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RECAP NEWSLETTER - 8/22/4 Issue 19
CURRENT EVENT RECAP Bush recently announced the reshuffling of more than 200,000 of our troops worldwide, with about half of the US installations in Europe to be cut or closed, and there will be an increase in training in Australia. If you remember back to when they announced the largest troop rotation for Iraq not too long ago, one of the greatest criticisms regarding it was that it would throw everything off. Supply chains and efficiency would be disrupted for quite a while. Now, with a large part of our troops elsewhere, there is talk of stirring up the majority of our established forces overseas? We are already bogged down in the Iraq swamp with a large contingent of our forces, we do not need a reshuffling of our established and efficient forces into a state of change and flux, especially spreading such reshuffling over several years. If the situation in Iraq does not increase miraculously (which it will not) and suddenly, we will need the stability elsewhere as a whole. Sometimes there are so many items that happen each week, that it is a bit hard to select which items to recap. However, several notable items occurred, especially in the realm of Christians and political-correctness. There was a poignant article today regarding abortion and it how history records that the golden empire of Rome practiced infanticide on a regular and accepted basis. Where is the empire of Rome today? In museums. Isaiah 59:18 "According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence." If the mighty and pagan Rome can quickly crumble, how much more will a mighty and 'Christian' nation fall?
Ezekial 8:17 "Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they
commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the
land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo,
they put the branch to their nose. Just this week, churches in Canada were warned that they would risk losing their tax-exempt status if they addressed issues on which the competing political parties have opposing views. It is sad that money is keeping so many tax-exempt church from standing in the gap. To pastors: If your church is tax-exempt, and an unsaved person uses your silence to justify that Christians as a whole are hypocrites and thus does not go to church, if they die and go to a Christless eternity in Hell, their blood will be on your hands. 2 Samuel 12:14 "Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." If your church is interested in more information/resources regarding the tax-exempt status, 501c3, and its implications, email us at info@informedchristians.com, and we can provide you with appropriate resources and links. Besides the tax-exempt blackmail, another tool increasing in use is the label "hate-speech/crime". In New Zealand, advocates of civil unions are attempting to "link their opponents to extremists." Currently in California, Senate Bill 1234 could potentially expand hate crimes for Christians. That article came out the same day it was announced that the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force was "teaming up with a radical sexual freedom group to eradicate 'antiquated and unjust sex laws in the nations." What kind of country have we become where groups can incorporate, receive popular support, and form organizations dedicated to promoting what God calls abomination? Why don't we see Christians forming myriad organizations and ministries to promote the Bible and reach the world for Christ? Probably because we are too busy playing on the church baseball and basketball team. How come there are not more Christian organizations and ministries involved in the fight against abortion and offering counseling? Probably because we like sitting on our overstuffed couch watching TV instead of putting up posters, handing out literature, offering counseling, and trying to make a difference. Luke 11:35 "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." On a side note... One of my pet peeves is children who cannot occupy themselves. There was a news article this week that lamented that many children affected by Hurricane Charley were 'deprived' of 'their normal creature comforts: television, video games and computers." Breaks my heart (sarcasm). That is pathetic. Amusement is not normal. A-muse-ment (opposite of musing - to think) is necessary in moderation, but it should never be confused as a normal creature comfort. Occupy the mind. Most families (children and adults) are at the point of dependent on amusement. It used to be when you entertained someone in your house, you had snacks, you conversed, played board games, and interacted with each other socially. Nowadays, people go over each other's house to watch a movie. People do not know how to entertain, or to entertain themselves. This rears a generation that is used to not thinking. If your children (and yourself) come home and watch *at least* two hours of TV each night, then you are wasting 1/6th of each 12 hour day, and you have wasted the equivalent of one whole day at the end of each week. Most people would have the equivalent of one extra day to get things done around the house, homework, education, witnessing, church work, etc. if they just stopped watching two hours of TV each day. Teach your children to muse - to think. When I was growing up, we went to the library each week, picked out an armful of books and read them all. Reading is a delightful experience. It increases your vocabulary, perspectives, thought processes, and gleans useful knowledge... and people wonder why we have "attention deficit disorder". I think it should be "Amusement-Distraction-Decay". What have you mused about recently? Do you spend more time watching TV than you do watching your kids?
REMINDERS & PRAYER REQUESTS
May God richly bless,
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