The RECORD

By Mike Hein

The public policy representative of the Roman Catholic Chancery leveled a serious charge against the Christian Civic League of Maine in Sunday's Maine Sunday Telegram.

The paper reports that the Diocese of Portland (ME) will work with all parties of good will. This Diocese is a member of the pro-abortion and pro-homosexual marriage Maine Council of Churches. While he doesn't claim that the League acted with ill will toward the Chancery, Diocesan Public Affairs Director Marc Mutty claims that the Chancery has found that it is "impossible to work with [the League]." He further states that the League has been "unkind and un-Christian."

"I am saddened by the Chancery's remarks," said League Executive Director Michael Heath. I've worked well with Marc Mutty and the Chancery in the past on issues where we have been able to forge agreement." The League has partnered more than once with the Chancery in both the State House, and in referendum campaigns. The League has been unwavering in its stand against sexual immorality being forced on Mainers, and has called on the Roman Catholic Church to join it in it's stand.

On Saturday, Heath joined 27 Catholic men on a bus trip to the annual Boston Men's Conference. Heath talked briefly with Archbishop Sean O'Malley in the lobby of the Boston Conference Center. He also listened to the leader of the Knights of Columbus and a Cardinal from Africa.

"The Cardinal spoke of family practices in Africa," said Heath. "He said families in Africa don't nurture an awareness of rights, only obligations. I liked that. While I disagree with some of the theology of the Catholic Church, I came away appreciating much of what I saw and heard. I especially enjoyed time spent talking with the Catholic men on the bus, including my good friend Paul Madore."

The leadership of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Maine has adopted a relaxed strategy toward the threat posed by sexual orientation theory. The League has remained steadfast and unwavering in its support of Biblical moral purity.

Heath stated, "We've worked hard to stay close to God and the Bible on all matters related to sexual morality. For this we have been condemned viciously by Maine's institutional leadership. The people of Maine, of course, agree with [the League's] position when they are allowed to fully appreciate it."

Heath lamented the lack of comity that currently exists between the League and the Chancery. He said he sees little likelihood of improvement as long as Mr. Mutty is allowed to launch public attacks against the 110 year-old Christian ministry. The League is merely working politically in the light of the Gospel on matters related to sexual morality, law and politics.

Heath said, "I extended an invitation to Marc Mutty personally to join our Coalition for Marriage at a lunch in 2005. He never responded."

Heath expressed deep disappointment with the Chancery over their support of so-called 'gay rights' in 2005. Their support tipped the scales in favor of sexual orientation theorists, and unleashed an unspeakable evil on our homes.

One young man in Rockland is facing imprisonment now because he was proselytized by confused adults into living with a homosexual identity. He has twice threatened his male lover with a knife. In his second encounter he succeeded in stabbing both him and his father. This man's confusion is made worse by the Chancery's refusal to act and speak with clarity and precision about sexual morality.

"The Bible and the Vatican are clear about sex outside of marriage. The Diocese of Portland (ME) has a duty to be equally clear." said Heath. "Paul the Apostle said homosexuals will spend eternity in hell. And Jesus said it was better to lose an eye than to practice adultery."

Heath has said many times that Maine will fall to same-sex marriage or civil unions unless the Church decides to stop it. The Roman Catholic Church claims almost a quarter million members in Maine. Most Catholics are Democrats. While the Maine Republican Party is somewhat favorable toward traditional morality, the Democratic Party in Maine has been stridently liberal on abortion and homosexuality for decades.

By Col. Myrl Allinder

Sometimes when I see a fish or a lamb or a dove on a business sign, I want to turn and run the other way. Pastor Reggie Scarborough in his Sunday sermon, 18 March 07, Lakeland, FL

In 1966 IBM was pitching computers to the Services. I was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps and was astonished to learn that some staff officers had been treated to $50 lunches by IBM salesmen and programmers, seeking to influence government contracts. The sales promise was that computers would reduce paper work, speed up data/information transmission, reduce work hours (for staffers not unaccustomed to 10-12 hour days, sometimes weekends in DC), and help lead the way to a business and military utopia. In 2007 we can only grin as digitalized laptops, cell phones and gps turn evenings, weekends and vacations into 70 and 80+ hour work weeks.

It was also the late 60s or early 70s that the first Shepherd's Guides appeared in the DC area... directories to local Christian businessmen, the pitch being that a business displaying a cross or dove or lamb in its logo or signage would provide honest, professional, expert service at a reasonable price. As with IBM, the hype exceeded the expectation/performance. The first 3 businesses I patronized which used crosses/doves/lambs in their logos ripped me off.

When churches began discussing church book stores in 1970, the pitch was that church books stores would make Bibles more available for parishoners. Pastors were reminded that the word profane simply means outside the temple, that the book store industry was honorable outside the house of worship, but Christ insisted that buying and selling in the Father's House of Prayer was profane. John 2:15-16 A survey of many church book stores today will reveal that Bibles constitute less than 10% of the inventory of bingles, baubles, bangles, cd's, photos, statuary, inspirational this and uplifting that.

One church began to show advertising slides for parishoners' businesses before the morning worship began. Another mega-congregation has an electronic billboard out front, advertising appearance times for the next brilliant speaker, award winning singer/music group. Ninety pages of a 120-page christian magazine contain at least one item for sale. A famous christian speaker grosses over $100Million per year in fees and sales.

The Hebrew word for mixed is arab. Arab. Is it a coincidence that many of America's and Israel's problems have to do with Arabs? Do not sow your vineyard with various mixed seeds--Deut 22: 9 Do not plow with an ox and an ass together. Do not wear a garment of wool and linen [mixed] together. vv 10-11 Ephraim [doubly blessed] has mixed himself among the people--Hosea 7:8 Israel separated out the mixed multitude--Neh 13:3

Make no mistake: GOD loves the Arabs. GOD loves the World. John 3:16 forever. Thank GOD for the Arab Christian brothers who are fearlessly preaching the pure Gospel of Christ in regions where American or European missionaries stay away in droves.

It's just that American christian businesses and churches have more arabs... men who are mixing Christ into commercial ventures, and pastors who are mixing the world into spiritual ventures... than Arabia.

Buying and selling of doves and lambs and Bibles and books and insurance and truck tires are all honorable businesses.... outside the House of Prayer. But American businessmen .... and churches....are mixing it up: using the symbols and logo's of the Spirit of Christ as a worldly come-on or advertisement to entice christian customers to buy stuff; while churches use worldly advertising and PR and come-on's to draw customers into the House of Prayer.

The first sermon of John Baptist was: Repent! The Kingdom of GOD is at hand! Matt 3:2 The first sermon of Jesus Christ was: Repent! The Kingdom of GOD is at hand. Matt 4:17 Christ sent the Holy Spirit for 3 purposes: to convince the world of sin, of righteous, and of judgment. John 16:8

Businessmen and churchmen in America have attempted to turn Christ and the Christian faith into commercial enterprises, both in the market place and in the House of Prayer for all Nations. Render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's, and to God what is God's. Mt 22:21

Is GOD using islam as a rod of correction against America? It is not without cause and sufficient wicked evidence that some Arab nations call America the great satan.

Myrl Allinder is married to the former Martha E. Smith of Augusta, GA since 1956. They rejoice in 4 children, and in 5 grandchildren. Myrl retired as a Colonel of Marines in 1986 after 29 years, 375 combat missions, and command of 3 squadrons. He served on the staff of the Secretary of Defense for 3 years, and as a Strategic Planner for the Department of the Navy at the Naval War College, Newport, RI for 4 years. His final job was Chief of Plans, Joint Deployment Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, developing Logistics War Plans for all Theaters, including the Middle East.

Upon retirement he served as a missionary in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America from 1987-2000. Today he volunteers in the Pinellas County Jail (4,000 prisoners, 1000 arrests per week), in the Suncoast Haven of Rest rescue mission (7,000 homeless); and as a Gideon distributes thousands of Bibles each year to students and foreigners in the Tampa Bay area. He is an usher at Bayside Church of God in Safety Harbor, FL, serving on the Missions Committee.

By Mike Hein

Four Maine GOP Legislators Co-Sponsor Abortion Funding Bill

Maine Democrat Senate President Betheda G. (Beth) Edmonds (D-Cumberland County) is sponsoring LD 1309 "An Act To Provide Equity in Funding for Women's Health Services." The bill, which will have a public hearing later this spring, would allot over $283,000 in new spending to directly fund abortions for low-income Maine women. Maine currently does not directly fund abortions, but does give over $1 million annually to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which does provide abortions in Maine. The bill is being supported by the Family Planning Association of Maine and the Maine Women's Lobby.

Senate President Edmonds, for her part, at a State House press conference recently asked, "How many more deaths will it take before we realize whatever it is we're doing is not enough?" She asked this in the context of the death of women in Maine from domestic abuse, not the death of unborn children from legal abortion. The irony was not lost on League Executive Director Michael Heath, however. Heath wryly noted that at the approximate cost of $500 per abortion, the number Edmonds was looking for was, "600(deaths), if she were referring to abortion."

While LD 1309 is being sponsored by Edmonds, the bill already has secured bi-partisan support among Maine's legislators. Four Maine Republican legislators are co-sponsoring the bill. Included as current co-sponsors of the abortion funding bill are: State Senator Peter Mills (R-Somerset County), State Rep. Abigail Holman (R-Fayette), State Rep. Roberta M. Muse (R-Fryeburg), and State Rep. Meredith N. Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland). The Maine Republican Party Platform, adopted just last year, states "We [Maine Republicans] believe in the sanctity of life and the right of parents to be involved in the reproductive decisions of their minor children."

The Christian Civic League of Maine has publicly opposed this legislation since learning about it in December, 2006. In a recent Bangor Daily News interview, League Executive Director Mike Heath reaffirmed the League's pro-life stand stating, "It's immoral for us to have abortion, period. To think that Christian, tax-paying [Maine] citizens will be forced to pay for abortions is absolutely unconscionable, it's beyond wrong." The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (Maine) has just recently agreed with Heath and the League's position, stating they will also oppose the bill.

By Col. Myrl Allinder

Myrl Allinder is married to the former Martha E. Smith of Augusta, GA since 1956. They rejoice in 4 children, and in 5 grandchildren. Myrl retired as a Colonel of Marines in 1986 after 29 years, 375 combat missions, and command of 3 squadrons. He served on the staff of the Secretary of Defense for 3 years, and as a Strategic Planner for the Department of the Navy at the Naval War College, Newport, RI for 4 years. His final job was Chief of Plans, Joint Deployment Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, developing Logistics War Plans for all Theaters, including the Middle East.

Upon retirement he served as a missionary in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America from 1987-2000. Today he volunteers in the Pinellas County Jail (4,000 prisoners, 1000 arrests per week), in the Suncoast Haven of Rest rescue mission (7,000 homeless); and as a Gideon distributes thousands of Bibles each year to students and foreigners in the Tampa Bay area. He is an usher at Bayside Church of God in Safety Harbor, FL, serving on the Missions Committee.

"Homosexual acts are immoral [like adultery] ....we should not condone immoral acts." Gen. Peter Pace USMC, Chairman JCS

"He who changes the definition of a word perverts the people." 500 B.C. Greek philosopher

"It depends on what your definition of "is" is." President William Clinton

Perversion is defined in dictionaries as: truth twisted, just a little bit. Thank God I married the world's most honest, truthful woman; which is ironic because I was the world's biggest liar and deceiver (yep, I beguiled my Eve, Gen 3:13). I habitually excused my truth twisting with: well, Dad was alcoholic; well, I had to go to work when I was 11; well, I've been living alone since 14 in mud huts and tarpaper shacks; well, it's really my idiosyncrasy, not a lie; etc. ad nauseum.

By God's grace and the first 25 years of marriage, my wife finally delivered me of my perversions by her consistent confronting and exposing my evangel-elastic utterings. Oh yeah: I was big in the church, big in Christian fellowship groups, big in Christian TV from 1970-76 (presiding over 2000 or more in prayer breakfasts in the Hilton and in the Pentagon). Also big in exaggerations, boastings, struttings, reputations, showmanship and entertainment. (Yes, entertainment; how else to describe some of the mega-church rotating billboard advertisements of visiting songbirds and eminences whose cd's/books/etc are on sale in the lobby, uh, church narthex?)

Did I mention how much I really hated homosexuals? Two times in my boyhood wanderings (from Missiouri to New Mexico to Carolina and finally Georgia) men had inappropriately touched me, and I was filled with a murderous loathing and rage. When confronted with the standard homosexual argument, "I can't help myself; I was born this way," I would attempt to persuade the homosexual of his error in choices; that if he would just make right choices he would be freed. Apparently, unlike me, all homosexuals were totally incapable of making the right choice.

It was midnight, Friday 13, Jan 1984 in Newport, RI (how could I forget it?). I was home alone, a strategic planner at the Naval War College, praying over all the world crises, reminding God I was available and here's another brilliant idea for what to do with the heathen in D.C. and the muslims in Arab-land and the perverts in San Francisco. There is no other way to describe what happened next..... God spoke to me: What about THIS in your life? My response: God, You're changing the subject... I was talking about Major World problems... You are asking about my tiny idiosyncrasy. (My evangel-elastically speaking. My exaggerations. My lies.) At once, a Light came on that black January midnight in RI; but all the Light illuminated was my heart... which was full of worms and rot and snakes!

I fell out on the floor crying, I agree! Those are lies.. not idiosyncrasies. The question stabbed me: Myrl, what is perversion? As my answer, I started pointing to San Francisco. Perversion, Myrl, is truth-twisted. Who do you suppose twists the truth the most: an ignorant brute abusing himself with another, or marvelous-Myrl-the-macho-Marine who lies, but won't call it a lie, calling lies his idiosyncrasies. By the way: to whom much is given, much is required (Lk 12:48). Whoever is unfaithful in the least is unfaithful in very much (Lk 16:10). Who is the biggest pervert?

A new prayer came from my lips that night: O God! have mercy upon us perverts. I began to identify with... and not despise... the homosexual, who is not gay (see dictionary for definition of gay). I began to reach out to homosexuals with genuine concern and interest, and the next one who said to me, I was born this way, I agreed. You are right! And now let me tell you how I was born: a liar, a cheater, a deceiver, an adulterer. But guess what? As soon as I agreed with God that these were sins... perversions... He began to change me! And if He can change me, He can change ANYbody, even a Yankee! (Southern joke). Like all former liars/cheaters/etc, as soon as a sinner agrees with the Truth, that his sin is indeed sinful, God sets him free, changes him into a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17

American businessmen must rely on and insist on consistent definitions of all words... words like marriage, and contracts. If one man or one group are granted permission to change the definition of even one word, then all men and all groups can change definitions of more words. Our culture would then become not only perverse... but chaotic. All contracts, all business negotiations would be subject to lawsuits and discussion of what the definition of is is.

God, the Inventor of all language, has defined sin for us in the 10 Commandments. Woe to them who call evil Good, and Good evil; who put darkness for Light, and Light for darkness. Isaiah 5:20

P.S.: What happens when America stumbles and our words become contrary to God's? As for MY people, children oppress them and women rule over them. Isaiah 3, especially vv 8 & 12.

By Rev. Dallas Henry

Rev. Dallas Henry of the Hosanna New Testament Church hand carried testimony to the Legislature's Judiciary Committee today on LD 779, the controversial bill that would eliminate Christian clergy from legal marriage ceremonies in Maine. Henry told the committee to reject the bill calling it "chilling." Henry linked the bill to another controversial measure proposed by the homosexual lobby. LD 375 seeks to expand the rights of non-married sexually active adults under a law that is supposed to honor, uphold and protect traditional families. The homosexual partnership law would amend a law known as the "Family Medical Leave Act." Henry urged the rejection of both bills. The League's emails on LD 779 were so effective that the committee killed the bill without requiring Henry's testimony. The chair of the committee said, "From all the emails we have received you made your views abundantly clear." They then indicated that a straw poll of the committee indicated the bill was dead. The Christian Civic League of Maine has been associated with the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family since 1991.

Chairman Hobbins, Rep. Simpson, distinguished members of the Judiciary Committee, my name is Dallas Henry. I am the President of the board of the Christian Civic League of Maine, and I am a clergyman. I am here to represent the concern of our state wide membership of individuals and churches. Thank you for providing this opportunity for me to offer testimony today on LD 779, An Act to Remove Clergy as Signatories on Marriage Licenses.

I want to begin by saying that the summary of this bill is chilling. It reads, "The bill removes the authorization of clergy members to solemnize marriages." There is no good reason for this legislation. Because this is true, some are speculating that this bill further weakens our laws with respect to traditional marriage, and thus opens Maine to same sex marriage. This is an important point.

This bill is not unlike one that the Labor Committee is hearing now which equates non-married partnerships with marriages. If that bill and this bill pass then we will step even closer to the precipice over which many governments in the west appear all-to-willing to cast themselves. We will be endorsing and supporting sexual relationships outside of marriage. This is beyond dangerous or even tragic. It is evil.

If we wish to see where this is likely headed, we only have to look to Scandinavian countries where social mores about marriage have been very relaxed. These are countries in which homosexual marriage has been a matter of settled law for a decade or more. Everyone expected that the incidence of homosexual marriage would skyrocket. It made a statistical blip after its legalization years ago, but never rose above that blip. Instead, what has happened is that marriage itself --whether heterosexual marriage or homosexual marriage -- both have almost disappeared. It is destroying their society.

In a Christian marriage, God tells the husband to love his wife the same way Jesus loves His Church. A marriage can't fail when this happens. This is why it is vital to our society for Clergy to be the primary tools for marriage in Maine.

Christian Pastors believe:

"Marriage is not of human origin" and it is not a disposable relationship.

Marriage is not an institution dreamed up in the heart of man.

Marriage is the product of God's Divine Wisdom.

Marriage is an exclusive relationship.

God has provided the blueprint for marriage.

God affirms both sexes.

God blesses marriage.

We believe it is God's plan that marriage is for ever.

We believe that a successful marriage takes three; a husband, a wife and God. God calls marriage a covenant.

There are many benefits that Clergy provide for marriages in Maine. I am one of hundreds of pastors in our state who provide pre-marital counseling to prepare the bride and groom for a successful marriage. Christian Pastors agree that the divorce rate is way too high. By providing preparation, we are improving the odds and reducing the divorce rate. This, in turn, provides a great service to the state by keeping couples out of the courts.

I ran across a study made a few years ago in which it was discovered that church going families - where both husband and wife professed a strong personal faith in Christ and went to church together - experienced only 1 divorce for every 55 marriages. It really is true that "Families that pray together stay together."

The Christian Civic League of Maine urges you to unanimously reject this bill.

Thank you.