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Monday, February 18, 2008

400-408A big thank you to Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faithful Central for the privilege of participating in yesterday's Citywide Celebration honoring Bishop Charles E. Blake, Presiding Bishop of the six-million-member Church of God in Christ, and pastor of the 24,000-member West Angeles Church of God in Christ.  One of Bishop Blake's passions is Save Africa's Children that provides direct support to children affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Engineer Annie got engaged on Friday!
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Come on the Alaskan cruise with us July 20-27, go to kkla.com for details!
• Fox News, Clinton, Obama Camp Exchange War Of 'Just Words'.  On Saturday in Milwaukee, Obama lifted rhetoric from a speech delivered by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick when he was running for office on Oct. 15, 2006.
PATRICK:  "'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' Just words? Just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words? 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.' Just words? 'I have a dream.' Just words?"
OBAMA: "Don't tell me words don't matter," Obama said. "'I have a dream.' Just words? 'We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.' Just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words? Just speeches?"
• CNN Transcript, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer: Charles Barkley on Supporting Obama.  (1:58) Charles Barkley with Wolf Blitzer on CNN says he has a problem with conservative Christians being too judgmental.
BARKLEY: Hey, I live in Arizona. I have got great respect for Senator McCain. Great respect. But I don't like the way the Republicans are taking this country. Every time I hear the word "conservative," it makes me sick to my stomach, because they're really just fake Christians, as I call them. That's all they are. (:09) But I just -- I'm going to vote Democratic no matter what. 


BLITZER: What about you in politics? At one point you were thinking of running back in Alabama. What do you think?
BARKLEY: Well, I just bought a house in 2007. And in 2014, I promise you I'm going to run for governor of Alabama. (:08) 


BLITZER: And when will you run for governor of Alabama? 


BARKLEY: 2014. You have to have residency for seven years. And I bought my house at the end of last year. And I will be eligible in 2014. 


BLITZER: All right. One quick point before I let you go. You used the phrase "fake Christians" for conservatives. Explain what you're talking about. 


BARKLEY: Well, I think they -- they want to be judge and jury. Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married. I'm pro-choice. And I think these Christians -- first of all, they're supposed to be -- they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in this country. And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like they're Christians. And they're not forgiving at all. 


BLITZER: So you're going to get a lot of feedback on this one, Charles. (:30)


BARKLEY: They can't do anything to me. I don't work for them. 


BLITZER: You feel comfortable saying all that? 


BARKLEY: I feel very comfortable saying I'm pro-choice, and I'm for gay marriage. Very comfortable. 


BLITZER: But you can't lump all these conservatives as being fake. A lot of them obviously -- most of them are very, very sincere in their religious beliefs. 


BARKLEY: Well, they should read the part about they're not supposed to judge other people. They forget that one when it doesn't fit what they want it to say. (:16)


So, are conservatives "fake Christians?"  Are Christians not allowed to "judge" people?  Who should "judge" people?  (See Mt 7:1ff)  Are Conservatives "not forgiving enough" of abortion and homosexuality?  What is a "real" Christian?  Can a real Christian know the difference between what is sinful behavior and what is not?  Is taking the life of a child a sin or not?  Is sex outside of marriage a sin or not?  Is sex outside of marriage with someone of the same sex a sin or not?  What does it mean to "forgive?"  Does it mean to "pretend it never happened?"
To "forgive" means to carry out of sight, to take away, to lift a burden off of, or to remove a barrier from.  Practically, we truly forgive someone of something when we no longer use it as an offensive weapon against them.
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• SF Gate, Churches weigh in on same-sex marriage.  On one side, Mormons, Catholics, Evangelicals, and Orthodox Jews.  On the other, Unitarians, the United Church of Christ (e.g., The Union Church of Los Angeles), Reformed Jews, and some Buddhists.
458-508Dinesh D'Souza (dineshdsouza.com), former White House policy analyst now at the Hoover Institute at Stanford and author of What's So Great About Christianity, on his article today at Townhall.
• Michael Craven (2/16) The Culture War is Over: We Lost!
528-539(1:07) Mark Gungor on the differences betweens men's brains and women's brains on this YouTube video.  Mark Gungor, senior pastor of Bayside Church in Green Bay Wisconsin, CEO of Laugh Your Way America (laughyourway.com), and founder of the Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage Seminars, tells us why laughter really can be the best medicine for an ailing marriage.  His Better Marriage Minute is heard on over 250 radio stations nation-wide, and his book Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage is due out in March.  Couples can participate in Mark's seminars online.  Mark's Laugh Your Way video is now on You Tube as well.
544-554Mark Gungor.  Calls
558-608Mark Gungor.  Calls
612-623Dr. Tom Andrews, chief medical examiner for the state of New Hampshire, has been studying the Choking Game phenomenon for several years and now can alert parents to come signs indicating their child may be playing the game.  He estimates there are about 100 U.S. choking game deaths each year.  What to look for: bloodshot eyes, marks on the neck, severe headaches in children, disorientation after spending time alone, ropes, scarves and belts tied to bedroom furniture.
Check out all the events for you and your family on our "community calendar" at kkla.com.
Come on the Alaskan cruise with us July 20-27, go to kkla.com for details! 
• John Andrews, If The Republicans Fracture.  A frightening look at Caucus night 2012 if the Republicans self-destruct.