April / May 2003
Dear ones,
As this is being written, the war in Iraq is underway. Its stated goal
is to free Iraq from the tyranny of a despotic madman, but it could
ignite a wider war in the Middle East--perhaps even the final war there.
Al-ready, one Marine is dead and others wounded from a mine, and 4 Marines
and 8 Royal Marine Comman-dos are dead in a downed helicopter. Meanwhile,
however, even as we pray for God's will to be done there, and for the
safety of our fighting men, we must continue living in this anti-Christian
world, and there are things we need to know; some of them follow.
THERE ARE GODLY COMMANDERS
As the First Marine division attacks to capture the Iraqi port city
of Basra, the Third Infantry Divi-sion attacks in the western desert,
and air and naval forces support them, the words of one officer speak
for them all. Captain Ronnie Johnson, commander of a rifle company in
the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry, told his troops, "Take care of
yourself. Take care of your brother. Don't leave your honor in Iraq.
Do what's right. Do what millions of American soldiers have done before
you. Do the right thing; what we do in life echoes in eternity. God
be with you all." Thank God that we have such men commanding our
troops. (ANS/PWB)
AT LAST: A BAN ON PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION!
On 13 March the senate passed the ban on the cruel, barbaric procedure
called partial birth abor-tion, and President Bush is eager to sign
it into law. He hailed the passage as "an important step toward
building a culture of life in America." There is little doubt that
Al Gore, had he been elected in 2000, would have vetoed the bill, as
Bill Clinton did consistently, when he was President. (PWB, et al)
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR THE UNBORN
The Supreme Court has ruled recently that pro-life demonstrators at
abortion mills cannot be prosecuted under the "RICO" (Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws. These laws, which were enacted
to fight organized crime, have been used in recent years by the abortion
industry to silence pro-life demonstrators. This is very, very good
news. And there is more…….
"INFORMED CONSENT" LAW UPHELD
Now, the Supreme Court has upheld Indiana's informed consent law, passed
eight years ago, and it is one of the strongest in the nation. This
means that in Indiana a woman must be told, face to face, the risks
involved, her alternatives to abortion, the name of the abortionist,
and the stage of development of her baby. Then she must wait 18 hours
before having the baby killed. Planned Parenthood, the world's abortion
leader, has long admitted (complained) that most women, if required
to wait for 24 hours, will decide against abortion. Indiana's 18 hour
waiting period is, in effect, a 24 hour period, for it means waiting
until the next day, or over a weekend. (ANS/PWB)
A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
Jimmy Houston is an award-winning professional fisherman and host of
the ESPN2 TV series, "Jimmy Houston Outdoors." He has refused
to wear a Busch Beer patch and put a Busch decal on his bass boat. He
is the only one out of 182 members of the Bass Anglers' Sportsman Society
(BASS) to refuse, and his principled stand has caused him to lose a
chance at the $100,000 Angler of the Year prize. Jimmy is a deacon in
his First Southern Baptist Church in Keys, Oklahoma, and is a man of
principle. (PWB)
NEW HOPE FOR CONSERVATIVE JUDGES
Until now, the Democrat control of the Senate Judiciary Committee has
obstructed the filling of a growing number of vacancies for federal
judges. The president has continued to send well-qualified candi-dates
forward, but hearings and confirmation have been shamelessly blocked.
Their obstruction has been particularly passionate in the case of judges
whom they fear will not support abortion. Now, with Republi-cans in
control of committees, the president is re-nominating all those candidates;
the outlook for hearings is excellent, and for confirmation it is pretty
good. (ANS)
"MISTER ROGERS" DEAD AT 74
Fred Rogers, TV's host of the children's program "Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood" for more than 30 years, died in March of cancer.
His gentle manner, and the absolute wholesomeness of his program created
a children's classic. What most of us didn't know is that Fred Rogers
was an ordained Presbyterian minister. (PWB)
JOSEPH'S TOMB DEMOLISHED BY ARABS
When the patriarch Joseph was dying in Egypt, he prophesied that his
family would return from Egypt to Canaan, and ordered that when it occurred
his body would be carried with them and buried in his homeland. His
body was embalmed in the Egyptian manner, was subsequently returned
to Canaan, and was buried there, in the village of Shechem. (Shechem
is today called Nablus). When Yassir Arafat's Palestin-ian Authority
took control of Nablus in Oct. 2000, he promised that Joseph's tomb
would be protected; al-most immediately, smoke was seen billowing from
the tomb as Arabs burned the contents and took picks and sledgehammers
to the stone building. In late February the site was again attacked,
with every remain-ing trace demolished. Had a Muslim sacred site been
"desecrated," even by being entered (or touched) by a Christian
or Jew, millions of Muslims would have taken to the streets in murderous
mania, it would have been the lead story in all establishment news media,
and the UN would have passed a resolution condemn-ing it. (ANS)
A LIFE LESSON
I have learned that when visiting someone in deep grief, the best thing
to say is usually nothing at all. There are usually no words of comfort
that will not ring hollow to the one in grief-or not even be heard;
it is your presence which comforts. Your presence says, "I care,
I hurt for you, and if I can help, I would like to do that"; and
it says this without a word. (see Prov. 25:20)
"CHOOSE LIFE" IS THREATENING?
The Florida Legislature, with Governor Bush's encouragement, has provided
for the sale of auto license plates reading, "Choose Life;"
proceeds from the sales go to support adoption agencies. Pro-abortion
groups have sued to stop it, all the way to the 11th Circuit Court of
Appeals, and lost, a victory for the helpless unborn. One wonders, what
could be so threatening about "Choose Life" as to make people
spend so much time, effort and money to fight it? Proverbs 8:36 seems
to explain it, "All they that hate me (God and His wisdom), love
death." (ANS)
CHRISTIAN COLLEGE WELCOMES HOME-SCHOOLERS
While the government education establishment continues to fight home-schooling,
one college in Mississippi welcomes home school graduates. Bellhaven
College in Jackson has welcomed such students for five years, and 1/5th
of this year's incoming freshman class will be home-schoolers. The school
even offers special scholarships for home-schoolers, and more than half
the Bellhaven faculty members home-school their own children. Bellhaven
was chosen as one of "America's Best Colleges for 2002" by
U.S. News and World Report (definitely NOT a Christian magazine). (ANS/USNWR)
ISRAELI WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES? NO WAY!
As radical feminists continue to push for "unisex" armed forces,
and for women in all combat roles, they continue to repeat the lie that
women occupy combat roles in Israel. The truth? Israel did try women
in combat roles in the desperate war for their independence in 1948;
but they found that it just doesn't work, and permanently abandoned
the idea. In commenting on the push for American women on Navy ships
and as combat soldiers, an Israeli general observed, "Unfortunately,
over here, we have to take war seriously. Sure (we) give women some
training, but they are treated very differently." (ANS)
ARE THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS PRO-ABORTION?
Pro-life activists Benjamin K. Owen and Stephen R. Decker have been
dis-fellowshipped from their Redmond, Washington Seventh Day Adventist
Church. What was their offense? They went public with the fact that,
according to their research, the SDA Church has been quietly pro-abortion
for 30 years, and has performed thousands of abortions in its many hospitals,
contrary to the fact that most of its mem-bers are pro-life and believe
their denomination to be pro-life. (PWB)
HOORAY FOR VISA!
One major corporation that is a force for good, rather than for evil,
is VISA, the credit card com-pany. VISA is a long-time warrior against
computer pornography, identifying porn web sites and blocking them from
using the VISA card. Reportedly, they have been instrumental in shutting
down more than 300 illegal porn sites. The other credit card giant,
MasterCard, is expected to follow VISA's example. (PWB)
WHEATON COLLEGE YIELDS TO CULTURAL PRESSURE
It seems to be inevitable that Christian denominations and institutions
in time drift ever farther from the beliefs and principles on which
they were founded. So it has been with universities like Harvard and
Yale, which were founded for the training of Christian clergy, but now
are overtly anti-Christian and hostile to Biblical fundamentals. So
it has been with denominations, once committed to Biblical and Chris-tian
foundational principles and dynamic influences for good, but which have
become little more than pur-veyors of religious confusion and "feel
good" rhetoric, as they function as anti-Christ change agents for
such things as heresy, sodomy, and abortion. We shouldn't be surprised,
then, to learn that at Wheaton Col-lege, once the Mecca of evangelical
education, use of alcohol and tobacco, and on-campus dancing, once forbidden,
are now accepted. The law of entropy seems to apply, even at Wheaton
College. (PWB/ANS)
MORE BITTER FRUIT FROM A UNISEX MILITARY
Speaking of established institutions and yielding to cultural pressure,
our "unisex" armed forces continue to bear bad fruit. Only
the Marine Corps still stands against the pressure and trains and billets
men and women separately; the other services continue to place men and
women in sleeping and duty arrange-ments that predictably lead to unhealthy
sexual behavior. The latest revelation comes from the Air Force Academy,
wellspring of the Air Force's future leaders, where, according to Secretary
of the Air Force James Roche, more than 50 cases of rape or other sexual
assault have been reported in the Cadet Corps in the last 10 years,
since the Clinton administration pushed coed billeting and training
on the armed forces. And these are only the ones reported and acknowledged
by the Air Force. (ANS)
REALITY CHECK: RANK HYPOCRISY BY NGLTF
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) is one of the major
homosexual pressure groups in the nation. One of their principal campaigns
has been to pressure businesses to extend "domestic partner"
benefits to homosexual employees, as if they were a married couple.
They have heaped loud, ve-hement public abuse on any business, or other
hiring institution, which has refused to comply. But--hey--the shoe
is now on the other foot. According to the prominent homosexual newspaper,
"Washington Blade," NGLTF has withdrawn such benefits from
its own employees, saying that it has been "too expen-sive."
It requires no stretch to call this rank hypocrisy on the part of NGLTF;
a little reality can be a healthy thing. (ANS)
LESBIAN ORDINATION APPROVED BY PCUSA
The supreme court of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the large, liberal
Presbyterian denomina-tion, has approved ordination of Kathleen Morrison,
an openly lesbian minister who has a live-in female "partner."
Although Miss Morrison is flagrant with her lesbianism, and is field
organizer for a caucus of "homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
Presbyterians," the Permanent Judicial Commission ruled that there
was no evidence of violation of denominational policy. (ANS)
"PROJECT TEN": DEADLY PROPAGANDA
AT SCHOOL
"Project Ten" is a pro-homosexual curriculum being used in
many public schools, urging not only "tolerance" of sodomy
and other deviant, destructive practices, but encouraging experimentation
with them. In some public schools it is done so inconspicuously that
other teachers in the same school are not aware of it. The name is taken
from the discredited "research" of Indiana University's perverted
professor, Alfred Kinsey, who dreamed up the "fact" that 10%
of us are homosexuals. The worst thing about it is that one of its main
teaching points is, "Try it before you criticize it." To the
unsophisticated mind of a trusting child, this will sound very reasonable
and convincing; however, to those of us older and wiser, it is an absurd
argument. Should we try a mouthful of arsenic before we reject it as
a bad idea? How about driving 120 mph on a winding road while blindfolded?
How about trying Russian roulette with 6 rounds in a .357 magnum, or
trying a parachute jump without a parachute? You and I can see the absurdity
of their argu-ment; but a child probably won't. Is "Project Ten"
in your school? It could be there without your knowl-edge. (CSN, et
al)
NARAL IS CHANGING ITS NAME
The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)
is changing its name, in an apparent effort to improve its public image.
The new name is "NARAL Pro-Choice America." Sandy Rios, Concerned
Women for America president, says that no "golden name" will
cover the ugliness of what NARAL stands for. She put it this way: "The
pro-abortion lobby lives in denial, and continually uses words to spin
a web of lies and deceit. Abortion destroys human life at its most innocent
and vulnerable level, and no beautiful name will ever cover their support
of that." (ANS)
EPISCOPAL CHURCH USA SUPPORTS SODOMY
Not long ago all states had laws making sodomy a crime, but the homosexual
power structure is attacking such laws with considerable success. At
the moment, the big push is to repeal the sodomy law in Texas. Now,
the Episcopal Church USA has joined more than 100 pro-homosexual groups
in attacking the Texas law. Two homosexual men set up police with a
phony call for help, to get police to arrive as they were sodomizing,
thus deliberately getting themselves "caught" to create a
test case. The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold III, Episcopal Bishop, filed
the action in support of the sodomy, and in opposition to the law; this
is another illustration of the growing power of homosexuals in the traditional
denominations. (ANS)
JOYCELYN ELDERS AT METHODIST CONFERENCE
Radical and controversial former Clinton Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders
was a featured speaker at a December conference on AIDS sponsored by
the United Methodist Church's Missions Board. Before a receptive audience,
Elders rebuked the denomination for not promoting condom distribution,
and she at-tacked the teaching of abstinence outside marriage, both
views for which she is well known. Like most AIDS conferences, this
one was friendly to the homosexual agenda. Another speaker, Hebrew Scholar
Randy Bailey, told conferees that he believes the first part of the
Book of Esther is a homosexual story. And trusting, God-honoring Methodists,
most of whom have no idea that such things are done, or refuse to believe
it when told, paid for this conference. (ANS/United Methodist News Service)
DO YOUR CHILDREN VISIT "CHAT ROOMS"?
Sexual predators lurk in internet "chat rooms," seeking (often
successfully) to seduce young girls (and boys). Sometimes the danger
can be even greater because the predator may seem to be trustworthy
and safe. Richard Knox, a 48-year-old Nazarene missionary in Hermitage,
Tennessee, has been indicted by a Boise, Idaho grand jury for engaging
in numerous sex acts with a 16-year-old Idaho girl. He began his criminal
relationship with the girl last year, in a chat room, and the FBI has
been monitoring his e-mail with the girl since November. Knox is on
sabbatical leave from the mission field in Southeast Asia. (ANS)
THE WORKING ANT: A "MISTAKE"
IN THE BIBLE?
Long ago, I was taught that there are many errors and contradictions
in the Bible; because those who said and wrote such things had advanced
degrees, and knew much more than I did, I believed them. Since coming
to know the Lord, I have studied the Bible for more than 32 years, and
have yet to find an error or contradiction. There is one passage, however,
that continued to trouble me, because I have some knowledge of biology,
having taught it at the college level. This passage is Proverbs 6:6-8,
which holds up the ant as an example of industriousness, hard work and
self-discipline, necessary for prosperity. The pas-sage states that
the ant (speaking of the worker ant) does all this, "having no
guide, overseer or ruler." The problem in my mind was that ants
are within the group of insects that we call "colonial" insects,
like bees. They have a queen, i.e., a "ruler," and therefore
they don't have the option of working or not working. This appeared
to be an error.
However, in thinking recently about the ant colony, I realized that
there is no error here. In the ant colony, the queen isn't a ruler;
she doesn't oversee, organize, or direct the activities of the colony.
She is merely a breeding machine, protected because she is essential
to the ongoing existence of the colony. The activities of the workers
are programmed into their neurochemistry (as are the activities of the
queen, soldiers, etc). In exquisite complexity, the neurochemical reactions,
designed and created in them by God, direct and con-trol their actions.
They have a ruler alright, but it is not that oversized egg machine
in the heart of the col-ony called the queen; their ruler is their Creator,
and they do what they do precisely because He made them that way.
TV VIOLENCE AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
A study recently conducted by the University of Michigan, like so many
before it, finds that chil-dren who watch TV violence are more likely
to behave violently than those who don't, both boys and girls. No surprises
there. But this study is one of the few to follow the children into
adulthood, covering 15 years, and the violent behavior continued as
adults. And this study, with compelling findings, doesn't take into
account violent video games and movies, which have their own destructive
impact. It should be clear by now that TV, unless carefully controlled,
is a deadly presence in the home.(ANS) And then there is music (and
"music"); read on…….
THE IMPACT OF WHAT KIDS LISTEN TO
Equally pathological to what is watched on TV is what is listened to
in music (and "rap" which passes for music). It soaks into
their minds, colors their souls, and poisons their values. It has done
much to coarsen our once-civil culture. Cultural commentator, R. Cort
Kirkwood, has summed much of this up in one brief paragraph: "Today
simply observe the number of suburban white kids who have adopted the
pat-ois (dialect), body language, and accoutrements, of…hip-hop
and rap stars, many of whom are criminals and "sing" openly
of killing whites and raping "bitches." When you see the ball
cap turned backward and the baggy jeans hanging halfway down your son's
behind, well, even if he doesn't listen to or like the mu-sic, he has
absorbed the message." (Syndicated from Harrisonburg, Va. Daily
News-Record)
AS MOSQUES MULTIPLY AMONG US…
Mosques are being built in the Western World (the "Christian"
World) at a rate far greater than are churches. In England, churches
are now forbidden to ring their bells at certain times of day so as
not to dis-turb the Muslims. In almost any large city in England and
the US there will be not just one mosque, but several. Meanwhile, Muslim
nations enforce laws against any recognizable Christian presence. In
Saudi Arabia, our supposed "friend" in the Middle East, being
seen with a cross or a Bible can bring imprison-ment or death. The Saudi
Defense Minister, Prince Sultan, announced to the press that Saudi Arabia
will never allow Christian churches or Jewish synagogues to be built
there. He called those of us who would like to establish a Christian
presence there, "fanatics."(ANS)
CHURCHILL ON ISLAM
While our government insists that Saudi Arabia does not practice violation
of religious freedom, and that Islam is "a peaceful religion,"
the evidence supports the very opposite. This position taken by the
current administration is clearly political, and dishonest. Winston
Churchill entertained no such illusions. Concerning Islam he said that
it is "that religion which, above all others, was founded and propagated
by the sword-the tenets and principles of which are incentives to slaughter-and
which, in three continents, has produced fighting breeds of men, and
stimulates a wild and merciless fanaticism." (ANS)
"WORLD COURT" SWEARS IN JUDGES
Despite objections from the US, the so-called World Court took another
step toward functional reality in mid-March by swearing in 18 judges.
The court, the dear dream of one-world globalists, a product of the
Rome Treaty, is intended to try human-rights abusers. Bill Clinton,
who supports the idea (global government is one of the few things besides
his own pleasure and power that I believe he really believes in), gladly
signed the treaty as President. One of President Bush's first acts was
to rescind the signing of the treaty, which the Senate had never confirmed;
he says that he will never sign it. Question: do you think Al Gore would
have rescinded signing of the Rome Treaty and approval of the World
Court? (ANS)
TRUTH PLUS MERCY BRING FREEDOM
In the 16th chapter of Proverbs there is a great truth condensed into
the 18 words of verse 6: "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged;
and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil." (emphasis mine).
The Word of God is truth (Jesus said so in John 17:17), and only by
its clear, unchanging standards can man be rescued from self-destructive
sin and changed. Simply confronting the sinner with the truth (Scrip-ture),
however, is not enough; it must come with the inseparable message of
mercy. Truth without mercy is too hard; mercy without truth is too soft.
Mercy, combined with truth, however, combine to convince man to depart
from evil and live in harmony with God.
"THE OTHER WOMAN (MAN)" IN YOUR
MARRIAGE
Although they may not realize it, many men have "another woman"
in their marriages, and that woman is pornography. Because of the nature
of this newsletter, I can't elaborate, but if you consider the fact
that the most important and powerful sex organ is the brain, the picture
should take form. The ideal-ized (and unrealistic) women in the porn
pictures and films become very real in the mind, and the rest needs
no explanation. The very same thing can be said of women, who have "another
man"; although women are much less attracted to pornography than
men, it does happen (consider, for example, the com-mercial success
of "Cosmopolitan"). Porn is powerful, addictive, and deadly
poison; it will wreck a mar-riage, destroy a family, and lead to ever-increasing
perversion. Is there "another woman (man)" in your marriage?
If so, repent, renounce and get free. If necessary, get help. Sin is
a liar: it never delivers what it promises-it only delivers death. There
are ministries to help you get free, and one such ministry is Esther
Ministries, PO Box 2874 Tupelo, MS 38803, 662-842-0580, or www.estherministries.org.
LIFE LESSON FROM PROVERBS
"Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
seeing he hath no heart to it?" (Prov. 18:16). If one is living
unwisely, making bad choices, and behaving foolishly, no amount of money
spent on him will produce wisdom, if he doesn't want it.
MILESTONES
Died 13 Dec 02 - Glenn Sunderland, Salem, Ky., Christian
patriot and great friend of this ministry, at 65.
3 Jan - Mrs. Lela Holloway (grandmother of Joe
Mahoney, my son-in-law), at 97, in Baker City, OrE.
18 Feb - Koda Elijah Rector (son of Eddie and Carol
Rector of our Retreat Board), Madisonville, Ky., in a
tragic accident, at age 16.
21 Feb - Dr. Lysle M. Bach, Hannibal, Mo. (my broth
er-in-law), at 78, of complications following a heart attack.
.
A FINAL WORD
Treasure and use each day as if it were your last, and never give up
hope; God has a limitless sup-ply of new beginnings, and he makes beautiful
things out of broken pieces.
You are precious,
(Sources: AFAJ-American Family Journal; AFRN-American Family Radio News;
ANS-Agape News Ser-vice; AP-Associated Press; BP-Break Point; C-Charisma;
CBN-Christian Broadcasting Network; CR-Congressional Record; DR-Drudge
Report; EP-Evangelical Press; Fox (Fox News); FRC-Family Research Council;
GN-Good News Magazine; HC-History Channel; Ins-Insight Magazine; LAT-L.A.
Times; Mil-Military Magazine; NR-National Review; NW-Newsweek; NYP-New
York Post; NYT-New York Times; PWB-Pastors' Weekly Briefing; RTLB-Right
to Life Education Foundation Bulletin; USAT-USA Today; USNWR-U.S. News
and World Report; VOM-Voice of Martyrs; W-World Magazine; WND-World
Net Daily; WT-Washington Times; WW-Washington Watch.)