From an article discussing Texas Governor Rick Perry's presidential aspirations:

Joel 2, the specific Old Testament chapter Perry is referring to, has a special meaning for many evangelical Christians—and more specifically among a small but growing movement called the New Apostolic Reformation. Its adherents believe the nation has become unmoored from its moral foundations, and that our present misfortunes are a direct consequence. They believe it will take a new push by modern-day apostles—messengers who've received their instructions directly from God—to put things back on course. And the apostles, as the Texas Observer's Forrest Wilder has detailed, believe Perry is one of them.

I have been out of the loop for a few years. But I have never heard of this New Apostolic Reformation movement.  Is this a Texas thing? A Christian Tea-Party? Do some of you readers consider yourself apart of this movement? I'm genuinely curious.

The Florida pastor who recently burned the Koran, sparking Muslim outrage in Afghanistan, is apparently kind of a control freak. He demands strict allegience to his church and he assumes complete control over the lives of his parishoners. One young man was told to stop communicating with his parents, after they left the church. The young man's mother was none too pleased:

For his mother, Sally Nassoiy, what started as heartbreak has evolved into anger at Jones and other church officials. “They take young people willing to devote themselves to God’s word, and they exploit them,” she said. “It’s a cult. That’s the only word I can think of to describe it.”

Someone needs a little refresher on the Bible. Because my Bible very clearly says "Touch not God's anointed".  By criticizing this man of God, Ms. Nassoiy is putting her and her husband in danger of the fiery flames of hell.  /sarcasm

Actually, the first thing I thought when I read the article was, "Sounds like some other churches I know".

Two years ago, I got to run around hooting and hollering.

But today was a bloodbath for Democrats.

And so, I feel that it's only fair to allow our more conservative readers to gloat a little bit.

Consider this an open thread.  

I was going to write about Bishop Long and his recent daliance into high-school homosexuality, but I found it too depressing. No, not the fact that a homophobic pastor was secretly sleeping with teenage boys in his congregation, that's a given. I was more depressed by the report that his followers don't seem to much care. "Yeah, our pastor coerces young people into sex. Now let's pass the bucket and buy him another Bentley."

But I did run across this recent excerpt from Steven Colbert's testimony to Congress. Last week, Mr. Colbert recently spoke to Congress (in his television character) about the plight of migrant workers. I actually don't think having a fictional character testify in public is all that great a way to influence public officials. However, for a second Colbert broke away from his character, and revealed a little of himself. And I have to say, I liked it.  In his testimony defending Migrant workers, Colbert had this to say about why he chose to speak out on the issue.

"I like talking about people who don’t have any power, and it seems like one of the least powerful people in the United States are migrant workers who come in and do our work, but don’t have any rights as a result. And yet, we still ask them to come here, and at the same time, ask them to leave. And that’s an interesting contradiction to me, and um… You know, “whatsoever you did for the least of my brothers,” and these seemed like the least of my brothers, right now. A lot of people are “least brothers” right now, with the economy so hard, and I don’t want to take anyone’s hardship away from them or diminish it or anything like that. But migrant workers suffer, and have no rights."

You can watch the 50 second excerpted video here. And yeah, Colbert, that's a scripture we don't hear very often. It'd be nice to hear it more. I wonder why we don't.   

Since this is an election year and there has been a recent debate about the conservative stronghold over Christians, I figured I would join the party.  I've often thought how easy it is for a political candidate to get Christians to vote for them, and since most evangelicals love five-step methods, here are the five ways to garner political support from the religious right: 

1) Claim you have been going to church for years and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (obvious I know).  However, it's also key to release some kind of videotape of yourself praying or speaking at church. (With just that alone you will win 75% of your targeted support).

2) Speak out against gays and abortion and state that you will work to overturn Roe v. Wade and restore prayer in schools (knowing that both are impossible, but hey your potential followers don't know or really care to learn how our legal/political system works).

3) Claim that families are a centerpiece to a "better America" and you will make the restoration of family values your top priority while in office.  Don't forget to haul your spouse and 2 to 5 kids on stage with you to show everyone what a family oriented person you are (even though you only see them once or twice a month because you are always on the road and most likely your kids are drug addicts and/or partying alcoholics who sleep around, and you and/or your spouse are in a flirtatious relationship — if not a full blown affair — with one of the cute campaign aids).

4) Make guest appearances on Fox News (especially Sean Hanity or Glenn Beck) and talk about how the liberal media is not giving you fair coverage (even though the local/national news on NBC, ABC, and CBS have done a story on you at least once a week).

5) Claim that any negative press that contradicts your public appearance (i.e. cheating/affairs, drugs/alcohol use, partying/wild past, poor academic record (or lack of one at all), a-hole/diva attitude towards others, dysfunctional family problems, etc.) is all part of a witch hunt by the devil and liberals to destroy you because you are God’s chosen candidate. 

6) BONUS POINT: Write a book that tells of your childhood growing up in church, confesses your sins as a teenager/young adult, and promises your commitment to govern with faith over anything else.  (The book should win over that last 5% to 10% who doubted you because of the stories about your involvement in some weird cult like group while in high school or college.)

Frank Schaeffer is the son of the late evangelist Francis Schaeffer, who is credited with helping spark the rise of the Christian Right in the United States.  Frank is a professed pro-life Christian who was a registered Republican his whole life.  He’s an author, film director, screenwriter and public speaker.  In 2007 he released the book "Crazy For God" about his life as a fundamentalist Christian. Since 2000 he has been outspoken about the negative spiral the Christian Right and in general, the Republican party have taken. He recently wrote an article saying "how can anyone who loves our country support the Republicans now?…Today no actual conservative can be a Republican. Reagan would despise today's wholly negative Republican Party."

Below is a link to an interview he did regarding the current state of the far right in America. I believe he's right on in his concern over what's been happening in these circles.  It's time for those of us who do believe in Christ to denounce these groups, and call on Christian conservatives to pray for our President rather then attack him, and reach out to those in need of a Savior rather then expel them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZzsjULXDnA