"Jesus Christ Dancers" win lawsuit

In December 2005, a group of young girls, ages 8 to 12, were to be the first to perform in the city of Chula Vista's Holiday Festival. But, because of today's politcal correctness, these young girls never got to perform, after being held 80 minutes for the city employees to decide whether their performance was appropriate or not.

Other dancers were allowed to perform: Hawaiian prayer dance, belly dancer, and a Rabbi lighting the menorah. But, these 6 young girls, dressed in a shirt which read 'Jesus Christ Dancers", with a cross on it, were not allowed to perform. This was very embarrassing and humilating, and caused those young girls to cry.

The American Family Association Center for Law and Policy represented those girls, and their instructor. The federal lawsuit has been settled, and each were awarded $3,000. Also, the city had to pay $10,000 in legal fees.

A consent decree signed Oct. 24 ordered the city to pay $3,000 to each of the girls and to their dance instructor. Another $10,000 is to be paid for attorney fees and costs. Also included in the settlement is a requirement by the court for the city "to provide First Amendment training on an annual basis to its police officers and all city employees who are classified as mid-managers and above."

Attorney Brian Fahling said Chula Vista "is to be commended for stepping forward and acknowledging it violated the girl's constitutional rights."

Tim Wildom, president of American Family Association, said the girls got a good civics lesson. They have learned to stand up for their constutional rights. In the long run, it benefits everyone, not only the girls.

Specifically, the complaint said the city prohibited "the name of Jesus being displayed and the songs with words that praise the Christian God from being played while permitting other religious and secular songs and expression."

Linked at Conservative Cat

Random Yak

Technorati Tags: Jesus Christ, Christian, Christmas, Holiday Festival, Jesus Christ Dancers

Conditioning of the heart

No matter where we are in life today, we get there by our past conditioning. Whether we came from a secular background or a Christian upbringing, it has had a great impact on how we view things today. We may not realize just how much our past has influenced our thinking until we come across something that makes us realize how much we have changed, or how little.

Looking around the world today, it’s easy to get swayed by societies’ beliefs. We are taught that things in this world contrary to God’s Word are okay. Political correctness has become so prevalent into day’s world that even some believers are afraid to buck the system and come against those things they know are certainly wrong, by the written Word of God.

God’s Word says “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38) There will be no excuses or second chances when He comes to take His Bride home.

I do not want to reach the judgement seat of God and have to give an account of why I did not do what the Lord expected of me while in this world. Each of us has the responsibility for where we stand with God in our own hands. In other words, our destiny lies with us, not with our past conditioning or our present circumstances. No parent, sibling, or friend will be able to stand up for you. You will be on your own. We have to decide is it Jesus or the devil. Whichever one we let the conditioning in our lives dictate, the same will be our reward. We cannot blame our fate on another person. “Choose you this day whom you will serve”.........”but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Linked at Conservative Cat
Church And State
Conservative Culture
The Right Nation

Technorati Tags: Christian, Heart, Conditioning, Jesus, God's Word

Have you shared Jesus with someone today?

In Extreme Devotions from The Voice of the Martyrs, there is a story on Day 242 that tells the story of an unknown mother from Korea and her son. The mother knew Jesus as her Saviour, but she had never shared the gospel message with her teenage son. One day, that all changed.

Her son came home one day with the look of shock on his face. When his mother questioned him, he told her about his friend. Two police officers had stopped them, and accused his friend of being a Christian. The boy did not deny it even when the policeman put a gun to his head. The son told his mother that he did not even know what a Christian was. She told him she did, and began to share the salvation message with her son.

She told him about the miraculous birth of Jesus and how he died on the cross for him so that we could have eternal life with Him. She had never shared this with her son, and it truly pained her. But, she told him that God was giving her another chance to share Jesus with her son through the death of his friend.

Today, that son is smuggling Bibles into North Korea and planting house churches there.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Red_State_Blue
Don Surber

Technorati Tags: Christian, Salvation, Bibles, North Korea

Lifeway conducted survey of former Churchgoers

The research division of Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Conference took a survey of former churchgoers. They wanted to find out the reason that many evangelical Christians stopped going to church.

469 adults, who formerly went to church all the time, were polled this past summer. They asked the reasons why they left and also wanted to find out what it would take to get them back into regular attendance. Here are some of the reasons cited for leaving:

• 59% said they left because of changes in their life situation
  
• Schedules became to hectic to allow for church attendance
• Family responsibilities at home
• The feeling that other church members were hypocritical or judgemental
• Perception the church was run by a clique which discouraged involvement

The director of LifeWay Research believes the exodus of many adults from church may be the result of certain church practices, or that certain practices may at least contribute to the problem.

"In some cases," he asserts, "we've done a poor job of grounding people in their faith and making sure that their own understanding of scripture and their own commitment to the local church is where it needs to be."

Waggoner says some of these concerns may have come because of nonexistent or immature faith. But, he does not discount the some of the concerns of those surveyed. He says there is concern about the facts that some of our churches are not healthy and have poor involvement. He says there has to be a real investment by the church in the people so they will become committed. But, he says it will never happen until the church fosters a culture of concern, fellowship, and involvement in those people.

I cannot understand how people could lay out of church for so long, after going faithfully. But, the survey says that the churched adult surveyed had been out for an average of 14 years. But, it looks promising that, in 2/3 of those adults, they are ready to entertain the idea of coming back.

Linked at Conservative Cat
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Stuck on Stupid

Technorati Tags: Church, Churchgoers, Survey, Adults

Christian Carnival CSLV is now up

Henry, over at Participatory Bible Study Blog, has presented this week's Christian Carnival with the theme from an amusement park. He has done a great job, and there are some great posts. Why not take a few minutes and go over and see what the Carnival has to offer this week.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Christian Carnival, Christian,

Before I Wake

Book Review: Before I Wake
Author: Dee Henderson
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Carol Stream, Illinois
ISBN-10 1-4143-0815-9
Fiction-Romance

"She needed somewhere quiet to let the stress of the last years drain away, and it didn't get more anonymous than working for Bruce in a small town she'd struggled to find on the map." pg. 1

Rae Gabriella, who has experienced lots of different things in her life which have brought her pain (a failed romance, a bad experience as an FBI agent), decided it was time to distance herself from her former hometown. So, she decided to sell her home and move. But, she also decided to call her former boyfriend, Bruce, with whom she hadn't had much contact in years, but apparently still felt his pull on her life.

Bruce offers her a job, which means moving to an old town called Justice. Bruce also had sought refuge in this quiet, homey little town and made himself many friends. He had invited Rae to be a partner in his investigative business. But, was this all Bruce had on his mind?

"I rarely let first impressions of someone be my long-term opinion." She offered the bag of chocolates to share her best find of the day--the chocolates were near perfection. "You've heard news that has you worried?" page 110

This book has 381 pages packed full of expectation (would she or wouldn't she), excitement helped along by the town sheriff, Nathan Justice, of the Justice family who named the town, and suspense! The author leads you through the pages of this novel as though you were right on the scene of everything that happens. You feel like you are eavedropping on conversations, as you read and anticipate what is about to happen.

The book is also a great thriller. From the beginning of Rae's first case on the new job, I felt I knew the person responsible. The more I read, I thought perhaps someone else could also be involved. The author has a way of keeping you wondering, yet wanting to hurry to the end to see what really has gone on. You will be surprised, even at the end. It is a book I found hard to put down!

Dee Henderson is the author of fourteen best-selling novels. She is a life-long residence of Illinois.

My name is Barbara Sanders, and I am a homemaker with grown children and grandchildren. I am a book reviewer for Active Christian Media.

This book gets 5 stars.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Dee Henderson, Author, Book Review, Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Suspense

Our of the abundance of the heart...

The mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34). I believe we often say things that we should not say. But, let's be honest; don't say that is not what you mean, after you have said it.

Case in point: that of a US Senior diplomat, who should have known better. Alberto Fernandez, US State Department director of public diplomacy in the Near Eastern Affairs bureau, had an interview with Al-Jazeera in which he said the US had shown arrogance and stupidity with the situation in Iraq. After reading the transcript, he says that is not what he or the State Department believes; he just 'misspoke'.

I'm not a 'heart reader', so I can't pass judgement on him. But, I do believe our mouth usually bears out what we really believe.

On Saturday Mr Fernandez gave an interview to Al-Jazeera television in which he said, speaking in Arabic, that "there have been many mistakes in the (US) foreign policy in Iraq".

"We tried to do our best, but I believe that there is a great room for strong criticism, because - undoubtedly - there was arrogance and stupidity in US (dealing) with Iraq.''

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Alberto Fernandez, State Department, Iraq, Al-Jazeera

New Bible publication literally cuts out unused parts

I have always been a reader of the KJV. In fact, it's the only copy of a Bible that was ever in my parents' home. Therefore, I got very comfortable with it at an early age. And, when I read a different translation, I am forever comparing it, since words are different. I enjoy using The Amplified Bible, which I have in a Parallel Bible with the KJV, for study. But, my memory will always bring back the scripture I learned from the KJV.

Then, I ran across this new Bible publication review. I was shocked! I remembered the tale of the young woman leaving church one day with a Bible missing many pages under her arm. The preacher noticed her Bible and asked what had happened. She told him that, everytime he said something didn't apply for today, she would tear the pages out of her Bible, and about all she had left was the covers.

It seems a Dutch organization wants to take the stress out of reading the Word for contemporary Christians. So, they are literally doing the same thing as the young woman did - removing those parts they feel doesn't apply to us today - or, better still, those parts that they might have a hard time applying to themselves.

That's because those troublesome verses about justice for the poor, responsibility for the rich to address their neighbors' needs, and all that talk about money, are gone. Not just edited out, cut out.

A report from Assist News Service said the Western Bible Foundation published the book to meet the "growing wish of many churches to be market-oriented and more attractive."

The Bible is only available in Dutch for the time being. Hopefully, it will stay there. Parts of the Ten Commandments, Isaiah, Proverbs along with the Sermon on the Mount has been removed. After all, 'it isn't useful for today'.

"After all, 'it isn't useful for today'.

Am I missing something here? Does not the Word say, until heaven and earth passes away, that not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until it is fulfilled? And, I think I remember that Revelation 22:19 warns us about taking away from the scripture, and the consequences of such an action.

The Bible is actually published by Time To Turn, a network of Dutch students "who want to choose a sustainable and just way of life, based on their faith in Jesus Christ."

Linked at Conservative Cat
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This May - Or May Not
Adam's Blog

Technorati Tags: Bible, Dutch, Faith, Jesus Christ, Christians

Be careful: The woman may be trigger-happy!

For Thursday Thirteen, I had written a little clip about something that happened at my house a couple weeks ago. Everyone seemed to be interested in what happened, and said they’d love to have seen the real thing. So, I thought I’d expand on that little bit of information that I supplied my readers.

First off, I never go to the door when I’m alone. I live in the country, and, although it is on a busy road, it is still not safe to open your doors to complete strangers. Now, if a delivery man, such as UPS, or FedEx, someone I already know, comes to my door, and I’m expecting him, I’ll answer. I’ll answer the door, if I see someone I know. But, if you are a stranger, forget it. Even if you’ve had an accident in my front yard, I do not open a door when I’m alone. I may call someone for you, but my door stays locked.

Well, my front door bell rang. This is also a clue you do not know me! So, I sat here quietly at the computer, waiting for it to quit. He kept ringing. So, I tiptoed to the foyer, and peeped out the peep hole. Although I saw a very clean and nicely dressed man perhaps in his mid to late 30’s (probably around my son’s age), there is no way I’d open the door. I came and sat back down.

He got persistent in his ringing my door bells. He went to the back door and tried ringing, and then started knocking! I guess he saw both the truck and car in our garage. But, he had no idea I was at home. It began to scare me. So, I called my husband who told me to get my shotgun and have it handy, and not to hesitate to shoot through the door, if he started trying to come in. You must know, we were burglarized 4 years ago and they literally tore our door to pieces and knocked the frame out of the wall!

I heard him get in his car and leave. But, in a few minutes, I heard this car coming, at a rapid rate of speed, into my drive way. I looked and saw this old, red, remodeled Mustang flying around to my back yard. It got me really upset, and I was shaking so bad, I don’t know if I could have pulled the trigger or not. But, I went to the Den and peeped out and saw his car parked at our little building in the back yard, but he was no where in sight. So, I preceeded to go to the back door in the laundry room, with my shotgun held up high on my shoulder. AND, just as I slid open the blind on my door, the guy had stepped up, ready to push the door bell again! He saw my shot gun, and his arms immediately hit the air. He said, “Ma’am, I mean no harm. I didn’t want you to think I was stealing your gas. I ran out of gas down the road, and couldn’t get you to the door. I’ve left $5 on the can in the shed.”

Well, I was greatly relieved, and I told him that was fine. But, when he left, I got to thinking, that guy just does not know how close he came to being shot. And, as my husband said, that fellow had lots of courage, with our cars at home, not knowing if we were watching, and taking our gas can from our building, where the doors were shut. He said, had he been home and seen it, he would have shot him for stealing! The guy was, indeed lucky that he still has a life! And, I’m sure he will think twice before pulling that stunt again – especially at this woman’s house, where he knows a shotgun is in wait for the next criminal. But, he did leave $5 on the top of the can, so he perhaps was one of the honest ones!

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Pirate's Cove - Thirsty Thursday Linkfest

Technorati Tags: Woman, Shotgun, Burglary, Criminal

Thursday Thirteen #15

Thirteen 'Katy Bar The Door' for me

1. Never mistreat one of my grandchildren in front of me.
2. Never speak harshly about my grandchildren!
3. Please do not try to cheat me.
4. I do not like telemarketers calling my house for anything. Do not tell me that you have underprivileged kids that you want to send to the circus! My own kids never went to the circus!
5. Do not try breaking into my house when I'm home. You might be met with a shotgun. Just ask the guy who 'borrowed' our gas can, came back to the door to tell me he wasn't stealing, but indeed had left us $5 on the can. He was met with me opening the blinds on my door with the shotgun on my shoulder. You should have seen the surprise! His hands went up immediately. It's still funny!
6. Don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about, that I'm stupid, or just a woman, insinuating I am dumb because I am a woman!
7. Don't ever ask me to lie.
8. I don't like to debate or argue over the Bible.
9. Never smoke in my house. We have never smoked, and I don't care for the smell.
   
10. Do not drink or do drugs around me. Both are bad habits!
11. Never take Jesus' name in vain.
12. Don't try saying something in a teasing way, when I know you meant what you said.
    
13. Please talk with out cursing or saying bad words. Potty talk is not my style.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants


1. Tracie 2. Jon Tillman 3. Sally 4. Cheryl 5. Bubba 6. amy 7. Suzy

8. Jane 9. Threads Of Gold 10. Tink 11. Chelle Y. 12. A Chelsea Morning 13. delightfulduchess 14. Lisa

15. Anthony 16. KarenW 17. N. Mallory 18. DKRaymer

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144th Edition of the Christian Carnival is up!

Buzz, over at The Buzz Blog, has up the 144th edition of Christian Carnival this week. I am sure you you will be blessed with what the Carnival has to offer this week. So, why not go over and read the entries, and support Buzz for his participating this week in supplying us with these great entries.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Christian Carnival

Your life is on the line

We have had lots of rain today. I was in town with my husband today on business, and a little shopping. As we traveled around town, it began to rain. And, when it rains, I do not like to be on busy streets or crowed interstates. But, you have to keep the car/truck on the pavement!

Today got very hectic as we came across town. We had taken my husband's work truck into the shop for repairs, and he was driving his truck in front of me in our car. You could hardly see for all the white which was produced by the tires of the trucks on the road hitting the water and spewing it up in our faces. But, this one woman got right up under my husband, and I was looking for him to have to make a fast stop in the busy traffic on the Interstate and the woman to go right up under him! He could not even see her, she was so close.

Then, there are those that never give a thought to defensive driving when it's raining. As one of our local radio hosts said, "People forget how to drive in the rain". He is so correct! They fly down the road, never giving a thought to hitting a pocket of water and hydroplaning, and causing a serious accident, and possibly death for someone. Most have no fear whatsoever of what a vehicle is capable of these days. Apparently, they don't give a thought to losing their life, either.

Coming out of town, in the hard rain, I was following a woman, because I could not change lanes. Where we were at, there were 4 lanes. One lane went to the right, and one of the remaining lanes has arrows, indicating you can go right or straight ahead. Now you are given these arrows way before you get to the off ramp. This woman almost stopped directly in front of me and all the traffic behind me, including my husband in his big truck, put on her blinker,and was waiting to get in the middle lane! I called back to my husband that I had a woman stopping on the Interstate. Now, this is in afternoon traffic going home! I have no idea what the woman was thinking, or where she learned the rules of the road, but it was not where I learned mine! Angels must have moved the middle lane enough for her to squeeze in. I went by her, and I have no idea where she went because I never saw her again.

Too often, Christians are sort of like the woman who almost came to a stop, when she made the decision to move into the other lane. We forget where we should be going, and sort of lose our direction. We get sidetracked by other things in life that we think need our attention, and forget to keep our mind on God. Just as the woman could have lost her life in her decision to go so slow in the heavy traffic, our life depends on the decision we make with God. No matter how life presses us, we should always keep our eyes centered on Him, never just drifting along in complacency in our walk with the Lord. Satan has a way of slipping in on us, when the door is left ajar.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Mark My Words
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Rain, Defensive driving, God, Direction, Decision

Country Singer Freddy Fender dies at age 69

As the years go by, more and more of the old time singers we grew up with are passing away. Today, Freddy Fender, who was a very popular country singer when my husband and I was dating, passed away.

Two of Fender's most popular songs back in those days were Wasted Days and Wasted Nights and Before the First Teardrop Falls. He began singing at a very early age. He changed his name from Baldemar Huerta to Freddy Fender in 1959, after his favorite guitar.

Fender had a string of bad luck, being busted for marijuana possession in 1960, about the time of his first hit with Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, and spent 3 years in prison. After his time in prison, he worked as a mechanic and in bars, and resurrected his career with Before the First Teardrop Falls.

In the 1990s, he played with the Texas Tornados and Los Super Seven, both of whom won Grammys for best Mexican-American music performance.

Fender won a third Grammy in 1992 for best Latin pop with his "La Musica de Baldemar Huerta" album.

He also acted in a number of television shows and movies, including "The Milagro Beanfield War" in 1988, directed by Robert Redford.

Fender has had lots of health problems, including a kidney transplant in 2002, a liver transplant in 2004, and then developed lung cancer, from which he died. He said he could not complain, because he had a good life, but he would have loved to lived a while longer.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Blue Start Chronicles

Technorati Tags: Freddy Fender, Singer, Music, Grammy, lung cancer

Doonesbury Creator Starts Military Blog

Garry Trudeau, creator of the comic strip "Doonesbury, has added "The Sandbox" to his blog. It is his version of a military blog. Trudeau has often been critical of the war in Iraq in his comic strip, but he wants others to have a chance at reading the unfiltered views of the servicemen themselves.

"This is GWOT-lit's forward position, offering those in-country a chance to share their experiences and reflections with the rest of us," Trudeau writes, using an acronym for the "Greater War on Terror."

Trudeau says he wants the public to see the every day happenings in the soldier's life, things they go through in deployment, and more. Many of these postings will have the link to that particular serviceman's blog.

Linked at Conservative Cat
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Pirates' Cove

Technorati Tags: Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau, Military, War, Iraq

Thursday Thirteen #14

Thirteen Things I could not do without

1. My Computer - I stay tuned into my friends, read emails (snail mail is just not 'in' anymore, although I probably used to write more letters than anyone know. Also, I could not do without my Genealogy program!
2. My desk - on which to sit my computer!
3. My glasses, although I only need them to read with, most of the time.
4. All my sweat pants outfits - I live in the dressy sweats daily, unless I'm going out some place. I'm cold natured, and I also love to keep my house cool!
5. My black slacks - I wear black, and then I wear black. Black just happens to be a color I love! Sometimes I might change to cream or grey, and then go right back to black. Probably have 6 or 8 pairs!
6. My makeup, although I don't wear it daily, since I'm not working. But, it is a must to leave this house with it on.
7. Warm socks to wear around the house to keep my feet warm.
8. Hose to wear with all my shoes. I don't wear tennis shoes, and I can't go bare-legged!
9. A good book to read - it's a must! In fact, I have 2 for review now.
10. My piano, although I don't play it as much as I once did. But, I know it's there when I can steal away and play some.
11. Hairspray! I don't use much, but it's a needed thing around here with all my hair!
12. My husband - he is not a 'thing', but he's my best friend and buddy, my soul mate, and my bed buddy. I tell him he's my heating pad in the winter! :)
    
13. JESUS - that says it all!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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1. Cheryl 2. LONNIE 3. amy 4. thebluestbutterfly 5. Katia 6. delightfulduchess 7. K T Cat 8. Kathy 9. Kathy 10. Shoshana 11. Tess

12. The Shrone 13. Christina 14. Chelle Y. 15. Michelle 16. JO 17. Barbara H. 18. N. Mallory 19. Janene 20. Tug 21. Sophisticated Writer 22. betsy

23. Andrea 24. Anthony 25. Lynn 26. DKRaymer 27. Suzy 28. Brony 29. Stacy 30. Danielle 31. Irish Church Lady

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Thursday Thirteen

Are local churches becoming taboo?

Dan, over at Cerulean Sanctum, wrote a post that caught my eye. The name of it is “Because we can, we should?” I read up on the website he was talking about, MySecret.tv, and found it is an offspring of LifeChurch.tv.

Now, I love church, and I love going to church. But, I have yet to understand how an online church could suffice for a live church service. To me, there is nothing that can replace the meeting of Christians as a church body, to edify one another. How easily it would be for anyone to say act like they were Christians ‘online’, because nobody can see me or really know my heart, unless they know me personally. There is no way I can be taken seriously, because I’m a ‘hidden figure’, saying I’m Christian. Only God would know if I was an imposter or not.

But, what really got to me was the fact this LifeChurch.tv has a place for you to send in donations, tithes, and offerings! I know we are living in some fast times, where the Internet plays a big part in our lives.But, I have a hard time seeing my home church replaced with an online one, and my giving to people I do not know. For all I know, the money could be going for anything for the ‘pastor’ of this ‘online church’ to do with whatever he wants, whether it is to further the gospel message or not. I don’t see where the ‘online church’ is held responsible by any organization. It was started by one man, and has an online staff of two people, that I can tell.

MySecret.tv is a place to go tell your ‘secret’ confessions online to other people. Oh, I know he says don’t go and read just to see what others have done. I could understand telling a chosen few in my church body I had done wrong, but not an entire world! You need people praying who truly know you, and want to see you back on the track with God. I see no way a body across the world can truly know you have indeed changed by making an online confession. We need to repent to GOD – not man.

Help me. Am I reading this all wrong? Are today’s churches taboo, since we are so computer minded, and are too lazy to get out of our chairs, get ready, and go to our local assembly?

Linked at Conservative Cat
Is It Just Me?
DragonLady's World

Technorati Tags: Church, Online Church, Christian, Confession

Ads using 'sexy' children rapped

I believe children are being taught the 'nag factor' through ads made to appeal to young children. When they see children such as themselves in these ads, then it automatically gives them the idea they would love to have that same thing themselves.

CHILDREN as young as three are being targeted by advertising for products such as strapless bras, "wet shine" lipstick and skimpy clothing.

A report released yesterday by think tank the Australia Institute, Corporate Pedophilia, found tweens — pre-teens — were increasingly being sexualised in sophisticated ad campaigns as retailers, cosmetic and clothing companies tried to reach younger markets.

The report says that the ads for the tween products draws attention to the differences in males and females - attributes that the young children do not possess as of yet.

The Canberra-based institute found the trend was fast becoming entrenched, with department stores selling "braletts" for three-year-old girls, and magazines with titles such as Totalgirl, Barbie Magazine and Disney Girl thriving.

Of course, the companies never see things the way parents of little children see them.

Simone Bartley, chief executive of advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, which handles the David Jones account, said the idea of sexualising children was repugnant.

"We have never, ever eroticised children in any way for any client in any communication," she said.

Dr. Rush is afraid all this sexualisation of young children is going to send the wrong message to pedophiles, and it will make the children more vulnerable. Also, she believes that it may lead to eating disorders in younger children.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Is It Just Me?
Don Surber
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Children, Ads, Sexualisation

Battle of same-sex marriage debate in California

Read the events that led up to California's appeal court ruling that the ban on same-sex marriages did not violate the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians.

HT: Church and State - Traditional Marriage Victorious in California

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: California, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage,

Meeting with Pat Sullivan, former Heisman Trophy winner

Thursday night, we attended a meeting of the Touchdown Club of our grandchildren's high school. We had the privilege of meeting and hearing Pat Sullivan, former University of Auburn quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner, speak.

This is truly a remarkable man. He is a great speaker, and a great motivator. Several of the football players were in attendance to hear him speak. And, he spoke to them like a fatherly figure. He told them is was nice to receive the rewards he had; they made for great memories. But, you have to put all those into perspective. Your faith, family, friends and education should mean more. It’s okay to want to achieve, but first build on your charcter, stay true to your family and friends and yourself.

Sullivan is a survivor of throat cancer. He told them that it was very important who they married later in life. He talked about how much his wife played a part in his recovery, that she was his best friend, his life partner. And, also, he said your faith is what will truly get you through when you think you can’t make it any longer. He said, when he found out he had cancer, it made him get on his knees. That’s when a person knows they can’t make it alone. And, with God and his wife, he has survived.

He said it was truly amazing that 3 ½ years ago, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He took lots of chemo and it closed his throat completely. 2 years ago, he was still on a feeding tube and lost 60 pounds during all this. But, the other night, he was eating steak! That truly is a miracle, because not everyone with throat cancer survives. I remember all this when it happened, and he wasn’t expected to live. He took pneumonia during this time, and did almost die. But, God saw fit for him to live, and I believe he saw what a work he could do with young men, helping shape their lives, making them better young men when they grew up and got out on their own.

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Technorati Tags: Pat Sullivan, Heisman, Auburn, Football

Fate of arrested Iranian Christian couple unknown

Fereshteh Dibaj and her husband, Reza Montazami, are leaders of an independent church in Mashhad. Plainclothes agents arrested them after they went through their house and took their computer, Christian books , and other belongings.

The couple were warned about having prayer meeting in their house, but continued to do so. They cannot understand why Muslims are able to meet freely in Mosque anywhere in the world, but Christians do not have this freedom. Fereshteh's brother,Issah Dibaj, who lives in the United Kingdom, says that they first arrest people in Iran and then look for charges.

Montazami has been in contact once with his parents, with a short phone call. His wife has been unable to make a call or even talk to Christine, their 6 year old daughter.

Prague Roman Catholic Bishop Vaclav Maly says that Iranian Christians are leaving Iran because they cannot fully live their lives. He says that Iran may soon be void of any Christians, and it would be a spiritual and cultural pity since Christianity were in Iran before Islam was.

Many Muslims have converted to Christianity. But, it is feared more and more will not practice openly since they fear persecution. The fate of this couple has probably put more fear into those Muslims who have converted.

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Technorati Tags: Iran, Christian, Christianity, Muslim, Islam, Christian Persecution

The Amazing Deck of Cards

I was sent the following article in my email this morning. I had never read it and perhaps others haven't. I found it on a web site, but there is not an author listed to whom I can give credit. Thought you might enjoy this today.

The Amazing Deck of Cards

It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard. The young soldier knew it was Sunday. As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of cards and laid them out across his bunk.

Just then an army sergeant came in and said, "Why aren't you with the rest of the platoon?"

The soldier replied, "I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord."

The sergeant said, "Looks to me like you're going to play cards."

The soldier sad , "No, sir. You see, since we are not allowed to have Bibles or other spiritual books in this country,I've decided to talk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards."

The sergeant asked in disbelief, "How will you do that?"

"You see the Ace, Sergeant? It reminds me that there is only one God.

The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments.

The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.

The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Five is for the five virgins there were ten, but only five of them were glorified.

The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.

The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation.

The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives - the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth.

The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy. He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.

The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone.

The Jack is a reminder of Satan, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell.

The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.

The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings.

When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with 365 total, one for every day of the year.

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week - 52 weeks in a year.

The four suits represent the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Each suit has thirteen cards - there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter.

So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for."

The sergeant just stood there. After a minute, with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart, he said, "Soldier, can I borrow that deck of cards?"

Please let this be a reminder and take time to pray for all of our soldiers who are being sent away, putting their lives on the line fighting.

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Technorati Tags: God, Bible, Jesus, King, Cards, Soldier, Prayer