A Happy (and appropriate!) New Year's Greeting

In this 296th and final blog entry of the year, I have wishes for all of you, outlined in a familiar fashion:

First, I hope that all of you grow in your knowledge of God and His Word, the Bible; and that your desires and zeal are ever-more in keeping with His will.

Next, I hope that your knowledge of mathematics, and of all academic knowledge of value, and your desire to learn and to grow in wisdom, increase in the coming year.

I also hope that you become more positively involved in the politics and activities of your community, being the "salt and light" spoken of in Matthew 5.

May God bless you all in 2009.

Text Messaging Too Much?

According to this foxnews.com article, approximately 2.5 trillion text messages were sent from cell phones worldwide in 2008. A little division shows that this is nearly 400 text messages in one year, for every living person on the earth...or more than one text message per living human per day, all year long.

Are you doing your part? I am not. Neither is my wife, nor my children. Even though the six of us should have combined for about 2300 of the earth's text messages last year, we sent...zero. We share one cell phone, and although it can send text messages, I do not use this feature.

And I am personally wondering: How much money did the phone companies collect for all those messages this year?

So who is sending them? If we assume, somewhat liberally, that only 2 billion of earth's 6.4-or-so billion population has cell phones and use them for texting, that amounts to 1250 text messages, per year, per texting cell phone.

But even that is generous; many of those cell phone users, like myself, send few or no text messages. So let's say 1 billion are "active" text messagers. They would have to account for 2500 text messages per phone per year....about 7 text messages per day.

And then the Law of Averages arrives and reminds us that some of these will be "above" the average of 2500 per year and others will be "below" this level. There must be some who are easily exceeding 5000 text messages per year, a rate of about 14 per day.

If you find that you are consistently sending out so many text messages, do yourself a favor: Cut back. Perhaps your calling plan makes them inexpensive, and perhaps some of them serve a useful purpose (announcing your location or telling someone what you are looking at just now probably don't fit the definition of "useful" here); but surely, if you are at a "thousands-a-year" level, you are wasting your time...and possibly the time of others.

Is Caroline Kennedy "Qualified" to be a Senator?

Let us get to the point: What, exactly, are the qualifications to be a United States Senator?

According to the U.S. Constitution, a senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen for at least nine years, and live in the state the senator represents. So, according to that august document, she is qualified to serve in the United States Senate.

There are other important factors, however, that speak to the qualifications of an individual for government/legislative service. Let us consider some of these:

• Integrity. A legislator should be an honest person both in personal and public dealings.
• Understanding of place. A legislator should recognize the parameters and limitations of the office. He or she should strive to work within those parameters while...
• A spirit of service. A legislator must realize that he/she serves the people whom he/she represents. A legislator must not treat the position as one with which to benefit self (See: Blagojevich, Rod). Within the parameters of the office, service to constituents should be strong and prompt.
  
• Philosophy and worldview. A legislator should demonstrate a philosophy and worldview that is compatible with the United States Constitution and the legislator's state constitution. In general, a legislator should view government as a necessary evil, to be kept minimal in size while able to perform its essential duties.
  
• Knowledge of government. A legislator must educate himself concerning the mechanisms, history, and current affairs of government.
• Ability to cooperate. A legislator is one of many; it behooves each to learn to deal with both allies and opponents.

Then there are other so-called "qualifications" which are not necessarily consistent with the above:

• Ability to raise money, or the ability and desire to spend one's own money.
• Political connections.
• Name recognition.
• Favor from people in high places.

Caroline Kennedy therefore stacks up as follows:

• She meets the Constitutional requirements.
• She meets the list of other so-called qualifications.
• I have my questions, though, about the first list. Is she truly dedicated to the service of the people of New York (this would be a good question to ask re: the resigning N.Y. senator)? Will she strive to stay within the parameters of constitutional government, or seek to continue its expansion into areas never intended by the Constitution? As a democrat, is her philosophy and worldview consistent with the Constitution? How well will she work with members of both parties to do constructive political work?

I am not a New Yorker anymore, but if I were, I would want to know the answers to these questions. And quite frankly, if Caroline Kennedy demonstrates a commitment to small, constitutional government that maximizes the freedoms of the people (in other words, what republicans are supposed to be doing), and is willing to work with other senators and the president to that end, I have no problem with her becoming the next senator from N.Y. I would say the same thing about any other candidate who will be chosen.

And just for the record, Gov. Paterson, if you want to nominate me to take Hillary's place, I will move to N.Y. in a heartbeat.

Hymn of the Week: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Luke 2:30: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation..."

So says Simeon when he beheld the Savior of the world in the arms of His parents in the temple. I know that a song exists that begins with these words (but I could not find it today):

Mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
My heart has been cleansed by thy grace...

It really is a great song (please feel free to let me know if you have a source for these lyrics). But it got me to thinking if there were any hymns with this idea for a title.

Again, not that I could find. But I was reminded of this classic verse from a famous hymn:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Let us remember Who we are "looking at": The King and Creator, the One Who was both the babe in the manger and the Savior on the cross.

Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Choice

The tension between divine sovereignty and human choice is one of the great paradoxical realities of human existence.

This quote by Spurgeon, which I found in a book I am reading, does a great job of making this paradox more palatable to the human mind...by using an example from mathematics. Those who have studied non-Euclidean geometry will find this most interesting.

"If...I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is foreordained, that is true; and if I find, in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring." (quoted in Twelve Ordinary Men, by John MacArthur, from The Autobiography of Charles H. Spurgeon, 4 vols., 1:177)

Hymn of the Week: Angels from the Realms of Glory

These words were first published by one James Montgomery on Christmas Eve of 1816. As with many hymns, there are more original stanzas to the lyrics than are contained in most hymnals. An additional verse was written in 1855 by Isaac Gregory Smith.

Notice the refrain: "Come and worship...Christ, the newborn King." This is at the heart of Christmas: That Christ, the King of the Universe, was born in a lowly manger—but He was born to be worshiped. Not merely admired, nor respected, nor eulogized—He is to be worshiped. The angels do it; the saints in heaven do it; do we?

Let us worship Him this Christmas season.

Angels from the Realms of Glory

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Refrain

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:

Refrain

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.

Refrain

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.

Refrain

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Refrain

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:

Refrain

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.

Refrain

Note: In place of the verse “Sin­ners, wrung with true re­pent­ance…” some hymn­als use the fol­low­ing, writ­ten in 1855 by Isaac Greg­o­ry Smith:

Lord of Heaven, we adore Thee,
God the Father, God the Son,
God the Spirit, One in glory,
On the same eternal throne.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lord of Heaven, Three in One.

Who Was James the son of Alphaeus?

If you are a Bible scholar, or learned the little song in Sunday School years ago, you know that he was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He may in fact be the most obscure disciple, as the only times he is mentioned in Scripture are in the four lists of disciples found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts.

Reading MacArthur's Twelve Ordinary Men, I came across this series of quotes concerning James the son of Alphaeus:

"If he ever wrote anything, it is lost to history. If he ever asked Jesus any questions or did anything to stand out from the group, Scripture does not record it. He never attained any degree of fame or notoriety. He was not the kind of person who stands out. He was utterly obscure. He even had a common name.

"...His lack of prominence is even reflected in his nickname. In Mark 15:40 he is referred to as 'James the Less.'

"...Eternity will reveal the names and the testimonies of these, like James the Less, whom this world barely remembers and knows nothing about.

"...In any case, we can be certain that he became a powerful preacher like the others. He surely performed 'the signs of an apostle...in signs and wonders and mighty deeds' (2 Corinthians 12:12). And his name will be inscribed on one of the gates of the heavenly city." (pp. 170-173)

The moral? God can use even the quietest, most obscure, diminutive people to do mighty works for Himself. If you have ever felt that you do not "have what it takes" to do the Lord's service, remember that all of the disciples were ordinary men, and some of them even easy-to-overlook ordinary men. And God used them mightily!

The Ironies of Freedom

A few days ago, some foolish "reporter" threw his shoes at President Bush during the president's visit to Baghdad. In his culture, this is a sign of contempt.

The man is now in custody, as he should be. He should be put through the justice system of the country and punished consistent with its legal codes. This will serve as a positive sign to his people that the government is capable of dealing with those who break the law in a fair and just manner.

Meanwhile, far-left elements in our country and many in the Arab world are hailing this moron as a hero. One Egyptian man has even offered his daughter in marriage to her (and the daughter reportedly looks forward to this). They see him as bold and courageous.

The irony is this: If he had done the same thing under Saddam Hussein—and keep in mind what man is most responsible for the downfall of his regime—he would now be dead...unless, of course, Saddam wasn't through torturing him yet. (Note: It wouldn't be the same sort of thing called "torture" at Guantanamo; this would be "real torture" that our president and vice-president would never approve.)

The irony continues: President Bush—the man who is most responsible for this moron's freedom—shows no anger at him. The man who provided the freedom is assailed by the man who benefited from the freedom; the assailant receives praise while the provider is, at best, ignored—and at worst, mocked.

Our president is a class act. Even if you disagree with his policies, please admit that truth.

Hillary Clinton's Replacement: A Suggestion

Several years ago, I contemplated throwing my hat into the ring to run for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the retiring Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Then I realized I was only 29 and had no money or name recognition, so I scrapped that idea. Some former first lady ended up winning the seat; like me, she did not live in New York when she made her decision.

But now she doesn't want it anymore, and is resigning to take a cabinet position under the fellow that, last I checked, she couldn't stand. Politics make strange...um, maybe I should skip that...

However, I have heard that Gov. Paterson has narrowed down the field of replacements to twelve. I would like to suggest a thirteenth: ME. Back in 1999, I authored an open letter which included, in part, my qualifications for the seat. Here is a part of that letter:

"I am a New Yorker by birth; I spent one full year of my life as a citizen of that great city (my first year, by the way); I love upstate NY as well; I used to own an "I [heart] New York" T-shirt; and I have always been a fan of the greatest baseball team of all time-the New York Yankees. I feel that as a conservative Christian republican, I have a lot to offer the people of New York: integrity, character, direction, and a huge affinity for bona fide New York bagels. I can appeal to the Catholics (with a name like Matesevac, certainly); I can appeal to the Jews (see previous bagel comment combined with my knowledge of OT feasts); I can appeal to the diehard sports fans (see previous Yankees comment) .... I really AM a New Yorker; I really AM a Yankees fan; and I really do love a good bagel."

Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that the governor of New York will almost certainly nominate a democrat, which irritates me, as this shows a closed mind, discrimination, and unspeakable political bias. I was born in New York!

In the event that he changes his mind, I am available for the job at a moment's notice.