By Paul Proctor - November 21, 2003
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Sometimes, looking back helps us see where we're going. So, I thought I'd
assemble a few stories and tidbits from this year's news to help provide a
wide-angle view of the times we live in for your consideration – a collage of
published information from the past year that forms an alarming picture we might
not otherwise see by its scattered parts and pieces.
So, here we go...
Personal bankruptcies recently skyrocketed 7.8 % – Corporate and personal debt
are at record highs – The trade deficit is up – Unemployment is up – Wholesale
prices are up – Oil prices are up – Retail sales are down – The dollar is down
and the administration says the economy is recovering.
The Massachusetts Supreme Court just declared that the state’s constitution
guarantees gay couples the right to marry.
A federal judge was removed from the bench last week in Alabama for refusing to
stop acknowledging God – this after a stone monument bearing The Ten
Commandments was removed from public view and relegated to a closet – the former
home of unrepentant homosexuals. No comment from White House Christians.
World Net Daily reports that "Council members in a South Carolina town can no
longer mention the name of Jesus Christ or another specific deity in their
prayers during meetings" thanks to a federal court ruling on a case filed by a
Wiccan high priestess in Great Falls. It is worth noting that the most popular
books and movies among young children today teach them how to get what they want
in life through witchcraft.
The AFA is reporting that the FCC has just approved the "F" word for use on TV
and radio anytime of the day or night as long as it's not used in a "sexual
situation".
Wal-Mart has been caught selling crib toys that play a recorded voice that
whispers "I hate you" to babies. It seems they also tried recently to include
tracking devices in certain products for sale as well.
Britney Spears french-kissed Madonna on the MTV Video Music Awards show a few
weeks ago and then told the BBC that she's a role model for young girls. This
before stripping down to an S & M styled outfit to repeatedly grab her crotch
and simulate what appeared to be sexual intercourse with other dancers during a
choreographed opening routine on the American Music Awards show, broadcast last
Sunday night (Nov. 16) on prime time network television. Host, Jimmy Kimmel told
nominees at the show's opening that there was to be no thanking God in any of
the acceptance speeches. A few recipients ignored the command but fortunately,
no one was arrested.
After being assigned by their English teacher to perform a "nonconformist act",
two young girls at River Hill High School in Maryland climbed up on a table
during lunch and screamed "End homophobia now!" and began making out with each
other amid the "stunned silence" of classmates. Where do you suppose they got
THAT crazy idea?
Earlier this year, in the wake of 9-11, World Net Daily reported that California
public schools had 7th graders chant "Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation",
memorize verses from the Koran, pray to Allah, wear Muslim clothing and stage a
Jihad as part of a three-week course on Islam. It also included the required
memorization of 25 Islamic terms, 20 Islamic proverbs and the Five Pillars of
Faith along with a study of 10 key Islamic prophets. Of course, all references
to Jesus Christ and the bible are still forbidden – separation of church and
state, ya know…
We have learned in recent days that Private Jessica Lynch was fraudulently
portrayed by the government and military as a gung ho, fight-to-the-bitter-end
soldier and hero after being taken captive and then dramatically rescued from
the doctors that kept her alive at a hospital in Iraq. Private Lynch, like many
of us, had a difficult time understanding why the government would go to such
extremes to try and make her out to be such a hero while leaving the names of
dead and wounded male infantrymen virtually unmentioned. Charlotte Iserbyt and
Berit Kjos are now reporting that there is a bill that has been quietly
struggling its way through Washington that would implement the drafting of women
into the military. It's called The Universal National Service Act of 2003.
(Probably just a coincidence.)
It is also being reported by the Independent News of London that, according to
the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, Washington has
accepted that US forces in Iraq should be under international control – that
"Decisions along these lines will be made in the coming days". (I guess Mr. Bush
hasn’t figured out just how to break it to us yet. Or maybe he's just waiting
for that new bill on the military draft to get his desk.)
In an August commentary on World Net Daily, Joseph Farah reported that Supreme
Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "blew the court's cover in a speech to the
American Constitution Society, explaining that her colleagues are looking beyond
America's borders for guidance in handling cases on issues like the death
penalty and homosexual rights.” (Can you say “global governance"?)
A court in Florida ruled earlier this year that a husband had the right to
starve his disabled wife to death.
The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in a recent 3-2 ruling, decided that if a
married woman has sex with another woman, it's not adultery.
America's Christian President recently celebrated Ramadan with Muslims at the
White House while publicly criticizing an American general for expressing his
Christian beliefs and convictions. Never mind the first amendment. Whatever
happened to the First Commandment? Oh yeah – it's in a closet down in Alabama.
Out of sight – out of mind, I suppose.
Miramax, a Walt Disney subsidiary is preparing to release a movie this Christmas
season that will portray Santa Claus as a foul-mouthed drunk, thief and
fornicator.
Pop star Michael Jackson's "Neverland" has been raided and a warrant for his
arrest has been issued amid more charges of sexual misconduct several years
after another accuser dropped similar charges following an undisclosed
out-of-court settlement.
ABC reports that Rush Limbaugh has completed 5 weeks of drug rehab and remains
part of an ongoing drug and money laundering investigation by authorities in
Florida.
The little-known baby parts industry continues to thrive as the number of
abortions exceeds 40,000,000.
Fast food chain, Carl's Jr. recently hired pornographer Hugh Hefner to star in
the restaurant's new TV ads.
World Net Daily reports that the new Abercrombie & Fitch Quarterly Christmas
Catalog is out and is, once again, featuring sexually explicit photos and
subject matter. This year's topics include group sex and masturbation.
ABC News aired a special program hosted by Elizabeth Vargas entitled: "Jesus,
Mary and Da Vinci" that explores a secret society's claim that Jesus Christ
married Mary Magdalene.
Meanwhile, back at the postmodern church…
Episcopalians made history this year by ordaining their first homosexual Bishop.
The Baptist Press reports that from November 7-9, LifeWay Christian Resources,
publisher of Sunday school materials for the Southern Baptist Convention,
sponsored a creative arts festival featuring "instruction in clowning, comedy,
illusion, drama, interpretive movement, mime, puppetry, visual art and technical
elements of production such as lighting, sound and the use of computer
technology – all with an aim toward religious application." (I'm sure this is a
lot more fun than bible study.)
Christians around the country are currently searching for a purpose under the
guidance and direction of Saddleback Community Church pastor, Rick Warren and
his "40 days of purpose" seminars. He, of course, is the author of the best
selling books: The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church.
Saddleback’s web site, Pastors.com, has also been running a series of
eye-opening articles for ambitious pastors entitled: "How To Transition An
Established Church".
Agape Press reported, in a September 15th article, that George Barna, founder of
Barna Research Group, a Christian marketing research company, says: “The church
in America is largely ineffective because most believers have not adopted a
biblical worldview, adding, "most born-again Christians do not live their lives
in ways that are distinctly different from how nonbelievers live because they
think the same." "In many ways", he goes on to say, “the Church in America has
become like the Church of Laodicea that's described in Revelation 3. We're a
Church that's very complacent, very satisfied with ourselves." Martin adds: "He
(Barna) believes that, to a large extent, the Church in America has lost its
focus, apparently preferring to be prideful of all the 'stuff' surrounding it.
A new Barna Group report entitled: “Practical Outcomes Replace Biblical
Principles As the Moral Standard" concluded that "While many religious leaders
propose that the Bible should be the basis of people's morality, the survey
showed that only four out of every ten born again adults relies upon the Bible
or church teachings as their primary source of moral guidance." In the article,
George Barna himself was quoted as saying: "Americans are correct in suggesting
that the moral state of the country is in decline, but they may be looking in
the wrong place to find the genesis of the problem…Most people do not believe
that there is any source of absolute moral truth. Even born again individuals
are abandoning the notion of law based on scriptural principles", adding that
"Religious leaders and people committed to biblical standards of living will be
discouraged to realize that matters are highly likely to get worse in years to
come…"
And, after a 16-year hiatus, Jim Bakker, author of the book, "I Was Wrong”,
finally made it back on TV with the Jim Bakker Show. His ex-wife, Tammy Faye
Messner, recently spoke at a Homosexual church where, among other things, she
talked about HER new upcoming TV show, "Surreal World 2", where an assortment of
“has-been celebrities” become roommates for several days in front of TV cameras
– including XXX porn star, Ron Jeremy. The former The PTL co-host told the
hundred or so members of Potter's House Fellowship Church, "I think Jesus really
loves crazy people. He really does. He made so many of us!"
Well, that's 2003 in the news.
Do you get the picture?
© 2003 Paul Proctor - All Rights Reserved
Other articles by Paul Proctor:
Confessions of a Facilitator | The Ten Commandments Controversy
Taking America back | DIAPRAX Goes to Seminary | The Kiss of Death
HEGELIAN DIALECTIC & THE NEW WORLD ORDER
Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state [Tennessee] and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and columnist, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print. Paul may be reached at watchman@usa.com.
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