The RECORD

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. -- John 15:18-19

Quotes

In a composite Nation like ours, made up of almost every variety of the human family, there should be, as before the Law, no rich, no poor, no high, no low, no black, no white, but one country, one citizenship equal rights and a common destiny for all. A government that cannot or does not protect the humblest citizen in his right to life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, should be reformed or overthrown, without delay. -- Frederick Douglass

Before God we are equally wise and equally foolish. -- Albert Einstein

Paying the price

http://www.cclmaine.org/images/RECORD%20online%20newspaper/pauliesatan.jpg

Believe it or not this is a doctored digital image of my wife. Mr. Adam Flanders of Belfast Maine took the time to create this. He also wrote a clever, and vicious, parody of Paulie's biography. Both items were posted on the enormously popular music and book selling website, Amazon.com Notwithstanding complaints from Amazon users the pictures were visible on a webpage featuring Paulie's "Under the Shadow" CD for months. The webpage is provided by Amazon (for a fee) to customers who want to sell their product. Amazon allows users to post reviews of the music, and they can also upload images. That is how Mr. Flanders was able to compromise my wife's humble effort to market her music.

None of my wife's lyrics -- she has written over thirty songs and recorded over fifty -- address the issue of homosexuality. Paulie's music is mostly aimed at God and worship. It is praise and worship music. Many of her songs explore different aspects of healing and hope.

Mr. Flanders linked my wife's music to my work as leader of the Christian Civic League of Maine. He launched his ... dare I say it ... satanic attack on that basis.

Three days ago I was checking things out online with Paulie's ministry. I noticed the pictures that Mr. Flanders had posted on Amazon. I later learned from a friend that the pictures had been on the webpage for months. This friend indicated to me that he had complained to Amazon months ago to no avail.

I emailed the webpage to a few friends. Yesterday the pictures disappeared from the Amazon webpage. Also, Mr. Flanders edited his review of Paulie's music. In his review he equates his love for another man to the love that Paulie and I share as a married couple. He forgives Paulie and me for what we have done. Neither of us know Mr. Flanders. We have never done anything to him.

Adam Flanders of Belfast is quoted in a October 26, 2005 Associated Press story complaining about anti "gay" harassment. He spoke at a pro-homosexual press conference on tolerance.

It is the image of my wife as Satan that strikes most deeply. I laughed out loud at the edited bio. It was clever. I celebrate the fact that freedom of speech means that people can put these ideas before the public. It strikes me as odd that an ideology that is deeply committed to the notion of tolerance ... elevating it to the status of a religion even ... would inspire this sort of thing in a young person.

It makes me wonder if all of this talk about progress by left leaning political and religious forces is really bringing about progress. What is the world going to be like when Christians who really believe in the Ten Commandments are finally silenced?

Mainely Salts: Remembering July 4th

July 4, 2006, marks the 230th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain.

This day is the national birthday of the United States. In my mind's eye I return to Independence Hall and see the 56 delegates signing the Declaration of Independence and my ears listen to that great Liberty Bell ringing out. July 4th was a day in which salt was poured out to stop the political corruption that our forefathers were experiencing. The signers of the Declaration wrote, "The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history to repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. Therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America solemnly publish and declare that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." ( Declaration of Independence, 1776)

The day salt was poured out? Yes, for Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:13-14) In New York harbor stands a lady with a light lifted toward the sky. The light of liberty was made possible because in Philadelphia an antiseptic (salt) was poured into the wounds of our suffering ancestors. This same salt was poured upon a corrupt king. I am thankful that those that came before me did not keep the salt in the saltshaker, but poured it out, aren't you?

John Adams, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the first Vice-President, and the second President of the United States, four decades after the American Revolution declared that our founding fathers achieved independence on the general principles of Christianity. "The general principles upon which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. Now I will avow that I then believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." (The Role of Pastors and Christians in Civil Government by David Barton)

David Barton goes on to point out that John Adams was not the only signer of the Declaration of Independence who believed that America was guided by or founded on Christian principles. This should not surprise anyone when we consider that 24 of the 56 signers had seminary degrees. The list of men that believed America was guided by or founded upon Christian principles includes Charles Carroll, John Hancock, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Stephen Hopkins, Samuel Adams, and Elias Spoodneau, who served as President of Congress during the American Revolution. Even some of the signers of the United States Constitution cited Christian principles as being foundational to America and the list includes George Washington, Rufus King, Alexander Hamilton, John Dickinson, and Roger Sherman. These men were involved in the process of giving us our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. When I examined the Declaration of Independence I found six references to God and the Bible, while an examination of the United States Constitution reveals Biblical principles.

According to David Barton, other leaders who made similar declarations about Christian principles in America included Samuel Chase, signer of the Declaration of Independence and a United States Supreme Court Justice; John Jay the first United States Supreme Court Chief Justice; Joseph Story who served as a United States Supreme Court Justice for 34 years and is considered one the most prolific judicial writers; James Kent who served on the New York Supreme Court, and served as Chief Justice; and Zephaniah James Swift who authored America's first legal text which was used by the United States Supreme Court, United States Congress, State Legislatures, and State Courts. He was also a member of the Connecticut State Superior Court and served as its Chief Justice. Also included in this group was General William Eden who was the leader of America's first war after the American Revolution and Daniel Webster who was a great defender of the United States Constitution and served as a member of the United States Congress as well as United States Secretary of State.

Furthermore, there were United States Presidents who declared that United States was founded on Christian principles or that America was a Christian nation. These Presidents include John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Zachary Taylor, Harry Truman, Andrew Jackson, William McKinley, Herbert Hoover and Teddy Roosevelt.

Additionally, there were educational leaders who taught students, in classic American textbooks, that Christianity was the foundation of America and its government. These authors included Noah Webster who has been called "the schoolmaster to America"; Jeddah Morse, "father of American Geography" and William McGuffy who authored the McGuffy readers.

If we consider the testimony of our Founding Fathers we must conclude that America was founded as a Christian Nation or on Christian principles. Even the United States Congress came to this conclusion in a joint response from the United States Senate and House of Representatives in 1854. It began in 1853 when a group petitioned Congress for the separation of Christian principles from government. There was a one-year investigation. Then the House Judiciary Committee on March 27, 1854 reported: "Had the people during the revolution, had any suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that revolution would have been strangled in its cradle." The Senate also made a similar statement as this report continued: "At the time of the adoption of the Constitution and the Amendments, the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, but not any one sect. In this age there can be no substitute for Christianity. That was the religion of the Founders of the Republic and they expected it remain the religion of their descendants." "The great, vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The United States Supreme Court has mad similar Statements. Let us consider three cases and what the court said. First, in Runkel vs. Winemiller (1796) the court said: "By our form of government the Christian religion is the established religion, and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed on the same equal footing." Second, in the case Church of the Holy Trinity vs. United States (1892) the court ruled: "Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind, and it's impossible that it should be otherwise: and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian." It is interesting that the court quoted 87 different historical precedents to back up its decision. Yet, in the 1960's when the United States Supreme Court began ruling against prayer and Bible reading in the schools it gave no historical precedent. What ever happened to the balance of power? Why was the United States Supreme Court not held accountable for its rulings? Third, consider People vs. Ruggles (1811). In this case there was a man who attacked Jesus in a blasphemous way. The Supreme Court and ruled: "Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government." They reasoned that if you attack Jesus, you have attacked Christianity, and if you attacked Christianity, you have attacked the foundation of the United States, therefore an attack on Jesus or Christianity was equivalent to an attack on the foundation of the United States.

The evidence is overwhelming. If we consider the testimony of our forefathers, the United States Congress and the United States Supreme Court, America is a Christian Nation! Terrorists know this and they hate America because they see America as a Christian nation. July 4, 1776, was a day in which salt was poured out to stop the political corruption that our forefathers were experiencing. It is time that Christians leave the saltshaker, the church, and pour themselves into the civic arena as our forefathers did 230 years ago. They must register to vote, be members of a political party, run for office, support other Christians in their run for office with their time and money, and pray for America.

Credits: David Barton, The Role of Pastors and Christian in Civil Government, (TX. Wallbuilders)

David Corbett is a League supporter and monthly RECORD contributor from Lyman, Maine.