It is a tragedy when a State is legally attacked by the Federal government when it tries to deal with Federal laws the Feds refuse to enforce. It is also an attack on the foundation of our legal system, the Rule of Law.
I found the best definition of Rule of Law at Wikipedia.com. Let me share that insight:
Around 350 BCE. Plato wrote:
Where the law is subject to some other authority and has none of its own, the collapse of the state, in my view, is not far off; but if law is the master of the government and the government is its slave, then the situation is full of promise and men enjoy all the blessings that the gods shower on a state.
Likewise, Aristotle endorsed the rule of law, writing that "law should govern", and those in power should be "servants of the laws." The ancient concept of rule of law is to be distinguished from rule by law, according to political science professor Li Shuguang:
"The difference....is that under the rule of law the law is preeminent and can serve as a check against the abuse of power. Under rule by law, the law can serve as a mere tool for a government that suppresses in a legalistic fashion."
Now, let me simply state why the Rule of Law is dead in America.
When the Federal Government sued the State of Arizona to stop them from enacting a law, citing Federal immigration laws, that made it illegal [forbidden by law or statute] to be an illegal alien in that state, and filed that lawsuit in a federally funded and controlled court, in front of a federally appointed judge, the rule of law died.
The Pandora’s box of Government suppression by legal manipulation has spilled forth and now opens up an era of rampant abuse of power by the power brokers of this and any like minded administration.
The State of Arizona and every state that borders Mexico will live with this as will the legal, taxpaying citizens of America as the borders continue to overflow and the health, education, welfare and penal systems of this country go even deeper into bankruptcy.
I guess I should apologize for my racial profiling of people illegally entering the country from Mexico, but I see few Chinese or Canadians illegally crossing into Arizona from the south.
And yes, before I get a hundred angry emails, we do need worker Visas and a better, working immigration policy, but the folks in Washington won’t do the job. What on earth are the States that are being over-run to do?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
July 2010 Update Report Saints Alive/Glenn Beck Update
Update Report July 2010
Dear Friends,
It has been a while since my last Update but I have been quite busy in both my ministry and personal life. We recently sold our home and moved to a much smaller Condo. Just unloading years of accumulated ‘things’ took forever. Then came the packing up of everything that was left.
We are actually renting right now while we find the Condo we want to spend the next hundred years in. Then another move. Thank goodness most of it is in boxes in the garage. Just moving all my ministry files was a major undertaking.
We are still dealing with some issues with our new website. Still working on getting pdf files and WORD files moved to it more easily and our video files keep disappearing, but we will get there. Email me personally if you are having any difficulty with the site.
Also, we had agreed to use Google Ads to bring in some desperately needed revenue, using the tags from the site as triggers for the ads. However, even daily policing and zapping of the ‘offensive’ ads did not prevent LDS and Masonic ads from appearing. I finally threw in the towel and we no longer run Google ads.
I pray that you will pray about sending in a special, much needed gift today, to help us out. You can give online on our website or through PayPal or you can mail a gift in to
us. See the end of the Update for that information.
Please pray for my pastor friend, Chris, who has a cancerous brain tumor. also for Jaime, who has had both feet amputated, is on dialysis and diabetic.. He needs a miracle right now.
Well, I have a few other things to share with you today. Please read on
Your brother in Christ,
Ed Decker
News Flashes
You can now get special, timely Saints Alive info bits if you follow me on Twitter. Yes. I am using Twitter to Tweet. Heaven help me! Sign up @ https://twitter.com/jedecker
I just posted this on twitter a few minutes ago: Unbelievable! This is the story of the Utah State Supreme Court kicking sexual deviant/pervert, Mormon fundamentalist, Warren Jeffs loose.
www.aolnews.com/nation/article/utah-supreme-court-reverses-convictions-of-polygamist-leader-warren-jeffs/19570330
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Finally for those of you who like to interact with other apologists and Mormons, visit [and sign up at] my Facebook group, called Christian Apologetics, at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?profile=1&id=101384683248858#!/group.php?gid=9516804162 4
What is the problem with Glenn Beck??
I have almost [not quite] reached the point of pulling out what remaining hair I have left over this issue. Glenn Beck made what would seem to be a solid Christian confession of faith/ salvation on his TV program and many emails came my way praising his stand for Christ.
Apparently, his confession was openly received by some key Christian leaders, like Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and more recently by James Robison who, while on Beck’s program, stated that while they had a few minor ‘issues’, they were on the same team.
I wanted to shout, “What team are you on, James?”
However wonderful were the words that Glenn Beck spoke, there is a major problem. If Beck were truly “saved” he would have to renounce the false doctrines of demons that rule the LDS church and its people.
One of the problems we face in understanding what Glenn said and what his words meant is that in Mormonspeak the words mean entirely different things to the Mormon and the biblical Christian. Let me list just 3 here for you.
To the Mormon, God is an exalted man from another planet who is now the god of this world only and has a god above him who has a god above him who has…but understand that to the Christian, God is the creator of all, the heavens and the universes. He said there were no gods before Him, beside Him or after Him. I think He should know.
Same word, totally different meanings.
To the Christian, Jesus is the Word made Flesh, the savior from before time began, conceived by the Holy Ghost.
To the Mormon, Jesus was born as a spirit being on a planet near the great star, Kolob, in an act of sex between their god and one of his many, polygamous goddesses. He was selected at a council of gods to be the ‘savior’ of this world. He was chosen over his brother, Lucifer. The LDS god came down and had sex with his spirit daughter, Mary and begat him in the flesh.
Same word, totally different meanings.
To the Christian, Salvation is a result of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross on Calvary, where He paid the penalty for our sins ‘once and for all.’ All we must do to receive it and eternal life is to accept it.
To the Mormon, Salvation is two-fold, the first is only the General salvation, and it is the gift of physical resurrection for ALL mankind, given through Christ’s death at Calvary.
The second is Personal salvation that comes in part, through Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, were LDS prophets say he sweat great drops of blood for our
Sins, conditional on our obedience to all the laws and ordinances of the [LDS] gospel.
Same word, totally different meanings.
Beck’s Church claims that they have the only authority to act in the name of God on earth, all other churches are abominations in God’s eyes, all those who profess the doctrines of orthodox Christianity are corrupt, all their pastors are hirelings of Satan.
I learned that personally, as a Mormon, in the most scared place of all Mormondom, the LDS Temple ritual. Is this the same team you are on, James Robison?
Glenn Beck can tear up and rub his eyes all he wants, but if he is really ‘saved’ he needs to drop the double-talk and leave the LDS church. If he won’t declare himself, he is a cultist, playing mind-games that foolish people take for truth. At least take off the magic Mormon underwear, Beck!
I personally think it is all a plan to Christianize Mormonism for the masses so that Mitt Romney will have a shot at getting the evangelical vote he lost last election. Fools like James Robison and Richard Land are playing the devil’s fiddle.
Well, I guess I can cool down a bit. This was an email conversation I had a few weeks ago after I did a Facebook post on the subject: Glenn Beck: Christian or not?
I received this email: The writer copied me on a response he sent to a friend regarding the Beck is Christian program.
You asked what I thought about Glenn Beck's July 13, 2010 Gospel presentation on his Fox News program. Below is a paragraph I lifted from Beck's presentation. Beck is correct. I do not consider Mormon's to be a Christian denomination. The Mormon Church has been trying to be recognized as a Christian denomination for years and Glenn Beck is exactly what the Mormon Church has been looking for to validate their claim. The Jesus of the Mormon Church is not the same Jesus that you and I worship. Only after Beck announces that he is leaving the Mormon Church will I believe he is a Christian in a Biblical sense. The Devil comes in many disguise. I have a copy of the Book of Mormon if you would like to read it.
________________________________________
"Now, I know people will say, Oh, Glenn Beck is a Mormon! He's not even a real Christian.
Beck: OK, fine. You can believe what you want. I am a man that needed atonement more than most people. But I know the game, so I called Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. I wanted to make sure that mainline Christianity has the same definition of individual salvation that I have. He agreed that salvation is an individual relationship between a person and God through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth and the light." I can't be saved for someone else and they can't be saved by me. When Jesus died on the cross he died for everyone that ever lived, but individually. It was one act for the entire collection — it was for each person individually."
Ed: My Response...
You are so right.. I have been getting emails of Beck being a real Christian all morning… His use of the word, “Atonement” is a small clue that Beck is a real Mormon, albeit, not a theological giant. Salvation in Mormonism is totally different than that of biblical Christianity.
Problem here is this: to take Beck at his word here,
Beck = Christian,
Beck = Mormon,
Mormon = Christian
Romney - Christian
The non-aware Christian, those who love Beck’s strong conservative viewpoints, will make that connection and the Mormons win a victory
Beck also said that “Another perversion is the concept of collective salvation”
Yet, Core LDS doctrine of salvation teaches that there are two salvations, the first is the result of Christ’s death on the cross, one that provides the “general Salvation.” This is resurrection from the dead for all mankind.
Their “personal salvation” comes from their works that will be judged at the judgment table where their works and their ‘transgressions’ are weighed and the result is the determination of to which of the three kingdoms they go.
I pray that his statements will cause enough conflict with his Mormon leaders that he will be ‘corrected’ enough that his brain will get in low gear and he will leave the church for the real Jesus. The real salvation.
Ed Decker
Read
“The Mormon Plan for America
and the Rise of Mitt Romney”
The entire Chapter
from my book, “My Kingdom Come”
Vampires and Mormons ..Part of the Family?.. One Might Think so.
Check out this excellent article on the Twilight Movies sweeping the nation.
From The e-mail bag
I have read your comments about Mormon baptisms for the dead. It seems as though you are suggesting that certain people should be deemed unworthy of any future salvation. Is this the case? And if so, who are you to judge?
Ed: I base my comments on what the bible says are the conditions of salvation.. and I see no scripture that implies there is some second chance salvation after death.. nor are my comments on this strange subject some form of ‘judging’ anyone..
Okay, I understand. It just seemed like you were taking issue with certain people more than the practice itself. For all we know, those people repented before they died, and accepted the Lord. We just do not know.
Ed: You are correct in that
If there is no second chance for salvation after death, what happens to those "heathens" that were born never having heard of Jesus? You know, like the Chinese?
Ed: A bit beyond my pay scale.. I figure that a God who created the worlds can figure that out himself. His son told us to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim His salvation.. I am still working on that one. I’ll wait til I am done there before I get too concerned about the ones I missed..
I understand.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Things In The Mirror
I was reminded this morning of the little notice etched into the side view mirror of my car. It states “Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.”
I was standing in front of the mirror in my bathroom after I had showered. Try not to dwell on the imagery. It will hurt you. I thought, “Objects in the mirror are much larger than they appear.” …This object appeared quite large to begin with, even before the shower. …I stared down at the floor and my eyes settled on the scale thereon.
Did I want this object to step on that scale and find out just how much larger it was this morning, or did I want to go on with life as usual, with a kind of ignorance may not be bliss, but it does work kind of a day.
I looked back in the mirror. I sucked in my gut, flexed my remaining muscles, lifted my chin high to remove the three that had grown under the original chin and held my breath. Still much larger and now in pain. I exhaled, threw my towel over the scale and began my day.
One needs to understand that this body has been fighting gravity and the effects of an obsession with comfort foods for over 27,000 whole days… Not an easy task for anyone… and lately I don’t need anyone to tell me that I have been losing the fight for some time. There are some things you just have to live with when you get to be over 27,000 days old.
That’ why I love living in a seniors-only development. I am around guys just like me. We don’t compare abs anymore. If we compare anything, its who has more hair growing out of his ears.
Most of the fellows my size who have been working out at the fitness center for the past 5 years still look the same. I just walk through the area rapidly and save a whole lot of energy that I can put to use elsewhere, like in the hot-tub, pool or the chaise lounge chairs.
I feel good by comparison in many ways. My walker has bigger wheels than a lot of guys’. I have yet to fall out of my golf cart. I am still quite young by some standards.. My neighbor John fell asleep on his way to the mailbox a few days ago. That hasn’t happened to me yet.
My other neighbor, Len, came over the other day and told me he was so thrilled with his new hearing aid. I asked him what kind was it. He said, “It’s a quarter to three. I’d better get going or I’ll miss the early bird special at Mario’s.”
I’m not quite that bad yet, but I did run in and tell my wife that there was an early bird special at Mario’s and we’d better get moving.”
I was standing in front of the mirror in my bathroom after I had showered. Try not to dwell on the imagery. It will hurt you. I thought, “Objects in the mirror are much larger than they appear.” …This object appeared quite large to begin with, even before the shower. …I stared down at the floor and my eyes settled on the scale thereon.
Did I want this object to step on that scale and find out just how much larger it was this morning, or did I want to go on with life as usual, with a kind of ignorance may not be bliss, but it does work kind of a day.
I looked back in the mirror. I sucked in my gut, flexed my remaining muscles, lifted my chin high to remove the three that had grown under the original chin and held my breath. Still much larger and now in pain. I exhaled, threw my towel over the scale and began my day.
One needs to understand that this body has been fighting gravity and the effects of an obsession with comfort foods for over 27,000 whole days… Not an easy task for anyone… and lately I don’t need anyone to tell me that I have been losing the fight for some time. There are some things you just have to live with when you get to be over 27,000 days old.
That’ why I love living in a seniors-only development. I am around guys just like me. We don’t compare abs anymore. If we compare anything, its who has more hair growing out of his ears.
Most of the fellows my size who have been working out at the fitness center for the past 5 years still look the same. I just walk through the area rapidly and save a whole lot of energy that I can put to use elsewhere, like in the hot-tub, pool or the chaise lounge chairs.
I feel good by comparison in many ways. My walker has bigger wheels than a lot of guys’. I have yet to fall out of my golf cart. I am still quite young by some standards.. My neighbor John fell asleep on his way to the mailbox a few days ago. That hasn’t happened to me yet.
My other neighbor, Len, came over the other day and told me he was so thrilled with his new hearing aid. I asked him what kind was it. He said, “It’s a quarter to three. I’d better get going or I’ll miss the early bird special at Mario’s.”
I’m not quite that bad yet, but I did run in and tell my wife that there was an early bird special at Mario’s and we’d better get moving.”
Friday, July 9, 2010
Violation 21230****
I had a bit of a driving problem on a recent trip to Laguna Beach, California, that resulted in a $100 traffic ticket. This is the letter I wrote to them explaining the situation. I thought you might enjoy it.
Dear Sirs:
I am an elderly, disabled visitor to your area. I was on your toll road, my first toll road experience in many years.
I had just paid the full toll a few miles before this and I and was driving to Laguna Beach. The GPS my kids gave me for the trip told me to exit and even though the map said I should stay on the toll road, I did exit, for fear that I was wrong. As soon as I left the Toll road, the GPS told me to go back on the toll road in the opposite direction and I knew that was wrong
I entered the ramp to get back on the toll road going south to Laguna and when I got to the booth, no one was there and it asked for a Dollar in coins. I was digging all over trying to find some and a car pulled right up against my bumper and began laying on the horn, constantly beeping it and yelling at me.
I became scared and threw a dollar bill in the hopper and drove through. The other car came through and sat along side me and waved his arms and cursed at me and I hit the brake so he would get ahead of me. We were very frightened. My wife was crying and we made it finally to Laguna where our children were waiting for us.
My wife doesn’t allow me to drive on the freeway any more for fear that we may get shot.
Please don’t fine me.. I did put a dollar bill in the thing and would have found the coins if the car behind us wasn’t scaring us so bad.
Thank you. I promise never to drive on a toll road again.. Well, my wife won’t let me anyway.
By the way, they forgave the fine..
Dear Sirs:
I am an elderly, disabled visitor to your area. I was on your toll road, my first toll road experience in many years.
I had just paid the full toll a few miles before this and I and was driving to Laguna Beach. The GPS my kids gave me for the trip told me to exit and even though the map said I should stay on the toll road, I did exit, for fear that I was wrong. As soon as I left the Toll road, the GPS told me to go back on the toll road in the opposite direction and I knew that was wrong
I entered the ramp to get back on the toll road going south to Laguna and when I got to the booth, no one was there and it asked for a Dollar in coins. I was digging all over trying to find some and a car pulled right up against my bumper and began laying on the horn, constantly beeping it and yelling at me.
I became scared and threw a dollar bill in the hopper and drove through. The other car came through and sat along side me and waved his arms and cursed at me and I hit the brake so he would get ahead of me. We were very frightened. My wife was crying and we made it finally to Laguna where our children were waiting for us.
My wife doesn’t allow me to drive on the freeway any more for fear that we may get shot.
Please don’t fine me.. I did put a dollar bill in the thing and would have found the coins if the car behind us wasn’t scaring us so bad.
Thank you. I promise never to drive on a toll road again.. Well, my wife won’t let me anyway.
By the way, they forgave the fine..
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thanks, Felipe, for setting us straight!
Thanks, Felipe, for setting us straight!
Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon, used his speech in front of a joint session of Congress to slam Arizona’s immigration law. On the floor of our national legislature, a foreign dignitary criticized our laws. Democrats gave him a standing ovation and President Obama stood idly by. What a disgrace!
One must wonder what the immigration laws of Me3xico are, that he would be so outraged that Arizona Law enforcement officers would ask someone for ID when stopping them during in the act of breaking a law.
Let’s see. If I am stopped for speeding in Arizona, the officer will ask me for my driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance, which by law, I must show him. He tickets me and we both drive away.
Now, the same officer pulls over a Latino speeder and if he asks for the same ID, that is racial profiling and a violation of the speeder’s human rights..
What a country! God Bless America.
Oh, by the way, these are a few of the immigration laws in Felipe’s country.
MEXICAN IMMIGRATION LAWS: WISH WE COULD DO THAT!
1. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools.
* * * * * * * *
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language..
* * * * * * * *
3.. All government business will be conducted in our language.
* * * * * * * *
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
* * * * * * * *
5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office
* * * * * * * *
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.
* * * * * * * *
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
* * * * * * * *
8. If foreigners come here and buy land… options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
* * * * * * * *
9. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies. These will lead to deportation.
* * * * * * * *
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged. All assets will be taken from you.
* * * * * * * * *
Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon, used his speech in front of a joint session of Congress to slam Arizona’s immigration law. On the floor of our national legislature, a foreign dignitary criticized our laws. Democrats gave him a standing ovation and President Obama stood idly by. What a disgrace!
One must wonder what the immigration laws of Me3xico are, that he would be so outraged that Arizona Law enforcement officers would ask someone for ID when stopping them during in the act of breaking a law.
Let’s see. If I am stopped for speeding in Arizona, the officer will ask me for my driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance, which by law, I must show him. He tickets me and we both drive away.
Now, the same officer pulls over a Latino speeder and if he asks for the same ID, that is racial profiling and a violation of the speeder’s human rights..
What a country! God Bless America.
Oh, by the way, these are a few of the immigration laws in Felipe’s country.
MEXICAN IMMIGRATION LAWS: WISH WE COULD DO THAT!
1. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools.
* * * * * * * *
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language..
* * * * * * * *
3.. All government business will be conducted in our language.
* * * * * * * *
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.
* * * * * * * *
5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office
* * * * * * * *
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.
* * * * * * * *
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
* * * * * * * *
8. If foreigners come here and buy land… options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
* * * * * * * *
9. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies. These will lead to deportation.
* * * * * * * *
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged. All assets will be taken from you.
* * * * * * * * *
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Cult Think
Cult Think
I sponsor a group on Facebook called Christian Apologetics. A lot of things are discussed there, but Mormonism takes a front row seat.
Recently several Mormons have been responding to articles I post and literally all but bury the site in laborious, cookie cutter LDS responses.. I am sure they mean well, but it gets to be a frustration dealing with them.
I write an article; they respond with an often lengthy, Mormon exhortation. Usually they say that I don’t understand Mormonism, I lie, I misrepresent their doctrines or actions and go on to give a candy coated look at the only true church, knowing that many people are reading what they say.
I respond to their post, giving them answers and facts to support my original premise and they respond back, ignoring my evidence, brushing me off as an angry ex-Mormon who couldn’t live the gospel and other responders as naive Christians who never understood Mormonism and then the Mormons go off on another tangent.
On one topic recently, I finally just deleted the entire topic, just to cut off their supple line for prattle. It was going nowhere.
I have been thinking about this phenomenon for the last day or so and recalled a teaching I did over 20 years ago. I wish I still had the notes. If I do, they are buried in the many notes I kept over the years, a significant sum that I hope to someday sort through. Sort of like the closet full of boxes filled with photos we will probably never sort through, either.
The frustration comes from trying to deal with what I call Cult Think.
Cult Think is the way cult members process data.
Data from the cult itself, in the form of sermons, teachings, books, manuals, rules, regulations, tests of worthiness go straight in.. direct access.
It is not weighed and measured. For example, Mormons have been taught that when the leaders speak, the thinking is done. To question or study a thing out with outside resources is to invite apostasy and the loss of one’s testimony.
Often a Biblical scripture taken outside of context is to accepted as evidence of some truth the cult’s leader may be expounding on, even though the Biblical context is opposite its use. Many of my website articles are filled with such examples.
The Mormon leaders say that God is an exalted man and that worthy Mormons can attain their own godhood. The faithful Mormon accepts that as eternal truth, even though the Bible refutes that in a several dozen clear scriptures. There is no study or searching out the scriptures. You have to wonder that the Mormon accepts this premise blindly; even the Book of Mormon denies that doctrine.
Now, on the other hand , any data from a former member or a concerned Christian; a caring family member or neighbor is received as an attack on the faith and is filtered through a thick wall of defense.
The Mormon or other cult member believes in their heart that the giver of the data left the cult/church to live a life in sin, couldn’t live up to the laws and ordinances of the cult gospel; is making money saying these evil things, hates the cult/ Mormons, is lying about it, manipulating scripture to cause them to lose their testimony.
The result is that just a fraction of the data penetrates the wall. When enough is said or read to actually break through the wall, the Mormon or other cult member immediately goes to bearing one’s testimony of the truthfulness of the cult or its leader or prophet or doctrine.
When this hypnotic/trance like testimony is over, the wall is back up and in place, the data giver is back to square one.
Once I was asked by a pastor to be at his side when he met with a Mormon couple and their bishop, to discuss why he allowed their LDS daughter to go forward at an altar call in his church. They were furious. When the bishop saw that I was sitting with the pastor, they put the meeting on hold until two men with higher ranking than bishop could attend.
When one of the new arrivals was stunned that he did not have answer to a question that I had asked, he immediately went into testimony mode.
As he got to the “… and I believe the Book of Mormon is the Word of God…”, I noticed from across the small desk that his eyes had fully dilated. He was in a hypnotic state!
I loudly smacked my hands together right in front of his face and loudly proclaimed, “The Book of Mormon cannot be true..”
He sat there in a silent daze and did not open his mouth again for the rest of the meeting.. He was literally bewildered.
My point is: Realize that you are dealing with Cult Think when you witness. Watch for it, work around it and keep poking those holes. Those walls do come down through prayer, love and persistence.
If you have a response to this post, I will be happy to post it.
Ed Decker
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Newsletter April 1020
April 2010 Newsletter
A Note From Ed
Well, I am back up and running again. A trip to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona was the solution. After three Doctors and nine tests/lab workups, it was just more heavy meds that masked my symptoms and turned my mind to jelly.
Carol let that go on just so long and then she was on the phone with Mayo. They had resolved similar issues several years ago and she knew they would get the job done again. The Doctors at the Mayo Clinic, working as a team, had me on the road to recovery within 24 hours and while I am slowly getting back to the old me, I was able to drop all the meds that had me looking like a stoner on holiday.
It amazes me that people go to all kinds of lengths to get those drugs, even stealing and robbery.
We are still working out a number of problems with the new website, but I believe that we are through the major issues and will have it running in inter-active mode in the near future.
For those of you who have emailed me the last few months and received no reply, hang in there. I am so backlogged and I can still only handle the computer for a few hours at a time. I will get to all messages over the next few weeks.
I would like to thank all of you who responded to my son, Josh’s call for special giving last month. Your responses were more than special.
We still need a few heroes. If you can send in a special gift, it would be a great help right now.
Remember, you can give on our secure donation section on the website, or send a PayPal gift to us @ gifts@saintsalive.com or call it in @ 1-800-861-9888 or mail it in to us at our mailing address: P.O. Box 1347, Issaquah WA 98027
Your brother in Christ. Ed Decker
The World seems to be spinning out of control. Some of the news lately is so off center that I have to think we are victims of global insanity. Let me show you what I mean.
Trinity College
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Article by By Casey Curlin:
Texas {Muslim} students see religious bias with 'year of Our Lord'
Students [ Muslim] at a Texas college are demanding that their diplomas not be dated "in the year of Our Lord," prompting school officials to consider removing that phrase while leaving what others consider another obvious reference to Christendom — the school's name, Trinity University… A Presbyterian, Christian College
Senior Sidra Qureshi, a Muslim student and president of Trinity Diversity Connection, started a petition that requested that students have the option of having the words removed from their diplomas.
Isaac Medina, a senior who graduated in December, told the San Antonio Express-News in March that he felt like "a victim of bait and switch" because he had applied to the university under the impression that it maintained only a historical bond to the Presbyterian Church.
Brendan McNamara, president of College Republicans at Trinity, said that the wording should remain on thediploma for traditional and multicultural reasons. "The fact that we have a chapel on campus, a Bible on our seal, a reverend, and a Christian reference in our name makes the argument that students were a victim of 'bait and switch' rather silly
See
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/21/texas-students-see-religious-bias-year-of-our-lord/
Western Wall Not in Israel
Says UK Advertising Standards Authority
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority said implying that the Western Wall is in Israel is misleading. HonestReporting goes on-site to investigate...
Not only have some tourists been stranded by a volcanic ash cloud in recent days but their trauma has been multiplied by the revelation that they weren't even holidaying in Israel, their destination of choice. According to the UK's Advertising Standards Authority, an Israeli tourism ad breached rules on truthfulness due to the misleading implication that sites such as the Western Wall could actually be in Israel.
the ASA, which has, so far, refused to reconsider its ruling. Despite the obvious inversion of reality, the ASA has stated:
Our ruling does not prevent the Israeli Government Tourist Office from depicting the Western Wall or other parts of Jerusalem in future advertisements. The ruling solely seeks to ensure that future ads do not imply that places in the occupied territories are part of the State of Israel.
How can Israel advertise the Western Wall without the implication that the site is in Israel?
http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/new/Video_Is_the_Western_Wall_in_Israel_-_HR_Interviews_Confused_Tourists.asp
LDS [illegal] immigrants
Public Forum Letter
Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 04/21/2010 03:09:33 PM MDT
I was appalled after recently reading this 2008 statement by Elder Marlin K. Jensen, a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "The church's view of someone in undocumented status is akin, in a way, to a civil trespass." Jensen related it "to coming onto someone's property uninvited" and said, "There is nothing inherent or wrong about that status."
Really? If I had an outstanding warrant for a trespassing ticket that I hadn't paid, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't qualify for an LDS temple recommend until it was taken care of. I also see a giant difference between crossing a fence posted "No trespassing" and sneaking into a country, buying stolen Social Security numbers and not paying taxes.
In a meeting of LDS Church stake presidents in May 2006, church authorities instructed local leaders that the church was no longer going to acknowledge the country borders that man has set, and that no church leader should deny an undocumented individual church privileges based solely on that illegal activity. I'm sad and confused by the LDS Church's quiet stance on this serious issue. I pray our church leaders will support our U.S. government.
Army Disinvites Graham to Pentagon Prayer Day
Thursday, 22 Apr 2010 07:06 PM
Evangelist Franklin Graham's invitation to speak at a Pentagon prayer service has been rescinded because his comments about Islam were inappropriate, the Army said Thursday.
Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, in 2001 described Islam as evil. More recently, he has said he finds Islam offensive and wants Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins.
Army spokesman Col. Tom Collins said Graham's remarks were "not appropriate."
"We're an all-inclusive military," Collins said. "We honor all faiths. ... Our message to our service and civilian work force is about the need for diversity and appreciation of all faiths."
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation had raised the objection to Graham's appearance, citing his past remarks about Islam.
Collins said earlier this week that the invitation to attend the National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon wasn't from the military but from the Colorado-based National Day of Prayer Task Force, which works with the Pentagon chaplain's office on the prayer event.
As co-honorary chair of the task force, Graham was expected to be the lead speaker at the May 6 Pentagon service. Country singer Ricky Skaggs was expected to perform.
Since Graham's invitation was rescinded, the task force has decided not to participate in the military prayer service, Collins said.
http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/US-Day-of-Prayer/2010/04/22/id/356609?s=al&promo_code=9CC6-1
*********************
Pentagon Widens Christian Ban;
Graham Says It’s Anti-Religion
Monday, 26 Apr 2010 11:39 PM
By: David A. Patten
The entire National Day of Prayer task force, including the Rev. Franklin Graham, has been "disinvited" to the National Day of Prayer observance to be held at the Pentagon, sources tell Newsmax.
And evangelist Franklin Graham believes the military’s effort to ban him and other Christian leaders is nothing short of an effort to stamp out Christianity from the military.
The Pentagon's decision to disinvite not only Graham, but also the National Day of Prayer task force led by author Shirley Dobson, the wife of influential Focus on the Family founder Dr. James C. Dobson, suggests the Pentagon's rejection of Christian leaders is much broader than previously recognized.
http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/graham-islam-pentagon-prayer/2010/04/26/id/356950
****************
Comedy Central Allows Mockery of Christianity on South Park but Bleeps the Name 'Prophet Muhammad' from a Recent Episode
WASHINGTON, April 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- Network "censors" South Park after radical Islamic group makes threats about the portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad.
It is bigotry and discrimination at its worst to protect one faith tradition, Islam, and allow others to be mocked and ridiculed.
South Park has a long history of mocking Christianity and its values which Comedy Central has repeatedly aired.
By bowing to the pressure of radical Islamic extremists, Comedy Central shows their utter contempt for free speech, their cowardice and their distain for religious tolerance and equality.
Sadly, this double standard by Comedy Central toward Christianity reflects the prevailing attitude in pop culture toward the Christian faith and their values. http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9449413700.html
FOX NEWS NOW CONDEMNS ALL CRITICS OF ISLAM
NETWORK FORSAKES FAIRNESS AND BALANCE
thelastcrusade.org
http://thelastcrusade.org/2010/03/10/fox-news-now-condemns-all-critics-of-islam/
On Fox News last night as Glenn Beck, Charles Krauthammer, A.B. Stoddard, and Bill Kristol condemned Dutch activist Geert Wilders as a “demagogue” and a “fascist.”
Mr. Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom in The Netherlands, produced a controversial documentary on Islam in Holland called “Fitna.” In the short film, Mr. Wilders argued that “there is no such thing as ‘moderate Islam’” and that the Prophet Muhammad would “. . .in these days be hunted down as a terrorist.”
In the past, the former member of the Dutch National Parliament was a frequent guest on Fox News. Last February, Bill O’Reilly welcomed Mr. Wilders to America, while condemning a scared Britain for banning him entrance to the country.
While Mr. Beck labeled Mr. Wilders as a “fascist,” Mr. Krauthammer said that the popular Dutch politician, who is a leading candidate for Prime Minister, doesn’t know the difference between Islam and Islamism.
Ms. Stoddard expressed her agreement with Krauthammer and added that “if people like this (Mr. Wilders)) are elected to lead Holland it will suffer the consequences.
The well-orchestrated attacks on Mr. Wilders came in the wake of news that Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and principal stockholder of News Corps, the parent company of Fox News, will make Abu Dhabi, the headquarters of his global media operations in the Middle East.
Mr. Murdock has established strong links with the Arab Muslims, last month agreeing to invest 70 million dollars in the Rotana Group, an enterprise is controlled by Saudi tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Prince Talal, in turn, now owns 7% of News Corps. He is #22 on the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people.
The change in Fox News and its stance on Islam has been noted by Walid Shoebat, a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, who converted to Christianity.
Mr. Shoebat says that Fox New now prohibits critics of Islam and Islamic terror from appearing on its broadcasts.
He contends that the prohibition stems from the fact that Prince Talal is now the second-largest shareholder in News Corporation, the parent company of the Fox News Channel.
*********
Saints Alive Ministries
P.O. Box 1347
Issaquah, WA 98027
www.saintsalive.com
Let me hear back on your thoughts about this issue!
ed@saintsalive.com
I do answer my emails
A Note From Ed
Well, I am back up and running again. A trip to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona was the solution. After three Doctors and nine tests/lab workups, it was just more heavy meds that masked my symptoms and turned my mind to jelly.
Carol let that go on just so long and then she was on the phone with Mayo. They had resolved similar issues several years ago and she knew they would get the job done again. The Doctors at the Mayo Clinic, working as a team, had me on the road to recovery within 24 hours and while I am slowly getting back to the old me, I was able to drop all the meds that had me looking like a stoner on holiday.
It amazes me that people go to all kinds of lengths to get those drugs, even stealing and robbery.
We are still working out a number of problems with the new website, but I believe that we are through the major issues and will have it running in inter-active mode in the near future.
For those of you who have emailed me the last few months and received no reply, hang in there. I am so backlogged and I can still only handle the computer for a few hours at a time. I will get to all messages over the next few weeks.
I would like to thank all of you who responded to my son, Josh’s call for special giving last month. Your responses were more than special.
We still need a few heroes. If you can send in a special gift, it would be a great help right now.
Remember, you can give on our secure donation section on the website, or send a PayPal gift to us @ gifts@saintsalive.com or call it in @ 1-800-861-9888 or mail it in to us at our mailing address: P.O. Box 1347, Issaquah WA 98027
Your brother in Christ. Ed Decker
The World seems to be spinning out of control. Some of the news lately is so off center that I have to think we are victims of global insanity. Let me show you what I mean.
Trinity College
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Article by By Casey Curlin:
Texas {Muslim} students see religious bias with 'year of Our Lord'
Students [ Muslim] at a Texas college are demanding that their diplomas not be dated "in the year of Our Lord," prompting school officials to consider removing that phrase while leaving what others consider another obvious reference to Christendom — the school's name, Trinity University… A Presbyterian, Christian College
Senior Sidra Qureshi, a Muslim student and president of Trinity Diversity Connection, started a petition that requested that students have the option of having the words removed from their diplomas.
Isaac Medina, a senior who graduated in December, told the San Antonio Express-News in March that he felt like "a victim of bait and switch" because he had applied to the university under the impression that it maintained only a historical bond to the Presbyterian Church.
Brendan McNamara, president of College Republicans at Trinity, said that the wording should remain on thediploma for traditional and multicultural reasons. "The fact that we have a chapel on campus, a Bible on our seal, a reverend, and a Christian reference in our name makes the argument that students were a victim of 'bait and switch' rather silly
See
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/21/texas-students-see-religious-bias-year-of-our-lord/
Western Wall Not in Israel
Says UK Advertising Standards Authority
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority said implying that the Western Wall is in Israel is misleading. HonestReporting goes on-site to investigate...
Not only have some tourists been stranded by a volcanic ash cloud in recent days but their trauma has been multiplied by the revelation that they weren't even holidaying in Israel, their destination of choice. According to the UK's Advertising Standards Authority, an Israeli tourism ad breached rules on truthfulness due to the misleading implication that sites such as the Western Wall could actually be in Israel.
the ASA, which has, so far, refused to reconsider its ruling. Despite the obvious inversion of reality, the ASA has stated:
Our ruling does not prevent the Israeli Government Tourist Office from depicting the Western Wall or other parts of Jerusalem in future advertisements. The ruling solely seeks to ensure that future ads do not imply that places in the occupied territories are part of the State of Israel.
How can Israel advertise the Western Wall without the implication that the site is in Israel?
http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/critiques/new/Video_Is_the_Western_Wall_in_Israel_-_HR_Interviews_Confused_Tourists.asp
LDS [illegal] immigrants
Public Forum Letter
Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 04/21/2010 03:09:33 PM MDT
I was appalled after recently reading this 2008 statement by Elder Marlin K. Jensen, a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "The church's view of someone in undocumented status is akin, in a way, to a civil trespass." Jensen related it "to coming onto someone's property uninvited" and said, "There is nothing inherent or wrong about that status."
Really? If I had an outstanding warrant for a trespassing ticket that I hadn't paid, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't qualify for an LDS temple recommend until it was taken care of. I also see a giant difference between crossing a fence posted "No trespassing" and sneaking into a country, buying stolen Social Security numbers and not paying taxes.
In a meeting of LDS Church stake presidents in May 2006, church authorities instructed local leaders that the church was no longer going to acknowledge the country borders that man has set, and that no church leader should deny an undocumented individual church privileges based solely on that illegal activity. I'm sad and confused by the LDS Church's quiet stance on this serious issue. I pray our church leaders will support our U.S. government.
Army Disinvites Graham to Pentagon Prayer Day
Thursday, 22 Apr 2010 07:06 PM
Evangelist Franklin Graham's invitation to speak at a Pentagon prayer service has been rescinded because his comments about Islam were inappropriate, the Army said Thursday.
Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, in 2001 described Islam as evil. More recently, he has said he finds Islam offensive and wants Muslims to know that Jesus Christ died for their sins.
Army spokesman Col. Tom Collins said Graham's remarks were "not appropriate."
"We're an all-inclusive military," Collins said. "We honor all faiths. ... Our message to our service and civilian work force is about the need for diversity and appreciation of all faiths."
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation had raised the objection to Graham's appearance, citing his past remarks about Islam.
Collins said earlier this week that the invitation to attend the National Day of Prayer event at the Pentagon wasn't from the military but from the Colorado-based National Day of Prayer Task Force, which works with the Pentagon chaplain's office on the prayer event.
As co-honorary chair of the task force, Graham was expected to be the lead speaker at the May 6 Pentagon service. Country singer Ricky Skaggs was expected to perform.
Since Graham's invitation was rescinded, the task force has decided not to participate in the military prayer service, Collins said.
http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/US-Day-of-Prayer/2010/04/22/id/356609?s=al&promo_code=9CC6-1
*********************
Pentagon Widens Christian Ban;
Graham Says It’s Anti-Religion
Monday, 26 Apr 2010 11:39 PM
By: David A. Patten
The entire National Day of Prayer task force, including the Rev. Franklin Graham, has been "disinvited" to the National Day of Prayer observance to be held at the Pentagon, sources tell Newsmax.
And evangelist Franklin Graham believes the military’s effort to ban him and other Christian leaders is nothing short of an effort to stamp out Christianity from the military.
The Pentagon's decision to disinvite not only Graham, but also the National Day of Prayer task force led by author Shirley Dobson, the wife of influential Focus on the Family founder Dr. James C. Dobson, suggests the Pentagon's rejection of Christian leaders is much broader than previously recognized.
http://newsmax.com/InsideCover/graham-islam-pentagon-prayer/2010/04/26/id/356950
****************
Comedy Central Allows Mockery of Christianity on South Park but Bleeps the Name 'Prophet Muhammad' from a Recent Episode
WASHINGTON, April 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- Network "censors" South Park after radical Islamic group makes threats about the portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad.
It is bigotry and discrimination at its worst to protect one faith tradition, Islam, and allow others to be mocked and ridiculed.
South Park has a long history of mocking Christianity and its values which Comedy Central has repeatedly aired.
By bowing to the pressure of radical Islamic extremists, Comedy Central shows their utter contempt for free speech, their cowardice and their distain for religious tolerance and equality.
Sadly, this double standard by Comedy Central toward Christianity reflects the prevailing attitude in pop culture toward the Christian faith and their values. http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9449413700.html
FOX NEWS NOW CONDEMNS ALL CRITICS OF ISLAM
NETWORK FORSAKES FAIRNESS AND BALANCE
thelastcrusade.org
http://thelastcrusade.org/2010/03/10/fox-news-now-condemns-all-critics-of-islam/
On Fox News last night as Glenn Beck, Charles Krauthammer, A.B. Stoddard, and Bill Kristol condemned Dutch activist Geert Wilders as a “demagogue” and a “fascist.”
Mr. Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom in The Netherlands, produced a controversial documentary on Islam in Holland called “Fitna.” In the short film, Mr. Wilders argued that “there is no such thing as ‘moderate Islam’” and that the Prophet Muhammad would “. . .in these days be hunted down as a terrorist.”
In the past, the former member of the Dutch National Parliament was a frequent guest on Fox News. Last February, Bill O’Reilly welcomed Mr. Wilders to America, while condemning a scared Britain for banning him entrance to the country.
While Mr. Beck labeled Mr. Wilders as a “fascist,” Mr. Krauthammer said that the popular Dutch politician, who is a leading candidate for Prime Minister, doesn’t know the difference between Islam and Islamism.
Ms. Stoddard expressed her agreement with Krauthammer and added that “if people like this (Mr. Wilders)) are elected to lead Holland it will suffer the consequences.
The well-orchestrated attacks on Mr. Wilders came in the wake of news that Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and principal stockholder of News Corps, the parent company of Fox News, will make Abu Dhabi, the headquarters of his global media operations in the Middle East.
Mr. Murdock has established strong links with the Arab Muslims, last month agreeing to invest 70 million dollars in the Rotana Group, an enterprise is controlled by Saudi tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Prince Talal, in turn, now owns 7% of News Corps. He is #22 on the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people.
The change in Fox News and its stance on Islam has been noted by Walid Shoebat, a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, who converted to Christianity.
Mr. Shoebat says that Fox New now prohibits critics of Islam and Islamic terror from appearing on its broadcasts.
He contends that the prohibition stems from the fact that Prince Talal is now the second-largest shareholder in News Corporation, the parent company of the Fox News Channel.
*********
Saints Alive Ministries
P.O. Box 1347
Issaquah, WA 98027
www.saintsalive.com
Let me hear back on your thoughts about this issue!
ed@saintsalive.com
I do answer my emails
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