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All articles on this web site may be reprinted, but only exactly as found here and with "Joseph Harris"
and "www.miniedition.net" included in the body.
The Backside of the
Desert contains brief devotional thought from scripture.
Joseph
Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article
may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear). His
Writings have appeared on WorldNet Daily, Sword of the Lord, Mississippi Baptist, Land of the Free, Pulpit Helps and various
other publications.
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Number 7 The Backside of the
Desert May
4, 2011
Backside of the Desert and A Dose of Reality are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
to receive by regular mail. www.miniedition.net
$86,400
What if someone promised to deposit $86,400.00 into your bank account each day? You would ask ‘What’s
the catch?” The catch is, all money left over at the end of the day would be lost. But remember, the next day, another
$86,400.00 would be deposited again. Would you try to spend the entire amount each day in order to keep from losing any of
it?
Actually, this does happen to everyone each day...sort of. Every 24 hour period contains 86,400 seconds of
time and time is a priceless commodity. The time you do not invest wisely each day is gone forever.
How much time do you spend with God each day? We must not only make the time, but it must be quality time
in the presence of God. Real prayer takes time. Reading the bible and waiting for God to speak from His word requires time.
In this fast paced modern world, it is all too easy to never have enough time in important areas of life. Family time often
suffers, and personal relaxation away from stress and the cares of life is often non-existent.
As always, the bible has a word and example to follow. Paul himself is a good example. He worked full time in the ministry
and supported himself by making tents. A study of his life and missionary journeys will reveal that he was extremely busy
with little time to spare, yet he stayed in communion with God. Personal time with God ranked high on his list of priorities.
His fellowship with God helps explain his positive attitude in suffering and his tireless determination to press toward the
mark. He received strength by consistently spending time with God for renewal and refreshing. Perhaps William Longstaff said
it best with these well known words:Take time to be holy,
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus
alone;
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
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Number 6 The Backside of the
Desert August
7, 2010
Backside of the Desert and A Dose of Reality are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
to receive by regular mail. www.miniedition.net
All This From A Gallon of Milk
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little
time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14
Nothing brings me back to reality like going into the grocery store and buying a gallon of milk. I never buy milk without
first looking at the date. Occasionally, the date jumps off the label and hits me in the face, especially this time of year.
It shocks me into the realization that the year over half gone. This thought then leads me to think about three things: May
age, my accomplishments and future plans.
The words of James become more meaningful as each year passes. I am reminded that my life is probably over half way lived,
unless I live to 102 years of age. As a child, life was eternal. As a teenager, 30 was old. In youth, the years dragged by.
Then, the years passed, I matured, settled down and accepted the responsibilities of life. Now the years fly by. Life seems
to pass more quickly as I grow older, because I now have something to measure time with, something I did not have as a child:
more yesterdays. (Why in the world do I keep buying milk?)
I then think of my accomplishments. What have I done with my life? What have I really accomplished for God? (We have to
be careful and not measure ourselves by others and their achievements). My success as a Christian will be determined by fulfilling
God's will for my life and not by doing all the things I think good Christians should do. What specific calling do you have
on your life? (I hate milk).
What can I accomplish with the time I have left? If the Lord wills, I still have a few years left on this earth to serve
Him. I am now 51. What if I was 61 or 71? Winston Churchill didn't shake the world until he was a senior citizen. Chaucer
did not write the Canterbury Tales until he was 60 and Moses did not begin his ministry of deliverance until he was 80. There
is still opportunity. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stated: "For age is opportunity no less, than youth itself, though in another
dress." (I vow from this day henceforth to never buy milk again).
Now when I go to the grocery store, I stay away from the dairy section, unless I am ready for a reality check and some
heavy thinking.
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Number 5 The Backside of the
Desert July
27, 2010
Backside of the Desert and A Dose of Reality are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
to receive by regular mail. www.miniedition.net
When You Are About To Collapse....
"If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the
land of peace wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?" Jeremiah 12:5
Have you ever felt as if you were at the end of your rope and did not know what to do? An old saying goes like this: "When
you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on." When I was in college, the last few weeks of a school year seemed
too intense. My thought always was, "The end of the semester is almost here, school will be out and I can relax. No tests,
no more research papers, no deadlines. I will be accountable to no one."
Maybe you have just experienced a difficult time in your life. You may even still be in the middle of difficulties. Do
you feel that you have been put through the grinder? If so, then brace yourself. It probably won't be the last time. (This
is not meant to discourage, but encourage. Read on.) There may even be a larger grinder somewhere in your future. In the previous
verse, Jeremiah is saying, "Hey, if you have raced against other men on foot and they wore you out, then how do you think
you will do when racing on foot against a horse?"
We all get weary in life and even get weary when doing right. We can get tired of hearing others encourage us to keep on
keeping on. Just remember, every problem, trouble, grief and discouragment God has brought you through just might be a foot
race, preparing you to run against a horse someday. If your current trouble is severe, rest assured, your previous foot races
have prepared you for this trial. Encouraging words in the middle of discouragment often miss their mark, but take heart.
When you run against horses in the future, the footmen and all they put you through now, will not seem so bad. This realization
in itself is encouragment for today's race."And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not." Galatians 6:9
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Number 4 The Backside of the
Desert January
20, 2010
Backside of the Desert and Mini Edition are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
to receive by regular mail. www.miniedition.net
When Ye Be Angry….
“Be ye angry, and sin not; let now the sun go down on your wrath.” Eph. 4:26
Anger is something we all have to deal with in life. Anger usually results when someone infringes on our
rights. We get angry when someone slanders us because WE have a right to a good name and reputation. We get angry when the
motorist ahead does not signal their turn off the road because they were inconsiderate of OUR safety. We get upset with long
check out lines because WE have places to go and things to do. Sometimes our anger seems justified.
Ephesians 4:26 is not a command for the Christian to get angry. Anger is not something we schedule into our
lives; it usually just happens without warning. Notice the context. Verse 25 is a command to stop lying. Verse 28 is a command
to stop stealing. Sandwiched in between is the subject of anger. Unlike lying and stealing, which are premeditated, anger
is an emotional response. We are commanded to cease from lying and stealing because we can refrain from these actions
(regardless of what modern society may say about man’s inability to control sinful urges). Anger, however is not something
we do: it is something that happens. We get angry. Getting angry is not a matter of IF, but WHEN.
Lying and stealing are always wrong, but anger in and of itself is not always sinful. Jesus was angry with
the moneychangers and drove them from the temple. He was also angry when the Pharisees questioned his authority to heal on
the Sabbath. In both of these instances, the Scriptures tell us that Jesus was angry, but His was a righteous anger against
sin. However, Ephesians 4:26 is not speaking of righteous anger.
We can refrain from lying and stealing, but we cannot always keep from becoming angry. Paul is giving guidelines on what
to do when anger happens. He is not saying, “Be ye angry” but is saying, “When ye be angry” do not
sin. Why? Because the potential to commit sin is greater when we are angry. In fits of anger, people do and say things they
might not otherwise do or say. In anger, people curse, profane the Lord’s name, say hurtful words, attack others, and
sometimes commit murder. Anger can be an Achilles heel, so Paul is giving a warning to stay on guard and deal with it quickly
by using the phrase, “let not the sun go down on your wrath” which is an admonition to get it right within 24
hours. Even if we can stay in control at the first sign of anger, we may not be able to remain in control if we remain in
an angry state too long. Paul is hinting that one
day may be all we can handle before we begin to commit sins of the heart (and in other ways) against those
with whom we are angered.
Do not minimize your anger. Do not excuse it by claiming that you have a short fuse or quick temper. When someone infringes
on one of your “rights“, ask
yourself how important is that right. Rely on God’s strength and the power of Scripture to respond
as Jesus would respond. And if you do experience righteous anger against sin, display it in a spirit of love, for “the
wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
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Number 3The Backside of the Desert December 9, 2009
Backside of the Desert and Mini Edition are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
to receive by regular mail. www.miniedition.net
Believing Without Seeing
Hebrews 11:1-6Do you believe that John Quincy Adams was a real person? Do you believe that he served as a United States
President? How would you answer these questions, since he lived so long ago and no one alive today has ever seen him? There
are no eye witnesses. Yet, no one today seriously doubts he ever lived.
Do you believe that someone named Jesus actually lived almost 2000 years ago? Why? No one has ever seen Him.
There are no eye witnesses available. Jesus pronounced a blessing upon those who would believe in Him without ever actually
seeing Him. “…blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29). Notice the following
three reasons to believe in the existence of Jesus.
His Descendants. We know John Quincy Adams lived because he has descendants verifiable by records. His family
tree bears record to his existence. If for no other reason than this, anyone who doubted the existence of John Quincy Adams
could check the records.
Jesus also has descendants. He never had any earthly children, but the number of his spiritual descendants
has grown into the multiplied millions since His death. This fact alone is one of the greatest proofs of His existence.
His Deeds. Consider the works and deeds of John Quincy Adams. He was responsible for developing a policy
known as The American System and his appointees in cabinet and judicial positions exerted influence that lived on.
Jesus has left a more powerful legacy of works, deeds, and miracles. Not even the greatest Old Testament
prophet can claim to have performed all the miracles performed by Jesus. He also demonstrated the greatest example of forgiveness
to the world when He died on the cross with a forgiving spirit toward those who killed Him.
His Documentation. History books are available for those who desire written proof for the existence of John
Quincy Adams. Personal documents are available in museums proving the historicity of John Quincy Adams.
The Holy Bible is documentation of the life of Jesus. The Scriptures not only give an account of some of
the life and ministry of Jesus, they also produce faith for man to believe in Christ. Proof is available for those who have
eyes to see and ears to hear and you can believe in Jesus without ever having seen Him.
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Number 2 The Backside of the
Desert November 19, 2009
Backside of the Desert and Mini Edition are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
to receive by regular mail.
Never Ending Supply (A Thanksgiving Devotion)
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians
4:19
An ancient Greek legend speaks of a horn that had magical powers. The Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty as it was sometimes
called, could be filled with whatever the owner wished. It was never empty. It was always full of fruit, grain or whatever
was the desire of the owner. Obviously, we do not believe in Greek mythology, however, this principle of never-ending supply
is found in our text.The Source. God is always the source. Everything we have or could hope to have, comes from God. Every
gift is supplied by God, either directly or indirectly.
Why were you able to open your eyes this morning? It was because God sustained your life through the night and blessed
you with the gift of another day. Why does your heart continue to beat, circulating blood throughout your body? Scientists
and medical doctors have been unable to find a battery in the human body. God is the power source of human life.The Supply.
The word used for supply in the text means “to fill up.” This scripture promises that God will fill us up to the
top in supplying what we need in life. God will not sparingly supply our needs; His supply will match the demand.
The Bible even speaks of God’s furnishings as being abundant, or more than enough. In Ephesians 3:20, God’s
ability to provide is spoken of as being “…exceeding abundant above all that we ask or think…” Think
of pouring water into a measuring cup. The cup can be filled to half, one third, or full to the top. It can also be filled
until it spills over the top. God is able to supply for us until His provisions spill over the top, and He usually does.The
Savior. All promises and provisions are secured by the Savior, Jesus Christ, through His work on the cross and His resurrection
from the grave. God delivers, protects and supplies for His children “…according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.” The supply is never ending because the Savior is never ending. “…He ever liveth to make intercession…”
(Hebrews 7:25). Jesus is alive forever to supply our needs as well.
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Number 1 The Backside of the
Desert November
4, 2009
Backside of the Desert and Mini Edition are sent free to all who request at joharris@comcast.net or write to Joseph Harris 77 Neil Road Ellisville, MS 39437
Don't Quit!
Nehemiah 4:1-14
Nehemiah is probably the most outstanding example
of perseverance in the Bible. He persevered in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem in the
face of great difficulties.
Another man in more recent history persevered 28 years before achieving greatness. First, he lost his job
in 1832. One year later, he failed in a business venture. In 1835, his sweetheart died; and the next year, he suffered from
a nervous breakdown. Seven years later, he entered a bid for Congress and was defeated. He was however, elected to Congress
in 1846, but lost five years later. Six more years passed, he tried again and was defeated in a bid for the Senate. In 1856,
he lost the nomination for vice-president. Two years later, he was defeated again for the Senate. Then, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln
was elected President of the United States of America.
Though Nehemiah did not have to persevere 28 years to rebuild the wall, the setbacks he suffered were just
as powerful as those of Lincoln. Actually, Nehemiah's problems may have been more severe, since he was fighting a spiritual
battle for the glory of God.
Nehemiah was successful because he remained focused on his goal. When he and the people received word that
their enemies were about to attack, he rallied the people together and stationed them by family around the weakened and exposed
areas of the wall. When the enemy heard their attack plan was known to the Israelites, they withdrew. "It came to pass,
when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of
us to the wall, everyone unto his own work." Neh. 4:15.
The people remained focused on the goal at hand. They did not stop to have a praise and thanksgiving service,
though they were surely thankful in their hearts. They did not get sidetracked and build a stone memorial for this day to
be remembered forever. Instead, they immediately went back to work to finish the job at hand.
The writer in Hebrews gives a word of encouragement in perseverance. "Let us run with patience the race that
is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured
the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." 12:1, 2.
When you feel that you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot in the end of the
rope and hold on. Hang in there. Don't quit! Victory is coming, for “we shall reap, if we faint
not.” Galatians 6:9. Stay with the job at hand!
The
God of Christmas
It's that time of year: carols, bells, shopping, tinsel, nativities, attacks on nativities, Santa, etc. In other
words, Christmas time. I often feel like the Lone Ranger this time year because of mixed feelings. I KNOW the
incarnation of Christ in flesh is important, for if God had not become man, we would have no Savior. I also know that
much of what is connected with Christmas has nothing to do with His incarnation, such as Santa, elves, gifts, and the list
goes on ad nauseum. Plus, no objective student of church history can deny the unscriptural origin of Christmas
trees, Winter solstice feast of Saturnalia on December 25, and other pagan connections that were "Christianized" for us by
the Catholic institution, then evolved into our modern day somewhat Christian holiday.
Christmas has pagan, secular, and Christian elements. When the ACLU, People United for the Separation of Church and
State, and other arrogant, anti God institutions try to ban the Christian displays of Christmas from "sacred" government
property, it makes my blood boil. Their interpretation of the First Amendment is biased and agenda driven. On
the other hand, some Christians decry the commercialization of Christmas, with "Let's put Christ back in Christmas" as their
mantra. That is equivilent to saying the Palestinians should get their land back. How can they get back
what they never had and how can you put Christ back where he has not been? You see, I'm not convinced Christ has
ever been the center of Christmas. To be sure, He is mentioned, even included.......but so is Santa. The question
is, who has more visibility at Christmas, Jesus or Santa. You can answer this question by counting the amount of times
people ask kids what Santa is bringing them, as opposed to the total number of times they ask kids about the birth of Jesus.
I know I am a spoil sport but hear me out. I am about to reveal the real God of Christmas, and it is not Santa.
The real focus and purpose and reason for the season is found downtown. MAMMON is the driving force. Buying
and selling is done more than anything else during this season. Buying and selling is the focus. Don't get
me wrong. We give gifts at our house and include some of what we have inherited for Christmas in our American culture.
But our focus is Jesus, not Santa. Our focus is also giving to others, not just buying and selling, though some buying
is done in order to give. The challenge is to keep the proper perspective and make sure mammon does not receive the
adoration and undue attention it usually receives this time of year.
Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern
Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and
www.miniedition.net also appear)
February
14, 2007 Mini Edition by Joseph
Harris Number 170
And the Answer is...........God
There are three great questions in life that have
been asked by philosophers, preachers, humanists, scientists, farmers, and well, basically, people from all walks in life
have asked these questions. From where did I come? Where am I going? What is my purpose? Though phrased
differently by some, those are the main questions asked when searching for truth and the meaning of life. At the risk
of sounding simplistic and unscholarly (which is not difficult for me to do) I say the answer to all three questions is God.
Let me explain by asking the questions again.
From where did man come? What is the
origin of man? There are really only two options for this one.They are:
God- God is creator of everything. As Paul states in Acts 17, when
preaching to the intellectuals on Mars Hill, God is the author of plant life, animal life, human life and eternal life.
God created the dirt, then made man from the dirt. We are sustained and nourished from the dirt. Both plants and
animals get nourishment from the dirt and man eats plants and animals. Everything we eat is nothing more than chemically
changed dirt.
Goo- Or maybe we came from nothing that exploded, then formed at the right
temperature, on the right planet, in the right substance, at the right time. Maybe life came from the random chance
of proteins and acids that formed into a goo, which then produced a cell which then evolved into a cluster of cells, and then
grew, eventually, into Grampa. Than again, maybe not.
What is the purpose of man? Again, there
are only two options for answers and they are:
Glorify God- To live for God is to put Him first in all decisions and actions.
He is to be the center of your thinking and philosophy of life. He is to be acknowledged and worshipped daily, bowing
to His will in all matters, events, and circumstances.
Glorify Self- You either live for yourself or someone else. You tend
to the needs of others or yourself. In serving others, we serve God. In serving self, we glorify self and not
God. Self must be dethroned and God enthroned.
Where is man going? And again, there
are two basic answers which are:
Glory- The eternal presence of God is the ultimate destination of the believer.
After death and judgment, then the eternal presence of God will be enjoyed by all believers on a new earth in a new Heaven.
There is no other destiny, except:
Grave- By grave, I mean more than a burial plot. I am speaking of death,
hell and the grave, or the second death. All the lost in hell will eventually be delivered to the great white throne
judgment, then be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. They will then be FOREVER separated from God,
yet retain a state of consciousness. The knowledge and experience of eternal separation from God is the greatest punishment
of the lost.
When GOD is the answer to life's three greatest questions,
then hope abounds. To use a cliche, NO GOD, NO HOPE; KNOW GOD, KNOW HOPE.
Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern
Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and
www.miniedition.net also appear)
January 27, 2006 Mini Edition by Joseph
Harris Number 152
Sense and Sensitivity
Sensitivity is a buzz word for the 21st century.
We should be sensitive to the needs and plight of others. We should be compassionate when others are hurting and
should be sensitive when there is potential for offense. I say this in all sincerity with no trace of sarcasm.
Christianity has proven itself to be the most sensitive and caring religion in existence. There is an abundance of hospitals
bearing denominational Christian names. Christianity expresses itself fully in ministering to the spiritual and physical
needs of others. Jesus was moved with compassion for the mulititudes that followed him and miraculously fed them on
more than one occasion. He also alleviated physical suffering by healing many. He wept with his friends Mary and
Martha, when their brother Lazarus had died, then he restored life to him.
Having said all of the above, now comes the
hard truth. Sense should be used with sensitivity. Extremism seems to dominate in this area. People are
super sensitive about race, gender, religion and politics. No one, especially a Christian, should seek to be offensive.
I have noticed those who rant about being sensitive to the minority, care little about the feelings of the majority.
True sensitivity is consistent and considers all, acknowledging also that not everyone will always be happy or satisfied.
100 % placation of all is impossible.
Sensitization. There is an attempt to sensitize
people who are perceived as being "hateful" and intolerant. These "haters" are sometimes required by an
employer to attend sensitivity seminars intended to educate in the areas of sexual orientation and gender discrimination.
There are attempts to sensitize the population to the importance
of the vanishing spotted owl, endangered Alaskan caribou, diminishing rain forests, freshwater turtles,
etc.
We are encouraged to understand the "peaceful" religion
of Islam, study the Koran and not practice profiling among young Arab males, thereby being sensitive and not offensive.
Christians are supposed to give up time honored traditions
of Christmas displays and greetings, proving sensitivity to those who may not be Christian.
Desensitization. There is also a desensitizing program
alive and well. Through incremental exposure in the news and entertainment industry, we are desensitized to the abnormality
of homosexuality and told we must accept as normal what less than 5% of the total population practices. Hollywood's
recent gem of perversion, Brokeback Mountain, is a fine example. This film contains queer cowboys. What's next?
A love story about truckers? The latest piece of propaganda in the news is a story of how straight couples across America
are turning out in droves to see this "love" story.
We are desensitized to the horror of murder through
abortion when we are shown how poor downtrodden women will be saddled with unwanted children and die in horrible back alley
deaths if murder once again becomes illegal. Abortion is called a right, a choice and even birth control. Genocide
is also population control, but it is the instrument of dictators, tyrants and despots and is wrong.
We are slowly being desensitized and re-educated in
gender and gender roles in society. There are fundamental differences between males and females, yet gender confusion
is not uncommon today. We are told there are some "gender neutral" individuals who aren't sure of their
sex and/or sexual orientation and are in a quandry trying to decide "what" they are. It's really a simple matter. Boys
and men are males and girls and women are females. Men are to be decisive and masculine, protecting and
providing for their families while providing spiritual leadership in the home and church. Women give and nurture life,
pursuing Motherhood as their highest calling while providing stability as the heart of the family, being a keeper at
home and supporting the husband in his leadership.
Sensitivity is important and Christians should be
senstive, but sensitivity should be guided by good old, plain, down to earth common sense. Common sense will also guard
against being desensitized.
Joseph Harris
is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article may be reprinted in whole,
as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)
The proverbial frog in the pot of water is now boiling.
August 2, 2005 Mini Edition by Joseph Harris Number 147
Things You Cannot Say In America, Thanks To Political Correctness
(A follow-up to "News Headlines You Never See")
Have you ever known anyone with a martyr's complex?
I mean, someone who enjoyed persecution and actually felt worthless in life unless they were being maligned. These
hapless individuals even manufacture persecution during slow seasons. Now if you happen to be one of these individuals,
or would like to be persecuted, boiled in oil, flayed alived and then beheaded, this article is for you.
In the Kingdom of Political Correctness, some things
are just no-no. Truth, honesty and facts are nowhere to be found in this land of make-believe. Expediency, self
promotion and personal enrichment are usually the motivations for being PC. Purveyors of PC lie, dodge and twist
the truth, re-phrasing sentences and re-defining well established definitions in order to change thinking on issues. Residents
in this fairy tale kingdom can be found in government, universities and colleges, pulpits, schools, and any place
of influence. They eat at the foundation of absolute truth, especially as found in Scripture and shoot their venom
at all who oppose and expose their insidious ways. They have succeeded in silencing many who might otherwise speak
the truth in boldness, having beaten them down to believe that "fairness" and "compassion" are paramount and must
reign as the standard used to judge what is spoken or printed.
To ensure you end up thrown into the torture
dungeon of the Kingdom of Political Correctness, you might begin by spouting off at the mouth with some phrases that have
to do with gender roles and sexual identity. These subjects will ensure your place on the stretching rack. To
get you started, here are some things you cannot say in America:
"Men and women are different"
"Homosexuality is a sin"
"Islam is not a religion of peace, but produces terrorists"
"Jesus" (spoken while leading in a public prayer)
"Mothers should stay at home and make motherhood their career"
"The Republican party is betraying conservatives"
"Illegal Aliens" (instead of Mexican immigrants)
"The Catholic church is not the true Christian church"
"Palestinian gunmen are nothing more than murdering terrorists"
"George Bush is betraying conservative Christians"
"Home educated students excell above traditional students"
"Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are racists"
"The Constitution is not a living document"
So there you have it. Things to say, just
for starters, that are sure to bring reproach in today's multi-cultural, pluralistic, God-hating, Christ-denying society.
See you in the dungeon.
Joseph Harris is the Chairman of Biblical Studies
at Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph
Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20
July 21, 2005 Mini Edition by Joseph Harris Number 146
News Headlines You Never See
There is a prevailing thought circulating
about media bias. Some think news outlets are unfair and biased in their reporting. Just in case this is true,
I have come up with some news headlines I would like to see. Some of these reflect the media just reporting
the truth as it is, and other headlines are reflective of what ought to be. Muse over the following headlines, then
email me your own headlines at joharris@comcast.net so I may do some musing myself.
Senate Approves Federal Judge Appointee With Pro-Life Record
President Bush Closes Borders, Revokes Amnesty Policy
ACLU Sues School On Behalf Of Members Of Bible Club
Teddy Kennedy Attacked By Media
Israeli Suicide Bomber Kills 10 Palestinians In Supermarket Explosion
Muslim Religious Leaders Excommunicate Islamic Terrorists
Teddy Kennedy Fails Driving Test; Passes Swimming Exam
United Nations Denounces Palestinian Terrorism Against Israel
Supreme Court Hands Down Majority Decision Not Based On International
Law
Test Scores In Public Schools Through The Roof
Planned Parenthood Sponsors Abstinence Rally, Highlighting Sessions That
Condemn Abortion
New Study By The American Psychological Association Proves Homosexuality
Is A Chosen, Deviant, Self Destructive Lifestyle
Poll Shows The Majority Of Americans Believe The United States Not Responsible
For The 911 Attack
Commission Of University History Professors Publishes Book Documenting
The Judeo-Christian Foundation Of America
Airport Security Screeners Use Profiling To Detect Terrorists
Teddy Kennedy Becomes A Born Again Believer And Apologizes For 40 Years
Of Liberal Activism
And finally, the headline I would love to see:
America Becomes A Nation That Exalts Righteousness.
Joseph Harris is the Chairman of
Biblical Studies at Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article may be reprinted in whole, as long
as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)
Forget the grain of salt. Take the news with a
saltshaker.
March 1, 2005 Mini Edition By JosephHarris Number
141
A Question of Responsibility
According to a news report from Orlando Florida,
a new craze has hit teenagers: garage jumping. Thrill seekers are jumping from one parking garage roof to another,
with some roofs as high as six stories or 80 feet. As expected with such lunacy, some have fallen and been injured.
The family of one boy who fell and fractured his
shoulder, is filing a lawsuit against the city and parking garage for not having a fence to keep jumpers from jumping.
The city has since erected some length of fence, but a jumper can still get around the fence and jump. The suing
family stated that the garage should "take responsibility" before another jumper jumps. Huhhh? How about this
for a solution: put up a sign that says "Don't Jump, Idiot", but then that would be too common sense of an approach.
Plus, it may offend idiots.
If anyone is crazy enough to take such a risk,
they will go find an unfenced building somewhere else and jump anyway. Where does responsibility begin? It
begins with the individual.
Where does the placing of blame stop? Should
we place fences on streets and highways to keep people from walking in front of moving vehicles? If not,
can local or state governments be sued for not restricting walkers who may get struck by automobiles?
Remember the individual who sued McDonalds over the hot coffee? After
placing a hot cup of coffee between the legs while driving, this person received burns from splashed coffee. McDonalds
then began placing on each cup warning signs of "Hot Coffee" (which is tantamount to "Cold Ice") when they should have spent
a few cents more and also printed "Don't Place Between Legs or Knees While Driving" on each cup.
The shirking of responsibility is nothing
new. In the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve both did their share of placing blame. Eve told God the serpent gave
her the fruit to eat, so it was his fault. Adam placed a double blame with one stroke and told God the problem was the
woman He(God) gave to Adam. When Aaron, the brother of Moses was asked where he got the golden calf,
his answer, "Well we put our gold in this fire, and out came this calf", like the calf made itself. And last but not
least, King Ahab called Elijah the one who "troubleth Israel", yet Israel's real problem was Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel.
When people refuse to take responsibility
for their actions, then everyone else is fair game to blame. Couples divorce with a no fault divorce. If it was
not the fault of either involved, then how did it happen. A young person robs a store, but it's not his fault. His
defense attorney later claims society has failed the youth. The list could go on and on. There are sometimes external circumstances
that contribute to, or predispose individuals to make certain decisions, but ultimately, each individual has to
be held accountable for his or her own actions. Accountability, followed by acknowlegment and confession, reduces
problems and paves the way for making right decisions in the future.
Joseph Harris is
the Chairman of Biblical Studies at Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article may be reprinted in whole,
as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)
Acceptance of personal sin is neccessary for salvation.
The Obvious Media Bias
Does anyone in their right mind doubt the obvious media
bias toward liberalism? Anyone, liberal or conservative, who is fairly objective, can see the truth with closed
eyes. For those with their heads in the sand, this previous Presidential election should have been an
eye opener.
(1)First, look at the Dan Rather fiasco. Rather
was caught red handed. Period. He reported and initially defended a lie. His liberal agenda helped
him to convince himself the National Guard story about President Bush was true. So much for "reporting" the news.
(2)Next, look at the pre-election
polls and their prediction of a Kerry win. The "polls" showed the race as razor thin or with Kerry having an edge.
Of course, they were dead wrong. Is anyone going to question why? Does the media care? The news
people care only as long as it promotes their agenda, or man. As I said the entire previous week, it was nothing
more than propaganda hype.
(3)Then, the scandalous exit polls
were introduced, with the obvious purpose of influencing voters. These "polls" showed Kerry winning with a wide margin. Obviously,
those polled after leaving the booths, lied about who they voted for......or maybe, just maybe, those polled were target
groups in certain geographical areas. And the answer is....the majority of those polled were
women from metropolitan areas, which means it was a manipulated poll. Case closed. Whether those in
the news media were responsible for or involved in these polls is not the issue. They were all too
eager to accept the skewed results and happily report them.
(4)There is also the matter of the
media jumping on the munitions looting story in Iraq, which by the way, was all a bunch of houey (pronounced whooeey).
No matter. It helped to cast doubt on the President's leadership and try to achieve their goal: stop
Bush at any cost, even the cost of the truth.
(5)Notice also the pass given to the
darling Kerry on his senate and Vietnam record. This obvious traitor to America was always handled with kid gloves on
these issues. The ones treated as traitors were the many honorable Vets who dared to question the golden boy and his
patriotic Purple Hearts.
(6)Did anyone also notice how reluctant
the networks were to call a victory for President Bush? At the beginning of the night, when it didn't matter, they were
calling states right and left for George Bush. But when the number of electoral votes got within range of the magic
"270", suddenly the declarations stopped. Answer: obvious media bias.
If they were not so biased, they might begin to understand
the people of this country. If they would stop shoving their Godless agenda down America's throat, and begin to listen
to the average person, they would realize THEY are out of step with reality. The message sent on homosexual marriage
was loud and clear. Notice all the marriage amendments that were passed in the 11 states on election night.
He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear. The average person in this country does not want perversion
exalted, condoned and endorsed. Wake up ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN (and all others including print media). Come back
to reality. The political conservative revolution has just begun.
Joseph Harris
is the Chairman of Biblical Studies at Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.(This article
may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear)
And lest we forget, though a conservative revolution is refreshing, only
a return to God will effect the real change that is needed in this country. II Chronicles 7:14
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