Field of Daisies

One Nation Under God

It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. So why is there such a fuss about having "In God We Trust" on our money and the name of God in the Pledge of Allegiance? I think we should make a stand.

If you agree, pass it on.... :-)

Torture in the Military? Say not so!

Excuse me while I get political for a moment... but isn't war about killing people and breaking things? And hasn't our military always used some forms of torture to extract information from the enemy? I would think they would have to, since the enemy is not going to roll over with a simple "Please...with sugar on top...?"

Now I agree that sodomy and rape is going over the top, and those directly involved should be punished, but--and this is just my two cents worth--shouldn't the military be allowed to do what they have to do in order to protect and defend us? Come on, people! This is war, not the Boy Scouts!

Or, could it be that this is merely a ploy by those who would hinder President Bush in an election year...? I hope (and pray) there are enough Americans who are still independent thinkers that this kind of ploy will be ineffective in the end.

Note: I heard a report on the radio the other day about an Iraqi woman that had been caught having an adulterous affair. She was told she had the choice of being executed or being a suicide bomber "for the sake of her country." She chose to be a suicide bomber. The man with whom she had the affair apparently received no punishment whatsoever. This is the face of our enemy....

The Passion

For anyone who has heard of Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion, to be released next spring, you've probably already heard of the controversy surrounding it. The story of the last hours of Jesus' life has been told and retold many times on screen, but this one is taking harsh criticism before it ever reaches the public.

Mel Gibson has set out to make the most true-to-life film regarding the crucifixion of Jesus that has ever been made. And while this story is an ancient one, it still draws a crowd of "stone throwers."

Apparently, this film has already created a stir in some Roman Catholic and Jewish circles. Accusations have been hurled at Mel Gibson, not only for making an anti-Semitic movie, but for inciting others to be anti-Semitic. Not having seen the movie, I can neither defend nor accuse it or Mr. Gibson. But this much I know: the Biblical accounts of the last day of Jesus' life did indeed paint most of the Jewish leaders in a very poor light. However, it is imperative to note that number one, Jesus Himself was a Jew. Second, all of His first disciples and most of His first followers were Jews. In fact, of the disciples who lived to see Jesus crucified, all but one were martyred for their belief in Him as Messiah.

The fact of the matter is this: all racial* prejudice is based on the premise that the entire race is "bad"; however, the truth of the matter is that being of a certain race does not make one bad. There are both good Jews and bad Jews. There are both good white people and bad white people. There are both good African-Americans and bad ones, and so on. But to say that ALL of the people of one particular race are bad or evil is ludicrous! The truth is that we are all capable of the worst thoughts and actions and deeds, and it has nothing to do with the color of our skin or the name of our race. --Unless of course you want mean the human race!

(*Note: The reason I characterize this as a racial issue and not a religious one is because it is not only the "religious" Jews or the Jews of any particular sect to whom anti-Semitism is directed. I am not aware that Hitler or any persecuter of Jews first checked to see what their "religious" beliefs were. Both religious and secular (or non-religious) Jews have been persecuted throughout history based pimarily on their race.)

Scripture says, in Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" It doesn't say, "the Jewish heart" or the "Gentile heart", it says "the heart"--meaning the heart of mankind.

The other important thing I have to point out here is that while yes, it was the Jewish leaders who arranged for Jesus to be crucified, every detail happened just as God ordained. In effect, it wasn't the Jews who had Jesus crucified at all. It was Jesus Himself who willingly gave His life to pay the penalty for all mankind's sin--Jew and Gentile alike! If Jesus had not been meant to die, nothing could have kept Him nailed to that cross. In fact, no one could have captured Him had he not been willing and had God not ordained it.

So pointing fingers--especially 2,000 year old fingers!--is pointless! And right or wrong, accurate or inaccurate, I congratulate Mr. Gibson on his conviction and his commitment to render a realistic portrayal of the death of my Savior.... It only makes me love Him more!