I'm presently reading two fantastic books and they both make profound statements.  Below are a few from an author that I have just discovered;  Neal Mammen  The two books of his that I am presently reading are, "Agent X,"  and  the other is; "Jesus Is Involved In Politics! Why aren’t You? Why isn't Your Church?"  This Young man is a prolific writer and a true (not name only) born again Christian.  One thing that he makes perfectly clear, in the second book mentioned, is not only was and is Jesus involved in politics, while on earth, but Jesus was a man's man.  He was in the face of many political leaders of that time period.  Reading this book makes me love Jesus more and more.  Not only was He God incarnate, but he was a courageous young man.  Here are some words that I have transcribed from these books.  By the way I recommend everyone to get a copy of both books then read and study them. "If churches and pastors do not teach how God's moral values should affect our political appointments, all will be lost.  If they do, we can move mountains." "Josephus (a Jewish Historian) . . . . has indicated that there is even a high degree of probability that the soldiers who killed Jewish babies in Bethlehem after the birth of Christ were not Roman soldiers but Jewish soldiers or possibly hired mercenaries working for the Jewish King Herod."  (King Herod was the top political figure in Judea at this time.  The Romans allowed the Jews in Judea to govern themselves.  The Sanhedrin was similar to our Congress.  The Pharisees, the Scribes and the Sadducees were the politicians, law makers and lawyers of this period.  Although not elected they were very political.) Luke 13;31-32  "At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, 'Leave this place and go somewhere else.  Herod wants to kill you.'  He replied, 'Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'  Jesus was not saying that Herod was clever like a fox; it was actually a direct insult.  In the Middle East, a fox was considered a varmint.  Theses animals lived in the ground and were pest, running away and hiding after raiding your chickens.  Jesus meant to imply that His own earthly ruler, Herod was a slinking slimy cowardly, wicked, thieving, dirty rat.   Jesus was telling the truth about Herod's character.  Surely then it is our job to do that with our leaders.  But that was just the start.  We all know that He not only calls those of His senators, the Pharisees who deserved it, Hypocrites, but He also calls them putrid rotting white washed tombs and slimy snakes."  (I haven't heard that sort of thing about our politicians of today where I go to church.  Have you? It may be that some pastors don't know what is really important and what is not, and the fact that politics can't be separated from morality.) Here are some profound statements from "Agent X" "You need 'time' to have 'before' and you need 'space' to have 'from.'  (a little thought is required to understand this statement.) ". . . everything in the universe actually has a purpose, it is there because there is no other way to create a universe that supports life like ours.  That stuff is out there because God wanted to create a mechanically correct, physically sound, logical and rationally functioning planet for man to live on." "God is an artist, the very first artist, the mold on which all artist are made.  What makes you think, doing what He loves, would be something He'd ever shirk from?  He enjoys watching you enjoy His world that He created for you, and He'll enjoy watching you enjoy the New World once He creates that too." "Democracy may be rational, but rationality is not democratic." "Rational Faith is the concept that your faith should be akin to trust.  You should never blindly trust anyone.  Your faith should be based on facts, logic, reason, and experience.  Faith and trust need to be earned.  While emotions are important for relationship, they are dangerous for evaluating the trustworthiness of anything.  Con men are most successful because they make their victims 'feel' secure.  Don't be conned into a religion.  Test all things; hold on to that which is true.  Not to that which gives you a good gut feeling!" (The words in parentheses are not from the book but are my own.  ~awd)