Friday, June 28, 2013

Cultural Confusion and the "Marriage" Malaise

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Now that the Supreme Court has replaced God (and the California voters) and ruled as to the purpose of marriage----to affirm and make "equal" all sexual behaviors and lifestyles, more requests and supplications are being prepared to be brought before the judicial throne.

  • Polygamists are hopeful. They and their supporters celebrated Wednesday night, saying they see implication for their cause in the Supreme Court's ruling.
  • Advocates of same-sex marriage, emboldened by the US Supreme Court rulings, are pressing their advantage as they press forward with a $10 million campaign.
  • CNN is asking if "group marriage is next," while The Journal of Psychology is advocating for group marriage.

Is our culture morally exhausted from the relentless moral assault advanced by secular progressives?

Is the culture so divided and fragmented there could never again be a moral consensus?

Or are we paralyzed by confusion, lost in a moral malaise?

Here are more details and some thoughts.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

DOMA Goes Down---The Flame Has Flickered

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As the Supreme Court essentially struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) yesterday, I was reminded of a statement made by a man whose colleagues called the most articulate, intellectual and virtuous man to serve in the U.S. Senate.

His statue affirms his character as it stands in the Capitol.

He said:

"Hold on my friends to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands...if the Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."

"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper, but if we neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."

"Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought here by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light and labored by its hope." (Daniel Webster).

The Supreme Court---our posterity, in its ruling against marriage, has lost hold of the Constitution, neglected the instruction of the Bible and its authority and have attempted to extinguish the light by which our Founders journeyed.

The flame has flickered.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Kennedy Dooms DOMA, While the Court Lets Prop. 8 Fall and Limits it to California

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Justice Anthony Kennedy provided the swing vote in a narrow 5-4 Supreme Court decision Wednesday striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which had defined marriage as between a man and a woman for federal purposes, and had allowed states to ignore legal same-sex marriages in other states. Separately, the Court decided that proponents of California's Proposition 8, which upheld traditional marriage but was struck down by lower courts, lack standing to challenge those courts' rulings, meaning that Proposition 8 is invalid.

I will be writing more about this tomorrow, and discussing it on the radio.

A Spirit Of Fear?

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Someone posted a comment on one of our recent blogs that caught my attention. It was not a comment of support and the person was suggesting Christians are afraid our beliefs are not going to remain dominant in the culture. This comment stood out to me: "I know you Faith and Freedom folks are scared, but your fears are misplaced and ultimately harmful, even to yourselves in the long run." This after Christians were likened to Muslims as wanting to control the culture.

I do agree with part of what was said. Living in fear is harmful---and unnecessary.

A lot has been said about fear lately.

The ACLU agrees that fear is not a good thing.

Interestingly, the ACLU has written an open, critical letter to President Obama accusing him of making America "a nation governed by fear."

POLITICO, generally supportive of the President, is reporting they are disappointed with the President because he has not used fear as part of his governance. They are saying, "Obama does not instill fear..." while they quote another analyst that says the President should make clear "that people have a good reason to be afraid of him."

So what part does and should fear play in our individual lives and out collective life as Americans?

Are Faith and Freedom folks scared?

Some thoughts about the President, "the folks" and fear.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

NBC and the Value of Marriage

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While the Supreme Court prepares to rule on DOMA and California's Proposition 8 this week in a decision that could legally define or redefine marriage in our culture, this morning NBC was pointing out that marriage is not all that important anymore.

The Today Show host began with, "We all remember the words, 'First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby and a baby carriage', well that is changing."

The lead-in to the story said, "An increasing number of couples are living perfectly traditional lives---moving in together, starting families---all while saying 'I don't' when it comes to marriage."

The problem? That lifestyle is not perfect, nor is it traditional.

There are valid social and spiritual reasons that marriage has been honored throughout human history. And marriage can only be between one man and one woman. Any other arrangement is not marriage, regardless of what the Supreme Court may say in their ruling.

Not only is the Bible speaking to us today, so is history, and we should listen.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Disney's "Good Luck Charlie" Will Feature Family With 2 Moms

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Parents and grandparents should be aware that Disney's "Good Luck Charlie" sitcom will feature a "family" with 2 moms in one of the episodes that will air early in 2014.

The episode is being produced this week.

And it is this week that the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8. Their ruling will have a significant impact on marriage, the family and the freedom of voters in an individual state.

Is same-sex marriage a "civil right?" If so, why? If not, why not?

The media and entertainment industry is doing everything humanly possible to normalize homosexual relations, legalize same-sex "marriage" and advance an agenda that stands against biblical truth and nature's commonsense.

Here is more information about the storyline in Disney's sitcom, some thoughts on the media and their frontal attack on family and marriage and the Supreme Court's anticipated ruling on marriage?

Friday, June 21, 2013

IRS: We Are "Close" to Auditing Churches Again

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While the IRS has been distracted from local churches while targeting Tea Party and other faith based groups, Treasury Attorney-Advisor Ruth Madrigal says the IRS is "close" to auditing churches again.

What does that mean to local churches?

Here are more details and a closer look at how we got to where we are with the IRS.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Defining Moments At Brandenburg Gate

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When John F. Kennedy spoke at Germany's Brandenburg Gate 50 years ago, it was a defining moment. He won the hearts of Berliners and Germans everywhere when he said, "ich bin ein Berliner"---translated, "I am a Berliner."

That speech was given June 26, 1963, a little less than 2 years after the Berlin Wall went up.

When Ronald Reagan spoke at Brandenburg Gate, that too was a defining moment. In his speech on June 12, 1987, he told then Soviet leader Michail Gorbachev, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

The result of his speech brought freedom to millions of people and helped lead to the end of the "cold war" and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

About 3 years later, I was in Berlin too, along with other ministers, to hold an outdoor Christian service in what had previously been "East " Berlin. An activity that would have gotten us arrested months earlier.

While there, I watched people tearing down "that wall" with sledge hammers, picks and tractors. I have a piece of "that wall" in my office.

Candidate Obama requested permission to speak at Brandenburg Gate in 2008. The German government denied his request. He spoke at an adjacent park to over 200,000 people.

This week, President Obama finally spoke at the Brandenburg Gate. About 5,000-6,000 people attended, many were invited government workers and, of course, the press.

While the President spoke of disarmament and peace, many saw the repeated attempt to advance the homosexual agenda as his defining moment.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

CNN: "Majority No Longer Trust Obama"---A Deficit Of Trust

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Yesterday, CNN reported that according to their polling, a "majority of Americans no longer trust President Obama."

CNN, not Fox, says the news is worse than it appears.

They say, "Back in 2006, only 52% of Americans disapproved of how President George W. Bush handled government surveillance of Americans. Today, a full 60% disapprove of Obama on the same issue."

This week, the National Journal is featuring a story about the President titled, "Do You Trust This Man?"

Interestingly, James Madison said, "There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachment of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpation."

Gallup is reporting that confidence in newspapers fell again this year. Only 23% believe the news they read in the newspapers. And only 23% believe the news they see on television is accurate.

No confidence.

Rasmussen reported yesterday that "Distrust is growing." They found 70% believe the IRS decision to target conservatives was made in Washington DC. And 82% of American voters are following the IRS story.

President Abraham Lincoln spoke to this. He said, “If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." (Speech at Clinton, Illinois, September 8, 1854).

When our present level of distrust occurs toward our government and those whom we have elected to lead our country, the stage is set for tragedy.

Here's one example.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

"Who is President Obama?"---How Relativism Shapes the Culture and Individuals

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The Hill, not known to be a conservative voice, is asking of President Obama, "Who is he? "

"Five months into his second term, allies and enemies are as confounded as ever about who President Obama really is," they report.

They ask, "Is he the dyed-in-the-wool liberal that his biggest supporters and critics suggest? Or is he a pragmatic, even cynical politician who cares more for his popularity than taking risks for his individual goals or living up to his rhetoric?"

One thing is certain. Both sides agree, he does not live up to his rhetoric. What he says and what he does most often stands in stark contrast.

This is not so much about President Obama as it is about a bigger, broader picture.

However, his comments on Father's Day weekend provide a perfect example of one of the core problems in our culture. How relativism shapes and individual and a culture.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Principal Threatens Valedictorian's Appointment to US Naval Academy

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Remington Reimer, Valedictorian of his graduating class, had his microphone turned off during his address at Liberty High School's graduation on June 6.

I wrote about it in this Blog and talked about it on my live radio program.

Now we have learned that Reimer's principal, Mark Cochran, has threatened to punish Reimer for his comments by writing a letter to the US Naval Academy where Reimer has already been accepted.

The principal has said he will advise the Academy that Reimer has "poor character."

This is much more than a local isolated incident. It reveals the aggressive nature of the censorship, denial of expression of free speech and religious discrimination that exists in government run schools toward Christian students and their families.

We are learning that not only is the school attempting to illegally censor a student's remarks about his faith and the Constitution and punish the student for his remarks, but the school itself failed to comply with its own policy in regard to speeches given at graduation events.

Let's look at the details.

Friday, June 14, 2013

A Different Kind Of "T" Party

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We know about the patriots who threw the tea in Boston Harbor to oppose the King's continuing and excessive taxation without representation.

We also know about the Tea Party groups that have formed around the country to resist some of the same abuses experienced by our Founders.

We also know that the word "tea party" and "patriot" will likely get you a call from the IRS.

However, there is another kind of "T" party in Boston. I'll tell you about it.

But first, today is "National Flag Day." I also want to give you a couple of thoughts about that, and the mess HGTV has gotten themselves into regarding the flag.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Feminist Torch Being Passed To Girl Scouts of America?

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A recent Girl Scout sponsored event in New York City was billed as one that "would celebrate women and girls."

It featured a live screening of the documentary "MAKERS: Women Who Make America," a feminist, pro-abortion, pro-lesbian video account of prominent women who are described as "trailblazing" and whose "pioneering contributions" have changed America.

The lineup of personalities is extensive. While most of the featured women most likely fully support the agenda of the folks who made the documentary, perhaps some do not---however, the implication is that they all do.

And as you look a little closer, the documentary and accompanying discussion and speeches are not really about women who have achieved something, but more about the old, 1960's feminist agenda and indoctrinating a new generation.

This event in NYC was sponsored for the Girl Scouts by Girls, Inc. of NYC and PBS station WNET.

But it went further than that--much further. Girl Scouts of America got behind the event and promoted it extensively on the Internet and elsewhere across the country, as did the money behind "MAKERS".

The headline speakers were Marlo Thomas and Amy Richards. A closer look reveals that this event was not so much about women and their achievements, but about an unfinished agenda and a desperate group of aging women who led the sexual revolution in the 1960's who are looking for someone to take their place---stand in their gap---carry their torch.

And they have chosen the Girl Scouts.

To me it appears to be borderline child abuse. You decide.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Parent Alert: New "Indoctrination" TV Shows Now Airing

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There are a couple of new TV shows that parents and grandparents should be aware of.

One is targeting little children--preschool to young teens, the other targets a general audience, but specifically 18-24 year olds. This show, because it is set in a "family" setting, may also be attractive to younger children.

There are several people credited with discovering or inventing TV, as the technology that gave us TV evolved over time from German scientists as early as 1884 to several Americans in the early 1900's.

Philo Fransworth, however, is most often recognized as the person who invented electronic television.

Fransworth, in 1927, transmitted, for the first time, an electronic television image. The image was a dollar sign.

He went on to found Fransworth Television, Inc. in 1929.

In later years Fransworth often told his family and close friends, "There's nothing on [TV] worthwhile."

Interestingly, he told his kids, "I don't want it in your intellectual diet."

Television has now become the tool of choice for those who seek to secularize America and your family and undermine traditional values and institutions---particularly the redefining of marriage and family.

Here are two new shows that parents and grand parents should be aware of.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Super Bowl Champ Declines Visit to White House

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Super Bowl champion Matt Birk, center for the Baltimore Ravens who won the Super Bowl earlier this year, has rejected an invitation to the White House and a meeting with President Obama last week.

As you may know, it is a tradition that the winners of the Super Bowl are invited to the White House to meet with the President, take a few pictures and present the President with a football jersey.

Matt Birk, who retired following the Super Bowl win, has had an outstanding career in the NFL. Last year he was awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award.

But why did he reject the opportunity to go to the White House and meet personally with the President?

Monday, June 10, 2013

Pride and Prejudice in America

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Secretary of State John Kerry released a video message Friday saying that US diplomats in every corner of the globe are working to help local lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender organizations.

He suggested that help includes financial aid from the United States.

The Supreme Court will soon rule on whether DOMA is constitutional. The President has declared it is not and has refused to defend it even though it is a federal law.

The US military has begun to systematically punish those who openly support the biblical model of marriage as between one man and one woman, or even express their conservative, traditional biblical beliefs. And there is pressure from the atheist organizations, who obviously have the ear of the Pentagon, to suppress any Christian expression among those serving our country in the military.

During this season of graduation and commencement ceremonies in public high schools across the country, the government run schools continue to attempt to censor the words of our children if the words reflect any narrative that includes the Christian faith, values, principles or even in some cases, references to the faith and ideals of our Founding Fathers.

While John Kerry was telling the world on Friday, advancing the LGBT cause is "central to the United States' commitment to promoting human rights," a high school was turning off the mic on their valedictorian, because he brought God and his faith into his speech. And a valedictorian at Liberty High School in South Carolina tore up his approved speech and led the audience in the Lord's Prayer to cheers and applause. Atheists are now demanding he be punished.

As secular progressivism metastasizes in our culture, those who lead the secularization declare to the world their "Pride" in perversion while exercising "Prejudice" toward people of faith and conservatives.

This is not a new phenomenon. The ancient prophet Isaiah spoke to this issue 2800 years ago.

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20).

Here are the details.

Friday, June 07, 2013

Public To The Government: "Can You Hear Me Now?"

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Verizon has been ordered by the Obama administration to turn over "on an ongoing basis" all call logs "between the United States and abroad" or "wholly within the United States, including local telephone calls."

The New York Times says it is still unclear how deep this surveillance goes.

Forbes is suggesting it goes much deeper.

The administration says they are doing it on behalf of keeping the homeland secure. But many see it as yet another overreach and intrusion by the Obama administration into their private affairs.

Citizens across the country are very unhappy and hoping the government can "hear them now" as they express their anger.

Not only is it important that we understand what the government is doing and to what extent, but we must also see this in the context of what has been happening in the recent ongoing scandals regarding the IRS, seizing emails of reporters and the Benghazi issue and how at least some in government misled the public.

These are troubling times. Our freedoms are being challenged in new and curious ways.

The Guardian, a UK left leaning newspaper, first broke this story yesterday morning. I became aware of it as we were going on the air live. I mentioned what was being reported at that time, but initial information was sketchy. We know more now.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Military Surrenders To Atheists At Mountain Home Air Force Base

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Those serving our country at Mountain Home Air Force Base near Boise, Idaho were shown the power of "freedom" as administered by an atheist group this week. In this case it was a demonstration of the power of a few atheists. And it was freedom "from" religion, not exactly what our Founders had in mind.

Our Air Force men and women based there are often and regularly deployed to all parts of the world to defend our country and freedom.

However, sometimes the enemy within is the most destructive. And in this case it struck with lightening speed.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

WA State Representative To IRS Victims: "You Asked For It"

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It's worse than most thought and growing more so with each hearing.

It has been said that "DC" means "District of Corruption." That may be true.

Washington State's own Rep. Jim McDermott (D) implied yesterday during the IRS hearings that the targeting of conservatives and Tea Party groups was the fault of those targeted.

While people representing several Tea Party groups testified before the Committee giving detailed accounts of how the IRS targeted them, made improper demands on them during the application process and slowed down the process, in some cases to a couple of years, it became apparent that not one liberal or progressive group had experienced these same consequences---not one liberal group has filed a complaint.

That was certainly not lost on Rep. Aaron Schock (R) who asked why President Obama's own non-profit was considered within the rules when some many conservative groups were not.

President Obama has his own 501(c)4, "Organizing For Action". Much of the scrutiny directed at the Tea Party groups has to do with the very same activities Obama's group is involved in.

We learned yesterday that one group that has been targeted by the IRS has neither "Tea Party" or "Patriot" in its name but it mentors kids, and the IRS has been asking for the names of the kids the organization mentors.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

The Churches Mission: Conform Or Transform?

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Churches in America are on the march, however they are not all marching in the same direction. "Onward Christian Soldiers" has different meanings to different groups.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has elected its first openly homosexual synod bishop.

The number of Presbyterian churches requesting dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) last year has increased five fold compared to 2011.

There are clearly two views of the church's mission. One is to conform to the culture, be "welcoming" and accepted, while the other is to stay the biblical course and transform the culture.

What is the actual mission of the Christian church?

Conform in an attempt to show love, accommodation and inclusiveness? Or, in love, to speak God's unchanging Truth with the intent of bringing redemption and transformation to broken individuals?

Why does the church exist? To welcome and affirm or to redeem and transform?

Monday, June 03, 2013

A Secularized America Is Not Inevitable

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In our current march toward a secularized culture in America, those who carry the banner for such a state, assure our children in the government run classrooms we have crossed the threshold.

The indoctrination includes "proof positive" that as people become more educated and prosperous they no longer need the restraints of religion and biblical values.

And church leaders talk and write books about how the church should respond to our "Post Modern," secularized society.

Friday, I wrote a Blog focusing on how a strong majority of Americans agree that America's morality is getting worse and although a majority also believe that religion's influence is diminishing, they feel America would be better off if more people were religious.

Certainly in education it is assumed that we have arrived at the tipping point in secularizing America, and unfortunately too many churches may have also made that assumption.

But is this supported by the facts? Is a completely secular America inevitable?

No.

Here's why.