According to chaos theory, the flapping of a single butterfly's wings can trigger a hurricane halfway across the globe, a phenomenon known as the "butterfly effect."

That isn’t true. A butterfly can’t actually do that. A mathematician compared the strength of winds from butterfly wings and hurricanes to illustrate how small changes can give large and unexpected results. The effect of this small change is also known as the “tipping point.”

Hollywood is in the midst of its longest box-office slump in 20 years, and 2005 is shaping up as the worst year for movie attendance in nearly a decade.

That is true. It might be something as simple as bad movies. It might be something else. This is from a list of the top grossing movies of all time.

222.	On Golden Pond (1981)	$119,285,432
223.	Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)	$119,078,393
224.	Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)	$118,627,117

 

Fahrenheit 911 made over $100 million. It won 23 awards. It was a lie from the opening credits to the award shows. Hollywood embraced the lies, and expected us to do the same. A few of us did, but most of us didn’t. And now, again, just because I like the way it looks:

Hollywood is in the midst of its longest box-office slump in 20 years, and 2005 is shaping up as the worst year for movie attendance in nearly a decade.

Could Michael Moore’s little butterfly wing movie have been the tipping point? Did it prove how narcissistic and untruthful Hollywood has become? Expose its fraud for all to see and none to deny?

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

America didn’t leave Hollywood. Hollywood left America. And earth. Especially when they give out those little golden idols.

--Mike Fulford

There is yet another book out about Bill Clinton. In a review of “Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House,” Kevin Horrigan writes, “

 

“(John F.) Harris even provides an explanation of why Clinton didn't think he was lying when he said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman . . . Miss Lewinsky." According to the "official definition of sexual relations" that a judge had approved for depositions in the Paula Jones case, what Lewinsky did was sexual relations for her but not for him. Sure it was bogus, but Clinton was a master of finding the open seam.” (italics mine)

 

 

Mr. Horrigan is wrong. Clinton is no more a master at finding the “open seam” than anyone else. We all see the open seam. Most of us have enough integrity and maturity so that when an open seam is put before us, we pass it by. Or in the case of Clinton’s open seam, zip it back up.

 

But I’m sure Clinton remembers from one of the many campaign church services he attended,

 

9. “Do not lie.”

 

--Mike Fulford

None? Why not? Because you disagree with the ACLU’s goal of eliminating God from all public discourse and would never donate to such an evil organization? Because you believe in the “or hinder the free expression thereof” part of the constitution? Because you believe a country founded on Christian principles loses their way when they reject those Christian principles? Because you think Thomas Jefferson was smarter than Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy? Good for you. You would never donate to the ACLU.

 

But you did. If you pay taxes, you donate to the ACLU.

Because every time they win a lawsuit, the government by the people, of the people, and for the people pays their legal bills. The legal bills for time that is donated from liberal atheistic lawyers. The free legal services for which the ACLU charges the hourly rate of the best lawyers in the country.

You do donate money to the ACLU. You. Me. Everybody.

 

But soon you may not have to. The “Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005” is currently before Congress.

 

H. R. 2679

To amend the Revised Statutes of the United States to eliminate the chilling effect on the constitutionally protected expression of religion by State and local officials that results from the threat that potential litigants may seek damages and attorney's fees.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 26, 2005

Please contact your congressman.

 

The ACLU would have you think the Boy Scouts preventing homosexual men from becoming scout masters or a small town displaying the Ten Commandments is equivalent to Congress making a law respecting an establishment of religion. It isn’t. It is a reflection of the core truth under which this country was founded. The ACLU doesn’t want you to know that their 2003 revenue topped $44 million. Some of that was donated. Most of it came from you and me. Charged for services we don’t want, need, and think will hurt our country.

 

9. Thou shall not lie.

Amendment 1. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…

 

If the ACLU wants to rid us of religion, let them pay for it themselves.

 

 

--Mike Fulford

When you make a decision to live your life in a manner consistent with the Bible, you quickly come to the conclusion that despite salvation and grace, you haven't reached IT yet.  What is IT?  The working out of what God put in, Himself.  The rest of your life is spent grasping the next piece of spiritual fruit that God has placed in your life, just out of our reach.  As we strive to grasp it, He teaches us about ourselves and more importantly, about Him.  We learn to see others as He sees them, with compassion and love.  We learn to see ourselves first as wicked, then cleansed and then transparent.  We grow a little and eagerly feast on the reward now in reach.  And then the process begins again, but the fruit is bigger and better, but farther away.

 

Keep reaching....

 

--TenForUS   

Most court observers believe the Supreme Court is holding the Ten Commandments decision until the end as a climax.  Keep praying for a favorable decision.

--TenForUS

 

My daughter is travelling to visit her grandfather today and she missed her connection.  She called me and was very huffy and upset.  She was going to demand the airline bump someone so she could continue on her trip.  It occurred to me that we often treat God like the air line.  As we travel through life we occasionally miss a connection.  It may be a lost love or friend, perhaps a job opportunity.  When it happens, we know we missed it.  And we are mad, hopping mad at the "air line" taking us through life, God.  How dare He inconvience me!  I demand He fix my problem, no matter who it adversely affects.

 

Just as it is ridiculous to expect the air line to bump someone for my daugther, it is even more ridiculous to expect God to "fix" it.  Besides, how can He "fix" what wasn't broken in the first place?

 

--TenForUS

I just returned from Wednesday evening at our church a few minutes ago.  For the past several months, the wife and I have been going to the prayer group on Wednesday evenings instead of a regular class.  We dropped in by default one Wednesday because there was not a class we were interested in.  I really did not think it was possible to pray for a solid hour.  I had tried many times to make 15 or 20 minutes and had failed miserably every time.  A whole hour was clearly out of the question!

 

We read the names of all the sick and shut ins and those with specific prayers and then one person read a scripture verse and we started praying, one after another.  Wonderful, God pleasing prayers went up.  Thanksgiving for blessings, tears of joy, weeping over pain and suffering.  The last man prayed and closed the meeting.  I was astonished.  We had been praying for over an hour and it seemed so short.  It seemed that we had just glossed over a lot of important people and situations.  I wanted more.  So much more.

 

Every Wednesday is like this now.  I long to be there.  And when I'm not there, I find myself praying for those on the list, seemingly at random. I leave that prayer room each Wednesday refreshed and awe struck with God.  Jesus summed up it up when He said "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."(NASB)

 

What are you seeking?

 

--TenForUS

 

The first commandment of the ten says that we should have no other God before the true God.  In several places in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:14 and Deuteronomy 4:24 are just a few), God tells us He is a jealous God.  He comes first.  Period. 

 

Why is that so important?  Because many people (read an analysis of church membership gains and losses here) are begining to realize a God you control is no god at all, but the God Who created the universe is worthy of the demands He places upon us, starting with the Ten Commandments.

 

--TenForUS 

For years liberals have used government schools as a way to advance their agenda.  Parents are growing weary of spending millions on worthless "educations."  School choice continues to chip away at the monopoly, but the fight continues.  The Wall Street Journal has more here (subscription required).

 

--TenForUS 

 

More articles are appearing about the left's fear of right wing Christians' imposing a theocracy on the US.  Most of this is debunked here.

 

--TenForUS

The other night we invited a couple over for dinner.  Nothing fancy, just some good home cooking and great conversation.  We talked about politics and growing up and getting married.  Places we had lived and friends we had left.  Funny stories and sad tales of war and separation.  We shared our lives.

 

God created us to be "in relationship."  We need others in our lives to share our hopes and failures.  Lonely people aren't necessary alone. You may be around them everyday, but they just haven't been invited to your house yet.  Ask, and you will be blessed.

 

--TenForUS

 

Sorry for the long absence.  It has been a VERY difficult spring.  We all have periods like this in our lives when the pressure builds on you and those in your sphere of influence.  It reminds me of the line in the movie Minority Report "What are you going to do?"  when faced with a choice between terrible and worse.  The music is building, the tension is rising.  "What are you going to do?"  Balls are dropping, plates overflowing. "What are you going to do?"  Is God really in control? 

 

As my Sunday School teacher is fond of saying "Take a chance on God.  See what happens." 

-- TenForUS