The Bible

As an American, I have grown up with everyone telling me about the separation of church and state. And I have seen and heard first-hand about the removal of the Ten Commandments from public places.

On June 17, 1963 in Abington vs. Schempp, the U.S. Supreme Court removed Bible readings from public education. Since that time, the public schools have been faced with huge problems.

STD's in children 10-14 before the ruling was at around 18%. Since 1963 all the way up to 1990, STD's rose to 66%. Sexually transmitted diseases rose dramatically in the time after Bible and God was taken out of our schools.

Another alarming statistic is the birth rates for unwed girls, ages 15-19 years. Before 1963, the percentage was around 15%, but after Abington vs. Schempp, that rate rose to over 45%.


*Before 1963 the following were the top public school problem:

1. Talking 4. Getting out of turn in line
2. Chewing gum 5. Wearing improper clothing
3. Making noise 6. Not putting paper in wastebasket


Since 1963, these are the top public school problems:

1. Rape 7. Murder 13. Alcohol abuse
2.Robbery 8. Suicide 14. Gang warfare
3. Assault 9. Absenteeism 15. Pregnancies
4. Burglary 10. Vandalism 16. Abortions
5. Arson 11. Extortion 17. Venereal disease
6. Bombings 12. Drug abuse

*Taken from USA Today, September 1985


How can we look at that comparison, and honestly say that removing the Bible from schools was NOT detrimental to this nation?

No matter how hard this society may try to annihilate any Biblical influence, they don't realize how much the Bible HAS influenced their way of living and talking. Just take a look at these expressions we still use today. They were ALL inspired by the Bible.

"Raising Cain" Gen 4:8-9
"This is the pits" Gen. 37:24
"You could feel the darkness" Ex. 10:21
"That's just hearsay" Deut. 13:12
"We smoked 'em" Deut. 29:20
"Hit the nail on the head" Jud. 5:26
"He brought the house down" Jud. 16:30
"Missed by a hair" Jud. 20:16
"He lost his head" 1 Sam. 17:51
"Well...more or less" 1 Sam. 22:15
"Whatever became of...?" Esther 2:11
"My hair stood on end" Job 4:15
"Nothing but skin and bones" Job 19:20
"By the skin of his teeth" Job 19:20
"The apple of my eye" Prov. 7:2
"Talk is cheap" Prov. 14:23
"He's asking for it" Prov. 18:6
"Let the chips fall where they may" Eccl. 11:3
"I don't wanna hear a peep outta you" Isa. 10:1
"Are your ears burning?" Jer. 19:3
"Only God knows" Ezek. 37:3
"He got put out to pasture" Dan. 4:32-33
"Good riddance" Zeph. 1:18

The list could go on and on, but these are only a few phrases we still use today. And also, the seven day week and the yearly timetable of our modern day calendar are based on the Bible, as are many of the holidays.

This nation, once great with God's hand of blessing upon it, was founded with the knowledge of a sovereign God. Our forefathers, former leaders, and well-known men have been quoted acknowledging the need for the Bible.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible"
-George Washington

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man."
-Abraham Lincoln

"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."
-Patrick Henry

"The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible, 'In all they ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.' "
-George Washington Carver, quoting Prov. 3:6

"I have, for many years, made it a practice to read through the Bible once a year."
-John Quincy Adams

"That book, sir,(the Bible) is the rock on which our public rests."
-Andrew Jackson

"If man is not familiar with the Bible, he has suffered a loss which he had better make all possible haste to correct. A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."
-Theodore Roosevelt

"When you have read the Bible. you will know it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty."
-Woodrow Wilson

"Believe me sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed."
-Douglas MacArthur

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I could write for hours on this subject, but I must get some things done before our trip tomorrow. Hope to hear from the readers on their opinions on this subject.

Another Week of Meetings!

Well, this has certainly been a busy week so far, but it is, sadly, coming to a close quickly. Our church has been having nightly services, with Bro. Mark Kerlin preaching every night. I thank God he was able to come, and every message, I have gotten something out of it.

Things, for me have been pretty rough. I've been helping the Kelly's, taking care of them, cleaning their house, worrying about their bills, and their health. So it has been a little stressful. But this week of meetings has given me a chance to unwind every night. I know it sounds strange to some folks, but church, for me, is not a drudgery or a boring place. I love going to church. Not only to see my friends and family, but to be able to sing and thank God with those of like precious faith.

Today, we are getting ready to have a big lasagna meal with the Kerlins and Pastor and Mrs. Harvey and the grankids. So it is going to be a lot of fun. Mom is making pumpkin logs, and I'm making this new dessert I found at Wal-Mart. It looks so good, I can't wait to try it.

And tomorrow, we have our annual God and Country Rally and then after that, we are going skating at our local skating rink! Yay! Not everyone is going though, since it's going to be so late. But it will still be fun.

I'll probably be posting more this week before I leave for Florida, so look for the posts!

Bethany

This is a chapel across from the Cathedral of Learning by Pittsburgh. I just had to take a picture of it, it was so beautiful.

Away From Home and Standing Alone

I have just gotten back from visiting some friends in Pittsburgh for a week. I had a really great time while I was there. I was able to go to both of their colleges. And I was also able to be a witness to a girl we rode the buses with in the morning. She was asking me when I turned 21, and I told her. She started talking about how it was going to be so fun to be able to get out of my house, and do my own things, like drinking, ect. I was so glad to be able to tell her I had no desire to drink, or smoke, or do drugs. I have seen what those things have done to folks I know or have known. It was nice to be able to come home and know that I stood for everything I believe in, and everything my parents have tought me. But I could not have done it if not for the Lord. It would have been so easy just to have gone along with it. And if someone ever says that peer pressure isn't that bad, they are WRONG!! That was one of the hardest things I have to do.