tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90610895655239730302024-02-20T05:15:17.022-08:00IntegrityA Judeo/Christian perspective on the political, religious situation of the UK today.Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-54817765858479778632012-05-26T12:31:00.000-07:002012-05-27T10:56:17.606-07:00Tories and SSM<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I O’Neal has just posted a Blog regarding how he perceives the Tories should proceed regarding SSM.<br />
<a href="http://ioneal.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tories-and-equal-marriage.html">http://ioneal.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tories-and-equal-marriage.html</a><br />
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I have posted a comment on his Blog and I post it here. <br />
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You clearly are fixated by how political actions might affect the views of Tory voters. A government with integrity would peruse the policies that are best for the whole country not just the Tory voters. There are years yet till the next election and the Government should not be concerned about vote catching.</div>
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The other thing that you say is that the party does not understand equality in respect to SSM. I think that they do not care what the people want nor they understand what is good for the country.</div>
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I would suggest that it is you that does not understand what equality means in this respect. Firstly, a union between two, or three, same sex people can never be the same as a union between a male and a female. They are just not the same and therefore should not be called the same or considered the same.</div>
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Secondly, what you might call unfair to homosexuals by way of inequality is patently unfair to the greatest part of the population by degrading the status of marriage. For example, legal documents can no longer refer to Husband and Wife nor Father or Mother. It will be Partner 1 and Partner 2 and Parent 1 and Parent 2. This would be a major destruction of our civilized standards and personal boundaries.</div>
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Thirdly, there is only one type of marriage despite what the Government says about religious and civil types. The ECHR has categorically said that they would not be able to refuse a request for equality with marriage in religious buildings if SSM is allowed in the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">UK</place></country-region>. This will lead to great civil strife across the land.</div>
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David Cameron must back track on this and stand against the dreadful liberalism that is pervading the political trait of secularism that will lead the country into a moral less vacuum. </div>
</div>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-71779820851796000752012-04-11T03:16:00.003-07:002012-04-11T03:16:54.037-07:00God's Manifest Purpose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Blogger from my wife’s home town of Londonderry wrote the
following;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A; ‘That God longs
for the church to be united’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B; ‘I truly believe that a divided church is a weak one’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I saw these two statements I immediately thought of
some television programmes concerning the reformation and the history of the
church and I have often mused the concept of why so many denominations?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These denominations, all with different worship styles and
different liturgy or no liturgy. Yes, they could all learn from one another as
different denominations do different things differently, some better than
others. But just why are there so many? The blogger wrote, 'I truly believe that a divided church is
a weak one'. Why is it so divided and who
is responsible, after all God is Sovereign?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before Luther there was primarily but just one church of
Rome, despotic and corrupt as it was. There had been a number of monastic
splits along the way but Luther wanted the church to change and amend it’s ways
and recognise is theological errors but they excommunicated him and so the Reformation
and Protestantism began.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli are
considered Magisterial Reformers and from their ministries, other ministries
followed, all with a different emphasis. From ministry to ministry, from person
to person the church expanded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Was this a failure of man’s ambitions, each one believing that
they knew better than the last? Or did God allow the Church to develop this
way? He is after all Sovereign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is a Jealous God and an opinion I have considered is
that He wants all the glory to go to Him and just as the Tower of Babel was
destroyed because man said ‘now we can do anything’ and just as God did not
approve of the dictatorial authoritarian Roman Church at that time, he did not want
one new large Protestant church either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God knows his people too well and knows they can’t always be
trusted. Mans ambitions exceed God’s purposes. We have seen this in the Mega
Churches where the leader’s Alter ego, alters their vision away from serving God to
serving themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A united church would also be a politically powerful church.
I believe that God wants his purposes to be fulfilled through his almighty
power and not the workings of man. Prayers and supplications should be the
limit of mans achievements allowing God to take His Glory and to be seen to
have been Majestic in His work, throughout His Manifest Purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, men are used by God to be his servants and glorify his
Kingdom. Preachers such as Billy Graham
in recent years have been greatly used. He is a truly humble man who gave all
the Glory to God just as other great preachers in their time have served him faithfully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In conclusion, the purposes of God are best worked out by
those who seek to do his will wherever they find themselves. Not in dissention,
but a genuine belief that God has called them to do his will within the ‘light’
that God has given them.</span></div>
</div>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-66791191933638901422012-02-11T07:01:00.000-08:002012-02-11T07:01:56.047-08:00The Law is an Ass and anti-Christian<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There has been a spate of legal decisions recently that disgust and despair Christians throughout the land. A judgement against a couple wanting to adopt was prevented because of their opposition to the couple’s views on homosexual behaviour. It was said they would ‘infect’ the child with Christian morals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The most recent case is against Bideford Council where the Secular Society and a former councillor claimed that the saying of prayers as the first item on the agenda was degrading and insulting to non-Christians even though attendance was not compulsory.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of the recent legal judgments that discriminate against Christians were based on considerations that failed to take account of Christianity’s involvement in the Law of the Land such as the Oaths of office and the Common Prayer Book which is part of Government Legislation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed more recently they have said, incorrectly, that Christianity has no authority in the Law and Government.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Judges seem to be left wing wets, probably appointed during Blair’s rule, who set out to be ‘fair’ to the underdog and pursue the agenda that some have more rights than others but ignore the fact that our whole legal system was established upon the Judaeo/Christian principles and it is on those principles that they should interpret the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tradition is an important function in the performance of our institutions. Whether anyone disagrees should not significantly cause traditions to be overthrown. Otherwise offence might be caused by walking past a poster outside a Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-13506167675359985892012-02-08T15:37:00.000-08:002012-02-08T15:48:02.306-08:00Politics are Gay?London Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone has been accused of making wild accusations about gay Conservative MP's. A spokesperson for Ken Livingstone said: "Ken is clearly saying the advance of lesbian and gay people into politics is unequivocally a good thing.<o:p></o:p><br />
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"He has fought for equality for gay and lesbian people throughout his life, and the fact they are represented in all major political parties is a sign of the progress that has been made." He also said that when Tony Blair came to power, all the gay Labour MP's came out and most got a Government job.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Is this advance in homosexual involvement in Politics a question of equality or is it another backwards step in Morality. By not choosing a gay person as a candidate or for a position in Government, are you being discriminatory or just selective in the values you believe in. Can one in this climate of discriminatory legislation say I will not select a gay because I believe their views will be damaging for the community at large. Are we in a cleft stick, a catch 22 situation where one wants nothing to do with their views but can't say so without fear of prosecution. Their agenda on sex education in schools has left many parents fuming about what their children are being taught which is quite unnecessary at the tender years that are being indoctrinated with their filth. Somehow we have got to get to situation whereby much of this negativity against the Christian faith can be reversed and Christians can be fee to say what is right.<o:p></o:p>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-47569832677458111622012-01-22T09:38:00.000-08:002012-01-22T09:38:48.418-08:00Abortion Adds & Morality Aborted.<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drip, Drip, Drip is how it used to be, the attack on Christian principled legislation. Now it’s on and on and on since the tap has been opened to allow a full scale attack on Christian values. Even the few Christian MP’s that speak out are ridiculed with innuendos or disparaged by their colleagues or even Government Ministers.</span><br />
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With the Advertising Standards organisation now allowing TV adverts for the likes of BPAS and Marie Stopes, ‘post-conception advisory services’ appear to have become both acceptable and respectable. Cranmer has posted on this today.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When oh when can we see a concerted effort to stand up to this appalling destruction of traditional values. Government needs Integrity and all we have is a bunch of charlatans who claim to represent the people but only represent themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This appalling miscarriage of justice against humanity typically represents the hypocrisy of a so called ‘Tory’ Government (The Libs and Labour would be worse). They go from support, to opposition of Nadine Dorries’ Bill on abortion counselling. The Premier is typical of those who fly by the seat of their pants and the prevailing wind of demanding lobbyists rather than having a consistent policy on morality. They are politicians; and without some form or basis upon which to base their policies, they drift in the wind of popularism and have no discerning values.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is any number of Bloggers and organisations that criticise the current status quo or seek a new form of Government. but It is harder than difficult to penetrate the closed ranks of the establishment. The few Christians that there are in Westminster are split among the three main parties with differing approaches to the same problem. Unity of purpose is what is needed to destabilise the current set up and convince the voters that there can be Integrity in politics and in the House.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-46054015669434845852011-12-30T06:46:00.001-08:002011-12-30T07:40:21.353-08:00Sense & Sensebility<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A case has been presented that a supporter of the Jewish state of Israel was marked down in her dissertation at Warwick University by her Pro-Palestine Professor. There has been subsequently statements that the student went on to make changes before having it re-marked by another Professor, to recover the higher mark she felt she was entitled to.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without knowing all the facts of an instance like this, it can be too easily misjudged. I have heard of other instances where there has been a clash of wills and ideology between student and Mentor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally cases of so called Christian persecution in the course of their employment have been supported by the popular press but all the facts have not necessarily been declared. In other cases the individuals have not been wise in their actions and it is too easy to play the racist card to support a cause. I know of other Christians who have written papers that present a Christian perspective and the examiners have been of atheist or other persuasions and have been marked down as a result.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all have to live in a society of very mixed beliefs. It is therefore incumbent upon us all to walk with wisdom in what we do. I’m not suggesting that this student knew the circumstances of her Professor before she started her course but I do know that they do have pre Dissertation meetings to go through the content.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All this should not be; but despite the law, people are people. We must take account of this and without bowing the knee, as I have said before, we need to be as wise as serpents and harmless as Doves.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Pink lobby have learnt this principle and infiltrated society to the extent whereby there view and position can hardly be contested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians and Jews have in history suffered much persecution and their faith has been strengthened in those times. Today, we lack the church leaders to lead their followers in to battle; they are weak kneed liberal apologists. Christians and Jews! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You must s</span>tand up to oppression, but be sure that the case you present is accurate and true so that your enemies can’t claim that you cry Wolf!<o:p></o:p></span>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-24168948316219022011-12-23T09:02:00.001-08:002011-12-23T09:02:11.494-08:00Christmas Broadcast<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Trinity Church Brentwood Carol Concert will be broadcast as usual over the Christmas period and I would highly recommend you to record and view at your convenience. The following link is to a preview of the concert. It a vibrant and well produced production of contemporary and traditional songs and well worth viewing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/user/trinityfacetoface<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sat 24th, 5.30pm, Sky 581 <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sun 25th, 10.30pm, Freesat 692 <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sun 25th, 8.00pm, TBN 583<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wed 28th, 3.00pm, TBN 583</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have a very happy Christmas.</span>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-10113621463945285092011-12-20T13:06:00.000-08:002011-12-20T13:06:18.367-08:00Atheists Vs, Christian Traditions<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An unexpected twist in the moral stance of the Government is creating unusual speculation. On the one hand David Cameron has made an unexpected U turn and made proclamations in support of the value of Traditional Christian values and Nick Clegg has rubbished them accusing him of wanting to return to 50's values.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It depends what you call 50's values! A contributor on Jeremy Vine's show on radio 2 spoke about all the physical and material experiences of life then which have little to do with Christian Values. The true values were in honesty, love, modesty, chastity and marriage.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There will always be a mix of believers as to the benefit of these values; Clearly Dave Cameron is trying to present a sense of belief (because he thinks it’s good for his ratings).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah Sands wrote in the standard today that Atheists were constantly fighting fires because the Christian Traditions are so ingrained into the fabric of society that they keep popping up with a certain regularity. But even though her article was very positive about the value of marriage, she was still supportive of Gay marriage. It just shows how in such a short time since Tony Blair allowed the Gay lobby credence, it has become endemic in society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The values we need today need to be those that allow for the freedoms achieved in life today but with the freedom of choice to say no to behaviour that is inconsistent with a Godly life.<o:p></o:p></span></span>Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-23275120098439819722011-12-19T05:35:00.000-08:002011-12-19T13:51:26.517-08:00PovertyThis was posted on MSN today;<br />
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'Young people believe poverty is one of the key reasons behind the August riots, according to a new survey.<br />
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Behind the Riots, a survey commissioned by The Children's Society, found most 13 to 17-year-olds and adults believed that a reason why people became involved in the trouble that blighted the country was "to get goods and possessions they couldn't afford to buy".<br />
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The charity polled 1,004 adults and 1,077 13 to 17-year-olds from across the UK in an online survey between October 3 and November 10. It said they gave a mixed picture overall, with most choosing more than one reason why the riots happened.'<br />
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Excuses seem endemic in society today. Blame any one or anything rather than accepting the blame themselves. To suggest that poverty represents the values of 'I can't afford what I want' is banal. Poverty is the lack of the essentials to maintain life. You don't have to have a new flat screen TV, you don't have to have new designer trainers. I didn't see too many people stealing the essentials of life like bread, meat and vegetables!<br />
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The concept of what the minimum material possessions are seems to have gone through the roof. As has consequently the sums paid to benefit claimants. There is a section of the extreme left that promote the concept that we all (ie them) should have everything they want. Well yes, they can have what they want if they can afford it and work for it. Stealing it from someone else is never acceptable.<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>Traditional values are being put down as old hat and not appropriate for today. Which other values are they prepared to abandon? Are they prepared to see theft being wrong go out the door? Values were held for centuries for a reason, because they worked and we need to keep them.Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061089565523973030.post-76209597156167147742011-12-16T05:03:00.000-08:002011-12-16T05:03:24.748-08:00ChristmasWhat has this country come to with it's celebration of the Christmas season. Commercialism is the name of the game. Most people look forward to a few days off and office parties, shopping for presents, food and family. Yes, a little of all this may be acceptable but it has gone into major excess for many and it all become a vicious circle that no one feels able to break the bands of commitment to the worship of materialism.<br />
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Most people know what Christmas is really about but rarely give it a second thought. I heard of one teenager who was apparently Carol Singing. (Probably 'We wish you a merry Christmas'. That’s all they seem to know when they come to my house). Any way, he was asked what Christmas meant and his answer was "Well it’s when Jesus died, init".<br />
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It is tragic that in so many schools there is a fear, or reluctance, of teaching about the Christian religion.<br />
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Few teachers have a profound belief anyway so local church minister’s offer a pastoral service in the schools in their locality. Parents need to try to balance the commercialism of Christmas with an understanding of the true meaning with love and joy and peace to all men.Integrityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01403843427007644914noreply@blogger.com0