A (Pre Election) Open Letter to the African American Church ... And Replies ...

The following is from a massive e-mail campaign that i believe led of the Lord to send to African American churches throughout America ... My prayer is that the subject matter will become a flashpoint of concideration and change for all African American Christians blindly devoted to the Democratic Party on matters of race alone ... i believe that what hangs in the balance of the outcome of this election have further reaching, and more dire consequences past the economy and/or racial matters ... Following the post will be ALL the replies i get in return .. His will be done ...Brother R ... This is the e-mail ...Dear African American Church, What association does light have with darkness (2 Cor. 6:14), even if that darkness happens to be the color of our skin? ... One of the scariest things i saw at the Democratic National Convention was Sean (P-Diddy) Combs, that multi millionaire mogul of malignancy, sitting with presidential hopeful John Kerry's wife ... The other was a recent photo op of a gaggle of prominent black clergy, under the leadership of Jesse Jackson, in supportive surrounding of John Kerry … What’s wrong with that picture? If you don't know it by now Diddy is on a mission to bring out to the polls as many of the 42 million voters between the ages of 18 & 30 as he possibly can ... His often times expletive laced mantra to potential young voters, and media alike is VOTE OR DIE!, which is now even being displayed on large roadside advertisement billboards... i'd say Puffy's a lot more serious about the importance of this election than most Christians ... i actually heard him say this to a reporter, "I've taken over the music industry ... I've taken over the clothing industry ... Now i'm about to take over politics" ... i think Mr. Combs could use a Nebudchadnezzar type adjustment to his ego .... i think a whole lot of folk in leadership positions could use such a tweaking ... Ezekiel: The Future of Politicians Who Pass Bad Laws and Give Bad Advicehttp://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=&;sermonID=91303232959 Below are some links for you to check out regarding Puffy ... And below this is another of my long winded commentaries ... But reason can't be limited to snippets, or sound bites, so if either is your way of making important decisions this letter ain't for you ...VOTE OR DIE!http://www.nobodysmiling.com/hiphop/news/76989.phpP DIDDY GETS THE VOTE OUThttp://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/07/23/p_diddy_gets_the_vote_out.phpDIDDY FOR PRESIDENT (with acknowledgement from Al Sharpton)http://www.nme.com/news/109344.htm i've been speaking to many African American saints a great deal about the importance of this coming election, and i've gotten feedback that for the most part has been most disheartening ... If i wasn't like the EverReady bunny, but with the endless power source of the Holy Ghost in my battery rack to urge me on, i'd of quit a lot of things i feel led of the Lord to do regarding His Church a long time ago ... We can be one stiff necked bunch ... i know so many African American saints who are voting for Kerry because they figure he's better for the economy, or for job creation, or for the poor and disenfranchised of our ethnicity, or he'll stop the war ... All of the me, me, me, self centered reasons ... And when i ask them about the importance of such topics as homosexual unions, abortion and embryonic stem cell research they either give me a brain dead blank stare, or they go off onto the wild escapist path of telling me all of the reasons they just can't vote for Bush, and that if Bush were a Godly man he wouldn't do this, and he wouldn't do that, and he certainly wouldn't have started this war in Iraq ... At which point i say to them i can give you 45,000,000 already aborted reasons alone why you shouldn't be voting for Kerry ... So many saints have no concept at all of why God spared our government from being smashed into by that 4th plane on 9/11 ... He, even though He lifted His restraining hand from America on 9/11 in warning, is still attempting to give us the benefit of His grace ... Will we the (Godly) people even attempt to choose by vote, a more Christ guided minister of government in President Bush, or will we vote to allow even more murdering of the unborn in stem cell research condoned by our government under Kerry? ... Have we forgotten that there once was a time when we as descendants of Africans were legislated by law into bondage, the same as Kerry plans to governmentally condone and legislate certain death to millions more unborn? ... Will we willingly adopt and condone homosexual marriages as our law of the land in trade off of protecting our shared painful black experience with the likes of such Judas goats as Sean Combs, and Russell Simons, just for the sake of collectively being Black? …As an African American Christian this is the question that I’ve had to ask myself … In this election do i have more in common with a white President named Bush who straight up claims Christ as Savior, and says NO legislatively to homosexual unions, abortion and embryonic stem cell research, or more in common with an obvious tool of the devil like Sean P-Diddy Combs who has attached himself to Kerry, just because Puffy's Black also? ... To opt the latter sounds like misguided allegiance to me ... It's my take that when one becomes a Christian, i don't care what you were prior, it's Christ first, and what's best for the outside world via Christian thinking, and a Kerry/Diddy campaign can't be good for anybody, and particularly for African Americans in light of all the wonderful work Combs, and the rest of the G-Rap crew has done in our neighborhoods ...Now as a saint, who are you gonna choose? ... i'd rather for a Christian to tell me that they're no part of this world and therefore won't vote at all (and personally i find that irksome), than for a child of God, Black or White, to tell me they're voting for John Kerry ... I believe the reign of Kerry will bring this nation to damnation and further judgment way quicker than it will under George Bush, Iraq war and all ... If it is the Lord's will that George Bush get 4 more years, i can see a glimmer of hope, especially in his conservative appointments to the Supreme Court towards the overturning of Roe vs. Wade ... But if it's the Lord's will that Kerry come to power, then i'll be donning my white toga, sandals, let my hair grow long, and get to toting my "REPENT - THE END IS HERE" sign ... Christ said, "What good does it do for a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul"? ... How can a child of God think that if they vote for prosperity and selfishness, via Kerry, they'll actually be allowed by God to receive it on the continued slaughtering of the innocent, with the extra added impetus for destruction of killing them so that the already born can have a better quality of life? … Now that's selfishness to a satanic degree! God please WAKE UP YOUR CHURCH, AND IN PARTICULAR YOUR BLACK CHURCH!!! ... i can tell you right now that the heathen is ready for bear ... Just amongst the screaming unsaved i witness to most everyday, they'll tell you point blank that they don't see an unborn child as a life ... Even when i make the point that had they're life been interrupted at any time while in their mothers womb, they wouldn't be here, they still refuse to see it ... So embryonic stem cell research is just fine with them, as is so much other corruption that has become commonplace in todays permissiveness ... Now that's strong delusion, and that type of strong delusion, with a vengeance, is hell bent on replacing George Bush with John Kerry ... Why? ... Because as so many unsaved folk are quick to tell me, "A man spouting Jesus, and praying about state matters, is a dangerous man" ... Dangerous to whom? ... Dangerous to folk like Sean P-Diddy Combs and his $500,000,000 dollar empire of filth. As African American Christians are we gonna get on with it in our freedom in Jesus Christ, or are we gonna attempt to continue our playing both ends from the middle via a now archaic shared bonding of bondage with others who may be of our ethnicity, but not of our most important spirituality in Christ? ... According to scripture our ULTIMATE FREEDOM in Christ has canceled out the old bondage of our skin color, for whomever Christ sets free is free indeed (Gal. 3: 28, John 8:36) … Do we believe that? … If so, then why are we still straddling our spiritual line? … Straddling will get us spit out of Christ's mouth, and my spider senses tell me we're pretty close (Rev. 3: 15,16) ...i think the Black Church is in need of an allegiance check ... I recently heard Jesse Jackson on a radio program say that in his stumping around to various Black churches he has a series of questions he asks to the congregations ...1 - How many have lost a job, or knows someone who has?Just about all hands raised ...2 - How many have seen their incomes dwindle?Just about all hands raised ...3 - How many have been affected by some social programs cut?Just about all hands raised ...4 - How many have a gay loved one, or a gay someone you know, waiting to get legally married ...No hands go up ... Jessie's solution, "What has government sanctioned gay unions/marriages to do with the issues that affect us (Black people)? ... Vote for the issues that pertain to us, and don't be side tracked by such decoy issues as gay unions/marriages"... My question is ... When will the Black Clergy, and the Black Church start putting Christian issues, and Christian agendas, ahead of issues pertaining to our ethnic history in America? ... i can totally understand why unsaved Black America is in tune with the Kerry/Puffy party, and i don't want to understand why so much of the Black Church is also ... But sadly i do ... Perhaps if we'd sustained as much faith in God's keeping us as we had towards His freeing us, we wouldn't now have all our hope and trust tied up in Egypt, the original source of our bondage, just as ancient Israel did ... It doesn't make God very happy when we trust in anything, or any other than HIM, and His commandments!!!JOHN KERRY, AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANNOT SAVE OR SUSTAIN US (BLACK) CHURCH! ... ONLY GOD CAN! ... HOW QUICKLY WE'VE FORGOTTEN THAT."What has government sanctioned gay unions/marriages to do with the issues that affect us (Black people)"? ... and "What has government sanctioned embryonic stem cell research to do with the issues that affect us (Black people)"? My God, if Jesse Jackson, the Black Clergy and the Black Church don't know the answer to these, then that explains whether under Democrats or Republicans, our continued downhill slide into moral and ethical chaos ...Jesus help us ... PLEASE!Bro. Rahman ReubenA MESSAGE TO BLACK AMERICA & THE BLACK CHURCHhttps://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2826&;forum=35&9R"e"VIVAL mail - Globally spreading His instruction, one click at a time!reuben19027@yahoo.com

REMOVE MY ADDRESS TODAY.Sharita Houston

Greetings,You were afraid because of Sean Combs who professes to be a Christian? yet itseems that you are not afraid of the clear and unmitigated lies of George Bush -hmmmm? I will vote for John Kerry who is more maleable that George Bush. Kerryalso has the ability to change when the truth gets to him - Bush doesn't.Elder S. A. Kennedy, Sr.

Well you can count me as one of the Saved, Sanctified, and Holy Ghost filled believer who will never vote for the Republicans who continue to align themselves with racists particularly here in the south. Why do you think the people who drive around with pick-up trucks with Confederate tags and gun racks align themselves with the Republican party? In the sixties under the leadership of Barry Goldwater the Republican party pitched its tents toward the racists and included in their platform the code word "states rights". That is why so many ex-Democrats, or as they used to call themselves Dixiecrats, eventually moved to the Republican Party. People like Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond to name a few. Fair treatment of all God's children is as much a moral issue as any of the other "wedge issues" that you want to bring up. The Republican party continues to look out for those at the top of our society. When Jesus came to this world over 2000 years ago he was not born into that group. In fact much of his ministry focused on the "Least of these" and not the Pharisees and Sadducces of that time. And I for one am not going to hook up with Pharisees and Sadduces of this time. BlessingsDeacon Kaiser Edmond

I agree. I am praying that this word reaches the masses.

I dont know why you sent me this email, am not AfroAmerican, there is no such thing, I am a child of, Godis a Spirit and they that worship Him, and they thatworship in Spirit and in truth, be blessddd.Victor Sandiford

My Brother,I have sent this to everyone I know. We are voting President Bush and the Republican ticket. Thank you for a meaningful and well thought out message in a timely fashion.Pastor R VandevertMonterey, CA

Well Said!!! ... God BlessI write this article to address the great concern I have for theclimate of spiritual apostasy that exists in this country. Andunfortunately we must face the reality that the Church and it’sreligious leadership for the last two decades have been complicitousin the moral decline of this country. We (*the Church and esp. theBlack Church*) are knowledgeable and scholarly and yet we have beenpimped by the political left and have sold our country to a socialistideology (our birthright) for a bowl of soup. We ignored the votingrecord of the men who we chose and rather invested in their lies ofprosperity in return for our support. We have failed to consult Godand have erred, even as Joshua in respect of the Gibeonites. And inspite of the fact that they support policies that are clearly againstBiblical principles, and have historically been an instrument in thehand of Satan to undermine the moral fibre of this country,nonetheless we have held the party line and given support to thosemen and women. Now we live in a country where the Blue Law is passe,where everything that you could think of (sinful) is lawful, ratherthan the opposite. And now, in this political season we are facedwith the prospect of this nation moving further away from the Godlystandard and we are (knowingly or unknowingly) largely aiding andabetting The Fall of America, when God clearly cautions us that,*"righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people".*This nation with our aid (the Black Church) are now facing theprospect of legalized gay marriages, along with a host of otherlegislated left wing policies. If we fail to stand up forrighteousness those same Gays will soon be knocking on the doors ofthe churches we serve, and demanding that we marry them. They will,as they are now in Canada, be coming into the House of God anddemanding the we stop preaching the Gospel which to them isintolerant, and aided by the very laws that we have inadvertentlyhelped to pass, seek to force us to preach their lifestyle asacceptable. Yet we support and seek to elect the very men who promotethese agenda. Shame!! On Us!!! We bring these politician into ourchurches and conventions to speak to God’s people, the very ones whosupport abortion, gay marriages and removing God from the verymainstream of our society, so I write this article to express myindignation, and to sound a clarion call to the leaders of God’speople to awake from sleep and give diligence to the things God hasdeclared. And I am confident that God himself will reward us all forour stewardship of the charge He has given us.IHS G. L Here it is in black and white folks Kerry's voting record. Print itout if you want and use it when people defend him on what a "greatguy" he is. It is obvious that he cares nothing for the unborn, themilitary, defense, law & order, tax relief, school choice and manyother issues * JOHN KERRY VOTING RECORD: THE LIST * ABORTION * Voted to federally fund abortions*. * Voted against parental consent for minors. Voted against ban on Partial Birth Abortion (3 times) Voted against ban on sending money to UN population fund if themoney was sent to pay for China forced abortion and sterilizationpolicy. * NARAL lifetime rating of 100% National Right to Life Committee lifetime rating of 0% DEATH PENALTY Opposes federal death penalty. Voted against death penalty for terrorists. (recently flip-floppedin 2002) Voted against death penalty for drug-related murders. TAXES & BUDGET Voted against Bush tax cut and wants to repeal portions of Bush taxcut. Voted for 1993 Clinton tax hike. (largest in history) Voted against major tax relief packages at least 10 times. Voted at least 5 times against balance budget amendments. Kerry voted at least five times to raid The Social Security TrustFund. MILITARY & NATIONAL SECURITY Voted for 7 major reductions in military funding Voted against GulfWar I (1991). Voted for Gulf War II (but then criticized and voted againstmilitary appropriation for troops). Voted against MX missile. Voted against Trident Submarine. Voted against SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative â " Star Wars). Voted against B-1 and B-2 Stealth Bomber and Fighter. Favored UN control of US Troops (in the 1970s). Supported Slashing $2.6 Billion from Intelligence Funding WhileServing as a Member of Senate Intel Committee. Attended a seminar (the so-called "Winter Soldier Investigation)bankrolled by Jane Fonda in Detroit in February 1971 during which 125self-proclaimed Vietnam veterans testified at a Howard Johnson's aboutatrocities allegedly committed by our own forces. Many of the so-called Veterans were frauds and virtually everyalleged atrocity was investigated and proven to be false. FAITH & VALUES * Voted against ban on human cloning. Voted Against Defense of Marriage Act (to give states option todecide whether to recognize homosexual marriages in other states). Sent letter to Massachusetts Legislature opposing ConstitutionalAmendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman. Favors civil unions for homosexuals. * Voted to extend hate crimes protections to homosexuals. Voted against a constitutional amendment on flag desecration. EDUCATION * Voted against voluntary school prayer*. Voted against voucher pilot program. Voted against approving a school-choice pilot program JUDGES, COURTS & LAW Voted against confirmation of Clarence Thomas for Supreme CourtJustice. Voted against confirmation of Robert Bork for Supreme Court Justice. Voted against confirmation William Rehnquist as Chief Justice of theSupreme Court. Voted against confirmation John Ashcroft as US Attorney General. Voted against punitive damages in products liability cases. AsMichael Dukakis Lt. Governor From 1983-1985, Kerry Supported GrantingPrison Furloughs To Hundreds Of Massachusetts Inmates. FOREIGN POLICY Against linking Most Favored Nation status to China human rightsrecord. Voted for Kyoto Protocol on Environment that exempted major ThirdWord polluters. Supported Iraq regime change as late as January, 2003. Now has flipped-flopped For Unilateral nuclear Freeze. Voted against deployment of INF missiles in Europe. POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS Leading member of VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) Attended and conducted anti-war and anti-American protests in the1970s. Organized the Protests. Votes with Ted Kennedy an average of 94% of the time. Received $300,000 contribution from Johnny Chung as directed byChinese intelligence officer. Supported Communist Sandinistas and visited with leader CommunistDaniel Ortega days before Ortega flew to Moscow and received $200million in Soviet aid. Has a lifetime rating of 26% from Citizens Against Government Waste. Has a lifetime rating of 0% from the National Rifle Association. Lifetime liberal vote rating of 93% from Americans For DemocraticAction (5 points higher than Ted Kennedy). Voted with the liberal activist group, The League Of ConservationVoters, an average of 95% of the time. / I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersedthrough the world only at the directive of the United Nations./ - TheCrimson 02/18/1970/A bold progressive internationalism," Kerry./ - JK Website / H.R. 3396 (Defense of Marriage Act)/ Kerry (D-MA), Nay /Signed the Letter Backing Gay Marriage /- massequality.org 07/12/02/ Kerry said "I think there has been an exaggeration," when asked ifthe President has overstated the threat of terrorism. /- SC Debate01/29/04/Opposed death penalty until 2002, voted against military action inthe 1991 Persian Gulf war./ / McCain: Testimony by Kerry and others before Senate ForeignRelations Committee was "the most effective propaganda [my NorthVietnamese captors] had to use against us." /May 14, 1973, U.S. News & World Report. / During the height of the Cold War, Kerry opposed the entirestrategic modernization effort proposed by President Reagan; thePeacekeeper, B-1 and B-2 bombers, Trident submarine, D-5 missile, andthe non-strategic modernization of the defense budget./ - WashingtonTimes 01/04Elder G. LendowWashington D.C.

Ditto to that, I will be sending out your email as a news letter (with credits). God has a remnant, although we are few and far in between, we are out here and making our voices heard, we won't be popular but neither was Jeremiah. Therefore be not weary in well doing reaping season is coming. IHSPastor G.

LINK;As Poor Misguided Hezekiah said unto the Babylonians, "Come On In"! ...https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3374&forum=35

First I think it is imparitive not to mix religion and politics. If one decides to vote for either nominee it should not be because some pastor said to do so. Also, the end time has been here, wars and rumors of wars are among us. People should not be so focused on the election that they take their focus off Isreal and Jesus' second coming. I believe it is inappropriate for ANY religious leader to come out for ANY political affiliation. David A. Wiggins-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------I received the email about why we should vote for Bush instead of Kerry via an African American friend of mine. FYI-- you could say everything you said to white peolple too. Not that you didn't know that. I'm just saying they need to be told the same things for the same reasons. I agree. I think Kerry would bring the End nearer and faster if elected. Unfortunately, everyone I have talked to accept my mom has decided to vote for Kerry. I think what we need to pray against, as a nation, the mentality of everyone because they have seen Bush in action since he was already president. If he had never been president he would have a better chance. Kerry will not be able to deal with the money-emplyment-tax issue in a was that is to anyone's satisfactory, but everyone thinks he can because Bush couldn't. I think that is the biggest reason why people choose Kerry. The ones I have talked to called Kerry "The lesser of two evils." When really it would be the opposite if you would even agree that Bush is evil. I think Bush is led by God, even though he may have issues to deal with like the rest of us. God deals with us, so why does Bush have to be perfect? Did you know that he met with head pastors of different churches to pray for the country's needs? The press don't care about those things.Anyway. I'm voting for Bush unless I hear otherwise from God. I don't think that will happen unless God wants the End to come sooner. :)Amy LeFurge------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I hear your criticism of Kerry, but I cannot understand how George Bush can be seen as an appropriate choice for blacks or for Christians, given his commitment to war and killing, with a disproportionate number of our troops being our own young black men.Cheryl Sanders

In a recent article ..."Playing by the book" - by: Joseph C. Phillipshttp://www.eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=16961i quote;"A Recent Pew Research Center poll discovered black support for George Bush has doubled from a low of 6% to 12% while African American support for John Kerry has dropped to 73%, down from 83 % in August. This trend is clearly not a good sign for John Kerry or the Democratic Party".This increase in support for Bush amongst Af/Am's is primarily a Christian response against legalized gay unions and unborn human being stem cell research ... Praise God that some Af/Am saints get it! ... It's about Christian principal, and not self centered personal preference ... There's always ... thank you Jesus! ... a remnant in Zion ...Black pastors supporting Bush are rare, but not alone ...http://www.iht.com/articles/542180.htmlAlso below is a ...Statement and Request to the Congressional Black CaucusFrom the National Summit of African-American Pastors inSupport of The Constitutional Amendment to Protect MarriageCHAIRMANRev. Louis P. SheldonWashington, DCSeptember 8, 2004We, the undersigned, acknowledge you as our elected voice in the U.S. House ofRepresentatives. Your role is critical to the well being of both your local constituents andthe black community nationally. For this reason, we respectfully request that theCongressional Black Caucus quickly take heed to the voice of 74% of the African-American community who support protecting marriage as a union only between oneman and one woman.It is no secret that black families have been under assault in recent years. Divorce,teenage pregnancy, fatherless homes, and a disproportionate number of HIV-AIDscases are all unattractive aspects of the black family landscape. In addition, newresearch shows that there are already clear signs of long-term marital breakdown of theblack family.Only one-third of all black babies are born into a two-parent, married family. In otherwords, two out of every three newborn blacks enter the world with an unwed mother andno consistent father figure. The sad but undeniable truth is that most black children,whether they are born to an unmarried mother or are raised by a single mom afterenduring the agony of parental conflict and divorce, are raised in less-than-idealcircumstances related to their moral, spiritual, social, emotional and financialenvironment.These trends should not be over looked. They must be addressed. Furtherdestabilization of traditional marriage must be prevented at all costs.Also, the experience of other nations demonstrates that the imposition of same-sexmarriage and civil unions leads to a weakening of the institution of marriage. As scholarStanley Kurtz has shown, in Scandinavia, the system of marriage-like same-sexregistered partnerships established in the late 1980s has contributed significantly to theongoing decline of marriage in that region.In the Netherlands, same-sex marriage has increased the cultural separation ofmarriage from parenthood, resulting in a soaring out-of-wedlock birthrate. Kurtz warnsthat same-sex “marriage” could widen the separation between marriage and parenthoodhere in the United States. Further, renowned British anthropologist J.D. Unwin, whosestudies chronicled 86 different cultures throughout history, discovered that every nationthat rejected monogamy in marriage disintegrated morally in less than one generation.100 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 350, Anaheim, CA 92805 (714) 520-0300139 “C” Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 (202) 547-8570As bishops, pastors, ministers, evangelists and leaders, we want to join forces with youto protect black families at this defining moment in American history. We are calling onthe Congressional Black Caucus to take a leadership role in the development of aConstitutional Amendment with no civil unions.We believe a Constitutional Amendment is vitally necessary because the Defense ofMarriage Act has been consistently challenged by Federal Judges. It is appalling that todate none of the Congressional Black Caucus has voted to limit the federal courtjurisdiction of state marriage laws. (HR3313-Hostettler)Historically, we as African-Americans understand the need to eliminate loopholes inlegislation. For example, when the Emancipation Proclamation was written, it was stillnecessary that a constitutional amendment be passed so that slavery would beoutlawed in every state. The same process is needed to protect marriage today.Because of the Full Faith and Credit Article of the Constitution, it is imperative that oneman/one woman marriage be uniformly protected in every state.Our request that you support of a Constitutional Amendment to protect marriage shouldnot be interpreted as automatic support for any candidate or political party. In addition,let it be known that we do not advocate violence against gays or lesbians, or gaybashing. This amendment simply represents the public will, biblical teaching, and theconsensus of this group. We only desire to protect the moral foundations of our society.President George Washington articulated our position in his farewell address. Hestated, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion andmorality are indispensable supports.” As spiritual and community leaders of this nation,we stand for the biblical and community institutions that have made our nation great.100 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 350, Anaheim, CA 92805 (714) 520-0300139 “C” Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 (202) 547-8570THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED ...Congressional Black Caucus Member Attacks African-American Pastorshttp://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=1949Thank you Jesus, that all our leadership ain't blind!

The Gospel according to John Kerry“…Friendship with the world is enmity with God.” James 4:4http://www.eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=17078 In an effort to stem the flow of black evangelical Christians from his presidential campaign, John Kerry is impersonating the late Rev. James Cleveland and swaying with gospel choirs in black churches all over the country. The welcome he has received from black ministers troubles me. As part of the empowerment tour, I traveled to Toledo, Ohio and had the opportunity to address members of the black clergy. “Inquiring minds want to know,” so I asked them how it is possible for black Christian ministers, who teach the gospel for 50 weeks out of the year, to turn their pulpits over for two weeks in October to a candidate who opposes many of the precepts they teach. During the debates, John Kerry insisted that religion was a major influence in his life, then took anti-Christian positions — gay marriage, partial birth abortion, teenage abortion without parental notification, destruction of viable human embryos for stem cell research, and government-funded abortion. Christian teaching stresses the primacy of traditional marriage: God rested on Sunday and created marriage on Monday. John Kerry voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, and in a true display of Christian principle has said that he might eventually accept gay marriage if it became publicly acceptable. Of course, more recently, he has been adamant that his opposition to a constitutional marriage amendment is based on his firm belief that gay marriage is an issue best left to the individual states. Forgive me for not buying. The federal marriage amendment is reasoned to be the only means to prevent federal courts from overstepping their bounds and imposing gay marriage on an unwilling public without a vote. Oddly enough, when Kerry’s home state of Massachusetts attempted to pass its own pro-marriage amendment, he worked to defeat it. What also remains unclear is if gay marriage is an issue for individual states, why abortion is not. Kerry – a good Catholic -- has voted at least six times against banning partial birth abortions. He has also voted against any restrictions on age or consent for abortions and has declared that he will only appoint judges who are pro-abortion. One must also wonder how he meshes his Catholic faith and his euphoric promise to heal all manner of illness if only we experiment on the lives of the unborn. The plain truth is that there have been no instances of medical benefit derived from stem cells harvested from living embryos. In fact, the clinical trials of embryonic stem cells have often been tragic, leading to tumors and brain damage. The most promising stem cell research – research that has actually led to real cures --has come from cells harvested from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. In order to gain “street cred” Kerry has enlisted the aid of the Reverend Jesse Jackson who attempted to ease the fears of his Christian brethren by telling us that these issues of marriage and life are not our issues. I see. But, if, as Christians, traditional marriage, the lives of the unborn and Christian doctrine are not our issues, then what, pray tell, are ours? Joseph C. Phillips is an actor/writer with a conservative bent based in Los Angeles. His column appears regularly in several newspapers and he is a regular commentator on the Tavis smiley radio show on NPR and has a book due out from Running Press next October. Contact him at:Joseph@josephcphillips.com

Anyway. I'm voting for Bush unless I hear otherwise from God. I don't think that will happen unless God wants the End to come sooner. :)This strikes me as an odd argument.... Does the Lord not want to return? Does He not want us to await His coming?DanielJ

Brother DanielJ you wrote;"This strikes me as an odd argument.... Does the Lord not want to return? Does He not want us to await His coming"?First i'd say that the sisters statement was not an argument, but a reasoning between herself and God regarding her determining to vote for Bush ... And while i know we're supposed to look for His coming everyday because the Word says so in many places (like the scripture below), i've come to the conclusion that no, He's not in any big hurry to break the sky a second time, because He wishes that none shall perish, that ALL will accept Christ to salvation, and thus it's been over 2,000 years since He left here ... 2Pet.3[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,[4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.[5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:[6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?[13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.[14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; [17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.[18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. i've just recently been really convicted by our Lord about my selfish attitude of prayer that He come quickly, because i'm both tired and fed up with how the world/church is today ... The Spirit has let me know that if i was operating out of the mind of Christ i'd be praying "mercy", instead of "wrath", even tho i see His wrath coming ... And so i've repented, and i'm now praying mercy ... Had the Lord not touched me in the direction to see the glimmer of continued grace that another four years under Bush's policies of not offending God any further will bring, by America not legislating this new institution of embryonic stem cell research and the abomination of legalized gay unions, i wouldn't be voting for Bush, and i certainly wouldn't be advocating such, because i'd decided not to vote at all ... Before the Lord pricked my conscience i was back in my Jonah mindset of "bring on your destruction LOrd" ... But like our longsuffering and loving Lord spoke into my judgmental spirit, "That's easy for you to say son, because you're already saved" ... So while the Jonah in me longs for the destruction of the Ninevites, the over riding Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ has me praying, exhorting and doing toward the candidate in which God can operate out of more time toward His grace ...Bottom line is this, Americas cup of wrath is already spilling over, and a Kerry presidency for the aforementioned abominations will cause it to gush, and as scripture says, if God does not react to it with His judgment, then He will owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology ... i used to not be able to see this scripture in regards America, i do now, and so i'm sounding my trumpet ... But i must say that i'm astonished that so many other saints, including so many of my fellow watchmen on the wall, don't see the destruction i see gathered on the horizon ... Amen

My Brother you are right on target. I have been preaching the same message. Our churches need to wake up and take a stand for our Lord and Saviour!Keep up the good work.Elder Dorris

This e-mail reminds me why there was a separation of church and state in the first place. "Prophet" Rahman Reuben's beliefs are unfounded and skewed by politics and religious zeal.Example 1: Puff Daddy is supporting the Democratic Party. I agree with that. However, if anyone opened up the Prophet's links, the first page that describes P. Diddy's organization, Citizen Change, is that it is 'anational, non-partisan, and non-profit organization". Key words: Non-Partisan and Non-Profit. As a non-for-profit organization, you can not be partisan. Especially if you are receiving funding from a public or government agency. What Diddy does on his own time is his business. The problem is that people judge his business based on they're view of his personal life.Example 2: John Kerry is not responsible for 45,000,000 abortions in America. (Where did that number come from anyway?) However, PresidentBush is directly responsible for all 1,265 Coalition Soldiers http://icasualties.org/oif/ and 14,219 - 16,325 Iraqi civilians http://www.iraqbodycount.net/ who have died since the conflict. Supporting a woman's choice is supporting democracy, and the fact that we are a country build on differences, freedom, and the right to be yourself outside of other people's convictions and/or morality.An issue with African-American people, is that we feel so powerless whenever some one plays the God-card on us. Some one can tell a Black church that it is a sin to eat a ham sandwich, dance at your daughter'swedding, or for a woman to wear pants; and suddenly we change our lifestyle.In these United States of America, we have had out 1st Amendment rights infringed upon by the "Patriot Act", watched our Muslim co-citizens be mistreated out of fear and ignorance, watched history repeat itself bythe mistreatment and bigotry against homosexuals (remember the 1960s Jim Crow south, anyone?) and write it all off as necessary because President Bush is chock full of Faith-Based Initiatives.If this Prophet Reuben wants to quote "What association does light have with darkness" (2 Cor. 6:14. Let us point out the fact that President Bush lied to the American people. And not at all like the accusations of Pres. Clinton's untruths concerning his personal life. Bush lied about his JOB; his ELECTED JOB and responsibilities. He created a version of Iraq that did not exist and forced 15,484 - 17590 people to die in a war that did not need to be waged. Meanwhile, Osama Bin Laden is making home videos and threatening your homes, your jobs, your economy, and your precious Christian faith. Meanwhile gang-members, organized crime, and children are putting their hands on assault weapons, whose ban was overlooked by Pres. Bush due to his re-election campaign. Too bad most conservative right-wingers love their guns.In my eyes, if you want to motivate Black people in America, first explain to them that they are not a little island in the middle of 50 states. We are active members of this country and must first learn to beplayers within it. I'm sorry, but reparations are not going to happen, and no one is going to treat you special if you are a member of the Churches of God in Christ, Missionary Baptist, African-Methodist Episcopal, or Negros for Jesus. When it is election time, you are a citizen! Just like the white gay, ashiest punk rocker in Greenwich. And whether you agree with his lifestyle or not, believe in his principles or not, love his hairstyle or not, or even understand his speech - you can not pass a law that will infringe on his lifestyle. Because you'd be more than pissed if he did it to you. And that is what polarizes this election. Will you allow the law and the government to decide what a "good American" and a "bad American" are? Will only Christians be good Americans? Straight people? Short people? Certainly not Black people!Our country was not founded on Christianity. It was founded on the concept of FREEDOM, which so happened at the time to be Religious freedom. And if the Pilgrims had so happened to be Ba'hai or Buddhist, their slaves would have been Ba'hai or Buddhist, and their descents would be Ba'hai and Buddhist, and then you would have been the same. Into polling place, you are not only a Christian, you are an Black, American-Christian. That means something completely different than what you represent in your place of worship. "It was curious to think that the sky was the same for everybody, in Eurasia or Eastasia as well as here. And the people under the sky were also very much the same-everywhere, all over the world, hundreds orthousands of millions of people just like this, people ignorant of one another's existence, held apart by walls of hatred and lies, and yet almost exactly the same-people who had never learned to think but were storing up in their hearts and bellies and muscles the power that would one day overturn the world." - George Orwell, 1984 (Chapter 10, Book Two)Peace Be Still,-erickedorris@lookingglasstheatre.orgErick, thank you. Thank God you said it cuz I was bursting inside but did not have the opportunity to write anything (they've turned my desk away from the windows and my computer screen is exposed--I think I'm being monitored...).But I totally agree with you.Thank you!Shavahn Dorrissdorris@willcountyillinois.com

America at it's Fork in the Road ... Lord Thy Will be Done ...https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3571&post_id=23706&order=0&viewmode=thread&pid=0&forum=35#23706