Focus Part Two - Yes, You Can.

In the first part of this lesson, we talked about how when there is a work to be done, distractions will come. We talked about how one of those distractions is sin; represented in the story of Nehemiah by Sanballat.

Let's move on now to the next distraction that will come: Tobiah. It is found in the same passage; Nehemiah 4:1-3

From the Web Bible Encyclopedia:
Tobiah - pleasing to Jehovah, the “servant”

Tobiah is the believer; your co-laborer in Christ. Tobiah is the one that is supposed to be on your side. Tobiah is the one who says "Praise the Lord!" to your face, and talks about you behind your back. Tobiah is your fellow laborer sneaking around to get in the other door before you and then smiling at you once you're in the room together.

This is not to say that fellow believers should never be trusted. On the contrary, we are supposed to be of the same mind. (1Cor 2:16). But Tobiah-minded believers say that even though you are doing the work, it will fail. They wish you failure. I do not understand this at all. Why, if indeed they claim to have the same interests at heart, the same goals to achieve, would they wish failure upon you? I accept the fact that perhaps they may not agree with the method, or the plan, but to wish failure upon your co-laborer is plain wrong.

"Well, preacher", you say. "Tobiah wasn't a co-laborer." Yup. You're right. However, Mr. Pleasing-to-Jehovah was an Ammonite.

Ammonites were descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot. Along with the Moabites, this tribe hired Balaam to curse Israel. They were, through Lot, closely related to the Israelites through blood and language.

You see, it is their close relation that makes them a 'co-laborer'. Even though they were not working along side the Israelites in this task, they were originally from the same family, and that is how we draw the connection.

Let's move on.

So after Nehemiah prays, we see this verse:

So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah 4:6

Why is it that the wall was able to be built, halfway completed, even though there were these distractions and oppositions? Because the people had amind to work

You can get a lot done if you have a mind to work. You can get even more done if those that are with you have a mind to work. You can get people to do extraordinary things as long as you and they have a mind to work. You can beat the oppostion if you have a mind to work.

You can reach the unreachable.

You can do the impossible.

You can beat the enemy.

You can overcome every obstacle...

if you have the mind to work.

When the people have a mind to work, they can.

Brief Briefs

"Brief Briefs" is my new recurring entry for our two cents on current and newsworthy events. I hope you enjoy.

13-Year Old Father

Clearly this kid lacked some sort of sex education. How is it that the first thing he decides to do with it, once he can do something with it, is exactly what he shouldn't be doing with it. Didn't his parents see this girl he was hanging with, and that she was clearly much more physically mature than him?

He was 12 at conception!

Great Britain started down this path a long time ago. What path? They started down the path of a godless nation. They formed their own god to suit their needs; in government and society. Now they are paying the price. If this continues, he could be a grandfather at 25! America should take heed now. This is what happens when you remove God. And yes, her parents are just as much to blame as are his.


But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. Jeremiah 7:23-24, 28


Evolving Christians

Either you are a Christian or you believe in evolution. You can NOT have both. The Word of God states clearly that God created all things:

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.
Revelation 4:11 AMP

For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.
Romans 1:20-21 AMP

When you suggest that God did or didn't do something when His Word clearly states the opposite, you have broken the second commandment and created a god to suit yourself. This is what Adam & Eve did in the garden when tempted.

These preachers are preaching lies. We pray for their flock, that they not be led astray.

Life Lesson # 42

Never sign anything that you have not read.

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs 17:7

Parenting Guideline # 452

Lawmaker Presses for Free Speech in Foul-mouthed Student's Blog Case.

OK.

1. This girl called her teacher a naughty word.
2. She did it on her blog, which she wrote on her own computer in her home.
3. The school found out and meted out punishment.
4. A senator proposes a bill prohibiting students from bad-mouthing teachers.

The mother says:

"...she wished her daughter "had used more sophisticated language," but said it was up to her, not the school board, to mete out the punishment. "It's for me to discipline her at home, not for the school."

My two cents:

1. The school has no jurisdiction in the home.
2. The mother's right, and shame on her if she doesn't do something about it.
3. The senator's bill should never go through.

Give me a break! You mean that every time a student curses out a teacher....? If this happened on school grounds, it would be one thing; on a school computer, alright. But really, at home? that's the parents' job. And there's certainly no bill needed! What a waste of time. Just type it up in the student handbook. That's what they always did when I was in school.

If a child even gets to this point, it's to the parents' shame.

I was playing with matches on the side of my house one day. My neighbor didn't call th epolice when he saw me. He didn't come out and give me some kind of speech. He walked over and knocked on our front door and told my parents what I was up to. I got a whoopin' and never played with matches again. Pretty simple really.

Alright here it is, and I know some of you are gonna protest. It's the Word of God.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 KJV

He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early.
Proverbs 13:24 AMP

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 22:15 KJV

Jubilee

Jubilee is the name of the great semi-centennial festival of the Hebrews. It lasted for a year. During this year the land was to be fallow, and the Israelites were only permitted to gather the spontaneous produce of the fields (Lev. 25:11-12). All landed property during that year reverted to its original owner (Lev. 25:13-34; Lev. 27:16-24), and all who were slaves were set free (Lev. 25:39-54), and all debts were remitted.

Sounds like God already knew man wasn't going to be a good steward of his finances.

"Focus" - Part One

"SIN"

The story of Nehemiah is chock full of lessons for the believer. One of those many lessons is how to overcome the challenge of distraction.

In the book of Nehemiah, he has gone, with the blessing of the Persian king, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

It is good if you read the whole story so you can get an idea of the whole scope of things. Some of it is a lot of names. If those names are a challenge for you, I think God will let you slide by if you call Jedaiah, 'Jed' and Harumaph, 'Harry'. Really, don't you think God would like you to get the message He has for you before you get discouraged because you can't read all the names. When you decide to do a full study on it, then you can go back and look up all the names. Until then...

Chapter 3 talks about where everyone was working on the wall. Let's look at 3:28

From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
Nehemiah 3:28

Each person was working on the part of the wall that was near their house. This is how we should be in this world as well as in the church. There are a lot of walls that need to be rebuilt. There are walls of this nation that need repair.

There are all different sections of the wall. Those who 'live' on that part of the wall are responsible for its repair.

Your calling is your 'home'. If your calling is blogging on certain topics, then perhaps that is your part of the wall. If your 'home' is politics, start rebuilding. If your 'home' is ministry, start repairing the breaches.

If you are going to undertake this task with the rest of us, you must be aware of one thing: you can not do it without calling on God first. I will address that in a future post.

Repairing the wall requires going back to the original plan. Only someone who knows the original layout of that part of the wall is qualified to rebuild that part of the wall. It is the responsibility of people that live on that part of the wall to fix it. Wherever you call 'home', it is your responsibility to fix that part of the wall. You may be a preacher, a missionary, someone who shares their faith on the job or a pray-er. Your home is on that part of the wall. Your security in the city depends on that part of the wall. Walls enable you to see the enemy from afar. It's your responsibility to repair that part of the wall.

Part of the reason that I had such trouble blogging in the past is that during the election season, I was so drawn to the political realm and had so many opinions on the various goings-on from a godly perspective, but didn't know how to separate the two. So, here I am, on my part of the wall. And I am here to stay.

Rebuilding the part of the wall that is near your house is also a personal matter. Take care of the wall near your home; your personal life, your marriage, your children. If everyone saw to the repair of their own part of the wall, the wall would be fixed.

Some parts of the wall have too many people working on them. Stick to your own portion and leave others' alone.

OK. Let's move on to Chapter 4.

Nehemiah 4:1-3

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we built the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

Understand this: When you start doing a good work, someone will always oppose you. Don't ever think that you will get away with completing anything noble without some sort of opposition. We have seen this play out in our own nation. You've probably seen it in your own lives; if not, your own struggles. But stand firm because righteousness brings a righteous reward. Righteous action may attract opposition. So what?

Now you need some name research.

From Jewishencyclopedia.com: "Sanballat," according to Sayce (in Hastings, "Dict. Bible," s.v.), is connected with the Assyrian "Sinballidh," and means "Sin has vivified."

Sanballat means 'Sin has given life'. We are not talking about (a)sin, like cursing and the like. We are talking about (b)Sin, a Sumerian god. Now, (b)Sin was a false god because we know that there is only one God. That is the belief to which we ascribe here. Without getting into too much depth on this note, let's say that all (a)sin is some sort of false god or worshipping of some sort of false god. So, for our purposes, (a)sin and (b)Sin are one in the same, if not very closely related. Follow me?

Be assured that there are many things that will try to get in the way of your righteous endeavors. And as sure as that is, it is sure that one of them will be sin.

Sin seems to be able to distract you at any given time but especially when you are making some headway. It can be something as subtle as despising the actions of another or the person themselves, or as loud as some addiction.

Sin will creep up on you and do what Sanballat did. It will mock you. As soon as you get anything accomplished, sin is right there to mock you; to bring about feelings of worthlessness and doubt about yourself and your task at hand.

Tobiah was Sanballat's henchman: "Yeah, boss. What you said boss. Heh." Tobiah will further point out your failures and shortcomings.

Wait until you hear what Tobiah means!

2e

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10

Why is it that in this world we have so much trouble dealing with events? If we were to look back over history, we would see that everything has been already. Yet, we act as if we are the first to encounter it. We are so self-absorbed that we can not even learn from our own successes and failures.

Even our country could learn from times past, both in its own history and the history of the world, of how to deal with our current struggles. Yet we forget the lessons learned by ourselves and others. We even re-write history at times to appease the masses. We will NOT succeed that way.

If we remember nothing else, can we please remember the words of the 'teacher' (and that, without misquoting him):

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

So Glad!

I am so glad that I know Jesus Christ. If not, I may have missed His Birthday!

Our business, a cleaning service, is soooo busy during the holiday season, Thanksgiving through New Year's, that we hardly have time to breathe. We work sometimes 13-14 hours a day.

This is the main reason why I haven't posted anything lately. Certain things have to take the back burner during this season. Truthfully, the celebration of the Baby Jesus is not the foundation of our faith. As our pastor says, Jesus grew up! It was the work completed on the cross of Calvary that changed my life.

But, see, He is with me every day. He healed my body, saved my soul and baptized me in the Holy Ghost.

If you do not know Him personally, then you need certain days to recognize Him. My personal prayer time did NOT take the back burner during the holidays, so I got to celebrate Him every day; He was with me all day.

We apologize if you didn't get the card or gift you were expecting. This post is your card; the gift is Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

John & Perla


Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

2e

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?


Proverbs 24:21-22

Forwarded Emails (Sowing and Reaping)

I received the following text recently in a forwarded email. DISCLAIMER: I have not checked any of the facts, just posted it as I received it....

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?

I SURE DIDNT TILL NOW

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this.....

Very interesting, read until the end.....

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

'Be not deceived; God is not mocked:

or whatsoever a man sow,

that shall he also reap.

Here are some men and women

who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil ):

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):

During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:'God, that's for you.' He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.

With an ironic tone he said: 'Not even God can sink it'. The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:

'I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment

Bon Scott (Singer)

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: 'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005)

In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.....The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.' She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full ' Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)
said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.

'Jesus'

PS: If it was a joke, you would have sent it to everyone.
So are you going to have courage to send this? I have done my part, Jesus said

'If you are embarrassed about me, I will also be embarrassed about you before my father.'

You are my 8 in 8 seconds. I am not breaking this. No way!

I'M TOLD THIS WORKS!!!!!

Bishop T.D. Jakes '8 Second Prayer.' Just repeat this prayer and see how God moves!!

'Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen.' Pass this message to 8 people {EXCEPT YOU AND ME}.You will receive a miracle tomorrow. I Hope that you don't ignore and let God bless you.

Yes, God’s truth is that we will reap what we sow. This is as much a truth as it relates to a prosperous harvest as it does a cursed harvest.

OK, so I 'replied to all' on this one with a link to this blog entry with two intentions:

1. To provide the recipients with a true yet not exhaustive teaching of the Word of God on sowing and reaping & witchcraft.

2. To draw more regular readers to our blog.

So here we go...

The email quoted Galatians 6:7 correctly. However, the Word of God also states this:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21

I highlighted the word ‘witchcraft’ in verse 20 because that is one thing I want to address here.

WITCHCRAFT

I receive many forwarded emails. I read most. I forward very few. A majority of the forwarded emails out there have a tag-line at the end similar to the one this had, i.e., “if you send this to x amount of people in y amount of time, something will happen”. This is witchcraft. It is not the law of sowing and reaping as God has set forth.

The concepts in this email are true. If you have forwarded it because you wanted to share the truth of God’s Word with someone, and believe that the Word of God has touched you in such a way that it has changed you or the way you think or the way you live your life, then take God's Word at its fullest and at least take the time to delete the crazy ‘spell’ at the end. To do otherwise, now that you know the truth, would be hypocritical. I challenge you all, knowing God's view of witchcraft, to delete the little encantations from here on with whatever emails you get, and then send them. If you send me one with a curse or a promise at the bottom, don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I wasn’t the one who sowed witchcraft.

SOWING AND REAPING

God’s law of sowing and reaping is that, as this email stated,

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Galatians 6:7-8

The email was unclear in that it appeared to say that if you mock God, you will reap a curse for it. That is not what the scripture says. When the Word of God says God is not mocked, it is refrring to this:

Look, God has set up order in this world, both natural and spiritual, that follows the law of sowing and reaping. This will NOT change. You will reap that which you have sown.

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22

Whatever you sow, that’s what you will get!

Take a look at the Word...

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:11-12

And again,

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matthew 7:18

And yet again,

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Luke 6:43-44

God ordered that each grass, herb, & tree brought forth fruit ‘after his (its own) kind’. Have you ever seen oranges on a grape vine? Have you ever seen a snake birth a horse? That is how God set everything in order.

If you sow kindness, you'll reap kindness. If you sow hatred, you'll reap hatred. Anger=anger, spite=spite, love=love, money=money, violence=violence. Yes, I said money. And if you forward a lot of emails, what will you get? OK, I know that’s funny and all, but it’s true nonetheless.

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We'd love to hear from you. You can click on 'comments' below and leave your 2 cents.

2e

Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings. You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. [Lev. 26:14-17.] Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Mal. 2:2.] And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.


Malachi 3:8-12 AMP

Too Little, Too Late

Nigerian father takes son to court for idleness

LAGOS (Reuters) – A father took his 20-year old son to an Islamic court in northern Nigeria for idleness, asking that he be sent to prison for refusing to engage in productive activities, state news agency NAN said on Friday.

"He is not listening to words and he is bringing shame to my family. I am tired of his nefarious deeds. Please put this boy in prison so that I can be free," Sama'ila Tahir, a market trader in the northeastern town of Bauchi, was quoted as saying.

Tahir told the court that his son had refused to go to school and accused him of belonging to a criminal gang.

The court sentenced the son to six months in prison and 30 strokes of the cane -- which were immediately administered on the premises -- for being disobedient to his parents, NAN said.

I started to blog about this and then realized that I would really need to write a book in order to get to the fullest truth of the matter. Even then, I am not so sure that I would not get some of you up in arms over the whole matter.

So, I've posted the story. Please comment on it.

No, I'm not even posting a scripture here, because some people couldn't take that either.

2e

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.

John 4:34-38

Bad Parenting & Poor Judgment

SOLON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A toilet paper prank has led to the shooting of a 14-year-old by a southwestern Michigan man who believed strangers were trying to break into his home.

The Grand Rapids Press and WZZM-TV report the victim and four other teens were pulling the prank about 1 a.m. Sunday at a home in Solon Township, about 20 miles northeast of Grand Rapids.

Kent County sheriff's Lt. Jerry Miedema said the teens were intent on draping the house in toilet paper, while the homeowner's "intent was to come out shooting."

Police say three shots were fired from a 12-gauge shotgun, striking the 14-year-old in the chest, stomach and leg. He is recovering at a local hospital.

The homeowner was not arrested, but a prosecutor is looking into possible charges.

I really don't think charges are in order. The youth used poor judgment in TP-ing a house. The man used poor judgment in shooting first and asking question later. Where are these kids parents? My kids would never have done this.

1. We have taught them to make better choices than this.
   
2. They have too much of the fear of God and even more of the fear of Dad (or Mom) for that matter. Sorry, Dear.
3. What was a 14 year old doing out of their bed at 1 am? Nothing good happens at 1 am unless you are at a church all night youth event!
   

Yep, there's one for this too.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Huh?

This news story makes me wonder.

Excerpt:

"Ashes of a dead relative were among the items stolen from cars in the parking lot."

"...and they stole my gun, two cameras, a cell phone and $800 in cash."

Is it a common practice of which I am not aware to carry dear old Dad around with you in your car?

As for the second one: Anyone dumb enough to leave all of that stuff in the vehicle does not get my sympathy. I hope his insurance carrier ups his rates.

And they knew that there was a rash of car break-ins?! HUH?!?

He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.

Proverbs 28:26

...In Jesus' Name!

I try not to blog on political issues. First, it really gets my blood pressure up, and second, I think that most political issues are a waste of time as they relate to the more important things in life for us. However, this issue has the potential to affect me in the future if this kind of garbage spreads, especially if someone like the messiah gets into office.

The full story on this most ridiculous issue can be found here.

I am not sure if Gov. Kaine knows his own faith.

Excerpt:
Gov. Timothy Kaine of Virginia has affirmed his support for a new statewide policy under which state troopers serving as chaplains will not be allowed to pray "in Jesus name," explaining that he can pray "without mentioning Jesus."

Governor Kaine's personal; statement on the issue:
"I would never do anything to inhibit anybody's religious worship. It doesn't diminish my ability to worship my God, to pray to the Father or the Lord without mentioning Jesus Christ," he said.

Governor Kaine is reportedly a member of the Roman Catholic Church. I guess his catholic chaplain troopers would never be able to pray A Prayer for our National Elections in public. What a pity, he may need it. He has also banned them from praying for the human race, to end abortion and the prayers which invoke the Holy Name of Jesus or Christ the King. It is doubtful that the Governor prays any of those prayers himself. Some of them would not agree with his party's national platform.

Kaine: "It doesn't diminish my ability to worship my God." Well, no because you are not the one prohibited from praying in Jesus' Name.

However, let's certainly hope and pray that Governor Kaine never needs any of his chaplains to give him last rites. It would be forbidden. But it would be required by his catholic faith. That would diminish your ability to worship your God, wouldn't it Governor? He clearly has not thought this one out.

By the way, I think it's time the catholic church looked more closely at its adherents who are involved in politics. There seems to be an ever-increasing conflict of interest for some of them.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:18

Is it right for these troopers to obey the governor or God? Peter and John put the same query before their own government. They returned to the fellowship and prayed.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:29-31, 33

May GREAT GRACE be upon all those troopers as they stand against this affront to their most basic of religious rights.

We should all pray for the fine state of Virginia and do it in Jesus' Name!

2e

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.


Matthew 9:35-38

2e

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:6-10 KJV

FROM THE AOG WEBSITE...

Washingtonpost.com goes too far

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 - 4:30 PM CST

Critically examining the faith of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has become a favorite pasttime of the secular media, currently slamming her for a more literal-than-comfortable interpretation of the Bible and her Pentecostal background. But a recent political cartoon posted by washingtonpost.com went beyond the realms of thought-provoking journalism to a slanderous attack of Palin, Pentecostalism, Christianity and God.

Posted online on Wednesday, September 9, the political cartoon not only reveals the cartoonist's lack of understanding of Pentecostal beliefs, but of God. According to a Gallup Poll, most Americans believe God is the Creator, but the cartoonist paints Him to be cranky, befuddled, a user of profanity and far from omniscient.

"The cartoon is despicable," states AG General Superintendent George O. Wood. "Millions of Christians today follow the example of first century Christians who prayed in other tongues. The Washington Post would not think of printing a cartoon that mocked members of the Muslim or Jewish faiths. It should be ashamed. Furthermore, Sarah Palin has to my knowledge never said she prays in other tongues. Since God is multi-lingual, I'm sure He doesn't have problems understanding any prayers - whether they are articulated in a known or unknown language. He looks for prayers that come from the heart."

Deborah Howell, the readers' representative (ombudsman) for washingtonpost.com, stated, "Speaking of overdoing it, a political cartoon by Pat Oliphant that appeared on washingtonpost.com Wednesday prompted complaints from about 350 readers who said he lampooned their faith.

"Readers were right to complain," she added. "I will deal with political cartooning in another column."
In response to questioning, Howell says that Oliphant's cartoons are automatically posted on the washingtonpost.com site, with no one editing/reviewing the material prior to its posting.

While I do not agree with everything the Assemblies of God do or don't do, they are right with this one. I do not believe for one minute though that the Washington Post's 'dot com' arm doesn't review and edit. That would be irresponsible journalism at the very least. To portray the Almighty in this fashion is, well, is there a word for it? Oh yeah, blasphemous. Stand back everyone, "dangerous lightning zone". These people must have thought that the dig on Palin was good enough to warrant the dig on God. Stupid people. Just stupid.

As always, there's scripture for it:

For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him). The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted.

Proverbs 3:32-34 AMP

For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

1 Corinthians 14:2

First Corinthians 14 explains the gift of tongues in depth; the whys and hows, etc. I am not going to teach on it right now.

2e

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3