Freedom of Religion

The right of American citizens to worship as they choose is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution: 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 

Many of the world’s nations have an official state religion. The First Amendment prohibits the US government from designating an official state religion.  It also prohibits the government from interfering with any citizen’s faith related activities. 

Although the United States has no official religion, the majority of Americans  self-identify as Christians, Jews, or Religiously Unaffiliated.  There are over a thousand different religious groups or subgroups in the United States. 

Lamp in a Corner is a Christian blog.  It is an effort to inform people about the way of salvation provided to us through faith in Jesus Christ.  This salvation is the only way that people can come to the One True God and receive eternal life … to be spent in the joy of His presence and serving Him forever. 

Although Christians have an obligation to warn others who do not share our beliefs that we will all eventually stand in the presence of God and give an account of ourselves, it is not our job to judge others unto condemnation.  Instead, we must pray for them and peacefully persuade them to believe in Jesus Christ. 

Lamp in a Corner respects the right of people to worship as they please.  We urge everyone to regard freedom of worship and practice as a universal human right … so long as doing so does not prevent others from worshiping as they choose. 

No one has the right to use violence or coercion to convert others.  Historically, Christianity has “converted by the sword.”  Today, true Christians recognize that does not honor God.  We oppose other countries or religions when they use violence and persecution as a way to make converts. 

A great many of the world’s nations do not allow freedom of worship.  We call on them to recognize that each individual has the right worship as they choose.  In the end it is God - and only God - who will decide who is correct. 

It is not God’s way to kill, injure, coerce, persecute or discriminate against those who do not share the same religious beliefs that we do.  Please do not use force except to defend yourselves and others.  Peacefully persuade.  Pray for your enemies.  If you do, God will bless your efforts.

"Let the Sunshine In"

On Sunday 8 March 2026, “a day that shall live in infamy,” we will again be required to change our clocks and observe daylight saving time.  There are bills before the Senate and House of Representatives that are referred to as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, (SB29 and HR139), which would make the change to daylight saving time permanent.  If passed by congress and signed by the president, there would be no further requirement to switch from daylight saving time to standard time.  Although it would be preferable to make standard time permanent, rather than daylight saving time, these bills are better than ongoing time change requirements. 

Over the years there have been multiple legislative efforts at the federal and state level to deal with the time change requirements.  Arizona and Hawaii do not observe daylight saving time.  Since 1966, daylight saving time has been protected by federal law, but the law does not prohibit the states from choosing to remain on permanent standard time.  A previous federal attempt to impose daylight saving time only was repealed because the people did not like it. 

Other legislation is now pending that would leave the time change requirements up to the individual states.  Although this legislation may be more consistent with the 10th Amendment, it would be detrimental to the conduct of business and travel, and the results would be chaotic.  Furthermore, it would cause the negative impact of time change requirements to be year around, rather than semi-annual. 

Therefore, since Article I, Section VIII gives congress the authority to regulate foreign and domestic commerce, and the impact of the individual states setting their own time change rules would negatively impact both, Article I, Section VIII may take precedence.  In short, deferring the issue to the individual states does not solve the problem, it makes it worse. 

 Although I prefer permanent standard time, observing permanent daylight saving time is better than dealing with semi-annual time changes.  If you agree, please write, email, or call your senators and congressional representatives and urge them to approve one or the other. Many health experts have said that the time changes are unhealthy.  It would be an act of mercy for congress to eliminate them.

 

The First Must be Last

Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:  “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;  and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” 

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 

And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 

They said to Him, “We are able.” 

So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” 

And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.  But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”                                          (Mark 10:32-45 NKJV) [1]

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nkjv/mark/10.htm

 

Iran

People do things for more than one reason. Currently, President Donald Trump is trying to negotiate an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran to achieve certain goals without having to resort to military action. He is being criticized by some for moving too slow, while the people of Iran suffer under the brutal totalitarian theocracy by which they are governed. 

Wisely, President Trump has usually left the planning and execution of military operations to our military commanders. Of course, as commander-in-chief he reserves the right to make the final decisions about our military actions. 

It seems clear to most observers that the Ayatollahs in Tehran have no intention of abandoning their nuclear ambitions, ceasing to sponsor terrorism around the world, and the horrible slaughter of their own people. Some commentators view military action to be inevitable. They make the valid point that the theocratic regime in Iran has never been and weaker, and that the opportunity has never been better topple the regime. 

So, what is President Trump waiting for? To retain the moral high ground, it is clear that the United States needs to exhaust every available opportunity to resolve this matter peacefully, and that by delaying military action we are making a good faith effort toward achieving a peaceful resolution. The delay also gives our military the time it needs to mass sufficient forces in the area of operation to be able to apply overwhelming force when the stubbornness of the Ayatollahs ultimately makes it necessary. 

The task before our military is achievable, but they will need to destroy Iran’s offensive missile capability immediately to keep our forces in the region and the people of Israel safe from attack. To achieve meaningful change in the governance of Iran, our military will also need to destroy their air defense capability, command and control systems, nuclear program, and the military forces and infrastructure that support the regime. These and other military objectives are achievable, but the use of ground forces may become necessary. 

The need for the use of our ground forces will depend on whether the Ayatollahs, and other oppressors in Iran are willing to step down from their positions of authority and seek asylum in other countries. Should they refuse, the use of ground forces may be necessary to remove them. They are criminals, and they should stand trial for crimes against humanity. However, removing them from power should be our first priority. 

As always, Lamp in a Corner will support military action only if it will result in the complete destruction of the enemies’ ability and will to resist. In our opinion, while it may not be a legal requirement, the Trump Administration should seek the approval of Congress before such military action takes place. This approval can be in the form of a general approval, and it does not need to involve itself with specifics like dates, times, and methods. We do not want American lives to be put at risk unless our military actions are backed by the majority of our elected government, and without a firm commitment to the complete destruction of the enemies' will and ability to resist. 

Delay will result in the further suffering for the Iranian people. This is regrettable, but necessary. Although not all of the Iranian people are our enemies, they have not shown themselves to be loyal friends either. There are calls from the Iranian resistance for American help. We feel for the plight of the people in Iran, and we have humanitarian concerns for their welfare. We want to do what we can to help. However, we are under no obligation to allow their pleas for help to direct our management of the situation. Whatever we do should be in the interests of the United States, and our success should not be jeopardized by precipitous action.

Don't be Afraid

Jesus taught us:

 

“Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.  Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names! 

“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.  What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”                        (Matthew 10:24-33 NLT) [1]

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/10.htm

 

Tim "Temerity" Walz

There was a segment on Fox News today showing a public statement by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.  Gov. Walz had the temerity (couldn’t resist the pun) to demand that the federal government pay reparations for alleged damaged caused by ICE and other federal agents, during operations they were conducting to apprehend illegal migrants.  Please consider this: 

Any damages that were done were caused by violent demonstrators who were incited by Gov. Walz and other Democrat officials in Minnesota.  There is evidence that many of the most vehement demonstrators were paid agent provocateurs, many of whom were not residents of Minnesota.  In addition to taking responsibility himself, maybe Gov. Walz should be going after their backers for the alleged damages instead of the federal government. 

Under Gov. Walz’ watch, billions of dollars were fraudulently obtained from programs intended to help the poor of Minnesota.  His level of complicity is under investigation.  At a minimum, he has command responsibility.   He has no moral or ethical ground to stand on when accusing others of costing the public money.  His statement was the zenith of hypocrisy. 

Unless he has recanted, Gov. Walz has said that he will not be a candidate for reelection to the office of governor.  Does he have other ambitions?  He certainly has shown that he can do the “political sidestep” by trying to make himself appear to be the heroic defender of freedom against tyranny.  Is it to deflect attention from his welfare fraud scandal, or does he have delusions of greater grandeur – like running for national office?  Fellow Americans, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t follow Tim Walz across the street. 

Sometimes in my prayers I thank God for His mercy that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz lost in 2024.  That is the truth.  It is not a figure of speech.  Please pray that they will be relegated to the political sidelines.  America doesn’t need the likes of those two anymore.

Remaining Humble

The Lord loves a humble and contrite person. 

 

“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:  “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 

 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”     (Luke 18:9-14 NLT) [1]

  

“God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.”                     (Matthew 5:5 NLT) [2]

 

 “The greatest among you must be a servant.  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12 NLT) [3]

  

Oh God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/luke/18.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/5.htm

[3] https://biblehub.com/nlt/matthew/23.htm