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Ok, I’ll be honest.

I’m a Fundamentalist Christian.  I am also a very conservative person when  it comes to politics.

I must say that I cannot understand why Christians want to post the Ten Commandments all over the place. (They even have them posted outside of one of the buildings where I am pastor of a church.)

Do Christians not understand what legalism is?  Do they not understand that morality will not change by posting the Ten Commandments?  Do they not understand grace?

Do Christians not understand Galatians 3:10-14 , or Romans 5:20-21 ?

If Christians wish to make monuments, make them monuments of the cross of Jesus.  Better yet, preach the Gospel.  Let converted souls be our monuments.

Do they not understand that the law condemns?  Romans 3:19-28  It is Jesus who liberates!

Just musing…

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A Quebec family ordered by a judge to put their kids in public daycare and school for socialization has caused an outpouring of rage from the public, a pro-home school group says.

Judge Nicole Bernier ordered the traditional Catholic family to put their youngest children, ages 5 and 3, into daycare for “socialization.”

Previously, the family – from the Eastern Townships region – was told by the same judge to put their older home-schooled children, ages 7 and 5 into public school for the same reason.

Bernier also criticized the mother’s teaching style, saying the use of phonics to teach reading is out-dated.

via Support for Que. family ordered by judge to ‘socialize’ kids – Canada – Canoe.ca.

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“And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. ” (Luke 6:29)

This passage seems to be a problem to most of us.  There are probably a number of reasons for that, and I won’t presume to think that I know the hearts of others.  Let it suffice to say that we have problems enough that we have differing views such as non-resistance and non-retaliation.  Then again, it seems it is often ignored altogether.  We struggle with passages such as this, don’t we?

It was instructive to me to read the following:

To the one who strikes you on the cheek offer also the other (cheek). What did he mean? That his words were not intended to be taken literally follows from his own reaction when he was struck in the face (John 18:22, 23). In fact, those who insist on interpreting every saying of Jesus literally get into difficulty again and again (Matt. 16:6–12; John 2:18–21; 3:3–5; 4:10–14; 6:51–58; 11:11–14).
What, then, did Jesus mean? When his words are read in the light of what immediately precedes in verses 27, 28, and when Matthew’s parallel (5:39 f.) is read in the light of what follows in verses 43–48, it becomes clear that the key passage, identical in both Gospels, is, “Love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27). In other words, Jesus condemns the spirit of lovelessness, hatred, yearning for revenge. He is saying, “Do not resist the evildoer with measures that arise from an unloving, unforgiving, unrelenting, vindictive disposition.” Once this is understood it becomes clear that “turning the other cheek” means to show in attitude, word, and deed that one is not filled with the spirit of rancor but with the spirit of love. Rom. 12:19–21 presents an excellent commentary.

William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 11, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke, New Testament Commentary, 349 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001).

Note the concluding sentence,

Once this is understood it becomes clear that “turning the other cheek” means to show in attitude, word, and deed that one is not filled with the spirit of rancor but with the spirit of love. Rom. 12:19–21 presents an excellent commentary.

Very well said, I think.

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In June 2010, CIA chief Leon Panetta said that Osama bin Laden is holed up somewhere in Pakistan’s tribal areas. But this is disgraceful for a top man of a spy agency that Al Qaeda leader is ‘somewhere’ in the tribal belt. Why can’t Mr. know all exactly identify where he is and take him out. But they can’t because the world knows that Osama bin Laden is dead.

via Foreign policy review is imperative.

Read more on the issue here.

What should we make of this?  Let’s just say that there will be a new “bogey-man” to keep the sheeple scared, and to justify the descent of the USA into a police state.

Related articles

• Osama bin Laden Has Been Killed; President Obama Announces Osama bin Laden has be Killed (sugarslam.com)
• The Death Of Osama Bin Laden (injesus.wordpress.com)
• Osama Bin Laden Pronounced Dead…For the Ninth Time (worldtruthtoday.com)
• REPORT: DNA testing confirms bin Laden death… (politico.com)
• Some Thoughts on the death of Osama Bin Laden (discomaulvi.wordpress.com)

I highly recommend reading the article linked below and clicking through to read the links to which it refers.

A multitude of different inside sources both publicly and privately, including one individual who personally worked with Bin Laden at one time, told us directly that Osama’s dead corpse has been on ice for nearly a decade and that his “death” would only be announced at the most politically expedient time.

via » Inside Sources: Bin Laden’s Corpse Has Been On Ice For Nearly a Decade Alex Jones’ Infowars: There’s a war on for your mind!.

I’ve been reading for years that Bin Laden was dead.  Now we’re supposed to believe that it just happened.  Be sure that there’s a political reason behind all of the hoop-la.

Check out this story from Fox.  It ran on December 26,2001.

Usama bin Laden has died a peaceful death due to an untreated lung complication, the Pakistan Observer reported, citing a Taliban leader who allegedly attended the funeral of the Al Qaeda leader.

“The Coalition troops are engaged in a mad search operation but they would never be able to fulfill their cherished goal of getting Usama alive or dead,” the source said.

Bin Laden, according to the source, was suffering from a serious lung complication and succumbed to the disease in mid-December, in the vicinity of the Tora Bora mountains. The source claimed that bin Laden was laid to rest honorably in his last abode and his grave was made as per his Wahabi belief.

What are we to think of all of the disinformation?  I’m not sure.  I do know that we must be aware that our own government lies.  Our media lies.  Our intelligence officials lie.  We should be careful about the things to which we lend credibility.

We live in a world full of political and religious deceivers.  It is our sacred duty to search for truth.  We must not swallow everything that is fed to us.

Just musing…

Updated links:

Bin Laden on ice.

Pronouced Dead for the Ninth Time

Bin Laden Died Dec. 2001

More on Bin Laden’s Not So Recent Death

Two from The American Free Press:

Front Page Dec 28,2009

Bush & Co. would face problems if bin Laden’s death became common knowledge. The reason for the war would be lost and all those videos would be exposed as fraud.

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I know many are rejoicing that Osama bin Laden has been killed…but beware. Proverbs 24:17-18 (KJV) “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: [18] Lest the Lord see it , and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” He was likely a lost man…rejoicing that a soul may have gone to hell is not a good thing. Pray.

via I know many are….

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Westboro Baptist AKA Fred Phelps and family continues to spew vitriol and hate.

PRAISE GOD FOR DEAD AND INJURED BY TORNADOES AND STORMS IN MISSISSIPPI!

Six confirmed dead and more than 30 injured as severe weather moves through with golf-ball size hail and damaging winds.

GodSmack!

God is marching through Mississippi in great wrath for your slanderous lies out of Brandon, Rankin County, MS! Media reported nation-wide that your cops conspired with the mob to stop a funeral protest that WBC never scheduled or attended.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. (Ro. 1:18-20.)

via God Punishes Mississippi Liars | GodSmacks!.

It would seem that, if these folks were serious about the Bible, they would realize that God said

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him. ” (Proverbs 24:17–18)

He also said,

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ” (2 Peter 3:9)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. ” (Ephesians 2:4–7)

 

Let’s see this as it is.  The Phelps, et al do not care what Scripture says.  They only care about their perverted, hate-filled version.  They are greedy media whores who somehow are getting money from what they are doing; enough money to keep it up.

It is Westboro who needs to repent.  Thankfully, if they do, God will forgive them.

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Someone who claims to be Jonathan Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church has commented here regarding this post about Westboro Baptist going to Mississippi and encountering resistance.

Here is what he said:

Dear Friends:

Just when we thought there was no completely new and original way to get the whole nation talking about the faithful ministry of WBC, you found one. You are AWESOME!

Never mind that the story was complete fiction (since we never have and never would waste time driving that far when a plane and rental car is far more efficient), you got people to get an accurate picture of the face of a doomed nation that will no longer endure sound Bible doctrine and therefore God sends them a spirit of lawlessness as divine judgment.

You saved us funds to attend funerals for soldiers and others in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma, while still guaranteeing that our core message (God is bringing this evil nation into judgment in an open and notorious manner, chiefly by slaughtering their young and their soldiers, because you have turned the country over to the sodomites) has reached a huge audience AGAIN!

Thank you for your faithlessness and your rage against God (that He turns as a testimony for us). If we weren’t busy planning funeral pickets for the latest GodSmack victims, we would send a representative to come and give you a BIG hug!

These words we preach are going to be heard in the ears of 310 million american brutes, by hook or crook, and you are powerless to stop them. That’s how God rolls.

Jonathan Phelps on behalf of Westboro Baptist Church

My reply:

Dear Mr. Phelps ,

First of all, thanks for taking the time to stop and comment.  Second, I agree that this nation is doomed.  Scripture tells us that nations that forget God will be turned into hell ( Psalm 9:17 ) along with all of the wicked.  I also agree that there are many who do not abide by sound doctrine and do not wish to hear it.

Mr. Phelps, it may well be that the story is fictitious.  I do know that you are the only person to this point who has denied it.  I have also had at least one from the Brandon, MS area who commented, and they did not deny it. In fact, she pretty much confirmed the story.   At this point, I suppose it is safe to believe the story, as I cannot see myself believing you.

All of these things being said, you must understand that you are by no means preaching sound doctrine.  While I agree that homosexual behavior is sinful and immoral, there is no biblical justification for blaming homosexual behavior on the deaths of soldiers.  Soldiers die because our nation has been taken over by forces that are motivated by profits.  They are after unjust gain.  Soldiers are dying because we are fighting unjust wars, and bullets respect no persons.  There is nothing in the inspired Word of God that tells you, or leads you to believe that God approves of you.

As far as my faithlesness is concerned, I must admit that my faith is often weak.  It is strong, however, when I look at Calvary and the empty tomb from which Jesus arose alive and victorious over sin, death, and hell.  It is strong enough to hear Him tell us to go into all the world and preach the good news.  It is strong enough to see that you don’t preach good news, as  you only present hatred and damnation.  You give no hope of deliverance to anyone.  You simply tell them that God hates them.  Does He?  Yes, indeed, He does!  He hates them so much that hell awaits them.  He also loves them so much that Jesus died for their sins and arose from the dead to give them eternal life.  That is the GOSPEL!  That is good news!  That is faithfulness to God and His Word.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Am I raging against God?  No.  I am raging against those who deny God by their actions.

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ” (Titus 1:16)

Yes, Mr. Phelps, you deny God by your actions.  You profess to know Him, but deny Him by your actions.  God is love, if you will recall ( 1John 4:7-8  ), and He tells us that hate-filled people do not know Him.

Mr. Phelps, I have not intention of beating around the proverbial bush.  You MUST repent.  You must recognize your own sinful self-righteousness and repent, or else you will go to the same torments that all the other wicked are going.

“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ” (Luke 13:1–5)

The glorious truth of the gospel is that God will forgive homosexuals, and He will even forgive someone as despicable as you and I are ( 1Corinthians 6:9-11 ).

Thanks for taking the time to comment, to give me the opportunity to clarify to you what the gospel truly is, and to give yourself one more opportunity to repent and believe ( Mark 1:14-15;John 3:16 ).

Sincerely yours,

The Pastor (JasonS)

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Christian persecution has increased exponentially under U.S. occupation. As one top Vatican official put it, Christians, “paradoxically, were more protected under the dictatorship” of Saddam Hussein.

What does one make of this—that under Saddam, who was notorious for human rights abuses, Christians were better off than they are under a democratic government sponsored by humanitarian, some would say “Christian,” America?

Like a Baghdad caliph, Saddam appears to have made use of the better educated Christians, who posed no risk to his rule, such as his close confidant Tariq Aziz. Moreover, by keeping a tight lid on the Islamists of his nation—who hated him as a secular apostate no less than the Christians—the latter benefited indirectly.

Conversely, by empowering “the people,” the U.S. has unwittingly undone Iraq’s Christian minority.

via The Silent Extermination of Iraq’s ‘Christian Dogs’ :: Middle East Forum.

 

I have been wondering for a long time how we can call this a just war.

I have been wondering for a long time how we can think that the US can bring democratic values to Iraq when the US itself is becoming more and more of a police state.

I have been wondering for a long time how professing Christians can support our having troops on the ground in Iraq.

The fact of the matter is that there is no reason for it.  The war is unjust.  The war is immoral.  The war is damaging the cause of Christ in Iraq.

No Christian can righteously support this war.

Now, before someone says that I don’t support the troops, I say that the best way to support them is to bring them home.

If you disagree, you can apologize to me later.  I’m tired of the hypocrisy in which evangelical Christians support an unjust war and think that God ordained the Republican party and the TEA party.  Many Democrats are guilty, too.

I have repented of my support for this war.  Will you?

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Yesterday I posted about the welcome Fred Phelps and Westboro “Baptist Church” received in Mississippi.  That post has received about 2,000 clicks alone in 24 hours.  That amazes me.

Obviously, for many different reasons, Fred Phelps brings sensitive issues to light.

Let’s forget “gay rights”, and just recognize that Christians aren’t necessarily “anti-gay”.  They are anti homosexual behavior.  There is a difference.  That, however, is not the important thing that we need to take away from the whole discussion.  Not by a long shot.

The important issue with Phelps, et al is the issue of civility.  Phelps has the freedom to protest at funerals, if he wishes.  I’ll not begrudge him his freedom, though I may have helped block a few cars with Kansas licenses if I were present.  Phelps simply has shown us that incivility is horrible.

What is sad is that many on the other side of the issue cannot see that answering incivility with incivility is wrong.  None of that group deserved a beating.  I think, too, those who were blocked in could have had someone to sit down, explain to them that they weren’t going to let them disrupt the solemn observance on a funeral, and then buy them lunch.  It would not have hurt at all.

Folks, Phelps isn’t a Christian.  He’s hate-filled.  That is obvious.  What is in his heart shows up as the fruit of actions.  Those actions show hate, because they speak hate.  That’s what his signs say.  This isn’t about homosexuality.  This is about what is true Christianity and what isn’t.  Mississippi did a good job stopping the protest, but we failed in that we didn’t show Phelps what true Christianity is.

Though I don’t think Mr. Phelps will ever visit here, I wish all to understand that God is love, that He loves the world and demonstrated that love by becoming a man and dying for our sins, then rising from the dead.  That loving God will forgive ALL SINNERS who trust Him ( See John 3:16 ), EVEN Fred Phelps.

We live in a society that has forgotten what civility is, because we have forgotten what Christianity is.

Christianity is not a social movement.

Christianity is not a political party.

Christianity is not a moral stance.

Christianity is not even a church.

Christianity is a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

There are those of us who are against homosexual behavior who still understand that God LOVES homosexuals ( See 1Corinthians 6:9-11 ), and will forgive them their sins.  He also LOVES Fred Phelps and will forgive him, if he trusts Jesus.

We need to learn to discern…

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