American Minute with Bill Federer: First Things First: Religious Freedom! Who influenced Jefferson’s views on the Wall of Separation of Church & State? New Mexico Governor’s Spokesman Calls Pastors ‘Pro-Virus’

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American Minute with Bill Federer
First Things First: Religious Freedom! Who influenced Jefferson’s views on the Wall of Separation of Church & State? New Mexico Governor’s Spokesman Calls Pastors ‘Pro-Virus’
On JANUARY 1, 1802, the people of Cheshire, Massachusetts, delivered a giant block of cheese weighing 1,235 lbs to President Thomas Jefferson, being presented by the famous Baptist preacher, John Leland.
On the block of cheese, they put Jefferson’s motto, which was also on his personal seal: “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God.”
After delivering the cheese, John Leland was then invited to preach to the President and Congress in the U.S. Capitol.
The subject of his talk was “separation of church and state.”
Baptists had been particularly persecuted in colonial Virginia, as Francis L. Hawks wrote in Ecclesiastical History (1836):
“No dissenters in Virginia experienced for a time harsher treatment than the Baptists …
… They were beaten and imprisoned …
Cruelty taxed ingenuity to devise new modes of punishment and annoyance.”
So many Baptist ministers were harassed, and their church services disrupted, that James Madison introduced legislation in Virginia’s Legislature on October 31, 1785, titled “A Bill for Punishing Disturbers of Religious Worship,” which passed in 1789.
Colonial Virginia had an “establishment” of the Church of England, or “Anglican Church” from 1606 to 1786.
Establishment meant:
  • mandatory membership;
  • mandatory taxes to support it; and
  • no one could hold public office unless they were a member.
This was modeled after European nations who had establishments of different Christian denominations, as well as Islamist and atheistic countries which effectively established their belief systems.
In Virginia, lax enforcement allowed immigration of “dissenting” religious groups, the first being Presbyterians and Quakers, followed by German Lutherans, Mennonites and Moravian Brethren, then finally Baptists.
Patrick Henry almost succeeded in having Virginia not ratify the Constitution as it did not have a Bill of Rights guaranteeing, among other things, the freedom of religion.
Baptist Preacher John Leland had considered running for Congress, as he wanted an Amendment added to the new United States Constitution which would protect religious liberty.
Leland reportedly met with James Madison near Orange, Virginia.
Upon Madison’s promise to introduce what would become the First Amendment, Leland agreed to persuade Baptists to get involved in politics and support Madison.
John Leland wrote in Rights of Conscience Inalienable, 1791, that they wanted not just toleration, but equality:
“Every man must give account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in a way that he can best reconcile to his conscience.
If government can answer for individuals at the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise, let men be free.”
John Leland was following in the tradition of the Baptist Roger Williams, who fled England to Massachusetts, then fled to found Rhode Island.
The situation was that Puritans were persecuted by the established Anglican Church in England.
They fled in a Great Puritan Migration to Massachusetts, where they proceeded to establish Puritanism.
Supreme Court Justice Hugo Lafayette Black wrote in Engel v. Vitale, 1962:
“When some of the very groups which had most strenuously opposed the established Church of England found themselves sufficiently in control of colonial governments in this country to write their own prayers into law, they passed laws making their own religion the official religion of their respective colonies.”
Roger Williams wrote in his Plea for Religious Liberty, 1644:
“The doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience is most contrary to the doctrine of Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace …
God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state;
which enforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his servants, and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls.”
A few years later, Quaker founder of Pennsylvania William Penn wrote in England’s Present Interest Considered, 1675:
“Force makes hypocrites, ’tis persuasion only that makes converts.”
Freedom of conscience gave birth to public evangelistic meetings.
It is rooted in the belief that God loves us and our response is to love Him back, but love, by definition must be voluntary.
Following George Whitefield’s First Great Awakening Revival, 1730-1755, a Second Great Awakening Revival took place between 1790-1840.
In Thomas Jefferson’s county of Albemarle, Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist revival meetings were held.
Even Jefferson’s daughter, Mary, attended a Baptist revival preached by Lorenzo Dow.
On July 4, 1826, the editor of the Christian Watchman (Boston, MA) published an account:
“ANDREW TRIBBLE was the Pastor of a small Baptist Church, which held its monthly meetings at a short distance from Mr. JEFFERSON’S house, eight or ten years before the American Revolution.
… Mr. JEFFERSON attended the meetings of the church for several months in succession, and after one of them, asked Elder TRIBBLE to go home and dine with him, with which he complied.
Mr. TRIBBLE asked Mr. JEFFERSON how he was pleased with their Church Government?
Mr. JEFFERSON replied, that it had struck him with great force, and had interested him much; that he considered it the only form of pure democracy that then existed in the world, and had concluded that it would be the best plan of Government for the American Colonies.”
Thomas F. Curtis wrote in The Progress of Baptist Principles in the Last Hundred Years (Charleston, S.C.: Southern Baptist Publication Society, 1856):
“A gentleman … in North Carolina … knowing that the venerable Mrs. (Dolley) Madison had some recollections on the subject, asked her in regard to them.
She expressed a distinct remembrance of Mr. Jefferson speaking on the subject, and always declaring that it was a Baptist church from which these views were gathered.”
President Calvin Coolidge stated at the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1926:
“This preaching reached the neighborhood of Thomas Jefferson, who acknowledged that his ‘best ideas of democracy’ had been secured at church meetings.”
During the Revolution, Anglican ministers had sided with King George III, who was head of the Anglican Church.
As a result, patriotic parishioners gained courage to migrate out of the “established” churches and filter into “dissenting” churches.
Jefferson was baptized, married and buried in the Anglican Church, which was called “Episcopal” after America’s Revolution, as recorded in his family Bible.
In 1777, though, he started a dissenting church named the Calvinistical Reformed Church.
Jefferson drew up the bylaws of the church, which met in the Albemarle County Courthouse.
His idea was for it to be a “voluntary” church, supported only by the voluntary donations of those who attended.
This contrasted with the Anglican model of church support where citizen paid mandatory taxes to the government, which in turn dispensed funds to established churches.
Jefferson’s memorandum book showed he contributed to the evangelical pastor of the Calvinistical Reformed Church, the Rev. Charles Clay.
Jefferson also gave generously to missionaries and various other churches:
“I have subscribed to the building of an Episcopal church, two hundred dollars, a Presbyterian, sixty dollars, and a Baptist, twenty-five dollars.”
After the Revolution, the Virginia legislature rewrote its laws, removing all references to the King.
“Dissenting” churches lobbied Jefferson to take this opportunity to “disestablish” the Anglican Church.
Jefferson responded by writing his Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom.
In 1779, fellow member of Jefferson’s Calvinistical Reformed Church, Col. John Harvie, introduced the bill in Virginia’s Assembly.
It took seven years to pass.
Justice Hugo Black wrote in Engel v. Vitale, 1962:
“But the successful Revolution against English political domination was shortly followed by intense opposition to the practice of establishing religion by law.
This opposition crystallized rapidly into an effective political force in Virginia where the minority religious groups such as Presbyterians, Lutherans, Quakers and Baptists had gained such strength that the adherents to the established Episcopal Church were actually a minority themselves.
In 1785-1786, those opposed to the established Church … obtained the enactment of the famous ‘Virginia Bill for Religious Liberty’ by which all religious groups were placed on an equal footing.”
After three of Jefferson’s children died, his wife, Martha, died in 1782.
After her funeral, Jefferson suffered depression and withdrew from politics.
In his grief, he burned every letter he had with his wife and sequestered himself in his room for three weeks, only venturing out to ride horseback through the hills of his estate.
Jefferson’s daughter, Martha ‘Patsy’ Jefferson, described how he wept for hours:
“In those melancholy rambles I was his constant companion … a solitary witness to many a violent burst of grief … the violence of his emotion … to this day I do not describe to myself.”
Trying to help, Congress asked Jefferson in 1784 to be the U.S. ambassador to France.
France was going through a period of “French infidelity” prior to its bloody French Revolution and Reign of Terror.
Upon returning to America, Jefferson entertained liberal “deist-Christian” ideas, though in later life he was described simply as a “liberal Episcopalian.”
Jefferson’s bill, with the help of James Madison, finally passed by Virginia’s Assembly, January 16, 1786.
So significant was this, that Jefferson noted it on his gravestone as “The Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom.”
It stated:
“Almighty God hath created the mind free …
All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments … are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of religion,
who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in His Almighty power to do …
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions, which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical …
Be it enacted … that no man shall … suffer on account of his religious opinions.”
This last paragraph, if applied today, would mean that Jefferson would have opposed Christian parents having to pay taxes to have their children indoctrinated in public schools with anti-biblical views on sex and marriage.
Jefferson acquired a Qur’an in 1765, but after studying it, he only had praise for the morality of Jesus, as he wrote to William Canby, September 18, 1813:
“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus.”
Jefferson wrote to Jared Sparks, November 4, 1820:
“I hold the precepts of Jesus as delivered by Himself, to be the most pure, benevolent and sublime which have ever been preached to man.”
Jefferson wrote to Joseph Priestly, April 9, 1803, regarding Jesus:
“His system of morality was the most benevolent and sublime probably that has been ever taught, and consequently more perfect than those of any of the ancient philosophers.”
Jefferson’s belief that “the Holy Author of religion … chose not to propagate it by coercions” is consistent with an account in the Gospel of John:
“Many of his disciples … said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can hear it?’
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, ‘Doth this offend you?’…
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will ye also go away?’
Then Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.'”
Jesus’ example of being willing to let disbelievers voluntarily depart is in stark contrast with the coercion present in Islamic “ridda” apostasy laws, where Mohammed said:
“Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, No. 57)
Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Abdullah:
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘The blood of a Muslim … cannot be shed except … in three cases … the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims.'” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 83, No. 17)
Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Ikrima, stated:
“Ali burnt some people (hypocrites) … No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.'” (Hadith Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 4:260, Vol. 9, Book 84, No. 57)
Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari stated:
“The punishment for apostasy (riddah) is well-known in Islamic Sharee’ah. The one who leaves Islam will be asked to repent by the Sharee’ah judge in an Islamic country;
if he does not repent and come back to the true religion, he will be killed as a kafir and apostate, because of the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.'” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, 3017)
Baptist founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, wrote:
“That religion cannot be true which needs such instruments of violence to uphold it.”
Jefferson’s efforts to disestablish the Anglican Church in Virginia would never have passed had it not been for Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury splitting the popular Methodist movement away from the Anglican Church into its own denomination in 1785, forming the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Francis Asbury also ordained Richard Allen as the first black deacon, and preached the dedication service at Allen’s “Mother Bethel” African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1794.
Virginia had notable leaders who resisted “disestablishing” the Anglican, or as it was now called, the Episcopal Church, such as Governor Patrick Henry.
This movement was later termed “anti-disestablishmentarianism,” which for decades was the longest word in the English Language.
Virginia built its first Jewish Synagogue, Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome, in 1789.
Virginia built its first Catholic Church, St. Mary Church, in Alexandria in 1795.
John Leland then helped start Baptist churches in Connecticut — which was a State having the Congregational Church established from its founding in 1639 until 1818.
Baptists in Connecticut formed the Danbury Baptist Association which sent a letter to President Jefferson, October 7, 1801:
“Sir … Our Sentiments are uniformly on the side of Religious Liberty
–That Religion is at all times and places a Matter between God and Individuals
–That no man ought to suffer in Name, person or effects on account of his religious Opinions
–That the legitimate Power of civil Government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor:
… But Sir … our ancient (Connecticut) charter, together with the Laws made coincident therewith … are; that … what religious privileges we enjoy (as Baptists) … we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights …
Sir, we are sensible that the President of the united States IS NOT the national Legislator
& also sensible that the national government CANNOT destroy the Laws of each State;
but our hopes are strong that the sentiments of our beloved President, which have had such genial Effect already, like the radiant beams of the Sun, will shine & prevail through all these States and all the world till Hierarchy and Tyranny be destroyed from the Earth.”
In other words, Baptists hoped that Jefferson’s sentiments which helped disestablish the Anglican Church in Virginia might also help disestablish the Congregational Church in Connecticut, and likewise influence all other States.
The Danbury Baptist letter to Jefferson continued:
“Sir … we have reason to believe that America’s God has raised you up to fill the chair of State … May God strengthen you for the arduous task which Providence & the voice of the people have called you …
And may the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to His Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Glorious Mediator.”
Jefferson replied with his famous letter, January 1, 1802, agreeing with the Danbury’s Baptists, even repeating sections of their letter almost verbatim:
“Gentlemen … Believing WITH YOU
–that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God,
–that he owes account to none other for faith or his worship,
–that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions,
I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’
thus building a wall of separation between Church and State …”
Jefferson ended:
“Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience,
I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore man to all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man.”
Baptists were familiar with Jefferson’s metaphor “wall of separation,” as the Baptist founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, used it in his Bloody Tenet of Persecution for Conscience Sake, 1644:
“Jews under the Old Testament … and … Christians under the New Testament … were both separate from the world;
and that when they have opened a gap in the hedge, or wall of separation, between the garden of the Church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever broken down the wall itself …
And that therefore if He will ever please to restore His garden and paradise again, it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world.”
Jefferson viewed the “wall” as limiting the federal government from “inter-meddling” in church government, as explained in his letter to Samuel Miller, January 23, 1808:
“I consider the government of the United States as interdicted (prohibited) by the Constitution from inter-meddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.
This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to the United States (10th Amendment) …”
Jefferson continued:
“Certainly no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General (Federal) government …
Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets.”
Though Jefferson considered the Federal Government limited from “inter-meddling” with what was under States’ jurisdiction, it was not limited from spreading religion in Federal territories, as on April 26, 1802, Jefferson’s administration extended a 1787 act of Congress where lands were designated:
“For the sole use of Christian Indians and the Moravian Brethren missionaries for civilizing the Indians and promoting Christianity.”
And again, December 3, 1803, during Jefferson’s administration, Congress ratified a treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians:
“Whereas the greater part of the said tribe have been baptized and received into the Catholic Church … the United States will give annually, for seven years, one hundred dollars toward the support of a priest of that religion, who will engage to perform for said tribe the duties of his office, and also to instruct as many of their children as possible …
And the United States will further give the sum of three hundred dollars, to assist the said tribe in the erection of a church.”
When Abigail Adams died, Thomas Jefferson wrote to her husband, John Adams, November 13, 1818:
“The term is not very distant, at which we are to deposit in the same cerement, our sorrows and suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and whom we shall still love and never lose again.
God bless you and support you under your heavy affliction.”
Twelve years before his death, Jefferson shared his personal views to Miles King, September 26, 1814:
“We have heard it said that there is not a Quaker or a Baptist, a Presbyterian or an Episcopalian, a Catholic or a Protestant in heaven; that on entering that gate, we leave those badges of schism behind …
Let us be happy in the hope that by these different paths we shall all meet in the end. And that you and I may meet and embrace, is my earnest prayer.”
Jefferson’s religious views went through four periods:
  • faithful Anglican prior to the Revolution, as one could not even hold office in colonial Virginia unless one took the Oath of Supremacy;
  • friend of the dissenters during the Revolution, championing the cause of Baptists and other non-conformists;
  • friend of deists after his wife died prior to the French Revolution, corresponding with Dr. Joseph Priestly;
  • liberal Episcopalian during his term as President, having his administration support Christian missionaries among the Indians and espousing the superior ethics of Jesus.
In a sense, one can have Jefferson say whatever one wants, just pick which period of his life to quote from.
Consistent throughout his life, though, Jefferson believed that there was a Creator and that the government should never force one’s conscience.
Over time, brilliant legal minds have used Jefferson’s words to prohibit Jefferson’s beliefs.
Jefferson believed in a Creator, as he wrote in the Declaration:
“All men are endowed by their CREATOR,”
yet in 2005, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones, in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, ruled students could not be taught of a CREATOR: “to preserve the separation of church and state.”
In other words, activist judges have used Jefferson’s phrase “separation of church and state” out of context to remove national acknowledgments of God, despite Jefferson’s specific warning not to do that.
Inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC is Jefferson’s warning:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?
Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Schedule Bill Federer for informative interviews & captivating PowerPoint presentations: 314-502-8924 wjfederer@gmail.com
American Minute is a registered trademark of William J. Federer. Permission is granted to forward, reprint, or duplicate, with acknowledgment.

WE HAVE UPDATED THIS STORY: NM Governor’s Spokesman Call Pastors ‘Pro-Virus’

FRIDAY UPDATE: Her office then called the pastors responsible ‘pro-virus’

We have updated the story with a post from longtime New Mexico Pastor Don Kimbro, one of our heroes of faith. We are so very blessed that Pastor Don writes for God here at FGGAM.!

This will surely end up in the courts. I never thought I would see the day when the government is trying to rule over the Church. Governor Michelle Lujan is beyond the authority of a governor. Businesses are also suffering so very much, so are our schools and children. What do you think? These are very sad times in the history of the Church and in America! New Mexico is so very messed up, I have many posts attached here on the latest messes…..

New Mexico Fines Legacy and Calvary Churches for Violating Health Orders

More on State Fines issued by the State on Legacy and Calvary

UPDATED THURSDAY MORNING:

I am so very thankful that years ago I was introduced to Pastor Don and Dorothy Kimbro of Albuquerque! I am pictured with both below. Such a precious couple who shine for JESUS always! New Mexico and the entire world is a better place because of these two. Me and Sharon have soaked in their testimony on what it means to walk with Jesus! Don has counseled me on many things but most of all, on how to conduct my life. Don started a radio ministry program on KKIM Christian Radio years ago when I was manager and now we are so blessed that he writes for God here at FGGAM! LOVE YOU DON AND DORTHOY!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!! GOD BLESS YOU BOTH MORE THAN EVER!!

Yesterday after Pastor Don Kimbro’s post on the Governor of New Mexico fining Legacy Church and Calvary of ABQ, which I am re-posting here at the bottom, Pastor Don received this comment from Kimberly a reader of FGGAM:

Kimberly Newman 

Petitions help with 1st amendment rights, but best way is to communicate with your representative and make it known you would like a governor removed.

Hi Kimberly,

Thank you for your comments on my post today at FGGAM. I have been asked me to reply. It is my understanding that the governor can be removed by a recall election, which would require a petition of 33 1/3% of voters in the last election (93,000+/-) and must be validated by signatures (a very labor intensive process but not impossible). A governor can also be impeached by the legislature as a result of petition. That is unlikely as the legislature has a strong democratic majority. As far as 1st Amendment issues, that requires legal redress in the appropriate court system of jurisdiction and can work all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
To the latter, I successfully sued the City of Albuquerque in 1994 (Church on the Rock v. City of Albuquerque) for the right to hold Bible studies in the Bear Canyon Senior Center, under the jurisdiction of the City of Albuquerque, having been previously denied. The case was upheld in favor of the defendant by the U.S. District Court soon thereafter, but we won on appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit in 1996 and ratified by the U.S. Supreme Court. MLG comes up for election in 2022. The best way to get her out of office is to vote her out. Right now her popularity is at an all-time low but who knows in two years.
I am under the conviction that the church, as is the government, are both under God’s authority. The government, however, is not over the church nor is the church over the government—they are separate. In other words, the state has no authority to tell the church when, how, and where they can meet. Our forefathers were very careful to point that out in the writing of the Constitution. That’s why the 1st Amendment is so important. That, in my view is being patently overlooked and abused by our state and local governments today. That’s why these issues will ultimately be satisfied in the courts and in no lesser degree—by prayer and unity of the body of Christ. God bless.
Pastor Don Kimbro

From Pastor Don Kimbro of Albuquerque:

******************************************************

From Yesterday:

Hello all,

I apologize (if that is necessary) for being such a pest to some of you, but I am feeling motivated to “stir up the pot” with my limited platform and join with others in standing up against the evil of this hour. As you may or may not know I am a “retired” Pastor of 45 years, so please bear with me as I do my thing.
As you all may know by now, the state of New Mexico is trying to flex their muscles by imposing a $5000 fine on two or our megachurches, Calvary ABQ and Legacy Church in Albuquerque, for “violating health mandates” by holding their Christmas Eve services live. Calvary responded by explaining their protocols. Legacy, however, was more direct without apology, and in my opinion “right on.” You can judge for yourselves:
Legacy Church, in a statement, accused state officials of trampling on their rights. “We have taken the pandemic seriously from the start, and have prudent measures in place. But when governments exceed their constitutional authority and contradict what we are called on by God to do, we answer first to His authority.”
If you happen to be one of my “friends” on my FB postings, I have spoken on this issue with both scriptural and constitutional authority. But FB is what it is and so much of its content is passed by so easily by all of us and read by so few on our list. At any rate, I continue to encourage those of you who are pastors to stand up and be counted. If you’re not a pastor please “goad” you church leadership in taking action and not remain silent. There are more of us than there are of them. Let the Governor know how you feel and keep up the pressure and by all means please don’t acquiesce to their demands. Stay open and stay active—and stay relevant.
As further motivation, you might want to read German Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller’s poem here  written during the time of Nazi Germany, as Hitler was determined to close the churches to the gospel by substituting “Mein Kampf” for the Bible on the church altar and demanding his picture be placed next to the cross. Many pastors in their cowardice compromised—and the church, with the exception of those who continued to stand up became irrelevant. It cost many their lives (including Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
Acts 5:29 seems appropriate for this hour.
So as my friend, Pastor Mark Tross said to me this morning—and I pass on to you, “Let the games begin!” I hope you’ll join in. God bless.
Pastor Don Kimbro
**********************************************
What has LEGACY CHURCH done, they ask?
During the Covid-19 crisis we have given:
•750 masks for city of ABQ employees
•708 meal boxes to Zia and San Felipe Pueblos
•255 masks for Navajo nation
•80,000 lunches partnering with Central Grill and Steelbridge ministries
•5,232 Elderly care packages
•3057 family care packages
•281 first responder/medical staff meals for a family of 4
•2349 families served through our partnership with Roadrunner Food bank
•487 units of blood donated
•21,952 packs of nonperishable food for Feed New Mexico Kids
•Helped eliminate $1,894,800 in hospital bills
•Donated $50,000 to a local Veterans group
•And over $175,000 donated to make a wish.

Censorship Kills: The COVID horse is out of the barn

Contributor & author:  Marilyn M. Singleton, MD, JD, (Oakland-California) board-certified anesthesiologist and immediate past President of Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (see bio at bottom of release)

Preview: 

  • Unfortunately, COVID is still here and has made it to Antarctica. COVID continues to directly or indirectly hasten deaths.
  • For months we’ve heard that COVID is not like the flu. It is a different animal. It may leave the infected person with long term aftereffects.
  • Stay home although 66 percent of new coronavirus hospitalizations in New York were in people who had not routinely left their homes. Stay inside although there are studies echoing observations during the 1918 flu pandemic finding that people who went outside had better outcomes.
  • These “cancelled” physicians are not receiving $37 million innovation grants, but are saving patients’ lives for a few dollars a treatment.

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December 29th, 2020

Censorship Kills

Marilyn M. Singleton, MD, JD

Election irregularities, Chinese spies seducing a congressman, and the shocking revelation that “Dr.” Jill Biden was not a real doctor briefly let us turn our attention away from COVID-19. Unfortunately, COVID is still here and has made it to Antarctica. COVID continues to directly or indirectly hasten deaths. Along with the arrival of two much anticipated vaccines is a new active variant. The effects of both remain to be seen.

For months we’ve heard that COVID is not like the flu. It is a different animal. It may leave the infected person with long term aftereffects. Given the potential problems, the FDA, CDC, NIH, HHS and the alphabet health agencies should be advocating for early pharmacological treatment and prevention. Instead, we are told to wash our hands, wear masks—which may or may not help—and to stay away from one another. Indeed, as California’s Health and Human Services Secretary admitted, the state’s order banning outdoor dining and closing playgrounds was “not a comment on the relative safety” of the activity but a tactic for keeping people at home.

Stay home although 66 percent of new coronavirus hospitalizations in New York were in people who had not routinely left their homes. Stay inside although there are studies echoing observations during the 1918 flu pandemic finding that people who went outside had better outcomes. A recent Spanish study showed that 80 percent of patients with COVID had low levels of vitamin D. Another study found that people with adequate vitamin D levels had a 51 percent lower risk of dying from COVID. People at risk for vitamin D deficiency include those who have dark skin, are elderly or overweight, or stay indoors. Interestingly, these groups are particularly hit hard by COVID.

Simply put, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Any risk of taking proper doses of vitamins and minerals is dwarfed by the risks associated with COVID. Useful vitamins and minerals include zinc (inhibits viral replication), vitamin D3 and vitamin C, and quercetin (to help drive zinc into the cells). Additionally, melatonin, a hormone found naturally in the body that regulates our sleep cycle, also has significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mitochondrial protective effects.

What are we to do if we get ill from COVID? While the numinous Dr. Fauci says we urgently need early treatments, existing effective treatments are largely ignored, discouraged, or even prohibited. The party line recommends doing nothing for symptoms of fever, coughing, or breathing problems other than rest, stay home, drink fluids, and monitor. The threshold for calling the doctor is appalling: coughing up blood, trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, severe drowsiness, or “a blue tint to your lips or face.” Wait until you turn blue?!

I have a better idea. Don’t just curl up in bed. Call the doctor right away and request pharmacological treatment, backed by evidence. Sadly, most potential patients are unaware of early treatment because Facebook, Twitter, and Google, the de facto arm of government communication, block the information or permanently delete the accounts of physicians who advocate for safe, effective treatments.

They argue that the use of well-known medications is “off-label,” that is, prescribing a drug for a different condition or dose than the FDA had approved. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 20 percent of all prescriptions in the United States are for off-label use. This is often done when the “doctor has seen evidence that a certain drug works well for an off-label use.” For example, using a diuretic to treat acne or a chemotherapy agent as a preferred alternative to surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. Billions of doses of [censored] and [censored] have been safely used for over 50 years. Repurposing anti-parasitics as antivirals certainly is not out of the realm of medical innovation.

Sitting at my Apple computer that could have been built by Uighurs in Communist re-education camps, I received another email from someone lamenting that he was blocked from social media. No, it wasn’t for child porn (like the former political consultant right-hand man of congressperson Barbara Lee), but for advocating early treatment of COVID-19. These “cancelled” physicians are not receiving $37 million innovation grants, but are saving patients’ lives for a few dollars a treatment.

The COVID horse is out of the barn. We need to tame it. Let’s start by educating patients, influencers, and policymakers about early treatment with [censored] and preventive measures such as [censored] and the proven uselessness, arbitrariness, and social and economic costs of [censored] that serve to make “poor people poorer” and erode trust in public health officials.

We silently watched as a shameless Nancy Pelosi played games with COVID financial relief legislation hoping to influence an election. Physicians and patients must not stand on the sidelines while political vultures feast on the carcasses of terminally lonely and depressed, drug overdosed, or financially ruined Americans.

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BioDr. Singleton is a board-certified anesthesiologist. She is the immediate past President of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). She graduated from Stanford and earned her MD at UCSF Medical School.  Dr. Singleton completed 2 years of Surgery residency at UCSF, then her Anesthesia residency at Harvard’s Beth Israel Hospital. While still working in the operating room, she attended UC Berkeley Law School, focusing on constitutional law and administrative law.  She interned at the National Health Law Project and practiced insurance and health law. She teaches classes in the recognition of elder abuse and constitutional law for non-lawyers. She lives in Oakland, Ca.

MORE FROM THE FGGAM MEDIA CENTER:

This is so very crazy! I am still shaking my head at the fact state monies are spent in supporting UNM Sports by sending the teams out-of-state to practice and play???? Come on New Mexico, while people go without food and rent money and are unemployed, the state allows this!???!!!!  Where is the outrage???? There is a lot of stinky business going on this state! Many People are losing everything! Think of all those that have lost the dream of owning their own business, all those that DID lose their business, all those that have lost their jobs, all those that are depending on Food Banks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This upsets me to no end! We just sent donations to the Roadrunner Food Bank and to God’s Warehouse in Albuquerque, please do the same if you are able. Hunger is growing in the state.

Now I read New Mexico Students are going to Texas to get the schooling they need! GOOD FOR THEM! SMARTEST ONES IN THE STATE!!! NEW MEXICO HAS NEVER GOTTEN EDUCATION STRAIGHT!!!

New Mexico Students Leave for Texas Schools!!!

The last one out please turn the light out……..

MORE FROM THE FGGAM MEDIA CENTER:

I ran across an article yesterday in the Santa Fe New Mexican written by Milan Simonich. He brings up many of the points I have been writing about for years. I am a registered Independent because of the dysfunction of the Republican Party, I made that change shortly after we moved to New Mexico in 1995. I saw a state were the Democrats ruled, the party was very corrupt and the Republican’s were weak to fight the corruption, no back bone. The Republican’s continue to put up many very weak candidates, some who have never won an election or others that keep running for election time and time again, the tread has worn off their shoes. I hear complaints all the time about the head of the GOP, Steve Pearce. I have called for new leadership for the past year. I am not a Pearce fan. I was with other board members of the ARC of New Mexico years ago that went to Washington D.C. at our expense and we had set meetings with Pearce and all others that represented New Mexico at that time. Pearce is the only one that failed us, he never showed for our meeting as his aid said, “He’s sorry he forgot but he is on the golf course.” AWFUL! We had a great meetings with Heather Wilson, Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman. In fact, Heather Wilson spent a lot of time with me and a young lady from Albuquerque that came with us to ask for help for her brother. Heather showed a lot of heart, Pearce was a no show.  I have heard from many that have called his office in the past and never get the help that they asked for or a return phone call. One Vietnam War Vet suffering from PTSD, told me he never got an answer by phone he just got a form letter from Pearce.  Ranchers in Catron County asked for his help years ago on ther wolf situation and he said he would help them, but he never did. For his radio interviews I would schedule with him on KKIM Radio he was seldom on time. So as you can see, I personally have not experienced any leadership qualities from Pearce. After November’s election results Eddie Aragon of KIVA Radio, gave Pearce a run for his money as Chairman of the Party, and there was a mess up with the voting machines and they voted again and Pearce retained the bosses seat. There are many good elected Republicans in New Mexico, just not enough. The Dems will continue to rule New Mexico until the Republican’s get a new leader. If they do not, a Third Party maybe coming sooner than later.

There is a chance that Trump will start a third party, as the National GOP is just as bad. Trump will be a force in America and Eddie Aragon of owner of KIVA Radio is gaining steam with New Mexico Republican’s and there could be a collision coming and maybe Eddy will start a third party?

In all my years in radio, 42, and reporting news here at FGGAM I have never seen a weaker state party than THE New Mexico GOP. I have served in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana and in New Mexico since 1995.

It seems to me the ‘Republican Elite’ in New Mexico are getting a wake up call but they are sleeping through the alarm.

Republicans descending to minor-party status in New Mexico

My Post from Dec. 8th after the vote for New Mexico Republican Party Chairman:

The Albuquerque Journal is reporting on the NM GOP Party Chairman Race: The party reported two different tallies of the vote total, and one candidate said a new election should be called. Steve Pearce (pictured standing by U.S. Flag) won both times, FIRST TIME BY JUST ONE VOTE, Beating out Radio personality Eddie Aragon (pictured at very top) of Rock of Talk radio station in Albuquerque. I wrote the other day about Eddie was the guy to watch in this race as many, many folks, common folk, are not happy with the leadership of Pearce. In the second count, Pearce beat Eddie by 29 votes.

In a brief interview with the Journal, Pearce said the final vote totals are accurate.

“There’s not going to be another state central committee meeting and another vote,” Pearce said.

This certainly will not help the unity of the GOP party in New Mexico. Is it right for Chairman Pearce to just say, “there will not be another vote” WOW! That is rather COLD! What is the problem of voting again? You gotta love those ‘coding errors’

The election was held online and closed to public viewing. NOT GOOD!

 

Full Report Here by the ABQ Journal

To keep this election clean, they should vote again, that’s my two cents!

Here is the Press Release by the NM GOP:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STEVE PEARCE RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW MEXICO AFTER HISTORIC YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIPFORMER CONGRESSMAN VOWS MORE PARTY OUTREACH, UNITY AND DIVERSITY DURING NEXT TWO-YEAR TERM AS CHAIRMAN

Albuquerque, December 7—The Republican Party of New Mexico’s State Central Committee tonight re-elected Steve Pearce as RPNM Chairman for two more years.

There were 172 SCC members who voted in the virtual election. Members also selected seven other Republican Party of New Mexico officers, including Vice-Chairs, Congressional District Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer. All elected officers will serve under the Chairman until December 2022.

Chairman Pearce, who has served 14 years as New Mexico’s Congressman in the 2nd Congressional District,  won re-election with 76 votes. Eddy Aragon, CEO of Rock of Talk radio, received 47. Geoffrey Snider, an Albuquerque businessman , got 41  and Eric Lucero, a retiree and GOP consultant received 8.

At first, Pearce appeared to have won by a single vote, but a coding error by election software company TXT2VOTE revealed the Chairman had won by 29 votes. The tallying error happened because the company had mistakenly failed to include CD3 votes for Pearce, while adding CD3 votes twice for Aragon and Snider.

TXT2VOTE, a well-respected company that’s done virtual elections in other states,  admitted the mistake, and it was immediately corrected.

Pearce’s victory was a referendum on what’s been a historic two years at RPNM.

Under Pearce’s leadership, Republicans reclaimed the 2nd Congressional District seat, raised more than $6 million, registered more than 30,000 new GOP voters, recruited a record 101 legislative candidates, built a massive infrastructure and developed strong volunteer and outreach programs. RPNM also made election integrity a top priority, winning legal challenges to protect New Mexico voters.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve again,” said Pearce. “We have accomplished a great deal, but there’s more work to be done. I am very excited to get our Party more unified, to expand its footprint in New Mexico and to make our Party even more inclusive and diverse. RPNM will work hard to keep conservative and family values strong here and defend all of our rights and freedoms. We’ll push hard to win more seats in the legislature, win the mayoral races across the state and to fight against the socialist agenda of the progressives. We are a strong, growing Party in this state, and I see great things ahead for all of us. We will continue to work to turn New Mexico red.”

SCC members also elected the following RPNM officers during tonight’s special meeting:

1stVice-Chair

Robert J. Aragon

2nd Vice-Chair

Robert (Bob) Taylor Graham

CD 1 Vice-Chair

Ali Ennenga

CD 2 Vice-Chair

Amy Barela

CD 3 Vice-Chair

Anita Statman

Secretary

Mari Trujillo Spinelli

Treasurer

Leonard-David Chavez

FGGAM MEDIA CENTER FROM YESTERDAY:

Jonathan Cahn of ‘The Harbinger II: The Return’ Answers the Questions ‘Where Are We Now? What Lies Ahead for America?’

Best-Selling Author Provides Answers for Believers

NEW YORK — A lot of believers are confused, discouraged, angry and fearful. When it comes to political America, they are asking what happened, where we are now and what is ahead. In a recent video message, Jonathan Cahn, known worldwide as the creator of one of the year’s biggest publishing successes, “The Harbinger II: The Return,” speaks to believers and answers those questions.

“We have had four years of a conservative administration,” said Cahn. “We have had a president whose policies were the most pro-life in history. President Trump stood against the killing of the unborn, for religious liberty, for Christian education. He appointed judges and supreme court justices who would be more likely to stand for biblical and traditional values. He opened the door for Christian ministers and leaders to give him counsel. He stood strongly for the nation of Israel by policy — he was the most pro Israel president in history. President Trump became the first world leader since ancient times to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He, along with the Republicans in Congress, sought to hold back a flood of anti-biblical legislation and movements from overtaking America.”

But now where are we? What do we do? Said Cahn, “There are those who say that believers should have nothing to do with the government or politics. On the other hand, there are those who act like the political realm is our ultimate realm and our ultimate fight even if it means calling for an American Civil War. Both are wrong. Messiah said you are the light of the world. The light has to shine. It has to affect and impact the world around it. As the light of God, we are to address, touch, affect and impact every realm – and that includes cultural and political realms.

“We should do everything we can to shine the light of God on the political realm. But there is a balance. Messiah also said that we are in the world but not of the world. And he said my kingdom is not of this world. We have to remember the fact that this world is neither our home nor our kingdom. We are to touch and minister to this world but remember that we are not of it. We are of a different and higher kingdom — a higher cause, a higher fight, a higher purpose, a higher mission.”

Cahn explained that believers have to come back to their first love: God. “We should support whatever will support the ends of God,” said Cahn. “But no earthly agenda or kingdom or government or person is that and we are to pray for and fight for God’s purposes. After all is said and done, we have to remember that His ways are higher than ours, no matter who it is that sits in the White House in our nation’s capital — the most important thing is Who sits on the throne of heaven.”

In his book, “The Paradigm,” Cahn spoke of Donald Trump as Jehu. “Jehu was a wild impulsive man and a fighter. But he was raised by God to be used to oppose an ungodly administration and anti-God government. But if you read “The Paradigm,” you will also see that Jehu was not the answer. And there were warnings given. He was used in what could have been the answer. His reign was a reprieve, a window of time in which revival could have come. But as far as we know, revival never came.”

In the “Harbinger II,” Cahn wroteIn these past four years, with all the victories in the political realm, we have not seen a parallel victory in the realm of revival of America as a nation. It hasn’t moved closer to God as a nation. It has moved farther away: spiritually, culturally, morally. America has continued its race to judgment. The window is not the answer. But it is the means to an answer. The window is given for revival. Without revival, without returning to God, America is lost.”

And now, according to Cahn, the political realm is set to coalesce — to converge with those spiritual, cultural, social, and moral forces that are seeking to seal America’s fall from God.  Cahn points out to the very present danger that now threatens the free exercise of faith, religious liberty, ministry, the right of parents to determine the upbringing of their children, the right to life, the right of conscience, and the future of America itself.   Cahn shares what can address that threat: from the stand and prayers of God’s people and the hand of God.  Pivotal as well will be the coming election in the state of Georgia.

“Pray for those two Senate races. The only thing in the political realm that can and will hold back the radical agenda are the two Senate votes in Georgia. If the Republicans lose these two seats, they will lose the Senate and that is the entire government. Pray as fervently for the will and hands of God. If you live in the state of Georgia, pray as never before and vote.”

In the “Harbinger,” Cahn wrote of the biblical template of national judgment. It was that template that lead Cahn to watch and mark the year 2020 as the year of potential great shakings. That led him to set the “Harbinger II” to be published in the same year, 2020.

“We are there,” Cahn said. “What lies ahead? We will either see continued shakings and judgment and America’s decline and ultimate fall, or the sealing of Americas apostasy and the coming of persecution. And it can be that both of these things will take place at the same time.

“What is the only good scenario for America? There’s only one. Revival. Revival can only begin with that one thing: repentance. The people of God can lead in revival. We must each commit to praying for revival as never before. But not only praying for revival, but actually to begin to live in true revival.

“Remember who you are. You are the light of this world. You don’t fear the darkness. You don’t hide from the darkness. You don’t give into the darkness. You shine your light into the darkness and you overcome the darkness. And if the dark gets darker, that’s your cue that it is time as the light of God to shine even more brightly, even more strong, more uncompromised, more pure, more bold and more revolutionary. The darkness cannot stop the light if that light will shine. The darkness will only magnify the light. It may be more challenging to shine, but the light that shines in the darkness is the light that lights up the world.

“Stand strong. Stand tall. Stand victorious. For the Lord says to you darkness will cover the nations. And the Lord will rise upon you. So arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you in the name of Jesus, the anointed One, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Light of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”

 

With the release of “The Harbinger II: The Return, on Sept. 1, 2020, thousands of new fans all around the world have embraced Jonathan Cahn’s messages and prophesies. His new book, available for purchase online and everywhere, made the Amazon Bestsellers Top Ten lists of all books in the world and took three of the top ten spots on Amazon’s Christian Books for print, Kindle, and audio—each charting as a Top Ten Bestseller, including #1 Christian Prophecy and #1 Christian Prophecies. “The Harbinger II” also catapulted Cahn’s earlier books back onto bestseller lists, including “The Oracle,” “The Paradigm,” and “The Harbinger.”

 

The author has made multiple media appearances, including on CBN’s “700 Club,” TBN’s “Praise,” and “Family Talk” with Dr. James Dobson. Cahn is continuing to do TV and radio interviews.

 

Jonathan Cahn’s first book, “The Harbinger,” became an instant New York Times bestseller when it was published in 2012. His next four books were also New York Times bestsellers: “The Mystery of the Shemitah,” “The Book of Mysteries,” “The Paradigm,” and “The Oracle.” Along with Billy Graham and Keith Greene, Cahn was named one of the top 40 spiritual leaders of the past 40 years who has radically impacted the world.

 

Called the prophetic voice of this generation, Cahn has spoken on Capitol Hill, at the United Nations, and to millions around the world. Cahn is known for opening the deep mysteries of Scripture and bringing forth messages of prophetic import. He leads Hope of the World ministry, an international outreach of teaching, evangelism, and compassion projects for the world’s neediest. He also leads the Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel, a worship center made up of Jews and Gentiles, and people of all backgrounds, outside New York City in Wayne, New Jersey. His ministry can be contacted at HopeoftheWorld.org and on Jonathan Cahn Facebook.

 

For more information about “The Harbinger II,” visit TheHarbingerReturns.com“The Harbinger II: The Return” is published by Frontline, an imprint of Charisma House

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