GUESS WHO IS GOING TO THE BATHROOM WITH YOUR DAUGHTER?

It has been some time since my last post, but this subject is too important to be quiet about. The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill HB1728 which has become known as the "bathroom bill". This is a bill that seeks to allow anyone with a feeling that they are of a different gender to take advantage of that genders facilities everywhere and anywhere that is not private, which in this state means everywhere but home. What this bill would do is allow men to go into ladies restrooms, locker rooms and showers, as long as they believed they were a woman trapped in a man's body. As long as they felt like a woman that day they could go into ladies areas, and the reverse would be true for women who felt like men.

The ramifications of this transgender hate crimes legislation is stunning. You would be looking at fines and imprisonment simply for speaking against this if it were to be law. Churches would be in violation if they were to preach against this, as well as individuals. The people of this state need to understand what is happening and make it clear that they will not stand for this. Any pedophile under the auspice of feeling like a woman could enter ladies facilities anywhere, legally with the full authority of the law behind them. The bill is HB1728, you need to call your representative and let them know you are against this on every level, and will hold them accountable for their position on this issue.

The tragic news is that as of now there are 104 legislators sponsoring this bill which is a majority. It is still in committee where it died in 2008 and it needs to die that same death in 2009. The question as always is what are you prepared to do about this?

blog you later
pastor tom

BACK FROM INDIA!

Having just returned from 12 days in India ministering to persecuted pastors from Orissa, I can only say that I am humbled to have met some of the most courageous joyful men of God who literally have lost all, but not their faith in Jesus. Some of them without a doubt will be martyrs themselves. Many of these pastors literally beat rocks all day and take the pebbles to sell for cement hoping to gain a dollar a day. They have seen things that I will not write here, but yet they sing and worship like no one I have ever seen.

These men are heroes of the faith, but they would not accept that, they would simply want to be good pastors for their people who have been scattered like they are. Theses pastors are targeted and are in danger every day. There are also pastors wives who are widows who are in need and of course orphans. Unless you go and see these men it is hard to understand, but one thing we can do here is help them financially. I will in the near future give you all opportunity to be a part of helping this situation to the glory of God. Pray for the pastors of Orissa as well as the widowed pastors wives and the orphans.

blog you later,
pastor tom

IT IS HAPPENING!

in a telling moment, Hawaii's state Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday to celebrate "Islam Day. This is one of the most noteworthy events that has gone under the radar. Many people have no idea what happened this week and the ramifications. For a state in our country to celebrate an official Islam day is more proof that the leaders of this great nation are asleep at the wheel. Not that I expect this administration to voice any opposition to such a move. But I would think that those in the loyal opposition would at least make some noise. I understand that this is a state issue and not a federal one, but I also know that this has federal implications.

Lets face the facts, we were attacked by adherents to Islam. Lets face more facts, the tenets of Islam are clear in their instruction to kill and conquer all who do not bow to the prophet Mohammad. And even clearer facts are that those who follow the "prophet" have made it clear that Israel is the little Satan and America is the great Satan. For any state of our great union to call for an Islam day, is beyond the pale of common sense.

But it has happened and the march of Islam continues. In much the same way the homosexuals invaded the minds and institutions of our country, Islam follows suit. It is already being asked that certain parts of our country adhere to Sharia Law. Point being this is not going to stop on its own. This invasion will not stop unless or until someone stops it. How that happens is any ones guess as there does not seem to be the will or stomach for such action. So the Sharia beat goes on, hide your women and your Bibles, because here comes the followers of the "prophet"!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast of radio show at website

WRONG GUY TO ROB! SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR THE OLD GUYS!!

Leonard W. Cooper is sixty nine years old and works at a barber shop in Hagerstown Maryland that his pastor owns. Wednesday he was sitting in the shop reading his Bible when an intruder came in wielding a knife and demanding money. Leonard had no money and showed the thief his empty pockets. When the thief went to check the empty pockets for himself, Leonard took the opportunity to begin to wrestle the knife away. And as they fought and wrestled, Leonard realized he could not get the knife from him, so he picked the robber up and threw him through the glass front door. Leonard's comments?

"That’s the only way I could get him off me. I wish I would have thought to get his mask off. All I’m worried about is the knife. It was so fast. We were moving fast. I’m OK. God kept me through all that. God is my protector. It’s been a ... wow ... It’s been a day."

At SIXTY NINE!!! You gotta love it!!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
sign up for podcast of radio show
at website

JOB WELL DONE MR. PRESIDENT!

It is obvious and clear to anyone who reads this blog that I disagree with President Obama about everything. I am hard pressed to think of one policy position of his that I could affirm. I say that to say today I am thrilled at how he handled the pirate hostage situation. From his silence during the ordeal which in my mind, was critical, to the orders he gave authorizing the military to use whatever force necessary, whenever they felt it necessary, our President did a masterful job.

I wish I could say the same for some conservative pundits. I was saddened to hear Sean Hannity attempt to criticize the President on his, "taking credit"for the success of the operation. First of all, I heard the Presidents remarks and found nothing in them that would concur with that critique. Secondly, the mission was a success, a resounding success, and the President would be within his rights to take some credit, as without his orders, this does not happen. I believe that those seeking to critique the President on this one, have it all wrong. If we cannot recognize and affirm a job well done, then in my opinion, our criticisms fall on deaf ear, and are without merit.

If you want to criticize the media for never giving President Bush credit for anything, and their fawning over this President, that is fair game and you could do that for years. President Bush could have cured cancer and aids, solved the financial crisis and found life on mars, and he would have received no credit from the liberal media. But criticism of the President on this event is out of line, gratuitous and small minded. What we should be saying if job well done Mr. President. Thank you for having the courage to give the right orders so that the Phillips family does not have to mourn the loss of their dad and husband!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast sign up at website

A GLORIOUS WEEKEND!

It is this weekend that we remember and celebrate the foundation for all that we believe and all that we are in Christ. Good Friday is where we remember and celebrate that Jesus Christ went to Calvary and died a definite atonement. That on the cross He died for all that were His from before the foundation of the world. It was not that He died and hoped people would believe, that would have been careless, random and unfitting for a King. Jesus Christ gloriously atoned for every single person that the Father had given Him, and all of those will be saved, not one of them will perish. Praise God we remember and celebrate the definite atonement of the cross.

We also remember and celebrate that the grave could not hold Him. Though He truly died on the cross, He was Sunday morning alive and walked the face of this earth for over forty days, appearing to hundreds if not thousands of people. This true, historical event separates Jesus from all who would seek His seat as King. Every other religious leader died and stayed dead. Not so with Jesus, He rose from the dead defeating death and the grave, and in the process removing the sting of death for all that are His. We who follow Christ know that to live is Christ and to die is gain, and that is due to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

These are the things that we remember and celebrate this weekend. Glorious truths that are just that, true! Praise God and worship well this Lords day.

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast of radio show found at website

THREE BLIND MICE? OR DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?

Three pieces of news that speak loudly of one great theme, the acceptance of homosexuality not only in our nation but in many churches. So here they are, the unfortunate, tragic three;

1. "The church-affiliated Texas Christian University has announced plans to allocate apartment housing on its Fort Worth campus for homosexual students and their supporters. According to a report in the city's Star-Telegram newspaper, the school plans to open a section of the Tom Brown-Pete Wright apartments for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender students and allies."

2. The White House is allocating tickets for the upcoming Easter Egg Roll to gay and lesbian parents as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities. White House officials said that tickets for Monday's Easter Egg Roll event were distributed to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations, but did not specify how many or to which ones. Representatives from Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and other groups confirmed they were invited and encouraged to have their members participate.

"The Obama administration actually reached out to us as an organization, and said we want gay families there, and they are an important part of the American family fabric," said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Boston-based Family Equality Council, which is helping spearhead the effort to organize families to attend. Chrisler said Tuesday she expects more than 100 gay and lesbian-headed families to take part in the egg roll."

3. "On CNN's "Larry King Live" this week, as "America's Pastor" Rick Warren did a soft shoe act on his role in the same-sex marriage battle over Proposition 8 in California.

"You know, Larry, there was a story within a story that never got told," he said. "In the first place, I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never will be. During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never – never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going."

All three true,and sad, all three sad but true, all three accountable to almighty God who does have a huge problem with homosexuality as He does with all sin, but this sin in particular, as it strikes at the only relationship on earth that displays Christ and the Church, marriage between a man and a woman, the way God created and designed it to be. So while colleges, the President of the United States and famous pastors accept what God rejects, we must make or own choice as to whom we will serve on this day!

blog you later.
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
sign up for podcast of radio show there

2.5 MILLION ENVELOPES, WILL THE PRESIDENT CARE?

It is being reported that the White House mail office has confirmed it received a "deluge" of as many as 2.25 million red envelopes symbolizing the empty promise of lives snuffed out in abortion in a massive campaign that was larger than most White House mailing movements in the last 35 years. So now the question becomes what will President Obama do about this? The answer, I am afraid, is nothing.

While I praise God for these and other efforts to display our disgust and angst at the murder of babies that happens every day in our country, I do not believe many understand this President and his ideology when it comes to the life of the unborn. Regardless of his nice smile and charismatic appeal, he has consistently taken the position of death for the unborn, and even death for those born! His continued voting against the infant born alive protection act, should be all any of us need to understand the man.

Any one that would vote against giving care for a baby born in a botched abortion is in a different league when it comes to life and death of children. While this should not stop people from doing all they can to let the voice of life be known, I think it would be more prudent at this point to do all you can to make sure this is a one term President! For sure he will advance the cause of death in his first term, let us hope, pray and work to see that this is the only shot he gets at the unborn!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcase sign up found at website

LIFE! STAND FOR IT!!

The Dignitas clinic, based in a Zurich apartment has assisted in over 100 deaths in Switzerland, and now they have officially arrived to where anyone with any sanity knew these places would. Yes, they are now going to "assist" in the suicide of a perfectly healthy human being who cannot stand the thought of living without their terminally ill spouse. The founder of this clinic Ludwig Minelli described suicide as a “marvellous opportunity” that should not be restricted to the terminally ill or people with severe disabilities. Here is Minelli on the idea of someone needing to be terminally ill to qualify for this procedure;

“It is not a condition to have a terminal illness. Terminal illness is a British obsession. As a human rights lawyer I am opposed to the idea of paternalism. We do not make decisions for other people. We should have a nicer attitude to suicide, saying suicide is a very good possibility to escape.”

So there you have it, suicide defined as a "very good possibility to escape". If you do not want to live without your spouse, or you are distressed over your job loss, or your favorite pet has been hit by a car, or for any reason at all you feel the need to escape, Mr Minelli is there to be sure you are able to kill yourself! This is the natural consequence and progression of the culture of death that is pervasive in so many cultures.

Once you can redefine the terms and make killing yourself more palatable, and even romantic, then you have won the argument. Suicide, once seen as a gross heinous cowardly act, is now seen as a noble, heroic and even compassionate act. And you can be sure the real victims of this debate are the young people of the world. Those who will have moments of despair where they feel they cannot go on, like most teenagers feel at some point in their young lives. It is at those moments when the ideology of sick people like Minelli will ring in their ears, and walk them to the brink of eternal disaster.

This is why there needs to be a stronger voice for life in the world today. A voice strong enough to drown out the sycophants like Minelli, Obama and others who would see death as a viable alternative from the womb to the nursing home. A voice that speaks from the Word of God that declares that life is a gift from God,precious and not to be tampered with. A voice that declares life is to be defended and fought for, exemplified by the Savior Jesus Christ who came to this earth to give what? Life, everlasting life! So my friends,in this culture of death, celebrate, defend and point people to the One who has life, is Life, and can give life eternally, the Lord Jesus Christ!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast of radio show available there

TRUTH CHECK FOR THE PRESIDENT, AS IF ANYONE CARES!

Not that this matters all that much, due to the incredible indifference to anything that President Obama says or does that contradicts his campaign promises, but it is worth noting anyway. You might remember the following quotes from the campaigning Obama;

"I can make a firm pledge," he said in Dover, N.H., on Sept. 12. "Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

Not any of your taxes? If you are making less than $250,000 a year, yet today there was a .61 cents tax per pack of cigarettes instituted! A Gallup survey of 75,000 people last year found that 34 percent of respondents earning $6,000 to $12,000 were smokers, and the smoking rate consistently declined among people of higher income. Only 13 percent of people earning $90,000 or more were smokers. In essence this new tax is hitting almost everyone under the $250,000 threshold! Yet you can be sure that all of those who have been hit with an amazing increase, will with eyes glazed over keep their unwavering support of this President, even as he continues to put his hand in their pocket and remove what little money they have left!

Just a few facts for those who still care about such mundane crazy things!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast of radio show available there

THE CHARM OFFENSIVE!

It is no secret that Washington D.C. does not understand Islam. There has been committee after committee looking into and interviewing people about this subject and time and again the ignorance is shocking. I remember an author on my radio show who was an expert in Islam and she had just testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the topic of Islam, and she asked the Senators if any of them had ever read the Koran, and of course none of them had. And this is not a problem particular to any one party, it is truly a bi-partisan problem. Well we see more evidence of the ignorance coming forth in Dennis Blair the Director of National Intelligence. In his first press conference last week he said the following concerning the release of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay;

"If we are to release them in the United States, you can't just sort of, as you said, put them on the street and there, but we need some sort of assistance to them to start a new life and not return to some of the conditions that may have inspired them in the first place."

That is truly amazing. He believes that we can give them some assistance that will keep them from returning to their ideology? He believes that there is some assistance that will change their desire to kill the great Satan, us? A desire they have been taught and indoctrinated in since birth! The lack of understanding here is frightening, as it clearly means that those who are manning the controls of our country now are indeed either out of touch, incompetent, or both.

Say what you want about former President Bush, but he understood the enemy. Our current President is a great speaker and a charming charismatic man, which is why someone with so little experience and qualification could gain the highest office in the land. But in spite of his charm he too will find out that it will not work with Islamists. The question is how high of a price we all will have to pay for him to learn that lesson?

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast of radio show found there

COWARDS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE!

It has happened again. In India a 16 year old girl was dragged out of her house by her Islamic Neighbors and burned to death, while her 14 year old sister was locked in her house and listened to her sisters scream for 20 minutes. So here we have another in a long line of attacks on a young girl by hypocritical Muslims who teach and believe you can marry a girl for an hour, a nice way to legitimize having an hour with a hooker. And the world watches in cowardice. Yes there were four arrested but that is not the point. The point is this crazed Sharia Law activity is progressing throughout the world and the world sucks it thumb looking for their binky, while young women are brutally tortured.

The best example of cowardice comes from our own U.S. Senate who last year looked into the tragedy in Somalia where a 13-year-old girl, Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow, was stoned in front of an African crowd of 1,000 as "punishment" for being the victim of a gang rape. Aisha, (probably named after the poor 9 year old who was repeatedly molested by the "prophet" Mohammad) was raped and killed for it, and the response from the Senate? A resolution! Yeah those are real helpful! A resolution that failed to even acknowledge the "Islamic supremacist ideology" behind the attack in Somalia, a nation which now is ruled by Islamic Shariah law from border to border!

This type of cowardice rises to the level of complicity in my view. So what should the response be? From those who follow Jesus should come the Gospel to the Muslim community, but there should also be a commitment to defend life. These poor girls are no different from babies in the womb being murdered, and just as helpless. The true followers of Jesus need to act on the truth that to die is gain and be willing to see that Scripture come to reality in their own life, if necessary in defending those that cannot defend themselves. To not do so, is to our eternal shame!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld
radio show podcast sign up there

FINAL UPDATE FROM THE PHILIPPINES!

Hello to all and this will be the final update from the Philippines. Today was the Pastors conference and praise God there was an overflow crowd and they ran out of chairs. Amazingly many came back from last year’s conference. Today there were well over 100 churches represented by pastors and leaders. I spoke four sessions as follows;

Session I. Integrity with Doctrine – that the pastors must get their doctrine right and fight for it in their churches.

Session II Integrity with the Order of their churches. This was interesting as it is where I made it clear to the brothers that a woman should not be a pastor, because that is what God says, and the response was fantastic, with pastors asking questions and determining to teach their people this.

Session III Integrity when opposed. This was teaching the men to live a life that stands up against unfair accusation

Session IV Integrity in giving, This was teaching the pastors what to teach their people about giving.

After each session there was a robust question and answer session. Many pastors came up to me asking me what to do in certain situations in their churches. The great news is that I am confident that there are over 100 churches here whose pastors are encouraged and determined to preach right doctrine and to have Gods order in their churches. This is all very humbling to me that God would use me and my family this way. Me by being able to go and my family willing to sacrifice and see me go.

Praise God the leader of the group that invited me asked the pastors who would come back if we did a part 3 to this subject and I believe every pastor said they would come back. So they have asked me to return to do a three-day conference here and out in the provinces where not many people are willing to go and speak to pastors.

Thank you all for your support and prayers, I am really looking forward to getting home to my family.

as always to donate;
Action Int
PO Box 398
Mountlake Terrace, WA
98043-0398
Crouse Acct 42023A
Or donate online at
http://www.actionintl.org

update #4 from the Philippines-A divine Appointment!

Today I was with Adam Hussey and we were to go to his youth group, which is about one hour outside of Manila. After going with him to the mall where he received a much-needed haircut we began looking for a cab. Due to my back I need a taxi instead of the other transportation available to travel that far out, as the drivers in Manila do not go out to Antipolo where we had to go. The first driver we asked, Sonny, said yes he would take us.

During the drive he tells us he too is born again, which we praised God for, but it was also clear he was not where he had been when he lived in Canada, where he had just gotten back from. He is a Philippino who had to come back due to health concerns. Well we asked him to stay with us when we got out to where we were going, as it would be impossible for us to get a taxi and I also sensed the need for him to hear the Word of God.

The youth service was wonderful. There were about 25 youth there and they put on a skit for us that brought tears to my eyes. Adam is doing a great work out there and he is seen by them as their youth pastor, they all love him. But I noticed during the singing that our driver Sonny was singing with his eyes closed worshipping.

On the drive home we made small talk and then dropped Adam off, and Sonny and I had another few miles to go. About three to five minutes after we dropped Adam off, Sonny began to weep and confess to me that he was struggling with sin. He confessed that he was no longer active in church like he had been for the two years in Canada. When we got to the Shell station where he was to drop me off. We talked some more, he cried some more; he confessed some more, we prayed some more. He was praising God when I left him and we agreed that we would again see each other in Heaven. I know for sure that Sonny is one reason the Lord brought me here. Pray for him as he battles his flesh and desires to again walk rightly with the Lord!

For His Glory,
Pastor Tom

as always to donate;
Action Int
PO Box 398
Mountlake Terrace, WA
98043-0398
Crouse Acct 42023A
Or donate online at
http://www.actionintl.org

PHILIPPINES UPDATE # 3 , TODAY I MET TWO HEROES OF THE FAITH!

Hello to all from the Philippines. This is my third update and one of a different sort. I am staying at the Martin Burnham New Tribes Mission guest house in Manila. Martin is the missionary who was killed during a rescue attempt for him and his wife as they had been held captive by the Abu-Sayef terrorist group that is very active here in the Philippines. His wife Gracia has a foundation with a website worth visiting at http://www.graciaburnham.org/index.asp. Their story is inspiring to say the least.

At this mission guest house are missionaries from New Tribes and other places, but primarily New Tribes. When I got back tonight I ran into a couple staying here, Lance and Laura Ostman. The are missionaries to the Higaunon tribal people on the island of Mindanao, a heavily Muslim area and very dangerous. As it is with New Tribes they went to this tribe that had never seen white people in 1983! Here are some quotes from the people they went to reach;

"Only one person has ever been said to make it to heaven without dying, but he was sent back because he complained that there was no work for him to do there. In many ways, we fear the tee-noo-mah-nun because of what the spirits tell us we have to do, like having to sacrifice our seven year old children to them and going without food for long periods of time. They would have us go on long pilgrimages through the forest in search for a promised pathway to heaven. Many of our ancestors have died during the tee-noo-mah-nun, but we have no other hope."

"We are really scared of sickness because we have so much of it. We do not name our children until they are about 2 years old because we know that they will have constant sickness and be likely to die before that age. Sometimes, in order to obey the taboos, we have to bury our children at birth.

For instance if a baby has its umbilical cord wrapped around its neck at birth, that is a bad omen and the baby must be buried. We have to crush up some ginger root and stuff it down the babies throat and then place it in a shallow grave under the house. We don't like doing this because many times we hear the baby screaming from under the ground for a long time.

"We also have to worship and obey our ancestral spirits because they control every part of our lives."

This was the state of these people when the Ostmans went to them. The reason I write of them is tonight I found out that the completed translation of the New Testament will be finished in the language of these people who when they went there had no language. After 26 years the translation work by the Ostmans and others is finished, and praise God they have 800 people in the village who have requested copies. Twenty six years spent developing a language, learning it, teaching it and translating the complete New Testament. The Ostmans are taking a one week vacation next week, and then they will be seeking where God wants them to go next. Amazing, humbling, inspiring! That is twenty six years well spent in service to the Lord, the fruit of which will be the Word of God to be used for generations until the Lord comes. This should make us all take a look at how we are spending our lives for the Lord!

blog you later
Pastor Tom

as always to donate;
Action Int
PO Box 398
Mountlake Terrace, WA
98043-0398

Crouse Acct 42023A

Or donate online at
http://www.actionintl.org

UPDATE # 2 FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Hello again from the Philippines. Well the ACTION conference is over. I spoke 5 times over 4 days, and God moved mightily. This was a conference for the missionaries from ACTION that are working here in the Philippines. I had many comments about how much this meant to people. It seemed that Gods timing for this was perfect for many which should not surprise us. I also spend much time counseling with the missionaries, who as one put it, “had not been able to speak to a pastor for two years!” So there was counseling covering a variety of issues that the Lord allowed me to minister to these dear brothers and sisters.

Next will be visiting and speaking to various ministries, a pastors meeting on Friday, a pastoral meeting that afternoon, a youth meeting on Saturday, with Adam Hussey, then speaking at Higher Rock Church on Sunday, this is a great reformed church of about 300-350, then the CGM Pastors conference on Monday, and I am told again the sign up looks great, last year we were over capacity and had over 200 pastors. Tuesday will be with a missionary in the squatter area, the poorest of the poor, then a visit to a factory that one of our missionaries oversees as a way to provide employment to the locals, and then Wed. it will be flying home.

Please be in prayer for us as my next trip will be in May to will be to speak to 40 pastors who live in the much-persecuted area of Orissa. Also as always pray for our financial support, this month has not been great as far as giving, but we know the Lord is in control. To support us see the information below.

Thanks again for all the prayers and financial support.

For His Glory,
Pastor Tom

Action Intl
PO Box 398
Mountlake Terrace, WA
98043-0398

Crouse Acct 42023A

Or donate online at
http://www.actionintl.org

DISGUSTED IN MANILA!

All right, I know I was going to try to stick with updates from the Philippines, and I will get back to that soon, although I am unsure of my web access after today for a while. But I could not ignore what I have discovered when it comes to the latest homosexual advance on the children of our culture. It seems that you can go to an online site, shockwave.com and play a free trial online version of the game of Life. Many of you will remember that game where you had the car and family and traveled across the hills of the board to get to the end. Well in the new online version when you pick your person to be in the game, you have the choice of spouses that includes a same sex spouse. So young children playing the game will get the message that it is OK to have a same sex spouse. And the game will even add children to that relationship. One parent whose six year old child discovered this perversion comments;


"You know how kids are. My daughter noticed right away (even before I did) and clicked on one of the girls instead of one of the men and then asked, 'Mom, how come I can marry a woman?' And then that led into a lot more questions that, quite frankly, I was not ready to talk to my 6-year-old about."

I am sure the homosexual activists are popping open champagne bottles when they hear stories like this. Another six year old has been exposed to homosexual relationships being normal. And what safer more effective venue than a game? It is a disgusting reality of the times we live in that young children are being targeted by these depraved individuals. And it is more disgusting that the church is such a coward when it comes to this war. Yes it is a war for the souls of children and the church is in the corner sucking its thumb not wanting to offend anyone. In the meantime child after child is left to consider if they too might be homosexual. God in His sovereignty has placed us in this moment of history, and I believe we will all be called to give an account of what we did during this time. And I do not think saying, " I did not offend anyone" will be the answer the Lord is looking for!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld,com

UPDATE # 1 FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Hello from the Philippines. Yesterday was an eventful one as we got up at 4:00 am and went to catch the boat that was taking us to the island where the Bible College was that I was to speak at. Once on the Island it was a two-hour very cramped ride on roads that were less than friendly. To say the least it was difficult on my back, but we made it to the College. Once there I spoke to the 25 students from 1 Timothy 1:3-7, encouraging them to stay at the churches God would put them in and fight bad doctrine.

You never know how the Lord is going to work, as when I had finished the President of the College wanted to speak with me, and he proceeded to tell me that the Lord had used the message to encourage him to stay at the college. It seems that his friends and peers were encouraging him to leave as it is not the most glamorous of places, or jobs, for that matter but it is important. I spoke with him for some time and encouraged him in the work he was doing, and pointed out if all of the good godly people leave the hard places, what would happen? And I also pointed out to him that God loves to put His people in hard places. We left him very encouraged and recommitted to the ministry God had called him and his family to, praise God!

We never know how God will use what we do. I was focused on speaking to the students, but it is clear to me that the Lord had us there for this brother. Our job is to show up and be willing to go where He sends and do what He calls us to do. He will do things beyond our wildest imaginations or expectations. I have been asked to come back to the college to teach a week of classes and to also conduct some pastor’s conferences so we will be praying for all of that.

Besides all of this I have already visited three different ministries that Action is involved with here, and I have some short-term opportunities for those interested in building a little church where people now meeting in an apartment could meet. The area is very rough and a great place for a church.

That is all for now, more updates to follow as access to the net exists. Thanks so much for support and interest, as always we could very much use any financial support the Lord would put on your heart to give as currently our personal financial needs are great, but so is our God and we count it a privilege to be able to serve His church and His pastors in this capacity. I pray that you see the importance of that and would join us in this work.

For His Glory,
Tom & Cheryl
As always to support this ministry write to

Action Intl
PO Box 398
Mountlake Terrace, WA
98043-0398

Crouse Acct 42023A

Or donate online at
http://www.actionintl.org

SO WHAT IS THE RESPONSE SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN SOMEONE SHOOTS AND KILLS YOUR PASTOR?

As I sit here in the Taiwan airport waiting to leave for Manila and two weeks of speaking to pastors at conference, meetings and churches, I am still thinking of the shooting that took place at First Baptist in Maryville Illinois. The pastor Fred Winters was killed as 27 year old Terry J. Sedlacek walked into the church, came down the aisle and began to shoot at the pastor. After two shots, congregants sprang into action, without a doubt sparing lives. While I am comfortable that this pastor is home with the Lord and to die is gain, I am also aware that this type of activity is becoming more common place in our country. Jeff Hawkins, the executive director of the Christian Security Network says hundreds of church leaders have told him about all kinds of attacks they have recently faced, from arson's and burglaries to assaults on members and church leaders. In the first two months of 2009, churches have described more than 140 acts of violence to the Network, he said. In one incident, congregants noticed a person dressed inappropriately for the weather and acting odd. The man was taken outside and questioned. Under his coat, he had two machetes strapped to his back. "He said that he had been hearing the devil speaking to him, telling him to cut the pastor's head off," Hawkins said. "There was no struggle, and everything was calm. The man was removed.

This is a sign that persecution is no longer coming, it is not any longer on the way, but in fact it is here. We are no longer speaking about Hindus in India attacking the pulpit and beating the pastor to near death. This is not a discussion of Muslims in the middle east killing the men of God who have the courage to proclaim Gods Word. This is now people coming to church in the United States of America and seeking to do harm, even fatal harm to those who preach and teach the Word of God, and any who follow such men. That being the reality, what is to be our response?

We are to praise God, take heart and receive all of it with great joy. This was and is our Saviors instruction to those of us He has called to carry a cross and follow Him. The Word of God is clear when the Apostle Paul tells Timothy that, "everyone , who desires to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted". Note the words "everyone" and "will be". These actions against preachers and pastors and believers, are the predicted consequence for being a follower of Jesus Christ. Sure, some will try to explain it away with mental illness, or the effect of Lyme disease, or abusive childhoods, and those might all be true at some level, but the real truth is that this is what is supposed to happen to the followers of Christ. It is the blood of His children that birthed the church, and keeps it going.

As we see and even experience some of this activity against us, let us be clear on our responsibilities. Yes, we are to defend the defenseless, so if there is opportunity to defend and save life, we are to take it and with all that is within us, protect the innocent and those who cannot defend themselves. Praise God for the men of the First Baptist Church in Maryville Illinois who sprang into action, at their own peril and suffering. They saved lives, and that is right for us to do. We also are called to use our minds, and be smart in our thinking through these issues as a church. But most importantly, most critically is our responsibility to rejoice. We need to get to the place where, like the apostles, we rejoice that we could ever be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ! That ought to be the goal of our lives. To be in the place where persecution causes us joy and rejoicing. Where we marvel in amazement that He would grant us the privilege to suffer for His name sake. Paul the apostle would pray for suffering to come his way. He wanted to know Christ and His sufferings, and the Lord certainly answered that prayer.

When was the last time you prayed to know Christ and His sufferings? The world would say that was crazy, and sadly some Christians will tell you the same thing. But the Lord knows and the Apostle Paul learned that the greatest joy was found in the most intimate knowledge of Christ, and that, brothers and sisters is found in suffering on account of His great Name!

I will endeavor to blog from Manila and update on all that going on over here for the glory of God, as many of you who read this blog are supporters financially or in prayer or in both, and have asked me to blog on these trips, so that is my goal.

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
(sign up for podcast of radio show there)

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DEATH SIGNING!

You have to give President Obama credit for one thing, being true to his convictions. I have said for over a year on my radio show and here at this blog that he is the most liberal, socialist, communistic, pro death candidate we have ever seen. While his socialist economic policies have tanked Wall Street faster than any new President in our history, it his love of death that is worth paying attention to. The economic stuff will only limit him to one term, thank God, but his attack on life will be much harder to correct.

In his first week of office he reversed the Bush policy on foreign abortions known as the Mexico City Policy. That prohibited forcing taxpayers to finance foreign groups that promote or perform abortions in other nations. Now in his second act in this drama of death known as his Presidency, Barak Obama will sign an executive order on Monday that will force taxpayers to fund destructive embryonic stem cell research. Not so amazing or surprising is that President Obama is reversing President Bush's strategy of putting money into Adult Stem Cell research, that is the only research that has proven successful and has been used already to treat people with more than 100 different diseases and medical conditions. Like with his economic policy that is implementing strategy that has never worked, see Japan in the 1990's, Obama is traveling the same dead end road with Embryonic Stem Cell research.

I understand the Presidents attraction to this research, as it is consistent with his record of voting for death and against life. But we need to understand that the next step will be the introduction of the idea of creating embryos simply for research. You see this slippery slope does not stop, not when you have as radical a President as we now have. My hope is simple, it is that Americans who fawn and fall over themselves at the mention or sight of President Obama, will look past the teleprompter charm and look at the mans policies and goals, as when it comes to the issue of life they are evil. His economic policies are simply tried and true, wrong, but his policies on life are down right evil, as he is a proponent of death. The sooner we all understand that the quicker we will be able to say, "former President Obama", and that will mean more babies have the chance to live!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com (where you can now sign up for pod casts of the radio show)

BEING A WITNESS FOR CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF A NATION GIVEN OVER TO MARXISM!

As President Obama takes the country into a level of socialist Marxism that has never before been seen, there are some practical consequences worth mentioning. First, I believe and predict, given the governments grab of banks and houses, there will be a federal law passed in the not too distant future that will require anyone selling a house to have a government official show up and set the price. As redistribution of wealth takes hold you will see the continued demonizing of business and profit. There will be a government set threshold of what is an acceptable profit to be made on the sale of a house and you will not be able to cross that threshold. While some of you might think that to be impossible, think again. Consider what it is that the government now owns, and ask yourself did you ever believe that could happen?

But a more important and meaningful consequence will be the realization of what Gods Word says about money being true. That is riches and money fly away on the wings of eagles. That you cannot love money and God, and in fact the love of money will lead one to a dead end of disappointment and heartache. I believe that these will be great times for the spreading of the gospel and the growth of Gods Church. As Gods people are immune to the soon coming depression, increasing numbers of people will be attracted to that inoculation and will wonder how it can be so, which will be our chance to share the power of Jesus Christ that is beyond economic conditions. It is as simple as this, when this world is not your home and you are laying up treasures for yourself in Heaven and not this earth, you can live with great joy regardless of the ebb and flow of an economy. When you, like the Apostle Paul have learned the secret of contentment, whether you have much or little, which is doing all things through Christ your strength, you are ready to be the means used by God to bring others to faith in Him.

So, when the government man comes one day to tell you that there is a cap on what you can sell your house for, you can stand before him and declare; " the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord!"

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
podcast of radio show found at website

"RAPELAY" A REAL GAME THAT YOUR CHILD COULD DOWNLOAD AND PLAY! TIME TO MAKE YOUR HOME CYBERSAFE!

There is a PC game in Japan that has been on the market since 2006, and though only to be marketed in Japan, found its way to the British market via Amazon.com. Amazon has decided due to the outcry about the game to not sell it through their company. The game is called "Rapelay" and here are a few descriptions of what players are able to do in the game;

"In Rapelay, gamers direct a character to sexually assault a mother and her two young daughters at an underground station, before raping any of a selection female characters.

Rapelay, encourages players to force the virtual woman they rape to have an abortion. If they are allowed to give birth the woman throws the player's character under a train, according to reviews of the game. It also has a feature allowing several players to team up against individual women."

Just when you believe you cannot be shocked, something like this surfaces. There are no words to describe the depravity of this game and its creators. But it does remind us of the need to be aware of just what our children are doing when they are online. Can you imagine the damage done and the perverted ideology and indoctrination of a young mind that a "game" like this would produce? Mom and Dad, you need to know what is happening online with your kids. While there a number of filtration products for you computers, there is only one that actually monitors in real time what is happening online with your children.

Cybersafe Home is a product that not only allows you to monitor all activity on your child's computers, from screen shots to conversations to the playing of perverted games like this, but it allows you to monitor from anywhere in the world. Once you have downloaded CyberSafe Home monitoring software on your child's computer you can from anywhere in the world go online and see what they are doing within seconds of their actual activity. The stakes have never been higher and the investment never more worth it. Go to www.cybersafehome.com and download this software on your child's computer, your family computer and any other computer used by someone you love and care for.

Rapelay is a sign of the dark and wicked times in which we live. Thank God there is something out there that allows parents to fight back and protect what is most precious, our children!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com
radio show podcast can now be signed up for at
engaging your world website!

STAND UP TO THE BULLY OF ISLAM!!

Two newspaper executives have turned themselves in to be arrested for reprinting an article written by Johann Hari. Hari took issue with the actions of the "prophet" Mohammad in his article. Here is one of his sentences;

"I don't respect the idea that we should follow a 'prophet' who at the age of 53 had sex with a 9-year old girl and ordered the murder of whole villages of Jews because they wouldn't follow him," Hari wrote.

The two newspaper executives were arrested due to complaints from local Muslims. My question is why would they be arrested for reprinting some that is historically been proven to be true? There is no debate about the fact that Mohammad married and had sexual relations with nine year old Aisha. In fact you do not have to search far to find clerics today who will defend the action and call for marriages for girls even younger. So if that is true why arrest these men? Why? Because Islam is a bully religion that seeks to intimidate the world. They seek to convert at the edge of the sword and have brought much of the world to their knees in fear. You only have to look to Europe for proof.

What is needed are people to speak the truth to the bully, stand up to him. Mohammad was a pedophile, what else do you call a fifty three year old man having sex with a nine year old girl? There might be other terms but pedophile fits quite nicely. The problem we have in our world is far too few people willing to speak the truth for fear of their lives. But of all people the followers of Jesus Christ should be the most fearless in speaking the truth. As we know to die is gain, it is the best day of our existence. We have not been duped into believing there are seventy virgins waiting for us after we blow ourselves up. We know the Word of God that reveals to us that God sees it as precious when His children die and go home to be with Him.

So brothers and sisters speak the truth of the Gospel, that there is no other way to God but through Jesus Christ. And do not be afraid to speak the truth about a man as sick and twisted as the "prophet" Mohammad. Maybe there are those following him who are not aware of all of his peculiar activities, which would range from sex with young children to genocide! Maybe there are adherents to Islam who if they knew the truth of their "prophet" would reconsider and exchange their faith from following a false prophet who will lead them to Hell, to receiving Christ as their Savior who will lead them to everlasting life in the New Heaven and the New Earth!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

ps.. you can now sign up for my radio shows podcast at the above website

blog you later

IN TIMES LIKE THESE....

These are interesting times. For many people they have never seen worst economic times, and things are likely to get worse, maybe even catastrophically worse. So the question becomes, how are followers of Christ to react in times like this? I believe it is in these times that the body of Christ can shine. This is the time for the followers of Jesus to give more, not less to their churches. This is the time for the Church to gear up for the many ministry opportunities that recession and even depression will bring. We have seen many years of narcissistic, irresponsible spending and living. We have lived in a culture where people were encouraged and did borrow when they could not pay back.

Now is the time for us to stand out for the glory of God. Let me suggest some ways that we might do that;

1. Speak about owning responsibility. No one is talking about it being the responsibility of the person who received the loans and monies that they now cannot pay back. We should be the ones calling people back to that.

2. Speak of the Sovereignty of God. He is in control and raises up nations and He brings them down for His glory.

3. Speak the Gospel. Things, money, stuff, will all rust and go away, what remains is what matters and that is the souls of men and women. We are born sinners in Adam, we confirm that sin in our deeds and thoughts, and God to demonstrate His love for sinners sent Jesus Christ to the Cross to pay for the sins of all that are His. Share this good news in your conversations with your unbelieving friends, as it is times like these that the Lord will often be opening their ears to hear!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

BEYOND THE PERSONALITY, HERE IS THE POLICY!

As President Obama begins his "magical" term, I feel it is important to watch this President as it relates to decisions and policy. We all know and have seen the power of his personality and charisma. The case could be made that this is the basis of his being elected, as he has no serious record or experience that would garner such a position. That being the case, it is probable if not likely that much of what he does could get lost in that very same magnetism. There has not been a President who has less accountability to and scrutiny by the press. Some would even charge the press with covering up the radical relationships that Obama had in order to see that he was elected.

All of that begs for us to do our own homework in watching and taking note of what this President does in the area of policy. The good news is that now there will be decisions and policies that he must decide on. The bad news is that many of those will be in direct opposition to good family values. Now I understand that many of us are tired of politics as it has been the longest political season of our lives. But I feel that it is important to know what this President is actually doing, so as policy is made that is noteworthy, I will make note of it here. And here we go from the wires;

"Obama will sign the executive order on the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states. The policy, known in governmental circles as the "Mexico City policy," requires any non-governmental organization to agree before receiving U.S. funds that they will "neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."

In one of President Obama's first moves, he is making sure that we can now give funds to countries that use abortion as family planning. Where President Bush made sure that we would not give funds to countries who use abortion as a way to control the population, our new President right away made sure that we do give funds to those countries. Because this President is rabidly pro-abortion! And underneath all of the charisma and personality, that is the TRUTH!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

AN HISTORIC WEEK!

This will be a historic week as the first black President is inaugurated. Regardless of the fact that he is half black and half white, it is still seen as historic, remarkable, and validating for all of those whose lineage is marred by the perversion that is slavery. For those whose ancestors were ripped from their countries, taken captive and stolen away for a land far away by boat, this is history of the kindest and most magnificent sort. But there is also history this week that sadly will be quite tied to this historic President. It is this week that the 36th anniversary of the tragedy known as Roe v. Wade will be observed. It is this week that another year will be marked, which means the remembrance of millions of people who were also ripped from their homeland much like those slaves, and quite unlike the slaves, all of these people were not only ripped away from home, but they were all murdered.

And quite unlike slavery, this practice is still going on, with no end in sight. Which brings me to the tie between both historic observations. This historic President, unfortunately, while vehemently disagreeing with the first form of slavery, is quite in favor of the right of the second. He is the most pro abortion President to ever sit in office, and in fact he has declared that one of the first things he will do as President is to see the Freedom of Choice Act enacted, making abortions easier to obtain and more affordable. The contrast, while stark and troubling, is acceptable even to those who believe in life, displaying the incredible power of a friendly face, a nice smile and the right pigmentation of skin. Yes this will be a historic week. And while millions will celebrate across the nation, millions more will line up to be murdered under the watch, and "power" of this historic President!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

"LIKE A VIRGIN, TOUCHED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME?"

This has to take the cake as far as sad and pitiful. A 22 year old woman is auctioning off her virginity. That is right, she is going to pick someone to give her virginity to, and the person will be someone who bids for this on ebay. The sad truth is that over ten thousand people have bid and there is one bid that is three point seven million dollars for this right. This woman who uses an anonymous name claims she will use the funds to help her graduate education and also her sisters education. Amazingly she claims that this will also help her in the marriage and family therapy career she seeks to have.

The legality of all of this is without question since she is going to do this at the bunny ranch in Nevada where prostitution is legal. Prostitution in the right word as that is what you call it when a woman sells her body. The price does not make it any more of a noble cause. While it certainly is sad, there is another point to be made and that is the high value of virginity in the world. You might not believe that there is high regard for virginity if you follow the media and track young people and their sexual activities. But this shows something much different. It shows that it is highly regarded when someone is a virgin. Sure this is a sick way to have this point made, but I believe the point is made any way. Society does still consider virginity to be of great value. The perceived lack of respect for it, is probably due to so many who have lost that privilege and are jealous of any who still maintain it.

I wonder where the parents are in all of this. I wonder about the fall out, damage, and pain from all of this. But I do not wonder that Gods will and design is for a man and a woman to maintain their virginity until the day they are married. That is His best for His children. So while the world perverts His great design, let those who know Him use times and stories like this to spark conversation about God's design and plan for His creation.

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

A TIME TO RESOLVE!

As we come upon another new year it is correct form for people to look back and take stock of their lives. Critique the last year and note the progress or lack thereof.
And of course it is the time to look ahead and make those resolutions. What it is that we resolve to do in the coming year? I want to challenge us at the end of 08 and the beginning of 09 to also make some resolutions, but in a new and different way.

Jonathan Edwards was one of the greatest theological minds America has ever or ever will see. He was also a tremendous preacher of the Word of God. It is said that he would read his sermons in near monotone, word for word from a manuscript he had written out. Yet God moved mightily when he preached. He was neither the most charismatic of preachers nor the most entertaining in form and style, yet God moved when the man spoke.

The question is why? Why did God move so mightily when Edwards opened the Word? In looking for the answer we want to be careful to not seek some magic formula for growth or key to success. What we should want is to know what Edwards had that we can learn and take note of. Here it is; I believe what Edwards had was a list of resolutions. He made some seventy or more resolutions at a very young age. In his early twenties he resolved to do some things, and not to do some others. As we approach the New Year I thought it might be helpful if we took a look at a few of his resolutions, and maybe make them our own. Edwards resolved, and then did his best to live out what he had resolved to God. Here are a few to consider making your own, with passion as Jonathan Edwards did.
Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live
Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell
Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good
Resolved, never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump
Resolved, never willfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions
Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking
Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be
May God bless you all this coming year!
Pastor Tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

TRUTH MATTERS!

One week after telling National Public Radio his view of same-sex unions is shifting, Richard Cizik has resigned as vice president for governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals. This has come as no surprise to many within the NEA as Cizik was under fire for his global warming views. But the question is, how do those who hold views that are clearly anti-scripture, get such high positions of authority and acceptance within the evangelical world?

Here is a man who believes in unions between homosexuals and describes his views on the subject as "shifting". The Word of God is not shifting on the issue of homosexuality, nor is it shifting on the issue of marriage. The Lord has made it crystal in His Word that homosexuality is a sin. A sin that is forgivable in Christ Jesus, but a sin nonetheless. If a person were to die without the Lord Jesus Christ they would be sent to a forever hell for unforgiven sins like homosexuality and others. And God is also very clear on the issue of marriage and sexual relations within marriage. It is for a man and a woman, and never for a man and a man, or a woman and a woman.

Yet Cizik and other prominent people within evangelicalism do all they can to find a way to make everyone happy, at the expense of Gods Word. It causes there to be a blurring of what it means to be an evangelical. I am no longer comfortable being called an evangelical, not while people like Cizik, Brian McClaren, Rob Bell and others of like mind are called the same. The apostle Paul says in Galatians 1:8-9 that those who preach and teach a different gospel are to be accursed. He says it twice, highlighting the seriousness of the charge.

What is needed today are men of courage, like those of yesteryear who posted the 95 these to the church door. People who gave their lives for the truth of Gods Word, not willing to compromise, regardless of the cost. So while people like Cizik are out in public spreading the pablum they call truth, there is a great opportunity for the people of God to proclaim the truth, being the light that they are called to be. The contrast will be stark and dramatic, and God will draw people to the truth, as He is the Truth and He is where the Truth is!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

PUTTING THEM OUT OF THEIR MISERY!

This past Friday a state District court in Montana ruled in favor of physician assisted suicide. From the wires:

"Montana's First District Court Judge Dorothy McCarter, the Associated Press reports, declared in the case of Baxter et al. v. Montana that mentally competent, terminally ill Montanans may self-administer life-ending medication and that doctors who prescribe such medications need not fear criminal prosecution"

The quotes are self explanatory as to the ideology behind all of this. Robert Baxter 75, who suffers from leukemia and brought the lawsuit;

"It's always been a very important thing with me," says Baxter in Compassion & Choices Magazine. "I've just watched people suffer so badly when they died, and it goes on every day. You can just see it in their eyes: 'Why am I having to go through this terrible part of my life, when we do it for animals? We put them out of their misery.'

"I just feel if we can do it for animals," Baxter said, "we can do it for human beings."

"A mentally competent, terminally ill Montanan should have the right to choose a peaceful death, when confronted by death," Kathryn Tucker, Compassion & Choices director of legal affairs.

Attorney Mark Connell, who filed the suit on Baxter's behalf, told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, "The question in our minds is whether the Montana State Constitution's explicit guarantees of privacy and human dignity give the patient the choice to decide how his life is going to end."

It further propagates the culture of death that we live in. Life is further devalued in this ruling, which makes it easier to discard. This is the consequence of a society that has no regard for God. Once God has been ignored, and marginalized, once God has been discarded, all bets are off. There is an increasing lack of order and rule, along with the cheapening of life. We ought not be surprised, but in fact we all should be preparing for the battles ahead. It will not be long before this culture will goose step down the road of a perfect race. Once God is gone and life has no value, the next casualty will be the weak and infirmed. Those who are mentally or physically challenged. It will be presented as doing them a favor, in not allowing them to live in such a painful disabled life.

Regardless of the many great stories like Joni Erikson Tada, there will an elimination of the weak. After that there will be an elimination of those who do not look like culture says they are supposed to. As Hitler sought a blond haired blue eyed super race, so a culture of new Hitlers will seek to do the same. Though the description of what is perfect might have changed, the methods, goals and ideology will be the same. And as they say in Montana, it is just like is done to animals, putting them out of their misery. The problem here is most people have no idea of the real misery that is on the way!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com

A SICK GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS!

This is the time of year theoretically that people are celebrating the birth of Christ. In truth most people are simply celebrating materialism and going into debt to give gifts that people will forget in a matter of days or weeks. Of course the exception is there are families for whom this is a meaningful time of year and the gifts are the out pouring and overflow of a real genuine love for Jesus. Whatever the paradigm for the season, this year there is a gift that goes beyond the pale of decency.

The Indiana chapter of Planned Parenthood is offering gift certificates for their services as stocking stuffers! While they will advocate that they offer a host of services, there is no getting around the horrific truth that there will be people who will use these certificates to help pay for abortions. Which means that in the celebration of the birth of Christ, there will be people, in the name of Jesus Christ's coming to this earth, Emmanuel, God with us, will give someone the means to kill their baby. Is it not ironic to think of celebrating the birth of a baby by paying to kill a baby? This is how upside down we have become in this country!

blog you later,
pastor tom
www.engagingyourworld.com