The Great Separation

Picture Perfect Friday: Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

I took this on my way too short vacation. This great old guy was singing hymns in Savannah, GA. When I snapped this one he was singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." Hey was quite good and I enjoyed listening to him very much.

Tortured Eritrean Christian Tells of His Ordeal.

They hate you because of me - Here is a news report from Tanya Datta for the BBC that is worth reading on what it cost a fellow brother to not deny the name of Jesus.

BBC NEWS | Africa | Eritrean Christians tell of torture.

An Eritrean refugee lies contorted on the ground. Balanced on his belly, his hands clutch his feet behind his back, bending his legs back almost double.

Paulus is demonstrating a torture technique known colloquially as "the helicopter".

It is one he knows well.

It was in this excruciating position, he claims, that soldiers left him tied up for 136 hours, in an attempt to force him to recant his faith.

The article goes on to detail the torture of others for their faith in Jesus and desire to worship in freedom. Datta notes that estimates of Christians imprisoned in Eritrea are upwards of 2,000.

Remember these, our brothers and sisters, in prayer. Pray too, that their persecutors would come to a desire to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, that they would hunger and thirst for His Word and Love.

The Great Separation continues.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Christian Persecution Blog is a good source.

Disney Gets Tipsy with Tinker Bell.

When will Walt stop spinning? - If you've been a reader of The Great Separation for some time you know that I have been greatly disappointed with the direction that Disney has taken. Sex sells, and Disney knows it.

So it's no surprise to me that Tinker Bell has been undergoing enough of a transformation to make her reminiscent of certain Bunnies.

This became obvious to me when I picked up the paper today and spied Tinker Bell sitting seductively on the edge of a full martini glass.

The image is called "Tinkertini" and is an "art" poster by California artist Mike Kungl commissioned by Disney.

ContraCostaTimes.com reports:

The Walt Disney Co. has rediscovered the old favorite, designed after actress Margaret Kerry and introduced in 1953 to Disney audiences in the animated film "Peter Pan." With multiple new lines of T-shirts, toys and other products already out or on their way, Disney is capitalizing on the notion that Tinker Bell's spunky persona, mysterious back story and pinup-girl looks give her an appeal to Disney's usual safe-for-families market -- and a little beyond.

Tinker Bell is hot.

That "little beyond," I guess is the $595.00 poster and a host of adult sized Tinker T's and apparel that sport Tinker in different poses with mischievous sayings. Like one where she's taking a bubble bath bubble bath.

Christian Beatings and Death in India.

They hate you because of me - This past week I've seen several news items detailing the growing persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ living in India.

Yesterday James Varghese reported for ASSIST News Service on a pastor who was attacked during a service on Sunday.

Indian Pastor Attacked by ‘Monkey Brigade’ during Sunday service in Chhattisgarh.

Pastor Pradyuman Meshram (35) was conducting his morning service last Sunday at Sanjay Nagar in Kanker Dist, about 140 km from Raipur, the state capital, when suddenly the service was disturbed by about 20 Bajrangis, also known as the “Monkey Brigade.” They were joined by about 20 or 30 local residents, who started yelling at the pastor to come outside. Even though many believers told them that the service was going on they refused to listen.

Then, to the horror of the congregation, they barged into the room and started savagely beating up the pastor, causing him severe injuries. Some of the women present managed to rescue the pastor from the attackers, and drive them outside and shut the church door.

Not content with the harm they already did, the attackers turned to the vehicles of the church members and began to destroy them. Police were called and the attackers were taken to the police station.

Varghese goes onto report:

How to Treat Woman.

Live it. Breath it. Exemplify it.

[hat tip: Solo Femininity]

Miniature Golf Day.

Mini-What? - It continues to surprise me just what we will make into a holiday.

I just eyeballed my Google Calendar and low-n-behold it's Miniature Golf day. That's just odd to me.

But perhaps even more odd is the fact that I've never played miniature golf.

How weird is that?

Christians React to Kathy Griffin's Anti-Jesus Rant.

Urged to action - A few days ago I posted about a couple of the rants (or so called rants) that went on at the Emmies the other day. As I noted then, the worst, was Kathy Griffin and her rant where she lifted up her award and proclaimed it her "god".

I've been reading Isaiah of late and that rant reminds me of a lot of what went on in that time period.

“But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.” (Isa 42:17 NIV)

A verse, indeed and entire book, worth thinking about.

But what has brought this back to mind is a news item I read this morning:

Christian theater group responds to Emmy Award winner's blasphemous comments.

"We may never be in Hollywood or on a Broadway stage. We may never win a national award," he shares. "But we are very honored to stand up and glorify God and use our talents for Christ every single day -- and we do so unashamedly. [W]e also do not take it lightly when other people use their platform to slander or mock God," he says.

To that end the theater company, MiracleTheater.com, took out a full page in Monday's USA Today that was their response to Kathy Griffin's comments.

Here's two paragraphs from that ad:

Dear America,

We are the actors, singers, dancers, crew and managers of The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We are proud to stand on stage every night and use our God-given talents to portray the life and the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We, along with thousands of other Christians in the entertainment industry, know our talents do come from God, and we take offense when His name is battered and bruised by people through the media.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was mocked and few stood up for Him. We at The Miracle Theater consider it an honor to stand for Jesus today. We may never win a national award. We may never be household names. We may never be seen in Hollywood. Although others may choose to use their national platform to slander our God, we are honored as professional entertainers to stand for Christ.

The company is looking for people to sign their petition to be delivered to Hollywood executives that says we've had enough of the anti-Christian bigotry. You can sign here, Christians Say, "Enough Is Enough!"

According to their website, their ad made it onto Larry King Live when he interviewed Kathy Griffin. Pretty cool. You can read about it towards the bottom of their site where they are posting news. They also have a pdf of the ad they ran.

As of right now they have 20945 signatures. See if you can't pump that up some.

Also, say a prayer for Kathy Griffin. Pray that she would hunger and thirst for the righteousness of Jesus and seek Him in her life.

Petraeus Not Tainted by Liberals.

Should I be surprised? - No, I probably shouldn't be surprised by this news:

Petraeus' Popularity Jumps After Testimony, Polls Show -- 09/19/2007.

Even though Gen. David Petreaus was the target of attacks by liberal groups and congressional Democrats, the American public now views him - and his recommendations for making continued progress in Iraq - more favorably than before he testified before Congress, according to a number of recent polls.

Just tells me that there's still some common sense in America even if it isn't in DC.

Senator Sues God.

Say what? - Here's an oddity for you:

FOXNews.com - Nebraska State Senator Sues God Over Natural Disasters.

The suit asks for a "permanent injunction ordering Defendant to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats."

The senator is Senator is Senator Ernie Chambers (D).

And get this, he's doing this because he wants to make sure other senators don't pass laws to stop frivolous law suits.

One of the best oddities in a long while!

Sally Field's Censord Emmy Speech.

A storm is coming! ZAP! - Okay. I'm one the first to say that the majority of Hollywood is unhinged-left-jetting-liberals with little remaining of their real selves in reality (one might claim the same for much of Washington DC).

But I watched earlier today the uncensored version of Sally Field's acceptance speech where she does swear and I don't think it rises to the level of outrage some in the media are giving it. It wasn't pointed towards anyone person or even one political party, though I'm sure such an argument could be made. And as rants go, I didn't find it all that "rant-ful". I did find it to be her opinion. One can't argue with her that mothers desire to have their children in war zones, home and out of harm's way.

It seemed to me that her premise was simply that if mothers ran the world that there would be no war. I believe the premise is false (I've witnessed a few cat fights), but she's entitled to her opinion.

It certainly doesn't rise to the level that Kathy Griffin's rant did.