Thoughts on the new Pope: The Reformation happened for a reason. Actually, 95 of them, and they are still valid reasons to avoid the Catholic church. I deeply respect their positions on abortion, real marriage and various other topics, and I think that many Catholics are indeed saved — but in spite of what Rome teaches on sanctification, Mary and other topics, not because of what they teach on them.
Having said that, I like the conservative stances of the new Pope, and his humility in how he lives. It is always good to see the Leftists in full pants-wetting mode over the fact that the head of the Catholic religion actually believes what the Catholic religion teaches. How dare the Catholic leaders ignore the desires of those who oppose everything the leaders stand for?
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More from the Nanny State: Lots of unintended consequences from the “ban” on large sodas (because people will never find a way around that, right?! Everyone knows that Prohibition was a great success with no negative side effects.) — Nanny Bloomberg’s Big Sugary Drinks To Cause Problems With Coffee Shops. It is a good thing that New York has solved all its other problems, such as how Eighty Percent of NYC High School Grads Lack Basic Reading Skills or how more than have of its black babies are killed in the womb.
Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s will no longer add sugar at all. Dunkin’ is handing out fliers explaining what’s going on and have trained their workers to explain it all to customers. Some independent coffee shops have simply eliminated drinks above 16 ounces. There’s lots of confusion and angst. Starbucks is waiting for the result of the lawsuit filed against the city.
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Canadian Supreme Court Ruling Has Implications for Christian Witness – coming soon to a country near you. As always, the truth sounds like hate to those that hate the truth.
The ruling also states that suppression of “hate speech”—such as claiming that homosexual behavior is immoral—is so important that it justifies infringing on religious freedom and provides a basis for a “reasonable limit on freedom of religion and is demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” The court also explained that truth was no defense since “Truthful statements can be presented in a manner that would meet the definition of hate speech, and not all truthful statements must be free from restriction.”
This standard is then used to justify a draconian standard of censorship: If, despite the context of the entire publication, even one phrase or sentence is found to bring the publication, as a whole, in contravention of the Code, this precludes its publication in its current form.
. . . If criticism of homosexual behavior is construed as criticism of homosexuals then a “simple reading” of the Lev. 18 and context clearly shows that the passage “could objectively be viewed as hate speech.” While Canada’s Supreme Court justices may not understand what is in the “holy text” used by Christians, homosexual rights activists certainly do—and they will expect the legal system to consistently apply the logic of the Court’s ruling.
Equally troubling is that Christian ministers who condemn homosexual behavior can be subject to hate crime prosecution. Canada’s Supreme Court has determined that speaking out against destructive homosexual behaviors could be construed as vilification of homosexuals and therefore is prohibited in most circumstances. This is a radical standard that could severely hamper Christian witness.
Although Jesus said “the truth will set you free,” in Canada speaking the same truths proclaimed in God’s Word could potentially land Christians in jail.
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What should we do when we visit the sick? Click the link for more.
In summary, then, Calvin encourages all Christians, and especially ministers, to keep several things in mind as they visit the sick.
- People need the gospel more than ever when they are ill.
- Remind the sick from the word of God that God is sovereign over their illness and has sent it for their good.
- If the illness is severe, comfort the sick with the sure knowledge that those who die in the Lord have nothing to fear.
- If the sick consider their sins to be light and trivial, teach them of the justice of God and call them to embrace the mercy of Christ.
- If the sick are afflicted in their consciences, help them find rest in Christ.
- Don’t be afraid to bring some small token of physical relief—books, flowers, balloons, games, movies, a homemade card.
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The Democrats’ war on women continues: Dem: No Need For Guns, Just Tell Men Not To Rape. When Republican’s say things a fraction as inflammatory as that it swings major elections. When Democrats say it, the media yawns.
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The Christian Alert had a write-up of how Richard Dawkins plays the “You only believe that because of where you are born” and the “evidence for God = evidence for unicorns” cards. Ugh. Typical poor reasoning from Dawkins. Using that logic, he’s only an atheist because of where he was born.
And the unicorns / flying tea pot / flying spaghetti monster / etc. argument demonstrates the childishness and lack of seriousness of atheists like him. To claim that the cosmological, teleological, historical, moral, etc. arguments are akin to those is a concession speech to their Romans 1 poster boy rebellion.
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Good news: Arkansas legislature overrides veto, restores “heartbeat” abortion restrictions
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I think I’ve posted this before, but someone passed it along and it is worth re-posting: 10 Questions a Pro-Choice Candidate Is Never Asked by the Media. I would pay lots of money to see all politicians asked those questions, and to have the media force them to answer and not just change the subject.
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Good news that someone didn’t succumb to moral schizophrenia: Surrogate Mom Given $10K to Abort “Imperfect Baby,” Rejects Offer
When it comes to babies who are diagnosed with some sort of fetal abnormality in the womb, the pressure is high from doctors, family members and society to have an abortion. That’s why approximately 90 percent of babies with Down syndrome, for example, become victims of abortion.
When a surrogacy pregnancy is involved, the pressure brought to bear is only intensified.
But one surrogate mother has rejected that pressure — and an offer of $10,000 to have an abortion. Crystal Kelley was offered $10,000 to have an abortion after ultrasounds showed the baby she was carrying for another couple had severe medical problems.
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Courtesy of Right Klik: “If you’re worried about getting killed by a gun, you should be about 5300% more worried about dying of heart disease.”
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A fun way to finish – some of Dan Phillips’ #CheckYourJesus tweets:
If the “Jesus” you worship isn’t too jazzed about every bit of God’s Word, you might want to#CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 5, 2013
If the “Jesus” you worship wants everyone to have his “best life now,” you’d better#CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 6, 2013
If the “Jesus” you worship doesn’t love the church, you’d better #CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 5, 2013
If the “Jesus” you worship says “Love” and you think “Statist bureaucracy confiscating & redistributing wealth,” you should #CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 6, 2013
If your Jesus wouldn’t have cared about the RCC perverting the Gospel and the Word bec they’re pro-life, you should #CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 6, 2013
If your Jesus taught you to call everyone who actually does take His words srsly a “hater” or “self-righteous,” you’d better #CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 6, 2013
If the “Jesus” you worship keeps handing you “God told me” cards without Bible verses on them, you’d better #CheckYourJesus
— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) March 6, 2013
If your “Jesus” is OK with you hating his bride, #CheckYourJesus
— Machel (@trogdor42) March 6, 2013
#checkYourJesus if He doesn’t forgive your sins, but rather justifies them.
— Frank Turk (@Frank_Turk) March 6, 2013
If you claim Christianity but don’t know the gospel #CheckYourJesus
— ❂Captain Morgan ⚓ (@MorganSteelman) March 6, 2013
If your Jesus wants you to pray to his earthly mother, you need to #CheckYourJesus
— Chris Rosebrough (@piratechristian) March 6, 2013
If you think grace can forgive your sin but not mortify it, time to #CheckYourJesus
— Machel (@trogdor42) March 6, 2013
If your “Jesus” has a generous orthodoxy & claims He has followers who are practicing Buddhists, Hindus & Muslims U need to #CheckYourJesus
— Chris Rosebrough (@piratechristian) March 6, 2013
Eternity Matters 
“As always, the truth sounds like hate to those that hate the truth.”
I’ve heard this before, but do you know who it comes from? It’s a very profound statement.
The CNN story on the surrogate mother was simultaneously joyous (that the surrogate mother did not get an abortion) and sickening (at the perverted reasoning and behavior of the biological parents and their lawyers).
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I’m not sure of the origin, other than it wasn’t me. If anyone knows please share!
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Re: the graphic of the Milwaukee police chief. I about threw up reading that.
The entire point of the Second Amendment (as verified by two recent SCOTUS rulings) is to establish that the people have a right to carry weapons for defense and other purposes. We either respect this right in the USA, or we allow people to do so with the government’s position, as this police chief dares suggest.
I wonder how he would like being wrestled onto the sidewalk, cuffed, disarmed, and then someone else abusing their authority by issuing some arbitrary diktat on whether they’re allowed to defend themselves. To me, this is the very sort of abuse our Founders feared. Wasn’t that in turn the whole point of the Second Amendment? As one guy said, it ain’t about duck hunting.
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Gah! Let me try that again…
The entire point of the Second Amendment (as verified by two recent SCOTUS rulings) is to establish that the people have a right to carry weapons for defense and other purposes. We either respect this right in the USA, or we allow people to do so with the government’s permission, as this police chief dares suggest.
I wonder how he would like being wrestled onto the sidewalk, cuffed, disarmed, and then subject to someone else’s abuse of authority and arbitrary diktat on whether he is allowed to defend himself. To me, this is the very sort of abuse our Founders feared. Wasn’t that the whole point of the Second Amendment?
As one guy said, it ain’t about duck hunting.
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