One Nasty Stew

This past Sunday a Tulsa church hosted Republican Rick Santorum to be its guest speaker. People held up political banners to enthusiastically rally their support for the candidate, cameras rolling of course. This marriage of church and political candidacy has increasing become a disturbing trend in my eyes. I personally feel it has no place in a church. A social cause--yes. Encouraging people to vote, why not. But pushing political views such as promoting a particular candidate for presidency, or bashing President Obama's healthcare plan--no. By the way, I did not support President Obama in the previous election--shocked?

This church/politic blend increasingly strays away from the Gospel. Church hierarchies (pastors, clergy, etc) promoting their own political agendas, and the candidates most happily promoting theirs in church services under the banner of God. Myself, I can see churches discussing the oppression of certain groups--the poor for example. Nowadays, it seems quite the contrary however. It has become more like bashing the poor.

Mr. Prophet: "Tonight, we have a most important message. Detoxifying the planet by electing the right public official, in the name of Christ."

Mr. Unbeliever: "Why did you not step over that homeless man on the way into the sanctuary? He yelled out when your foot crushed his hand!"

Mr.Pastor: "Let me interject. Of course, he stepped on him. We got a presidential candidate speaking in our service tonight! Do you think we have time for the likes of the homeless when we got a tea party candidate coming here?"

It is not a good witness, contrary to what a lot of people think.

As a former atheist, I can tell you what I would think. I would think how I used to think--people are promoting their political agendas under the guise of religion. As an unbeliever even adhering to a different faith, my head would reason relatively the same. My next thought would be to dismiss any other message this group adhered too--including the Gospel. So not a good witness.

Two entities meet in the darkness of the night: one person's presidential platform and a more than willing church merge to promote personal political beliefs in a church service. The publicity might do wonders for both!!

Lord Jesus, please come quickly.

Worldwide Malnutrition--A Hidden Crisis

Half A Billion Children At Risk From Malnutrition
by Medical News Today
Article Date: 15 Feb 2012


Save the Children released a report today, claiming that childhood malnutrition over the next fifteen years, puts nearly five hundred million youngsters at risk of permanent health problems.

Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children said in a statement : "Malnutrition is a largely hidden crisis, but it afflicts one in four children around the world ... It wreaks lifelong damage and is a major killer of children. Every hour of every day, 300 children die because of malnutrition."

The report which is entitled "A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition," coincides with news of the latest emergency food crisis coming to light. The African Sahel region in West Africa, which is centered around Hodh Gharbi scrubland in Mauritania, is facing severe food shortages. There is a humanitarian crisis growing, but while these shocking disasters make headlines, the longer term creeping aspects of chronic malnutrition, or a lack of proper nutrition over time, is seen by Save The Children as being deadlier and more widespread than these headline grabbing short-term acute situations.

The problem is that chronic malnutrition weakens young children's immune systems, making them far more likely to die of childhood diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Estimates put the number of child deaths a year, at around 2 million, three times as many as result from acute malnutrition.

Chronic malnutrition also leaves children far more vulnerable to extreme suffering and death when emergency food crises hit, a prime example being in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel right now. Malnutrition is the underlying cause behind some 2.6 million child deaths every year, or more than 30% of all child deaths.

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De-batizing Phenomenon In Europe

Europeans "De-Baptize" In Growing Numbers, Church Officials Worried
By Elizabeth Bryant
Religion News Service

PARIS (RNS) A decade ago, Rene Lebouvier requested that his local Catholic church erase his name from the baptismal register. The church noted his demands on the margins of its records and the chapter was closed.

But the clergy abuse scandals rocking Europe, coupled with Pope Benedict XVI's conservative stances on contraception, hardened Lebouvier's views. Last October, a court in Normandy ruled in favor of his lawsuit to have his name permanently deleted from church records -- making the 71-year-old retiree the first Frenchman to be officially "de-baptized."

"I took the judicial route to get myself de-baptized because of the church's excesses," said Lebouvier, speaking by telephone from his village of Fleury, near the D-Day beaches.

"It's a sort of honesty toward the church because they have a guy on their register who doesn't believe in God."

Lebouvier's case is among a growing wave of de-baptisms in Europe, one of the most visible manifestations of the continent's secular drift. Websites offering informal de-baptism certificates have mushroomed. Other Christians are formally breaking from the church by opting out of state church taxes.

"The movement is happening across Europe," said Anne Morelli, who heads a center studying religion and secularity at the Free University of Brussels. "It was very apparent during 2011 -- in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Austria. It is obviously related to the scandals of pedophile priests, but it has been going on for some time."

While there are no official statistics, experts and secular activists count the numbers of de-baptisms in the tens of thousands. It's a phenomenon that has touched Protestant as well as Catholic communities.

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Targeting of Nigerain Christians Continues

*Keep them in your prayers!

Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists targetting Christians, turning Nigeria into cauldron of religious strife

Preaching a theology of chaos and intolerance, the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Boko Haram is threatening to plunge Nigeria into a civil war.

After murdering 504 people last year in church and mosque bombings, drive-by shootings, bank robberies and assaults on police stations and army barracks, the radical Islamists are rapidly becoming known as Africa’s Taliban.

The increasingly sophisticated and deadly attacks include a Christmas bombing campaign of Christian churches that killed 65 people in northern Nigeria and a suicide car-bomb attack on the United Nations’ headquarters in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, that killed 25 people in August.

Thursday, gunmen stormed a church in Gombe, killing six people. On Friday, armed men shot and killed 17 Christians at a house in the northeastern town of Mubi as they mourned the death of a friend the previous evening….

Then late Friday, gunmen killed at least eight people when they opened fire on worshippers at the Christian Apostolic church in downtown Yola, the capital of Adamawa.

Boko Haram has suddenly emerged as one of Africa’s most virulent terrorist threats.

In November, a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on homeland security identified the group as a threat to African stability and U.S. security.

Its members are being trained by al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM, al-Qaeda’s North African affiliate) and have ties to Somalia’s Al-Shabab, the committee concluded.

“The sophistication of its tactics, use of the Internet and its recent attack on the UN headquarters in Abuja all point to a dangerously evolving organization,” it said.

With AQIM operating in Nigeria’s neighbours — Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Algeria — it would only be “natural” for the group to gravitate toward Nigeria, said Paul Lubeck, an expert on the region at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

“They are global jihadists,” he said. “It is automatic that you would look to the largest Muslim state in Africa to expand.”

Before his death last May, Osama bin Laden identified Nigeria, with its sharp Christian-Muslim divide, as a key arena for global sectarian warfare.

Libya’s civil war, which has flooded North Africa with weapons, has also left Nigeria vulnerable.
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Merry Christmas!

I hope you enjoy the celebrations and a Merry Christmas to all out there!

ISAIAH 9:6-7

6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

A Strong Public Faith Exhibited In A Secular Arena

Amazing how some football players can dance on the field--and no one gets offended. Another player wildly throws up his arms and trashes about with exhilaration-- and no one gets offend. Yet one player bends his knees to the Almighty God and offers thanks and praise--- and some do get offended. Tim Tebow is not dissuaded by public criticism of his belief in Jesus Christ. Hat's off to Mr.Tebow.


By the Book: Love him or hate him, Tim Tebow’s faith can’t be ignored
Anniston Star --by Anthony Cook

If there was a guy who always tried to do the right thing, and who avoided trouble, and gave selflessly to charities, and who spent much of his spare time helping others, and who was humble and polite, would you love him or hate him?

Throw in a considerable amount of athleticism and a healthy dose of leadership ability, and that guy is Tim Tebow.

Ironically, though, Tebow is one of the most loved and most hated sports figures in America.

On the off chance you don’t know who he is, Tebow was the 2007 Heisman trophy-winning quarter back for the Florida Gators, and he’s now the starting QB for the Denver Broncos.

He skyrocketed to prominence four seasons ago when, following a Florida loss to Ole Miss, Tebow, the starting quarterback, promised the college football world with clear conviction that no one would be more determined or work harder than him and his team the rest of the season.

The Gators didn’t lose another game, and went on to win the national championship with Tebow at the helm.

While many were inspired by his determination, others, particularly those in the media, were turned off when it became more and more apparent that Tebow’s passion and drive were rooted in his faith in Christ.

What bugs people so much?


Click here to read this article in entirety.

Redefining Christmas--2011

I typically "rant" this time of year about how a trend towards redefining Christmas continues to develop. This year will be no different.

Recently, a local television station in our area took a poll on whether business and establishments should say "Merry Christmas" or say "Happy Holidays". The same "dilemma" goes for circulars and publications from such organizations (usually peddling products).

I myself, do not celebrate "Ramadan". Nor Hanukkah. I do however, celebrate Christmas--a remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I also appreciate the traditions surrounding it: good will towards others, cheer, lights, and even a cup of eggnog.

One participant in the survey exclaimed something to the effect "We need to include all celebrations, therefore we should say "Happy Holidays". This is the typical sentiment with those uncomfortable with Christ in Christmas.

For those celebrating Hanukkah, I would not insist you redefine the name of your holiday to fit my beliefs. I will pray you come to the knowledge of Jesus of Christ, but would I insist you redefine your holiday? No. Nor would I do so for Ramadan, or any other non-Christian holiday.

Christmas is a Christian holiday. If you do not like the Christ in it, how is it you feel you should redefine something others hold so dear?

John 1:1-10
1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2) He was in the beginning with God.
3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7) This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9) That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.