Don Crawford

Don Crawford

President of Crawford Broadcasting and the voice of the STAND Podcast

The Gathering Storm

DEAR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS PEOPLE:

Please shut up and slink away.  You are the problem, and everyone knows it.

By the way, so many of you listening are those very own dear thoughts and prayers people to whom Gene Weingarten of the Washington Post referred.  Weingarten was ridiculing conservatives who offered prayers for the San Bernardino Islamist terror victims, a mocking that was applauded and given wide coverage by liberal reporters at CNN, NBC and CBS.

More about that:

“As the latest batch of innocent Americans are left lying in pools of blood, cowards who could truly end gun scourge continue to hide behind meaningless platitudes.”

In other words, people of faith do little more than think about Islamist terror victims, talk about the terror attack, and pray for the victims but do nothing about it.

And then came the New York Daily News with the massive front page headline which read the following:

GOD IS ISN’T FIXING

And neither by implication according to the Daily News are people of faith, sort of faith without works people hiding behind a prayer shawl.  It just simply is unbelievable in this day and age how people of faith are mocked, ridiculed, marginalized and disrespected.  The liberal media, in fact all of the often radical progressive movement becomes shockingly ever more hostile not only to faith but people of faith.  That of course includes all things Jewish as well as Christian but I wonder if the liberal media would have the courage to include Islam which religion spawned the radical terrorist attacks to begin with.  The Daily News and the Washington Post may very well not want an ISIS attack on their headquarters.  No matter, for in today’s world, Christians are always subject to attack, ALWAYS!

Then recall the words of Harvard Law School Professor Mark Kushnet, a spokesman of sorts for the effort to vanquish conservative Christian values from the marketplace.  He said:

THE CULTURE WARS ARE OVER.  THEY LOST, WE WON.  WHAT YOU BELIEVE, CHRISTIANS AND JEWS, THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN ETHIC SIMPLY DOESN’T WORK AND SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE MARKETPLACE.

More from Kushnet:

FOR LIBERALS THE QUESTION IS NOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE LOSERS.  MY OWN JUDGMENT IS THAT TAKING HARD LINE (YOU LOST, LIVE WITH IT) IS BETTER THAN TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THE LOSERS.

In short, go away, conservatives and Christians, just go away.  There will be no accommodation, your lifestyle and values will never be tolerated and we the winners will ban you and your thinking from the marketplace, in fact from all of American life.  In other words, and in other ways as well, the new Constitutional right for gay marriage and all things gay trumps the First Amendment right of Freedom of Religion.  If Judeo-Christian sanctioned values get in the way of the progressive-liberal agenda including gay rights, that agenda wins and religious freedom loses.

Then come the Democrats and Hillary Clinton.  America’s first freedom, religious liberty did not make the cut and was not included in the Democratic (DNC) platform which so many think is the most radical document in the Party’s history.  In short, Democrats now state and think openly that religious liberty is INCOMPATIBLE with sexual liberalism.  Ms. Feldblum, former head of the EEOC as appointed by Obama stated the following:

GAYS WIN: CHRISTIANS LOSE.

Another way of saying that there will be no accommodation between the new progressive agenda and freedom of religion.

Feldblum goes on to say:

“I have a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.”

And that, my fellow Americans is in fact the formal position of the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton.  By the way, have you ever heard anything about religious freedom, or faith, or even people of faith, any faith from Hillary Rodham Clinton?  If you have, please let me know.  It seems as though no one knows what she believes, whatever it is.  You never hear anything from her when it comes to anything religious, including the slaughter of Christians the world over by Islamic terrorists.  There was no even a comment regarding the slaughter of a Catholic priest in France, nothing.  You never hear from Clinton and the Democrats anything positive and constructive about Israel.  The Clinton camp of course approves the Iran nuclear treaty with all of its side deals and dangers to our beloved America and to the world at large, a treaty corrupt to the core (typically Obama) and of course, the liberal-radical media, the worst media America has ever experienced, asks her no questions, allows her to get away with virtually anything including Benghazi, the email scandals and the infamous Clinton Foundation all for that ultimate purpose:

POLITICAL POWER

THE PRESIDENCY

The liberal media is the most corrupt it has ever been in our great country.  The liberal media is nothing more than a:

MONSTROUS PUBLIC RELATIONS MACHINE!

And so there continues the push fostered by liberals and Democrats for genderless bathrooms, special treatment for transgenders, gay sex education curriculum, gay history, abortion rights and funding and Planned Parenthood and so much more, rammed down the throats of Americans in a fiercely and proudly intolerant way.  There is no accommodation.  For them, Freedom of Religion simply is secondary if it exists at all when confronted by the new Constitutional Rights for Gays.  Congressman Jared Polis, Democrat from Colorado who is himself GAY dared to suggest that there may be room to accommodate men and women of faith.  A spokesman for the pro-LGBT Gill Foundation referred to the suggestion as BLASPHEME and quickly interjected:

“I want to be careful that we don’t say there is a kind of balance between equality and religious freedom.”

In other words, now that liberals have gotten what they wanted from same-sex marriage rights, there is no point in hiding the rest of this radical agenda which so many think far too many Americans never saw coming.  But the battle is here, my fellow Americans and people of faith, IT IS HERE!  The liberal storm no longer gathers.  It rains its shocking agenda and thunders its now steamrolling attack upon traditional and conservative American values. THE STORM IS HERE!

And the censorship on college campuses, even churches and of course in the political arena is everywhere, ubiquitous and growing!

In so many places in Europe, the political state wants to shutdown debate on hot topics like immigration, marriage, sexuality and the critique of other religions.  Now there is an ever-growing movement everywhere to champion the cause of HATE SPEECH.  In fact, many European nations are working on legislation, a new code of ethics which condemns hate speech and seeks to codify speech laws everywhere.  In fact, in Europe today, street preachers are often arrested, conservative journalists fined and seemingly simple conversations could quickly trigger trouble for private citizens because of these subjective and selectively enforced laws.  In some cases, convictions are not always the main objective, for the actual process of accusation and investigation is in fact itself THE PUNISHMENT.  Mere investigations can lead to the destruction of people’s livelihoods.

And, warns Lyall Mercer, an Australian who is the Managing Director of Mercer PR, many churches seem reluctant to standup for their traditional values because they are too afraid of the potential backlash on social media and the mainstream media.  Mercer says most directly that:

CHURCHES SHOULD TAKE A STAND BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Mercer goes onto say that the so-called SILENT MAJORITY is real and those millions upon millions are just waiting for someone, anyone to take the lead.  Churches, Mercer thinks, and their pastors should be those leaders and significantly influence the debate.  Mercer says most directly:

“The lack of a voice by the church continues to cede ground to those with alternative agendas and views, so church leaders should not be fearful of standing up for what they believe.”

I wonder my fellow Americans what kind of a cultural wars leader your pastor is.  There are many, far too many pastors who are intimidated, lacking the courage to stand-up and speak out and consequently abnegate the high ground to the radical progressives.  They simply do not champion the values, the ethical teachings and admonitions of the Old Testament, the Torah and the New Testament as though they were writings to be interpreted in an organic and current way rather than Godly absolutes.  If the Church and its leaders are indifferent or morally neutral, then as Scriptures say:

“How shall the people hear?”

And who will lead them in the paths of righteousness?  Without leadership, a leader, the people perish.  Or at least their values do.

More from our friends the Democrats.  As the Democratic National Convention opened its proceedings in Philadelphia, they began with a word of prayer from a Christian minister.  But when that preacher dared to offer a blessing upon Hillary Clinton, as one pundit said:

“All hell broke loose.”

When the Reverend Cynthia Hale prayed:

“We have an opportunity, oh God, to give undeniable evidence to our commitment to justice and equality by nominating Hillary Rodham Clinton for the highest office in the land.”

Those Democrats in attendance literally heckled the poor lady, booing and jeering in the middle of her prayer, even to the point of the jeering turning into chants for Bernie Sanders:

BERNIE, BERNIE, BERNIE.

Think about that, my fellow Americans when it is time to vote in November.  If you are a person of faith, remember that Freedom of Religion has no place in the Democratic agenda, none at all.  If you are a person not of faith, neutral in your thinking, but respectful and protective of our great Constitution and especially its First Amendment including Freedom of Religion, think about that further Constitutional evisceration of what is sure to come if Clinton and company are elected.  THINK ABOUT THAT!

And now comes the proposal of the so-called EQUALITY ACT, now in the House of Representatives which would require acceptance of special protections for homosexual and transgender behavior in 25, that’s right 25, areas of federal law with no religious liberty protections for people of faith who disagree!  Read the proposed act for yourself, THE EQUALITY ACT and you will be well aware of the federal government’s legislative attempt to codify these rights on the one hand and quantify the punishments and disciplines for violating the requirements of this act on the other.  It is just unbelievable what is happening in America, absolutely unbelievable!  Are you aware, really aware of what is going on?  That reminds me of the words and the title of the great book written by Dr. David Jeremiah, the pastor and leader of the wonderful program Turning Point:

I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE THE DAY

We the Americans recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the fantastic words:

IN GOD WE TRUST

That as I hope you know my fellow Americans is our, the American official National Motto.  In fact, that was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.  This motto, honoring the Creator of our universe, represents the collective faith of the American people.  Now comes the movement and in fact litigation against our federal government to repeal the words IN GOD WE TRUST as our national motto, and more specifically, the removal of the motto from all United States currency, yet again another attempt to get God out of culture.  The plaintiffs include more than 40 organizations and individuals, rabid atheists who want no part of God for themselves or for America.  Their objective is to get the Supreme Court to hold that this 60 year old motto is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of Church and State.  In today’s cultural and legal climate, there is every possibility this litigation will be successful and not only will IN GOD WE TRUST disappear from our public life, it may well be banned in some ways, many ways from our private life as well. What a world.  I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE THE DAY.

Now comes the new law from Russia which bans all missionary activities in residential areas and requires Christians who want to share their faith with others, even on the Internet, to obtain authorization documents from a religious association.  In short, if what you want to say is not authorized and sanctioned by a recognized religious association, you the individual simply can not say it.  If you the individual do so, you will be fined.  If an unauthorized organization does so, a much larger fine for any missionary work or Gospel spreading will be imposed.  And, if you are a foreigner, you will be immediately deported.  In short, there is strong legal liability now put in place for any violation of these new laws.  End of freedom of conscience in Russia, if it in fact ever existed.  Thousands of churches in Russia came together in prayer and fasting against this new so-called Putin Law which effectively punishes any kind of religious evangelism OUTSIDE OF CHURCHES.  And so it goes.  Country after country.  State after state.  Attacking Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion and imposing the most serious kinds of penalties for daring to share your faith.  Again the words of David Jeremiah:

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?

Interestingly, in Russia, people of course will be intimidated with regard to sharing their faith, even with a neighbor or passerby.  In addition, all communications providers, including the Internet will be subject to surveillance and censorship.  One Russian said that:

“The Russian Evangelical Church will soon find itself behind a new Iron Curtain which closes off society from the outside world.”

It is, says one Christian minister, “the most draconian anti-religion bill to be proposed in Russia since Nikita Khrushchev promised to eliminate Christianity in the Soviet Union.”

This new law will, says another Russian Christian leader, “Create conditions for the repression of all Christians.  Any person who mentions their religious views or reflections out loud or puts them in writing, without the relevant documents, could be accused of illegal missionary activity and subjected to a heavy fine.”  You will, Christian, be persecuted for spreading “the Word of God.”  Get ready for some serious penalties and jail time, Russian Christians.  GET READY!

Most people of faith are well aware of the incredibly growing ANTI-SEMITISM.  The movement BDS, Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions against Israel grows even to the point of being adopted by several Christian denominations.  Israel is accused of being apartheid and even genocidal by so many.   And now comes the so-called BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM) movement with its very own anti-Israel political platform which both confused and angered many Jewish BLM supporters.  The BLM platform accuses Israel of conducting “genocide” against the Palestinian people and blatantly refers to Israel as an:

APARTHEID STATE

That led the Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri, a group of predominantly African-American churches to state:

“The Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri, representing hundreds of predominantly African-American churches throughout the state rejects without hesitation any notion or assertion that Israel operates as an apartheid country.”

Good for you and well said Ecumenical Leadership Council, well said.  Thank you for standing up, for protesting the radical political agenda of BLM and otherwise standing for the Judeo-Christian partnership, the real partnership in the support of Israel.  We the people of faith are at war, are we not?  The storm has gathered.  It is here, it is now.  We the people of faith stand together to FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH, NOW or the battle will be lost and so many of our precious Constitutional freedoms, including and especially the Freedom of Religion will be forever gone.  Again, the words of former President Ronald Reagan:

FREEDOM ONCE LOST IS LOST FOREVER!

Remember that when you vote in November.

But in fact, you the person of faith must vote in November.  Hear the words of the good organization The Family Research Council:

“Christian voters must embrace their duty to vote, particularly for righteous candidates.  Our laziness, our disrespect for the opportunity God has given us in the vote, is a large SIN for which we need to repent.”

It is, says FRC, a duty, an absolute duty, a Christian duty to vote.  Not to vote is disrespect for God and the opportunity God has given us in the vote.  That, says FRC is in fact:

A LARGE SIN

It gets no more direct or blunt than that, does it?  The words again:

IT IS A LARGE SIN (AGAINST GOD) NOT TO VOTE!

We squander the opportunities the Lord has provided to advance His Kingdom through the peaceful vote.  It is our one and final opportunity to have the people who lead us make the right decisions, particularly with respect to our Constitutional rights and the Freedom of Religion.  FRC reminds us that we squander the opportunities the Lord has provided to advance His Kingdom through the peaceful vote.  We have a duty as well, the organization says, to work to convince Christian brethren to put on their boots and go and vote on that appointed day.  Those words, so many of those adopted by FRC were those of John Bona who wrote the book:

THE CHRISTIAN VOTE BOOK 2016

It is a book every Christian should read.

So, my fellow American, where do you stand?  Perhaps the question should be:

DO YOU IN FACT STAND, STAND UP?

Are you vocal in your faith, in your political conviction, in your beliefs about the great America and all that it offers?  Do you stand up, and speak, and act and work for this great country, especially you the pastors or do you “stay home,” intimidated, afraid of radical-liberal backlash and do nothing.  Do you remain part of the SILENT MAJORITY, a loser in the culture wars surrendering the moral high ground or will you, American citizen and pastor:

FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH

I hope indeed for the latter.  I hope that you will stand, do something.  Even where, as Scriptures say, two or three are gathered together, there comes the power of the God of faith and those two or three can really make a difference.  Be one of them my fellow Americans and stand up for America.  Stand up for its freedoms now, NOW for if they are lost:

THEY ARE LOST FOREVER

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