Message from Bishop David Anderson Bishop Anderson Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Over the last few weeks I have written about the relentless encroachment of both the homosexual and the Islamic agendas on our Western secular culture, which is grounded in Judeo-Christian values and moral codes. I have written about the insanity of Sharia law being used in the United Kingdom, with even the Archbishop of Canterbury caving in when he opined some time ago that "Sharia law seems inevitable." Many observers have said that it is already a problem here in the United States, and now we have further proof. The internet site Newsmax reports that Hillsborough Circuit Judge Richard Nielsen in Tampa, Florida, has decided that he will follow Islamic law in a case involving a mosque. He will decide the lawsuit based on whether the parties in the litigation properly followed the teachings of the Koran. Newsmax reports the judge saying in his March 3 ruling, "This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic Law." Read the entire article at this link. Regarding the homosexual agenda and legislation to enforce the indoctrination of our very young children and grandchildren in the public schools, WorldNetDaily journalist Bob Unruh is reporting on a band of six Democrats in the California state Senate who are up to no good at all. Unruh reports that Senate Bill #48 is sponsored by state Senator Mark Leno, a gay legislator whose "life partner" died of complications related to AIDS. Leno's bill would require that public school children be taught to admire "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual" role models.

If parents are too busy to pay attention to what school boards and state legislatures are up to, we could soon have a police state forcing homosexualization on even our elementary schoolchildren. Don't think that private schools are the answer, because liberal educators will set state teaching standards that mandate teaching about homosexuality in all schools in order to secure accreditation. Read the full article at this link and consider getting active in your local school district - or run for the legislature in your state. The alternative to becoming active is being rolled over, and having our children and grandchildren taught values that cannot bring them spiritual life and health. Having taken note of these upsetting news items, I'd like to have us look inward, so that we pay attention to the "planks" in our own eyes as well. Every day as I drive to work, I pass a large warehouse that holds a sale several times a year. They call it the "Ding and Dent Sale," because it is merchandise like stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers that arrived from the factory with scratches or dents. The machines still work, but they have a little shipping damage, and so the price is significantly reduced. I guess in a perfect world everything would arrive from the factory in perfect condition, but that isn't the world we live in, and so there are "dings and dents." As I have aged I have realized that I didn't come into this world in perfect condition, either. I have my prenatal "dings and dents," and maybe you have some yourself. Sometimes the "dings and dents" are physical, sometimes neurological, and since I'm writing about souls, I guess I had better mention the spiritual "dings and dents" we bring. Historically, the church has called that "original sin," but however you label it, our spiritual as well as our physical and neurological being all have some "shipping damage." I don't want to venture into the area of why we have shipping damage, or what caused it or whose fault it is. I just want to take note that it seems to be there. I do know that our Lord is in the redemption and restoration business, and wants to work with us in every area of our life, both where things are going great, and every bit as much in the areas that are "dinged and dented." Many of us, in times of adolescent foolishness or adult poor judgment, have added some additional dings and dents to ourselves. Having survived those years, we discover that our Lord wants to work with us in those damaged areas as well. In some cases, I have had to stop being proud of my damaged areas, stop wearing them as a badge, and admit that they were damaged areas, and ask for healing and restoration. Very likely you have some areas just like that in your life, areas that are damaged, and the first step is to either stop being proud of how tough you have been in living with the damage, or admit that they are damage and not something of which to be proud. For example, someone who plays cards and cheats and gets away with it should not take pride in how good they are at it, but rather see the sin as the damaged area that it is, repent of it, and ask the Lord to heal the brokenness behind and underneath it. Sexual sin is much the same; don't call sin a virtue and celebrate it, but be honest with the God who loves you and name the brokenness, the "dings and dents," and ask for healing of the underlying damage in your life. When the damaged areas are dealt with and healed, sin loses its hold on us. This is the season of Lent, a proper season to look at your "dings and dents" and damaged areas, and have a long talk with the Lord about them; it's time for many to stop taking pride in them or making excuses for them, and ask for the healing touch of Jesus to make us whole again. I'm ready to have some of my "dings and dents" straightened out, how about you? Blessings and Peace in Christ Jesus, +David The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr. President and CEO, American Anglican Council