https://nypost.com/2018/12/07/principal-bans-candy-canes-says-j-shape-stands-for-jesus-report

https://www.christianpost.com/news/new-york-gives-christian-group-ultimatum-change-gay-adoption-policy-or-end-placement-program.html

Just when you thought you lived in America, something like this happens.

At least someone recognized that this is free public exercise of religion.  It is fascinating that we have to remind people of that.  Regardless, we must obey God rather than man.

http://www.toddstarnes.com/column/officer-cleared-in-military-bible-complaint

The presidency has apparently become an unassailable monarchy. The supreme court voted 6-3 to place the exclusive prerogative for recognizing nations in the hands of the president. News Article

Nowhere does the constitution place any such power in the hands of the executive. The closest thing within the constitution to “recognizing” a nation is embodied within the terms for making treaties. All treaties must be confirmed by a supermajority of the senate. The court should have designated that the senate confirm the president’s assessment of Jerusalem with a supermajority.

Also, when the constitution doesn’t stipulate something, what should be the tiebreaker? Of the three branches of government, the congress by default holds the highest rank. After all they are Article I. Article II is the executive and Article III is the court. So if ANYBODY should have unchecked authority to make such a decision, it should be the Congress, not the president. Otherwise, why wouldn’t the president be able to override previously ratified treaties by simply deciding to no longer recognize the legitimacy of the nation with which the treaty was made?

The pendulum has swung as far in the direction of absolute executive authority as it can possibly go. Constitutional restraint has all but completely unraveled. And once powers like this are granted to a president, they’ll never be reclaimed, because any person who attains the white house will be unlikely to relinquish them. Sad day.

OK so this week we’ve got a mesmerized Raul Castro wanting to rejoin Catholicism thanks to Pope Francis. I’m not sure how he reconciles that with his atheistic-by-definition communist ideology, but hey, what do I know. Now you’ve got the Vatican embracing liberation theology, a witches brew of Communist ideology and Catholicism.

Gutierrez to speak at Vatican

These are some important dots being connected. All we need now is for Francis to cozy up a little more with the Muslims and you’ve got the basis for your one-world religion and your one-world government pretty much in place. All the countries of the world have already embraced some form of socialism. All we need now is a hybrid of Islam and false Christianity, Chrislam, to secure worldwide unity and peace, right?

This is good stuff, and I am so glad GTY is taking this on.  It reminds me of the biography I read of Adrian Rogers.

‘In an ironic turn of events, John left those meetings—where the Word of God was faithfully exalted—only to fly back to California sitting next to Robert Schuller, a well-known televangelist and one of the fathers of the seeker-sensitive movement. During the flight, Schuller told him, “I can say I believe the Bible and make those words mean anything I want them to mean.” That attitude and approach to Scripture sums up the need for this event.’

http://www.gty.org/blog/B150304

I wrote last week that I wouldn’t be able to support Scott Walker who wouldn’t give a straight answer and stick with it. On Monday morning I saw him quoted on CNN those infamous words used by gutless politicians everywhere: “I personally am opposed to abortion, BUT…”

This is not the guy. Even if he were to win the nomination, which I highly doubt, he doesn’t appear to have the courage to lead. Just my take on it so far.

I saw these two articles today, and thought that they betrayed some disagreement between the Graham family.  One son and one grandson of Billy Graham, have two opposing views of the position the pulpit should have on political issues.  Who is right?

http://www.wnd.com/2015/02/franklin-graham-weighs-in-on-alabama-marriages/

http://www.wnd.com/2015/02/once-fiery-coral-ridge-sermons-hit-new-low-key/

Neither of them appear wiling to be liberal in their interpretation of the scriptures, but I bet the family reunions can be tense given their totally opposing views of our proper role in politics!

In Luke 12, Jesus defines a hypocrite not because they do one thing and say another, but because they apply skill to earthly things and neglect a similar spiritual truth.

“⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does. ⁵⁵ And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be a scorcher!’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this time?”

So how many people watched the weather channel this morning to prepare for the day, and neglected to read the Bible to prepare for eternity?

http://cities.barna.org/2015-bible-minded-cities/

So in addition to being post-christian http://cities.barna.org/the-most-post-christian-cities-in-america/  we are also not bible-minded.

The mission field is here! 90% of your neighbors are it.