March 1999 Newsletter

WELCOME TO THE GENTLE REVOLUTION

Many have asked why we call what we do the Gentle Revolution. First, it is not a revolution without violence (Mt 11:12). The violence that does take place, takes place in a man's heart. Second, it is a revolution that cannot be seen - at least not initially. It begins in the heart and involves the violent overthrow of self-will and the enthronement of Almighty God. Third, this violence in the heart manifests itself outwardly in the gentle revolution of a man's own life that draws him to his family, his work, his city, and his nation. Theology becomes biography or, said better, the Word of God becomes flesh in his life.

This man becomes a different man! Instead of ripping off people and pushing for self-advancement and aggrandizement, he finds that true liberty is found by laying down his own life that others might live. He realizes that his gifts, talents, and abilities have not been given to him for himself, but for the encouragement and edification of others. Jesus defined the revolution this way: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Mk 8:35. Our Founding Fathers understood this revolution and lived it out when 56 of them signed the Declaration of Independence: "For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

The leader of this gentle revolution is Jesus Christ. If you doubt this, just look at the original writings of our Founding Fathers and check their references to Christ. The book most quoted by them was the Bible. Not only that, the book in the Bible most quoted by them was Deuteronomy. They knew the Book, they knew the Law of the Book, and they knew the Lord of the Book. They would never have embarked on the dangerous journey to independence (declaring independence from England but dependence upon Almighty God) had they not been convinced of His divine leading and power. They risked everything and placed their complete trust in the God who would rescue them from their enemies. He is calling each one of us to join His Gentle Revolution!

OPERATION SAVE AMERICA, BUFFALO AND ROCHESTER, NY, APRIL 18-25, 1999

"When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies." Numbers 10:9.

Rusty Thomas brought this verse and several others to my attention this past week and reminded me that, in Buffalo and Rochester, we are to make a clear trumpet sound for our Lord Jesus to the nation. If America is ever to be saved it will be only by the hand of Almighty God. There is no other way! We are coming to Buffalo and Rochester, with our faces low to the ground, to set the trumpet to our mouths and call God's church to repentance and move her to the gates of hell. We are simply the Lord's mailmen sent to deliver His message to a people He has greatly blessed but who have forgotten Him. We are praying that you will join us!

"Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" 1 Corinthians 14:8.

Our prayer is that we will indeed make a clear trumpet sound in Buffalo and Rochester that will ring into the ears of our arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned nation (Ezekiel 16:49). Bob and Bonnie Behn, Mike and Jean Warren, and Jerry and Terry Crawford are faithfully preparing the way for us to sound the trumpet. There is not a better way for a mom and a dad to pass the cross of Christ into the hearts of their children than for them to see mom and dad, pastor and deacon, engage the enemy at the very gates of hell. If you desire your children to fulfill the purpose for which God created them, then allow them to witness the singing, praying, proclaiming Church of Jesus Christ in the streets. Allow them to see your theology become biography in the streets of our nation.

Motel reservations contact: The Blue Dolphin, 951 Niagra Falls Blvd., Amherst, NY 14228,

(716) 691-9392. Make reservations in the name of Operation Save America.

2 to room $32 + tax; 3 to room $37 + tax; 4 to room $42 + tax.

More information contact: Rev. Bob Behn of Last Call Ministries, (716) 862-9390 or (716) 834-1312.

ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL ALSO PREPARING FOR OPERATION SAVE AMERICA

Those who are not thrilled about the Gospel of Christ or our arrival are also preparing. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that her husband plans to seek $4.5 million in federal funds for security systems to protect clinics where children are murdered. Is there another business you know of that receives tax dollars for surveillance cameras and bulletproof windows? This ploy from the pit of hell is meant to divert our attention from the real violence taking place every day inside of these mills.

New York's new attorney general Eliot Spitzer announced the creation of a new Reproductive Rights Division that will be staffed by lawyers and undercover investigators. It will have its headquarters in downtown Buffalo. The real purpose of this division is to strike terror into the heart of any Christian that would dare offer the Gospel to moms and dads planning to kill their children at abortion mills. Mr. Spitzer's own words reveal his bully tactic: "Because of the absence of enforcement, there has been an atmosphere created that almost promotes the harassment and dangerous rhetoric that led to the murder of Dr. [Barnett] Slepian."

Mr. Spitzer knows very well that Operation Rescue is a peaceful revolution. It is peaceful precisely because it is inspired and governed by the Gospel of Christ. Notice that Mr. Spitzer's real aim is to remove the truth of the Gospel from the streets. When he talks about dangerous rhetoric he is talking about calling abortion what God calls it - MURDER! He wants to hide this truth and, in so doing, is aiding and abetting the enemy of our souls by providing cover for him. Spitzer is explicitly implying that the murder of Barnett Slepian was a direct result of truth telling. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Barnett Slepian was a victim of the same spirit of murder (the lie) that allowed him to legally kill thousands of innocent children. Mr. Slepian was not an innocent victim as most of his victims were. This spirit of murder that killed him was ushered into our land in a Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973. Roe v. Wade has unleashed an enemy so ferocious and shrewd that murder has become the accepted solution to almost every problem in America.

This horrific spirit is now unchecked and is savaging our land. We solve the problem of overpopulation (another manifestation of the lie) by murdering children in their mother's womb. Kids are killing their friends without a conscience for sneakers, leather jackets, or just because they are upset. They will kill the 7-11 clerk to get $5 from the till. We are euthanizing the old because they cannot live a "quality" life. We solve Down's Syndrome by finding out who has it and killing them in the womb. Prominent ethicists are now discussing the plausibility of neonaticide (killing children after they are born if they are unfit). Jack Kervorkian is free to roam and kill (over 120 murders) so that "60 Minutes" can televise real death. But behind all of this is the real enemy - the spirit of murder who has come to rob, kill, and destroy.

What Mr. Spitzer does not realize is that he is unwittingly removing from the streets of New York the only people on earth capable of dealing with this enemy. That's right! He is attempting to remove the Church of Jesus Christ from the gates of hell and get it back into the saltshaker where he feels it belongs. He does this at his own peril and the peril of our nation.

The very same enemy that inhabited the shell of Adolf Hitler and Pharoah is inhabiting the shell of Eliot Spitzer. If he had eyes to see who it is that is using him he would implore the Church of Jesus Christ to enter into the battle and destroy the serpent that is murdering our children with his lies. He would beseech King Jesus to save him, his family, and America. But he does not have eyes that see! Use us God to open his eyes.

AN INVITATION TO OPERATION SAVE AMERICA

"Buffalo Ruined My Life" by Rev. Cal Zastrow

The 1992 "Spring of Life" in Buffalo ruined my life. I came to Buffalo back then and got caught up in the words and emotions of the Christians standing for life. There were rallies, prayers, and street activities. It was the first big rescue in Amherst where I was arrested. Twenty-four days later, I went to court and was released from my overcrowded jail cell.

Before Buffalo, I could say that I believed the Bible, I could know abortion was murder, and still be comfortable ministering in church while children got their arms and legs ripped off. My trip to Buffalo brought me face-to-face with Baby Tia (a beautiful aborted baby girl) and hundreds of Christians who became "living parables" to a nation that had forgotten these children. Buffalo ruined the notion in my mind that I could say that abortion was murder and not try to effectively stop it. Buffalo smashed the lie that my comfort and liberty were more important than the lives of children. Destroyed was my opinion that God was pleased with my prayer to end abortion while I disobeyed His commands to rescue innocent children from those who would murder them. My pro-life tokenism and shallow sacrifice were ruined in Buffalo. Thank God!

The greatest Christian retreat I've ever been on was held in the asbestos-filled dungeon of the Niagra Street Armory and the Erie County Holding Center, Bravo day room.

The national abortion movement lashed at us with vehemence, attempting to smash and dissipate the pro-life movement in America. Those lashes became laces that tied us together and steeled our vision, strategy, and commitment to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the very gates of hell manifested in America's abortuaries. Far from burying Operation Rescue, "Buffalo" is still the rallying cry to peaceful Christian rescuers who know that lawsuits, persecution, and imprisonment won't stop us.

Hundreds of mills have closed across the USA since the Spring of Life. Tens of thousands of children's lives have been spared. The number of freestanding abortion centers in Buffalo has dropped from six to two. It is not the time to quit until God is glorified by having every child in every womb in America being protected by law and love. It is not the time to celebrate our victories until abortion is as common as American slavery is now.

The enemies of God hope that you'll stay home and let the children die. We pray that you will come and stand in the gap for the babies and for revival in America.

CONSERVATISM IS PRETEND SALT

If you watched the impeachment trial in the United States Senate you were probably as frustrated as I was by the unwillingness of our senators to stand firm upon God's uncompromising Word. Even the most conservative seemed to shy away from using biblical references for fear of being labeled right wing religious zealots. Our problem was that we were expecting our conservative Republican senators to act like salt when, in fact, they are not salt. They are conservatives.

Conservatism is not Christianity. Conservatism is pretend salt. It may look like salt, but when one tastes it he finds that it is not salt at all. Conservatism is willing to stand in the face of perdition but only to a point. It always backs up when there is fierce opposition. There is not a cause for which conservatism is willing to die.

Christianity, on the other hand, will stand alone upon the firm foundation of God's Word regardless of the political, social, or economic consequences. It will unashamedly name the name of Jesus and never sound retreat. If that means death, then let the kernel of wheat fall to the ground and die, for it will produce many seeds. Death will be swallowed up in victory!

NOT ONE MAN IN ONE HUNDRED

Letter to Editor, February 4, 1999, by Flip Benham

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him…" Mark 8:38.

I longed to see if there would be one man of the 100 men in the United States Senate who would despise the shame and stand for our Lord Christ and His Word. I prayed that there would be one man in 100 who would boldly exhibit the statesmanship of our Founding Fathers.

When it became apparent that this was wishful thinking, I looked to see if there would be one man in 100 who would unashamedly defend the Declaration and Constitution of the United States of America. Would there be one man in 100 with the courage to shout from the housetop that adultery, lying, and covenant breaking are sins so serious that the death of God's only Son was required? Not one man, not one in 100!

Not one man in 100 of our most noble men would stand for the One who brought our Pilgrim forefathers safely to this continent for "the advancement of the Christian faith." Not one man in 100 was willing to honor the God who honored our Founding Fathers with victories and wisdom beyond themselves. Not one man in 100 was willing to leave for posterity the unchanging, unalterable, absolute Law of God as a firm foundation for the next generation. Not one man, not one in 100!

I pondered in my spirit what this meant. The answer came swiftly. "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30.

God is searching for that one man (father) who will stand in the gap on behalf of the land. He is seeking that one man (father) through whom He can show Himself strong. Unborn children seek that one man (father) who will be a voice for them. Our children desperately cry out for that one man (father) to love them. Our teens yearn for the destiny that one man (father) can impart to them. Our elderly long for the purpose and meaning that one man (Heavenly Father) can give them. Our nation is longing for the hope that one man (father) can bring in the midst of despair. Will you be that one man?

See you all at the gates in Buffalo and Rochester,

Flip Benham

Director

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE GATES:

GOD IS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL March 1, 1999

FREEDOM TO LEARN, THE APRIL PROJECT April 16, 1999

(Contact David Beasley (941) 627-6757 concerning the presentation of the pro-life message to your local school board and local schools. He will send you all the materials necessary to make an excellent presentation.) Website: www.freedomtolearn.org