29 August 2012

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Using Semantics to Take Down Conservative Representative Todd Akin

[2] EPC Teaching Elder Shot and Killed while Defending Wife from Burglar Breaking into Home

[3] Patrick Edouard, Former Pastor of Covenant Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa, Found Guilty of Four Counts of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist and One Count of a Pattern or Scheme of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist

[4] United Church of Christ Condemns Boy Scouts

[5] New Book by Jim and Elisabeth Elliot's Only Child Inspires Next Generation to Trust God during Adversity

[6] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

[7] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

[8] The Religion of Peace


---

[1] Using Semantics to Take Down Conservative Representative Todd Akin

[Editor’s Note: U.S. Rep. Todd Akin is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), is a graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and is an inactive ruling elder at Twin Oaks PCA in Ballwin, Missouri.]

This piece was originally published at Townhall.com on 26 August 2012.

By Rachel Alexander

Liberal pundits are declaring they have no idea what Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) meant when he referred to “legitimate rape” in an interview this past week. Akin stated, "In cases of legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." It was an awkward, inarticulate statement, but the substance of it was correct. Explaining what he meant since then would be a bit crude, so he has not been able to adequately defend himself. His attackers have used the awkwardness to pounce on him and pretend they don't know what he meant, or make up even worse explanations.

Does anyone actually believe his critics? It may have been a poor choice of words, but everyone knows Akin was referring to the distinction between what we traditionally consider rape - forcible rape - versus statutory rape and what some claim is also rape, having sex while drunk. Some women will have a one night stand while drunk, admit it to their friends afterwards, then change their mind and declare that it was rape. The FBI updated its definition of rape this year to include the inability to give consent due to intoxication. Any woman who has been drinking can now claim afterwards that she was raped. This may have opened a Pandora's Box considering how many people drink alcohol before sex. The cliché “rape is rape” no longer means what it says. The definition has now been broadened to include any woman alleging rape after she has been drinking.

As for women's bodies shutting down, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that Akin meant that a woman is not going to get aroused if she is forcibly raped, making it difficult to become pregnant. Akin brought this up in order to explain why abortion in case of rape is not necessary. It is very rare that a forcible rape results in a pregnancy, so the issue of whether to permit abortion in the case of rape is mostly a red herring, used for fear mongering. Last week, GOP officials drafting the abortion ban for the party platform, declined to put in an exception for rape or incest. Tellingly, Akin's critics haven't bothered disputing Akin's real message, which is that less than one percent of rapes result in a pregnancy.

Akin immediately apologized for his remarks, clarifying later that he meant “forcible rape.” He has been running 30-second TV ads around the state apologizing. David Roney of Pro-Life Arizona notes that Akin's point was unborn babies shouldn't be sacrificed to punish rapists. Aborting children because they were a product of a rape would have taken the lives of gospel singers Mahalia Jackson and Ethel Waters. Ryan Bomberger, also born of a rape, wrote about Akin for Life News, “ I’m glad such a pro-family, pro-life stalwart, despite a few bumps and lots of scrapes, is not quitting under pressure from hypocritical pro-abortion radicals and spineless Republicans.“ Bomberger listed several crude jokes that liberal celebrities have made about rape, and asks, “Where was the condemnation of Whoopi Goldberg who, on The View, defended film director Roman Polanski’s 1977 drugging and rape of a 13 year old as not “rape rape”?”

It is troubling to see Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, the chairman of the RNC, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and conservative stalwarts like Rush Limbaugh demand the resignation of Akin. Limbaugh himself has been accused of comments that have made him vulnerable to intense criticism. It is reported that high-level GOP officials have told Akin they will no longer help him with fundraising. Many in the GOP have developed a herd mentality and are piling on Akin, asserting that no one can win without establishment support. Sadly, they are shooting their wounded to react so quickly and demand that Akin jump out of the race.

Fortunately, not all conservatives have deserted Akin. Because of the injustice of what has happened to him, Mike Huckabee has come to his defense, assisting with fundraising. It's notable that Akin exceeded his goal of raising $125,000 within a few days. Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life group, has put out a statement defending Akin.

Prior to Akin's misworded comment, he was leading in the polls over the Democrat incumbent, Sen. Claire McCaskill, who is considered to be the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate. If his chances are now so dismal, why is Moveon.org calling for Akin to resign? Or why is the liberal super PAC American Bridge 21st Century demanding that Romney drop Huckabee from the GOP convention for supporting Akin? The left is well aware that to put in a substitute candidate now would risk losing the seat, due to the lack of time left to set up a ground game and garner name recognition.

Akin is a solid conservative who voted against No Child Left Behind, despite being pressured in a phone call by President Bush. He has a 97% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. A favorite of social conservatives, he obtained a Master of Divinity degree from seminary and has co-chaired the House Prayer Breakfast. No doubt his background is why many are targeting him so viciously.

Most voters will forget about this in a week. Three days after the story broke, McCaskill pulled ahead of Akin in the polls but could not break 50%, according to a Rasmussen poll. Akin can still win, unless Republicans continue to turn on him. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The Republican Party could still try to force Akin out up until September 25, by challenging his candidacy in the courts.

When people can't freely express their opinions it is a serious matter. Why isn't an apology sufficient? Why make this into a career-ruining incident? Akin didn't say “rape is ok,” and everyone knows exactly what he meant. Akin told Huckabee that he "misspoke one word, in one sentence, in one day." Wait until it happens to you.


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[2] EPC Teaching Elder Shot and Killed while Defending Wife from Burglar Breaking into Home

Dr. James A. (Jim) Carr died Monday morning around 7:15 a.m. from a gunshot wound received while protecting his wife, Vickie, from someone breaking into their home. Vicki called 911 and Jim was transported to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, where he later died. Carr was 60.

Jim, a retired pastor, was a regular at the “First Thursday” monthly breakfast meetings for EPC pastors in the Greater Raleigh area and was involved in "Recovery Ministries" in Greenville, North Carolina. His heart for the addicted and the down-trodden was contagious. He blessed everyone with his love for the Lord, for the "least of these," and for all.

Pastor Carr last had a staff position with Covenant United Methodist Church in Winterville in October 2009. Previously, Carr was at Williamston Presbyterian Church for 11 years. He was also a part-time van driver at Pitt Community College where his wife works as a administrative assistant in the continuing education division.

A life celebration for Dr. Carr was held 23 August 2012 at the Reimage Church in Winterville, North Carolina. A funeral service for Dr. Carr was held 25 August 2012 at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.


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[3] Patrick Edouard, Former Pastor of Covenant Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa, Found Guilty of Four Counts of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist and One Count of a Pattern or Scheme of Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist

A 24 August 2012 WHO-TV article titled “MIXED VERDICT: Pastor Guilty of Sexual Exploitation” reports that Patrick Edouard, former pastor of Covenant Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa, on 24 August 2012 was found guilty by a Dallas County, Iowa jury of four counts of sexual exploitation by a counselor or pastor and one count of a pattern or scheme of sexual exploitation by a counselor or pastor, related to Edouard’s having sexual relations with several women in the church. Edouard was found not guilty of three counts of sexual abuse.

Covenant Reformed Church is an independent Reformed congregation begun in 1998 by 475 members of the First Christian Reformed Church (Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)) of Pella, Iowa, that split from First CRC due to issues within the CRCNA.


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[4] United Church of Christ Condemns Boy Scouts

Bart Gingerich, a member of Juicy Ecumenism, the blogging community of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, published the following on 24 August 2012:

The United Church of Christ spoke out as the newest detractor of the Boy Scouts of America. The official website of the fast-declining mainline church published an article critiquing the BSA’s reaffirmation to exclude homosexual leaders and members. This decision resulted from a thoughtful two-year process; the policy had first been established in 1999. LGBT activist groups had been putting pressure on the Boy Scouts to not only allow for openly gay Scoutmasters, but also teach sex education with an “open and inclusive” perspective. Scout leaders, on the other hand, are encouraged to avoid sexual instruction, leaving this responsibility in the hands of parents. This issue gained massive media exposure thanks to the Supreme Court case Boy Scouts of America vs. Dale.

Now an old Protestant denomination has leant its voice to the pansexual outcry. The article extensively quotes Pilgrim United Church of Christ lay member Brooke Willis, an active member of the LGBT community. “This whole situation is extremely unfortunate,” he proclaimed, “Kids are kids –– they need guidance, and leadership, and adventure, and activities. Who cares if they are gay or straight? The Boy Scouts should accept everyone.” He also stated, “Gay scout leaders are not interested in sexual orientation…They are interested in providing direction and leadership and giving kids something to do year-round. So many kids have no other role models –– why would you turn away volunteers who are trying to make a difference?” Eagle Scout Jonathan Helmick of First Grace UCC had a more even keel: “The BSA is an organization whose grand design is to give young men and boys a place to go, a place to learn essential skills, and to be better people and leaders…To close your doors to a cross-section of the population is a disservice to the intent of the organization and to future scouts.” Despite the blatant vilification of the organization in the pansexual community, Helmick still found the BSA commendable. “I still believe in the organization with my whole heart,” he confessed to UCC News, “Regardless of their decision, they are still doing good in the world. Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes you have to love unconditionally. When the Boy Scouts are ready to welcome us back, we’re ready to welcome them back.”

The article also included some interesting UCC policy facts: The UCC issued a statement at General Synod in July 2003 opposing the BSA’s policy, stating that “discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ.” The UCC continues to offer full support to congregations who wish to sever their ties with the BSA, as well as those who wish to remain connected to the organization. There currently are 1,200 UCC-sponsored Boy Scout troops throughout the United States. Interestingly, UCC leadership decided it unwise to expell the BSA from church property. No doubt many members would have expressed outrage at such a measure.

As an Eagle Scout myself, I consistently resent revisionist attacks against this wonderful institution and its prudent decision. An overwhelming majority of parents wanted the BSA to persevere in its stance. They had problems with their sons going on long camping trips in the woods with openly-gay men. No, homosexuality is not the same as pederasty, nor does this policy prevent all abuse. But in the post-priest scandal and post-Sandusky age, concerned fathers and mothers are wary as ever when it comes to potentialities. And there are stronger potentialities. A comparable situation would be for straight men to go on camping trips with Girl Scouts (whose standards, one must admit, are much more progressive). A man may mean well and never cause trouble, but the potentiality would be enough for parents to worry.

Furthermore, as has been established by SCOTUS and many other thoughtful articles, the Boy Scouts has every right to enforce this position. It is a free, non-governmental entity. Leadership on the lower levels is entirely dependent on volunteers who must exhibit a life and character that is consistent with the Scouting way. And it is that way—so succinctly presented in the Scout Oath and Law, Slogan and Motto—that I swore to uphold for life eight years ago.


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[5] New Book by Jim and Elisabeth Elliot's Only Child Inspires Next Generation to Trust God during Adversity

Author Valerie Elliot Shepard Takes Advice from Her Mother Elisabeth Elliot to Pen a Children’s Book about Her Unique Childhood in the Ecuadorian Jungle, Titled ‘Pilipinto’s Happiness: The Jungle Childhood of Valerie Elliot’

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

Southport, North Carolina - Valerie Elliot Shepard was ten months old when a primitive tribe of Ecuadorian Indians made a martyr of her twenty-nine-year-old father and his four Wheaton College classmates. But that didn’t stop Valerie and her mother from moving to live with those same savage Auca Indians to complete the Elliot family’s evangelical mission: to eclipse the tribe’s savagery with the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

According to a news release from Gregg Wooding [no relation], of I Am PR (www.iampronline.com), Valerie, now eighty-five years after the birth of Christian missionary and hero of the faith Jim Elliot, shares the story of her unique jungle childhood with a new generation of believers.

Told through the wide, curious eyes of a child, Valerie’s new children’s book, Pilipinto’s Happiness: The Jungle Childhood of Valerie Elliot, begins two years after her father’s murder when Valerie and her mother followed the Quichua and Auca Indians to the place she would call home from ages 3 to 8. The book will release on October 8, 2012, the 85th anniversary of Jim Elliot’s birth.

Now all grown up and the mother of eight grown children herself, Valerie invites a new generation to peer behind the veil of her unbelievable childhood experiences and look into the jungle surroundings where she walked, climbed, and fluttered around as “Pilipinto” — meaning “butterfly” — the Indians’ nickname for her.

“The gift to me, and what Mother and God taught me was the principle of being perfectly content,” Shepard said about the story her now-eighty-five-year-old mom, Elisabeth Elliot, suggested she write more than fifteen years ago. “God puts us in all kinds of situations as we are growing up. My situation was unusual, amazing, and simple.”

While more than a half-century old, many refreshing new messages surface from the book’s real-life accounts of simple living, faithfulness in adversity, and true heroism. Valerie chronicles in colorful detail how the Indians, their language, and even the dangerous jungle elements created a delightful playground for learning to trust God’s hand and to respect the simplest of His gifts—something Valerie instilled in her own children and is determined to pass on to the next generation.

“There is an awful discontentment among young people,” said Shepard, who recalls having only a book to read when she wasn’t outside playing in the jungle. “I do look at the youth culture and just feel only the Lord can bring about a heart contented with simple pleasures and gifts from the Lord.”

More than just a beautifully-illustrated children’s book, Pilipinto’s Happiness is a powerful tool to familiarize young people, college students, and adults alike—too often starved for Christian heroes and heroines—with powerful models in the faith who demonstrated reckless abandon for the Kingdom of God.

“Because my parents prayed and hoped to bring Indians to the Lord, when my father was killed my mother had no plan or immediate thought she should leave Ecuador,” Shepard remarked. “Human fears would flood her mind, but verses from Scripture gave her peace and assurance we would be taken care of. Mother continued to work with the Indians and continued to pray for them. And the more that she prayed for them, the greater her love grew for these people in need of a Savior.”

[Editor’s Note: Valerie Elliot Shepard is the wife of the Rev. Walt Shepard, pastor of Christ Coastal ARP Church (Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church) of Southport, North Carolina.]


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[6] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

-- Guilty: Homosexual Activist Admits Sending Death Threats to Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage Leader

-- Mom Fights Texas Hospital’s Removal of Food and Water From Twelve-Year-Old Son

-- United Church elects Canada’s First Openly Homosexual Leader of a Major Christian Denomination


+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page


[7] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:

-- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Buying Up Enough Ammo to Wage Seven-Year War against the American People

-- The Corporate Surveillance State: How the Thought Police Use Your Cell Phone to Track Your Every Move

-- Transportation Security Administration Expands Operations Across The U.S.

-- U.S. Marine Put in Psychiatric Hospital for Saying 9-11 Was an Inside Job

-- Psychiatrists Threatened to ‘Brainwash’ Marine Detained for Facebook Posts

-- Hundreds of U.S. Military Veterans Reveal “Psychiatric Detention” in Wake of Brandon Raub Case

-- U.S. Veterans Forcibly Sequestered in Mental Hospitals in Indefinite Detention

-- ‘Unconstitutional’?: Atheists Target High School Coach for Allowing Churches to Feed Football Players

-- ‘Disturbing Trend’: German Rabbi Faces Criminal Charges for Performing Circumcision

-- All Nine Bystanders Wounded in Empire State Shooting Were Hit by Police Bullets, Not Gunman’s

-- Seventeen Afghans Beheaded in Insurgent Attack on Party


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admin@nicenecouncil.com

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+ Yahoo! Inc., 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, California 94089, 408-349-5070, Contact Page


[8] The Religion of Peace

Articles from the past week about the religion of peace:

-- Sharia in Pakistan: Eleven-Year-Old Down's Syndrome Girl Charged With Blasphemy for Burning Book with "Sacred" Text "Cannot Read or Write"

-- Islamic Slavery in Pakistan: Christian Family Asks For Protection after Being Freed after Twenty Years

-- Pakistan: A Christian Minor Girl Murdered after allegedly being Gang Raped by Muslims

-- Radical Islamists Embraced By U.S. Democratic National Committee This Year

-- Sharia: Iran Bans Women From Over Seventy University Courses: Report

-- "Moderate" Tunisia: Muslims Beat French Councilor Because of His Wife and Daughter's Summer Clothes

-- Iran's Supreme Leader Orders Fresh Attacks on the West

-- Turkish Islamic Scholar Attacked for Meeting with Jews

-- U.S. Must not Ignore Islamist Extremism in Indonesia

-- Pakistan: Orphan Christian Boy Found Brutally Tortured and Burned To Death

-- One Killed and Six Injured in Land Grab Attack in Pakistan

-- Monitoring Islam-Critics in Norway

-- Seventy Muslims Attack Hospital in Denmark

-- Caller Denies Hate Crime, Says He Left Raw Bacon near Ramadan Prayer Service for Stray Animals

-- Colorado: Five Muslims Arrested For Brutal Rape with Blunt Instrument "Horrific Sexual Assault"

-- 'American Taliban' Sues for Islamic Group Prayer in Indiana Prison

-- Jihad in Russia: Muslim Bomber Kills Seven Policemen

-- Muslims Attack Christian Residential Complex in Jerusalem

-- Two U.S. Troops Murdered by Devout Muslim Afghan 'Ally'


+ Atlas Shrugs, writeatlas@aol.com

+ World Evangelical Alliance, 74 Trinity Place, Suite 1400, New York, New York 10006, 212-233-3046, Fax: 646-957-9218, Contact Form

+ Assist USA, Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com

+ Front Porch Politics, Contact Page

+ Assyrian International News Agency

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22 August 2012

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Report of the 76th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church

[2] PCA-Connected U.S. Senate Candidate Foments Political Firestorm with Remarks about Rape and Pregnancy

[3] Being a Pastor and Speaking Out in Today’s Culture

[4] First Baptist Dallas [Texas] Dr. Robert Jeffress Called to Repent of Leading Christians Astray

[5] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

[6] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

[7] The Religion of Peace

---

[1] Report of the 76th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church

The 76th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church (BPC) met at the Lakeland Bible Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, Florida, on 9-14 August 2012. Outgoing moderator the Rev. Tito Lyro opened the meetings with a sermon on the Power of the Gospel, the theme of this year’s Synod. He reminded the commissioners that although the gospel is very simple in its essence, yet it is never so simple that it can be fully comprehended, and always powerful when accompanied by the workings of the Holy Spirit. God always uses the gospel to accomplish His own will and therefore we can proclaim it with confidence and assurance of the Lord's blessing.

The sermon was followed by communion served by members of the Florida Presbytery.

Nineteen ministers and nine delegate elders from four presbyteries were seated as commissioners to this year’s Synod.

Dr. Kevin Backus, who has served as a minister at the Grand Island Bible Presbyterian Church in Grand Island, New York, for thirty years, was elected moderator. He appointed Dr. Len Pine as Vice-Moderator. Other officers are:

Stated Clerk – the Rev. John Dyck;

Asst. Clerk – the Rev. Steven Brinegar;

Treasurer - Mr. Frank Williams;

Asst. Treasurer - Mr. Eric Lasch.

There was only one overture brought to our synod this year. It came from the Great Western Presbytery and resulted in an amendment to the Standing Rules of Synod regarding the proper recording of presbytery minutes.

Synod approved of the following independent agencies as approved agencies of the BPC:

Fundamental Presbyterian Publications

Presbyterian Missionary Union

The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions

Western Reformed Seminary

Interchurch Relations:

The Bible Presbyterian Church has relations with two other ecclesiastical bodies:

Fraternal relations with the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Hanover Presbytery, and Corresponding relations with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

After representatives attended last year’s meeting of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) as observers, the BPC is not pursuing any relation with that body at this time.

Resolutions:

The following resolutions were passed by this year’s synod, and should be available on our website (www.bpc.org) shortly:

76:01 Memorial Resolution for Elder (Coach) George W. Johnson, Jr.

76:02 Thanks to the Lakeland Congregation

76:03 On Church Planting

76:04 In Defence of Marriage

76:05 The Apostasy in the PC(USA)

76:06 Anti-Religious Freedom in the US Health Care Act

The Power of the Gospel

The theme of Synod, “The Power of the Gospel,” was well developed throughout the week. There was a special message on the Power of the Gospel at Work in Princeton, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Princeton Seminary. The Rev. G. W. Fisher spoke on the power that once was evident at Princeton, but which steadily waned after the first 100 years.

Banquet:

Synod concluded with a banquet at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club, with the Rev. Keith Coleman as the banquet speaker.

Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the Bible Presbyterian Church. Special arrangements are being made as we meet 1-6 August 2013 for our 77th General Synod in Grand Island, New York. It will be our 77th synod because there was more than one synod that met in a couple of years in our history.

John Dyck, Stated Clerk, BPC

+ Bible Presbyterian Church, Contact Page


[2] PCA-Connected U.S. Senate Candidate Foments Political Firestorm with Remarks about Rape and Pregnancy

By Darrell Todd Maurina

By now, probably everybody who cares anything about politics or about right-to-life issues knows about the U.S. Senate candidate from Missouri who made really dumb statements about female biology in rape cases.

What may not be widely known is that U.S. Rep. Todd Akin is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America, is a graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and apparently was a ruling elder at Twin Oaks PCA in Ballwin, a St. Louis suburb, though he's no longer listed as being a member of that church's session (i.e., board of elders or consistory).

For those who haven't seen the video of Rep. Todd Akin's interview with Charles Jaco of KTVI in St. Louis:

http://fox2now.com/2012/08/19/the-jaco-report-august-19-2012/

In his interview, Rep. Akin correctly says rapists need to be punished and the baby does not deserve death. However, the key problematic statement is here: "It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Most of the top Republican leadership is calling on Rep. Akin to drop out because of his "open mouth, insert foot" moment in front of a local reporter. Just a few hours prior to writing this article, I received a press release from U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, along with former Missouri senators John Ashcroft, Kit Bond, John Danforth, and Jim Talent, calling for Akin to step aside.

The reason this is all over the national news is because a loss by Rep. Akin could easily prevent the Republicans from getting a Senate majority this fall. Missouri was considered a likely pickup for Republicans until Rep. Akin's comments.

No matter what we think about Rep. Akin, we need to look at this as an example of the need for Christian politicians to use wisdom in what we say and how we say it.

Otherwise, bad things happen like this article by Patheos.com, a left-wing Christian website, entitled "Rep. Todd Akin’s views typical in southern PCA churches":

Todd Akin was a follower of the late D. James Kennedy. Kennedy, founder of Florida’s Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, was not a fringe character in American evangelicalism. He was well-known and well-respected — and his views on rape victims were the same as those expressed by Akin. Todd Akin is a product of Covenant Theological Seminary — that’s where you go if you want to be trained in patriarchal misogyny with a side of disturbing nostalgia for the Old South.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2012/08/21/rep-todd-akins-views-typical-in-southern-pca-churches/


When we enter the political realm as Christian conservatives, we will be watched by secularists for opportunities to attack us and our faith.

Christian conservatives have a bad habit of not asking ourselves what our words sound like outside our subculture.

It wouldn't at all surprise me if Todd Akin had been told hundreds of times that rape rarely results in pregnancy, and repeated that in front of a reporter who knew how explosive that comment would be.

This whole stupid discussion about whether rape can result in pregnancy isn't an issue addressed by Scripture -- perhaps because the Israelites knew all too well from the experience of conquest that pregnancies definitely do sometimes happen as a consequence of rape, especially when the rape is repeated many times over many days. More recently, the Russian military during World War II used rape as a tactic of warfare, as have armies for millennia, and the evidence of the effectiveness of rape in producing children is all too clear in both modern and ancient history. At best, Akin can argue that rape is less likely to result in pregnancy, not that it doesn't happen some of the time.

However, there are plenty of Scriptural arguments that sound really bad to a secular audience. If we're going to make those arguments we need to know right up front that they will cause some of our enemies to mock, some to get angry, and others to scratch their heads. That's not necessarily bad, but we need to avoid unnecessary offense at the same time that we understand that some offense is necessary to win. Truth hurts.

We need to be prepared to defend pro-life positions using arguments that convince not only ourselves but others.

It's one think to say something dumb from the pulpit, but it's more difficult when tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people hear it. Akin really blew it, and we need to be careful to avoid similar mistakes.

Darrell Todd Maurina’s coverage of the Dutch Reformed world, including the conservative secession from the Christian Reformed Church, appeared regularly in Christian Observer in the 1990s. He is presently a member of Gospel of Grace ARP Church in Springfield, Missouri.

[Editor’s Note: For email recipients of Presbyterians Week, please replace the significantly inaccurate bio statement that accompanied the 15 August 2012 Presbyterians Week article by Mr. Maurina with the paragraph above, along with the editor’s regrets, and with the editor’s relief that he is not a candidate for political office.]


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[3] Being a Pastor and Speaking Out in Today’s Culture

Commentary by Dr. Michael A. Milton

A pastor I know recently told me that he was criticized for being “too political.” He has heard such an indictment all his ministry, he said. Today he leads a major ministry in America and battles daily for the rights of pastors to speak so that believers can speak. Recently, he has preached of the evils of and disastrous consequences of same sex marriage and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” His prophetic word upsets the establishment. His voice is prophetic. His heart is pastoral. Can the two coexist?

I have heard the similar charges in my ministry through the years. I accept the critique. However, if the matter is important enough for me to address in preaching or writing, I believe I am just being pastoral to God’s people. I cannot compartmentalize the Lordship of Christ to only one area of life. He is Lord of all.

So, is it right that pastors should remain silent about important matters in society that are being debated in the public square because someone is trying to establish in our culture that there is no place in politics for religious beliefs or moral convictions that have been born out of a faith commitment? Because people (and fellow pastors) squirm when sin is exposed in politics or culture, does that mean we should refrain from preaching? No. It may mean just the opposite.

Is a pastor solely limited to sharing the Gospel to his flock on Sunday mornings? Or was the late Dr. John Stott right that one of our identities as Gospel preachers, in a faithful Biblical portrait of a pastor, is a “herald”? The pastor is not a prophet, yet he most certainly does carry a prophetic voice and speaks with Biblical authority to other Beast-like powers when there are souls at risk or the honor of Christ and His Church under siege.

I have an intuitive concern that the liberal professor who won’t let the young believer raise her hand in a state university and speak from her conviction is now trying to govern public discourse. Well, I am not governed by political correctness that has been born out of a liberal educational system or by the pressure of a liberal press but by the one and only true God. The public square is not the university professor’s classroom nor is it the TV news studio. This is my Father’s world. Therefore, I speak, and I speak publicly, as the Lord gives an open door, through media, because I am compelled by compassion for souls that may be victims of systems that will ultimately enslave them.

I believe that pastors must speak to our declining culture, whatever their pulpit. I am pastorally concerned that that there are dangerous idols masquerading under the banner of politics in this increasingly secularized culture. These heaven-rejected powers prefer that we keep quiet. But when the powers move beyond the Machiavellian machinations of politics to the advocacy of principles at odds with God’s Word we must call them out.

The prophets and church fathers of old spoke forth concerning the actions of governments, individuals yielding power, and the idols of culture. Our Lord Jesus did when he said of Herod “Go tell that Fox” (Luke 13:32), St. Paul did, the church fathers did, and the Reformers did. In the Twentieth Century I thank God that J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937) was not afraid to speak to the ungodliness in his culture (read Stephen Nichols’ fine biography of Machen). And what of Bonheoffer opposing the idolatry of Statism and the ungodliness of the Church being subservient to National Socialism? How about Solzhenitsyn exposing the inhumanity of Soviet Communism and the sun human conditions of the gulag?? What about the preaching of Martin Luther King, Jr as he warned of the evil of a racism that had to be eradicated from our own culture? Today pastors like Ugandan Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi preach against the powers of darkness, expose evil in government, and even in churches in our own nation as missionaries to America, and warn people while compassionately inviting them to Christ. Why? Because pastors are like watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 33) required by God to sometimes we must warn of coming danger, even if others cry “Off limits!”
To do otherwise is to be disobedient to our calling. God says if there is harm to his people because the watchmen were silent they will have the blood of the people on their hands. This is a sobering warning to pastors and trumps any criticism of being “too political.”

Yet the challenge of discernment is acknowledged. What must we do?

(1) Pastors must represent no man but God and party but His Kingdom. We therefore refuse to be used as pawns by any political party. We are aware of Psalms 2 that the rulers of this world conspire against God and His Son. We study. We pray. We speak, therefore, when we must, on behalf of the truths of God’s Word to help people.

(2) Pastors must diagnose the presenting ill to discover the real issue beneath it. Only then do we speak. Diagnosis requires prayer, wisdom, courage, and the leading of the Lord. Speaking requires courage and counting the cost. If it is a real or potential spiritual harm coming from the presenting issues of culture or politics, then we must deliver the diagnosis and offer the cure in the Person of Jesus Christ and His Word. If I happen to yell “Warning!” and the demon under the cloak of culture is a straw-man then I have expended my pastoral capitol, perhaps compromising my ability to preach into real or more critical situations. But if it is not a straw-man, and instead an instrument of the “devil, the flesh or the world” that would further mar the image of God in man or further distance us from God, then woe to me if I speak not.

So we must preach, even when the culture labels our message “off limits.” We will live with that criticism because we are pastors and we follow One and His disciples who also were criticized (and crucified) for assuming an authority that challenged theirs.

(3) Pastors must pray for each situation that startles our shepherding instincts, and weigh whether a given issue is an assault on our conscience worth exposing. It is understood that some matters are just politics or a reflection of a sick culture, and a pathology more ably addressed by other men and women.

(4) Pastors must ground their preaching in God’s Word, the Bible. We have no authority apart from His Word. We must also always offer the way out through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To do less is to be embroiled in the political debate. But preaching with a conclusion that leads to freedom in Christ is above the storm, where it should be.

My pulpit (including this column) is not for sale to any political party. I care not a whit for using my position to promote any political agenda. I do care for souls. That is my job. And I will preach. That is my calling.
Jesus said that we need to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16). Thomas Watson, one the most pastoral of 17th century Puritans said of this passage in his Body of Divinity, “To understand worldly affairs is the wisdom of the serpent; yet to not neglect the soul is the innocence of the dove.”

Dangers exist on all sides for the pastor. But, who said the job would be easy? Yet to silence the pastor in any realm is to cause the Church to retreat into a secluded ghetto where we can no longer be salt and light in the world. And that cannot be. We are pastors. We are shepherds. We comfort the afflicted and on occasion may afflict the comfortable, as it is sometimes put. The ground of our ministry is love from a pure conscience. Let us not abandon our post as long as God gives us the strength to stand. Let us be silent no more.

Michael Anthony Milton (Ph.D., University of Wales) serves as the chancellor & CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary (one of the largest accredited seminaries in the country), a U.S. Army chaplain (instructing at the Armed Forces Chaplain School) and the James M. Baird Jr. chair of pastoral theology at RTS/Charlotte. He is an author, songwriter, singer, ordained minister, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., and he previously served as the president of RTS/Charlotte. Dr. Milton also hosts a national Bible teaching television program, Faith For Living, reaching 70,000,000 potential households through DirecTV, Legacy TV network, YouTube and iTunes. It is also available as a free app in the Android and iPhone markets. The Faith For Living radio program is broadcast on several stations in the southeast. For 16 years he served in the business world and has also served as a top-secret Navy linguist.


+ Reformed Theological Seminary, 2101 Carmel Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28226, 704-366-5066, Fax: 704-366-9295


[4] First Baptist Dallas [Texas] Dr. Robert Jeffress Called to Repent of Leading Christians Astray

Dr. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas [Texas] is called to publicly repent for disobeying Scripture by endorsing Mormon Mitt Romney and to publicly renounce the Mormon cult. “Jesus is the second Person of the Godhead and our Creator. For Jeffress to lead Christians to Romney who thinks that Jesus is a created being, the spirit brother of Lucifer, means Jeffress is knowingly sinning and leading the USA away from the Biblical Jesus,” believes Pastor Steven Andrew, president of USA Christian Ministries.

The Holy Bible and our Founding Fathers teach to vote for Christians (Exodus 18:21, 2Corinthians 6:14-18, 1Corinthians 6:1-5, Matthew 28:19-20…). Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners…” John Jay said, “it is their duty…of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
Mormons have a different Jesus. They believe Romney will become a God and Christians are inferior. Galatians 1:9 teaches Romney is ‘accursed’.
“The Bible gives hope for the USA’s healing if Christians support Christians instead of non-Christians Romney and Obama,” says the ministry president. Hasn’t Jeffress read, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you (2Chronicles 19:2)’?”

“It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…” said Noah Webster, known as “the Schoolmaster of the Republic”.

“No previous generation of Americans would allow today’s sin. Lukewarm preachers cause God’s judgments of a poor economy, corruption and debt, Deuteronomy 28 and Ezekiel 22:26-30 explain. First Baptist Dallas’ Dr. Robert Jeffress is teaching errors. Leading Americans away from Jesus Christ is a greater sin than abortion and homosexual sin (Exodus 20:2-3),” he continues.

“God loves Americans. If Christians obey Scripture and start publicly calling for Christian front runner Ron Paul to be President, the Holy Spirit will be in the White House,” he says. Paul has the support to win and beats Obama in polling (Rasmussen Reports, April).

“Romney was silent on Chick-Fil-A, fund raises with the abortion pill, and wants the Boy Scouts to admit homosexual sinners. Obama and Romney disobey the Constitution and want Americans jailed for life without a trial with NDAA. Ron Paul will bring back Christian liberty, Constitutional rights and cut the deficit. Paul is Biblically correct to end the unjust wars putting Muslim governments in,” he explains.

The ministry president asked to talk privately, but Jeffress wouldn’t meet. 1Timothy 5:20 says, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”


+ USA Christian Ministries, 2059 Camden Avenue #280, San Jose, California 95124, Contact Page


[5] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

-- More British Women Aborting Their Children over Financial Worries, Say United Kingdom Doctors

-- American Psychological Association Considers Elimination of Gender Identity Disorder, Replace with ‘Gender Dysphoria’

-- Mennonite Convicted of Aiding ‘Kidnapping’ for Helping Girl Escape Court-Imposed Lesbian ‘Mother’

-- Canadian Medical Association: Babies Not Human Until after Birth

-- Northern Ireland: More ‘Life of the Mother’ Abortions in Two Years than All of England in Forty Years


+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page


[6] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:

-- Genocide looms as South Africa’s Black President Sings of Killing Whites

-- Department of Homeland Security Purchases 750 Million Rounds of High Power Ammunition

-- Social Security Administration Explains Plan to Buy 174,000 Hollow-Point Bullets

-- Federal Auditor Reveals 2527 Department of Homeland Security Employees and Co-Conspirators Convicted of Crimes

-- New Black Panther’s Graphic Charge: We Need to Kill White Babies by Bombing Nurseries

-- Official Beats Christian Pastor in Buddhist Bhutan

-- Sri Lanka Pastor and Wife Accosted and Beaten by Buddhist Mob

-- Philadelphia Woman Faces US$600-a-day Fine for Feeding Needy Neighborhood Kids

-- Gunman Opens Fire at Conservative Family Research Council

-- Great Britain: 'Pregnant Women Have Asked for Abortions Because They Did Not Want Their Holidays Spoilt'

-- U.S. Troops to Get New Headgear for “Homeland Security Operations”

-- New Docs from Kansas Judge Reveal Planned Parenthood Charges Fraudulently Dropped

-- Obama Senior Advisor Robert Gibbs Confirms Existence of Death Panels

-- Three Delaware Daycare Employees Accused of Encouraging Toddlers to Fight Released from Jail

-- Former U.S. Marine Indefinitely Detained in Psych Ward for 9-11 Facebook Posts


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+ Nicene Council, Box 411, Draper, Virginia 24324, 866-735-9582,
admin@nicenecouncil.com

+ The Telegraph, Victory House, Meeting House Lane, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TT, England, 0800-316-6977, telegraphenquiries@telegraph.co.uk

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+ CBS 3, 1555 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130, 215-977-5333, Fax: 215-977-5658, Contact Page


[7] The Religion of Peace

-- Radical Islam Joins the U.S. Democratic National Committee

-- Missing Christian Children Found in Radical Madrasas in Bangladesh:
Children Taken Under False Pretenses and Trafficked for Jihad

-- Iran Proposes Military Alliance of Muslim Countries

-- Canada: Muslim Anti-Stereotyping Activist Arrested for Terrorism, Gunrunning

-- Al-Qaeda’s ‘Suicide Bombers Wanted’ Ad

-- Ivory Coast: Thousands Displaced in Renewed Terror

-- Southern Poverty Law Center Reveals Itself: Participates in Conference 14 August 2012 with Islamic Supremacist Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

-- Christians under Siege in Syria

-- Muslims Riot in Northern France

-- Nigeria: Suspected Boko Haram Gunmen Kill Pastor at Home

-- Thousands from North Flee South India in Fear

-- Muslim Brotherhood [Literally] 'Crucifies' Opponents

-- Another Afghan Police Attack Kills Two U.S. Servicemen

-- Like Allah, Islamic Revolutions Devour Their Own Children

-- Sharia In Action: Eleven-Year-Old Pakistani Christian Girl With Down's Syndrome Arrested For "Blasphemy"

-- Mali's Muslim Warlord Declares Holy War on the West

-- Roman Catholic Governor of Illinois Prays to Allah during Ramadan

-- New York City Police Department Probing Bacon Hate Crime -- APB on the BLT!

-- The Mideast's Vanishing Christians

-- Oslo Muslims Demand Sharia-Controlled Zone


+ RedState, 1 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Suite 600, Washington DC 20001, contact@redstate.com

+ International Christian Concern, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest #941, Washington DC 20006, 800-422-5441, Fax: 301-989-1709, superadmin@persecution.org

+ Trend, 14, Firudin Agayev Street, Baku, Azerbaijan, 994-12-497-31-72, Fax: 994-12-497-30-89, agency@trend.az

+ Examiner.com, 555 17th Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80202, contactus@examiner.com

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+ Assist USA, Post Office Box 609, Lake Forest, California 92609, 949-380-1558, danjuma1@aol.com

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+ Assyrian International News Agency

+ Release International, Post Office Box 54, Orpington BR5 9RT, England, 01689-823491, Fax: 01689-834647, info@releaseinternational.org

+ The National, Post Office Box 111434, Abu Dhabi, 971-2-4145328, newsdesk@thenational.ae

+ Freedom Outpost, Contact Page

15 August 2012

Presbyterians Week Headlines

[1] Reformed Journalist Calls for the Conservative Presbyterian and Reformed Community to Understand the Realities of “Radical Two Kingdoms” and “Escondido Two Kingdoms” Theologies

[2] Atheist Richard Dawkins Demonstrates “Astounding Arrogance” in Refusal to Debate Free Church of Scotland Minister

[3] Presbyterian Church of Australia Says Opposing Gay Marriage Is Not Discrimination

[4] Headlines from the Christian Institute

[5] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

[6] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

[7] The Religion of Peace

---

[1] Reformed Journalist Calls for the Conservative Presbyterian and Reformed Community to Understand the Realities of “Radical Two Kingdoms” and “Escondido Two Kingdoms” Theologies

Darrell Todd Maurina writes:

I am seriously concerned about inroads of "Two Kingdoms" theology in conservative Reformed circles.

People in Reformed and Presbyterian circles who pay attention to politics need to be aware of this "Two Kingdoms" theology coming out of Westminster Theological Seminary in California and what damage it is doing in our churches. Things have gotten so bad that some professed conservative Calvinists are even trying to say that a Christian case can be made for the legalization of gay marriages. One example is Misty Irons' recent speech on her support of homosexual civil marriage at the 2012 Gay Christian Network conference.

Here is Misty Irons' speech to the Gay Christian Network 2012 conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oFZsF1LxmU

I am prepared to believe there is a difference between the "Radical Two Kingdoms" people and the "Escondido 2K" people, but if so, the Escondido 2K people need to clearly disown Misty Irons and other R2K people who, like them, argue that when we're engaged in political activity, we should use general revelation and natural law rather than Scripture to make our point. I fail to see that appealing to some vague and undefined "natural law" will work as a source of authority in politics or anywhere else, given our Reformed doctrine of total depravity and its implications for so-called "common sense." Common sense simply is not that common.

I have crossposted to the Christian Observer URCNA and OPC forums, and the Puritan Board at these links.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/presbyterians-opc/message/44925

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/co-urc/message/25367

http://www.puritanboard.com/f54/old-reformed-views-escondido-2k-views-politics-75448/

There's also a discussion on the religion board of a secular conservative forum here:

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2916768/posts

For those who want to read more, here are some additional links to discussion of the Escondido Two Kingdoms theology:

"Green Baggins, 2K, Westminster-West, gay marriage, and Calvinist politics"

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2862357/posts

"Ongoing review of Van Drunen's 'Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms' in the Puritan Board Theological Forum; Dr. Nelson Kloosterman of Mid-America Reformed Seminary has begun what promises to be a lengthy review of this book."

http://www.puritanboard.com/f54/ongoing-review-van-drunens-natural-law-two-kingdoms-63558/

This is a serious matter. We need to deal with it in our own conservative Reformed circles, or it will bite us, and bite us badly.
 
Darrell Todd Maurina's coverage of the Dutch Reformed world, including the conservative secession from the Christian Reformed Church, appeared regularly in Christian Observer in the 1990s. He is presently a member of Gospel of Grace ARP Church in Springfield, Missouri.


+ Christian Observer, Post Office Box 1371, Lexington, Virginia 20110, christianobserver@christianobserver.org


[2] Atheist Richard Dawkins Demonstrates “Astounding Arrogance” in Refusal to Debate Free Church of Scotland Minister

A 14 August 2012 The Herald article by David Ross titled “Free Church Anger over Dawkins Snub” reports that atheist professor Richard Dawkins has turned down an invitation to debate a Free Church of Scotland (FCS) minister at the November 2012 Hebridean Book Festival ‘Fanclan’, where Dawkins is expected to promote his book The God Delusion, because the debate would not look good on Dawkins’ CV.

FCS minister the Rev. David Robertson said that Dawkins demonstrated “astounding arrogance” and concluded “His soundbite atheism does not stand up to scrutiny….He seems to think he is so great that anyone who challenges him is only trying to be famous.”


+ The Herald, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland G2 3QB, 0141- 302-7000, Fax: 0141-302-7117, On-lineEditor@theherald.co.uk

+ Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2LS, 0131-226-5286, Fax: 0131-220-0597, catherine@freechurchofscotland.org.uk


[3] Presbyterian Church of Australia Says Opposing Gay Marriage Is Not Discrimination

A 14 August 2012 The Christian Post article by Stoyan Zaimov titled “Opposing Gay Marriage Is Not Discrimination, Australian Church Leader Insists” reports that Presbyterian Church of Australia leader the Rev. David Jones says that Christians wanting to preserve the traditional definition of marriage are not being discriminatory, saying:

“We continually are told that the legalization of same-sex marriage would end perceived discrimination against same-sex couples who are currently not able to marry under federal government law. But at least from the church perspective, opposition to such legalization has nothing to do with discrimination. Plain and simply, Christians oppose same-sex marriage because the Bible, the word of the God who created male and female and also created marriage, clearly and distinctly says that marriage is between one man and one woman – which means not between two men or two women.”


+ The Christian Post, National Press Building, 529 14th Street Northwest, Suite 420, Washington DC 20045, 202-347-7734, info@christianpost.com

+ Presbyterian Church of Australia, Post Office Box 2196, Strawberry Hills, New South Wales 2012, Australia, 02-9690-9333, Fax: 02-9310-2148, general@pcnsw.org.au


[4] Headlines from the Christian Institute

-- Only 143 of 6.4 Million Abortions in England and Wales between 1968 and 2011 Were To Save the Life of the Mother

-- Male Oxford Students Free To Wear Skirts to Exams


+ The Christian Institute, Wilberforce House, 4 Park Road, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 8DG, England, 44-0-191-281-5664, Fax: 44-0-191-281-4272, info@christian.org.uk


[5] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com

-- Red Cross Sets Up Blood Drive outside Abortion Clinic

-- Dozens of Pro-Family Leaders Denounce U.S. Embassy’s Participation in Czech ‘Gay Pride’ Parade

-- Pastor Prosecuted For Helping Girl Escape Court-Imposed Lesbian ‘Mother’

-- Thirteen-Year-Old Says ‘Gay Porn’ Led To Repeated Rape of Four-Year-Old

-- Polish Pro-Lifers Arrested For Displaying Graphic Abortion Posters


+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page


[6] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:

-- NBC Uses Olympics to Promote Sitcom on Same-Sex Couple Seeking Surrogate-Hatched Child

-- Olympics Spectator with Parkinson's Wants 'Exoneration' after Arrest for Not Smiling during Bicycle Race

-- Former CIA Deputy Director and Retired U.S. Army Lt. General William Boykin Says Martial Law Expected and "Warranted"

-- U.S. Army Colonel Ignites Firestorm with Article On Crushing a 'Tea Party Insurgency'

-- TSA Harassment Sends Rape Victim to Emergency Room

-- TSA Agents Caught Smuggling Cocaine and Heroin at Atlanta Airport

-- Oregon Man Sentenced to Thirty Days for Catching Rain Water on Own Property Enters Jail

-- Dallas, Texas, Police Officer Moved to Graveyard Shift after Buying Chick-Fil-A Sandwich on 1 August 2012

-- Australian Motel Owner Can't Ban Prostitute from Using Room

-- Chicago Won't Show Public Records in Abortion Death

-- First Amendment Threatened by Obama’s Enemies List

-- Uzbekistan Tightens Grip on Christians

-- American Red Cross Caught in Abortion Crossfire after Holding Blood Drive at Abortion Clinic

-- Homosexual Male Couples Face Pressure to Fill Cradles

-- The Overcriminalization of America: Are We All Criminals Now?

-- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Armored Vehicle Photographed on Its Way through Kentucky

-- Citrus County Florida Police Strip Search Mom, “Forcibly” Pull Tampon Out of Her for Maybe Rolling Through Stop Sign

-- Federal Agents Kill Dog, Handcuff Kids in Wrong-House Raid in Minnesota

-- U.S. Internal Revenue Service Official Warns Pastors to Keep Silent during Elections

-- Davidson College Bans Chick-Fil-A from Campus Events

-- Washington Times Editorial: The Civil War of 2016: U.S. Military Officers Are Told To Plan to Fight Americans

-- U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Purchase another 750 Million Rounds of .40-Caliber Hollow-Point Bullets

-- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Purchases Massive Explosive Nitrates – Scrubs History

-- Seventy-One-Year-Old Taken to the Ground for Questioning Presumptive U.S. Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan – YouTube Video

-- U.S. Army Tactical Manuals Describe How to Control Domestic Insurrection

-- What Same-Sex "Marriage" Has Done To Massachusetts: It's Far Worse Than Most People Realize

-- Meet the U.S. Military’s First Openly-Homosexual General

-- Oregon Children Can Now Be Sterilized for Free without Parental Consent


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+ Daily Paul, Post Office Box 1306, Arlington, Massachusetts 02474, 339-707-0268, manystrom@gmail.com

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[7] The Religion of Peace

Articles from the past week about the religion of peace:

-- Religious Communities Rally to Support Missouri Muslims after Mosque Arson

-- Eleven Pakistani Christian Nurses ‘Deliberately Poisoned’ with Mercury ‘Because of their Faith’

-- Iran Backs Syria as Civil War Continues

-- Muslim Brotherhood Spokesman: America Will Be Brought to Its Knees

-- Mali Muslims Beat Journalist after Sharia Plan Thwarted

-- Jihadist "Rebels" in Syria Hang Child after Killing Family Members

-- Syrian Conflict a Proxy War to Reshape the Middle East

-- Obama Administration Paves the Way for Sharia Law

-- World's Leading Islamic University Al-Azhar Cleric Hashem Islam Ali Islam: Suicide Bombings Are a Religious Duty

-- The Obama Administration's War on Persecuted Christians

-- US Foreign Policy Destroying Middle East Christianity

-- Nigerian Leader Rejects Boko Haram Leader’s Call on Him to Resign

-- Iraq Prepares to Release Terrorist Accused of Killing U.S. Soldiers

-- Afghan Policeman Turns Gun on U.S. Marines following Joint Pre-Dawn Ramadan Meal - Kills Three

-- Islamists in North Mali Amputate Man’s Hand

-- Violent Muslim Riots in India

-- U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama Misrepresents "Jefferson's Quran" At White House Iftar Dinner

-- Muslim Brotherhood Minister in Morocco Says “Sometimes the Marriage of a Raped Girl to Her Rapist Does Not Really Harm Her"

-- Children in Somalia Kidnapped and Chained By Al-Qaeda to Be Taught How to Become Suicide Bombers


+ Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, Illinois, 60601, 312-629-2990, Fax: 312-629-2991, info@parliamentofreligions.org

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+ Atlas Shrugs, writeatlas@aol.com

+ Assyrian International News Agency

+ TV-Novosti, Building. 1, 4, Zubovsky Boulevard, Moscow, Russia 119021, 202-681-7049, Fax: 202-942-7441, RT-US@rttv.ru

+ Antiwar.com, backtalk@antiwar.com

+ CNSNews.com, 325 South Patrick Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, 877-267-6397, newsdesk@cnsnews.com

+ Comcast Corporation, One Comcast Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, 800-266-2278, Contact Form

+ New York Times, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, 212- 556-1234, executive-editor@nytimes.com