Removed For Having Too Much 'Cents'

Apparently, a marine has been ‘removed from duty’ because he was handing out coins with Scripture references on them at an American checkpoint in Iraq.

The article claims, ‘U.S. military regulations prohibit religious proselytizing’ (apparently ref. General Order 1A, Part 2, Section J) and a quick search returned this: U.S. Soldiers Launch Campaign to Convert Iraqis to Christianity.

Interestingly, Weistein (in the above article) considers passing out these coins to be a ‘national security breach.’ Yet, I doubt we can honestly associate passing out coins by this soldier with the other soldier's actions of using the Quran as target practice.

This article states: ‘A military statement said "appropriate action" will be taken if the reports are substantiated.’ What exactly would be ‘appropriate action’ I wonder.

Maybe they will just take all of his extra ‘cents’ since apparently he had so much he was giving it all away.

It's Summertime!

School is out and summertime is upon us, and with it comes vacation, family visits, and relaxation for many. Let us remember not to put God and our local church in the trunks of our cars as we head out to enjoy time with family and friends.

Please continue to pray and support your Sunday school class and church worship services; for there are many a soul who still need to put their faith in Jesus Christ, and they will be watching where our hearts are this summer.

Hypnotic Spiritless Singing

Scripture declares, we are to speak to “yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” and “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” but are we taking this a little too far nowadays?

What I mean is it is no secret that music (whether Christian or non) moves our emotions both in positive and negative ways. I would also be willing to say that it is most often the beat, melody, etc. more so than the words that move us rather than the other way around, for sometimes the words can barely be made out or even heard. While other times, some words found in the so-called Christian music (not limited to just contemporary either) can be easily heard, but are so far from Biblical Truth, it is quite amazing that we (well some) still use them.

Just because it falls under the label of psalms (not the Psalms), hymns, or spiritual songs doesn’t mean it is Biblically sound. Just curious, to YOU, what makes a song spiritually sound? Is it the words, the music, both, or because grandma, grandpa and the local church have always sung it?

I have a fear that many a person in modern-day Christianity is experiencing emotional highs with Christian music, but their very soul remains dead in trespasses and sin. Sure they feel good, their flesh may even enjoy the sound, the beat, and even the choruses, but does their spirit rejoice with the moving of the Spirit of God? I’m not saying I can look at one and tell, I believe this is something we each need to ask ourselves when we believe we are “in the Spirit” being moved by the music played by the band, soloist, choir, or pianist.

Let’s be honest, can not many a soul be moved to both joy and sadness by the tunes of a movie, a play, a missionary story, etc.? Is this by the Spirit of God or merely our emotions being moved by what we see and hear at the time, only to walk away from such back into our “normal” lives whereby we usually forget such?

Please tell me why we have so many giving their lives to Christ, shouting “Holy, holy, holy”, crying out with great tears, falling down to worship God, ONLY to walk out of the church, the stadium, wherever merely returning to their daily lives as if the “experience” never really happened and their lives are never really changed?

Did (Does) the music move their (our) souls to confession, repentance, and salvation, or has it just been a case of Hypnotic Spiritless Singing embraced by the flesh and emotions never reaching their (our) dead or backslidden spirit?

Let us not be hoodwinked by our emotions simply being tossed to or fro during the hype of music, but let us judge our experiences by being grounded in the Word of Truth.

Gender Conversion

You can’t drive till you’re 16 or 17, can’t smoke, join the military (without parents’ consent), or vote until you’re 18, and can’t buy alcohol till your 21 BUT you can start the procedures to change your gender if you believe yourself to be mature enough at age 7 (or maybe even 3) to realize you are simply in the “wrong body”. [see for yourself]

Yeah, this makes perfect sense – Give me a break Dr. Spackle – Are we to really believe you are “filling the holes” or “patching the gaps” in humanity’s mental, emotional and physical realm with this idea of Gender Conversion?

I believe I find myself agreeing more with Dr. Nimocks in that, “Just because modern medicine can accomplish certain things does not mean that these procedures should be done.”

Mistaken Honor

Yesterday I took a moment to review a couple of blogs I sometimes visit, and came across one post entitled, Honor Killings - The Ultimate Oxymoron, which led me to this article concerning, 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'. Being a father of a little girl myself, this caught my eye.

Apparently, as told by the report concerning the interview with Abdel-Qader Ali, this man killed his 17 year old daughter, Rand Abdel-Qader, for apparently having an infatuation (which may not have been mutual) with a British soldier.

As a father of a little girl, I can understand the possibility of her one day being infatuated with a boy that I may not think well of or like very much. It could be for countless reasons, but I honestly believe my actions would be more directed at a defense for my daughter’s protection (whether I consider it for physical, emotional, or spiritual implication) than at an offensive attack against my own daughter.

Simply put, whereas Abdel-Qader Ali apparently took the idea of his daughter conversing with the British soldier (“considered to be the enemy, the invader and a Christian”) as a justifiable reason to take his daughter from this world, I would much rather converse with my daughter over the matter so that our relationship could remain intact. How can a father go so far as to say, “If I had realised then what she would become, I would have killed her the instant her mother delivered her?”

The article doesn’t really claim how far this “relationship” may have gone or to the extent of what Rand Abdel-Qader’s confessed “feelings and daydreams” may have been to her friend, but surely even if they were the most lustful of thoughts, a father’s love could have found charity within his own heart to speak to his daughter about such things.

Knowing this is not a Christian family, do they not yet know still of confession, repentance, and forgiveness?

Seemingly, Abdel-Qader Ali feels he has done such for the sake of Honor, though I find that here lies the presence of Mistaken Honor instead. He said, “Death was the least she deserved. I don't regret it. I had the support of all my friends who are fathers, like me, and know what she did was unacceptable to any Muslim that honours his religion.” He further states, “I don't have a daughter now, and I prefer to say that I never had one. That girl humiliated me in front of my family and friends.” What I find even more interesting is that he states, his daughter’s “bad genes were passed on from her mother.”

It seems pretty clear to me that this slaying was less about his love for his family, his love for his religion, his love for his god, and more to do about his own pride wishing to ensure his image concerning his work, friends, and onlookers that support such acts.

How many times do you think Rand Abdel-Qader had forgiven her father for not being the father he should have been through her 17 years? Could he not find it in his heart to compassionately speak and direct his daughter away from what he felt was wrong to what he believed was right? Should not all fathers do such?

Morale over Morality

Sometimes I receive an email from Military.com in my inbox and don’t often take the time to read it, but today’s article stood out like a sore thumb.

The article: Soldiers Say Porn Ban May Hurt Morale

Ever since I served in the U.S. Army in 1993, in Vilseck, Germany, it seems there has been talk about banning the sales of certain magazines from the shelves of military stores. Assumingly, the talks are still around, though now it appears, “U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., has introduced legislation that would close a loophole in the current law that allows the sale of some sexually explicit material on military bases by lowering the threshold required to deem material "sexually explicit."”

Get this: “A Department of Defense committee that reviews materials sold on bases ruled last year that magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse are not pornographic.”

What exactly is the definition of pornographic? “Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.”

Could someone please tell me the “primary purpose” of Playboy and Penthouse then, if not to cause/aid persons to/in fulfill/ing the lust of the flesh. We are to flee youthful lusts, not indulge in fornication!

Like all sin, first comes justification of self, “We all read 'em” then the lie one tells themselves to justify their actions “It's not all about the pictures, although 80 percent of it is,” to which I say [1] one cannot use the word “all” for not all military persons indulge themselves in pornographic amusement, and [2] if we take the “80 percent” out would one still purchase and read Playboy and Penthouse? I imagine not, for surely similar articles could be found in other magazines and internet searches, which do not have lustful photographs.

Is morale helped by pornography? How so? “Broun, a Marine veteran, told Newsweek recently that the magazines sold in military exchanges are partly responsible for a rise in sexual assaults in the military and other problems.” What about promiscuity, cheating, covetness, adultery, separation, and divorce? Are these part of the morale booster program of pornography, or simply side effects of those who take their morale too far?

Following this same idea of “Morale over Morality”, while reading this article, I noticed another entitled “Profanity Good for Morale” from last year. Some wish to believe, “that regular swearing at work can help boost team spirit among staff, allowing them to express better their feelings and develop social relationships.” Really? [Uniform Code of Military Justice] What about reading Scripture and praying together, discussing things of God concerning repentance, confession of sin, and salvation? Would this not do the same, and on a more positive note?

Morale, maybe, but surely will be short lived.

I do say - What a silly thing to believe we have Good Morale without Good Morality!

"Mayday, Mayday!"

As we find ourselves in May, I can’t help but think of “mayday, mayday” the “emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications.”

As you know, we just returned from our young people taking part in State Bible Drills in Pineville at Louisiana College. They did a great job, conducting themselves in a mature manner, representing well Fellowship Baptist Church. We appreciate their discipline to study and memorize the Scriptures, along with the faithfulness of the teachers, families, and church members with all of their support and encouragement.

Though our young people are being taught the Word of God, and give themselves over to the studying and reading thereof, there are many in our neighborhoods, work places, cities, and state that simply do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The word mayday “derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning 'come to my aid'/’come [to] help me.’” The problem is, most (if not all) sinners are not even calling out “mayday, mayday” as they fall deeper into sin, and further from the gospel call of Jesus Christ. Lost sinners simply don’t usually run around calling out to Christians to help them spiritually. Sure, they may ask for wants or physical needs, but how many lost persons have found their way to you or stumbled in to church by themselves without first being invited or introduced to such aforetime?

A source I read claims, “Mayday calls can be made on any frequency, and when a mayday call is made no other radio traffic is permitted except to assist in the emergency. A mayday call may only be made when life or craft is in imminent danger of death or destruction.”

Dear friends, I can’t express enough how important it is that we stay focused on the things of God, mindful of His Word, and sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit. Every lost soul “is in imminent danger of death or destruction.” We are to be a light to this dark world, allowing Christ to shine through us. Meaning, we should always be ready to give witness to His marvelous work of salvation to any repentant soul who chooses to place faith in Christ.

When the Spirit moves upon that lost soul, and we find ourselves confronted with their distress call of “What must I do to be saved” are we ready “to assist in the emergency?” Have we hid His Word in our hearts and are we in tune with the Spirit, whereby we may know the signs of a convicted heart, ready to repent, regardless of what fashion (“on any frequency”) it may come? Pray that God would bind the devil to have “no other radio traffic” while the gospel message is presented to this lost and dying world.

As always, let us continually pray for one another.

State Bible Drills

We are headed out to State Bible Drills with 11 young persons from our church this weekend. If you or your church have never taken part in such, one may wish to consider it for next year.

Here is a look into the cirriculum:

Bible Drill Basics

The purpose of the drill is to help children:

• increase in knowledge of the Bible
• develop skills in locating Bible books and key passages
• memorize the names of the books of the Bible in order, plus selected Bible verses and key passages
• learn how to apply the Bible to their lives