Columbine shooting

Today is the 10th year anneversary of the Columbine shooting that took place in Colorado when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a killing rampage killing 12 students and a teacher, as well as wounding 23 others, before committing suicide.
I can remember the how blown away I was wathing the news. Growing up near L.A. I was familiar with youth my age flying off the handle, but this was extreamly insane of these two people. So many look to video games, music, and the other cultural influences in teenagers as a result of this masacare, but let me give you one other that goes much more deeper in to the issues with our adult culture... EVOLUTION.
Our President Barak Obama when inaugurated listed things needing to be done in the U.S. and one of them was "We will restore science to its rightful place." Now the evolutionist I'm sure herald this statement which will become a battle cry for more evolution to be taught. How did evolution effect such a two young students? Even if not being taught it directly in school evolution propaganda is everywhere. Practically every dinasour book takes a long earth age perspective. So from child on, it is always in back of our brains. Life is in a constant stuggle of the strong vs. the week. There is no point to life, no right or wrong, no consequences, Life is what I make out of it, Life is about me! Oh, how wonderful humanism is!? The religion is atheism, "Darwin is it's prophet and evolutionary science is its sacred book."
Oh let's remember on this day how one get's to the point of thinking of taking so many people's life. There is a battle of the minds that is taking place. 2nd Corinthians 11:4 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Religion is not the answer, but Jesus is. "I have come that they may have life and life more abundantly."

The modern prophet (Our news)

This says the Lord concerning the prophets, Who make my people stray? Micah 3:5
I would like to think that today's prophets are not those in the pulpits of America, but our 24/7 news agency's, CNN, MSNBC & Fox News Channel, that like the prophets of ancient times are the voice peace of the country.
Have you ever watched the news (like I did this morning) and just thought, This isn't news, its commentary on the news! I think you have. These news anchors are the prophets and prophetesses of today as they critique, put down & sway public opinion through there clever spin.
In our news today I saw a CNN reporter interviewing a Father with his little girl on his shoulders at one of the Tea Party rallies that are happening all across the United States in protest of the Bank bailouts. This reporter wouldn't even let the man answer her questions, but instead saw it as a opportunity to criticize Him and the protest.
Now I love debate, but what was this reporter doing? She was putting her own opinions first on the protest before simply reporting the news. She had become a prophet to sway the nations.
For me watching, this was quite embarrassing to watch. It was a very immature move on the reporter's part. Here is a Father of a 2 year old at a peaceful protest doing what this country is founded on, the freedom to voice a public opinion on our government, and she uses it as a pulpit to argue her and those she represents agenda and doctrine. It was sad to watch.
Our news in this country is no longer news, its various prophets swaying the public. If anyone gets a chance to read Joel C. Rosenberg's new book "Inside the Revolution," please do. If you would like to get an idea of what is happening in the middle east (really what is happening), then I dare you to read it! You will get interviews from the rulers of countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, one on one discussion with those who have fled their lives, been a part of the radical Islam groups and much, much more. There words, not our news prophets.

Gay movement good for Christianity in America?

Ok, with that title I need to do some defending. Please hear me out.
I begin my defense by stating a Christian doctrine so true and foundational yet not without its proponents, ?God is Sovereign.?
This is a direct quote from the scriptures themselves (Gen 15:2)
Genesis 15:2
But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD?
Now the awkwardness with the Sovereignty of God is abroad in the Christian culture. ?How can God be in control of all?? ?How can a Holy God allow such evil and wrong doing in the world??
On our subject we could say, ?How can God allow such behavior that by nature does not work??
But in my own heart there became a wonderfully gentle peace that has come over me when I grabbed a hold of the truth that God does all things for His Glory. (Psalm 115:1 ?Not to us but to your name be the Glory?)
All things, even evil things are allowed and purposed to His utter Glory (Job, Acts 2:23)
Now where I use to get muddled with this is when I would look at a statement like the above and then look to my own end as a argument against such a statement.
My own end, is what I think, is the right thing. This ?right thing? is usually what makes me ?Happy.? There was a time when our own happiness was not such dominant thought in the world, but more issues of survival and virtue. This ?right thing? that we all think God should be about the business of doing is birthed from our own sinful state of thinking we are the center of the universe, or ours. ?How could God allow that, look at the bloodshed and the atrocity, the injustice?? ?How does God get the Glory for that?? Notice that these common thoughts come from the perspective not of faith in what the scriptures teach, which is again, ?All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His Purpose (His Glory.) These well known arguments against the purpose of God come from our reasoning that God is not doing things as I think are right.
Now my argument is that God is purposing all things for His Glory. Whether the Pharaoh of Egypt or the Homosexual agenda in America.
I now would like to share why I believe this generation in America is allowing such behavior. One world?Guilt.
What pain is to the body, guilt is to the soul. And this generation of leaders is guilty. I remember sitting with some family members in my living room watching a sporting event when they asked where my son was. They knew he was in his room playing his ?evil? video games, wasting his 14 year old life away, yet they asked and then went on to say how bad it is to be into video games like that. I quickly thought about what I was doing at 14 as the son of a 50/60?s generation that smoked dope all day while taking off their clothes listening to the most stoned out music in the rain! I was not any different. So I asked my family members, ?Now what is it that your generation added to our society, Porn & Pot!??
My parent?s generation was a mess and has a bolder amount of guilt like yeast has gone through the batch of dough. This generation I believe is extremely guilty. Abortions are 46,000,000 since Roe v.s. Wade, We have a massive drug problem in the country, America generates more porn than any other country (90% of the porn sites are U.S. created), music has become less innovative than ever, and now Gay marriage.
To my generation this is normal behavior that?s why I think the younger generation say?s, ?what?s the big deal, let them get married, so what.? It?s not because of guilt for the younger generation, it?s plain, allowed normal behavior.
I believe the response to guilt in the leaders of this generation is either a extreme brokenness before God, and the breaking of his commandments or a further allowance of behavior that makes for a atonement for their own sins. If they were to say that Gay marriage is wrong then consequently they would have to look at their own lives of having massive sex, smoking extreme quantities of the ganja, and simply not parenting their children because they where to into their BMW?s and boats. The change of this world is a temporary change for self exaltation, while the humility and brokenness that is found in Jesus is for His exaltation. This current generation is for self exaltation.
God will purpose in the hardness of heart of this generation in such a way as to make the riches of His grace known. Simply put, ?Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more? (Rom 5:20).
God is moving all things to a place where this grace in Jesus abounds all the more. Today I know look at such trends in American culture though the lens of God?s perspective and no longer what I think is right. ?How can God allow this in America?? My answer is, ?Why not?? What makes you think God revolves around what you think and not His purpose, exalting his Glory through the grace in Jesus to a lost world?
22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath?prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory?Romans 9:22
This will make uncomfortable who think of justice from their own prejudices of right and wrong. But as one famous Christian Pastor put it in his 1st Chapter, first sentence, ?It?s not about you.?
God is concerned about his Glory and the current push to have same sex marriages in America will be used by God to further the maximum Glory to His Name.
What could the results of such a law be in America? For sure a certain further distancing between Christina ethics and the worlds for sure. What if Pastor?s will have to perform same sex marriages? Some will no doubt go to jail. From the perspective of some this is bad, because who would want to go to jail? But for the one who knows the ultimate purpose of God is for His Glory jail is a opportunity to be used by the Masters Hand to minister to others and suffer, if it be the Lord?s will, to His Glory. How sufferings show the Glory of God? Because when we suffer for Christ name we show to a dying world the infinite worth of following Christ! This glorifies God. We are satisfied in Him and Him alone. ?There is nothing I desire on the earth besides you? Psalm 73:25.
If we see the allowance of more and more then it is sure to exalt the holiness of others more and more!
With this is mind, let us believers in Christ fight for what we believe in through a peaceful, law abiding way. If the Homosexual agenda in America get?s its way, I believe there victory will result in an outpouring of opportunity for those desperately trying to atone for their sins through false pleasure and allowance. No matter?God wins.

The Countdown Continues - by Pastor Scott Richards

When the history of 2009 is finally written, what story will be considered the most important?

It will probably not be the economy.

Or the environment.

Or the new administration.

I believe it will be an event that will take place far away from the shores of the United States that may have a staggering effect all of the above.



Israel, Iran liable to clash in 2009 over nukes, says U.S. intel chief

Israel and Iran are liable to enter into a confrontation or a crisis sometime this year due to Tehran?s progress in its nuclear weapons program and Jerusalem?s determination to thwart it, the head of U.S. intelligence told lawmakers on Thursday.

In a report to the Senate Intelligence Committee on the potential threats as foreseen by the 16 intelligence arms of the United States, Dennis Blair said that Hezbollah, the Lebanese-based Shi?ite group which is backed by Iran, has beefed up its weapons arsenal in preparation for another round of fighting with Israel.

Blair said Hezbollah presents a formidable threat to U.S. interests, particularly if the organization feels Washington directly threatens Iran or acts against the group?s targets, infrastructure, and leadership.

When the inevitable happens and Benjamin Netanyahu is named Israel?s new Prime Minister, his job one will be to deal decisively with the imminent threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb.

A growing consensus among intelligence experts puts the development of such a nuke within the next 8-10 months.

Adding to the pressure is the increasingly cozy military relationship between Iran and Russia, including the installation of state of the art anti-aircraft defenses at key nuclear development sites.

If Israel is to prevent Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad from having the capability to make good on his threat to wipe the Jewish nation off the map, they will have to act and act quickly.

If I may engage in a bit of Scripturally influenced speculation, I believe that no later than this Fall, we will see a successful destruction of a large part of Iran?s nuclear facilities.

Where does the Scripture give insight into this?

In Ezekiel 38-39, the now famous account of the future Gog and Magog invasion of Israel, there are two significant details presented.

Iran is mentioned as a part of this invading coalition of nations, but not in an independent capacity.

Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops?many people are with you. (Ezekiel 38:5-6)

Since a nuclear armed Iran could act independently in its desire to do in six minutes what it took Hitler six years to do, their subservient role in this prediction strongly hints that they will not achieve that capacity.

Since Ahmadinejhad and the mad Mullahs believe that the 12th Imam, their Muslim messiah will only come at the height of world wide conflict, it is in their interest to stir the pot.

In other words, if they have a nuclear weapon, they would not hesitate to use it aggressively in their desire to fulfill prophecy.

So since Israel will be around to be invaded in the Last Days, and will live for a time in a state of security from their enemies, it seems that an Iranian bomb is a non starter.

The only way that their ambitions in his area will be frustrated will not be through diplomatic or economic sanctions.

It will take a military strike.

Israel recognizes that they cannot depend on the US to do this.

Odds are that we will see Israel make such a move. And when it does, the entire world balance will be altered.

To view more Blogs from Pastor Scott Richards visit www.scottrichardslive.com

What a football..uh porn ...game!

Well once again the Super Bowl game has given us more then we asked for!
Fortunately for me I didn't see it, but of course when I got on the internet it was posted all over the place. Tucson AZ, comcast company got something a bit tweeked and well... a hard core porn scene was what we got for 10 seconds.
Im sure this is no shocker to us who saw the Janet Jackson breast shot a couple of years ago, but this deffinately was a step up on the rating scale.
This is just another case where porn has become the norm in our life. As the Super Bowl game was on another cable network, Spike TV, was showing the Adult Video Awards from Las Vegas! It's the grammy's for porn! I wonder how they rate who's the best actor or actress? And who votes? Who goes to these events too?
Many of you probably are aware that many actors got there start in the porn industry in the 70's and producers as well. It's a great place to start I guess. Unfortuately for many there is no get out of jail free card. Many get abused by the industry while others make a killing of a profit!
Hard core porn is just no longer .... Hard Core!
You have Jr. High students engaging in hard core like relations, videoing it on there cell phone and sending it to there friends! Now that's Hard Core!
The pursuit of false pleasure is endless. Why is this bad?
Because false pleaseure leads to destruction. It looks like a porn addict, a young women with babies or a young mother aborting her child. How many millions upon millions of people are in bondage to porn? Addictions don't love anybody, but the substance.
So at the A.V.A. in Vegas people are on the stage with happy smiles thinking they are movie stars, yet what a illussion! No longer to those who make it in the San Fernando Valley the main producers of porn, but now through technology all of us can produce and show our own porn to millions!
The super bowl is the most watched sporting event other then the Wordcup and olympics, so it seems appro-poe to have what has become mainstreame in on all the action. As one writter wrote..."Would you like porn with that burger?"

Psalm 4: 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [a] ?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods

Needing Freedom from Porn...our country does!

I love a passage that is found in Joshua 7:13. It says, "you cannot satand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you!"

The backround is that the nation of Israel are going to battle agaist a whimpy, tiny of a nation, but have run into a major roadblock! They are unable to win. The reason why is given in verse 13.

Like Isareal we at times seem to be stuck in a rut with no light in sight. The reason for this is that we need to remove an obstacle from our lives that is keeping us from experienceing the joyful freedom we so desire.

For those I talk to it's porn. 12% of the interenet is porn so many women and men have found a pleasure that has now become such a obstacle in the lives. For many who are reading this, you to have stuggled with porn more then likely and you've tried and tried to be rid of it only to fall back week after week. 50% of all internet users in any given month are porn viewers! Removing for some mean killing there TV or Computer, for others its not going to the local bar or social event. But this we must get... Unless it's removed we cannot stand.

This porn obstacle has influenced our our nation from the polititians to the homless person in the park. Even the 2008 Bush stimulus checks we recieved as a nation went to porn!

An independent market-research firm, AIMRCo (Adult Internet Market Research Company), has discovered that many websites focused on adult or erotic material have experienced an upswing in sales in the recent weeks since checks have appeared in millions of Americans' mailboxes across the country.

As crazy as it sounds, porn has been a obstacle in our nation and in our individual lives. "We cannot stand against our enemies until we take away the accursed thing from among us."

How tuff it is for the porn addiction man or women to make good decisions either when it comes to war and economics or how to manage your families expenses or dicipline your kids.

Purity before Power!

If you are reading this and have tried to "remove" porn from your life only to fail, please email me at beau@settingcaptivesfreetucson.org or visit www.settingcaptivesfree.com

Why object to a God? SEX?

Have you every thought that people who are Atheist are smarter then you? And because they are smart...scientific people they don't believe in a God? Why would they...they have all the answers right...

I like what Aldous Huxley from the infamous Huxley family and Atheist said, "We objected to the morality (religious) because it interefered with our sexual freedom."

See...Not believeing in God isn't just because the scientist has proven there is no God, (that hasn't happened).

Not believeing in God free's them from any accountibility for their action. I can do whatever, and there is no God who will settle the score later on.

And did you notice what kind of liberation Huxley was talking about? SEX!!!

I like the quote from Dinesh D'Souza's book "Why is Christianity so Great, on pg. 269, "The orgasm has become today's secular sacrament."

So many refuse to accept a Creator because the feeling they get during a intiment occation with themselves or another.

Do we love our lust that much?