Monday, April 30, 2012

D. Savage To High School Convention: "Ignore Bull Sh_ _ In The Bible"

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Two weeks ago, Dan Savage, a columnist for Seattle's "The Stranger" newspaper, was the keynote speaker for the National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle. Several thousand high school students and their teachers and advisers from around the country were in attendance.

Savage's first comment was, "I hope you're all using birth control." It went downhill from there.

Following his opening comments, he began an attack on the Bible and those kids who believe in biblical values in ways you have likely never heard. All under the umbrella of public education.

He said, "There are people using the Bible as an excuse for gay bullying, because it says in Leviticus and Romans that being gay is wrong."

He told the kids the Bible is wrong.

He continued, "We can learn to ignore the bull sh_ _ in the Bible about gay people."

He continued to blaspheme the Bible and Scripture in ways that will shock the most nominal Christian and grieve the heart and spirit of any biblical believer in Jesus Christ.

He mocked the Christian kids who began to walk out of the convention and called them "panty-assed."

Some educators were questioning why this man would have been invited as the keynote speaker.

One of our regular readers, a former journalist, contacted the leadership directly. He has been keeping me informed of their responses.

I also have a video copy of Savage's attack on the Bible, Christianity and the Christian kids in attendance. Notice how the Christian kids are mocked and jeered as they walk out of the convention. The only thing missing is the lions.

I want every Christian, every parent and every grandparent to read the response from those who chose Savage to speak. And to see the video of him attacking our kids and our Christian beliefs.

We have been following this for the past two weeks. We are looking at what options we may have in any substantive response.

Our reader, I'll refer to him as "Faith and Freedom Reader" first contacted the Journalism Education Association and began to ask questions.

First this:

Dear JEA Administration,


I would like to know if Dan Savage was vetted prior to being chosen as a keynote speaker for the Seattle conference. If so, by whom?


Thank you,
XXXXX

A Kelly Furnas responded with this:

Hi, XXXX, Thanks for reaching out. Our keynotes are selected by a committee, but I'd be happy to be your point of contact to answer any specific questions you might have.


/ krf

Faith and Freedom Reader responded with this:

Thank you Kelly,


Can you please describe the vetting process used to decide who would be an appropriate candidate as a keynote speaker and if their dialog is reviewed prior to engaging groups of adolescents?


Thank you,
XXXX


Kelly Furnas responded with this:

The committee looks for a local individual involved in media or a newsmaker our students can report on, preferably with some level of name recognition. When we reach out to them, we explain the audience that the keynote is for and agree on a topic.


/ krf

Clearly it was an intentional choice. The several thousand attendees and their teachers and advisors had been told the subject would be on "Bullying."


Please take 3 minutes to watch the video.


Rick Tuttle, the journalism adviser for Sutter Union High School in California, was among the several thousand people in the audience. He said they thought the speech was one thing – but it turned into something else.

“I thought this would be about anti-bullying,” Tuttle told Fox news. “It turned into a pointed attack on Christian beliefs."

Indeed it did.

But it was, in fact, about bullying.

There is not a more clear example of where public education stands in regard to Christians, biblical beliefs and those who hold them than this episode. Dialog in the classroom is generally more restrained, but given the chance, homosexual activists will choose a Dan Savage to tell your kids how they really feel.

The Christian kids were bullied, mocked and scorned because of their beliefs. The next time a teacher stands at a PTSA meeting and explains that public education is morality neutral and they only want to give the kids information on all sides of certain moral issues, replay this video and think about who is educating your child.

May God help us.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Prayerful. Be Active Be Blessed.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Happy 64th Birthday, Israel

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While the 64th birthday of a nation may not be a big deal in many cases, in terms of the modern nation of Israel, it is a very big deal.

The Jerusalem Post wrote yesterday:

"Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only UN member state whose right to exist is regularly challenged, whose elimination from the world map is the aim of at least one other UN member state, Iran, and whose population centers are deemed fair game by Hamas-controlled Gaza and Hezbollah-dominated Lebanon. Thus, Israel’s sheer act of survival from year to year is itself noteworthy."

The Post said, "None of the countries that are serial human-rights violators – not Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Zimbabwe, Sudan, or any of the others – gets anything near the relentless, obsessive, guilty-till-proven-innocent scrutiny that democratic Israel receives from UN bodies, with their built-in, anti-Israel majorities, in New York and Geneva."

Former Communications Advisor to Prime Ministers Peres and Rabin told Fox News, "Throughout the difficult times of conflict, Israel has stayed strong and firm. The Tel Aviv Stock Market stayed strong and stable during the Second Lebanon War. It is because Israelis have confidence in itself. This confidence comes from always looking forward to the future, but always remembering the past."

Remembering the past reminds us that God has made significant promises in regard to Israel.

God's first promise was to Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you (Gen. 12: 2,3)."

Then God spoke this to Abraham, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations ... I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." (Gen. 14: 4,7,8).

It was the Prophet Ezekiel speaking for God many years later who said, "Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all sides, and bring them to their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel...And the desolate land shall be tilled... And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden." (Ezekiel 37:21).

I agree, Israel has much to "remember".

So do all of us of the Christian faith. "I will bless those who bless you, and who ever curses you, I will curse." That's a Promise.

May God bless Israel on this special day and always. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Faithful. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Redistribution: The Hollow Value

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Each year, for the past 4 years, Young America's Foundation has held a student video contest. Students are asked to produce a video that makes a point about public policy.


This year the focus of the project was on "fairness" through taxing the wealthy and redistributing it to those who are not wealthy.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"Create The Family You Want: Boy Or Girl"

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Bellevue doctor, James Kustin, says he can "deliver your dreams."

If you want a baby boy, he can deliver.

If you want a baby girl, he can also deliver.

He calls it "gender selection" and "family balancing."

Is this legal? Well, it is and it isn't.

His marketing focus is presently directed toward Canada.

KOMO News reports that the medical term is "preimplantation genetic diagnosis" and is illegal in Canada.

Canadian law prohibits any procedure designed to impact the gender of an embryo, except when there's a disorder or disease.

Apparently, Dr. Kustin has not allowed this technicality to affect his business plan. He is advertising extensively in Canada.

This is a clear picture of the secular progressive, so-called pro-choice ideology colliding at the intersection of money and morality.

The Money.

Lifesitenews reports that a recent study indicates that unborn girls are being targeted for abortion by immigrant groups in Canada, and that a Washington State clinic is targeting Indo-Canadians in British Columbia with an ad showing an ethnic boy and a girl dressed in traditional ethnic attire. The ad says, "Create the family you want: Boy of Girl."

Sabrina Atwal, director for the Indo-Canadian Women's Association in Edmonton, says she's "appalled" by the ad because it devalues women and girls. She says, "Girls are fighting for their lives even before they are born."

But Ms. Atwal, the women's feminist movement of which you are a part, is devaluing human life of both genders "even before they are born," by advocating and advancing abortion on demand.

Raminder Dosanjh, with the India Mahila Association says, "Somebody is trying to cash in on the belief that some sections of the Indo- Canadian community believes in having male offspring."

So it's about the money.

Dr. Kustin says he has done nothing wrong, but refused to be interviewed by KOMO News.

The Morality.

Donn Moyer of the WA State Dept. of Health says, "Genetic pregnancy screening on its face is legal."

He says, "If the doctor conducts only screening and gives results to the parents who use that information independently to go to a different doctor for an abortion, it would be hard to prove a violation by the doctor who did the screening."

In a murder trial, I think they call that an accomplice.

Planned Parenthood has perfected the practice. They receive hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars every year, are the leading abortion provider in the nation, but tax payer money, they say, never is used to perform abortions. It is, as most of us know, only used to pay the bills and provide the place where the abortions are performed.

Kelly McParland, a Canadian celebrity, has written an op-ed column for the National Post in which he points out the moral and ideological conundrum this has surfaced in what he calls Canada's "free-for-all baby market."

He also points out that with no law restricting abortion in the country, the sex selection clinic would be "perfectly justified" in going even further.

He says, "Why not be specific, with a two-for-one special on male twins? Crude? You bet. Barbaric? Some would say that, but certainly not the feminists, who support sex selection as another legitimate choice."

He also says, the abortion activists who have built an entire empire on the ideology of "abortion on demand for any reason" are now willing to sacrifice their own sister's blood by defending sex selection for the sake of holding fast to their ideology.

And secular progressives call biblical Christians rigid and dogmatic on moral issues.

Once again we have the champions of equality, tolerance, anti-discrimination and choice, advocating the inherent value of one sex or gender over the other.

Violating core biblical values always leads to destruction and confusion. It paints one into the proverbial corner, for an individual or a nation. And it destroys the foundations.

Those secular progressives who seek to remake (destroy) the moral foundations of our country, introduce a surreal moral proposition to one generation that will be affirmed in the public classroom and in entertainment as "normal" to the next generation.

May God help us to resist the accepted silence and speak truth to the culture.

Thank you for supporting our voice in this present darkness.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Monday, April 23, 2012

3 Things: Schram's Response, Remembering Chuck Colson, R-74 and I-1192

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Hope you had a great week end. Don't you love the sunshine?

3 Things.

1. Within the hour after we published our Friday Blog about Ken Schram and the Arch Bishop of Seattle, Schram was on the phone inviting me to be on his program on KOMO later that day. Many of you in the Puget Sound area heard the program. Many of you also wrote to me wondering what Schram's response would be after you read the blog.

I was on his program on KOMO Friday afternoon. I have been on the radio with him several times in recent years, this time he seemed to be a wee bit softer. He told me he actually enjoyed reading my blog, in fact he laughed about it and said he wanted to explain to my readers and his listeners that he had gathered some fig leaves and covered himself as I had suggested. He complimented us and our blog. I told him I would notify the kids in the neighborhood so they could uncover their eyes.

This is a link to Friday's Blog.

I had a good conversation with Ken on air, and was able to say some things off air. I was also able to speak to his audience about issues that we feel very strongly about, particularly who should lead regarding moral and spiritual issues in the culture. I'm not suggesting Ken Schram was transformed Friday, but hopefully we gave him some things to think about. There was indication that we did.

2. I know you know by now that Chuck Colson passed away this weekend. He was 80. I was not a close personal friend, but interviewed him several times on television in the 1980's and 1990. I have had contact with him from time to time over the past 20 years. My last contact was a personal email from him a few months ago, thanking me for promoting a special national event he was hosting on behalf of his Centurion Program---a ministry to advance a biblical worldview.

The Christian Post said this of his passing: "While the still skeptical secular media chose to describe Chuck Colson as a 'mastermind of dirty tricks' in obituary columns, Christian leaders focused on his life and work after his transformation and remembered him as a great friend, mentor, apologist and witness for Christ."

"I'm saddened by Chuck Colson's passing yet rejoicing that he is now in the presence of the Lord he loves so much," Lee Strobel, author and Christian apologist, told The Christian Post."


Chuck profoundly impacted my life through his writing and speaking---I'm sure he did yours as well.

3. R-74 and I-1192 are well under way. R-74 needs a little over 120,000 valid signatures to make the November ballot, so the goal is to have at least 180,000 or more signatures.

Initiative 1192 needs over 200,000 valid signatures to be placed on the ballot.

Both are very important to the defense of marriage.

R-74 has stopped the homosexual "marriage" law from going into effect, pending the signature gathering. If R-74 makes the ballot, the homosexual "marriage" law will be further suspended pending the November election.

The value of R-74 is that it suspends the law until the people have an opportunity to speak. If R-74 prevails, it will overturn the homosexual "marriage" bill passed by the legislature during the 2012 session. Senator Ed Murray, Rep. Jamie Pederson and other homosexual legislator-activists will need to start over next year with a new bill.

They are taking a long view of redefining marriage. I have no doubt they will continue into the future, should this law be overturned. We too, must have a longer view if we are to protect marriage. However, we must meet this challenge to marriage, now.

Initiative 1192 clarifies the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) by specifically requiring State government to issue marriage licenses only to one man and one woman couples. It does not suspend the current homosexual "marriage" law passed by the legislature pending signature gathering, but would essentially invalidate it, if passed, by prohibiting the state from issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

In order to overturn Initiative 1192, if passed by the people, the legislature would have to get a 2/3 super majority vote during the next 2 years. Frankly, they do not have that super majority vote at this time. After the 2 years, they could over turn the will of the people with a majority vote, which they had when they passed the current law this past session.

Both are very important. We strongly support both.

Personal Request. Faith and Freedom's area coordinators will be trying to assess how many signatures we have gathered for each---R-74 and I-1192 over the next week or so. Thousands of you are circulating petitions. Would you take a moment and let me or your Faith and Freedom area coordinator know how the signature gathering is going?

We are only looking for an update as to about how many signatures you have gathered so far and your personal best guess as to what you think you will be able to do by the end of May.

You can include any comments you feel would be important as well. It will be confidential.
Please take a moment and let me know personally at gary.randall@faithandfreedom.us.

Thank you for your support in this and all Faith and Freedom is doing to advance Christian values in the culture.

I am honored to be working and standing with you on these import eternal issues.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Faithful. Be Blessed.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Has KOMO's Ken Schram Eaten The Bad Fruit?

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Ken Schram, the secular progressive voice of KOMO 4 TV and KOMO radio in Seattle, has taken to holding catechism class for the Catholic Church in which he was raised.

This week he publicly reprimanded and slammed Seattle's Archbishop J. Peter Sartian for asking 180 parishes to make Protect Marriage petitions available to the church members. 

Why? Because the Bishop believes in traditional, biblical marriage. Schram does not.

Schram awarded the church leader his "Schrammie" award because, he said, Bishop Sartain may remember his Latin, but "I think he's forgotten his place." Schram says the Bishop is "using the church as a weapon."

Perhaps Mr. Schram has forgotten his place and is using the press as a weapon.

He condemns the Bishop for having biblically based convictions about marriage and teaching them in the church he leads, while forcefully advancing his own secular agenda of redefining marriage.

I am not a Catholic, nor do they need my defense. However, Schram seems to be suggesting that spiritual leaders should not lead in spiritual matters in their own church, but rather seek to match up with and affirm current, relativistic cultural beliefs.

So, according to Schram's catechism, the church should follow, not lead. There are others who also believe that.

Schram seems to think the Christian church is a big box retail store trying to discern what the customers want so they can  market and merchandise toward the latest cultural, moral whim.

In fact, he seems to suggest that he, rather than the leadership of the church and their biblical teaching on marriage, should write the lesson plan for catechism and the basis for personal conviction. 

This reminds me of another, older, yet current narrative.

Coming to the woman, the serpent said, I know God said you could eat all of the fruit except for the one, but God is good and loving, surely He would not punish you. In fact, when you eat that particular fruit you will "become like God, knowing good from evil."

They ate it.

They did not become like God. And they became confused over what is good and what is evil.

The long term consequence of this act of rebellion is that "by one man sin entered the human race. " 

The immediate consequence after eating the fruit, was that Adam and Eve recognized they were naked and estranged from God and His Truth. So they sewed a few fig leaves together in an attempt to cover it up.

God has clearly taught in His Word that homosexual relations are wrong. He calls it sin, regardless of what Sen. Ed Murray, Rep. Jamie Pedersen, Gov. Gregoire or Ken Schram happens to believe.

On moral issues they should follow, not lead.

MEMO to Schram:

You have eaten the fruit. Please sew together some fig leaves and cover yourself. You are naked, unattractive and should be charged with indecent exposure.

And I present you with  the "Bad Apple" award.  

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Faithful.  Be Blessed.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Moral Inversion : How Should The Church Respond?

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As thousands of concerned, committed Christians across the State of Washington are circulating petitions for both R-74 and I-1192, they sometimes experience "Moral Inversion." Even among some in the church.

While we seek to defend and protect natural marriage, we are sometimes defined as anti-gay or hateful.

By definition, the biblical Christian church does not get to choose these challenges because they have been created and pressed upon us by those who seek to redefine not only marriage, but morality itself.

Dr. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a professor of Christian Theology, wrote in an article earlier this month. "We are facing a system of moral understanding's turned upside down. Where homosexuality was even recently condemned by society, now it is considered a sin to believe that homosexuality is wrong in any way. A new sexual morality has replaced the old, and those who hold to the old morality are considered morally deficient. The new moral authorities have one central demand for the church: get with the program," he said.

And too many churches, driven by fear, a need for more members, or a denial of the Bible as God's Word and authority, are doing just that.

Dr. Mohler wrote recently, "We cannot join the larger culture in normalizing homosexuality and restructuring society to match this new morality."

He said, "Recognizing same-sax unions and legalizing same-sex marriage is central to this project."

The challenge of legalizing and normalizing homosexual "marriage" is both urgent and important to activists and misled legislators, because for those who lead the charge, it is about much more than "marriage."

In his article Dr. Mohler gives 3 things the church must do.

1. Stand without compromise on the authority of the Bible and on the principles of sexual conduct and morality that God has revealed so clearly in His Word.

2. Realize what is at stake. Mohler lists the many functions of natural marriage in the culture and in morality itself.

3. Act quickly to teach Christians the truth about marriage and God's plan for sexuality.

I, and Faith and Freedom are deeply committed to "acting quickly" in inform and help you inform others to these truths.

I would encourage you to forward or print and distribute this article to those who you feel could benefit from it.

We will be providing more of this kind of information going forward.

Remember, it is written that God's people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

_________

The Challenge of Same-Sex Unions
by Albert Mohler

In the world but not of the world? From the very beginning, the church has faced the challenge of responding to external events, trends, ideologies, and controversies. By definition, the church does not get to choose these challenges, but they have been thrust upon Christians by the world. The question always comes down to this: What now?

That question seems especially urgent in light of the emergence of same-sex unions and marriage in the United States and the world over. How must the church answer this challenge?

To answer that question, we need to think about the speed of the moral revolution that has pushed this question to the forefront of our culture. In less than a generation, homosexuality has gone from being almost universally condemned to being almost fully normalized in the larger society.

We are facing a true moral inversion — a system of moral understandings turned upside down. Where homosexuality was even recently condemned by the society, now it is considered a sin to believe that homosexuality is wrong in any way. A new sexual morality has replaced the old, and those who hold to the old morality are considered morally deficient. The new moral authorities have one central demand for the church: get with the new program.

This puts the true church, committed to the authority of God’s Word, in a very difficult cultural position. Put simply, we cannot join the larger culture in normalizing homosexuality and restructuring society to match this new morality. Recognizing same-sex unions and legalizing same-sex marriage is central to this project.

Liberal churches and denominations are joining the project, some more quickly and eagerly than others. The cultural pressure is formidable, and only churches that are truly committed to Scripture will withstand the pressure to accommodate themselves and their message to the new morality.

What, then, is the true church to do? First, we must stand without compromise on the authority of the Bible and the principles of sexual conduct and morality that God has revealed so clearly in His Word. The Bible’s sexual morality is grounded in the creation of humanity in God’s image; we are created as male and female and given the gift of sex within the marriage covenant — and only within the marriage covenant between one man and one woman for as long they both shall live.

The easiest way to summarize the Bible’s teaching on sexuality is to begin with God’s blessing of sex only within the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. Then, just remember that sex outside of that covenant relationship, whatever its form or expression, is explicitly forbidden. Christians know that these prohibitions are for our good and that rejecting them is tantamount to a moral rebellion against God Himself. We also know that the Bible forbids all same-sex sexual acts and behaviors. Thus, we know that homosexuality is a sin, that blessing it in any way is also sin, and that normalizing sin cannot lead to human happiness.

Second, we must realize what is at stake. Marriage is first and foremost a public institution. It has always been so. Throughout history, societies have granted special recognition and privileges to marriage because it is the central organizing institution of human culture. Marriage regulates relationships, sexuality, human reproduction, lineage, kinship, and family structure. But marriage has also performed another crucial function — it has regulated morality.

This is why the challenge of same sex unions is so urgent and important. Redefining marriage is never simply about marriage. It leads to the redefinition of reproduction and parenthood, produces a legal revolution with vast consequences, replaces an old social order with something completely new, and forces the adoption of a new morality. This last point is especially important. Marriage teaches morality by its very centrality to the culture. With a new concept of marriage comes a new morality, enforced by incredible social pressure and, eventually, legal threats.

Third, we must act quickly to teach Christians the truth about marriage and God’s plan for sexuality in all its fullness and beauty. We must develop pastoral approaches that are faithful to Scripture and arm this generation of believers to withstand the cultural pressure and respond in ways that are truly Christian.

Last, and most important, this challenge must drive us to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians must be the first to understand this challenge in light of the gospel. After all, we know spiritual rebellion when we see it, for we ourselves were rebels before God’s grace conquered us. We know what moral confusion means because without the light of God’s Word, we are just as confused.

There is no rescue from the self-deception of sin except for the salvation that is ours in Jesus Christ. While doing everything else required of us in this challenge, the faithful church must center its energies on the one thing that we know we must do above all else — preach, teach, and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Silent Proclamation

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This Friday, the 20th, your child will be asked to remain silent in public school.

Thousands of kids and local schools will be indoctrinated with taxpayer funds under the guise of "silence".
More on that in a moment, but first a quick update on Spokane, Washington. Councilman Mike Fagan carried the banner. The resolution to show the City of Spokane in support of so-called homosexual "marriage" was tabled after a very lengthy meeting. Note the obvious bias tone of reporting by the local Spokesman Review reporter.

You may also be interested to know that 8 pastors testified at the City Council meeting. Five of them testified in favor of redefining marriage, 2 of them opposed it favoring traditional, biblical marriage and one opposed it, but did not identify himself as a local pastor.
What is called the "Day of Silence" is actually a proclamation of support and advancement of the homosexual agenda, amounting to indoctrination in the public school classroom.

The "Day" is carefully shrouded in deception by its most avid supporter and facilitator, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Network (GLSEN), as a day for students to remain silent during non-instructive school times, thereby standing in solidarity with kids engaged in homosexual practices as well as those kids who are "questioning" their sexuality. This day they say is dedicated to those kids who, because of their sexual behavior, are bullied and harassed into silence.

No child should ever be bullied or harassed for any reason, anywhere. Including those kids who hold biblical beliefs on sexuality and marriage.

That's why there are laws that specifically target bullying.

Why then, one could ask, does the public school need to designate a "Day of Silence" to make this proclamation? Is there more to the message? Is the bullying message merely a vehicle for a greater cause. I hope not.

The "Day" is not only shrouded in deception, but is also shrouded in hypocrisy.

Pro-homosexual materials are often sent to teachers and students in advance of the "Day". The "Day" is not really about solidarity, it is about the message. Not all schools distribute the materials, but many do. All schools, however, tell parents it is a student led event, not a school sponsored event. Publicly, they take a hands off posture to appease parents who express concern, while in fact this is not the way it often plays out.

The "Day" is also shrouded in intolerance.

The champions of tolerance will not tolerate any message other than their own.

Remember Kevin Jennings, the founder of GLSEN and former Safe Schools Czar for President Obama?

Dr . Michael Brown points out that the group, Parents and Friends of Ex gays and Gays (PFOX) who believe that there are kids who have become involved in homosexual behavior and want out of it, and should also receive help, have asked to make information available on campuses on the "Day."

Jennings has made it very clear that will not be tolerated. Brown points out Jennings' response: "Ex-gay messages have no place in our nations public schools."

Really? Why then is there place for pro-gay messages?

Jennings says, "A line has been drawn. There is no 'other side' when you're talking about lesbian, gay and bi-sexual students."

Oh, the voice of selective, hypocritical tolerance.

Good news. Focus on the Family advocates and supports a "Day of Dialog" each year the day before the "Day of Silence." This year it is tomorrow. I have linked the site. Check it out.

So, what should parents do?

First, I would be sure you and your child take a look at the "Day of Dialog" site. How much dialog happens in a specific local school often depends on the local strength of youth ministries such as Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, etc. and the strength and involvement of local church youth ministries, particularly their presence in the local schools.

There are those who read this blog who were involved with me in youth groups in Seattle, Salem, and North Hollywood, CA. You will know that something like this " Day of Silence" and "Day of Dialog" would have provided a terrific opportunity for us on campus.

If there is any effort in your local school, encourage your child to participate in the "Day of Dialog."

Not all will agree with me, and I realize that there are always unique circumstances in every situation, however, if the "Day of Silence" appears to dominate the school day in your school, I would keep my child out of school that day and do something fun, constructive and truly educational.

I would personally take this action not to shield my child from the aggressive agenda of the homosexual activists. That's impossible and unnecessary, if you are" training up your child in the way he should go."

I would do it to make a statement to my public school whose leadership probably doesn't really care and will deny any school participation or support, but more importantly to help my child see a demonstration of taking action because of deeply held spiritual beliefs.

Jennings is right in this regard. There is a line drawn on the issue of advancing homosexuality.

This is not a time for people of Christian faith to simply turn away out of apathy or fear of publicly identifying with biblical teaching.

In fact, in today's cultural environment, it is impossible to turn away. Homosexual activists demand you embrace and affirm their lifestyle and cultural demands, or you are publicly tagged a bigot, hater or worse.

Unless parents, Christian teachers and students demand better from public education, the silent proclamations will continue and the volume will increase.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Obamaworld: Where Things Are "True But False"

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Obamaworld may be the counterpart to Disney World.


While Disney is said to be the "happiest place on earth," Obamaworld may be the most "deceptive place on earth."

And Obamaworld has an equally entertaining cast of characters.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Spokane Seeking to Become Seattle Tonight

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The difference between Spokane and Seattle are significant. Besides the weather, there are profoundly different moral and cultural beliefs held by a majority of the citizens of each city. One predominately liberal-progressive, the other predominately conservative.

Tonight, Spokane City Councilman John Snyder hopes to change some of that and make Spokane a little more like Seattle---at least morally and culturally.

Here's what's planned for tonight.

But first, "thank you" to all of you who wrote personal emails to me this past week while I was taking some time off to spend with grand kids and other family members. Your kind and encouraging words meant more than I can say.

Thank you so much.

Citizens in Spokane County have consistently voted in support of natural, biblical marriage and in opposition to advancing a homosexual agenda that would set the stage to redefine marriage, such as the matter of R-71.

In fact, in the R-71 vote, both the city and the county opposed the "everything but marriage" bill. The exception was a few blocks in the city---Browne's Addition and West Central, and of course, out in Cheney.

Councilman John Snyder plans to propose a "Marriage Equality Resolution" tonight at the Spokane City Council meeting. He will be asking the city to formally endorse the redefinition of marriage and support so-called homosexual "marriage" in Washington State.

Snyder's resolution does not represent the majority of citizens in Spokane.

Councilman Mike Fagan and Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin will oppose the resolution and take a stand for natural, biblical marriage.

Councilmen Mike Allen and Steve Salvatori, I am told, are somewhat ambivalent about the issue.

Please pray that Allen and Salvatori will support marriage and vote against Snyder's resolution.

Also, if you live in the Spokane area please, if possible, attend the council meeting tonight in support of marriage.

The council meeting will be held at City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. at 5 PM.

I am told that those seeking to redefine marriage are planning a rally at Riverfront Park around 5 PM this evening.

This is an important moment in the defense of marriage. Should Snyder proceed and succeed with his resolution, homosexual advocates would take the action, make it a rallying point, and tell people across the state that, "even Spokane supports redefining marriage."

Prayer and a strong showing of support for marriage tonight can turn the tide. If possible, please attend the meeting.

Also, if you attend, please email me later this evening after the meeting and give me an update.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Monday, April 09, 2012

I Need A Break

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As many of you know, this week is Spring Break for most kids.
I am going to take a break myself for a few days this week, spend some time with my grand kids---and their parents, and not publish a blog today through Friday.
I need a break.
We will be moderating the website and comments, and I will be reading my email and responding as needed.
If you have a moment, send me a personal email and let me know how the petition signature gathering is going---victories or challenges.
Remember...Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Friday, April 06, 2012

Pilate To Jesus: "What Is Truth?"

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Pilate, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the trial, his wife pleading with him to step away from it and have "nothing to do with that man," looked at "that man" and asked, "What is truth?"

While looking at Truth face to face, he did not understand or recognize it. Failure to recognize would happen again a few days later, after the Resurrection, on the road to Emmaus .

And it continues to happen today.

Barna Research has found that, sadly, 72% of those aged 18 to 25 believe, "There is no absolute truth."

It has been said that, "We drift on a tide of uncertainty into a sea of unknowing."

Marilyn Monroe defined it a generation ago when she said, "I believe in everything a little bit."

In today's culture, to suggest that you might be right about your beliefs and that others might be wrong is the greatest social offense a person can commit.

To hold beliefs in absolute truth and to express conviction about those beliefs makes one a bigot, a regressive extremist or simply out of touch. Some thought Jesus was mentally deranged---delusional.

Poet Steve Turner in his parody poem, "Creed" wrote, "I believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him. Reality will adapt accordingly. The universe will re-adjust. History will alter. I believe that there is no absolute truth excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth."

When relativism has given each person their own truth, they become like a ship without a rudder or compass, battered about by the stormy sea of thoughts and ideas. This is not truth at all. It creates a culture of confusion. And a broken life.

So what is truth?

Who is Jesus?

To know the Truth, we must know the Man.

Who is He?

In my book, "Building Your Life," I wrote, "His birthday is observed and celebrated around the world. His death day sets the gallows of a cross against every sky line. His Resurrection still inspires sunrise services, gatherings in great cathedrals and churches great and small. But more important than that, He actually gives life and freedom...He is the Son of God."

He is the Truth.

He is the Life.

He is the Way.

"What is truth?" was a common question of the "enlightened" time of His birth and death and resurrection.

It had become somewhat rhetorical to even ask. Pilate could have been mocking the Man on trial. Or despaired that he could not personally discover the truth, or simply ambivalent about it all. Maybe cynical. Certainly he was politically motivated.

One thing is certain, he didn't even wait for an answer. He asked. He walked away, washed his hands and believed he had put the issue of Truth behind him.

But then Sunday came.

Word spread from credible sources---the tomb was empty. The gardener wasn't the gardener after all.

One simply cannot dismiss Jesus, because He is God. And He is not dead.

This weekend remember His death. Celebrate His Resurrection. Embrace Him as Savior. He is the Truth and the Truth will make you free.

Live in the power of the resurrection.

Thursday, April 05, 2012

A Courageous Mom Defends Marriage In WA

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Thanks to all of you who are working with Faith and Freedom and others collecting signatures on petitions for I-1192 and R-74.

Everyday, I receive email from people on the "front line" in the defense of marriage. I appreciate hearing about your experiences and updates on your progress.

I received a message yesterday from a person who is working with Faith and Freedom, circulating petitions.

I thought you might enjoy reading it as much as I did. Every encounter while collecting signatures, positive or negative is important. It tells a story. It defines a time, a conviction and a belief.

Here is this person's story in their own words:

Gary,

While I was collecting signatures for the petitions to protect marriage in WA, I met a courageous mom. After a couple hours of collecting signatures, I was parched and tired from talking so I sat the petitions on a table then proceeded to pour myself a drink of water. I heard a woman behind me ask if the sheets were the marriage petitions. Upon turning around, I saw a woman with a baby in a front pack carrier. She told me that she had decided earlier not to sign them because of the harassment that she witnessed in California over Proposition 8 which provides that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Then with a moment of hesitation she said that she felt like she had to sign them. So with her son hanging upside down in his carrier and quite unaware what his mom was doing, she signed them both and thanked me for what I was doing. I thanked her for signing and she walked away. The whole exchange happened so quickly that it took me a few minutes to realize what I had witnessed, courage.

In Christ,

xxxx

If you have had an interesting or meaningful experience while gathering signatures please let me know, so we can share it with others who are out in the public square doing the same.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Thank you for your support of Faith and Freedom at this time.

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

King County Sheriff Strachan: "My Belief Evolved On Abortion"

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Steve Strachan took office this week as King County sheriff.

On his first day as sheriff, Strachan attended a news conference with Senators Murray and Cantwell, advocating federal programs to curb violence against women.

But it wasn't violence against women that the press was asking Strachan about---it was about his view on abortion---violence against the unborn of either gender.

It seems that Mr. Strachan, as a Republican Minnesota state legislator back in 2003 and 2004, sponsored 2 pieces of legislation that Publicola writer Erica Barnett calls, "defiantly anti-woman legislation."

The first was the "Women's Right To Know Act" which imposed a 24-hour waiting period on women seeking abortions and required doctors to provide a state-sanctioned list of information, including information about fetal pain, referrals to crisis pregnancy centers and detailed information about fetal information, including pictures.

That's going to go over swell with King County. And the Murray-Cantwell team.

Secondly, he sponsored a bill that banned state family planning grants from funding abortions or referring women to agencies that do provide abortions.

Barnett says that women under Strachan's law, "are directed to crisis pregnancy centers or doctors who provide neonatal or maternal care---but not abortions."

So King County has a pro-life Sheriff.

Well, not exactly. The sheriff says he didn't mention all this to the County because they didn't ask. But not to worry...

Sheriff Strachan, standing with Murray and Cantwell explained, "I've been on a personal journey," he said. "My personal opinion has evolved over time. I consider myself pro-choice."

I once was found, but now I'm lost, could see, but now I'm blind.

He better be convincing. No one has forgotten what happened to Komen For The Cure a month or so ago when they "evolved" to a belief that they would provide no future funding for Planned Parenthood.

It wasn't pretty. In fact, the founder of Komen issued yet another public apology this week.

Evolving values are very convenient. Particularly for politicians. Or people who want a job in King County.

Both Bill Clinton and Al Gore had written letters to National Right To Life affirming their pro-life beliefs before they evolved politically---and morally. I happen to have copies of those letters somewhere in my files.

Vice President Joe Biden has also confessed that once he was pro-life and opposed abortion, but when he became an elected official, he felt it was more "politically acceptable" to be pro-choice.

President Obama has recently signaled that his belief about marriage is "evolving."

Governor Gregoire confessed she was morally conflicted about supporting the movement to redefine marriage in Washington.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "Morality is always dreadfully complicated to a man who has lost his principles." While I do not agree with some of what Chesterton believed, he got this right.

Principles are moral absolutes.

Moral relativism is a philosophy that denies moral absolutes.

Moral relativism is the cause of America's crumbling cultural foundations.

It is said philosophy is just an idea---a thought.

But the thoughts of moral relativism have extinguished the light of excellence in the minds of educators, then their students, and eventually, if not reversed, will extinguish a civilization.

Sow a thought, reap an act.

Sow an act, reap a habit;

Sow a habit, reap character;

Sow character, reap a destiny.

President Lincoln said more than once that the philosophy in the classroom of one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next generation.

I am prayerfully and carefully considering how we can address this issue with this generation in meaningful and measurable ways.

Thank you for standing with us.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Planned Parenthood, NARAL Doing "God's Will"

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While President Obama was renewing his vows to Planned Parenthood last week, a college group was thanking Planned Parenthood, NARAL and others for supporting their efforts to do "God's will."

I have linked a video message from the President to PPH, which affirms his continuing and undying support for them.

It's important to know that according to its latest annual report, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) received $487.4 million in tax dollars over a twelve-month period and performed 329,455 abortions.

When compared with previous annual reports, the latest one shows an almost steady increase in the number of abortions performed at its clinics: In 2006, Planned Parenthood did 289,750 abortions; in 2007, it did 305,310; in 2009, it did 331,796; and, in 2010, it did 329,445--a small decrease from the previous year.

Callie Otto heads up the "unofficial" student group "Catholic University Students for Choice" at Catholic University of America.

She says the mission and creed of her organization is to provide someone for students "to come to for free condoms, help find low cost birth control...and rides to Planned Parenthood for any reason."

She says, "The support that we have gotten from [these groups] has been vital to our group's existence."

"They've provided condoms, they've been sending support for distributing those condoms and have given us opportunities to be active in events, such as phone banks, leadership conferences and rallies."

So how is this doing God's will?

"Well," Otto says, "We have learned from Catholic teachings the importance of caring for others and carrying out God's will, and in that mind set, we will continue our mission."

So performing abortions as a form of birth control and generally enabling a complete moral sexual collapse---sex with anyone, anytime, anywhere is suddenly not wrong, but okay. And those who enable are "ministering" to the needs.

And if there is sin or wrong in this, it's the sin of those who attempt to withhold these "rights" from the students.

Remember Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown Law student who became famous a few weeks ago for telling Congress that law school students were suffering because their birth control costs were not covered in the insurance plans?

Well, yes, there is a connection.

Otto and Fluke were on a panel recently, one of those "opportunities" Otto spoke of, at an event titled, "Bishops, Politicians, and the War On Women's Health."

We've learned 2 things from this:
  • There is now a "ministry" to distribute condoms and give people free rides to Planned Parenthood, for "any reason."
  • President Obama is not one of those Politicians who have declared war on women's health. In fact he has promised to stand with and for them as long as "I am privileged to be your president."
I'm reminded how Paul responded to this kind of conflicted thinking---"Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools." Romans 1: 21.

Millions of kids sit captive in classrooms every day that are intellectually baptized in this kind of thinking. Pray for them.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to share the God's Truth.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Monday, April 02, 2012

"If The Foundations are Destroyed, What Can The Righteous Do?"

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This past week, the Supreme Court listened to the arguments on the constitutionality of Obamacare. The outcome of this case will define our nation for generations to come.

Should it be allowed to stand, it will mandate all employers, including religious organizations, to provide certain drugs that cause early abortions---a violation of belief and conscience for many people of faith. And it will also push our country toward a form of socialism we have not previously known.

It will, as President Obama promised to do on his 100th day in office, "remake America."

Atheists held their first ever atheist's rally at Fort Bragg Military Base this past Saturday.

It was modeled after a Billy Graham crusade, with a different message. One of the spokespeople said, "This just might be the turning point in the foxhole atheist community's struggle for acceptance, tolerance and respect. It's an amazing time to be a nonbeliever in the U.S." And, "The military is on the cusp of a major breakthrough."

Marriage hangs in the balance here in Washington State, and elsewhere.

When the campaign to redefine marriage in Washington State kicked off in Bellevue on November 14, 2011, Associated Press reporter Gene Johnson asked the activists why, when they already had essentially all the rights of marriage, were they now demanding "marriage".

The answer? "The effort is about erasing the stigma..." they told him.

The foundations are crumbling. David was experiencing a similar time when he wrote in Psalms 11:3, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

He asked, should we "flee as a bird to your mountain" because "the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart?"

Every Christian truth and principle is targeted by the "drawn bows and ready arrow." And often the messengers themselves are targeted.

This is a time when every biblical believer must not flee to the mountain or elsewhere, but stand firm and strong for righteousness. Be bold. Be active. Be prayerful. Be very discerning. Be vigilant.

And thanks to all of you who are doing just that. I am blessed and encouraged by the personal email I receive from many of you every day, sharing your experiences while you are circulating petitions for both R-74 and I-1192. You are a model of the answer to David's question.

What should the righteous do if the foundations are destroyed?

First, address the immediate assaults on biblical principles and values. And we are. And will continue to do so with your help and support. We can be effective as we stand together.

Secondly, I feel that while we address the immediate, we must also take a longer look at how to address the "failing foundations" as we go forward. We must provide a trusted stream of information and message that educates, informs and inspires people to action.

I am personally praying about something that I feel would significantly address the longer look, rather than only being on the defense regarding life, marriage, family and education.

I have shared my thoughts with a couple of trusted friends. I would appreciate your prayers, asking that God give us wisdom and clarity.

I know you know that we are circulating thousands of petitions across the state because many of you are involved in this effort. You also know that we only continue with your financial support. We need your help this month.

We feel we have a sense of what we should do in response to the failing foundations of our culture. If you believe our efforts are worthy, I ask that you support this ministry, click here to contribute online or mail a check to Faith and Freedom, Box 399, Bellevue, WA. 98009.

Thank you and God bless you.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.