Fired by the "Good Hands" People!

J. Matt Barber, a former Allstate employee, is suing the insurance giant for firing him solely because he wrote a column — on his own time, at his home and on his own computer — that was critical of same-sex marriage and espoused his Christian beliefs. The article was posted on several Web sites. Barber says the Human Resources assistant vice president told him the column didn't reflect Allstate's view — Allstate financially supports homosexual advocacy groups — and that he was suspended with pay. Three days later, Barber received a call informing him he was fired "for writing the article." (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 30, 2005 - published by Focus on the Family)

And along the same lines, from England:

The Co-operative Bank in England has asked an evangelical Christian group to take its business elsewhere. The bank said the group Christian Voice — which has held an account with the Co-operative for about three years — is "engaged in discriminatory pronouncements" regarding sexual orientation. The bank "publicly supports diversity and dignity in all its forms," said a spokesman. (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 30, 2005 - published by Focus on the Family)

One Reaction to Billy Graham's comment to former President Clinton

The National Clergy Council president Rev. Rob Schenck walked out of the Billy Graham Crusade in New York last weekend after the evangelist let former President Clinton speak. Schenck — who has held Billy Graham in high esteem for 25 years — was "stunned, appalled and disoriented" when Graham told Clinton that he "should be an evangelist" and "leave his wife to run the country." New York Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer were onstage at the crusade after taking part in the city's homosexual "pride parade" earlier in the day. (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 30, 2005 published by Focus on the Family)

The New Christian Left

The new Christian Alliance for Progress is aligned with the political left and its leaders make it clear the goal is to counteract the strong conservative and pro-life views of most Christian organizations. Rev. Timothy Simpson, the new group's director of religious affairs, said the religious right has been successful in using the language of faith to promote what he called a "divisive agenda."

"We understand the Gospel in very different ways," he said, "and believe even further that the demands of the Gospel in areas of public policy are quite different from the direction that's being taken by the religious right." Simpson said that different direction includes a stand in favor of abortion. "I'm not willing to extend rights to a fetus that would trump the rights of a desperate woman," he said. "I don't think our organization is either." (quoted in Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 30, 2005)

Ten Commandments - Responding to Supreme Court Decision

We lament the continued move on the part of our country toward secularism as evidenced in the decision making process of the Supreme Court. But we need to remind ourselves that we are called by God to be witness in this world. H. B. London, from Focus on the Family, has written a good piece regarding the Christian's response to the Supreme Court ruling on the 10 Commandments. He writes in an editorial entitled, "TEN COMMANDMENTS: SEE THEM OR LIVE THEM?"

This week's somewhat cloudy decision by the Supreme Court regarding the Ten Commandments brings to my mind the real significance of God's teaching through Moses to all mankind.

It is not the display of the commandments that concerns me nearly as much as our adherence to them. Warren Wiersbe writes, "God's people have three responsibilities when it comes to His commandments: hear them, learn them, and do them. God's laws are clear and simple; man's laws are complex. Beware of a mere outward obedience to the laws of God. We must have true fear of God in our hearts as well as love for him."

Hear the word of the Lord, "Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever" (Deut. 5:29).

Personally, I wish the laws of God, that have been the model for man's behavior for untold centuries, could be displayed everywhere, but my greatest concern is that, in this day of "grace," that some, even within the church, see God's commandments as mere suggestions. That just may be one of the reasons for so much chaos in the body of Christ.

Probably all of you at one time or another have preached a series of sermons on the commandments. This might just be a good time to pull them off the shelf, dust them off, and once again emphasize the word of our Lord, "Learn them and be sure to follow them" (Deut. 5:1). Perhaps you could teach these truths for the remainder of the summer.

"We know we have come to know him if we obey his commands" (1 John 2:3). God's direction for us is not restrictive, but very liberating." (from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, June 30, 2005).

Rick Hare named Wrestling USA Magazine's "2005 Wrestling Official of the Year"

Our congratulations to our own Rick Hare for his excellence in representing Christ in officiating wrestling matches. The article states:

"Mr. Rick Hare is an outstanding official, worthy of national recognition.... There is no man more dedicated or more deserving to be called 'The Referee's Referee.'" Wrestling USA Magazine salutes Rick Hare, the 2005 Wrestling Official of the Year, for his officiating expertise and dedication to the mat sport for over three decades. (Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine, May 30, 2005, p. 14 : Link to PDF file from Wrestling USA Magazine).

The Herald-Mail is slated to carry a story on Rick in Saturday's edition (July 2, 2005)