Bookstore Sued for Saying Bible Is God's Word. Redwood Bible House in Ukiah, California was sued for claiming that the Bible is the Word of God. It is the second Christian bookstore to go to court over the issue. In December, owners Tony and Neta Fisk began receiving calls from Queenie Edwards of Willits, California, demanding that they stop advertising the Bible as God's Word. The Fisks told `Christian Retailing' that Edwards visited the store in December and demanded that the store post a disclaimer on the door saying that they were falsely advertising Bibles as `God's Word.' The owners refused . . . Edwards reportedly demanded a check for $2,500 for `damage to her reputation.' Edwards' case against the Fisks was heard January 6 by a judge who ruled in favor of the bookstore and the Fisks. Edwards took the store to court again February 14, demanding that the second court overturn the first ruling, but the court again sided with the bookstore and its owners. (Sword of the Lord, 8-6-99) E. L. Bynum (Hereafter ELB)

Police raided a service at a Protestant house church in Henan Province, China, Aug. 23 and arrested 40 leaders. National security officers and provincial police entered the home of Niu Jianhua in Tanghe county, the Hong Kong-based Information Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China said. All are still in custody, including Wang Jincai, leader of acontroversial movement called the Shouters. He had been released from a labor camp three days before the arrest. ...Henan police have arrested more than 200 people in several raids on house churches in the past 10 months, the center said. China severely restricts churches that are not registered with the government. Most house churches refuse to register because of restrictions on evangelism and church teaching. The house church movements include millions of followers. (By the Editors at Religion Today, 8-27-99) ELB

Jim & Tammy Fay's Son - Looking more like a punk rocker than a preacher, tattooed and pierced Jay Bakker, son of fallen evangelists Jim and Tammy Fay Bakker, runs his own ministry. (LAJ, 8/26/99) He admits to dropping "out of school" and "can hardly write." Describes himself as "white trash" but with a God given gift to "relate to people and to see the common sense of the Bible." The thrust of his message: "...the church needs to stop...fight(ing) Marilyn Manson and start accepting all types of people." Sounds like he might fit in with Franklin Graham's type of ministry. W. W. Mosley (Hereafter WWM)

STDs Increase In Gay Men - Two WWI-II STDs, syphilis and gonorrhea, have made a radical increase in reported cases. (Atlanta, [AP], via LAJ, 9/10/99) Guess where? "Among gay men in the Seattle" (WA) area. The report suggested "many of them are letting their guard down against AIDS." Obviously that is not all that is being "let down." The government said they were "engaged in risky sex." "Risky" is not the only descriptive word that should be used. Sin against God, debauchery, unholy sodomy, a life style wholly despised and condemned by God in Heaven, are more appropriate terms. - WWM

Clinton Street Dwindles To Bill's Alley - Little rock's city fathers have backed away from renaming an 11-mile street to honor their most renowned son, Bill Clinton. (World, 8/7/99) Public pressure kept this stretch of pavement from honoring the Excelsior Hotel where he allegedly propositioned Paula Jones in 1991. Hotel Doubletree where Jaunita Brodderick claims then-attorney general Clinton raped her is also on this street. (Ibid.) Instead of renaming a 21-block of Markham St., now only two blocks around the site of the planned presidential library will become "President Clinton Avenue." - WWM

Cursing Canoeist Chooses Cash - After the June '99 jury conviction of Timothy Boomer for cursing in the presence of children a sentence of $75 fine or three days in jail was pronounced. (LAJ, 8/24/99) The ACLU came to Boomer's rescue last June with "freedom of speech" as their defense. (PBC,6/99) His sentence is on hold while Boomer's case is appealed. If his conviction stands he has chosen to pay the fine. A 1897 Michigan law prohibiting cursing was criticized as being outdated. His defenders would also unsuccessfully object to a much older law: "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exo. 20:7) No cash payoff here. - WWM

GLAAD Is Unhappy - The "NAACP and Latino groups" have voiced displeasure of racial neglect in lead roles by TV networks. (LAJ, 8/24/99) The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation enter the fracas. I know nothing about NBC's "Will & Grace," but GLAAD is mad because Will didn't have a male "love life last season." (Ibid.) The producers plan to change this. Producer Max Mutchnick says this move "is a start." God in heaven displayed His opinion concerning an all-homosexual cast in Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen. 19:44,45) Modern society is duped into believing God has changed His mind about homosexuality. He has not! (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8) - WWM

NBC Placed First In Gay Promotion - NBC should hang their head in shame. GLAAD has placed them first in showing the most gay characters (8), followed by ABC (6) , Fox (5) and CBS (3). (LAJ, 824/99) Not only does "Prime Time" TV shows promote homosexuality, the news media of all networks above and many others promote this abomination. Gays and lesbians need the Savior not support, repentance not reevaluation. The wicked will fall by his own wickedness regardless of the approval of government rulings.(Prov. 11:5) - WWM

Public Prayer Unconstitutional - The "U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld a ruling that prayer at public schools' athletic events is unconstitutional." (LAJ, 8/22/99) Sounds like Daniel chapter 6 all over again. When schools opened with prayer to the God of heaven there were no school shootings. The teacher who prayed publicly would also paddle privately. If praying and paddling were reinstated in public schools, scholastic scoring would also rise. God can shut the mouths of protestors against prayer as surely as the mouth of lions if His people will be as dedicated at Daniel. - WWM

Born Gay? - A Lubbock, TX mother declares her "youngest son happened to be born gay." (LAJ, 8/22/99, p8) (The son and his partner of 17 years both died of AIDS in 1993. One of them must have been unfaithful.) She also said, "It is a scientifically proven fact that one's sexuality is set when the brain is being formed in the fetus and that it is irreversible." Likely male or female gender is established early...like before we were born in the knowledge of God. The Psalmist David gives us a scriptural fact, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me," (Psa. 51:5) All iniquity is irreversible except through Christ: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) Even homosexuals can be set free when they repent and forsake their sin. - WWM

Inventing A New Disease - Dr. Spock's no spanking advice is grown into a full grown society abscess. Now the NIMH is claiming "40 % of children need psychiatric care." They also estimated that by 2000 ten million children would be taking the drug Ritalin, an addictive substance used to manage difficult children. This fabricated disease is Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder. Dr. Diane McGuinness refers to ADD as "the emperor's new clothes." She observes, "It is currently fashionable to treat approximately one third of all elementary school boys as an abnormal population because they are fidgety, inattentive, and unamenable to adult control." This is what happens when the Bible and prayer is taken out of schools, parents neglect their responsibility, and teachers are not allowed to discipline. - WWM

Homosexuality Incompatible With Scripture - Conservative Anglicans were pleased in 1998 when bishops voted that homosexual practices were "incompatible with Scripture." (Christian Reader, 7/12/99) However, that is not the end of the story. Several Episcopal churches choose rather to follow Bishop John S. Spong's statement in 1994 that "favors the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of non-celibate homosexual priests who are in long-term monogamous relationships." Any religion that advocates same-sex unions and ordination of practicing homosexuals to offices of leadership should be forsaken immediately. Such are sure to be wrong in all other areas. It is impossible for any practicing homosexual, or any advocate of such activity, to live a life of faithfulness, love, and holiness toward God. - WWM

A Bible Everybody Knows - Syndicated columnist, George Plagenz, lauds William Tegarden's "attractively designed and instructive paperback called `The Bible Nobody Knows'." (LAJ, 3/21/99, p8A) Tegarden says, "...most modern Bible readers do not want to struggle with the Scriptures." What he does not say is what matters the most. Most people do not want to read the Bible because it mirrors every failure and sin of humanity. Neither does society desire to be guided by the precepts of God's holy Word. What a mockery moral man makes of the Word of God. Here is man's attitude and God's response: "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." (Psa. 2:3,4) Be sure your sin will find you out, Mr. Plagenz & Tegarden! - WWM

Hollywood's Noah's Ark - Although I did not view the mini-series "Noah's Ark" it is no surprise that Hollywood missed the biblical. Reviewers of the show revealed the demonic nature of the producers. Daniel Block, professor of Old Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY said "...it's a twisting of the biblical account of Noah and a `shameless perversion' of the character of God." (Baptist Press, 4/29/99) No doubt many Christians(?) deemed it good "scriptural, spiritual entertainment." The Bible alone declares the only true version of the deluge. "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?" (Jer. 8:22a) It is little wonder that the sons and daughters of God's people have no healing. The movie is produced by Hallmark Entertainment, a subsidiary of Hallmark cards. - WWM

University Adds Sexual Orientation To Non-Discrimination Policy - "Trustees of the University of Richmond (SBC) expanded the school's non-discrimination policy March 5 to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in student, faculty and staff recruitment and promotion." (Baptist Press, 4/27/99) A past president of the BGAV and VWMU, Margaret Wayland is chair of a task force for Virginia Baptist to look into the new policy. (Ibid.) One defender of the policy is Keith Smith, pastor of University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, the article said. What a sad day in human history when ANY Baptist have to discuss whether homosexuality is scripturally acceptable. "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (Lev. 18:22) See also Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:26,27. - WWM

McDonald's Join "Sexual Orientation" Crowd - This was reported in the April 9 issue of The Washington Blade, the District of Columbia's weekly newspaper for homosexuals. (Baptist Press, 4/15/99). The fast-food giant decided to include "sexual orientation" in its nondiscrimination and sexual harassment policies. "Sexual orientation" is a term that encompasses homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality. (Ibid.) Though they have a rubber glove serving policy will you be sure you are safe when you eat a Big Mac? It not the burger, it's the bearer.- WWM

Rock Music Can Cause Violence - Hard rock music is a "virus" in American culture that contributes to youth violence, charges a recent report released by Paul Weyrich's conservative think tank the Free Congress Foundation (7/22 Ala. Baptist). The report notes that the Columbine killers idolized shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, as did other recent perpetrators of teen violence. The music industry dismisses this as a coincidence. It says music reflects violence in culture but does not cause it. The report strongly disputes that. Studies indicate that some kinds of music can negatively affect behavior. Music surpasses television as an influence on teenagers. (Calvary Contender, Hereafter:) - CC

Woodstock A Riot - It took 700 riot-geared police to clear the Woodstock '99, Rome, NY rock concert site last month, after concession stands were looted and burned (8/9 USN&WR). Workers said molestations and rapes were commonplace and often cheered by onlookers. - CC

Southern Baptists Endorse New ESV - Several prominent Southern Baptists recently endorsed an inerrancy-based edition of the Revised Standard Version (1971) to be published as the English Standard Version. (7/22 Ala. Baptist). It will be "more literal than the NIV" and "more readable than the NASB." Jerry Falwell is listed as one of "Southern Baptists on the new ESV's 51-member advisory council." It also includes: SBC Pres. Paige Patterson, Carl Henry, and Timothy George. Wayne Grudem and J.I. Packer are on an oversight committee. - CC

Peggy Campolo Affirms `Gay' Relationships - Peggy Campolo recently spoke at a pro-homosexual Evangelicals Concerned event. Her opening prayer to the "God of love" did not mention Jesus. She said "We are standing on holy ground here," and later said the first homosexual wedding in her Central Baptist Church (ABC USA) was a "high and holy experience" for her. She called her church a "safe place" for homosexuals, where they are "welcomed and affirmed." Over and over she referred to "my gay brothers and lesbian sisters," and called them children of God. She stated her belief that homosexuals should have the right both legally and in the eyes of the church to marry whoever they choose as a life partner. She said, "My husband [Tony] got in trouble in 1985 for saying that God was inside every person whether that person was a Christian or not. [And] Tony said the place to find God was in loving service to other people.Tony was right about where to find God." She started her journey by feeling sorry for homosexuals, but then found she could enjoy their company. She and Tony have gone back to "P-town" (a "gay" summer Mecca on Cape Cod) every year for the last 19 years. - CC

Scouts Forced To Accept Homosexuals - The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled last month that Boy Scouts were forced to accept homosexual scouts and scoutmasters, even though they are a private group with moral objections to homosexuality (8/9 H.Times). Scouting depends on schools and religious organizations, especially the Mormon Church which sponsors almost three times as many Boy Scout groups as the second-ranked religious sponsor, the United Methodist Church. (8/1 Chr. News). -CC

Canada Upholds Lesbians As Family Unit - The Supreme Court of Canada recently recognized two lesbians as a family unit. Dr. Frank McClelland in the 6/99 Canadian Revivalist notes that a main purpose of the family unit is procreation. Homosexuals can't reproduce, so those traits can't be passed on. Thus it is not an inherent but largely a learned behavior. Homosexual practices are both unscriptural and unnatural, condemned by both Bible doctrine and human practice. "Gay" is a misnomer: "98% of `gay' people are desperately unhappy." - CC

Pope Says Hell Is Self-Inflicted - Pope John Paul II said hell is a reality and eternal damnation is a self-inflicted punishment (7/31 HT). He said: "Hell is not a punishment imposed externally by God, but the condition resulting from attitudes and actions which people adopt in this life." He added, "Hell exists, [but] not as a place. " Some of this seems similar to Billy Graham's view. But the Bible teaches that hell is a terrible place of eternal unquenched fire and torment, and that God does impose it as a punishment for those who reject His salvation and offer of grace and mercy provided for by His Son. - CC

Why Name Names? - Some say "criticize teachings, not the teachers," but we can't always separate the two. An article in the 6/99 Vanguard discusses this: 1. It is Biblical to name names. Paul did it positively to commend ministries (1Cor. 16, Phil. 2:25, Col. 4), and negatively to warn against ministries (1Tim. 1, 2Tim. 4). John also was specific (3 Jn. 9,10). 2. It is consistent to name names negatively if we are happy about praising people positively (e.g., biographies of Luther, Spurgeon, Wesley). Is it not equally just to speak as clearly about men who are instrumental against God? And when we write, we [identify men] not that you might hate them, but rather that you might "beware" of them (2Tim. 4:15). 3. It is practical to name names. Sadly, people often follow preachers [big name personalities] rather than preaching [and, thus to warn such people, we must name names]. 4. It is historical to name names. Throughout church history, men have not shrunk from clearly stating against whom they are objecting, as well as against what. But in our day, "not hurting people's feelings" often seems more important than "speaking the truth in love." -CC

Robertson To Make Bible Reading `Cool'? - Pat Robertson is spending $7 million to advertise The Book, a contemporary "thought for thought" English Bible version. He says, "We want to make Bible reading cool in America." Promo ads will use rock music stars. - CC

Campolo Won't Say Jesus Only Way To Heaven - On CNN's Crossfire with Jerry Falwell, Tony Campolo refused to say Jesus is the only way to heaven. He said, "I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians." - CC