Special ACLU Alert

Just a few months ago, the multi-million dollar machine known as the ACLU strong-armed and raided the school budget for one of the poorest counties in the land. A few years before, the ACLU had won a court order to have Ten Commandment monuments removed from three Adams County, Ohio high schools. It didn’t matter that the monuments were unanimously approved by the school-board, and privately funded. Once removed, the ACLU had the audacity to return to federal court to demand that the school board (one of the poorest in the nation) cough up $80,000 for legal bills--and the judge agreed!

This is why Grassfire is taking action against the ACLU, and why we launched our nationwide petition to expose and ultimately defeat the ALCU. Our goal is to expose the kind of travesty and heartache they are bringing to the communities of our nation, and educate citizens to the real truth and motivation ofthe ACLU. Please take a moment to add your name to our petition.

As part of our plan to defeat the ACLU, we needed to find a legal organization dedicated to protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, with a proven track record against groups like the ALCU. We found the Liberty Counsel, one of the nation's foremost legal defense organizations established to preserve our First Amendment Rights.

With your help, we can expose and defeat theACLU so that they cannot terrorize Americans withtheir "storm-trooper" tactics. As their founder, Roger Baldwin said, "We [the ALCU] are for socialism, disarmament and ultimately for abolishingthe state itself...we seek the social ownership ofproperty...and the sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal." This is the real ACLU, and we need you to help us enlighten a nation of people who have been deceived by signing our national petition. Thank you for standing with us against the ACLU.

Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories

Armed with a video camera, a home-made press pass, and a single phone number written on a piece of paper, amateur filmmaker Mike Shiley chronicled a 2 month journey inside Iraq to uncover the reality of life beyond the spin about the US and Iraqi militaries and the Iraqi people. The result of Mike's 2 month journey inside Iraq is Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories. Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories will be showing at Tower Theater this Friday and Saturday, May 12th and 13th, at 7:00 P.M. Mike Shiley will be answering questions immediately after the film. Free parking is available at the Smith's lot at 876 E 800 S, just one block from Tower Theater. Office Space is the midnight movie at Tower Theater this Friday and Saturday.

Brick, a movie that I have been wanting to be released for a long time, is finally showing at Broadway Center Cinemas this Friday, May 12th. I hope that the Salt Lake Film Society will bring Peaceful Warrior to Salt Lake City. You can join the Salt Lake Film Society's email list here.

This Week at The Depot

This week there are two shows at The Depot. On Thursday we have two great ska bands in the house - Two And A Half White Guys (from Provo, Utah) will be opening for The Slackers (from N.Y.C.; pictured above). You can get tickets here. On Saturday SPORK and Up in the Night will be opening for Almost Undone. There is no cover for this show. Drink specials for the night are $2 Drafts and $5 Long Islands. Doors will open at 8:00 P.M. for both shows.

Warrant is coming to The Depot on May 27th. Chris Isaak will be there on July 29th. Go to TheDepot.com for tickets and info about other upcoming shows.

Sunday I saw Mission: Impossible III. I give it an A. It was better than Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible II. With J.J. Abrams as director and co-writer, it had to be good! I'm looking forward to seeing X-Men: The Last Stand, The Break-Up, Peaceful Warrior, The Omen, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Click, Waist Deep, & Superman Returns.

Gas War

One of my high school friends, Alex, forwarded an email to me with an effective solution to bring down gas prices. Here is the message:

GAS WAR - An Idea That WILL Work

This was originally sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. It's worth your consideration.

Join the resistance!!!! I hear we are going to hit close to $4.00 a gallon by next summer and it might go higher!! Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. Phillip Hollsworth offered this good idea.

This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them.

BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work. Please read on and join with us! By now you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $1.50 is super cheap. Me too! It is currently $2.79 for regular unleaded in my town. Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50 - $1.75, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control themarketplace..... not sellers. With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.

Here's the idea:

For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL. If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit.

This sounds like a plan that might actually work. I buy gas from Chevron (because they have Techron) and Holiday Oil (they have the car wash that is nearest to my house) so I'm already following this plan.

My Favorite Posts 9

1. Brigham City Outreach
2. Help Stop Illegal Internet Porn
3. Gulsoma
4. Pocket Power
5. Sean Paul @ Harry O's
6. Stop Amnesty of Illegal Immigrants
7. Decisions, Decisions
8. Clearwire
9. The Depot
10. Baptism for the Dead?

Baptism for the Dead?

One of the beliefs of the LDS church that I know is not true is their belief in baptism for the dead. They base this practice on 1 Cor. 15:29. Here is an article from www.carm.org that explains verse 29 and its context in 1 Cor. 15:

What is Baptism for the Dead Mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:29?

"Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" (1 Cor. 15:29, NASB).

Numerous explanations have been offered for this verse ranging from the inane to the sophisticated. Mormonism, in particular, has claimed that this verse supports their view of baptism for the dead. In their practice, individuals go to their local Mormon temple, dress appropriately for a baptism, representatively adopt the name of a person who has died, and then the Mormon is baptized in water for that deceased person. This way, the dead person has fulfilled the requirements of salvation in the afterworld and can enjoy further spiritual benefits in the spiritual realm.

But, the Mormons are incorrect. They have usurped this verse and taken it out of context. So, let's examine 1 Cor. 15 briefly so we can see what Paul is talking about when he mentions baptism for the dead.

In Verses 1-19, the fact of Christ's resurrection is detailed by Paul. Beginning in verse 20 and going through verse 23, Paul speaks about the order of the resurrection. Christ is the first one raised -- in a glorified body -- and then who are His at His return. Next, verses 24 - 29 mention Christ's reign and the abolition of death. This is when this controversial verse occurs: "Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?"

Just north of Corinth was a city named Eleusis. This was the location of a pagan religion where baptism in the sea was practiced to guarantee a good afterlife. This religion was mention by Homer in Hymn to Demeter 478-79. The Corinthians were known to be heavily influenced by other customs. After all, they were in a large economic area where a great many different people frequented. It is probable that the Corinthians were being influenced by the religious practices found at Eleusis where baptism for the dead was practiced.

Paul used this example from the pagans in 1 Cor. 15:29, when he said, "...if the dead are not raised, then why are they baptized for the dead?" Paul did not say we. This is significant because the Christian church was not practicing baptism for the dead, but the pagans were.

Paul's point was simple. The resurrection is a reality. It is going to happen when Jesus returns. Even the pagans believe in the resurrection, otherwise, why would they baptize for the dead?

However, some are not convinced by this argument and state that the word "they" is not in the Greek and, therefore, Paul is not speaking about the pagans.. Let's take a look.

Literally, the verse is translated as "Since what will do the being immersed on behalf of the dead if wholly dead not are raised why also are they immersed on behalf of them."

The issue here is the word, "baptizontai" -- "they are baptized." It is the present, passive, indicative, 3rd person, plural. In other words, it is THEY ARE BEING BAPTIZED or, THEY ARE BAPTIZED.

I -- first person singular

you (singular) -- second person singular

he/she/it -- third person singular

we -- first person plural

you (plural) -- second person plural

they -- third person plural

It is the latter form, the third person plural (they) which the verb "baptizo" is in. Therefore, the best translation is "THEY are baptized."

The Institute for Religous Research website has a more detailed article about baptism for the dead titled "Did Jesus Establish Baptism for the Dead?". This article talks about 1 Corinthians 15:29 as a single verse, in the broader context, and in the immediate context. This article also explains that 1 Cor. 15:40-41 is comparing our resurrection bodies to our mortal bodies. It is not comparing three different levels of heaven to each other as the LDS church teaches it does.

If you are LDS and have read this, I pray that you will pray about this with an open mind and heart. I will end this post with this verse:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said,

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 (NIV)

Church in the Park

Tomorrow night at 6:30 P.M. Calvary Chapel S.L.C. will be hosting Church in the Park at Sugarhouse Park, in the Park Lake Terrace, 2100 S 1300 E. Church in the Park is a BBQ and outdoor church service. Calvary Chapel S.L.C. will be providing meat for this BBQ. We are asking attendees to bring a side dish. We will be hosting Church in the Park every month until September. For more info you can call (801)264-9999.

Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. There will be a National Day of Prayer Event in Salt Lake City at the County Courthouse Building located at 400 South State St at 6:30 P.M. Local pastors will lead public prayer on behalf of our nation. Inspirational music will be presented by local choirs and special musical presentations. Click here to find an event near you.

Last night I went online and bought a pair of dress shoes because The Depot wants us to wear dress shoes and slacks instead of boots and BDUs. This afternoon I bought The Journey of Socrates by Dan Millman. The Journey of Socrates is the first book of the Peaceful Warrior saga. The Peaceful Warrior movie is coming out on June 2nd. I still want to see United 93. I also want to see Mission: Impossible III and X-Men: The Last Stand.

I have added the email subscription option to my blog. If you want to get an email every time I add a new post, look for the box that says "Enter your email address:" in the sidebar on the right. Then enter your email address and click the "Subscribe" button. You can still use the other subscription options.

Graveyard Shift

Right now I am working my first graveyard shift for the Clearwire project at Teleperformance. My shift runs from 8 P.M. until 7 A.M. with a 1 hour lunch. I will be working this shift Sunday through Wednesday. It is very slow on the graveyard shift so I should be able to post on my blog more regularly. Slackis is one of the L2s for Clearwire. L2s or "Leads" are one level above a regular call center agent and one level below Supervisors. I've added a link to Slackis's website under Neighbors (People Who Live in Utah) under BLOGS/PERSONAL WEBSITES in the column on the right.

I worked Security at The Depot on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Thursday Pinback performed. Friday and Saturday nights we had some local DJs spinning. Friday it was DJ Jesse Walker and Saturday it was U-92's DJ E-Flexx.

This Thursday country singer Brian McComas will be performing at The Depot. On Friday British DJ B.T. will be spinning house music with guest DJs Nebula & Davey Jones. Saturday night Amina will be opening for Icelandic post-rock group Sigur Ros.