"Plan B" or the abortion pill, sometimes called the morning after pill, has become a well known and controversial method of abortion.
Walking into yesterday's health care meeting, the President assured a reporter he had a "plan B".
Planned Parenthood's website also features "Plan B" and says it costs between $10 and $70, considerably less than the President's plan.
The Planned Parenthood site also feature's an "Accidents Happen" section which tells you what to do after an accident.
Will the President need a "Plan B"?
President Obama ended yesterday's meeting with a threat.
"If we're unable to resolve differences over health care," he said, "we will move ahead with decisions."
And he added that if voters are unhappy with the results then, "that's what elections are for."
Indeed. We are already preparing for the elections. I'm certain many others are as well.
House Minority Leader, John Boehner R-Ohio, told the President to his face that his new health care bill would indeed allow taxpayer-funding of health plans that cover abortions.
The President essentially brushed him off, saying he was merely repeating the "standard talking points."
Boehner continued pointing out that for 30 years we've had a federal law prohibiting tax payer funding of abortions, but in response, the President declined to respond and accused the Minority Leader of "wasting the group's time."
President Obama's health care bill, as it presently stands in both the House and Senate version, will put $11 Billion of new funding for community health centers, many if not most of them will provide abortions---most will be Planned Parenthood.
One of the great take away lines of the day was Vice-President Biden questioning his own ability to know what Americans think. Apparently his boss does not understand what Americans are thinking either.
The question is what will President Obama do the morning after? Will there have been a malfunction? Will there be a need for emergency measures?
Most feel the President and his team will see that the pro-life people are not going to abandon their beliefs in the sanctity of life, as some have done, which will cause the President to attempt to ram his health care bill through Congress, using reconciliation, with the explanation that both sides are very close, so it's time to move "forward for the people."
Is that dishonesty or ignorance?
And will the people remember that if they don't like it, "that's what elections are for?"
I think they will. They will sip their tea and they will remember. And they will vote.
Fourteen years ago Judge Robert Bork wrote in his book, "Slouching Toward Gomorrah," regarding the rise of secular liberalism or progressiveness and its negative impact on our culture, "An understanding of our problem and the will to resist may be our only hope."
That is the mission of Faith and Freedom, with an expectation that God will intervene in the affairs of our nation, for His purposes, and restore our land.
Thank you for standing with us.
May God help us.
___________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
"Reconciliation" Good Word---Bad Word
Reconciliation is generally a good word. The process often brings together marriages, families and friends.
In the Christian faith, it is what happens between a person and God, when the individual accepts Jesus Christ, God's Son, as his Savior. The individual's sins are forgiven, he is justified and reconciled to his Creator.
Webster's New World Second College Edition seems to think it's a good thing as well. They say to reconcile is, "to make friendly again or win over to a friendly attitude" or "to bring into harmony."
Bring into harmony?
It's hard to imagine a place where the most divisive thing you could do is called "reconciliation"---but that's where we are in America, in regard to the health care reform bill. And that's exactly what the President and his administration is threatening to do if the so-called bi-partisan health care summit doesn't work today.
When the dust settles from today's meeting, a meeting that syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer calls "mere theater," you will hear the word "reconciliation" soon and often.
It's interesting and revealing what leading Democrats, including Senator Barack Obama, Senator Joe Biden and Senator Hillary Clinton, were saying about "reconciliation" aka., the nuclear option, just a few years ago.
Simply stated, the "reconciliation" is a legislative process that is intended to allow consideration of a budget bill without the threat of filibuster and can be passed by a simple majority.
For more information, I have linked WIKIPEDIA for your convenience.
It is both stunning and revealing what Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton and others were saying about this process.
I have linked a short video with their comments in 2005 regarding "reconciliation".
Please take a look at it. There is nothing I can say to bring more clarity than they bring in their own words.
While there is some humor in this on the surface, just below the surface is a very troubling matter that is getting worse, not better.
America is deeply polarized.
There are several good reasons to oppose President Obama's health care plan, however, the one that is perhaps most important to many of us is the unwavering commitment of the President and his administration and the Congressional leadership to federally fund and advance abortions in America.
And deny they are doing so.
This is a sad commentary on how far we have drifted from our founding, godly principles.
I firmly believe that for the most part, the contention is not so much partisan or political, but is principle centered.
It is a more than a Democratic or Republican issue.
It is a matter of ideology--- a matter of deeply held personal beliefs.
On the one side there are those who along with the President see abortion as a choice---a right, which trumps the sanctity of life itself.
On the other side there are those who believe life is a gift from God, our Creator, and must be protected above all things. They hold a profound belief in the sanctity of life, which cannot be compromised.
Will the Democratic leadership and the President ram their health care bill, including federally funded abortions, through the Congress? I don't know. We'll see.
However, I am absolutely certain there can be no blessing and continuing prosperity in our land until we are reconciled with our founding principles and the God who gave them.
And that is why we do what we do at Faith and Freedom. Thank you for standing with us.
God bless you. And may God's blessing be fully restored on the greatest country in history.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
In the Christian faith, it is what happens between a person and God, when the individual accepts Jesus Christ, God's Son, as his Savior. The individual's sins are forgiven, he is justified and reconciled to his Creator.
Webster's New World Second College Edition seems to think it's a good thing as well. They say to reconcile is, "to make friendly again or win over to a friendly attitude" or "to bring into harmony."
Bring into harmony?
It's hard to imagine a place where the most divisive thing you could do is called "reconciliation"---but that's where we are in America, in regard to the health care reform bill. And that's exactly what the President and his administration is threatening to do if the so-called bi-partisan health care summit doesn't work today.
When the dust settles from today's meeting, a meeting that syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer calls "mere theater," you will hear the word "reconciliation" soon and often.
It's interesting and revealing what leading Democrats, including Senator Barack Obama, Senator Joe Biden and Senator Hillary Clinton, were saying about "reconciliation" aka., the nuclear option, just a few years ago.
Simply stated, the "reconciliation" is a legislative process that is intended to allow consideration of a budget bill without the threat of filibuster and can be passed by a simple majority.
For more information, I have linked WIKIPEDIA for your convenience.
It is both stunning and revealing what Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton and others were saying about this process.
I have linked a short video with their comments in 2005 regarding "reconciliation".
Please take a look at it. There is nothing I can say to bring more clarity than they bring in their own words.
While there is some humor in this on the surface, just below the surface is a very troubling matter that is getting worse, not better.
America is deeply polarized.
There are several good reasons to oppose President Obama's health care plan, however, the one that is perhaps most important to many of us is the unwavering commitment of the President and his administration and the Congressional leadership to federally fund and advance abortions in America.
And deny they are doing so.
This is a sad commentary on how far we have drifted from our founding, godly principles.
I firmly believe that for the most part, the contention is not so much partisan or political, but is principle centered.
It is a more than a Democratic or Republican issue.
It is a matter of ideology--- a matter of deeply held personal beliefs.
On the one side there are those who along with the President see abortion as a choice---a right, which trumps the sanctity of life itself.
On the other side there are those who believe life is a gift from God, our Creator, and must be protected above all things. They hold a profound belief in the sanctity of life, which cannot be compromised.
Will the Democratic leadership and the President ram their health care bill, including federally funded abortions, through the Congress? I don't know. We'll see.
However, I am absolutely certain there can be no blessing and continuing prosperity in our land until we are reconciled with our founding principles and the God who gave them.
And that is why we do what we do at Faith and Freedom. Thank you for standing with us.
God bless you. And may God's blessing be fully restored on the greatest country in history.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The President Breaks Another Promise
President Obama's "new" health care plan includes federal funding of abortions.
He has broken another promise.
In his address to a joint session of Congress in September, President Obama told Congress that the country and the world:
"One more misunderstanding I want to clear up---under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions."
That was not true then and in his "new" plan he has revealed this week, it still isn't true.
The day after the September promise, Douglas Johnson, legislative director for National Right To Life, pointed out that the President's bill will indeed pay for abortions with federal dollars.
He explained how it will work and how the President and his administration is attempting to mislead the public.
Johnson said, "The reality is that the Obama-backed House bill would explicitly authorize the federal government insurance plan to pay for elective abortions and would explicitly authorize subsidies for private abortion insurance----and all with federal dollars."
Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life organization, said while the President and others are trumpeting an amendment they made as eliminating government funded abortions, it "actually allows it."
Johnson said it's "absurd on it's face, a political hoax."
Mitch Stewart and Addisu Demissie of Organizing for America, sent out an email yesterday on behalf of the President saying, "It's a plan that puts Americans in charge of their own health care, bridges the gap between the Senate and House bills, and adds additional ideas from both parties to fight waste and abuse."
One way to "fight waste and abuse" would be to dismantle the present administration at the upcoming elections before they completely dismantle America.
I have linked an analysis of the "new" health care bill as it relates to federally funded abortions. If you have time, check it out, it is informative.
Johnson told LIFENEWS in September, "Barack Obama needs to learn that the mere repetition of a verbal formula does not change reality."
Apparently neither he nor his leadership in Congress have learned that.
As the President was unveiling his "new" "new" plan this week, none of which stops massive federal funding of abortions, the White House announced the President's support to use the controversial "reconciliation" tactic to ram the bill through Congress. This action would eliminate the ability of pro-life lawmakers to filibuster and delay passage.
I doubt seriously that tomorrow's meeting will have any significant bipartisan aspect other than to be reported by the media as an honest attempt on the part of the President to create a bipartisan effort to help save the people and the country. An effort that was rejected by Republicans and pro-life advocates.
I hope for more, but am convinced that these are defining times for our country and communities. The decisions we, as citizens, make in the upcoming 2010 elections and those of 2012, will determine what America will be for coming decades.
Be prayerful. Be active. Do not be silent.
God bless you.
________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
He has broken another promise.
In his address to a joint session of Congress in September, President Obama told Congress that the country and the world:
"One more misunderstanding I want to clear up---under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions."
That was not true then and in his "new" plan he has revealed this week, it still isn't true.
The day after the September promise, Douglas Johnson, legislative director for National Right To Life, pointed out that the President's bill will indeed pay for abortions with federal dollars.
He explained how it will work and how the President and his administration is attempting to mislead the public.
Johnson said, "The reality is that the Obama-backed House bill would explicitly authorize the federal government insurance plan to pay for elective abortions and would explicitly authorize subsidies for private abortion insurance----and all with federal dollars."
Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life organization, said while the President and others are trumpeting an amendment they made as eliminating government funded abortions, it "actually allows it."
Johnson said it's "absurd on it's face, a political hoax."
Mitch Stewart and Addisu Demissie of Organizing for America, sent out an email yesterday on behalf of the President saying, "It's a plan that puts Americans in charge of their own health care, bridges the gap between the Senate and House bills, and adds additional ideas from both parties to fight waste and abuse."
One way to "fight waste and abuse" would be to dismantle the present administration at the upcoming elections before they completely dismantle America.
I have linked an analysis of the "new" health care bill as it relates to federally funded abortions. If you have time, check it out, it is informative.
Johnson told LIFENEWS in September, "Barack Obama needs to learn that the mere repetition of a verbal formula does not change reality."
Apparently neither he nor his leadership in Congress have learned that.
As the President was unveiling his "new" "new" plan this week, none of which stops massive federal funding of abortions, the White House announced the President's support to use the controversial "reconciliation" tactic to ram the bill through Congress. This action would eliminate the ability of pro-life lawmakers to filibuster and delay passage.
I doubt seriously that tomorrow's meeting will have any significant bipartisan aspect other than to be reported by the media as an honest attempt on the part of the President to create a bipartisan effort to help save the people and the country. An effort that was rejected by Republicans and pro-life advocates.
I hope for more, but am convinced that these are defining times for our country and communities. The decisions we, as citizens, make in the upcoming 2010 elections and those of 2012, will determine what America will be for coming decades.
Be prayerful. Be active. Do not be silent.
God bless you.
________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Planned Parenthood Opens Another "Super Store"
Planned Parenthood opens another "Super Store," this one in Oregon. While many businesses are pulling back because of the bad economy, Planned Parenthood continues to expand, thanks to an increasing flow of money from willing government officials and a complicit President.
The largest abortion clinic in Oregon and one of the largest in the country is now open in Portland.
After closing their older, smaller facility, the abortion king has opened the "super store" closer to their prime customer base.
Gayle Atteberry, director of the Oregon Right to Life, explains the Planned Parenthood decision to expand and relocate and how the pro-life community in Portland is responding.
Also, guess what President George W. Bush was doing this past Sunday?
Atteberry says, "This new one is right on the edge of the African-American community."
She is certain the location was not chosen randomly, but that it was established there to carry out the nationwide goal of Planned Parenthood.
She said, "It is consistent to what they are doing around the nation, and we've seen in the figures that the largest percentage of abortions per-capita are done in the black community."
She and the Portland pro-life community have responded by moving their sidewalk counseling to the new location---on the sidewalk beside the new "super store," with a single purpose: To save the lives of unborn children.
While Planned Parenthood expands their empire of death under the guise of "health care," there are those among us who continue to advocate for life and do all they can to preserve and protect it, while often under attack by Planned Parenthood and their allies. Think Washington State.
One such pro-life person spoke at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas this past weekend.
A spokesman for the church said former President George W. Bush came to help them raise money for the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center---a center dedicated to preserving and affirming the sanctity of life.
The church also said they wanted to honor President Bush for his stand and policies that affirm life---the contribution he has made to the unborn.
Do you miss him yet?
____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
The largest abortion clinic in Oregon and one of the largest in the country is now open in Portland.
After closing their older, smaller facility, the abortion king has opened the "super store" closer to their prime customer base.
Gayle Atteberry, director of the Oregon Right to Life, explains the Planned Parenthood decision to expand and relocate and how the pro-life community in Portland is responding.
Also, guess what President George W. Bush was doing this past Sunday?
Atteberry says, "This new one is right on the edge of the African-American community."
She is certain the location was not chosen randomly, but that it was established there to carry out the nationwide goal of Planned Parenthood.
She said, "It is consistent to what they are doing around the nation, and we've seen in the figures that the largest percentage of abortions per-capita are done in the black community."
She and the Portland pro-life community have responded by moving their sidewalk counseling to the new location---on the sidewalk beside the new "super store," with a single purpose: To save the lives of unborn children.
While Planned Parenthood expands their empire of death under the guise of "health care," there are those among us who continue to advocate for life and do all they can to preserve and protect it, while often under attack by Planned Parenthood and their allies. Think Washington State.
One such pro-life person spoke at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas this past weekend.
A spokesman for the church said former President George W. Bush came to help them raise money for the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center---a center dedicated to preserving and affirming the sanctity of life.
The church also said they wanted to honor President Bush for his stand and policies that affirm life---the contribution he has made to the unborn.
Do you miss him yet?
____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Monday, February 22, 2010
President Obama Is "Managing The Decline Of America"
Representative Mike Pence, R-Ind., said Friday, that President Obama and his administration are "managing the decline of America," rather than reversing that decline.
"And finally," Pence said as he concluded his speech, "to reverse American decline we should recognize that our present crises is not merely economic and political, but moral in nature. We must win back America for the fundamental traditional values of the American people: The sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage."
Pence pointed to Planned Parenthood as, "the largest abortion provider in America," and said they "should not be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title 10."
He said, "The time has come to defund any and all funding to Planned Parenthood of America."
I strongly agree.
However, the relationship between Planned Parenthood and President Obama is stunning when you consider his words regarding abortion---and lobbyists, for that matter.
When speaking to the so-called middle Americans--- those who cling to their guns and Bibles, he has often said, he believes abortion is a choice that women and their doctors should make, however, he has repeatedly said we must work to reduce the number of abortions.
Disconnect.
What he is saying and what he is doing is dramatically different. While saying we should reduce abortions, he is working hard to expand the net of the largest abortion business in the country.
According to White House visitor logs, guess who is in the House on a regular basis, with almost unlimited access to the top White House staff members?
Steven Ertelt with LIFENEWS has been studying the White House visitor's logs and concluded last week that Planned Parenthood has, "Unfettered access to the White House and top staffers."
President Obama, Ertelt found, wasted no time in getting Planned Parenthood into the loop. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, was invited to join a very small "special" group of friends and supporters who gathered at the White House on January 20---Inauguration Day. President Obama's first day on the job.
I have linked Ertelt's report of the significant and frequent access that Planned Parenthood has to the President's top staff.
Planned Parenthood is helping this administration shape its health care policies and sex-ed policies, while in concert, they continue to manage the decline of America.
Indeed, Rep. Pence is right.
America is faced with not only a political and economic crises, but a moral crises. We have lost our way. We are living in a culture where wrong is right and right is wrong and those who stand for what is right are often scorned and mocked.
And things are "true" because, "I said they are true."
We need a moral and spiritual awakening. May God help us.
Thank you for your support of this ministry.
God bless you. Be Prayerful. Do not be silent.
__________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
"And finally," Pence said as he concluded his speech, "to reverse American decline we should recognize that our present crises is not merely economic and political, but moral in nature. We must win back America for the fundamental traditional values of the American people: The sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage."
Pence pointed to Planned Parenthood as, "the largest abortion provider in America," and said they "should not be the largest recipient of federal funding under Title 10."
He said, "The time has come to defund any and all funding to Planned Parenthood of America."
I strongly agree.
However, the relationship between Planned Parenthood and President Obama is stunning when you consider his words regarding abortion---and lobbyists, for that matter.
When speaking to the so-called middle Americans--- those who cling to their guns and Bibles, he has often said, he believes abortion is a choice that women and their doctors should make, however, he has repeatedly said we must work to reduce the number of abortions.
Disconnect.
What he is saying and what he is doing is dramatically different. While saying we should reduce abortions, he is working hard to expand the net of the largest abortion business in the country.
According to White House visitor logs, guess who is in the House on a regular basis, with almost unlimited access to the top White House staff members?
Steven Ertelt with LIFENEWS has been studying the White House visitor's logs and concluded last week that Planned Parenthood has, "Unfettered access to the White House and top staffers."
President Obama, Ertelt found, wasted no time in getting Planned Parenthood into the loop. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, was invited to join a very small "special" group of friends and supporters who gathered at the White House on January 20---Inauguration Day. President Obama's first day on the job.
I have linked Ertelt's report of the significant and frequent access that Planned Parenthood has to the President's top staff.
Planned Parenthood is helping this administration shape its health care policies and sex-ed policies, while in concert, they continue to manage the decline of America.
Indeed, Rep. Pence is right.
America is faced with not only a political and economic crises, but a moral crises. We have lost our way. We are living in a culture where wrong is right and right is wrong and those who stand for what is right are often scorned and mocked.
And things are "true" because, "I said they are true."
We need a moral and spiritual awakening. May God help us.
Thank you for your support of this ministry.
God bless you. Be Prayerful. Do not be silent.
__________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
US Supreme Court Sets Date for R-71 Case
The US Supreme Court has set an April 28 hearing date for our request for the R-71 names to be permanently sealed. As you will recall, this action was taken after growing threats were made against those who supported the rejection of SB 5688---the "Everything But Marriage" bill.
A decision is expected by early summer.
The Court will be focused on the following two questions:
09-559 DOE #1 V. REED
DECISION BELOW:586 F.3d 671
EXPEDITED BRIEFING SCHEDULE.
CERT. GRANTED 1/15/2010
QUESTIONS PRESENTED:
The district court granted a preliminary injunction protecting against public disclosure, as opposed to private disclosure to the government only, of those signing a petition to put a referendum on the ballot ("petition signers"). The Ninth Circuit reversed, concluding that the district court based its decision on an incorrect conclusion of law when it determined that public disclosure of petition signers is subject to, and failed, strict scrutiny. The questions presented are:
1. Whether the First Amendment right to privacy in political speech, association, and belief requires strict scrutiny when a state compels public release of identifying information about petition signers.
2. Whether compelled public disclosure of identifying information about petition signers is narrowly tailored to a compelling interest, and whether Petitioners met all the elements required for a preliminary injunction. LOWER COURT CASE NUMBER: 09-35818, 09-35826, 09-35863
Those of us who led the R-71 effort have done everything humanly possible to protect those who signed the R-71 petitions and their right to participate in the political process without fear of retribution from homosexual activists.
Thank you for your continuing support. Taking a public stand on such issues often comes with a great price. Your prayers and support have allowed Faith and Freedom to continue to stand in the gap. Your comments of personal support and encouragement have meant more than I could possibly say.
God bless you.
________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
A decision is expected by early summer.
The Court will be focused on the following two questions:
09-559 DOE #1 V. REED
DECISION BELOW:586 F.3d 671
EXPEDITED BRIEFING SCHEDULE.
CERT. GRANTED 1/15/2010
QUESTIONS PRESENTED:
The district court granted a preliminary injunction protecting against public disclosure, as opposed to private disclosure to the government only, of those signing a petition to put a referendum on the ballot ("petition signers"). The Ninth Circuit reversed, concluding that the district court based its decision on an incorrect conclusion of law when it determined that public disclosure of petition signers is subject to, and failed, strict scrutiny. The questions presented are:
1. Whether the First Amendment right to privacy in political speech, association, and belief requires strict scrutiny when a state compels public release of identifying information about petition signers.
2. Whether compelled public disclosure of identifying information about petition signers is narrowly tailored to a compelling interest, and whether Petitioners met all the elements required for a preliminary injunction. LOWER COURT CASE NUMBER: 09-35818, 09-35826, 09-35863
Those of us who led the R-71 effort have done everything humanly possible to protect those who signed the R-71 petitions and their right to participate in the political process without fear of retribution from homosexual activists.
Thank you for your continuing support. Taking a public stand on such issues often comes with a great price. Your prayers and support have allowed Faith and Freedom to continue to stand in the gap. Your comments of personal support and encouragement have meant more than I could possibly say.
God bless you.
________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Message of "AVATAR"
Evangelical Christians are often "consuming the culture" without even questioning the message.
With "AVATAR," now the highest grossing movie of all time, some Christian leaders are taking a critical look at the actual message of the film.
Some movie goers are slamming the film as completely pantheistic, while others praise it for the Christian Gospel parallels.
A panel of evangelical leaders has given some excellent advice and insight on the message of "AVATAR" and expressed some concern regarding how Christians consume the culture.
And a successful Hollywood screenwriter and author gives some helpful suggestions regarding Christians and the media in our culture.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler, JR., President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mark T. Coppenger, professor of Christian Apologetics, Russell D. Moore, dean of the SBTS' School of Theology and several others commented on "AVATAR" at a panel discussion last week.
Moore says the real danger with Hollywood films is not the blatantly negative or anti-Christian messages that are obvious, but the subtle ones that Christians do not even recognize in today's culture.
Moore says, "What concerns me is not so much the message, but the fact that most people aren't really getting or seeing the message."
"Keep in mind," he said, "this is the same guy (producer James Cameron) who had evangelical Christians standing up and applauding to scenes of fornication in "TITANIC". It's so subtle the way that it works through that you become emotionally connected before you realize what's going on."
Obviously the film has reached a very broad audience, creating $2 billion in worldwide gross revenue so far, setting an all time revenue record.
It taps into some kind of religious longing people have, and in a postmodern world where truth is relative, "AVATAR" has broad appeal.
Ted Cabal, a professor at SBTS said, "Even though its got a mixture of sci-fi where the religion can be explained in naturalist terms, it's still much appealing to the average, what I call, postmodern religionist who's not clear as to what he's after."
"It doesn't matter if it doesn't make a lot of sense," he says, "everything is God impersonally, but you can also pray to this God and so at the end, AWA (the deity in the film) answers prayer. So you're like, 'okay mix a little personal God in there for those Americans who like prayer."
The film contains reference points to the Christian Gospel, but recasts it as a completely different gospel, Mohler believes.
He said, "It includes a 'secular Eden' (Pandora); the reference that every person is 'born twice'---the second time is when you become part of your people forever; and its own metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption and consummation."
In a different, but related story, Andrew Klavan, a successful author and Hollywood screenwriter, has told the press that Christians need to pay close attention to the message from books, television programs and movies.
Klavan, who has worked with Clint Eastwood, Michael Douglas and other high pro-file actors, says that in most cases anyone who is patriotic or Christian are cast as a hypocrite, hater, or worse.
He encourages Christians to be very careful.
We can take at least two things from this.
First, be very discerning. Understand that most all books, TV shows and films have a message. That's the world we live in. Be sure the message is not contrary or damaging to your biblical worldview and that which you are teaching to your children.
Secondly, in the case of "AVATAR," it is apparent that millions of people are paying to see a story that touches on points that are important to them. Dr. Mohler believes this story helps Christians to define their "mission field" and perhaps can lead to opportunities to share the "story of stories"---the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Indeed.
Be discerning. Be active. Do not be silent.
God bless you and thank you for supporting this ministry.
____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
With "AVATAR," now the highest grossing movie of all time, some Christian leaders are taking a critical look at the actual message of the film.
Some movie goers are slamming the film as completely pantheistic, while others praise it for the Christian Gospel parallels.
A panel of evangelical leaders has given some excellent advice and insight on the message of "AVATAR" and expressed some concern regarding how Christians consume the culture.
And a successful Hollywood screenwriter and author gives some helpful suggestions regarding Christians and the media in our culture.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler, JR., President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mark T. Coppenger, professor of Christian Apologetics, Russell D. Moore, dean of the SBTS' School of Theology and several others commented on "AVATAR" at a panel discussion last week.
Moore says the real danger with Hollywood films is not the blatantly negative or anti-Christian messages that are obvious, but the subtle ones that Christians do not even recognize in today's culture.
Moore says, "What concerns me is not so much the message, but the fact that most people aren't really getting or seeing the message."
"Keep in mind," he said, "this is the same guy (producer James Cameron) who had evangelical Christians standing up and applauding to scenes of fornication in "TITANIC". It's so subtle the way that it works through that you become emotionally connected before you realize what's going on."
Obviously the film has reached a very broad audience, creating $2 billion in worldwide gross revenue so far, setting an all time revenue record.
It taps into some kind of religious longing people have, and in a postmodern world where truth is relative, "AVATAR" has broad appeal.
Ted Cabal, a professor at SBTS said, "Even though its got a mixture of sci-fi where the religion can be explained in naturalist terms, it's still much appealing to the average, what I call, postmodern religionist who's not clear as to what he's after."
"It doesn't matter if it doesn't make a lot of sense," he says, "everything is God impersonally, but you can also pray to this God and so at the end, AWA (the deity in the film) answers prayer. So you're like, 'okay mix a little personal God in there for those Americans who like prayer."
The film contains reference points to the Christian Gospel, but recasts it as a completely different gospel, Mohler believes.
He said, "It includes a 'secular Eden' (Pandora); the reference that every person is 'born twice'---the second time is when you become part of your people forever; and its own metanarrative of creation, fall, redemption and consummation."
In a different, but related story, Andrew Klavan, a successful author and Hollywood screenwriter, has told the press that Christians need to pay close attention to the message from books, television programs and movies.
Klavan, who has worked with Clint Eastwood, Michael Douglas and other high pro-file actors, says that in most cases anyone who is patriotic or Christian are cast as a hypocrite, hater, or worse.
He encourages Christians to be very careful.
We can take at least two things from this.
First, be very discerning. Understand that most all books, TV shows and films have a message. That's the world we live in. Be sure the message is not contrary or damaging to your biblical worldview and that which you are teaching to your children.
Secondly, in the case of "AVATAR," it is apparent that millions of people are paying to see a story that touches on points that are important to them. Dr. Mohler believes this story helps Christians to define their "mission field" and perhaps can lead to opportunities to share the "story of stories"---the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Indeed.
Be discerning. Be active. Do not be silent.
God bless you and thank you for supporting this ministry.
____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Friday, February 12, 2010
A Conflicted Culture
NARAL has dedicated their newest status report to the late Dr. George Tiller, who was one of only a few late-term abortionists in the country.
Tiller was shot and killed by a man last year with a history of mental problems.
That was tragic. All premature loss of life is tragic.
In the report NARAL praises President Barack Obama for his pro-abortion policies and for choosing pro-abortion people to serve in his administration, including NARAL's former legal counsel, Dawn Johnsen, who is yet to be confirmed for a senior position in the Justice Department.
The honor bestowed on Tiller is both tragic and sobering.
The report reads, "Through his life's work, Dr. Tiller compassionately and heroically served women from all across the country in order to ensure their right to reproductive health services. Dr. Tiller often spoke of his values---kindness, courtesy, justice, love and respect---which he brought to work every day."
In an era where our Founding Fathers are often trashed or "historically revised" in the classroom, and those who have truly made contributions to our country ignored or discredited, it is troubling that even NARAL would characterize that man's work in that way.
He was a man who even at the time of his death was under investigation for illegal practices in his abortion business.
A man who routinely artificially extracted babies from their mother's womb and destroyed their life shortly before natural birth, should not be honored as "compassionate," nor should he be elevated as "heroic".
And how have we gotten to a place where this practice is associated with "kindness, courteous, just, loving and respectable"?
We truly live in a conflicted culture, where what is right is said to be wrong and what is wrong is said to be right and just.
May God bring restoration and help in our time of need.
God bless you. Thank you for standing with us in the face of darkness.
__________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Tiller was shot and killed by a man last year with a history of mental problems.
That was tragic. All premature loss of life is tragic.
In the report NARAL praises President Barack Obama for his pro-abortion policies and for choosing pro-abortion people to serve in his administration, including NARAL's former legal counsel, Dawn Johnsen, who is yet to be confirmed for a senior position in the Justice Department.
The honor bestowed on Tiller is both tragic and sobering.
The report reads, "Through his life's work, Dr. Tiller compassionately and heroically served women from all across the country in order to ensure their right to reproductive health services. Dr. Tiller often spoke of his values---kindness, courtesy, justice, love and respect---which he brought to work every day."
In an era where our Founding Fathers are often trashed or "historically revised" in the classroom, and those who have truly made contributions to our country ignored or discredited, it is troubling that even NARAL would characterize that man's work in that way.
He was a man who even at the time of his death was under investigation for illegal practices in his abortion business.
A man who routinely artificially extracted babies from their mother's womb and destroyed their life shortly before natural birth, should not be honored as "compassionate," nor should he be elevated as "heroic".
And how have we gotten to a place where this practice is associated with "kindness, courteous, just, loving and respectable"?
We truly live in a conflicted culture, where what is right is said to be wrong and what is wrong is said to be right and just.
May God bring restoration and help in our time of need.
God bless you. Thank you for standing with us in the face of darkness.
__________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Confused Leadership in Olympia
The Washington State Democrats are trying their best to raise taxes, but they are tripping over their own eagerness.
In an attempt to circumvent I-960, which requires that two-thirds of the Legislature approve any tax increase opposed to the normal simple majority, the Democratic leadership has submitted a bill to suspend I-960, because they have a majority, but not a two-thirds majority in the Legislature.
In their rush to raise taxes, they approved the wrong bill this week.
They intended to vote on a bill that would entirely suspend I-960, but instead approved a bill that partially suspended it.
Oops. Not to worry. They promised to get the right bill back for a vote within the next few days so they can completely circumvent the peoples desires. Voters have approved the I-960 mandate three times, yet the Democratically controlled Legislature will not accept the will of the people.
One more reason we need new leadership in Olympia. If they can't get it right on their own bill, people need to take a good look at what else they are not getting right.
This year is a great opportunity to make changes in the Legislature. As we progress through the primaries, Faith and Freedom will be giving you a call to action along with helpful voter information.
Thank you for your support.
God bless you.
_______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
In an attempt to circumvent I-960, which requires that two-thirds of the Legislature approve any tax increase opposed to the normal simple majority, the Democratic leadership has submitted a bill to suspend I-960, because they have a majority, but not a two-thirds majority in the Legislature.
In their rush to raise taxes, they approved the wrong bill this week.
They intended to vote on a bill that would entirely suspend I-960, but instead approved a bill that partially suspended it.
Oops. Not to worry. They promised to get the right bill back for a vote within the next few days so they can completely circumvent the peoples desires. Voters have approved the I-960 mandate three times, yet the Democratically controlled Legislature will not accept the will of the people.
One more reason we need new leadership in Olympia. If they can't get it right on their own bill, people need to take a good look at what else they are not getting right.
This year is a great opportunity to make changes in the Legislature. As we progress through the primaries, Faith and Freedom will be giving you a call to action along with helpful voter information.
Thank you for your support.
God bless you.
_______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Global Warming: Is It a Religion?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wrote a 2008 column highlighting the lack of snow in the Washington D.C. area.
While it was intended to be a hit piece on then vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, parts of it are charming.
He recalls his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, standing erect in a toboggan, in his topcoat, sledding down the hill and the Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, his father, bringing home a delegation of Eskimos for lunch and afterward spending the afternoon building an igloo in the Kennedy's backyard.
Those were the days. Now he says, "snow is so scarce that most Virginia children probably don't even own a sled."
This past weekend over 32 inches of snow fell on the Washington D.C. area, and there is another snow storm moving in today.
Last weekend the family of Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., built an igloo near the US Capitol and put signs on it reading, "Al Gore's New Home" and "Honk If You Love Global Warming."
The left has seen the igloo or at least pictures of it and they are mad. Many are calling Inhofe a "right wing extremist."
Why are they so touchy about this. They're fervent. Their faith in Al Gore and a growing body of flawed facts is impressive, to say the least.
Is global warming a religion? Or maybe a cult? As a youth pastor, I have helped a lot of kids who have gotten involved in cults. I think I see some similarities.
The Copenhagen Climate Summit ended in disaster by nearly everyone's estimation. Collapsing with the discovery of fraud among the scientists who represented the movement and public fighting between the rich nations and the poor nations over the money.
The left's response? Stand firm. Keep the faith.
Monday, the Associated Press reported that President Obama has, you guessed it, proposed a new agency for climate change, aka, global warming.
Washington State's own Gary Locke, the administration's Commerce Secretary said, "Whether we like it or not, climate change represents a real threat."
Keep the faith. Move on. Keep the heat on. Forget the snow.
Is any of this related to the investments of Al Gore and his investors? Who is actually invested in the many green projects Gore has under way, which according to him, can only succeed with government subsidy.
Is the idea of man-made global warming an Earth worshipping religion or cult? With a few at the top profiting from the followers?
Walter Williams, a syndicated columnist, has written an excellent article that explores that very question and suggests that the movement is built on a whole lot of flawed information and an even greater amount of ego. I recommend you read his article.
And remember; the founder of a truly great religion has said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
Be free. Be vigilant. Be active.
_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
While it was intended to be a hit piece on then vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, parts of it are charming.
He recalls his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, standing erect in a toboggan, in his topcoat, sledding down the hill and the Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, his father, bringing home a delegation of Eskimos for lunch and afterward spending the afternoon building an igloo in the Kennedy's backyard.
Those were the days. Now he says, "snow is so scarce that most Virginia children probably don't even own a sled."
This past weekend over 32 inches of snow fell on the Washington D.C. area, and there is another snow storm moving in today.
Last weekend the family of Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., built an igloo near the US Capitol and put signs on it reading, "Al Gore's New Home" and "Honk If You Love Global Warming."
The left has seen the igloo or at least pictures of it and they are mad. Many are calling Inhofe a "right wing extremist."
Why are they so touchy about this. They're fervent. Their faith in Al Gore and a growing body of flawed facts is impressive, to say the least.
Is global warming a religion? Or maybe a cult? As a youth pastor, I have helped a lot of kids who have gotten involved in cults. I think I see some similarities.
The Copenhagen Climate Summit ended in disaster by nearly everyone's estimation. Collapsing with the discovery of fraud among the scientists who represented the movement and public fighting between the rich nations and the poor nations over the money.
The left's response? Stand firm. Keep the faith.
Monday, the Associated Press reported that President Obama has, you guessed it, proposed a new agency for climate change, aka, global warming.
Washington State's own Gary Locke, the administration's Commerce Secretary said, "Whether we like it or not, climate change represents a real threat."
Keep the faith. Move on. Keep the heat on. Forget the snow.
Is any of this related to the investments of Al Gore and his investors? Who is actually invested in the many green projects Gore has under way, which according to him, can only succeed with government subsidy.
Is the idea of man-made global warming an Earth worshipping religion or cult? With a few at the top profiting from the followers?
Walter Williams, a syndicated columnist, has written an excellent article that explores that very question and suggests that the movement is built on a whole lot of flawed information and an even greater amount of ego. I recommend you read his article.
And remember; the founder of a truly great religion has said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
Be free. Be vigilant. Be active.
_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Israel, Iran and Ezekiel 37
Note: After all the hype about the Tim Tebow ad, the critics have now reversed and are complaining about Tim playfully tackling his mother. Good grief.
__________________
This Thursday, February 11 on our calendar---the 22nd of Bahman on the Persian calendar, is the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. Iran will likely be prominent in the news as this week progresses, particularly in that Ahmadinejad has said the anniversary will "hearld an important announcement."
Some feel it may be a move toward more peaceful relations in the middle east. Most do not. Regardless of what Ahmadinejad may say, most believe Iran is moving toward deployment of nuclear weapons.
And many feel the inclination to commit terror acts against America will be heightened on February 11.
One thing is abundantly clear. Mr. Ahmadinejad is committed to "wiping Israel off the map."
You may recall that Israel and Iran had close ties during the Pahlavi dynasty, from the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 to 1979.
Recently, Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, said that western support of Israel is, "ineffective and that Israel's obliteration is imminent according to the will of God." (View video on FFN home page).
In follow up, yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manchour Mottaki said that Israel is now weaker than ever before, before, adding that it is a, "crazy country run by crazy people."
"Therefore," he said, "we must prepare for the chance that Israel will do something crazy."
I suspect one of the "crazy" people running Israel would be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Recently Netanyahu traveled to Poland to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Speaking on the actual site of the Nazi death camp, Netanyahu warned the world of new genocidal threats against the Jewish people and the importance of acting early enough to prevent such threats from coming to pass.
Then, in a stunning and remarkable moment, he declared to Europe and the world that the prophecies of Ezekiel 37 have been fulfilled.
He said the holocaust represented the "dry bones" and "graves" of the Jewish people and out of that horror the State of Israel was resurrected.
Netanyahu, quoting from Ezekiel said, "Prophecy, therefore, and say to them: Thus said the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and lift you out of your graves, O my people and bring you to the land of Israel."
He then said, speaking in Hebrew, "As head of the Jewish State, I pledge to you today: we will never again permit evil to snuff out the life of our people and the life of our country."
I would encourage Christians to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and God's protection of America.
Below are seven biblical reasons for Christians to support Israel.
The following has been created by the ministry, "Boston Bless Israel."
Genesis 12:3: "And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed." Point: God has promised to bless the man or nation that blesses the Chosen People. History has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the nations that have blessed the Jewish people have had the blessing of God; the nations that have cursed the Jewish people have experienced the curse of God.
St. Paul recorded in Romans 15:27: "For if the Gentiles have shared in their (the Jews) spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things."
Christians owe a debt of eternal gratitude to the Jewish people for their contributions that gave birth to the Christian faith. Jesus Christ, a prominent Rabbi from Nazareth said, "Salvation is of the Jews!" (St. John 4:22) consider what the Jewish people have given to Christianity:
a) The Sacred Scripture
b) The Prophets
c) The Patriarchs
d) Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth
e) The Twelve Disciples
f) The Apostles
It is not possible to say, "I am a Christian" and not love the Jewish people. The Bible teaches that love is not what you say, but what you do. (1 John 3:18) "A bell is not a bell until you ring it, a song is not a song until you sing it, love is not love until you share it."
While some Christians try to deny the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the Jews of the world, Jesus never denied his Jewishness. He was born Jewish, He was circumcised on the eighth day in keeping with Jewish tradition, He had his Bar Mitzvah on his 13th birthday, He kept the law of Moses, He wore the Prayer Shawl Moses commanded all Jewish men to wear, He died on a cross with an inscription over His head, "King of the Jews!"
Jesus considered the Jewish people His family. Jesus said (Matthew 25:40) "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (the Jewish people… Gentiles were never called His brethren), ye have done it unto me."
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee." (Psalm 122:6) the scriptural principle of prosperity is tied to blessing Israel and the city of Jerusalem.
Why did Jesus Christ go to the house of Cornelius in Capernaum and heal his servant, which was ready to die? What logic did the Jewish elders use with Jesus to convince Him to come into the house of a Gentile and perform a miracle?
The logic they used is recorded in Luke 7:5; "For He loveth our nation, and He hath built us a synagogue." The message? This Gentile deserves the blessing of God because he loves our nation and has done something practical to bless the Jewish people.
Why did God the Father select the house of Cornelius in Caesarea (Acts Chapter 10) to be the first Gentile house in Israel to receive the Gospel? The answer is given repeatedly in Acts 10.
Acts 10:2 "a devout man, (Cornelius) and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." Who were the people to whom Cornelius gave these alms? They were the Jews!
Again is Acts 10:4 "… thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."
Again in Acts 10:31 "… and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God."
The point is made three times in the same chapter. A godly Gentile who expressed his unconditional love for the Jewish people in a practical manner was divinely selected by heaven to be the first Gentile house to receive the Gospel and the first to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
These combined Scriptures verify that PROSPERITY (Genesis 12:3 and Psalm 122:6), HEALING (Luke 7:1-5) and the OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT came first to Gentiles that blessed the Jewish people and the nation of Israel in a practical manner.
We support Israel because all other nations were created by an act of men, but Israel was created by an act of God! The Royal Land Grant that was given to Abraham and his seed through Isaac and Jacob with an everlasting and unconditional covenant. (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-18, 15:1-21, 17:4-8, 22:15-18, 26:1-5 and Psalm 89:28-37.)
There are biblical reasons why evangelicals support Israel.
__________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
__________________
This Thursday, February 11 on our calendar---the 22nd of Bahman on the Persian calendar, is the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. Iran will likely be prominent in the news as this week progresses, particularly in that Ahmadinejad has said the anniversary will "hearld an important announcement."
Some feel it may be a move toward more peaceful relations in the middle east. Most do not. Regardless of what Ahmadinejad may say, most believe Iran is moving toward deployment of nuclear weapons.
And many feel the inclination to commit terror acts against America will be heightened on February 11.
One thing is abundantly clear. Mr. Ahmadinejad is committed to "wiping Israel off the map."
You may recall that Israel and Iran had close ties during the Pahlavi dynasty, from the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 to 1979.
Recently, Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, said that western support of Israel is, "ineffective and that Israel's obliteration is imminent according to the will of God." (View video on FFN home page).
In follow up, yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manchour Mottaki said that Israel is now weaker than ever before, before, adding that it is a, "crazy country run by crazy people."
"Therefore," he said, "we must prepare for the chance that Israel will do something crazy."
I suspect one of the "crazy" people running Israel would be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Recently Netanyahu traveled to Poland to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Speaking on the actual site of the Nazi death camp, Netanyahu warned the world of new genocidal threats against the Jewish people and the importance of acting early enough to prevent such threats from coming to pass.
Then, in a stunning and remarkable moment, he declared to Europe and the world that the prophecies of Ezekiel 37 have been fulfilled.
He said the holocaust represented the "dry bones" and "graves" of the Jewish people and out of that horror the State of Israel was resurrected.
Netanyahu, quoting from Ezekiel said, "Prophecy, therefore, and say to them: Thus said the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and lift you out of your graves, O my people and bring you to the land of Israel."
He then said, speaking in Hebrew, "As head of the Jewish State, I pledge to you today: we will never again permit evil to snuff out the life of our people and the life of our country."
I would encourage Christians to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and God's protection of America.
Below are seven biblical reasons for Christians to support Israel.
The following has been created by the ministry, "Boston Bless Israel."
Genesis 12:3: "And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed." Point: God has promised to bless the man or nation that blesses the Chosen People. History has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the nations that have blessed the Jewish people have had the blessing of God; the nations that have cursed the Jewish people have experienced the curse of God.
St. Paul recorded in Romans 15:27: "For if the Gentiles have shared in their (the Jews) spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things."
Christians owe a debt of eternal gratitude to the Jewish people for their contributions that gave birth to the Christian faith. Jesus Christ, a prominent Rabbi from Nazareth said, "Salvation is of the Jews!" (St. John 4:22) consider what the Jewish people have given to Christianity:
a) The Sacred Scripture
b) The Prophets
c) The Patriarchs
d) Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth
e) The Twelve Disciples
f) The Apostles
It is not possible to say, "I am a Christian" and not love the Jewish people. The Bible teaches that love is not what you say, but what you do. (1 John 3:18) "A bell is not a bell until you ring it, a song is not a song until you sing it, love is not love until you share it."
While some Christians try to deny the connection between Jesus of Nazareth and the Jews of the world, Jesus never denied his Jewishness. He was born Jewish, He was circumcised on the eighth day in keeping with Jewish tradition, He had his Bar Mitzvah on his 13th birthday, He kept the law of Moses, He wore the Prayer Shawl Moses commanded all Jewish men to wear, He died on a cross with an inscription over His head, "King of the Jews!"
Jesus considered the Jewish people His family. Jesus said (Matthew 25:40) "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (the Jewish people… Gentiles were never called His brethren), ye have done it unto me."
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee." (Psalm 122:6) the scriptural principle of prosperity is tied to blessing Israel and the city of Jerusalem.
Why did Jesus Christ go to the house of Cornelius in Capernaum and heal his servant, which was ready to die? What logic did the Jewish elders use with Jesus to convince Him to come into the house of a Gentile and perform a miracle?
The logic they used is recorded in Luke 7:5; "For He loveth our nation, and He hath built us a synagogue." The message? This Gentile deserves the blessing of God because he loves our nation and has done something practical to bless the Jewish people.
Why did God the Father select the house of Cornelius in Caesarea (Acts Chapter 10) to be the first Gentile house in Israel to receive the Gospel? The answer is given repeatedly in Acts 10.
Acts 10:2 "a devout man, (Cornelius) and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." Who were the people to whom Cornelius gave these alms? They were the Jews!
Again is Acts 10:4 "… thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."
Again in Acts 10:31 "… and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God."
The point is made three times in the same chapter. A godly Gentile who expressed his unconditional love for the Jewish people in a practical manner was divinely selected by heaven to be the first Gentile house to receive the Gospel and the first to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
These combined Scriptures verify that PROSPERITY (Genesis 12:3 and Psalm 122:6), HEALING (Luke 7:1-5) and the OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT came first to Gentiles that blessed the Jewish people and the nation of Israel in a practical manner.
We support Israel because all other nations were created by an act of men, but Israel was created by an act of God! The Royal Land Grant that was given to Abraham and his seed through Isaac and Jacob with an everlasting and unconditional covenant. (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-18, 15:1-21, 17:4-8, 22:15-18, 26:1-5 and Psalm 89:28-37.)
There are biblical reasons why evangelicals support Israel.
__________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Monday, February 08, 2010
St. Paul's Teaching on Homosexual Relations "Misunderstood"
Last week Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, ---the one President Obama invited to pray at his Inauguration, was making his case to the National Press Club, attempting to straighten things out in regard to Paul's teaching on the matter of same sex relations.
It wouldn't matter what he thinks, except he has a sympathetic ear from the press, many in the Obama Administration, and unfortunately from some leaders in "emerging churches".
There is a movement, and I see it getting some traction within Christianity, to distort the plain meaning of Scripture and interpret it in light of one's own proclivities, rather than interpreting one's proclivities in light of Scripture.
Robinson told the National Press Club that Paul is writing to the heterosexuals, not homosexuals in Romans 1:22-27.
He said, "St. Paul was talking about people that he understood to be heterosexual engaging in same-sex acts. It never occurred to anyone in ancient times that a certain minority of us would be born affectionately oriented to people of the same sex."
"We have to understand," Robinson said, "that the notion of a homosexual sexual orientation is a notion that is only about 125 years old."
That's interesting. That's what I have been saying. Homosexual acts have evolved. First, they were an act---sodomy; then a condition---homosexuality; now an identity---gay.
So, it would seem that the Old Testament prophets who spoke of the matter, were equally ignorant or confused.
And this thinking could lead one to believe that God Himself may be confused or ignorant, if one believes that God inspired those who wrote the Scriptures.
So the past 125 years has shown us that they are all wrong?
"No," Robinson says. "I think St. Paul was absolutely correct in his own context, given what he knew, and given the behavior which he was describing."
So is the Bible an evolving document, like, say, the Constitution is said to be?
Actually Rev. Robinson says we are asking the wrong questions. He says the real question should be, "What did it mean to the person who wrote it?" And, "What did it mean for the audience to whom it was written?"
"And only then," he says, "can we ask, 'is it eternally binding'?"
If we deny the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, nothing would actually be eternally binding. Scripture, as it evolves, would rather serve to affirm those human tendencies that used to be referred to as sin.
His conclusion: Relationships between people of the same sex who are oriented that way is not addressed in the Bible.
These thoughts and more were given to the Press Club on the occasion of Rev. Robinson's launch of a multi-city tour called the "American Prayer Hour," designed to affirm inclusive values and call on all nations, including Uganda, to decriminalize the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
I have provided a link to a brief overview or summary of what the Bible actually says about homosexuality.
With the strong push by homosexuals to change the minds of people within the church, the constant favorable drum beat of the press, the activism of the entertainment industry toward the matter and the extreme activism in public education to normalize this lifestyle, it is the responsibility of parents to know the truth and share it with children and grandchildren. That too is a biblical teaching.
I strongly recommend you take the time to read the above link.
Be vigilant. Be wise. Be informed. Be prayerful. Be active.
God bless you. Thank you for supporting us.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
It wouldn't matter what he thinks, except he has a sympathetic ear from the press, many in the Obama Administration, and unfortunately from some leaders in "emerging churches".
There is a movement, and I see it getting some traction within Christianity, to distort the plain meaning of Scripture and interpret it in light of one's own proclivities, rather than interpreting one's proclivities in light of Scripture.
Robinson told the National Press Club that Paul is writing to the heterosexuals, not homosexuals in Romans 1:22-27.
He said, "St. Paul was talking about people that he understood to be heterosexual engaging in same-sex acts. It never occurred to anyone in ancient times that a certain minority of us would be born affectionately oriented to people of the same sex."
"We have to understand," Robinson said, "that the notion of a homosexual sexual orientation is a notion that is only about 125 years old."
That's interesting. That's what I have been saying. Homosexual acts have evolved. First, they were an act---sodomy; then a condition---homosexuality; now an identity---gay.
So, it would seem that the Old Testament prophets who spoke of the matter, were equally ignorant or confused.
And this thinking could lead one to believe that God Himself may be confused or ignorant, if one believes that God inspired those who wrote the Scriptures.
So the past 125 years has shown us that they are all wrong?
"No," Robinson says. "I think St. Paul was absolutely correct in his own context, given what he knew, and given the behavior which he was describing."
So is the Bible an evolving document, like, say, the Constitution is said to be?
Actually Rev. Robinson says we are asking the wrong questions. He says the real question should be, "What did it mean to the person who wrote it?" And, "What did it mean for the audience to whom it was written?"
"And only then," he says, "can we ask, 'is it eternally binding'?"
If we deny the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, nothing would actually be eternally binding. Scripture, as it evolves, would rather serve to affirm those human tendencies that used to be referred to as sin.
His conclusion: Relationships between people of the same sex who are oriented that way is not addressed in the Bible.
These thoughts and more were given to the Press Club on the occasion of Rev. Robinson's launch of a multi-city tour called the "American Prayer Hour," designed to affirm inclusive values and call on all nations, including Uganda, to decriminalize the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
I have provided a link to a brief overview or summary of what the Bible actually says about homosexuality.
With the strong push by homosexuals to change the minds of people within the church, the constant favorable drum beat of the press, the activism of the entertainment industry toward the matter and the extreme activism in public education to normalize this lifestyle, it is the responsibility of parents to know the truth and share it with children and grandchildren. That too is a biblical teaching.
I strongly recommend you take the time to read the above link.
Be vigilant. Be wise. Be informed. Be prayerful. Be active.
God bless you. Thank you for supporting us.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Planned Parenthood Responds to Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad
Planned Parenthood has created an ad in response to this Sunday's Super Bowl ad that features Tim Tebow and his mother.
The duplicity of Planned Parenthood is stunning.
While killing millions of unborn babies in the name of choice, aggressively fighting anyone who tries to restrain or oppose their agenda and trying to essentially shut down the pro-life Pregnancy Centers in Washington State, they continue to put a pretty face on the face of evil.
We have placed this video on our home page. Click here to view video. You will note there are several other Planned Parenthood 60 second messages that you might find interesting.
I strongly recommend you watch their response to Tim Tebow.
Let there be life.
God bless you.
________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
The duplicity of Planned Parenthood is stunning.
While killing millions of unborn babies in the name of choice, aggressively fighting anyone who tries to restrain or oppose their agenda and trying to essentially shut down the pro-life Pregnancy Centers in Washington State, they continue to put a pretty face on the face of evil.
We have placed this video on our home page. Click here to view video. You will note there are several other Planned Parenthood 60 second messages that you might find interesting.
I strongly recommend you watch their response to Tim Tebow.
Let there be life.
God bless you.
________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Evolution of Marriage? The Open Secret
While Representative Jamie Pederson, Senator Ed Murray and their pro-homosexual colleagues in the Washington State Legislature are busily passing bills that make all parental law in Washington State gender neutral in compliance with the "everything but marriage" SB 5688 bill passed last session, those homosexuals in the five states that already allow homosexual "marriage" are sharing an open secret.
The New York Times published a surprising article the other day---surprising that the gay writer would write it, not surprising how gays are re-defining "marriage" and the culture.
The Times story titled, "Many Successful Gay Marriages Share An Open Secret," says that many homosexuals are omitting two words from their wedding vows: fidelity and monogamy.
I strongly recommend you read this article.
One couple told the Times, they take this arrangement as a "gift" in that they trust each other to have other relationships in their "open" marriage.
The Times article references a study that will be released next month that gives a rare glimpse inside homosexual relationships. The open secret is that monogamy is not a central feature in their so-called "marriages".
The study, according to The New York Times article, will show that fidelity and monogamy are not featured in these relationships. My take on what I read is that the emphasis is on openness. As long as your partner knows what you are doing, it's okay.
Washington State was sold a story of loving homosexual families, just like yours, who simply want to live and let live and want the security of family and long term normal committed relationships. I heard that in every hearing and every ad that led to the passage SB 5688 and the defeat of R-71, elevating homosexual relationships to the legal status of natural marriage.
Equality was the goal. And a majority bought it. Including some legislators who should have known better.
The Times says gays don't like to talk about this open aspect of their "marriages" because they are afraid it will undermine their agenda for national homosexual marriage. I certainly hope it will.
Perhaps the most stunning and revealing aspect of this is the fact that the upcoming study will suggest that this boundary challenging approach to marriage may be the evolution, "that might point the way to the survival of the institution."
With five states under their belt, so to speak, the homosexual community is now suggesting what marriage must do to survive.
When we wrote about the aspects of the "beyond gay marriage" document and their agenda that includes group and multiple marriages---and more, some people laughed and mocked us.
Look me in the eye and tell me homosexual marriage and natural marriage is the same.
Certainly there are failures in natural marriages. We see them played out in the news nearly every day and I can assure you they will be highlighted even more going forward. That isn't a reason to trash a model that has served the human race for more than 5,000 years and for Christians and people of other faiths as a spiritual model. Every major religion in history has condemned homosexual relationships. Now, as we continue to advance "equality" in marriage, they are stepping up to lead in the "evolution of marriage" that will allow it to survive.
We need to get real and ask God to forgive us for affirming this kind of twisted thinking in regard to the institution of marriage.
A quick look at history will show anyone that this is the cultural path to the historical dust bin of failed cultures.
God help us.
_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
The New York Times published a surprising article the other day---surprising that the gay writer would write it, not surprising how gays are re-defining "marriage" and the culture.
The Times story titled, "Many Successful Gay Marriages Share An Open Secret," says that many homosexuals are omitting two words from their wedding vows: fidelity and monogamy.
I strongly recommend you read this article.
One couple told the Times, they take this arrangement as a "gift" in that they trust each other to have other relationships in their "open" marriage.
The Times article references a study that will be released next month that gives a rare glimpse inside homosexual relationships. The open secret is that monogamy is not a central feature in their so-called "marriages".
The study, according to The New York Times article, will show that fidelity and monogamy are not featured in these relationships. My take on what I read is that the emphasis is on openness. As long as your partner knows what you are doing, it's okay.
Washington State was sold a story of loving homosexual families, just like yours, who simply want to live and let live and want the security of family and long term normal committed relationships. I heard that in every hearing and every ad that led to the passage SB 5688 and the defeat of R-71, elevating homosexual relationships to the legal status of natural marriage.
Equality was the goal. And a majority bought it. Including some legislators who should have known better.
The Times says gays don't like to talk about this open aspect of their "marriages" because they are afraid it will undermine their agenda for national homosexual marriage. I certainly hope it will.
Perhaps the most stunning and revealing aspect of this is the fact that the upcoming study will suggest that this boundary challenging approach to marriage may be the evolution, "that might point the way to the survival of the institution."
With five states under their belt, so to speak, the homosexual community is now suggesting what marriage must do to survive.
When we wrote about the aspects of the "beyond gay marriage" document and their agenda that includes group and multiple marriages---and more, some people laughed and mocked us.
Look me in the eye and tell me homosexual marriage and natural marriage is the same.
Certainly there are failures in natural marriages. We see them played out in the news nearly every day and I can assure you they will be highlighted even more going forward. That isn't a reason to trash a model that has served the human race for more than 5,000 years and for Christians and people of other faiths as a spiritual model. Every major religion in history has condemned homosexual relationships. Now, as we continue to advance "equality" in marriage, they are stepping up to lead in the "evolution of marriage" that will allow it to survive.
We need to get real and ask God to forgive us for affirming this kind of twisted thinking in regard to the institution of marriage.
A quick look at history will show anyone that this is the cultural path to the historical dust bin of failed cultures.
God help us.
_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
New Abstinence Study: We Were Wrong
The Washington Post reported yesterday that, "Sex education classes that focus on encouraging children to remain abstinent can persuade a significant proportion to delay sexual activity, researchers reported Monday in a landmark study that could have major implications for US efforts to protect young people against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases."
The new survey is game-changing in that it will force those who have railed against abstinence, if they are willing to follow the data rather than ideology, to re-think their position.
The study, that was conducted in four different middle schools in a Northeastern city, among 662 African Americans found that about 33% of the students who went through the abstinence program started having sex, compared with about 52% who were taught only safe sex.
The Obama Administration has eliminated more than $170 million in annual federal funding targeted toward abstinence programs; this based on a series of reports that basically trashed abstinence. We sincerely hope he will re-think his decision in light of this and other surveys.
Perhaps the most telling statement comes from John B. Jemmott, III, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who led the federally funded study.
Click here to view a video report on our home page.
Professor Jemmott said, "I think we've written off abstinence-only education without looking closely at the nature of the evidence. Our study shows this could be one approach that could be used."
We were wrong.
Planned Parenthood, who stands to loose when abstinence is practiced, has manipulated the studies on the matter as well as the administration's funding policies---much like they are attempting to manipulate and destroy the pregnancy centers in Washington State.
The 16,000 member Christian Medical Association put out a press release yesterday in which CEO Dr. David Stevens said, "Science has finally caught up with logic and what parents have known for centuries by empirically demonstrating that equipping teens to abstain from sexual activity is an effective way to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases."
He also pointed to a survey posted on the National Abstinence Education Association website that shows a Zogby survey that found when parents become aware of what is actually taught in abstinence education, the support for abstinence programs jump from 40% to 60%, while support for comprehensive programs drops from 50% to 30%. Zogby also found that these findings are consistent across all political and economic groups.
This is not what parents have been led to believe by the abortion industry.
Dr. Stevens says, "It turns out that when it comes to educating their children on matters of sex, Mom and Dad really do know best."
Indeed.
And when science is driven by facts rather than ideology, our culture is strengthened, not weakened.
Thank you for your support in our endeavor to resist those things that destroy our culture and advance those that build and strengthen it.
God bless you.
__________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
The new survey is game-changing in that it will force those who have railed against abstinence, if they are willing to follow the data rather than ideology, to re-think their position.
The study, that was conducted in four different middle schools in a Northeastern city, among 662 African Americans found that about 33% of the students who went through the abstinence program started having sex, compared with about 52% who were taught only safe sex.
The Obama Administration has eliminated more than $170 million in annual federal funding targeted toward abstinence programs; this based on a series of reports that basically trashed abstinence. We sincerely hope he will re-think his decision in light of this and other surveys.
Perhaps the most telling statement comes from John B. Jemmott, III, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who led the federally funded study.
Click here to view a video report on our home page.
Professor Jemmott said, "I think we've written off abstinence-only education without looking closely at the nature of the evidence. Our study shows this could be one approach that could be used."
We were wrong.
Planned Parenthood, who stands to loose when abstinence is practiced, has manipulated the studies on the matter as well as the administration's funding policies---much like they are attempting to manipulate and destroy the pregnancy centers in Washington State.
The 16,000 member Christian Medical Association put out a press release yesterday in which CEO Dr. David Stevens said, "Science has finally caught up with logic and what parents have known for centuries by empirically demonstrating that equipping teens to abstain from sexual activity is an effective way to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases."
He also pointed to a survey posted on the National Abstinence Education Association website that shows a Zogby survey that found when parents become aware of what is actually taught in abstinence education, the support for abstinence programs jump from 40% to 60%, while support for comprehensive programs drops from 50% to 30%. Zogby also found that these findings are consistent across all political and economic groups.
This is not what parents have been led to believe by the abortion industry.
Dr. Stevens says, "It turns out that when it comes to educating their children on matters of sex, Mom and Dad really do know best."
Indeed.
And when science is driven by facts rather than ideology, our culture is strengthened, not weakened.
Thank you for your support in our endeavor to resist those things that destroy our culture and advance those that build and strengthen it.
God bless you.
__________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Truth: President Obama or Justice Alito?
Last Wednesday when President Obama scolded the US Supreme Court, in front of the nation ---and the world, over a recent ruling, Justice Alito shook his head and mouthed the words, "not true."
Not to worry, the press landed squarely on the Justice and the story was about "respect," not truth.
We can only wonder if the outcome would have been different if President Bush would have been speaking and say, Justice Ginsburg, would have disagreed.
So, what's the truth?
The President said in his speech that the Supreme Court had "reversed a century of law to open the floodgates---including foreign corporations---to spend without limit in our elections."
Hans von Spakovsky, a legal scholar at the Heritage Foundation, says Congress did not ban independent political expenditures by corporations and labor unions until 1947---"but for three decades after the law was passed, the Supreme Court, 'went out of its way' to avoid upholding its constitutionality."
He says the President was "completely wrong" to claim the Supreme Court has cleared the way for "foreign corporations" to spend without limit on US elections.
He says, "There's a federal statute that bans foreign corporations, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and foreign individuals from not only contributing money, but also disallows them giving to independent political expenditures."
Von Spakovsky says President Obama should know better than to make those false claims because he taught a voting rights class at the University of Chicago that covered finance law.
He says, the president's statement was, "categorically and undeniable false."
Sometimes I wonder if we have been told anything else that is "categorically and undeniable" false.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Not to worry, the press landed squarely on the Justice and the story was about "respect," not truth.
We can only wonder if the outcome would have been different if President Bush would have been speaking and say, Justice Ginsburg, would have disagreed.
So, what's the truth?
The President said in his speech that the Supreme Court had "reversed a century of law to open the floodgates---including foreign corporations---to spend without limit in our elections."
Hans von Spakovsky, a legal scholar at the Heritage Foundation, says Congress did not ban independent political expenditures by corporations and labor unions until 1947---"but for three decades after the law was passed, the Supreme Court, 'went out of its way' to avoid upholding its constitutionality."
He says the President was "completely wrong" to claim the Supreme Court has cleared the way for "foreign corporations" to spend without limit on US elections.
He says, "There's a federal statute that bans foreign corporations, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and foreign individuals from not only contributing money, but also disallows them giving to independent political expenditures."
Von Spakovsky says President Obama should know better than to make those false claims because he taught a voting rights class at the University of Chicago that covered finance law.
He says, the president's statement was, "categorically and undeniable false."
Sometimes I wonder if we have been told anything else that is "categorically and undeniable" false.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Tim Tebow: Abortion and the Super Bowl
Tim Tebow, one of America's best college football players, has become the center of controversy simply because he is happy to be alive and is willing to say so out loud------during the Super Bowl next Sunday.
Focus on the Family has made an ad that will run twice during the Super Bowl that celebrates life and family. It is not anti-abortion---it is pro-life, pro family. It has created a firestorm of controversy.
Tim's mother, while pregnant with him, became very ill and her doctor advised her to have an abortion for the sake of her own health. She was also advised that the baby would likely not be viable.
Because of her deep Christian faith and pro-life belief, she told the doctor she could not have an abortion.
Today her son, Tim, is one of America's most outstanding athletes, winning the Heisman Trophy last year as college football's best player and an outspoken Christian who shares his faith openly and often.
CBS has approved the ad, now a firestorm has erupted, with opposition coming from the University of Florida campus, a group of pro-abortion womens groups and the homosexual community coming forward this weekend demanding that CBS run their ad, which has two men kissing.
More on Tebow, CBS, the womens abortion groups, and the homosexual dating service.
Tim Tebow's athletic career has been marked by two distinctives; greatness as an athlete and his habit of publicly sharing his faith in Jesus Christ.
If you watch football, especially on television with its close up shots, you have likely seen the little black areas under the players eyes. This is to reduce glare. Tebow has a habit of putting a scripture verse in white letters on his eye black. Last time I saw him play a few weeks ago, he had John 3:16 written on the black.
When the Super Bowl ad was announced earlier, there was an immediate outburst from pro-abortion groups, even though the ad is not anti-abortion---it is pro-life.
ABC quotes University of Florida political science professor Daniel Smith, "It's a big coming out party for Tim Tebow in terms of moving from athletic super star to the political realm."
How political is celebrating the fact that you have a life and that you love your family?
Apparently, very political.
Smith, who is also advisor to the campus "Gators for Choice" group says, "It is even more interesting that Focus on the Family was able to convince Tim Tebow to promote their organization and their issues."
Smith obviously does not understand that these are beliefs that are deeply held, some have given their lives for, not political positions. Principles, not politics. While we resist the advancement of these destructive forces in our culture through the political system, millions of us stand for principles---not the necessary politics. And the ad is not anti-abortion---it is pro-life.
Homosexual activist groups on campus have also come out against Tebow and "the ad".
Over 30 national pro-abortion womens groups have written to CBS, demanding the ad be pulled before next Sunday.
But perhaps the most amazing opposition is coming from homosexual activists, who this weekend demanded that CBS also run their ad. It's an ad promoting a homosexual dating service that features two men kissing.
CBS has refused the ad and homosexuals are now saying that it is discrimination. It is very difficult to make a credible connection between the "Tebow" ad and the "two men kissing" ad, but they are attempting it.
This will likely play out in the news this week.
We live in perilous times. The American culture is under assault in ways never before seen in our history.
Be aware. Be prayerful. Be active.
God bless you. Thank you for your support of this ministry.
___________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
Focus on the Family has made an ad that will run twice during the Super Bowl that celebrates life and family. It is not anti-abortion---it is pro-life, pro family. It has created a firestorm of controversy.
Tim's mother, while pregnant with him, became very ill and her doctor advised her to have an abortion for the sake of her own health. She was also advised that the baby would likely not be viable.
Because of her deep Christian faith and pro-life belief, she told the doctor she could not have an abortion.
Today her son, Tim, is one of America's most outstanding athletes, winning the Heisman Trophy last year as college football's best player and an outspoken Christian who shares his faith openly and often.
CBS has approved the ad, now a firestorm has erupted, with opposition coming from the University of Florida campus, a group of pro-abortion womens groups and the homosexual community coming forward this weekend demanding that CBS run their ad, which has two men kissing.
More on Tebow, CBS, the womens abortion groups, and the homosexual dating service.
Tim Tebow's athletic career has been marked by two distinctives; greatness as an athlete and his habit of publicly sharing his faith in Jesus Christ.
If you watch football, especially on television with its close up shots, you have likely seen the little black areas under the players eyes. This is to reduce glare. Tebow has a habit of putting a scripture verse in white letters on his eye black. Last time I saw him play a few weeks ago, he had John 3:16 written on the black.
When the Super Bowl ad was announced earlier, there was an immediate outburst from pro-abortion groups, even though the ad is not anti-abortion---it is pro-life.
ABC quotes University of Florida political science professor Daniel Smith, "It's a big coming out party for Tim Tebow in terms of moving from athletic super star to the political realm."
How political is celebrating the fact that you have a life and that you love your family?
Apparently, very political.
Smith, who is also advisor to the campus "Gators for Choice" group says, "It is even more interesting that Focus on the Family was able to convince Tim Tebow to promote their organization and their issues."
Smith obviously does not understand that these are beliefs that are deeply held, some have given their lives for, not political positions. Principles, not politics. While we resist the advancement of these destructive forces in our culture through the political system, millions of us stand for principles---not the necessary politics. And the ad is not anti-abortion---it is pro-life.
Homosexual activist groups on campus have also come out against Tebow and "the ad".
Over 30 national pro-abortion womens groups have written to CBS, demanding the ad be pulled before next Sunday.
But perhaps the most amazing opposition is coming from homosexual activists, who this weekend demanded that CBS also run their ad. It's an ad promoting a homosexual dating service that features two men kissing.
CBS has refused the ad and homosexuals are now saying that it is discrimination. It is very difficult to make a credible connection between the "Tebow" ad and the "two men kissing" ad, but they are attempting it.
This will likely play out in the news this week.
We live in perilous times. The American culture is under assault in ways never before seen in our history.
Be aware. Be prayerful. Be active.
God bless you. Thank you for your support of this ministry.
___________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Click here to add these blogs to your email inbox.
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