Statement of Faith

I've been told by a certain favorite cousin, that it's been too long since my last post.  ;)  I've had a few posts written but never published them...This is one of them.  I have a hard time getting on my soapbox on Facebook about certain subjects like politics and religion.  I'm on Facebook for social reasons, not to express my agenda or views on things that can stress relationships.  Since this is my personal blog, I'm going to hop up on my soapbox for this post...Here we go:

I've been reading numerous emails from family and friends about the state of our nation and the road we're headed down with our current federal government. I have watched numerous videos and clips in regards to Islam and the Qur'an's instructions to it's believers.  Boy, was I foolish enough to believe that it's just the extremist Islamics who are the issue...but not according to what's written in the Qur'an.  This video below is incredibly startling as well as great motivation to get involved politically.  We as a country need to think critically about who we elect to public office.  Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian values and beliefs.  We have moved so far away from that.  The freedoms that we often take for granted may no longer remain freedoms if we are not careful as to who we put in these positions.  We spend money we don't have, become in debt to other countries while trying pretend that we are the wealthiest nation in the world.

If you have the time, you should view this video below.

Muslims are encouraged to deceive non-muslims!  Satan is so crafty and deceptive...I see it every day in my life here.  We all have our beliefs of what our faith is and that our belief is the RIGHT and ONLY way to believe.  That's what makes religion such a difficult topic in mixed company.  I have found that with each move, God draws me closer and closer to Him.  I've been asked by numerous neighbors what church we attend and what we believe.  It's funny because here in Utah, if you aren't Mormon, then you must be Catholic!  I don't think they know that there are any other types of churches.  Currently there are about 3 of us in my phase of the 'hood who do not attend the local ward on Sunday mornings.

To us, it's not about the denomination of church we attend that is so critical.  Heck, we are born and bred anabaptists who send their son to a Lutheran school!  (Now if you tell someone that out here, they'd say, "so?")  What is most important to us is our main beliefs as Christians.  We believe that God is a trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God was not exalted to a God.  He is, was and always will be God.  There is only ONE God of the universe.  We believe that Jesus is the eternal, uncreated Son of God.  It is mentioned 128 times in the NT and 5 times in the OT.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again.  He stated 29 times in the Gospels that this would happen.  There were many details given about this event as well as many witnesses to it...makes it hard to deny who He is and was.

We also believe that the Bible is not corrupt nor has it been translated incorrectly.  We don't get to pick and choose what we like and don't like in the Bible.  The Bible is real and accurate.  Other religious books do not offer the same proof.  The Qu'ran, for example was only written by one author, during one lifetime.  The Bible has 40 authors over a 2000 year period of history.  The gospels written while witnesses were still alive to verify the accuracy of it.  Think of all the prophesies that were written in both the OT and the NT...Even science can't deny it's accuracy for many principles of modern science were recorded in the Bible before scientists could confirm them.

So I guess that as long as a church has those same fundamental truths, it doesn't matter to us if it's a Community church like we attend now and in did Albany, a Baptist church like in Jax or a Brethren In Christ church like back home...Each church has slightly different doctrines and ordinances but those differences aren't the heart of what we believe...

There is a great song on the radio right now by Chris Tomlin called "Our God."  In this song it says:

"Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is healer, Awesome in power, Our God!  Our God!"

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against..."

How true...If our God is with us as He's promised to be, who could stand against Him?  I've come full circle from being frustrated about religion and politics (for some places the two are still very much one in the same).  If God's got my back, why am I so upset?  All I've got to do is pray and He'll take care of the rest, right?  He gives us trials so that we reach for Him.  I think our country is in the midst of one of those trials right now.  We need to stand up for ourselves and say enough of this "change!"  I never bought into the hype over the promised "change" and I'm not sure this was the "change" that so many had hoped for when they placed their vote.  I pray that a strong leader emerges in the near future...one that many of us who share the same views can get behind.

**Disclaimer:  I am sorry to any of you whom I've offended with my rant.  Keep in mind these are my feelings and opinions and this blog is a way for me to express myself as well as share what is going on with our family.  I don't apologize for my viewpoint, just if the way I went about it was offensive.