News Snippets From All Beats

Gym manager Jason Russell was having trouble keeping himself in good physical condition and religious at the same time. His difficulty in “trying to walk the Christian line,” as he put it, was compounded by the fact that he is single, and that he held memberships in meat-market style gyms.¹ The solution, for Russell, was to join the Lord’s Gym as a fitness manager. The gym has a dress code, is family-friendly, and “meshes prayer and push-ups.”² If that’s not enough to sanctify, there is always Yogod, which is described as a “take on yoga” for Christians.

“I needed not only to protect myself,” Russell explained, “but as a leader, to help others with their spiritual journey.”³ While the idea of associating with Christians in healthy, recreational pursuits is commendable enough, sweat should not drown out spiritual growth or water down doctrine in the process. It should be remembered that everyone, saved and lost, is on a spiritual journey. The term is too broad in scope for use by Christians, and is even dangerous. It implies that a course in muttering along through a touchy, feely, grope exercise is acceptable, and safe. It is not.

A spiritual journey that ends in an eternity in the lake of fire is not the same as coming to spiritual maturity in the faith. Also, more exercise of the page turning thumb will keep coaches reminded that neither they, nor their clients, will ever develop enough of their own strength for a Christian walk. Here is a suggestion for an inspiring verse for the gym wall: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phi 4:13). As for the Yogod, the gym should drop the attempt to Christianize the heathen practice. It gives the impression that something from a false religion can supplement the work of the Holy Spirit. A stretching class should be offered in its place.

Notes:

^1-3. Katie Zezima, “A Gym Designed to Cater to Christians,” New York Times, June 6, 2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/us/06gym.html

A recent study completed by German scientists shows that long-term harm results from forced, or insincere, cordiality by employees who constantly deal with insult on the job. In a controlled experiment, 4000 people were put to work in a fake call center and split into two groups. As the insults and abusive treatment poured in over the phones, half were required to adhere to a policy of professional cordiality which skirts the abusive treatment of callers and remains courteous. The other half were allowed to alternately change their professional focus and to respond in kind to abusive callers.

While those in the unfettered group experienced a temporary increase in heart rate, the group that was locked into courtesy protocol suffered long term symptoms form accumulated stress. As Dieter Zapf of Johann Wolfgang Goethe University put it: “Every time a person is forced to repress his true feelings there are negative consequences. We are all able to rein in our emotions but it becomes difficult to do this over a protracted period.”¹ In a world where employees are increasingly forced to tolerate the bizarre and the perverse, negative effects on health will be on the rise. There is, however, a third group that was not represented in the study.

There are those who look beyond the personality and remain conscious of the forces behind good and evil. These will not be too easily ruffled by the fleshly tablets of behavior before them. They will not be quick to fall prey to a wrestling match with flesh and blood, nor will their weapons of warfare be comprised of witty banter and traded barbs. They will speak the truth in love, and take heart in their enthusiasm to win the lost: to open the prison house and let the captives free. Their heart will burn in their chest as they take opportunities to share the gospel in a dying world, and for that obedience, whereby they shall endure tribulations, they will experience a peace that surpasses an ordinary understanding. To your health.

Notes:

^1. “Scientist: Smiling can hurt your health,” United Press International, May 16, 2008.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/05/16

/scientist_smiling_can_hurt_your_health/2772/

In an example of the power of the dialectical conversion process on even its facilitators, leadership at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church actually thought they could compromise Ingrid Schlueter, talk show host for VCY American Radio Network. Schlueter is a contender for the faith whose shows and website expose the compromise and apostasy in this Laodicean church age.

Using tactic number three in dealing with resisters, ¹ Erik Rees of Saddleback Church, on Rick Warren’s behalf, attempted to befriend and involve Schlueter in Saddleback’s upcoming global leadership conference.² The problem with those leaders slated to speak, as Shlueter has pointed out repeatedly on her radio show and in her website, is that they are almost as harmful to the Church as apostate Rick Warren himself.

Rees offered Schlueter an all-expenses paid trip to California so that she could be absorbed into 2,000 duped fans of Warren’s cancerous growth on Christianity. As an added bonus, Schlueter would even be included in a small group discussion with the wizard himself. All she had to do to receive this special treatment was abide by one condition: remain silent until the end to give the brainwashing and manipulation a chance to take affect.

For an inspiring example of a godly woman standing for Christ and against the kingdoms of this world, readers must read Schlueter’s answer to Rick Warren’s invitation themselves at her website, www.sliceoflaodicea.com.

Mrs. Schlueter will be taking this weekend off from her website to enjoy Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to all you women of God who stand firm in the faith and contend for it wherever God has placed you; you are such a blessing to us all.

Notes:

^1. Berit Kjos, “Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven?: Dealing with Resisters” (Part 4), Kjos Ministries, November 2003.

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/04/4-purpose-resisters.htm

^2. Ingrid Schlueter, “An Invitation and A Response,” SliceofLaodicea.com, May 9, 2008.

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=741

As the presidential race appears to narrow to one leading candidate in the Republican Party squaring off against his rival in the Democratic Party, Christians leaders are starting to endorse John McCain. Pastor John Hagee of San Antonio Texas has given McCain his endorsement citing McCain’s support for Israel, and his pro-life voting record.¹ While these are in deed characteristics deserving of praise, they do not by themselves overcome McCain’s unsuitability for Christian support.

Potential voters should not be swayed by his strategic support for Israel (as an outpost for democracy), nor his stand against abortion (as politician); though admirably made from his personal convictions. McCain’s convictions are as subject to change as his person is. Only when these, and many other convictions, are grounded on the immutable word of an unchanging and eternal God will they be minted for an economy of the faithful. This reliance on the trustworthiness of God is hardly the case with McCain who, retreating on claims made in scripture, has publicly and emphatically called God a liar.

When asked during the GOP Presidential Debates if he believed in evolution, MaCain gave a resounding “yes” answer.² What this means is that if McCain believes God is lying about the creation account of man, then he could come to believe that God is also lying when he said of permanency and prophetic future of Israel: “Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places” (Deu 33:29). McCain could also come to believe that God is lying when He speaks of the identity of human beings as fixed while they are yet in the womb (Jer 1:5).

This means that these positions taken by McCain must be discounted as inevitably disposable because he holds them absent their mooring on the word of God, who he claims to prevaricate wherever science finds Him out.

As the time grows short, however, pressure from both to political and religious camps is going to be ratcheted up on Christians to vote for McCain. This is going to be the argument that will be made for the candidate: that he should receive Christian support because he is the lesser of two evils. If you do not vote for him, the argument goes, than a worse candidate will take office, and we, as a nation, will suffer through their appointments; such as those for judges.

That’s how it will be put to voters, but that is not the argument; that’s the spin on the argument. Here it is without the dressing: if you don’t agree to affirm blasphemy (McCain’s accusing the Lord God of lying), then some guy in a black robe will give you reason to fear. But what saith the scriptures?

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luk 12:4-5)

This country does not stand or fall on one man, or one president, or nine judges. This nation stands at the patience of the Lord God; who has graciously given us time to do His will, so that some might be saved. And we can not devote ourselves as we should in fidelity on this cause if we constantly allow ourselves to be sided against God in compromise after compromise. Do not profess one thing in the square, and then pull the curtain closed to prevaricate. Fear God.

Notes:

^1. Michelle Roberts, “McCain Gets Endorsement of Texas Evangelical Leader,” Christian Post, February 28, 2008.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080228/31352

_McCain_Gets_Endorsement_of_Texas_Evangelical_Leader.htm

^2. You Tube, GOP Debate - Evolution Question,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Cc8t3Zd5E (accessed February 27, 2008)

Sir Isaac Newton studied the Bible, and believed superior wisdom of the ages lost to mankind but preserved in prophetical books, such as Daniel, and in dimensions and measurements such as in those for the Jewish temple. Newton also believed the Jews would return to their homeland prior to the end of the world and the setting up of their “flourishing and everlasting Kingdom.”

David Dansker
TheNewsBeats.com

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