Episcopal Chief Finally Gives Clarity On Homosexuality

Last week I talked about the exodus from the Episcopal Church of Bible believing conservatives abandoning the liberalism that has overtaken the communion in this country. In a bit of a surprise, Rowan Williams the Archbishop of Canterbury, and chief high mucky muck of the Anglican Church has backed a resolution stating that homosexuality is incompatible with the Holy Scriptures.
Williams said, while homosexuals should be welcomed into church, the practice should not be seen as normal. (Actually the Episcopal Church in the USA goes even further in its aberrant applications of culture and sees homosexuality not merely as normal but virtuous.)
The chief of the Anglican Communion said, "I don't believe inclusion is a value in itself; welcome is. We don't say, 'Come in, and we ask no question.'”
In other words, homosexuals should be welcome into the church just as alcoholics, drug addicts, ex-convicts, adulterers and fornicators should be welcome in to the church. But the church has the obligation to bring such people to a place of understanding and believing that such behaviors are sinful seeking to change accordingly.

Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6 saying, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”

The head of the Episcopal Church continued, "I do believe conversion means conversion of habits, behaviors, ideas (and) emotions." Bingo!

Our church welcomes homosexuals as well as all the other sin categories spelled out in the Bible. If we didn’t, we’d have one big empty auditorium. But we also teach God’s wisdom on those areas of life and conduct and through the power of His working within us, He cleans us up. But before He can clean anyone up, they have to see what is truly “dirt” and have the desire to be cleaned up.

So, way to go Rev. Williams. Finally some truth for the remaining faithful Episcopalians who still believe in a bible that is authoritative and true.
At the end of the day though, I see a split in the American Communion and it will be a good thing.

Who Needs Good News--Not Us Apparently

Focus is such a key element in the success of so many different areas of life. As an avid—but marginal—golfer, I know how completely different my game will go if I have all kinds of clutter dancing in my mind while I’m out on the course. Which is one reason I don’t own an electronic leash called a cell phone.

Nowhere is focus more important than in living well. We all know how defeating a day can be when we choose—yes it is a choice for the most part—to ruminate on, wallow in,
and soak in all the things that have gone, or are going wrong in the day.

And with the measure of communication being global and instant, proper focus is hard to come by. Take the storm Ernesto that we have been scared with over the past couple weeks.

With all the threat of what it could become, and where it might hit and what it might do, I honestly believe the moguls of the media were disappointed when it fizzled. How sick is that? Instead of celebrating that all the dire predictions—better--dire hopes, that the storm would become another blockbuster hurricane, there was almost a collective sigh of disappointment that there wasn’t going to be death and destruction. “Shucks, It’s only packing winds of 35 MPH.”

But even that wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of a global network that thrives on catastrophe and as of the writing of this, they were still hopeful—it seemed, that the storm could reenergize as it leaves Florida headed for the Carolinas. Did I imagine a “We hope, we hope…” under their breath.

For Pete’s sake, isn’t the fact that a big storm with the potential for another devastating blow to an already battered area, totally poofed into a normal summer rain something to report positively?

No wonder so many people in this country are so depressed. With an insatiable craving for heartache, we not only see the glass half empty but we’re certain it will be completely drained by sundown and the glass shattered into soul piercing shards! Oh woe is me.

Moses wrote, “…you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household.” Deut. 26:11

We could stand a little practice in thankfulness I would say!

Another Year of Public Mis-education

Our first of the year report comes from where else—California. The report from Focus on the Family tells us that Park Day School in Oakland, “has installed a gender-neutral bathroom and is encouraging boys to play girls and girls to play boys in skits. The staff has also hired a consultant who is well-known within the gay community to teach the school how to accommodate kids who may be questioning their gender.”
Officials at the school were unavailable for comment…
Now not the least of the problems is this. Children go through normal stages of developmental exploration and confusion. Making these childhood feelings and confusions normative making the child believe this is the way they will always feel not only misunderstands child development but is simply an inappropriate role for the school.
But since when does that matter anymore about anything?
I am not a knee jerk—bail out on the public schools kind of person. I worked within the schools all the while my children were in them. But as the years went on, the system became progressively worse to where there was and is outright deception even to the point of maintaining two curriculum; a sanitized version for the parents to see and the one that is really used. I know that every parent with a child in school swears that their child’s classroom situation is different. Yes, there are a few exceptions to the rule but the rule is now clearly established.
In my opinion, public education is a lost cause and you need to protect your children from the ravages of it.
If you care not that virtually every value and moral lesson of life that is important to you will either be slanted, warped or outright ridiculed, and that your child will not even be educated, then plow ahead. But don’t say I didn’t try and warn you.

Is Tiger Woods An Alien?

Just a few weeks ago, Tiger Woods won his 50th career win on the PGA Tour becoming only the seventh golfer in history to achieve that at all and Tiger did it by the age of 30. Woods has accomplished more on the golf course in this early stage of his career than the overwhelming majority of golfers combined, will achieve in their life times. But the 50 wins wasn’t really a milestone for one such as Woods, it was merely a place to pause for about 3 seconds, smile and then handily win the PGA Championship, his second “Major” in a row this year. (There are four “Majors” in a season when the very best of best golfers compete; they are the Master’s, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. It is a major accomplishment for any PGA golfer to win even one of these in his lifetime!)

With that victory, Tiger now holds second place in Major titles (12 to date) second only to the legendary Jack Nicholas who chalked up an unbelievable 18 Major victories before he retired last year.

Since there are four “Major” tournaments each year and Tiger has another 20 years of play before he reaches the age for the Senior Tour,” no one can be serious to think he will not eclipse Nicholas’ record long before the arthritis starts to make its presence known.

Tiger Woods has done for golf what Michael Jordan did for basketball. I couldn’t care less about basketball but when Jordan was playing, I actually tuned in, watched and marveled at the superiority of one so talented that people rightly questioned his planet of origin. When Woods is playing, even people who think an Eagle and a Birdie are one and the same, find themselves shaking their head at what he is able to do with a crooked stick and little white ball.

But it is doubtful that neither golf nor basketball will be relevant issues when human history ends and the Kingdom of God begins. I sometimes wonder who the Tiger Woods or Michael Jordans of Christendom will be. I suppose Billy Graham would be a pretty good candidate but ironically, I think we will be shocked when in that day, the sons of God are revealed and our works “tested as though by fire.”

And what matters in the end is who the superstars of the Kingdom are; those sold out to Jesus, who have given up their love of golf or basketball, or fishing, or needlepoint or cycling, or even children, or grandchildren, indeed, who have given up their very own lives for the surpassing glory of knowing Jesus and living FOR HIM.

So here’s to all you “unknown” superstars; unknown to us perhaps, but well known to the One Who counts!

***The day I wrote this Tiger had begun another tournament. He was hot,. he was cold, he down right stunk at times and even hit his ball onto the roof of the clubhouse at the Firestone Course in Akron which required a half hour of PGA Tour commissioners to rule on the issue. On Saturday he bogeyed four holes in a row--unbelievably poor seemin gto totally negate my blog entry. But come Sunday, the last day of the tourney, Tiger Woods chalked up his 52nd Tour victory. I'm telling you--check his DNA!!!

Episcopal Exodus Has Begun

I trust you’re aware of the continuing and years-long plunge of the Episcopal Church ever downward, closer and closer to the terrors of Hell. The liberal component of the Episcopal church bears little resemblance to the Episcopal Church of days long since gone where the Bible was studied and the Truths gleaned were taken seriously because they were, well, Biblical. The determinant of truth was the fact that it resided on the pages of God’s Word. Today the determinant of “truth” of the church’s liberals is what is socially, politically expedient or popular according to individual desire.

I predicted the fallout and the current Exodus that is in fact underway. The battles have begun over the right to the properties of the exiting congregations which could mount to 1000 churches.

The denomination argues that all properties are in trust and belong to the denomination. Some congregations have simply walked away from their buildings leaving the property and the mortgage to the Church but many others, insist they paid for the properties, maintain the properties and therefore are entitled to them. The courts, unfortunately are involved.

The Episcopal Church’s position for retaining ownership is weak. As stated, the denomination’s right to ownership only holds in a case where a church joins another faith or who has openly “renounced the doctrine, discipline and worship” of the denomination.

In reality, it is the conservative churches who are “leaving” because they wish to maintain the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal church, but like a battered wife who “leaves” her abusive husband, abandonment must be defined not by spatial movement but by virtuous truth.

In other words, it is the recalcitrant, controlling liberal, leadership of the Episcopal church that is guilty of abandonment—abandonment of Truth; abandonment of the Bible, abandonment of Episcopal roots.

I hope the conservative congregations are successful in keeping their properties but they will not be diminished if they do not.

As for the liberal leadership of the church, they have a lot more to worry about than who is left holding the keys. As Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Rabbi Fears "Holy City" Becoming "Homo City"

A story in the Agape Press (Aug. 7) -- Orthodox Jewish rabbi Yehuda Levin fears that the welcome of “WorldPride Week” into the City of David is turning Jerusalem--the “Holy City”--into a “Homo City.” Levin is outraged and asserts that the homosexual pride event could be the beginning of the judgment of God, which could lead to a spiritual and physical Armageddon.
Anecdotally, Rabbi Levin “notes that Israel's prime minister, Olmert and Hezbollah's leader, Nazrallah cannot explain why they had gone to war when they did. Coincidentally (?) at the same time, the Israeli government was rejecting an effort to have the permits for the WorldPride event rescinded.
Levin “believes they may have had no choice” and that they are “literally puppets of Almighty God.”
This is interesting reading and filled with complex questions—how to respond in such limited space…
God is sovereign and we know from historical precedent that He can and does at times intervene in the events of the world to bring about his purposes. When you read something like Romans Chapter 9 concerning God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, Levin’s comments do not seem so preposterous. But we know the situation in Egypt with Moses and Pharaoh because has revealed it to us; He has not done so concerning the events in Israel and WorldPride Week.
One needs to be very careful about painting with such a broad and simplistic sweep of a theological brush. It’s too easy to paint way outside the lines with such a massive instrument.
That being said, we cannot ignore that Jerusalem—the City of David—the City of God, is indeed special. “The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God.” (Psalm 87:2-3)
So while there seems to be a convenient correlation making Levin’s assertion seem less than far fetched, the fact is Israel in general, and Jerusalem in particular have a more serious problem than the rejection of sexual morality, namely, the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
The Scriptures are clear that no one, Jews included, reaps eternal condemnation for homosexuality—or any other sin for that matter, but for rejecting the One and Only Savior of mankind.
So while Rabbi Levin has reason to be angry over the flaunting of sexual sin, he might look in a mirror to behold a fellow sinner who is as far away from God Almighty as the homosexuals he decries. Jesus did not stutter when He said, “I am the WAY, I am the Truth, and the Life, NO ONE comes to the Father but by me.” Not even those whose sins are more subtle.

Airport Delays Are Largely Unnecessary

Well, another terrorist plan to blow up planes and kill people has been averted thanks to the diligent efforts of a relative few who actually take terrorism seriously. I am so thankful we do not have elected leaders who wish to just smile, shake hands, and kiss the terrorists on the cheek making them promise to be better world citizens. I fear that day is not far a head.

But if you think security and air travel has been unreliable and a major hassle, imagine what it will be like with new restrictions in place banning liquids, gels, creams and even lip stick and tooth paste.

In Britain, no carry-on luggage of any kind are allowed and since the explosives were going to be detonated by way of an electronic item, I expect to see all electronics prohibited on board. No cell phones, PDA’s, computers, mp3 players NOTHING! Don’t you relish the thought of an hours long trip staring at the seat in front of you?

Ah, but this is the reality of a post 9-11 world you say. Well, I disagree vehemently. This is the price of mindless sensitivity foisted upon us by liberal politicians and lawyers.

What do I mean? Simple: Picture a gang that has been on a violent rampage in every city of the nation. They are readily identified by their trademark red butterfly tattoo prominently displayed on the left cheek. In fact to try and cover the tattoo is to dishonor the gang.

Every gang member ever captured is an alabaster, white male, aged 16-40 sporting the tattoo. In a massive attempt to provide safety to the nation, officials bring life to a near standstill, interrogating, searching, and surveilling every man, every woman, and every child, of every ethnic persuasion and skin tone imaginable; not because they don’t know what the gang members look like, but because by stopping, and questioning a white male with a mark on his cheek fitting the “profile” of a gang member, they might offend one who really isn’t.

What we are experiencing today at the nation’s airports is unnecessary. The disruption of our way of life in air transport is exaggerated well beyond what rational and wise security calls for.

I see this too as a judgment on a people who have thumbed their nose at God thinking they can do so with impunity. “That which we sow, so shall we reap.” It’s a harvest that I would just as soon leave in the field. But the harvest has only just begun.

Pull Your Head Out of Your Duffle Bag--You MUST Check This Out

How low has the reporting of “news” become in this war against the Jews by an anti-semitic media?

I was sent a link to a website called “aish.com”. The Reuters News Service, the Associated press, and the New York Times are exposed in living color of falsified, contrived, and staged portrayals of the war in Lebanon. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, one video should be worth many more.

To see it for yourself, go to the link below. Tell me where is the outcry?

http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp

Israel Can Claim Moral High Ground (in spite of the media)

Can any war be fought with a semblance of claiming the moral high ground? Maybe a better way to put that would be to ask can ANY action of war be considered “just?”

Augustine answered this centuries ago saying basically that “when it came to individual self-defense, Christian charity demanded that one's own life or property was never a justification for killing one's neighbor. But when one speaks of rulers of nations they have the obligation to maintain peace. This obligation gives them the right to wage war.”

He went on to posit numerous criteria that if met, would constitute a “just war.”

War is an inevitable fact of life on a fallen planet and God Himself even instigated and demanded various wars throughout history. That’s a little fact of Biblical review of which most people would rather remain ignorant.

As it happens, the modern historical record of Israel shows it uses tremendous restraint when it defends itself, but defend itself it will. It is beyond argument—when one considers fact and not ideological fiction, that Israel is and always has been defensive.

The current war with Lebanon is but one example. After Israel received indisputable proof of Hezbollah rockets being launched from within the confines of a civilian community, Israel had every moral right to remove those weapons. To their credit they did not do so until they warned the citizens of those communities to leave, as attack was imminent.

Two gigantic points to be noted; Hezbollah purposely set those rocket launchers amongst their own civilian population making that community a valid military target. To these Islamic extremists, the only thing that matters is exterminating infidels, defined as anyone who does not believe in Allah. The collateral damage that occurred should be directly assigned to the Hezbollah, not Israel.

Never the less, when it was discovered that civilians were killed in the attack, Israel halted further attacks and apologized for the death of civilians. That is something you never hear from Islamic terrorists for they have no compunction about killing men women and children and in fact, actually target them then brag about their deaths celebrating the like as a successful attack.

Yes, you can fight a war in a moral way. Israel is a good—I didn’t say perfect—example.

How About the Truth for A Change re: Israel?

In 1897 Theodore Herzl attempted to find a diplomatic solution to the lack, in the world, of a Jewish homeland. What eventually resulted over the next fifty years was the formation of the nation of Israel in what was then called Palestine.

This new homeland was the result of world wide decision making and approval by what would eventually become known as the United Nations. Israel was not formed by some rogue Jewish bandits with a chip on their shoulder or an attitude about non Jewish people.

Israel attained statehood and the Arab world went nuts. Why? In one word, “hatred.”

This animosity dates back to Genesis 16 when Abraham bowed to the demand of Sarah his wife giving her a child through a concubine named Hagar. The historical record tells us that Hagar bore Abraham a son—Ishmael—yet, even though it was Sarah’s idea-- Sarah resented it almost immediately and now demanded that Abraham send Hagar and her son Ishmael away.

Genesis 16 says this of the newly born son, Ishmael: "And he will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him; and he will live to the east of all his brothers."

Ishmael was the progenitor of the Arab people and the rest, even though cliché—is history! They have been at each other’s throats for thousands of years as part of the judgment God imposed on Abraham for sidestepping God’s promise to give him a son through Sarah, not a concubine.

(Let that be a stern lesson on trying to help God bring about, through human means, what God has already promised to bring about through Divine means…)

Beginning this Sunday—August 20—I will be doing a brief series on the history of the Middle East. I will not be making any speculations about signs and times and events. I’ll leave such wild assertions to those who apparently have a hot line to God having figured out things which—after studying God’s word for 30 years--I just don’t see nearly as clearly. So don’t expect some sensation-hyped presentation about wild, end times schemes and calendar of events.

This will be solid, straightforward recounting of recent, historical fact combined with solid Biblical exposition—nothing more; nothing less.

CNN Demonstrates--Yet Again--Its Committment to Making News, Not Reporting It

I just checked out CNN today and what I found was predictable. What greets you on opening the site is the picture of a hooded woman standing over a little baby who has been injured in a missile strike; a missile strike caused by the Israeli army.

As I perused CNN’s site I found a link to a 7 minute video promising to show more suffering and horror of children resulting from the attacks of the Israeli army. I chose not to view the video. As I continued to peruse CNN’s site I was struck, but not surprised, that I really couldn’t even find a story, much less a picture, much less gruesome video footage of the carnage occurring in Israel as a result of Lebanese missile strikes.

But then, this is what the usual critics of the media have been saying all along. We live in world not of news anymore as much as a world of propaganda with each ideological representative highlighting, picking and choosing which sound bite; which photo; which catastrophe to show the world expressly to advance one’s ideological perspective. Anti-Semitism is alive and well.

So let me take this opportunity to remind my readers that Israel was NOT the aggressor in this latest skirmish. (Read that again about 50 times) And as each day goes by, more information is revealed showing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the mad man of Iran, to be squarely behind Hezbollah’s unprovoked attacks on Israel. Remember too, this is the same man who announced to the world his intention to exterminate the Jews from the face of the Earth.

We are in a cosmic battle of spiritual forces of wickedness which have been present from the beginning. Yes human agency is involved but behind it all are demonic powers fueling the hatred and the bloodshed and incessant one-sided presentation of what is actually going on.

And yet, God is in control of it all; one sees that clearly when you review the history of the world in the Scriptures. It’s just more difficult for us to see the hand of God in all this while we are living right smack in the middle of it. Never the less, God rules and reigns; of that you can stake your life, both now and in the life to come.