Ethnos Church

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Sep 7, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 2 comments

A number of Christian groups have said the hurricane was a form of punishment from God. The Columbia Christians for Life said that the storm was God’s way of punishing Louisiana for having ten abortion clinics and to prevent Southern Decadence, a gay-themed bash, planned for Labor Day weekend. Another group, Repent America, stated, “Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city. From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence,’ New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same.”

Pastor Yucan Chiu disagreed with the responses from these groups. “I think it is presumptuous to determine what God’s motives are. Unless we have a direct revelation from God, Christians shouldn’t say those kinds of things.” Pastor Chiu added, “The amazing thing is that God hasn’t done this to all of us. Sin has distorted creation and the human heart.” Yucan said this is why he wants people to hear about Jesus, who provides forgiveness for sin.

Full Article: Ethnos Church

Islamic Center of San Diego

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 31, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 1 comment

“People keep saying that Muslims are not voicing their opinion by condemning terrorism. This is because Fox News is not coming here to ask us our opinions,” said Usman Khan, a volunteer and congregant at the Islamic Center of San Diego (ICSD). “Ask anyone here what they understand Islam to be, and they will condemn terrorism.”

Khan often speaks at local colleges and high schools about Islam. “We want to represent the peaceful faith. Yes, there are bad Muslims, but you can’t fault Islam for that. There are bad Christians and bad Jews. Do we fault Christianity with Hitler, who used the Bible to justify his actions? Do we blame Christians because of the KKK? Do people hold the Jews accountable because of Baruch Goldstein?” (In 1994, Goldstein killed 29 Arab worshippers and injured 100 in the Cave of the Patriarchs, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews.) Khan said that 1.2 billion Muslims should not be blamed for the action of a few extremists.

Part of the problem, stated Khan, is that the media indicts Muslims. “I listen to local talk radio, such as Roger Hedgecock and Rick Roberts. They misquote Islam and spread false ideas about what we believe. I have tried to call them, but they either hang up on me or leave me on hold,” said Khan. “Muslims get blamed more than any other group. After the Oklahoma bombing, people instantly accused Islamic terrorists. But there is no such thing as Islamic terrorism.” Khan said the terrorists are motivated over political issues. “The problems in the Middle East that cause terrorism are because the people are oppressed by dictators and past western colonization. It is a political issue. There is nothing Islamic about terrorism. We don’t call the IRA bombings Catholic terrorism.” Khan said that the beliefs of Islam are not compatible with terrorism.

Full Article: Islamic Center of San Diego

Dignity San Diego

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 24, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 0 comments

“The Roman Catholic Church has a history of changing its position on issues. It just takes a long time. Look at the church’s stance on Galileo. It took them hundreds of years to finally apologize and admit they were wrong. In time, the Roman Catholic Church’s position will change [on homosexuality], but most likely, it will not be in my lifetime,” said Pat McArron, president of the local San Diego Dignity chapter and past president of the national organization. McArron has been active in the dialogue about homosexuality with the Roman Catholic Church for over 30 years. “Dignity was founded as a therapy group for homosexuals in 1969. Today, Dignity is a community of Catholics creating a place for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender people to feel comfortable. It has a two-fold mission: to provide a place of worship without recrimination and to speak to the greater Catholic community about the issues. “Our message to the Roman Catholic Church is pretty simple. Stop calling us objectively disordered. Stop looking at us as any more sinful than any other Catholic. Our sexuality is not an abomination,” said McArron. “We’ve seen a real disconnect between the people in the pews and the hierarchy of the church. The bishops and cardinals feel they need to toe the line. A lot of people in positions of leadership compromise their own beliefs because they are afraid they will lose their jobs.”

Full Article: Dignity San Diego

Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 17, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 0 comments

“Today’s passage tells us about a slave girl that was pimped twice over. She was being pimped by her master and she was being pimped by Satan,” said Pastor Andrea King. King’s sermon, The Art of Praise, was based on Acts chapter 16. “The girl earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. But after Paul cast out the demon, the Psychic Friends Network was canceled; the dial-a-demon network was disconnected. That’s the danger with the power of messing around with Jesus. You may get saved. You can’t come into the presence of God too many times without being changed. “The girl’s owners wanted Paul and Silas arrested because they cast the demon out. They had no formal charge, so the authorities arrested them by pulling the race card. The only charge against them was being a Jew. I wonder if someone here can relate,” asked Pastor King rhetorically. “Has someone here been pulled over for something, or maybe it would be better to say nothing.” Pastor King went on to encourage the congregation to praise God no matter the circumstances.

Full Article: Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist

Letters to the Editor PART III re: Mormon Article

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 17, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 0 comments

Well three weeks after my article the letters keep pouring in. One person even calls for my resignation over the issue:

More Mormon Shock!

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Aug 11, 2005 in Church Technology, Sheep&Goats | 0 comments

Mormon Shock
This letter is in reference to an article that was printed in the Reader on July 28 under the section “Sheep and Goats, Places of Worship Reviewed.” I am outraged that such an article was even written.

This article reviews a lecture given by a so-called pastor by the name of Gabriel Carlin. He is no doubt blasphemous against the Mormon religion. His statements are disrespectful and untrue, and I am outraged that the Reader would see fit to print such an article that degrades the beliefs of others. This man is uneducated about the Mormon faith. He fell away from the church, so all he knows is hatred and revenge. These are by no means Christ-like attributes in someone who claims to be a preacher. To set the record straight, Mormons are very God-fearing Christian people. Christ is the center of our religion, and our beliefs are based around Him and God the Father. Mormonism is growing because of the internal belief that people feel when they study our principles. They are never forced to join our church, but when they do their lives are enriched beyond measure. These are surely no signs of a “cult,” as Mr. Carlin tries to convey.

At any rate, I am shocked that this article found its way inside the Reader, and in the future I hope that these kinds of articles are not given any kind of consideration.
Name Withheld

(in response to this article: Unchained Internet Radio