The release of the FBI memo labeling conservative Catholic groups as terrorist groups needing to be investigated is reminiscent of the rise of Nazism in Germany. The Jews were blamed for the deteriorating economy in Germany, just as Christians are being blamed now. The Nazi State began investigating and monitoring churches that objected to the removal of Jews. Lawless groups (like the Brown shirts) began terrorizing the Jews and groups that opposed the governments attacks on the Jews, just as Antifa and Black Lives Matter are doing. Liberal politicians today are monitoring and attacking the Catholic Church because it is the biggest group opposing abortion and the most vocal. However, Christians of other faiths should not ignore the attacks against the Catholic Church. They will begin attacking smaller vocal churches of other denominations as they gain power and control, just as they did in Germany.
Schools-DA-P
In Europe, only the wealthy got an education. Then America pushed for universal education and it opened up a time of great economic prosperity. Now with failing public schools, we are fast returning to where only the rich get a quality education. Churches have been using their extra space for schools for a long time but were expensive, since they received no public funds. Churches have a lot of space that is normally not used during the week and Sunday School rooms are often ideal for classes. New online curriculums make less demand for trained teachers. Currently church-based schools are mainly limited to large affluent churches who can afford to subsidize their schools to make them more affordable. Ohio Christian Ed Network and Center For Christian Virtue are partnering to develop schools in churches to provide Christ-based education at a low cost because they meet in churches. As a result, they have low overhead and can still provide a quality curriculum. They just opened their first church this year and plan to open more next year. Such schools are usually smaller and closer to students than public schools who have been increasingly moving towards consolidated schools with long bus rides to school. Churches and their members can assist the expansion of Church-based education by starting a school of their own or supporting schools in nearby churches through donations to the schools and scholarships for students, particularly those from their own church.
Schools-DA-O
With many schools failing to teach and with all the teaching supporting free sex, abortion, Gay rights, and socialism, many parents are becoming frustrated with their schools. In addition, with increasing bullying, violence, and male access to girl’s bathroom and shower facilities, students are feeling increasingly afraid at school. As a result, an increasing number of parents are looking for alternatives. Currently, public schools enjoy an advantage because they are supported by the community and free to students where parents who want their kids to have quality and safe education have to pay taxes to support the public schools as well as pay tuition to a private school. Christian schools currently do not often get federal funds because many States have rules preventing public money from going to church related schools in spite of the Constitution’s prohibition against discrimination on the basis of religion. In addition, many Christian schools are afraid to apply for public funds because they are afraid that they could be coerced to teach things that violate their beliefs by the government threatening to withhold funds. Churches can also push for laws expanding the use of vouchers to include all students so parents can choose the school best for their children and not be prevented by cost. A number of States like Ohio are currently considering bills to expand their voucher systems.
Politics-AB-Y
Something is seriously wrong with our country when conservatives have to go to court to secure documents to investigate crimes committed by the FBI and Dept. of Justice who should be investigating crimes, not committing them. President Obama hired a large number of new FBI agents just before the 2016 election and many are being employed to use government resources to benefit the Democratic Party in violation of civil service law which bans using their position to aid a political party. Those agents were hired under civil service so President Trump could not fire them. In 2016, the FBI began investigating Donald Trump to get dirt on him to use to influence the election. Evidence from the FBI now shows that they knew the documents claiming he was colluding with the Russians, that they used to secure court permission to wiretap Donald Trump were fake and paid for by the Democratic Party. When the investigation produced no evidence of wrong-doing, the information about the investigation was leaked to the press and used to try to discredit Donald Trump and prevent him from being elected. When he was elected, much to the surprise of Democrats, congressional leaders used the accusations to carry out extensive investigations to discredit him and eventually impeach him, knowing the accusations were false. Liberal politicians have continued to use false accusations just before elections to influence voting. In 2020, FBI and media records from Twitter and Facebook show that the FBI (a taxpayer funded agency) paid social media companies (taxpayer money) to suppress information on the Hunter Biden laptop. They told the media that it was fake news because they knew that it would embarrass Joe Biden and could prevent him from getting elected. A large number of FBI agents even publicly perjured themselves claiming the laptop story was a Russian attempt to influence the election. As a result, taxpayers were not aware that the story was true when they went to the polls. Since Biden won by a very narrow margin, release of that information could have changed the election outcome. FBI records now show that the information was true but the damage has already been done. Why are government agencies using taxpayer funds to illegally influence election results. What business does the FBI have in pressuring social media companies to suppress news, and why are their actions one-sided, supporting only one political party? It is time for a thorough investigation of the FBI and Dept of Justice and it is obvious Presidennt Biden is not going to see that it is done.
Politics-AB-X
Two conservative New Jersey council members were assassinated last week, but the media did not report it. If they had been average people on the street, the liberals would have been screaming for new laws to ban guns. Since one was a Black woman, Antifa would have been rioting in the streets all across America, if she had not been conservative. The FBI raided the home of a man who was praying peacefully outside an abortion clinic and arrested him, and the Dept. of Justice pressed for prosecution under the law prohibiting obstructing access to abortion clinics, even though the court had already ruled that he was not guilty. He was defending his son who was being harassed by a clinic worker, but the clinic worker was not arrested. Since then, two other people have been arrested for praying peacefully in front of an abortion clinic. Yet there continues to be almost daily vandalism, violent attacks, and even fire bombing of crisis pregnancy centers and conservative churches, but the FBI did not investigate them until Conservative Congressmen called for an investigation of the FBI response. Since then, the FBI has promised to investigate but has not made much effort. It seems that the media, the FBI, and the Dept of Justice are spending more time pushing the liberal agenda than doing their jobs in maintaining justice.
Seventh Sunday of Epiphany-Feb 19
Building Community– When My wife and I first moved into a trailer park, trailers were still small and very mobile. Few people got to know their neighbors because they were basically bedroom communities where people slept, but they worked and shopped elsewhere. Similar conditions existed in many of the cheaper apartment complexes. In addition, people were very mobile. It was easy to hook up a trailer and move it somewhere else, or move out of an apartment, so your neighbors didn’t stay very long. Many of the families had problems with alcoholism and drug abuse, spouse and child abuse, and crime. Very few had any church connection. I began visiting the families there and in nearby apartments to minister to any needs and start Bible studies for those who were interested. Most of those who lived in houses in stable neighborhoods owned their homes and knew many of their neighbors. Stable neighborhoods were much safer. People did not move frequently and home ownership was preferred over renting. Trailers and apartments were for the people who were mobile or those not able to afford to purchase. Since then, people have become very mobile and that includes many who own their own homes. It is not unusual for someone to sell a house and purchase a new one in their new location when they move to another area. In addition, there has been a big shift from owning to renting. In many places, more people live in trailers, apartments, and rental homes than in homes that they own. People are far less likely to live long-term in the same place. As a result, the people are far less likely to get to know each other so the same problems that prevailed in trailer parks and apartment buildings, have moved into more settled communities. In addition, businesses have moved away from residential areas so even stable neighborhoods have become bedroom communities. Christian families can become a catalyst for restoring a sense of community in their neighborhoods as they get to know their neighbors and help them get to know each other.
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Church MInistry-3-W
In addition, many large churches were at a distance that made it difficult to attend beyond the worship service and they could not attend many of the programs offered. As a result, many people are also seeking churches close by where they can participate more. That offers hope for churches, especially in rural areas with very few similar churches. Different people prefer different forms of worship and people will seek churches with worship they are used to. Because the membership of rural churches may include a sizable area, small groups made up of clusters of members who live close together and meet regularly will provide support for members in times of stress. While neighbors once provided support for those with no family nearby, neighbors no longer know each other and don’t know who around them that they can trust. Small groups whose members live close to each other can provide that support. Trust is also a factor in outreach. With the increasing mistrust of media, Ad campaigns no longer attract many. While door-to-door campaigns attract more, the response is still low, due to the fact residents do not know those who visit them. Empowering members to reach their neighbors increases the success greatly. By reaching out to their neighbors, they can make successive visits to get to know their neighbors. As members get to know their neighbors, their neighbors begin to see that they are interested in them and not just in filling the pews or the collection plates.
Church ministry-3-V
Rural churches continually tell me they feel they have very little future, but the evidence is increasingly in their favor. The big rush to large churches with professional grade services and lots of programs is ending in a bust. The people liked the fact that the large churches were welcoming but felt lost once they started attending. With increasing isolation, people are increasingly feeling isolated and Covid has intensified that feeling. As a result, many are returning to smaller churches where they feel welcome. Due to Covid, many people are avoiding large crowds in favor of smaller gatherings. Size alone doesn’t cut it, the small church must be genuinely welcoming. Many small church members shun strangers or ignore them and are not reaping the harvest. The programs don’t have to be fancy, the people just want to feel accepted. However, the average church size from 2000 to 2020 has dropped from 137 to 65, indicating that the smaller churches are not reaching those who leave the larger churches. While rural churches tell me most people around them attend church somewhere, surveys show that very few of them do. Many could be attracted to smaller churches if the church showed them it cared about them.