Duck Dynasty to end

This comes via USA today:

The Video:

The Story:

Duck Dynasty is approaching its last (duck) call.

The Robertson family, the stars of the A&E docu-series, said the show will end in April during a short video announcement after Wednesday’s season premiere.

In a statement accompanying the video, the cable network said: “After five years, 130 episodes and one of the biggest hits in the history of cable, the Robertson family and A&E jointly decided that Duck Dynasty, the series, will come to an end after this season.”

The statement says Duck (Wednesday, 9 ET/PT) will end after the current season. New episodes will run through Jan. 18, resuming March 1 with seven more episodes, including the finale on April 12. Although that will be the end of the series, A&E says a series of holiday specials will follow.

After its premiere in 2012, Duck, which follows a Louisiana family that hit it big in the duck-call business, became a TV and cultural phenomenon. By 2013, episodes were drawing more than 10 million viewers. However, ratings for recent episodes are just a fraction of the earlier numbers, with original episodes from August averaging under 1.5 million viewers.

It’s a sad thing, one the programs on TV that actually promoted Christian values, is being taken off the air. It is just as well, they were on for 5 years and their luster had ran out. The first and second seasons were great. After that, they started getting silly and started repeating themselves a bit.

Still, it is a shame to see them go. Sad smile

The utter hypocrisy of the “Christian Right”

I have to say, the so-called “Christian Right” has fallen away from what it once was in the 1980’s. As you know, and as I blogged about at about four this morning, Trump got caught on a hot mic saying some pretty nasty stuff about a woman.

This is what amazes me to no end. The so-called “Christian Right” has pretty shrugged the shoulders and said, “Oh Well…”.

Click here for the story via the Daily Beast. I shall quote some interesting parts:

The fact that Donald Trump said in 2005 that he could grab women “by the p*ssy” because he’s famous doesn’t seem to be changing how social conservative leaders feel about him.

Evangelicals who opposed him before still aren’t fans. And the ones in his camp aren’t phased by the recording. That’s because this isn’t about how much they like the brash billionaire; it’s about how unflinching they are in their opposition to Hillary Clinton.

“People of faith are voting on issues like who will protect unborn life, defund Planned Parenthood, defend religious liberty and oppose the Iran nuclear deal,” said Ralph Reed, who heads the Faith & Freedom Coalition.  “A ten-year-old tape of a private conversation with a talk show host ranks low on their hierarchy of concerns.”

This whole thing that I just quoted above, encapsulates the entire downfall and compromise of the Evangelical Christian right. Now, I happen to be 44 years old and I remember the Reagan era very well and I remember the militancy of the Christian Right. Could you imagine, if you are old enough to recall; what would have happened to Ronald Reagan, if something like that would have broken, during his bid for the Presidency? Ronald Reagan would have been shamed out of the Presidential race in an instant!

The reasoning for this reasoning of this, “eh, it happens” stance, is this:

Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and a member of Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, said the comments were “lewd, offensive, and indefensible.”

But, he added, he’s still voting Trump. He said he moderated a meeting between the candidate and Evangelical and Catholic leaders, and he was forthright about his hesitations about Trump’s moral

“I said at that time, with Trump sitting next to me, I would not necessarily choose this man to be my child’s Sunday School teacher,” Jeffress said. “But that’s not what this election is about.”

He added that he doesn’t think Hillary Clinton is morally superior to Trump.

“Here is a woman who lied to the families of the Benghazi victims, she destroyed 33,000 emails while under subpoena, and she’s attacked the women who attacked her husband,” he said. “The fact is we’re all sinners, we all need forgiveness, and God doesn’t grade people according to their level of sin.”

And David Bozell, a Roman Catholic who heads the conservative group ForAmerica and supports Trump, said the audio won’t change how conservative voters view the candidate.

“Bill Clinton’s history of being a sexual predator, including affairs with interns, dwarfs any locker room banter,” he said. “The clip is unfortunate, but then again, we’re not electing saints in November.”

Unbelievable. The reasoning is, “Donald Trump is pretty bad; But Hillary Clinton is worse.” This is a fatal flaw and bad reasoning. It also is a sure sign of the apostasy within the ranks of the Evangelical Church.

Now, do not misunderstand me here; I am voting for Trump and I will be holding my nose. However, as a Christian and an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist; I would expect those who claim to represent me and my beliefs to at least take more of a stand on an issue much as this one.

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Reply to John’s E-Mail

The Video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAWAPJbfyY?rel=0

Today, I received an email from a “John” asking the following:

Hello Fellow Christian,
My name is John and I have a mom who is a confessing Christian who loves to talk about the lord and give advice but she is in adultery. Me and my wife brought up the scriptures to her and pray daily but nothing. I felt moved to talk with you because I was reading one of your blogs on Pastor Charles Stanley who y mom attends his church. My question is, should we continue to keep her in our lives or cut her off? We have children and I do not want this to have an affect on their Christian life. Anything will be great. Thank You.

Now, I sent the man a reply and the email address bounced; so, I will post the reply here:

Hi John,

That’s a tough call.

First off, I would talk to YOUR Pastor and ask HIM for guidance.

Now, personally, I think that totally cutting your children off from their grandmother, is not a good idea. I would however, limit their interaction and time spent with her; and I would be always there to supervise visits.

Now, you can totally cut her off, after all the Bible does say:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. – (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

and…:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery – (Matthew 5:27-32 KJV)

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. – (Mark 9:43-48 KJV)
and:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. – (Matthew 10:32-38 KJV)

—————-

Now, here is the harsh, brutally honest, cold dish rag in the face, honest truth — advice that I will give you:

If you wish to take the hard stance and stand for what you know to be right and decide to separate yourself from those, that you know to be committing sin; you had better be very prepared to deal with the fallout or consequences. No man or woman, who has decided to take harsh stance and decided to cut off all communication, fellowship and interaction like this; has had it easy. In fact, it can cause you many, many, headaches.

Now, I am not saying that you should not do it. You just should be very prepared for what the fallout might be.

I will be praying for you, that the Lord would give you Godly wisdom in this situation

I hope sees this reply. 🙂

This is end, my only friend, the end….

This is so funny. The Establishment is feeling the butthurt:

Nothing can stop the Trump train….nothing. Not even Erik “whiny bitch boy” Erickson

The talks about how to deal with Trump’s ascendance took on fresh urgency on Thursday. Some were intent on keeping up the fight. Prominent conservative activists gathered behind closed doors at the Army-Navy Club in downtown Washington, just a few blocks from the White House, to discuss how Trump could be defeated — even if it means waging a third-party campaign to run against him. The meeting drew around two dozen figures, including prominent activist Erick Erickson, conservative columnist Quin Hillyer, South Dakota businessman Bob Fischer and former George W. Bush adviser Bill Wichterman.
Source: Anti-Trump forces contemplate the end – POLITICO

I believe this here is most appropriate:

 

Interesting Reading: A Primer on Christian Dominionism

As I have written on here many times, I am opposed to Christian Dominionist movement, of which Ted Cruz is a part of.

Well, someone finally has did a write up on the movement. Ronnie Herne over at Newswithviews.com writes about the movement:

“Zealous men force their way in.” The Secret Kingdom by Pat Robertson (p. 82)

Dominionism. What is it? Where does it come from? And most importantly, where is it headed?

Dominionism simply means “dominance.” In our parlance here it means Christian dominance. The concept is as old as recorded history. It’s a desire to take over the world and remake it in your own image.

Dominionism here in the U.S. has been seriously percolating since the 70s or very early 80s. Many variants exist in the belief structures but there is only one goal: creating the earthly Kingdom of God. It matters not that Christ said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” The Dominionists forge ahead. They believe that in Genesis I:26-28 God gave man dominion over the earth. But when man fell from Grace many dominionists believe that Satan took over dominion of the earth.

They believe that Almighty God Himself cannot get the earth back unless the Dominionists first create a Christian government over all the world, starting right here in the United States. The Dominionists will create this Kingdom of God.

Only when this Kingdom is created can Christ come again the second time. And somewhere at or around that time, the good Christians will experience Rapture and be taken or ascended into heaven, and the other Christians and non-Christians will face maybe 7 years of Tribulation.

The Dominionists are a self-aggrandizing lot. Not just any Christian will do. No, a good Presbyterian like Donald Trump doesn’t qualify. The bulk of your Catholics don’t make the cut either. And forget the “Judeo-” in “Judeo-Christian”.

I highly recommend that you read the rest of that; as it is very, very, enlightening. Only thing that she missed is that the fact that Christian Dominionism is a politicization of “Kingdom Now Theology” made famous by Jack Hayford. Other than that; this article above and linked, is excellent.

 

Trump vies for the Evangelical Vote at Regent University

I think this *might* help him, Maybe.

The Video:

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.– Fresh off his Nevada caucus victory, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump set his sights on Super Tuesday, campaigning in Virginia Beach.Trump spoke before a packed theater at Regent University as part of the university’s Executive Leadership Presidential Candidate Forums series.”We owe $19 trillion — most people don’t even know what a trillion dollars is, how many hundreds of millions is in a trillion,” Trump said. “It’s such a number that, it’s a name that 10 years ago you never even heard the word trillion, but we owe $19 trillion.” – Source: Trump Courts Evangelical Vote at Regent University | CBN.com (beta)

I say maybe, because Evangelicals are a finicky group of people. I see them swinging towards Ted Cruz. But, so far, Cruz has only won one primary/caucus. So, it is anyone’s guess.

Here’s the entire event:

 

Thoughts while standing in line at Meijer

This posting was originally written on Facebook, while I was standing in line at Meijer near my house.

*****

A few thoughts while waiting in line at Meijer.

1. Why do women in excess of 50 or 60 years old feel the need to wear pink hair? you don’t look cool, you look like a freaking idiot!

2. To the 20-something (maybe older or younger…I dunno) with the schoolgirl uniform on, is that a real school girl uniform or are you just trying to look like a porn star or a slut?

If what I saw the day here in Meijer, is a measurement of society today. I’d say we’re going straight to hell in a handbasket.

Guest Voice:David Cloud – In Essentials Unity

This is a reprint of an article written by Missionary David Cloud, a Fundamentalist Baptist Missionary and founder of Way of Life Literature. David Cloud’s writings and tireless research into the history of Pentecostalism and my personal doubts with its core doctrines were the reasons why I left that movement in 2004. 

Here David Cloud makes a strong Biblical case for Christian separation. One of my personal gripes with the evangelical Christian movement as a whole, is an outright acceptance of Churches, who teach doctrines, which are in direct conflict with the Word of God. This article tells the truth about this sort of “Unity” among the apostate Churches. It is my pleasure to reprint this on my blog. 

(Link to original article)

The evangelical philosophy is often stated by the dictum, “In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.”

Though commonly attributed to Augustine, it was apparently first stated by the 17th-century Lutheran Rupertus Meldenius (a.k.a. Peter Meiderlin).

It became the rallying cry of the Moravians, who had a wonderful missionary zeal but retained such Romanist heresies as infant baptism and an ordained priesthood and who promoted unity above the absolute truth of God’s Word for the purpose of “revival.”

The “in non-essentials liberty” principle was adopted by the fundamentalist movement of the 20th century. Fundamentalism focused on a unity built around “the fundamentals of the faith” while downplaying “minor issues.” The pragmatic objective was to create the largest possible united front against theological modernism and for evangelism and world missions.

“Historic fundamentalism has always been characterized by a core of biblical, historic, orthodox doctrines. … Most fundamentalists would be content with terms like ‘major doctrines’ or ‘cardinal doctrines’ to describe their consensus. … [T]here are other doctrinal distinctives that some may claim for themselves as fundamentalists. But to make these beliefs articles of fundamentalist faith would cut the movement’s channel more narrowly than history will allow” (Rolland McCune, Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Fall 1996).

Continue reading Guest Voice:David Cloud – In Essentials Unity”

On Donald Trump’s Statement on Muslim Immigration

Here’s the statement in its entirety:

(New York, NY) December 7th, 2015, — Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on. According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population. Most recently, a poll from the Center for Security Policy released data showing “25% of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad” and 51% of those polled, “agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.” Shariah authorizes such atrocities as murder against non-believers who won’t convert, beheadings and more unthinkable acts that pose great harm to Americans, especially women.

Mr. Trump stated, “Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make America Great Again.” – Donald J. Trump

Here is the problem with this idea. It is, in fact, a total violation of our First Amendment. Not to mention it is straight up discrimination.

If trump was elected and he tried to do this, the ACLU would have a field day with it and lawsuits would fly like crazy. The reason I say that it is a First Amendment, is because if the Federal Government gets in the business of telling which religions can enter the Country, we put the First Amendment in jeopardy.  There is also this thought from the Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore:

The United States government should fight, and fight hard, against radical Islamic jihadism. The government should close the borders to anyone suspected of even a passing involvement with any radical cell or terrorist network. But the government should not penalize law-abiding people, especially those who are American citizens, for holding their religious convictions.

Muslims are an unpopular group these days. And I would argue that non-violent Muslim leaders have a responsibility to call out terror and violence and jihad. At the same time, those of us who are Christians ought to stand up for religious liberty not just when our rights are violated but on behalf of others too.

Make no mistake. A government that can shut down mosques simply because they are mosques can shut down Bible studies because they are Bible studies. A government that can close the borders to all Muslims simply on the basis of their religious belief can do the same thing for evangelical Christians. A government that issues ID badges for Muslims simply because they are Muslims can, in the fullness of time, demand the same for Christians because we are Christians.

I may have disagreements with the SBC on many things, mostly because they’re evangelical and I happen to be an old Fundamentalist Baptist. However, on this issue here, he is right. We simply do NOT want the United States Government getting involved in religion at all.

What should happen is this: There should be a 10 year moratorium on ALL immigration in this Country or at least until this Country figures out a way to screen every last person coming into this Country and figures out a way to share information with other Countries as to the background of all persons coming into this Country. Furthermore, the United States of America should be going after the Muslims that are suspected of having ties to extremists, who are living here already.

Furthermore, we should be stepping up to the fullest extent possible, the surveillance of Mosques here in America that are suspected of preaching radical jihad; and the Imams who are preaching this sort of thing, should be arrested, tried and deported out of the Country, never again allowed to return to America. If they are from the United States, they should be tried with promoting hate speech. Also, their connections and money trails should be fully investigated as well.  If the Imams are found to be taking money from radicals, they should tried for that as well.

The point is this: We already have the means and the ability to track these things and put a stop to them. The problem is that political correctness stopped it and now, we are paying the price. The blood of all those killed in London, San Bernardino and everywhere else, so far; is on the hands of the political correct and civil rights people. Protection of the Republic of the United States, and its people come first. This President has failed horrible on this issue, because he wishes to placate the liberal wing of his Party. Because of this, people have been killed and if President Obama is not real careful, that will end up being his legacy.

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No, let’s not start closing down Mosques Mr. Trump

Not too sure about this one:

The Video:

 

In an interview with Fox Business, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would “absolutely” revoke passports and close mosques in order to fight ISIS.Host Stuart Varney asked about a series of anti-ISIS measures the British government has taken. “They’ve got a whole new series of proposals to deal with this, including withdrawal of passports from some of these people who’ve gone over just to fight–”“Absolutely. Good, good,” Trump said.“…and closing some mosques,” he continued. “Would you do the same thing in America?”“I would do that,” Trump responded. “Absolutely, I think it’s great.”

Source: Donald Trump Would Close Down Mosques In Order to Fight ISIS | Mediaite

Here’s why this bugs me a bit. If we start giving the power to the US Government to close Religious houses of worship; we start treading on the constitution. For those who would cheerlead such a move, consider this: What happens if the United States sudden decides that Baptist Churches, especially, those of the Fundamentalist sort are too radical in their beliefs, what then, do they shut them down too?

We really, as Baptists, need to pray that the Lord give us a President that understands the concept of Religious freedom, because it is quite obvious that Donald Trump knows nothing about that at all.