Christocentric

National Organization for Marriage Launches “No Offense” Religious Liberty Ad Campaign

The National Organization for Marriage has launched it’s second video in its Religious Liberty campaign.  Carrie Prejean had agreed to participate in the video supporting marriage between a man and a woman only.

This is a very good ad, although brief as it shows the true bigotry in the gay marriage debate.  Perez Hilton’s vindictive response is shown as an example of this bigotry when anyone attempts to disagree with gay marriage.

The NOM is requesting donations as money is needed to make these TV ads. Click the link above to their website.

Let’s support this very important cause!  To see why this is so important that we support mariage between a man and a woman, visit my Top Ten Post: The Negative Effects of  Same-sex marriage.

Today I went to the 8am service at our church, the Rock Church San Diego, the first of five services that Miss California, Carrie Prejean would appear.  I’m glad I went to this service because of it being the first, she was a bit more emotional showing her very real pain from the confusion and loneliness she experienced at the early stages of her ordeal.   The 8am wasn’t taped, so it was also a warm-up for Carrie to prepare her for our live viewings at the 10am and 12noon services. I knew we’d be in for a treat but the service was even better that I imagined!  (click on link at the end of the post for the video)

Didn’t plan to get involved with the same-sex marriage controversy

To make a long story short, I was most struck by the way GOD had His hand in this entire event!  Carrie by no means planned to get involved in a same-sex marriage controversy.  She simply wanted to participate in a beauty pageant to win and represent our country in the Miss Universe competition.  But God had a different path for her to take!

With the controversial answer to the just as controversial question, the abrupt flight out to New York to face the media, traveling alone and crying to God for direction and the “chance” of Carrie’s very own pastor going to New York also at the same time but on a different flight – was nothing short of a miracle in the making!

Pastor Miles McPherson didn’t know of Carrie, the pageant or that Carrie even went to his church!

Pastor Miles not even hearing of the pageant and not knowing who Miss California was, ended up getting in touch with Carrie after being called by his executive assistant that a young lady in a major public distress needed prayer.  Realizing the urgency of the situation, Miles met up with Carrie and her mother and prepped her for the day long media blitz (he went on every single interview she was asked to appear).  An absolute answer to Carrie’s prayer!

To get the feel of the complete message, you can still go to the website and watch the video of the 10 or 12′oclock service.  The 8am service had most of us without a dried eye as we felt Carrie’s pain, but by the next few services she was more composed.

The boldness of the biblical beauty queen, Queen Esther

Pastor Miles wonderfully tied this lesson of boldness to another “beauty queen,” and that was Queen Esther of the book of Esther in the bible.  A woman who became a queen as a result of a beauty contest with the winner becoming the king’s wife.  But it was this queen’s boldness in the face of possible death that pastor preached on today.

In an attempt to save the Jewish people who all were being sentenced to death, Queen Esther went before the King unannounced  – which meant certain death according to their laws.  But her response to the possible death sentence?

“… And so I will go to the King, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther – 4:16(b)

The boldness of Queen Esther! For the sake of her people she boldly went to the king who was quite taken by the queen’s actions and ended up sparing the life of the Jewish people.

Miss California faced with a less formidable situation, yet nevertheless still trying, boldly went against the gay agenda of the vindictive beauty judge and kept her ground throughout with God’s guidance and help from Pastor Miles!

Always STAND up for God!

Great sharing of her story by Carrie Prejean and an equally great sermon by Pastor Miles with lessons we can all apply to our lives daily!

Pastor Miles taught that we must stop cowaring for the sake of political correctness and take a stand for God.  Carrie was an example of this boldness  while having political correctness take a back seat.

Here is the meaning to the acronym S.T.A.N.D. taught by Pastor Miles in today’s sermon:

S – stare down courage – be able to stare intimidation in the face and not worry  about being politically correct!

T- trust in the truth and not a lie; live the truth of the bible and don’t compromise it.

A- accept God’s sovereign provision – God will provide for whatever situation we may find ourselves; encouragement

N – never fear man over God; pursue the heavenly crown and not earthly rewards

D – die to self – putting God first in all things!

Go to this link for the video and message
http://www.therocksandiego.org/messages/2009-04-26/

Every Friday I will feature a video from different music ministries that I feel are truly lifting up Jesus’s name in words and deeds.  For us parents with kids in the hip hop generation, we are constantly seeking music to buy for our young ones, or to refer to our older ones that isn’t worldly filled with drugs, sex, profanity and the likes.

Much respect for Christian Rappers

Today’s selection is of Christian Rap, a music genre that although not one of my favorites (I’m R&B mostly), is respected much by this ‘old school’ mom.  These rappers are NOT ashamed of the gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ.  Some Christian music is so watery that you can’t tell it’s truly Christian, but no mistaken identity with many of these guys!

There are two well known Christian rap labels that are impressive to me: Reach Records and Cross Movement.  The rappers under these labels are extremely sound in their messages, the scriptures they use, and their walk in Christ (from what I know). If anyone knows my style of writing, you know I will call a public figure out in a second if they publicly step out of line! I haven’t heard any negatives about these fella’s (yet) and I love the way their lights shine.

Of course, not all Christian rap is good and parents must be discerning of any musician in how they are portraying their message.  But the rappers from these two record labels have a reputation of being preachers as well as rappers.  They have the green light from me so far!

Parents, let’s face it  – our children love rap!

I’ll never forget when my eldest son was one of only two black teenagers at this local Christian junior high school.  He played football and was on the team with the son of a well known Televangelist/Pastor.

Well one day I had “van” duties and had to pick the boys up and take them to and fro from practice.  I had the pastor’s son in my car along with my son and a few other boys.  To keep them occupied I turned the radio on and it was immediately on a rap song that no Christian parent would want their children singing.  Before I can turn the station, ALL the boys – including the world famous televangelist’s son – started rapping the words aloud and jamming to this song!  Mind you, my son was the only black boy in the van and these other kids were rapping these lyrics from this well known black rapper!  I was floored!  I quickly turned the channel and never told this pastor about his son’s rap knowledge.  Lol!

Parents most of our children – and it doesn’t matter what ethnicity or cultural makeup – are into rap,  and that’s whether we like it or not!  It’s up to us to get them into music that’s honoring to God and I would definitely start with either of these two groups.

Lil Wayne an example of Chart topper but not God topper

I’m a faithful watcher of “The View” and as I’m about to post this, their special guest today is rapper Lil’ Wayne.  My 19 year old son told me not to listen to Lil Wayne because he knows I would have a conniption fit doing so! Lil Wayne’s music has the beats and sometimes nasty words (uh huh, I saw his lyrics) that have pushed him to the top of the music charts.

Worldy fame is not their goal

Sadly, the Christian rappers will never if ever get the fame or glory these profane worldly rappers get.  But then again, that is obviously not their goal in life as the glory they want to lift is God’s and not their own!

Lecrae – married college sweetheart

Google Lecrae’s name and you will find that this man married his college his sweetheart and are expecting their first child (if she hasn’t already had it) and constantly encourages youth to wait until marriage before having sex.  He’s a great role model and I’m honored to be featuring his music!

Today’s selection by Lecrae is his song titled Don’t Waste Your Life.

Enjoy (or recommend it for those of you who don’t like rap but know those who do!)

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UPDATE 4/25/09 -Live Streaming!

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, will be speaking this coming Sunday at the Rock Church San Diego.  The 10am and 12noon services will be streamed live!

Click on the link below for more info.

Miss California Comes Home to the Rock!

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I know I’m a bit late blogging on this as I’ve felt there are enough articles to last a lifetime on this latest gay marriage controversy.  But an interview on the Today show caught my eye as it showed several things: Miss California, Carrie Prejean showing her courage and unwavering integrity, Perez Hilton showing his hatred and contradictions, and Matt Lauer posing some tough and intelligent questions to both of them.

Here are a few excerpts from this must-see video:

Perez Hilton (PH) – “I personally would have appreciated it if she had left her politics and her religion out…”

(It was okay for him to ask a political question but she couldn’t answer?)

Carrie Prejean (CP) - “It’s not about being politically correct but biblically correct.”

(Some modern day wishy washy pastors could take lessons from this young lady)

CP - “When I’m asked a specific question, I’m going to give a specific answer.”

PH – “Miss USA is not a person that is alienating…Miss USA is not a person that’s politically incorrect.”

(He asked her a question but she was supposed to answer it to the liking of his LGBT agenda.)

Matt Lauer - (Interrupting Perez Hiltion) “She also should be a person who stands by her beliefs.  (To PH) So do you want someone who just panders to judges?

PH – (His answer) I want someone who’s going to be politically saavy, and that means saying things that will make everyone feel welcomed.  For example, she’s a Christian but I don’t want her talking about Jesus Jesus Jesus because that’s offensive to all of the Jewish Americans, all of the Muslim Americans and all of the  Atheist Americans.  … It’s about finding the perfect Miss USA and unfortunately Miss California was not the perfect Miss USA.”

(Thank God Miss California wasn’t the perfect Miss USA!)

Video was recently disabled by theYoutube owner.
Click on Video to take it to Youtube. You will be able to see it there

This video was amazing because it showed Perez Hilton’s ‘heterophobia’ and could give Miss California ammunition for a possible discrimination suit that’s being tossed around on the news blogs.

But most importantly, Carrie showed that it was another ‘jewel’ she’s pursing more precious than the worldly Miss USA crown.  It was the crown of life which will be given by God Himself for those who endure trials and temptations.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  James 1:12

(Remember we are not saved by doing good works, but there are rewards for those who ARE saved! – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

See the complete video for this riveting discussion!

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Other articles of interest:

Blogger Talk Wisdom (Christine) – Young Woman Holds to Her Convictions
La Shawn Barber – Mealy-Mouth Apology Makers Make Me Sick
The Voice Magazine.com – Perez Hilton Gets Backlash for Mocking Beauty Queen
CNN’s Roland S. Martin - Commentary: Miss California thanks for being honest

Comedian Steve Harvey wrote a serious book on relationships titled: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. This book has taken this country by a storm and been lauded by Oprah, Ellen Degeneres, Good Morning America, on the New York Times Bestsellers list and on and on the accolades go.

But for Christians, this book is a major problem.  It’s full of advice being given by a man claiming to be a Christian. Advice that if Christian women (and men) follow, will find themselves compromising biblical principles.

I wasn’t too interested in this book until I started hearing Steve Harvey on some of the talk shows encouraging women to follow the 90 day rule. His rule is for women to not give up the *cookie* for 90 days but have the man wait until he is proven “worthy” of her feminine benefits.  I’ll explain this in more detail below.

Steve Harvey made statements throughout his book that left me wondering whether this man should be about the business of relationship counseling.  There’s nothing wrong with giving advice, but if you are going to wear the title “Christian,” then the advice needs to match what you claim to believe in.

The following statements were most problematic and what I found to be quite contrary to biblical standards.

1. “Make him qualify for the benefits, and I guarantee you’ll have a better man on your hands – and in your bed.” Encouraging women to have the men wait at least 90 days before having sex with them.  The Ninety-day rule. (Chapter 11)
2. “Hell is no longer an option for me. I’m doing what I can to get to the Gate.” pg 45
3. “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t date a man who doesn’t go to church, or who has a different belief system than you.” pg 140
4. “…when it comes to having sex with a woman, we men don’t decide a thing. We don’t determine when we’re going to sleep with you – that decision is yours.” pg 153
5. In his chapter on “Why Men Cheat,” Steve Harvey says to women that “the way to get out of that cheater’s circle is to … figure out your standards and requirements, explain them, and stick to them…” pg 106

#1 – The 90-day rule. The *cookie.* That’s Steve Harvey’s nice way of saying “a woman’s sex.” The benefits. That’s what the man gets once his ninety days are up.

Most Christians can see right off the bat what’s wrong with this picture. Sex in 90 days means sex before marriage.  Steve doesn’t encourage anyone to wait until marriage.  That’s a major problem for the professing Christian.

Sex outside of marriage is completely forbidden in the bible.  In fact, the warnings are so dire in the New Testament about the practice of illicit sex, that we are commanded not to have anything to do with Christians who practice it!  1 Corinthians 5 shows this clearly:

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you …And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” (verses 1-2)

These Corinthian Christians sound a little like Steve Harvey and most American Christians today: proud, and not ashamed of their actions.  How many of our churches have pews filled with Christians who go home and “shack-up” or have sex with endless partners without one bit of shame and proud for doing so?

“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (vs 9-11)

Paul isn’t talking about the unsaved here, but the saved! And how many churches are Christians practicing this discipline – the removal of those who practice immorality and all other kinds of sin?

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” (vs. 12 and 13)

One of the most misunderstood acts in the bible is the act of judging.  In Matthews 7:1-5 we are told not to judge hypocritically, but Paul makes it plain here that we are to JUDGE each other! Christians are to judge one another and not the unsaved.  Our job with the unsaved is to share the gospel so that they may become saved.

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One of the most popular posts on this blog is my August 2008 article titled, “Tonex has 4Gotten God.” Because of the increased exposure from his music (latest album Unspoken) and acting (performed in the play “Dreamgirls”) and his influence on many of our younger people, it’s extremely important that Tonex be examined.

Although he’s had a series of interviews with various TV and magazine hosts and writers, one that caught my attention is his interview with Torrence Glenn on BET.com

When I had written that first post, I had given Tonex the benefit of the doubt that he was a Christian.  I couldn’t judge by his words that he wasn’t one, although his actions were suspect (see post my previous post). I knew he could still be a Christian, just a wayward one perhaps.

But his discussion on BET’s blog titled “The Gospel According to Torrence“  left me with the conclusion that Tonex is just another false teacher/preacher spreading even more confusion to the unlearned and his idol worshippers.  There were plenty more disturbing things to write about him, but the only thing that needed to be addressed was what Tonex thinks about Jesus and salvation.

Torrence did a five part video on his interview with Tonex of which only three of the five parts available as of this post.  The interview was done March 25 of this year with no explanation of the missing parts 4 and 5.

The entire part-three interview is about 6 minutes.  If you don’t wish to hear the whole video you can fast forward to about the -35 mark near the end where Tonex is heard saying:

“I respect all faiths and I’ve studied all faiths.  So you know how can you really understand humankind if your way is the only way?”

I know the way for me, …for me it’s Jesus but for someone else it may not be.  And I’m not going to bash who they are because they don’t believe what I believe.” (video at end of post)

In other words, to understand people must one take the position that Jesus is NOT the only way to God?  His words were far more troubling than his appearance which has him looking more like George Clinton of the Funkadelics than a church pastor.

Tonex appears to ignore Christ’s statement that says:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  – John 14:6

Jesus IS the only way to God and yes, that may offend people but the truth sometimes hurt.  If people will ever have the chance to be saved, they must know the truth!

What Tonex doesn’t understand is that the blood Christ spilled for us to save us can not be so easily set aside.  If others can get to God without Christ’s sacrifice, then Jesus would have died in vain!  If anyone wants to minimize Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, then yes, just say that He only died for a few folks and not for everyone!

Tonex is spreading a lie, the belief that Jesus isn’t the only way to God.  Not only is that bad for people who call themselves pastors, but for anyone who calls themselves a Christian.

Tonex also talks about bashing another person’s religion, which for him means that they don’t have to believe in Jesus.  To be respectful of others’ belief systems is to accept that those systems as true.

No Tonex, not bashing others means not to disrespect who they are as individuals, treating them with dignity and kindness.  If you truly care about a person, you will want them saved, thus sharing with them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sadly, Tonex is now placed into the category of pulpit pimp as his lifestyle is all about not offending people so that he can make his money.  He made that clear in my first post about how he sang on a Gay sponsored cruise.  His reason for doing so was to “catch a lot of record sales and new fans too!”

At first I was praying for Tonex’s spiritual maturity.  Now my prayer is that Tonex become saved!  I pray for Tonex to understand the price Jesus Christ paid for him and to let that be his motivation to preach the gospel to ALL!

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures -  1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Video from Bet.com below (see The Gospel According To Torrence Part 3 forum and comments from his readers)

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Powerful song by rap minister Shai Linne about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ with clips from the movie, The Passion of Christ. Listen to the very end for a few more thought provoking words from Pastor C J Mahaney.

Isaiah 53 (ESV)

¹ Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
²For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
³ He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
⁸By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
⁹And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
¹¹Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
¹²Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

UPDATE!!! 4/13/09 – Capt. Phillips Rescued and Obama gives order for physical force!  – Any doubts that I had about Obama being overly supportive of the Muslims was quashed this weekend when he gave the approval for the Navy to take out the Somali criminals.  I have to give Obama credit here in light of this weekend’s events.  Proud of our military! Proud that Obama showed the world he is not afraid of taking action when necessary.

Does that mean I’m completely sold on Obama? No. How he handles the overall pirate situation is yet to be seen.  And also his bowing to the Saudi King is still shameful for an American president, but his reasons for doing so may now mean something other than just kowtowing to Muslims.  There are many many things that I’m not happy with as a conservative, but that’s another post at another time!

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Not surprising but nevertheless very disturbing.  This is the man who said in his book “The Audacity of Hope:”

I will stand with the (Muslims) should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.’Quote by Obama, p 261

A handshake to the Queen of England and a bow to the King of Saudi Arabia, hmm.

Please stop by fellow blogger Talk Wisdom as she will have updates when necessary on this much blogged-about story: Obama’s Unreciprocated Bow is Gesture of Subservience