Blogging and Censorship

I like blogging and I encourage other people, even other pastors to do it on a regular basis. It enables all of us to get our thoughts out there in the real world. But some bloggers are really private journal writers, and some blogging pastors are so narcissistic, that they can't take the heat of positive criticism or opposing views

I visit some pastors' blogs and read their posts. Most of them I like. Some of them I disagree with. Others are just so boring (recycled sermon sites) that I stop reading them.

Sometimes I leave comments, but some pastors don't like it if you disagree. And rather than continue a dialogue, they get out their Marcionite scissors to delete relevant statements or opposing ideas. They are no longer bloggers...they've just become censors.

The funny thing is this: most of the censors that I have come across are liberals...and I thought that free speech was their mantra. It's usually old dinosauric conservatives like me who are supposed to be reactionary, but I've suddenly discovered that's not true.

So, here's my message to all you pastor bloggers: if you can't take dialogue, then why leave room for comments? And if you can't bear to exhange ideas, then buy yourself an old fashioned journal with a lock on it...oh and make sure it has a mirror on every page.

4 Minute devotions: Questions

1 Peter 5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:

I’m at a Presbyterian Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina which I thought was going to be quite beneficial. Instead I’m confused and bewildered because of the stories that some pastors and elders are telling. Some pastors have been sent letters from their presbyteries to read to their sessions informing them that any talk of schism or separation will be severely dealt with. Others are worrying about the future of their congregations and, because they are small, they cannot voice protests about what the General Assembly decided at San Jose this year, for fear of being threatened with censure and closure by their Presbytery.

I don’t know whether to be angry or sad. We have both religious freedom and freedom of speech in this country, so voices of dissent should be allowed. I might not agree with what some of these churches have to say, but I will defend their right to voice their views. Any Presbytery that is forcing its congregations to be silenced is reacting badly to the current crisis in the church. We need to speak more about the issues, not muzzle people. We need more time for dialogue, not censorship.

What worries me about the whole issue is this: our church at Erin is growing and we’re getting ready to expand our staff and perhaps extensively renovate and expand our building. If we ever find ourselves out of step with Presbytery and seek to go our own way, will we have to buy back the building that we have just renovated?

My head is spinning and whatever inspiration I came for has just flown out of the window. If the PCUSA is heading for a schism and the authorities clamp down on free speech, then what’s the point of it all? We are Presbyterians by choice which means that all our elders are equal throughout the church. We don’t have a hierarchy; we’re supposed to be connectional and treated with equity.

My hope and prayer is for real leadership to arise in our denomination, where room can be made for all our churches and people. Our new moderator, Bruce Reyes-Chow, is trying hard to be a bridge between all the groups. I just hope that the ecclesiastical hawks and church lawyers don’t get in the way. And personally, I want to see the Presbyterian Church resurrected and transformed, not just preserved and reformed.

Perhaps things will get better tomorrow. I was just taken by surprise by the amount of trepidation and anxiety other pastors and elders have at this conference.

Prayer: Father God, please bless the PCUSA with discernment and discipleship, charity and unity, fellowship and faith. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Stained Glass Screensaver: Decoration Day

It's Decoration Day here in Knoxville, Tennessee. A special service will be held down at the Old National Cemetery at 11.00AM. Lloyd Daugherty, host of The Voice, will be the featured speaker.



People will be wearing Civil War era uniforms and costumes, and there will be a 21 gun salute.

This is my design for a stained glass window based upon the Confederate Flag. Whilst I may not agree what the flag is used for by some people, artistically speaking it is a beautiful design.

Religious News: two American Preachers Accused of Hate Crime in Britain

Ministers Arthur Cunningham and Joseph Abraham were handing out Gospel leaflets in a Muslim area in the city of Birmingham, UK, when they were stopped by a passing Community Police Officer. He allegedly became aggressive and told the preachers to stop talking to local youth. The two preachers were accused of trying to convert Muslims and, because they were Americans, the community police officer ranted to them about the Iraq war. He also allegedly warned them that they would be “beaten up” if they returned to evangelize in the area.

The two preachers have complained to West Midlands Police and are seeking an apology. The Police Force, however, have stated that the officer merely intervened to defuse a row between the preachers and the youths.

Article source from the Sun

Muslim Extremist Jailed in Britain

Home grown Islamic activist jailed for four years for threatening British and US forces, and inciting fellow Muslims to form terrorism cells in UK.

As reported by The Independent

By Cahal Milmo
A Muslim activist who became known for his publicly expressed extremist views was jailed for four and a half years yesterday for terrorism-related offences committed during a series of inflammatory speeches at a London mosque.

Judge Nicholas Price said that Abu Izzadeen, 33, a British-born convert to Islam, was a "leading light" in a group of men who used a gathering at the Regent's Park mosque in November 2004 to call for volunteers to fight British troops in Iraq and appeal for funds to finance insurgents abroad.

The former BT electrician, who is a father of three, achieved notoriety after refusing to condemn the 7 July suicide bombers. He also heckled the then Home Secretary John Reid as he gave a speech in east London in 2006. He was one of six men from the al-Muhajiroun group convicted of taking part in the speeches, which coincided with US forces besieging Fallujah in one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war.

Read the rest of the story here…

Daily Devotions: Dream Maker

The first time that I came across Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was through a BBC documentary that I happened to be watching one Sunday night. I was a teenager then, so it must have been about five years after his assassination. I can remember watching footage from the march on Washington and hearing his bellowing voice, which sent shivers down my spine. I had never heard anyone speak like that before and even although I was three thousand miles away in another country, the truths Dr. King expressed deeply moved my soul.

Podcast version here

I don’t know what it must have been like to have been here in America during the 1960’s. I presume that it wasn’t an easy time for anyone because of the tension and conflicts that were going on. I guess most people must have thought that the United States was going to perish, and that the dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone was about to be snuffed out.

The assassin’s bullet tried to do that forty years ago in Memphis, Tennessee. What the shooter didn’t realize was that the truth cannot be killed. They tried to do it with Christ, almost two thousand years ago and that didn’t work. The ministry of Dr. King and his pursuit for the Civil Rights of all people didn’t die with him either.

Bible Verse for the Day
Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

At the time of his death, I suppose many people must have doubted that King’s dream would ever be fulfilled. And yet, here we are today, in a year where there’s a strong possibility that the next President of the United States will be a black person. I think Dr. King’s dream is being fulfilled and I believe that he would be proud of what we have achieved. It may not be perfect and perhaps we still have a long way to go before racism is extinguished, but we’re in a much better place as a society than where we were forty years ago.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Dr. King’s life. Although he died too young, he dedicated his life to those of us who enjoy our freedoms today. He was both a true Christian and American that we should all aspire to become. Bless us, Lord, as we continue to follow his dream which, is in fact, what You call the Kingdom of God. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email at pastor@erinpresbyterian.org. He is delighted to read your feedback and messages.

US based Company, Blue Q, in 'Jesus' cosmetic row

From BBC News

A leading retailer in Singapore has withdrawn a cosmetics range with a Jesus theme after complaints from local Roman Catholics, local media report.
The range, named Lookin' Good for Jesus, was on sale at three Topshop outlets in the Asian city state.

Catholics complained the cosmetics' marketing was disrespectful, full of sexual innuendo and trivialised Christianity.
About 15% of Singapore's 4.4 million population is Christian.

The products included a "Virtuous vanilla" lip balm and a "Get Tight with Christ" hand and body cream, featuring a picture of Christ flanked by two adoring women.

"Why would anyone use religious figures to promote vanity products? It's very disrespectful and distasteful," the Straits Times newspaper quoted accountant Grace Ong, 24, as saying.

A spokesman for the Wing Tai company, which runs Topshop's outlets in Singapore, told the newspaper it did not want to offend its customers, and withdrew the products last month.

It was not clear whether other shops were still selling the range, which is produced by the US-based company, Blue Q.

Journalist Sentenced to Death by Taliban Sympathizers

An Afghan journalist has been sentenced to death by a provincial court for distributing "blasphemous" material.

Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, 23, was arrested in 2007 after downloading material from the internet relating to the role of women in Islamic societies.

A primary court in Balkh province said that Kambakhsh had confessed to blasphemy and had to be punished.

The court also threatened to arrest any reporters who protested against Kambakhsh's sentence.
Kambakhsh, a student at Balkh University and a journalist for Jahan-e Naw (New World), was arrested in October 2007 after material he downloaded was deemed to be offensive to Islam.

Shamsur Rahman, the head of the court, told Reuters news agency: "According to... the Islamic law, Sayed Perwiz is sentenced to death at the first court.

"However, he will go through three more courts to declare his last punishment," he said.

Read rest of the story here…

No Communist left Behind: China reinforces one-child stance

Hundreds of people in central China have been expelled from the Communist Party for violating the one-child policy, state media has reported.

More than 90,000 people in Hubei province defied the policy in 2007, Xinhua news agency said.
These included 1,678 officials and party members, the agency said. Of these, 500 had been expelled from the party and 395 stripped of their posts.

China implemented the policy, to curb population growth, in the late 1970s.
Urban couples are limited to one child, while rural couples may have two if the first is a girl.
But as China has grown wealthier, couples who can afford to pay the fines are choosing to ignore the policy and have bigger families.

"More party members, celebrities and well-off people are violating the policies in recent years, which has undermined social equality," said Yang Youwang, director of the provincial family planning commission.

A number of cases involving celebrities and officials were still being investigated, he said.
The report did not say whether all the 90,000 people who defied the policy in the province had been punished.

China credits the one-child policy with bringing its soaring population under control.
But the controversial restrictions have also led to a serious gender imbalance, as some couples choose to abort female fetuses in order to make sure their only child is a boy.

…as reported from BBC World News: Religion

Women jailed for pleading for unborn, ten years after incident

Nebraskan activists face five to eight month sentences.

ReligionAndSpirituality.com

Pro-life activists Shari McKee and Melissa Abbink were jailed Dec. 28 for speaking to Lincoln abortionist Winston Crabb on two occasions in front of his home 10 years ago. Abbink faces five months while McKee has been sentenced to serve eight months.

In February, 1998, both were charged with violating the "focused picketing" ordinance even though neither had signs and both incidents lasted only a minute each, just long enough to plead for the lives of pre-born children as he walked from his car to his house, Christian Newswire reported Friday.

Read the rest of the story

Blogging Can Get You Arrested

So Much for Freedom: Saudi Arabian blogger arrested

From BBC World News

Saudi officials revealed on Tuesday that they had detained leading blogger Fouad al-Farhan. BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy looks at the influence and aims of the country's more than 500 bloggers.

Read the rest of the story here

Podcast: Bhutto's Legacy

Bullets and bombs may have killed Benazir Bhutto, but her faith in freedom and democracy will live on in the hearts of the people of Pakistan.

Podcast version here

Bhutto's Legacy

The suicidal satanic atheist who assassinated Benazir Bhutto yesterday cursed his nation’s journey towards freedom and democracy. The evil beasts that he represents, for I would not call those callous cowards who kill women ‘men,’ are probably gloating in their secret hideouts of shame, indecency, and inhumanity. I call them satanic atheists because they worship wickedness and hate God. They slaughter leaders like Benazir because they are afraid of letting hope captivate the hearts of the people, and want to retain control through fear, insecurity, and murderous mayhem.

Despicable despots like Bin Laden and his satanic associates seek to enslave the free world with their warped ideals and heretical beliefs. Their allegiance is to an Allah that does not exist, and offends the very goodness of God amongst the Islamic people. They are atheistic scum, schooled in the ways of terror and torture, fanaticism and faithlessness. Life is neither sacred nor holy to them; freedom and democracy are devilishly denied by their cowardly acts of cruelty, violence, and assassination.

The world knows better than to give in to their filth and lack of faith. In Pakistan, there are many moderate Muslims who will serve their Allah truly and triumphantly. And throughout the world, there are billions of people who are disgusted, enraged, and mobilized to stand together for justice, freedom, faith, and democracy, which will one day encircle the earth and pave its way all over this planet.

The creed of satanic atheism which states that “when wickedness persists and no one resists, evil triumphs” is a hollow threat to noble humanity. Bullets and bombs may have killed Benazir Bhutto, but her spirit lives and will not die in the hearts of her people. Freedom will be resurrected amongst the ashes of these cowardly assassins. Liberty will not be lost to those who truly value life. The pages of history will proclaim the noble name of Bhutto in the highest halls of glory and honor. Her killers will become dust beneath the feet of her people as they march towards the freedom that will be their honorable choice and glorious destiny.

Prayer: Almighty God, who gave us both life and liberty, we bring before You the nation of Pakistan. We pray for Your mercy and grace to be extended over its people and we solemnly ask that You will protect them from the evil that seeks to destabilize the nation. Raise up just and courageous leaders who will guide the Pakistani people to the light of liberty. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotional: Defying Dictators - Why Lee Bollinger was right

Audio version here

Daniel 2:18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (NIV)

A lot has been made of yesterday’s visit by the President of Iran to Columbia University in New York. I watched the live debate yesterday because it was an historical moment. Right from the beginning, Ahmadinejad was put on the hot seat by the university’s President Lee Bollinger. Instead of courteously introducing the Iranian president to the audience, Bollinger interrogated the guest speaker and castigated him for the many human rights abuses that are taking place in Iran. In my humble opinion, it was a courageous and probably career-busting move to make.

The media, however, have condemned Bollinger for his discourtesy and undiplomatic confrontation of Ahmadinejad. A leader of any nation should be accorded respect because he or she represents their nation. Any insult against the president is taken to be an insult against the Iranian people. And sadly, into today’s divided world, any insult to an Islamic leader is considered an insult against the Moslem faith.

However, no matter what the diplomatic repercussions are, I believe that Lee Bollinger was right to do what he did. Ahmadinejad is a tyrant whose political regime terrorizes his people. A recent article in Time magazine, written by a female Iranian journalist, expresses some of the major concerns that free-thinking intellectual Iranians face in their country. People are imprisoned for expressing political views; women are killed for being raped; and young teenage boys are hung for being homosexuals. Much of what goes on in Iran is reported by Amnesty International. Ahmadinejad is a callous despot who only cares about power, not people.

When Daniel and his companions faced the possibility of execution, they turned to God for deliverance. They lived under a tyrannical king, whose anger at his advisers caused him to send forth an order to kill all of the wise men, clever teachers, and mathematical scholars in his nation. And that’s usually how tyranny manifests itself – by killing the educated people, in order to rule by fear and ignorance. In modern times, the names of Hitler, Stalin, and Phol Pot have been synonymous with such vicious cruelty. Perhaps Ahmadinejad name will also be entered into that Hall of Shame one day.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone know the hearts and minds of all people, so You know all of the atrocities that the president of Iran may have committed. If he is such a monster, then allow free people to castigate him for what he really is. Remind us that we have all promised never to let the Holocausts of the past happen again. Keep us from being bystanders and help us to confront evil wherever it exists. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.