Anyone ever hear of this duo? David (he kind of looks like one of my brothers) was apparently in “a kind of a Lutheran band.” I wonder if I can find their cd.
Day: 24 August 2005
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Good Question…
…but Christians know the answer.
Buying the Lie
A fairly big name in the Christian Music Industry, Jaci Velasquez, has gotten a divorce. Eh, no big deal; Christians get divorced all the time!
Actually, that’s the problem: Christians get divorced all the time. Perhaps Velasquez’ comments shed some light on why (I think it’s for most of the same reasons that non-Christians get divorced).
“When my husband and I started out as newlyweds, we were like all newlyweds, wanting that dream marriage,” Velasquez said. “Somehow, things took a turn and we have ended up in divorce.” Somehow, “things took a turn.” Ah, that elusive “dream marriage.” I’m not intending to make light of how she or her (ex-)husband might feel. Then again, feelings certainly don’t help. A dream marriage is a fantasy, and not just for non-Christians. And things don’t just “take a turn.” It may seem like that in immediate hindsight, when attention has not been paid, but give it a year. Think about it. Introspect. Divorce is not just something that “happens.” On the other hand, if “falling in love” is just something that “happens,” you never know.
But by then the lie is bought and paid for. Vows based on fickle and fleeting feelings are a recipe for violating those vows. Promises are not made to be broken; with the possible exception (still, not without sin) of physical beatings, your feelings do not count as a gauge for the strength of “what God hath joined together.” The only cure for a hurting and broken marriage is the same as the cure for any sin: repentance induced by the Holy Spirit through the holy Law of God and forgiveness of sins through the cross of Christ.
Jaci Velasquez, among others, bought the lie that a dream of marriage must be fulfilled to be counted successful. We buy the same lie when we do not expect confession and offer absolution when our brothers and sisters tear themselves apart by divorce.
If a Fetus Feels Pain in the Womb, Does Anyone Hear It?
According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (a city which has no history whatsoever of Left-wing activity), fetuses (read: codeword when we don’t want to say “babies”) do not feel pain until the seventh month of pregnancy. However, I’m quite sure they didn’t ask the fetu–um, babies.
Seriously, though, is this really a debate? If they anesthetize me before they stick sharp objects in my neck and suck my brain out, I may not feel it, but, I guarantee you, I will care! Sure, if some women are swayed by the fact that their baby might feel pain if they have an abortion, let’s use whatever data we have. But if they can (again, without asking the baby) prove that “fetuses” don’t feel pain by “reviewing studies,” that doesn’t make abortion any less a criminally immoral action.
Somebody should temporarily paralyze some of these researchers, and see if it makes a difference to them when someone comes with the butcher knife.
On a related note, apparently the tactic is “deny, deny, deny.” “There are no alarm bells going off with this rate.” Let ’em die.
Luther Digest
Before I make the trek back to St. Louis, I am spending some time in Milwaukee and seeing some friends. Today, I stopped by my alma mater–Concordia University Wisconsin and visited with Dr. Timothy Maschke. He continues his work with Luther Digest. Check it out.
Balaam's Ass 