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Thursday, January 17, 2013

OBAMA PROCLAMATION NARROWS FIRST AMENDMENT FROM "FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION" TO "FREEDOM OF WORSHIP"

The full text of this presidential proclamation dated January 16, 2013 is on the White House website, and copied below. Hence, all expressions of religion or religious beliefs outside a place of worship and within the course of everyday life and socialization are hereafter prohibited:

Presidential Proclamation-Religious Freedom Day

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY, 2013
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Foremost among the rights Americans hold sacred is the freedom to worship as we choose. Today, we celebrate one of our Nation's first laws to protect that right -- the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Written by Thomas Jefferson and guided through the Virginia legislature by James Madison, the Statute affirmed that "Almighty God hath created the mind free" and "all men shall be free to profess . . . their opinions in matters of religion." Years later, our Founders looked to the Statute as a model when they enshrined the principle of religious liberty in the Bill of Rights.
Because of the protections guaranteed by our Constitution, each of us has the right to practice our faith openly and as we choose. As a free country, our story has been shaped by every language and enriched by every culture. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, Sikhs and non-believers. Our patchwork heritage is a strength we owe to our religious freedom.
Americans of every faith have molded the character of our Nation. They were pilgrims who sought refuge from persecution; pioneers who pursued brighter horizons; protesters who fought for abolition, women's suffrage, and civil rights. Each generation has seen people of different faiths join together to advance peace, justice, and dignity for all.
Today, we also remember that religious liberty is not just an American right; it is a universal human right to be protected here at home and across the globe. This freedom is an essential part of human dignity, and without it our world cannot know lasting peace.
As we observe Religious Freedom Day, let us remember the legacy of faith and independence we have inherited, and let us honor it by forever upholding our right to exercise our beliefs free from prejudice or persecution.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2013, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to commemorate this day with events and activities that teach us about this critical foundation of our Nation's liberty, and show us how we can protect it for future generations at home and around the world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA


ALPHA COURSE ACCEPTABLE AT SOVEREIGN GRACE CHURCH, MARLTON, NJ

Below are some videos which show that Sovereign Grace Church of Marlton, NJ has decided to offer the less than biblical, Catholic charismatic leaning Alpha Course of Nicky Gumbel. The real danger here is that the true gospel of Jesus Christ is lost over a free meal, and consensus discussion groups using the diaprax method of watering down Scripture based on feelings and personal unregenerate misinterpretations. A program like this which is a corrupt mixture of dumbed down Scripture, Catholic charismaticism and mysticism, and avoids offensive aspects of the sin filled life of humanity in a depraved state, may be a fun social time for nominal Christians, ex-Catholics, or so-called "seekers", but does not rise to the level of an accurate presentation of the real gospel of Christ, or a valid, God ordained method for regeneration as articulated in the Bible. It is just another "feelings based" approach to "evangelization" by the emerging churches. What's a little surprising is that a Sovereign Grace church, which is supposedly "reformed" in the neo-Calvinist sense, would see nothing wrong with it. Could it be the charismatic side of the SGM dualistic theology as per the continuationist, reformed charismatic, Wayne Grudem, i.e., the "go to guy" for this sort of thing? The appeal of course is to the cutting edge, higher level "yuppie" crowds who work in the big cities of Philadelphia and New York, but prefer the suburbs just east of the worst city for crime in the USA, Camden, NJ. No mention here of redeeming that city! A lot does get lost in those consensus building discussion groups, but no one should have the audacity to spoil the atmosphere by actually quoting Scripture!

SUMMARY OF AMENDED ABUSE LAWSUIT VS SGM

Here are the essentials of the yet untried complaint against Sovereign Grace Ministries, et al, below. No conclusions or judgments should be drawn at this time about the parties named therein.

Five pseudonymous plaintiffs are added to the original three.
  1. PAULA POE
  2. CARLA COE
  3. GRACE COE
  4. KAREN KOE
  5. KARL KOE 
The judge assigned to the case has been named: the Hon. Sharon V. Burrell.
Three institutional defendants are added to Sovereign Grace Ministries.
  1. Covenant Life Church, Inc.
  2. Covenant Life School, Inc.
  3. Sovereign Grace Church of Fairfax
Two individual defendants are added to existing eight.
  1. Mark Mullery
  2. Vince Hinders
A net total 28 charges are added (goes from 115 to 143).
Material issues added to the lawsuit:
  • The physical abuse of children
  • Sexual abuse occurred on church premises and at church events
  • Sexual predators were negligently hired as employees
  • PAULA POE repeatedly sexually assaulted by a pastor/teacher and children’s ministry worker
  • A pedophilia ring operated at Covenant Life Church and Covenant Life School
  • CARLA COE was repeatedly abused (not sexually) by Larry Tomczak and co-conspirators
  • KARL COE repeatedly sexually molested by the male son of a Church pastor.