A Campaign of a Different Sort!

Abortion always stops a beating heart!


For some time a campaign has been underway. It is called, "40 Days for Life." This is definitely something very different. Throughout the nation abortion clinics and the "people" (term used loosely!) who run them are being confronted with a witness that human life is sacred due to the fact that God identifies every conceived human being long before that conception ever took place! Further, our Creator has very definite plans for each human being. If you doubt this, then take a real close look at Jeremiah 1:4,5 in the Scriptures and after that do about one half to a full hour of serious thinking about what you just read!

For all the details plus reports of miraculous results go to 40 Days for Life. Use return feature on your web browser to come back here.

For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
--- Psalm 139:13-17

It's No Longer "Here Comes the Judge" But Look Out, Here Comes the Bishop!

Last summer following a lot of intensive meetings and "campaigning" the Western PA Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted a massive program under the name of "Believe Again!" -- this "strategic plan," which is quite possibly the most ambitious project ever launched by a conference, is supposed to bring about all kinds of results which will make United Methodist churches in the western third of PA more high profile and powerful in their ministries. Bishop Thomas Bickerton has been the spark plug in this venture which in some ways would make a Washington DC politician envious at the structure, the details, and the financing involved!

Here's the kicker -- most of the churches were to get a nice refund on payments previously sent in on pastors' health plans. Want to guess who came up with the bright idea to have those churches receiving reimbursements to sign the checks and turn them over to help finance this great "Believe Again!" campaign?

The pressure was about as high as it could get without blowing a valve -- not just on congregations but even worse, on the pastors also! Turn those reimbursements over to the "campaign!" Most seemed to go along, but some chose not to financially commit and to not turn over the reimbursement money they had received. Isn't this still supposed to be a republic where choices can be made without a lot of pressure to make a choice in favor of what certain leaders WANT??? Not if you are in a certain denomination and you have leaders who expect pastors and their congregations to march in lockstep like a bunch of programmed robots to their every demand!

Now the word is out that those non participating congregations are going to be asked to "reconsider" their decision about not contributing to the "cause" -- and then the bishop wants to meet with pastors and lay leadership to discuss why the congregations have not responded!

Will these actually be meetings where the bishop, smiling from ear to ear, attaches the strings and the Western PA Conference will reach the point where all the bishop has to do is yank the strings and ALL pastors and ALL congregations say, "Yes, sir -- whatever you say, sir -- your suggestions are our commands to carry out without question or objection!" Remember now, this will be done under a pretense of "piety" but with a not so well concealed threat that "if you don't pay now to the 'cause,' you'll pay a price later on down the road!" Retaliation has been known to have been employed in cases where pastors and/or congregations failed to "cooperate" when expected to do so!

BTW, you can see some comments about this "Believe Again!" campaign now underway in the United Methodist Churches in western Pennsylvania at Believe Again! OK! But What Is It That I Am Supposed to Believe? It has been written by yours truly. Enjoy!


On second thought, maybe someone can revive those old wringer washers from the age of antiquity and run those reluctant UMC congregations and their pastors through the wringer -- that should get every last cent out of them for the "campaign" with an additional "perk" wherein we can brag on 100 percent cooperation and support as we "Believe Again!"

And always remember -- intimidation is alive and thriving among the churches of the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church -- would some of our brethren in the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church please come give it the last rites? It's long over due!

The Tobacco Guys Got Sued -- Now How About the Alcohol Guys?

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. -- Galatians 6:6,7

You do remember, do you not, that some years ago a massive suing "campaign" was launched against the tobacco industry with great success. These bad guys had trafficked in a product that was a health hazard for years and years, and the reasoning now was that they should pay! It amounted to billions of dollars -- the people who really cashed in big on this one were the trial lawyers. You can't get through a day without some of those people throwing an ad at you from somewhere urging you to sue somebody for something so you can get the "money you deserve, and remember, there's no fee unless we get money for you!" There should be a PS added which says, "If we do, we will take a very LARGE piece of the pie!"

In tonight's news it was mentioned that there is a crisis involving teenagers drinking alcoholic beverages -- well, what do you know? Those little tykes are always up to something, aren't they?

So big people in powerful positions are now saying that something needs to be done. Oh, and just what is that in addition to pious words such as "adults taking responsibility"?

What in the world would cause those youngsters to indulge in such a manner? Could it be the huge numbers of examples they see in terms of parents, friends, high profile celebrities, TV and movie films? Could it be the clever ads that make booze seem so exciting and adventurous and if you don't get some into your gut you are missing out on a lot of fun and joy in life? In fact, you are missing out on what life is really all about -- so hand me another beer or a couple of shots of Jack Daniels!

Want to start the "cure?" Then sue the industry just as was done to the tobacco industry -- no, at least it's a start. Can't you just hear the objections, a number of which will come from persons in "high places!" We just can't do that! Did you ever wonder how many barrels of booze would run down the streets if you emptied the White House and capitol building in Washington DC and all the state capitol buildings of every drop of booze? Have your hip boots on if you are standing in the vicinity if it should happen!

OK - anybody want to do the numbers on this issue? Compile the statistics for the last 50 years on damage done by smoking and chewing tobacco to that done by alcoholic beverages. See how many families have been dismantled, marriages broken up, jobs lost, property damaged, injuries suffered, and deaths resulting from use of beverage alcohol. And see how tobacco usage compares in terms of damage, destruction, and death! Ah, gotcha, huh?

In an earlier post in this series I related a personal experience I had in dealing with the tragedy of alcohol usage -- it is titled, Letter to a Business Executive About Choice to Sell Beverage Alcohol, and questioning his company's decision to sell alcoholic beverages at one of their establishments. It was posted on February 5th. You can click on the link and read it. You will soon see why I have some rather strong convictions about this matter.

There can be no denial that this country has played the hypocrite to the hilt in singling out the tobacco industry for attack while allowing the alcoholic beverage people off with not even a mild slap on the wrist. Come to think of it, could it be that the booze people pay a lot more in taxes than do the ones who churn out cigarettes, and that has a powerful influence on officials when it comes to dealing with the "evils" of our society?

Again, just do some home work on what product brings about the greatest amount of heartache, sorrow, and tragedy in this republic.

Will anything constructive be done? Hardly -- too many people in the position to do something effective like to have their fingers wrapped around something which contains a liquid that gives them a buzz now and then when they drink it!