birth control is 'murder' sermon

The 6th commandment "thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), is better understood to mean "you shall not murder
MURDER
1: the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought2 a: something very difficult or dangerous b: something outrageous or blameworthy
MALICE
1 : desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another 2 : intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse
KILL
1 a: to deprive of life : cause the death of b (1): to slaughter (as a hog) for food (2): to convert a food animal into (a kind of meat) by slaughtering2 a: to put an end to b: defeat , veto c: to mark for omission ; also : delete d: annihilate , destroy 3 a: to destroy the vital or essential quality of b: to cause to stop c: to check the flow of current through4: to make a markedly favorable impression on 5: to get through uneventfully ; also : to get through (the time of a penalty) without being scored on 6 a: to cause extreme pain to b: to tire almost to the point of collapse7: to hit (a shot) so hard in various games that a return is impossible8: to consume (as a drink) totallyintransitive verb1: to deprive one of life2: to make a markedly favorable impression

FORT WORTH - The Southern Baptist Convention is reacting after News 8 showed a message from a Southern Baptist preacher teaching Fort Worth seminary students that the birth control pill equals murder.

In a controversial sermon to students at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Thomas White, acting as the student services vice president this month, preached that birth control is murder and called attempts at family planning selfish.

"Some of you are involved in that exact same sin," he said.

Brett Younger, a Mercer University theology professor and former senior pastor at Broadway Baptist, said he believes it's absurd to think Christian couples should hope for 10 children and they have a responsibility to "thoughtfully, prayerfully consider what's best for their family, and the world."

The Ethics & Religious Commission president for the Southern Baptist Convention reacted Wednesday to Dr. White's preaching.

"I don't believe prudent planning is rebellion against God's will as long as couples accept God may cause them to have unplanned pregnancies anyway," said Richard Land.

But, Land said he ultimately agrees with Dr. White on the subject of the birth control pill.

"It stops ovulation, meaning it stops the eggs from being released," said Kathryn Allen, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood, while explaining how the pill works.

The controversial part comes into play if an egg is somehow released, which is when the pill "can" prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.

The view that when this happens it constitutes murder is what Allen said worries her as it gains increasing attention. However, she has estimated there is still little support.

Meanwhile, Land has issued a statement on his thoughts on the subject.

"The Southern Baptist Convention is not opposed to the use of birth control within marriage as long as the methods used do not cause the fertilized egg to abort and as long as the methods used do not bar having children all together unless there's a medical reason the couple should not have children," he said.

Obama Wins Scholistic Election

Obama Wins Scholastic News Election Poll

Almost a quarter of a million kids voted

Barack Obama won with 57 percent of the vote, to 39 percent for John McCain.

The kids voted by ballot or online at www.scholastic.com/news. The poll closed October 10.

Since 1940, the results of the student vote have predicted the outcome of the election all but two times. Once in 1948, kids chose Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman and in 1960, the students picked Richard M. Nixon rather than John F. Kennedy.

Palin and the Alaska Independence Party

Crabby1 wrote on Oct 22, 2008 8:17 AM:
" I wish those "journalists" would write an in-depth story about the traitor Alaska Independence Party, whose sole purpose is to susceed (sp) from the Union, as well as the FACT that both Palins were dues-paying active members. "


Crabby is both wrong and right
This group is affiliated more with the Constitution Party today and had more Libertarian leanings in the past. Originally the party wanted to secede from our great nation, but now is more interested in forming a more theocratic state.
The Constitution Party!, Booooooooo!

I could tell right off the bat, I did not like Sarah Palin. The more I learn about her the more I dislike what she stands for. It blows my mind McCain picked her for VP. She is a wild card. She herself was not a member of AIP, but her husband was and she probably would have if it did not hurt her chances of becoming Governor.

Very Very Creepy People

Library votes to keep book

I am sure this will not be the last time we hear from Mr. Cohen. But, it will be tough for him to find a more controversial book to protest. I know he loves Halloween and Christmas, so I expect a letter to the editor soon about these pagan/secular holdiays.


Library votes to keep controversial book
By ALANA LISTOE - Independent Record - 10/22/08
Carole Byrnes, chairwoman of the Lewis and Clark Library Board of Directors, said banning books from library shelves is censorship.

Byrnes, along with the other four board members, voted to retain the book, “The Joy of Gay Sex,” in the library’s collection with unrestricted access at a meeting Tuesday night.

After reading the book Byrnes acknowledged that the pictures and descriptions were graphic, but she viewed it as an instructional, education manual.

The request to remove the book from the library’s circulation came from Helena resident Paul Cohen, who said the book was “pornographic.” He said the library is negligent of providing a “safe place” for children and adolescents when they have access to the material.

The library’s collection review committee and Director Judy Hart reviewed the book and library policies and ultimately recommended keeping the book, saying it is the library’s obligation to provide information to all segments of society.

Dissatisfied with the decision, Cohen appealed to trustees in August and a public hearing was held last month.
The board received and reviewed about 200 written submissions on the matter.

Library policy says that no material will be excluded from consideration because of race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, political or social view of the material, the author or the intended audience. The policy also states that no materials will be removed because of controversy.

Cohen said the policy is in error if it says anything can be put on the shelves for anyone to look at.

He said after the meeting he wasn’t surprised by the decision to retain the book, however said the notion that things, such as books, can’t be judged is “absurd.”

Board member Jesse Franzen said according to policy, library patrons are free to select or reject materials for themselves or their own minor children, but not free to restrict the freedom of others to read or inquire.

“Only parents and guardians, not the library, have the right to guide and direct the reading, listening and viewing choices of their own minor children,” Franzen said the policy states. “I believe the library policies have been followed impeccably with grace and great respect, and again I thank our staff. I vote in approval of our director’s decision.”

Hart said she was pleased with the decision and how the process was open for all participants.

She said board members read and listened to all policies, written and oral testimony and based their decision on policies.

Voting Biblical Values per Milton

By Milton Crum, 915 Saddle Drive - 10/01/08
I vote on the basis of biblical values as in these examples. (1) Feeding the hungry: Democrats supported the Hunger Relief Act. (2) Care for the sick: Democrats cared with Workers Compensation, Medicare, and Medicaid. (3) Justice for the oppressed: Democrats passed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. (4) Relief for the poor: Democrats responded with Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families.

Psalm 72 prays for rulers who practice justice for the afflicted, needy, and oppressed. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology sums it up, “to the extent that God’s people collectively obey his commands, which include caring for the poor, then individual needs will be met. God provides enough for all his people to live a decent life; the question is if they will distribute his resources equitably ... God will judge people on the basis of how they have cared for the needy in their midst ...” The Democratic party and its candidates have done better walking this walk. Republicans have favored the wealthy, arguing that their wealth would trickle down to the rest of us, but it doesn’t.
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Reader Comments:
al wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:39 AM:
" Mr. Crum, I understand and sympathize with your views, and know that you are speaking of the love of Christ, but when you say that people should "vote on the basis of biblical values", you're opening up a big can of worms.

The nation is in the mess it's in today partly because a lot of people voted their biblical values, and pulled the lever for George W. Bush.

The Bible is infinitely subjective. As somebody once said: The Bible is like a man; if you torture it long enough, you can make it say almost anything. Plus, no matter which way you read it, the Bible is full of violence, death, hatred, oppression and war.

I appreciate your sentiments, Mr. Crum, but reason, honesty and rationality are better values to keep in mind when voting. "

MtMadeMan wrote on Oct 1, 2008 9:07 AM:
" Charity is from person to person.

Government mandated charity is theift. It's only purpose is to make some dependent on the government and buy their votes.

Democrats support of home ownership to those that could not afford houses is what caused the crash of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. "

organicmommy wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:47 AM:
" Voting Democratic based on Biblical values is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! What a contradiction. So all God cares about is helping the needy? Yes, that is a large part of Christian and Biblical values and the Bible contains many passages that stress the importance of helping those less fortunate than us, but you failed to mention other strong Biblical principals that the current Democratic party seems to ignore. What about the scriptures that state homosexuality is a sin? Or the one that says "Thou shall not murder"? Apparently you think God has no problem with the millions of babies that have been murdered through legal abortions since Roe vs. Wade - something the Democrats have fought to remain in place? Where is the justice for those children who never had a chance to live? And I don't think God would agree with the blatantly anti-Semitic associates a certain Democratic Presidential candidate has kept. If you truly think that the only thing God will be judging us on is how much money we've given to charity, or how much time we spent volunteering at God's Love, you need to spend less time reading Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology and more time reading your Bible. "

electstat wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:25 AM:
" Don't Dems also support the woman's right to an abortion? What's the bible say about that one? "

AnimalLover wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:07 AM:
" IMPOSSIBLE, You must vote Republican to be faithful to God!!! Just kidding, it's actually nice to see someone that believes in God and doesn't blindly vote Republican. Thank you for restoring some of my faith in people. "

Colton wrote on Oct 1, 2008 7:00 AM:
" Just 3 points; (1) President Lincoln freed the slaves. Lincoln was a Republican. (2) Reverend Wright's (B.O.'s minister for over 20 years) racial hatred while of biblical proportions, doesn't seem very charitable. (3) God does not care who you vote for as the popular vote is worthless in Presidential elections. Only the electoral votes matter. "