Editor, Times-Union: Is the Earth evolving or dissolving?
In the Jan. 10 Newsweek, Kenneth L. Woodward wrote an article about the terrible tsunami that claimed so many lives in Southeast Asia. He lists the agony and questions by religious people. He explained, too, how Christians out there look to their faith to attempt to make sense out of the loss of lives and possessions.
These believers had the "example of Jesus on the cross - the God who takes on human flesh and, with it, a criminal's cruel torturing and death!" It is important to remember why Jesus, the Son of God, took on himself our nature. He came to make a reconciliation of the world unto God. He came to be the sacrifice, the propitiation, the appeasement of a Holy God for all mankind and their sins.
As much as we would like to think so, the universe and all creation is not in an upward fix. Sin has caused all creation to be decaying and in a broken down condition. Man's fall into sin has affected all creation. God in his word states in Romans 8:19 -22 that: "The creation waits in eager expectation for the Sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
Could this be the reason that we as people hear of and experience such strange earthquakes and weather disturbances and disasters?
In spite of the fact that we live as dying people in a decaying world, we Christians can take hope in God and his promises. God states in 2 Peter, 3:10 and 13: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
Bill Stieglitz Nappanee
Earth Disolving
Editor, Times-Union: When one studies very loosely the workings of the U.S. Congress and Senate prior to the events of 9/11, one will clearly see the majority of both Houses working diligently to block any attempt at legislation designed to strengthen security at airports in spite of the warnings coming in daily, from foreign and domestic hijackings of commercial airliners in the United States. ... If one has the interest to observe and scrutinize our government it can be done by watching current open sessions of Congress and the Senate on C-Span 1 and C-Span 2. For past open sessions one may order from the C-Span archives in West Lafayette on the campus of Purdue University.
At this point I want to remind all the readers in case they've forgotten, the Republicans have held the majority in our government (legitimate or not) since 1994. The so-called contract with America lured in a lot of new votes for the Republicans, enough to give them the majority for the first time in over 40 years. I'd like to also remind readers not one of the promises in the contract with America has come to fruition. Or to use harsher words, it was all a pack of lies. Any way one words it, a spade is still a spade. Make no mistake about it, the Republicans are in the majority - they make all the decisions, the majority rules. The Democrats have no power, they make no decisions. The filibuster is the only tool left to the Democrats. Therefore, Republicans want to abolish the filibuster rule.
Once that rule is abolished, the majority will be free to work its will. What is the will of the Republicans? -ÊA constitutional amendment to ban gay or civil marriages. -ÊDismantle the department of education, every child will go to a private school or be schooled at home. No more government grants for schooling. - Dismantle Medicare and Medicaid, take the money and divide it between the pharmaceutical companies and HMOs. Dismantle all labor unions. No more time and a half after 40 hours work. The majorities will is to take our retirement money and hand it over to speculators on wall street. -ÊBan abortion, ban peaceful assembly, take away civil liberties, tell us what we can read, see, say or think. The majority's will is to legalize fraudulent accounting practices for some corporations, businesses and the U.S. Government. The Bush Regime would flunk out of accounting school in the first week.
It's obvious what this unelected majority will do: they've already emptied the treasury, now they want the entitlements. Its legislative thievery.
In conclusion, a short response to Marty Randall's "Is It Angst?" Feb. 18. In his letter he directs a question to Janet Collins and myself. (Are you guys mad about something? I'll let Janet answer for herself.) To me the word mad is not the right word, anger may better define my opposition to our tyrannical government. Anyway, thanks for the question.
A final note to readers: memory is a political act -Êforgetfulness is the handmaiden of tyranny.
