Saturday, September 19, 2009
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Antonio Peck didn't know his New York elementary school wanted to change his values. So when his teacher told him to make an environmental room poster for Parent's day, the kindergartner simply combined what he had learned in class with the message on his heart:
*People picking up litter.
*Children holding hands around the globe.
*A white-robed man kneeling in one corner.
Antonio didn't tell anyone that the man in the corner was Jesus, but his teacher guessed it. Later, when his poster hung on a wall along with nearly 80 others, his picture looked different. One corner had been folded up, hiding the kneeling man and part of Antonio's name.
Antonio felt embarrassed and confused. Why shouldn't Jesus who created the world be in the picture? It didn't make sense.
"This is simply a case of requiring students to be responsive to the educational curriculum," explained Paul Battaglia, the attorney who represents Baldwinsville Elementary School in Syracuse in the First Amendment lawsuit. "It is not at all a case of great religious significance, but simply a case where a student was asked to .... perform a particular lesson and give back certain material and failed to do so."(2)
But Antonio did fulfill the assignment. He included the environmental vision of earth stewardship and unity. His only "failure" was his refusal to exclude Jesus.
"He didn't follow the teachers instructions despite being given two opportunities to do so." Battaglia said. It's unfortunate, but the school has particular curriculum standards it must enforce."(3)
Curriculum standards with no flexibility - even kindergarten? Why?
Today, students who refuse to conform to the global indoctrination planned six decades ago, often face increasing pressure, intimidation and censorship. Such punishment works well on most children. In a nation trained to crave human praise more than God's approval, few will endure exclusion or rejection for Jesus' sake.
But Antonio stood his ground and passed the test - twice! He would not remove Jesus from his picture of the earth. A little boy in New York chose to face humiliation and reproof rather than compromise his faith and deny His ever-present Lord.
May we be as brave!
Oh little man of courage. How great art thou in the eyes of the Lord!
You will stand before millions, for great will be your reward in heaven among the saints.
"..in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with boldness, as always, so now also in Christ will be magnified in my body, whether in life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:20-21.
One day in the not to distant future as this world hurtles toward it's appointed destiny, every knee will bough and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge among the nations and settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 2:2-5 NIV
"Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his Majesty! The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth." Isaiah 2:10,11,19. NIV
(1)Berit Kjos, "Brainwashing in America: Purging the Memory of Our Christian Roots," in Hope For The World Update, Gary Kah (Noblesville, Indiana: Hope For The World, Summer 2009)p. 18.
(2)Jason Pierce, "Poster With Picture of Jesus Lands Kindergartner in Court," CCNS news, April 3, 2001.
(3)See "Anti-Christian Bias in Education" (www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/ed-watch/6-10-anti-christian.htm) and "A Federal Curriculum for Preschoolers: Mental Health & Gender Issues in Head Start."
(4)public domain pictures.net
