A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

This animal. This cretin. This travesty. This demon.

Posted: Aug 23, 2011

Posted August 20, 2011 by John Shore in Christian Issues

This is Tony Perkins. If you’re not familiar with him, this is not the Tony Perkins who played Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. This Tony Perkins is much, much scarier. This Tony Perkins makes blood spiraling down a bathtub drain look like a cup of cherry Kool-Aid spilled at a Girl Scout fundraiser.

This Tony Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council, the political offshoot of Focus on the Family, James Dobson’s main organization.

James Dobson is a Christian. So is Tony Perkins. So is everyone who works for and/or supports either of their massive organizations.

Tony Perkins carries “a tremendous burden to reclaim the culture for Christ.” That’s what it says about him on the FRC website. So it must be true.

Oh, and that little kerfuffle you might have heard about last winter, when the Southern Poverty Law Center designated the Family Research Council as a hate group, because it’s that virulently anti-gay? According to Perkins, that was nothing more than “the left’s smear campaign of conservatives.”

It’s all just part of Tony’s burden.

Being a polilobbyist (to coin a phrase: it means half-politician, half-lobbyist, and aren’t they all anymore?), Tony’s other burden is money. Tony wants lots and lots of money. And he knows that nothing makes a certain kind of person reach for his or her wallet faster than the fear that there are actually gay and lesbian people in the world.

Hence, this recent fundraising letter sent by Tony to Family Research Council supporters:

Sigh.

So, I just came back from five days spent at this place, where my wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Upon our return home I found a few emails alerting me to the letter above. So I thought I’d write a little something about it. After all, Tony Perkins, James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and the Family Research Center are still to so many the public face of Christianity. And that’s a travesty that I, a normal, non-insane Christian, am inclined to help combat.

But as hard as I tried, I just couldn’t write a decent piece about this letter. No clever angle for the story came to me; no witty perspective, no engaging spin. It’s like at some level I just didn’t care about Tony Perkins and his pathetic letter. I got as far as what’s written here above the letter, and no further. After that I just ran out of writing juice.

I chalked it up to some sort of anniversary hangover. After all, I am still on the week off I’m spending with my wife. I dunno. But I can tell when I’m just not going to be able to write a story, and this was one of those times. So I let it go.

And I spent a wonderful day at home with my wife.

And just now, as I was heading off to bed, it occurred to me why I couldn’t figure out how to write this story. It’s because my feelings about it are absolute. There’s zero traction in it for me. It’s like trying to run on ice. No grip.

Every single time I think of Tony Perkins and this letter, nothing more interesting or edifying comes to my mind than a block of feelings that, broken down, runs about like this:

This animal. This cretin. This travesty. This demon. This parasite. This blight. This twisted purveyor of evil. This insidious enemy of everything for which Christ stood. This sickening mule. This heartless charlatan. This shameless huckster. This vile opportunist. This creator of human suffering. This trafficker in pain. This braying bully. This puffing affront to decency.

This preening, flag-waving goon.

This grinning, slavering creature who, in exchange for money, induces children to commit suicide.

This odorous, rotten chum pretending he’s nourishment.

This lover of hate.

If you’re a Christian who actually understands and cares about Christ, please tell anyone who will listen that Tony Perkins is to Christianity what a slimy, chewing worm is to a perfectly wonderful apple.

So. There’s that bit of venting.

For the next week or so I’ll make a point of sincerely including Tony Perkins in my morning prayers. Consider joining me in that, if you will. For surely no heart in the world more than Tony Perkins’ could benefit from the delivery into the fiery pit of its toxicity and rage the uplifting, healing message that it gets better.

If he couldn’t hear it from Dan Savage, maybe he’ll hear it from God himself.

;

Bravo! - nuf said

[ In Reply To ..]
.

What Jesus said. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.' But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire. Matt. 5:21-23

What Matthew said Jesus said. - WWJD? nm

[ In Reply To ..]
.

No, what God said Jesus said, and used Matthew's pen to write it. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not a betting person, but I'd rather take the chance that the Bible is the infallible inspired Word of God and be wrong, than believe it is a work of fiction from man and be wrong. If the former is true, then I have lost nothing. If the latter is true, I have lost everything.

Roll the dice.

Really? You believe that? Why has God not used anyone.. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
else's pen to guide us since the bible was published? If you could picture a modern day man or woman who God would choose as a conduit to speak to us during the last 50 years who would it be?

My answers - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes I believe that.

Why hasn't God used anyone else's pen?

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,d who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14.

He revealed Himself to us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. He used men to prophesy of His coming, and men to recount the events of His life and death. He used men to outline the practices of His church and to describe how those who believe in Him should live. What more is left for Him to say?

If He did choose to add to His word (which I don't believe He would), it is easier for me to tell you who HE wouldn't pick. Look at the New Testament writers and you won't see any royalty, no people of political power or influence, no one of great wealth. Matthew was a tax collector. Peter was a fisherman. John was a farmer. The Apostle Paul was the scholar of the bunch, but he wasn't a high priest or rabbi - just one of 70 Jewish scholars who studied the Torah.

There are some who would say the Constitution - is a religious document /nm

[ In Reply To ..]

If we actually followed the teachings of Jesus, - none of this would be necessary.

[ In Reply To ..]
Most worship money.. not Jesus.

Don't drag Him into this.

Absolutely correct. There are very few people that - truly follow his teachings! Bah! nm

[ In Reply To ..]
.

Absolutely correct. - MTtoo

[ In Reply To ..]
I was in a discussion on another political board about this very subject. I realize that a lot of folks vote republican because of the abortion issue and the gay marriage issue. Then they complain they don't want the government in their lives.. I guess except in the bedroom. I personally don't understand why it bothers anyone regarding who someone else wants to marry. The standard answer is "well, it's in the Bible." My opinion is that if you don't want to marry a person of the same sex, then don't do it, but don't tell me you don't want the government in your life. You do.. but just concerning the things you're for or against. I don't care if someone wants to marry a 3-legged goat. It's none of my business.

And of course, we all follow biblical teachings, don't we? uh-huh.

As far as abortion goes, there's not enough room here for that subject. Not for me, anyway. But again, if you don't agree with abortion, then don't get one.

There's more to abortion than "if you don't like it, - don't have one."

[ In Reply To ..]
That's kind of like saying, "If you don't like murder, don't commit it." It's ridiculous. Why is it that we find it reprehensible to kill a child or adult, but see nothing to killing an innocent baby? The most ironic thing about it is that most people who are pro-abortion are anti-death penalty. Perplexing, isn't it that they find it okay to kill babies, but not criminals?

And you know, I just can't - leave it at that.

[ In Reply To ..]
I am supposed to feel like a horrible person every time I say that I am against socialized health care because I want poor people to die. We should all care so much about other people having health insurance, that I should be willing to compromise the cost and quality of my own family's care, but if someone wants to kill a baby, well I should just mind my own business. I really can't understand the rationale behind all of this.

What the Bible Says. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:18-27

This is the political board not - the FAITH board. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
.

The OP spans both topics. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
--

Politicians use religion, and religion uses politics - /nm

[ In Reply To ..]

Did God send the earthquake to Eric Cantor's district? - Asking those with a direct line. /nm

[ In Reply To ..]

It moved the Washingon Monument.... - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
and rocked DC up to NYC, seats of political and financial "power" in this country. Maybe He is trying to get somebody's attention?

Yeah, but the epicenter WAS Cantor's district. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
I do find that freaky. And he's Jewish and incredibly pro-Israel, so I guess you could read something into that.

Maybe God doesn't want Israel to continue with the settlements in the West Bank, my own personal opinion.

Could God want us to take care of the poor and disabled? - Instead of

[ In Reply To ..]
instead of worshipping the money lenders?

Greed is never good. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
Money itself isn't evil, but the love of it is.

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Tim. 6:17-19

The earthquakes are significant. Our friend Matthew, again, records the words of Jesus about the end times.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Matt. 24:7

I looked at the statistics put out by the US Geological Survey, and I was really intrigued.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/eqstats.php

The table is hard to read because the numbers are kind of smooshed together, but if you look at the earthquake totals for just the US, you will see that in 2000 there were 2342 earthquakes total across all magnitudes. That number increases slightly between 2000 and 2007, then goes up to 3618 in 2008, 4262 in 2009, and 8493 in 2010.

That's a pretty dramatic increase.

Yes, but God wants us to give of our money freely. - God did not want the

[ In Reply To ..]
government to take our money and distribute it how they see fit. I give to charities, as well as pay my taxes. Do you?

Actually, He did. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said,

“Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him. Mark 12:13-17

Do I pay taxes? Yes. Do I give to the poor? Yes.

Ahh! Thank you. - The Bible tells me so. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
.

Yes--he said to pay taxes - but to give your money freely

[ In Reply To ..]
to the poor. Caesar did not have huge social entitlement programs. God did advocate taxes, but that was not how we are to take care of the needy.

How do you decide who to give to? - Or do you just close your eyes?

[ In Reply To ..]
Do you give to just people who are in your church? in your family? people that you know or total strangers? What about the person down the block who does not belong to your church? Do they need to pass a test to be a recipient of your benevolence? How about the teenager who had an abortion after she was raped? How about the kids of the drug addicts who forget to feed their kids? Do you take the kids in and clothe, feed and educate them?

Just curious.

Well, I can't, of course, take care of all of the needy - everywhere by myself, if

[ In Reply To ..]
that's what you are asking. How does anyone decide who to give to? I donate to several different charities and volunteer at the homeless shelter, as well as the nursing home and yearly for the Special Olympics. I do give to the offering at my church, which apparently you must think is somehow wrong, but I am not a greedy person. Guess what, I also send extra snacks to school with my son for the child down the street whose drug addict parents forget to feed him. Before you get all ready to lecture me, what do you do besides pay taxes?

So, where does God want us to spend the taxes? - Does the TP know?

[ In Reply To ..]
Is it divied up like 50% on defense spending, 45% directly to private contractors, etc. Just trying to understand. How about food safety and roads and bridges?

Ask the person who implied that God wants - the government to do more.

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

The person who said: God did advocate taxes, but that was not how we are to take care of the needy. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Seems to have special knowledge on God's budget, so I am asking that person, not someone who is asking the question.

For the record, I did not say that God did not - want us to pay taxes.

[ In Reply To ..]
If that is what I implied, it was not on purpose. My point was that God did not say that we give to the needy through the government. He said that we, ourselves, are to take care of the needy. That actually requires donating of your own free will and getting off of your behind to help, not relying on someone else to tell you what to give and to decide how to spend it.

WHAT~? What kind of an idea is that? - MTtoo

[ In Reply To ..]
Taking care of the poor and disabled? Are you crazy?

What about the corporations? Sounds like you just need to move if you don't like it here.. :)

One can't just give people stuff. Next thing.. they'll be wanting affordable health care. Then, where will the poor insurance companies be?

Sounds like you need a good talking to by Michelle Malkin. On the other hand, that's a bit harsh.. How about Rush Limbaugh instead? If those two can't straighten you out... no one can except maybe Glenn Beck. :)

That is most DEFINITELY not true. - hmmm

[ In Reply To ..]
The land of Israel was promised to their forefather Abraham by God.

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi[e] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites. Gen. 15:18-21

So, what is "this land?"

Ezekiel 47:19

“On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the south boundary.”

Numbers 34:6

"Your western boundary will be the coast of the Great Sea. This will be your boundary on the west."

Ezekiel 47:17

“The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the north boundary.”

Ezekiel 47:18

“On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the east boundary.”

This area would encompass the Palestinian territories of the West Bank.

"The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." Gen. 17:8

God's intention was for the land of Israel to belong to the Jew FOREVER! Man has interfered with this promise, and eventually the land will be given back in its entirety.

Joel 3:1-2

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My inheritance, My people Israel, for they scattered My people among the nations and divided up My land.”

A long time ago, a man named Balaam was called upon to curse Israel, and he was given a message by God to bless Israel instead. Included in his statements was the following:

“May those who bless you be blessed
and those who curse you be cursed!”

I would be very hesitant to support a point of view that sides against Israel, when God clearly is on Israel's side.

Cantor's district - sue

[ In Reply To ..]
It did not only rattle Cantor's district because he is not my representative. I am 30 miles from the epicenter.

Scientists say this magnitude quake occurs once every 500 years and we were due for it.

We have had quakes here before Cantor. Leave it to some people to blame everything on politicians. Are you sure you don't want to blame Bush?

It rattled us here in Ohio, too. - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
REALLY far from Cantor's district!

LOL about blaming Bush!! I'm sure if there was a way... ;)

OK, I will bite - It was Bush's Fault /nm

[ In Reply To ..]
Yuk, Yuk. Really, please get a sense of humor.

I have one!! LOL!!! - Zville MT

[ In Reply To ..]
At this point, I look at the "blame Bush" as a funny joke, so your post gave me a good laugh! Thanks;)

Maybe the quake was along a "bushy" "fault line." - nm

[ In Reply To ..]

Extremists.. just what we need more of.. - more extremists

[ In Reply To ..]
Their way is right and by God.. you will go along with them or you're headed for hell on a bob-sled.. so sick of these holier-than-thou, do as I say "Christians" that I don't know what to do!

Similar Messages:

Apr 19, 2010
That woman has some gall talking about accountability.....where is hers? Wonder if the same folks would bother to line up for jobs like that..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I5BQcqihnE&feature=related ...

Jun 23, 2016
The Ferguson cop is reportedly living in hiding. These Baltimore cops will never get their lives, reputations or careers back. All of this, of course, has flowed directly from the disgustingly prejudicial attitudes, knee-jerk statements, etc. coming from the White House with respect to the police, in which there has also been absolutely no condemnation of the most outrageous and egregious behaviors of BLM and others. It's no wonder that police departments are having difficulty ...

Jul 02, 2015
link ...

Mar 05, 2014
This is proof that both sides can work together. The bad news is that B.O. is going to need those big boy pants PDQ. ...

Oct 21, 2009
My sun conure is Tooki (kind of named after Tiki who died in an accident a bit over a year ago) Tooki is a female (we had her sexed and yes you can with with bird) she is a mini parrot and has a DEFINITE attitude and at times, she is referred to as "Paris Hilton boid" -- as a funny and nolt so not, about 2 months ago, I moved, had 2 computers having to go at the same time with work, and went over to my laptop, and she had destroyed EVERY key on the bottom right side of the lapt ...

Nov 17, 2009
I'm thinking about volunteering at my local animal shelter, but I'm having conflicting feelings. I'm a MAJOR animal lover, and I'm not sure if I can see animals in those conditions with nobody to love them and still be able to function and sleep at night without bringing them all home with me. I have 3 dogs and 2 cats of my own, and definitely would not have anymore room for another animal. I just want to feel like I helped and did a little bit of good for t ...

Jul 11, 2010
http://www.flixxy.com/seagull-and-cat.htm Very cute. ...

Mar 18, 2013
We have stray cats that come around our neighborhood and we've been feeding them. I know, I know, a mistake, but they were little kittens at the time mostly and so cute. Now that mating season is upon us, I think there are about 2 or 3 pregnant ones. I know I shouldn't have started this, but how do I stop? I don't know if any of the other neighbors feed them or not, and it will make me sick if I see them starving. What to do? Sometimes there are ...

Aug 04, 2013
http://www.wimp.com/emotionalreaction/ ...

Jul 09, 2013
Lion. ...

Nov 16, 2009
Purina and PetSmart really both need a pat on the back. The combination today gave the rescue over 4,000 lbs of cat/dog food combination, litter and the like, all the head person had to do was to go get it. There was absolutely no charge to the rescue group. Is that not a nice thing for them to do? ...

May 14, 2012
nm ...

Feb 03, 2014
Did any of you watch Puppy Bowl X on the Animal Planet channel? It was SO adorable, and all of the 4-legged participants are rescue pups and have been adopted. I love all of these little creatures, but my favorite is Mandy, a Dachshund. You can go to the Animal Planet website and vote for your favorite MVP after every airing of the show. It is sure to bring some much-needed smiles to your face. ...

Aug 06, 2010
The site has sweet stuff; some proceeds of purchases help fund shelters. ...

Apr 27, 2015
because yesterday, they trashed a car(s), threw bottles at the police, and broke store windows with trash cans, besides throwing trash cans, bottles, liquids, at police AND people trying to get into the stadium to see the game. http://www.wbaltv.com/news/crowds-start-to-march-in-west-baltimore/32570292 Plus, they robbed an RT reporter: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/video-shows-rt-reporter-robbed-baltimore-protests-article-1.2200084Now, the warning has come out from the Bloods, Crip ...