A Full Belly

I am in the process of reading the Quran. I read heretical doctrine for the sole purpose of knowing for fact what they teach. This allows me to teach my people why we are not ecumenical. I have thoroughly studied the Catholics, Methodists, Pentecosts, and Assemblies of God. These four mainstream religions do not adhere to the biblical plan of salvation. Therefore the before mentioned label of “heretical” is certainly applicable.

Although these mainstream religions are heretical, they, in print, all teach kindness to other people. This is where Islam separates itself. I have never read anything so full of hatred. In the Quran, Muslims are commanded to kill Jews and Christians. This mandate is not a one-time mentioned doctrine delicately hidden away between lines, but rather it is plainly proclaimed hundreds of times.

The term “radical Muslims” is what has my belly begging my mouth for another round of Rolaids. These people who are killing others in the name of Allah are not “radical”. They are following the prescribed behavior laid out for them in their instruction manual…the Quran. Today’s media outlets would have us believe that most Muslims are decent peace-loving people and that these killers are extremists who have perverted their peaceful religion. The truth is that a Quran believing Muslim should kill every one of us when they have the opportunity.

Do I believe that some people identify with Islam (because of cultural heritage) and remain decent people…yes. Just as some people claim to be Baptist yet have no idea what Baptists believe. But anyone who claims to believe the Quran and practice Islam should be expelled from our country. In a civilized society, a person who believes in killing another simply because of a different theological view, should not be allowed refuge.

I am amazed that this country, that I love, has sunk to the point where she is at today. Jews, Christians and heterosexual white people are sitting ducks in the pond of the Political Correctness Police Department’s pond…and its duck season. The accusations are not tempered and almost every social woe is attributed to one of these groups. But if anyone dares to say anything against the ills of a minority or against the beloved Muslims then problems are sure to come.

I, for one, have a belly full of everything being my fault. I am a white man who believes the Word of God. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin…I believe it. The Bible teaches that any sexual activity outside the bounds of marriage is a sin…I believe it. The Bible teaches that a man should work for a living (or not eat)…I believe it. The Bible teaches that I, as a child of God, should love even my enemy…I believe it, because he needs to be saved. The Bible teaches that I should obey the laws of the land…I believe it.

Since it is against the law for me to holler “fire” in a crowded theater, I won’t do it. It will cause a state of panic in which someone is likely to be injured. Since it is against the law to incite a riot, I won’t to it. I do not think an unruly mob is the answer to every problem. You see, we are a civilized people who do not look to violence as the first answer to every problem.

So if you are a peaceful Muslim who has never read the Quran….Read it! If you do not believe it denounce your religion. If you agree with it, and you feel it to be your duty to kill me, I hope that someday you realize your need for Jesus as Savior. Until then, get out of our country!

The Sinful Snow

It was exhilarating to enjoy its presence. Now it has passed and left a slushy, muddy mess to deal with. Sound familiar?

When The New Wears Off

Good Morning. I am setting on couch thinking about what fickle characters we are. I just took my dog outside for his early morning business meeting and I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of snow which has remained on the ground. You see, In Louisiana snow is rare, and it’s sticking and remaining on the ground is even rarer. So we are excited. My boys will wake in a couple of hours and we will probably by-pass our Fruity Pebbles and head straight outside to play. It’s going to be a fun day.

But in other parts of the country, what we are excited about, they think to be mundane. To my Yankee friends, a little snow is no more tantalizing than the rising of the sun. I reckon that if I were exposed to as much snow as they are, its present appeal would soon wane.

This is the intrigue to me. We naturally get excited about the new or unique. Children get excited the first time their eyes behold that new toy. The new car owner can’t wait for all to see him in his new ride. I even had a North Carolina cousin get excited when I took him for a boat ride and he saw trees growing in the lake. He had seen pictures of them before, but he was awed by actually seeing Cypress trees. We southerners get excited about rarely seen snow.

But to all, the new becomes old. The toy that once produced a glisten in the eye of a child has now been reduced to being a bottom-dwelling occupant of a toy box that is rarely opened. The car that was originally washed every other day, now sits in the drive with 2 months of rode grime covering its paint and 2 inches of sand hiding its carpet. If my cousin were to move to the south, he would soon pass by the majestic Cypress trees and never give them a second glance. The snow that causes this southern boy to act like a 7 year old, would be a considered a nuisance if I lived in Minnesota.

What has happened? I guess the best I can figure is it has something to do with the Garden, sin and always wanting something different than that which we have.

Kids set aside their toys to play with something “better”.
Men and women set aside years of marriage to pursue something “better”.
God’s people set aside the “old Bible” to pursue something “better”.
Churches set aside the old traditions to pursue something “better”.

But soon the “betters” of life have become the old and mundane. So new “betters” must be found. But you know what…some of the old stuff is still pretty good.

So this is what I am going to do today…
1. I’m going to enjoy the snow, but I am also going to stand in awe of the beauty and grandeur of the Bald Cypress. I will not overlook the blessing of enjoying any part of God’s awesome creation.
2. When my boys wake up, I’m going to hug them as though I haven’t seen them in a month. Our soldiers wish they could hug their kids right now. I will not overlook this blessing.
3. I’m going to prepare my heart for another “routine” Sunday. “Same ole, same ole”. I am going to preach my message as though it is the last one I convey to the people. It may be. I will not overlook this blessing.
4. I will read my old KJV. I know to some there are “newer and better”. My Great-Grandfather preached from an old KJV. Bro. Hughes was preaching from an old KJV the night I finally cried out for Jesus to save me. God has preserved His Word for me. I will not overlook this blessing.
5. When my wife wakes from her slumber, she will still be as beautiful to me as the 15 year old girl I fell in love with 24 years ago. I will thank God for my wonderful wife and another day that He has given us together. I will not overlook this blessing.

What Do You Think?

What can we do to improve the Louisiana Missionary Baptist News? (Besides more pictures of me) We are always looking to better our product. Any ideas? Suggestions?

A Plea To My Blogger Brethren

My fellow bloggers. Two things are apparent. 1. You have at least a little spare time (else you wouldn't be reading this). 2. You enjoy (to some degree anyway) sharing your views through the medium of that which is written.

I am asking you to start writing. Not necessarily 50,000 word dissertations, but brief concise articles on issues relevant our work and the Word. I ask that you would then send me those masterpieces (mikewilkes12@gmail.com or mikewilkes@bellsouth.net)

Many months, we are struggling to find print-worthy material for the Missionary Baptist News. I am not promising that what you send me will be published, but the more material we have to choose from the more likely we are to produce a quality product.

Some of you are quaking at the thought of turning in something you have written because of your lacking the ability to write in a proper fashion. Have no fear, that is exactly what the editor is for. He will take the language you have butchered and produce a grammatical masterpiece. Then, all will be impressed with your grammatical acuity.

Seriously, will you give consideration to sharing with others that which you have gleaned.

Communism...Could It Be?

Yesterday, while coming home from piano lessons, my son asked me, "Dad, what is propaganda?" Since we were not engaged in any type of discussion along these lines, his question seemed strange. I asked him what in the world would prompt him to ask such a question. He told me that one of his classmates did a social studies project on the Cold War and the propaganda associated with it.

So I did my best to explain to him what I perceive propaganda to be. I told him that propaganda is basically information that is repetitively fed to a people, but the information is factually flawed. I went on to use the example of the "health care crisis" issue in our country. I told him that we certainly have very serious problems with our health care system and its costs, but we are nowhere near being in a state of crisis. But the political powers that be and the media have convinced many people that we do.

I explained to him that communism gets its foot in the door by presenting a supposed "crisis" and then persuading people that government is the only solution.

My son then looked at me and asked, "Well dad, are we communists yet?"

Its a crying shame my 12 year old son has better sense than our leaders.

Fair Is Fair

Why was president Obama so criticized for his association with Rev. Wright? Is it fair to think that just because he was close to and fellowshipped with the Rev., that he embraced the same hateful views?

Maybe they were just good friends. Even though they had some common ties, maybe the foundational rhetoric spouted by the Rev. was despised by the Pres.? Maybe he had a completely different view of the U.S. and race relations. Why is it automatically assumed that just because two parties join hands that they have the same foundational principles? Is it fair to make such an assumption?