Why are Christians ignoring the ultimate moral-values issue?

I might suggest that any Christian theology or ethic that believes human beings are too puny to affect the planet’s ecosystem, that God will not let anything bad happen to us; that anything that happens (good or evil) is the result of God’s direct will and purpose, that social ethics and morality are unimportant, that gay marriage and judicial activism are the key values issues in 2008, or that nothing must be done to hinder or regulate the free market, is part of the problem, not part of the solution. That attitude needs to change before it is too late. For evangelicals, our responsibility is great indeed.

The above is the last paragraph of an article written by Dr. David Gushee; read the entire piece at abpnews.com

My "award winning" photo

OK, I know it may be a little hokie, but go to Sanibel Sunset to vote on my picture.

Willow Creek Repents?

Diana Butler Bass has a wonderful entry at God's Politics Blog regarding church congregational growth.

The article tells us again what today's "new" church generation is looking for - they want a church that is doing something meaningful, and taking the gospel seriously!

What Happened to You, Mr. President?

As Bush threatens to veto the bill expanding children's health care, read this excellent piece by Jim Wallis at the God's Politics Blog

Tonight's war message!

Tonight George Bush gets free air time for pushing his illegal and immoral war.

At 9:00 PM on MSNBC, John Edwards, Democratic candidate for president will challenge Bush's remarks with a strong call to end the war now.

My 09/11 anniversary experiences

Three incidents marred my observance of 09/11/01. The following statements prove to me we have learned very little in six years.

General Petraeus in his Iraq War report to Congress, when asked by a Republican senator, could not say that this country is safer because of what we have done in Iraq! He could not say this war was worth the lives that have been and will be lost.

A Buncombe County official interviewed by WLOS TV used the worn out line that it is better that we " fight them over there rather than over here." I am sick of such arrogant language to justify our self-serving attack on Iraq. That kind of talk says we have no concern for the millions of dead and displaced Iraqis.

I saw two of the despicable TV ads encouraging us to "not surrender" in Iraq. One of them tied Iraq to 9-11, which everyone knows is a lie. The other ad featured a soldier calling this country our "sacred USA." As a Christian I resent the use of that word in describing a geopolitical nation. By definition, sacred means "devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose." What kind of deity are we following that would lead us to implement the policies that this deranged administration has put into place - it is for sure not the God of the Bible known through the Prince of Peace! And this President, who believes that God led him to invade Iraq, and to stay there indefinitely, also is following a different God than the one known through Jesus Christ!

Another reason to grieve on 9/11

abpnews.com

Bush just playing us with 'troop withdrawal'

Read and listen to Keith Olbermann's commentary that relates to my previous entry (September 4).

Bush admits he is playing!

Today Bush headlined his Iraq photo-op with a comment about possibly reducing troop levels. But in the new biography, "Dead Certain," he says he is playing until November or December to get those running for president to have to adopt his war.

This puppet president is playing with billions of dollars and countless lives to further his neo-con agenda, to keep this war going indefinitely so Cheney's military-industrial complex can continue to flourish and to keep on making fools of all of us.

Could I be on Wiley's list?

Would someone ask Wiley Drake what it takes to get on his imprecatory prayer list? I would really like to see how much power he has with calling down all that wrath and stuff!

My wife thinks I should be on that list! I think it is because I subscribe to the philosophy of "I had rather be hated than ignored."

An Encounter With (Insert Scary Music) ... Socialized Medicine

God's Politics Blog

Is Our Country's Government Already a Theocracy?

Bush Makes God an Argument for Iraq War

A Dangerous Justification by Faith

Financial Cost of This Illegal and Immoral War

A new Congressional Research Service study reported that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now cost $12 billion per month. When that monthly price tag is compared to the $10 billion per year it would cost to educate the world's 800 million children under six years old, the contrast opens up a real debate on what truly makes for national and global security.

excerpt from Jim Wallis' God's Politics Blog

Bush and NPR

Yesterday the House of Representatives voted 357-72 to reject the Bush administration's plan to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This is a great example of how Bush/Cheney and the gang are so completely out of touch with, not only the American people, but also any sense of civility and concern for what is really important and right!

What about the 72 who voted to end the funding? That's simple - they have sold out totally or they have a constituency who also does not have a clue!

Party For The Planet

Click HERE

for information on the Virtual Town Hall on Climate, and details on the DVD screening this Saturday, July 7, 4:00 PM, at the Hendersonville library auditorium. The video is around 30 minutes and we will discuss it no more than 30 minutes (unless you want to stay longer). You can be on your way to dinner or other activities by 5:00 PM.

A Prayer for Independence Day

EthicsDaily.com

Is Cheney Part of the Executive Branch?

ABC News

This man is probably the most dangerous elected official the US government has ever known!

Impeaching Bush is a waste of time; but impeaching Cheney is probably well worth the time and energy, especially for the future of this country.

An Adventure in Freedom

Well, here I am again "blowing my own horn," (March 17 entry)!

July 1, I will be preaching a religious liberty sermon (title above)at Providence Baptist Church in Hendersonville NC.

I will post a link to the text of the sermon when I complete it; I invite all comments, suggestions and criticisms.

Baptist Seminary Homemaking Classes for Wives to Rescue Culture, Church

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

Here is another example of how religious fundamentalists' behavior can border on the ridiculous! Of course, I would expect no more from Paige Patterson or Al Mohler.

Colson Warns Southern Baptists About Islam, Atheism

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

This is what is wrong with religious fundamentalim. It perverts scripture and fabricates whatever necessary to maintain power and control.

Read this article and then read the next posted Robert Parham editorial!

Overcoming the Politics of Fear with Faith

Welcome to Ethics Daily.com!

Monday's Presidential Forum

The venue for tomorrow night's forum has changed; we will be at the Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville NC 28791-2301. The event will begin at 6:30 PM, the program runs from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and will be followed by a special conference call.

Directions to the Opportunity House

Presidential Forum on Faith Values, and Poverty Watch Party

Faith Guiding Our Vote: A Presidential Forum on Faith, Values, and Poverty will be broadcast June 4 on CNN from 7 PM to 8 PM Eastern time.

Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama -- will be joining Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners for a nationally televised conversation on faith, values, and poverty. And in hundreds of churches and homes across the country, people of faith like you and me will be gathering to watch the candidates address the issues that matter most to us.

I'm hosting a watch party -- can you come?

Click here to RSVP

The forum next week is the first of two upcoming forums with presidential hopefuls. A similar second forum that will feature top Republican contenders is to take place in Iowa in September.

"We are excited that the leading candidates will be meeting with faithful voters who are hungry for a real conversation about the big moral issues of our time," said Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners. "The forum will focus on faith and values, with a special emphasis on poverty. This conversation will offer faithful voters insights into each candidate’s moral compass and help to guide their decisions as they consider the candidates running for president of the United States."

Barry Lynn to visit WNC

Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State will be on the program of American Vision's National Conference tomorrow night at the LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. He will be debating "The First Amendment" with Herb Titus, former candidate for Vice-President of the United States. Along with Roy Moore, Titus was an original drafter of the Constitution Restoration Act, which sought to take out of federal court jurisdiction cases that involved public officials that acknowledged God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government, and provided for the impeachment of federal judges who disregarded the act.

A small group of WNC AU chapter members will be meeting with Barry Lynn tomorrow afternoon.

Seeking Common Ground for Patriots and Peacemakers on Memorial Day

EthicsDaily.com

'The Poor Will Save Our Souls'

I cannot remember the last time I gave any right wing politician credit for anything! But after reading this article, Sam Brownback's stock has jumped really high in my opinion of presidential candidates!

God's Politics Blog

Christian vs. Athiest Celebrity Death Match

God's Politics Blog

Bush's veto of the war funding bill

This man is not going to compromise and Democrats should not give in to his arrogance.

It is time for impeachment to be carefully considered!

Tony Campolo: Religious Leaders Propose a Way Out of Iraq

God's Politics Blog

Republicans who think like this have no integrity!

The Politico

Tax Day 2007 is behind us!

A headline this morning in one of my technology email sources was:

TurboTax's electronic filing overloads at last minute

I smiled to myself because I knew that I contributed to that overload problem last night!

I would like for all of us to consider what we are getting for our money as we file our tax returns. For every dollar we pay in federal income taxes, 36 cents goes toward past and present military spending. And people want to call this a Christian nation!

The following is a portion of today's email from the Sojourners/Call to Renewal folks:

We've all heard Jesus' warning: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). That gospel truth applies not only to individuals, but also to nations.

St. Thomas Sunday

This morning at Providence Baptist Church, I read as a call to worship the following piece written by Providence member Anne Westbrook.


My name is Thomas –
And I was there when they crucified my Lord
I saw Him – hands battered, side pierced,
Body broken and bloody. Dead.

My name is Thomas –
And I was absent on the evening of the third day –
And so- I didn’t hear his Shalom.
I didn’t see his scarred hands, his wounded side.
I didn’t feel the warmth my friends felt
When He breathed on them the Spirit.
When they told me, I didn’t believe He lived.

My name is Thomas –
I am humbled to say my Lord gave me a second chance.
He appeared again - and this time I was there.
I heard his Shalom - Peace be with you.
I felt His gaze.
I heard His voice – “Thomas,” he said,
“Stop doubting. Believe.”
Shaken, I could only cry, “My Lord and my God.”
It was enough. My Lord honored me
By accepting my belief, my poor belated belief.

My name is Thomas.
Hear me, my friends.
Stop doubting.
Believe!

The Victory

Following are excerpts from the final chapter of Jim Wallis' book, The Call to Conversion:

...we confront the world with the very life of the resurrected Christ among us... Every time we act upon Jesus' lordship in our lives, are reconciled to a brother or sister, refuse to be controlled by the economic system, deny the absolute authority of the state, claim Christ's freedom over our fear, tear down the walls of race, class, and sex, love our enemies, stand with the poor, or resist the violence of the nations by acting for peace - we are demonstrating the victory of Christ in the world...

...the resurrection ... validated the way of Jesus, establishing the authority of his Lordship. At the same time, the resurrection invalidated the authority of the system. It showed the world's way to be a lie. The world's definition of reality crucified Jesus. His resurrection proved that definition of reality to be false. Our system, too, has its definitions of reality - national security, economic expansion, political realism. The way of Jesus is thought to be as foolish today as it was in his day. His kingdom is totally alien to the present world order...

Christians Must Take Back The Faith

CNN Commentary

Fight All Forms of Religious Coercion

In Paul’s great letter on freedom to the church at Galatia, he starts what we call chapter 5 with these words: “For freedom Christ has set us free: stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery...” “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom for an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love, become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

This is the foundation we build on in our understanding of religious liberty. God will not coerce anyone to follow his way; and he will not bless a system that tries to force people to obey him and his ways. Jesus was repelled by all efforts to make him a ruler in order that he might force his kingdom on the world. In the Gospel of John (18:36), when Pilate was questioning Jesus about his authority, He told Pilate: “My kingship is not of this world. If it were, my supporters would have fought against my being turned over to the Jews. But my reign is not here.” Jesus brought no political message or program.


The above is an excerpt from the religious liberty sermon referred to in my March 16 entry.

Tuesday—April 10th—at 7:15pm Eastern, MoveOn is using the Internet to connect presidential candidates directly to the people.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, and Joe Biden will answer questions from MoveOn.org's 3.2 million members in the first of three unprecedented virtual town hall meetings. The topic: Iraq.

There will be a house party in Hendersonville with direct connections to the national event. Contact me at info@phillipallen.net for more information.

Believing the Resurrection

God's Politics Blog

Swift Boat donor's appointment sidesteps Congress

CNN.com

This is a prime example of how this arrogant "would-be" president has done everything in his power to keep the American people polarized. He has lied from the very beginning about what he wanted to do in this country.

History will destroy this man's legacy and I hope he lives to a ripe old age; I don't want him to miss any opportunity to have to face head-on the damage he and his neo-con buddies have done.

U.S.-Trained Colombian General Has Terrorist Ties

God's Politics blog

Southern Baptist Leader Terms Premature Troop Withdrawal Immoral

EthicsDaily.com

This article should give everyone a better picture of how Southern Baptist leadership has left the gospel in favor of a civil religion based on America as a chosen nation.

I am hoping that good people who have supported this crowd for so long will begin to see their agenda, and turn back to what the church should really be about!

Iraq War Anniversary

Tonight I participated in a vigil in downtown Asheville commemorating the end of four long years our country has been in this needless, illegal, immoral war. The only thing I feel and can say is we must not forget how we got into this war - deception and lies from an administration working day and night to take over this country.

We must not forget the countless atrocities this administration has committed in Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States!

Religious Liberty sermon

I have always felt that one should not "blow his own horn," but I guess another way of looking at it is that if I don't, no one will! Besides, I am always open and looking for comments, suggestions, criticisms.

Two weeks ago I spoke at the Fletcher (NC) Seventh Day Adventist Church for their annual religious liberty emphasis worship service. Following is the link to a video of the sermon:

FSDA sermon

Chuck Gutenson: Iran, Neocons, and Christianity

You should not miss this excellent article from the God's Politics Blog.

Ann Coulter's remark about John Edwards

There was something worse than what Ann Coulter said about John Edwards Friday at the American Conservative Union Political Action Conference. That is expected of her! What was worse is that she received applause and laughter from the audience. A large portion of the crowd actually approved of this hate monger's statement.

I actually really like it when things like this happen - it shows what kind of people right wingers really are!

It is reported that Coulter has sent out an email defending the statement as a joke; the only joke here is Ann Coulter!

Click HERE for video of the statement.

Symbolism Has Moral Power in Congressional Votes on Iraq

EthicsDaily.com

Just The Facts

God's Politics

Exxon-Mobil-Funded Think Tank Solicits Criticism of Report on Global Warming

Ethicsdaily.com

Onward Christian Warmongers

EthicsDaily.com

Bush Uses Fear Once Again!

EthicsDaily.com

Jim Wallis: State of the Union - Reactions in Davos

God's Politics Blog

Hearing God’s Voice

abpnews.com

This is a response to Pat Robertson's announcement of another conversation with God. It is written by Beth Newman, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond

Richard Land Doesn't Get Baptist 'Covenant'

EthicsDaily.com

Letter From The Birmingham City Jail

How can we grasp the main ideas of Martin Luther King? And how can we begin to apply these ideas to the problems facing us and all people in the world today?

Go HERE to read the original first version of the letter written by King alone, over a period of a few days, apparently without notes, while he was held prisoner in the Birmingham City Jail on charges related to his activities in organizing an economic boycott in support of racial desegregation. A prestigious group of mainstream religious leaders had published a severe criticism of him and his methods, and King was highly motivated to respond.

In this letter he presents twelve of his most important concepts, and he summarizes each of them in a few well-chosen words. Go HERE for the summary.

Bush's legacy: The president who cried wolf

Countdown with keith Olbermann

Cheney is the one who should be impeached!

This man is the most dangerous person in this country because of his power and influence on the president. He loves war and what it can bring to him and his cronies.

Of course, he only wants to appear on Fox News (Full Time Lies), because they will let him get away with his rhetoric!

CNN.com

A Criminal Escalation of An Unjust War

The following is a portion of Jim Wallis' entry in today's God's Politics blog:

The war in Iraq was unjust; to continue it now is criminal. There is no winning in Iraq. This was a war that should have never been fought – or won. It can't be won, and the truth is that there are no good solutions now – that's how unjust wars often turn out. The president says that "failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States." But we have already failed in Iraq and it has already become a disaster for Americans, Iraqis, the Middle East, and even for the larger campaign against terrorism. The mistaken war in Iraq can only be mercifully ended, in ways that cause the least damage to everyone involved: the Americans and the Iraqis, the volatile surrounding region, and a world longing for security. It will likely take new international leadership to help fix the mess of Iraq, because U.S. leadership has brought one calamity after another. Unjust wars cause massive human suffering. When will we ever learn?

The Real War Plan

Are we paying attention to what really may be happening with Bush's idiotic plans? Read THIS ARTICLE and then tell me what does not make sense of it in light of who is really in charge of this administration; namely neoconservatives who are in bed with Israel!

March 16 Iraq War Anniversary Event

I will be posting details later regarding an event in the Asheville/Hendersonville area. Learn more about the national event HERE.

Botched Hussein execution reveals truth about 'new' Iraq

abpnews.com

Say 'No' Now and Loud to Human Sacrifice

EthicsDaily.com
and
Countdown with Keith Olbermann