Maine Citizens Reject Gay Marriage Legislation, Shock Nation

http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/11/maine-citizens-reject-gay-marriage-legislation-shock-nation/



Maine Citizens Reject Gay Marriage Legislation, Shock Nation

Posted: 05 Nov 2009 04:27 PM PST


Citizens in Maine voted against legalization of gay marriage.

Citizens in Maine voted against legalization of gay marriage.

AGUSTA, Maine – November 3, 2009

Poll voters in Maine officially overturned on Tuesday the gay marriage legalization act proposed and signed by Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, according to several national news media and The Associated Press. With a 53-47 percent margin, Maine became the first state in history thus far to reverse gay marriage legislation via the ballot system. Interestingly, Maine is also the first northeastern state to consider legalizing gay marriage in the first place.

The defeat of the act has been termed “a harsh blow” to “the gay marriage drive” by the Associated Press, as well as a substantial obstacle to homosexual activists nationwide, many of whom were convinced they would win in Maine as they did in California. According to a recent survey by Gallup, Maine is by far one of the most liberal and least religious states in the nation.

The vast majority of supporters had remained optimistic leading up the moment of the vote. For months, gay marriage activists had poured time, energy and funds into a $4 million campaign backed and supported by leading politicians and several local and national newspapers.

The Stand for Marriage Maine Campaign sought to overcome the proposed legislation by “warning voters [and conservative parents] that if Question 1 lost, ‘gay marriage’ would be taught as normative in public schools,” according to the Baptist Press.

Stand for Marriage Maine ran six television commercials concerning the legislation, five of which included the theme of public school’s teaching of homosexuality.

No win for gay agenda in one of nation's most liberal and least religious states.

No win for gay agenda in one of nation's most liberal and least religious states.

Bob Emrich, a spokesperson from Stand for Marriage Maine, told the Baptist Press, “This was going to have an impact on children – the way that children think, what children are taught. The people of Maine responded to that.”

This victory (or defeat, depending on how you see it) comes at a critical time in our nation, particularly after President Barack Obama’s early vow to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA as it is often abbreviated. Signed into law on September 21, 1996 by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the act states that “the federal government defines marriage as a legal union exclusively between one man and one woman.”

President Obama, however, has made it clear both in national speeches and in the White House website’s Civil Rights section that he is pro same-sex marriage. He additionally believes homosexual couples should be granted all the legal rights currently enjoyed by monogamous couples, including the right to adopt.

Currently, five U.S. states have legalized gay marriage. Boston-based G.L.A.D. (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) has stated they intend to see all six New England states legalize gay marriage by 2012. Unfortunately, this most recent turn of events may prove a significant thorn in their side. The majority of political analysts believe New Jersey and New York will be the next frontiers for the fight to legalize same-sex marriage.

May Christians nationwide rejoice in the defeat of the act, not out of contempt toward homosexuals, but in an effort to give God the glory and seek to love the gay community all the more. In an age when marriage is steadily being redefined by the government, we as Christians must hold fast to our belief that marriage is indeed intended by God to be between one man and one woman.

Such a belief in a God of infinite love should continually spur us to reach out to those in need of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. A nationwide legalization of gay marriage will not only affect the gay community, but the very fabric of our society as a whole, our families, children, churches and our futures.

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Swine Flu Hysteria — A Christian Response

http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/11/swine-flu-hysteria-a-christian-response/




President Obama declared the H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak a national emergency recently.

The emergency declaration, signed by the president late Friday, purportedly increases the ability of medical treatment facilities to handle a jump in influenza A (H1N1) patients by allowing medical officials to temporarily bypass certain federal requirements.

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Swine flu has shut down schools and businesses; but is it really as serious as people are making it out to be?

Since April this year we have seen thousands of schools temporarily closed, and thousands of sick workers told to stay away from the office to prevent the pandemic spread of the virus, but how catastrophic has this outbreak really been in terms of the loss of human life to date?

Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1,000 people have died from swine flu-related complications in the United States since April.

Globally, the World Health Organization claims about 5,000 deaths were linked to the disease.

Sound like a pandemic to you?

One thousand deaths from swine flu out of a total U.S. population figure of 300 million people.

I think I’ll take my chances.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe that life is sacred, but on average of seven people die every day in the United States.

That’s something to ponder.

And here’s something else to think about: The annual death toll from the regular flu is estimated to be between 250,000 and 500,000.

Yet, we do not announce national emergencies every year during flu season.

We make sure that the at risk groups are vaccinated and the rest of us continue to go with our daily lives at school or at work; it may cost us a few days in bed with a fever, headache and a runny nose, but nothing more.

We have been dealing with the consequences of the regular flu for many years and have developed a healthy perspective on what the risks versus rewards are of going on with life as normal as against locking ourselves away in our homes for fear of catching the flu.

Unfortunately, this sense of perspective hasn’t taken hold yet when people think of swine flu.

Ignorance, emotion and panic have led the response to this ‘global pandemic’ at every turn.

Nobody is taking a moment to calmly examine the evidence of the effects of the virus especially those in authority, who people are relying on to know all the answers.

Well, if those in secular authority cannot be relied upon to provide a “reality check” in perilous times, surely we can depend on the church to be a shining light.

Right?

Not quite, the Valley Bible Fellowship Church in Las Vegas went so far as to check the temperatures of children before they allowed them to enter their Sunday school recently as part of their effort to protect its flock from catching the virus.

the Valley Bible Fellowship Church in Las Vegas went so far as to check the temperatures of children before they allowed them to enter their Sunday school recently as part of their effort to protect its flock from catching Swine Flu.

Valley Bible Fellowship Church in Las Vegas checked the temperatures of children before they allowed them to enter their Sunday school recently to protect its flock from catching Swine Flu.

Any family with a child with a temperature of over 99 degrees was asked to leave and the church would send them a copy of the Sunday service on DVD.

Did you know that the symptoms of H1N1 swine flu are just like regular flu symptoms? The usual fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Only lab tests can definitively show whether you’ve got swine flu.

So that means we have Christians turning people away from the house of God because  they may have symptoms of a virus that is less dangerous than the regular flu?

Hardly, the response we would expect from God’s elect.

What can a Christian do then when we cannot rely on the church to set the example?

Go to the Bible and see what our creator, the author of truth, says about sickness and the correct response to it.

As we read through Genesis, we see that sin, sickness, suffering and death came into the world when Adam & Eve rebelled against God. Since then sickness has been a part of our lives here on earth. It afflicts saint and sinner alike.

The Catholic Catechism says, “Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death. Illness can lead to anguish, self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God.”

Sickness can be very destructive. It can cause mental depression and feelings of isolation, discouragement, despair, self-absorption and, worst of all, a sense of feeling of abandonment by God. We only have to look to the Book of Job to see the devastating effects of sickness on the human condition

On the other hand, an encounter with sickness can be the beginning of a great spiritual awakening.

Charles Spurgeon suffered from sickness through his life but he believed it helped him see in his life what is not essential so that he could turn toward that which is.

Very often illness leads to a search for God and a return to Him. After coming close to death, many people also decide to live a life more focused on God and in service of others

We must never forget that God does not want us to be sick. Jesus’ care for the sick is illustrated throughout the four gospels.

In his ministry, Jesus sought to free people from anything that would hinder them from receiving the abundant life that he wanted to share with them. Jesus came to save our souls but also to save, heal, and free the whole person. He healed those with evil spirits and those in slavery to sin. He also cured those whose bodies were lame, blind, and diseased. Jesus never told the ill to endure sickness as a cross to be carried throughout life. God wants to cleanse us of our physical or mental illness.

God also expects Christians to have love and compassion for the sick and to pray for their healing “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:14-15).

The Church has a responsibility to be concerned and helpful to the sick. All of us can pray regularly for the sick and for their caregivers. We can also support families with a sick member by cooking meals for them and offering to sit and spend time with the sick person.

Our concern for ourselves and our health must never come before the wellbeing of others. God doesn’t want us to recklessly put ourselves in harm’s way, but oftentimes the work of God will lead to situations where there is risk.

The important thing is how we live our life, not how long we live. We must realize that we are all ultimately to die once and then face the judgment. This is not our home.

God has invited us to live with Him where “…God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

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Sherwood Pictures to Announce Plans for Fourth Film

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Religious film producing church ministry Sherwood Pictures of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia is set to begin work on their fourth independent Christian film, according to their official website www.thenextsherwoodmovie.com. On the heels of their 2008 success with “Fireproof”, starring American actor Kirk Cameron of the popular “Left Behind” film series and actress Erin Bethea, Sherwood has begun to announce subtle hints of their latest film’s storyline across several Internet social networking venues.

The film’s website includes a reedited clip from Sherwood’s third film “Facing the Giants.” The clip suggests Sherwood’s next project title will also begin with the letter “F”, as did their first film “Flywheel” (2003).

Parent production company Provident Films has announced that “After much prayer, creative brainstorming, more prayer, wise counsel, and still more prayer, Sherwood Pictures is ready to move ahead with their fourth motion picture,” according to the ministry’s official website. Fans and supporters can subscribe to the site’s e-mail update service and receive exclusive access to the site as well as the latest updates on the film’s production progress.

Sherwood’s debut film “Flywheel”, produced on a $20,000 donation budget in 2003, served to put their ministry on the map in the world of independent religious filmmaking. With a subsequent $100,000 budget for “Facing the Giants,” Sherwood garnered an amazing $10 million, thereby cementing their name and earning the respect of several mainstream media critics. “Fireproof” (produced on a $500,000 budget) remains by far their most successful film to date, having earned an astonishing $33 million nationwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

Although they are based in the small southern town of Albany, Georgia, Sherwood’s films continue to have an impact upon countless people, churches and communities both locally and internationally. According to the film’s website, the official announcements concerning the upcoming flick’s title and plot will be made on November 15, 2009.

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New Republican Governors – does God care about party lines?


Democrats suffered two surprising defeats in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races yesterday.

In spite of much campaigning by President Obama himself, New Jersey’s incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine was still defeated by the GOP candidate, Chris Christie. New Jersey is considered a blue state so this was a big upset.

Cristie, a former attorney general with a reputation for busting corruption, is the first Republican in twelve years to win a state office in New Jersey. Corzine, a one-term governor, ceded the election when Cristie was winning 49 to 45 percent.

In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds by a 20 point lead. President Obama had also campaigned for Deeds. (Side note: this makes President Obama 0 for 3 in his ability to influence vote outcomes recently, if we include his heavy campaigning for the Olympics to be held in Chicago which was also defeated.)

Although one would hope that Christian Americans were waking up to trusting their faith rather than their economy, these two Democratic defeats were probably more a sign of citizens’ dissatisfaction with failing economy and the threat of more taxes.

In New York, Democrat Bill Owens defeated the Conservative Party’s hope, Doug Hoffman by just three percent; this could be because the people who have “always voted Republican” went with the party’s decision to support Democrat Owens when the very liberal Republican Scozzafava dropped out. 

It is a mystery why the Republican Party threw their support behind Owens. The option to support the Conservative Party’s Hoffman  was a lost golden opportunity. Democrats would never throw their weight behind a conservative. Republicans lose ground every time they make this type of compromise.

According to UPI, Republican National Chairman Michael Steele didn’t see this as a prediction of 2010 Congressional upsets yet; saying the party has a lot of work to do.

In Maine, the gay marriage amendment did not pass – not by the voters, that is. According to what has happened in other states, gay marriage advocates will probably take this to the Maine Supreme Court and try to get the vote overturned as a violation of the Constitution. 

After all this analysis, did the voters really decide who won? It isn’t Democrats and Republicans that matter—there are Christians in both camps. What matters is whom God feels are the appropriate officers for the appropriate times, according to what He sees his people indulging themselves in.  

“For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Romans 13:1 NASB


Thanksgiving – why bother?

http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/10/thanksgiving-why-bother/


Posted: 31 Oct 2009 12:32 PM PDT


Including public prayers to God on Thanksgiving is becoming as “politically incorrect” as mentioning Christ on Christmas.

In 2005, the Maryland Board of Education began teaching their students that the Pilgrims landed on the American continent by luck. In the new public school curriculum, in effect re-naming Thanksgiving “Lucky Thursday” per some sources, students are not taught that God had any part in the thank you for what the Pilgrims had. The Board of Education felt they were facing a constitutional dilemma.

By contrast, we have discovered documented statements like this one by Edward Winslow at the first recorded Thanksgiving, 1621 (bolding mine):
“…many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”

And here is George Washington’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation on November 26, 1789:
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.”

We aren’t sure that the First Thanksgiving took place on the last Thursday in November, and God didn’t declare Thanksgiving a holiday. Of course, the Bible makes no mention of it (nor of Christmas). The New Testament sets only two covenants before us: The Lord’s Supper and the Ordinance of Baptism.

Thanksgiving wasn’t even declared a National Holiday until President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the decision in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941); and not every President between Washington and Roosevelt prayed thanks to God on that day.

But isn’t it still OK to thank God? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 6-7, NIV). Our American Thanksgiving holiday is just as good a day as any to do so.

Heaven forbid, one day in our American households on Thanksgiving, a knock will come at the door and a U.S. Government official will demand a place at the table to be sure we don’t issue thanks to God for what we have.

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LGBT Hate Crimes Bill Signed into Law, Conservatives Still Wary

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LGBT Hate Crimes Bill Signed into Law, Conservatives Still Wary

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 02:59 PM PDT


How will this new law affect the future of gay rights & Christian free speech?

How will this new law affect the future of gay rights & Christian free speech?

In a bold political move and statement, President Barack Obama officially signed into the law on Wednesday the first Hate Crimes Bill which will grant specific protection to the gay, lesbian, transgendered and homosexual demographics, according to several national news media outlets. The Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, as it had been titled while still in the Senate, was a small piece of a large $680 billion defense spending agenda. For more on this, see my piece: U.S. Senate Passes LGBT Hate Crimes Bill 68-29.

Since its origins within the U.S. Senate, countless conservative Christian groups, churches, organizations and pastors have voiced their concerns over the bill’s likelihood to subsequently stifle their free speech rights to oppose homosexuality.

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—told the Christian Post, “Although we don’t know the full ramifications of this bill as of yet, my staff and I will be watching closely for any possible infringement on the rights of our members and pastors to speak out against the sin of homosexuality based on the Word of God.”

During his official remarks at the reception ceremony, President Obama spoke of hate crime’s abilities to “break spirits” and “instill fear”, in addition to the physical harm associated with such violent acts. Obama also noted, “No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love,” according to FOX News Contributing Editor Anne Marie Riha of the Fox News’ White House View.

To the thunderous applause of Shepherd’s and Byrd’s family members and countless Associated Press members and TV camera crews, Obama stated that the signing of the law was “the culmination of a struggle that has lasted more than a decade” and “another step forward” in creating a more perfect union.

In his recent annual address to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest advocate for the equal rights of gays, Obama noted that there are still changes to be made: “Despite the progress we’ve made, there are still laws to change and hearts to open. This fight continues now and I’m here with the simple message: I’m here with you in that right,” according to CNN.

Although U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has previously attempted to assure conservatives and Christian/religious pastors and speakers that the bill will in no way infringe upon free speech rights, the vast majority are still wary of its future ramifications.

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Four Ways God Communicates with Us

http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/10/four-ways-god-communicates-with-us/


Posted: 28 Oct 2009 11:44 PM PDT


Are you expecting a phone call from God today?

Are you expecting a phone call from God today?

I was once told by a close friend that God had stopped speaking to him. You see, my friend was struggling through some rather difficult decisions in his life and desperately needed to seek the guidance, counsel and wisdom of the Lord. However, after months of consistent, persistent prayer, he became convinced that God’s voice was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, this is rarely, if ever, the case.

All too often in our Christian walks, we become fixated on how we talk to God. We pray, we worship and we sit through long church service sermons. But when was the last time you paused to consider the reverse? How does God speak to you? What would He do if He really needed to get your attention? Would you know what to look for? No doubt the vast majority of Christian men and women would prefer to hear a booming, thunderous voice from the Heavens spewing out all manner of grand insight and infinite wisdom. However, a little Biblical clarity may help to shine some light on this oft-debated issue.

1. God Speaks to Us through the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

If you’ve been in church circles long enough, you’ve likely had these two truths preached at you until you could no longer stand it. However, their importance and reliability must not be overlooked. The accuracy and dependability of Scriptural truths in your life is crucial to your ability to hear the voice of God and, subsequently, His will and direction for your life.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (1 Timothy 3:16, NASU, emphasis added). You can be certain the Bible is the literal, inerrant Word and voice of God. In fact, the Greek here literally refers to Scripture as having been “breathed out” by God. Trust it, listen to it.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you,” (John 14:26, Jesus speaking to His disciples). The Holy Spirit is our literal guide to understanding Scriptural truths, principles and perplexing life circumstances.

2. God Communicates to us through the Person of Jesus Christ: see John 1

John often refers to Jesus as “the Word made flesh” who “dwelt among us.” You see, Jesus was literally Scripture with skin on, walking around in the flesh among ordinary human beings. His life and sacrificial death bridged the gap between us and a just, holy God. Because of Jesus, we now have access to the very throne of God and can communicate with Him at any time and Him with us.

3. God Communicates to us through our Christian Brothers & Sisters

This may be one of the most difficult to grapple with. However, it is one of the most important reasons for regular church attendance and strong accountability. No one is meant to walk the Christian life alone. God wired us for relationships and human connection.

Remember the words of the writer of Hebrews: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another all the more…” (Hebrews 10:23-25, NASU, emphases added).

Oftentimes God will speak to you through a fellow believer or close friend. It may not always be what you want to hear. But if it is from God, it will always be the truth. You may be more inclined to listen to the wisdom of a close friend than to sit down and dig into your Bible.

4. God Communicates to us through our Circumstances

This one comes with a warning. Although it is true that God can and does allow us to endure specific circumstances to communicate His will and plan for our lives, we must simultaneously be wary not to judge the nature, character or voice of God based solely on our surroundings. Remember that we endure trials and tribulations for a reason. For more on this see my article “Four Reasons We Endure Suffering.”

If you’re struggling to hear the voice of God today, take heart! You are not alone. Even the strongest of Christian men and women often find it difficult to discern what God may or may not being saying to them. Take hold of your Bible, listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit and rely on the strong Christian brothers and sisters God has surrounded you with. Don’t give up on hearing from Him just yet. He may be waiting to tell you the best news of your life!

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Four Ways God Communicates with Us

No crosses allowed at Penn State U – even if they’re imaginary

http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/10/no-crosses-allowed-at-penn-state-u-even-if-theyre-imaginary/



No crosses allowed at Penn State U – even if they’re imaginary

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 12:33 PM PDT


Penn State University is all abuzz with complaints…or should we say six complaints out of thousands of students…about a new school T-shirt design that resembles a cross.

There is no cross. The T-shirt, which is intended to advertise the football team’s annual “White Out” game, does not bear a cross. A few students who are offended by any hint of the Bible choose to see a cross in the t-bar shaped design. And because of one student letter, the Anti-Defamation League’s Philadelphia office is now involved. Readers can see a photo of the imaginary cross T-shirt here at a FOX News story.

This makes PSU the latest school with a broo-ha-ha over the imagined “separation of church and state” (see the Underground’s previous article about cheerleaders’ posters in Georgia).

Many other Penn State students have voiced their opinion to the school newspaper, The Daily Collegian, stating they are “OK” with the design; and 30,000 T-shirts have been sold so far. The design was intended to resemble the blue stripe on the football helmets.

According to the FOX story, the school bookstore has no plans to remove the T-shirts from its shelves. That is, probably until the school gets slapped with a lawsuit by the ADL or the ACLU on behalf of the six students who feel they are being “defamed.”

“There must be a separation,” one student who didn’t buy the T-shirt told FOX. The FOX reporter might have done well to ask her to point out the phrase “separation of church and state” in the First Amendment. It isn’t there.

On the other hand, an Eastern Asian studies student told the school paper the whole thing is ridiculous, and that if you look hard enough, you can see crosses in many other designs around the school.

Frankly, this reporter/editorialist thinks it would be wonderful if people started at least seeing God, if not Jesus, in more places. We can’t keep catering to the few who are “offended” by taking away the rights of the thousands who are not. Unless, of course, it really is the end times and unbelievers must be left to their own defenses against spiritual darkness.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, peresecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven  Matthew 5:11-12a (NIV)

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The Underground

Read the original here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/10/u-s-senate-passes-lgbt-hate-crimes-bill-68-29/

U.S. Senate Passes LGBT Hate Crimes Bill 68-29

Posted: 23 Oct 2009 10:19 PM PDT


How will Future of Equal Rights Affect Christians & Ministry?

U.S. Capitol Building

Will Washington's new LGBT bill limit the free speech of pastors to speak against homosexuality?

Yesterday, Thursday, October 22, 2009, the United States Senate passed a bill that has been the subject of political debate and controversy for nearly a decade. Since the early days of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., there has been a civil rights push to institute a federal law against all sexual and gender-related hate crimes.

According to both CNN and FOX national political news networks, with a vote of 68-29, the Senate passed a bill which would “make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender.”The new law essentially serves to offer gay, lesbian and transgendered men and women federal protection against hate crimes based on their sexual orientation.

The bill, which President Obama vowed to sign once it reached his desk, was a smaller component of a $680 billion defense authorization bill, according to several national news media. Former President George W. Bush once noted that he would veto a similar proposition if it ever reached his office.

The movement towards such a bill was spurred by the brutal deaths of Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. Shepherd, a teen from Wyoming, was brutally beaten to death in October 1998 for his sexual orientation. Byrd, an African American man, was dragged to death in Texas of that same year.

The passing of the bill has raised countless concerns among more conservative Republicans, the majority of whom opposed the legislation during its tenure in the Senate. Dozens of religious groups and Christian organizations have also voiced their anxieties, citing their concerns that such a bill will likely infringe on their rights to speak openly and freely against homosexuality.

Under current federal laws, gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals already receive the same adequate protections afforded all other U.S. citizens.

Many church leaders are worried the bill will be used to stifle pastors who preach homosexuality as sin from their pulpits, as this would be deemed “inciting violence.” Opposition to the bill has maintained that it is the First Amendment right of a pastor or religious leader to speak openly from the pulpit on issues related to sexual orientation. Separation of church and state must remain at the forefront of the legislation, lest church pastors be federally prosecuted for their sermons.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has attempted to convince those opposed that the new bill and laws will only be used to prosecute individuals who commit violent acts of aggression based on sexual/gender prejudice. Holder says the bill will not interfere with the religious belief systems or free speech rights of any American.

Recently, while addressing members of the national Human Rights Campaign organization, President Obama called for a “repeal of the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, which bans gays from openly serving in the military” according to The Christian Post. Currently, the Human Rights Campaign is the largest group in the nation publicly promoting and advocating the rights of the LGBT community.

Jon Solmonese, president of the HRC, called the new legislation “our nation’s first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people” according to the Huffington Post. He also noted, “Too many in our community have been devastated by hate violence.”

The question for Christians nationwide has become “How will this new legislation affect the way pastors, religious leaders and conservative men and women voice their opposition to homosexual lifestyles? Or will they be able to at all?”

During his address to the HRC, Obama also stated his desire to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines legal marriage as marriage between one man and one woman.

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Humans must die for earth’s survival – “Go Green” to the extreme

Also here: http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2009/10/humans-must-die-for-earths-survival-go-green-to-the-extreme/


Posted: 24 Oct 2009 10:16 AM PDT


The Green Movement, enlisting humans to save the planet by “going green,” is no longer enough for some environmentalists. The fast-spreading word is that humanity must die out to save the earth.

Listed with a starting date of 1996 at their website, the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement is several steps ahead of the old Hemlock Society. The Hemlock Society, now called Compassion and Choices, came to the forefront in the late 1950’s to advocate “death with dignity”—voluntary euthanasia for people with terminal illnesses. The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT, pronounced vehement) simply suggests humans should no longer procreate.

While voluntary euthanasia goes against the biblical principle of waiting for God’s timing, VHEMT simply suggests not to breed any further humans for the sake of the earth. They equate God’s leaving one family behind to re-populate earth after the flood as an “OOPS,” and state that some other “being” will be needed to help in this situation (see this page at their website, under the question “When and Where did VHEMT start?”).

Well…that would definitely solve the problem of getting sick and wanting to die. But VHEMT’s purpose has nothing to do with soothing human pain and everything to do with putting the earth first, to an extreme degree.

Their theory is that if we stop breeding, the Earth (a word they always capitalize) will return to its original healthy state. This isn’t a one child per family rule – it’s no breeding at all.

What this reporter would like to know is…who will be around to appreciate it? Do animals appreciate things? Can animals express their appreciation? One thing’s for sure –animals won’t go around saying “Ahhhh, that’s better.”

According to the Life Issues Institute, Inc.’s “Connector” October Newsletter, the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement is not a lone wolf in their theory that humans are the worst threat to the environment. Several animal rights and earth-worshipping groups take the same view, including big names like the Sierra Club, the Cousteau Society, and the Audubon Society. 

One thing can be said for VHEMT. They don’t approve of killing people to reduce the population (see here). However, their goal could be misinterpreted by madmen, much as our Christian faith’s purpose has been mishandled in the past, and genocides for the sake of population control could happen. VHEMT already had to speak out against a group called the Church of Euthanasia, whose founder advocates suicide to people who really want to save the earth (although the founder hasn’t killed himself). 

Meanwhile, both Oregon and Washington State now have “death with dignity” acts for legal assisted suicide. Jack Kevorkian, once called the “Doctor of Death” for participating in assisted suicides, would never be arrested today.