Sept 1st, 2004: THANK YOU !

THE STAFF AND SWORD MINISTRY SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

THANK YOU: Ji mmy Johnson

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Dear friends in Christ,

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Wow, it's September already. Summer here in Spokane is cooling down, which is nice. Those 90-100 degree days are okay but they get old as the house barely

cools off in the evening when it's that hot for so many consistently hot days or weeks. Fortunately for us people, cooler weather is on the horizon even though our garden probably won't like it. Our tomato plants do seem to like the hot weather. i got a kick out of these two ca rt oons even though we've had pretty good luck with our garden. Maybe you gardeners out there will get a smile out of them too 1

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THANK YOU;

September 1, 2004

The first article I thought I'd share is this one about a couple of groups that are making

it there business to go into churches to see if the ministers are promoting a particular candidate for president. They then go after them with charges of "separation of church and state." What gets me the most is that this group targets Christians who state their political preference but yet when a politician goes to a church to get the votes of the congregation, like Bill and Hilary Clinton do all the . ti me, these same people are silent.

It comes down to the same old thing of these people-wanting the church out of state but it's fine if the state is in the church. It's also to note the double standard of the "Mainstream Coalition" in that their politicragenda is clearly what would be considered "left wing" - which they are clearly trying to impose on conservative Christians.

TESTING THE FAITH

Political snitches monitor sermons Groups threaten churches with loss of tax-exempt status over activism Posted: July 23. 2004 1 00 a.m. Eastern

By Joseph Farah Š 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

WASHINGTON — At least two organizations are monitoring the content of Sunday sermons by U.S. pastors and threatening to report churches to the Internal Revenue Service if they hear political messages they deem inappropriate under federal guidelines on tax-exempt status.

Earlier this week, Americans U nited for Separation of Church and State headed by Barry Lynn. filed a complaint with the IRS against Ronnie Floyd. pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale. Ark.. accusing him of preaching a sermon promoting President Bush's re-election July 4.

The complaint challenges the church's tax-exempt status as a religious organization.

Lynn's letter to the IRS reads, in part: "The pastor's description of the candidates' stands and their personal religious beliefs was obviously aimed at encouraging congregants to cast ballots for Bush. The church is known for its stands on social issues and its opposition to legal abortion and gay rights. By lauding Bush's stands on these and other issues and attacking (Sen. John) Kerry's, Floyd was plainly telling his congregation to be sure to vote for Bush.

"I have enclosed a videotape that includes the entire sermon as well as a partial transcript. About 45 minutes into the message. Floyd begins to discuss the differences between Bush and Kerry. Please note that even the imagery employed by the church is designed to promote Bush. A huge photo of Bush is projected onto a screen that shows the president next to an American flag. By contrast, small photos of Kerry are used that show him as one person in a larger crowd. In addition, Bush is shown signing a ban

on late-term abortions, an act most church members will laud, while Kerry is shown as one of a group of senators who opposed a law banning same-sex marriage, a stand most church members will likely oppose.,,

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'1' HANIi YOU %

September 1, 2004

(Political snitches monitor sermons - continued) Organizations granted tax-free status under federal law "may not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates," according to published IRS guidelines.

According to IRS regulations, tax-exempt organizations "are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position. verbal or written, made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax."

The guidelines add: "The political campaign activity prohibition is not intended to restrict free expression on political matters by leaders of organizations speaking for themselves, as individuals. Nor are leaders prohibited from speaking about important issues of public policy. However, for their organizations to remain tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official functions."

Churches may invite candidates to speak to the congregation during an election, as long as all candidates arc afforded an equal opportunity to speak, according to the guidelines.

A church spokesman denies the pastor crossed the line, saying the pastor never told the church body how to vote.

But Americans United for Separation of Church and State is not the only organization looking to pick a fight with pastors who get too political this year.

In Kansas. monitors from the Mai nst ream Coalition are being accused of creating a "chilling effect" on the sermons in that state's churches.

Last month. the Mainstream Coalition announced it would send volunteers into area churches to see whether pastors were abiding by federal laws governing political activity by non-profit institutions.

While the group maintains it is non-partisan and objects across the board to all kinds of politicking in the pews. the organization's website shows the Mainstream Coalition has a strong political agenda of its own. Policy statements posted include the following: • strong support of Roe v. Wade • strong support of late-term abortions • strong support of sex education • strong support of human cloning • strong support of hate-crime laws • strong support of gun control

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THANK Y OU I

September 1, 2004

• strong support for teaching of evolution • strong opposition to prayer in schools • strong opposition even to the wearing of religious symbols on government property Some might question just how mainstream those positions are. Would such a group, for instance, object to the use of churches to promote politicians who support such an agenda?

Currently, Mainstream has about 100 volunteers monitoring churches mostly in the Kansas City suburbs.

Americans United. meanwhile, filed another complaint this month with the IRS against the Rev. Jerry Falwell over a column endorsing President Bush on his ministries' website. Falwell, who also writes a column for WNjsaid the group was waging a "scare-the-churches campaign."

Falwell told NBC News: "I do believe that pastors, religious leaders, men of God, women of God may in fact voice their personal opinions, as I often do, but only as private citizens."

In response, Lynn, formerly of the American Civil Liberties Union, told NBC News: "Falwell is playing a shell game that wouldn't work in a backwoods carnival. It's all about electing George Bush and using the church to do it."

The driving force behind the campaign in Kansas is the debate over same-sex marriage. In May the Kansas House rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Dozens of pastors joined a statewide effort to register 100.000 new voters and elect sympathetic candidates.

Mainstream's executive director. Caroline McKnight, said her organization was only trying to make sure that churches follow federal law.

According to IRS guidelines, churches cannot endorse individual candidates, and their pastors cannot use the pulpit or church newsletters to do so. The group has not yet filed any complaints. McKnight said.

But churches can compile voters' guides — though such guides are supposed to he unbiased. Pastors can preach on issues and, as individuals, endorse candidates.

McKnight said the IRS did not have the resources to monitor churches' activities, as an agency official confirmed during a seminar last week on political activity by nonprofit groups.

On Wednesday, a group called the Christian Seniors Association sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Gen. John Ashcroft and the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division asking to have federal agents sent to the Kansas City area to stop the harassment of churches by Mainstream.

September 1, 2004

THANK YOU:

PAGE 5

"23rd Psalm for the Workplace" The Lord is my real boss and I shall not want. He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray before I speak and to do all things without murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that He is my Source and not my job. He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor Him in everything I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of emails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate eve ry morning, I will not stop--for He is with me!

His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through. He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.

His faithfulness and love are be tt er than any bonus check. His retirement plan beats every 401K there is! When ifs all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I bless His Name.

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THANK YOU!

September 1, 2004

Here's a bit more fun for you!

I once had a rose named after me and I was ve ry flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: "no good in a bed. but fine up against a wall".

(Eleanor Roosevelt) The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending and having the two as close together as possible.

(George Burns) Santa Claus has the right idea -- visit people only once a year.

(Victor Borge) What would men be without women? Scarce, sir. mighty scarce.

(Mark Twain) By all means mar ry : If you get a good wife, you'll become happy, if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

(Socrates) My wife has a slight impediment in her speech -- every now and then she stops to breathe.

(Jimmy Durante) The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness and kindness, can be trained to do most things.

(July Cooper)

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: Alcohol, ca ffeine, sugar and fat.

(Alex Levine) My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemete ry , people would stop dying.

(Ed Furgol) Youth would be an ideal state if it came a tittle later in life.

(Herbert Hen ry Asquith) The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

(Lucille Ball) I don't feel old - I don't feel anything until noon. Then its time for my nap.

(Bob Hope) A woman drove me to drink -- and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her. ( W.C. Fields) It takes only one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or the fou rteenth.

(George Burns) Some guy hit my fender the other day, and I said unto him "Be fruitful and multiply". But not in those word

Allen) Those are my principles. If you don't like them...... I have others." ( Groucho Marx)

MAY GOD BLESS YO 1/AND KEEP YOU - SHOWERING YOU WITH HIS L O VE AND „ MERCY! HAVE A GREAT DAY! per, • C* 4 ^,^" i

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