RAISE THE BUSH PEACE CAMP IN CRAWFORD! HURRAH!

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

To counter the Cindy Sheehan ditch home, support for US President George W. Bush is visual in the GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT "patriotic camp," according to AP writer Angela K. Brown.

It’s right there in Crawford. The banner waves in summer breezes. Downtown Crawford has never been so proud — justly so.

"Fort Qualls" is the official name of the campout. It’s in memory of Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls who sacrificed his life in Iraq last autumn. His family informed media that Qualls signed up for the armed forces because he believed in New Iraq. Family members stated they endorsed Qualls’ commitment.

"’If I have to sacrifice my whole family for the sake of our country and world, other countries that want freedom, I'll do that,’ said Qualls, a friend of the local business owner who started the pro-Bush camp, Bill Johnson."

So there you have it — America standing by democracy planting, just as Mr. Bush has stated from the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Liberals don’t get it. They don’t want to get it. They don’t believe in sacrifice, patience in liberty spread, dealing with an imperfect world for the sake of others’ liberties, and grappling with this planet’s complexities.

If the liberals can’t have perfection yesterday, though they themselves can never produce it, they squawk and yammer and harangue and spout forth platitudes just as Cindy Sheehan did day after day, all at the applause of like cliché-ridden anti-Bush nay-sayers.

It doesn’t take long, however, for the Red States allegiance to come to the fore. And now there it is in downtown Crawford with the accent on God, President, blessing and hope. Now that’s the message of the Red States.

It’s not "let’s get out and leave the Iraqis to the slaughter base." It’s let’s continue with the job until we valiantly see it through, cost what it may, for there are those banking on freedom’s reality.

It costs something to plant liberties. It costs something to rid a people of Saddam Hussein and then construct a free country from scratch. It costs something to wage a day-by-day battle against Muslim murderers global who believe in laying low every non-Muslim presently breathing.

The task is awesome. But the resources of commitment in patience are awesome, too. It means that we need, however, an America that is no wimp, no quitter, no turncoat. We need not the Cindy Sheehan crust but the old-fashioned dedication that this republic was built upon.

No one forced Sheehan’s son, Casey, to sign up for the armed forces. Apparently he did so on his own volition, dying for the cause of New Iraq democracy forthcoming. Likewise, no one forced Qualls to sign up for the armed forces. Likewise, he did so on his own volition.

But Casey is used as a symbol of quit-and-run while Qualls is lifted as a symbol of courage in sacrifice. Which truly represents America?

Casey no doubt does but his mother has twisted his allegiance now into something tawdry. All the while, Qualls’ mother and father stand by his reason for defending freedoms at home and abroad.

It’s a sad commentary regarding Casey. It’s a proud commentary regarding Qualls.

The anti-Sheehan protesters actually appeared some time ago, soon after Sheehan made her abode in the ditch. Bush supporters continue to stage their message there in the Texas sun.

Now Johnson has created his "Fort Qualls" as another patriotic scene representing town folk. It’s in a more visible and convenient locale for the American red-white-and-blue tidings to sign forth.

There’s a tent. There’s a trailer. Volunteers keep vigil every day. Patriotic music plays. In other words, GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT.

Stay tuned.

POPE SPEAKS VS MUSLIM SILENCE. WHERE IS LIBERAL PROTESTANT VOICE?

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Pope Benedict XVI urges Muslim leadership to speak out against Muslim murderers global. Good. That’s the Roman Catholic voice speaking forcefully to a silent Muslim "leadership."

Where is the liberal Protestant voice in all this Islamic mayhem? Silent, just as the Muslim "leadership."

The Roman Catholic pontiff is joined with Protestant evangelicals in asking why Muslim political and intelligentsia leaders have not castigated the Islamic fanatics. But the Protestant theological liberals, always boasting of their social conscience, remain muted. In that, they join the United Nations "leadership."

Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the obvious cowards are the Muslim "leaders" joined by the theologically liberal Protestants followed by the United Nations. These three societal segments in particular are shamefully self-gagged as Islamic killers international continue to slaughter "infidels" around the globe.

In years past, the World Council of Churches, containing mainly theologically liberal denominations, has moved in where angels have feared to tread, often championing politically liberal causes that hardly aligned themselves with the gospel message.

Now the World Council of Churches, patting itself continually on the religious back for being "relevant" in today’s culture, says zero in reprimanding another world religion for its baseline slaughter. Shame on the World Council of Churches. But its silence is not a surprise to the evangelical community who never expected anything truly worthy from the Council membership.

It is the same with the Protestant mainline denominations. It appears they are caught up in their defense of sodomy, even declaring such to be the divine blessing of homosexually active individuals. Therefore, with that demonic craze occupying their time, money and energy, it is not surprising that these groups have no moral stamina by which to speak out against a world religion which has exposed itself as a killing cult.

Yet it is these very denominations, such as the Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ (Congregational), Unitarian-Universalist Society, United Church of Canada, which have bragged on being in the front pew when it comes to defending issues. Nevertheless, on this major issue of Islamic propaganda, these denominations say nothing.

Consequently, once again the Roman Catholic devout and the Protestant evangelical community find themselves endorsing the biblical message. Time and again this is so as these two groups, though not pushing for the ecumenical movement, instead experience the ecumenical spirit under the biblical mandate.

It is because of that biblical mooring that the Roman Catholic devout and Protestant evangelicals sound the trumpet clearly when it comes to eternal verities.

Therefore, in accenting that the Islamic killing cult is intent on overtaking the world, that the so-called Muslim "leadership" must do more to undercut its own fanatics, the Roman Catholic head and Protestant evangelical spokespersons continue to wed their efforts.

It is not by committee that they wed; it is by their day-to-day allegiance to the divine revelation, that which is foreign to the theologically liberal Protestants who rewrite the Bible to fit their own immoral positions.

According to AP writer Victor L. Simpson, reporting from Cologne, Germany, "Pope Benedict XVI went before an Islamic audience Saturday and delivered the strongest rebuke of terrorism of his papacy, asking Muslims to join Christians in trying to combat its spread and ‘turn back the wave of cruel fanaticism’ behind it."

Likewise Protestant evangelical leader Franklin Graham, President, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and CEO, Samaritan’s Purse, has spoken out frankly regarding Islam: "The God of Islam is not the same God of the Christian or the Judeo-Christian faith. It is a different God, and I believe a very evil and a very wicked religion."

The World Council of Churches says nothing. Theologically liberal Protestant denominations say nothing. The United Nations says nothing. The Roman Catholic devout and Protestant evangelicals thereby declare the truth about Islam, understanding their position to be grounded in the Holy Scriptures.

APOSTATE CHURCH LIES TO HOMOS. INSTEAD SHOULD WARN OF DISEASE

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Homosexual activity spreads disease. Oral and anal sex are exceptionally popular in homosexual practice. This kind of physical interplay fosters all sorts of sickness, especially AIDS.

Yet such denominations as the Episcopal Church state that God smiles upon homosexual behavior. The United Church of Christ (Congregational) does likewise. The Lutheran Church in America just voted not to ordain practicing homosexuals. The United Methodist Church is being plagued by practicing homosexuals, the latter demanding total acceptance in that denomination. Various segments of Presbyterianism are dealing with the same threats. The Unitarian-Universalist Society has long endorsed homosexual activity as blessed by the divine.

These church bodies that endorse practicing homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle are lying to their people. Therefore, they add to their sin of condoning that which is abhorrent to God their deceit messages in furthering sodomy.

While AIDS spreads throughout the world, segments of the Christian Church — apostate segments that thereby take themselves out of the genuine global Christian Church — are championing "inclusive congregations." These local groups advertise in their weekly religion page ads that they accept practicing homosexuals to encourage them continuing their daily practice of spreading disease.

Where the Christian Church should be preaching holiness of heart and life, thereby calling sinners to repent of their spiritual waywardness in order to come into newness of life in Christ, apostate segments go the way of Satan by encouraging wickedness and disease spread.

This all the more is horrific in what many consider to be another End Times sign — "an increase of sin," as Jesus prophesied in such Second Coming chapters as Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

All the more that the evangelical segment of the Christian Church — that is, that portion of the worldwide Christian Church that calls persons to personal salvation through Christ — warns practicing homosexuals of their need to confess their sinful lifestyles in order to take up the pure live in Christ.

The evangelical congregations thereby remain true to the Gospel call to holy living as well as warding off such diseases as AIDS and other venereal ailments. Now that is seeing through the commission of Holy Scripture.

Apostate segments vehemently deny the Scripture passages warning persons to abstain from homosexual activity. Instead, they brashly rewrite the Bible in order to accommodate sodomy as acceptable within the confines of the sanctuary.

Yet the Word of God boldly, clearly warns against homosexual activity. If the global Christian Church preached such obvious cautions from deity to the world, the Christian Church could then enhance the work against AIDS and other venereal diseases.

There are those who would hear that message, be convicted by the Holy Spirit, and thus become converted to Christ as Lord of their lives. This would directly involve their sexual decisions. For practicing homosexuals this would mean yielding up that desire to God for His cleansing in discipline.

FOOTNOTE:

ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL PASSAGES IN THE BIBLE

Leviticus 18:22: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."Leviticus 20:13: "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them."

Romans 1:18-32: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. . .For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools. . .

"Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. . .

"For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire towards one another, men with men committed indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

"God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice. . .without understanding. . . and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."

I Corinthians 6:9: "Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

WHY BOLTON NEEDED AT UN: ARAB PROPAGANDA. NOT!

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

John Bolton, US Ambassador to the UN, could not have arrived at the sleek Manhattan tower soon enough for liberty’s sake. Thank you, US President George W. Bush for planting Bolton exactly where America needs him most.

It is Bolton who has exposed UN moneys used for Palestinian Arab propaganda, according to The York Sun reporter Jacob Gershman.

The funds were used by the Arabs to campaign for not only Gaza but the West Bank and then Jerusalem. Of course, those who know the Arab agenda, particularly the input from Hamas, have realized all along that getting the Gaza Strip emptied of Jews was only the first step in taking over whatever is left of the Holy Land.

All the more the liberty nations are vacuumed into World War III with one of its prime killing fields being Israel, such geography no stranger to blood in the streets since its inception as a nation on May 14, 1948.

Now Bolton uncovers UN moneys going to enhance this Arab take-over of Israeli lands. The present “propaganda campaign” is time-framed into the Gaza pullout.

Bolton says that this is “inappropriate and unacceptable.” The UN Development Program shells out money for banners, bumper stickers and such broadcasting “Today Gaza, Tomorrow the West Bank and Jerusalem.”

Not too indirect is it? Not very subtle is it? Of course not.

With Hamas in the cheering section of the Gaza pullout nothing is suave and debonair. All is up front and in your face. For the UN to be funding this kind of shoving is totally “inappropriate and unacceptable,” as Bolton put it in understatement in his communication to the powers-that-be.

“Mr. Bolton said yesterday that the UNDP had failed to explain why it funneled money to the Palestinian Authority to back the production of banners, bumper stickers, mugs, and T-shirts bearing the provocative slogan as well as UNDP logos.”

Naturally Jewish organizations have been voicing their revulsion as well. Further, with Bolton’s input, there is now bound to be a reassessment of moneys spent for Arab projections to take over Israel, piece by piece. All the more that an insightful, assertive personage as Bolton is needed at the UN.

All the more that Mr. Bush discounted the Democratic Party’s purposeful delay tactics by appointing Bolton to the UN, thus exposing the Democrats’ lack of genuine support for liberties in favor of spring boarding for political opportunism.

“The slogan, which suggests forthcoming Palestinian Arab triumphs in the disputed territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, has become a defining message for the Palestinian Arab government during the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and some areas of the West Bank. The slogan appears to have been adopted not only by senior members of the Palestinian Authority but by Hamas officials as well.

“Hamas's top official, Khaled Meshaal, yesterday echoed the theme of the slogan in comments to reporters, Reuters reported. ‘Gaza is the first liberation, then comes the West Bank, then every inch of Palestinian land,’ Mr. Meshaal said. ‘We are at the beginning of the road, and we have not and will not give up our weapons. The battle is not over.’ Mr. Meshaal spoke while standing in front of a poster reading "Today Gaza, Tomorrow Jerusalem," Reuters reported.”

Now can there be any doubt that once Gaza is stripped of Jewish presence, Arab/Muslim murderers global will continue to slay every “Jew-pig, descendants of monkeys,” as Islamics are fond of referring to Jews?

“The national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, shared Mr. Bolton's sentiments. In a letter addressed to Mr. Dervis, he wrote, ‘It is inappropriate for the UNDP, as an impartial global development organization, to fund such a political and provocative message.’"

And that’s putting it mildly.

GAZA: THIS HAD BETTER BE WORTH IT

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

So Arabs will now take over the Gaza Strip. This had better be worth it. And maybe it will be. The Roadmap to Peace may in fact be "out there" somewhere.

Just maybe Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W. Bush are in league with the goodwill of the tomorrows by all this Gaza pull out. Let those of us who care truly pray so.

If this is not worth the peace in the Middle East, particularly in that little strip of land called the Holy Land — no bigger than the state of New Jersey — then there is no gamble for hope measures in anybody’s future henceforth.

This seems to be the last straw. And may it be the straw that weaves into a peace mat for both sides.

Right now it seems to me that Jews are lopped against the sides of hell’s corridors. I cannot imagine what they are going through. As a writer, I am stumped as to express what is going on in Israel as I type these sentences.

I read the newscasts and then cannot read any more. It is carnage. It is betrayal. It is injustice. It is barbarism. It is psychologically and emotionally destructive to the Jewish people.

Children’s minds are being torn apart by what is happening. The elderly are ripped from head to toe. The young adults’ dreams are shredded one more time by simply inhabiting that part of the world.

Jews who live elsewhere on the planet are being grieved beyond nerve. Their prayers are so laden with tears that it is beyond sorrow’s patience. Gentiles such as myself are worn down by the madness set loose in what we Bible believers hold dear — the Holy Land. God’s country. Palestine — the land flowing with milk and honey. That geography so precious to biblical prophecy. The turf of Abraham and David and Samuel.

Anguished faces. Jews yanking at Jews. Homes being burnt to the ground. Garbage heaps in neighborhoods pristinely kept. Parks and back yards and front yards infiltrated by soldiers. A woman setting herself on fire. A synagogue under siege. Singing and praying Jews being sliced through by their own kind. It is hell. It really is a shaft from hell lumped up at the navel of the planet.

Bible researchers have dreaded this kind of dark day in Israel. We who study biblical prophecy for our lifetimes are aghast and saddened. We are non-plussed and yet we know that certain horrific occurrences will take place in the land of Moses and Jesus.

Yet to read about it in the news as we read the Scriptures alongside it is kin to attending a funeral. We want to do our part, be respectful and helpful, and then we want it all over so that the sun can shine again.

If this hurt and shame is all in vain with the Muslim murderers global continuing their killing cult agenda, then heaven help the planet’s Arabs.

They will all pay dearly, beginning with Hamas and their clones.

If this gamble of Sharon and Bush does not add up to establishing the Roadmap to Peace, then all hell will break loose — and it won’t be from the Islamic killers international alone. It will be that peace people will have their time to settle the score.

METHODISTS, LUTHERANS BREAK BREAD TOGETHER

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

As the world becomes fiercer against Christianity, believers are discovering solace in gathering together in Jesus’ name.

This latest camaraderie is shown by Methodists and Lutherans concluding to share the sacrament of communion. Around the Lord’s table, members of both denominations will find their common bond in worship.

Approved on August 11, the Lutheran delegates in Orlando made it official. The "interim agreement" approved by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America extends the right hand of sacramental fellowship to the United Methodist Church.

That means that if all members were to meet at the common table, 13 millions souls would be lifting their hearts toward heaven in giving thanks for the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ upon the Calvary cross. Instead of defending division in the believing ranks, the faithful of these two churches would be welding their convictions as a dynamic witness to the world.

It is fact that Christianity is having a rough go of it in an increasingly secularized world. Europe in particular is under siege by the secularists who would turn the continent into a godless culture. The Vatican especially has voiced extreme concern about this trend. Pope Benedict has informed the media that he invites the European Union to invite God back into its official constitution. He has asked the populace to return in commitment to Christ Jesus as Lord.

Now within Protestantism we see this present move of kneeling together before the Lord to receive the elements as another sign of union in spirit. It is an appeal also to the Holy Spirit to bless these gatherings with an increased faith gift.

When the genuine worship involving believers of various denominations is based upon the Word of God, the Holy Spirit is present to strengthen and enrich. Those outside these two denominations pray that such a biblical base will always be foundational to future deliberations concerning their shared communion.

In the United States, conservatives are in daily battle against liberals. This includes religious conservatives warring against religious liberals. Those within the biblical context who hold to the Holy Scriptures as divine revelation are up against those who would compromise the Word in order to make it more appealing to an irreligious society.

However, when Lutherans and Methodists together uphold the sacrament as holy and needful, they add to the spiritual strength of the nation. That in itself is especially supportive to the traditional Christian testimony.

Ninety-four percent of the 1,018 delegates at the Lutheran annual conclave approved the reaching out to Methodists in Christian sacramental bonding. It is expected that additional believers within more Protestant denominations will realize the impact of such a significant outreach.

DA VINCI CODE’S MOVIE MESS: MARY MAGDALENE

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Now we have the fraudulent made a movie. Thus we have the church split down the middle.

Lincoln Cathedral took the $180,000 and ran with it. So that sanctuary will play double to Westminster Abbey as the Abbey denied the pay-off in good faith. Further, a little Scottish chapel likewise was thrilled with the chance to be on screen.

It’s outrageous in that the whole movie line is blasphemous to the Holy Scripture. For instance, Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ wife is not only stupid history but sacrilege.

Author Dan Brown offers Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ wife. The two have a child. And so it goes.

The Bible does not present Mary Magdalene as the wife of Jesus nor Jesus as mere mortal husband to her. The Bible has few references to Mary Magdalene. Of course, regarding Jesus, the Bible presents Him as divine as well as mortal.

The divinity of Jesus is quite another topic for another write-up, especially in light of Brown’s presenting through his characters that Jesus is other than deity. But that’s what novelists can do; they can write their own imaginative whatevers and get by with it.

After all, Brown’s not penning as a theologian, even though there are too many liberal theologians who agree with his base, that is, that Jesus was mere mortal, not divine. But, as I state, that’s for another article.

This emphasis has to do with the woman — Mary Magdalene. She is offered by Brown, and of course other writers, as a prostitute. The Bible states nowhere that she was a prostitute.

She, as already offered, is pictured by Brown’s characters as the spouse to Jesus. Naturally, the Bible concludes no such fantasy. Brown insists that a Jew of Jesus’ age would never have entertained remaining a bachelor; therefore it is only logical to conclude that he married, hence Mary Magdalene being his wife.

So go the weavings of a novelist’s meandering through the netherlands of the brain. Again, a novelist can get by with anything, not being an historian nor theologian.

But what I want to underline is what the Bible says about Mary Magdalene. I do this because I know Christians themselves are confused as to what Scripture states in comparison to what they’ve seen in movies and read in novels and heard in discussions. The other day I was speaking with a fellow believer who was quite surprised to realize that there is scant material in the Bible concerning the woman.

That’s the nub of it. There is little detail. Therefore, down through centuries, persons have added to her character in order to come up with one legend after another.

The same has happened with other sections of the Bible, for instance, there being three wise men, one of them black. There is no detail in the Bible stating the number of wise men. They could have been two or two hundred. And there is nothing in Scripture concerning one of them being black. Yet the nativity scenes beneath our trees record for us more than what we have taken the time to research in the Bible.

Let me state for you the Bible references concerning Mary Magdalene so that perchance you will do your own study on the subject. I would strongly recommend that you don’t take any prime material but what you yourself read from the Book: Matthew 27:56; Mark 16:9; 15:40; Luke 8:2-3; 23:49, John 19:25. These are few references. It would be helpful to read them.

In the Bible, there’s nothing about Mary Magdalene being a prostitute nor marrying Jesus nor having a child to Jesus. There’s nothing even stating that it was she who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears! And that’s one shocker to many, even believers.

We have been told in film and book that it was this female who was so thankful for Jesus’ forgiveness of her prostituting ways that she washed His feet with her tears. Yes, there was a woman who did wash His feet with tears. In fact, there could have been two women who did that for such is mentioned in two separate passages. But Mary Magdalene is not mentioned by name in those sections.

(Traditionally, Roman Catholics have tended to identify Mary Magdalene as the woman washing Jesus’ feet. Protestants have tended to separate Mary Magdalene from the woman who washed Jesus’ feet.)

Therefore, back to the pure biblical detail residue: Mary Magdalene was one of the women who accompanied Jesus in His ministry. She was there at the base of the cross and witnessed Him laid in a borrowed tomb. She was honored to be the first seen by Jesus after His resurrection. And Jesus cast seven devils out of her. That’s it.

What was the nature of the seven devils? We don’t know. What was Mary Magdalene’s previous history? We don’t know. Where did she come from? Magdala. What did she do in years after the resurrection? We don’t know. Did she wash Jesus’ feet with her tears? We are not told in the Bible that she washed Jesus’ feet.

Who then washed Jesus’ feet with her tears?

Mary of Bethany, sister to Martha and Lazarus, washed His feet on one occasion. Then an anonymous female, mentioned simply as “a sinner,” washed His feet.

Could the two references have been to the same woman? Perhaps. But perhaps not. Nevertheless, Mary Magdalene is not mentioned in either reference. Not at all. It’s been conjectured that she was in those scenes. However, the Bible does not locate her in those scenes.

I think, after hearing some people talk about reading Brown’s book, that these individuals know very little about the Bible detail regarding both Jesus and Mary Magdalene. I hear them give forth with their opinions of Brown’s novel as if he had penned an historical account — that is, historically accurate on all levels.

I know that the author does state that references to “artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals” as well as certain organizations stated in his book actually exist; but as to Jesus and Mary Magdalene, for instance, Brown through his characters weaves his own notions.

Sometimes he is just plain incorrect. For instance, when he states through one of the characters that nowhere in the Bible does it confirm Jesus’ divinity, he (the novel’s character) is all wrong. A ream of passages — chapters and verses — could be provided pointing to Jesus’ divinity.

However, to further his plot, Brown goes on his way with warping through characters’ statements the biblical detail, negating it, suppressing it, or whatever he finds convenient to do with it in order to further his thesis that Jesus was mere mortal husband married to Mary Magdalene.

And so it goes when writing a novel, using characters to convey religious this and that.

In conclusion: read the novels about Jesus. But do so having researched the Bible to know truly the specifics set forth in that Book. One does not have to believe the Bible to be inspired truth. But at least an intelligent person reading books referencing the Bible should themselves know the Bible from cover to cover if concluding anything about it and its subjects.

FOOT NOTE:

DA VINCI CODE'S JESUS: FACT AND FICTION

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Dan Brown's DA VINCI CODE presents Jesus as merely human, not divine.

One of the chief characters in the novel states that third century Roman Emperor Constantine concocted the divinity of Jesus. This is not historically true. He also states there is nothing in the Bible supporting the divinity of Jesus. This is not historically true.

This article sets forth the biblical passages accenting the divinity of Jesus Christ. Realizing that Brown has written a novel and not an historical book nor a theological account, such authors can get by with just about anything.

However, there are some readers of that novel who think of it in terms of historical and biblical accuracy. It is not when it comes to the person of Jesus. It is not when it comes to the person of Mary Magdalene. There are other points on which the author is historically incorrect; however, I point out these two prime matters.

Now to the biblical passages underlining the fact that Jesus is God:

Jesus calls Himself God

Matthew 12:8
For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Mark 2:5-12
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, "Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, 'Thy sins be forgiven thee'; or to say, 'Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?'

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) "I say unto thee, 'Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.'"

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, 'We never saw it on this fashion.'

John 5:17-18
But Jesus answered them, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily I say unto you, 'Before Abraham was, I am'." [compare with Exodus 3:14 - And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM," and he said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'I AM hath sent me unto you.'"]

John 10:30-33; 36-39
[Jesus said,] "I and my Father are one." Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?"

The Jews answered him, saying, "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." [Jesus said,] "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, 'Thou blasphemest'; because I said, 'I am the Son of God?'

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand...

John 13:13-14
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

Revelation 1:8
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

Jesus is called God by others or by the Bible

Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, “God with us.”

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 20:26-29
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be unto you."

Then saith he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

And Thomas answered and said unto him, "My Lord and my God." Jesus saith unto him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

John 21:17
[Peter said to Jesus], "Lord, thou knowest all things."

Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Romans 9:5
Of [the Israelites] as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.

Revelation 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

All things created through Jesus (and thus He existed before everything).

John 1:1-5,9-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:12-20
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Hebrews 1:1-8
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, 'Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?' And again, 'I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?'

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, 'And let all the angels of God worship him.' And of the angels he saith, 'Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.'

But unto the Son he saith, 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.'

SHEEHAN HARD OF HEARING?

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Cindy Sheehan says she won’t leave her ditch home until US President George W. Bush meets with her face-to-face in order for him to explain “why our sons are dead.”

Such pathetically dramatic antics do not befit an intelligent mind. They are such empty cliché-ridden postures that it becomes nauseating to those who have heard the President on numerous occasions.

In his speeches and televised responses to reporters as well as informal remarks to media, Mr. Bush has repeated ad infinitum the rationale supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Does Sheehan have a hearing problem? No. She has a mental problem. Along with her are all the political liberals who continue their Ted Kennedy instigated harangue while Muslim murderers global gloat at the support Sheehan and colleagues are providing their killing cult cause.

Instead of Sheehan and company endorsing liberties personal, she continues the typical liberal craze of sounding pious and demanding while all the while ignoring the President’s set-forth regarding the New Iraq.

Sheehan and company have no patience with establishing a new democracy in a previously hell-bent regime under Saddam Hussein. Unless Mr. Bush and administration can produce the perfect New Iraq government pronto, Sheehan and cloned liberals rant.

Yet they themselves, demanding perfection in an imperfect world, cannot produce like perfection even in their own platform.

The more Sheehan goes on with her summer heat raves, the more one realizes how very much she has become the Democratic Party megaphone for the irrational. Further, her presence geographically along with her predictable rhetoric is the height of hubris. In fact, she is shameful to the America way.

As for her dead son, all persons of conscience mourn. But for this mother to turn her dead son into a flag waving event for liberals’ diatribe is the crass use of parental position to advance the egocentric woman of media attention.

She thrives on this glory given her by the liberal press. She gloats in her fifteen minutes in the Texas sun. She breathes in and breathes out the applause of like liberals who stroke her every phrase as if inspiring mantras from the goddess.

All the while, Sheehan exposes, not her deaf ears, but her deadbeat brain. Why a supposed caring, grieving mother would ever see through such an obviously staged production for conceit is beyond reason, let alone beyond a concerned parent’s heart.

ITALY IS DOING IT: DEPORTING MUSLIM MURDERERS POTENTIAL

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

It will become absolutely imperative worldwide. Nations that stand for liberties personal will have to rid their geographies of Muslim murderers global who are intent on slaughtering non-Muslims and so-called "moderate" Muslims.

First, non-Muslims are "infidels" who must be slain. Secondly, "moderate" Muslims are cowards who must be slain. That leaves only Islamic killers international alive to rule the planet.

Italy already knows this baseline to the Koran adherents. Therefore, Italy is proceeding as other freedom-based nations will have to proceed. Italy is getting rid of Muslim murderers potential before they become Muslim murderers actual. Smart move. In other words, Italy is taking up measures to realize that Italy has been drawn into World War III. Other national leaders: take warning.

Therefore, according to Rachel Sanderson of Reuters, Italy has put behind bars 141 persons believed to be anarchists for Allah. Expulsion proceedings are in the works against 701 more.

So the number will increase as investigations become more pervasive. Italian leadership has been warned that much data is being uncovered regarding the 4000 web sites in particular that instruct Muslims in how to do in all non-Muslims. It’s just a matter of time until more liberty nations will be under siege by the Koran disciplines.

This is all in keeping with Islam being not so much a world religion among religions but a killing cult. Now those in authority are taking steps to rid the national environs of the cult, no longer regarding Islam as a "religion of peace." National leaders were naïve at first in giving such accolades to Muslims; however, in recent months that phrase has not been used by responsible leadership.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair refers to Islam as an "evil ideology," despite the fact that he gave commendable remarks to Islam in years past. US President George W. Bush refers to Islam as "an ideology of hate," despite having previously nodded to Islam as a "peace religion." Christian theologians all the while knew quite differently; but it took awhile for the politicians to wake up to the truth.

Italy realizes now that there is a "high risk" label on the country with an ever-present possibility of a terrorist attack, according to the governmental ministry for security. Parliament has been informed of detail.


FOOTNOTE:
SLAY THE NON-MUSLIMS: DIRECT QUOTES FROM THE QURAN

2:191, And slay them wherever ye catch them.

4:84, Then fight in Allah’s cause.

4:141, And never will Allah grant to the unbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers.

5:33, The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.

8:12, I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.

8:17, It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah.

8:60, Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.

8:65, O Prophet! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of the Unbelievers.


9:5, But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem.

9:14, Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers,

9:23, O ye who believe! take not for protectors your fathers and your brothers if they love infidelity above Faith: if any of you do so, they do wrong.

9:28, O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque.

9:29, Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

9:39, Unless ye go forth, (for Jihad) He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least.

9:73, O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell - an evil refuge indeed.

9:111, Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur’an

9:123, O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.

22:9, (Disdainfully) bending his side, in order to lead (men) astray from the Path of Allah: for him there is disgrace in this life, and on the Day of Judgment We shall make him taste the Penalty of burning (Fire).

22:19-22, These two antagonists dispute with each other about their Lord: But those who deny (their Lord),- for them will be cut out a garment of Fire: over their heads will be poured out boiling water. With it will be scalded what is within their bodies, as well as (their) skins. In addition there will be maces of iron (to punish) them. Every time they wish to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be forced back therein, and (it will be said), "Taste ye the Penalty of Burning!"

25:52, So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them herewith with a great endeavour.

25:68, Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; - and any that does this (not only) meets punishment. (But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him, and he will dwell therein in ignominy.

37:22-23, "Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped- Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire!

47:4, Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.

48:13, And if any believe not in Allah and His Messenger, We have prepared, for those who reject Allah, a Blazing Fire!

48:29, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other.

69:30-37, (The stern command will say): "Seize ye him, and bind ye him, And burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. Further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits! This was he that would not believe in Allah Most High. And would not encourage the feeding of the indigent! So no friend hath he here this Day. Nor hath he any food except the corruption from the washing of wounds, Which none do eat but those in sin."


FaithFreedom.org site states: Advance permission is given for any article of this site to be printed free of charge with attribution to the author and the site.

GOD AT MILITARY ACADEMIES INVITED BACK IN

GOD AT MILITARY ACADEMIES INVITED BACK IN

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Why not the right to pray voluntarily at military school events?

The New York-based Anti-Defamation League informed the US Naval Academy in Annapolis that prayers at mealtimes were to be shut down.

Abraham Foxman wrote the academy’s superintendent stating that mealtime petitions to the Almighty were out of step with the American way. Therefore, they should be forbidden. The chaplain should be shown the exit sign. Midshipmen should sit down to their meals with no thought of thanking the Lord for the food.

To have prayer before meals at the academy was unAmerican in that it forced those in attendance to adopt a religion. Therefore, using the worn cliché of “separation of church and state” as the baseline, League membership informed the academy that it was time to close out the traditional prayers.

Foxman said that praying was a “’stamp of approval’ on religious observance” and had no place in the academy day.

Congress Representatives Walter Jones, R-NC, and Madeleine Bordallo, D-GU, have now placed a bill before the US Congress guaranteeing military service academies the right to petition the divine at school occasions, according to Religion News Service reporter Nancy Glass of the Adventist Review.

These Representatives do not believe in the politically and religiously liberal definition of “separation of church and state.” They believe that the Judeo-Christian heritage in America permits petitions to God, in fact, encourages such prayers in the tradition of the United States history.

The Representatives believe that such League action is another attempt at totally secularizing America, like unto the present-tense godlessness in the European Union constitution. Secularization is not in the best interest of America, the Representatives and their supporters state to the media.

FOOTNOTE: THE TRUTH ABOUT ‘SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE’

Liberals have run off with this phrase, prostituting it per usual.

The matter is simple. It’s this: America does not want a state church. England has a state church — the Anglican Church. America does not want one denomination considered The Nation’s Church.

On the other hand, America has a religious heritage. It’s not Muslim. It’s not Hindu. It’s not Shinto. It’s not animism. It’s not New Age. It’s not Paganism. It’s not Voodoo. It’s Judeo-Christian.

America, while not desiring a state church, does desire religion in life. That includes religious expression in everyday exchange. Because Judeo-Christian is America’s heritage, most citizens honor that heritage expressed and honored. Its expression then should not be thwarted. It should not be belittled. It should not be erased in the name of “separation of church and state.”

Unhampered religious expression is promised in the First Amendment.

Further, America, having a Judeo-Christian heritage and the right to present-tense expression, permits freedom of religious expression to other religions. Therefore, there are those of other religious persuasions who practice without fear their religions in America.

What the liberals want to do is redefine the phrase “separation of church and state” to exclude Judeo-Christian religious expression in America. They want not only “separation of church and state” defined on their terms but the exclusion of the Judeo-Christian religion and anything coming close to that particular religious expression—period.

Liberals believe that if they continue harping on the “separation of church and state” phrase, brainwashing the public with their prostituted definition, especially indoctrinating the next generation with their prostituted definition, then they will have won secularism for America’s future.

They, in other words, want not only separation but exclusion of religion — completely so. Note however that the chief religion they want excluded is Judeo-Christian.

They will even tolerate other religions, as they are presently doing with the Muslim infiltration, but it is Judeo-Christian that they want cleansed from America. In other words, it’s a religious cleansing they desire for this nation — the extinguishing specifically of the Judeo-Christian faith.

Therefore, if tolerating another religion such as Islam helps wipe out Judeo-Christianity, then so be it. Islam is far better a tolerance than the American heritage of Judeo-Christian. Therefore, there are school districts hiring Muslims to speak to teachers on how to give Muslim students honor and space. No such invitation, of course, has been extended to Judeo-Christian specialists speaking to public school educators on how to give Judeo-Christian adherents honor and space.

In a nearby high school, a prayer room was set aside for Muslim students. No such prayer room or any other respect has been presented those of the Judeo-Christian heritage.

Liberals, in other words, will do whatever it takes to obliterate America of its rightful Judeo-Christian heritage. This is accented every year particularly during the Christmas season. Any other so-called “religious expression” can come to the fore but the Christian particulars must be silenced at all costs. So we hear throughout the Christmas season, not Christian hymn carols, but “separation of church and state.”

Once again, liberals have taken language to serve their own twisted purposes. They took “homosexual” and made it “gay.” They took “pro-choice” and made it “protecting females.” They take “separation of church and state” and make it “wiping out America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.”

What those of the Judeo-Christian heritage must do — and far more concertedly than they have ever done in the past — is to make clear to the public what “separation of church and state” really means. This must be put in print in magazines and journals. It must be preached from pulpits. It must be taught in religion classes. It must be spelled out in letters to the editor.

Unfortunately, this simply has not been done. The church in particular has permitted the liberals to carry on with their prostitution of the phrase. I have been appalled over the years to note that the church specifically has not risen to expose the liberals’ misuse of that phrase. Therefore, the young have taken quickly to the liberals’ definition while the church has sat, in the main, silent, allowing the enemy to win out.

HARVARD DIGS INTO EVOLUTION. NO BIG DEAL

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Now Harvard gets into the act. Researchers at Harvard are going to tell their take on evolution.

Of course, Harvard academicians will come up with their already concluded conclusion that no divine intervention was needed. That’s what David R. Liu, professor of chemistry and chemical biology, told media.

Talk about a preconceived notion taking hold of the scientific method.

"'It is quite gratifying to see Harvard is going for a solution to a problem that will be remembered 100 years from now,' said Steven Benner, a University of Florida scientist who is one of the world's top chemists in origins-of-life research," according to Gregory Richter of Elites TV.

Now if that’s not hubris, I don’t know what is. Before Harvard even starts its project it’s stated to the press that its conclusion will "’be remembered 100 years from now.’" Who says?

At least the Bible believers take no credit for their data nor rob acclaim from the Creator God who created all from nothing. Believers give all applause to Him. Not so at Harvard, of course.

Anyhow, I don’t need Harvard to inform me of the evolutionary bake sale that’s glued itself to the so-called academic elite since the mid-1800s. My question is this: What did thinkers believer before Saint Darwin came along?

They believed the Genesis account. That’s what they believed.

I’ve been writing columns stating that the evolutionary theory is pure hockum. When one does that, watch for your email box to fill up with all sorts of anger.

Emailers in panic fits are now going to their therapists to get relief from my posts. It’s amazing what a column or few can do to mentally unstable people.

Anyhow, as I read the tirades, I wondered what thinkers did before the mid-1800s? How did they get along without Saint Darwin? What holy script did they use to explain origins?

Of course thinkers prior to Darwin believed that God started everything. That is, He brought all into being from nothing — ex nihilo. It’s what is still believed by God-holding minds.

For the centuries prior to The Origin of the Species came up with us all developing from tiny bits of swiggly whatevers, human brains worked out the biblical message as given primarily in Genesis.

It is that God brought into being all that there is. He is the Alpha and Omega — the Start and Finish. God being God can do that. He doesn’t need any help from Darwin. He does not even have to have assistance from an evolutionary line up of lesser to greater.

Now there are those believers who are still mired into the evolutionary posh that they think they have to bow down to it in some fashion. Therefore, they conclude that evolution must be the method that Creator God used to bring everything from nothing. In that way, they feel comfortable living in a whacky world that holds tenaciously to a lamebrain theory full of holes.

But those truly adventurous, daring Christian biblical thinkers don’t need even the crutch of evolution to explain how God did whatever He did. They just by faith conclude that God being God did what He did. He brought it off. He is the eternal One who has the everlasting powers by which to do what He sets out to do — just as Genesis relates it — and therefore God needed no help.

It is a pity that some of the younger generation have to feel that they must give some sort of academic nod to evolutionary teachers who cruise through their university classrooms with texts that preach that evolution is not really a theory. It is indeed a fact. A FACT already proven and digested and baptized as beyond any doubt.

Those of the younger generation need to understand that Genesis does not even need that kind of oblation to secular university professors, not even to professors in supposedly Christian colleges which have gone spiritually astray.

The bottom line is this: The Bible is the divine revelation. There Genesis states that Creator God did what He did. It spells it out in as much detail as any mortal needs to know in this life.
Therefore, be done with it. It was realistically tenable to generations of thinkers prior to Saint Darwin and it still works quite well for those who hold to the revelation as needing no secular assistance — none whatsoever.

Now watch my email box fill up again. That’s okay. It means more money for the therapists. And I’m sure they can use the cash.

THE CURSE OF BEING JEW IN GAZA

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

They may run to their rooftops, stay there and defy Jewish soldiers.

Who are those fleeing? Jews. Why Jews? Because Jews are mistreating Jews. Where? In Israel. Where in Israel? In the Gaza Strip. Why? So that the Muslim murderers global can live on the Jews’ land.

It’s the curse of being Jew in Gaza.

It’s one for the insane asylum annals. And yet it is real life, real time. Or could be it stated as dead time in dead air?

Synagogues will be dismantled so that Islamics can use the turf for their mosques and whatevers. In other words, the Holy of Holies is going to be handed over to the desecrators. It’s that plain. It’s that true. It should never happen. Devout Jews know that and yet can do nothing but pray.

But how does one pray for one’s own kind who have turned betrayers?

This is like an account from the Old Testament when curses fell upon the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom, then the Southern Kingdom. However, then the enemy was first Assyria for the North and Babylonia for the South. The foes were attacking from outside. The curse came upon the Israelis from surrounding enemies, not from their own tribes.

What is occurring now in Israel has to be one of the most horrific happenings since May 14, 1948, when Israel was established as a nation. It is unfathomable to those Jews who lodged in Gaza, believing it to be for a lifetime.

Jewish security police have been trained how to pin down a male if he resists. Female soldiers are to haul away female resistors. Can you imagine the photo shoots of that taking place in the Holy Land?

If I were a Jew living there I would be so in shock that I would pray to the Lord to bring divine wrath down upon the traitors of my own people. I would join intercession forces with the devout to ask heaven’s anger to lay traps for all Jewish soldiers mentored in how to crush innocent Jews’ households.

What must this be doing to the children of these Gaza homes? What terror must be riddling their psyches? What counseling will they need later on in order to bring healing to these nightmares they and their parents are undergoing?

Yet it is Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who is orchestrating all of this. And my own US President George W. Bush is aiding in the project. Yet it was Mr. Bush who drew up the Roadmap to Peace, the bottomline being that all Palestinian Authority violence had to stop and be guaranteed halted.

Is there any sense of such a guarantee? For how long? How deep?

I believe that the world is in for one rude, cruel awakening after the PA takes over the Gaza Strip.

All the while, the Jews displaced will be sifting through storage bins looking for their dining rooms chairs, beds and dresser drawers and wondering where to find handkerchiefs to wipe away their tears.

CHRISTIANS PUSH FOR ‘CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS’ IN PUBLIC PLACES

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

With the American Civil Liberties Union as their targeted enemy, the Alliance Defense Fund members aim at putting Christmas back into American life. Hallelujah. Hark the Herald Conservatives Sing.

The ACLU says it’s a stupid move for as long as conservatives get their own kind elected to power positions, they have won the game.

Conservatives would like to have faith in the ACLU conclusion, but are wise enough to know that when a snake talks, it bites instead of ushering in wisdom for the community.

Therefore, ADF President and CEO Alan E. Sears informed media that his organization is going full guns ahead to bring religious expression into its rightful freedom of speech place in the American republic. All power to him. He is so right on.

For too long the nation has believed in this bogus definition of "separation of church and state" so as to follow the Pied Piper secularists in forming a godless union. Now that the public has become more educated regarding the true definition of separation of church and state, the grassroots is aching to express faith "out there" without fear of court cases and scowls from educational and political grinches.

Therefore, there’s the "Christmas project" in the offing. According to Fox News reporter Anita Vogel, it’s an endeavor "to defend school districts around the nation against lawsuits to ban Christmas trees and other religious displays during the holidays."

May the merry bells ring loudly and clearly for the reason of the season — Jesus! All else is peripheral, secondary and late in coming, let alone totally superfluous to the origin of Christ-Mass.

In Phoenix, ADF wages its own war against evil, anti-Godness, and secularists who want to supplant the nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage with humbug. The ADF goal "is to defend religious liberty, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family against any person or group who attacks those principles."

All I can say to that is an early Blessed Christmas to all, and to all a holy Yuletide approaching — in Jesus’ name, of course.

CINDY SHEEHAN IS A GLORY-HOUND

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

No one made Casey Sheehan sign up. No one. Not even his mother could force him to defend freedom. Casey signed up for the armed forces because he wanted to sign up for the armed forces.

Now Mamma Sheehan is showing herself to be a shameless exhibitionist who is stroked by a summer-slow media read. Reporters don’t have that much of substance to give out. So they play up this mouthpiece camped outside US President George W. Bush’s home.

Of course, all the anti-Bush drivers are parading their vehicles as a show of support for Sheehan. She’s glorying in the acclaim. Nevertheless, what Sheehan must surely know, being the age that she is, is that this too shall pass. And so shall the summer heat. And the gawkers giving her undo attention. And the reporters’ pads folded up inside their yuppie pouches.

This is ridiculous.

Sheehan is a brazen egocentric who delights in getting attention because of her son’s death. Yes, it is sad that her son died. So it is sad that the other defenders of freedom died. War is not a Sunday school picnic. People die. They sign up for the armed services knowing that this just might be the supreme sacrifice forthcoming. Those disillusioned by the ravages of war need not apply.

Once again the liberal rose-tinted eyeglasses of Sheehan shine off the liberal harangue taking place in Crawford, Texas. Ted Kennedy and Nancy Pelosi must be in their delight as Sheehan becomes their clone representative.

As if Sheehan is the first parent to shed tears over a child’s death in wartime. Come on, Sheehan, do you really think that we realists are new to all this war kind of thing? Does your staging make it a first for speaking up regarding blood letting in order to cement the peace, establish a democracy, and protect our own shores by fighting the enemy elsewhere?

All this crooked straw-hat business on Sheehan’s dome really irks me. That’s just the liberal image we sane people have had to put up with for generations. Sheehan surely is the poster girl for the arch-liberal look if I ever saw one. And her monologue matches up perfectly. Empty heads. Cliches. Rants without reason. It’s an old package, Sheehan, so pack your bags and go home.

As for the armed services personnel presently stationed around the globe on behalf of liberties personal, Sheehan is their enemy. She is not their friend. These liberals go on and on about peace and loving country while all the while their rhetoric belies their motives.

They are in this speech making for themselves. It’s sheer show-off time in day care center mode. And all in the name of “peace” and “love” and “patriotism.”

It’s enough to make you want to throw a pitcher of cold water right over Sheehan’s hot head in Texas.