Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[CJ Online]

Members of the Phelps family awoke to flames early Saturday. Topeka firefighters were dispatched to Westboro Baptist Church, 3701 S.W. 12th St., at 1:05 a.m. A fence and garage were engulfed in flames. Lucas Mark and his girlfriend, Monique Webster, were in the drive-through of McDonald’s at S.W. Huntoon and Gage when they noticed flames in the east. They drove toward the flames and ended up at the church.

“We called 911,” Webster said. “My boyfriend knocked on the door.”

Mark notified an occupant that their garage was on fire.

Topeka fire marshal Greg Bailey said Saturday afternoon the cause of the fire hadn’t been determined. Bailey said it didn’t appear that accelerants were used to ignite the fire, but that the blaze remained under investigation.

“We won’t rule anything out,” he said.

Fire investigators said the flames originated outside the detached garage, near two large trash can totes. The fire destroyed both cans and their contents as flames spread to the exterior of the garage and an adjacent privacy fence, Bailey said. Fire crews evacuated occupants at the home. Firefighters removed several of the Phelpses’ anti-homosexual picketing signs from the garage as family members and neighbors watched.

Shirley L. Phelps-Roper said she thought the fire was intentionally set.

“None of what they do is going to stop us from delivering our message,” Phelps-Roper said as she watched firefighters spray water on the garage.

Phelps-Roper said firefighters responded and “did what they were supposed to do.”

Read more here.

[From me]

As much as I hate their message, even the Phelps should not be harmed.  Just because they are hateful people doesn’t mean they should be targeted.  In fact, the way to get rid of their hate is to give them a dose of love.

What do you think?

[The Atlantic]

At Tim Russert’s Kennedy Center memorial, members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketed and held placards cursing the belovedMeet the Press host for his Catholicism and tolerance of homosexuality.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I always liked Tim Russert.  I wouldn’t have expected the wackos from Westboro to show up at his memorial but I guess nothing should surprise me.  Tim Russert was not a homosexual activist.  He was a Catholic so his church teaches against homosexual behavior.  So why do the Phelps and the Westboro church feel the need to protest his memorial?  I think I know the answer (publicity) but do they even have a heart?

I wouldn’t protest at anyone’s funeral.  Even if they believed in everything opposite of me.  I didn’t rejoice when Sadam Hussein died.  I don’t want to see anyone perish–even the Phelps.  What kind of sick mind would protest at a families lowest point?  How does that display the love of Christ?  

Many of you know but if you are new to this site I interviewed Shirley Phelps-Roper the woman in the picture above 2 years ago.  You can watch my interview here.  

What do you think?

[Marine Corps Times]

The commander of Camp Lejeune, N.C., ordered her leathernecks to stay away from an anti-military and anti-gay group that has promised to demonstrate at the base following the death of a pregnant Marine.

The Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church, which frequently pickets the funerals of military members, said it will demonstrate at the base at noon Saturday.

“God hates the U.S. Marines,” the group said in a statement.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I lived in Jacksonville for three years. The Marines in our church were some of the most committed men and women I’ve ever met. Where in the Bible does it say that God hates the Marines? The Westboro people are so misguided. This young lady’s family is grieving and the Westboro clan is spewing hate. You can watch my interview with them last year here.

What do you think?

[Minnesota Monitor]

The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KN, plans to stage protests at funerals of victims of the 35W bridge collapse to state that God made the bridge fall because he hates America, and especially Minnesota, because of its tolerance of homosexuality.

Read about it here and here.

[From me]

They don’t know the God I know and serve. Sad….

What do you think?

P.S. If you want to see Shirley Phelps-Roper up-close and personal–check out my interview with her last summer–here.

The highly misguided people from Westboro Baptist Church are at in again.  Now in the midst of the worst school shooting our our nations history the folks at Westboro are planning to protest the funerals of the victims.

Read about it here.

When is does this go too far?  Come on those students did nothing to deserve what happened to them.  Now in the midst of this tragedy the Phelps gang is going to inflict more pain.   If you have never watched my interview with Shirley Phelps-Roper you can watch it here.

To the Phelps family if you are looking for a place to protest I invite you to come to Charlotte.  I would love to share with you the “TRUE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.”

When does free speech go too far?