A Puzzeling Dilemma

More on the robotics topic. Dr. Russel Moore gave this ethical dilemma question to his Introduction to Christian Ethics class. I found it quiet interesting and thought provoking. Read it and see if you can come up with an answer.

Hero of the Month

My good friend Steve Weaver has written an article on Albert Mohler. I found this to be a good overview of Mohler's life, his stand at Southern, and his continued labors for the faith.

Devoted to the service of His Temple

I have just finished the book, Devoted to the service of the Temple: Piety, Persecution, and the Ministry in the Writings of Hercules Collins. Edited by Michael A. G. Haykins and Steve Weaver. I found great encouragement in this little book. Most of it is the writings of the Baptist Minister Hercules Collins with a brief overview of his life at the beginning of the book.

Hercules Collins was a Calvinistic Baptist Minister in England, from 1675 to His death in 1702. This was a very turbulent time in the country. Protestants were put in jail or put to death for their beliefs.

In the mist of this, Hercules Collins was one of those who were thrown in jail. What a testimony is given by the man who stilled poured his heart out to his flock while being in bondage. Many of the writings in this book are from things he wrote while in prison. His faith was steadfast at this time saying with out doubt, "God is as good in prison as out." (page. 52) We can all learn from a man who willing suffers for the cause of Christ and who's trust is firm in God's sovereignty.

And [I] doubt not but God and his interest are served by my confinement as by my liberty, and am not without hopes that I shall preach as loudly and as effectually by imprisonment for Christ as ever I did at liberty, [and] that all those who observe God's providential dealings, will be able to say with me hereafter, as holy Paul once said in his bonds at Rome, what hath befallen me, hath tended to "the furtherance of the gospel." (page 35-36)

This book was a great encouragement to my faith. To read the writings of a faithful, Bible saturated, preacher who stood firm in the misted of trial and persecution is a blessing amongst the greatest.

More on Kenya

Tim Challies linked to this post by Mike Delorenzo, a Missionary in Eastern Africa. He gives an insider and personal account of all the pain he is going through by the riots in Kenya and the troubles in his own family.

Mike also links to the best report, written by our news, on what is going on over in Kenya.

No babies, No problem! (So they say...)

Well, I guest this is one answer to a falling population of children as reported by the Washington Post. Just build robots to complete tasks that would be done by the young.


Japan, like many other countries, is paying the cost for rejecting the Biblical view of sex, children, and motherhood. Because Japanese women are dodging motherhood, there is no up coming generation to take the place of the departing generation. Numerous jobs will not be filled and the general population is going to decline. From the report by the Washington Post,

Within 50 years, the population, now 127 million, will fall by a third, the government projects. Within a century, two-thirds of the population will be gone. That would leave Japan, now the world's second-largest economy, with about 42 million people.

With these figures Japan is in for a ruff future.

The reasons for the decreasing population is two fold according to the report, Negative look on immigration and decrease in motherhood.

But what testimony is given by a nation unable to grow by itself. Immigration helps, but when the citizens of a nation cannot reproduce, it is a very clear message that something is wrong.

If Japanese women do marry and have children, they drop out of the workforce at far higher rates than women in other wealthy countries. The primary reason is because they cannot find affordable day care, according to Matsui and many others.

So according to the experts in Japan, If quality childcare was offered more women would become mothers. Or maybe the reason is a diminished view of motherhood?

Now I don't know this issue in-depth, But I believe that the Bible does provide an answer to this. A reclaimed vision of the beauty and glory of parenthood and children.

Today's world tells women that their value is found in what they accomplish in a career outside the home. With a broad side attack from feminism. Women are pressured to forget about the home and find a job else where. It is also apparent form the article that materialism is affecting the picture as well. Women want money over children.

Unlike the world, the Bible paints a different picture of what women (and men as well) should strive for to get satisfaction: To know and follow the living God. The main problem in Japan, as well as the world, comes from a misplaced focus on true happiness. Money, prestige, material gain, and many more things are raised up as fulfillments of the longings in people's heart.

Be appalled, O heavens, at this;be shocked, be utterly desolate,declares the Lord, for my people have committed two evils:they have forsaken me,the fountain of living waters,and hewed out cisterns for themselves,broken cisternsthat can hold no water. (Jer 2:12-13)

There is no fountain that can satisfy but the living God! There is nothing that can fill the empty heart accept God. We are made to know and worship God. Not any God that we construct. We must look to His revelation of Himself, The Bible. for in the Bible God has revealed is eternal character. And from that character he as revealed to us the standard by which we are to live and conduct ourselves.

Because we know Him as good, we can see that His ways are wonderful and good. For His laws reflect His character. Therefore, His commandments are not burdensome but are the means to true, lasting joy. our joy is found is being well pleasing to Him because we love Him.So what does God say about women's main task? What should women be striving for?

and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2: 4-5)

God's plan for women is to show his glory by putting their husband and children before themselves. Their goal is not to achieve a high paying career, but serve the Lord by nurturing and building the home. having and raising kids is not to be looked at as a burden to endure but a gift to rejoice in!

Do note, I am not saying that women should not get a job outside the home. I don't believe that is the meaning of this passage. But, the meaning is about the priorities. Which is first, the career or the kids? Is a woman's goal to make herself known in the business world? Or is her a means to complete her main mission which is to love her husband and children?

That is where things have gone wrong in this world. Women have put their careers above their families. If they have children it is suppose to aid their careers. But in fact children to do not do such a thing. So, as the happenings in Japan prove, when women put their jobs over the prospect of having kids, more than likely they will not have kids. (But of course, if they had a place to dump their kids off so they could have a career then they might start having kids.That is why some experts are blaming the problem on the lack of childcare).

I do find it interesting and frightening where feminism is taking mankind. Feminism is a world view that is causing robots to be implemented because there is no children to fulfill the fictions of a working economic society.

Because God has shown light in our darkened soul, revealing the glorious nature of his work on the cross and of his person. We gladly follow Him where every He leads. May the happenings in Japan warn us of the cost of forsaking God's laws.

The Terror in Kenya

What horrific actions are happening in Kenya. What once was a stable democracy is now the scene of violence and blood shed. Protesters welding machetes have set fire to whatever they can reach. What is happening over there should put pain in all our hearts.

From what I have read, it all happened over the election of Mwai Kibaki as president. Charges of a rigged election sprang up against his win. What followed is the horrific scene we see today. Rioters filled the streets waving machetes and seting buildings and homes on fire. Over 300 people have been killed in the midst of the riots.

But all of this shows us some truths about this world.

This, of course, shows the depravity of mankind. What once was peaceful is now in violent chaos. Kenya was one of the most stable democracoes in Africa. But stablity is far from what we see now. Why, because of people. The wickedness that dwells in each of our hearts is enough to remove any peace and stability in this world. Evil is not an outside problem. It is in the very core of ourselves. There is no such thing as a stable country where there is no fear of anarchy. Kenya shows that clearly. man is always just a few steps way from destruction. We need to be reminded that no peace will before in man. The only peace that can bring hope to man is the reign of Christ brought to us by His shed blood. Man will never find peace by any means that he can devise. Only when we rest in the peace that Christ gives us with God can we have true peace. For that is the only answer to the evil inside each of us.

Italso struck me in how democracy is not the salvation of man either. Lest we forget, no government of man can bring true peace either. Democracy is not the answer to the evil of man. Kenya proves this clearly. Democracy, run by frail sinful men is just as prone to fall as a monarchy ruled by a sinner. Governments by men will never give us true peace. There is only one government, one King that can squelch any diversion from His kingdom and rule in absolute righteousness, justice, and love. When Christ returns to remove evil forever, then we will have true peace on earth.

What a testimony to the fact that salvation will not be found in man or the government systems that he implores. Real salvation from sin and destruction is only found in the name of Jesus Christ.

Our hearts should be filled with sorrow over the what is happening in Kenya. We should be willing to extend or prayers and any aid that we can. But this should make us remember that we seek a differed home then this world. We look to a city whose builder and founder is God (Heb 11:10). And our only answer to the sin that is at our very core is an act 2000 years ago on a cross.

Mohler for President!

Pastor Robert Jeffress has declared that he will nominate Albert Mohler for the next President of the SBC.