Are You Mentally Ill?

ISLAMAPHOBIA!!! It's a new word. Apparently, you will be hearing it a lot. Why? Perhaps because the word "homophobia" worked so well in labeling people who believe gay sex is sin.

Do you have an irrational fear of Islam? A phobia is an extreme fear, not based on reason. There is a representative from Virginia who has recently been labeled "Islamaphobic" because of something he wrote. I'm going to print it below. But first, let me go on record as saying that I am not afraid of Islam, however, fear that Islam might harm the world is not irrational. Indeed, if Islam is such a safe religion, why is every nation that has a majority of adherents to Islam a terrorist producing nation? Islam is unsafe for the world. I'm not afraid of them, though. Here's the text of the letter I mentioned above:

This letter was sent to hundreds of constituents by the office of Republican Rep. Virgil Goode Jr. of Virginia:
Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran. We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.
The Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Koran. My response was clear, "As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office." Thank you again for your email and thoughts.
Sincerely yours,
Virgil H. Goode, Jr.

Ever Heard of This?

The DAILY AUDIO BIBLE had over 2.5 millions podcasts this year. I have never heard of it before today, nor have I ever downloaded it.

Then why am I mentioning it? Because it is more proof of what I am convinced is a the beginning of a world-wide revival that God is using the internet to drive. When the printing press hit the human race, the world changed forever. The ability to distribute printed information in mass quantities (by standards of the 15th and 16th centuries) changed our world, giving the fuel to the Reformation and the Enlightenment.

Today, we have made the printing press look like a kid drawing pictures in the sand when we compare it to the amount of information the internet gives us access to, and the amount of reach in communicating given to anyone in the world with a computer.

So, the Daily Audio Bible is just one more piece of evidence.

Here's a quote from the founder of this ministry that I ripped from his website: “When I started reading the Bible on January 1, I had no idea what I was going to encounter,” says music producer Brian Hardin. “Daily exposure to the Scriptures has changed the way I do everything and I’ve received thousands of emails from every corner of the globe reflecting this same change worldwide. The community has grown to be a real life example of growing from nothing to a thriving family who is literally modelling the Christian lifestyle in a virtual way."

The world we live in is changing faster than the world anyone else has lived in. It is exciting. Be a part of it. God is going to save millions!

(by the way, I am not endorsing this website or this ministry --I really know very little about it. And, for credit sake, I also ripped the picture from the Daily Audio Bible Website).

Check out the New Deal!

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR EMAILS OF THIS BLOG! YOU WON'T HAVE TO FIND IT ON THE WEB TO STAY UP TO DATE AND MAKE YOUR MANY WITTY COMMENTS! COOL HUH!

SIGN UP TODAY! LOOK ON THE RIGHT AND "SUBSCRIBE"

:) (BY THE WAY, THE PICTURE OF GWYNETH PALTROW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS POST.)

Why Does Hollywood Protect Terrorists

Okay, so last night I see this movie called "Blood Diamonds." The entire point of the movie is that European Diamond merchants are financing the civil war in Sierra Leone so that they can buy illegal diamonds to sell to unsuspecting but self-indulgent Americans and Englishmen.

Who are the bad guys? Of course it is the diamond industry and ignorant Western consumers.

Why isn't all the blame posited to RUF (the rebels who really do the killing)? I don't know.

But anyway, I searched the web today and found this story from 2003 that points out that it is Hezbollah and Al Queda who are using this operation to gain money for themselves. Israel, by the way, was leading the way to trying to stop this trade in illegal diamonds for the purpose. None of this showed up in the movie.

In any case, who is really evil here? The diamond consumer? No. The RUF and the Muslim Terror groups who will do anything to gain money to fund their evil ways.

The Excitement of Reformation and Revival!

Are you a Christian? Then you need to read this!

This is the most exciting news I've read in a long time. God is doing something great around the world!

Who is the guy in the picture? Read the article and see.

MANKIND -STILL AS FALLEN AS EVER

I've seen two movies this week. That's a good week for me! One was about the ancient Mayans and the evil of their culture, and how they killed thousands of innocent people in false worship to false gods. Last night, I saw "Blood Diamonds" and saw brutality that made Apolocalypto look like Romper Room by comparison.

And this violence is from our day. In the picture is a girl growing up without an arm? Why? because in Sierra Leone, lots of people have their hands and arms chopped off by rebels. Even children.

Does human sacrifice go on, or are we as a species too "civilized" for that? Check out this story on the millions of girls killed in India, and you tell me. Man remains wicked. "Civilized" is just a word that means "Christianized cultural worldview." Where ever there is a Christianized worldview --even if the majority of the people in that culture aren't Christians-- people tend to restrain the evil in their hearts (though it still shows itself regularly). Wherever there isn't such a cultural worldview, the evil in the heart of man is expressed in appalling behavior.

Bottom line: the human heart is evil and capable of great wrong-doing today, just like in the Mayan days. WE are the same. Thoughts?

The New Face of The Episcopalian Church In America

Peter Akinola is a leader of the church worldwide. He is the "primate" in Nigeria for the Anglican Church. This makes him a very important man in Nigeria. However, he is now a very important man in America. Why? Because two of the largest Episcopalian parishes in Virginia have put themselves under the authority of Peter Akinola. Akinola has declared that the acceptance of gay marriage and gay bishops by the church in America is Satanic. He has formed the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. He consecrated an American, Martyn Minns, Rector of a large Virgina church, to be the bishop of this American expression of the world-wide Anglican movement.

What does all this mean? It means that if the West's Episcopalians are willing to sell out their Lord, God is not without options. He has raised up many more Anglicans (Episcopalians are Anglicans) in Africa than in England and America combined. God's church goes forward!

check out the story here.

Make Iraq Safe For Christians!

Refugees! Christians are trying to get out of Iraq? Why? because in a nation where Muslim extremists are blowing people up, Christians are a prime target!

We need to get out a battle cry: Make Iraq Safe for Christians! The government leaders need to hear this cry over and over again.

Jesus can fix the hearts of the people who need to fix Iraq.

This picture? Some little kids in a Christian school in Iraq.

By the way, Northern Iraq, where the Kurds live, is relatively safe for Christians. Let's hear it for the Kurds. Pulling out of Iraq, by the way, would hurt the Kurds greatly, for they have been the voice of sanity in an insane nation for decades.

The Perfect Pastor

My Friend Scott sent me a profile of the perfect pastor. The guy in the picture probably is the right "look" for the perfect pastor. I wonder how I measure up? here's the profile:

A recent survey has compiled all the qualities that people expect from the perfect pastor:

Results of a computerized survey indicated that the perfect pastor preaches exactly 12 minutes.

He frequently condemns sin but never upsets anyone.

He works from 8 a.m. until midnight and is also a janitor.

He makes $60 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $80 a week to the poor.

He is 28 years of age, but he's been preaching for 30 years.He is wonderfully gentle and handsome.

He gives himself completely but never gets too close to anyone to avoid criticism.

He speaks boldly on social issues, but must never become politically involved.

He has a burning desire to work with teenagers, but he spends all his time with senior citizens.

He makes 15 daily calls to parish families, visits shut-ins and the hospitalized, spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched, and is always in his office when needed.

Apocalypto!

Okay, I saw this movie.

Thoughts:

1. It's not that bloody. It is less bloody than Saving Private Ryan, and Braveheart

2. There are a couple of scenes where you see human hearts in some one's hand. Kind of creepy, but not too bad.

3. Great movie, as a movie. Compelling characters, dramatic, unique story.

4. Drawback, there was some "native" nudity. Glimpses of people who don't wear much clothes, especially when the Mayans were slaying the people of the village --not senual at all, and not over done.

5. the men wear as much clothes as sumos. no more. if this offends, stay away.

6. Lots of great tats, jewelry, and designer scarring. I think it will be all the rage with the younger generation soon.

7. Only one cuss word. (I confess, I laughed when I heard it. It was kind of funny)

8. The picture of this guy running is pretty much what you see for the last half hour of the movie.

9. I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.