And They Shall Know You By Your Fruits...

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:22-29

Now I have heard of the "salvation" of many Republican leaders and elected officials-how they were led to the Lord and inevitably saved from drink, gambling, sex and/or other types of vast and varied sin. I have always found it interesting, the public repentance or proclamation of “righteousness.” I have been further amazed by the complete lack of understanding of Christianity that most public officials have. You probably should not, and by most accounts cannot be both a national figure in the form of an elected official and a leader or an example of righteousness, piousness or spiritual advancement. Very few men/women have actually lived the example of Christ and been a political leader, operative and/or commentator. For instance, say you were a radio talk show host who used to work in the White House under –let’s say Reagan, just for kicks, who pushes moral values despite a somewhat checkered past with some kind of vice. Let’s say-gambling, just for the sake of argument. Well, I believe deeply in redemption. I believed anyone can change there ways, and after all, gambling is not illegal. So maybe you do have a little moral high ground, having gone through something and come out a changed person, which is the every nature of salvation and redemption right? So, if you were to say something like, “… [on abortion] if you get rid of Black babies…that would lower the crime rate.” Can you just see Jesus nodding at that one? In fact, the only time the color of someone’s skin is mentioned in the entire Bible-Old and New Testimate, is when describing some sort of disease. Or say you are an elected official serving in the federal government, with somewhat of a past. Let’s say you were fond of the hot tub parties-a lot. Okay, so you are sober now, you have repented, you have cleaned up your act, you are saved and sanctified. Okay, so you take a little bribe here and there, use resources that might very well be illegal, fudge the line between what is ethical and unethical and attempt to change the rules when you are threatened with being caught. Why, being indicted for violations of campaign laws in a state where is really hard to actually violate campaign laws is, well, a lot like the persecutions of the saints. It is almost identical to what happened to Paul right? I could give other examples, like say, a so called moral leader lying about financial matter and being investigated, or a so called religious leader calling for the death of someone because he doesn’t like his politics, or a so called political leader who is so very Christian, he steals from the poor to give to the very rich. These are all Christian values-right? We Real Christians really do need to take back our name. It’s my mission, and I’m sticking to it.

Return Oh Backslider

The New Pharisees

From Media Matters: “On the September 20 broadcast of James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio show, Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington, identified ‘three types of looters’ in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. ‘The first set,’ Hutcherson said, ‘came in, stole clothes, stole food, stole appliances, stole televisions.’ Then he stated, ‘The second set of looters ... was the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons,’ whom he accused of ‘[coming] in and [saying] they are representing all the black community. ... They are the ones who said they are stealing power from us.’ Hutcherson continued: ‘[T]he third set of looters that's even worse, that's taking advantage of this whole situation, is the liberal minds who's [sic] trying to take over our courts.’ Continuing his criticism of ‘liberal minds,’ Hutcherson asked Dobson, ‘[C]an you believe and understand, 17 out of 17 states voted against same-sex marriage? ... Then the courts came along and says [sic], “Your vote is unconstitutional.”’ Dobson replied, ‘That's looting.’ According to his website, Hutcherson was a ‘three-time special guest speaker on the Billy Graham Crusade team.’ Hutcherson has been a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage and has organized several protest events, including a ‘Mayday for Marriage’ event that, according to an October 15, 2004, Washington Post article, was held ‘to decry same-sex marriage and “let everyone know God is in control” of the [2004] elections.’ Hutcherson has made repeated appearances on the air with Dobson, who affectionately calls him ‘Hutch.’”

Point One-For those out there you are Christians, you should be aware of this Bible passage: “¹⁵If your brother sins against you,^[a] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ¹⁶But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'^{[b] 17}If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17. It never ceases to amaze me that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are acceptable targets to the Religious Right with no repercussions whatsoever. Whatever their faults, whatever their sins, as long as they profess Christ, as a Christian, people like the “good” Reverend Dobson or Robertson, or Hutcherson have an obligation to go to them and talk to them like brothers with honest differences. While I can understand (not excuse or agree with, just understand) why it may be so for these people to dismiss Reverend Sharpton over his past, the animosity directed toward Reverend Jackson I just don’t get. Yeah, he had an affair, but the Bible refers to David as a man after God’s own heart, and not only did he sleep with and impregnate a married woman, he had her husband killed. If God can forgive David, why is it these so called righteous people can’t seem to but Reverend Jackson’s sins behind him? Do these men know more than God? Point Two- Why is it the Religious Right are so sure they know God’s mind or His intentions? Jesus said: "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27; "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Luke 10:22. Do these men, born in sin just like every other man know the mind of God more so than Jesus? Point Three- I cannot recall one single incidence of a Christian being jailed, shot, hung, or stoned for being a Christian in the United States of America. I can recall people being shot, beat up, blown up, and shot for not being the Religious Right’s ideal of a Christian. Jesus refused to answer question of government, but talked exclusively of spiritual matters. An example on taxes: “¹⁵Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. ¹⁷Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ ¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? ¹⁹Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, ²⁰and he asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’ ²¹’Caesar's,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.’ ²²When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” Matthew 15-22. While John the Baptist raged against the king, Jesus kept all his teaching focused on the soul. Nowhere could I find in the New Testimate that we are charged to tear down governmental authority, but to be concerned with the ultimate authority of God. That does not mean we should not, in a free society vote and fight for what is right, it does not mean we should not be full citizens. I respect those who argue against abortion simple because they believe it to be murder. But no one has the right to judge another human being on their morality, especially those who seem confused about morality. Is it moral to loudly support any regime that ignores the needy? Is it moral to support any war against people who have not attacked you? Can you seriously see Jesus supporting capital punishment? (Crucifixion is an ancient form of execution for those confused.)

¹Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ²to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. ³At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 1-5

There are none righteous-no not one. By writing this I have violated parts of Point One, but I feel honor and duty bound as a Christian who votes Democrat more times than not because of ALL my beliefs, not just one or two to let people know what a real Christian (not that I am not a sinner, I have fallen far, far short and I have never walked on water) is like.

Hot Gossip!!!

So, I was checking out Wonkette and I saw “Bush Boozing?” http://www.wonkette.com/, so I went to Nation Enquirer http://www.nationalenquirer.com/celebrity/63426 and wow! Supposedly, the Enquirer is a rag that id filled with lies and innuendos, except when it’s true. Coupled with the article from Capital Blue dated August 15 http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7218.shtml kind of makes you wonder. Just who is this guy in the White House?

ANYONE IN ALLEN BOYD'S DISTRICT

"Honorable" Allen Boyd
Republican Lite

If you live in Leon County Florida, please visit John Conyers website http://johnconyers.com/index.asp?Type=NONE&SEC={456ECCD5-4EAC-4C6D-8A17-89728B250AE2} and copy his leader to resist efforts to have voters present id. I plan on going door to door to have people sign this letter and send to him as well as the Tallahassee Democrat. If you don't want to do that, please provide me with your name and I will add you to the petition. Congressman Boyd is notorious for being Republican-light; perhaps he needs to have a little reminder of whom he works for!

Blame On

First of all, in situations like Katrina, there is no such thing as a "Blame Game." This is not some trivial debate topic; this is the devastation of a major U.S. city, a dozens of smaller communities. Posted at Salon.com is an interesting timeline of the Katrina disaster. While the GOP is busy smearing Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco, and while Governor Blanco is busy licking Bush’s boots (which is truly beyond me) the true timeline truly shows the depth of the ineptitude that is the Bush Administration.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/09/15/katrina_timeline/index.html

What Are You Going To Do ?

So I have to ask,

what are you going to do?

Now that you know

how much they value you?

Now that it is

right in your face;

What they really think

about your race.

Do you still believe

“The Dream” has been achieved?

No need for “entitlements”

you have what you need.

Is the playing field leveled

have we reached our goal?

Pull up those bootstraps

make a diamond out of coal.

But when they look at you

what do they see?

Are you just as American

Or just a potential refugee?

We Are Better Than This

America, we are so much better than this. As many of private citizens are proving, we can rise to the occasion, we can face any obstacle. Apparently, our federal government cannot. Apparently, they can rise to the occasion for Terri Schiavo, but not for the people of the Gulf Coast. The "bleeding heart liberals" and "Far left activist" were right, Global Warming exists and it is dangerous. If the proof is in the pudding, take a gander. And these people are still waiting for help. Why? There is no excuse for this, four days after the hurricane. And yet, they say the National Guard is not over extended, they say "help is on the way." Well, where is it? I guess because the people on the Gulf Coast are not brain dead they don't need food. (Remember, "Terry is starving to death, and we don't do that here in the United States?)