We (US) Kill Our Babies and Baby Our Killers

Yesterday (September 28th), there was congressional testimony from the CEO of Planned Parenthood that the undercover videos were “doctored” by a pro-life group.  The media chatter throughout the day largely focused on a woman’s right to have an abortion and the selling of baby body parts for research. 

At the end of the day, the State of Georgia executed the mother of three who murdered her husband in 1997.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday morning that Pope Francis, back in Rome after a 6-day visit to the United States, sent a letter through a representative, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, stating, “While not wishing to minimize the gravity of the crime for which Ms. Gissendander has been convicted, and while sympathizing with the victims, I nonetheless implore you, in consideration of the reasons that have been expressed to your board [Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles], to commute the sentence to one that would better express both justice and mercy.”

It’s fascinating to me that we kill our babies and baby our killers.

Let’s be clear about the sanctity of human life.  The Bible clearly says that capital punishment is right and that all are born in the image of God.  Furthermore, the Word says woe to those who call good evil and evil good.

I’m not the least bit surprised that those who speak the loudest in favor of abortion (along with infanticide and euthanasia) are people who are usually most opposed to capital punishment.  In short, they are willing to kill the innocent (babies), but they are not willing to kill those found guilty (on death-row) without a reasonable doubt.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

One State Pushes to Nullify SCOTUS Gay Marriage Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has no power to impose gay ‘marriage’ on the states … according to a new measure introduced by Tennessee legislators that would ignore the court’s decision.

The Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act states that in the state of Tennessee, marriage is between one man and one woman, “regardless of any court decision to the contrary.”

The bill would make a law that “any court decision purporting to strike down natural marriage, including Obergefell v. Hodges, is un-authoritative, void, and of no effect.”

Two Wilson County lawmakers — State Sen. Mae Beavers of Mt. Juliet and Rep. Mark Pody of Lebanon (both Republicans) — unveiled the bill at a rally at the state capitol before hundreds of cheering voters.  “The Obergefell case is clearly and blatantly an over-step of the Supreme Court’s authority,” said Sen. Beavers.  The legislators also quoted Thomas Jefferson, who said, “Whenever the general government assumes un-delegated powers, its acts are un-authoritative, void, and of no force.”  “It is time that states like Tennessee stand up against the judicial tyranny of which Thomas Jefferson so eloquently warned,” said Rep. Pody.  “This decision defies constitutional authority, and is one of the most glaring examples of judicial activism in U.S. Supreme Court history.”

I’m not privy to knowing the motivation behind this legislation, but I do know that the opinion of five justices … in a clearly split decision … ought not overrule the dominion of states that issue marriage licenses or the will of ‘we the people.’  

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Religious Accommodation Granted to Ft Hood Shooter, But Not to a County Clerk

Just days prior to the Republican debate, Gov. Mike Huckabee held a rally for the Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis who was jailed for 6-days for refusing to issue gay marriage licenses in the wake of the Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision (Obergefell v. Hodges) back in June.  Chief Washington Correspondent and anchor of a CNN weekday news show, asked Huckabee on the stage of that debate, “You’ve called what happened to Kim Davis, that clerk, an example of the criminalization of Christianity.  There are several people on the stage who disagree with you.  Gov. [Jeb] Bush, for example, says that clerk was sworn to uphold the law.  Is Gov. Bush on the wrong side of the criminalization of Christianity?”

Huckabee quickly dismissed the opening to attack Bush and instead transitioned to an answer about SCOTUS overreaching.  “I am here to fight for somebody who’s a county clerk,” Huckabee said, “elected under the Kentucky Constitution that 75% of the people of that state had voted for that said marriage was between a man and a woman.”  “The Supreme Court,” he continued, “decided out of thin air that they were just gonna redefine marriage … I thought everyone here passed ninth grade civics.  The courts cannot legislate.”  “If the Court can just make a decision and we just all surrender to it we have what Jefferson said was judicial tyranny,” Huckabee said, as Tapper tried to cut him off.

Huckabee wrapped up by pointing out that the U.S. made an accommodation to the Fort Hood shooter by letting him grow a beard.  “We made accommodation to the detainees at Gitmo,” he continued, “to the Muslim detainees who killed Americans.  You’re telling me that you cannot make an accommodation for an elected Democrat county clerk from Rowan County, Kentucky?  What else is it other than the criminalization of her faith and the exultation of the faith of everyone else who might be a Fort Hood shooter or a detainee at Gitmo?”

Huckabee has a valid point.  It prompts me to ask: Why are we so quick to accommodate Muslims with prayer rooms in schools and airports; bathing facilities for taxi drivers; and the practice of Shariah law within the United States?  While Christians in the military can’t post a Bible verse alongside their computer or have the Holy Scriptures on their desk; athletic teams can’t huddle for prayer before or after the game; and public squares can’t have a manger scene at Christmas time?  There is no other explanation then the criminalization of Christianity.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Office Depot Retracts Their Charge of ‘Hate Speech’ by a Christian Woman

The CEO of Office Depot has apologized after an Illinois store refused to print religious flyers for a customer.  Maria Goldstein wanted to print flyers about a prayer meeting … including a call to pray for Planned Parenthood (PP).  The flyer included facts about abortion and PP’s role in providing the majority of abortions in America.  It also called for an end to abortion in America and for PP workers to become Christians.

Goldstein says the handout is part of a week-long prayer and fasting campaign that aims to change opinions on abortion.  “The intention of the prayer is to ask for conversion; the conversion of the staff, employees, everybody who is part of this at Planned Parenthood,” she said.  “It means they will recognize life has dignity and that it is valuable and not a commodity to be bought and sold.”

Office Depot (corporate) originally said the flyers are “hate speech” and stood by the store’s refusal to print them.

So Goldstein connected with the Thomas More Society for legal aid.  The group’s attorney, Tom Olp, says this case serves as an important reminder for all Americans.  “We are grateful that Office Depot has apologized for discriminating against Maria Goldstein based on the content of her flyers. This situation is a reminder that religious liberty is increasingly under attack today, but it is a fundamental American right that every one of us should value and defend,” he said.

In a press release, Goldstein thanked the Thomas More Society for protecting her rights as a Christian.  “I hope other people are empowered to stand up for their religious freedom, as well,” she said.

What are you standing for? … for you surely stand for something.  Do you take a stand for religious freedom and freedom of speech (press); or do you stand for the muzzling of those whom you judge as intolerant?  What is your form of measuring ‘right belief’? 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Governor Issues Order That May Close All Three of S.C.’s Abortion Facilities

All three of South Carolina’s abortion facilities have violated state law, and Gov. Nikki Haley has issued an order that could shortly close two of them; and their managers and employees may face criminal charges.

Gov. Haley recently announced that she had issued Administrative Order of Suspensions against Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic in Columbia and Greenville Women's Clinic in Greenville and assessed more than $10,000 in fines so far.

The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control found 27-violations in those two offices — 21 at Planned Parenthood (PP) alone.

PP was found to have violated the Woman’s Right to Know Act 5-times, failed to prove that its staff was properly trained, kept expired medication on the premises, wrongly disposed of infectious material, and failed to report abortions to the state in a timely manner.

Greenville violated many of the same statues by failing to comply with the Woman’s Right to Know Act, keeping incomplete records, and improperly disposing of infectious waste.

All three abortion facilities in the state were found to have violated state law in the way it disposed of aborted fetuses.  State law requires that aborted babies must be buried or cremated.  But inspectors found that the babies were blasted with steam for sterilization purposes then thrown away in the local landfill.

PP’s Columbia location must pay a $7,000 fine, and Greenville must pay $2,750.

The third facility, Women’s Medical Center in Charleston, was found to have had record keeping issues.  It must submit a plan to correct reporting errors within 15-days.

Gov. Haley said the Center for Medical Progress’ undercover “videos showing Planned Parenthood employees’ horrifying disregard for human life” had “prompted” her to demand the investigation on August 18.  Investigations that took place between August 31 and September 4 “concluded that all three abortion clinics in the state are in fact in violation of South Carolina laws or regulations.”  “This is completely unacceptable,” she said.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Non-Profit Planned Parenthood Spend’in Big-Bucks on Dems, and Not a Cent on GOP

Any moral individual who has seen the undercover videos from the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) exposing the inhuman practices of Planned Parenthood (PP) would have to agree that PP should not be selling aborted baby body parts.  It would seem a ‘no brainer’ that our federal tax dollars should cease to be provided to PP or withheld until thoroughly investigated.  The Republican majority ruling the House of Representatives wants to defund PP, but the House and Senate Democrats will not support it, and President Obama has already announced that he will veto any such measure bought before him.

Now the Democrats would lead you to believe that they maintain support of PP because it provides for women’s health care needs; that this non-profit is filling a vital necessity of women that no other organization is fulfilling.  Not true; not even close!

Well, perhaps this is the real reason why the Democratic lawmakers will not defund PP: It’s because they are so beholden to the nation’s largest abortion giant.  PP and its affiliates have spent nearly $5- million to promote Democratic lawmakers in election ads in 2014.

The Washington Examiner reports: Additionally, PP has contributed $679,596 directly to federal candidates, $676,885 of that to Democrats, in 2014.  PP was in the top 10% of nearly 200 outside expenditure groups in 2014, and the analysis shows that the abortion giant spent $0 on ads attacking Democratic candidates.

In the 2014 federal elections, a landslide year for Republicans, PP spent nearly $3-million in ads attacking Republican candidates and an additional $1.8-million in ads promoting Democrats.  The Examiner analyzed this election data as obtained by Open Secrets from the Federal Elections Committee on March 9, 2015.

And in return, of course, PP receives hundreds of millions in taxpayer money.  And this is from a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.  Can you imagine the outcries if the tax-deductible church dollars were so politically involved.  How long would it be until the IRS came knocking at the church door?  But typical of the liberals, the ‘rule of law’ doesn’t apply to them!

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Penalty of Death to Anyone Praying Aloud to Jesus

The Islamic State (IS) has issued a “safety contract” for Christians living in Qaryatian, Syria.  It’s comprised of 11 specific commandments, including one which prohibits praying out loud to Jesus Christ under penalty of death.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Christians in the captured town will have to pay the jizyah or jizya tax imposed on non-Muslims, in addition to the other commandments issued by the extremist group’s leader – Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.  The watchdog group listed the 11 stipulations, which prohibit: the establishment of churches, the displaying of crosses, making Muslims hear Christian prayers or rituals of worship, the hiding of spies, offending Islamic religious beliefs, the carrying of weapons, the sale of pork or wine to Muslims, and failing to dress modestly.  The list of rules concluded, “If they comply with these conditions, so they have are safe in their lands, money and souls, and they are not going to pay one-tenth except they bring money to trade from outside the IS territories not oppressor nor oppressed.  None of them is going to be punished under a sin committed by another else of them.  In case they violate the conditions of this writ, then ‘Islamic State’ is going to deal with them as they deal with people of war (warriors).”

The Assyrian Christian community has faced heavy persecution from ISIS in recent months, as the jihadist group is known for killing those who do not swear allegiance to its particular brand of Islamic extremism.

As reported by the Gospel Herald, the jihadist group captured Qaryatain after heavy combat with the Syrian army in early August.  At least 230-people were kidnapped amid the fighting, including numerous Christians who were seeking refuge in a church.  The town is thought to have a mixed population of around 40,000-people, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, as well as thousands of people who have fled fighting elsewhere in the country, the BBC notes.

Speaking to the International Business Times, Nahren Anweya, an Assyrian-American activist, said that the extremist group is seeking to suppress any Christian presence in the region.  “Our entire ancestral homelands have been completely taken and now they won’t even allow us to sustain our religious faith in one God and his son Jesus Christ,” Anweya said.  “We have been purged out of Mosul, Nineveh, Khabour, Hassaka, Qaryatian and many more ancestral Assyrian homelands.  They took our native homelands, our girls, our churches and now they want the few lives we have left.”

At least 450,000 of Syria’s pre-2011 Christian population of 1.17-million are either internally displaced or living as refugees abroad, the Catholic Herald reports.

Earlier this week, a senior Catholic leader in Syria encouraged Syrian Christians to stay in the war-torn country despite the persecution they continually face, warning that Christianity is disappearing from the region.  “Given this tsunami of emigration ... what future is left for the Church?  What will become of our homeland?  What will become of our parishes and institutions?” said Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III in an open letter.  “Despite all your suffering, stay!  Be patient!  Don’t emigrate!  Stay for the Church, your homeland, for Syria and its future!  Stay!  Do stay.”

Fellow Christians: As you go into your church this coming Sunday without a threat, take a seat in ‘your pew’ where you’ve traditional sat for years, listen to a sermon that fills the air with nothing that convicts the heart of your personal shortcomings, and contemplate your ‘to do’ list or how you’re going to spent the balance of ‘the Lord’s Day’ – take a moment to think (even pray) about your persecuted brothers and sisters of faith in Christ.  And then ask yourself: How long will it be before the likes of IS comes to the U.S. and what am I doing to stop it from happening?

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Rule of Law is Only Sacred if it Advances the Liberal Agenda

David Harsanyi, a senior editor at The Federalist, recently wrote that Kim Davis (a county clerk in KY) was wrong to refuse a same-sex couple a marriage license … because “if you’re unwilling to enforce the law, you shouldn’t be an officer of the state.”  Harsanyi goes on to say, “Davis’ stand isn’t about religious freedom.  Not really.  Signing off on state documents is not tantamount to being forced, as bakers and photographers have been, to participate in a wedding ceremony.  There are certainly bigots out there intent on coercing Christian businesses to choose between their faith and their livelihood; this isn’t one of those instances.  If you want to participate in civil obedience, don’t work for the state.”  Harsanyi concludes, “After all, it’s not a clerk’s job to ascertain the constitutionality or practicality of a law.  If it were, we’d have anarchy.  There are hundreds of other vocations she is free to pursue if this one doesn’t suit her.”

In all due respect, Harsanyi has thrown my Christian sister under the bus … and I’m not going to take it!  This is absolutely about religious liberty.  [read my blog posting of September 4 – “What Comes After County Clerks?  It’s Christian Churches”]  Why should she have to deny her constitutional right to live in accordance with her religious convictions and expect the protection from governmental interference in her free exercise thereof?  Why should she have to walk away from 2-decades of government employment to seek another job?  Where is the state’s responsibility to found Davis a different function of employment or make the changes to the licensing procedure that could have prevented her from going to jail for contempt of court?  This gay couple drove through two other counties that could have (would have) issued their gay-marriage license.  [There are about 125 other marriage clerks in Kentucky.]   She was clearly, undeniably targeted!  Thank goodness, the senseless judge … who order her into federal custody (without bail) … came to realize the error of his ways, and released her after 5-days in the slammer.

This week will be interesting … as Davis returns to her elected position as county clerk with no changes from the way things were before her jailing of last week.  We’ll see what the day brings; but meanwhile there are a few things that are worth contemplating … beginning with the prevailing hypocrisy surrounding the attacks on Davis (a Democrat), and what it tells us about the state of American political debate and policymaking in 2015.  Haven’t you noticed how the rule of law only seems to be sacred when it happens to conveniently fit with liberal values?  In the eyes of liberals, nothing – not the freedom of association or religion or anything else mentioned in the 1st or 2nd Amendment – will ever supersede these consecrated rights: the right not to be ‘discriminated’ against, the right to have an abortion, and the right to have a gay marriage.

When GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio commented that Kentucky should probably respect the beliefs of county clerks, John Podesta, chairman of Hillary for America, tweeted: “SCOTUS says LGBT couples can marry.  Officials should uphold the law.  Period.  What’s next, Professor Rubio?”

What hypocrisy!  Liberals ignore the rule of law by circumventing the legislative process and creating regulatory regimes to battle climate change; people who are here illegally can march in the streets to protest their situation without any genuine fear of being rounded up and deported; cities across this country can ignore immigration laws they don’t like and create sanctuaries from law.  But none of these elected officials have been hauled off to jail for any of these stands.  Yet a Christian struggling to come to terms with the implications of a decision that the U.S. Supreme Court reached only a couple of months ago … and our progressive president embraced only a couple of years ago … is hauled off to jail.

Christians will have no choice but to take more obstinate positions in these battles of the culture war – battles that could easily have been avoided if a judge had exhibited more compassion and come to an accommodation.  If we’re going to be rigid about the rule of law, let’s throw all officials who ignore it into jail cells.  And let it start with President Obama … and work our way down.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Don’t Be Too Quick to Cast Stones at Ashley Madison Adulterers (Part 3 of 3)

This week, my blog postings are sharing Pastor Kell’s ‘lessons learned’ from the false advertising of Ashley Madison.  If you’ve not yet read both Monday and Wednesday’s postings, please do so before reading this final installment.

3. “Life is short.” – Come to Jesus.

This third point brings us back to the truth that Ashley Madison reminded us: life is short. “But the brevity of life should not lead us to pursue fleeting and deceptive escapes,” says Kell.  “Rather, it should bring a sober realization that what we need is not deliverance from the pressures of this life, but we need a Savior.  We need someone to deliver us from the judgment that awaits us all.”

And here we find the truth of the Gospel … that Jesus is the Savior of all sorts of sinners. He did not come for those who have no sin; rather, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)  Jesus came and died on the cross as a substitute for adulterers and liars and religious hypocrites alike.  He then rose from the dead to extend forgiveness to all who will come to Him.  

For those who turn from their sin and believe in Him, He “forgives all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us.” (Colossians 2:13-14)

If you were on the Ashley Madison list, then come to Jesus.  He will forgive you.  Today is the day to turn from your sin and turn to the Savior.

And if you were among the ones wounded by someone on the list, then come to Jesus as well.  He promises that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Or if you are someone on the outside looking in, then come to Jesus.  Events like this serve to remind us all that we too can fall into grave sin (read 1 Corinthians 10:12) and that we must prepare to give an account for our own lives.

As Ashley Madison profited by the truth that “life is short,” they bankrupted those who believed the lie and who gambled that their conduct would never be exposed.  We’ve all fallen for the marketing schemes of the devil and are in need of a Savior – Christ Jesus – who paid the price of all those who accept His gift of redemption.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Don’t Be Too Quick to Cast Stones at Ashley Madison Adulterers (Part 2 of 3)

This week, my blog postings are sharing Pastor Kell’s ‘lessons learned’ from the false advertising of Ashley Madison.  If you’ve not previously read Monday’s posting, please do so before reading this continuation.

2. “Life is short.” – You will be exposed.

The hacking of this website has resulted in a list of adulterers … laid bare for all to see. We know no one expected this to happen … that’s why they used a site that promised anonymity for their adultery.  They assumed, like we all do, that lies can be hidden.

We all think no one will know about that little lie we told; no one will see that internet history we deleted; no one will see the way we judged that person in our heart.

We think that we can hide our sin, but the fact is that eventually “your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23).  And as shocking and devastating as the Ashley Madison unveiling was for those affected, it is merely a foreshadowing of what will happen for all people on one quickly approaching Day.

Jesus promised that “nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17)  That means that EVERY THING that has ever been done, thought, or imagined by every person who has ever lived, will one day be brought out in broad daylight.

The book of Revelation paints a picture of a Day when all things will be exposed … not merely before other sinful people … but before the holy and just God of the universe.  “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it.  From His presence earth and sky fled away … and I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened … and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” (Revelation 20:11-12)  On that Day the list of all lists will be unveiled – date – place – action – motives – lies – cover ups – justifications – etc., etc., etc.  Everything that has ever been done – by you and by me – will be exposed.

Pastor Kell says, “This is why the Ashley Madison exposure is such a blessing in disguise, both for those on the list, and for those on the outside looking in.  It is a warning that one day all of our lists will be exposed, and God will not overlook any evil.  But because He is good, He will bring just and eternal judgment on all people who have sinned.”  (read John 5:26-29)

Be sure to read the last ‘lessons learned’ in my Friday blog posting.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Don’t Be Too Quick to Cast Stones at Ashley Madison Adulterers (Part 1 of 3)

The hacking of the adulterous website – Ashley Madison – is far reaching and devastating.

Their message was clear – “Life is Short. Have An Affair.”  In other words, you don’t have time to waste in a difficult or unsatisfying marriage.  You don’t have time to waste in the boredom of faithful, sacrificial service to your spouse.  You deserve better; you are better; so secretly step out and be satisfied.  Find someone who fits you … and nobody has to know.

Ashley Madison’s offer to arrange a secret fling was apparently popular.  The adultery promoting website boasted of some 38-million anonymous members … before they were outed by some hackers.  The names on the lists are real people.  They have real spouses, real children, and real parents who must now deal with the real and lasting effects.  Tens of millions of lives are now different because of this unveiling of sinful escapades.

Garrett Kell, led pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church (Washington, D.C. metro area), reflected on Ashley Madison’s message in light of what we’ve learned.  He says, “Times like this provide us a unique opportunity to consider the deadly deception of sin.”

This week, my blog postings will share Pastor Kell’s ‘lessons learned’ from the false advertising of Ashley Madison.

1. “Life is short.” – Don’t believe the lie.

The Madison tag line does what all good temptations do … tell you a partial truth.  Life is short.  This is true.  We only have a brief amount of time to get the most out of our days before they are over.  This makes the pains of a difficult marriage feel all the more imposing on our happiness.  Therefore, we are tempted to say – “Life is short: I deserve better or this isn’t who I thought I was marrying or I am tired of being the only one trying to make this work, etc., etc., etc.

Kell says, “Pitting the difficulty of marriage against the brevity of life is a masterful way to allow discontentment to take a seat in the den of your heart.”

It’s the same trick Satan pulled on Adam and Eve in the creation account where in the Garden of Eden he told them that if they ate the fruit of forbidden tree they would “be like God knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-6)  Satan told the truth to them … for when they ate, they went from not only knowing good, but now experiencing evil as well.  The lie was that knowing evil would be better for them than the goodness God had already supplied.

Kell said, “I bet that first bite of the forbidden fruit was amazing.  But the aftertaste has been more bitter than they could have imagined.”

The temptation of adultery plays the same trick.  At first, there is pleasure – the thrill of secrecy – the power of curiosity – the excitement of newness – the satisfaction of passion.  But that’s where the truth ends … and the bitterness of the lie begins.  If Madison was honest, her tag line would have said: Life is Short.  Let us help you destroy it!

As a result of this hacking, a whole lot of people are now anxious about covering your tracks and deleting emails and erasing texts.  They are imagining ways to explain your travels and bank withdrawals.  They are racked with fear and indescribable guilt when they walk into their house and look into the eyes of your spouse and children.

Yes, life is short.  The ‘lesson learned’ is this: Be ready to get caught, because you will get caught.  We all get caught.

Be sure to read the next two ‘lessons learned’ in my Wednesday and Friday blog postings.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

What Comes After County Clerks? It’s Christian Churches

I find it utterly reprehensible! The long-standing constitutional right to freely exercise one’s religious convictions (1st Amendment) has been trampled by an erroneous ‘right’ for same-sex couples to marry.

Yesterday, a federal court case involving Kentucky Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis ... who declined to issue marriage licenses to same-gender pairs based on her religious beliefs … was sentenced to jail for refusing to serve gay couples.  Davis’ Christian conviction was not protected, but denied.  Davis said during the hearing that her conscience wouldn’t allow her to comply with the court order.  “God’s moral law convicts me and conflicts with my duties,” she said.  U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning countered that Davis’ good-faith religious belief wasn’t a viable defense.  “The idea of natural law superseding this court’s authority would be a dangerous precedent indeed,” Bunning said.

Mind you, that our founding document (the Declaration of Independence) declares that our unalienable rights are granted by the Creator and are based upon “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.”  Same-sex ‘orientation’ is not an ‘immutable characteristic’ – it is merely a preference.

A poll conducted soon after June’s U.S. Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges decision suggested that ‘we the people’ are more concerned with religious freedom than homosexuals marrying.  And understandably so, for Judge Bunning’s quote reveals his ignorance of our Founders’ interpretation of “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” – meaning the will of God for humanity.  The fact is: Bunning has ruled toward the dangerous path that will no doubt lead to a wide variety of businesses and professionals and occupations that will challenge their free exercise of religion. 

“If we’re going to go down this road where religious free exercise rights are just simply trampled,” says Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, “that’s a completely different America. That’s no longer the shining city on a hill.”

Given this decision, it is well within reason that Bible-believing churches will be next. Does that include yours?  It does mine!  It won’t be tomorrow, but soon.  First, you’ll be required to keep your opinions inside the walls of the church; then contrary to the Great Commission, you’ll not be able to publically witness to your faith.  It’s coming … sooner than later.

Christians and the Church are ultimately accountable to Christ who said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13)  In this life, the un-salty church is marginalized and trampled by men.  In eternity, un-salty church members will give an account for their failure to be the salt God called them to be.

Sadly, it was nice knowing you, America!

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Veteran Memorial Cross in the Crosshairs

Perhaps you heard about it – A memorial featuring a silhouette of a soldier holding a gun and kneeling at the foot of a cross.  It was installed a few months ago alongside Freedom Rock at Young’s Park in the small town of Knoxville, Iowa.  “It was clear to us it was a memorial to fallen veterans,” said Mayor Brian Hatch to Todd Starnes of FoxNews. 

Apparently it wasn’t clear to everyone … because a citizen filed an anonymous complaint arguing that the memorial was promoting Christianity and therefore violated the ‘establishment clause’ of the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

According to Starnes, Mayor Hatch said the city council ignored the complaint.  “We didn’t take any action because it (the memorial) did not have any religious ties to us at all,” he said.  “I only see it as a memorial to the veterans and it shocked me that someone could see it otherwise.”

Well, that didn’t satisfy the offended citizen.  He/she contacted Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) – a group with a reputation in bullying towns across the nation.  Their attorney fired off a letter to the town demanding, “Please remove the Latin cross from government property.”  AUSCS said the Constitution prohibits government bodies from promoting religion on public land and they argued that the Latin cross is the “preeminent symbol of Christianity.”  They suggested that the inclusion of the cross excludes veterans of faiths other than Christianity.  “Another court prohibited a county government from displaying a war memorial featuring crosses and the Star of David, because this design ‘gave the impression that only Christians and Jews are being honored,’” AUSCS wrote in their letter.

Mayor Hatch told Starnes the council will meet next month to decide what course of action to take.  Meanwhile, the citizens of Knoxville are launching a campaign to save the memorial.  “This political correctness stuff is getting way out of hand,” resident Doug Goff told Starnes.  “When we are bending to the will of one person in the town – you know something is wrong there.”  Goff is a lifelong resident of Knoxville; and a Navy veteran. He’s helping to spearhead a rally to defend the cross.  “This is a memorial for our veterans,” he said.

AUSCS has given the town 30-days to respond to their demand.  If they refuse to comply, we ought not be surprised to learn that the town of Knoxville gets hauled into court.

So why are these little town scuttlebutts important?  Because, if it is determined that this veteran memorial is inappropriate on public land, what is to say that the same can’t be argued for crosses on the headstone at Arlington National Cemetery … or any other VA cemetery?  Will thousands upon thousands of military grave markers need to have their crosses removed?

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel