The sermons preached in the 40th Annual Mission Bible Conference are now available. There are 18 sermons recorded on 10 cassette tapes, preached by Independent Baptist preachers. The speakers include, Bruce Smith, Nepal; T.A. Chick, OK; Dan Hall, MS; Curtis Martin, MN; John Nelson, OK; Ron Tottingham, SD; Bob Jackson, OK, Paul McWherter, KY; Thomas Smith, MO; M.L. Moser, TX; Mike Custer, ND; Ken Johnson, VA; Donald Smith, CO; Bill Servati, OK; Buddy Bryant, TX; Harold Chiolero, NM; Greg Albright, MI

The Socialist do-gooders in the U.S. Government have succeeded, over a period of years, in producing a colossal welfare system in this country. Helping the needy seemed like a good idea, but instead of helping them get off welfare, they have succeeded in producing a welfare customer base that has grown to gigantic proportions. In some families, they are now into the third generation of furnishing a welfare population.

Now that the government has created this monster, they are now looking for someone else to dump it on. We have heard politicians, for several years, talking about getting the churches to do more about helping those on welfare. The pressure is mounting for the churches to take a more active part in doing this.

President George W. Bush has made a strong push for the government to give money to the churches to help take over a lot of the welfare mess. I certainly admire him for many of his conservative ideas and his moral decency, after suffering through eight years of debauchery and shame in the White House. I believe that he has innocently come up with an idea that will in the end be very dangerous for churches.

1. Money given to the churches will eventually have strings attached. This is the reason I am against giving vouchers which can be used at church schools. Good Christian schools are certainly a wonderful way to save children from public schools. The NEA and their liberal cohorts are leading our children down the road to moral and spiritual ruin. However, when the government starts handing out money to church schools, they will eventually exert their influence on these schools. I do not know all the solutions, but we had better watch out for the traps.

2. Some churches and other faith based organizations will misuse this money. Can you imagine what people like Jesse Jackson might do with the money if given to one of his organizations? It would come in handy to pay off a mistress and furnish child support for an illegitimate child. There are plenty of other dishonest people in the religion racket, and an awful lot of them would be white.

1. If you study the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20, you will find no provision made for a church to becoming a charity. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." The church that Jesus founded was never told to operate like the Salvation Army.

2. The church at Jerusalem did not become a charity. Some might claim that when they distributed to the widows in Acts 6, they were a charity. If you will notice Acts 6:1-2, you will find that they were only helping the destitute widows who were disciples and members of the church at Jerusalem. "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." They were not helping all the other widows in Jerusalem.

3. When Paul was taking up an offering from the churches of Macedonia and Greece, it was to help the poor saints at Jerusalem. Notice that he calls it the collection for the saints. "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye" (I Cor. 16:1). We notice that this offering was to be taken to the church at Jerusalem. "And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem" (I Cor. 16:3).

This seems to have taken place on more than one occasion. We find that the church at Antioch sent relief to the brethren at Jerusalem. "And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:27-30). The distribution was made to the saints, and not to the population as a whole. "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality" (Rom. 12:13).

4. Paul limited the churches as to which people they would help with their offerings. If they would not work, they were not to eat. "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat" (II Thess. 3:10). There is a whole class of people in our society that do not and will not work on a regular basis. They will always depend on someone else to take care of them.

5. Paul clearly set forth certain limitations as to who the churches were to help. Paul instructs them to help widows that were widows indeed. He makes it clear that children and nephews were to render aid to the widows who were related to them. This would include other relatives such as, "offspring, children, descendants, and grandchildren." Those who have such relatives could not be "widows indeed." "Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God" (I Tim. 5:3-4).

Even then, the widow that was to be helped must be desolate, trusting in God, and continuing in supplications and prayers night and day, and must not be living a life of pleasure. "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth" (I Tim. 5:5-6).

A widow that was to be helped must be at least sixty years old, and must have been the wife of only one husband. She must also be a widow that has been living an exemplary life. "Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work" (I Tim. 5:9-10). Read this whole passage carefully, and you will not find here or anywhere else in the New Testament, the authority to dispense charity in the way many churches are doing it today.

A scriptural church needs to carefully heed the teaching of the New Testament. A lot of money and resources that should be going to support missions and the winning of souls is presently being directed to people that do not serve or even know God.

I am sure that some will severely criticize me for this article. Some will call me hard hearted and uncaring, but I know better. Churches and pastors by careless charity, enable people to live lazy, sinful lives, smoking, drinking and carousing.

Do I ever help people who come by for help? Yes, I do sometimes, but out of my own pocket. Most of the time I simply turn them down. I have been the victim of so many lies that I could write a book on the lies that these people tell. Many times they are supposedly going to a funeral or to see a sick mother in the hospital in a distant city. Most of the time they are simply liars seeking to deceive and rob godly people who are soft hearted. They travel from church to church, and the same people may come back in a few short weeks or months. This time they have forgotten that they have been there before, and they may tell the same story, or be from a different place this time. If you compare notes with another preacher nearby, you will find that the same person dropped by their church with an entirely different story.

I have seen them come in "hungry" with a brand new pack of cigarettes in their pocket. Pregnant women or women with small children come in wanting diaper money, baby food money, or funds for a prescription for the baby. After they leave, if you peep out the door, there may be from one to three able bodied men sitting in the car waiting for the women and children to return to the car. The car that they are driving, may be in some instances better than what the preacher is driving. Give them money and they may well head out toward the liquor store.

They will tell you that they only need five or ten dollars to meet their need. Give it to them, and then watch them as they go to the next church to give them the same story. I have seen many of them come by, and they just need some gas money to get to Phoenix or Houston where they have a good job waiting. They promise that as soon as they get their first check, they will pay you back. In over 40 years, I have never had even one to repay me. No not one!

They will come by at Sunday School time, but they don't have time to stay for spiritual help. The reason is, that they want to get to as many different churches as possible during the time that they can catch the preacher or someone else to get a handout.

David gave his testimony concerning beggars. "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psa. 37:25). This was David's experience, and not an absolute doctrine. My experience has been about the same as that of David, but I realize that there are exceptions. The beggar in Luke 16:22 is one of those exceptions.

I have yet to find one of these professional beggars that was really serving the Lord. I have asked them about their salvation and they say they are saved. Then they are asked to name their home church and pastor. Usually they are vague about this, but a few of them name names. When you ask if it is all right to call their pastor, they begin to make excuses. The pastor has recently moved and his phone has not been installed, or he is away on vacation or is in revival. I have yet to meet any of these people that were faithful in church. I have never met one who was a tither, or could give the name of any person you could call to verify their story. Ask for a drivers license or some kind of identification, and they will tell you that they lost it or do not have it with them. It is a shame that we have no way of checking up on the criminal record of some of these people. It is certain that some of them are lawbreakers.

I could go on and on with real stories, but I will not do so at this present time. Yes, I have helped people, and then felt guilty, because I wasted money that could be used in some way that would glorify God. In the future I am not going to help people who are passing through. If I help anyone, it will have to be someone I know, or someone that I could get to know. It is a sin to waste God's money, and it is a sin to waste money that God has given to me. I had rather give it to the Lord's work. There are plenty of missionaries who have great needs.

The church referred to in the title is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church He established during His earthly ministry. It is His church by construction, instruction, and preservation. Jesus is the Head, the Teacher, and the Keeper. It is His because He constructed it. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) It is His church because He instructed it. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4:19) Jesus continued to instruct them from the upper room to Gethsemane. (John 14-16) He instructed them to continue to instruct others according to the doctrine He had given. It is Christ that promised preservation for them. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:18-20)

The perpetuity or permanent continuance of the Lord's church is based upon the promises of the Lord. Man's ingenuity and spiritual inventions to enhance church operations may well be the greatest threat to the spiritual prosperity of the Lord's church. Contraptions and devices as those hatched in the mind of frail humanity are the very means whereby many souls are directed away from the Savior and to self, and ultimately to an eternal hell.

Some decry the church as a failure today to meet the needs of society. However, the Lord has never and will never fail the church He established. It is true that the Lord's church could do more to reach the lost. More emphasis on and loyalty to biblical missions and faithfulness in service is surely needed. Nor will the church fail, of which Jesus is founder and Head because of His divine promises. It is feeble, floundering, fabricating humanity that has failed the Lord. Regardless of the maligning assertions from the world or the shortcomings of men, the Lord's church will still be in operation when He returns. Jesus asked this question: "When the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) Because of His promises the obvious answer is, yes, He will though scarce it may be. What is the faith He will be looking for? It will be the doctrine He taught when He first instituted His church during His ministry on earth. It will be the moral conviction and the reliance upon Christ for salvation through the preaching of the gospel. The gospel He instructed them to preach continues to be the power of God unto salvation. (Rom. 1:16) Jesus empowered His church by the coming of "another Comforter" that would abide with them forever. (John 14:16) This happened when "the day of Pentecost was fully come." (Acts 2:1) His church was "in one accord" and the "Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47) He will be looking for the power of the Holy Spirit functioning in His church when He returns.

There is first a need to briefly explain the difference between the family of God and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The family of God is made up of all the saved. Those redeemed by the "precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:.." (1 Pet. 1:19) In establishing His supper with His church in the upper room, Jesus' blood is represented by the fruit of the vine as the "blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28)

To be a member of the family of God a person must be born again. (John 3:16) In this chapter Jesus explained the spiritual birth to Nicodemus. Even as the natural man is on earth through a physical birth so also is the spiritual man in the family of God by the spiritual birth. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) It sounds foolish to say that a person not born of the flesh could not understand physical life. It sounds just as foolish to the lost when talking of the spiritual birth. It is impossible for the natural man to properly discern the spiritual birth until he has experienced it. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14)

Being saved through repentance and faith in Christ by His blood places a person in the family of God. But this does not place them in the Lord's church. Every organization known have certain rules that must be followed to become a member. From secret organizations to the local co-op there are fixed requirements that must be addressed if one is to be a member. Most will go to great lengths, with no qualms about the requirements, to join man-made organizations. When it comes to membership in the Lord's true church, many stumble and refuse to follow guidelines given by the Lord. Yet the church the Lord promised to build must follow His instructions if they are to own the promise of perpetuity. We have many reasons to know the Lord's promise of perpetuity is true. Following are only a few. We know it is true because of its:

Jesus said it is "my church," He said He would build it. He planned it to be a holy place where the Spirit of God could lodge and direct. "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:21,22) This church (Gr. ekklesia) was not an institution of mortal origin. Meaning the eternal Son of God instituted His church. Its membership does consist of mortals, and they are involved in the function of the church as led by the Holy Spirit. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Cor. 12:28) Each for their proper time and function. But it remains the possession of the Lord. He is the Head of this body of baptized believers. They are first required to be born again into the family of God. They must then be scripturally baptized by the Lord's church into be a separated assembly. They are to carry out the ministry He began while here on earth. (Matt. 28:19,20)

There are other assemblies mentioned in both Old & New Testaments. In the NT there was the assembly of those who worshiped the goddess Diana. (Acts 19) The town clerk at Ephesus spoke of a "lawful assembly" to settle certain questions. In both instances the same Greek word translated assembly is translated church in many other places. It is tempting here to continue this line of thought but my aim here is church perpetuity. Jesus' church was organized by Him, guided by the Holy Spirit and His inspired word, and kept by His divine promise.

Since the Lord placed the candlestick authority in His church, He has the exclusive license to demand correction of error or forfeiture of the candlestick. The expression in His letter to Ephesus reveals that losing love for the Head of the church and its proper operation places a local church in danger. "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (Rev. 2:5) Reading the first chapter of this book leaves no doubt that the candlestick here is the local church at Ephesus. Although the people may remain and the physical building still standing, the church authority to function can be removed by the Head of the church. After all, it is His church. It doesn't belong to the pastor, the people, and certainly not to the community, it is His. As necessary as a pastor and people are for a church to appropriately function, it is only the absence of the Lord Jesus that causes an assembly to lose power and soon cease to function as a church.

The perpetuity of the church is assured because of its:

Since the Lord Himself promised to build His church, He built it on a sure foundation. Prophecy declared this long before the Lord Jesus adorned His physical identity. "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." (Isa. 28:16) Peter recorded this prophesied Stone as being "disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious." (1 Pet. 2:4) The Stone which the Jewish builders rejected "the same is made the head of the corner." (1 Pet. 2:7)

Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that there was no other foundation. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11) Though many man-made churches exist, they exist upon a human foundation. Only the Lord's true church is founded upon Him as its sole Foundation. When Paul had laid the foundation "which is Jesus Christ," he warned every man to "take heed how he built thereupon." (1 Cor. 3:10)

Man made foundation will give way to water and wind. They will crumble with time and tribulation. But this true foundation will never crumble or even sag because Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Heb. 13:8) The human element within the Lord's church is often fruitless and never faultless, but it can be mature in the Lord. The perfect Founder and Foundation guarantees her ultimate cleansing and continuance. All this is possible because "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27)

Several times in the New Testament the Lord is referred to as the foundation of His church. We can be assured then that the everlasting Son, who cannot change, is able to sustain His church even into eternity.

The Bible also teaches perpetuity of the church because of its:

Inasmuch as the Lord commanded His church to make disciples, teach, and baptize their converts, no one else has this authority. The authority was not given to man-made organizations, but to the Lord's church. Many are making disciples and baptizing them without authority from the Lord. Churches or assemblies whose origin is after the earthly ministry of Jesus do not have His authority to baptize. Pentecost was not the birthday of the Lord's church, as some declare. Jesus organized and instructed His church, during His personal ministry, how to properly settle matters of disagreement. (Matt. 18:15-17)

The Lord's church is the only organization that can claim the promise that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." He is the only One who has the "keys of hell and of death." (Rev. 1:18) The Founder and Foundation, the Head of His own body, the church, has power to establish and keep. Paul reminded the church at Thessalonica to pray for deliverance "from unreasonable and wicked men." Though not every man is given to faithfulness, "the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." (2 Thes. 3:2,3) In the short period of time Paul was with the Thessalonians, he was sure they were directed properly by the Lord. They were steadfastly set for the purpose of extending the ministry of Christ. This was without the aid of any outside organized establishment to attend to their operation within or without. They needed no help in ministry or missions. Only the local church has the authority to carry out the command of its Head.

We can be assured of the continuance of the Lord's church until He returns because of its:

Though the purpose and intent of the church has been touched on earlier, the Lord's church must be occupied in matters of His command. The church is to be occupied in the same work as its Head. The Lord's forerunner, John the Baptist, was sent from God to prepare a people for the Lord's church. John's message was, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2) Jesus preached the same message after His baptism and temptation. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17) He sent His disciples out to preach "that men should repent." (Mark 6:12) Paul preached repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:12) In Athens Paul declared: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world . . ." (Acts 17:30,31) The Lord's church must be repentant.

The occupation of the Lord's church must be the same today if it is to please Him. His church is not to be occupied with entertainment, partying, and side show activity. Churches claiming to be one of the Lord's local churches, even under the Baptist banner, have Christian(?) clowns to draw the crowds. It is obvious the visiting clown is not the only hired clown around. One can only imagine the feeling of the Lord in such cases.

All such inventions of man to enhance church attendance are an abomination to Jesus Christ. Arguments abound that the world can no longer be reached the "old fashioned way." Just what the "old fashioned way" means, I am not sure. Very late in prophetic human history John saw an angel flying in the midst of heaven with this eternal message. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:6,7) "Everlasting" ( Gr. aionios), perpetual, used in past, present, and future as well. The everlasting Gospel was that preached to Abraham. (Gal. 3:8) It was the same Gospel preached by John, Jesus, and the disciples to and in the first church. It is everlasting and never needs help or changing to reach lost souls. It just needs to be proclaimed! It is obvious that the churches of Galatia are not the only churches who have fallen for another gospel. Which is certainly not another. (Gal. 1)

The Lord's church is sure to continue because of her declared:

This body of baptized believers are being prepared as a bride for the heavenly Bridegroom. The Bridegroom Himself is making the preparation. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:26,27) The preaching and teaching of the Word of God is the only means whereby the bride can be prepared for the Bridegroom. How can the sinful nature of man possibly be presented to the Lord apart from Bible preaching. Diligent presentation of gospel truth is the only possible way to create a desire even in believers to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1) Hollywood cannot do it with entertainment. Fashion designer's primary object is to create lust in the heart. Only "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)

When Christ has made His bride ready He will descend from heaven to catch her away. Solomon's words are representative of the voice of the Bridegroom to His bride. "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song Of Sol. 2:10) The church must also be ready when her Bridegroom calls. Will you be ready to be in that group referred to in Rev. 19:7? "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." How could the Lord Jesus possibly disclaim His bride who He has so diligently furnish with such a clean garment washed in the Word of God? Not only has the Lord's church perpetually existed from the time of His ministry until the present. It will continue on until she is made ready for the Bridegroom. And then on into the New Jerusalem prepared for her.

Take heart in the words of the angels to the Lord's church shortly after He was taken up into heaven. "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Jesus is certainly coming for all the saved. But there is not only a special place for His church on earth, there is also a special place for her in heaven.

The most important event in the life of a lost sinner is to be born again of the Spirit. The second most important thing is to be a member of the body of Christ. The new birth places a person in the family of God. The other places a person by scriptural baptism into the Bride of Christ. The standing of the truly born again will never change, their state or condition of pleasing the Lord can vary. For a church it can even vary to the point of having the candlestick removed. (Rev. 2:5) Be sure, beware, and be faithful. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Heb. 10:23).

Illinois Votes To Ban Discrimination Against Gays. The Illinois State Legislature House members narrowly passed legislation making it illegal to deny jobs or housing to homosexuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. Following a short floor debate, in which one Republican in the Democratic-controlled chamber spoke in opposition, the bill's sponsor and only openly gay House member collected the 60 votes needed. "It's not about special rights or special privileges or special preference," said Rep. Larry McKeon, D-Chicago. "It's simply about equal justice." McKeon's bill amends the state's Human Rights Act by adding the phrase "sexual orientation" to the list of factors that cannot be used to deny housing, employment, credit or public accommodations. Those factors now include race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, marital status and religion. Discrimination on any of those factors can result in a fine. (By Mary Massingale, Post-Dispatch, Springfield bureau Religion Today 4-3-2001) (It is time for Christians to wake up. The homosexuals mean business. ELB)

Board Asks Lutherans to Affirm Welcome to Gays. The Division for Outreach of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is asking the Church Council to develop a message that would affirm the church's commitment to hospitality for gays and lesbians, building on an earlier message from the Conference of Bishops. "We repudiate all words and acts of hatred toward gay and lesbian persons in our congregation and in our communities, and extend a caring welcome for gay and lesbian persons and their families," said the bishops in their 1996 letter to the church. The Division for Outreach said, at its February meeting, that it "would hope that the message of that letter would go farther." (ELCA News service. Episcopal news service) (The homosexuals are working their way in every denomination. They are not gay, they should be called miserables. ELB)

Lawmakers to Review University's Funding after Play Depicting Jesus as Homosexual. By Todd Starnes BOCA RATON, Fla. (BP)--Several Florida lawmakers threatened to cut state funding of Florida Atlantic University programs because its theater department is staging a play featuring a homosexual character as Christ, while university officials promise to convene a committee to review policies and procedures in wake of the statewide controversy. "For anyone who's a Christian, it's very offensive," state Sen. Debby Sanderson said in an interview with the Associated Press. (Nothing is sacred to those who pervert their way of life by sexual perversion. ELB)

Fistgate II Held at Tufts University. Last March 25, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) held a workshop for teachers and students on homosexuality and transgenderism. A representative from the Parents Rights Coalition attended the conference and secretly tape recorded Massachusetts Department of Education employees teaching teenagers how to "fist" their sexual partners and debate the merits of ingesting body fluids during oral sex. A display table set up outside the conference rooms offered students "safe sex kits," including bandages for when sex got too rough. This year, GLSEN was again back at Tufts and more than 650 attended what has been called "Fistgate II." An estimated 400 attendees were teenagers.
The Massachusetts News has been covering this controversy and published an in-depth expose on this latest misuse of taxpayer dollars by Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci (in line to become our next Ambassador to Canada). For the shocking details on Fistgate II, go to: www.massnews.com. You'll also find background information on Cellucci's pro-homosexual efforts as governor of Massachusetts. (We hesitate to put such information in a Christian paper, but God's people need to know. ELB)

Administration must Enforce Homosexual Ban in Military. The court martial of Air Force Tech. Sergeant Eric Marcum is a good argument for banning homosexuals from serving in the military. Last May, Marcum was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of sodomizing young soldiers who were training to become Air Force linguists. Marcum also received a dishonorable discharge. More recently, lesbian Air Force Sergeant Sharon DeJesus Harris was arrested for molesting a 13-year-old girl. Harris had pretended to be a boy on the Internet to attract young girls for sexual seduction. In fact, Harris continued to pretend to be a boy even as she was sexually molesting her female victim. Investigators are convinced she has attempted to molest other girls through her Internet connections. These molestation cases point up the need for President Bush and the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to reinstitute the Congressional ban on homosexuals being allowed to serve in the military. The Pentagon is on the verge of issuing a Clintonian era anti-harassment policy to protect homosexuals from verbal or personal attacks, but this isn't the correct solution to this problem. The solution is to abolish the Clinton "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and establish sound policies based upon Public Law 103-160, passed by Congress in 1993. This law clearly states that persons who engage in homosexual conduct pose an unacceptable risk to the Armed Force's standards of morale, good order, discipline, and unit cohesion. TVC (The homosexual crowd are vocal, but God's people need to pray for right and reason to return to the military. ELB)

NEA to Consider Pro-Gay Resolution. By Stuart Shepard, correspondent (3-27-2001) The president of the National Education Association has made good on a promise to advance the interests of homosexuals through the nation's largest teacher's union. When the National Education Association (NEA) meets in its annual convention this summer, the group will consider a resolution that would enthusiastically promote homosexuality in classrooms across America. The proposed resolution sounds like something that would be published by a gay advocacy group. It suggests bringing gay themes into classroom materials, setting up gay employees as role models for the students, even bringing representatives of gay organizations into the schools. "What we're talking about is including homosexuality in reading classes and history classes and those types of things," said Dr. Dick Carpenter, education analyst at Focus on the Family. "The effect would be pretty significant in schools." Carpenter said if pro-family teachers don't speak up to their schools and the union, he fears the resolution will pass. "There seems to be so much momentum," Carpenter said. "Not only are NEA leaders talking about it, but you're looking at legislators who are also promoting it in California and in other states." Karen Holgate, with California's Capitol Resource Institute, said laws being passed there under the guise of "hate crimes" are already impacting families. "Their parents have been ridiculed in the classroom," Holgate said. "(They have been) made fun of, if they try to teach their children the Biblical perspective on homosexuality." She said the NEA resolution would effectively cut parents out of the loop. "That only needs to happen one time in a classroom, and it clearly sends the message to other children, `Don't go home and tell your parents, because we'll ridicule you.' "Holgate is also concerned about programs aimed at students "questioning" their sexual orientation. She worries about the damage that will be done when young boys and girls are told it is OK to experiment with homosexuality. The NEA convention will be held in Los Angeles in July. "Baptist Notes" (Make no mistake about it, this is what they are planning for your children and grandchildren. What our nation needs is a true revival if we are to see survival. ELB)

Bestiality Will Follow Homosexuality as a Right. In a bizarre case out of Maine, a father is being charged with attempted murder for trying to kill his son. The father was disturbed by the son's sexual attraction to a dog. Phillip Buble, a Zoophile (a person who engages in bestiality), is vocal about his sexual orientation. In fact, when he was to be present at the sentencing of his father, he asked the court to allow his "significant other" to be allowed to stand by his side. His significant other is Lady, a short-legged, mixed-breed dog. (His request was rejected.) Buble told reporters he believes his father "needs serious therapy." Since this case was publicized, the Maine Animal Control Association has filed a legislative act to amend the animal welfare laws to make bestiality a crime. There are currently no laws against bestiality in Maine. Legislators in Maine say there is an organized campaign by Zoophiles to fight criminalizing sex with animals. ("Homosexual Rights," is laying the groundwork for the introduction of the most abominable sexual practices. Bestiality is one of the sins that caused God to order the destruction of the nations that inhabited the land of Canaan. Sexual perversion is a greased slope to hell. Only God can save these lost souls from destruction. ELB)

Rights of Same-sex Partners Should Equal Those of Married Couples, Clinton Says. WASHINGTON (BP)--Same-sex partners with a "genuine commitment" should have rights and benefits equal to those of married couples, President Clinton said in an interview with a magazine for homosexuals. In addition, Clinton said homosexuals should have adoption rights. The president made the comments for publication in the Nov. 7 issue of The Advocate. It was his first interview with a homosexual-oriented publication, other than a written one done for the same magazine in 1996. A transcript of the interview, which was conducted Sept. 27 on Air Force One, was released Oct. 23 by the White House. Clinton, who has promoted civil rights based on homosexuality, told The Advocate's Chris Bull he did not know if Americans would reach the point where they accept same-sex marriage. Homosexual "couples who have manifested a genuine commitment should have all the legal options that others do, whether it's how they leave their estates or cover their partners with health insurance on the job or such simple things as the right to visit hospital beds during family visiting hours," Clinton said, according to the transcript. People "will put their own words to whatever the relationship is," he said. His view is "people who have a relationship ought to be able to call it whatever they want," Clinton said. "And insofar as it's sanctified by a religious ceremony, that's up to the churches involved." The debate about adoption by homosexuals may affect the issue of same-sex unions, the president said. "Because you see more and more gay couples adopting kids," Clinton said. "Very often, they're children who wouldn't be taken by other people or who haven't been. And I think that's going to have an impact on people. I've always felt that all those anti-adoption laws were wrong." On other topics discussed during the interview, Clinton said: -- The election of Al Gore as president and a gain by Democrats of 10 to 12 seats in the House of Representatives and three or four seats in the Senate "would make a huge difference" on such issues as homosexual acceptance in the military, hate-crimes legislation and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. The hate-crimes bill and ENDA would protect civil rights based on "sexual orientation," which includes homosexuality. -- He is not inclined to resign his honorary post with the Boy Scouts of America, which won a Supreme Court decision this year protecting its right to exclude homosexual troop leaders, "because I think the Scouts do a world of good and because I think they can be persuaded to change. I think the policy is wrong. ... I believe they'll change, and I think we should keep working on them." -- Conservatives, including some religious ones, "hated" him for two reasons. Many "of those people have a sense of entitlement to cultural superiority and political power," he said. "And they don't think anybody that's not part of their crowd has a right to cultural legitimacy or political power." Another reason "they disliked me especially is that they see me as a apostate because I'm a southern, white, male Protestant, and southern, while, male Protestants have been the backbone of their political and social power, because we tend to be more politically and socially conservative," he said. During his two terms, Clinton has appointed more open homosexuals to senior administration positions than any previous president and issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in the federal civilian workplace based on "sexual orientation." He also proclaimed June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999 and 2000, becoming the first president to issue such a decree.

Canadians Find Loopholes For Gay Marriages-The Metropolitan Community Church in Tonto, a predominantly (85 percent) homosexual congregation in a predominantly homosexual denomination, says it has found a way to perform legal homosexual marriages. The Ontario Marriage Act allows couples to marry one of two ways: the traditional obtaining of a marriage license from City Hall, marriage by a justice of the peace or pastor, or though marriage banns: publishing the names of the couple on three consecutive Sundays preceding a marriage. One thing the Ontario Marriage Act doesn't do is say "man" or "woman"just "person." The church says that's a big enough loophole. (Chr. Today,12/7/00) It will be much more difficult, even impossible to find such a loophole in God's law. Would Rick Warren's Saddleback Community Church (SBC) accept a letter from this Metropolitan Community Church in Tonto? They have the same identification. There is something indeed "In A Name." -WWM

Two Same-Sex Couples Legally Tie Knot-Last month, two same-sex couples legally tied the knot in a joint service before 1,000 people at Toronto's "gay-positive" Metropolitan Community Church (1/15 Toronto Sun). It was said to be the first time anywhere in the world that a legal same-sex "marriage" has been performed. -CC

Heterosexual-Homosexual Custody Battle Reflects Rising Tide of Activists' Litigation. TUPELO, Miss. (BP)--A Southern Baptist father of three may soon lose custody of his daughters to his ex-wife and her lesbian partner in an emotionally charged case indicative of the legal battles across the nation over child custody rights between divorced heterosexual and homosexual parents. The case involving Clay McDonald, a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Tupelo, Miss., his daughters, ages 16, 12 and 3, and his lesbian ex-wife is likely headed to the Mississippi Supreme Court and is drawing national attention from pro-family and pro- homosexual groups. "I am very shocked at the performance of the court system," said the dejected McDonald after a non-elected trial judge on June 25 ordered his youngest two daughters -- the 3-year-old in tears to join their older sister in going home with their lesbian mother and her live-in partner until an Aug. 3 custody hearing. McDonald had won custody of the two youngest daughters after his marriage ended in divorce in September 1997. "This is indicative of how the gay agenda pervades every level of society, popular culture, law and government, and social services," said Rob Reiger, an analyst with the Family Research Council's cultural studies department. "Children are four times more likely to become homosexuals themselves under such circumstances. It's a simple, common-sense fact that children need both a mother and a father, not two mothers and not two fathers. Our courts and government are losing site of that fact and the case in Tupelo is an example of it." McDonald's divorce came following a two-year separation from his ex-wife in which she lived with a lesbian partner.

Convicted Child Molester Leads Fight Against Boy Scouts. Washington, D.C. - Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Chairman of Traditional Values Coalition, is appalled to learn of the immoral and illegal lifestyle of the crusader leading opposition to the Boy Scouts. On Monday, August 21 protectors in Toledo, Ohio assembled outside the Erie Shores Boy Scouts of America offices to take part in a national demonstration schedule for 36 locations around the nation. The processional was lead by John Hemstreet, President of the Toledo chapters of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and Scouting for All; an organization dedicated to forcing the Boy Scouts to accept homosexuals. While Hemstreet is a former Boy Scout leader and a former priest, he is also an alcoholic, and convicted child molester. According to WorldNetDaily, Hemstreet says it is still appropriate for him to be a scoutmaster. He considers his homosexual activist work to be a form of community service, giving back something positive to the community. Hamstreet admits to molesting a 10-year-old boy but not any Boy Scouts. "Is this what he believes qualifies him as a good scoutmaster?" asks Rev. Sheldon.

Priests Die Of Aids At High Rate-Roman Catholic priests in the U.S. are dying from AIDS-related illnesses at a rate four times higher than the general population and the cause is often concealed on their death certificates (1/31 HT). Several hundreds have died since the mid-1980s and hundreds more now live with HIV. Most priests with AIDS contracted it through same-sex (homosexual) relations. Catholics forbid priests to marry heterosexually. "Forbidding to marry" is linked with "doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1-3).1 Cor. 7:1-9 teaches, to avoid fornication, if a person cannot have self-control, then it is better to marry than to burn with sinful lust CC

PCUSA Award To Lesbian Evangelist - The Presbyterian Church (USA) named lesbian evangelist Jane Spahr as a recipient of its Women of Faith award this year. This divorced mother of two was the first openly homosexual person to serve a PCUSA church (4/1/92 CC). She served with a group dedicated to the ordination of homosexual Presbyterians as church officers (5/15 World). The other two women to receive the award were lesbian Yale prof. Letty Russell, and a retired Princeton professor. - CC

ABC Admits Bias in Coverage of Dirkhising Murder. ABC reported on April 13, that the mainstream media refused to give the murder of Jeffrey Curley by two homosexual pedophiles and the killing of Jesse Dirkhising by two homosexual lovers more press coverage because these killings weren't part of a "larger issue" such as hate crime legislation. ABC also claims that editors believed that the Dirkhising murder was difficult to report because of the horrific details involved. Yet this is a red herring. The media never shied away from reporting the grisly details of Jeffrey's Dahmer's cannibalizing of homosexuals and went into a frenzy over the beating death of homosexual college student Matthew Shepard. While the media has made Matthew Shepard a household word, mainstream reporters have largely ignored the brutal suffocation and rape of Dirkhising or the murder of Jeffrey Curley by NAMBLA pedophiles. Curley was sodomized after he was killed and his body stuffed in a plastic container, which was thrown into a river. Conservative columnist Don Feder has stated it well: "[The media] doesn't want the public to think about homosexuality and pedophilia and torture and the murder of children." TVC

Lawyer Claims NAMBLA Trains Pedophiles. Lawrence Frisoli, the attorney for the parents of murdered child Jeffrey Curley, has filed a motion in Boston court with affidavits claiming that the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) trains its members to rape children. Jeffrey Curley was suffocated with a gas-soaked rag by two NAMBLA members, sodomized after his death and thrown into a river. Curley's parents have filed a $200 million civil lawsuit against NAMBLA for its role in the death of their son. The ACLU is defending NAMBLA for free. According to the ACLU's legal director John Reinstein, Curley's lawyer hasn't supported his claim in previous documents. "What they have never shown is how NAMBLA's activities related to what they call the torture and murder of Jeffrey Curley, which was a terrible thing. And if they say they have done that in these new documents, then I look forward to reading them." TVC

Catholic Priests' "Gay Culture." The Roman Catholic priesthood has become a "gay culture;" according to Donald Cozzens, president of St. Mary's Catholic Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. He makes that statement and a lot more related charges in his book, The Changing Face of the Priesthood. According to Cozzens, there are so many homosexuals in the RC priesthood (he says more than half maybe), there is an exodus of experienced priests from the church. He says many of the ones leaving are marrying. There are so many homosexuals in the priesthood, according to Cozzens, "Heterosexual seminarians are made uncomfortable by the numbers of gays around them." The article from The Remnant, National Roman Catholic biweekly (8/15/00), states that Cozzens, a priest for thirty-five years "does not go into whether gay priests indulging in sexual relations are violating vows of celibacy." He says, "The sexual contacts and romantic unions among gay seminarians created intense and complicated webs of intrigue and jealousy." The article quotes Dean Hoge, "a specialist on the priesthood at the Catholic University of America;" as describing Cozzens' book, now on sale in Ireland and Scotland, as "the most important we have seen on Catholic priests for years." THE GIST The Sword of the Lord, 4-13-01

Judge Throws Out Arkansas Sodomy Law-Circuit Judge David Bogard "threw out Arkansas' anti-sodomy law," saying it unfairly singles out homosexuals for prosecution. The state argued that the government had an interest in criminalizing behavior that most of its citizens would find morally inappropriate. Bogard disagreed. The Judge said, "The people of Arkansas have the right to legislate on issues involving morals, but homosexuality is not only a question of morals." (LAJ 3/24/01) The good judge may know the law of man and its intent but he surely is ignorant of the moral law of God. And God does have the right and authority to legislate on issues of moral behavior, as well as say what is moral and immoral. God said the gay/lesbian lifestyle was both unnatural and inconvenient. (Rom. 1:26,27) God also says it is an abomination and carries the eternal death penalty. (Lev. 20:13) This is from the Judge of all the earth who does right, doesn't change, and cannot lie. (Gen. 18:25; Heb. 13:8; Titus 1:2) -WWM

Homosexuals Attack The Institution of Marriage-A recent report details the efforts of homosexual activists to legalize same-sex unions. Homosexual writers, however, admit that these unions will not be monogamous. Militant homosexual writer Michelangelo Signorile writes that the ultimate goal of same-sex marriage is to completely redefine the institution of marriage. Andrew Sullivan, a homosexual and senior editor at the New Republic says that homosexual marriages will include multiple partners. (Traditional Values Coalition, 3/23/01) Pro-homosexual activist are pushing the President and Congress to declare any sort of resistance to homosexuality to be declared a hate-crime. The news media rarely announces acts of homosexuals against heterosexuals. God's whale of judgment has spued out a few Jonahs to call America to repent or perish? But will our nation put on the sackcloth of repentance and sit in the ashes of humility? -WWM

Concerns About Hate Crimes-"If Senators are so concerned about hate crimes, perhaps they should turn their attention to the fact that more than 650,000 homosexual lovers criminally assault each other every year, according to two homosexual researchers in San Francisco." (TVC, 3/23/01) "The FBI says only 1,317 hate crimes were committed in 1999, yet homosexuals partners are beating each other up in record numbers. Homosexuals are 500 times as likely to beat up their own than to be victims of `hate crimes' from non-homosexuals." If homosexuality is protected by national law read Lev. 18:23 to find out how other devious sensual activities will likely be legalized and protected. -WWM

Victory For Boy Scouts-A federal judge in Florida has just ruled that Broward County cannot ban the Boy Scouts from meeting in public schools or other public facilities. County officials had decided to ban the Scouts because they "discriminate" against homosexuals. The judge ruled that if the county allowed other groups to meet on public property, it also had to allow the Scouts to meet. The county is planning on charging rent to the Scouts, yet other groups can meet for free. The Boy Scouts of America will also be challenging this decision. (TVC, 3/23/01) Be not deceived, pro-homosexuality is not deterred buy losing a battle. It is the war of global permissiveness they want to win. -WWM

Homosexual Rights Education-The California State Board of Education has drafted new regulations which will require Bible Clubs to include homosexual members. The regulations will be an amendment to Sections 4900-4963 of the California Code of Regulations and are a result of the homosexual rights education signed into law last year. Although the amendment does not specifically challenge the ability for Bible Clubs to have moral or religious qualifications for its elected leaders, the open membership requirement is presumed by many to have the same effect. (Pacific Justice Institute, 3/22/01) The change from horse drawn farming implements to space travel is not the only astonishment of the past seven decades. Many who grew up the `20s and `30s never heard of a homosexual until they joined the military in WWII. Homosexuality is unnatural, inconvenient, and a sin against God. (Rom. 1:26-28; Eph. 5:3,4) - WWM

Presbyterian Clergy & Gay Commitment Rites-The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to permit Presbyterian clergy to perform commitment rites "as long as they are not confused with marriages." "Many of us, as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith are grateful...as our heterosexual sisters and brothers are...for the opportunity to have our committed relationships recognized in the faith community, of which we are an integral part." (LA Times, 3/17/01) As the gay/lesbian crowd gain more clout, our society will continue to sink into spiritual degeneration. Gays will also be more determined in challenging those who believe such a life-style is among the rankest of sin. Even defying the Word of God and have ". . . changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom. 1:25) -WWM

GLAAD Spokesman On Cultural Environment-Cathy Renna, spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, claims that "changes in the cultural environment have contributed to a culture where gay and lesbian people can be more safe, more comfortable and more self-accepting of who they are." She gives credit to TV programs like "Will and Grace" and "Ellen" for helping encourage homosexual sex. (TVC, 4/6/01) She at least is more honest than many law makers and the news media, who go to great lengths to promote homosexuality as legitimate. Is this safe? "A study published in the Journal of Sex Research suggests that positive media portrayals of homosexual sex are spurring an increase in sexual experimentation among Americans. The study, by Amy C. Butler, at the University of Iowa, examined research data from 1988-1998 on the sexual habits of men and women. According to Butler, the number of men who had engaged in homosexual sex rose from 2% in 1988 to 4% in 1998. Women who engaged in lesbian sex rose from 0.3% in 1988 to nearly 3% in 1998." (Ibid.) As despicable as this is, that is a more dangerous outcome. "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:12) The abiding testimony of Sodom and Gomorrah should be heeded. -WWM

Spong's Sin Seduces Society-Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong is retired but far from being repentant and silent. The homosexual Bishop has long been an advocate of the homosexual lifestyle. He also spues out the satanic venom of blasphemy against God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In one of his books he says, "The view of the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world is a barbarian idea based on primitive concepts of God and must be dismissed," and "The virgin birth, understood as literal biology, makes Christ's divinity, as traditionally understood, impossible." He also notes that "Prayer cannot be a request made to a theistic deity to act in human history in a particular way." (TVC, 4/6/01) Spong says that homosexuals have won the cultural battle in the United States. They are indeed winning too many battles. But when the war is over and the King of kings comes wielding His two-edged sword, Spong and all like him will cry ". . . to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:16,17) Repent or perish. -WWM