Why I Disagree With Tucker Carlson and Dr. Everett Piper

It is times like these when I so wish I was still on the radio, especially with Pat Campbell and Elvis Polo. We could have the most awesome debate and discussion on this subject at hand. Pat, I am sure would take the side of Dr. Piper and Tucker, while I would take the opposing side, and Elvis would be somewhere in between egging us on. We would have a great time with this and of course have Dr. Piper on, himself, to argue the case with me. In the absence of that we will have to hold the debate on Face Book. 

Unless you have been hiding in a cave waiting for the return of Jesus, you surely are aware of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's refusing to sign a state bill banning biological male athletes from participating on South Dakota collegiate sports teams. At first glance it seems like a really simple, cut and dry piece of legislation and a simple bill to sign. However, this is not the simple problem it appears to be. Let me say this, before I go on. I do not believe there is enough civil discourse among people today, especially among conservatives and Christians. We too often appear to be an undisciplined army of millions if not billions. I say this because we too often take sides, in the wrong way. We allow it to affect how we think of the person on the other side, and are too quick to write them off. It should not be that way. 

Having said that we, currently have Tucker Carlson, Dr. Everett Piper and others calling out or questioning South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for refusing to sign a state bill, barring biologically born males from participation in women's sports, in the state university system of South Dakota. I have to say, I am a huge fan of Tucker and have been for many years, even prior to his work at Fox News, for his commentary and for starting the online news source, "The Daily Caller." As for Dr. Piper, we have been friends and brothers for many years. He had me speak at Oklahoma Wesleyan University at different times and has always supported me, and efforts I was involved in. Furthermore, his books, especially-"Why I Am A Liberal and Other Conservative Ideas", are excellent. Tucker and Dr. Piper are good people and very smart, whom I agree with most of the time, but not this time. 

Kristi Noem states, the law suits and sanctions from the NCAA and others would cost the state millions AND they would most likely lose. She did not veto the bill, rather just did not sign it, asking the state legislature to just go back and "fix" it. Essentially she agreed to the banning of biological male participation in the primary and secondary sports portion, just not at the collegiate level. Noem's objection was based upon wanting to wait on that as part of a combined multi-state effort and plan. 

Enter Tucker Carlson, Dr. Piper and others. Per these gentlemen and others, Noem should have just signed the bill and let the chips fall. That seems simple enough and sounds good, however as I stated , it is not that simple. If it is, why have not larger states like Texas, Oklahoma and other states with NCAA Division One programs proposed and passed bills like this? Dr. Piper in his podcast mentions that he was president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University and has had the Alliance Defense Fund take up a case against the U.S. govt. on his behalf. That sounds good BUT the NCAA is not a federal entity and Oklahoma Wesleyan was an NAIA, not NCAA school. The NCAA is a private entity and can, therefore, make up its own rules that do not violate federal or state law. I know what you are thinking; Aha, but the NCAA would be breaking state law, if the bill were passed. Yes, that is true BUT, that is the point. The NCAA can then just say, were are out of the state of South Dakota. All SD schools with NCAA ties are no longer members and cannot compete in any NCAA competition or offer any NCAA scholarships. Does this help or hurt female athletes and universities in South Dakota? 

Now, my bigger, related question is; why, if this is such a great idea, have not any larger states with SEC, Big 10, Big 12, ACC or other conference affiliations taken the measures we are now chastising Kristi Noem for not taking? Why have OU, OSU, Texas, Alabama or others not fought or even objected to it? 

There is nothing prohibiting non-NCAA or private schools from having that policy of banning biological males from participation in their programs. As I said it looks simple but it is not that simple. however, you cannot compare OKWU an NAIA school with NCAA schools and you cannot take it from a person who has never participated in or been associated with NCAA sports (Tucker) to be the oracles on this. Ask yourself, do you really think Kristi Noem thinks biological males should compete in women's sports?  Is she doing this for big business political interests? In South Dakota?  Please, give me a better explanation than that.

I keep thinking of Jesus' saying, "to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves".  But we are doing the opposite.  An example was here in Oklahoma several years ago, when our state legislature actually put a law before the people banning "Sharia Law" from being used in our courts. As much as I oppose Islam and especially its introduction into our legal system, I immediately thought, how dumb, that will never stand. You CANNOT single out one particular religion to name in a law.  However, it was put on the ballot and voted on by the people. It was immediately struck down by the state supreme court. Was I against banning Sharia law from our judicial system? NO, of course not!!  I just knew there was a better way. Was it not simpler to just say only U.S. and OK law could be used and not mention a specific other law?  It would be like atheists saying, we want a law banning Judeo/Christian law from being used in our judicial system.  This is just an example of why good sounding law proposals can actually be a terrible ones.  Therefore, as Gov. Noem says, build a coalition of states, think this through, come up with a plan, build public support, enter in a unified action, THEN go after the NCAA. That is being wise and I believe will be much more successful. 

Let me say again, I very mush like Dr. Piper and Tucker Carlson, and will continue to listen to and support them. I just disagree on this one case, can we do that and still love and support one another?.

Why Juneteenth Should Not Be A National Holiday

I know I will be called all kinds of names for this article.  Let's see I can hear, "Uncle Tom", "Coon", "Boot Licker", that' is from just the Black folks and then there will be the ENLIGHTENED, "White Progressives" that will call me a "Race Traitor."  All I can say is "Bring IT ON"!!!

Let me begin by saying holidays used to be nice and I looked forward to them.  They also had real meaning.  Especially the big ones like Christmas/ Hanukkah, Easter, 4th of July and Thanksgiving.  Now the BIG ones are not so BIG and we have so many little ones that they really have little meaning or value; just some extra time off, while there are some working to make some additional little ones into Big ones plus adding more little ones.

Among these new ones would be June 19th, henceforth JUNETEENTH to all, which has been a growing Black Community celebration for many years.  It actually began as a local Galveston, TX celebration, grew to become a state wide holiday and is now, thanks to President Donald J. Trump, being pushed as a national holiday.  In case you wondered why I say thanks to President Trump, it is because prior to his people planning a "Trump Rally" on June 19th 2020, 85% of Americans and 99% of the World had no clue what Juneteenth is.  Since then, however, Juneteenth has been all over the news and spoken of as a major and vital, historical event.  It has become almost a household word and symbol of freedom or something like that.  I think the Black community owes this president a huge thank you, BUT not in our lifetime or many future lifetimes would that ever happen.

In case there is someone who still does not know about Junteenth, it is stated to be a celebration of the end of slavery in America.  The remembrance of June 19th, 1865, when a Union officer arrived in Galveston, TX, announced and read the Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation was an Executive Order by President Lincoln effective January 1, 1863, ending slavery in the Confederate States of America. These States had not followed the order for the 2 1/2 years since it went into effect, and it was ignored until the end of the civil war.  The people of Galveston created a celebration honoring this date. This was Independence Day for the former slaves in Galveston.  Union soldiers and officials had been traveling all over the country reading the Emancipation Proclamation on plantations throughout the south.

Booker T. Washington recounts the day a man came to his plantation and read the Executive Order and the immediate aftermath as follows:

"Finally the war closed, and the day of freedom came. It was a momentous and eventful day to all upon our plantation.... The most distinct thing that I now recall in connection with the scene was that some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United States officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper - the Emancipation Proclamation, I think. After the reading we were all free, and could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks.  This was the 'moment she had been praying for.'  For some minutes there was great rejoicing, and thanksgiving and wild scenes of ecstasy.   While Booker spoke of the celebration he added,   "This feeling lasted for only a brief period and then there was some change in feelings upon return to their cabins. The great responsibility of being free, of having charge of themselves, of having to think and plan for themselves and their children, seemed to take possession of them…These are the questions of a home, a living, the rearing of children, education, citizenship, and the establishment and support of churches."

As it is being presented today, Galveston was the last place to get word of the Executive Order and that was the end of slavery in America.  Juneteenth is a celebration to mark that end of slavery and some people are now wanting to see this honored as a national holiday. But it was not the last place to get word and it did not end slavery officially. The official end to slavery was December 6th, 1865.

I realize and want to say, many of those wanting to see Juneteenth as a national holiday are well meaning, Christians and other folk.  I sense a sincere benevolent desire, among many, to celebrate the end of a horrible institution.  I, however , disagree  that this should be the celebrated occasion, on several grounds.  For one, I am reminded of a skit on Mad TV, in its early days.  In this skit two Black employees for a company that wore uniforms like UPS, were called into their manager's office and about to be fired because of excessive absenteeism.  He told them they had missed a few hundred days of work in the last year and that could not be tolerated. They then informed him of all of the African American holidays, celebrations, marches and other events taking place in a year, they HAD TO take part in, plus time needed to travel to and from these events.

We currently have Martin Luther King's Birthday, Kwanzaa, and the entire month of February to celebrate as black holidays and events.  Tell me the other race, or people group that has that many days or events to celebrate.  I especially think of Native Americans.  What ONE holiday do we have to celebrate them and their heritage? Name me the Native American figure that has a national holiday in their honor.  Hispanics, who are now the second largest ethnic group in America have one day, "Cinco de Mayo" but it is not a national holiday.  Name me the Hispanic figure whose day we celebrate.  What about the Japanese? Is there a day to celebrate their release from internment camps? I know of none. Is there a day to honor any Asian personality?

I am making a point or trying to, that there is no reason to create another national holiday, especially to celebrate a local event.  Next we would be celebrating "Tulsa Race Massacre Day", which was actually just a riot regardless how how they try to couch it, not to mention Barack Obama's birthday and on and on. How many is enough?  On a side note, I predict we will be hearing about those as holidays soon, in this current climate. We will be told July 4th is not the true Independence Day so why not Juneteenth? We don't really need Labor Day, Memorial Day, so let's replace them with Obama's birthday.

Here is my real objection though. I see the creation of these "new" holidays as a historical replacement effort.  An effort by Progressive, Leftists, Communists and others who have such a disdain for this nation. They will not stop until they erase our history and replace it with their own. The elevation of Juneteenth is just another part of that plan.

You may have noticed all of the taking down of Confederate flags, statues and other relics of the Confederacy.   The stated purpose is that there is no place in this nation to honor theses disgraceful reminders.  Many people of good will agree with this, however, lately, statues and monuments of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Christopher Columbus, and the most recent victim Gen. Ulysses S. Grant have been removed or damaged.  In addition we have replaced Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays with a single President's Day and created room for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Was this a coincidence?

At first, I tried to understand and accept the removal of confederate monuments, but I recently realized what was really going on.  This is not just about removing the memory of these relics and people, as villains of American history, but removing them as reminders that the symbols and heroes of the confederacy, the villains of that period, all belonged to a single Party; the Democrat Party.  I did not understand this until the monuments of heroes of United States and the liberation of African slaves in our country, who were NOT Democrats, began being destroyed.

If getting rid of monuments or reminders of a dark and bleak past were really necessary, why do the Germans, Pols and Czechs keep Nazi concentration camps around, even paying for their upkeep?  Jews are good at keeping reminders of their past persecution.  For some reason Americans not so much.  Why??!  I believe it is because if people really begin looking at the history of these reminders, they will realize they point to the Democrat Party. Every Confederate general, political figure and slavery itself points to the Democrat Party. There is an attempt to re-write history downplaying the positive role of Republicans and others in creating a free and great nation while at the same time hiding the FACT that it was the Democrat Party fighting equality and liberty, for all, at every step.

While it should have been sufficient to get rid of the Confederate Civil War monuments and other reminders of how hard the Democrats fought to keep the institution of slavery intact, and all the Democrats did to fight emancipation afterwards, "Jim Crow Laws", "The KKK", lynchings and on and on, there is a second part to this destruction of history strategy.  They must also destroy knowledge and reminders of who built this land, who fought to end slavery and bring freedom to all Americans.   This is why we now see attacks upon Christopher Columbus, George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant. Why we have replaced Washington and Lincoln's birthdays with Presidents Day and made room for Martin Luther King Jr Day.

I could go into detail about every step and action Republicans took on behalf of the rights of EVERY person born here, and the various efforts by Democrats to stop them, but let me just say that the Republican Party was formed for one purpose.  That purpose was THE ENDING OF SLAVERY. The Democrat Party was the Party of Slavery.  They want to erase that history.  They have even stooped to trying to re-write history.  In a draft of the 2004 Platform of the Democrat Party they had inserted a line that stated "The Democratic Party has always been the anti-slavery party."  This, as the above, is an attempt to hide their true history.

Let me interject here that I am not saying rank and file hard working Americans who are member of the Democrat Party are evil and have this intent, or that all Republicans a saints and great Americans, that is far from true but the Parties have a history and the Democrats more than the GOP have changed. Today's Democrat Party is not the arty of 50 to 60 years ago. today's Party is the Democrat Socialist Party.  It is precisely because there are so many well meaning, good intentioned people in the Democrat Party, people who honor the American flag, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc.,  that they must remove these symbols of the past and create a new Party with new symbols and new holidays.

Getting back to the effort to make Juneteenth a national holiday, you may ask what does what I just shared have to do with this discussion or vice versa.  It has everything to do with it.  On January 1st, 1863 Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.  This, while not ending slavery nationally, set it in motion.  I have had arguments with several people lately that tell me the Emancipation Declaration did not apply to non-Confederate slave states and therefore did not count as freeing the salves.  I have to ask then, if that is the case,  why celebrate Juneteenth as the end of slavery when the thing read and making them free, that day, in Galveston, was the  Emancipation Proclamation?   

Saying the Emancipation Proclamation and the date of January 1, 1863 does not count, is like saying Easter is not the date Christ set men free and we need to quite celebrating Easter as the day Christ rose from the dead..  Maybe we should celebrate May 22.  On that day, in 313 AD, Emperor Constantine declared Christianity legal in the Roman empire.  Or let's pick another date when the word of Christ's resurrection reached a remote place. How about Oct. 12 ,1492 wen Columbus reached the "new world" with the gospel.  We could also say WW2 did not end until 1972 or 1974 when Japanese soldiers Shoichi Yokoi and Hiroo Onoda surrendered, not knowing the war had ended 26 and 28 years earlier.  That would of course be a silly argument, as is the one that says, the Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves because they had not heard of it.  Actually modern historians now say that most everyone had heard about the Emancipation Proclamation, it was just un-enforceable in states under Confederate control. I can agree with that and therefore, I would say there is actually an even better date to celebrate an end to slavery in America.  Without argument, that date would be December 6th 1865. On that day the 13th Amendment, signed by Abraham Lincoln prior to his assassination, and ratified by the Congress of the, once again, United States of America, per the dictates of the U.S. Constitution, ended chattel slavery forever and BY LAW.

Please believe me when I tell you there is an ongoing effort to erase and replace American history with one that emphasizes minor events, while diminishing major events according to which Party is attached.  This is not a minor thing.

The Emancipation Proclamation and even more the 13th Amendment, are devalued in favor of a heretofore, obscure local holiday like Juneteenth.  The Emancipation Proclamation was an Executive Order from Abraham Lincoln, essentially ending slavery and the 13th Amendment , signed by Lincoln before his assassination, made the end of chattel slavery a permanent thing.  Either or both of these events should be recognized before Juneteenth.

On a final note, we really do need a Native American Holiday, I can get behind that. 

Uganda Trip 2018

This was my 5th trip to Uganda and probably the most impactful of my trips.  For those who do not know, I first traveled to Uganda in 1982 at the request of the late Bishop Amos Betungura, of the East Ankole Diocese, of the Church of Uganda.  Maybe I can retell the story and many supernatural occurrences surrounding that first trip at some other point, but I wanted to take time to share about this, my most recent trip.

I left Tulsa on April 11th flying from here to Minneapolis, on to Amsterdam and finally to Entebbe via a stop in Kigali, Rwanda.  I arrived in Entebbe late at night (11pm) and was met by a group of  older orphans from the Bulamu Children's Home, where I would be staying, one of whom we personally sponsor.  After a 2 hour drive we arrived at Bulamu, where I got to my guest room and finally got to sleep after 23 hours of travel.

I spent time the next 4 days at Bulamu with different young men who have lived there, as orphans, for many years.  Many are pretty anxious because after they graduate from high school they have to leave the orphanage and either go on to university, trade school or find work and a new place to live. Of course additional schooling costs money and those who do not have a sponsor cannot continue their education. Like everywhere else, getting a decent job without the proper education is difficult. It is a really sad and tough situation but in order for the orphanage to continue its mission in raising the children and taking in new little ones, they have no other choice.  I just encouraged them to seek God and trust Him.  I have to admit though, that it is much easier for me to say this than to have to be the one that has to do it.  I am full of faith, but to be the one whose life is in the balance ups the pressure a great deal.  Please join me in praying for and with them.

 On Sunday, our daughter Talitha, her two daughters and her team of 15 from Los Angeles, arrived at Bulamu.  While I spent my time meeting with many of the young men who are students living at the orphanage, Talitha's team came to do health clinics, HIV testing, dispense medicine, as well as doing sessions for teens emphasizing abstinence and the danger STDs, especially HIV, which is still a major problem in Uganda.  Most of Talitha's team's ministry was to the young women (teens), who are in probably greater need of ministry than the young men, as great as that need is.  Women, especially young women, often tend to be overlooked in their need for counsel and guidance, as well as their special medical needs.  The team from LA did an incredible job in working with and ministering to these young women and girls at the orphanage.

The next day I joined Talitha and her team in going to a small church and school in the hills outside of Mukono, Uganda, where the children's parents earn the equivalent of $1.00 a day breaking boulders into rocks and the rocks into gravel.  Here we dispensed candy, clothing, toothpaste and brushes, soap, shampoo and medicine to the children as well as again setting up a medical clinic to do medical exams of the children.  Lots of de-worming, various rash control, and as it was cold season (60's & 70's is a freeze to them) cold remedies were dispensed.

After this, Talitha's team returned to Kampala, the capital, while Pastor Daniel, our driver Moses and I traveled 150 miles southwest to Mbararra, and the East Ankole Diocese, where I initially visited and ministered back in the 80s.

I was invited by the new bishop of the East Ankole Diocese to stay at his home and visit the schools in that area.  He wanted to have a much more ambitious schedule but time kept us from that.  I honestly do not know if I could have survived the plan he had covering his entire diocese and visiting 70 churches and schools in each.  The few days in Mbararra were enough to wear me out.  I have to admit I do not have the energy I had 35 years ago.

While in Mbararra, I was struck by how well these schools were doing compared to what they were like in 1982, AND compared to the schools at Bulamu and Pastor Daniel's small village school.  One interesting thing though, is that the schools in East Ankole average 100 students per classroom.  That is not a typo. After hearing about classroom over crowding, of 25-30 students per classroom, here at home, then seeing classrooms with 90 to 110 kids per classroom, I could only marvel at the discipline shown by the children in these schools.   I was further struck by the signs hung in the halls and stuck in the ground around the middle and high school.  Signs urging the use of English ONLY and signs promoting abstinence and sexual purity.  I was shocked as those signs would be banned here in America..

Following our time in Mbararra we returned to Pastor Daniel's home and church, where I preached a message on Faith in the Sunday Church service. Following the service Pastor Daniel and his wife handed out the many things the team brought for the children including, clothes, shoes, back packs and school materials.   Talitha's team returned the next day and did health and medical checks for the adult residents of the small village. They were able to help many of the parents, of the children who attend Daniel's school (Rejoice School) as well as anyone living in the area that chose to come.  It was a long but very fruitful day for the team, and especially the nurses, as they saw people non-stop for 8 hours, while others spent time ministering to and playing with the children.

After the days at Pastor Daniel's home, church and school, I returned to the Bulamu orphanage.  For my last few days in Uganda it was nice to relax at the orphanage and counsel and minister to the young men who were about to embark on adult life in a year or 2, especially Samuel whom we have supported for the past several years.  Samuel has an incredible testimony which I will tell of in a separate post.

In all, I cannot describe how quickly the 2 weeks went by.  As I said at the beginning of this post, this trip was most "impact full."  While Uganda has progressed greatly, especially in the area of technology,  the depth of depravity is greater than ever.  Never have I seen such a great divide between the "have's" and the "have not's."  While Ugandans understand the importance of education, it is still not easily accessible for many, as Ugandans have to pay for school from Kindergarten up. Yet those who can gladly do it.  Many of the poor, however, cannot afford it and make their children work or lease them out to work for those with means.  The children work their families small plots of land for enough food to sustain them or go to work for a well off family and those families pay the parents for their child's labor.  It is kind of a form of indenture or near slavery, but at the same time a necessary evil as the family indenturing their children could not afford to raise the children or survive without this system.

I do have to add one last thing to show how often what may seem to us a minor thing can go along way in making an impact.  Uganda, as a former British colony, has people drive on the left side of the road and due to the traffic and rules driving there is something I would never try unless I were going to be there for at least a year.  Pastor Daniel had found a driver for us in the time there.  The driver, Moses, was a Muslim, but a really nice man who went every place were went.  In almost every place we went there was a great deal of prayer and testimony of Jesus' love and power.  We established a great rapport with Moses but after the week with Moses, Daniel told me that at the end Moses spoke to him privately saying he had never met a westerner like me.  He not impressed at my preaching, my praying, or my verbal witness.  What he was most impressed at was the fact that I would stay in a Ugandan's (Pastor Daniel's) home and eat their (Ugandan) food.  Most Europeans and Americans visiting stay in western hotels.  Therefore, to stay in a Ugandan home complete with no running water, lack of toilets, showers, warm water, and most western conveniences,  spoke more than any gospel message I could have preached.  I was humbled by this and have to say that I owe it to my Youth With A Mission background, where we learned to adapt and live like and among those we want to help.  It has become a natural thing to my family after years in doing so with YWAM.   Daniel has since seen Moses in the village and he still asks about me.  Upon my next trip I will work to further the relationship and hopefully, if he has not done so already, lead him to a saving knowledge of Christ. Daniel may do the job before I get there though.

My missions at this time is to raise support for children who live and attend the Bulamu's Orphanage and Pastor Daniel's Rejoice School.  Following the lead of other successful ministries and schools, we have established the cost to properly provide for the care and schooling of the children at $35 per child, per month.  It is my mission, and others from the team that traveled to Uganda, to raise this support for 200 children. Pastor Daniel's Rejoice School has 100 children of which 15 have support and Bulamu has 300 children with support for about 200.

I want to than those who prayed and gave money and supplies toward this trip.  It was so welcomed.  I cannot express how much.

In closing,  I am compelled to ask each person reading this post to prayerfully consider supporting a child, or more, if so inclined.  If you are so inclined, please go to the site booker-t-washington.com and then click on the "Donate" page. You can also go the the "Joseph Project" link which speaks of the the ministry to Ugandan children.  If you do choose to give, please indicate in the message box, that if wish to support a boy or a girl.

Below are some photos of the trip.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Eddie

Children Lined up to receive lunch at Rejoice School

The Lunch Lady preparing and giving out lunch at Rejoice School

A few of the 300 orphans at Bulamu saying goodbye to the team

Nurses seeing children at Rejoice School

Breathe Deeply

Child wrangling while parents are seeing the nurses

A 1st grade classroom in Mbarrra

Where's Eddie- a 4th grade classroom

Our granddaughter Riley and some of the kids after 7 hours of running around

Work at the Rock Quarry $1 a day

The Success or Failure of the Donald Trump Presidency Lies In The Hands of Believers in a Biblical Worldview

About 30 years ago while my wife and I were overseas missionaries and preparing to come to the U.S. on furlough and itinerate (travel to churches preaching to raise support), I sought God for a message for the church.  God gave me a message I simply titled Holy War.

The crux of the message is that there has always been and will always be a Holy War. A mistake many people make is thinking that Holy War was specific to a time, region or faiths.  This is a mistake that leads to failure.  Without going into a long teaching on the true meaning of Holy, let me just say that it is about understanding the total supremacy and unique nature of God, and the things of God, that are not open to compromise or dilution. To make it a battle exclusively between Islam and Christianity or Christianity, Islam and Judaism misses the mark. Holy War was, and often is, between a true biblical faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus, and a counterfeit religion.  It is the difference in "professing a form of godliness but denying the power, thereof," and a true faith in the power and authority of God and His people in the world.

In my original essay on Holy War, I said there are 3 prime enemies of God and His people today.  Those are Islam, Secular Humanism, and a "New Age" syncretism.  That has not changed.  These are still the enemies of God and His people.  Before we can combat the onslaught we must first recognize these exist and are in fact our enemy.  We can try and make friends and hopefully win over our enemies, but we must NEVER compromise the essentials of the faith to accomplish this.

This brings me to 2017 and how this relates to what is going on with the anti-Trump movement.  If you look at who the opposition is and why, you will find that it is either Islamists, Secular Humanist atheists, and syncretists.  For those who do not know the term syncretism, it is the merging or ideas and giving equal value to any and all faiths.  These are people that believe the foundational teachings and beliefs of Judeo-Christian thought are not something exclusive, and worth defending.  These three entities have teamed up to bring an all out assault against President Donald Trump.  Enemies within and without the Jewish and Christian ranks are bringing all manner of attack against anything Trump, while most orthodox evangelicals and Jews support and defend him.  Many of those within those ranks fail to understand what Jesus said,: "he who is not against us is for us." Luke 9:50.  Donald Trump has shown he is for us.

This is a really tough fight and I believe a fight which will determine whether America,Western Civilization and the world is saved or allowed to slide to its destruction.

Having said all of this, as this is a Holy War, a spiritual war, we cannot fight it by carnal means.  I believe that those entities I spoke of are driven by spiritual powers that they cannot even see.  We, therefore, must fight with spiritual weapons.

In that same prayer time in which God gave me this message, I believe He also gave me the prescription or battle plan for defeating these "forces of darkness."

I urge you to read and study the passages I am about to share with you and to share these with any and every, like minded, believer you know.   Disclaimer: If you are not a believer in the full authority of God and scripture, please stop reading and leave this site now.  I will not spend time arguing with you in this space.  I can see you on FaceBook for that.

Please read 2 Chronicles 20:1-29, as here lies the key.  The people of Judah were facing three enemies, just as we are.  These three Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites surrounded the people of Judah with larger numbers and more force than the people of Judah could win over.  Jehoshaphat knowing they had no earthly way of defeating these enemies, called for a fast.  The people fasted and then, on behalf of the nation, Jehoshaphat cried out to God and confessed their powerlessness.  The most important words of his prayer were as follows: "We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."   This is very important to understand. First of all, the victory of Donald Trump was not, in my opinion, due nearly as much to anything he did, although he worked very hard,  as it was to God responding to the prayers of the saints.  We must now maintain that same humility and dependence on God to save and preserve our nation as we are under attack.

So, to get to it, we need to do as God directed Jehoshaphat.  God directed him to go after the enemy with the army, BUT he was to set worshipers to lead them.  Not only did he direct him to set worshipers in front of the army, he told him what they were to sing.  God directed the worshipers to sing: "Give thanks unto the Lord for He is good AND His mercy is everlasting."  What happened; you may ask?  As the army marched to war and approached the enemy, they came upon encampments of thousands of dead enemy fighters. What happened? The enemy had turned on itself and the three destroyed one another.

I am convinced that the same will happen today as God's people seek Him and recite this same praise/prayer.  Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy is everlasting.  These three enemies, I believe will be exposed and turn on themselves.

In closing, I leave you with one question though.  Do you believe or better said how much do you believe?

The Church Is Not Inclusive

Today I sat and heard a message on why the Church should be more inclusive.   It came from someone that I love and respect very much, but I am convinced that the message was in error and they are very wrong in their interpretation.  Let me say here, at the outset, that the situation with most believers who preach tolerance and inclusiveness is not that they do not believe in the Gospel, it is that they tend to be so filled with compassion that they are confused and impute things to the faith that were never intended. The essence of the message was that the reason that sinners are not drawn to the Church is that we (the Church) are too dogmatic and a turn off. Evangelicals in particular are to blame.

As I was sitting there listening to this message I had two immediate and overpowering thoughts. 1) The Church is not inclusive, it is exclusive to the saints.  2) The Church does not tolerate, It enthusiastically EMBRACES whosoever will come into the fold.

The examples used to show how the Church is supposed to be tolerant were Adam and Eve hiding from God and blaming someone other than themselves for their fall, Jesus' acceptance of Zacchaeus, His interaction with those who caught the woman in adultery and finally, the prostitute who fell at Jesus' feet and washed his feet with her hair. While these are each examples of God's love, compassion and forgiveness, they are not examples of inclusion and tolerance. Let's look at the example of Adam and Eve. While this example sounds good, warm and fuzzy, it leaves something very essential and critical to the message out. Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden, separated from God and condemned to a life of work and then death.  Wow, that's kind of harsh and intolerant of God isn't it?  In His compassion God offered, through His grace, a way back to Himself and life eternal but only after He separated mankind through Adam and Eve from His presence. Then let's look at Zacchaeus. While Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down so He could eat at his home,  Zacchaeus afterward said he would give half of his wealth and restore anything he took falsely. In other words Zacchaeus, acted upon his encounter with Jesus.  In the case of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus ended that encounter with the words “go and sin no more.”  Finally in the case of the prostitute who came to Jesus and washed His feet, by the context, she wept because she had received forgiveness and was showing by her actions that she understood and wanted to express her gratefulness for the grace and forgiveness Jesus offered. The fact that Jesus said “much is forgiven,” indicates that she wanted out from the burden of some great sin.

There was another example shared; that Jesus ate and drank with sinners, which is true,  but here is where I believe the mistake is made. We, as believers have two responsibilities.  First, as members of the Body are to assemble with “the Saints.”  Secondly, as ambassadors we are also to go into “the world” and make disciples. Did you catch that? I will state it in reverse order. We are to go into the world and assemble with the saints. This is no little matter and should not be confused.  The mistake is in confusing going into the world and congregating or assembling with the world.  The church has become a “come ye” vs. a “go ye” proposition. Jesus said “go into the world and make disciples,” not, go bring people to church.  I worked with Youth With A Mission in Amsterdam for several years, where we did “Friendship Evangelism” in the red light and drug district of the city.  We would go into the streets and minister to the prostitutes and drug addicts and dealers. One of the things we did if a prostitute or drug addict wanted to come to Christ, was to remove them from their environment. We had specific facilities set up to deal with and minister to them. We did not bring them into the general body of believers until they were able to understand what they had experienced and were not a threat to the members of The Body. I know there are some who would say what threat and why should we be afraid of bringing people in. Jesus and Paul each warned about those coming into the assembly or among the flock. Wolves in sheep clothing comes to mind.  I could tell you many stories of pastors who did not feel a threat at letting certain people into the midst of the congregation who sorely regretted it later. In a small tight group it is not as much of a threat but as the various entities grow larger so does the threat.

This leads me to a simple question regarding this message I heard today. I know that the message was directed at certain segments such as homosexuals, cohabiting couples and possible those wrestling with addictions. But if one wants to get real and take it for what it is worth, would we not have to and include pedophiles, serial adulterers, and drug dealers, not just users (who have or are sinning much) in those we need to reach out too and tolerate? What are we tolerating or including?  Should we tolerate and include this behavior as well?

Finally, I take issue with the assertion that the Church is unable to attract people because we are not inclusive. Could it be the opposite? Could it be because we accept too much? That there is no longer a standard by which we are to live? As I said, I have seen friendship evangelism, but that is evangelism and not accommodation.  I encourage believers to go and reach out to any and all sinners. Compel them to come into the Kingdom of God, but also what that means.  If one wants to join the congregation or assembly of saints let them understand what saint means.  As Jesus said, “go and sin no more,” and you are more than tolerated, you are not just included, you are fully embraced by the body of saints.

A Question of Theology

A great many of the issues America faces today may seem economic or political, but they are in fact moral and theological issues.

The American government’s response to our current economic woes, as well as the themes of “change” epitomized by this most current election cycle (government usurpation of healthcare, wealth redistribution, etc.), are resulting in America accelerating head on into the depths of Socialism.

No honest electoral mob would consent to Socialism if they were not enticed first to break the 10th Commandment and covet what is not theirs.

What rapidly follows is a breaking of the 7th Commandment through confiscatory entitlement programs under the force of government.

Breaking the 1st Commandment brings up this pack of sins as government replaces God as a source of providence.

Ludwig von Mises and other economic and political philosophers are clear that you can’t have Socialism without totalitarianism.

The reason Socialism requires totalitarianism is that Socialism, by definition, will always unfairly burden the population.

Also, it has been shown historically to always fail in what it attempts to deliver.

Hence no clear thinking individual would tolerate the state coercion required by Socialism for a moment if they were not forced to submit to it.

There would be constant rebellion to Socialism unless you had totalitarianism.

To increase the socialist composition of American government necessitates a proportional increase in totalitarianism.

Any rise in totalitarianism comes with a corresponding decline in freedom. Where does one say “Enough!” as we slide across the spectrum from freedom to slavery?

Make no doubt about it, the loss of freedom in America today and the source of decay from which, God forbid, America’s demise would result, is due to a failure in the pulpit. America’s troublesome political and economic condition is merely a symptom. This begs these questions, especially relevant on a Sunday morning:


- Where are the pastors of America today teaching the theological fundamental of the 10 Commandments and convicting their congregations with their individual culpability as these sins are played out in the public and political square?


- Who would deny that sin is increasingly finding itself codified into law and government policy and who will take responsibility for permitting this?


- Where are the pastors today teaching their congregations that America’s founding principles are in fact Christian principles? Are they unaware of this connection and are they educated enough to teach it?


- Where are the pastors today teaching their congregations that they have a responsibility both as Christians as well as American citizens (who are the ultimate authority in our American form of government, not our representatives) to be knowledgeable of, and to unashamedly stand up for, American principles?


- Where are the pastors today teaching their congregations that Christian charity is based upon love, and by definition can only arise from individual acts, not legislated or delegated to government?


- Where are the pastors today ranking the threats faced today by both America and the Body of Christ and prioritizing which message they chose to deliver from their pulpit on Sunday?


- Do I even need to mention the 6th Commandment, as we have become a society which calls the murder of the unborn “choice,” as though someone were choosing liposuction?


I ask you all to prayerfully consider what I have said and would welcome any discussion of it. I have also attached some relevant commentary (c.f.: below).

For more on this issue see: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=81027


Michael J. Del Rosso

To My Brethren Who Voted For Barack Obama

To those Christians, particularly those in ministry leadership roles who support Barack Obama and the Democratic Party platform, I have one word- REPENT!!!

You may feel it presumptuous of me to make such a declarative statement, and may have a number of reasons why you believe your decision is the right one, but my response to you, in love and from a biblical perspective, is that your decision is wrong.

This year’s election presents an interesting dilemma in that Barack Obama appears to present a morally superior persona as compared to the persona of John McCain. In the spring of this year I outlined McCain’s moral failures and why I believed he was not the best choice among Republicans in the fight. If we base our decision on specific individual moral characteristics or failings, other than a constant propensity for not telling the truth, which looms large, Obama appears to come out ahead. Of course we do not know very much about Barack Obama’s private life and what is sought is guarded under the cover of utmost secrecy. We cannot gain access to his medical records, his high school, college, or law school tests results or transcripts. But this is really not my case for this appeal.

The grounds upon which I base my assessment are broader, and deal with ideology and doctrine from the point of view of a believing Christian rather than with personal traits.

It is my belief, that 90% of the woes of America can be encapsulated in two separate but related issues: black bitterness on the one hand and white guilt on the other. These two core attitudes, sadly, are deeply embedded in the souls of hundreds of millions of Americans and lie at the very heart of almost every political issue confronting us today.

From a biblical standpoint both of these traits are considered sin and both hinder the ability to clearly see God’s truth. Bitterness, like a cancer, infects and defiles the whole person and eventually its poison spreads to everyone around that person. Once bitterness takes root it blinds one to the Godly virtues of forgiveness and love. It is clearly expressed in God’s Word that when we do not forgive, He does not forgive us. The double minded man should expect nothing from God. Believing Christians, who harbor unforgiveness, are admonished that their prayers will remain unanswered and unfruitful. It is sad that so many of the predominantly black churches that emphasize the “faith” doctrine are so often bound in unforgiveness. As an example, I cite the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The very churches that preach; “if God be for us, who can be against us,” and that should know better, are the very churches that to this day hold President Bush almost solely responsible for the tragedy that was Katrina. Which is it? Is God for us, or is President Bush bigger than God and able to sneak one in on Him?

Black bitterness is one of two prominant factors affecting the present election. John McCain is a Republican who voted with President Bush 90% of the time and therefore, by default, all of the often irrational hatred directed at President Bush is transferred to Senator McCain. The second factor commanding a prominant position in this political race is white guilt. For those living under white guilt a Barack Obama presidency, the first black person to become president, represents the shedding of hundreds of years of guilt and shame carried by whites as a result of the institution of slavery, racism and segregation. I pray that you are can see the harm that both of these positions present. If you are gripped by either of these harmful attributes, I urge you to REPENT!!

I have friends black & white who think that because of what some ignorant and/or evil white person or group of white people did hundreds of years ago they “owe it” to black people to make amends. Really? Where is this found in scripture? Where in the Bible is it written that you or I are responsible for another’s actions? Is that not what Jesus came and died for?

I am in the insurance business. If my son or daughter is over 13 years old, do you know that I am not responsible for their actions? What does common law know that the body of Christ has forgotten? While the Bible states that God will judge sin to future generations, it does not state that it will hold those in that future generation responsible for the actions of those in prior generations. Each generation is given the opportunity to overcome by its own actions the sins of the past. But those actions are about dealing with today’s issues and not yesterday’s.

Every race on earth has been enslaved and has enslaved others at some point. Did you hear that? Let me repeat, every race on earth has enslaved or been enslaved at some point in history. I met a black sister several months ago that published a book making the case that black people are under a curse because we are related to the Egyptians who were the first to enslave the Jews. She believes that we will not be released from this curse until we make amends for that prior transgression. Does that mean that because of the past bad behavior of my ancestors, that I must accommodate every Jewish person I meet? I don’t think so. I have a better idea. I say that as we forgive, we are forgiven.

The best thing can do at this juncture in history to help erase the stigma of racism is to stop dwelling on it. Judge each person according to that person’s character (hmm, where have I heard that before?), and treat them as Jesus would. Do not accommodate, black people, Native Americans or anyone else for that matter as if they are spoiled children. It helps no one. In fact, it simply hurts them more.

I now want to speak directly to the theologians in this audience. There is a doctrine that has taken hold in and out of the body of Christ of late which stems directly from black bitterness and white guilt. The doctrine is known as “Economic Justice” or “Social Justice.” I declare that this doctrine is straight from hell. It is, as Paul called it, “another gospel” and it must be rejected. In a nutshell the Social Justice doctrine exalts man over God.

In the aftermath of Katrina a prominent black pastor wrote an article proclaiming that Kanye West was right in attacking President Bush. I challenged the black pastor on his opinion and he attacked me by expressing that I was “one of those” conservative Christians who only cared about the moral issues and not social justice. He expressed that it was obvious that I never read Matthew 25 and its admonition to help the poor. In response, I re-read the passage and wrote the pastor the following letter:

“Dear Pastor…,

I thank you for directing me to re-read Matthew 25:31-46. I must say, in reading however that I saw nowhere that “whatsoever Caesar does in my name, or whatsoever George W. Bush and Congress do in my name.” I did read, however where it says, “whatsoever you do in my name there is your reward.”

My friends, this social gospel and its attempt to place responsibility for others on government or classes of people is anti-Christ. It seeks to absolve us as individuals from our responsibility and shifts the responsibility to the masses. Where is the reward in that? It is in fact more akin to what Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5) attempted for which they were severely punished. It is also a gospel of works. Is it no wonder that when you compare the charitable giving of the Democratic candidates to that of the Republican candidates you find that the Democrats rarely give of their own wealth, unless it is to a social cause that furthers the elevation of man as god? Women’s rights, environmental rights, animal rights, political action committees, etc. I say repent from this false doctrine. Give all you can and more, as individuals, to other individuals, and reject the notion that government needs to do more. Listen closely!! The more individuals do, the less government needs to do. This is God’s way, and it is heresy to teach otherwise. I challenge anyone to prove me in error.

Today want to set forth a new Emancipation Proclamation. It is imperative and long overdue that we move past this point of bondage. I want to set white people free from guilt for what their ancestors did or did not do. I also set my black brothers and sisters free from the bitterness that keeps us bound. Let us enter a new day, “leaving those things behind and pressing on” toward a new day. (Phil 3:13)

I leave you with this question:

Is the true test that America has arrived, as to racial concerns, that we can elect a black man or woman as president, or is it instead that we can reject that person found wanting without consideration of race?

Thoughts For May 2007

In this addition of Salt Inc. I want to deal with a few issues that I believe we cannot ignore and one to ponder.

-------------------------------
They Called Him Intolerant

Last week Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell passed away. As I watched and listened to the various news outlets discuss the man’s life & legacy I kept thinking, “with friends like these.” I am referring to the fact that every program I saw had people on trying to be kind, and remember the impact he had, but one word kept popping up in each discussion. That word was “Intolerant!” They called Rev. Falwell Intolerant. In thinking about it, I began thinking “ man, I hope that I am called intolerant too. What is intolerance? Intolerant of what? What is never discussed in the discussions of Dr. Falwell’s intolerance is what he was really intolerant of. It was not people he was intolerant of, it was Sin. He was as intolerant of heterosexual sin as he was homosexual sin. People seem to forget that he came to prominence beyond the “Moral Majority” political action organization after the PTL debacle. Dr. Falwell had to deal with Jim Baker and clean up that whole mess. I did not hear anyone crying he is intolerant when he stepped in and kicked butt at PTL.

Unfortunately many of those calling themselves Christian today fear the word intolerance. They do not want to be considered bigoted. Author and sports reporter Bernard Goldberg has an excellent book out currently titled, “Crazies To The Left Of Me, Wimps To The Right.” There are too many Christian wimps today. Those seeking to be accepted by the world, or at the least not be rejected.

When I think of the passing of Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell, I can only think of the scripture,

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

I pray that thousands of young people intolerant of sin would rise up to replace this one man. May they become the world’s greatest nightmare.

A Necessary Discussion

In the days weeks months ahead, I am going to predict to you here that you will see Gov. Mitt Romney emerge as the clear leading candidate for the GOP in the 2008 presidential race. What gave me this clue is when I began hearing atheist and vehement anti-Christians, such as Bill Maher and Christopher Hitchens, discussing the theology of the Mormon church. That was a clue to me that something is not right here. Thanks Bill et, al, but I will take it from here.

With the emerging candidacy Governor and Mormon, Mitt Romney for President, I thought we need to have this conversation sooner than later. What is a Bible believing Christian to think about supporting a “cultist” for political office? Here are my thoughts.

As some of you know I studied Cult Apologetics in seminary under the world’s foremost authority on cults, Dr. Walter Martin. Walter Martin not only wrote the bible on cults “Kingdom of the Cults,” but also founded the nationally syndicated radio program,
“The Bible Answer Man” which he hosted until his death. The book, the program and our class spent more time on Mormonism than any other cult, or aberrant theological doctrine. I not only had Dr. Martin as a professor but had many social interactions with him through mutual friends in San Juan Capistrano where Dr. Martin lived. I say this to tell you that I know about Mormonism and Mormons. Having said all of this, I had to face the question of voting and supporting a Mormon for political office and want you to do the same.

Once I sought God, it was actually pretty simple for me. You will have to seek Him for your own understanding but I refer you to 2 scriptures. The first is: Mark 9: 38-41 with a reference to Luke 9:50-

Mark 9:38"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." 39"Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

Luke 9:50- Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for “whoever is not against you is for you.”

The second is found in Romans 2:26-

26 If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

I urge you to pray over and read these passages yourselves, in context, but I believe there are 2 things these scriptures are telling us. In reverse order, if someone lives by and does the things of God by nature, his or her theology may be screwed up, but the spirit is right and will be honored by God. If they have faith in God, are faithful to one wife, live the things of Gods law, etc., they fulfill the spiritual law, even though they may not fulfill the external or understood theological tenants of the faith. They will still have to answer the question one day, “Who is this Christ and whose Son is He,” but Jesus commends them for supporting His work on earth. Secondly, although Jesus is speaking of casting out of demons from a body in the Mark & Luke passages, the same could be said of casting out demons and/or doctrines of demons from our nation. “If he is not against us, he is for us.” There are many wanting to lead our nation under the influence of doctrines of devils. We must stop them. It is imperative the each believer seeks the truth about the ideology and policies that presidential and other candidates will implement in our nation. They may say they are Christian, or go to church, but the things they do betray them and that belief.

As the late Dr. Jerry Falwell said about Gov. Romney, if we were electing a Bishop, I could not support him, but we are not electing a Bishop, we are electing a president of the United States.

Each of us must come to grips with this question and those that will have a lasting affect on this nation and the world.

Could this man be the Anti-Christ?

A good friend of mine here in the Tulsa suburb of Sand Springs just wrote the following pieces to which I will link you. It relates to billionaire, money trader, George Soros. I have come to the same conclusion a few years ago already and wrote about it from a slightly different point of view, but this is very good stuff and worth noting and keeping an eye on.

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/challenges.php?id=963228

A Time To Give Thanks

As I was pondering this time of year and what to say, I was struck with the words of the song, Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. Nothing I could say would sum up better what is in my heart at the end of this year A.D. 2006. Thank you Father for all you have done for our family and those of our friends.

I also want to take time to thank you our friends for all your friendship has meant for the several few decades. From those who loved us and struggled with us as young believers, to those who prayed for and supported those 12 years with YWAM to those who have blessed us with their friendship and support since our arrival in Tulsa.

I want to give a special shout out to Roger & Donna Nix, whose basement apartment we called home for our first several weeks in Tulsa, and Donn & Lavaughn Thomas, who let me crash on their couch without notice, when my flight was stranded in Atlanta this year.

Also to those of you who supported Talitha in her mission to Uganda, and those who supported our youth soccer program here in tulsa, and/or the Booker T. Washington Inspirational Network, thank you so very much.

Below are a few photos of our family. Since we are scattered we have to do individual pics. I am also adding a few pics of what we love most, little children. The little guys are from 2 very distinct continents and cultures, but it is mazing how similar they seem.

Blessings and grace and love to all this Christmas season. May 2007 be your best year ever.


Talitha & Brett Lt. JG Zach Huff Chef Eli

Eddie Vickie, Michael &
Michael's mentor, professor
Father John Putka
Tita & Kids in Uganda

North Tulsa Soccer Kids

Where Would Jesus Shop

OK, now I think I am about at my limit. Those who know me well know that I have, or had, a real problem with the WWJD bracelets. Thank goodness that seems to faded away. Also that I have a certain issue with Christians getting so socially active that they seem to lose focus on the fact that the commands and admonitions in the Word are to individuals and to believers, not to governments and unbelievers. Well today I have found a church that has managed to get to me on both accounts.

Pastor Joe Phelps of Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, KY has joined forces with the labor unions, particularly a group, funded by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, and appeared in a Christmas commercial attacking Wal-Mart. I will let the commercial speak for itself, and follow that with a letter from me to pastor Phelps. You can go directly to the commercial by clicking on the title of this article above, or by going to the URL below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWC2W01OnQg

What adds to the sad situation is that pastor Phelps repeats misinformation in this commerical, while a choir hums in the background. The accusations made against Wal-Mart are based upon misrepresentation of the facts and false reporting. I have to wonder what drives some pastors today to go to these extremes in their search for relevance.

I have said enough, on to the letter.

Eddie
------------------------------------------------


14, December 2006

Pastor Joe Phelps
Highland Baptist Church
1101 Cherokee Rd.
Louisville, KY 40204


Dear Pastor Phelps,

Before I go on, please trust me when I say that I do not have any affiliation to Wal-Mart, do not own any stock in their company, or have any feelings toward them one way or another. I do shop there occassionaly, however.

Your "Wake Up Walmart" campaign reflects what I see as a growing pattern in the body, and among ministers, to want to become socially relevant. Almost as if they feel that by associating with social struggles and issues and "feeling" more, they are reaching the lost and better fulfilling the commands of the gospel. I beg to differ. What you are doing is becoming "friends of the world." The Word says not to be unequally yoked together, believer with unbeliever, yet you pastor have yoked yourself to labor unions which, last time I checked, are not a believing bunch, nor have they anything to do with reaching the lost. Furthermore, we are not to seek to be loved or accepted by the world. In fact when we are hated and persecuted for our faith, is when we are in the best relationship to "the world." Yes, I understand that we are to be hated for righteousness sake, but sometimes that is being opposed to what seems the right thing to do from a carnal point of view. Did Jesus not say "the poor you will have with you always?" And was Mary not despised by the religious for pouring expensive perfume on His feet, that could have gone to the poor?

Beside all of this the major problem, as I see it, is that by expecting and demanding that government and businesses provide more and more safety nets for people, we are asking less and less of the individual. The Word does not say, when you see a man thirsty, have their employer give him drink. Or when you see your brother naked, get The President and Congress to find a way to clothe him. It says, "When You see..". The Gospel always was and always will be a personal message with personal commands and demands, not corporate. It is as you, me, and every individual believer lives up to his and/or her own revelation of the Word and conviction by the Holy Spirit that we will see the change. It is the collective individual actions, from a pure heart, that yield eternal, God inspired, fruit. Demanding or intimidating businesses, the government, or anyone else to do what we are called to do will only make us feel that we do not have a personal obligation. At the least that our obligation is lessened. Remember that Peter told Ananias and Sapphira that God did not require them to give all or any of their gain to the poor. It was all about the heart.

I find it interesting, and not knowing anything about your church, I would bet that your church as most Baptist congregations, gives a great deal to foreign missions. As a percentage of your giving, however, I wonder what your giving to the poor in Louisville is. The reason I ask is that I find most often that because Africa, India, or South America have no public safety net, we are quick to help. The poor in the ghettos of America, however, are for some reason supposed to be the obligation of the government and/or "Big business. This mentality subtly creeps into our psyche and after awhile, while we pity the less fortunate, they become someone elses problem.

It reminds me of a revelation I received some time ago on the difference between a conservative and a liberal. A conservative sees hurt and need and asks: "what can I do to meet that need?" A liberal sees the same hurt and need and asks: "what can I do to get someone else to meet that need?" That is not Jesus. If you have people in Louisville that need health care, then what are your body and others doing to meet that need? How about organizing churches to provide a city wide health care fund? If I am not mistaken, I believe that Humana, one of the largest health insurers in America, is headquartered there in Louisville. Maybe your energy would be better spent meeting with them and asking what they could do to work with Wal-Mart, and others, to cover everyone. Wal-Mart is at least providing jobs for those you say have no health care. Without those jobs they would have neither. Maybe you could hire those people and provide them with the health care they need. I know it is a silly notion, forgive me for suggesting it; it is Wal-Mart's or someone elses problem afterall.

I am not wanting to make this personal as I believe you only represent a growing segment of the Church that has given up on asking for individual responsibility in favor of asking for collective responsibility. By going public, however, I have chosen to respond in kind. This post may be found at: Saltinc.blogspot.com

I have much more to say, but will leave it here. I pray that while you and those you have organized hold your candle light vigil at Wal-Marts that you will have a revelation and get my point.

Blessings and grace!

Eddie Huff

Is It Holy War Yet

Before I post my latest musings, I wanted to say a couple of things.

Thank you:

Thank you to those of you who responded to my last email regarding the Booker T. Washington Inspirational Network. Also much thanks to those who have donated to us for the North Tulsa Soccer program and the ongoing work I am doing there. For those who did not receive this email, you can check out the web site at: booker-t-washington.com

Pray for:

Please pray for our daughter Talitha as she and a team from southern California are heading to Uganda and the Sudan for 2 weeks. Who would ever have thought of the day when Uganda was the "safe" place to go. It is hard to believe that it has been 24 years since I led that first YWAM team there in 1982 and 19 years since the last time I was there. How time flies.

Tyler Lennon is leading the team and they are going to Uganda and across the northern border to the Darfur region of the Sudan. They will first have to travel through the rebel "Lord's Army" territory which is dangerous enough, but then into southern Sudan. Please pray for protection for the entire team in this unstable part of the world, and even more importantly for spiritual authority. Also pray for Brett Phillips, Talitha's husband, who remains home, in LA. Some of us know how hard that can be, especially for newly weds.


Latest Musings:

Holy War (revisited)

I do not know how many of you received my 3 part essay from 2004 on Holy war. I wonder who is not yet convinced that we are in a holy war. For a refresher, please go to:

http://saltinc.blogspot.com/2004/12/holy-war.html

This will take you to Part 1 and it and the 2 blogs that follow that one deal with the modern holy war we are involved in.

Let me cite a couple of examples of why we are now at least on the defensive, if not losing, in this Holy War.

Example one:

A few months ago the creators of the South Park cartoon show wanted to depict Mohammed in a pretty innocuous manner. This was, I am sure, in response to the reaction to the Danish cartoons depicting Mohammed and the outcry related to that. The Comedy Network executives forbade them from showing the depiction of Mohammed and blacked out the image. So what did the South Park guys do? They depicted at first President Bush defecating on the American flag and the American people, then Jesus defecating on flag, and President Bush. The word defecating is my own choice so you can imagine their word, if you will. The initial reaction of course would be how crude and sacrilegious, but on closer observation, although I do not favor their means, I got what they were trying to communicate. You cannot show even a caricature of Mohammed in any light without being stopped or punished, but you can heap the vilest of insults upon the American flag, the President of the United States, and even upon Jesus Christ and no one will stop you or even raise and outcry. And those who do are considered a right wing fringe. That, I tell you is holy war people, and Islam is winning.

Example two:

Last week Pope Benedict made a speech in his home town Regensburg, Germany and quoted a 14th century dialogue between Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated and Muslim, Persian. In this dialogue the emperor stated that the only thing new that Mohammed brought to religion was evil and inhumanity. He was referring to Mohammed's teaching of spreading his religion by the sword.

Whether the Pope quoted this to send a direct message or not, I cannot say. I encourage you to read the entire speech at: http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474
His speeches and writings are always very thought provoking.

What I can say is that since the pope gave the speech 6 Christian churches have been burned as of this writing and a nun has been murdered in retaliation. What is the big news though? "Muslims want, no demand, a papal apology." Are you kidding me? A nun is murdered, churches are burned and they want an apology? And I can bet you that the dominant media and much of the secular west feels they are owed one. Islam is winning

Islam is winning by default. America and the church are either afraid, confused or both. We have pastors meeting and issuing proclamations that the U.S. should not torture, and should save the environment. That is like asking a man if he stopped beating his wife. You assume that he is beating her or in this case, that we are torturing people. News flash, we do not torture people. If it should happen it is always dealt with swiftly and harshly.

Instead of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, a message that the enemies of God hate and will do anything to stop, these guys apparently want dialogue, want the world to understand us, and realize how nice we are. Islam is winning. Sorry, my frustration slipping out.

We need to realize that Holiness as I mentioned before does not mean purity. It means a total consecration to god and a total separateness from the world. The purity comes from the consecration and separateness not vice versa. No, we are not to move to the mountains and wait for His return. Our thinking and our actions are to be uniquely devoted to God, His Kingdom and righteousness. We are to be a special, unique kingdom of people, devoted to God and His ways. This will not make us popular, and not endear us to those of other faiths no matter how nice we try to be. We do not hate them, we do not wish them harm, but we also do not accept their terms. We, no He set the terms. I am the Lord Your God! Hear Oh Israel, the Lord your God, He is One (and the only) God! I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man comes to the Father but by me!

We need to pray for spiritual leaders who will speak the truth in love, and in power with no compromise. If not, although we will win the war, we will lose some battles and suffer some severe hurt. The choice is ours. Just ask yourself are we in Holy War yet?

Eddie

Quick Thoughts

Hi everyone, I have been out of touch for a bit as I have been pretty busy with various projects.

I just returned from Washington, D.C. on Friday after a week. I was also invited to the White House for the National Day of Prayer Celebration last Thursday. It was pretty interesting to be in the White House and see and meet a lot of people that you have heard or read about. I thought some of you would enjoy the photo of me and a certain former First Lady.

I want to post just a few short thoughts in this blog and ask you to consider these.

Iraq Is Not Viet Nam

As much as the MSM and Democrats would like to make us think that Iraq is the same as Viet Nam, it is not. There is, however, a very grave danger in pursuing this connection and the Democratic Party is playing a very deadly game. If the American public believes Iraq is another Viet Nam, Al Qaeda and the insurgents win. The problem is that while Viet Nam never had the desire or the intent of moving their fight outside of that nation, Al Qaeda does. Therefore, if we lose the will, and withdraw from Iraq while the insurgency remains powerful, it will be a defeat before a culture that worships strength and despises weakness. They will revel in defeating us, and use that victory to inspire and recruit many to their side in an all out effort to spread radical Islam beyond the region. We cannot escape from this.

To the Democrats- “beware of what you wish for, keep on and you may get it.”

Democrats Plan- Impeach Bush!

The Democrats want to regain control of Congress this fall. So, if you are waiting and wondering, what their plan for the Iraqi War, immigration, the economy, high gas prices, or any other issue facing us is, let me break it down for you. It is simple- Impeach the President. That is it. They have no other plan. They have already said this is their plan on a few occasions, and you will begin hearing it more and more as the fall elections approach. Imagine it now, 2 years of hearings on what he knew and when. That should help the economy, fight illegal immigration, frighten Al Qaeda and keep fuel prices low.

So, if you think that voting for them, or not voting for Republicans in the fall, will solve any of our problems at home or abroad, and you feel that just getting rid of President Bush is the answer to all of our problems, please go right ahead.

But I told you so.


Fear Not The DaVinci Code

I realize that many believers are up in arms over the release of the film The DaVinci Code. The Catholic Church seems to be the most exercised over the release. I say relax, and do not fear it. In fact those of us who are believers should see it as an opportunity. To quote Joseph, “what you meant for evil (Dan Brown) God meant for good.”

The book has already sold over 40 million copies, and the film may reach an additional 10 million new people that have not already read the book. But look at it this way, many of those reading the book or watching the film will want to look more deeply into the matter. What believers should be doing is praying for God to increase that interest and hunger, which the film cannot fill, and asking for an opportunity to share the truth with these people, in a spirit of love. Of course this means we need to know the truth ourselves and that means preparation and study. Get to work people!!

I look forward to the discussion and the outcome. Remember, God is a big God, and He can take care of Himself, we can only help or get in the way.

Blessings and grace to all!!

Eddie