YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT.

What is man's biggest problem?

Man's biggest problem is making assumptions.

The sinful heart of man - the carnal mind, has an agenda. The agenda is that it wishes certain things to be true and certain other things to be untrue.

That fact alone isn’t the worst of it. We go further – much further. We act on our silly desires and put the cart well and truly before the horse.

We make our desires our yardstick – we make them the acid test for what is true and untrue – what is right and what is not right. We have a quick scan of the things we come across in life and we make our assumptions based on what we like and what we don’t like – nothing else.

A worse foundation for belief you will not find.

In Genesis chapter three we find Satan (the serpent) tempting the woman.

She knew very well that what he said contradicted God’s word. She also knew very well who God was. So what motivated her to act as foolishly as she did in choosing to believe Satan’s lies?

Simply this: she wanted them to be true. And that sinful desire was all-consuming.

Let us not underestimate the power of sin to deceive.

She wanted so much for them to be true that she took the fateful step – she made the great assumption.

And from that moment on, every member of the human race (bar one) has continued to make assumption upon silly assumption based on exactly the same rotten foundation.

You don’t need me to tell you that if you go through life assuming things to be true just because you want them to be true, without having any good reason to believe them your house of cards will come crashing down. The facts bear it out.

So why do it with the things of God?

Because life in this world won’t let us do it. If we try to live like that (as some do) life will turn around and bite us. Common sense is king in the physical world – whether we like it or not – political correctness or no political correctness.

But with the things of God, the unseen, the spiritual, there is an idea of distance and time. So man makes his assumptions based on his desires. By nature we afford ourselves this false luxury. We decide what the truth is and believe it. Everything in our imaginary garden is lovely. Square peg, square hole – done and dusted.

It's like having our cake and eating it.

If only life was so simple. Have our cake and eat it?

We need to wake up and smell the coffee.

“BUT THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

WHAT IS A HATE CRIME?

As we see from the news reports, it can be uttering something which touches anyone’s cherished ideas in a way in which the person does not like.

You know the script – if I say, “Homosexuality is a sin” I am in trouble. I will be arrested and convicted of a “hate crime” and have a criminal record.

IT IS NOT OPEN TO DISCUSSION. DEBATE IS NOT PERMITTED.

This is not just stupid, it is not only absurd, it is social engineering and evil. It is a subtle form of what we today call fascism. It may be more subtle, but it is most certainly fascism.

Fascism is intolerance of different opinions under penalty of law, (or forcing people what to think). And therein lies the difference: fascism (or plain old bullying, which is what it is), only becomes this when actions are taken under law to enforce these opinions.

If no action is taken it is merely an opinion, and regardless of how abhorrent it may seem to others, it is only that, an opinion. A thought in the head, a word in the mouth, a vapour in the air: in and of itself - harmless. And this is the crucial thing: in this world - legitimate to hold.

FREE SPEECH IS GONE.

As Voltaire said, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

This is a basic principal of democracy.

IF THEY HAD THE MEANS THEY WOULD ARREST YOU FOR JUST THINKING THE THING.

The jails would be full.

This principal is precisely what a previous generation resisted to the death when they fought against Hitler and the Nazis.

When Margaret Thatcher was asked for her thoughts on religion, her reply was simple:

“Choice.”

She was right.

God places a choice before us, he says:

"I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO RECORD THIS DAY AGAINST YOU, THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH THOU AND THY SEED MAY LIVE." (Deuteronomy 30: 19).

He doesn’t force us.

But he does make us willing.

How to solve the Edinburgh tram problem.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, I would like to make a statement.

The statement is this:

I know how to solve the famous Edinburgh trams problem. It's very simple:

Forget trams. Fit cable cars instead.

They are far more logical, fun, very nifty, and very importantly - cheap.

Click the link below and watch the video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14055490

I emailed Edinburgh council about this today.

Hope they listen.