The Great Separation

Thought on Hate Crime Legislation

Coming quickly with four horseman - Last night, as I lay my head down to sleep following a busy weekend and a good Bible study at church on 1 Peter 4, a thought came to mind about hate crime legislation. And no, it's not that it's a redundant term since crime involves hate of someone or something, like law.

My thought was:

Hate crimes legislation is designed not to enable justice among the people but instead it is designed to engender fear and produce inequalities.

Child Evangelism Fellowship Told By Government to Not Use Name of God or Jesus.

Leave your Jesus at the door - My brother eMailed me a this report found on FoxNews.

Evangelical Group Banned From Tulsa Housing Projects, Chapter Leader Says

I did a search to find more information but oddly, neither Google News nor Bing, had much news covering this story. It looks to me like it was first reported by Charles Biggs on Tulsa Beacon here:

Government tells Bible clubs to not mention God or Jesus

Biggs reports:

The City of Tulsa and the federal government may shut down summer Bible clubs in poor apartment complexes because someone thinks federal policy prohibits religious activity.

A leader of the Bible group said she was told unless club leaders agree not to say “God” or “Jesus” during their lessons at public community centers, they would be forced to take their Bible classes elsewhere.

For more than 10 years, Child Evangelism Fellowship has conducted Bible lessons for children in federally subsidized housing projects. This summer, an employee of Youth at Heart, a United Way agency formed in 2003, informed CEF that according to federal policy, the Bible clubs could continue in the centers but leaders couldn’t say the names of God or Jesus.

“I received a call from the program director of Youth At Heart (Margaret Berry-Biggs), which holds the contracts on Tulsa Housing apartment recreation centers, notifying us that they wanted us to continue holding 5-Day Clubs in the apartment complexes this summer, but they are now under different guidelines due to government and city funding which now bans all groups which do ‘religious’ instruction from using their building facilities,” said Dayla Koehn of CEF. “She told me we were more than welcome to come as long as we didn’t mention God or Jesus. We would need to just teach stories that would encourage the children to love others and develop good moral character or we could probably hold clubs outside.”

This story came out on June 4th and Biggs reports that CEF does not receive any federal monies. The FoxNews report by James Osborne was released today and he does include a little more information in that CEF had a similar problem before with a school who said they couldn't use the school facilities because of the faith based bent of the organization. That was fixed with a letter from the Liberty Council to the school explaining equal access. So I imagine this latest attempt to keep CEF from preaching the Gospel will meet a similar fate particularly based on the rest of Biggs report in the Tulsa Beacon.

But this kind of story really isn't all that unusual. My own church used to work closely with a local public school in tutoring Elementary School age children. We had great success in educationally helping the children. But after a time they cut us off and the gist of it was the whole "Separation of Church and State" argument.

So every so often stories like this crop up. Typically during Democratic administrations. I think there may be a greater sense of freedom to look negatively on Christianity during such administrations. Likewise I imagine one could attempt to make an argument for a reverse effect during Republican control, though I would argue that true conservatism is more concerned with freedom of speech than the liberalism that we find ourselves gripped in today.

My worry is that we will see more stories like this in the days and years to come. Our government is making moves that I would call Fascist in design (and I'm including many in the Republican camp too) and the more I learn about the organization ACORN and President Obama's ties to it the greater my conern grows.

Sin of Homosexuality Advocates Lobby Soap Operas for "Gay" Characters.

Sin reins but for a short time - On Faith Telegraph I found this sad article about a British soap opera in which a character, a 16 year old girl, is lesbian Christian (two incompatible lifestyles). The character is likely going to have a "relationship" (nice euphemistic word) with one of the girls in her Bible study group.

Apparently the show show producers and writers are trying to make the soap opera more "real" in relation to what life is actually like in Britain.

If that is the case in Britain then the country is further down the path of destruction than I thought.

It would appear though, that lobby groups are just as much a factor in England as the vocal yet small percentage of sin of homosexuality advocates are here.

Coronation Street 'Christian' to begin lesbian relationship

Last year it emerged that mainstream soaps were being lobbied by groups to present their issues in storylines.

Stonewall, the homosexual lobby group, told The Guardian newspaper it had managed to get a character from Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks to wear a homosexual campaign T-shirt.

How such things grieve the heart of God the Father. People need to know that there is victory for even those trapped in the sin of homosexuality. The chains that bind them can be broken by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Great Separation continues.

President Obama's Volunteerism Agenda Bans Members from Sharing Faith.

The government is coming! The government is coming! - Folks we are losing our freedoms left and right and the government is enslaving us. President Obama campaigned on change, so far the only change I'm seeing is more of the same big government of the past but only at a faster clip. The printing presses are smoking and about to light the dollar on fire and destroy it.

But I learned this week that the Volunteerism plan, which they are attempting to make mandatory (irony for you) tells those enlisted that they can not share their faith.

I read about it on a blog called The Final Hour.

HR 1388 Bans National Service Participants From Sharing Christ

Following the overwhelming passage of "The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act" by the House of Representatives last week, the U.S. Senate voted 74 to 14 on a procedural move that essentially guarantees that a mandatory national service bill will be passed by the Senate.

"National service" sounds great until you realize exactly what is in this bill. The House version of this bill includes a provision that bans all national service participants from being involved in any form of evangelism.

You need to take action against this. Light up the phone lines of your Senators and Congressman. Flood their offices with mail decrying this violation of free speech.

This G.I.V.E. (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education) program reminds me so much of Hitler's Youth indoctrination. You don't think such a thing could happen here? You obviously haven't read your Bible.

The Great Separation continues.

Oh, by the way, here's a link to the bill:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1388

And the link to the section of that bill discussing this subject:

SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.

Wonderful Christian News Site and Portal.

Book mark it. - Just wanted to alert you all to a great new Christian website.

It's called The International Faith Telegraph.

I'm doing a bit of work for them but the news they cover in the missions world is great and encouraging to me.

Here's their press release:

Two Former 'Missionary Kids' Launch News Service: The International Faith Telegraph: World Christian News & Missions News

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Feb. 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- Newly launched - The International Faith Telegraph: World Christian News & Missions News is a highly informative news website that keeps you in touch with daily Christian world news, as well as missions news and international evangelism worldwide.

The International Faith Telegraph: World Christian News & Missions News, founded by two former "missionary kids," was launched less than a week ago and has already begun making contact with Christians and missionaries around the world.

"In just the first few weeks since we started this project, we have been so blessed to make contact with people all over the world. God has really opened up our eyes to see that there is so much happening in the world today. God is doing so many exciting things, and much of it is found in the stories of individual Christians and missionaries you have probably never heard of," said Co-Founder Laura Larson.

The founders hope to promote a new, rarely promoted, yet highly informative news angle by placing less focus on political news, and greater focus on worldwide news, bringing its readers inspiring missions stories from individual missionaries and organizations around the world. In doing so, this news source provides 'instant' access to how God's people are fulfilling the Great Commission worldwide.

"We believe it is important to stay current with politics; however, it is easy to invest so much emotional energy in U.S. politics, and become so frustrated, that you forget about other subjects near to God's heart, like reaching the lost. And you forget that there is a lot to be excited about today."

The International Faith Telegraph: World Christian News & Missions News also promotes the success of Christian artists, worldwide advancements and trends in technology, and churches worldwide, by publishing articles that are inspiring and give the 'good' news a place to stand out.

Ultimately, The International Faith Telegraph: World Christian News & Missions News hopes to inspire Christians and keep them connected to the worldwide Christian community.

For the latest world Christian news and missions news, all day, anytime, it's now but a click away at www.faithtelegraph.com.

Be sure to check it out. I'm certain you will find it useful on a daily basis.

Come, Jesus, Come!

Can you hear the drum beat? - Looking at news and economies and the spiritual state of the world, it is increasingly hard for me not to imagine that we are not in the latter days awaiting the soon return of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

One man has made the abominable practice of homosexual marriage legal in Connecticut. Meanwhile, a group of women who practice the sin of homosexuality raid a church service in Lansing, Mich., shouting profanities and tossing condoms around. Google is handing over search data in a Big Brother like fashion to the government which on the surface sounds great but leaves a horrible precedent that should scare people. And then there's the idea that America is about to set in the Presidential office, a man that may not be a natural born citizen, a violation of the Constitution.

Indeed, it looks like the time is drawing short. I was just listening to a new music cd by artist, Misty Edwards, titled Relentless. Song number seven is almost 12 minutes long and I think it is the best song I've heard in a long time. It's titled, "people get ready." Because Jesus is coming and He will "Shake all that can be shaken and break all that can be broken." If we don't know Him as personal Lord and Savior, King of kings to whom we must bow our knee, then sorrow, agony, and the second death awaits.

Things are going to get worse before they get better. Gird yourself in Jesus. Dive into His Word. Write them upon your heart. Walk and talk with Him daily.

Get ready.

The Great Separation continues.

James White Apologist Outlook on Day after the Election.

For your view pleasure/displeasure. - Hat tip to La Shawn Barber.

I watched this tonight and pretty much agree with Pastor White.

Being grounded in the Word of God is so critical for the coming days.

A Country Divided.

No middle ground available - I've been listening to news and the conversations of people and I can't remember a time when an election had so many people polarized.

But is that a bad thing?

One of the things I've witnessed that has been a confirmation of Scripture to me is how people can be so deluded by evil. The Bible tells us that in the last days many will be deceived. That even the elect would be led astray had the Lord tarried longer. That's always struck me as hard to fathom. But witnessing so many people whom I've spoken with, or have heard about second hand, who swallow whole with eyes wide open, lies and misinformation, it frankly no longer surprises me that people can so easily be led astray.

And I'm talking about people who call themselves Christians too. It's scary. There have been people to whom I've asked, "How can you call yourself Christian and feel that way?" And yet they still hold their ground but not Biblically. On those points the Word of God no longer matters.

The parable of the sheep and the goats comes to mind.

There are two things I'm sure of.

One, we are that much closer to the Second Coming of Christ Jesus.

Two, God is still in control.

Buddhist's paying $6 to be Reborn.

Heart breaking - I found this video the other day by accident, but after viewing it I was left feeling heart broken for these people led into an illusion of Satan.

Buddhist monks are charging followers about six dollars to lay in coffins and be re-born.

Born Again in Thailand.

I hope that Christ will reveal His salvation to these people so that they can know true re-birth and redemption in Him and Him alone.

Religion is Compared to Smoking in Public Place.

Light'em if you got 'em. - Good grief, it's amazing what papers will print in their opinion pages. The nwfDailyNews has an opinion article where the writer compares religion to smoking. It's apparently a reaction to A lawsuit brought upon the Escambia schools for having prayer in schools.

The writer of the opinion piece, Religious addiction, draws the analogy that religion is like smoking in public places. And so, like the laws governing smoking in public places, religion should also be eradicated in public places.

Religion is like smoking. In moderation, it can be very satisfying; in excess, it becomes an addiction. Those of us who don't smoke or practice a religion just want to go about our lives being smoke-free and religion-free. Smoking laws and religion laws do not stop their practitioners from doing either - they just protect those of us who think the habit is unhealthy, yet still allow those who want to do so to continue in their own environment.

Of course the problem I see with this analogy is that there are a number of people not satisfied to keep people from smoking in public places, they also insist that people be kept from smoking in their cars and in their homes. I wonder if that same path will eventually be taken for those practicing religion?

The Great Separation continues.