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States of Refuge – Word and Warfare

We are now at the Word and Warfare stage of our campaign Operation – First Abortion Free State.  We will be reading the entire Bible (unsheathing the Sword of the Spirit) at the gates of hell (the local abortion mills) in all five of the states that have one remaining abortion mill within their boundaries.  Our desire is to present to our Lord the first abortion free state at the Lincoln Memorial where we will also present to Him our National Emancipation Proclamation for the Unborn Child, in January, 2013.  The spiritual significance of this is monumental for it frees God’s hand to heal our land.  Below the dates and places for Word and Warfare. ~ Flip

Word in Warfare Opportunities

The States of Refuge campaign continues to march on. The next major push in implementing the vision is called Word in Warfare. Brother Chet Gallagher (Our state leader in Mississippi), based upon his study of Scripture, devised this battle strategy in spiritual warfare to be employed at the gates of hell throughout the land.

The Word in Warfare mission is designed to inspire Christians to unsheathe the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and declare, “Thus Saith the Lord” by reading aloud the entire Bible at key gates. In this instance, it will be employed at the five states, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming at the one death camp remaining that defiles our land. Each state leader will commence this aspect of the States of Refuge campaign on different dates.

Chet Gallagher in Jackson, Mississippi and Coach Dave Daubenmire in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, will kick their Word in Warfare assignment off on April 2, 3, and 4th. This is a strategic time. The Spring Forty Days for Life ends on April 1st. Right after this time of fasting and prayer, Word in Warfare will unleash God’s Word. We are praying God’s Word will go forth in power to defeat this evil that murders babies, enslaves the workers of iniquity, defiles our land, and invokes God’s judgement upon our nation.

Remember the power of God’s word according to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1:9, 10 declares, “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” God’s Word spoken by God’s people in faith can root up what is evil and plant what is good in God’s sight.

A Kansas Pastor in Jackson Hole, Wyoming plans on commencing the Word in Warfare on April 27, 28, and 29th. Pastor Mark Kiser in Little Rock, Arkansas plans on initiating Word in Warfare on May 4, 5, and 6th. Cal Zastrow is still working on the dates for Fargo, North Dakota. As soon as he gets them to me, I’ll pass them unto you.

All these state leaders need volunteers to come and boldly delcare God’s Word to the principalities and powers dominating these abortion mills. Please pray about supporting this next phase of the campaign in some manner. These men and this ministry need prayer. Let them know you are praying. These men need team members to stand with them to wield the sword of the Spirit in the battle for the souls of men, the lives of babies, and the future of our nation. Please try to come and participate if at all possible. Each team leader needs about 20 team members optimum and 10 team members minimum. Help send them if you cannot go yourself with financial support.

You can send your donations to:

States of Refuge
P.O. Box 3126
Waco, TX 76707

or donate online at:

 www.statesofrefuge.org

To contact these men to volunteer to pray or participate in one of these states, here’s the contact information: 

Jackson, Mississippi – April 2, 3, and 4th | Contact Chet Gallagher at chetgallagher@gmail.com

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – April 2, 3, and 4th | Contact Coach Dave at coach@ptsalt.comg

Little Rock, Arkansas – May 4, 5, and 6th | Contact Pastor Mark Kiser at pastormarkkiser@yahoo.com

Fargo, North Dakota – Dates to be determined | Contact Cal Zastrow at calzastrow@hotmail.com

God willing, I plan on participating in four of the five Word in Warfare events. Since there is a conflict in schedule with the April 2, 3, and 4th, dates, I plan on joining Coach in South Dakota. With all dispatch, please pass on this strategic ministry opportunity and call your friends, family, and churches to help get boots on the ground in these five states during this next phase of the States of Refuge campaign. Thanks!

Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas

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Cal Zastrow Jailed for Collecting Signatures

Our brother Cal is fighting the good fight for the lives of preborn children by obtaining signatures on Personhood Amendment petitions.  How far we have been moved, as Christians, from proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.  We have become the criminals by standing for life while abortionists have become fine upstanding citizens for ripping apart little baby boys and girls. ~ Flip 

Here’s the Preliminary Statement

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President Obama’s Visit to Notre Dame and Attack on Catholic Church

Jo Scott has put together a carefully researched article concerning Saul Alinsky, President Obama, and their relationship with the Catholic Church.  You may be surprised.  ~ Flip

SAUL ALINSKY, BARACK OBAMA LINKED TO CATHOLIC CHURCH

by Jo Scott 

How are Obama visiting Notre Dame, community organizers, and the contraception mandate related?  Hang tight.  I’m about to piece it together for you with the help of Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV.  Publications like The Wanderer have documented the facts and raised the same questions that Voris raises in his pilot video for real catholictv.com.   It is worth the time that it takes to view the presentation.  

For those that don’t have the time to watch Voris’ informative lecture, I will summarize the major points. In the 1930s, Saul Alinsky was an activist working with a juvenile delinquency group in Chicago.  Alinsky was a Jewish atheist, and today is known as the father of community organizing. He wrote Reveille for Radicals in 1947.  In it he states that community organizing is another word for revolution.  In 1971 he wrote another book, Rules for Radicals, which he dedicates to Lucifer, “The first rebel who, through his actions, inherits his own kingdom.” 

In the 1930s, Alinsky met the Meegan brothers, Joseph and Peter.  Joseph introduced him to the Chicago Bishops and to his brother, Fr. Peter Meegan, who in turn introduced Saul to Aux. Bishop Bernard Sheil.  Meegan and Sheil introduced Alinsky to the inner workings of the Catholic Church.  During this time, Saul organized his first community project called the “Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council.”  At this point, Alinsky pulled off his greatest coup and garnered the Bishops’ public seal of approval.  He convinced Aux. Bishop Sheil to join John L. Lewis, the head of the CIO (eventually known as the AFLCIO), on stage. At that moment the Catholic Church and the labor unions entered into an unholy partnership.

Msgr. Jack Egan teamed up with Alinsky, and in time, Egan was affectionately known by the Chicago press as “Alinsky’s priest intern.”  Egan promoted Alinsky so well that he was more popular among Catholics than the bishops.  Through the 40s, 50s, and 60s, Egan and Alinsky developed a well oiled network of priests and bishops throughout the United States.  In 1968, newly appointed Cardinal Cody realized that what Msgr. Egan was doing was not in line with Catholic doctrine and closed his office. 

Fr. Ted Hesburgh invited Msgr. Egan to Notre Dame for a sabbatical.  He remained at Notre Dame for the next 14 years where he continued to develop his priests’ network.  Egan periodically brought priests to the Catholic Mecca for conferences under the liberal eye of Hesburgh.  Egan was now in mainstream Catholic life. 

During Egan’s time at Notre Dame in the late 60s, race riots broke out around the country.  A document called Black Manifesto was published which called for reparations for African Americans.  The Catholic Church chose Msgr. Jack Egan and his network of priests to come up with a plan to alleviate poverty.  All of Egan’s priests, save one, were personally trained by Saul Alinsky in the tactics laid out in his book, Reveille for Radicals.  This opportunity allowed Egan’s network of priests to implement Saul Alinsky’s radical community organizing tactics of gaining power and strength from the people and using it to empower and enlarge government.  

In a few months, the network created the “National Crusade against Poverty” (NCAP) and committed to raise 50 million dollars over several years.  The campaign should have raised the money and dissolved.  It did not, and in fact, it is still in existence today under the name of the “Catholic Campaign for Human Development.”  The CCHD has raised over $289,000,000 in 40 years, and by donating to the radical left, they have gained immense power in the abortion and homosexual communities. 

In 1995, Cardinal Bernardin gave a speech called “The Story of the Campaign for Human Development-Theological and Historical Roots.”  In that speech he said that he was directly involved in the setting up of the CCHD. 

Bernardin is the author of the “Seamless Garment Theology” that teaches sin and social problems are the same.  Abortion and poverty are of equal importance, voiding the need to end abortion quickly. 

Jesus said that the poor will always be with us, but in God’s criminal justice system, murder is worthy of the death penalty.  It’s obvious to the casual reader that poverty is not a sin and murder is a heinous sin.  Cardinal Bernardin’s theology effectively desensitized the Catholic masses to the immediate need to end the horror of abortion.  The Cardinal’s theology taught that sin is social injustice, and Alinsky, under the guise of “social justice,” wanted to change the world for the better.  It was a marriage made perfect at the CCHD.

The money CCHD collects goes to community organizing groups like the IAF, Industrial Areas Foundation, personally founded by Saul Alinsky.  It is a school for professional radicals.  It receives 16% of all moneys allocated to the CCHD under the heading of fighting poverty.

Midwest Academy is a power grabbing group headed by Heather Booth who graduated from IAF.  Her husband, Paul Booth, was head of the Students for a Democratic Society, and now is the advisor to the president of the AFSCME union.  Here again, you see the church involved with democrats and the unions.  Interestingly, no money goes to pro life groups.

Barack Obama introduced the American public to the term “community organizer.”  People didn’t think much of it.  They scratched their heads, thinking it was a good thing that he volunteered his time.  No one understood that the term “community organizer” was a buzz word for the radical left.  No one understood that the infrastructure for what Obama is doing to destroy the moral, financial, and spiritual fiber of this nation was already in place.  No one understood, unless you were trained by those who built the infrastructure, as Barack Obama was, and as Msgr. Egan and his network of priests were.

Now it doesn’t seem so odd that President Obama would go to Notre Dame for a commencement speech.  He was there to pay tribute to his mentors in community organizing.  To pay tribute to those who helped put him in office.  In his speech he mentioned his high regard for Cardinal Bernardin, who spoke at one of the first organizing meetings he ever attended. 

Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV stated that the sixteen fellows that run Notre Dame wanted President Obama there before Fr. Hesburgh died to show him that his dream had come to fruition.  Voris called it a “victory lap” for the entire Saul Alinsky School of community organizing.

Recently, President Obama said that he will force religious institutions to pay for contraception for all of their employees.  It is a bold move that seemingly flies in the face of the Catholic Church.  Or does it? 

In light of the facts exposed in this article, it seemed strange to me that the bishops immediately went to the media threatening lawsuits over the contraception mandate. Why did they decide to fight this battle so vehemently?  Why don’t they fight the abortion battle as fiercely?  The Bishops could use this as a teaching moment but they haven’t.  Not one mention of the dangers of steroidal contraception or the fact that they cause abortion has entered the discussion.  I don’t believe that it’s an oversight.  I believe that the network of Saul Alinsky trained and indoctrinated bishops and priests and the CCHD are working with the Obama administration, and they have successfully diverted attention from the abortion issue to the contraception issue.  The democrats know that they cannot win this election if the media focuses on abortion, but they believe they can win with the focus on contraception.

With the help of the Catholic Church hierarchy, those that oppose everything good and holy have played the Christians like a fiddle.  All the while, innocent baby girls and boys are mercilessly killed in their mothers’ wombs.  Their blood stains the Church and cries out to almighty God for justice.  The question now is, what are we going to do about it?

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Saints in Connecticut Not Waiting for Election 2012

The saints in Connecticut continue to live out their faith at the gates of hell and the gates are not prevailing.  Here are some wonderful stories of those “plucked from the fire” as a result of those fabulous Christians not loving their own lives so much as to shrink from death.

Enjoy! ~ Flip

 

Operation Save America – CT

 

“They defeated the Accuser by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives, but laid them down for Him.”

Revelation 12:11

 

Babies saved since 1990: 2192

Salvations: 398

 

Brodie and Alex (Auriela’s baby saved 3 yrs ago) Auriela and Brenda

Stories from Brenda Rutherford:

 

This is Aurelia. Wendee and I met her three years ago at Planned Parenthood, where her son was scheduled to die through a horrific abortion.  Praise God this mom chose life for her baby!  Along the way our ministry has helped this family a great deal with their needs and shared the saving gospel of Jesus Christ with them all.  I was blessed to be a part of Aurelia’s pregnancy and  the birth of this precious little boy named Alex!  He is now a happy, energetic 2 1/2 year old!  Aurelia and her boyfriend, Alejandro along with their five children recently moved back to CT from a two year stay in PA. They are currently staying in a temporary shelter.  Aurelia is eight months pregnant and suffers from a serious disease and is in and out of the hospital often.  After years of prayers for this family they are have been attending church with me for the past month. God is answering our prayers! The other day the boyfriend,  Alejandro called my pastor (Hector) at the wee hours of the morning to tell him that Jesus had woke him telling  him to get his and Aurelia’s life right and start cleaning house! Please continue to pray for them and their salvation! (Nancy said Brenda told her she was going into the hospital today,so pray for her please).


Back in November at Planned Parenthood, Pam and I spoke to a couple going in for an abortion. This was the couples third attempt.  Each time they came they saw us and were convicted, left and rescheduled for the following week.  On their third visit Pam and I had an opportunity to speak with Nina and her boyfriend Amando. Amando was crying and expressed he did not want her to abort!  We told them we could help. We gave them literature, showed them pictures of their developing baby and prayed for them to let their baby live. They decided to go home!  Pam and I have visited them several times with diapers, wipes , clothes and most important we shared Jesus with them, they were both very open to listening. We left bibles, Mark Cahill books along with the 180 DVD and Eclipse of Reason. Nina and Amando have six other children ranging from 1-15 years old. At Nina’s last recent Dr’s appointment the ultrasound revealed……..TWO heartbeats, that’s right…TWINS! A boy and a girl!!!!

I met Michelle, a 17 year old going into Planned Parenthood this past Saturday for a pregnancy test. Colbi and I spent time talking to her about Jesus , gave her literature. She said she attends church regularly. We offered to take her home and get a pregnancy test, she refused and went in for her appointment. Michelle called later that day to tell me she was pregnant, scared and needed help! She also told her mom she was pregnant, who is a Christian, who told her that “abortion was not an option, that it’s murder!!” Her mom told her she would help her also.  Sadly Michelle called me yesterday to tell me she went to the Dr and was miscarrying the baby. We prayed and talked a lot, she opened up about her life.  I told her she needs to repent of her ways and surrender her life to Christ.  She wants to keep in contact, and come next week to my house for bible study.  Pray for Michelle and her salvation!!
 
Here are some pictures of us on the streets, on the left is a man that brought his sister here to interpret.

Stories from Carmen Vazquez:

A few weeks ago Marilyn and I spoke at a church in Bridgeport about abortion and what we do to help women in the ministry. We were able to   show the “180” DVD  and the video Hard Truth. The Holy Spirit touched many of the people that night and most of them signed-up to join us on the front lines at Summit Center,intercede for those entering the mill. A few days later I received a phone call from a woman. She was very depressed because she had several abortions. She told me that her daughter-in-law had brought home information we gave out at this church. I began to counsel her over the phone and she was crying and telling me how she was tormented thinking about what she had done years ago and wanted to know if I had any help. She wasn’t saved and didn’t attend church. I was able to share with her the love of Christ and all that He had done for her on the cross. She repented over the phone of all her sins and for murdering her babies. She accepted Christ and made Him Lord over her life! She said she felt chills after she prayed and a burden lifted off her. I encouraged her to attend church with her daughter-in-law and she did. I had her make an appointment with Sylvia from Hopeline were they counsel women with post abortion syndrome along with a bible study. She went to her first counseling session and bible study this pass week and she sounded so much better. She shared with me that she is able to sleep better at night. Women are never the same after an abortion. That is why we need to reach out to these women that are hurting in the church with post abortion syndrome. They are afraid to tell anyone. Let us pray for these women to open up and reach out for help. We care about them too!

One of the moms that changed her mind nineteen years ago came to visit us at the mill with her family. Afterward we had breakfast and great fellowship.They are attending a Christian Church every Sunday and we encouraged them to get married. We know that “obedience is better than sacrifice”. Please pray for this beautiful family! They are so thankful for all the help they have received from this ministry and they continue to let us know how grateful they are to God for all He has done in their lives!

 

 

Victoria and Vilma (Calvary Life)                  Yvette and her daughter (6 months old)

 

Another day a woman walked by and Carmen starting talking to her. She wasn’t going into the mill but asked for prayer that she would get pregnant. Carmen asked her if she was married and she said she was not. So Carmen said “You should get married first, then we will pray that God blesses you with a baby!” 

 

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

 

We thank God that two security guards have left the killing center recently! (Alan & Joe) We pray that God will bless them in their new jobs! We have another security guard now so please pray for his conviction too. Working at a death camp is sin and their checks are signed with the innocent blood of little boys and girls that did not choose to die. These precious little children are created in the image of God.  We are also grateful for some new soldiers joining us out on the frontline: Vilma, Victoria and Heather. We welcome you. Like )Pastor Ed Martin said “If one person stands at death’s door and recruits just one person, we now have the POWER OF TWO. If both of these people recruit another person to stand at death’s door, we have the POWER OF FOUR. Again, if these four people recruit another person, we have the POWER OF EIGHT, the POWER OF SIXTEEN and so on until the TRUE POWER OF THE CHURCH STANDING IN THE POWER OF THOUSANDS.  BUT IT ALL STARTS WITH THE POWER OF ONE.”

 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 

So please join us as we reach out to those who find themselves where they should not be! (3787 Main St. Bpt. Tues. Fri. Sat. 8 AM- 10 AM)  Jesus is the head of the Church. We are His body. We are His mouthpiece, His Hands, His feet.  If not us, then who? If not now? Then When:? If not here, then where? Please… just show up and see what God will do. It is such an awesome privilege to co-labor with Him!  (the Lord of Lord and King of Kings)

 

For the Least of These,

Marilyn Carroll <///><

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Ron Paul – Lost in His Own Theological Weeds

Three days ago, Ron Paul gave this tortured answer to a CNN reporter concerning the case of a child conceived as a result of rape.  One minute long. 

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A New Laborer at the Gates of Hell

Enjoy this testimony of Jesus’ incredible working in the heart of a young man who is now totally given over to Christ and His mission.  ~ Flip

 

My Second Trip to an Abortion Mill

Jonathan Devore, February 8, 2012

I want to first and foremost start off by giving praise and glory to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Without Him, I would be lost and bound for hell. But I give thanks to the One who saves sinners like myself and to Him all the praise is due! 

“Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 115:1 

On Saturday February 4th 2012 I went out to the “Family Reproductive Health” abortion mill at 700 East Hebron St. in Charlotte, NC. This was my first trip in any capacity to an abortion mill to share the Gospel, pray and talk to people about what they are about to do when they enter through those doors of the abortion mill and try to offer help. 

I was blown away by the amount of people out there on a cold and rainy Saturday morning. We showed up and people were out there on the microphone preaching the Gospel and talking to people as they entered the parking lot to get rid of their “problem”. Ministering at an abortion mill isn’t what I expected at all. I was blown away by the presence of God in and through me and others. When I was out there at the mill, all I wanted to do was be in a constant state of prayer and cry out to God that He would save a baby’s life that day and bring salvation to even one person!  

When I was at the mill and walking back in forth in the rain praying, I remembered something that took place in my life over 10 years ago. I was looking at the mill, looking back at South Boulevard and this place looked very familiar. Over 10 years ago, my girlfriend at the time had got pregnant and we were shocked. I told her that whatever decision she made I would support her. We went to that same abortion mill and got an abortion and literally killed our unborn baby. I couldn’t believe it, I was at the same abortion mill where I allowed my girlfriend to get an abortion, and now I was praying over the unborn babies and the mothers that were about to get an abortion! Unbelievable. 10 years ago, I would have viewed the people out there protesting as being “radical” Christians that are nuts. Now, because Jesus Christ has saved me, I was one of them on the other side of the fence! Praise be to God! I thank the Lord that he has saved my soul even after I allowed the murder of my unborn baby. Praise the Lord that He paid the price and the penalty for my sin on the cross! 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” – Romans 8:1  

After going out to the mill and experiencing it first hand, I can’t wait to get more involved and go back out there. I am even planning on going out again this Saturday morning. Praise the Lord! I want to be a part of this ministry because first and foremost we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ and I want to proclaim the Gospel to others and in turn talk to them about the consequence and danger of abortion and offer help! 

“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” – Ephesians 6:19-20 

I highly and strongly recommend other followers of Jesus Christ to come out to an abortion mill. It is something that you will never fully understand or see unless you come out and see it firsthand. The Gospel is preached. We offer help to others in need. We pray. We don’t condone what they are doing at an abortion mill, but we also don’t condemn people. We speak truth in love to people that need to hear it. I encourage others to go out and be bold for Christ and see what I experienced firsthand as well!

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Amazing Truth Revealed in a Beautiful Song

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 2:5.  This is the preamble to the marvelous Kenosis (emptying) passage found in Philippians 2:6-11.  It was this passage that changed my entire view about abortion in 1982.  I was pretty much pro-abortion before this, even though I had been through seminary and pastored a small church for two years.  When I was confronted with the truth of this passage, my life was forever changed.  I realized that when Jesus emptied Himself and came to this earth to save us, He arrived nine months before He was revealed in the flesh in Bethlehem.  At what point in time did the Word of God become flesh?  When the Holy Spirit came upon the virgin Mary, all of God was here with us (Immanuel – God is with us).

When we are born-again and the Word of God becomes flesh within us, we become totally different though nothing in our circumstances or relationships is changed – everything is different.  We now have the mind of Christ.  A new song is birthed in our hearts and pours like “living water” out of our mouths.

Now imagine with me.  If that new song, birthed in our hearts, were joined with others of the same mind; what would kind of music would we make.  Perhaps it would sound like this.

Enjoy! ~ Flip

 

Let’s make this music together when the DNC shows up in our city.

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Susan G. Komen – Afraid of Being Exposed!

Jo Scott just wrote this riveting article concerning the Susan G. Komen cover-up of the abortion/breast cancer link.  The real reason Komen stopped funding Planned Parenthood has far more to do with its own sin than concern over Planned Parenthood’s being investigated by state and federal authorities. 

Susan G. Komen is afraid of being found out that it has been hiding a truth it has known for almost twenty years.  Abortion is the leading cause of breast cancer in this country.  40,000 women die every year as a result of breast cancer.  The very organization that raises billions of dollars to find a cure for breast cancer is actually the greatest purveyor of it.

Like the cigarette companies before it, Susan G. Komen is making billions, knowing all the while that it is hiding the real truth about the deadly relationship that exists between abortion and breast cancer. ~ Flip

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First Trip to An Abortion Mill – Try This!

I have never met Shaun McDonnell, but I wish there were more Christians like him.  Here is his firsthand account of Shaun’s very first trip to an abortion mill.  It was the “Orlando Women’s Clinic” (OWC).  You remember this mill at our National Event this past July in Orlando, Florida.  You will also remember the man Shaun ran into at the mill – John Barros.  John has been faithfully proclaiming Christ outside this mill every day except Saturdays for the past two years.  This is a great story.  Read it here via lifesitenews.com

Enjoy!   ~ Flip

 

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How to Remove The Gospel From the Streets

The devil never retreats from the ground he attempts to take unless the Church of Jesus Christ forces him to retreat.  This is just the way it is on this earth, whether or not we like it or agree with it.  The devil is always doing his best to shut us up.  This article in the Times –Picayune describes his latest attempt to remove street preachers from proclaiming Christ on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.  The preachers are still preaching out there as of today.  The police aren’t quite sure about this new city ordinance and how many suits are going to be leveled against the city.  If the Church of Jesus Christ rises up in New Orleans and storms the gates of hell on Bourbon street – believe me – the gates of hell will not prevail.  Never have, never will! ~ Flip

Published: Friday, January 27, 2012, 11:00 PM     Updated: Saturday, January 28, 2012, 7:55 AM

When the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance in October prohibiting “aggressive solicitation” by people who allegedly harass or intimidate French Quarter residents and tourists while asking for money, it included a seemingly unrelated provision that attracted no attention at the time.

southern_decadence_opponents_bourbon_street.jpg

Alex Brandon, The Times-Picayune archiveAnti-gay campaigners were photographed on Bourbon Street during Southern Decadence in 2003.

That sentence, almost at the end of the eight-page ordinance, said: “It shall be prohibited for any person or group of persons to loiter or congregate on Bourbon Street for the purpose of disseminating any social, political or religious message between the hours of sunset and sunrise.”

Although the law, sponsored by Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, spelled out the justification for the crackdown on aggressive panhandlers, it offered no explanation for the blanket ban on letting people assemble on Bourbon Street at night to voice their views on politics or religion.

When someone complained about the law this week, however, it was not to challenge it as an infringement on First Amendment freedoms. Instead, former mayoral candidate Leo Watermeier complained to Palmer and Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson in public emails that religious demonstrators, sometimes with large signs and bullhorns, have been showing up on Bourbon Street on Friday and Saturday nights, yet police have taken no action against them.

Watermeier wages an annual battle with the small group of anti-gay campaigners who show up during the Southern Decadence festival, using bullhorns and picket signs to convey their message that homosexuality is evil and that its public celebration during Decadence is particularly abominable.

Brendan McCarthy can be reached at bmccarthy@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3301. Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3320.

 

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