Answering Muslims: Blunder of Dearborn Judge Mark Somers Gets Negeen Mayel Convicted

There has been good new and bad news regarding the arrest of Nabeel Qureshi, Paul Rezkalla, Negeen Mayel, and David Wood last July for witnessing to Muslims and video taping it in Dearborn, MI. They all have aquitted except Nageen. Nageen is young woman who may be small in statue but she is big in courage. She was man-handled and inappropriate comments about how body while she was under arrest - yet she was found guilty of “Failure to Obey a Police Officer’s Direction or Order.” I think that they had to make one of them take the fall for something and picked her because of her race and gender and religion. I sure hope they don't get away with this!


Answering Muslims: Blunder of Dearborn Judge Mark Somers Gets Negeen Mayel Convicted

Debunking Christianity: Faith is Equivalent to Irrationality - Face Palm Quote #2

John Loftus posted this today. It's so bad it deserves the "Double Face Palm Award"

Yep, that's what I've concluded. I was talking to a Catholic today about Stephen Hawking's new book where he says God doesn't exist based on science. So he responded, "That's why they call it faith." Yep, faith doesn't need scientific evidence. It's irrational. I want everyone to think "Irrational" whenever someone says the word "faith" because that's what it is.

Why is this silly? It's silly because he mis-defines "Faith" - at least the way the Bible defines it. "Faith" does not mean you believe something despite evidence to the contrary. I totally agree that is irrational but again that is not what Abraham nor anyone in the Bible was commended for doing. I agree that faith might mean believing something contrary to what you think otherwise would be rational but this is different than rejecting scientific fact that you can objectively prove. Let's look at what the Bible defines as faith.
 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Look "faith", "pistis", has two parts. One part is about being certain in hope - not a vain hope -  but an expectant hope that you will see God do what he promised. Every instance of faith in the Bible was depended on a relationship with Go The second pd in which he made promise(s) to the one who had faith and that person walked in that faith. Look at the entire list of  heroes in the Hebrews 11 and that is something they all have in common and the second part of faith is that it is it's own evidence, but not of what does not exist. Rather faith is evidence of things we do not see. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it is not real.
 What does a standard lexicon say about "pistis"?

1. conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
   
   1. relating to God
      
      1. the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
   2. relating to Christ
      
      1. a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
   3. the religious beliefs of Christians
   4. belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
2. fidelity, faithfulness
   
   1. the character of one who can be relied on

 See? Nothing like what John Loftus says "Faith" is.
Debunking Christianity: Faith is Equivalent to Irrationality

THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY: The Greatest Story Never Told: Black Clergy Sexual Abuse

Okay, I'm sure everyone - well most everyone has heard about Bishop Eddie Long being arrested for trying to force another man to have sex with him.  A whole lot of the secrets he has tried to keep hidden have come to light.
When catholic priest do these things, protestants usually look down our noses at them says, "Figures...with the way they don't allow priests to marry. No wonder.That is not in the Bible." So what do we say when this happens in Protestant Churches in general or black churches in particular? It is because of sin pure and simple. It's horrible and its not right. And when Christians see people claiming to be Christians and engaging in sins of any kind, even sexual sins, we have the responsible and mandate to call attention to it. If the sinner refuses to stop and repent, but the sin is not illegal, the sinner should leave the church. If the sinner has committed something illegal the sinner should be reported to the authorities.  It's horrible that such things take place. And I know it takes place in the Church of God in Christ, but not everywhere and not by everyone who has a position of authority abuses it. I don't think that these things can be put at the blame of the Bible and God is most definitely not responsible and definitely not the fault of the victims. It's the fault of the perpetrators and those who allow it.
I like this post I linked to. It does a fair job of pointing out the problem without making it seem like an indictment of black churches. In addition the link that was provided to Report COGIC Abuse makes it clear that these are people who desire only to hold people accountable and protect people not that they hate Christianity.
As a member of the clergy of the Church of God in Christ it is my duty to speak out and say that it is wrong and God does not like it. God promises those who are in position of authority in Churches are held to a higher standard and what is done in the dark comes out. We should all take heed a lives lives of holiness committed to righteousness!

 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. - James 3:1



¹³ Now all has been heard;
       here is the conclusion of the matter:
       Fear God and keep his commandments,
       for this is the whole duty of man.
 ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
       including every hidden thing,
       whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

THE INTERSECTION | MADNESS & REALITY: The Greatest Story Never Told: Black Clergy Sexual Abuse