Plastic Church, Part 2: Youth & the Church

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/10/plastic-church-part-2-youth-the-church/



Hey! Where did all the Young People Go?

Today’s teens and college students are busier than ever. In-between juggling part-time jobs, relationships and school work, many strive to maintain family ties, socialize with friends and still have time leftover to engage in personal hobbies

Diversity_of_youth_in_Oslo_Norway

How are churches treating youth & young adults?

It is no wonder that many recent demographical studies on teens (13-17) and young adults (18-29) have found the ideologies of faith and religion less important in shaping their lives. Church attendance and perception of church altogether continue to decline, despite the religious parental influences found in many families.

Although current American teens and young adults have long been considered one of the most spiritually active generations in history, several have begun to engage in frequent church hopping or have shunned church altogether.

Nearly half of the teen demographic (48 percent) admit to attending a regular, weekly worship service, according to a 2007 research analysis by the Barna Group. Of the same group, one-third (35 percent) attend Sunday school and only 33 percent participate in a church youth group program.

According to a 2003 piece published on Religion-Online.org by popular Christian speaker and Gallup Research Institute Consultant D. Michael Lindsay, “The current cohort of American teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 is lonely [and] spiritually hungry.”

What is it about church that continues to turn more young people away?

What is it about church that continues to turn more young people away?

What is at the heart of church and youth interaction? Is there is a correlation between this interaction and recent declines in youth attendance? Or, like Mr. Pat Howell from Part 1, are youth also becoming the unfortunate victims of church burning?

Justin Van Nguyen is a 22 year-old college student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. During his high school years, Justin attended a large Methodist church consisting of 700 to 800 people and formed a close friendship with a youth minister who he affectionately remembers as “one of the most influential people in my life.”

“I had a black youth pastor for a little while,” he recalled. “This was a very predominantly white Methodist church. When he was first hired, I heard a lot of parents saying things that were very racist, [such as] ‘I don’t need a guy like that around my daughter’, which was ridiculous. This man was an elementary school teacher and had been in schools all his life. Before that he worked in and ran daycares. He was a safe individual. There was nothing other than race backing the way they [certain people in the church] treated that man.”

After several subsequent meetings and unjustified accusations, the youth pastor was eventually run out of the church. Sometime later, similar action was taken against an elder within the church whom Justin had also grown extremely close to.

“He was a WWII Vet with amazing stories,” he reminisced. “He was in Pearl Harbor. This was a guy that I went to see movies with. How many 80 year old men do you just get to hang out with at that age? We could talk about anything. He was there as a grandfather figure.”

Before long, certain sects of powerful individuals within the church became angered at the elder’s outspokenness against specific functions within the church. This governing body soon placed a restraining order against the man, forbidding him to ever return to the church.

“If they had just opened their eyes and seen things like God sees them, I don’t think any of this would’ve had to happen,” said Justin. “They just let personal interests and personal biases come into play and it really just ruined everything for everybody.”

And we wonder what it is it that makes church so unappealing to the younger generation.  Is there a problem with the teens? Or are an increasing number of churches failing to minister to this generation in ways that remain culturally relevant and align with Scriptural values?

Stay tuned for Part 3 and all subsequent pieces of Plastic Church when the elements of healthy church functionality will be dissected, along with more viewpoints from Pat, Justin and others who have been burned.

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What’s Your Bathsheba?

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/whats-your-bathsheba/



How to Take Temptation Seriously

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV).

My good friend and workmate, Jim, was a handsome married Christian man. We lived near each other, often car-pooled to work, and eventually became co-leaders of a lunchtime Bible study.

One day, Jim began coming up with excuses not to attend Bible study or ride to work together. At first I thought, is it my imagination, or is he avoiding me? But my fears were confirmed when I saw him turn corners to keep from meeting me in the hallways.

After several weeks, I confronted Jim at his desk.

“You’ve been trying hard to stay away from me. Have I done something wrong?”

Jim took a deep breath. “No, it’s what I haven’t wanted you to do,” he said. What he told me next was pretty surprising.

“I’ve been seeing someone. Someone from here in the office. She started paying a lot of attention to me and, well, I let something happen. I…I didn’t want you to know because I knew you’d try to stop me from doing it.”

“Well, you’re right there,” I said, knowing that Jim was aware of my own similar situation some years prior, which would have ruined my marriage if someone hadn’t helped me recognize the danger signs in time. Had Jim told me about his attraction to this woman, I would have done everything possible to convince him not to give in to temptation.

Jim and I prayed for him to avoid further encounters with the woman, but it was too late. He was deep into feelings which had become irresistible. Soon, he left his wife, their beautiful new house and all their future plans, and moved in with the other woman. It lasted only a few months. He ended up living in a one-bedroom apartment with his personal life in shambles.

Jim’s situation reminded me so much of 2 Samuel 11 and 12, the story of King David and Bathsheba. First, he sees her. Then, being accountable to no one, he makes the conquest. From there he wants more; it leads to many kinds of sin—even murder— and he pays for it.

How can we take temptation seriously before it’s too late? Not just sexual temptation like adultery, but every sort of temptation? If sinning was hard, nobody would do it! One of my favorite Bible teachers often says we must “frisk our thoughts” – take every thought captive, like in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Jim had gotten to the point where he didn’t want to read what the Bible had to say about temptation, or to be held accountable by going to a friend. He let the first glance get past the thought and into action.

Of course, as with King David, God eventually restored Jim. But one of the best ways to avoid falling into temptation is to tell someone— a friend or counselor perhaps. Make yourself accountable. Then, stay in God’s word and pray. These things combined will take away the devil’s opportunity to step in, and can suck the temptation right out of you like a vacuum. Take it from Jim and me…it will feel much better than the possible end result of your uncaptivated thoughts.

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Plastic Church, Part 1: Uncovering the Cultural Relevancy of Today’s Real Christian Community

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/plastic-church-part-1-uncovering-the-cultural-relevancy-of-todays-real-christian-community/


Part 1: The Burn Factor

Why are more men and women claiming to have been burned by churches?

Why are more men and women claiming to have been burned by churches?

Can you recall a time in your life when someone in a church hurt your feelings? A pastor? A fellow congregant?

Have you been ignored by a church? Shunned? Judged? Insulted?

Does the very idea of going to church disgust you?

The phrase “I was burned by my last church” is becoming increasingly spoken within Christian circles and religious culture as a whole. What exactly is this phenomenon of church burning?

Church attendance surveys and investigative research from 2008 reveal some rather striking percentages.

According to current religious data gleaned from multiple sources and polls and cited by ReligiousTolerance.org, “Confidence in religious institutions has hit an all-time low.” Although there is a supposed increase in the interest of spirituality in North America, it has yet to manifest itself in the form of increased church attendance.

The data shows a gradual decline in attendance of church services within the Protestant denominations since 1992. Between 1992 and 2003, attendance dropped by as much as 13 percent. Interestingly, graph charts reflect a sudden leap in church attendance just after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

However, Only 53% of Americans consider religion to play an active and important role in their lives. This number has been steadily declining since the aforementioned September 11th attacks.

Over the past ten years, there has been a significant increase in the number of church home groups and small group Bible studies. Unfortunately, this may very well be reflective of the poor perception many longtime churchgoers have adopted concerning churches.

Pat Howell, 60, has attended several churches since childhood and admits he hasn’t been “burned” by a church.

“I think hurt is the right word,” he clarified. “Not burned.”

However, during the course of our interview and subsequent discussions, Howell reminisced of one particular church in which individuals even drove away the pastor.

“Someone in the church decided they didn’t like him [the pastor]. They started to say things about him that weren’t true. There were questions about the sexual preferences of the music minister. Someone brought all of this up. To this day I still know who it was and I hate them. I hate to say that, but I do. [This person] started just enough of a rumor to kill the spirit in that church. They did everything horrible that you could possibly do to a preacher. They cut the power off to his house. They were mean to him. After about six months, he left.”

Howell recalled the blatant hypocrisy present in the church community.

“You wind up going to churches and looking at people that you knew had caused someone else’s pain and suffering. The church did not split, but it was not the same.” He added, “They didn’t turn me against my faith, they turned me against that [particular] church and the idea of attending that church.”

Unfortunately, Pat is not alone. There are too many stories like his. Many are worse.

More and more men and women are referring to their churches and fellow believers with such disheartening adjectives as: condemning, tactless, smug, fake, unforgiving, arrogant, ignorant, homophobic, intolerant, pushy, rude and unloving.

But what is at the heart of church attendance decline? Is there a problem with the people? Is there a problem with the churches? Why are more and more Christian men and women church hopping? And perhaps the most important question to be pondered: “What does a real, honest and healthy church look like?”

Stay tuned for Part 2 and all subsequent sequels of this feature, which will dissect the elements needed for healthy church functionality and growth.

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Taking the Journey: Seasoned Photographer Answers God’s Call

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/take-the-journey/





Seasoned Photographer Answers God’s Call

Renowned Photographer Michael Belk: the artist behind "Journeys with the Messiah"

Renowned Photographer Michael Belk: the artist behind "Journeys with the Messiah"

Michael Belk. Does his name ring a bell? It should.  If you’re an avid magazine reader, you’ve likely seen his stunning, award-winning photography in world-renowned titles such as Vogue, Elle, GQ, and Vanity Fair. As a young clothing retail employee, Michael grew up around top name brands and flashy runway models. His later passion for photography gradually cemented his name among high-ranking apparel executives and forever blasted him into the world of fashion photography.

And it all started with a kid, a camera, and a dream. No one would have guessed that a young retail associate turned camera-lover would evolve into one of the photography industry’s leading icons. But an event all the more amazing was peeking just over the horizon of Belk’s already thriving career. Weary of the intensity that accompanies years of astonishing feats of success, he ultimately came to the conclusion that God desperately needed to regain sovereign control of his life and his work.

“Outwardly, my life was full,” Belk said at the age of 42. “Inside I was running on empty. You can red-line your engine only so many times and mine had flamed out.”

Although he had known and achieved success like few other people his age, something was missing. His $2 million studio remained in a constant state of busyness, cranking out work for several high-end, account-holding fashion clients, including Russell Athletic, Nautica, J. Crew, Polo, Christian Dior, and Calvin Klein.

After shutting down his business in 1993, Belk published a photo-story book entitled “Beyond the Sport, The Victory Within”, a work that recounted the tales of several former world-class Olympic athletes. He then decided to set out on a personal project that has kept the last year and a half of his life engrossed in work. However, this would be a journey that would forever reshape not only his career, but his faith, testimony, and ministry as well.

Michael Belk & crew shooting the Journeys project on location in Matera, Italy.

Michael Belk & crew shooting the Journeys project on location in Matera, Italy.

The Journeys with the Messiah project was born out of Belk’s own personal passion and spiritual desire for the world to encounter a radically different perception of Jesus Christ. Armed with a professional production crew, a cast of over 100 extras, and Italian actor Sergio Muniz donning the role of Jesus, he regained his focus and reconstructed his message to be clearer than ever before. Together, they set out for Matera, Italy, a beautiful town located in the southern Basilicata region known for its exquisite architecture. However, few people are aware it was also the home of Writer/Director Mel Gibson’s controversial 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. In what Belk has described as “the most grueling, but the most rewarding shoot” of his career, he purposed to masterfully illustrate the timeless truths found in “the best-selling book of all time” and paint them as culturally relevant for today’s society.

Belk’s astonishing and breathtaking photographs tell the story of a life-changing 1st Century Jesus who is still present and active in 20th Century dilemmas and social issues. Each collection is reflective of a Biblical parable, concept, and passage and often contains modern and ancient elements. In a controversial piece entitled The Second Mile (pictured below), viewers will be challenged by a gentle, meek Jesus walking alongside a decorated Nazi soldier, carrying the officer’s gun and military satchel.

"The Second Mile", one of Belk's most controversial pieces, places Jesus on a road with a Nazi soldier.

"The Second Mile", one of Belk's most controversial pieces, places Jesus on a road with a Nazi soldier.

Of this provocative photograph, Belk’s official website asks, “Where does a mother garner the strength to stand in a courtroom and forgive the man who murdered her daughter? How do Jews ever forgive the Nazis for the Holocaust? Jesus’ teachings on this subject were revolutionary: “Love your enemies as yourself. Pray for those who persecute you. Forgive people seventy times seven.” Jesus reminds us that, just as God forgives us, we are expected to do the same for others….Just saying “I forgive you” releases you from emotional, physical, and spiritual bondage. It sets us free to move on with life and His glorious plan.”

But it has not only been the occurrences of past world history and Biblical events that have so inspired Belk’s superb work. In a recent exclusive interview with CNN reporter Don Lemon, Belk spoke of the creative inspiration he gleaned from the horrific tragedies of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

In "Rest for the Weary", Belk reminds us to whom we should turn for peace in a world filled with financial struggles & economic downturn.

In "Rest for the Weary", Belk reminds us to whom we should turn for peace in a world filled with financial struggles & economic downturn.

“I watched people in New York searching for something different,” he said, “something outside of themselves. And now in this [current] economic crisis, I see the same thing all over again.” Belk’s piece entitled Rest for the Weary (pictured right) visually manifests this truth by depicting a downtrodden, collapsed, business man stretched across a set of stone steps, his head gently resting in the lap of a confident Messiah. Scattered all around, in addition to the gentleman’s paperwork and briefcase, are several empty clay jugs, no doubt symbolic of the emptiness left by a lifetime of futile pursuits outside of Christ. The photo references the words of Jesus found in Matthew 11: 28: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (New American Standard).

In a day and age where the physical and financial safety of our nation has been questioned like never before, Belk’s photographs retain the power to speak soothing peace and the reality of an eternal future to a culture so caught in uncertainty and fear. The realism and striking nature of the Savior of all mankind walking in the flesh among “Nazis and prostitutes, Ferraris and motorcycles, and high-rollers and Wall Street executives” serve to connect “messages from the life of Jesus to current dilemmas including financial stress, addiction, anxiety, materialism, poverty, hypocrisy, and persecution.” (Journeys with the Messiah Fact Sheet: Press Kit authorization).

William Shakespeare once wrote, “There is a history in all men’s lives.” Truly, the impact of the historical figure that was and is Jesus Christ can be seen in and through Belk’s timeless artwork. However, the heart of Journeys with the Messiah rests within the heart of the Gospel Message. The salvation offered by Christ is freely given to every individual of every gender, socioeconomic status, every tribe, race, color, creed, and every generation. There is no limit to the cultural relevancy of grace, hope, forgiveness, and love found in the arms of the Messiah. He is for all people at all times and in all times. And we have been given the incredible opportunity to journey through this life and enter the next alongside of Him.

To read more about Michael Belk’s testimony, view the Journeys with the Messiah collection, or to purchase prints, framed art, and photographs, visit the official website at: www.thejourneysproject.com.

Journeys Banner

All photos, biographical information, and press release materials contained within this article are copyright of Michael Belk, Journeys with the Messiah, and The DeMoss Group and were used with prior written consent. You can contact the project’s PR Firm at: www.demossgroup.com or by visiting the project’s official website.

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Iranian Christian Women Still in Prison told to “reconsider” their faith

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/iranian-christian-women-still-in-prison-told-to-reconsider-their-faith/


iranaian womenCan American Christians be this Courageous?

Background: Two Iranian Christian women, Maryam Rustampoor (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh (30) were first arrested in Iran in March and accused of apostacy against the Muslim faith.

Current: Rustampoor and Amirizadeh, who have both become ill while in Evin prison, were brought to trial in August. A sentence was supposed to be pronounced. Instead, because of the strong Christian testimony of these two young women, the prosecutor sent them back to their cells to reconsider their testimonies before sentencing would be pronounced.

The courtroom proceedings are recounted at Elam, a ministry to the growing number of Christians in Iran. It makes one wonder why we, as American Christians, sometimes don’t even have the courage to witness to our next door neighbors.

Mr. Haddad, the prosecutor, at one point asked the two women if they were Christians. They replied that they love Jesus. So he asked again if they were Christians, to which they replied, “Yes, we are Christians.” This could have been a death sentence for a man. Iran does not sentence women to death for apostasy, but they could face life imprisonment.

Haddad then proposed that they admit to previously being Muslims. Rustampoor and Amirizadeh replied they were born in Muslim families, but were not Muslims.

Haddad asked them if they regretted becoming Christians, to which they said no. He told them they should renounce their faith in both verbal and written form. They said they would not.

During the questioning, Rustampoor and Amirizadeh stated they believed that God had convicted them through the Holy Spirit to accept Christ. Haddad told them they were not worthy of God speaking to them.

Amirizadeh answered, “It is God, and not you, who determines if I am worthy.”

Haddad sent the women back to prison to think about coming back when they are ready to comply (in renouncing their Christian faith). But to this, the women told him they had already done their thinking.

Why has this barely been reported outside of Christian/Conservative media venues?
In June of 2009, President Obama said this in his now-famous Cairo Speech (text retrieved from USA Today):
…”And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”

Yet, Iran and many other countries no longer recognize, or never did recognize, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights set forth on December 10, 1948 after World War II. It declares, among other things (Article 18, bolding mine):

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

(Take a look at the second part of that…we don’t even have this total right in the United States anymore.)

These two women are prime examples of Luke 12:11-12 (also Mark 13:11, just used in a recent article but worth repeating): “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

What say you, American Christians? If ever in such a situation, can we follow Paul’s advice to Timothy? “…God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Fervent prayer is needed for the failing health and eventual fate of Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh. As of the writing of this article, there was no news of a verdict. They are still in prison.

Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Underground Friday: Aradhna’s latest release Amrit Vani as good as Indian worship music gets

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/underground-friday-aradhnas-latest-release-amrit-vani-as-good-as-indian-worship-music-gets/


Amrit Vani cd cover

Amrit Vani cd cover

Since 2000, Aradhna has set out to create authentic Indian worship music.

By blending Indian bhajans (spirituals) with Biblical subject-matter, band members Chris Hale (lead vocals, sitar), Peter Hicks (acoustic guitar, sitar, English vocals), Fiona Hicks (Hindustani violin) and Travis Macafee (bass), have proven that good Christian music is not an oxymoron.

Amrit Vani (Immortal World) is the band’s latest release.

While listening, you can almost smell of Tibetan juniper incense, frying spices and rain-drenched soil wafting through the air as you lift up fragrant praise offerings to the Most High God.

Although this album in performed (mostly) in Hindi, the album’s lush, hypnotic grooves and the simplicity of the Gospel make you want to worship the Lord.

If you read the lyrics while listening to the music the (impact) is trebled. For those who don’t know Indian languages, the album’s liner notes are in English and Hindi.

Amrit Vani begins with Jaya Dev (Victory to God) and ends with Narahari (The Man-God).

Jaya Dev sets the tone for the album. The track begins with a low hum that blossoms into a rousing, yet exotic song of praise with table, guitar and a choir of angelic voices singing out “Jaya Deva Narahari” on the chorus. As it gets stuck in your head, don’t be surprised if Jaya Dev becomes your personal anthem.

Narahari is sort of a reprise of Jaya Dev. It wraps up the album nicely.

In between Jaya Dev and Narahari are eight sublime tracks dealing with various aspects of Christianity—from the suffering of the believer to the awesomeness of God’s creation.

  • Yeshu Raja (King Jesus) is a simple bhajan celebrating the incarnation. It’s sweet, sort of like a lullaby.
  • Amrit Vani gives praise to each person in the Trinity. It’s more up tempo than some of the other songs on the album. Expect someone to sample it for a rap song in the future.

  • Bhajo Re is a fun, call and response song that sounds like something you could sing with your mates at a sporting event, except it’s in Hindi and it’s about finding rest and peace in Jesus.
  • Dhyana Mulam is a short hymn of devotion to Aradhna’s guru-Jesus.
  • Man Mera is tender and gentle. Like the other songs on this album it’s in layers. It build up and builds up, finishing in a worshipful frenzy where Peter Hicks’ Peter Gabriel-esque vocals are striking when juxtaposed with the Hindi voices in the background.

  • Prem Milan (United in Love) is a folky travelling song. It is reminiscent of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress in that it’s about a person who reaches his beloved after a long journey.
  • Prabhu Hamare- has Aradhna interpreting a portion of a song from one of the greatest songwriters, ever— King David, as the lyrics in this song are taken from a Hindi translation of Psalm 91, verse four.
  • Khat Khataao (Knock, Knock)—Christ’s words from Matthew 7: 7 set to music. Perfect.
  • Aayo Hai Aayo (A Nepali Christmas Song) recounts Jesus’ birth in a manger and His purpose for coming into the world—to become our Salvation. This might be one to add to the traditional Christmas rotation to mix things up.

From start to finish, Amrit Vani transforms its listeners, while transporting them to faraway lands.

For more info

For more information on Aradhna, visit www.aradhnamusic.com or www.myspace.com/aradhnamusic

Buy Amrit Vani at www.cdbaby.com/cd/aradhna2 or www.aradhnamusic.com/store.html.

See them live

Aradhna is currently on tour. Though they perform well in the studio, Aradhna is even better live, as their previous album, Satsang proves. Check out their schedule  on their Web site to see if they’ll be playing near you.
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Human Rights “Personhood” Amendment – extending rights to the unborn

Originally posted here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/human-rights-personhood-amendment-extending-rights-to-the-unborn/

protecting_the_unbornShould Human Rights, as defined today in America, extend to yet unborn babies? The American Life League says yes, and along with other pro-life organizations has announced its intent to propose a “Personhood” Human Rights Amendment to the Florida State Constitution.

A Press Conference was held Friday, September 11 at Florida’s State Capitol in Tallahassee to announce their intent. With pre-released media announcements, the group was already receiving criticism from pro-choice and abortion rights organizations.

The Amendment would recognize human rights for all human beings from the beginning of their biological development. Florida would be the first state to pass such an amendment. The Florida personhood movement recognizes unborn children as having the same inherent rights, dignity and value as every living human.

The proposed Amendment to the Florida Constitution reads in part as follows:
SECTION 28. Person Defined--
(a) The words "person" and "natural person" apply to all human beings, irrespective of age, race, health, function, condition of physical and/or mental dependency and/or disability, or method of reproduction, from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.

This connects with the Founding Fathers’ understanding of life as God created it:
As much as the colonists wanted to separate from Great Britain—and as much as American society today tries to obliterate the founding fathers’ faith in God— the words, faith and theories of English lawyer and judge Sir William Blackstone greatly influenced original American law.

Blackstone's “Commentaries on the Laws of England,” written circa 1765, was used to help shape the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. If our judges who presided over Roe v. Wade had gone back and read some of what Blackstone said on life, they would find these statements (italics and bolding are mine):

“Life is the immediate gift of God, a right inherent by nature in every individual; and it
begins in contemplation of law as soon as an infant is able to stir in the mother’s womb
. For if a woman is quick with child, and by a potion, or otherwise killeth it in her womb; or if any one beat her, whereby the child dieth in her body, and she is delivered of a dead child; this, though not murder, was by the ancient law homicide or manslaughter…”

“An infant in ventre fa mere [in the mother’s womb] is supposed in law to be born for many purposes. It is capable of having a legacy, or a surrender of a copyhold estate made to it. It may have a guardian assigned to it; and it is enabled to have an estate limited to it’s use, and to take afterwards by such limitation, as if it were then actually born.”

Blackstone’s opinion was obviously formed with a Biblical basis, echoing a key Bible verses which commands respect for early human life:

Psalm 139:13: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the Florida Personhood Amendment:
Personhood Florida: http://personhoodfl.com/
American Life League: http://all.org/personhood/, 540.659.4942.

This writer is not receiving remuneration or recognition of any kind from the organizations mentioned in this article.

See the writings of Sir William Blackstone, Commentaries on The Laws of England, Book I, Of The Rights of Persons, Vol I. Section 1, originally written in 1765, reprinted Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1962.

Pop Culture Moments by Mo: Obama’s Indoctrination of America’s Youths

Originally here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/pop-culture-moments-by-mo-obamas-indoctrination-of-americas-youths/


obama_indoctrination

President Obama’s speech to public school students on Tuesday caused an uproar among conservative parents. Prior to the speech’s delivery, many “conservative” parents accused the president of trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideas. Others said they were concerned because the speech had not been screened for political content.

There was even a  Student Walkout to Prayer (President Obama’s Live Address To Students), which more than 1,000 people attended, according to Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128572170027)

When Obama gave his speech Tuesday, he urged students to work hard and stay in school.


Is the Church Caring for Senior Adults?

Syndicated from here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/is-the-church-caring-for-senior-adults/





Senior adults (age 65 and over) represent the fastest growing segment of America’s population. In Florida alone, a popular location for retirement, some county profiles show senior adults composing 24.5 percent of the residents.

According to a recent formula by the National Academy of Science (NAS), the poverty level among senior Americans may be nearly twice as high as previously thought under the still-used government formula from 1955. The old formula had measurements showing 10 percent of senior adults at the poverty level; the NAS measurement puts 18.6 percent of seniors at the poverty level.

Is the Church in general, as an institution, caring for its elderly population, or do we look at our senior members as “the nice old people who used to do all the work around here”? Moreover, are we concerned for the elderly in the area surrounding our church, even if they don’t attend?

Seniors May Hide Their Poverty- Even from Family and Church
Our seniors may hide their poverty—out of embarrassment, or they don’t want to worry anyone. Many depend on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid which don’t cover all costs, and they can’t afford supplemental insurance. More and more are retiring from jobs without pensions, or being laid off just short of receiving one. The money they thought was going to be there just isn’t.

Two years after my mother’s husband died, my sister and I discovered she was broke. The car had been repossessed, she’d been scammed by a magazine and book club for hundreds of dollars and her monthly expenses cost more than her social security checks. She was living on frozen and canned foods. They had resided in a different state, and although we went for visits, she’d kept this situation from us. She didn’t want to relocate.

Shocked into reality, I began researching and found that mom’s situation was typical. To make matters worse, if one must plan for the possibility of a Medicaid-approved nursing home which takes the person’s social security check as full monthly payment, many states require that a senior citizen has less than $2,000 to their name and be considered “destitute.” They must turn all other possessions over to family longer than three years before applying for a home of this type. Otherwise, they won’t qualify and will need to face an average monthly nursing or assisted living cost of $4,000-6,000 per month. Some families don’t save the gifted money to help with this expense. 

Sabrina, a local hairdresser, tells of an elderly widowed client: “Her property taxes had gone so high; she had to sell her home of forty years because it was taking two months’ worth of her social security.”

A senior couple whom I’ll call “Pete” and “Mary” finally admitted their plight to our church, asking: “Can the church help us pay some bills and give us some food? We are living on baloney sandwiches. It’s too expensive to eat healthy.”

Fortunately, the church had a food closet. But there were barely enough funds to pay the church’s monthly bills, let alone help its members.

Why are churches short on funds to help senior members, or senior adults in their neighborhoods? Author Arthur C. Brooks, in his book “Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservativism,” discovered that churchgoers give more to charities than non-churchgoers. But these charities are mostly outside their churches.

A 2008 Barna poll on tithing shows the percentage of Christian adults who “tithe”–giving 10 percent or more of their earnings regularly to their church–averaged only 5 percent in 2007 (9 percent among those considering themselves “born again”). From 2000 to 2008, Barna reported the average overall percentage of churchgoers giving within their churches to be only 5 to 7 percent.

Here are some possible reasons:
-Some denominations now consider tithing to be “just an Old Testament concept” and have the laid back attitude “just give when you can” so as not to offend parishioners.

-Tithing isn’t being taught as good stewardship, part of Christian discipleship growth, or as a way to show your faithfulness to God. It has become an inconvenience.

-Misuse of church funds that hits national news makes people distrustful of their churches, so they give elsewhere.

The majority of churches in America are still small churches, and most small churches have depleted funds. They are often unable  to help with anything but a food closet, which they must depend on parishioners to keep stocked. And many small church parishioners are elderly. It’s a vicious circle.  

As Christians, we rely on Old Testament prophecies to prove who Jesus is; we still believe the stories of Moses, Abraham, David, Esther and Ruth; we still learn the lineage of kings. So how can we throw the Old Testament verses on tithing away? Especially Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV):

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings…bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

The blessings in return may not be monetary, but there will be blessings. Or would we prefer to give everything like the Christians of Acts 2:42-47 in the New Testament? How many of us wouldn’t hesitate before bringing everything we own to be shared by a whole congregation?

James 1:27 says religion is simply taking care of orphans and widows in distress and keeping ourselves clean from the corruption of the world. Widows, widowers, elderly left alone – the Church must consider taking better care and being alert to the needs of the senior adults in our congregations.

Don’t wait to be asked. Do something nice for a senior citizen today.

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Interview with Pastor Jim Cessna

Originally posted here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/09/interview-with-pastor-jim-cessna/



partor_nigeria

Jim Cessna is definitely a man of God.

He has influenced many– myself included.

Though he has primarily ministered to people in the United States, his influence is felt as far away as Nigeria.

Bottom line: He brings salt and light to our dark world.

I got a chance to speak with Pastor Cessna recently.

I want to thank Mr. Cessna for this interview, please pray for him, that God would continue to use him, like he has for the past 30 years.

Check out our conversation below.

~James

JW: Can you tell me a little about you? Where did you grow up? What you like doing for fun? When did you get saved?

JC: I was born in Fairplay, Colo. during the depression. My family moved to Windsor, Colo. when I was two years old and to Boulder, Colo. when I was 12. I lived in Boulder until I finished high school.

JW: What you like doing for fun?

JC:I really like to fish and ski and hunt and just about everything else that involves the outdoors. I love to pray and spend as much time as possible with my wife and family.

JW: When did you get saved?

JC:I came to Christ in 1962 thanks to a loving group of people who love me with Christ’s love.

JW: What are some of your favorite bible verses?

JC: Favorite Bible verses: I’m always gripped by the Sermon on the Mount.

JW: What led you to become a pastor, or when did you feel by God to become a pastor/teacher?

JC: Early on I felt a call to the pastorate, but it took 12 years of growing a serving in the church before I went to Seminary. I became a pastor in 1974.

JW: Are you pastoring a church right now? If so, can you tell me a little about your church and your different ministries? What are some challenges leading a church or being a pastor? Also, what are some joys being a pastor?

JC: I am now retired, living in the same town where I was born. I serve as an elder in my church and give Spiritual Direction to 8 different people–one in Fairplay, one in Nigeria, and 6 in Denver/Boulder.

My greatest joy was as a missionary teaching in a seminary in Nigeria for three years. Other joys of the pastorate involve watching many parishioners grow in their relationship with Christ.

The challenges of being a pastor are mainly staying true to your calling and to the truth while trying to put out endless fires that seem to fester in many churches.

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