WASILLA, Alaska (AP) - A little sermon about - and for - the messenger seemed to Pastor Larry Kroon an appropriate message on Sunday morning.
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(Photo: AP Images / Al Grillo)The Wasilla Bible Church sign sits by the road in front of the church in Wasilla, Alaska Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. The Wasilla church where Democratic vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, attends is promoting a program that promises to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals through the power of Jesus Christ and prayer.
"It's been an interesting week," laughed Kroon, pastor at the Wasilla Bible Church, as he welcomed attendees. The nondenominational congregation where Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and her family worship was carrying on services as usual this Sunday, but with a few extra guests.
In just more than a week since presidential candidate John McCain picked Alaska's governor to be his running mate, Palin's hometown of 9,000 has been inundated with journalists from around the world. For days now the media have delved into her terms as city council member and mayor here, and questioned residents and questioned them again for background on the state's most famous politician.
Kroon began services asking any reporters who might be in the crowd to respect church members' opportunity to worship.
"This isn't the place to be fishing for interviews," he said.
He then asked the 300 congregants at the first of two morning services to pray for all of the candidates for president and vice president, and to be thankful that all four are willing to provide the nation with their public service.
He urged churchgoers to "pray for the press." Kroon said the media are to be "cherished and respected," citing 19th century philosopher Alexander de Tocqueville's works describing a free press and freedom of religion as essential pillars of democracy.
Kroon said he's done a series of national media interviews during the hectic past week since his church was thrust into the national spotlight - a significant event for a relatively low-key congregation who sit in folding chairs in the large and new church, down a dirt road at the edge of town.
He urged congregants to do their own thorough research and investigations when deciding who to vote for. He added that it was wrong for anyone to have judged Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., without first reading what Wright actually said.
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This article said:
"He [Pastor Kroon, of Wasillia Bible Church] added that it was wrong for anyone to have judged Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., without first reading what Wright actually said."
Ideally, if we can check primary sources, that would be best. But, we cannot always do so, and we hear the Irreverent Wright's own words, there has been NO refutation giving evidence of anything Wright said was taken out of context, only complaining that they are just 'one minute clips', which proves nothing.
Some great videos on why we are really in this Fannie & Freddie/mortgage/etc mess and more on Obama, McCain, and others, please see the links below. Please note the sharp difference between Sen. McCain and Obama. Some good things on Gov. Palin there, as well:
Covering Your Fannie, Who Really Caused Our Economic Crisis?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiEWCnpNnBQ
Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis? V2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH--o&eurl=http://tammybruce.com/2008/09/why_the_market_is.php
See: TheMouthPeace profile page videos on www.YouTube.com, including the above:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMouthPeace
and:
http://midpointpolitics.blogspot.com/
Please spread those around to all you know. Especially the videos on Fannie & Freddie
The left hand sidebar states, in part:
"The Wasilla church where Democratic vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, attends is promoting a program that promises to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals through the power of Jesus Christ and prayer."
This is typical liberal press simplistic, inaccurate depiction of conservative & biblicist positions and groups. Exodus, Focus on the Family, etc., do NOT *promise* change in sexual orientation. same sex attractions. It is also far more than 'power of Jesus & prayer'. All of that is believed, but way over simplistic. The AP writer needs to get a fuller understanding of what goes on & is believed , taught and practiced by Exodus International, Dobson's Focus, and other groups like them. Something beyond the GLAD, HRC, and the other GBLT (Gay/Bisexual/lesbian/transgendered) political groups. Too bad Christian post didn't revise that with a notation, or omit it. Others do not always include entire AP articles.
"I'm not so sure what was news worthy about this article."
It's from AP. It doesn't have to be news worthy.... :)
wr, Pastor Kroon was right on target with what he said with regard to what he said about Rev. Wright because he was talking about people speaking out about an issue before they had enough information to make an educated and accurate response. That was the issue and premature remarks made about Rev. Wright was simply an example.
pvlman
Two factors make this newsworthy...
1) Prayer for the news media
2) Pastor Wright's name is mentioned again
Number two did not need to happen. Pastor Kroon could have stayed away from any reference to Pastor Wright, or any Pastor for that matter.
I'm not so sure what was news worthy about this article. My guess anyone who has problem with the pastor's statement concerning Wright, would rather judge Wright using incomplete evidence?
believer
According to the article, Pastor Kroon mentions Pastor Wright by name in his comments.
Pastor Kroon could have made the argument you are suggesting without a specific reference to any Pastor.
But it is clear that Pastor Kroon is defending Pastor Wright to some extent.
In addition to praying for the press, we should also pray for any Christian leaders who represent the Christian community to the news media.
I encourage everyone who wants to see a McCain/ Palin victory in November to join together in prayer for our nation: http://intercessorsformccain.midios.org/
I wonder if the press will ever catch on to what it really means to be a third wave dominionist.
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/5/03830/11602
What an opportunity to reach perhaps one of the most unreached segments of our society with the Gospel: the media!
As the Apostle Paul said:
"For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:9)"
wr, I disagree with your take on what he said about Wright, in fact I think he was right on tatget. There are a lot of people who have never read or seriously studied the Bible, but they think they know what it says. I don't see him as being either for or against Wright, but is simply saying before we take a stand on an issue we need to do our homework so we can speak both intelligently and informed on what we're speaking to.
"He added that it was wrong for anyone to have judged Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., without first reading what Wright actually said."
He could have left that alone and left it at pray for the news media, but I'm sure that he has been waiting for his chance to say something about that.
What we don't know is if he is defending Pastor Wright simply because he is a fellow Pastor, or if he believes that at least some of what Pastor Wright has said is truth.
He may need to explain that since he has chosen to "put his hat into the ring".
But even so, the McCain/Palin ticket remains the better ticket.
Pastor Larry Kroon used very wise judgement with the press. Speaking for myself, I doubt the press was there to worship with Pastor Kroon and the congreation.
Reminding the worshipers that freedom of the press is a blessing was heaping coals on those who perhaps needed help the most, Perhaps some of the press heard of Jesus Christ and asked Him to be Lord! Strangers from Christ have found Jesus at all kinds of places...even in a church!