something that we would not like. We need to be careful to look for causes of our actions, because the cause is the meaning of the effect.

God’s usual method for our sanctification is not to fix us all at once. We are Justified all at once; we are Sanctified through a lifetime. He seems to do so through eras of tempering through experience, trial, ordeal, reward, and learning. Thus we do not expect a perfect Christian any more than we advance a perfect church. But the things that we can do we must do and looking at who we are is never easy.

Becoming a Christian is in some ways like coming out of the dark into a well lit room. We see all kinds of things that were heretofore hidden. Many of these things are delightful but some are disturbing. The worst, I think, are those things within ourselves that should not be so. There are things that we’ve done in the natural life that when the spiritual life begins, go from being badges of honour to hallmarks of shame. The very things in which the world finds glory, we find either morose or empty. The events themselves haven’t changed but we have changed in relation to them. The things that we once held up as the evidence of our greatness become symbols of our guilt. Our loves become embarrassments and our embarrassments joys.

All of this we need to go through in order to reach Christ more fully and in reaching Him more fully, to grow in grace and faith and the good works that flow from them.

Neiswonger

Tolerance and Teaching Homosexuality in the Public schools and the Christian Response (Chris Neiswonger)

From Apologetics.com:

“Christopher Neiswonger speaks to a group of concerned Christian parents in San Francisco, Alameda, California on the traditional Christian reasoning for the rejection of Homosexuality, why Christians will not subject their children to indoctrination, how the laws have changed from protecting the rights of religious people to specifically excluding the rights of religious people, the rationality of the Gay Activist arguments, and how Christians have lost the war of words without losing the battle for ideas.”

http://www.apologetics.com

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http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=377:the-virtues-of-virginity&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

The Virtues of Virginity: The new Apologetics.com Radio Show (Click here)

In our culture there is a war against virginity. It is viewed as a problem or even an aberration; something to be destroyed as soon as possible in order to be thought of as “normal” in the court of public opinion. The mounting pressures from educators, peers, and the media have become constant and brazen. Any sentiment toward a sensible purity is regarded with suspicion or out right animosity. Is it really such an offense to regard oneself as holy? To view our special createdness in the image of God as demanding that a tremendous value be placed upon one’s most intimate relations? There will always be those that refuse to think of intimacy as anything more than mere animal functionality. Some interpret every love as trivial or common. But the glory of God demands the same things that the educated conscience desires and our practice of purity, fidelity, charity, chastity, and continence while in the state of virginity is the means that God uses to prepare us for the graces of matrimony. The groundwork of who and what we are in Christ is to be laid in a state of virginal purity, apart from the cares of marriage, and certainly apart from the serial sexual relationships that have become the cultural prerequisite to marriage today. Virginity, Marriage, and Widowhood are particular stages in the developed life. Everyone begins their life in the virginal state and in that protected environment continues until ready for the creation of new life within the life long bond of marital fidelity. In Christian thought, there is a need to consider ourselves and our value within the gifts and tender care of God. He has held nothing back from us in His love and affection. And this means that we should see our holiness as something that is very important to what we are in Christ. We ought not to sell ourselves cheaply. There is, even today, a vital interest in the Christian retaining their purity and distinguishing themselves from the world as much by what we do as what we believe.

http://apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=371:what-in-the-world-is-a-sacrament&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74 Click link

The Ethics of God: A beginner’s class on traditional Christian ethics.

(The new audio from apologetics.com radio.) (Click here for audio)

What are the basic presumptions common to all “Christian” ethical systems? The moral law of God and the cultivation the traditional Christian virtues.

1. The existence of God.
2. The identity of God and the uniqueness of Christianity.
3. The veracity, historicity, and inerrancy of Holy Scripture.
4. The presentation and defense of a basic orthodoxy.
5. The promotion of a healthy spiritual life in faith and practice.
6. The understanding of a consistent Christian ethic applied to all of life.
7. Communicating the coherence and defensibility of the Christian faith with clarity, kindness, and grace to any that might be inclined to hear and teaching those that desire such how to do the same.

The Classical form for Individual and Social Justice

The Moral Law of God-

“Love the Lord your God with all your mind, heart, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself; on these hang all of the Law and the Commandments”

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

“What you have done unto the least of these you have done to me.”

“Have mercy on the little children and do not keep them from coming to me for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.”

The Cultivation of the traditional Christian Virtues-
Faith, Hope, Love, Wisdom, Justice, Courage, and Self Denial

Faith- “Without faith it is impossible to please God because to please God one must first believe that He exists and that He is the rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.”

Hope- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Love- “These three remain: Hope, faith, and love, but the greatest of these is love…”

Wisdom- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”

Justice- “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Courage- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Self Denial- “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

www.apologetics.com

Christopher Neiswonger

How to Evangelize the Emergent Generation

Christopher Neiswonger teaching a class on the current postmodern climate as it influences the Christian churches. Postmodernism reigns, but does it have the legs to last? At Cornerstone Church in Riverside California. (With question and answer)

http://apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350:how-to-evangelize-the-emergent-generation&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

Postmodernism’s influence upon the Evangelical and Emergent Churches www.apologetics.com audio

Christopher Neiswonger and Doug Eaton discuss some of the ways in which secular philosophers have had a direct influence upon how the Church is doing theology and the ways that that thought might be irreconcilable with traditional orthodox Christian theology. (W/calls last half hour)

Subjects include: Postmodernism, Emergent theology, J. Gresham Machen, Richard Rorty, Brian McClaren, Tony Snow, propositional truth, faith and practice, being followers of Jesus, Christendom, law and gospel, communitarianism, individualism, metanarrative, narrative, evangelization, hermeneutics, universalism, doubt, Rob Bell, Michael Horton, analogy, absolute truth, Augustine, C.S. Lewis and others.

http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=348:postmodernisms-influence-upon-the-evangelical-and-emergent-churches&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

“Birth Control: A Christian conversation on procreation and contraception.”

Christopher Neiswonger is the guest on the “Bible Talk Radio Show” with Pastor Paul Viggiano in a show that turned out to very controversial. (With Calls)

http://apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=349:birth-control-a-christian-conversation-on-procreation-and-contraception&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

There can only be one true religion.

http://christiantheology.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/there-can-only-be-one-true-religion/

http://christiantheology.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/how-we-worship-is-the-truest-expression-of-whom-we-worship/

Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions www.apologetics.com Audio

“Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions” with special guest Kenneth Samples and apologetics.com staff Steve Tsai and Christopher Neiswonger.

It can be difficult to answer questions about the Christian faith-even for Christians who regularly read their Bibles and attend church. What can they say to a skeptic who questions Christian doctrine or truth claims? What about young Christians who want answers to their tough questions? Without a Doubt covers questions on everything from the doctrine of the incarnation to religious pluralism, from evolution to moral relativism, with rational answers for even the most stubborn skeptic. Chapters contain charts, relevant biblical texts, and outlines to help readers grasp key ideas relevant to proclaiming the gospel to an unbeliever or discussing doctrine with another Christian. One of the unique aspects of Christianity is that it stands up to honest intellectual scrutiny. Wiithout a Doubt offers solid, succinct answers to twenty classic questions that challenge the Christian faith, including:

• God’s Existence
• Creation and the Universe
• The Historical Veracity of Scripture
• Jesus Chrst’s True identity
• God as Trinity
• Faith vs. Science
• God and Evil
• Christianity and Other Religions

Authorities ranging from prophets and philosophers to scientists and the Scriptures provide rational explanations and compelling evidences for those who have questions about their faith or question faith altogether.

http://apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=336:answering-20-hardest-faith-questions&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74

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Ten Arguments Thoughtful Atheists Won’t Use… The Radio Show by Apologetics.com

Here’s the new radio show from Apologetics.com. This one has Doug Eaton, Lane Chaplin, Lindsay Brooks and myself waxing semi-lyrical about the failures and foibles of modernist atheism.

Remember to download it from iTunes!

Neiswonger

My World Vision

Chris and the www.apologetics.com team are participating in the Greg Koukl Blog Tour on Postmodernism at

http://www.apologetics.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=127111&#Post127111

Goes By In Seconds

Repent! The End is (possibly) Near(er)! Audio on Apologetics.com

http://apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320:eschatology-101-repent-the-end-is-possibly-nearer&catid=43:kkla-995-fm-los-angeles&Itemid=74 Click me