Olympic Edition

Minuteman visitor to China says things are not as they appear on your TV screen

Cosmetic TV hides the real China

While Olympic athletes hear the cries of tens of thousands of cheering fans in China, many "would be" mothers in China are in tears as the Communist Chinese government enforces their one-child policy through forced abortions. As well-fed men throw the hammer, starving Chinese prisoners hammer at big rocks to make gravel until it kills them. Basketball player as well are{read article here}

Olympic Clean-up

Three Americans arrested last week by Chinese authorities for praying and protesting in Tiananmen Square now back on U.S. soil

Three visiting Americans  were holding a press conference in Tiananmen Square to bring attention to the plight of Chinese Christians and others imprisoned for practicing their faith. Suddenly, plainclothes police arrived, pushed the media out of the way, and dragged the three off the Square and arrested them. {read here}

Chinese Christians silenced as Olympics begin

The Olympics is generating a huge amount of publicity for China -- good and bad -- but most of the press is not reporting persecution of Christians

Johnny Li once was a persecuted Christian in China, but he was able to immigrate to the United States and is a spokesman for Open Doors USA. He says that, although Chinese throughout the world are excited about the Olympics, members of the underground church in that country have been increasingly persecuted in an apparent attempt to silence them as China has its shining hour in the media. Li recently {read here}

Symbolism over substance?

Christian George jabbers at Chinese, chides leadership on human rights/church issues

Listening to President George Bush's pre Olympic speech to China [listen here} and his promise to continue pushing China to let its people speak and pray freely without harassment, {read more here}  there appears to be a clear message - as President Bush himself put it - "no country should fear religious freedom".

However, this is still the same President who awarded China "most favored” trading status and allowed their entry into the WTO without meaningful, enforceable human rights commitments.  Then there is that trade surplus and sum of money China has advanced to finance our national debt. A friend of ours calls the President's most recent chatter nothing more that a "symbolic gesture of support for China's often embattled Christian community."

What do you think?

McDonald's clowning around with marriage

Aggressively promoting homosexual life style

American Family Association Chairman and founder Donald Wildmon has called for the continuation of the boycott of McDonald's restaurants after the fast food giant announced it has increased its support for the homosexual movement by funding a homosexual pride parade.

"McDonald's says it is proud of our diverse workforce and of our recognition by the Human Rights Campaign as a company that actively demonstrates its commitment to the gay and lesbian community.[read more here]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA is asking all to sign their online boycott McDonald's petition, which can be found here:
http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/

Live in hope  . . . . . . .

Crafty owners induce early end to picketing at California McDonald's

A group of California grassroots activists has withdrawn its picket from a Sacramento-area McDonald's after achieving what it says was helpful cooperation from a corporate official overseeing the store. Spokesman Luke Otterstad says the protest of the retailer is important despite minimization of the effort in news coverage by a local TV station. Otterstad explains that he and other supporters of SaveBiblicalMarriage.org picketed the fast-food outlet last week in order to increase the effectiveness of the recently initiated boycott against the hamburger chain for its membership in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). [read here]

Christian leaders are complicit by their absence

One Pastor's view of the cultural war

Church leaders are conspicuously absent from the cultural field of battle. Oh, they may host large crowds at their gatherings; they may deposit multiple millions of dollars in their financial accounts; they may receive thunderous applause from politicians; but they have fled the battlefield at the point of attack.

For the record, the real battlefield today is not abortion. It is not homosexual marriage. It is not Social Security. It is not al Qaeda. It is not taxes. It is not inflation. It is not electing conservatives. It is not posting the Ten Commandments. It is not even the high cost of gasoline. The battlefield where the devil has amassed his greatest forces and is thrusting his deadliest armies is [read  article here]

. . .and when Christians do enter the battle

How to play defense be pragmatic and lose graciously.

Janet Folger is a Christian activist and, like Tony Perkins, James Dobson, etc. is but one of the many gatekeepers that have been controlling our "choices" in the culture war.

Although she brings up great points, she still comes back home with the same ole dog. Yell , scream, and holler at the top of your voice and then, when you walk into the voting booth, be sure to forget your Bible and vote for the lesser  . . . . . .[read article here]

Live in hope  . . . die in despair

Open letter to James Dobson 

Brother James Dobson seems to be on shaky ground when it come to voting in the upcoming elections.  A recovering Republican James Lofton gives the brother a reminder and some sound advice.[ read his advice here]

Speaking of open letters

The Coach on James Dobson

Two years ago Religious Provocateur Dave (Coach) Daubenmire wrote an open letter to James Dobson and other gatekeepers in which he warned that "God does not want us to be joined together with unbelievers.” Most Christians may be conservatives, but all conservatives are not Christian. . .  and the Republican party is not interested in promoting Christian values.

Things are not looking good for Republicans. It is time to abandon ship, to build an ark, to raise the standard. Republicanism is making Christianity look bad.  We should[read open letter here]

Calling the Kettle Black

City of San Francisco being "hateful, defamatory, insensitive and ignorant?" - City to vote on ballot measure that D.A. calls 'welcome mat for prostitutes and pimps'

In our last posting [Read  article here] San Francisco city officials called the Catholic Church's efforts to discourage the practice of homosexuality "hateful, defamatory, insensive and ignorant.”  Now the City of San Francisco's District Attorney wants to discourage the practice of prostitution [read article here] and prevent its legalization. Is the prosecutor being hateful of sex workers???

Should Christians "out" themselves from Government Schools

Author says John Freshwater and other Christian teachers/administrators have no business nor hope in public paid education!

“Superintendent Short might also have had visions of being salt and light. A Christian man himself, he has been made an instrument of silencing a Christian teacher: but what else could he have expected?

“Public education is thoroughly and profoundly secular and anti-Christian, and Christians who work in it have no power to reform it. Their labors would be better employed in building up a nationwide system of Christian education that could rescue all Christian children from the anti-Christian public schools." [read article here]

Yeah, this will really work . . . .(not)

One reason why many Christians should stay out of politics

Is Christian Leadership an oxymoron?
. . . . . . . .  or is it just outdated?

Dobson waffling on "strong" stance against McCain

According to the Washington Post, Brother James Dobson of Focus on the Family is getting weak kneed in his stance against the maverick John McCain.  In a convoluted statement today the leader of Focus on the family said, "While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might."

Wasn't there something said once about your yea’s being yea’s and no's being no's? [ read story here]

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
II Cor 6:14 (NIV)

Westward Ho

San Francisco City and County Board resolution officially labels the church's moral teachings  on homosexuality as "hateful, defamatory, insensitive and ignorant.” [Read  article here]

To the East Coast

Sneak attack in Boston - Massachusetts  Senators quietly revive "dead bill"

A resurrected plan to expand homosexual "marriage" opportunities has been fast-tracked by the state Senate in Massachusetts with a vote that moves the proposal immediately to the state House, with the governor's signature expected before the end of this month. The proposal, which could make Massachusetts a mecca for gay weddings, was previously put in a "kill" file by lawmakers and then suddenly - without debate  - discreetly passed [ read details here"

Capital Idea ?

Washington Post unabashedly promotes sodomy - Glorifies 15 year old's “coming out" party 

Throwing aside even a pretense of fairness, The Washington Post openly promoted homosexuality to teens in a front page article on Monday about a 15-year-old boy "coming out" to embrace his "gay identity." The Post included a video about the boy, Saro Harvey, who now considers himself to be "transgender."  The article was an entirely one-sided advertisement for more school "anti-bullying" policies, which often evolve into pro-homosexual “re-education” campaigns.  [read here]

Treating Symptoms??

A demonstration was held near McDonald's national headquarters in Chicago to draw attention to their pro-homosexual stance. The protest was in response to the corporation’s $20,000 donation to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and a McDonald's executive who was seated on their board.

American Family Association's Buddy Smith was on hand for the event, which included a press conference. Smith said that McDonald's needs to line up their associations with a pro-family philosophy and drop their membership in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber.  [read story here]

Execution Postponed 

Mount Vernon teacher John Freshwater has termination hearing reset for August 26.

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Amidst pressure by local townsfolk, the Mount Vernon school board passed a resolution to schedule a hearing regarding the contract termination of eighth-grade science teacher John Freshwater - they continue to conceal the identity of his accusers. Read details [here] and [here]

Sometimes it's better if they don't show up!

Citizens stunned as school board walks out of meeting

A crowd of students and citizens of Guilderland, N.Y., gathered last week at a public school board meeting to protest the questionable reassignment of two teachers, only to look on in disbelief as the school board stood up and left the room. "Shame! Shame! Shame!" chanted the crowd, as [read story here]

Tennessee Board Superintendent "out to lunch"

On a recent American View radio show interview,  the Superintendent of a local school says that public education is the backbone of our Democracy. "Everyone knows that we are a Democracy, and  [listen here]

Time to shut down Homosexual clubs in Government Schools?

HIV diagnoses rising over 12 percent annually in 13 to 24 age group for same sex practitioners!

One of the things that Minutemen United noticed during the recent Gay Pride Parade here in Columbus Ohio was the staggering increase in the number of younger children in the crowd and in the parade itself.  The question arises, "do we love our children enough to tell them the truth?" or are we going to continue to let activist groups whisper in their ears? Linda Harvey of Mission America suggests it's time to stop the lying and time to shut down homosexual clubs in our public schools [ read more here]

July 4th, like many of our other holidays, has lost much of its true meaning in the minds and hearts of many Americans. For many it is now just a day for parades, cookouts, and fireworks. Many of us have forgotten (if we were ever taught in the government schools that we attended) the profound, earth-shaking significance of this date and everything it represents for freedom, for civilization, for the first, and still only genuine, experiment in government founded squarely on the bedrock principles and beliefs of the Christian faith.

Even those of us who have some understanding and appreciation of this, dare we say it, miraculous, even supernatural, event in the history of the world usually fail to appreciate just how astounding, how improbable, how unique, indeed how truly miraculous, this event was, the signing of a Declaration of Independence and the birth of a nation of, by, and for the people. We are prone to just mindlessly repeat the lessons and stories we've heard, "Oh yea, there was a Boston tea party, and Paul Revere's midnight ride, and the Battle of Bunker Hill, and then George Washington defeated the British, and now here we are," as if it was no big deal, nothing very controversial, difficult, or fraught with peril. Nothing could be further from the truth.

What we call now the "American Revolution" was from the beginning, and until the surrendur of General Cornwallis in 1781, a venture of the most incredible daring and bravery and boldness and faith imaginable. The men who signed this Declaration and who authorized it and approved it and then fought for it had incredible faith in God, in His truth, in His Word, in the dignity that He confers on His creatures, in His will for them to have "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and in their ability, and right, under His guidance, to govern themselves. And they were willing to put on the line their lives, their families, their fortunes, in short, everything that they had, to fight for what they so profoundly believed in. It was probably Patrick Henry who most eloquently and memorably put into words the sentiments that drove these courageous patriots to risk their lives: "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

And they took these risks against incredible odds. The British army at that time was a formidable and brutal foe. King George sent four 30,000 man armies to put down this "rebellion," armies of highly trained and experienced professional soldiers. The American army, at least initially, was almost entirely just local and state militia, amateurs, just farmers, craftsmen, seamen, etc. pressed into emergency service, and in the early battles it showed - these militiamen invariably turned and ran when the battle got heated or even just threatened to go the wrong way. Washington is said to have lamented at one point, "Are these the men with which I am to defend America?!"

The American army suffered defeat after defeat after defeat, rarely winning a battle. It was often poorly equipped, poorly provisioned, hungry, sick, demoralized. It was infested with spies. All around them were colonists still loyal to the crown and quite eager to do or say anything that would assist the British troops and undermine the "rebels." The British had a policy of offering "pardons," and rewards, to any "rebel" who put down his arms and pledged allegiance again to the King and many accepted these "pardons" and rewards. There were many others just sitting on the fence, waiting to see which way the tide of the war turned so they could jump on the winning side. The cause of the American army and the American nation struggling to be born was an uphill battle from the beginning and for virtually the course of the entire war. It was hard, painful, costly, dangerous, scary, and the outcome very much in doubt.

Lovers of liberty and righteousness, lovers of America and all that she has been, is now, and can be in the future, lovers of God, may we humbly and lovingly ask you a question today? We are today engaged in another battle for freedom, for righteousness, for America, and for our God. This battle too may be hard, painful, costly, dangerous, and scary, and the outcome very much in doubt. Are you a soldier in this battle? Are you now, or are you willing to become, a warrior in the "culture war" for the future, for the soul, of America?? Do you have the faith and the courage and the boldness of our Founding Fathers who risked everything they had so that a nation of liberty and righteousness could be born? We need men and women today, right now, with the same faith and courage and determination to fight for this country, for its principles, and traditions, and ideals.

This is what Minutemen United is all about, fighting for our country, and our God. Please join us. Your country, and your God, are calling you to this high, and noble, and urgent purpose.

May God continue to bless America, as America continues to serve and glorify Him.

In His Service,

Minutemen United

Living Waters

by Jim Harrison – MMU staff

"Hey, mister, can I have some of that Jesus water?” “Sure, how many bottles do you need"? “Two would be fine, thanks", and off he went back into the crowd to share his good fortune with his friends. They had all come to parade and celebrate their “alternative lifestyle” at Broad and High streets in downtown Columbus, Ohio and on this hot day the ice cold water was a welcome relief. 

Many along the parade route took the "Jesus water” thankfully as it was being handed out. Many would look curiously at the orange label and then take a long swig. Some stopped between swallows and glanced at the message on the bottles:

"He who drinks this water will thirst again but he who drinks the water I give will never thirst, not ever".   Curious phrase, they may think, and what is this website "www.ultimatequencher.com"  hmmmmmmmmm.....

How do you measure success? That's sometimes a difficult question to answer.  For the Minutemen and women who were engaged in the "Living Water” project it was really quite simple.  By distributing ice cold refreshment on a hot summer day they were able to give all takers the Word of God. 

No, it wasn't a Bible they were handing out, but a rather unique Biblical track if you will, one whose cold refreshment would be a fond remembrance on such a simmering hot day.  Perhaps many would be curious enough to  research the information on the bottle's label.   As one of the workers who was distributing the Living Water bottles so poignantly stated, "I put the word of God in as many people's hands as I could. I didn't slow down once , that is the least I could do."

With that I'll rest our case.  Thanks to all for your prayers, support, encouragement, and a special thanks to those Minutemen who stayed up late Friday night and  got up very early on a Saturday morning to prepare for our witness. Thanks as well to the other churches that cared enough to witness to those thousands of  lost souls in downtown Columbus this last Saturday in June.

In His Name

………………………………..Come join us Saturday!!!

And you'll have plenty to share with your brothers and sisters on Sunday

Where: Downtown Columbus, Ohio - corner of Broad and High thru Bicentennial Park. 

What: Sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with the participants, friends, family, and supporters who will be celebrating and parading the "Gay" lifestyle in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

………………………………….Invest a little time this Saturday and share the love and truth of Christ with the lost. Come for a hour or come early and stay all day - the fields are ripe and the work a plenty.

Minutemen United will be participating in the Living Waters project [see attached or click on picture] and you are more than welcome to join us.  Whether or not you choose to help us distribute ice cold water to the crowd, we hope and pray that you and your church will not let this golden opportunity slip by. There will be thousands of "profoundly lost" souls that need to hear from all of us.

We plan on starting out with prayer in front of the state house at 11:00 am and then disperse to locations where we can start witnessing to the city of Columbus for Christ. The parade {details here} officially starts at 1:00p.m. but the friends, family and supporters always get there much, much earlier.

For those of you who are not physically able to attend we would encourage you to pray for our protection and that our witness be faithful and successful. As always, God is in control but we believe he takes great pleasure in working through those who call on His name.

In His Name

Minutemen United