Thursday, April 30, 2015
Justice Alito: "Can 4 Lawyers Marry One Another?"
Justice Samuel Alito asked the obvious question Tuesday in the highest Court in the land, exposing the moral insanity of the case which seeks to redefine marriage.
"If two of the same sex have a right to marry---why not 4 people of the opposite sexes?"
He said, "Let's say they're all consenting adults, highly educated. They're all lawyers."
Mary L. Bonauto is the lawyer representing those who seek to redefine the institution of marriage.
Her response was stunning. And revealing. And confused.
The confusing responses in the courtroom from those seeking to redefine marriage reflects the confusion in our culture.
However, a group of prominent Christian leaders are not confused, nor timid. They have sent a document to the Supreme Court representing a promise, not a threat.
It reads in part, "We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross that line. We stand united in defense of marriage. Make no mistake about our resolve."
Should the Court seek to redefine marriage, "We will not obey," the document reads.
Out of confusion, clarity and conviction is emerging.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Judging The Justices
Now that 9 Supreme Court Justices have heard the arguments about marriage, Americans are in various ways judging the justices.
What will they decide---which justice will favor redefining marriage, which will not?
Yesterday, following the hearing, the Seattle Times carried the Associated Press article that most newspapers carried across the nation. In it the AP attempts to discern the nuances of the justices' questions and comments and follow-up questions.
Judging the Justices is one of the only ways the American people have of somewhat holding them accountable.
While marriage is the fundamental cornerstone of human existence, this issue also puts light on an issue which involves the fundamental cornerstone of our culture---the Constitution and the role of the Supreme Court of the United states---the original intent of our Founders---God's will on earth as it is in heaven.
In this we must judge ourselves, by taking an honest look at our faithfulness to God and His Word in a culture that has crossed the threshold of insanity.
Bob Schieffer, host of CBS's "Face The Nation" rather crudely confronted Tony Perkins, head of Family Research Council, with this on last Sunday's show:
"You said the other day---and I believe these are your words---if the Court rules in favor of gay marriage, it will be open season on people of faith. How can you say that?"
Is the far left secular progressive press that uninformed? Or are they merely blinded by their own cultural agenda to "transform America?"
Perkins response was not what Schieffer wanted to hear.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Hillary: "We Must Change Cultural Codes And Religious Beliefs"
Speaking at the "Women in the World" conference, Hillary Clinton told the audience "deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases" must be changed.
After thundering applause, Ms. Clinton assured the women that until this happens "they will not have full access to reproduction health care"---which is code for more abortions.
It's interesting that secular progressives are finally removing the mask, and saying it out loud in public: "Achieving the secular progressive agenda will necessarily require first extirpating many 'deep seated' Christian values and beliefs from the cultural."
The preamble to this was Barack Obama's 2008 promise to "Fundamentally Transform America."
"And," Hillary said, these rights must "have to exist in practice---not just on paper."
This transformation must have teeth, with the ability to bite those who dissent.
Hillary told the women every woman must become a "Champion for Change."
This is not merely "Hillary's Song" and "Obama's Oratorio," there is a chorus of voices on the same tune.
Including several of the Supreme Court Justices who are today hearing arguments as to how marriage is to be defined in America.
Monday, April 27, 2015
The $135,000 "Wedding" Cake, That Wasn't
On Friday, Christian bakers Aaron and his wife Melissa Klein were fined $135,000 by the State of Oregon for declining to bake a "wedding" cake for a lesbian couple.
The Klein's are biblical Christians and believe in biblical marriage---one man and one woman.
When Laurel and Rachel Bowman-Cryer asked to order the cake, the Kleins politely declined because of their religious beliefs.
Within hours the lesbians had filed a complaint with the State of Oregon and homosexual activists began picketing and disrupting their small bakery in Gresham, Oregon, finally forcing the Klein's to close the bakery in 2013.
We wrote about it at the time.
Judge McCullough said Friday he could have awarded each of the lesbians $75,000, but chose to award $60,000 to Laurel and $75,000 to Rachel.
The award, the judge says, is for the "emotional suffering" experienced by the lesbian couple as a result of the Christian couple declining to provide the cake.
Friday afternoon a supporter of the Kleins opened a "GoFundMe" account on the Internet to raise money to help the Kleins pay the fine and other related expenses.
By Friday evening, the "GoFundMe" page was dark. The company had removed it.
Welcome to the world of Tyranny, not Tolerance.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
In The Spirit Of God's Love
Two more churches have been vandalized because someone disagrees with their message. This time in North Carolina.
Reports say the cost of repair and restoration will run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The damage includes shattered windows in the nursery, spray painted messages of "one way ticket to hell" and "God loves fags, He hates you" on the entrance doors to the sanctuary.
Pastor Carl Pulliam of Bales Wesleyan says at his church the damage consisted of spray painting pro-homosexual slogans on the side walls of the church building, guest parking signs thrown through the children's nursery windows, the church bus keyed and a metal sign stabbed through the front grill of the bus.
The church marquis was damaged, all the flowers in the beds were pulled up and thrown around the property and the spray painted message on the front of the church was "one way to hell' with an arrow pointing toward the sanctuary.
So how are these churches responding?
Marco Rubio--A Double Minded Man?
Senator Marco Rubio wants to be President of the United States.
He wants everyone to vote for him. In that quest, he appeared to be double-minded, or faltering between two opinions last Sunday of CBS's Face The Nation.
When asked about same-sex marriage, he replied, "It's not that I'm against same-sex marriage," but "I believe the definition of the institution of marriage should be between a man and a woman."
He has said he believes homosexual behavior is sin, as taught in the Bible, but told CBS, "I...don't believe that your sexual preferences are a choice...bottom line is, I believe that sexual preference is something that people are born with."
This is a problem to most of the 70 million evangelicals and millions of conservative Catholics who also believe biblical teaching on homosexual behavior.
Has the God who created mankind, and strongly condemns homosexual behavior as sin in His Word, made a mistake every time a person---one of His own Creation---claims they are gay and they were born that way?
While considering Rubio's double-minded response to CBS, I noticed a short news piece on football player Tim Tebow on NBC.
Tebow is not running for political office, however, as NBC points out, neither is he running from his deeply held Christian beliefs.
In fact, there is now a pretzel, yeah, a pretzel, available in stores in Philadelphia honoring his unwavering faith in God and God's values.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
The False Prophets Of Earth Day
Today is "Earth Day," the Green Holy Day.
President Obama told America and the world in his comments last Friday that climate change is the number one threat to our national security.
The president says, "There's no greater threat" than climate change and it "poses immediate risks to our national security."
He told us and the world, "This is an issue that's bigger and longer-lasting than my presidency," predicting stronger storms, deeper droughts and longer wildfire seasons "if we don't take immediate action" with apparent disregard to how these "immediate actions" will negatively and needlessly impact America's economy and our quality of life.
In times of crises, when the world is on fire, we all must sacrifice. Right?
Let's take a look at the predictions from the Prophets of Green going back to the first Earth Day in 1970 and review the handbook---order of worship service for some---that is being taught and distributed among the 90% of American children who are sitting in a public classroom today, April 22, 2015, in the year of our Lord---Earth Day.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
In The Name Of Our Children
Reflecting the angst of America's public education complex, the popular publication "Education Week" is worrying out loud at what "a crop of conservative senators" might do to the status quo in public education.
In fact Education Week expresses significant concern that these "conservative senators whose views aren't necessarily in lockstep with those of educational leaders" might greatly alter the rewriting of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Lockstep?
That's an interesting word choice to positively describe how public education makes progress.
Education Week is concerned that these "out of step" radical types might "return considerable control over schools to the state and local levels."
I suspect they also fear parents seizing the opportunity to become more involved as well.
God forbid.
Education Week explains their resistance to these who are not in "lock step" with the program is on behalf of America's children.
Who are these tyrants who seek to steal and destroy our children's education and future?
Monday, April 20, 2015
Dying To Be "As God"
This past November 1, Brittiany Maynard, 29, died by assisted suicide.
Doctors told her she had 6 months or less to live, thus qualifying her for legal doctor assisted suicide in Oregon.
She and her husband moved from California to Oregon, where she and her doctor ended her life.
Death as birth, is common to all of us who live here on earth.
It is written in Scripture, "A time to be born and a time to die."
Friday, April 17, 2015
ABC/Disney Features Seattle's Christian Bashing Dan Savage In Family Sitcom
ABC and its parent company Disney has announced it is moving ahead to produce and air a new sitcom titled "Family of the Year" featuring Seattle's own Christian bashing, homosexual, atheist activist Dan Savage.
The script for the new show was created by Savage and is loosely based on his life.
Savage needs no introduction to those living in Seattle, Washington or the Northwest. He has infamously seized every opportunity to publicly mock Christians and our beliefs in the most vile and hateful ways.
As ABC/Disney roll out plans for the new show, Christians across the country are becoming acquainted with Savage. And they're furious that ABC/Disney would even consider a program featuring him, much less celebrate him.
Monica Cole, director of "One Million Moms," says, "Savage has spared no one with whom he disagrees from his vitriolic hate speech."
Cole and other national Christian organizations are taking pro-active steps to persuade ABC and Disney to drop the show before it goes to air.
We can help.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
New York Times On Bigotry And The Bible
The "truths," the New York Times' article explains, is "homosexuality and Christianity don't have to be in conflict in any church anywhere."
Many leaders in the mainline Christian denominations are cheering.
Hopefully leaders in the evangelical community are not exhaling, believing their silence has gotten them off the hook.
The oracle of progressive "truths" continues: "That many Christians understand them as incompatible is understandable, an example of not so much of hatred's pull, as of tradition's sway. Beliefs ossified over centuries aren't easily shaken," The New York Times publishes.
The Time's article explains that continuing to hold these "ossified" beliefs and teachings is "a choice" some Christians and their churches make because they are choosing to "prioritize scattered passages of ancient texts over all that has been learned since---as if time had stood still, as if advances of science and knowledge meant nothing."
We've evolved.
The Bible and those who believe it "disregard the degree to which all writings reflect the biases and blind spots of their author, culture and eras" we are told.
The Bible, they say, is neither "inspired" or "infallible." It's merely notions from the past.
Welcome to the Brave New World, relative and evolving "truth," and the shifting definition of religious freedom.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Obama To Kids: "You Can Chose Abortion, But Not Counsel"
Last week President Obama took another step into his brave new world of secular progressivism by declaring his support for a legal ban against kids seeking counsel regarding unwanted same-sex desires.
David Pruden, executive director of Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity, notes the hypocrisy.
President Obama supports the right to an abortion for minors---sometimes without parental notification---but would deny therapy to a child seeking counsel for unwanted same-sex attractions.
This is another glaring example of the conflicted beliefs of the secular progressives.
And it causes one to wonder, to whom do they believe the child belongs?
The government? Or the parent?
What's behind this obsession to indoctrinate and control the early development of our children? Clearly it is not the best interest of the child.
This is part of a much larger agenda. The agenda is not unique to our times. Neither is the solution.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Courage and Cowardice
It is written, "Do not put your trust in princes."
Barronell Stutzman, the now nationally recognized 70 year old flower shop owner in Richland, told WA State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who seeks to re-orient her religious beliefs regarding marriage and apparently destroy her financially, "You are asking me to walk in the way of a well known betrayer, one who sold something of infinite worth for 30 pieces of silver. That is something I will not do."
She believes in biblical marriage.
When confronted with the decision to stand on principle and traditional beliefs, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a Christian, chose a different path. In what is sometimes referred to as the "Battle of Indianapolis," Gov. Pence, responding to a firestorm of criticism from gays and secular progressives, promised he would fix Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He assured them it would not protect Christian bakers, florists, photographers, etc. who decline services to same-sex "weddings" because of their religious beliefs.
This is a profile in Courage and a profile in Cowardice.
It is also a snapshot of what the culture war looks like and the forces coalescing around opposing worldviews.
Why does this moral revolution continue when the majority of Americans do not embrace the beliefs of the secular progressive left, or the homosexual community?
Monday, April 13, 2015
In The Days Following Easter...
The days following the first Easter Sunday were defining days.
The days following Easter Sunday 2015 are also defining days.
In the days following the first Easter, the religious hierarchy began conspiring with Roman authorities to discredit the story that was spreading, and spreading quickly, that the same Jesus whom they had killed on the cross was now gone from His tomb.
The Roman soldiers accepted the bribe that was offered by the religious leaders, and spread the deception that the followers of Jesus had stolen His body to support their religious beliefs and fake a resurrection.
A campaign of misinformation was launched, driven by personal ambition, pride, ignorance and rebellion, resulting in cultural chaos.
And deception.
But things became complicated. Jesus began making live personal appearances. Many appearances.
In the days following Easter, 2 men were walking to a nearby city discussing their personal disappointment in the way things had turned out for the Nazarene---and for them personally. The prophets were apparently wrong. Or, maybe He just wasn't the Messiah after all, they concluded.
The lies and deception had led them to doubt. And despair.
In the days following Easter 2015, specifically last Tuesday, the President of the United States took the occasion of an Easter Prayer Breakfast to blast Christians for their failure to embrace the "new norm" in human sexuality. A so-called new social "norm" that Jesus, whose resurrection was being celebrated, Himself does not believe or accept.
In the days following Easter 2015, this administration declared last week to be a week of honoring transgender people at the White House, including gender neutral bathrooms and support for the ban on conversion therapy, which often refers to biblical, spiritual deliverance and restoration.
Misinformation. Deception. Cultural Chaos. All under the guise of "Love"---leading some professing Christians to conclude "things are changing, we are living in a post Christian era, the church must adjust and adapt its beliefs."
Monday, April 06, 2015
Personal From Gary Randall
Hope you had a meaningful Easter weekend.
We will not be publishing our daily column this week. As you may know this is Spring Break for many Washington State schools.
Those who help with this ministry every day are taking a much deserved break.
Our daily radio program will feature previously aired programs this week as well.
We will resume our daily column and return to live broadcasts on Monday, April 13.
Blessings.
Gary
We will not be publishing our daily column this week. As you may know this is Spring Break for many Washington State schools.
Those who help with this ministry every day are taking a much deserved break.
Our daily radio program will feature previously aired programs this week as well.
We will resume our daily column and return to live broadcasts on Monday, April 13.
Blessings.
Gary
Friday, April 03, 2015
"He Is Risen; He Is Not Here"
Within 72 hours after Jesus had been killed publicly, an angel was found to be outside the tomb where he had been buried, The angel, sitting on the stone that had been rolled aside, said, "He is risen, He is not here."
Soon after the death and Resurrection of Jesus, people, for a variety of reasons, began attempting to discredit the event and the belief in a resurrection.
"Didn't happen," they say.
The Sadducees, who did not believe in any kind of resurrection, were even trying to trick Jesus on the subject during the time of His ministry on earth before His death, creating a hypothetical case involving the death of a man, his seven brothers, and if one of them married her, as was the custom, to whom will she be married after the resurrection. If there is such a thing ( Matthew 22).
That narrative continues today. In fact it is a part of every attempt to discredit God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dan Barker, graduate of Azusa Pacific University with a degree in religion, former pastor and Christian songwriter wrote in his book, "Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist," "I am now convinced that the Jesus story is just a myth."
The thrust of his book launched his career as an atheist and founder of Freedom From Religion, the largest atheist organization in the country.
His life's work is to discredit the resurrection, and in doing so discredit God Himself.
Why do so many try so hard to undermine the resurrection?
Here are 7 reasons.
Thursday, April 02, 2015
Hypocrisy In High Places
The headlines continue: "Arkansas Governor Sends Religion Bill Back For Re-Write"---"Indiana Republicans Meet With LGBT Groups Seeking Fix..."---"Gov. Pence Caves..."---"Pence Buckles Under Powerful Gay Pressure..." and on and on it goes.
The public outcry, which is being led by some of America's most powerful and influential leaders, is reminiscent of those lining Main Street in Jerusalem chanting, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him."
Like in Jerusalem, there are hypocrites in the crowd. There are also those who have been misinformed.
In this case, some of the most influential voices condemning religious freedom and Indiana's attempt to protect it--- in calling for a boycott of the state and all businesses located there, are in fact closely aligned in contractual agreements with governments that not only discriminate against homosexuals but sentence them to death.
Hypocrisy.
The City of Seattle and the city's mayor are among the hypocrites lining the streets. But there are others among us, including Governor Jay Inslee.
Here's the facts:
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
KING 5: NW Leads In Non-Church Attendance
KING 5 reports that "The Pacific Northwest is often called the 'None Zone' because 33% of people in Seattle claim no religious affiliation."
Seattle and San Francisco, both with 33%, are second only to Portland which is number one according to the survey with 42%. This trinity leads the nation in skipping church.
Scholars are studying the cities to see what can be learned and where "religion" is headed here in the great Northwest, and beyond.
KING 5 says, "Seattle is a leader in national culture trends like technological advances and social justice. It's also a place where organized religion is less popular."
No question about Seattle's leadership in technology and lack of church affiliation.
But social justice? That depends on how you define "social justice."
Special rights for homosexuals? Yes.
Religious freedom? Not so much.
One scholar referred to the Northwest as "a canary in the mine," giving the rest of the country a heads-up on where this may lead.
Christopher James told KING 5, "I'm studying Seattle to get a sense of postcards from the future..."
I have a couple of postcards from the future I would like to include in the study.
Some churches are attempting to adjust and adapt to this changing, anti-church culture in Seattle and the Northwest.
Methods may change. The Message must never change.
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