The Great Separation

Florida Judge Reveals the Elitism that Infests US Courts.

Your mask just fell off. - I wanted to post about this early this morning after it soured my breakfast of java and cream of wheat - umm, umm, good - but other work beckoned.

In my St. Petersburg Times paper edition I was arrested by the headline, "Counties balk at judge's wish for 5 storm shelters for court."

In the article Michael Sandler reports that Circuit Court Chief Judge David Demers wants the Pinellas-Pasco counties to pay for, and maintain of course, five disaster shelters in the event of major events like hurricanes man-handling the state of Florida again sometime in the future.

The shelters would be used by court workers essential to seeing that business continues in the aftermath of a disaster like a hurricane. The shelters would also ensure that the workers families and pets would be safe.

I had no idea that a few days to maybe weeks of no courts would be so dangers.

Judge Demers informs otherwise:

If you don't have the courts . . . you have chaos and disorder."

Pfui! That's that just pure pap. The judge and his workers can evacuate like the rest of us. If need be, they can set up court in the aftermath. Justice is supposed to be blind anyway. A little mess shouldn't stop her from getting the job done.

I'm glad to see our county officials have denied Judge Demers request which would siphon off millions of tax money geared to protect the public.

Christian Persecution Round Up.

They hate you because of me - I've got four items tonight for you to say a prayer about in relation to our brothers and sisters in Christ experiencing persecution.

The first is reported by CNSNews.com, by Patrick Goodenough.

The headline is: "Americans Accused of Giving Christian Pamphlets to Muslims".

Goodenough reports:

Two Americans have been arrested in Malaysia, accused of handing out Christian pamphlets to Muslims in a country where constitutionally protected religious freedom periodically collides with Islam's stance on apostasy.

The two men are Ricky Rupert and Zachary Harris and they are currently still in the custody of the court. They face 2 to 5 years in prison. They are being charged for causing "disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing ... the maintenance of harmony or unity on grounds of religion."

Goodenough also reports that Christian Bibles in the Bahasa Malay language had to be stamped with the sentence, "Not for Muslims."

Click over for a full read of this insightful article.

The next item is reported on AsiaNews with this headline: "Seven Catholic priests arrested in Hebei."

Hebei is in China. The priests were on a retreat and are members of the underground Church:

Public School Denies Parent's Rights & Calls Police on Father.

Public School: They'll wash anyone's brain. - It's time Americans take back our government. Pull the plug on the public school system and demand a refund for all that tax money so you can send your kids to a private institution where they will actually receive an education and not enforced ignorance and apathy.

This latest example of the madness of public education comes out of the Joseph Estabrook School in Lexington, MA.

Reporting for Boston Herald, Laura Crimaldi informs us that David Parker was recently arrested at the school. Mr. Parker is a father who doesn't want his son to be part of any school sessions discussing the sin of homosexuality.

Crimaldi writes:

Police arrested a Lexington father who refused to leave the Joseph Estabrook School yesterday after school officials rejected his demands that his 6-year-old son be shielded from any discussions about gay households.

David Parker, 42, confronted officials after his son brought home "Who's in a Family,'' a storybook that includes characters who are gay parents.

So now the school system is basically saying it knows what's best for your children and the heck with you.

I reiterate: sacrifice whatever you need to sacrifice in order to get your kids out of the public school system. Start telling your politicians it's time to cut their losses and privatize the American school system.

I'm tired of working with 10-year-olds that don't know their math tables nor how to read a word with more than three letters. But I guess that's all okay because the kids know conservatives are bad because conservatives don't want to give them free money or allow same sex marriage.

Pfui!

Frog Juice. Now that's an Aphrodisiac.

And the gross perversion award goes to... - So how many frogs can you get into a blender?

I guess that depends on the size of your blender.

Or perhaps on how CRAZY you really are.

Ananova™ reports:

Police in Peru have launched a campaign to save frogs from being turned into an aphrodisiac drink.

'Frogshake' is popular among native Peruvians as a stimulant that enhances male sexual performance.

They recently raided a "Frogshake" making building and rescued 8,000 Frenchman delights (4,000 frogs).

Mercy, what man won't do for sexual pleasure.

There is Beauty in Florida.

Enjoy. - There is a crate load of horrible information coming out of my home state of Florida right now; missing children (thankfully the latest was found alive) to five-year-olds out of control in a school system where feelings trump learning nearly every time to the starvation and dehydration of Terri Schiavo.

It seems like there's a lot of ugly stuff going on down here. But we are one of the more populous states in the union and that brings with it a mess of trouble.

But there is beauty here.

On that note here are a number of pictures which I recently captured during a trip to the Marie Shelby Botanical Gardens.

I don't know the names of these orchids, but I do find them beautiful. The scriptures I've included relate in a way to the impression each image gave me.

“Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.” (Psalms 31:16 AV)

“For the LORD shall rise up as [in] mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as [in] the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.” (Isaiah 28:21 AV)

“He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.” (Job 20:8 AV)

For more images from my trip check out my photo album.

Bible Study, Gospel of John Chapter 3.

Seeking as for hidden treasure. - Here is the Bible study questions for John chapter 3.

You can download the PDF file here (John 3, Bible Study). (Right click and select the save option to save it to your computer. Clicking the link will likely load the pdf in your browser.)

(Added 2006.05.22: For download of the complete Bible study [all 21 chapters] follow this link.)

If you find the Bible studies helpful in your growth in the Lord, please consider giving a donation through the button below. Right now all donations will be used to pay for the week long mission trip I'm taking in July to Tampa where I will be working with an organization that ministers to migrant workers, homeless, needy, and children. I've not been notified of the final cost by our group leader yet, but it's expected to be around $400-$450. Thank you.

And here are the questions contained in that study:

1. Read through the questions of this Bible study then read chapter 3 of John and write down any questions and insights that come to you.
2. For whom is Nicodemus speaking? Verses 1-2.
3. Why did Nicodemus come at night? Verse 2.
4. What is Christ's answer to Nicodemus and how does Nicodemus respond? Verses 1-21.
5. What does being born of "water and the Spirit" mean? Verse 5.
6. What is Christ referencing in verse 14?
7. According to Christ, what is the gift for those that believe in Him? What do those who do not believe in Christ as Savior receive? Verse 14-18.
8. If men love darkness rather than light, how is it that some come out of the darkness and accept Christ as Savior? Verses 19-21.
9. Why do you think that verse 24 is included in this Gospel account?
10. Rephrase John's statement in verse 27.
11. Whom does verses 31-36 echo?
12. What character trait is John displaying in the situation that arose in verses 22-36?

May the Holy Spirit guide and lead you in your desire to know Christ more fully.

-Hal

Related Posts:

Bible Study, Gospel of John Chapter 1.
Bible Study, Gospel of John Chapter 2

Militant Hindus Raid a Showing of the 'Jesus Film'.

They hate you because of me - When was the last time that you sat in a movie theater or a church hall or, for that matter, your friends house in order to watch a movie about Christ?

Now, while you were watching it did someone attack you and then beat senseless and kidnap the person presenting the movie?

No? Well, consider yourself blessed.

Mark Ellis, of ASSIST News Service, reports the following incident in Asia were such an occurrence took place:

Let the Christians Go!

They hate you because of me - As Bryan at The Narrow points out about the news of 40 Christians being detained in Saudi Arabia because they are believers in Christ, our President Bush is currently meeting one on one with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia at the Texas ranch.

Of course, the meeting is being touted as an attempt to get lower prices at the gas pump, but one hopes that President Bush would bring up Saudi Arabia's appalling failures on freedom of religion. Oh, and on a side note, if you want cheaper gas, ask our government to okay the building of new refineries.

As to those 40 Christians:

Sony Wants to Mess with Your Mind.

Hey! Turn down the brain waves. - Heard this bit of news on Fox News Watch this evening and had to go dig it up.

Sony has patented a concept to pipe information directly into the brain.

Ellie Gibson reports on Eur Gamer that the device is to be used in conjunction with their video games.

Gibson explains the processes:

Here's the sciencey bit: ultrasonic pulses are beamed at certain areas of the brain to transmit sensory information, creating "sensory experiences" - including aromas, sounds and images - for the brain's owner.

The patent, which was awarded to Sony researcher Thomas Dawson, states that "The pulsed ultrasonic signal alters the neural timing in the cortex," if that means anything to you.

I don't know about you, but it scares the crap out of me. Can you imagine the psychological effects this might cause in some people? Not to mention what the lasting effect of continual play might be. No doubt a governor will need to be in place.

Christian Persecution Reports from Nigeria and Eritrea.

They hate you because of me - Jerry Dykstra, on ChristianityToday, tells the story of Ladi and her village's experience with Militant Islamists in Nigeria who raided, murdered, and set fires.

Dykstra reports:

Ladi says she would like Christians all over the world to know what is happening to believers in northern Nigeria: "We do not have food. Our homes have been destroyed. Thousands of us are struggling to survive. We are helpless and we ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us. We want them to see that it is because of our faith in Christ that this has happened to us."

Compass direct is reporting that around 900 fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are in jail in Eritrea because of faith in Christ. Read the full story here.