Category: Life in America

The Voting Booth has become a Confessional Booth for every believer. Our “secret ballot” is not hidden from God.

quinersdiner's avatarA Heapin' Plate of Conservative Politics & Religion

By Tom Quiner

The Catholic vote may decide this election.

Catholics swung to Obama decisively four years ago. A Pew poll shows they’ve swung decisively back toward Republicans nationally. Their party platform has generated a strong rebuke from Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Springfield, Illinois diocese. He talked about the whole “God” controversy and His original exclusion from their platform:

“After outcries of protest from outside as well as within the Democratic Party, the sentence with the same reference to God used in 2008 was restored to read, “We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.”

Before anyone relaxes and concludes that all is well now that the Democratic Party Platform contains a single passing reference to God, the way that this was done should…

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Billy Graham: The Sin of Tolerance

The Sin of Tolerance

CHRISTIANS MUST BE AWARE OF COMPROMISE

October 1, 2012 – In some things Christ was the most tolerant, broad-minded Man who ever lived, but in other things He was one of the most intolerant

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it ~ Matthew 7:14

Billy Graham

by Billy Graham

At home and abroad, the American people plead for broad-mindedness, tolerance and charity. Abroad, our ambassadors use all of their powers to influence warring parties to come to the conference table in a spirit of give-and-take. There is a sense in which the world needs broad-mindedness and tolerance.

However, in the realm of Christian experience there is a need for intolerance. In some things Christ was the most tolerant, broad-minded Man who ever lived, but in other things He was one of the most intolerant.

Tolerance Can Become Too Stretched

One of the pet words of this age is tolerance. It is a good word, but we have tried to stretch it over too great an area. We have applied it, too often, where it does not belong. The word tolerant means liberal and broad-minded. In one sense, it implies the compromise of one’s convictions, a yielding of ground upon important issues.

We have become tolerant about divorce, the use of alcohol, delinquency, wickedness in high places, immorality, crime and godlessness. We have been sapped of conviction, drained of our beliefs, and we are bereft of our faith.

The sciences, however, are narrow-minded. Continue reading “Billy Graham: The Sin of Tolerance” →

Co-Dependent Nation: Living in I Can’t Say No Land

Peanut Gallery: Public Catholic, once again, shines the light on a growing American problem – National Co-Dependency. Rebecca Hamilton takes the discussion beyond our embarrassing family members into the public square of national politics:

Codependence has insinuated itself into the fabric of our society. Co-dependent standards have become our society’s measure for judging human behavior and even public policy. They determine our way of thinking, reacting, and interacting….

This ubiquitous societal codependence adds the burden of willful intellectual blindness to anyone who tries to help or heal the fallen people of this world. We become so confused that we don’t know and can’t react when people are using us and our kindness in a callous manner with no intention of reforming. We are prisoners of our own good intentions, unable to judge, discern, or react in intelligent ways. We can’t set limits, have been shorn of the language to express our concerns, and feel guilty about protecting ourselves from abuse and mistreatment. We are co-dependent.

Her solution? Turn to Jesus –

Codependence enforcers are fond of quoting the words of Jesus to the woman taken in adultery, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” They use this verse as a club to guilt Christians into joining them on the co-dependent band wagon that masquerades as love and tolerance. What they leave out is that Jesus also said, “Go, and sin no more.” He didn’t stone the woman caught in adultery. He didn’t condemn her. In fact He expressly said that He didn’t condemn her. But He didn’t pretend that she hadn’t done anything wrong. He didn’t cite her poverty or even the rank misogyny of the men who were trying to stone her as excuses for what she had done. “Go. And sin no more.” he said. “Sin no more.”

Please read the full article on the link provided here – or in the re-blog below –

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Co-Dependent Nation: Living in I Can’t Say No Land

October 2, 2012 By Rebecca Hamilton 30 Comments

Raise your hand if you have a family member or friend with drug or alcohol problems.

Are your hands at your side? If they are, think carefully.

What about that cousin no one talks about? Continue reading “Co-Dependent Nation: Living in I Can’t Say No Land” →

Assemblies of God Launches ‘7:14 Prayer Initiative’ Ahead of Presidential Election

Assemblies of God Launches ‘7:14 Prayer Initiative’ Ahead of Presidential Election

Cornerstone Church of Madison, Tenn., an Assemblies of God congregation, is pictured here.

By Alex Murashko, Christian Post Reporter

September 30, 2012|10:20 am

Leaders at Assemblies of God USA, one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the nation, say the country is facing a time of crisis like no other and are asking Christians to join them in a “7:14 Prayer Initiative” (based on 2 Chronicles 7:14) beginning today (Sept. 30) and continuing through the presidential election.

“Our nation faces unprecedented crises,” said Superintendent George O. Wood in a video message posted on the AG website. “Let’s not misuse our freedom by failing to vote on Election Day. Jesus called the Church to be salt and light in the world, and one of the ways to do this is by voting.”

Wood encourages Christians to “prayerfully and carefully” consider the candidates and issues in the November elections. He urges Christians to “bring biblical and moral values to bear on the pressing concerns of our day, including abortion, unemployment, gay marriage, education, religious freedom, war and other issues,” AG leaders stated.

Christians are also encouraged to set aside a few minutes each day to pray for the nation and its leaders. Continue reading “Assemblies of God Launches ‘7:14 Prayer Initiative’ Ahead of Presidential Election” →

Morning Prayer w/ John Michael Talbot

“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.” Psalm 95.6-7 NLT