Christocentric

P4CM Presents their official college ministry: “THE UPRISING”

Ex-fornicator, ex-lesbian, ex-racist, ex-homosexual, ex-hypocrite and many more of these t-shirts were floating around on a group of young people after the Lecrae/Reach Records tour concert a couple of weekends ago.   I hadn’t seen anything like that in person before and asked the group if they were local.  They explained to me who they were and that they’re from Los Angeles.  The group responsible for the t-shirts I was told are called P4CM.

After I went home that night, I immediately went to their website and found they were a group of young Christians called the Passion for Christ Movement, P4CM for short.  I was impressed with their boldness and their evangelism that is evident by looking and listening to the videos on their website and reading their articles that they also have on line.

This group covers almost any topic pertaining to life that you can come across such as:

• Dating
• Sex
• Marriage
• Atheism
• Homosexuality

They cover so much more and one can easily take a peek at their list of videos here:  http://www.p4cm.com/p4cm/video

I won’t write any more about them but just let their videos do the ‘speaking’ for me!  Also, a few of their videos were added to my video list in the right column of this blog.  Be sure to take a moment and check those out as well!

I don’t know about you all, but it DOES take a bit of boldness to wear those shirts.  Which one(s) would you wear? Me? It could be almost any of them!

‘Ex-fornicator’ interviewing an ‘ex-abortionist’
The ‘Ex’ T-shirt movement!
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More “Ex” t-shirts (the concert advertised is already past)
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Homosexual Questions Uncovered (trailer)
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‘Ex-Diva’ giving the spoken word (Part 1)

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See others who have written on P4CM:

Real Christianity – Homosexual Questions Uncovered

GCM Watch – P4CM ex-homosexual ministry making strides

Trendhunter Magazine - Controversial Religious Apparel

The black officers in the Cambridge Police department offer their verbal support for their fellow officer Sgt. James Crowley.  This is further proof that Obama and Gates both spoke too quickly against Sgt. Crowley with their accusations of him being a racist.  This man is clearly loved and respected by ALL of his fellow police officers, including the black police men and women.

This is a sad case of stereotyping of a white man who was declared racist because of supposed racial profiling.  Professor Gates made a serious mistake choosing Sgt. Crowley to be his fall guy for cries of racism, when in reality this man is as far from racism as possibly can be.

In this video, not only does a black policewoman says she supports Sgt. Crowley, but makes it plain that although she voted for Obama during his first term, she will not be voting for him again.

It’s not beer that they will all need to reconcile their differences, but a dose of grace and forgiveness that only God can give through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a Harvard scholar and director of Harvard’s W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.  He was arrested at his home on Thursday, July 16th, after a report of a break-in at his house.

Published news articles say that Gates was returning from an oversees trip and found his front door jammed as he tried to get in.  He had wedged his shoulder against the door to try to pry it open, and it was that scene that caused a neighbor to call and report two black men (his driver was with him) with backpacks trying to enter into the house.

According to reports the following then happened:

“Police said the 58-year-old Gates was arrested after he yelled at an officer, accused him of racial bias and refused to calm down after the officer demanded Gates show him identification to prove he lived in the home.

Ogletree said Gates showed his driver’s license and Harvard ID — both with his photos — and repeatedly asked for the name and badge number of the officer, who refused. He followed the officer as he left his house onto his front porch, where he was arrested.

Now it’s quite understandable to be upset because you’re being questioned at your own residence for burglary, but I don’t know about Professor Gates, I would have been honored that someone was investigating because it surely had the appearance that someone was trying to break into the house!  And how easy it would have been for Mr. Gates just to present his identification without giving the police so much “attitude!”

The following statement was issued regarding Professor Gate’s arrest:

JOINT PRESS RELEASE from Prince Lobel of Prince Lobel, Glovsky, & Tye LLP:

The City of Cambridge and the Gambridge Police Department have recommended to the Middlesex County District Attorney that the criminal charge aga¡nst Professor Gates not proceed. Therefore, in the interests of justice, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office has agreed to enter a nolle prosequi in this matter. The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Police Department, and Professor Gates acknowledge that the incident of July 16, 2009 was regrettable and unfortunate. Th¡s incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of Professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department. All part¡es agree that this is a just resolution to an unfortunate set of circumstances.

Walter B.

It said again: “the incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of Professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department.” I sincerely believe that Professor Gates’ character WAS demeaned – by his very own actions! I’m quite sure that if he had complied, kept his cool and prevented himself from getting indignant for merely having his home checked upon by the police, then he would have never been arrested in the first place!

I truly don’t believe this was a case of racial profiling, but someone believing their neighbor’s house was in the process of being robbed.  Still, there was no excuse for the professor’s own ruly behavior.  Overall, I’m glad the charges were dropped but Professor Gates owes the police an apology instead of uncontrollable anger!

“Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Ecclesiastes 5:6a

See also:
Washington Post:  “Scholar Says Arrest Will Lead Him To Explore Race in Criminal Justice”
CNN.com – The ‘unfathomable’ arrest of a black scholar

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UPDATE 7/23
President Obama says the police acted ‘stupidly’ and no apology from Police Sgt. Crowley

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President Obama spoke about the incident before admittedly knowing all the facts about it.  He even admits a bias for knowing Professor Gates. But both he and the professor picked the wrong police officer to cry foul on racial profiling.

Sgt. James Crowley was hand picked by a former police commissioner who happens to be black, who selected Crowley to lead a class on racial profiling at the police academy.  If anyone was going to be sensitive to racial issues it would have been this police officer!

Both the president and the professor owe this police officer an apology instead of the other way around.  Kudos to Sgt. Crowley for not giving in to the demands that he make the apology for basically doing his job and shame on both the president and the professor for turning this into a racial circus!

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UPDATE 7/27

POSSIBLE CONCLUSION?

This Thursday, July 30, President Obama will meet with Professor Gates and Sgt. Crowley over beer.  Hopefully an end to the controversial arrest.  I will hold the rest of my comments until this meeting is publicized.

In spite of being deceased now for nearly a month (June 25) Michael Jackson’s death is still very much on many people’s minds.  He is consistantly a top trending topic on Twitter, his albums are still selling like there’s no tomorrow, and on most TV stations, radio and Internet talk shows his name is always mentioned.  Even magazines with his picture on the cover are selling faster than others.  Whether negatively or positively portrayed, Michael Jackson is still being talked about.

Ray Comfort from the Way of the Master ministry uses Michael Jackson’s death to cleverly discuss one’s spiritual/physical life in general. He interviews several people near Michael Jackson’s star on Hollywood Boulevard asking them questions about MJ’s death, about life, God and more.  The video ends with what Ray Comfort describes as the real reason that Michael Jackson died.

Some questions asked:

1. Where is Michael now?
2. Did his death remind you of your own mortality?
3. Are you afraid of dying?
4. What do you think happens after death?
5. Are you going to heaven when you die?
6. Where ARE you going when you die?
7. Are you a good person?
8. If God judges you by the Ten Commandments on the day of judgment, would be innocent or guilty?

See also:
Pastor Miles McPherson: “Looking at the ‘Other’ Man in the Mirror”
Fellow blogger 4Simpson’s recent post on: “Good people” & Heaven”

I went to a volunteers’ meeting at our local homeless shelter and the volunteer coordinator shared with us that we do have to watch what we wear.  Women she said, must not show cleavage and wear short shorts.  She was saddened that she actually had to bring that up because some of volunteers in the men’s section did wear just that . . . short shorts and showing much cleavage!

This is a Christian organization and they make it plain in orientation that they are Christ-centered and many of their male recipients are dealing with issues concerning sex and women.  The sexes are mostly separated but when there are volunteer shortages, they do ask for the women to help in the cafeteria and it was these women that had worn their short shorts and revealing tops.

What this coordinator didn’t hear from me (yet) but probably already knows is that even in our churches, women are not thinking when it comes to dressing.  I attend the largest church in San Diego, the Rock Church, and in some of our ministries the men have complained that they have a hard enough time dealing with way women dress outside of the church let alone IN the church!  They come and end up having to deal with the same issues they deal with on a daily basis outside of the church – skimpily/sexily dressed women!

Laid back dress codes in churches = many abusers

The problem with churches that have an easy going dress code as our church does (the reason I sought this type of church coming from a Black Baptist Church background where decked out is the norm) is that for many, they will dress according to the temp outside.  Sunny San Diego means less clothes where shorts, t-shirts and flip flops are allowed.  Unfortunately, we have to deal with the spiritually immature who have not yet gained the spiritual sensibility to be dressed modestly.

Well, as an “older woman” of the church that’s why I’ve chosen to write this article to let the younger women know to “PUT SOME DANG CLOTHES ON!”  Okay, that’s they way I would want to say it before praying about it, but I’ll be a little kinder and say it another way.  First I’ll let the scriptures speak:

1 Timothy 2:9-10
in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Here’s an explanation about these verses from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary:

“Women who profess the Christian religion, must be modest in apparel, not affecting gaudiness, gaiety, or costliness. Good works are the best ornament; these are, in the sight of God, of great price. Modesty and neatness are more to be consulted in garments than elegance and fashion. And it would be well if the professors of serious godliness were wholly free from vanity in dress. They should spend more time and money in relieving the sick and distressed, than in decorating themselves and their children. To do this in a manner unsuitable to their rank in life, and their profession of godliness, is sinful.”

Ladies, this is simply saying that being modest is more important to God than us being fashionable.  Some of us are so wrapped up into ourselves, that we don’t even give it a second thought of helping those in need.  How much money do we really need to dress?  Are those $20,000 Gucci bags really necessary?  How about the really expensive shoes and top of the line hairstylists?  It’s quite fashionable in our day to sport the expensive jewelry, clothes, and purses.  Modesty means not being so showy as well as sexy!

Here’s an article from the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that explains the problem with the hairstyles in the culture of that time:  Hairstyle and Roman Culture.  Certain hairstyles pointed to imitations of women of questionable character.  Some of our hairstyles do likewise – imitations of ungodly stars – and we must be careful of how we’re being associated.

Entertainment/Sports Industry No Excuse!

Christian women who are in the entertainment or sports industry sometimes use that as an excuse to dress scantily and end up looking no different than unsaved women.  No Christian woman should be caught living in a manner that will cause anyone to question her love for the Lord.  If a woman feels that she can’t dress any other way for that industry – then GET OUT OF IT!  A Christian woman must ask herself  “is this God’s will or my will?”

Self-Examination/Will others be offended?

Christian women, we must do a quick and thorough self-examination of the way we dress and ask ourselves constantly, “is the way I’m dressing causing others to lust after me?”  Of course, there are some who are going to lust no matter how you dress, but if you are modest, at least you can say “I didn’t cause this person to stumble.”  What  is “stumbling” and should we even care? According to God’s word, we should!

1 Corinthians 8:12-13
But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Just replace food here with “skimpy clothes.” This is about offense as much as it’s about modesty.  Food is not a sin, but for some they have a problem with certain types.  When my relatives who don’t eat pork are around, we don’t fix them pork even though we know that it’s okay for most to eat.  Clothing in itself is not sin, but how you wear it is.  Men do have the responsibility of not lusting after that which is not theirs (their wives) but again, we have to give them some help and do our part in dressing decently.  The scriptures are very strong in causing a person’s conscious to be bothered.

The Lust Factor

Here’s a scripture to keep in mind about lust (click on “lust” link for scriptures from Proverbs to Revelations):

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

The lust of the eyes and flesh – wanting that what is not ours – is very much a sin.  This is to show that we should never take too lightly something that God considers very important.  To dress in a manner which can cause a man to lust, a woman is just as guilty as the man is!  So let’s keep in mind the “lust” factor when we slip our clothes on!

So, what shall we do? Take inventory of our clothing that we KNOW will cause a man to go “um, um, um!”

No short shorts

No cleavage showing tops

No body hugging dresses

No tight shirts

No tight pants if we have big butts (long shirt covering the butt is ok)

Geesh, what do you have left? Believe it or not, there are some nice clothes that can show our outward “beauty” in a modest way.  We just have to shop accordingly!

Church Doors Open to All

Should churches be strict in their dress codes? No, the doors to the church should be open to all and we’d rather have someone in church who didn’t know anything at all than not show up.  It would be the responsibility of us women in church on Sundays to help  the women who come and may not be dressed decently and guide them from that point.

But ladies, the bottom line is where we’re at spiritually.  Grow in the Lord, become sensitive to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, and watch your wardrobe change before your eyes – for the better!  You’ll be dressing decently no matter where you go!

Pastor Miles McPherson appeared on Mike Huckabee’s FOX News show this weekend to talk about how professional athletes as well as anyone else can make it in spite of temptations to do wrong.  In light of retired pro quarterback Steve McNair’s adultery and consequent murder, Huckabee asked Miles how he was able to make it from professional athlete to a pastor.

From cocaine user to Pastor

Miles shared how as a young professional player he was into cocaine and living life quite haphazardly until he met some Christian football players who shared the gospel with him.  It was his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior that changed his desire from cocaine to never using it again.  He also married his girlfriend and they are still together nearly 25 years later!

Your sin will find you out!

Miles gave some advice about marriage and that was simply not to commit adultery. “Sin will find you out” he said alluding to Steve McNair’s tragic ending to his life, a phrase also found in the bible (Numbers 32:22-23).  He also shared how the athletes need people who can tell them what they need to hear and not what they want to hear.  They need very real people who would confront them respectfully.

Pastor Miles interview with Mike Huckabee I thought was very good and very straightforward. Miles talked about the need for Christ in one’s life and the need to confront sin and not to continue in it.  He shared that we are all human and can fall into all kinds of temptation but having people who can tell the truth to us instead of surrounding ourselves with “yes” people would be most beneficial.

Advice for the married: be faithful to your spouse!

When asked by Mike Huckabee what is the primary thing he can say to professional athletes, Miles answered “to the ones who are married I would say to love your wife and be faithful to your wife.” He says that everyone will stand before the King one day, a message that was told at the end of Michael Jackson’s memorial when the pastor said, “the King of Pop will now bow his knees to the King of Kings.” Miles continues by saying that none of us are God and never will be God! We have to live by the rules as everybody else!

Great story of how Pastor Miles McPherson came to God and the only sad part of this interview is the realization that Steve McNair died before correcting his mistakes while Miles lived to correct his.

(Will update this with the video from Fox whenever made available)