You may recall that Ray Boltz “came out of the closet” last year and openly confessed that he is living a homosexual lifestyle in Florida now.  You can read my article and the link to the Washington Blade magazine that carried the news in an interview with the singer:  Ray Boltz Confesses He Is Gay.

He’s just released a new single paralleling the desire of homosexuals’ to marry and the struggle to do so in America with the 1960′s era struggle of a white man’s struggle to marry a black woman detailed in the 1967 Supreme Court decision from the suit “Loving v. Virginia,” in which Chief Justice Warren wrote, “Marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man, fundamental to our very existence and survival.”

You can read the lyrics, hear the song and read what Boltz has to say about it on his blog:  Ray Boltz Blog.

I’ve heard it several times predicted, and Ray seems to agree, that this issue will be the next great civil rights struggle in America.

*NOTE:  No bashing in the comments.

Just curious, but why is it, especially among media writing negatively about Christians, but even among those writing more “neutral” stories, are pictures shown of a group at a point of ecstatic worship (speaking in tongues optional)?

For an example, check out this picture, entitled “evangelicals.jpg” used in an article slanted harshly against Christians in general and evangelicals in particular:

You can find the article here:

Evangelists: Cashing in on Hard Economic Times

Most of the Evangelicals I know NEVER look like this, and those that do, only for a couple of moments per week.  Do people think we really walk around like this all day long?

Several news agencies are reporting that a stock clerk in New Jersey lost his life as shoppers knocked him down and trampeled him to death today.  Apparently, few of the shoppers cared enough to even stop and observe the goings on.

It would appear that the only thing that got their attention was when store management shut the store down.

A pregnant lady was also knocked down and injured.  One source is reporting that the paramedics were overheard telling her that she lost the baby.

I’ve often espoused the opinion that the hassle isn’t worth the deals.  I am quite confident that the deals aren’t worth being a part of a mob that values those deals over life.

You can read about it from these services:

NY Daily News|Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede

Chicago Tribune|Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede

Balitmore Sun|Wal-Mart worker in N.Y. dies after being trampled during Black Friday event

Fox 5 NY|Mall Worker Killed In Black Friday Trampling

KTAR.com|Wal-Mart worker dies after shoppers knock him down

This one may shock a few people.  Former Contemporary Christian Music vocalist Ray Boltz has been interviewed by the Washington Blade, a periodical focusing on homosexual issues.  In that interview, Boltz tells of his journey through life, CCM and the revelation of his internal struggle to his family on the day after Christmas in 2006.

Boltz is now divorced amicably and living an openly gay lifestyle in Florida.

Also in the article is the story of Christians who are reaching out to him AFTER his revelation.  It is interesting to note that one church even had him sing in their services.

Boltz has had some of his songs become somewhat iconic among church culture in America with songs like, “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb,” that mixes patriotic symbolism in with devotion to Christ.  No song has been more touching, used and possibly over used, than the song, “Thank You,” where the singer tells of going to Heaven to find all the people who have been touched by his life lining up to thank him for serving the Lord.

You can read the full article here:

Key Changes – Washington Blade

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Here’s a quote from the Washington Post Article:

The study detailed Americans’ deep and broad religiosity, finding that 92 percent believe in God or a universal spirit — including one in five of those who call themselves atheists. More than half of Americans polled pray at least once a day.

This is what comes when attending church becomes the culture instead of the Church shaping the culture via the proclamation of the Gospel which results in the salvation and then sanctification of the lost.

Read the whole thing here: Most Americans Believe in Higher Power, Poll Finds

Have you gotten your “Economic Stimulus Check” from the government yet?  If not, like me, there is a pretty easy solution for finding out your check’s status.  The website has a printed schedule, but the IRS seems to be behind in sending out the money.  Hmmm.  Surprised?

Anyway, if you call the IRS’ automated hotline, with a few easy questions, you can find out when your check is due to be mailed.  The number is:  1-866-234-2942.  You should know where you stand in a few minutes.

Now, what will you do with yours?

Today is the 13th Anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building building in Oklahoma City. It’s a scar that the heartland still bears.

photo by Kent Harville.

You can find some interesting pictures and a first hand account over at the Lifeway News Blog in a post called Friday Photos 4/18/08: Remembering The Oklahoma City Bombing, 13 Years Later.

I remember that I was in Seminary and my Mother-in-Law was in OKC for the day when I heard the news on the radio. It was tense until we were able be sure she was alright. She later said that the explosion shook the chandelier in the meeting room where they were in a hotel all the way by the airport.