A Letter About a County Fair Selling Beer!

This year for the first time one of our county fairs chose to sell beer during its session at the beginning of September. As could be expected there were numerous responses to this issue as Cambria County in central Pennsylvania placed itself on the cutting edge of making a family oriented event one in which beverage alcohol would be available. County fairs are rather numerous in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and have always had a strong emphasis on family with activities involving persons of all ages. The one thing held in common by them was the fact that no alcoholic beverages would be available and the consumption of such beverages was absolutely forbidden on the premises. But that is obviously changing. It may be that there are others such as Cambria County that are doing this as well, but at this point in time I know of none.

Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh just took the step to sell beer recently shortly before closing for the season. It also over time has prided itself on being "family oriented."

A legitimate question can be raised -- can such institutions really claim to be "family oriented" when alcoholic beverages are available for purchase and consumption of the same takes place on the premises?

Below is a letter that was sent to two local newspapers on the Cambria County Fair choice to sell beer. I do not know if the letters were published. I am taking the position that they were not until I hear otherwise. The one always called me to verify that I had written the letter and since I did not receive a call, I assume they did not publish it.

Letter is as follows:

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Editor:

Cambria County Fair officials have made the choice to sell beverage alcohol at the fair this year. In an attempt to defend this action, one official said that they will have it under complete "control." He failed to elaborate on how they plan to control it after persons with the alcohol in their system leave the fairgrounds.

After 53 years in the ministry there is absolutely nothing positive that I can say about beverage alcohol. It has ruined more lives and destroyed more families than any other issue with which I have had to deal over those years. National statistics also are quite negative when it comes to destruction and loss of life caused by beverage alcohol.

A question for those Cambria County Fair officials: how would you like to conduct the funeral for an exceptional high school student who was cut down, along with his girl friend, by a character with alcohol in his system who was driving at about 85 MPH? He was driving with a suspended license due to previous conviction for drunken driving. To add great insult to injury an unscrupulous lawyer who had abandoned all ethical and moral standards in his practice got the killer off on a technicality!

Greed has a wide variety of ways in manifesting itself with end results summed up in words such as tragedy and disaster! It may seem we are getting away with something for a time and will come out on top in the end, only to discover too late in eternity the choice made was a very deadly mistake!

Still contending at www.crrange.com, blogging at http://cdharriger.blogspot.com and warning at www.crrange.com/USACoffin.html

Clayton D. Harriger, Pastor

The new wine fails, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh. The mirth of the tambourine ceases, the noise of the jubilant ends, the joy of the harp ceases. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, so that none may go in. There is a crying for wine in the streets, all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. --- Isaiah 24:7-11

Some Very Distinct Differences Between Islam and Christianity!

"This just in: Appeasement doesn't work -- deadly Muslim riots continue despite Obama's ad denouncing Muhammad video" --- one of numerous internet headlines and links related to Muslim rioting in different nations

A video was produced which greatly offended Muslims and so rioting has taken place in many locations around the world as a result. This is not the first time riots and violence has erupted when certain acts interpreted as "offensive" to those who believe and practice the teachings of the Quran (Koran). In some nations one has to be extremely careful in how you speak concerning Islam, the Quran, and of course, the prophet Muhammad.

Just recently an American ambassador and some staff members were killed in Libya as a result of violence spawned by Muslims.

Have you noticed how different Christianity is in response to insults made regarding the faith, the Bible, or those that demean the Person of Jesus Christ Himself?

How many riots have been initiated by Christians? How many buildings have been burned? How many people have been injured? Worse yet, how many people have been killed because someone published a film or video that demeans the Christian faith and those who seek to practice that faith?

Over the years books have been written and films out of Hollywood itself that are in direct contradiction to the Bible teaching concerning the Christian faith. In 1987 an “artist” sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Andres Serrano, took a crucifix and submerged it in a glass of his own urine. The piece, titled "Piss Christ," was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's Awards! If Christians would have reacted to that as do Muslims in a similar situation related to their Islamic faith, rioting would have broken out, fires set, human lives injured and lost, and likely a high price set on the head of the man responsible. In spite of such an "insult" along with many others over the years, no rioting with extensive destruction of property nor injury or death to persons has resulted!

This is not to claim a perfect track record over time for Christianity. There were those moments in history when individuals claiming to be "Christian" did some very horrible things in the name of Christianity. Jesus indicated we would know the true from the false by the kind of fruit which has resulted in the actions done -- "By their fruits you shall know them.", said Jesus. A Christian who has been truly born again (as stressed by Jesus in Gospel of John 3) will not engage in willful violence that will destroy property, inflict bodily injury, or kill people.

Another interesting wrinkle in this is the fact that in a number of Muslim dominated countries Christians are not permitted to discuss their faith with Muslims and for a Muslim to become a Christian can result in death! To Muslims true to their faith, a Christian is considered an infidel. If infidels do not accept Islam as the faith and become committed to actively practicing that faith, under certain conditions the infidel is to be put to death.

But in the United States Muslims are free to express their faith, talk publicly about it, speak of it to their neighbors and no Christians will start rioting because of that. Christians are free to express disagreement which some of us have chosen to do. But we will stress that it is not a matter of personal opinion on our part, but rather we simply refer to the statements of Jesus Christ Himself and the claims which He made as being exclusively the way of salvation, forgiveness, and hope. Perhaps the biggest difference between Christianity and Islam is in the fact that in the Christian faith God became human in the Person of Jesus Christ and atoned for the sins of the entire human race, including Muslims, by virtue of His death on the cross. Allah did nothing that even remotely resembles such an act!

Christians, who are committed and true to their faith, envision a time in the future when Jesus Christ will have returned to this world which He originally created a long, long time ago. He will take full control of it with His angels and His saints. Finally after millenia of time the world will be in a state of total peace. One of many transforming transitions to take place will be the dismantlement and recycling of the implements of war out of which will be forged implements for peaceful and productive purposes that will enhance life in this new world!

Read the brief summary of this just below which makes absolutely no allowance for any other religion outside of Christianity. Conclusion: Christianity and Islam are totally incompatible in their purest expressions!

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

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Democratic Forum in Johnstown PA!

Critz tries to move away from Obama --- front page headline by Johnstown Tribune-Democrat - 12/09/16

The 12th Congressional District in Pennsylvania used to be represented by the late John P. Murtha who had been in office since the early '70's. Because of the far reaching clout he had, he earned the dubious label of being "King of Pork!" Millions and millions of dollars rolled into Johnstown PA as he gained power and influence in office. In fact he held a higher status than Almighty God Himself through much of the 12th Congressional District. One of the "projects" he arranged to get was an 8 million dollar radar system at the Johnstown airport. Only problem was they had no one to operate it, so it sat unused for a long time until someone began to make an issue of it (wasted gov't money, you know) and then the hunt was on to try to find an operator.

Big John made an unexpected exit from this life due to complications following some surgery. Mark Critz was a high ranking member of his staff and decided he wanted the seat formerly held by his boss. He won in the special election.

Now Critz has to try and retain his seat this November in the U.S. Congress but certain things as advocated by Mr. Obama and the Democratic party are not acceptable to Congressman Critz and a number of his constituents! So as the headline clearly suggests, he is trying to put some distance between him and the president as well as the party.

Mr. Obama has clearly declared war on coal and numerous small signs in our area are being posted which draw attention to this "war" and that it is time for the president to be shown the exit and denial of a second term! This region is known among other things as being a coal mining region with a long history of involvement in the industry. And those signs calling for Obama's defeat are not just being posted on the lawns of Republicans, which are greatly outnumbered in the 12th district anyway.

But there are other issues Mr. Critz has to deal with in which the Democratic party has literally shot itself in the foot so far as many constituents in the 12th district are concerned. This is a district that is made up of a lot of Roman Catholics and various Orthodox groups, which means there is a very, very strong pro-life sentiment and that is demonstrated each January as many bus loads of persons go from this region to the March for Life in Washington DC. The Democratic party platform is pro-abortion, although the deceptive term "pro-choice" is often used in connection with the issue of destroying unborn children! And there is no room left for doubt that Mr. Obama and his wife are strong supporters of abortion, even late term if necessary -- for them there is no difference in terms of time, since you are only dealing with a mass of cells, tissue and blood, are you not? So Mr. Critz has made it a point to stress in his ads that he is pro-life!

Finally, the 12th Congressional District has a large segment of the population that is into hunting. Both male and female hunters take to the woods each year as evidenced by pictures printed each deer season. Some young females who have just been legally able to hunt have brought down some impressive buck deer. But the present administration in DC is moving more and more toward an anti-gun stance, and appears to be sympathetic to the United Nations' campaign on the control of small arms -- interpret that to literally mean eventual confiscation! The ads put out by Mr. Critz and his supporters also stress that he is "pro-gun," which is something you most definitely will not see in Mr. Obama's ad campaign!

Perhaps the best picture in this situation is that of a big worm on a very hot skillet -- you know who the worm is, don't you? His name happens to be Mark Critz who is striving to be John P. Murtha incarnate in the United States Congress in Washington DC!

"Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed; in you are those who eat on the mountains; in your midst they commit lewdness. In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity. One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me," says the Lord GOD. "Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst." --- Ezekiel 22:6-13

Something Much Greater to Be Concerned About Than National Security!

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself. You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult. Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths.'" --- Ezekiel 22:1-8

The issue of national security again was the focus of attention with the killing of an American ambassador and other staff members recently in the country of Libya.

Additional reports dealt with effectiveness of airport security and whether we as a nation are more secure now as the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on American soil was observed.

There was no want to statements made by Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney who are battling it out as to who will be president starting in mid-January 2013!

The greatest tragedy in all this drama was not the loss of more American lives, but the unwillingness to face and the intentional rejection of the truth as to what is necessary to establish a high level of national security.

All nations are accountable to Almighty God without exception. Those which have had access to His full revelaton from the beginning of their founding are especially "under the gun" as opposed to those who did not have the privilege of that revelation at their beginnings. The United States is one nation which has had full access to that special revelation (the holy Scriptures) from the time the first colonists settled in!

When a nation makes a profession of being "one nation under God" but has drifted far from the standards God has established for blessing, protection, preservation, and survival against all threats, then very unpleasant things are going to happen!

Rather than holding a position of honor and respect among other nations, God says He will humiliate the nation that claims to relate to Him but whose dominant spirit is one of defiance and a "I will do it my way!" attitude.

The history of the Israelite people from the time of Moses demonstrates a roller coaster experience. When they were at their best in a high state of obedience, they were invincible with an abundance of God's blessings resting upon them. But when they lapsed into disobedience, calamities increased with the eventual defeat by enemies. But prior to such disasters taking place, God faithfully sent His prophets to call the nation to repentance and warnings of impending judgment if repentance did not take place. In most instances the response to the prophets was negative with the people considering them a bunch of radicals that were out of their minds. In some instances they were put to death!

Since we as a nation are walking down the same road as did the ancient Israelites and have adopted the same attitude toward God and His ways as did they, we can expect the same outcome -- which is devastating judgment!

We are guilty of massive idolatry, sexual immorality, misleading our young by teaching and example, trashing the day that originally was intended to be a day of worship and rest, compromising basic doctrines of the Christian faith, and all this crowned with a record of the innocent blood of 55 million unborn victims! The shedding of innocent blood has the express approval of many elected officials, including the president and his wife, and far too many professing Christians!

In spite of all the hard evidence that we continue to stir up the anger of a holy God and are on the very threshold of His wrath being poured out upon us in judgment, we are deceived into thinking we are quite OK as we wave our flags, do our Pledge of Allegiance thing from time to time, and shout out "God bless America." Politicians are especially good at the latter at the end of their speeches, especially when a hot election is taking place!

Be aware that calamities will increase and the U.S.A. will be more and more on the receiving end of humiliating happenings in different parts of the world so long as we refuse to meet the conditions of receiving special favor from God! How different from those times of decades ago when the United States was a nation held in high regard and its flag was respected around the world -- this was at the end of WW II, the last "unconditional surrender" victory ever won by our republic. Starting with Korea it was all down hill as we chose to "negotiate" an end to conflicts due mainly to politicians deciding they would write new rules to warfare!

Read again the statement made by Ezekiel the prophet -- do you see anything familiar that is disturbingly up to date?

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country....." (read on for more - Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country...." (read on for much more - Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

"We Can't Make It Rain.", He Says!

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:...." --- Deuteronomy 28:1, 2

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country." --- Deuteronomy 28:15, 16

Mr. Obama has visited in areas where the mid-west drought is extremely severe and has made statements about the problem. As could be expected, the federal government, according to him, is going to take some kind of action to help those who are most directly affected by the drought. In remarks made on the scene of one farm devastated by the lack of rain Mr. Obama said, "We can't make it rain..." and then proceeded to spell out what the governement will attempt to do to relieve the problem.

Well now, finally an admission there is something he can't do in the midst of a plethora of outlandish promises that the government can solve every problem -- you know, it will take care of you from the "womb to the tomb!" Just give us a little time and allow us to move far beyond the16 trillion dollar national debt level!

The tragedy in all this is the failure of Mr. Obama, his administration and the members of the U.S. Congress to recognize that present calamities of various kinds are God's attempts to awaken our nation to a realization that its greatest need is to repent of numerous transgressions which have been committed against Him! If true repentance takes place then the blessings as mentioned in the early statements of Deuteronomy 28 will be experienced.

But if we as a nation (claiming to be one nation under God) persist in defying God as we have been doing for a rather long period of time, then the calamities will continue at an accelerated pace, ending in devastating judgment! This pattern is well documented in the history of the Israelite people.

At present we have a severe drought in some areas and wildfires raging in numerous locations. A news release stated:

Updated at 12:10 a.m. ET: The Idaho National Guard is joining the fight against at least nine wildfires burning across the state, including the 68,000-acre Trinity Ridge blaze, one of 60 large U.S. fires being fought in one of the worst U.S. fire seasons.

Most are scorching the dry and hot Western states, including Washington, where the 22,656-acre Taylor Bridge fire five miles outside Cle Elum has charred 70-plus homes and more than 200 barns and other structures this week.

More than 400 homes have been evacuated in the area, but firefighters managed to carve containment lines around 25 percent of the blaze's perimeter by Wednesday night, with full containment expected within a week, authorities said.

Not only are more wildfires flaring up in the West this year than last, but the nation's fires have gotten bigger, said Jennifer Smith, of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. As of Thursday, more than 43,000 wildfires had been reported in the U.S. this season, burning a total of nearly 6.4 million acres, or 10,000 square miles, the center said. The 10-year average for the period is 52,535 fires, but covering only 5 million acres, Smith said.

There are diseases breaking out as well such as West Nile virus and Swine flu. But far more serious than these are the STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) that are spreading much like literal wildfires. The CDC a while back reported that 1 out of every 4 teenaged girls has a STD and some have more than one!

Financial calamity and probable failure is another indicator that our republic is in deep trouble as we approach a 16 trillion dollar national debt. In campaigning for his first term for the office of the U.S. presidency, Mr. Obama solemnly "promised" to cut the deficit in half during his first term in office. Read references in Deuteronomy 28 as to what the financial situation will be for the nation that intentionally defies Almighty God and His standards for a sane, sensible, serene, stable, and secure nation of people.

Will Mr. Obama, the members of his administration and the members of the U.S. Congress plus leaders at other important levels (this also includes church leaders) in our nation realize that the time is NOW to repent of our personal and collective sins? It is highly unlikely that such a move on the part of government and church leaders will take place due to the fact that God is not permitted to be recognized in much of the public arena and in a majority of educational institutions. Further, He is not going to be recognized in many corporate structures due to the way business is done with greed being a dominant factor! Human pride being what it is, the humiliation of sincere repentance is to be avoided at all costs.

Very true -- we can't make it rain, but it sure would make a difference if, after meeting the conditions, we reached out in humility and called on the One Who can make it rain abundantly!

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He also did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand. And all the articles from the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his leaders, all these he took to Babylon. Then they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious possessions. --- 2 Chronicles 36:11-19

Is the Movie Theater Mass Murderer the Only One Who Shows a "Disregard for Human Life"?

James Holmes was charged with 24 counts of murder, two each for the 12 people killed, and 116 counts of attempted murder, two each for the 58 injured. For the murder charges, one count included murder with deliberation, the other murder with extreme indifference. Both carry a maximum death penalty upon conviction.

A former chief deputy district attorney says a conviction under extreme indifference means that any life sentences would have to be served consecutively, not concurrently. In addition, the 24-year-old Holmes was charged with one count of possession of explosives and one count of a crime of violence, which is a gun charge. Authorities say Holmes booby trapped his apartment. --- Internet news release

In a recent court appearance James Holmes, who has a large number of murder and attempted murder charges plus a few other charges beyond murder, was described in part as a person who showed a "disregard for human life."

Probably most people would agree with that statement in light of his actions in killing 12 people and wounding 58 others in a shooting rampage at a movie theater in Colorado some time back.

Now for a troublesome question -- is he the only one showing disregard for human life? There was a more recent incident of a shooting in a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin in which some people were killed. And there are incidents happening all over the world in which human life is violently taken by shootings and by other means. So the same could be said in these incidents as well. But what is not honestly faced is the fact that a number of high profile persons who have been elected to political office and judges who have been appointed to serve in the justice system have demonstrated that they too have a "disregard for human life!"

Here's what is happening each week in the United States -- about 25,000 unborn children every week are intentionally mutilated and murdered in their mothers' (term, mother, is used very loosely here) wombs with the mangled remains disposed of as casually as you would pitch unwanted garbage into a landfill!

We have a president who sanctions this grisly practice and opposes any effort to protect lives of the unborn. In the Illinois legislature he successfully blocked legislation that would have protected the life of a baby which successfully survived an abortion, which a few do on very rare occasions. So far as Obama was concerned let it lie on a table unattended until it dies -- that is how it is in Illinois today for the very few that may survive an abortion attempt.

Not only the president, but many members of the U.S. Congress, governors of our states, members of state legislatures, and judges in the judicial system qualify for taking the position in which it can be said of them that they have a "disregard for human life!"

Tens of millions of unborn children have been destroyed since the infamous Supreme Court decision of 1973 with little serious objection being shown. Even a number of high profile church leaders, including United Methodist bishops, are very silent when it comes to this issue. They are willing to go to great lengths to tell you what is wrong in other areas of our culture -- for instance, just ask them sometime what their position on gambling is and be prepared to listen for a long time to their response about the evils of gambling!

The most tragic thing about this issue is the failure, because of the ignorance and blindness that exists, to recognize that this one single abomination will invoke the wrath of a holy God more quickly than anything else in our culture. We have a lot of collective and personal transgressions of numerous kinds going for us at the present time, but to destroy human life intentionally for which the Creator has a high and holy purpose is an offense that the human mind in its limitations cannot begin to comprehend!

God has been speaking and clearly calling to repentance, but so far the national response has been the commonly used traditional obscene gesture -- we'll just keep on showing our "disregard for human life" and if God doesn't like it, He can go and ________! You fill in the blank, but be aware that God will probably not follow through on your suggestion. He will be making a response to all this -- not a question as to whether He will, but rather WHEN will it happen!

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations." --- Jeremiah 1:4, 5

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 6:7, 8

Hypocrisy of the First Magnitude in Afghanistan!

A man Afghan officials say is a member of the Taliban shot dead a woman accused of adultery in front of a crowd near Kabul, a video obtained by Reuters showed, a sign that the austere Islamist group dictates law even near the Afghan capital.In the three-minute video, a turban-clad man approaches a woman kneeling in the dirt and shoots her five times at close range with an automatic rifle, to cheers of jubilation from the 150 or so men watching in a village in Parwan province."Allah warns us not to get close to adultery because it's the wrong way," another man says as the shooter gets closer to the woman. "It is the order of Allah that she be executed"...... --- Just one of a number of "news"  releases reporting the "execution" of a married woman accused of adultery.

The married woman allegedly committed adultery, found guilty and then was sentenced to be executed in an area north of Afghanistan's capital city. One of numerous reports claimed that she was involved with two Taliban commanders.

So in order to be "faithful" to Muslim standards on such an issue as this, it was determined that this unfaithful wife should be executed publicly. Presumably the message would be, "See what happens when you commit adultery!" The graphic lesson to all females is explicitly clear -- now to the men, that's a kitty of another color!

This execution would be a bit different -- no wall before which the guilty party would stand with a blindfold over the eyes. The woman was kneeling on the ground with her back toward her husband who was just a few yards away. He was given an AK-47 rifle and promptly fired three shots into her back (according to one report) -- then for good measure he fired more rounds into her body (another report said there were bullet holes in her head and in her torso). The assembly of men, estimated to be about 150, present erupted in loud cheers as this drama unfolded!

Correct me if I"m wrong, but doesn't the act of adultery involve a man and a woman -- and at least one of the persons involved in such an escapade is married to another person, other than the one with whom he/she is being intimate? Where then was the man, or in this particular case, the two Taliban commanders who were involved with another man's wife?

And why were these adulterers not on the receiving end of the projectiles that came gushing forth from the barrel of that AK-47 fired by a husband who was teaching his wife a permanent lesson that it is a naughty no-no to engage in sexual intimacy with men other than her husband?

Jesus in the 1st Century was confronted by a group of very indignant individuals who claimed they had caught a woman in the very act of adultery. They indicated that according to the law of Moses the woman should be stoned to death. But they wanted to know what He had to say about the issue. For a moment He did not reply but wrote something in the sand. Finally He spoke: "Whoever is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone."

Oooops! No one counted on this and suddenly very disturbing thoughts began to hammer them where it really hurts -- right in the heart of the conscience! One by one they made a hasty exit. Could this exodus have resembled a bunch of serpents slithering away looking for some hole into which they might crawl?

Jesus then had some parting words for the woman -- "Where are your accusers?" She replied there was no one left to accuse her. He replied, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!" Obviously the woman was of a repentant spirit and was granted mercy and forgiveness on the condition that she not continue in her former lifestyle! (For details of this incident, see John 8 in the New Testament).

I have often wondered, as have many others -- just what was it that Jesus wrote in the sand that day a long, long time ago? Could it have been something like this: "Where is the man? He is an adulterer too, you know!"

As the old saying goes: "It takes two to tango!"

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. --- 1 John 1:7-9