When we tell God to get out of our lives

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees... I don't feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against.. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu .. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about.. And we said okay..

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

Have A Blessed Christmas 2010!

May the love, peace and joy brought by the birth of Jesus Christ be upon your family this Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

John 1:29-34 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.’ Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

I am a registered Malaysian voter. Are you?

For up-to-date voter registration events, please:

1) Join the FB "I am a registered Malaysian voter. Are you?" page.

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JOHOR
* Every Sat & Sun until 5 Dec 2010 @ Grd Flr, BP Mall, Batu Pahat, 10am-9pm

FT / SELANGOR
* 31 Oct (Sun) @ Buddhist Maha Vihara, Jalan Berhala, B'fields KL, 8am-12noon
* 30-31 Oct @ Subang Parade, near Uncle Lim's Kopitiam on Grd Flr, 10am-10pm
* 21 Nov @ Canaan Lutheran Church, Jalan Reko, Kajang, 10am-2pm

N. SEMBILAN (throughout November)
* Every Thurs @ Loop Road Pasar Malam, 6pm-9:30pm
* Every Sat @ Bahau Pasar Malam (Sat) 6pm-7:30pm
* Every Sun @ Pasar Besar Seremban, 9am-12noon

PENANG
* 31 Oct (Sun) @ Nibong Tebal Pasar Malam, 7.30-10pm
* 1 Nov (Mon) @ Kg Jawi Pasar Malam, 7.30-10pm
* 5-7 Nov @ PISA (HOMEDEC 2010 Fair), 11am-9pm
* 21 Nov @ Penang Bridge Marathon, 8-11am
* Every Wed @ Pasar Malam Farlim, 8pm-10pm
* Every first Sunday @ Gurney Plaza, 11am-9pm
* 14 Nov @ Balik Pulau Market, 8am-10am

Public Forum On International Migrants Day

Seminar on Labour Trafficking

Date: 18 December 2010

Time: 9 am to 4 pm

Venue: 12, NUBE House, 3rd Floor, Jalan Tun Sambanthan 3, Brickfields, 50470 KL.

RSVP by 10 December 2010.

Tel: 03-26913691

Launch of 8th Phase of MyConstitution Campaign

The Bar Council MyConstitution Campaign (“Campaign”) aims to instil awareness and educate therakyat on the Federal Constitution.

Why are we doing this? Our government has to run our country based on the Federal Constitution, as it is the highest law of the land. The Federal Constitution defines the framework of our country’s political, judicial and legislative systems. It also tells us what our rights are asrakyat of Malaysia. Therefore, we believe that it is important for all Malaysians to understand what the Federal Constitution means and what it is all about. See it as a manual that comes with any equipment you buy. In order to use the equipment properly, you need to read and understand the manual.

To date, we have launched seven phases successfully, each exploring a specific theme of the Federal Constitution. These seven phases have taken us on exhilarating journeys throughout the country. Since its inception, the Campaign has moved from the capital of Malaysia, up north to Alor Setar, Kedah, and down south to Johor Bahru, Johore. We have left footprints on the idyllic cities of Kuching, Sarawak, and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and the Orang Asal settlements in Raub, Pahang, and Tapah, Perak.

We have now arrived at the 8th Phase of the Campaign, entitled “The Rakyat & Fundamental Liberties”.

The Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee is indeed proud to work with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia, “SUHAKAM”) to launch Phase 8 of the Campaign. This collaboration is a testimony of how non-governmental and civil society organisations should, and can, work together towards a common cause: enlightening and empowering the rakyat with knowledge of the fundamental rights accorded to them under the Federal Constitution.

The long-awaited launch will take place at the Bar Council Auditorium at 10:00 am, on 10 Dec 2010, to coincide with International Human Rights Day. The 8th Rakyat Guide themed “TheRakyat & Fundamental Liberties” will be made public and the 8th Rakyat Service Advertisement will be officially aired.

Fellow citizens, mark your diaries and help us to spread the word now! We look forward to seeing you at our Campaign launch on 10 December!

For more information about this Campaign and to learn more about other phases of this Campaign, visit our official website at www.perlembagaanku.com.

Follow our everyday updates leading towards the launch at www.twitter.com/MyConsti.

RSVP by Monday, 6 Dec 2010, 5:00 pm, by completing the registration form and submitting it by email it to kaea@malaysianbar.org.my or by fax to 03-2026 1313. For more information, contact Lim Ka Ea by telephone at 03-2031 7103.