Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

I never took steroids even though 80 baseball players did.  The Mitchell report does not mention my name and I’m thankful!

Read about it here.

[Des Moines Register]

Spending taxpayer money on a faith-based treatment program in which Iowa prisoners immerse themselves in evangelical Christianity is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled today.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 28-page decision, concluded that the program at the Newton Correctional Facility has advanced religious indoctrination at government expense.

However, the appeals court rejected a lower-court order that would have required the faith-based treatment group to repay about $1.5 million to $1.7 million in program expenses to the Iowa Department of Corrections. The lawsuit was brought by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of inmates, their families and Iowa taxpayers.

The treatment program, known as the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, has operated since October 1999 at the Newton prison under the sponsorship of Prison Fellowship Ministries. A total of 104 inmates currently participate in the program, spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week in work, counseling and prayer.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I actually agree with the ACSCA. Why? Because I think the program should be privately funded. I wouldn’t want a publicly funded program that was sponsored by the Mormons, Buddhists, Muslims or Pagans. My parents minister to the military but they raise their support. No government money is being used at all.

What do you think?

This week I delivered my 757th message. I have a confession to make. I have been speaking “caffeine enhanced.” If that means I need an asterisk next to my name then so be it. I brew a pot of Starbucks every Sunday before I speak. I just had to get that off my chest.

I dropped my daughter off at my parents this morning in Columbia, SC. She is going to The Great Escape Christian Conference with my parents @ Lee College in Cleveland, TN.

I put $20 in my tank last night. I had to stop & get more before I got there. I just stopped for to fill up for $2.74 in Rock Hill, SC.

I need a 2nd mortgage just to pay for gas. Uggh!

[From Christian Post]

More than 100 faculty members at Iowa State University have signed a petition opposing the football coach’s plan to make a chaplain an official member of the team staff.

Coach Gene Chizik, hired last November, wants to hire a chaplain who would be paid by private donations. ISU athletic director Jamie Pollard supports the plan because he contends student-athletes are under a lot of pressure and need access to spiritual guidance.

“Are you going to have counseling for Jewish students? Muslim students? There’s no such thing as one religion or one version of Christianity,” said Dr. Hector Avalos, a professor of religious studies at ISU.

Read about it here.

[From me]

As much as I hate to agree with the professors, they make a valid point.  What if the coach was a Muslim and brought in a Muslim Chaplain?  I wouldn’t want that either.  My brother-in-law, David was on staff with Athletes in Action (part of Campus Crusade for Christ) for many years in Columbia, SC.  Lou Holtz made David his chaplain for the Gamecocks his first year there but he wasn’t paid by USC.  David raised his own support though Athletes in Action.

I don’t think we can have it both ways.  I’m trying my best to be consistent.   I think it is great that Coach Chizik is open to a Godly influence on his team, I just don’t think it should be a state sponsored position.

What do you think?