Foreclosure of a mega church in Georgia

Blogger.com where I have my blogs has a feature called "next blog" so I was browsing today and found Church in the Now of Conyers, GA, and the last entry was about its foreclosure, Easter 2012. It was a huge, magnificent facility and not ugly like most mega churches. So I read through the pastor's timeline of how he started it in 1985 with 54 members, up to the sale for over $18 million, and about the other 90 churches in Georgia going through foreclosure.

Wondering where they went and expecting a rebuilding with renewed energy, I Googled. In 2010, he had announced he was gay, he says, to stem the tide of gay teen suicides. Really? How many teens listen to adults about their sexuality? Plus the highest suicide rate in the U.S. isn't gay teens--it's men over 85. And he'd been married twice and had 4 children. If claiming to be honest about sexuality, at least be honest about other things.

Over the centuries, millions of men and women have given up acting on sexual feelings and putting aside personal relationships from marriage to affairs to procreation in order to achieve a higher calling (whether or not you agree isn't the point). Millions more are caretakers for spouses and have set aside sexual desires for a higher form of expressing love.  Every day there are married people who choose to be faithful to their vows rather than act on their sexual desires.  He needed to be honest, but probably should have started with his first wife and the original congregation of 1985 and stop blaming society for his hiding his true feelings all these years. From celebrities to politicians to pastors: if you can't accept your homosexuality, don't be surprised when society isn't sympathetic with your cover up when you finally come out.

Listen, learn and exercise

I’m not really an exercise enthusiast, but since developing bursitis in December, I can’t do much walking, so I’m using my Gold’s Gym Power Spin 210 U—or an exercycle.  It keeps track of heart activity, speed, distance and calories.  I’ve figured out if I ride my power spin for 10 minutes at 3 levels of difficulty I burn about 40 calories; 4 times a day would be 160 calories, or one cookie with no chocolate chips. Sigh.

                         

              Photo predates our new carpet and flat screen TV.

Since exercising this way is boring, I’m trying to finish the audio of Jesus of Nazareth, the infancy narratives by Pope Benedict XVI, and have learned a lot, although I could probably learn more if I were reading.  For instance, today I learned that “King of the Jews” which is the title the Magi used, was not known to the Jews, and wasn’t used again in scripture until Pilot said it.  So it is a prefiguring in the infancy stories of the crucifixion.  Also the Magi brought myrrh, an expensive spice used for perfume, spice and anointing the dead. Because of the coming holy day, the women were not able to use myrrh on the body of Jesus and by they time they got to the tomb after the crucifixion, he was already gone, so the myrrh was not used—he was alive, not dead. Benedict uses a lot of Old Testament background and early church fathers.  Very interesting comments about the star made by believers even in the first and second century. It is not at all dogmatic—just provides the research and teaching over the years, even that which isn’t popular today.

“While he was interrogating Jesus, Pilate unexpectedly put this question to the accused: "Where are you from?" Jesus' accusers had called for him to receive the death penalty by dramatically declaring that this Jesus had made himself the Son of God-a capital offense under the law. The "enlight­ened" Roman judge, who had already expressed skepticism regarding the question of truth (cf. Jn 18:38), could easily have found this claim by the accused laughable. And yet he was frightened. The accused had indicated that he was a king, but that his kingdom was "not of this world" ( Jn 18:36).

And then he had alluded to a mysterious origin and purpose, say­ing: "For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth" ( Jn 18:37).All this must have seemed like madness to the Roman judge. And yet he could not shake off the mysterious impres­sion left by this man, so different from those he had met before who resisted Roman domination and fought for the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. The Roman judge asks where Jesus is from in order to understand who he really is and what he wants.

The question about Jesus' provenance, as an inquiry after his deeper origin and hence his true being, is also found in other key passages of Saint John's Gospel, and it plays an equally important role in the Synoptic Gospels. For John, as for the Synoptics, it raises a singular paradox. On the one hand, counting against Jesus and his claim to a divine mission, is the fact that people knew exactly where he was from: he does not come from heaven, from "the Father," from "above," as he purports to ( Jn 8:23). No: "Is not this Jesus, whose fa­ther and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ( Jn 6:42). “

- See more at: http://www.imagecatholicbooks.com/book/226834/jesus-of-nazareth/#sthash.u4PCTbzR.dpuf

Thomas Watson, Puritan

I review a lot of books (from the agency hired to promote the books) and receive a lot of fluff. Rather than say "this stinks," I just don't blog about that title. That's why it's such a pleasure to report on a fantastic writer, rich with references, and blinding clarity. Thomas Watson, a British puritan (1620-1686). I was checking Google for a definition of a word we Christians hear a lot (glorify, glorification, glory) and found him. "Man's chief end is to glorify God." Absolutely wonderful. Put it on your bucket list--both the essay and the act.  http://thomaswatsonquotes.com/

How far should they go with personal, private speech restriction?

Will it end with Donald Sterling? He had a black/Mexican mistress was jealous of some hunky black athletes she was hanging out with, so he said some crude things.   Perhaps their 50 year age difference made him a bit insecure in his manhood?  Now they are going to take his team away from him for being a racist.  I heard that there's another team owner who has contributed to causes to support marriage and the gay mafia are going after him.

This may not turn out well--do you want your business destroyed because you contributed to Planned Parenthood or you're not vegan, or you own a fur coat, or use coal for your electricity, or you're a pagan, or you had two mothers, or you contributed to the growth of federal control over education, or your grandmother was the vice president of a bank in Hawaii? The Democrats won't always be in power and political correctness can swing both ways.

The first (or second) gay president.

The left is outraged that Glenn Beck made a joke about the possibility of Hillary Clinton being a lesbian and mimicking her husband's behavior with women. Why? Would that be more awful than her policies, or lack of leadership as Secretary of State? Are the Daily Beast and Huffington Post homophobic? Her sexuality isn't going to affect the right wing voters, and the left wing would just praise her bravery. Rumors of her liaisons came out years ago, and mostly from left wing sources.

Hillary’s 2008 campaign staff probably started the Obama gay boyfriend rumors, and Chicagoans were blogging about them, but things have changed a lot in 5 years.  Now it is resume enhancement. Even Barney remarked on that—and would he be insulted if someone said he was a closet heterosexual?

BARNEY FRANK: "When I was 14, I realized I was gay. I said I was a lot like the other guys, but there were two things that I knew made me different than the other guys. First of all, I was attracted to politics. Second, I was attracted to the other guys. Now that wasn't going to work well because to be in politics you had to be popular. To be a homosexual was not to be very popular. Well, if this was fiction -- spoiler alert -- by the time I retire, there was still a disparity between the popularity of being gay and the popularity of being a politician. But it had flipped. And my marriage polled better than my service as a committee chairman.

 

Sterling is a jerk, but that’s not against the law

Donald Sterling's record isn't "sterling," and past sins and law suits should have gotten him bumped from ownership, but a private conversation with his mistress? How many men would be fired across the country for that? Many. (Watch out for vindictive girlfriends and ex-wives, fellas.) This sets a terrible precedent as did the firing of a CEO who voted for marriage between a man and woman. Thought police beyond anything China and the USSR came up with.

"It seems his “girlfriend,” Ms. Stiviano, decided to tape a private conversation between the two. Apparently, Ms. Stiviano had recently been sued by the estranged wife of Mr. Sterling, so there is some potential nefarious motive involved. Furthermore, the taping of a conversation without consent of the other party is illegal under California statute. There is some question as to whether he knew he was being recorded. Let’s assume for the moment he didn’t.

The national outrage against Mr. Sterling has come from an act that could be illegal and inadmissible in a court of law. Nevertheless, the court of public opinion has tried and convicted Mr. Sterling of being a jerk."

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2014/04/folks-youre-missing-point-donald-sterling/#pUUUict0fcPdl7UT.99

Harry Reid, on the other hand, is an elected official, and has maligned and insulted millions of Americans by declaring Tea Party people terrorists.  John Kerry, our Secretary of State, has insulted and maligned the people of Israel.  Hypocrisy is coming up with the spring flowers.Our president’s insults are just too many to note here.

Obama’s Malaysian junket

Obama is a terrible "leader." He goes to Malaysia and whines about a U.S. basketball team owner who was a known loose canon, but is silent about Democrats who call patriots terrorists and Supreme Court judges Uncle Toms, and then compares Malaysia's human right violations record to ours. Well, our violations include the government NSA snooping and IRS manipulating the code to stop right wing organizations he fears, and colluding with our "free press," but he wasn't that specific. Their violations involve freedom of religion, right to assembly, free speech, elevating some races and ethnic groups as protected, etc. Well, maybe he should have gone on about the similarities.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/04/24/malaysia-obama-should-speak-loudly-rights

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/08/09/harry-reid-launches-slanderous-attacks-on-tea-party-republicans/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/30/black-congressman-stands-by-comment-that-clarence-thomas-is-an-uncle-tom/

"I think the Prime Minister is the first to acknowledge that Malaysia’s still got some work to do. Just like the United States, by the way, has some work to do on these issues," Obama said. "Human Rights Watch probably has a list of things they think we should be doing as a government."
 http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/human-rights-malaysia-united-states-work/2014/04/27/id/567978#ixzz30SXBncO0

The criminal didn’t die—right away

I don't believe in the death penalty. The execution in Oklahoma of 2 men (one of which failed) is no where near as inhumane and violent as what babies in the womb are experiencing every day. For instance, the base of the fetus's skull is punctured with a sharp instrument such as a long scissors or pointed metal tube, or the body of the baby is cut into pieces and removed. A bit more violent than having a heart attack during a botched execution. One of these men, Charles Warner, raped and killed an 11 month old baby; the other, Clayton Lockett, tortured and murdered a 19 year old woman. Babies in the womb, on the other hand, did no crime except appear on the scene at an inconvenient time.

Lockett, 38, was convicted of the killing of 19-year-old, Stephanie Neiman, in 1999. She was shot and buried alive. Lockett was also convicted of raping her friend in the violent home invasion that lead to Neiman's death. Warner, 46, was found guilty of raping and killing 11-month-old Adrianna Waller in 1997. He lived with the child's mother.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/30/oklahoma-execution-botched-clayton-lockett

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/inmate-dies-heart-attack-oklahoma-execution-halted-20-minutes-due-vein-failure-officials-article-1.1773508

The Book of Common Prayer

The smoking gun—redacted e-mails

Ben Rhodes gave instructions on how to cover up the Benghazi failure.  Administration was reluctant to admit it hadn’t solved the “terrorist” problem right before the election.  I suspect there will be much more to come, if people can

tear their attention away from an 80 year old billionaire who said racist things. Read this piece by Sharyl Attkisson who was silenced at CBS (where Rhodes brother is president) when her investigative pieces became too bold and truthful.

http://www.sharylattkisson.com/new-benghazi-docs-april-29--2014.html

Her book: "My Fight For the Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation and Harassment in Obama's Washington"

The Donald Sterling kerfuffle

"How did Donald Sterling get away with behavior, in a professional sports league dominated by black players, which would get a college kid kicked out of school and scarred for life? Have they no morals clause in the NBA? How was Donald Sterling voted that lifetime achievement award by the NAACP? The answer to all likely lies in the adage: Follow the money." Patrick J. Buchanan

I'm listening to an NBA rep say he's going to take the team away from him and fine Sterling for being a bad old man and saying bad things in a private conversation. No punishment for being married with mistress.

Meanwhile, John Kerry still has his job.

This Clippers/NBA flap isn't about Sterling. He was a known racist for 3 decades, the league is 81% black, and they willingly take his money. It's obviously a sport that cares little about diversity. The NBA, Sterling and the players care about green, not black. The NBA should be ashamed of their phony outrage.

The media coverage and shock and horror IS about getting Obama off the front page, particularly as new evidence keeps coming out about the Benghazi cover up. WH advisor Ben Rhodes who came up with blame the video is found in numerous e-mails planning to protect the President in the 2012 election (and they were successful, weren't they?). Ben Rhodes brother is a highly placed executive at CBS. We've got the smoking gun, but if they can smother it with the Sterling story. . .

Today Ben Rhodes’ e-mails came out

Not that we didn’t know the video story was a lie.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/04/ben_rhodes_at_center_of_plan_to_whitewash_white_house_on_benghazi.html

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/04/29/the-ben-rhodes-email-foxs-new-false-benghazi-at/199067

http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/11/top-obama-officials-brother-is-president-of-cbs-news-may-drop-reporter-over-benghazi-coverage/

http://www.examiner.com/article/new-documents-reveal-benghazi-cover-up-emanated-from-white-house

Arkansas tornado kills father and 2 daughters

“Rob Tittle, a FamilyLife [Christian ministry focusing on strengthening the family] staff member and kindred spirit warrior for the family, died last night in the tornado that crushed parts of central Arkansas. Two of his daughters—Tori, age 20, and Rebekah, 14—were among the 16 killed in the storm.

Rob, 48, and his wife Kerry, had heard the tornado warnings and were shepherding their nine children under a stairwell when the tornado disintegrated their home. Rob was doing what a man does—putting his family first—when the twister hit.”

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/life-issues/challenges/death-and-dying/the-lord-gives-the-lord-takes-away?

She was told her baby was deformed—she refused to abort

Her husband left her.  Then at 20 weeks the ultrasound for her 2nd baby showed  a chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 18 in which the baby has an extra, 18th chromosome. It causes misshapen skulls, malformed ears, and mainly—heart defects. She was told the baby had no face.

http://blogs.christianpost.com/every-child/when-science-shakes-your-faithrefusing-to-believe-20475/

“Baby Abigael came into the world a perfect baby girl. No genetic defect. No missing heart ventricle. A beautiful face. It is hard for me to believe that these ultrasounds were a medical mistake—known to some as “false positives.” It is easier for me to believe my daughter is a miracle.”

Internet safety for teens

Keep children away from predators by sharing.

The Gosnell documentary getting close to goal

Kermit Gosnell was convicted of the murder of several live and viable babies at his clinic. It is thought that over a 40 year killing spree he murdered thousands of infants. Kermit Gosnell is currently serving several life sentences.

His case became controversial after the trial received almost no media coverage - and sparked allegations of a media coverup because the case shone a spotlight on abortion.

Producer Ann McElhinney said the record breaking success of the Gosnell Movie was a testament to the thousands of small donors who wanted the truth to be told.

"We have a huge number of small contributors giving to make sure the truth is not censored," she said.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gosnell-movie#home

http://www.toomanyaborted.com/gosnell/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/15/the-gosnell-case-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Monday Memories—our trip to Illinois this Easter

Ladies of the class of 1957 MMHS enjoying breakfast




















Eating at LaVinja on Daysville Road, east of Oregon, IL. Really good Italian food and great service. With my brother and his wife April 19.  We were staying in Mt. Morris and he lives in Franklin Grove, so it was a good place to meet.

The movie Philomena

I loved that movie--although sad, it had a lot joy and forgiveness and humor. Amazing acting by Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.  When I see movies that are anti-Christian or anti-Catholic, I just remember the source—Hollywood (or whatever the international equivalent is). Its bread and butter is sex,violence, denying God, and sin, or there would be no story.  As far as the gay theme, I looked a little deeper.  The Catholic Church and Philomena were people of the morals of the time—sex outside marriage is immoral and only kings and statesmen got around it—and the public was in on that, even Philomena who acknowledges her sin in the movie/book. Even as a young teen she knew what she was doing.  The eighties and nineties and early 21st century, right up to Obama’s 2012 campaign during which he claimed to support traditional marriage, had a morality that didn’t support open homosexuality for public figures.  For librarians, like my dear boss Jay and his long time partner, no one cared, or all the lesbians like Dora and Pauline I worked with in the 1960s. Both parties were hypocrites.  Remember how the Democrats pushed out an active gay representative (Republican) from Florida whose life was well known to his fellow congressmen when he sent texts to young male staffers?  Anyway, in the Philomena story, her son who is gay, goes along with the prevailing morality in order to get ahead in Washington and keep his career, with a fake girlfriend and a hidden boyfriend. These were his choices for his career. So which is more phony?  The son or society? Many gays were open; he wasn’t.  He could have been a hairdresser, an actor, an author,  a librarian, etc., and no one would have batted an eyelash.  He chose his lifestyle and his career.

Back to the young Philomena, pregnant at 14 in the 1950s.  These days it is estimated that over 60% of the abortions are forced, in the same way relinquishing babies were forced in the mid-20th century. Today’s 14 year old “Philomena” is “encouraged”with threats of abandonment and financial need, to abort by boyfriend, parents, teachers, peers, and sometimes her church.  Frankly, although God doesn’t grade on a curve, the greater sin in my eyes is killing the child for the indiscretions of the parents.

It’s about the Resurrection

It's a week since Easter, the biggest holy day for Christians world wide. Our church welcomed 4,500. Unless you attend a liturgical service where you have the opportunity to say one of the three historical creeds, or sing some traditional hymns, it's possible to not hear much about the resurrection again until next holy week. You don't get the whole gospel unless this is included.

Resurrection of the body also our hope. Although we aren't given the details in the Bible, we will have physical glorified bodies, just like Jesus. The book of Acts makes 24 references to Jesus' resurrection and Paul talks about it often in his letters to the first century churches--it was a very successful time for the Christian church. Let's not get stuck on Good Friday; celebrate Easter all year.

“Living, He loved me;
Dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O, glorious day!” (One day, J. Wilbur Chapman)

The sad state of a formerly great organization

Where do they think the next generation of girl scouts are coming from, if not the womb?