In a recent article, it turns out that Afghanistan is also quickly becoming 'another Iraq.' Whereas N.A.T.O. forces have been highly successful in countering the Taliban, such 'success' has resulted in a change in tactics among our National enemies, the Taliban.
I.E.D.'s or "Improvised Explosive Devices" are now replacing direct combat between U.S. Coalition Forces and the Taliban. Expect to see more lost limbs, more homeless vets (now War on Terror vets, not Vietnam vets) and a frazzled future for 'old America.'
But is this the only option?
Must we as a Nation State be forced to choose between a Barack Obama type of cowardly withdrawal from combat VS. a prolonged war on two foreign fronts (always a bad idea as any military historian will affirm)?
Between Obama style withdrawal and a sustained war against a phantom enemy desiring to maim our children there is a THIRD OPTION.
MILITANT PEACE.
No, we cannot advertise for all of the world to see 'when' and 'how' we are to withdraw (something that even our Army generals sometimes break OPSEC on).
No, when we withdraw from Iraq, and how we withdraw from Iraq, is something that must be done with the highest levels of secrecy involved.
No, when we continue the fight in Afghanistan, the end result must be PEACE. We cannot fight that war indefinitely, especially against an entrenched enemy who can kill himself through suicide bombings (Palestinian style) at a moment's notice.
No, like the state of Israel, we must increase pressure on our National enemy, radical Islam.
When Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the God-Man, and Savior of the world returns, YES, we will have an EVER-LASTING PEACE. Jesus is afterall, the Prince of Peace.
Prior to Jesus' return to earth, however, we must stand firm, think more tactically and allow our military leaders the opportunity to prove themselves.
Shalom,
Rob J King, Pro-Life Advocate and On-Line Political Commentator
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Wine & Cheese Holiness OR Radical Islamic Submission? (yikes!)
In Our Great Nation State of the United States of America, we stand at a historic cross-roads.
Will we now stand and fight or we will allow the infidel terrorist groups to continue to butcher our friends, allies and fellow fighters for freedom?
The choice is really pretty stark. On one side is the Covenant of Father Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) in which fidelity to YHWH, the Great I AM, is rewarded with Covenantal Blessing. Is it any wonder that Jews have a ton of money and send their children to the best schools, universities such as Duke, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.? This is due to the Abrahamic BLESSING that is still in effect from the LORD Adonai, YHWH, some three to four thousand years later . . .
On the other side is Radical Islam. "Submit or die" is the mantra of the Terror cells that good Iraqi, Afghani, and Sudanese citizens are now facing . . .
We as the Republica Nueva de Los Estados Unidos in turn send good Catholic soldiers, U.S. soldiers, with names such as Rodriguez, Valesquez, Grimes, Pedro, and even a Mohammad or two who represent U.S. Patriots of the Islamic faith. Catholic, Protestant, Jew and even a few Muslems fighting to make the United States of America safe.
Now if we walk in humility, Now if we walk in contrition (not submission), Now if we walk in Covenantal Fidelity to YHWH, then the "wine & cheese" will still be there. After nightly mass or after the Baptist Country & Western Praise worship, we can then enjoy the blessings of covenant in the comfort and security of our angelically-protected homes. Without such covenantal blessing, then expect long, boring, lonely hours at the wheel if you're a truckdriver, sleepless nights if you're an accountant and a falling to Islam in the foreign theater . . .
Stay holy, stay committed, stay out of jail!
Rob J King, Political Candidate for Jesus ;-)
Will we now stand and fight or we will allow the infidel terrorist groups to continue to butcher our friends, allies and fellow fighters for freedom?
The choice is really pretty stark. On one side is the Covenant of Father Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) in which fidelity to YHWH, the Great I AM, is rewarded with Covenantal Blessing. Is it any wonder that Jews have a ton of money and send their children to the best schools, universities such as Duke, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.? This is due to the Abrahamic BLESSING that is still in effect from the LORD Adonai, YHWH, some three to four thousand years later . . .
On the other side is Radical Islam. "Submit or die" is the mantra of the Terror cells that good Iraqi, Afghani, and Sudanese citizens are now facing . . .
We as the Republica Nueva de Los Estados Unidos in turn send good Catholic soldiers, U.S. soldiers, with names such as Rodriguez, Valesquez, Grimes, Pedro, and even a Mohammad or two who represent U.S. Patriots of the Islamic faith. Catholic, Protestant, Jew and even a few Muslems fighting to make the United States of America safe.
Now if we walk in humility, Now if we walk in contrition (not submission), Now if we walk in Covenantal Fidelity to YHWH, then the "wine & cheese" will still be there. After nightly mass or after the Baptist Country & Western Praise worship, we can then enjoy the blessings of covenant in the comfort and security of our angelically-protected homes. Without such covenantal blessing, then expect long, boring, lonely hours at the wheel if you're a truckdriver, sleepless nights if you're an accountant and a falling to Islam in the foreign theater . . .
Stay holy, stay committed, stay out of jail!
Rob J King, Political Candidate for Jesus ;-)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Cathedrals, kings, and the 'cult' of Opus Dei . . .
Today I worshipped at the Catholic Cathedral in the Diocese, St. Jude the Apostle (St. Jude is both a Biblical writer and the patron saint of 'lost causes . . .')
As I worshipped in this 'Magisterial' edifice it brought back memories. Memories of Fr. Lau the handsome young priest whom the congregation adored back in the 1970's (I guess Fr. Lau is probably around 70 now!).
I also remembered quite vividly my first sacrament of reconciliation. As a second grader I boldly confessed that when I was 4 or 5 years old I had intentionally stole a pack of gum from my next door neighbor Jay. I confessed this sin (at like age 8 or so!), received absolution from the priest, made my First Holy Communion (complete with a late, thrown-together-at-the-last-minute Holy Communion party at our former house in St. Pete) and since then I have never looked back. One confession of stolen gum was all it took to never commit the act of thievery again!
What can you say, Catholic penitential practices actually work in training us in Virtue!
Now, as a 35 year old man (soon-to-be- 36! Ay Dios mio . . . soy viejo! :-) I am continuing the Work of sanctification that I started so long ago.
B.A. in Religion from #10 ranked Davidson College (where Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary attended as a philosophy major!).
M.Div. and Th.M. (under Stanley Hauerwas and Geoffrey Wainwright) from #4 ranked Duke University (where Grant Hill and Christian Laetner "attended" ;-)
Ph.D. studies (in Ethics) from the University of Notre Dame, a place caught between apostasy among some, and virulent STAUNCH CATHOLIC conviction among others (e.g. Current Department of Theology Chair, John Cavadini, a good friend and a man whom I respect greatly).
In all things, I have excelled.
Then why is it that those of us with STRONG religious convictions are so often literally demonized by the secular media?
Religious is often the first word that is included with the phrase "Religious Fanatic ..."
Similarly, although STRONG SCHOLARS such as Scott Hahn of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio or Lawrence Cunningham of Notre Dame are affiliated with the radical Catholic conservative Group Opus Dei, they to are similarly demonized.
To be Opus Dei in some quarters is to literally be the self-flagellating monk Silas from the movie (and book) The Da Vinci Code . . .
Even before the book and movie phenom (something I read back in 2004), Notre Dame (yes "the" Catholic University in America!) literally banned Opus Dei from even meeting on campus, and this at a Catholic School and with a group that is a Personal Prelature of the Pope himself.
To be Opus Dei, or it seems to even be reverent, is akin to being a 'fanatic' or even a member of a 'cult . . .' For example, in a recent interview to teach Ethics at a local state school, the Ethics Director, an Evangelical Protestant (Church of Christ) rather insultingly asked me about my tie which had the LORD's Prayer written on it, and whether or not I would be able to "separate my faith from my teaching?"
To this rather insulting show of bravado (especially coming from someone of much inferior academic mettle), I responded graciously and as an Academic (which I am!) and told him that I view attempts to teach secular ethics as nothing other than a part of Catholic Natural Law thinking and as such, I am not going to overstep any such mythical boundaries between 'separation of Church and State' and that I follow Catholic Teaching on this subject (when I referenced Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the matter, Fides et Ratio, or "Faith & Reason" I could sense a HUGE "gulp" on this young man's part because he quickly realized that I am much more read on the topic! Not to mention my role as an Army reserve Chaplain and how we are pretty much the Federal Government's 'specialists' concerning Freedom of Religion issues . . . again another "whoops" on this fellow's part).
So, whenever anyone questions your Christian Faith, be bold and do not back down! St. Peter stood firm for Christ (and was even crucified upside down by the pagan roman rulers of the day), but the end result is that now "the Church at Rome" is the largest branch of Christianity, headquartered in Rome itself and boasting literally 1 billion members worldwide . . .
Also, if you are into things like "self-flagellation," praying the rosary, buying icons at the local Russian art store, smoking incense in your home or any of the other myriad of ways that we are to be Christian, besides from steering clear of the psycho- therapeutic police who like to imprison good Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox, etc. just for believing in Jesus (Freud himself labelled all religious belief as 'delusional' . . .), I also recommend that you hone your intellectual skills. Read writers such as Marcus Grodi, founder of the Coming Home Network (http://www.chnetwork.org/) and regular host of the EWTN Catholic Television show "Journeys Home." Also, read writers such as Scott Hahn, himself a "self-flagellater" Opus Dei man (with a PhD in Biblical studies mind you!). Finally, read extensively throughout Christian History.
Blessings in Jesus, King of kings and LORD of lords,
Rob J King, Political Candidate for Jesus and member of the Work in heaven, and friend of it here on earth . . .
As I worshipped in this 'Magisterial' edifice it brought back memories. Memories of Fr. Lau the handsome young priest whom the congregation adored back in the 1970's (I guess Fr. Lau is probably around 70 now!).
I also remembered quite vividly my first sacrament of reconciliation. As a second grader I boldly confessed that when I was 4 or 5 years old I had intentionally stole a pack of gum from my next door neighbor Jay. I confessed this sin (at like age 8 or so!), received absolution from the priest, made my First Holy Communion (complete with a late, thrown-together-at-the-last-minute Holy Communion party at our former house in St. Pete) and since then I have never looked back. One confession of stolen gum was all it took to never commit the act of thievery again!
What can you say, Catholic penitential practices actually work in training us in Virtue!
Now, as a 35 year old man (soon-to-be- 36! Ay Dios mio . . . soy viejo! :-) I am continuing the Work of sanctification that I started so long ago.
B.A. in Religion from #10 ranked Davidson College (where Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary attended as a philosophy major!).
M.Div. and Th.M. (under Stanley Hauerwas and Geoffrey Wainwright) from #4 ranked Duke University (where Grant Hill and Christian Laetner "attended" ;-)
Ph.D. studies (in Ethics) from the University of Notre Dame, a place caught between apostasy among some, and virulent STAUNCH CATHOLIC conviction among others (e.g. Current Department of Theology Chair, John Cavadini, a good friend and a man whom I respect greatly).
In all things, I have excelled.
Then why is it that those of us with STRONG religious convictions are so often literally demonized by the secular media?
Religious is often the first word that is included with the phrase "Religious Fanatic ..."
Similarly, although STRONG SCHOLARS such as Scott Hahn of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio or Lawrence Cunningham of Notre Dame are affiliated with the radical Catholic conservative Group Opus Dei, they to are similarly demonized.
To be Opus Dei in some quarters is to literally be the self-flagellating monk Silas from the movie (and book) The Da Vinci Code . . .
Even before the book and movie phenom (something I read back in 2004), Notre Dame (yes "the" Catholic University in America!) literally banned Opus Dei from even meeting on campus, and this at a Catholic School and with a group that is a Personal Prelature of the Pope himself.
To be Opus Dei, or it seems to even be reverent, is akin to being a 'fanatic' or even a member of a 'cult . . .' For example, in a recent interview to teach Ethics at a local state school, the Ethics Director, an Evangelical Protestant (Church of Christ) rather insultingly asked me about my tie which had the LORD's Prayer written on it, and whether or not I would be able to "separate my faith from my teaching?"
To this rather insulting show of bravado (especially coming from someone of much inferior academic mettle), I responded graciously and as an Academic (which I am!) and told him that I view attempts to teach secular ethics as nothing other than a part of Catholic Natural Law thinking and as such, I am not going to overstep any such mythical boundaries between 'separation of Church and State' and that I follow Catholic Teaching on this subject (when I referenced Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the matter, Fides et Ratio, or "Faith & Reason" I could sense a HUGE "gulp" on this young man's part because he quickly realized that I am much more read on the topic! Not to mention my role as an Army reserve Chaplain and how we are pretty much the Federal Government's 'specialists' concerning Freedom of Religion issues . . . again another "whoops" on this fellow's part).
So, whenever anyone questions your Christian Faith, be bold and do not back down! St. Peter stood firm for Christ (and was even crucified upside down by the pagan roman rulers of the day), but the end result is that now "the Church at Rome" is the largest branch of Christianity, headquartered in Rome itself and boasting literally 1 billion members worldwide . . .
Also, if you are into things like "self-flagellation," praying the rosary, buying icons at the local Russian art store, smoking incense in your home or any of the other myriad of ways that we are to be Christian, besides from steering clear of the psycho- therapeutic police who like to imprison good Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox, etc. just for believing in Jesus (Freud himself labelled all religious belief as 'delusional' . . .), I also recommend that you hone your intellectual skills. Read writers such as Marcus Grodi, founder of the Coming Home Network (http://www.chnetwork.org/) and regular host of the EWTN Catholic Television show "Journeys Home." Also, read writers such as Scott Hahn, himself a "self-flagellater" Opus Dei man (with a PhD in Biblical studies mind you!). Finally, read extensively throughout Christian History.
Blessings in Jesus, King of kings and LORD of lords,
Rob J King, Political Candidate for Jesus and member of the Work in heaven, and friend of it here on earth . . .
Friday, May 25, 2007
Cuesta Rey Cigars and the "Cult of Cool . . ."
Upon graduating from Chaplain's Officer Basic Leadership Course (Jan. - April 2007), I was awarded a diploma, the regimental crest of the United States Army Chaplaincy, and most importantly, a gourmet Spanish cigar from my friend and Chaplaincy Colleague, 2LT Marc Hoffman.
Hoffman, a fellow Pentecostal-charismatic Chaplain, could sense that I had notoriously bad taste in cigar-smoking (at that time "Swisher Sweets" . . .) and so "awarded" me with one of his prized collection Spanish cigars . . .
So, there we were, 2LT Hoffman, CH (1LT) Sneed (a southern Baptist compadre) and myself, smoking the night away in Ft. Jackson per diem style (yes, your tax dollars were actually spent on Chaplains smoking cigars . . . sorry about that one! :-)
Now, what is it that makes some things "cool" while other things, "ver boten" in upper echeolons of society?
Sure. a Swisher Sweet did me fine while smokin' outside of the Officer's Quarters for Chaplains and others at Ft. Jackson. In fact, my Black friends, one Baptist abstaining, thought that my "Swisher Sweets" were QUITE COOL . . . A female Apostolic friend (bishop of numerous churches in Africa) even said that it reminded her of her husband's own cigar afficiando-smoking. BUT, outside of those who know that really a cigar is "just a bunch of tobacco rolled up" (black folks just have more sense than we white boy Pentecostal preachers!!! :-), for some reason, "Swisher Sweets" just wouldn't fly in certain more uppity areas.
Take for example my new home of St. Petersburg, Florida. Whereas in some quarters, such "ordinary" cigars are fine, welcome and "even cool," in those "yacht club" new money places, suddenly it's not just "smoking a cigar" that counts, it has to be the "right" cigar (just like those $78 jeans "on sale" at BayWalk, the nouveau riche shopping district of downtown St. Pete).
BUT, according to the theory of Natural Law thinking in which "truth is truth" no matter where it can be found, and no matter which race or "class" one is in, a cigar and any cigar is really just a pile of rolled up tobacco leaves, hand-made or NOT!
Now, here is where the American and European-Indian "Cult of Cool" suddenly has a major flaw, namely, to what extent is "cool" utterly "aribitrary." For example, at one point the singer Debbie Gibson was a female pop star whom everyone oogled after, but now, it's like "Debbie Who?" Similarly, with the famous Cuesta Rey Cigar Phenom (yes, these cigars can cost $8 - 20 per cigar!!!), the humor in it all is that the Spanish word for cost is, you guessed it, "CUESTA." As in "cuanto cuesta?" which means, of course as anyone who has haggled in a Latin American flea market, "How much does it cost?" Also, "REY" is none other than the Spanish word for "KING."
So, if you put "CUESTA" and "REY" together, the name of that deliciously expensive cigar (demaisado caro!) is, none other than, "COST KING."
Now, next time you "light up," go up to the counter of your local snobby cigar joint (I buy mine at a Discount dealer run by a nice Arabic man), and proudly ask for their finest cigar, say, "I smoke NOTHING but COST KING cigars!!!"
So, there you have it, from Cuesta Rey to "COST KING," in one bold move, thereby defeating the evil panapoly of Cigar Smokin', Liquor-Drinkin', Beemer drivin' corporate thugs who try to legislate for us what is "cool" by simply overpricing items. I cannot wait to meet Donald Trump some day and say, Mr. Trump, would you care to have a "Cuesta Rey" on the house, and then the second Mr. Trump lights up and puffs, I'll drop the bomb and say, "Why yes, it means, 'COST KING' in Espanol . . ."
Viva la Republica de los Estados Unidos para la Obra de Dios.
Love & Blessings in Jesus,
Rob
Hoffman, a fellow Pentecostal-charismatic Chaplain, could sense that I had notoriously bad taste in cigar-smoking (at that time "Swisher Sweets" . . .) and so "awarded" me with one of his prized collection Spanish cigars . . .
So, there we were, 2LT Hoffman, CH (1LT) Sneed (a southern Baptist compadre) and myself, smoking the night away in Ft. Jackson per diem style (yes, your tax dollars were actually spent on Chaplains smoking cigars . . . sorry about that one! :-)
Now, what is it that makes some things "cool" while other things, "ver boten" in upper echeolons of society?
Sure. a Swisher Sweet did me fine while smokin' outside of the Officer's Quarters for Chaplains and others at Ft. Jackson. In fact, my Black friends, one Baptist abstaining, thought that my "Swisher Sweets" were QUITE COOL . . . A female Apostolic friend (bishop of numerous churches in Africa) even said that it reminded her of her husband's own cigar afficiando-smoking. BUT, outside of those who know that really a cigar is "just a bunch of tobacco rolled up" (black folks just have more sense than we white boy Pentecostal preachers!!! :-), for some reason, "Swisher Sweets" just wouldn't fly in certain more uppity areas.
Take for example my new home of St. Petersburg, Florida. Whereas in some quarters, such "ordinary" cigars are fine, welcome and "even cool," in those "yacht club" new money places, suddenly it's not just "smoking a cigar" that counts, it has to be the "right" cigar (just like those $78 jeans "on sale" at BayWalk, the nouveau riche shopping district of downtown St. Pete).
BUT, according to the theory of Natural Law thinking in which "truth is truth" no matter where it can be found, and no matter which race or "class" one is in, a cigar and any cigar is really just a pile of rolled up tobacco leaves, hand-made or NOT!
Now, here is where the American and European-Indian "Cult of Cool" suddenly has a major flaw, namely, to what extent is "cool" utterly "aribitrary." For example, at one point the singer Debbie Gibson was a female pop star whom everyone oogled after, but now, it's like "Debbie Who?" Similarly, with the famous Cuesta Rey Cigar Phenom (yes, these cigars can cost $8 - 20 per cigar!!!), the humor in it all is that the Spanish word for cost is, you guessed it, "CUESTA." As in "cuanto cuesta?" which means, of course as anyone who has haggled in a Latin American flea market, "How much does it cost?" Also, "REY" is none other than the Spanish word for "KING."
So, if you put "CUESTA" and "REY" together, the name of that deliciously expensive cigar (demaisado caro!) is, none other than, "COST KING."
Now, next time you "light up," go up to the counter of your local snobby cigar joint (I buy mine at a Discount dealer run by a nice Arabic man), and proudly ask for their finest cigar, say, "I smoke NOTHING but COST KING cigars!!!"
So, there you have it, from Cuesta Rey to "COST KING," in one bold move, thereby defeating the evil panapoly of Cigar Smokin', Liquor-Drinkin', Beemer drivin' corporate thugs who try to legislate for us what is "cool" by simply overpricing items. I cannot wait to meet Donald Trump some day and say, Mr. Trump, would you care to have a "Cuesta Rey" on the house, and then the second Mr. Trump lights up and puffs, I'll drop the bomb and say, "Why yes, it means, 'COST KING' in Espanol . . ."
Viva la Republica de los Estados Unidos para la Obra de Dios.
Love & Blessings in Jesus,
Rob
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Racist Paranoia or TRUE Homeland Security?
I am a big fan of George W. Bush and Senator John McCain. Bush, former Governor of Texas (Tejas in the original language ;-) and McCain long-time Governor of the great state of Arizona (home of Wyatt Earp :-), are both moderate voices when in comes to border patrol.
To Bush, Mexican immigrants are a life-blood of the New America. Rosary beads and Virgin of Guadalupe stickers on the back of Rav-4's are the New Desert Southwest.
To McCain, similarly, rather than "detracting from the 'American Way of Life," the good senator instead sees the Mexican American population for who they truly are. Good, honest, family values-supporting, extremely hard-working, intelligent, compassionate, nuevos Americanos. Sure there are drug runners in any people group. Sure Al Qaida would love to recruit from such a staunchly Catholic population (also many Evangelical Protestants as well), BUT, the MAJORITY of Mexican Americans are WONDERFUL PEOPLE!
Vive Los Estados Unidos Nuevos . . .
Thank you to Senator McCain, our Commander and President George W. Bush, and to my fellow Republicans for crafting an immigration bill that ignored the call of paranoid racist polemics (for example the Minutemen militia), and I am sorry that the Republican Party is cow-towing to the racists in the Party by seeking to further criminalize Mexicans through the racist provisions contained in The Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
You are welcome in the United States my Mexican friends.
God bless,
Rob J King, McCain-Bush Republican
To Bush, Mexican immigrants are a life-blood of the New America. Rosary beads and Virgin of Guadalupe stickers on the back of Rav-4's are the New Desert Southwest.
To McCain, similarly, rather than "detracting from the 'American Way of Life," the good senator instead sees the Mexican American population for who they truly are. Good, honest, family values-supporting, extremely hard-working, intelligent, compassionate, nuevos Americanos. Sure there are drug runners in any people group. Sure Al Qaida would love to recruit from such a staunchly Catholic population (also many Evangelical Protestants as well), BUT, the MAJORITY of Mexican Americans are WONDERFUL PEOPLE!
Vive Los Estados Unidos Nuevos . . .
Thank you to Senator McCain, our Commander and President George W. Bush, and to my fellow Republicans for crafting an immigration bill that ignored the call of paranoid racist polemics (for example the Minutemen militia), and I am sorry that the Republican Party is cow-towing to the racists in the Party by seeking to further criminalize Mexicans through the racist provisions contained in The Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
You are welcome in the United States my Mexican friends.
God bless,
Rob J King, McCain-Bush Republican
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tri-Care Apostasy OR Jesus-Name Only Praying?
The former Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmidt (please read Klingenschmidt's story at . . . http://www.militarycorruption.com/annapolis.htm) was publicly humiliated by the corrupt military hierarchy, severely reprimanded, and even to this day is scorned by so-called fellow "evangelical chaplains" who have chosen to serve their bellies rather than serve the One and ONLY True God Who IS Jesus Christ!
I also, as a military chaplain (U.S. Army Reserves) have been censored for my publicly held religious convictions as a Christian. Sure, I politely agreed to abstain from even praying at non-religious public prayer ceremonies (e.g. Memorial ceremonies in which all soldiers are commanded to attend), but the fact that I have been forced into such a position of prayer "conscientious objection" (a category that does not even fit in the standard "C.O." military classifications!) is a sad, sad statement on the abuse of religious freedom that is currently en vogue in the United States Military Chaplaincy Branch (interestingly enough, not usually the actual Commanders of companies, battalions, brigades, etc. who can and often do encourage we Jesus-Prayers in our Public Prayers!).
No, contrary to the First Ammendment of the Constitution of the United States of America in which Congress shall make no law "prohibiting the free exercise of religion," from the Navy to the Air Force to the Army to the Marines, Chaplaincies are falling into apostasy . . .
One chaplain, a soon-to-be major, and war vet, even remarked in cowardice that I should "choose my battles" and that the Jesus-Name controversy was "not the hill to die on . . ."
To this utter cowardice (something that goes directly against the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage), I wrly responded to the captain, "We never choose the hills we are to die on . . ."
So, why would Baptists, Pentecostals, and even one or two Catholic priests "capitulate" and renounce their Christ publicly? (of course, I also know of another Vatican-supporting priest who bravely sought to pray in Christ's Name only to be similarly censored).
Well, the answer is certainly NOT the Chain of Command itself! From President George W. Bush to even Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, the right of each soldier to pray publicly in the name of their respective deity has been supported. Additionally, most Commanders, both secular and Christian whom I have come across similarly support the Constitution on this point and do not publicly censor their chaplains. In fact, I know of one former company commander who although a secularist nonetheless really appreciated the role of a Jesus' Name-prayin' Chaplain . . .
My "hunch" is that such theological apostasy on the part of many chaplains is simply a fear that their fellow chaplains might publicly pressure them concerning such Jesus-Praying. And, fearing the loss of good military benefits (for example, Tri-Care, the socialized medicine provided by the military), chaplain after chaplain agrees in fear to not pray in Jesus' Name, thereby surrendering his or her rights to pray any way he or she pleases (e.g. in Allah's name, in Buddha's name, et al) as protected by the Constitution.
So, there you have it. The Gordon Klingenschmidt controversy solved. Chaplain Klingenschmidt sided with Jesus. The Chaplain who reprimanded him chose health care instead . . .
Blessings in Jesus' Name,
Rob J King, Constitutional Protector of Freedom
I also, as a military chaplain (U.S. Army Reserves) have been censored for my publicly held religious convictions as a Christian. Sure, I politely agreed to abstain from even praying at non-religious public prayer ceremonies (e.g. Memorial ceremonies in which all soldiers are commanded to attend), but the fact that I have been forced into such a position of prayer "conscientious objection" (a category that does not even fit in the standard "C.O." military classifications!) is a sad, sad statement on the abuse of religious freedom that is currently en vogue in the United States Military Chaplaincy Branch (interestingly enough, not usually the actual Commanders of companies, battalions, brigades, etc. who can and often do encourage we Jesus-Prayers in our Public Prayers!).
No, contrary to the First Ammendment of the Constitution of the United States of America in which Congress shall make no law "prohibiting the free exercise of religion," from the Navy to the Air Force to the Army to the Marines, Chaplaincies are falling into apostasy . . .
One chaplain, a soon-to-be major, and war vet, even remarked in cowardice that I should "choose my battles" and that the Jesus-Name controversy was "not the hill to die on . . ."
To this utter cowardice (something that goes directly against the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage), I wrly responded to the captain, "We never choose the hills we are to die on . . ."
So, why would Baptists, Pentecostals, and even one or two Catholic priests "capitulate" and renounce their Christ publicly? (of course, I also know of another Vatican-supporting priest who bravely sought to pray in Christ's Name only to be similarly censored).
Well, the answer is certainly NOT the Chain of Command itself! From President George W. Bush to even Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, the right of each soldier to pray publicly in the name of their respective deity has been supported. Additionally, most Commanders, both secular and Christian whom I have come across similarly support the Constitution on this point and do not publicly censor their chaplains. In fact, I know of one former company commander who although a secularist nonetheless really appreciated the role of a Jesus' Name-prayin' Chaplain . . .
My "hunch" is that such theological apostasy on the part of many chaplains is simply a fear that their fellow chaplains might publicly pressure them concerning such Jesus-Praying. And, fearing the loss of good military benefits (for example, Tri-Care, the socialized medicine provided by the military), chaplain after chaplain agrees in fear to not pray in Jesus' Name, thereby surrendering his or her rights to pray any way he or she pleases (e.g. in Allah's name, in Buddha's name, et al) as protected by the Constitution.
So, there you have it. The Gordon Klingenschmidt controversy solved. Chaplain Klingenschmidt sided with Jesus. The Chaplain who reprimanded him chose health care instead . . .
Blessings in Jesus' Name,
Rob J King, Constitutional Protector of Freedom
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Gentrified Living or Homeless Gang-busting???
Yesterday I just signed a lease for a NICE 1 bedroom apartment in a soon-to-be-exclusive part of St. Petersburg, Florida . . .
$600/month, with hardwood floors, walking distance to Starbuck's, the downtown Pier and three blocks or so from 1/2 million dollar luxury condominium high-rises next to Tampa Bay, Florida.
A dream come true for this Florida boy!
But, as I excitedly prepare to transfer from Officer's Basic quarters (still nice, but Ft. Jackson, S.C. sure as heck is not St. Petersburg, FL) to my new Jesus-provided luxury living, I am perplexed.
Why is "urban development" necessarily tied to "homeless eviction?"
Sure, homelessness is an urban blight, but the true blight are not the homeless people themselves (people who are often criminalized just for being "poor"). No, the true blight is not a group of people who struggle with addictions, possibly struggle with schizophrenia, or possibly are just "down on their luck," having been evicted by a disgruntled spouse or other family member. ALL people are created in GOD's IMAGE. In the words of our Declaration of Independence as American citizens, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . ."
ALL PEOPLE also includes the homeless, and homeless people should NOT be criminalized just for being "homeless." After all, Jesus, the God-Man, was said to be a homeless man also . . . "The Son of Man [Jesus] has no place to lay His head . . ." so Holy Scripture reminds us.
So, in our efforts to "clean up" America, which does include cleaning up "crack houses" and fostering economically-viable "urban re-development," let us not forget the poor who live among us. Jesus told us to "Give to everyone who begs from us," and NOT to treat the homeless as useless garbage to be disposed of (e.g. St. Petersburg, Florida's anti-begging laws!). To do such "Homeless Gang-Busting" is there in turn a violation of a DIRECT COMMAND from GOD HIMSELF, JESUS, the GOD-MAN and SAVIOR of ALL HUMANITY who turn to Him in repentance seeking forgiveness of sins . . .
Blessings in Jesus' Name,
Rob J King, Homeless Advocate
$600/month, with hardwood floors, walking distance to Starbuck's, the downtown Pier and three blocks or so from 1/2 million dollar luxury condominium high-rises next to Tampa Bay, Florida.
A dream come true for this Florida boy!
But, as I excitedly prepare to transfer from Officer's Basic quarters (still nice, but Ft. Jackson, S.C. sure as heck is not St. Petersburg, FL) to my new Jesus-provided luxury living, I am perplexed.
Why is "urban development" necessarily tied to "homeless eviction?"
Sure, homelessness is an urban blight, but the true blight are not the homeless people themselves (people who are often criminalized just for being "poor"). No, the true blight is not a group of people who struggle with addictions, possibly struggle with schizophrenia, or possibly are just "down on their luck," having been evicted by a disgruntled spouse or other family member. ALL people are created in GOD's IMAGE. In the words of our Declaration of Independence as American citizens, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . ."
ALL PEOPLE also includes the homeless, and homeless people should NOT be criminalized just for being "homeless." After all, Jesus, the God-Man, was said to be a homeless man also . . . "The Son of Man [Jesus] has no place to lay His head . . ." so Holy Scripture reminds us.
So, in our efforts to "clean up" America, which does include cleaning up "crack houses" and fostering economically-viable "urban re-development," let us not forget the poor who live among us. Jesus told us to "Give to everyone who begs from us," and NOT to treat the homeless as useless garbage to be disposed of (e.g. St. Petersburg, Florida's anti-begging laws!). To do such "Homeless Gang-Busting" is there in turn a violation of a DIRECT COMMAND from GOD HIMSELF, JESUS, the GOD-MAN and SAVIOR of ALL HUMANITY who turn to Him in repentance seeking forgiveness of sins . . .
Blessings in Jesus' Name,
Rob J King, Homeless Advocate
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