PA UM Bishops' War on Gambling in Pennsylvania continued....

"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 23:24

Yesterday the focus was on four UMC bishops who have issued a pastoral letter urging all United Methodists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to oppose Gov. Rendell’s proposal to expand gambling by means of video poker machines set up in a number of business establishments.

Many years ago before my retirement I, along with all W. PA Conference pastors, received a “pastoral letter” from the three UMC bishops in Pennsylvania. We were told to read the letter to our congregations and urge opposition and call for ultimate elimination of the death penalty in the state.

I wrote to each of those bishops personally and told each one that I would be most willing to read their letter to my people IF and WHEN I received a letter from them equally strong and forceful in opposing abortion on demand. After all, a "death penalty" of a kind is involved when an unborn child is executed in the womb, is it not?

Time passed and eventually I received a reply from the bishop of the Central PA Conference. The letter contained a few terse phrases which when translated clearly declared, “Who are you to question us?” That is a temptation some bishops seem to have once they take office – they now have a “kingdom” and when they say “Jump!” everyone snaps to attention and says, “Yes sir/madam – just how much altitude does your honor desire from us in that jump?” Pastors and congregations are expected to march in lockstep with no questions to be asked nor any objections to be raised when the bishop speaks!

The female bishop at the eastern end of the state never did send a reply to my letter. And as I followed her career in later years I understood why she did not respond.

More time passed and eventually my own bishop responded. He conceded that the issue was a serious one, but felt maybe I was making a little bit too much of it – you know, a matter of making "a mountain out of a mole hill" sort of thing!

And so, I didn’t read the letter. I did post it on the bulletin boards of my churches along side of the letter I sent to the bishops and informed my people what had transpired.

That is how it has been over the decades – United Methodist bishops have spoken out on issues of all kinds – pastoral letters have been drafted and congregations have been urged to take action to bring about changes toward improvement of some kind within our culture.

But on the issue which will bring the wrath of a holy God upon this nation more quickly than any other offense, the bishops seem to have a Mafia type “code of silence!” Not a one will boldly speak out in vehement protest about the horrors of the mass destruction of the unborn, nor urge those within his/her conference to do so.

At the present time W PA Annual Conference has been on a campaign to send treated mosquito netting to Africa in the battle against malaria with Bishop Bickerton hammering on the fact of huge numbers of persons dying each year from malaria. Jean and I have supported this effort financially. But why does the bishop not express at least equal concern for over a million unborn children in the United States being mutilated and murdered in the womb each year?

Maybe I have it all wrong – and that is, that it is much more a serious matter as to what a mosquito does to a person in Africa than what a hypocrite posing as a “doctor” does with a custom made vacuum cleaner in tearing to shreds an unborn child whom God is forming in the womb in the United States of America! For further discussion on this issue see
A Mosquito Does Not Rationalize, Resist Or Retaliate! Use return feature on your web browser to come back to this place.

Will someone please explain this mystery to me as the United States’ version of “holocaust” continues with enthusiastic support from our president and very little serious objection while we United Methodists with overwhelming enthusiasm fight the evils of gambling in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

"For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.” --- Jeremiah 7:5-8

PA UM Bishops Declare War on Gambling – Will They Do Likewise on a Much More Serious Practice in the State?

"Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 23:24

Four bishops have recently declared war on gambling in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a result of Governor Rendell’s attempt to expand gambling with the hope of bringing in more revenue into the state’s piggy bank. Those bishops are Thomas J. Bickerton of Pittsburgh, Jane Allen Middleton of Harrisburg, Peggy A. Johnson of Philadelphia, and Susan W. Hassinger, of Albany, N.Y., whose area takes in a bit of Northeastern Pennsylvania

The bishops have issued a pastoral letter in which they said, “Contact your legislator and Gov. Rendell. Tell them video poker goes against God’s best intentions for Gods children.”

The bishops also noted that “The United Methodist Church believes ‘gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship,’” as they cited long-standing church law and scripture.

For a long time there has been no lack within the United Methodist Church when it comes to all out frontal attack on gambling. In fact, the way some church leaders approach it, one would be quickly convinced that it is the greatest evil to ever penetrate the human race!

Let’s consider another much more critical social and moral issue which the bishops of the UMC do not address, ever. It’s the issue of the destruction of unborn children at the rate of about 25,000 per week in the “land of the free and the home of the brave!” Quite a number of these very young ones are brutally mutilated and murdered within the borders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Now then, ponder a modest proposition for the bishops since they have fired the shot – how about changing the wording a bit and issue one more letter to be read in the churches, since we are now making the claim for correcting immoral practices in Pennsylvania?

Here’s the revised “edition” on the two statements mentioned above, and the same could be applied throughout the whole letter. As UM’s know very well – the practice of doing amending at annual conference sessions is a very popular pastime – so let’s do some of it here:

Statement #1 amended to read “Contact your legislator and Gov. Rendell. Tell them abortion goes against God’s best intentions for Gods children.”

Statement #2 amended to read “The United Methodist Church believes ‘abortion is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship.’”

The last statement presents a bit of a problem since the official position of the United Methodist Church can be regarded as giving the “green light” to the practice of abortion, although there is an attempt to couch the statements in pious sounding language. But in the final analysis, any woman can get an abortion who wants one on the basis of simply saying that the pregnancy will bring undue psychological stress, financial stress, health related stress, employment stress, social stress, family stress, home environment stress, household pet stress, garbage can stress, or whatever – it’s very easy to come up with a “reason” as to why an unborn child should be exterminated as simply as swatting a fly!

So, bishops, how about it – may we soon expect the second pastoral letter with the above amended statements in the war against social evils that are “a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship?”

To be continued in the next post………

"For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.” --- Jeremiah 7:5-8

Have You Tried Writing a Letter?

And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the LORD God of your father David: 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah… --- 2 Chronicles 21:12

I confess – I’m guilty – I’ve done it so many times in the past and continue to do it – it seems that there is no changing nor stopping of the practice. Those knowing me rather well would conclude that there is no hope – Clayt is suffering from an addiction from which he will never recover!

And what is this malady that is a “thorn in my side?” It is the habit of writing letters! I think I inherited it from my mother. She wrote letters all during her lifetime, including many to my wife and me when we were away from home. She had quite a list of military people to whom she wrote regularly during the years of WW II. One of my dad’s cousins was wounded twice in Sicily and my mother got shelf paper which was about 7 feet long, wrote on both sides of it and sent it overseas to cousin Don McElravy. He later sent a picture back with the letter draped around his neck and down the front of his chest to about his belt line.

I have written letters over the years to newspaper editors, church leaders, some heads of state in other nations, presidents, vice presidents, congressional people, TV media people and many friends. One newspaper, the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, no longer will publish my letters because of a past skirmish I had with persons there over an issue. But the ones they wouldn’t publish are at my web site anyway and are available for public viewing! In a sense, I am still having the last laugh since they have no control over my turf at Circuit Rider's Range!

The practice of writing letters will continue so long as God gives me breath, strength in my hands to type and/or write with a pen, and ability to think and reason a bit. Now, as it has been for some time, a letter goes out regularly to President Obama. You can see it at Letter to President Obama

This is an appeal to get involved in this kind of “witness” if you haven’t already been doing so. There will be the temptation to say it is a waste of time and expense and it won’t do any good. Is it better to stand before God and say, “I tried to do everything I could possibly do.” OR to have to admit that you could have done more but didn’t because you didn’t think it really mattered and it "wouldn't do any good" anyhow?

At the beginning is a reference from 2 Chronicles 21 which speaks of a letter from Elijah the prophet to a king. It doesn’t have much good news in it – in fact, it was a harsh rebuke because the king was way out of line in his lifestyle and practices. What if Elijah would have reasoned, “No use writing to the king – it won’t do any good!” and just did whatever it was he did in the course of a day? And of course there was the ultimate accounting he would have to give to the God Who had called him to bear witness to God's truth in very chaotic times. I’ll let you draw your own conclusion on that.

So get pen in hand or bring up that word processing program – a piece of paper – an envelope, and start writing!

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. --- Jude 1:3

Emails – A Revelation in Sharp Contrasts!

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. --- Romans 1:28-32

He (Jesus Christ) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. --- John 1:10-13

Within a little over a 24 hour period I received two emails which stand in stark contrast with each other. Over the years I have received a number of email responses to my web site, Circuit Rider’s Range, and also responses to my blog, Musings of a Maverick.

Some have been extremely negative and others have been most complimentary, positive and encouraging. But because of the time element in which these two emails arrived and being so different from each other, I decided to share them with those who happen to stop by Musings from time to time.

The first one arrived yesterday, May 25th, at 1:36 AM. Here is what was said – be forewarned at one point that the writer refers to my God as a S.O.B – so here it is, warts and all, exactly as received in my mail box!

I pray your God delivers all that it says it will -- for I have read your scriptures and your God is really an evil son of a bitch ---- AND if your God's testamony of prayer is true, I pray that you will learn --- your God is as evil as all the other gods.
Anyone who prays to any God is a hipicrite for ALL Gods are manmade --- " the doctrins of men "

If you do not attempt to understand the real you --- the power that is you ---- you will be lost to eternal recycling of your soul.

You are a part of all that is, in the final deffination when it's all said and done --- all that is IS all that is --- there IS no greater or lesser ---- YOU are all and all is you.

Have you ever stopped to study your inner self --- what about that voice that guides you --- is that God or is that an inner voice --( your voice ) ---- or is it an enity of the past that wants to direct you and you call the voice God.

All that you believe in is nothing more than the doctrins of men ---- please stop and start to ask questions.

The goodness and well wishes of a person has nothing to do with the ------- " doctrins of a God " --- those wishes are the true feelings of that person --- what you feel is what you react upon --- those feelings are YOU.

Right now in this day and age ---- MONEY is the real God --- money is what all persons pray to and react to --- we are the puppets and money is the controllimg agent.

I would love to share opinions with you --- I am as sick as all the others and I am as controlled as all the others --- but I try my best to keep an open mind.

If you are the positive --- then I will be the negative ---- so that a zero point of condemplation can be ascertained ---- whatdeyah think ?
I would love to communicate with the real you ------ do not be shy --- say what you feel --- you can not hurt me.

The second to which I make reference arrived this morning (May 26) at 3:59 AM. It is very short and to the point as you will see:

Hello my name is (full name has been omitted to protect privacy of the individual) I am 19 years old and I have just accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my personal Lord and Savior.

I always attempt to respond to emails sent, even if I am cursed and called every name under the sun. In some cases this is not easy, but God always makes a way and gives the words which ought to be spoken. A few years ago He put it on my heart to start the web site witness and then later to supplement that with the blog. Since that time emails have come in from different locations in the U. S. and many foreign nations as well.

Now the question – how would you respond to that first one? Avoid the temptation to write off that person as being unworthy of a response. I will respond – I would like to know how you would address the statements made. If you want to email me and tell me how you might go about it, I would welcome that.

The second email will also receive a response – since I have received similar emails before, I already have in mind the nature of the response which will be to rejoice with the person in the decision to accept Jesus Christ and to encourage discipline and growth in the faith, etc. I suspect that in some cases at least, such persons have been challenged to make a decision in light of my page titled, “How to Become a Christian”

Ah, the adventure continues – one never knows what God has in store around the next bend in the road, does one?

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. --- 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20

The World War II Memorial Controversy!

DECEMBER 7, 1941, A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY... --- opening statement of Franklin D. Roosevelt's address following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

On this Memorial Day it seems fitting to give some consideration to a bit of controversy swirling about the WW II Memorial in Washington DC. Emails have been circulating drawing attention to an alleged intentional omission of Franklin Roosevelt’s statement near the close of his speech that he gave following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Perhaps some assume that the entire speech was engraved on the WW II Memorial in Washington DC.

The actual statements taken from FDR’s addess as appearing on the memorial are:

The accusation is that the phrase, “So help us God,” was intentionally omitted. Since most of us were not in on any discussion concerning what would be used or not used from FDR’s address, we don’t know for sure how the selected phrases which appear were chosen and why.

Certainly the last phrase before asking Congress to declare a state of war would have been most meaningful and appropriate -- and it should have appeared on the monument in light of the president's reference to the armed forces -- after all, it is a memorial to those who served in WW II, is it not? FDR said, “With confidence in our armed forces – with the unbounded determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God.”

If the preceding phrase would have received any consideration at all as to possibly being engraved on the monument, it likely would have been rejected instantly. A lot of us have a growing suspicion about government in all its facets and how it operates, especially as we see with alarm its intrusion into private organizations and recent efforts to control corporations!

The growing anti-God and anti-Christ spirit is spreading like a vicious malignant out-of-control cancer. So if FDR’s phrase, “So help us God,” had been given a brief consideration, it would have been rejected on the basis of being “offensive” according to warped and idiotic reasoning we hear today in those arenas where God may be mentioned! And we wouldn’t want to risk offending some people who may view the WW II Memorial and see the name of God engraved on it would we?

Anyone out there want to speculate a bit as to how God is going to respond when in an unprecedented crisis in the future the president, along with political and church leaders, issues an appeal to pray and call on God for help? And remember, the nation can be plunged into such a crisis that suddenly masses of people who never gave it a thought previously now decide that praying to God is “the thing to do!”

Take a little walk through Jeremiah 2 and see how one nation of people fared when it was decided that maybe the time had come when they should call out to God for help in a moment of crisis!

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, and the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance. The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His habitation He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. --- Psalm 33:12-19

Too Blind to Realize That They Are the Real Threat, Not Us!

Reports coming out of the Department of Homeland Security have labeled a number of people as potential “terrorists” and a “threat” to the security of the United States. These include returning veterans, persons who oppose abortion, firearms restrictions, lax immigration policies, disagree with the president’s policies, etc. --- a miscellaneous number of media sources have given details on this nightmare

For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed. --- Isaiah 9:16

The above identification “labels” by DHS are but a few which this agency with long extended tentacles under Secretary Janet Napolitano has revealed. When it’s all put together, the shocking discovery is that quite a bunch of us are in Madam Secretary’s “cross hairs” on behalf of her boss, B. Hussein Obama!

But wait a minute – this gang has it all wrong! In their blindness, coupled with a generous batch of sheer ignorance, they are the ones who are the real threat to the security of the United States. And B. Hussein Obama, acting as a charismatic pied piper, is leading the way.

The skids to disaster have been greased ever since the 60’s, but this present administration has found a way to apply even more grease.

• B. O.’s aggressive policies, local and foreign, that will result in greater numbers of unborn than ever before being destroyed!
  
  
• B.O.’s disregard for the day of worship which is to be given priority according to what the Creator of this mighty universe has to say about it!
  
  
• B.O.’s intentional choice to totally disregard the National Day of Prayer observance which sends a message loud and clear that government leaders do not believe that prayer is important to the well being of our republic.
  
  
• And under B.O.’s watch an incident in Afghanistan indicates how truly heathen we are getting to be – a soldier in Afghanistan received Bibles translated into the Afghan language, but before he was able to distribute them, chaplains confiscated them and destroyed them! Why? There seems to be a “policy” in force that forbids any of our military people from sharing their faith in Jesus Christ with Afghan citizens! It’s ok to shoot them and kill them, but it’s not ok to seek to lead them to experience forgiveness and peace with Jesus Christ, Who will ultimately be the Judge of all human beings.
  

A threat to the United States? Just go to Washington DC and you will see who comprises the greatest threat to our nation. Make your first stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and then move on to other locations such as the U. S. Capitol building, the Supreme Court, the Department of State, Justice, Treasury and other such entities that are making a significant contribution to the downfall of our republic!

Only God can provide real security for a nation, but when He and His holy standards are rejected by the majority, including the leadership, then there is no security for the future -- only God's negative response to a nation that has played the hypocrite as He demonstrates most dramatically that He will not be mocked and the law of sowing and reaping is still on the books!

"… only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them." But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spoke by His servants the prophets, saying, "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations(he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols), therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.’” --- 2 Kings 21:8b-12

The Battle Will Continue Unabated Until…!

Carrie Prejean's comments about her opposition to same-sex marriage ignited a media firestorm after a celebrity judge suggested her response may have lost her the Miss USA title; she finished as first-runner up. The photos from her teenage years surfaced later and led to the review of her state title, but pageant owner Donald Trump said Tuesday that Prejean may retain it. --- quote from AP news release, May 13, 2009

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, will keep her crown due to a decision by Donald Trump who says what is or isn’t concerning the Miss USA pageant. It was Miss Prejean’s answer regarding marriage being between a man and a woman that stirred a pageant judge who advocates same gender coupling as a legitimate way of life. His negative response and the resulting fall-out dominated the media news for some time.

While all this was happening the Hate Crimes Bill is making its way through the U. S. Congress with provisions of special protection for those who practice same gender coupling as a way of life.

We also have witnessed the acceptance of same gender “marriage” in some states and pressure being brought to bear for others to do likewise – it is no longer an issue of “civil unions” – it is the goal to have same gender couples enter into a marriage covenant and that ultimately these would be performed either in a civil setting with a judge or magistrate presiding or in a church with a clergy person officiating!

Church groups that have “held the line” on refusing to ordain those who practice same gender coupling while indicating that such a way of life is incompatible with Christian teaching find themselves under assault. Protests are increasing and pressure is mounting to change the standards and accept this “alternate lifestyle” without objection. The United Methodist Church is at the forefront of controversy on this issue during its General Conference every four years. The alarming thing is that the will to resist becomes weaker at each of these gatherings. It is obvious that eventually a cave-in will take place.

What does it all mean for the country? With laws that provide special protection for the same gender couplers along with their well organized groups, high profile supporters in the mainstream media, almost unlimited financial support, and highly intelligent people to map out future strategies, it is simply a matter of time until all are forced to comply and accept the same gender coupling philosophy of life! We will march in lockstep with them without objection, or else face extremely serious consequences, including severe penalties!

To object or speak against it is to open yourself up to criminal charges if that objection should be raised in a public arena. This seems to be wild and far fetched now, but a pastor in a Scandinavian country actually did some jail time for preaching from Romans 1 in a Sunday morning worship service in his church. He had charges brought against him for negative statements made about homosexuality as based on the Romans 1 passage of Scripture! And so he did time in jail as a result of that “offense.”

The message? Don’t speak against same gender practices regarding sexuality – accept it and we’ll all be one big happy family, right?

If someone had told me when I started in the pastoral ministry 50 years ago this coming June that the time would come when a battle would rage over the legitimacy of same gender sexual practices, I would have said to that person, “You’re crazy – it will never happen!” Obviously, my prediction was very, very much in error!

But as I often do – I try to close out on a positive note – it will be rough for a while – but it is like the dark night for a brief time, and then the bright dawn breaks with the sun shining brightly. The day is coming when the Lord Jesus Christ will confirm the truth of His Word and His promises – this mess we have to put up with now and the battle in which we are presently engaged will be ended – the wheat and the chaff will be separated, and He will rule with His people living in peace and prosperity forever!

And don't forget the other good news -- when that event happens it means also that all politicians and judges (Supreme Court included) will be out of a job -- isn't that exciting to think about?

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." --- Psalm 2:1-6

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" --- Revelation 11:15

I'm One of Those Lower, Lower Middle Class White Guys -- Can I Get Special Protection Too?

(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012 to increase DOJ personnel to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in combating hate crimes.
(Sec. 6) Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit willfully causing bodily injury to any person through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations and a life term if a death results from a violation or certain other violent crimes are involved. --- from H. R. 1913 which was recently passed

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. they trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. --- Isaiah 59:3, 4

There's a high pitch level of excitement in the air and the end is not yet! The House of Reps gave their nod to a piece of legislation identified as H. R. 1913 and referred to as the Hate Crimes Bill. Incorporated into the bill are provisions in the federal criminal code for heavy penalties against anyone who has caused bodily injury to another person because of "actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability."

For years those who are aggressively pursuing an agenda favoring the concerns of homosexual, lesbian, and transgender persons have been putting the pressure on to have the "sexual orientation" category included in such legislation as H. R. 1913. So these come under the scope of special protection that many other persons do not have at present.

This is but one more step in the direction of reaching the ultimate goal -- which is forced acceptance of sodomy and lesbianism as a legitimate way of life. This includes marriage being recognized by both state and church. The "couples" should have the right to adopt and raise children. Finally, these units should be considered "families" in every sense of the word as would be the case of a man married to a woman with children being born to them in the course of their marriage.

For anyone to question same gender coupling or to speak against it in any way is to be considered guilty of being homophobic and inciting hateful attitudes and/or acts!

Now the question – why can’t I be given similar special protection by law? The chance of that happening is as great as that proverbial snowball surviving in that very hot place you have heard about from time to time!

Here are the basic reasons I won’t get that special protection although prejudice against my kind is growing day by day.

• First, I am a white guy – it’s mainly my fault that the country and the world are so badly messed up – therefore I deserve no special protection because of that alone!
  
  
• Second, I’m a heterosexual in my “orientation” and that’s also a solid reason as to why I deserve no special consideration and protection under the law.
  
  
• Third, I am married to a person of the opposite sex and have been so for many years. The fact that I don’t feel pangs of guilt because I enjoy this privilege which is denied others of a different orientation provides solid grounds as to why I should not be given any special protection under the law.
  
  
• Fourth, I am a pastor who has proclaimed the truth of God’s Word regarding human sexuality and the boundaries which God has clearly established for sexual experience and expression. Rather than being afforded any special protection it would more likely be ruled that lynching a person such as I would be justifiable and adding an amendment to that effect in Hate Crimes legislation would be appropriate as well as necessary!
  

Fortunately the One Who established all moral law to start with is slated to return to this planet and among other things, He will set the record straight on what is or isn’t a hate crime!

Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." --- Isaiah 56:1, 2

Foundations Are Not As Optional As Elected Officials Might Assume!

"Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." --- Matthew 7:26, 27

Upon reaching the magic “100 days” milestone in his presidency, Barack Obama came forth with positive statements interspersed with expressions indicating that there is much yet to do and he isn’t satisfied yet, but has high hopes for what will be accomplished under his watch in times to come.

One thing mentioned was his touting of a “new foundation” for growth. In construction of buildings it is generally agreed that the foundation is extremely critical.

Likewise, the formation and establishing of a culture requires a proper foundation if it is to thrive and survive. This demands a system of values and principles which insure the soundness and reliability of the foundation upon which the culture stands.

President B. Hussein Obama has provided undeniable evidence that the “foundation” he chooses to establish for our republic is humanistic in its design and purpose. He is a prime example of what the Bible warns about in the words of Paul the apostle in his letter to the Colossians (Col. 2:8):

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Here is a man who places no priority on the worship of Almighty God, Who in grace and mercy, raised this nation up from its humble beginnings and enabled it to become the greatest and most powerful nation on the face of planet Earth!

Here is a man who has by his signature on documents and by the appointment of many to powerful posts in his administration sent a clear message that human life is very cheap and a commodity which can be extinguished as easily and indifferently as one blows out a candle!

Here is a man who is resolved to usurp all the power he can and has already demonstrated that lust by what has happened in the banking and auto industries! And as he pursues his quest for more power, he is totally ignoring the clear principle taught in God’s revelation:

"The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.'” --- 2 Samuel 23:2-4

The foundation Obama and his blind followers is laying is well described in the statement made by Jesus that you saw at the beginning – a refusal to come to Him, listen to Him, and obey Him is to lay your foundation on sand. The result in time is not hard to imagine and the destiny of those choosing to build on sand is powerfully described by Jesus -- when the storm beat upon the house, it fell, and great was the fall of it!

Obama’s recent speech at Georgetown University symbolizes very well what his approach is when it comes to establishing our republic’s foundation. The White House insisted that all symbols on the backdrop behind the president be covered while he was on stage. That included the IHS Greek letter symbol for Jesus Christ which appears in Christian churches everywhere.

So, symbolically Jesus was blotted out while the president did his speech thing! It’s not outside the realm of real possibility that the day will come when this president, because of the intense calamities taking place now and more in the future, will make an appeal for people to pray and call on God. What do you suppose will be God’s response in light of the fact that His standards for establishing a solid foundation for a nation have been consistently rejected by that nation’s leadership?

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. --- 1 Corinthians 3:10, 11

Is the Pig Flu Thing Being a Bit Exaggerated?

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." --- Jesus speaking in Matthew 24:7, 8

Do you sometimes find yourself wishing you had a dollar for each time the expression, "swine flu," has been mentioned the last few days? If you did have a dollar for each time our zealous mass media referred to this alleged epidemic or pandemic, maybe before too long you could compete financially with Warren Buffet -- you know, he's the one who is supposed to be a multi-billionaire many times over and can show you how to make money even in these times of extreme financial stress!

OK, enough of that -- a short and sweet one this time -- enjoy because it doesn't happen very often around here at the Maverick's place!

Just ponder the item below and then ask, "Why do we not hear such a barrage each year about the large number of deaths occuring because of flu?"

It seems to be a pretty consistent thing each year -- quite a few thousand die in the United States because of something identified as "flu!"

Deaths information for Flu: An estimated 100,000 hospitalizations and about 20,000 deaths occur each year from the flu or its complications. (Source: excerpt from Focus On The Flu: NIAID) ... average of 20,000 to 40,000 deaths per year. (Source: excerpt from Microbes in Sickness and in Health - Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID) ... in the United States more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year. (Source: excerpt from The Flu, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID) ... In an average year, flu leads to about 20,000 deaths nationwide and many more hospitalizations. (Source: excerpt from What to Do About the Flu - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

If you want to roam around the web site where the above statement appears, then go to Deaths from Flu Use return on your web browser to come back here.

Do you get the feeling that sometimes the mass media people are acting like a bunch of sharks immediately after someone has dumped a few gallons of blood into the water just to see what will happen?

I rest my case!

There Should Be No Surprise on B. O.’s Supreme Court Nominee!

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds. "Look among the nations and watch; be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. “ --- Habakkuk 1:2-5

We are now plunged into a deep sea of speculation since the word is out that Supreme Court Justice Souter is going to step down later this year.

It is now being reported that the Obama people have been working for some time to come up with possible candidates for the next justice of the Supreme Court.

It doesn’t matter what name is submitted by the Obama bunch – one can speculate until doom’s day as to the identity of that nominee, but here’s what it will be as to the person who will sit in the seat soon to be vacated by Souter:

• he or she will be a rabid pro-abortion advocate and any ruling having to do with the destruction of unborn children will be made to insure that the slaughter continues without restriction! That is how the president thinks and he will make sure that his puppet appointee on the Supreme Court thinks and rules likewise.
  
  
• he or she will have an anti-God and anti-Christ approach when ruling on matters that have to do with church and moral issues – in other words, whatever would be in agreement with God’s revelation and basic teachings of Christianity will be rejected by Obama’s chosen Supreme Court justice!
  
  
• he or she will participate in such rulings as will further grease the skids on this nation’s downward plunge into a totally socialistic society with the U. S. Constitution being but a distant memory in due time.
  
  
• in summary, whatever sense of justice that the average citizen possesses and however that average citizen feels a Supreme Court decision should be in the dispensing of true justice, the president’s choice on the Supreme Court will rule just the opposite – remember, we now have people in leadership positions who are products of the rebel 60’s, the obnoxious 70’s, and the putrid 80’s – so court decisions that reflect a genuine sense of divine justice are extremely few and far between, especially at the U. S. Supreme Court level!
  

To get a good idea of how it will go with appointments by the president to various courts, check out the background of Obama’s first judicial appointment, David Hamilton, to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. David has quite a track record and his view of human life squares perfectly with the president who is recommending him.

After reading how Hamilton has ruled on some very important matters in the past you might not view the above statements as the erratic ranting of a lunatic after all! And it appears that Hamilton will get the position with little objection – who’s to object? It won’t be the Democrats who have placed their imprimatur on mass destruction of unborn children and the Republicans? They for the most part have abandoned any real sense of standing for protection and preservation of the unborn – it’s now considered too radical and too unpopular to want to protect all unborn children!

And none of these dare any longer to point the finger at Nazi Germany in self-righteous indignation and state what evil people they were – check the numbers – for every victim of the Nazi Holocaust we have matched it by at least 3 in our United States' version of “Holocaust!”

"You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” --- Deuteronomy 16:19, 20