Just One of Many Reasons...

Why We Should Be VERY Wary Of Government Run Healthcare A Report By A Not-So-Conservative (Moderately Liberal) Ideologue Check It Out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9GMKK_fWKg

Draft: Part 1 of 6 of Chapter One – Your Thoughts?

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

And Biblical Christian Spiritual Formation

Chapter One

Introduction:
How are we to understand the flow and development of Christian Spiritual Formation in a Biblical historical sense? What are the historical highlights from a Biblical perspective that provide a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be spiritually formed over into the image of Jesus Christ?
Perhaps the best mechanism through which to accomplish this study is provided by scholars Bartholomew & Goheen in their text: The Drama of Scripture, who postulate the view of Biblical History as a "Six Act Play." While similar to the perhaps better known Reformed view of Biblical History: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Glorification, Bartholomew and Goheen's variation provides one additional critical piece having to do with the role and work of the institutional Church.
Act I – God Establishes His Kingdom: The Creation
The author of Genesis is careful to affirm that it was a Sovereign and omnipotent God that brought order out of chaos (Gen. 1:2; see also Jer. 10:12; Col. 1:17). In a concluding statement, Genesis 1:31 records: "God - Elohim [~yhil{a] saw all that he had made, and it was very good [daom bAj]. And there was evening, and there was morning-- the sixth day." In essence, by declaring His act of Creation "daom bAj", God is saying of the Created Order that it was perfect, without flaw or defect; whole, with nothing damaged or missing; complete, with nothing needing to be finished; pure, with no evidence of corruption; integrated fully and faultlessly balanced within and among all of its diverse components; and finally holy, set apart for the glory and purpose of God. And in particular, Mankind, the lovingly created apex and vibrant nodal point, around which all of the Created Order was organized, basked in the absolute fullness of Shalom.
An additional crucial thread to be indentified within the tapestry of Creational theology is that having to do with relatedness. In other words, each entity within the Created Order was not only intrinsically perfect and good in and of themselves; but each of those entities, in the most exquisite detail, was intrinsically perfect and good in their connectedness with one another. In essence, there was a faultless interrelatedness and integration of all relationships with one another; and it was by this condition of perfect integration that the whole of the Created Order experienced the state of Shalom. Quintessentially, all Creational forms and their functions were ideal in balance and harmony. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. offers the following description of Shalom:
This webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it "peace," but it means far more than just peace of mind or cease-fire between enemies. (As a matter of fact, the area over which two armies declare a cease-fire may be acres of smoldering ruin.) In the bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, all under the arch of God's love. Shalom, in other words, is the way things are supposed to be. (Plantinga 14-15)
Therefore for Man, to experience true Shalom it necessarily meant to be fully integrated, balanced and whole in the following arenas:
1. Between himself and God,
2. Between himself and others;
3. Within himself
4. Within the totality of the Created Order.
The state of Shalom means for all things relationally to be what they were supposed to be originally, in terms of their nature and in their relationships… This portrait of the Created Order (pre-Fall), is vital to understand for the Christian in the post-Fall era. because if we are to understand from which we must be saved regarding the evils of chaos and "dis-integration" (Rom 1:21, Eph 4:18);" then there must be a clear picture of what Christ intends to save Mankind to - and to restore us to our Pre-fall condition (Is 65:17, Acts 3:21)

A Response To J.D. Prose Beaver County Times

Debate On Healthcare

There is a difference between being an informed political pundit and an ideologically blind propagandist J.D. Prose's (Beaver County Times Editorial 8/9/09) shrill and condescending diatribe against those not supporting government sponsored healthcare was only slightly less offensive than his arrogant check-your-brains—I-know-it-all(ism). Counterpoints to J.D. Prose:

• There are 37 million Americans and 10 million illegal aliens who ostensibly lack health care. Free (Public Option) Healthcare invites millions more…
  
• There're millions of young, healthy, mostly single, amply employed adults who intentionally opt out of healthcare, they could otherwise afford.
  
• The World Heath Organization's antiquated study (2000) is often considered faulty because it failed to compare apples to apples and is ideologically driven (leftist) – their research template is no longer used.
  
• (Big) Government can't be trusted with social programs. Tricare aside, consider the scary, teetering status of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
  
• Prose astutely avoids how to pay for Government Healthcare – in July, Government borrowed $6 Billion dollars a day for maintenance; and Federal Government income is down 18% so far this year!
  
• There is no Obama mandate
  visa viz. the Presidential election - people liked what Obama said during the election, but not the reality of what he meant by it, as President now.
  

  
  

Rich Grassel –

Ambridge Pa

Media Fairness In The Beaver County Times

Another Response to JD Prose's Response On 9/16/09

 

I couldn't help but notice this past week that the Times published only ONE Letter to the Editor in response to JD Prose's RANT in favor of government sponsored Healthcare (8/9/09). Then Mr. Prose reserved the right, as an Editor on your staff, to selectively cut and paste fringy, nonpublished Letters-to-the-Editor, in favorable fashion for his follow-up Editorial (8/16/09). Clearly, he intended to insinuate all those who disagree with him were INCAPABLE of offering thoughtful, intelligent well defined arguments against his position on Healthcare. This is clearly not the case and it is reprehensible that the Times would PROPAGANDIZE the Healthcare issue in this way.

    Considering Mr. Prose is a member of your Editorial Staff, I can't help but wonder, how he might influence, not only what important News Stories might make it into your paper, but also those stories which might not… …Maybe, just maybe, ONLY those stories that don't agree with his particular WORLDVIEW…?

    A PUNDIT offers his (usually informed) perception of a certain kind of reality… …A PROPAGANDIST however seeks to CONTORT that reality over into his preconceived worldview image… To be intellectually honest, perhaps you should reconsider renaming your paper "PRAVDA?"

 

Rich Grassel

Ambridge Pa, 15003

 

 

Jungles to Defeat – Thoughts About A Missions Experience In Honduras

This is a excerpt taken from my Journal that I kept while doing some short term missions in Honduras. I spent some time at a place called El Sembrador, near a small town in Eastern Honduras called Cantacambas.

This Farm School was started by a couple in the middle of the 20^th century. They were rejected by every Missionary organization that applied to… Not to be deterred they sold their farm in Washington Courthouse OH, rented an ocean-going barge, shipped their remaining equipment and moved to Honduras with their 1 year old son Timothy

Amazingly, after some 25 years, they cultivated over 2,000 acres of farmland (carved out of the jungle), fed, clothed and educated 200 young boys every year. El Sembrador, as it came to be known, educated most of the pastors now working in Honduras. Some of their students have risen to the highest positions in the government. There is more to say, much, much more… But here are some of my sentiments after my experience there…

FINAL THOUGHTS: (Hand Written Journal Pg. 73)

Jungles to Defeat!

Wednesday, July 20, 1994

4:45 a.m.

Rose at 3:50 a.m.

El Sembrador Farm School Dining Room

Here I am in the Dining Room... One last time. I have many things going through my head. I hope to have the time to write them all down[…]

[…]For the last time I've heard the almost deafening, driving whine of the crickets outside the bathroom window. This was quickly followed by the familiar rhythmic ebb and swell of the kind of cricket that lives where we do - the darkness hiding all but their faithful persistent song.

This morning I have heard, for the second time in my life, the blood-freezing, guttural growl of a native monkey - high in the tree tops. It's voice pounding through the forest and semi-darkness - inquiring about companionship, food and safety. I have heard his voice for the last time... While, his voice may have reverberated and died in the distance, the echoes of his song will remain forever in my memory.

After gently brushing away my faithful morning companions - the termites, I will sit at this table for the last time, recording my thoughts from the day before. Coleen and Cheryl, two missionary women from the States are always there before me, preparing for the days meals – poised to feed 40 plus men three times a day. With the subtle and indistinct sounds of their quiet efficiency in the background I bend to my task of collecting my experiences from the days before[…]

[…]For the last time this week I have worshipped with them [my new friends from Honduras]. The three churches we visited and ministered in are forever, indelibly fixed in my mind.

I will never forget their proud yet humble determination to live on and make the absolute best of what they have. I will always be mindful that there wasn't a student among us - who if they sold half of what they personally owned - couldn't have bought any of these people out - lock, stock and barrel!

What amounted to a life time of back-breaking work, for these people, could be more than compensated by a few birthdays and maybe a Christmas or two. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to marry and raise a family in what amounted to a small one room hut. Carved out nothing more than inconsistent small opportunities; in a land that has no mercy for the poor. I will always see their liquid brown eyes, sun darkened faces and arms, calloused hands, work bitten features, humble abodes clumped together in isolated communities - scattered across a rugged unforgiving land - governed by a small group of questionable and corrupt men - in a city of a million jumbled and ruined lives - most dwelling in disasters called "neighborhoods".

My last night at El Sembrador, I stand on a section of newly poured concrete in the Auditorium, completed by our Missions Team. In front of me - to the west rise some of the highest mountains in Honduras. With quiet exhilaration I witness the sun, with slow majesty recline behind the jagged peaks. In wonder and awe, I watch as these mountains pull a mantle of mist around their shoulders and slowly fade into the darkness.

A chorus of evening birds, thousands of frogs and a million crickets sing a postlude fair well. Now immediately above the knife-like ridges is a surreal white light. A wonderful cool breeze blows into the horizon - its gentle hum, like that of a mother taking her sleeping toddler to bed for the night. Behind the wind creeps the dusk - encouraging the chorus into a melodic fortissimo – all the while steadily pulling behind it, a blanket of darkness.

This is my last day here and so for the last time I have a chance to draw some important conclusions about my experience here...

Despite all of the heart pounding grandeur and beauty of this tiny rugged country, I believe that it's nothing more than veritable wasteland - next to the soul lifting, eternal beauty of Don and Twila Hawks RECKLESS FAITH AND LOVE FOR MINISTRY. A man and woman, who with complete abandonment, unswervingly heeded God's call. This couple: who subdued, not just a wilderness of untamed plants, animals and disease; but an even more formidable jungle of poverty, illiteracy and faithlessness.

In addition to the corn, rice, beans and trees they planted - they cultivated hope, love and faith! By the grace of God they sowed and harvested from the hearts of men and women - and changed the world around them!

This morning just before we rumbled down a packed red clay lane, I could see the gutters were swollen with orangish red water from last nights rain. Dawn was breaking and covering the land with a bluish white light. Crickets, completing their last refrain, were instantly drowned out by the roar from the engine of the bus, as it came to life. Before we boarded, I inhaled a subtle perfume - the sweet smell of rain as it hung heavy in the morning air - bringing with it a sense of refreshment and newness. I couldn't help but think of how refreshed I was; and wondered how this tremendous experience might bring something new to my life!

Slowly we rumbled down the lane. The squeak and clatter from windows would be our journeys music now. Out of the faint light of the cabin of the bus, came half a dozen murmuring conversations. The bus continued to rumble on down the lane. With each splash and spray of the muddy water flying past the window, the thought of our final departure saddened me more and more.

I will miss you El Sembrador. God willing I will come back again.

I too want to be a man who with reckless abandonment, exercises a living and vital faith. The kind that will change lives - change the world....

Somewhere out there, there is a jungle for me to defeat. A wilderness to cultivate and a myriad of hearts to grow and nurture our God's love, truth and call in...