Thugs raided a village in the territory of a Bishop that was under the authority of Saint Ambrose. The Bishop had taken no action to prevent or defend the innocent men, women and children in the village. The Bishop defended his actions, or lack thereof, by saying "Our Lord taught that we should turn the other cheek".

Saint Ambrose was rightly angry with this Bishop. He stated that we are commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ to turn our cheek, but we have no right to turn the cheek of another person.

This is why Saint Ambrose of Milan insisted that a Christian had a duty to come to the defense of a third party even if this required the use of force. In fact Saint Ambrose argued that when we do not come to our neighbor’s aid, we are as bad as the one who committed the act.

Saint Ambrose extended this reasoning to nations and armies. For a leader, nation or army that comes to the defense of others, this act is justified.

Saint Ambrose argues that if someone is breaking into our neighbor’s home, and we do not come to their defense, even if to do so would mean we would have to injure or kill the attacker, we have not loved.

In fact Saint Ambrose took it a step further. If someone is breaking into our neighbor’s home and we do not act Saint Ambrose argues that we have not loved our neighbor and he would even question whether we are saved.

Tough talk, but true nonetheless.

There is no doubt that there can be abuses when force is used. This is why force should be used only as a last resort. But the fact that force can be abused does not justify the elimination of any and all use of force in all circumstances.

This is why I don’t pay much attention to those who speak out against the use of force by citizens who are defending themselves, or local police officers in the line of duty, or by the armed forces. This is especially the case when the use of force is described by these persons in a totally pejorative manner.

You see if it were their home or country that was being broken into, and the assailant was about to end their life, a shot to the head of their assailant by a sharp shooter from the military or the police force would suddenly be their greatest blessing. And the act of pulling the trigger, the ultimate act of force and violence, they would now perceive to be an act of love.

Understanding this, Ambrose rightly stated that when a soldier comes to the defense of another, it is an act of love. Extending this to an army that fights to overcome an unjust ruler, this likewise is an act of love.

In this context the individual act of force by an individual neighbor or soldier is justified. Likewise, the act by a nation or its army to defend themselves or another, even when it results in war, is justified. Or more precisely is defined as a "Just War".

It is not the actual violence of the act that determines whether the act is appropriate. Rather, it is the context in which the act of violence was committed that determines whether it is justified or not.

Coming to the aid of another, even if this aid requires the use of force, for Saint Ambrose, was an act of love and thus justified. A nation or army fighting to defend itself or another likewise can be an act of love.

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Saint Ambrose, Just War and Love of Neighbor is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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I was listening to KCMO TV 5 in Kansas City when the weekly editorial came on. It was nothing special. Last week the station had come out against state support for students attending private universities due to the cost it would add to the states budget.

This week it was a rebuttal by a university professor. His point was this; although the state was spending funds for some students to attend private institutions it was only a small percentage of their total cost. This was then supplemented by the private schools scholarships and assistance from the alumni at these private institutions. Without the state assistance these students would not be able to afford the cost to attend these private universities and would then attend the public universities.

So why not pay for these students to attend the public universities instead.

First, the public universities did not have the facilities to accommodate them. Second, it would be much more expensive. Why? Because these students would then loose the financial support of the scholarships and alumni at the private institutions. The difference would mean it would actually cost the state more to make up the difference to send these students to a public university.

The reason this brought tears to my eyes is it was the owners of the station who gave the first editorial. Then they gave up air time to an opposing view. I was able to hear both sides and then make an informed decision as to which position I would support.

Because I am for all of our government institutions living within their means with a balanced budget, when I heard the stations editorial I was for cutting the funding. But when I heard the rebuttal I realized I had only part of the information. The second editorial gave me information that allowed me to change my mind.

The tears came not because of the station or the professor but for our Founding Fathers who believed and sacrificed for free speech. Tonight I was blessed because of their vision and courage. Thank you Founding Fathers, and Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Children and Families who paid the price long ago, and still today, that I might hear both sides of an issue and exercise my right to make an informed decision.

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Freedom is Found in Hearing Both Sides is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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Reading this passage I was struck by the term "overtake" you. This is a very interesting phrase. The idea that God's blessing will "overtake" us is a very powerful image. Especially when we understand that this term is also used to describe military actions such as pursing, coming upon, overwhelming and thus gaining victory over the enemy.

In other words, when we follow God's commands and teachings, even though from our perspective it may not seem to be beneficial, God has promised that His blessings will overtake us like an army that pursues and overtakes the enemy on the battle field.

This is an important concept that many often miss. Some see blessings as a passive process. But God is clear that His blessings are not passive but active and even aggressive to the point that they will pursue us and overtake us.

It is comforting to know that God's blessings are not passive and something we have to look for or seek out. Rather, when we honor and obey God, His blessings find us.

So here is my prayer for those of you who are reading this;

"May God pursue you and overtake you with His blessings. And may this be today!"

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

All Blessings Overtake You is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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"On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and parched grain. The manna ceased on that day after they ate some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan that year."

As Israel set out from Egypt to the promise land, part of this transition included passing through the desert, During this transition, God provided food for them in the form of manna. This lasted up to the moment they entered the promise land and ate of the fruit of that land.

During any journey through life, whether as an individual, as a family or as a group of believers, we will hit a point of transition from one way of life to another. During these times of transition, we cannot produce from the old way of life what we will need in the new life. It is at these points of transition in life that God enters and provides for us. However, once we have transitioned from the previous life to the new, that provision needs to end.

This is the message in Joshua 5:11-12. As Israel transitioned from a people in slavery to a self sustaining nation, God provided for them during this transition. But once they entered on the other side of this transition, God ceased to provide and they became responsible for this part of their life.

So many of us, as we go through a transition, find that God steps up and takes care of us. Once we have completed this transition, we wonder why God is no longer with us in the same way He was during our transition.

Actually He is, its just that what He once had to do for us, in the same way a parent does things for a child, He now is able to hand over to us so we can do it for ourselves. This does not mean God is not with us any longer. Rather, what use to come to us as a gift from outside, and appeared to be miraculous, now comes to us through a more natural process. And yet God is no less present in this than He was in the miraculous.

Just as God provided manna until the people of Israel entered and ate of the fruit of the land, so also for us, during times of transition, God will provide for us until the time when we can do so for ourselves. This does not mean God has left us, rather it means we have successfully transitioned into our new life.

In fact our attempt to hold on to how God comes to us during times of transition, will only cut us off from taking full possession of the our new promise land He intends for us.

God's provisions are boundless. But God's provisions have time limits. Failure to acknowledge the time limits creates stagnation in the transition rather than entrance into the promise land.

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

God’s Provisions Endless With Time Limits is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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Why would I say that?

Even though there are oil skimmers in other parts of the country, the Obama Administration, rather than moving these existing oil skimmers to the Gulf of Mexico to attack the BP oil spill, they are building new oil skimmers. It takes over two weeks to build an oil skimmer. During those two weeks there is no oil being skimmed.

Why would they not use the existing oil skimmers?

They have stated they don't want to move the existing oil skimmers from other locations just in case there is an oil leak in one of these other locations.

This logic reminds me of what Leo Durocher use to say,

"You don't save a pitcher for tomorrow, tomorrow it may rain."

The same applies to a successful oil spill cleanup strategy.

"You don't save an oil skimmer for tomorrow's potential leak, because tomorrow's leak may never come."

Where is Leo Durocher when we need him?

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Oil Skimmers and Tomorrow’s Pitcher is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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"The man who is faint of heart let him depart and return to his house so that he might not make his brother's hearts melt like his heart."

This passage teaches a simple truth  – that a fighting force that consists of soldiers who want to be in the fight no matter the risk or cost, are far more powerful than a greater quantity of soldiers, some of who do not want to be there.

The will supercedes simple numbers. The collective will is more powerful than sheer numbers.

This passage supports the United States Military's contention that an "All Volunteer Force" is superior to a force comprised of volunteers and draftees.

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Remove the Faint of Heart is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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"But make no mistake. We will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long as it takes."

But the facts do not support Obama's statement that he has done "everything" he can.

1. Obama has refused to sign an executive order to waive the Jones Act that would allow ships and crews from other countries to enter the Gulf and help in the clean up effort.
2. Obama has refused Canada’s offer of 3,000 meters of containment boom.
3. Obama has refused three sets of COSEQ sweeping arms from the Dutch.
4. Obama has refused Mexico’s offer of two skimmers and 4200 meters of boom.
5. Obama has refused Norway’s offer of 8 skimming systems.

   (The above was taken from: "The Jones Act Slowing Oil Spill Cleanup" by Brian Wilson of FoxNews.)

So when Obama says "We will fight this spill with everything we've got", that means "everything" except waive the Jones Act.

So it's not true that Obama is doing "everything", which means Obama lies about "everything".

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Obama Lies About Everything is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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First, the Greek term usually translated "receive" is παραλήμψομαι. However, it's meaning is not passive but active and even aggressive. Hence it not only means "receive" but "take to oneself".

It describes what a parent would do when a child steps into the street in front of on coming traffic. The parent reaches out and takes the child to themselves and to safety.

This is much more descriptive of the actually meaning of the text. Christ is not coming back to receive us but is coming back to "take us to his side".

The other important part of this passage is the tense of the verbs. παραλήμψομαι has a future tense to it meaning "I will come and take you to my side". 

This makes sense. Christ is speaking this at the Passover. He will be crucified, he will die, he will be buried and then he will rise. He will then come back to them. All of this is a future event relative to the night of the Passover.

However, most then translate the next part of Christ saying as, "That where I am, you may be also." Although this makes the English smooth, it is an incorrect translation and is misleading.

Literally in the Greek it reads, "That where I am, also you are." The meaning is clear. Once the future death and resurrections takes place, Christ will return in the future to take them to His side. And what will this accomplish? Not that they "may also be there" but that "where He is, we are".

In other words, once Christ secures the victory over death and sin, in His death and resurrection, He takes us along side Himself, and in so doing, where He now is (at the right hand of the Father on the other side of death in the resurrection) we are also there now. Thus this is not a future or potential state. It is the state we reside in, at this very moment, as believers in Christ. 

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Where Christ Is We Are is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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1. Does Hate Give Life? – John 12:19-26
2. Biblical Inspiration Verses Translation
3. Not Belief but Confession Allows Entry into God’s Glory

"When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. If it agrees to make peace with you and opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you. However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it."

For some, any time an ultimatum like this is given, it is considered an act of war. But that argument treats the statement as universal truth rather than a response that is in context with the actions that led to the ultimatum.

This is the argument that was leveled against President Bush when he gave the Taliban an ultimatum after 911. He told the Taliban that they were to hand over Osama bin Laden or pay the consequences. In addition to this all nations were put on notice that in the War on Terror, " you are either with us, or against us."

Giving a person or group, that has murdered nearly 3,000 innocent civilians, the option to choose peace is in no way a threat. Rather, it gives those who participated in the illegal act, or those who contributed to it, the opportunity to turn from their ways and make a form of restitution.

Thus, when this option is offered in the context of an illegal act such as murder, it is not a threat. Rather, it is an act of justice and mercy. Those who do not see it a an act of mercy and justice fall outside the truth of Scripture as taught in Deuteronomy 20:10-12.

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Terms of Peace, Before War, Equals Justice is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

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When I attempted to explain to her that the Greek I was reading was the original text that even the translators of the King James Version used when they did their translation, her response was, "Only the King James Version is inspired." 

Of course I immediately thought of the passage in II Timothy 3:16 which says, "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness."

Note that it does not say "translation" it says "scripture".

Some insist that we must use a certain translation of the Bible to know the truth. This is the case even when this translation is difficult to understand.

For example there are over 250 terms used in the King James Version that no longer have the same meaning today that they did at that time of the translation. In fact in some cases the meaning is the exact opposite. This makes it cumbersome to understand. In some cases the translation is so difficult and laborious for the modern reader that they choose not to read Scripture at all if they have to read a version that speaks in 17th Century English. And who can blame them.

So when someone insists that this or that translation must be used they have placed the translation above Scripture itself. And why have they done this? Only becaue they are comfortable with that translation. This is to place my "personal preference" above the eternal life of others. This is probably one of the most selfish acts one can participate in.

It is true that at the time the King James was translated it was in many respects a work of God in how it conveyed the truth of Scripture. And it is true that for hundreds of years it did the work of God. But let's be clear; it was not the translation that did the work, it was Scripture that did the work. The translation was simply a tool to convey the truth of Scripture to those generations.

Thus, regardless of the beauty of the translation, if it no longer has an effect, then the translation is not doing its job which is to convey the truth of Scripture to the current generation. In this case we should acknowledge the value of the King James Version for its time. But we should now seek new ways to convey the truth of Scripture to the current generation.

In fact this is done on a daily basis through out the world in other languages. We translate scripture into evey language on earth, people read it, and come to the truth and become believers in Christ. And yet these translations are not the King James Version. So it is not the translation, it is Scripture that is effective.

After all it does not say,"All translations are inspired…" It says, "All Scripture is inspired…" So it's not about the translation, its about Scripture. It is not about bringing a certain translation to the current generation. It's about bringing the truth of Scripture to the current generation. And this should be done by whatever translation can best accomplish this result. Only then have we truly said yes to the Great Command "to go to all nations…". It is this that we as believers have been charged with – "To go into all the earth…" not just the earth that understands the King James Version!

© 2010, VoiceWind. . .Greg Loveless. All rights reserved.

Biblical Inspiration Verses Translation is a post from: VoiceWind - Greg Loveless

Related posts:

1. Where Christ Is We Are
2. When Scripture is Hard to Understand