Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[MSNBC]

A father charged with killing his daughter by praying instead of taking her to a doctor read from the Bible while testifying Thursday that he couldn’t seek medical help without disobeying God.

Dale Neumann told the jury he didn’t seek medical help for his child because “I can’t do that because Biblically, I cannot find that is the way people are healed.”

He added: “If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God. I am not believing what he said he would do.”

Read more here.

[From me]

How sad. I think God gives us common sense. Also, God uses Doctors and medicine to heal people. Dr. Luke was with Paul in the New Testament so I don’t think God is opposed to Doctors and Medicine.

What do you think?

[The Sun]

Builder Oliver Bellerby discovered this incredible image of Jesus in a baking tray. Oliver spotted the perfectly formed face of Christ in browned fat after cooking a burger for a dinner.

Read more here.

[From me]

Is a burger Kosher?

[HT] Wes Kenney

[Christian Post]

A former high school wrestling coach filed a federal lawsuit Monday against a Dearborn, Mich., high school and its Muslim principal a year after being fired.

Gerald Marszalek, who coached wrestling for 35 years, claims his contract with Fordson High School was terminated because of his association with a Christian volunteer coach, who the principal accused of converting a Muslim student to Christianity.

“We are getting a glimpse of what happens when Muslims who refuse to accept American values and principles gain political power in an American community,” said Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of Thomas More Law Center, which filed the lawsuit on the former coach’s behalf.

The law firm is suing for violation of constitutional rights to free speech and exercise of religion, and Michigan laws against discrimination. Marszalek is seeking his back pay, injunctive and declaratory relief, damages, and to be reinstated as coach of the wrestling team.

Conflict arose more than three years ago when Marszalek’s volunteer assistant, Trey Hancock, held a summer wrestling camp where a Muslim camper converted.

According to Thomas More Law Center, Fordson High School principal Imad Fadlallah punched the student who converted and told him he had disgraced his family.

Fadlallah ordered Marszalek to ban his assistant from the school and all wrestling events.

Read more here.

[From me]

I thought we had freedom in this country to share our beliefs with others. They are going to get rid of a man who had influenced youth for 35 years because of his faith? Something is wrong in Dearborn. If we don’t watch it our nation will be Muslim before long.

What do you think?

[New.com.au]

JOHN Travolta is a virtual recluse considering leaving the Church of Scientology six months after the sudden death of his son, according to a report quoting insiders in the church and friends of the actor.

The report, in Britain’s Mail on Sunday, claims Travolta is so distraught over the death of Jett, 16, in the Bahamas during a New Year family holiday, that he is barely able to function and seldom seen in public.

It says Travolta is disillusioned with the secretive church and bitterly regrets adhering to its teachings when treating his son’s condition, which is believed to have been autism.

But the report claims the 55-year-old actor may not follow through on private threats to quit the church because of fears it could retaliate by revealing embarrassing details about his private life.

Read more here.

[From me]

I’m sorry for the pain the Travolta’s are going through. I think what is happening is there is a whole in their hearts that Scientology can’t fill. That religion only wants their money. I will pray that they will find true peace in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What do you think?

This week has been the SEC Media Days for the upcoming football season. It is held just 5 miles from where I live. I didn’t get to go by there because I was working. But I listened to a lot of the talk on Sport Talk Radio.

One lawyer turned journalist (if you can call him that) named Clay Travis who writes a blog called Fanhouse.com decided he was going to ask Tim Tebow the QB of The University of Florida if he was a virgin in front of all of the reporters. Clay came on several of the local radio programs here in Birmingham and was laughing about the question he was going to ask.

Tim Tebow is a beast of a football player.(I’m not a Gator fan at all–I Roll with the Tide) He is arguably the greatest college football player ever. But he is also a devout follower of Jesus Christ. He puts scripture verses below his eyes when he plays QB. When other college students are going to the beach and getting in trouble he goes and speaks at prisons, goes overseas, and talks to children about his relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the kind of guy you would want your daughter to date.

But because he is such a great football player and such a Godly guy people like Clay Travis want to find the chink in his armor. Instead of praising Tebow some are trying to bring him down.

Clay Travis, who writes a column for AOL’s FanHouse.com, asked Tebow on Thursday if he was still a virgin and “saving himself for marriage.”

After composing himself, Tebow answered, “Yes, I am,” and then good-naturedly gigged the media present in the TV and Internet room for being stunned by the question.

As another reported stumbled through trying to ask an unrelated question, Tebow laughed wildly and said. “Ya’ll can’t even ask a question. I was ready for the question, but I don’t think ya’ll were.”

Travis tried his best to stick it to Tim Tebow but Tebow threw it back at him! He didn’t get offended. He didn’t dodge the question. He said he expected it and yes he is going to wait until he gets married. What a great example to all believers of how we should always be ready to talk about our faith.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV says:

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

What do you think?