Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Pastor Max Lucado Still Baffled Over Evangelical Trump Supporters
If
you've been following the presidential campaign, you have probably heard some
talk about the power of the evangelical vote.
Pastor
Max Lucado is a prominent evangelical pastor and a prolific best-selling writer
who almost never writes about politics. And that's one reason millions found a
recent essay of his so interesting.
Lucado took to his site to describe all the reasons he says
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's tone and decorum fail the decency test in
a blog post titled "Decency For President."
He cites Trump's belittling of women and people with disabilities,
among other people, and his constant name-calling. He says such comments
"wouldn't be acceptable even for a middle school student body election ...
but for the oval office?" His essay, also published in the Washington Post, has
now been shared millions of times.
Interview Highlights
Michel Martin: What is it that made you want to weigh in here? Why
now?
Max
Lucado: Controversially so, I'm not involved, that troubles many people. Kind
of the bottom line for me, I don't think people come to the church where I
preach to hear my view on politics. I'd like to think I'm going up river in
talking about world view topics rather than particular political or
controversial topics. So I've just stayed away from it through the years, which
is funny because there was a time I wanted to go into politics. And so all of a
sudden here I am, I guess. I'm in the thick of it.
I would
not have said anything about Mr. Trump, never, I would never have said anything
if he didn't call himself a Christian. It'd be none of my business whatsoever
to make any comments about his language, his vulgarities, his slander of
people, but I was deeply troubled ... that here's a man who holds up a bible
one day, and calls a lady "bimbo" the next. Here's a man who calls
himself a Christian and yet just had the audacity to make fun of a lady's
menstrual cycle. ... He didn't just do this on occasion, but repeatedly,
unrepentantly. Somebody sent me a list of 64 people he's called loser. Just
this week it's continued.
It
deeply concerns me that somebody who knows little or nothing about the
Christian faith would hear Mr. Trump call himself a Christian and then make a
decision based on the Christian faith, based on his behavior. And so I just
felt like I should say something. I did not expect to stir up a dust storm that
this blog post has stirred up.
MM: Tell me what struck you about the reaction.
ML: We
were stunned by the response. ... It really struck a nerve. We had so many
responses, we had to quit publishing second generation responses because people
were beginning to argue with each other ... not what I intended for it to be.
... Most of it has been positive, many people have said "This is what I
was thinking, thanks for saying it on my behalf." But there are many
people who were just really ticked off that I would dare to suggest that this
behavior is inappropriate.
MM: One thing that you noted in your follow up post is there
seemed to be a deep undercurrent of worry.
ML:
There is and you could sense that, you could almost taste it. There's an angst
in the country, and I think there's a fear. I think there's a fear of we don't
know what's next. And I've tried, maybe you can help me, I've tried to put my
finger on the root of this fear. I feel like really we're better off than we
were eight years ago, 10 years ago in many ways. There's certainly things we
can do better at but the economy is somewhat stable. We're not engaged in the
level of international conflict that we've been involved, still you would think
we were. There's just a level of anxiety.
I'm
personally of course of the persuasion that all of our issues are spiritual
issues and that a disconnect with God creates a disconnect with our neighbors
and that leads to anxiety. ...
MM: Many people say in fact that they're puzzled about the appeal
of Donald Trump, especially to professing Christians. The fact is, he has
racked up many votes and endorsements from leaders. For example on Super
Tuesday, every state that Donald Trump won, he received the majority of the
evangelical vote. What do you think the appeal is?
ML: I'm
curious why we're giving him a free pass on this behavior. Typically,
evangelicals have tried to hold our leaders up if they call themselves
Christians to a standard consistent with the faith and then of course
consistent with whatever office they hold. But it seems like we're more than
willing to give Mr. Trump a free pass. The classic one was in Iowa when he was
asked, "Do you ever ask for forgiveness of sins?" and he said,
"No, I don't need to." I nearly fell out of my chair. That's right at
the heart and core of the Christian faith, that we're all sinners, we all need
forgiveness of sins. I do not have an answer for your question. I've asked
people who support Mr. Trump, "How do you reconcile the disconnect between
what he claims to be and what he says?" ... I'm as baffled as anyone as to
why. ...
If
President Obama had used the language and spoken with the same disrespect that
Trump has, and identified himself with a Christian, there is no doubt in my
mind that I would've expressed the same concern. ...
We just
have to hold ourselves to a higher standard if we're going to be leaders and if
we're going to be Christians. I do believe that leaders have to be held to a
higher standard, especially Christian leaders. I put myself in that camp.
MM: What would you say to people who are fed up with the
government and think that it's gone too far on social issues like same-sex
marriage and abortion, and feel that Donald Trump is the only candidate that is
willing to do to something about it?
ML: My
concern is that somebody would make a decision against Christianity because of
Mr. Trump's behavior. And that's my high concern here. And to that person I
would say, the way he speaks about people is not the way our master, our savior
has taught us to speak, it's not the way our scriptures urge us to speak. The
bible urges us to be respectful to all people, especially people with whom we
have disagreements, to never libel people, to never label people. Now this is a
huge deal in scripture, and so I would encourage that person, and the reason
I've gone so verbal and vocal with this is because I'm protective of the
reputation of Christ and the church, and I would ask that person not to
interpret the Christian faith through the words of Mr. Trump.
It`s 'Grace, Grace & more Grace' for Darlene Zschech as Chemo Starts - Updated: 2015
Lessons
From The Valley - Darlene Zschech - 9/20/15
This
brilliant message reminds us that there are valuable lessons to be learned in
the valleys of our lives, and that we never walk through them alone.
Christian
singer-songwriter Darlene Zschech who is 48 years and a wonderful wife, mum and
grandmother, says she has started to
lose her hair as she begins chemo treatments for breast cancer but she hasn't
lost her desire to worship.
Zschech, who
announced on her blog (http://www.darlenezschech.com) in December that she has
breast cancer, recently finished round two of five chemo treatments.
On her most
she shared what she is learning through her battle with cancer and where she
finds her strength.
"All I
can say is, 'grace, grace and more grace'," she wrote. "I am learning
to rest in every promise from Jesus. In fact, it's His Word that is giving me
the strength to inhale and exhale, moment by moment."
"To be
completely honest, this has been very confronting. It definitely makes me look
sicker than I feel. In saying that, I am finding great freedom through this.
Mark [her husband] keeps reminding me how much money we'll save over the next
while on hairdressers!" Zschech said.
The famed
worship leader also said writing has been a great comfort to her during this
season. She said she plans to share songs birthed from this trial.
"I have
songs and thoughts that I will share with when I am on the other side of this
mountain," she shared. "In fact, we are already planning a
Thanksgiving service at our church in November, where we will record songs
birthed during this season."
"We
simply want to fill the place with praise for all that God has done,"
Zschech wrote.
North Korea imprisons 30,000 Christians!
Kim Jong Un, the current
leader of North Korea, is guilty of the imprisonment and torture of Christians
and their entire families.
As Christians we have a choice. We can remain silent, say an occasional prayer, or stand up against such atrocities.
The Voice of the Martyrs invites you to take part in a new ministry campaign. Sign a letter to Kim Jong Un, and let him know that we are committed to standing with our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering in North Korea’s notorious concentration camps.
As Christians we have a choice. We can remain silent, say an occasional prayer, or stand up against such atrocities.
The Voice of the Martyrs invites you to take part in a new ministry campaign. Sign a letter to Kim Jong Un, and let him know that we are committed to standing with our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering in North Korea’s notorious concentration camps.
https://www.letterofconfession.com/email-1.html
Arizona bill letting businesses deny service for religious reasons sparks heated debate
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is facing pressure from both sides of a heated debate over religious rights, as she weighs whether to sign a bill that would legally protect businesses that deny services to customers for religious reasons.
The bill cleared the Arizona Legislature last week. Opponents are calling the measure “state-sanctioned discrimination” and raising such scenarios as gays being denied restaurant service or medical treatment when a business owner’s religion doesn’t condone homosexuality.
The bill updates existing Arizona law on the “exercise of religion” and protects businesses, corporations and people from lawsuits if they deny services based on a “sincere” religious belief.
Supporters argue the bill is about protecting religious freedom, not about allowing discrimination. And they frequently cite the case of a New Mexico photographer sued for refusing to take wedding pictures of a gay couple.
"This bill is about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith,” said state GOP Sen. Steve Yarbrough, the bill sponsor.
Brewer, a Republican, has five days to sign or veto the bill once it gets to her desk but has yet to clearly indicate what she will do. Brewer suggested over the weekend that she supports a business's freedom of choice but remains unsure whether that has to be put into state law. She vetoed a similar bill proposed last year by Yarbrough.
Despite some support in the state Legislature, prominent Republicans have pressed the GOP governor for a veto, including Sen. John McCain. Five of seven Republican candidates for governor also have called for the bill to be vetoed or withdrawn. The latest is Frank Riggs, a former California congressman, who said it is a "solution in search of a problem."
According to the new bill, "A person whose religious exercise is burdened … may assert that violation as a claim or a defense in a judicial proceeding.”
In addition to the New Mexico case, a gay couple in Arizona was recently denied service over religious beliefs when the owner of a small bakery declined to bake the couple a wedding cake. “I respectfully declined due to my personal Biblical convictions as a born-again Christian,” the owner told an Arizona TV station. “I firmly believe that my convictions in the Bible are more important than money.”
Similar legislation has been introduced in Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee and Oklahoma. But Arizona's plan is the only one that has passed.
Supporters of the Arizona legislation also say it is needed to protect people from heavy-handed actions by courts and law enforcement.
The bill allows any business, church or person to cite the law as a defense in any action brought by the government or an individual. It also allows the business or person to seek an injunction once they show their actions are based on a sincere religious belief and the claim places a burden on the exercise of their religion.
Three state House Republicans opposed the bill but have not elaborated on their vote.
"I disagree with the bill," said GOP state Rep. Ethan Orr. "I think it's a bad bill."
Arizona's voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage as a state constitutional amendment in 2008. It's one of 29 states with such prohibitions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Federal judges have recently struck down bans in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia, but those decisions are under appeal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mayor declares 2014 the 'year of the Bible' in Texas city
The mayor of a Texas city is raising some eyebrows after he officially declared 2014 the “year of the Bible.”
MyFoxDFW.com reports Tom Hayden, the mayor of Flower Mound, made the declaration at a city council meeting last month.
Hayden says he had considered making the declaration for two years because he wants his community to connect through the Bible, and finally decided to do so in 2014.
"There's so much benevolence on helping your fellow person," Hayden told MyFoxDFW.com. "And the morality that helped build our country is based on the values that are found in the Bible. And as we look at problems, maybe we're getting away from those values. And in my little small way, I want to encourage people to get back into those values."
Hayden hopes to do so by encouraging all the residents of his town to read the entire Bible together in a year. Daily passages will be posted on a website called thebible2014.com, which was created by the Calvary Chapel of Flower Mound “as a connecting point to fulfill the Mayor’s vision.”
However, some residents are not sold on the mayor’s idea.
"He was elected mayor," Curt Orton told MyFoxDFW.com. "Not as the spiritual leader of Flower Mound."
Hayden’s move is not without precedent. President Reagan made a similar declaration in 1983, and Hayden references Reagan and other presidents in his declaration.
Click for more from MyFoxDFW.com.
Residents ordered to remove 'God Bless America' signs
Residents of a Florida city who have had "God Bless America" signs posted on their front lawns for months have been ordered by local officials to remove them.
MyFoxTampaBay.com reports that the First Baptist Church of Bartow distributed some 300 signs to residents following a Fourth of July celebration. The city only permits residents to display signs during major holidays is starting to crack down on the displays.
"Being a veteran, I felt like I was just kicked in the gut. I couldn't believe it, that I couldn't display my love for my nation by putting a sign up that says "God Bless America," Bartow resident Marcus Seger told the station.
The city's code enforcement division recently notified offending residents that its temporary sign ordinance has been in place for 13 years and already allows for some exceptions for yard displays.
"They can have those signs out on holidays that are relevant," ," Bartow Code Enforcement Director Gregg Lamb said. "You can have a temporary sign around Christmas if it's related to Christmas. Or the 4th of July. The sign ordinance has exceptions for that."
Some Bartow residents disagree with the ordinance and have no plans to comply with the city's request. "This is my yard that I'm paying the taxes on. It's my right," Emmett Purvis, an area resident with a sign, told MyFoxTampaBay.com.
Several residents are expected to seek a waiver from the ordinance at an upcoming Bartow City Commission meeting. The city's code enforcement division does not enforce fines or penalties for non-compliance, according to the report.
City Manager George Long released a statement late Friday reminding residents that code enforcement officers are targeting all types of signs, regardless of the message.
"It is clear that some recipients of the notices have interpreted them as an indication that their message of 'God Bless America' is in violation of city code. This interpretation is not the case or the intent of the city. Instead, the issue is and remains the sign type – not the message," Long said.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com
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