Category Archives: Culture & Society
Powerful song about the Great Commission
The style may not be you but the words are convicting.
Lyrics to Send Me :
Where’s our Freedoms?
In the news lately has been the controversy over the Imam wanting to build a mosque at Ground Zero in New York and the Pastor wanting to burn the Quran at his church in Florida. Building a mosque and burning a Quran are two examples of exercising a right that is upheld by the Constitution of the United States. Most would agree that even though they have the ‘right’ to do it, it is not necessarily the ‘right’ thing to do. My question is not whether it is the ‘right’ thing to do but will the ‘right’ to do it be supported by our government? The answer is revealed in Obama’s statements concerning these two issues. About the mosque he stated,
“As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country”…”This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.” 1
Now when it concerns the pastor’s freedom of speech we don’t find Obama promising America’s unwavering support. 2 In fact he is only condemned. Our Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal and that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Does this only apply to Muslims now? Rather than recognizing that both of these Americans have the same Constitutional rights, Obama chose to respect the Muslims but not the Christians. Is this the beginning of the eventual end for the rights of free speech and religion for Christians here in America? – JE
RELATED NEWS:
Obama defends the ‘Ground Zero mosque’ again
Obama: We call God ‘different names, but we remain one nation’
Pray For America!
Michael Youssef is inviting 100,000 people to join him in praying for our nation from July 4, 2012 to November 6, 2012.
Today, those committed to Jesus Christ must unite in prayer in humility and repentance, trusting the Lord to heal our land.
To commit to pray for America, please complete the sign up form found HERE.
May God Save America!
A new standard for “family friendly”?
The other day on Christian radio they were discussing the movie “The Blind Side”. The radio personalities mentioned that they had watched it and considered it to be a family friendly movie. I also had heard it was somewhat of a “decent” film when Sandra Bullock won her Oscar for best actress. After reading the reviews I am a little disappointed that the movie “The Blind Side” was considered “family-friendly”. I guess compared to the movie “Saw” it is. I wonder if the standards for “family friendliness” have been lowered? Gratuitous violence, nudity and sex scenes are obvious but I still feel that profane language in a movie should be a factor in whether or not you should watch it with or without the kids. Is profane language considered offensive anymore? What is considered profane anymore? I know a lot of “good” movies might have one or two uses of “_amn” or “_ell”, but multiple uses of the words “_itch”, “_ss”, “_iss” and “_amn”, as in “The Blind Side”? How much is too much? If the movie has a positive message should exceptions be made for language? What is your definition of “family friendly”? Please share your thoughts.
STAY INFORMED:
10 men who Destroyed American Culture
In this two-part series, author Michael Boyer, a 20-year veteran of the movie industry, names 10 men in recent history who he believes have led the way in destroying the Christian moral consensus in America’s entertainment culture. His research is documented in his recent book, The Hollywood Culture War.
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Where does your money go?
The recent Annual Movieguide® Report analysis shows that family-friendly movies earn the most money at the box office and on home video. Isn’t it amazing that family friendly movies actually earn more money on the average than non-family friendly movies? This is encouraging since 78% of Americans identify with some type of Christian religion.(3) This stat has dropped significantly since 1948 when 91% of Americans identified with a Christian faith. The key word though in this 2009 Gallup poll is “identify”. I can’t help but wonder out of that 78% how many of them put their Christian faith in action with other movies that they pay to watch, not just the family friendly?
My questioning arises from hearing from and reading about what so called “Christians” are viewing at the movie theater and at home on TV. I’m not trying to come across as old-fashion or “holier than thou”, but it does worry me when I hear professing Christians and church leaders identify, endorse and view movies that may be popular in our society but contain many things that do not reflect Christian values. While we cannot shelter our children from every form of evil it does not relieve us of our duties to be that adult filter that prevents dirt from coming into our kid’s ears and eyes. They hear and see enough garbage out in the world as it is, why would we subject them to more of it and even pay for it just in the name of entertainment and what is popular? Even more so you have to wonder about the Christian adults that go out and watch films for their self that are less than “family-friendly” under the name of “it’s only fiction” or “it’s just for entertainment”?
As you read this please use judgment day honesty with you and God when realizing that you may have viewed some of these popular and favorite movies and TV shows and recognize that they do not line up with Biblical teachings on how a true Christian should be living.
Example #1: This movie contains about a dozen s-words. 10 misuses of God’s name (including six or seven pairings with “d‑‑n”) and three abuses of Jesus’ name. Roughly 20 other profanities (“h‑‑‑,” “a‑‑,” “b‑‑ch,” “b‑‑tard,” “p‑‑‑”) and three crude references to the male anatomy (“d‑‑k” among them). This is from the very popular movie Avatar. (1)
Example #2: 48 obscenities (mostly “h” & “d” words), 15 strong profanities (mostly “GD” words). This is from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. (2)
Example #3: Close to 40 f-words. A dozen s-words. “D‑‑n,” “a‑‑” and “h‑‑‑” pop up. God’s and Jesus’ names are each misused about a half-dozen times. (God’s is combined once with “d‑‑n.”). This is from the movie ParanormalActivity. (1)
Example #4: From partial nudity to explicit dialogue, Desperate Housewives takes such an in-your-face approach to sex that sponsors including Lowe’s, Tyson Foods and Kellogg’s have chosen to spend their ad dollars elsewhere. Do I need to say more?
Example #5: Off-color language, heavy drinking and sexual horseplay. Crass sexual permissiveness, profanities and a lesbian subplot. This is off the TV show Two and a Half Men.
Example #6: More than a dozen f-words and half-a-dozen s-words. God’s name is paired with “d‑‑n.” “B‑‑ch,” “b‑‑tard” and “h‑‑‑” are said. This is from the movie The Book of Eli. (1)
I have only shown a few movies and TV shows here but there are many more. CSI is a big one that I hear is frequently watched by Christians. Can you actually watch this show then go have your nightly Bible study or go to church the next morning?
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23
Christians, we must test all things according to the Bible and the Holy Spirit and this includes what we watch on TV, the movies and on the internet. We must put on the full armor of God so we can combat our enemy because he tries to entangle us in the things of this world. The temptations are there but God commands us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. By faithful prayer and Bible study will we be able to overcome the enemy. James 4:4 tells us that the friend of the world is the enemy with God. Whose side are you on?
Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15
Click HERE for movie, TV and video game review resources.
3. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124793/this-christmas-78-americans-identify-christian.aspx
Jesus and Tiger and Buddha, Oh My!
“I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith,” Hume said. “So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.’ “
By now we have all heard or read the above statement made by Britt Hume concerning Tiger Woods and Buddhism. We all know by now how the legendary golfer has been living his life outside of his marriage. I find it to be revealing how so many sports stars and Hollywood celebrities who appear in the material sense to “have it all” but never seemed to be satisfied with it all. How can this be? Take Tiger Woods for example. By the world’s definition, Tiger had it all. He was the first sports figure to make a billion dollars. He was married to Elin Nordegren a former Swedish model and he was blessed with two children. On the surface what more could a man want. What drives these super stars to suicide? What leads these celebrities to nervous breakdowns and drug overdoses? Most of these “stars” hold on to Buddhism, Atheism, Scientology and other types of religion rather than Christianity but never seem satisfied. Is it coincidence?
In Buddhism the main objective is to achieve enlightenment which can be found by following a noble eightfold path that is similar to a portion of the Ten Commandments. This eightfold path if kept would be a noble effort on one’s part. The instruments that are used to attain this enlightenment are through the mind and body. Many religions including Buddhism teach that enlightenment and wisdom can be found through disciplining the mind and the body through meditation and concentration. This is their first mistake. They attempt to acquire a higher level of righteousness through their own self. As we watch on the news every day, you would have to agree that this method is an utter failure.
Mankind attempts to get by without adhering to God’s moral principles. By acknowledging that there is a God makes that person accountable to God’s morality. Denying God through direct accusation or indirectly by applying false teachings to their lives does not alleviate them of their accountability to Him in the end. Once they deny God then they turn to worshiping their self rather than the Deity that created them. This just continues the decadent cycle. Look how bad it has been since Adam and Eve thought they were equal to God and chose their own way rather than His. As we look back over the centuries we see that man when left to his own desires is full of every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.
So can man achieve goodness through himself? Is it really possible? Jesus said that out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness and blasphemies. Does this sound like a condition that can be changed through meditation, chants and rubbing beads? The Bible tells us that there is no one righteous, no one that does good and no one that seeks after God. We are inexcusable in God’s eyes. We need someone outside of ourselves to save us from ourselves. Serving self leads to destruction and misery. The way of peace can never be found by our own means and achievements.
Only Jesus Christ can offer forgiveness and redemption. Only He can change a man’s wicked heart. Why? Because He was a man that was sinless but He bore our sins on the cross so that we could become righteous. We can become a new creature in Christ through repentance of our sins and belief and trust in only Him. It is then can we start with the help of the Holy Spirit to repair and rebuild the damage that has been done to our lives that were lived to served self rather than God. Tiger may never get his marriage or reputation back, but if he takes Britt Hume’s advice he may with a sincere heart find the real path to everlasting life.
Baby connected by umbilical cord left to die, Mother not charged
This is a mind-blowing incident but no one should be surprised that it happened. The action’s of this woman are unacceptable in this case but a “doctor” can viciously rip the unborn from the womb and it’s not a problem to the “pro-choice” person. Anyone that supports abortion rights is forced into a corner on this one. Until we establish here in our society that every unborn person is a life, murder will continue to be condoned and justified. It goes on now over 3,000 times a day here in the United States, “legally”. May God wash away the blood of the innocent from our hands. I have to ask myself, what more can I do to protect life? What more can you do? What more can our churches do? Pray that pro-life Americans will rise up and defend the life of the unborn.
RELATED NEWS:
Mother won’t be charged with baby’s death VIDEO
What about the rights of the unborn?
What about the rights of the unborn?
The headlines have been full this year with complaints of “rights” being infringed upon. It’s amazing to me how certain groups in our society will rise up with pity to protest perceived “cruel and unusual punishment”, “racism”, or “gay-rights” violations, but are deathly silent when barbaric acts of abortion are being inflicted upon thousands of humans on a daily basis. How can America justify this type of torture?
If a lack of awareness is the reason for this justification, let me describe some of the abortion methods that are used. The first method is called vacuum aspiration.(1) It is where a hollow plastic tube with a sharp tip is inserted into the uterus with an aspirator attached that tears the body of the baby apart and suctions the pieces through the tube. Another method is a Dilation and Evacuation (2), where forceps are used to forcibly dismember the baby and the pieces are removed one by one. When the skull is too big it is crushed in order to pass through the birth canal.
Over 1.2 million abortion procedures were performed in 2005. (3) That is over 3,000 abortions per day. Can you imagine the outrage if these medical procedures were attempted on somebody that is gay or a minority? Would we see interventions from our Governor and the federal courts? Would we get a call from the ACLU to end this uncivilized process? You bet! When will the rights of the unborn child be recognized here in America?
Letter to the Editor
Portsmouth Daily Times
Leave your comments below.
Align yourself with God, not politicians
How many letters to the editor do we have to see time and time again placing the name of Christ along beside their distorted political agendas —praising Obama for his glorious efforts to save America. Barrack Obama takes Christ’s name in vain every time he opens his mouth. By claiming to be a “Christian” as so many do (who are not, according to the Bible), people assume his actions are believed to be acceptable in the Word of God. Yet he denies Christ as the only way to Heaven (John 14:6) trying to bring all faiths together (serving Buddha is not gonna get you in). He continually makes time to praise all faiths and their spiritual celebrations yet has not stepped foot inside a house of God he claims to serve since becoming president.
As for his issues on national health care (covetousness) taking from the rich and giving to the needy, sorry folks Robin Hood was not an apostle of Christ. While it is our “duty” to help the poor, taking without asking is not acceptable by God. If you have convictions over other government-controlled programs and don’t think they line up with the commandments of God, either don’t use them or fight against them. Using evil to justify evil does not make it okay.
Abortion, Obama is the most pro-murder of infants president to ever be in office, Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.” Some will say he is not the pastor of America, he is the president, as Obama has already said in his run for senator against Alan Keys. James 4:4 “. . . the friendship of the world is enmity (hatred) with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” We are so easy to put our trust in a man (Obama) who prostitutes the name of God out only when it suits his needs as many of so-called Christians do. You cannot serve God and be a friend to the world, not “my words” folks that is from the Word of God. The one you and Obama claim to serve. If your life aligns itself this way, you are God’s enemy. There is no such thing as a liberal (carnal) Christian, you are lying to yourself.
Global warming, there is going to be global warming; the Word of God assures us of that (Rev. 20:9). Matthew 25:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass way, but my words shall not pass way.” Stop looking to men and government to satisfy your life here, look to scriptures and the ways of him who created you for he will be your judge. Barrack Obama is “not” a Christian, he does not serve God faithfully. Why do you think he will serve you? If you want to support Barrack then do so, but do not try to align God and the evilness of man together. Check yourself, compare yourself with scriptures. Are you serving the god you want or the God who is?
by Eddie Combs
