Our Crucified, Risen, and Ascended Lord

See the Lord ascends in triumph;
Conqu’ring King in royal state,
Riding on the clouds His chariot,
To His heav’nly palace gate.
Hark! The choirs of angel voices
Joyful alleluias sing,
And the portals high are lifted
To receive their heav’nly King.

Who is this that comes in glory
With the trump of jubilee?
Lord of battles, God of armies,
He has gained the victory.
He who on the cross did suffer,
He who from the grave arose,
He has vanquished sin and Satan;
He by death has crushed His foes.

While He lifts His hands in blessing,
He is parted from His friends;
While their eager eyes behold Him,
He upon the clouds ascends.
He who walked with God and pleased Him,
Preaching truth and doom to come,
He, our Enoch, is translated
To His everlasting home.

Now our heav’nly Aaron enters
With His blood within the veil;
Joshua now is come to Canaan,
And the kings before Him quail.
Now He plants the tribes of Israel
In their promised resting place;
Now our great Elijah offers
Double portion of His grace.

He has raised our human nature
On the clouds to God’s right hand;
There we sit in heav’nly places,
There with Him in glory stand.
Jesus reigns, adored by angels;
Man with God is on the throne.
By our mighty Lord’s ascension
We by faith behold our own.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, an invitation for all people to pray for the nation.

It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America's leaders and its families.

This national observance is based on the understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition.
The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863.

In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the President signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

History
1775 - The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer

1863 - Abraham Lincoln called for such a day.

1952 - Congress established NDP as an annual event, signed by President Truman.

1988 - The law was amended and signed by President Reagan,

designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May.

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Please pray for our nation and its leaders this Thursday (and every day).

How Convenient ....

Al Gore's global warming philosophy has been debunked by many scientists and studies, and now it has met the same fate at the hands of children, in "The Sky's Not Falling" video/essay contest.
The contest was launched early in 2008 and was designed to highlight the absurdities, untruths and downright lies that children are being taught daily about "climate change" in public school. "Kids across America are being victimized by global warming hysteria," according to Holly Fretwell, author of "The Sky’s Not Falling: Why It’s OK to Chill About Global Warming".
"I wanted to know what kids like mine were hearing in their classrooms,” Fretwell said. “Running a contest was a fun way to go about it. All of us, our children in particular, are being confronted daily with half-truths and falsehoods about global warming,” noted Fretwell.“It’s just plain wrong.”
She said that was her inspiration for the book in the first place.
"I want kids to get excited about science and to understand that it’s human ingenuity and a can-do spirit, not government sanctions, that will lead us to a bright environmental future. I want kids to learn how to become critical thinkers," she said.”
Contest winners receive a cash prize, a copy of “The Great Global Warming Swindle” DVD, and copies of The Sky’s Not Falling for their local school library and their kids’ science classroom.

The first-place essay is titled "Al Gore Causes Global Warming in School Aged Brains" by Russell Young of Minnesota:
"If Al Gore’s film "An Inconvenient Truth," is suitable for teaching about climatology, then Alfred Hitchcock’s film the "The Birds," is a good candidate for teaching ornithology.
"Wait a moment," you say. What does a horror film which has been characterized as "extremely disturbing," where hoards of normally skittish, but peaceable birds, inexplicably attack and terrorize humans, have to teach our children about science? The answer, of course is that it could be used to anesthetize them to the frightening scenarios presented in Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."
It's hard to decide which would be worse: frightening young students with scripted terror from a horror master, or frightening students with scripted propaganda from an environmental hypocrite."

The second-place essay is titled "Global Warming Basics For Beginners," and is by Dan Nagasaki of California:
The earth has had huge climate shifts with extreme warmth and extreme cold (remember reading about the ice age?) long before man could have possibly had any impact on the earth's climate. If man didn't exist on earth, these great climate shifts would still occur. There are two major questions regarding global warming. First, are we really in a long-term global warming trend and second, is man primarily responsible for this? The first may be true, but the second doesn't appear to be true.
If you ask an average person who is concerned about the environment to name the major factors affecting global warming, he'll probably fail to mention the two most important factors.
First is the sun, which is actually quite volatile. Even small changes on the sun affect our climate. So, the most important factor affecting global warming, the sun, is not affected by anything mankind does. In fact, other planets in our solar system are also getting warmer.
Second is water vapor, which forms the cloud cover.And after the sun and water vapor come other, much less significant factors such as sulfur dioxide, methane, and carbon dioxide. To put this even further in perspective, more sulfur dioxide is spewed out through volcanoes and earth vents than by industrialization. Methane is produced by plant-eating animals, including man, so if you really want to make a serious dent in methane production, you need to resign yourself to the mass extinction of most plant-eating animals. As for carbon dioxide, which makes up less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the earth's atmosphere (Nitrogen and oxygen make up 99 percent of the earth's atmosphere), the average person, merely by existing, produces more CO2 than the average automobile. Even with the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere over the last 100 years, the average temperature of the earth has increased about 1 degree C, with most of that temperature increase occurring prior to the rapid increase in CO2 levels.

The third-place essay is titled "A Christmas Dinner Conversation" and is by Jim Lion of California:
"At a recent Christmas dinner, I had a conversation with my niece, 16 and very smart, who just got into the University of Pennsylvania early. When I showed her how rising global temperatures may have caused the increase in CO2 gases, rather than the opposite theory ( that rising CO2 has caused global warming) she said, "But that doesn't make any sense."
She's a smart girl. But the reason she thought my assertion made no sense is simple. It runs counter to the doctrine she has heard repeated over and over again ad nauseum, and perpetuated without question or remorse by the mainstream media.
I'll tell you what I told her that night at dinner.
If you look at the graph that Al Gore used in his Oscar-winning movie "An Inconvenient Truth," something emerges decidedly inconvenient to Al Gore's thesis of man-made global warming.
The graph shows a precise correlation between changes in global temperature and changes in atmospheric CO2 over thousands of years. This suggests that when carbon dioxide emissions increase, a rise in global temperatures will result. However, if you take a closer look, the data show an 800 year gap between the changes in global temperature and the changes in atmospheric CO2. 800 years! What's more, CO2 is a trailing indicator, which means, based on Gore's own data, that today's current rise in atmospheric CO2 was actually caused by the Medieval Warming Period that occurred 800 years ago!
These facts have not been lost on many reputable scientists, who are busy looking for ways to prove how a rise in global temperature 800 years ago could have percolated down through the ocean, and then rose to the surface, causing the oceans to release vast quantities of CO2. If the process took 800 years in would explain the facts.
Imagine that. An explanation that matches the facts.
It seems to me Al Gore should get out of the pseudo-science business, and go back into theology, which he studied at Vanderbilt University, since it appears that he wants to alter the doctrine of Original Sin, making people feel guilty every time they exhale, spewing harmful CO2 into the atmosphere.
Mr. Gore may change his mind when he learns about these important facts, but don't hold your breath."

(from World Net Daily)

Now Playing In A Theater Near You

Good News!

Ben Stein's documentary "Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed" is finally showing in Central Missouri! We went to see it last night, and all I have to say is - If it's playing in your area, gather everyone you care about and go see it!

It was so well done, showing very clearly the bias and closed mindedness that Big Science has against scientists espousing Intelligent Design.

Considering the serious nature of the film, it was also nice to have so many humourous tidbits sprinkled throughout. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise with Ben Stein as the main character. The movie ends appropriately with the immortal words from the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" - "Anyone, Anyone?"

Today is Earth Day, a helpful reminder of our responsibility to be good stewards of our world. But celebrating the greatness of our home planet can take on a dangerous slant if we leave out one key element.The Apostle Paul writes in the first chapter of Romans, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator."

As we celebrate Earth Day and contemplate the grandeur of this planet, it should remind us that we are part of the creation, and move us to worship the Creator. For in the beginning the universe was formed, the earth was created, and man was given life for one express purpose -

to give glory to God, and to point to His greatness, power, and majesty.

The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth is the God of the Bible (Father, Son, And Holy Spirit), and is not only our Creator, but our Savior and our Sustainer as well.

He alone deserves our worship and praise.

Expelled - The Movie

Have you been "Expelled"?

Opening on about half the screens of other top 10 movies, Ben Stein's documentary on the censorship of intelligent design scored an impressive $3.2 million in its opening weekend – more than all but 8 other movies. "Expelled" rolled out in 1,052 theaters, compared with 3,151 for the #1 movie of the week , "The Forbidden Kingdom."

"Expelled", performed much better than the weekend's other new current-affairs documentary, "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?"

"Expelled" exposes the widespread persecution of scientists and educators who are pursuing legitimate but opposing scientific views to the current establishment, or "Big Science".

The film is an expose on how academic institutions have become so pro-evolutionary that they have restricted educational learning and freedoms by excluding human origin alternatives like intelligent design, the idea that some form of intelligence, or God, created the cosmos.

If you are able to see this film in your area, please do so. If it makes enough money in the initial realease, there is a better chance for it to have a wider distribution across the country so that more people can see it. And if it does really well - maybe, just maybe, it will make it to the theatres in Mid-Missouri ...

The Pope Goes To Washington

There are plenty of problems with the papacy and with the Roman Catholic Church, but you have to credit the pope for making a great speech at the White House today. Pope Benedict applauded the United States for preserving religious freedom in a historic speech on the White House
South Lawn Wednesday morning.

The Pope said in part, “America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator.

The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's god.

Freedom is not only a gift but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience,” he said. “Almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self- discipline, sacrifice for the common good, and a sense of responsibility toward the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be for the cause of good.

In this way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can flourish, a world where the God-given dignity and the rights of every man, woman and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.

As I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for the invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and this people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. "

"God Bless America"

It's Masters week. I can't believe it's already been a whole year since a humble young man from Cedar Rapids, Iowa took everyone by surprise by winning the Masters. He gave a great Christian witness after winning the green jacket, and has used his new found platform to share his faith and do some great things for charity. Even though he is only 5 ft. 10 inches tall, he is a sports hero we can all look up to.
The story goes that Zach's wife, Kim, manufactured a personal ball mark for him. On one side she inscribed the words, "Trust your line," with a verse from Proverbs 3 which says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Johnson would set that side up on the putting green and recite the words to himself.
The reverse side of the homemade mark helped shape Johnson's mindset elsewhere on the course. The inscription was, "One shot at a time," and the Scripture passage was Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worry of its own."
"Those verses kind of kept me at ease," Johnson says. "I don't know if I was communicating with God at the time I was playing, but I felt like I was closer with Him at the time than with anybody else."
Good luck defending your title this week, Zach!

Charlton Heston - A Real Leading Man

Charlton Heston, who won the Oscar for best actor in the Christian epic Ben-Hur, died Saturday, April 5, 2008, at the age of 84 with his wife of 64 years at his side. Heston starred in many movies, often portraying great historical figures, including Moses ("The Ten Commandments"), John the Baptist ("The Greatest Story Ever Told"), and Michelangelo ("The Agony and the Ecstasy").
Along with being a great movie star, he was also a great defender of freedom, morality, individual rights, and personal responsibility.

Here are some excerpts from a speech given by Heston on Feb. 16, 2002 at Harvard Law School.

"Winning the Culture War"
By Charlton Heston
I remember my son when he was five, explaining to his kindergarten class what his father did for a living. "My Daddy," he said, "pretends to be people."
There have been quite a few of them. Prophets from the Old and New Testaments, a couple of Christian saints, generals of various nationalities and different centuries, several kings, three American presidents, a French cardinal and two geniuses, including Michelangelo. If you want the ceiling re-painted, I'll do my best.
It's just that there always seems to be a lot of different fellows up here. I'm never sure which one of them gets to talk. Right now, I guess I'm the guy.
As I pondered our visit tonight, it struck me: If my Creator gave me the gift to connect you with the hearts and minds of those great men, then I want to use that same gift now to re-connect you with your own sense of liberty, freedom of thought, and compass for what is right.
Dedicating the memorial at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln said of America, "We are now engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether this nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure." Those words are true again. I believe that we are again engaged in a great civil war, a cultural war that could hijack your birthright to think and say what lives in your heart.
I fear you no longer trust the pulsing lifeblood of liberty inside you … the stuff that made this country rise from wilderness into the miracle that it is.
I've come to understand that a cultural war is raging across our land, in which, with Orwellian fervor, certain acceptable thoughts and speech are mandated.
For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 – long before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else's pride, they called me a racist.
I've worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But, when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe.
I served in World War II, but during a speech when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite. And when I asked people to oppose this cultural persecution, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.
Friends and colleagues say to me, "Chuck, how dare you speak your mind like that?

You are using language not authorized for public consumption!"
But, I am not afraid. If Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be King George's boys – subjects bound to the British crown.
In his book, "The End of Sanity," Martin Gross writes that "blatantly irrational behavior is rapidly being established as the norm in almost every area of human endeavor. There seem to be new customs, new rules, new anti-intellectual theories regularly foisted on us from every direction. Underneath, the nation is roiling. Americans know something without a name is undermining the country, turning the mind mushy when it comes to separating truth from falsehood and right from wrong. And, they don't like it."
What does all this mean? It means that telling us what to think has evolved into telling us what to say, so telling us what to do can't be far behind.
If you talk about race, it does not make you a racist.
If you see distinctions between the genders, it does not make you sexist.
If you think critically about a denomination, it does not make you anti-religion.
If you accept but don't celebrate homosexuality, it does not make you a homophobe.
Don't let America's universities continue to serve as incubators for this rampant epidemic.
But what can you do? How can anyone prevail against such pervasive social subjugation? The answer's been here all along.
I learned it 36 years ago, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., standing with Dr. Martin Luther King and 200,000 people. We simply … disobey. Peaceably, yes.

Respectfully, of course. Nonviolently, absolutely.
When told how to think or what to say or how to behave, we simply disobey social protocol that stifles and stigmatizes personal freedom.
I learned the power of disobedience from Dr. King … who learned it from Gandhi, and Thoreau, and Jesus and every other great man who led those in the right against those with the might.
In that same spirit, I am asking you to disavow cultural correctness with massive disobedience of rogue authority, social directives and onerous laws that weaken personal freedom.
But be careful … it hurts. Disobedience demands that you put yourself at risk. You must be willing to be humiliated … You must be willing to experience discomfort. But disobedience means you must be willing to act, not just talk.
So that this nation may long endure, I urge you to follow in the hallowed footsteps of the great disobediences of history that freed exiles, founded religions, defeated tyrants, and yes, in the hands of an aroused rabble in arms and a few great men, by God's grace, built this country.