Let Your “Light” Shine For Christ
I’m all for showing the cross, but this offering from American Family Association looks eerily like a burning cross:
Hat tip to Michael Hall.
Entries Tagged as 'Christianity'
Scott Eckern Did A Bad, Bad Thing
Scott Eckern, artistic director of the California Musical Theatre, did a no-no in the eyes of his community. He contributed $1,000 to the to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign in California, which supported the ban on gay marriage. Now he’s been forced to resign.
“I understand that my choice of supporting Proposition 8 has been the cause of many hurt feelings, maybe even betrayal. It was not my intent. I honestly had no idea that this would be the reaction. I chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved,” he said in his statement. “I support each individual to have rights and access and I understood that in California domestic partnerships come with the same rights that come with marriage. My sister is a lesbian and in a committed domestic partnership relationship. I am loving and supportive of her and her family, and she is loving and supportive of me and my family.”
Oregon passed the Oregon Family Fairness Act after Oregon Voters defined marriage in a constitutional amendment as “between a man and a woman.”
House Bill 2007 – the Oregon Family Fairness Act – made available to same-sex couples the more than 500 rights and responsibilities available through marriage to opposite sex couples under state law. Here are twenty-five of them:
1. Automatic right to make health care decisions for partner
2. Automatic right to visit partner in the hospital
3. Right to sue for wrongful death if partner negligently killed
4. Preference to be appointed personal representative of deceased partner’s estate
5. Right to continue to live in the deceased partner’s home for one year after partner’s death
6. Right to support from deceased partner’s estate
7. Right to demand one-quarter share of partner’s estate if will leaves less than that
8. Right to private visits in long-term care facility
9. Right to share a room in long-term care facility
10. Right to file joint state tax returns
11. Automatically an “authorized driver” on partner’s rental car
12. Automotive personal injury protection benefits for partner
13. Automatic right to obtain life insurance on partner
14. Uninsured motorist insurance coverage for partner
15. Protection for partner’s home in bankruptcy
16. Private conversations with partner are protected in court
17. Conversations with a marriage counselor are protected in court
18. Automatic assumed parentage for children
19. Need not testify against partner in a court case
20. Right as a partner to a landowner to obtain a “landowner preference tag” for hunting from the Fish & Wildlife Commission
21. Right to receive personal effects from deceased partner’s body
22. Automatic right of survivorship for jointly owned real property
23. Right to workers’ compensation benefits if partner disabled or killed on the job
24. Right to receive deceased partner’s unemployment benefits
25. Protection through emergency court orders in case of divorce
There are some who think domestic partners should have the cache of “marriage” and are still working in Oregon for the amendment to be amended. Can’t the majority have their say as long as the minority’s rights are protected?
7 Reasons Why Obama Is Not A Christian
Rev. Don Hamer on behalf of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission has launched a powerful campaign against Barack Obama titled 7 Reasons Why Obama Is Not A Christian. The words spoken often in the YouTube videos, are
“Barack Obama, who claims to be a Christian, is not a Christian, by any biblical or historic measure.”
I’ve read that many evangelicals are moving to Obama. Is this enough to bring them back to the fold? The latest polls show a tightening race with the undecided going for McCain. This isjust the kind of thing that is persuasive to many.
The Use of Clergy Under Martial Law???
Homeland Security Enlists Clergy to Quell Public Unrest if Martial Law Ever DeclaredI think I’ve heard it all, then this use of the clergy idea comes along. I just shake my head. Why would some bureaucrat think we would listen to the clergy? Why because of Romans 13.
…”because the government’s established by the Lord, you know. And, that’s what we believe in the Christian faith. That’s what’s stated in the scripture.”
From Biblegateway:
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Tell that to Martin Luther, tell that to Gandhi, tell that to Alexander Solzenitzen, tell that to Martin Luther King Jr., tell that to Rosa Parks, or Jackie Robinson. Tell that to all the brave men who challenged the King of England and signed The Declaration of Independence! Give me a freakin’ break!Homeland Security href=”http://technorati.com/tag/Clergy” rel=”tag”>Clergy href=”http://technorati.com/tag/Romans+13″ rel=”tag”>Romans 13 href=”http://technorati.com/tag/Mover+Mike” rel=”tag”>Mover Mike
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R.I.P Jerry Falwell
Drudge has a headline up reporting the colorful Christian minister, Jerry Falwell, is dead. Loved by many, hated by some, I most remember him for his sound bites:
“I had a student ask me, “Could the savior you believe in save Osama bin Laden?” Of course, we know the blood of Jesus Christ can save him, and then he must be executed”
“The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country”
“The whole (global warming) thing is created to destroy America’s free enterprise system and our economic stability”
“Can you imagine the insolence of these protesters? … They have the audacity to disparage and demean these courageous soldiers who are enduring great physical and emotional trauma because they believed in the effort to bring freedom to Iraq.”
“The media have a widely-held agenda (that doesn’t include support of President Bush) and they are not about to tarnish the image of anti-war protesters by showing them for what they actually are, … With this tyrannical approach to the news, it’s really no wonder so many Americans don’t take the networks seriously anymore. And it’s no wonder that conservative Internet news sites have grown by leaps and bounds.”
He was a patriot, but his views on Homosexuality are repugnant to me and, IMO, have hurt the Republican party. It used to preach that the party was a big tent and could hold all who wanted a smaller government. Now it seeks to exclude and is made smaller by the effort.
Update:
Thompson Not Christian???
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson implies that former Senator Fred Thompson is not a Christian.
“Everyone knows he’s conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for,” (said) Dobson – considered the most politically powerful evangelical figure in the U.S….
“[But] I don’t think he’s a Christian. At least that’s my impression.”
“We use that word – Christian – to refer to people who are evangelical Christians.
The press thinks Dobson’s comments are a devastating blow to Thompson’s political ambitions. How arogant to define “Christian” as just evangelical. It is the evangelicals with their religion in your face that turns off many of any political persuasion; “Born Agains” as many call them with a sneer or a roll of the eyes.
I’m for people who put into practice the teachings of Jesus Christ rather than those who insist on being judgemental. Senator Fred Thompson’s views, as I know them, are just fine with me.
Movie Review: “Hidden Secrets”
Actor Carey Scott turns director in Hidden Secrets.
Scott’s Filmography:
2006 Hidden Secrets Director
2003 Bruce Almighty Actor: Partying Sports Guy
1990 Diving in Actor: Ryes Wallstein
1987 Distortions Actor: Male Hustler
1987 Not Quite Human Actor: Paul Fairgate
1984 Making the Grade Actor: Rand
Scott has directed a Christian movie rated PG, starring John Schneider, David A.R. White, Tracy Melchior and Reginald Vel Johnson. When I think of “Christian” movie, I picture a film that is sacharine, not realistic in today’s sex drenched, violent and profane culture. Maybe not dealing in adult reality. Hidden Secrets is PG to be sure, but deals with real adult situations: forgiveness and the impact of past secrets on life today in an overtall Christian way.
In this film we have Dukes of Hazard star Schneider as a man seeking answers, an agnostic, but well versed in the Old Testament. We have a woman who is Christian on the outside, but a hypocrite. We have a Tracy Melchior, the recent widow with a terrible secret who feels unworthy and we have David A.R. White who has lost his ability to trust.
Hidden secrets can be funny and poignant and deals with many hot-button issues like homosexuality, celibancy, pre-marital sex and forgiveness.
I enjoyed the movie and gave it a seven out of 10. I graded it down for the way it treated homosexuality as a moral issue, treating it almost as one would treat an addiction to alcohol, by faith and celebancy. . I know that many think it is immoral. I would guess that is the prevailing view among many evangelicals. I consider myself a Christian who wears the cloak lightly. I am not one to ask if you have made Jesus your personal savior. I count several men among my friends who are gay and believe as I do that it was not a lifestyle choice, but biological; they were born that way.
I would recommend seeing the movie for anyone able to understand the concepts.
The DVD Hidden Secrets was brought to my attention by Active Christian Media, formerly known as Mind & Media, and founded by Stacy L. Harp. ACM was created with the purpose to help publishers, authors and others in media, use the blogosphere to promote their books and other products. The name change happened in March 2006, in order to incorporate Stacy’s passion for activism and media. At my request I was sent the DVD from Pure Flix Entertainment to review. The movie will hit theaters April 30th. For the trailer see www.hiddensecrets-themovie.com
Hidden Secrets Carey Scott Christain Mover Mike
Update:
Religion and aggression cannot co-exist, says Pell
Here’s another religious figure that gets it:
From News.com.au
Archbishop George Cardinal Pell yesterday told the nation’s clerics they needed to address the links between Islam and violence instead of sweeping them under the carpet.[…]
They (The violent reactions of Muslims) showed the link for many Islamists between religion and violence, their refusal to respond to criticism with rational arguments, but with violence,” Cardinal Pell said.
Pope Benedict XVI Archbishop George Cardinal Pell Australia Islam Mover Mike
Update:
Not Going To Happen!
This along with $40 Oil will never happen!
Islamic Movement leader Sheik Ra’ad Salah said that Jerusalem will soon become the capital of an Islamic nation and that Israel’s occupation of the Temple Mount is nearing its end, Israel Radio reported on Friday.
He might want to read Joel Rosenberg’s The Ezekiel Option before he opines again.
Sheik Ra’ad Salah Islamic Movement Israel Jesus Christian Mover Mike
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Update:
Are We All On The Same Page With God?
Just what did Pope Benedict XVI say that incited many Muslims to violence?
Burning the Pope in effigy!
He first said:
…violence, embodied in the Muslim idea of jihad, or holy war, is contrary to reason and God’s plan, while the West was so beholden to reason that Islam could not understand it.
He continued with this statement:
“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread the sword by the faith he preached,” the pope quoted (a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus), in a speech to 1,500 students and faculty. He went on to say that violent conversion to Islam was contrary to reason and thus “contrary to God’s nature.”
GetReligion thinks there was another issue alluded to in the Pope’s speech, namely the question of whether salvation is found through Jesus, alone.
This leads us to the loaded question of whether Allah and the God of the Christian Trinity can be called “the same” God. Those famous Koranic inscriptions inside Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock are there for a reason, the ones declaring that Allah “begets no son and has no partner,” that “he is God, one, eternal” and that “he does not beget, nor is he begotten.” See you later, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Is Pope Benedict XVI really moving the Catholic church and the larger body of Christianity to this stark schism? GetReligion seems to think so.
Pope Benedict XVI Islam Muslims Jesus Christian Mover Mike
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