Getting the Word Out

With the recent passage of the newest set of hate crime legislation to come out of Washington, the time for being an effective and truthful witness for the word of God may be short with the House's vote on HR 1913 expected this week. Preaching on the commandments of God could conceivably be outlawed in this country if this bill passes, particularly preaching on the sin of homosexuality. East Texas lawmaker Louie Gohmert fought tooth and nail against it but to no avail. Please read this commentary from Michael Mickey, and visit his Web site at www.rapturealert.com. He has a solid grasp on what is happening and he is a watchman on God's wall.

H.R. 1913 On The Fast Track

by Michael G. Mickey
(4-23-09)

Yesterday I posted a commentary by J. Matt Barber on H.R. 1913, legislation that could pave the way for Christians who express disapproval or disagreement with the homosexual lifestyle, even from a biblical standpoint, to be prosecuted for having committed a HATE CRIME.

As reported by OneNewsNow.com, the entire foundation of H.R. 1913 was stripped out from under it yesterday when it was proven that said foundation was built upon lies - blatant lies that the House Judiciary Committee somehow managed to get around by today and pass the measure which is now expected to go to a full vote before the House of Representatives next Wednesday. A Senate version of the legislation is to be considered next week as well, this legislation apparently burning a hole in the pockets of our liberal members of Congress due to their obvious desperation to forward the homosexual agenda as quickly as possible.

A lot can happen in a single day

Just yesterday, mere hours after I posted Matt Barber's commentary on this issue, the OneNewsNow.com article indicates that Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, was sensing the measure was in trouble with good reason. The Democrats had lied and been caught in it, according to Lafferty:

"We exposed the fact that they claimed, they have fraudulent claims that there was an epidemic of hate against homosexuals and drag queens, transgenders -- and that claim was the foundation of the bill," she notes. "They claimed that homosexuals are fleeing across state lines to avoid persecution, and that perpetrators are crossing state lines to commit crimes against these gays, lesbians, and transgenders, and that they have trouble purchasing goods and services or finding employment. We nailed them on the fact that that's a lie."

Lafferty says during yesterday's markup hearing, Democrats neglected to mention that in America -- a country of 300 million people -- there have been only 1,521 cases of hate against homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people.

An Epidemic of Hate?

Homosexuals having to flee across state lines to avoid persecution and, beyond that, perpetrators of crimes against them chasing them from state-to-state? The very premise of such a claim reads like a scene from a homosexual version of "Smokey and The Bandit", doesn't it?

And then there is the laughable issue of gays not being able to purchase goods or services. How stupid do our members of Congress believe we are? Show me someone with a fistful of dollars in their hand and I'll show you someone who can purchase most anything they desire in this nation of ours. Give me a wad of cash and within an hour or two I'm confident I could buy something illegal to even possess, but we're to believe that there is an epidemic problem of homosexuals being unable to buy groceries, a haircut or get someone to fix a broken water fixture in their home? Baloney! All of it!

The issue isn't that homosexuals can't purchase goods or services. No, my friends. That isn't it at all. The real issue is they can't, under present law, command a Christian catering service, for example, to handle their "wedding reception" for them. Sure, they could find any of a blue million catering services that wouldn't mind doing it in the first place, but it just isn't fair for anyone to demonstrate disapproval of their lifestyle or be committed to their religious faith to the extent that they wouldn't bow to the homosexual community's agenda.

And homosexuals can't find jobs? Pffft! I know quite a few homosexuals who are gainfully employed. Not only that, I can't recall even once seeing a job application that required one to indicate their sexual orientation, but we've got ourselves an epidemic of employment discrimination afoot in this nation of ours, a large portion of it directed against homosexuals. I can't get past the irony of this last supposedly problematic issue raised - employment discrimination. And why would that be? Because I know of a young woman who was denied the title (or job) of Miss USA because a flamboyant homosexual judge who goes by the professional name of Perez Hilton admittedly gave her a ZERO during her interview process during the Miss USA pageant just a few days ago. Why did he do that to her? Because she didn't sign off on gay marriage in response to a question posed to her by him on that politically-loaded topic.

In spite of Hilton's discrimination against her, Miss California (Carrie Prejean) still almost won, finishing as the first runner-up. But the bottom line remains the bottom line: She isn't wearing the crown of Miss USA today because of the wrath of a homosexual! And yes, it was wrath.

How do I know it was the hatred and intolerance of Perez Hilton that cost Carrie Prejean the title of Miss USA and not an objective and tolerant look at the answer she gave in response to his question? All one has to do is review how Mr. Perez has acted beyond the pageant!

Being homosexual and oppressed as Hilton and so many homosexuals are today, he has, as noted earlier, admitted giving her a ZERO on her interview. He's also referred to her as a "dumb b*tch", acknowledged a desire to refer to her as a c*nt, and, as I understand it, took the liberty of posting a picture of her on his website with a penis drawn across her face. Pretty obvious, isn't it? But are we hearing any outpouring of support for Miss California in the mainstream media? Any at all? Uh, no. That would be because tolerance is a one-way street that flows away from God and all that is right - the same direction the vast majority of the mainstream media flows, proving the accuracy of the Bible when it refers to Satan as "the prince of the power of the air." (Ephesians 2:2)

If you're hearing support of Miss California on any significant scale, you're hearing it from Christian and conservative websites and talk radio, which H.R. 1913, should it become the law of the land, may place squarely in the crosshairs of the homosexual community. And make no mistake about it, if this bill gets past the House and Senate, our beloved Christian president, Barack Hussein Obama, will sign it into law faster than he'd drop to one knee in submission before the Muslim leader of a foreign country or shake hands with a dictatorial enemy of the United States like Hugo Chavez.

How much longer, Lord? How much more of this must we endure?

Going it alone

I am no Rick Perry fan, but I will admit, I enjoyed his talk of Texas going it alone.
I know he is not in favor of secession, and he is just pandering to us extremists, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, to which I can say I am proud to be one if being an extremist means being a Bible believing, Constitution supporting, gun rights supporting TEXAN. The nerve of these people.
I say send most of the current Texas politicians to live elsewhere, we'll be better off without them when the time comes for us to go it alone. This nation has abandoned its founding. Trust me, a Republican will not help us get it back. It starts with us, and it starts by kneeling before Jesus Christ. After that, everything else will just take care of itself.
Remember, we never have to go it alone, Christ is always there for us.

Evil in the World

A recent poll by the Barna Group found that 60 percent of professing Christians don't believe in the existence of Satan.
I say, what?
How can someone see the evil in the world and not believe the devil exists? More importantly, and even more worrisome is the fact that people are reading the Bible, God's holy word, and claiming Christ's name for themselves and then dismissing it as a well-written story.
Folks, remember what Christ said, "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" — Matthew 7:22-23
The poll also stated most Christians do not believe the Holy Spirit is a living force.
The man behind the poll had these chilling words to say, "Most Americans, even those who say they are Christian, have doubts about the intrusion of the supernatural into the natural world," commented George Barna, founder of The Barna Group and author of books analyzing research concerning America's faith.
"Hollywood has made evil accessible and tame, making Satan and demons less worrisome than the Bible suggests they really are," he said. "It's hard for achievement-driven, self-reliant, independent people to believe that their lives can be impacted by unseen forces."
Unfortunately, as Christians we have failed to take ourselves out of the world and instead we have let the world shape our thoughts and our beliefs. The Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and is not moved by the whims of the world. People should realize that before it's too late, because to not means there is hell to pay.
From that poll, though, there was something that made me weep and pray for this country, because I know the end is coming soon.
The poll found that 39 percent of professing Christians believed that Christ sinned at some point in his life.
Our Lord God, who knew no sin, was perfect in all respects. He had to be or his sacrifice on the cross was for nothing.
If nearly 40 percent of Christians out there do not believe Christ, God incarnate, was not without sin, then where is their hope of salvation?
May God have mercy on us all for our lack of faith.
For those who put their faith in the infallible hands of Jesus, then look up, our redemption draweth nigh.

A new type of forage

After talking with Bill Bretherick with East Texas Seed Co. in Tyler earlier today, I want to let you know about a new forage legume they are marketing which was developed by Auburn University. It is called, AU Grazer, a sericea lespedeza. A long name, but what it basically is is a summer legume that can be grazed or baled.
There will be more information in next week's Farm & Ranch News, but it is worth checking out. Oh, and for the goat raisers out there, the forage also fights internal parasites, which also can be a bonus for cattle raisers. It was mentioned in the Goat Gossip column in last week's Farm & Ranch News and we will expand it some.
For more about AU Grazer, a sericea lespedeza, contact East Texas Seed Co. at 800-888-1371 and they can tell you where you can get this "Poor man's alfalfa," as Mr. Bretherick called it.

Gone for a while

Christina and I will be taking a few days off, but we will be back next week.

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Wayne

What's going to happen next

It was shocking, but I shouldn't say surprising when Barack Obama all but nationalized General Motors and Chrysler Corp. on Monday.
To see these venerable, if not troubled companies, became the latest object of the new president's quest. I am sure once the hand of government comes to bear on these companies they will not be long for this world.
If you think I'm bitter, then you are right. It appears, no check that, the government is taking control over every part of this nation and of our lives. The federal government is dictating we all switch to fluorescent light bulbs, and after 2012, we will no longer be able to buy or even own incandescent light bulbs. There is H.B. 875, which is nothing more than a bald attempt to control this nation's food supply. The consensus right now is the bill will not even make it out of committee, but what about next year or the year after that. Give it time and it will come to pass.
Here is another tidbit of information, the country's new education secretary, Arne Duncan, who came to Washington after being superintendent of Chicago schools, is proposing mayors take control of big city schools in urban areas.
Folks, Chicago schools are not known for being high performing institutions of learning. In fact, they were some of the most violent places in the country. Keeping fathers at home with their families would go farther than education initiative from Washington ever could.
It begins with the family, not the government. The government will only screw it up.
Just try and think, what has the government ever touched and made better? If you can think of something I am begging you to let me know. When the government gets involved things will only get worse, and I sure don't trust any elected politician to run anything, much less a public school system.
How about this, get rid of the politicians, let the educators discipline the children from Kindergarten on up. If the students don't pass, then make them learn a trade and not push them through a school and declare they are ready to enter society.
I could be wrong, most of the time I usually am, but I still have a better track record than the government.

More preaching

I will continue to comment on how Christians are not to be a part of this world.
During these rough times so many people are looking for answers. They elected a politician who promised hope and change. They look for banks, advisers and others to help solve their problems. It seems society is at a point where people will follow any thing if they think it will help them get ahead in this life.
The plain and simple truth is the world does not hold any answers — at best it only creates more questions.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." — 1 John 2:15
Tough words from old John. I am sure there are people out there who think John is the apostle of love, but don't forget the name Jesus gave to John and his brother James — Sons of Thunder.
The command from John here is clear and simple, "do not love the world or anything in the world."
Now I don't think John means we have to walk around with a sour look on our face telling everybody they are going to hell because they like to eat peaches.
The problems arise when we place the priorities of the world over our relationship with God. Problems arise when we seek answers that are not God's answers. Problems arise when we refuse God in order to take our place in the world.
We must realize what the world is, let's let John tell us.
"For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." — 1 John 2:16-17
Riches mean nothing. Possessions mean nothing. The world's opinion of us means nothing. The only thing that means anything at all is our belief on the Lord Jesus Christ.
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? — Matthew 16:25-26
Can you bargain with God. Remember the old adage, "What do you get for a man who has everything? We don't have anything God wants, but still, he offers us the gift of life and that is through his Son Jesus Christ.
That is our ticket out of the world, but why do we, even those of us who are saved, look to the world and spend so much of our time obsessed with how to get from day to day.
We must remove our thoughts and minds and hearts from this evil place and look solely to Christ.
In the end, there really is no alternative.