Wake Up

I'm sorry, World, Nation, State, Town and Community. I can't tell you how it happened, but I can promise that I'm awake once more.

An alarm clock went off this past week. It wasn't mine, and like most people I hate those pesky and annoying alarms; however, regardless of the fact that I didn't set it and ignoring the fact that I didn't ask for it, the alarm blared away. It frustrated me to no end to have to deal with coming out of a rather decent dream to address the intrusive klaxon, but in the end, that is exactly what I had to do. And to deal with the relentless noise, I had to actually wake up.

It sucks to wake up. I don't get a lot of sleep; heck, I barely get enough sleep. Having to wake up from a dream of barbecues and baseball and family gatherings and church functions was the last thing I wanted to do. Sardonically, it seemed like hell at the time.

I have no problem telling you that I regret feeling that way. I also regret mumbling under my breath the various death threats we all tend to give our alarm clocks. How dare it intrude, why I oughtta... You get the picture. These regrets have rarely come up in the past; I much prefer to live without regret and that requires thinking about my words and actions and how I live today.

I don't get a lot of sleep; heck, I barely get enough sleep. Having to wake up from a dream of barbecues and baseball and family gatherings and church functions was the last thing I wanted to do....it seemed like hell at the time.

Nevertheless, the regrets became reality when I realized what had shocked me out of my pleasant dreams. I didn't realize it at the time, because I was too involved with self-pity to look at the news alert. I didn't hear about it as I got ready for church, because I was too concerned with hair that didn't seem to want to stay in place. No, it wasn't until I was actually in church and the pastor began speaking that I found out what it was that woke me up: 50 people dead in Orlando, Florida. Countless injured. Shooter likely a self-radicalized domestic terrorist. Possible ISIS ties.

I woke up Sunday; I woke up grouchy, cranky and pissed off. and to be honest, it hasn't gone away. I'm not talking about waking up from falling asleep Saturday night, but the fact that I woke up from a dream that had me genuinely fooled into a sense of complacency. It's been over a year since I last wrote, and there was a large gap before that. How did that happen? How did I become so apathetic that the world around me was able to almost literally dip into Hell without me noticing, let alone writing about the problem?

I'm sorry, World, Nation, State, Town and Community. I can't tell you how it happened, but I can promise that I'm awake once more.


There are some out there who have termed the Orlando shooter a coward, a lowlife, a bigot and a thug. I feel that while all of these monikers fit, none go far enough. The sheer loathsome, despicable nature of a mindless, senseless, gullible, malleable, and witless creature such as this boggles the mind and prevents me from assigning him any form, fashion or dignity otherwise granted to humanity.

Is it finally dawning on most of the United States population that regulations and restrictions do not ipso facto make people safer? ...I would like to say yes. ...Unfortunately, because I am awake, I cannot indulge that wish. It isn't true. It isn't fact. It isn't even close to accurate.

There are those out there who claim that this disgusting excuse for a human being was only able to carry out his attack because of loose gun regulations and restrictions. This is complete and total crap. Mateen passed every single stricture and regulatory measure to purchase his weapons. He purchased not only his gun, but his ammo completely in accordance with current law. Is it finally dawning on most of the United States population that regulations and restrictions do not ipso facto make people safer?

I would like to say yes. I would dearly love to make the firm statement that people are beginning to wake up from that little fantasy also. Unfortunately, because I am awake, I cannot indulge that wish. It isn't true. It isn't fact. It isn't even close to accurate.

No, people want more regulations for the parasitic brothers of this pitiful slime to weave  carefully through. They want more restrictions for other biological refuse piles to happily comply with. They actually believe that this will help them, when it actually just helps the scum of the Earth avoid detection longer. Oh- And this erroneous viewpoint is not helped by the spineless, feckless troglodytes in Congressional and Executive office. The next time the Democrats decide to stage a protest for gun control during a moment of silence/prayer, like they did for the victims of the Orlando shooting, I would personally like to volunteer to flog every single one of them. Go watch Mr. Smith Goes To Congress, you idiots, and figure out what you did wrong.


There is an article written by Daniel Hayes that recently hit social media. It is excellent, and it lays out the only solution to this problem of reigning in these mass shootings. I agree with him on a lot, and disagree on one or two points, but I am far more inclined to stand with him on this point than I perhaps ever was.

The notion that every other form of regulation and restriction being tossed around would lead to potential civil war is not merely alarmist claptrap. The majority in this nation do not like their freedom impeded; they do not appreciate their liberties being infringed; and they despise overuse of authority. They will revolt against a government attempting to remove their weapons, for instance. They will rebel against a government attempting to force psych evaluation for firearm ownership. Though still being in all other respects law abiding citizens, measures such as those being talked about would lead to private rebellion, public unrest, and ultimately open conflict when the feds show up to enforce any of these measures.

But Mr. Hayes has it right: The one, and in my view only, measure that will work is immediately banning the sale of high capacity magazines, and restricting AR-15's and similar weapons to magazines of 10 rounds only. I have previously argued against such steps, but I have changed my stance based upon the state of the world around us; if others cannot do the same, they need to wake up.

The notion that every other form of regulation and restriction being tossed around would lead to potential civil war is not merely alarmist claptrap. The majority in this nation do not like their freedom impeded; they do not appreciate their liberties being infringed... This administration doesn't know a good thing from a nightmare...

The Pompous-In-Chief Obama, and his lousy administration, would have us believe that more than this must be done; but their words do not line up with their own actions. This administration has promised (and delivered) weapons, money and training to groups of known terrorists in Africa.  This administration has denied prosecution of such creatures as Joseph Kony and his ilk. Yet, with this and more in their record, they would seek to convince the people that starting down the road to total disarmament is a good thing. This administration doesn't know a good thing from a nightmare, folks.

Here are some facts that the Obama administration is failing to mention when giving out their half-truths and twisted logic.

According to the administration, there are 30,000 gun related deaths in the United States annually. We can all agree that this is far too high a number; and if that was all there was to it, perhaps even I would be singing a different tune. However... When looking at the FBI and CDC statistics that gave them such a high number, things take on much different appearance.

Of those 30,000 deaths, 20,000 were suicides. Suddenly, we've dropped from the 30,000 deaths that the administration infers are the result of homicidal maniacs to 10,000. That is still too high a number; but there's more we are not being told.

About 5,000 of those are within the confines of gang-affiliated violence within the inner city. Another roughly 3,000 are justified shootings; in other words, where law enforcement has had no other choice than to take down a suspect. Only a little over 1,000 of these gun related deaths per year are the result of a maniac with a gun. That means, for those who are paying attention to the numbers, that the average American citizen who is not affiliated with a gang, planning a crime, or contemplating suicide has less than a one hundredth of a percent chance of being shot by a maniac... But apparently, we have a gun violence epidemic in the United States.


Listen- As I said in the beginning, I'm awake. I see where this world is at, and I see the need for change. However, being awake also means seeing what is not going to work. More importantly, it also means everything winds up being put in perspective, such as with the statistics above. If you want gun control measures that will be grudgingly, but largely accepted by the majority of the gun owning population, then limit magazines to 10 rounds. If you want to stop maniacs from doing what happened in Orlando, limit magazines to 10 rounds.

However, if you want to stop maniacs from killing any more than one or two people when they intend to kill far more... There's only one of two things to do. Either get used to disappointment, or loosen restrictions that only law-abiding citizens follow... Such as no-gun-zones for concert halls, theaters and clubs.

Two things are certain since the Orlando shooting: The first is that something must be done, and the only thing that will make any difference at all deals with magazine size; and the second is that if someone in that club actually had a gun legally present, Mateen would have brandished his firearm and gotten only one or two shots off before that legally carrying clubgoer nailed him between the eyes.

If you don't see that, then maybe it's time that you woke up.

Beware the Memes on the Internet!

This Meme is Making the Rounds on Facebook. The charge is
that it was seen outside a mosque in Dearborn, MI.

My writing history as relates to Islam is pretty well chronicled here on Renegade's Rants, and it would not be hard for any reader of this article to see exactly what I mean. I should point out that while I am much less rabid than many writers of a Christian conservative viewpoint, I am nevertheless very much anti-anyone who is anti-America. It is not that I believe growing up in this country makes anyone more or less elite than anyone else in the world; it is the fact that to this day, the US is still one of the best places to be for religious freedom, personal freedom, and the overall protection of law.

With this being said, I also find the intentional misrepresentation of Muslims to be sickening. If anyone has an issue with Islam, that to me is fine; the issue is with an ideology, as opposed to a living and breathing human being. However, to take pot shots at people because they believe differently, live differently, and dress differently is absolutely and unequivocally the lowest, most despicable, undeniably vile thing anyone can do. Those who manufacture such gross lies and stories are the first in my proverbial crosshairs today.

Above is a picture which I have seen going viral on Facebook and on Google+ most of the day. It is certainly frightening to think that anyplace within the United States would have such a sign, and it is terrifying to think that there could be a group of people so brazen as to say place it in the first place. According to the various comments accompanying this image, it is seen outside a mosque in Dearborn, Michigan. Understandably, the picture is creating quite a stir.

However, the first thing I would like you to do is look at the title on the sign seen above: There is no such mosque in Dearborn, MI, and likely never would be. That is because even the most militant of Muslim extremists in the US (and there are radical Muslims living in this nation and seeking to create a caliphate here) would never blatantly advertise their goal. How do I know? Because there are far too many gun toting nutcases out there who would have no problem turning their attention from the basically defenseless people in abortion clinics to equally defenseless people in a mosque. The intention of the radical are not to get their own killed; sure they'll use suicide bombers and the like; but they need people who do not wish to commit suicide to populate whatever region they are intent on taking over. This is just one reason of several for why the sign seen above ought to raise eyebrows.

For my dollar (nickles are currently worthless), whoever created this meme in the first place ought to be paraded into the public spotlight to explain themselves, at the very least. Preferably, I'd like to see them tried on criminal charges. They do not deserve to live as though they are law-abiding citizens; nor do they deserve to believe they are patriots without having that self-aggrandizing notion severely challenged in a court of law. Whomever created this hoax ought to be caned. For that matter, anyone sharing and perpetuating this willful attempt at inciting violence; anyone who is doing so and knows it to be false; ought to be charged, convicted and punished as accomplices.

But, here I am, going off on a tangent again. I suppose it wouldn't be a rant without the occasional rabbit trail.

Note the URL seen at the bottom of this image.
Can you see the one in the first image? No? That's because
someone intentionally cropped it out of the picture.

Let me get back to why this sign is a hoax.  To the right, note that you can see the very same symbol at the top of the sign. The very same title can be seen on the sign. The very same building can be seen to the right of the sign, and the cars are exactly the same and in the same positions as in the image above. Note however that the slogan is not the same. How is this possible?

Anything is possible when you utilize a church sign generator, which is precisely what the perpetrator of this particular hoax did. What's more, he or she did so with the express purpose of creating hysteria. What's worse is that this meme was created around or long before 2014, which means some ignoramus decided to resurrect this specific zombie- And believe me, it is so evil that even Umbrella Corp would wash their hands of it.

In summary, if you value your own reputation as an intelligent, ethical and law-abiding individual, DO NOT repost this atrocity. It is beyond foolish. It is beyond childish. It is an absolute abomination that fully deserves to be forgotten. Feel free to tell the same to your friends... Or, if you're not sure how they'd react, then by all means; share this article with them. It's worth it to hopefully save someone from the shame of ignorantly following hate and fear mongers.

Renegade out.

Publishing My First Novel

It has been a crazy two years.

The more I look at that sentence, the more I realize that it is a vast understatement. When you go from being single, to being married; from financial stability to near ruin; back and forth between health and disability; from having a sure and certain home to questioning where you'll be living and when- All in the space of two years -Saying it has been crazy is a little like saying the monsoons of India are gentle showers. Combine all of this with attempting to get my first novel published and all of the issues that go along with that, and I definitely have had more than my share of crazy.

So here's the deal: I've had a rough time of things financially, just like everyone in this world it seems. That makes it seemingly insurmountable to publish a book, at least on my own. At the same time, this novel is really all I've got going for my family and I. That means that I really do need to publish.

So I'm thinking to myself "How do I manage to do what I can't do?" I know there are plenty of folks out there who might go get a loan or something similar, but I am not in a position to do that- I've got nothing for collateral and very little I could put forward as surety. So again, "How can I do what I can't seem to do?"

Now with God all things are possible; with man, well... With man, we often need some help. Sometimes it's because He wants us to be blessed at the hands of others. Sometimes, its to show us that we're all in this thing together, and we need to stand in unity. ...Then there are the times when we're just proud and God wants to break us down by having us rely upon others. I fell into that third category.

The lesson here for me was that we all need to ask for help; and most times it's because the blessing that comes isn't just for us, but also for those who help.

This is the reason I'm now breaking my personal tradition and asking that you help me. If you can donate anything, terrific- If you can't, please spread the word. This is the door to a new life for us, and I truly believe it is an opportunity for me to give back as well.

Thank you, my friends.

Grand Jury Reform

Grand Jury Reform: Basics

On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson introduced to Congress the Grand Jury Reform Act. Citing the cases of Eric Garner and Michael Brown among others, Johnson declared that it was apparent that the criminal justice system was broken. He stated that the American people have lost faith in the courts, and pinpointed the Grand Jury process as the reason. His exact words are below:

"People demand an end to what is perceived as unequal justice, and that those who are responsible for the use of excessive force be brought to justice. They do not trust a secret grand jury system that is so clearly broken. My bill will help restore that trust.  No longer will communities have to rely on the secret and biased grand jury process."

The issue at the heart of this action is one which nearly everyone across the nation (and yes, even around the world) have voiced an opinion on: The use of excessive force by overzealous, or overworked, police officers. It is most certainly a major issue that must be addressed, but the question remains "Is this the right approach?"

Grand Jury Reform: The Writer 

Forget that Johnson is the same character who was concerned over Guam capsizing; the issue here is very much real, and very much something that needs to be examined. He's not wrong about the need to look at the Grand Jury system, but he very well may be missing the larger picture. We're not imagining a world without balloons- We're attempting to imagine a world wherein a police officer that uses excessive force is removed from duty; investigated thoroughly by an independent prosecutor; brought up on whatever charges are fitting and appropriate; indicted by a Grand Jury; and tried before a judge and a jury of his or her peers. That is what many of us are seeking... At the very least, what many of us are hoping for, even if we do not have the courage to publicly support such a measure.

There are those who dismiss Congressman Hank Johnson far too quickly. Because he has a unique voice; because of his concern about Guam tipping over; because he wanted us to imagine a world without balloons; and even because he is a Democrat from Georgia. There is a broad assortment of reasons to dismiss him, if one wishes to get petty and foolish. The truth of the matter, however, is that he remains the 18th most effective Representative on Capitol Hill. He may not be the greatest mover and shaker in Congress, but he is by far the least worthy of dismissal.

The largest concern that this writer can see when it comes to the current offering by Rep. Johnson is this: It doesn't go far enough. Given where Johnson is from, I can understand that he would immediate gravitate towards the "...unjustified killings of ...countless... African-American men and boys..." However, there are far more examples of police using excessive force than those that cross ethnic lines; moreover, in this writer's opinion, such reform should not be done in the name of ethnicity, but rather justice for all.

Grand Jury Reform: Ineffective

Let us for a moment consider the possibilities should Congressman Hank Johnson's measure become law. Yes, there would be a special prosecutor appointed by the Governor of the state in which the killing took place. Yes, all initial proceedings would be open to the public where they had been closed in the past. Finally, yes, all of this would put the onus on those within the Grand Jury to return a fair indictment. However...
The measure leaves judges completely untouched. In fact, whether any of this actually happens is entirely dependent upon the presiding judge. This doesn't make it harder for a corrupt brotherhood of cops to get their cohort off with a stern look, it makes it that much easier. Bully the prosecutor, grease the judge, and possibly buy off the Grand Jury- That is the system now. But under this measure, all that would be needed was an understanding with a a willing judge.

The measure also specifically credits cases that have a potent and toxic cross ethnic scenario. I'm sure nearly everyone reading this will remember some of the following names: Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant, Nate Sanders, Timothy Russell, Malissa Williams, Kendrec McDade, Kenneth Harding and Stanley Gibson. Cases like these are the ones mentioned by Johnson as being reasons for this reform. However, Johnson clearly forgot more than a few, far more recent incidents:

• John T. Williams, a Nitinaht wood carver with partial hearing loss and cognitive disabilities. Crossing the road one night with a carving knife in one hand and a piece of wood in the other, he was gunned down after failing to respond to police officers. 
• Officer James Davies, a Lakewood police officer investigating a disturbance. In the course of his investigation, Davies was shot and killed by fellow officer Devaney Braley.
• John Loxas, a 50-year-old grandfather from Arizona who was babysitting his 9-month-old grandson. After an ill-advised run-in with a neighbor, police responded to Loxas' home with the purpose of investigating his neighbor's claim. He answered the door with a black object in one hand and his grandson in the other, and was promptly shot in the head with a rifle by Officer James Peters from a distance of six yards.
• James Boyd, a 36-year-old homeless man camping in the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico. After being reported to police as being mentally ill and homeless, Boyd was approached by a group of armed officers accompanied by a police dog. After talking for a short time, Boyd proceeded to pick up his bag appearing to decide to move on- He was then shot three times in the back and arm, shot several more times with beanbag rounds after collapsing on the ground, assaulted by the police dog, and finally handcuffed. He died the next day as a result of his injuries.
• Mary Hawks, a troubled 19-year-old suspected of car jacking. After an on foot chase, officers say she turned on the pursuing police officers with a handgun, and was subsequently shot. Witnesses say there was no shouting, no verbal orders; just silence and sounds of running, followed by gunshots.
• Christopher Torres, a 27-year-old schizophrenic from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was badly beat before being shot to death in his own backyard in 2011. While the first detective involved claims they were serving a warrant and that Torres started the conflict, the second detective stated that there was no attempt to serve a warrant, nor was there an attempt to use the appointed intermediary.

None of the above cases involve men or women of the African-American persuasion, and none of them are referenced. For there to be genuine reform, there must be equal cause. That equality of cause exists, but it is not getting the attention it needs.

Grand Jury Reform: What True Reform Looks Like

While Congressman Hank Johnson seems to feel that it is strictly the Grand Jury portion of the criminal justice system that needs overhaul, it is the entire system that needs to be reformed. These reforms would touch on not only the jury selection and process, but every other aspect as well. Were I able to suggest a bill for the Congressman to champion, it would touch on these points:

Law. The basic foundation of the legal system needs to be addressed first and foremost. There are multiple laws that cover the same infractions, yet due to their slightly different wording, a person charged under these laws could either escape due to multiple loopholes, or be damned beyond hope due to the lack of ability to prove innocence. Rather than creating new laws to address new aspects, old laws should be amended. The system should not require the sheer volume of work it takes simply to interpret the law before being applied.

Consequence. The required punishments of law should be clearly stated, with a specified range of degree to allow for judge applied leniency if any is justified. One highly controversial example is that of convicted sex offenders. A person convicted of indecent public exposure is placed on the same list as the serial rapist, and as a result, is treated by law enforcement and the general public in the same manner. If someone who is brought up on criminal charges for relieving him or herself in a less than secluded spot must be placed on some sort of registry, it should not be the same one as that person convicted of rape. People must be given a chance commensurate with the level of their crime to live life and hopefully move beyond their crime. The consequence of their actions must be dealt, but that consequence cannot prevent them from living a full life where such is possible.

Enforcement. Once the law is simplified and clarified, the enforcement of that law must then be very concisely executed. Peace officers are such in name only throughout the country, be they genuinely upholding the current system or criminals themselves. Obviously, this needs to change. Officers themselves must undergo strenuous training, but under the oversight of an independent committee tasked with the sole purpose of verifying that all courses are up to standard, and that all graduates have met or exceeded those standards. As a secondary aspect of Law Enforcement Reform, all unions must either be entirely dissolved, or severely limited in power. This writer would rather see an independent council for Law Enforcement rights than a union that is constantly and consistently finding itself involved with defending members and brutalizing citizens speaking against corruption. Too much financial capital is spent on the growth and well-being of the union itself, and too little goes to caring for the officers themselves.

Judicial. From the Supreme Court of the United States down to the municipal courts, there must be a complete shake-up. First, there must be term limits imposed upon all judicial positions, whether appointed or elected. Secondly, all prospective judges must show evidence of education in the law which they intend to interpret, as well as a complete lack of activism for a period no shorter than fifteen years. Thirdly, all decisions issued from the bench must quote from the law in question, except in criminal trials, where the law or laws broken must be referenced. Where decisions are issued from the bench of the Supreme Court, all must reference the law in question, and how the decision applies to the Constitution of the United States; should the Constitution have no bearing on the case, the Supreme Court must then adhere to the Constitution and send the case back to the state for review and decision. No court may decline from ruling except where such a ruling would result in the interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. Finally, the use of case law shall not, in no wise, replace the reference of legislated law; nor shall case law ever be given in place of constitutional reference.

Prosecution. No prosecutor should ever be involved with a case wherein even the slightest possibility of conflict of interest rests. In all cases, where such peril resides, an independent prosecutor must always be called upon. In cases involving government officials, law enforcement officers, and other public servants, an independent prosecutor must always be appointed.

Jury. All potential jury members must be peers only in general age. None should be disregarded for lack of affluence, gender, or ethnicity. Any sharing criminal record similarities would be prevented from selection. All selections would be reviewed by an independent panel prior to final placement.

Grand Jury Reform: Final Thoughts

Congressman Hank Johnson is also passing around a petition in addition to his proposed bill that calls upon Congress to pass the measure. It says in part:

"...the secretive grand jury process will be manipulated by prosecutors to protect and favor the police officers who they work closely with every day. As a result, the public has lost confidence in the criminal justice system. This loss of confidence erodes public respect for the rule of law, and undermines public trust for the integrity of our judicial system."

In truth, it is the total package; the entire system itself; that has caused the American public to lose confidence in its ability to properly address breaches of law. Thus, the whole system must be reformed- It is far from an easy thing, but it is the only thing that will actually work.

The system is broken, but let us not forget that the brokenness of the system, or lack thereof, does not excuse anyone of their duty as citizens. In other words, no court decision is justifiable cause to punish your neighbors, your fellow residents, or your merchants. Rioting accomplishes nothing; it garners attention, but only negativity rises from such scrutiny. Nor does a broken system justify verbal or physical assaults on police. I firmly believe that those police who do their jobs as decently and humbly as possible deserve our praise and support- They are the reason this system of justice has held up for so long.

In closing, if the esteemed Congressman Hank Johnson is reading this at any time; or if any of our duly elected leaders see this post; allow me just to say: Reform! Reform! Reform! ...But do so with wisdom, intelligence and humility. Address the whole problem, not just a part. Block all possible loopholes, not just a few. Reform to benefit the citizens of this nation, not yourselves.

Do this, Congressman Hank Johnson, and the system will find new life, and greater trust.

My Issue With NowTheEndBegins - Part 1

How NTEB Got Me Fired Up This Time

If you are friends with Dara and I on Facebook (through Jax, of course) then you know I recently went off on the writer of the article on the ecumenical gathering organized by Humanum, an organization dedicated to the promotion of marriage between a man and a woman within faith communities. They approached the Vatican to cosponsor an event in which they will gather religious leaders of many faiths from around the world to speak on this very subject. In addition to Pope Francis, multiple Christian leaders will be present, and these include the author of Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren. Anyone who is familiar with me knows that I have a major issue with Mr. Warren, especially with his now oft repeated statements that Islam and Christianity worship the same God- Let me be clear from the outset: I absolutely reject Warren's assertion that the God of the Bible is the god of Islam. 

However, NTEB mischaracterizes it as a "Global Chrislam Conference." Right there, one should be put completely on guard against what is coming, yet I am discovering that many Christians are falling for this garbage. Thus, I am writing tonight about it, and why any Christ follower should be wary of anything that comes from NTEB.

The article opens with the following statement:

On Monday, November 17, 2014, Pope Francis will host a global ecumenical conference featuring Muslim leaders, pagans, and Chrislam founder Rick Warren from Saddleback Church in California. --NTEB

Let's stop there for just a minute. Chrislam is a religious practice established in the 1970's that recognizes the Q'ran and the Bible as sacred texts. It was created by Tela Tella in Lagos, Nigeria. The idea of mixing these two utterly incompatible religions is by no means new, and Rick Warren had nothing to do with the founding of this sect. Nevertheless, here in the United States, he has unilaterally been recognized as the creator of this abomination of doctrine. Folks, Warren, for all of his abhorrent mistakes and transgressions, did not found this crud.

Moreover, NTEB declares that it will be attended by Muslim leaders, pagans and Rick Warren. We've already discussed Warren and Chrislam, so let us turn our attention to the word "pagan." Paganism is a very specific belief system, and does not- Cannot for the sake of accuracy and truth -Be inclusive of all the religions one disapproves of. Paganism at its core is the worship of nature; it does not include Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, etc. If one wished to bunch all of these religions under one single label, it would be "heathen," or better yet, "deceived." Moreover, the conference is being attended by those from the orthodox Jewish community and the Messianic Jewish community. These too are "pagans?" This inattention to detail (and we must hope it was a sincere lack of attention to detail rather than an intentional and outright misuse) is typical of NTEB.

Let us continue looking at the article.

Note the high number of professing pagan religions that will be represented there. The Pope doesn’t care what you believe as long as you follow Rome.     --NTEB

NTEB has already mischaracterized the conference's intent. They further skew the representation by implying that it is the Vatican that is leading this conference. In fact, Pope Francis is merely a speaker; the organization responsible for the initial planning is doing the hosting. That organization is so-called "interfaith," meaning that no one religion has a controlling hand, regardless of what NTEB wishes with obvious sincerity.

...beyond it’s stated purpose, the real reason for the global confab is to continue Pope Francis’ work of merging all religions into the One World Religion mentioned in the book of Revelation. Any excuse for a get together is fine, so long as all religions agree to lay down before the Vatican and get in line behind the Pope. --NTEB

This is an absolute and unbelievably blatant slam on Catholics; not to mention a truly awful understanding of Revelation. I want to make sure everyone understands something about the book of Revelation: Nowhere in Revelation does it state that there will be a "One World Religion" in those terms. Thus, everything we know about the One World Religion that accompanies the rise of the final Antichrist comes from pure interpretation. Mind, that interpretation, when done properly, gives us a very clear vision of a universal (here meaning global) religion.

Note what Revelation actually says about this global religion, and make exceptional note of the imagery.

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”   --Revelation 17:1-18 [ESV]

The word "harlot" is used throughout the Old and New Testaments to reference false religion. It will dominate the whole world, thus it is global. The adultery (sexual immorality) mentioned illustrates the influence the religion has on the leaders of the world. The drunkenness mentioned refers to these people becoming drunk with power.

What it does not say is what that religion will be or what it will spring from. All of those who say it is the Vatican are coming off of pure speculation- Even those who say they've had a revelation from God on the matter ought to be thoroughly examined for past accuracy before being believed. I myself believe that it will be a religion that is nonexistent today- That it will spring from the rise of the living statue, not from anything today; again, this is purely speculation, and is open to correction based upon contextual and critical Scriptural argument. It is worth noting that the rise of this religion, however, comes after the rise of the Antichrist and the creation of the living statue, or the image of the beast which has been given life by the false prophet.

Regardless, the Pope is not calling for all religions to fall in line with the Vatican- If he were to do this, you can bet there would be war. He is joining in a conference on the importance of marriage. Any further purpose is conjecture, and must be treated as such- With a heavy dose of skepticism and a demand for evidence. NTEB cannot provide such evidence, instead pointing to Scripture warped and taken out of context, viewed through a lens dirtied with agenda and bias. I absolutely and emphatically challenge NTEB and/or any of their supporters to present evidence to the contrary.

NTEB Calls This Reporting

Last year, Anglican priest and close friend of Pope Francis Tony Palmer gave an impassioned plea to Kenneth Copeland’s church to “return home to Mother Rome”, only to die mere months later in a mysterious motorcycle accident.      --NTEB

The Late Anglican Bishop Tony Palmer
(YouTube)

I find it in particularly poor taste to call Palmer's motorcycle accident "mysterious," thus implying that it was somehow Divine judgment. I find it even more poor taste to state that Palmer called the ministers at Copeland's church (another minister I've taken issue with) to return to "mother Rome." NTEB claims that Copeland has never been in the Body of Christ- I take offense to this as well. He has preached prosperity, and yes, that teaching is heretical; but he has never led anyone to turn their lives over to anyone but Christ. As Nate so eloquently stated during one of our recent broadcasts, there are very few Bible translations out there that will not bring a person to salvation. The same can be said for Christian ministers, no matter how wayward aspects of their theology.

Let us examine the main charge: That Tony Palmer pled with these attending ministers to return to "mother Rome."

The first and most obvious to those who know their church history is that Anglicans do not answer to the Vatican. An Anglican priest can be excommunicated for this, though the right of excommunication is rarely exercised. Anglicans split from Rome before the King James Bible was brought to the masses, and though Roman Catholicism has opened their churches to those Anglican members upset with recent decisions to allow homosexual priests and marriages within their denomination, they are still not Catholic.

The second most obvious (and perhaps most obvious to most people) is that Catholic priests cannot marry. They are bound from marriage by their oaths. Tony Palmer was married. He and his widow have two children. Let me say it again: Anglicans are not Catholic. Moreover, Tony Palmer began his ministry as a supercharged, spirit filled, pentecostal new convert.

Finally, and most important: NTEB puts "mother Rome" in quotations. Palmer never, not once, uses this phrase in his entire 30+ minute address. He did say that people should take back the word catholic for what it really means, and we'll get to that in a moment. NTEB edited the video of Palmer's address so that it sounded like he was being blatently arrogant. In fact, he was giving Scriptural and historical support for everything he stated. He also said "Luther's protest is over; is yours?" NTEB states at this point that "for all good King James Version believing Christians, the protest will never be over!" Oh, fools that you are! The protest was indeed over salvation through faith alone, and Luther did indeed say that it was works which proved faith. The Roman Catholic church did indeed sign an accord fundamentally changing their doctrine regarding salvation through works, and as such- Yes, the protest IS over.

What should truly stand out here though is that NTEB flat out lied through invented attribution and mischaracterization, and all to bring dishonor to a man who was saved by faith, began working within the Anglican church, and then began to work with, not for, the Roman Catholic church to bring genuine salvation to their members.

Forgive me for this next comment; I make it with full understanding that I may offend some who read this, yet also with full conviction of the truth of the statement: I believe there is a special place within the Lake of Fire for those who claim Christ, yet who tear down His Body- And I pray that the members of NTEB do not find themselves there.


In another article authored by NTEB on this subject, they make the following statement:

The video you are about to see is shocking. It is a blatant, full-frontal assault by the Vatican to, once again, attempt to swallow up the professing Christian church like they did back in 325 AD when the Catholic Church was invented. What you will hear Kenneth Copeland and Anglican priest Tony Palmer – a personal friend and confidant of Pope Francis – say is that “if you are born again, then you are a Catholic” among a host of other outright lies. --NTEB

Take note that the Vatican, in reaching out for the purpose of reconciliation, is actually assaulting Christianity... According to NTEB, that is.

Their reference to 325 A.D. is weakly accurate historically, though exceptionally flawed in application. The Catholic church was formed in a fairly recognizable fashion around 325 A.D. However, the word "catholic" had been in use far before then- We'll get to that in a moment. NTEB goes to their standard vitriol in explaining this, quoting the oft used but wholly misrepresented Emperor Constantine story. They state, as many have, that Constantine declared himself as the head of the Christian church- This is almost entirely without basis. "Almost entirely," because there were critics of his who declared that's virtually what he did- None of these critics to my knowledge were Christians, however. They also claim that Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome; this is not so. What he did do was end the state-sponsored persecution of Christians, allowing them to once again worship within their homes and within church buildings with little to no fear of retaliation.

As a point of historical fact for those who hold to the belief that Constantine ordered Christianity to become the state religion; instituted Roman idol worship within the faith (Sunday worship, etc); and created what we know to be the Catholic Church, there is a minor problem: Constantine died in 337 A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in 381 A.D., forty-four years after his death. It is ironic that NTEB lambasts PBS on a nearly regular basis, and yet espouses the same identical story regarding the institution of Christianity that PBS also forwards.

What everyone misses is the fact that it was the professing Christian church uniting under the first Roman ruler to convert to Christianity and prove his faith by his actions. The institution of Christianity as the state religion happened much later, and was the direct result of multiple conflicts within the area- The Catholic church (again, we'll get into the use of "catholic" soon) gathered its supporters and recognizing the need for a uniting secular ruler, appointed Charlemagne the first "Holy Roman Emperor." The age of the Holy Roman Catholic Church begins here- Not with Constantine. Now, remember I said their statement was weakly accurate historically? Let me explain how low the bar must be set for them to be remotely accurate: They pegged the Roman Catholic Church as starting around 325 A.D., but Charlemagne was appointed as Emperor in 800 A.D.

Now to the crux of the matter- The statement that "if you are born again, you are catholic." (Please note the lack of capitalization.) 

The word 'catholic' comes from the Greek and means 'throughout the whole.' The Christian church used this expression as early as 110 A.D. to reference the Body of Christ, and possibly earlier. It was later adopted by the organized movement we now know as the Roman Catholic Church, and then tainted by the corruption the church fell into. Watching Palmer's address in context reveals this very thing- That he was talking in reference to the earliest understanding, and not stating that all Christians are part of the Roman Catholic Church; he could have lost his priesthood for that!

Later in this article, NTEB claims that Palmer was lying about the Glory of God holding us together via insinuation. They quote Paul when he tells the Church in Rome not to allow other doctrines to sway them from what they'd already received, not unlike his admonition in Galatians. Yet, there it is in red and white: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one" -John 17:22 and from the KJV itself.

NTEB - The Charges Do Not End Here

My issues with NTEB do not stop with this abominable use of the word "journalism." (Yes, that's what they call this garbage, unless one can take "NTEB News Desk" to mean anything else.) It goes far beyond the intentional character assassination and slander they call reporting. However, this particular article can go only so long, and thus, I will have to continue in a second installment.

Allow me to say something positive about NTEB though, as I feel that all criticism should be rounded out with some form of praise for a job done well, however minor that right doing may be: They support Israel unflinchingly, and they support Joel Rosenberg's Joshua Fund as well. I must give them kudos for that at least.