Intolerance Of Christianity Growing

(From The Christian Post.)

A high volume of complaints have forced the Cincinnati Zoo to pull out of a special business partnership with the Creation Museum in nearby Petersburg, Ky., after running for less than three days.



The two institutions had come together to offer a special ticket package that gave visitors the opportunity to drop in on both at a discounted rate while promoting one another at the same time. According to the Creation Museum’s founder, Ken Ham, however, the zoo received hundreds of complaints, many of which were opposed to the faith and ideas that the museum presents. “It’s a pity that intolerant people have pushed for our expulsion simply because of our Christian faith,” Ham said, expressing disappointment in the zoo’s decision but also understanding of its perspective. “Some of their comments on blogs reveal great intolerance for anything having to do with Christianity,” he added.



The Creation Museum, which cost $27 million to build, is a 60,000-square foot facility that opened last year in May and revived the creation/evolution debate among Young Earth creationists, Old Earth creationists, anti-creationism evolutionists, and theistic evolutionists. Packed with high-tech exhibits that include animatronic dinosaurs and a huge wooden ark, the museum attempts to align the Bible’s literal account of creation with natural history. The museum’s founder, like many other Young Earth creationists, believes dinosaurs appeared on the same day God created other land animals. Critics, however, both non-Christians and Christians who are against a literal interpretation of the Bible on life origins, have protested and spoke out against the anti-evolution display, worried that their children will be affected.



The controversy garnered the new exhibit a large amount of media coverage. “Frankly, we are used to this kind of criticism from our opponents,” Ham said regarding the latest controversy, “and so being ‘expelled’ like this is not a huge surprise.” Despite the zoo’s decision, Ham said his museum would continue promoting the “excellent zoo” on its website and in printed material that is passed out inside of the museum. “We are committed to promoting regional tourism,” he explained. Furthermore, the museum will still provide $9 off of the ticket prices (the amount of the discount under the original agreement) from Dec. 2 to Dec. 11, with the exception of Saturday, Dec. 6. "Get the Museum/Zoo Discount Anyway," the museum website says.



Beginning on Dec. 12, the museum will have up its special Christmas display, which includes a live outdoor nativity scene and a special lighted “Road to Bethlehem” trail. Visitors to the museum grounds will also be met with hayrides, seasonal lights and decorations, holiday food, and events and activities for children. Inside the museum, there will be special Christmas exhibits including the Planetarium presentation “The Bethlehem Star.” “We find the two – Creation and Christmas – go very well together,” says Creation Museum co-founder and spokesperson Mark Looy, “and we invite our guests to experience each in light of the other at our special ‘Bethlehem’s Blessings – A Christmas Celebration’ this December.”



Located near the Cincinnati Airport, the Creation Museum is a ministry of Answers in Genesis, a nonprofit Christian organization dedicated to confirming the validity of the Bible from the very first verse.



Since its opening in May 2007, the museum has seen over 600,000 visitors.

Assault On Christmas

Hearing "Merry Christmas" is becoming rarer than a white Christmas in these parts. This humorous video conveys some great reasons why retailers shouldn't fear the "C" word.

Welcome To The Worldview Wars

Politics admittedly is a dirty, and at times, ugly business. The mud-slinging, the attacks, have long been an unfortunate part of the political process in recent American history. But the battle we are currently watching take place in the American political landscape goes way beyond Obama vs. McCain - it even goes way beyond Democrat vs. Republican. What we are watching unfold is literally the clash of worldviews. Governor Sarah Palin (like her or not) is a professing born again Christian, of which she is of the conservative evangelical variety. She believes the Bible cover to cover - she believes God created the earth just like the Book of Genesis says - she believes abortion is wrong - she believes Jesus Christ is man's only hope and salvation.

In the opinion of some, those beliefs make her unfit for public office. Why? Because they don't like them. Those Biblical views clash with the thinking of the unregenerated secular world. Note just two recent examples of some of this harsh criticism of Palin and her worldview:

- South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler sharply attacked Sarah Palin today, saying John McCain had chosen a running mate "whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion." That Palin is a woman who is strongly Pro-Life is obviously going to clash with someone with an unbiblical view of life and the unborn - thus the 'snarky' comment.

- The video below is a Matt Damon interview where he was asked what he thought about Sarah Palin. Besides all of the other "nice" comments he makes - notice towards the end of the clip that he takes a swipe at Christianity by stating with a mocking tone: "What I want to know is does she believe dinosaurs were on the earth 4,000 years ago?"




It's not just clashing politics my friends - it's clashing cultures and worldviews.

The Truth:

Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

2 Peter 3:3: Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

And Deliver Us From Sin's Consequences

Being the father of two daughters is a beautiful thing. Having a son is incredible as well - but something about daughters REALLY seems to bring the protective part of dad out. That protective part came out a little bit today. I guess it's no longer possible to take one's daughter to the doctor for a routine physical without them wanting to "talk privately" with your child - which happened with my 14 year old today where she was asked among other things: "Do you like boys or girls?" "Are you sexually active."

While I realize those questions are born of a perverse and morally bankrupt culture - they were asked of my daughter because we declined the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer that they are trying to give all girls age 9-14 today. (Typically this shot is given in anticipation that the young lady will be sexually active with multiple partners before marriage - that's basically what leads to cervical cancer). What's the big deal with getting the shot you ask?

When you treat young people like animals that have no control over their urges - that's exactly what you are going to get. I remind my kids all the time that God gave them a brain - make sure you use it.

Our culture, meanwhile, is doing its best to protect itself from the high price of sin - but they have forgotten that there is no inoculation for your conscience. Some schools refuse to teach abstinence (however abstinence taught without some of the why, why and why behind it loses it's power) and when they do it's alongside of the "be careful" curriculum which is an absolute joke. The lack of high moral standards for our children seems to encourage them to go ahead and 'drive the car' - and by the way, here's the keys - just be careful.

On the CBS news site I found an article with the following: "Some health officials had girded themselves for arguments from religious conservatives and others that vaccinating youngsters against the sexually transmitted virus might make them more likely to have sex. But the controversy never materialized in the panel's public meetings. "

Interesting. They 'girded themselves' for a debate that never came. How sad. Where is the church on this issue of sexual purity? Better yet - where are Bible believing born-again Christians on this issue? It would seem that too many professing believers have been sucked into the cultural black hole that wants to enjoy its sin and then be protected from the consequences of the sin. Jesus taught us to pray "deliver us from evil", not "deliver us from the consequences of evil as we compromise with it".

Parenting teens is hard work and I completely understand that sometimes good kids mess up. But I'm convinced that children well trained and raised to live the Word of God and serve Jesus Christ, and are taught DAILY that there is nothing more important in their entire lives than serving Jesus Christ - will indeed more often than not make the right decisions in these areas.

Any other Christian parents feeling this today?

Why Nationalized Health Care Is A Terrible Idea

Imagine needing a life saving surgery and having to wait over four months for it. That's the reality of life for our neighbors to the north (Canada) with their nationalized health care system. It's gotten so bad that people are suing for health care that they are paying for via their taxes - but not receiving.

From the article:

"Every day we're paying for health care, yet when we go to access it, it's just not there," said Pelton, in comments aimed at the government system her taxes pay for and is supposed to guarantee free care. "It's like somebody's telling you that you can buy this car, and you've paid for the car, but you can't have it right now."

Read the rest HERE.