Did you know?

That the Southern Baptist Convention has provided disaster relief in multiple areas of the world and in our own backyard, here are a few realities

 

2008 Activity Report

Volunteer Days	118,951
Meals Prepared	7,914,391
Mudout Jobs	2,647
Chainsaw Jobs	9,289
Repair Jobs	243
Roofing Jobs	295
Children Cared For	1176
Showers	90,497
Laundry Loads	33,775
Water (Gallons)	247,113
Messages Sent	2,152
Chaplaincy Contacts	9,714
Professions of Faith	448
Gospel Presntations	3,487
Other Decisions	61
Ministry Contacts	20,925

A disappearing occurance

Bold preaching in public squares are becoming a thing of the past. I thank God for men like these who call our nation to repentance.

Rick Boucher – Out of Touch

I’ll include the entire email regarding this meeting with Rick Boucher and his belief in the murder of the pre-born. I know the men involved with this program, Fighting for Life in the Ninth, and they are all men of integrity and humility.

Reflections on the Meeting with

Congressman Boucher

As many of you are aware, we were able to secure a meeting with Congressman Rick Boucher this past Tuesday (May 26, 2009). The nature of the meeting was primarily to address the issue of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and the congressman's support of this bill. Unfortunately, the meeting did not go as we had hoped. Mr. Boucher was very clear as it pertained to his stance on the abortion issue. Sadly, it is a stance that a godly minded individual cannot support. He made it abundantly clear that he is a pro-abortion congressman and one that is committed to upholding and defending the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade (the 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States).  He gave no denials as to his 100% pro-abortion voting record and also offered no apologies for it. This is something we deeply regret. The Scriptures clearly define life as beginning at the moment of conception (Exo. 21:22-23; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41, as well as others). Aborti on then is the taking of life after it has begun.  This is a position that the congressman made clear he will not accept.

In all actuality, Mr. Boucher did not really want to address the abortion issue at all, but rather his attention was on one aspect of FOCA. It has been the contention of Fighting for Life in the 9^th(FFL9) that one of the risks of FOCA is that it could potentially open the door for lawsuits to be filed against hospitals and health care workers that refuse to perform abortion services. Mr. Boucher expressed that he opposes and would oppose such measures and was concerned that he had been misrepresented on this particular point. It is not the goal of FFL9 to misrepresent anyone. Where we regret that Mr. Boucher feels this way we do not believe this has been the case. Mr. Boucher acknowledged that FOCA needed more specific language in order to protect health care workers and hospitals. Where we respect and agree with the congressman's position that federal funding should not be cut from those who refuse abortion services, one has to wonder if there is no risk for such happening if FOCA were to be passed (as the congressman asserted early in the meeting), why then is there a need for more specific language? If there is more specific language needed, does that not imply then that the potential is therefor such consequences?

In addition, the congressman attempted to lead us to believe that FFL9 is the only group making such an assertion as to the implications of FOCA. This is not true. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has also been very outspoken on this very issue. This is significant because not only has the USCCB performed extensive legal analysis but it also expresses the official view of the Catholic Church (something the congressman expressed was different from FFL9's interpretation of FOCA). Notice the following statement: "The combined impact of these various provisions is likely the invalidation of a broad range of state laws if challenged under FOCA, including. . .laws protecting the conscience rights of doctors, nurses and hospitals, if those create even minimal delay or inconvenience in obtaining an abortion or treat abortion differently than other medical procedures" (http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/ FOCA/analysis.pdf).  Clearly, FFL9 i s not the only group concerned about FOCA's potential consequences.

This issue on health care workers and hospitals was the main thrust of the meeting due to the fact that the congressman was uninterested in having serious dialogue on abortion itself. We regret that more time could not be spent on this issue in particular. Again, it is not the goal of FFL9 to misrepresent anyone, only to present the facts as we (and others) understand them. I hope that through our conversation we have motivated the congressman to take steps to provide protection for health care workers and hospitals, but we would still oppose FOCA. The godly minded individual must oppose any measure that would further and expand abortions in this nation (which is what FOCA will do if re-introduced and passed).

Certainly, we wish the meeting would have gone differently but the battle is not lost. We must keep pressing forward.  It is clear where Congressman Boucher stands and that he needs to be reminded that he is to represent the views of the 9^th district of Virginia, not his own personal feelings. As Americans we are guaranteed by our Constitution the right to hold an opinion; however, it is the opinion of the Almighty God that matters most. It is His will that we must strive to keep promoting in an age of godlessness. It does seem at times that we are fighting an uphill battle, but let us be motivated by the words of the great Apostle Paul when he wrote: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal.6:9).

Another reason that Rick Boucher does not deserve to represent the Ninth District of Virginia. The only reason why he continues to do so is that he is in the back pocket of Cecil “I Own Rick Boucher” Roberts and the UMWA. These creeps only care about lining their own pockets, not the hard working men and women they purport to represent. Shame on you Rick Boucher, shame on you indeed for believing in the murder of innocent life.

The Erwins – Come Join the Family

NOTE: Yes, Brother Dennis is playing a right-handed guitar, left handed. How he does it, I’ll never know.

 

This family is currently holding revival services at Rosedale Baptist Church, my home church. I’ve known the Erwins for almost ten years. There’s nothing like that good old family harmony.

Barna: Libs vs. Cons in matters of Faith

This will come as little surprise to anyone, but a recent survey showed a significant difference in practice and concept in matters of faith between liberals and conservatives.  I’ll highlight a few important points.

 

Based upon an evaluation of more than a dozen religious beliefs of liberals and conservatives, consistent and significant differences are evident. Liberals are less than half as likely as conservatives to firmly believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches (27% versus 63%, respectively); to strongly believe that Satan is real (17% versus 36%); and to firmly contend that they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others (23% versus 48%).

The saying goes, there are lies, damned lies and statistics. However, this general conclusion seems to be fairly accurate as we see social values that used to be put into practice on a daily basis by Christians are being overwhelmed by the liberal mindset.

 

The Religious Practices of Liberals and Conservatives

The Barna study examined five specific religious practices and found that conservatives were more likely than liberals to engage in all five. In a typical week, the survey showed that conservatives were more likely than liberals to:

• read the Bible, other than at church events, during the past week (57% vs. 33%, respectively)
• attend a religious service during the past week (62% vs. 35%)
• pray to God, other than at a religious service, during the past week (91% vs. 76%)
• share their religious beliefs with others, during the past year (56% vs. 39%, among the born again Christians interviewed from each segment)
• have ever participated in a short-term missions trip, either within the U.S. or in another country (12% vs. 6%)

The research also revealed that liberals are twice as likely as conservatives to be categorized as “unchurched” (40% vs. 19%, respectively), while conservatives were twice as likely as liberals to be categorized as having an “active faith” (45% vs. 21%, respectively, defined as having read the Bible, attended a religious service and prayed to God during the past week).

I believe that when the rubber meets the road and its time to put up or shut up, liberals are just not as religiously inclined as conservatives are. This includes personal beliefs and in the practice of said religion. According to the survey something extraordinary occurs.

 

“Liberals appear to place a greater emphasis upon self-reliance and what they personally accomplish than upon faith alone or intense participation in a community of faith,” Barna explained. “They also seem less inclined to trust the Bible as a moral authority or source of truth, and have less involvement in some type of personal relationship with their god.”

When listening to the typical liberal rhetoric, they claim it is all about community when in fact, they appear to be the most selfish among us. A Biblically based and practiced Christianity is THE prime of example of community in our nation. My personal experience has been that when liberals talk about community, they are more inclined to talk about labor unions, left collectivism and so-called community co-ops.  My suggestion? Come to church on Sunday morning and see real community in action.