And the band plays on

Two pieces of news caught my attention today; one was expected and one absolutely floored me.

Firstly, that Fred Thompson has officially dropped out of the presidential race. I would wish to repeat that I have no ill will towards Fred, nor do I have any pleasure in seeing him drop out of the race. I do believe that it is for the best, though. His leaving the race will free up conservative Christian votes for more powerful candidates like Huckabee and Romney and will help defeat less savory characters like McCain and Guiliani. 

The very surprising piece of news was that Heath Ledger has died! He was found dead in a hotel room reportedly with a good deal of prescription sleeping pills. It is easy to judge him, but when a man believes that he is nothing more than a highly evolved animal with no moral limitations, what can you expect?

In Romans 1 we read: 

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

In my opinion, our attitude should be that of pity, for the servant whose master hasn't forgiven his debt. For as the Lord has said in Romans 9:

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER."Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH."So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 

And in this, we should rejoice in our own election: 

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10-11

Our second reaction to this sad event should be that of resolve to evangelize:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20

Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

John 4:35-36

Mind me, now; I'm not defending Heath Ledger or saying that he isn't responsible for his actions, my point is that we should change our attitude from that of judgement, to that pity and resolve. May we learn from the death of Heath Ledger and may there be souls be brought into the flock after seeing what a life without Christ can lead to. 

Right now, I am spending most of my free time on the official Germane Productions T-shirts, I hope to get those done soon. 

Well, back to work..........