Yesterday’s post was extremely long, and I know it had a tremendous amount of information to take in.  I wanted to provide you with two things:  1)  information about the incoming Alaska Governer and his Dominionist affiliation; and 2)  an example of the depth of the research we do on each facet of this journey to uncover what is really going on in this movement.  I won’t do that to you again!

Today seems like a perfect time to introduce a new word into our growing lexicon.  Steeplejacking…

A reader left a comment that I thought required my answer in the form of a short post this morning and my answer will define steeplejacking. Here is her comment and question:

“Leah, this is really scary stuff! If I wanted to go to church I certainly want it to look like a church! Which leads me to ask…what is a person to do? A family moves into town and wants to attend church, how do they not get sucked into one of these Dominionist churches? Is it just not safe to go to any church nowadays?”

There are recognizable indicators that tip off what is a Dominionist evangelical church.  I started my response with, “There are a few characteristics that ‘thread’ through dominionist churches. Watch for the following: non-denominational, born-again, charismatic, emphasis on evangelizing and proselytizing, and speaking in tongues (or the bopping on the head/holy laughter weirdness). They also tend to be mega-churches (2,000 or more), unless in a small town. For example I am surrounded by 3 in a 3 mile radius from my home with names like, Dakota Christian Center, Community Baptist and Christ the King Church. They aren’t mega because the population is too small for huge, but you get the idea…

Let me now explain “steeplejacking”.  This is what happens when mainstream denominational churches lose their congregational members to a nearby evangelical church.  In very simple terms this is where members are wooed away from their churches by members of evangelical extremists, and/or their churches are literally taken over in place.  There is a great book available on Steeplejacking written by two ministers, Sheldon Culver and John C. Dorhauer of the United Church of Christ – Steeplejacking: How the Christian Right is Hijacking Mainstream Religion.

“An insider account by two ministers on the front lines of mainstream religions longtime shadow war against the religious right, Steeplejacking reveals how conservative renewal groups, backed by a right-wing organization called the Institute on Religion and Democracy, use social wedge issues like homosexuality to infiltrate mainline churches and stir up dissent among members of the congregation, with the goal of taking over the leadership of the church, and ultimately, the denomination.”

With that being said – the answer is – there are indeed many churches out there that have nothing to do with this extreme minority.  This is one of the components of this whole movement that frustrates me the most – that because they are so…well, evil really…it has cast a shadow over Christianity as a whole leaving an unsavory image.  And that is truly unfortunate…

I am not suggesting that all church services have to be drone, mundane and include rote memorization of passages, verses and hymnal preamble in order to be considered mainstream.  (Although that is the essence of the Lutheran services I had to attend as a kid).  But these dominionist churches pretty routinely are the ones that include the HUGE flat screens and an American flag draped somewhere behind their stage (I can’t bring myself to call it their pulpit), along with a live band of some sort.

Remember the saying by Sinclair Lewis,

“When fascism comes to America it will be wearing a flag [carrying a gun] and holding the bible”.

If I were Sean Parnell, and I was sitting there listening to Sarah Palin describing her justification for abandoning her post as governor of the State of Alaska early – I would have been personally insulted and emasculated.

“So, we are here today at a changing of the guard. Now, people who know me, and they know how much I love this state, some still are choosing not to hear why I made the decision to chart a new course to advance the state. And it should be so obvious to you. (indicating heckler) It is because I love Alaska this much, sir (at heckler) that I feel it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical, politics as usual, lame duck session in one’s last year in office. How does that benefit you? No, with this decision now, I will be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right, for truth. And I have never felt like you need a title to do that.” -  Sarah Palin Farewell Speech July 26th, 2009 Fairbanks, Alaska

But he didn’t…and he won’t.  Sean is a Palin follower and will not man-up.  He has guzzled the dominionist kool-aid.  He is not the most dynamic personality to begin with, I have sat across the table from the man as a lobbyist and know whereof I speak.  Sean is simply and unquestioningly accepting his role, as it is being scripted for him, in their march toward their “Great Commission” mandate.  They are sincere in their belief that the End Times are at hand and that they are “chosen” to play a crucial role in these final days.  Hence, Parnell is simply a foot soldier in God’s Army to Palin’s role as the anointed Queen Esther from the Book of Esther.  I know, sounds wild doesn’t it?  It is…but they have swallowed this hook, line and sinker and will not rest in their quest to fulfil the biblical prophecy (as they interpret it).

A little about Queen Esther: Esther had great wisdom and wise people know that sometimes timing is everything. She could not afford to ruin her one chance to save her people from a certain annihilation. It would be a tragedy of immense proportions. So much depended upon her actions!  Mordecai, earlier in the Book of Esther, had been given a place of power in the kingdom due to his trustworthiness.  The bravery of Esther saved the Jews.  Such is the eminence of Queen Esther, who will be remembered infinitely for the life she led and the role she played in saving her people through love and selfless devotion.

Is Parnell Mordecai?  Who knows…in their world anything can be created as long as they do it in the name of God.  This photo shows Parnell and Palin on stage with their evangelical leader Ed Kalnins of the Assemblies of God Wasilla Bible Church, as they receive guidance and prayer for direction.  (It is more than a bit disturbing that Senator Murkowski is there as well, although as a Catholic I cannot imagine she agrees with their interpretation of theonomy – for she would be thrown under the judgement bus along with the rest of us who are not specifically “born agains”)

Soooo…the fact that Sean did not take the microphone after his swearing in, and state with certainty that – contrary to Palin’s speech about the uselessness of the Governor’s office and position (with a mere 18 months remaining) – he would vow not to kowtow to the perceptions of being a “fill-in lame-duck”.  How is it that they deem his appointment as governor more worthwhile after just explaining what a waste of time it would be for Palin to remain?  Hmmm…it’s a conundrum of sorts, doncha think?

There are many ugly sides to researching Political Dominionism – not the least of which is starting my day never knowing what whacko tripe will be in my email in the morning…such as this lovely letter…

You have gotta read it…this is Palin’s ideological base…

From: Sandra Yeager

Date: July 16, 2009 11:33:41 PM MDT

To: undisclosed recipients: ;

Subject: In God We Trust – Forever!

Dear Friends of Liberty,

The time has come that we as Christians are at a critical crossroads in America. Due to recent activities of the Obama administration, our accountability to God as a Christian nation weighs heavy in the balance. We are now forced into a situation where we, as Christians, must undeniably choose, which master will we serve.

Please find the important attached document, which I encourage you as Patriots and Christians not only to forward and print, but to present to the members of your church.

In Love and Liberty,

Sandra Yeager

WHO are they?  We had better ALL get to know them and pay attention.  If you think they aren’t gearing up?  Think again!  Here is Yeager’s letter:

“Dear Fellow Christians,

It is with a heavy heart and deep concern for our future generations that I am writing this letter.

On March 9, 2009, just six weeks after the Presidential Inauguration, President Obama signed Executive Order 13505 titled, Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells. After years of Court appeals and Supreme Court rulings, our President with one stroke of the pen, removed all barriers to scientific research on the brain stem cells of unborn, aborted babies, though it has been argued many times that the same research can be accomplished using the tissue of discarded umbilical cords at the time of birth.

More recently, President Obama has sought to mandate that our tax dollars be used to help fund the genocide of these unborn innocents. Such an act as federally mandated funding for abortion , makes us all equally responsible for the deaths of unborn babies in America, for it is our federal tax dollars that will be funding it. Therefore, by paying our federal taxes, we will be supporting the fund for abortion.

Federally mandated funding for abortions is only one of the major crises that we as Christians are now facing; though this is the one that I believe would bring down the pure wrath of God upon this Christian nation.

I truly believe that in Revelation 12:14, the woman who was carried on the wings of an eagle into the wilderness where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, is symbolic of Christ’s church that found refuge in America. For, no other nation has had the liberty to worship, as we have had.

I truly believe that our founding fathers were inspired by God when they created our founding documents, thus providing a system of government and freedoms like the world had never known, but most importantly providing nurturance and protection to the woman (Christ’s church).

This is only one example of the many continuous abuses our government has committed against our liberties, and in direct violation of our founding documents. So now, we find ourselves as Christians faced with a situation that is ultimately the last straw.

The Holy Bible teaches us to give unto Caesar what is due Caesar, and give unto God that which is God’s.

The Holy Bible also teaches us that we as Christians will not be tempted above what we can bare, but that for every temptation, God will provide for us a way of escape. Thankfully, I believe God is already doing that for us.

In May of this year, the We the People Foundation and twenty-five other liberty minded organizations came together for a three day meeting at Jekyll Island, Georgia. You may view a full list of the Patriot organizations at http://www.jekyllislandproject.com/invitees.aspx . To learn more about the details of this meeting, see www.JekyllIslandProject.com . The purpose of the meeting was to determine what steps could be taken to defend and restore our

founding documents and our liberties, before our nation — our Constitutional Republic – is totally destroyed.

These organizations voted unanimously to promote and support a Continental Congress in November of 2009. Full preparation is underway, as the states organize and prepare for local, regional and national outreach to The People of America. The purpose of Continental Congress 2009 is to bring delegates together who represent The People, to establish before the people, the alarming record of abuses by our government over these past years and the impact of those abuses on our nation. There will be three delegates selected from each state and the District of Columbia, totaling one hundred fifty-three delegates.

CC2009 delegates will specifically review and discuss the facts surrounding escalating violations of the Constitution, each of which has had devastating impacts on our liberty, our economy, and our way of life. Those gathered, before a worldwide viewing audience, via daily live webcasts, will consider the necessary and legal means afforded to The People, via our governing documents, to peacefully hold our servant government accountable for their crimes, and restore our nation to the Founders’ original intent of a Constitutional Republic.

Nominations for delegates to attend the Continental Congress can be made at your state’s website via http://www.givemeliberty.org . In every state, we are seeking our finest citizenswho have a proven passion for the Constitution and want to take this stand now. Perhaps you are one, or know someone who should be there. The deadline for nominations is September 1. Nominees will be posted on the state web pages by September 12.

Elections will be held across the nation on October 10, and Continental Congress will convene November 9-24 in a location to be announced. For more information about Continental Congress 2009, to help fund this event, nominate a delegate or volunteer please visit http://www.givemeliberty.org . We have a position for every citizen who loves America and wants to take a stand for God, liberty and constitutional obedience.

In closing, I ask all true Christians who know our Savior and Mediator, to humble yourselves before God and seek mercy with bitter tears, just as David did, that he might hear the cries of his people and lead us out of Sodom and Gomorrah, as he did for Lot and his family, before the souls of our children are eternally vexed by the sins of this nation. If God be for us, who then, can stand against us?

In Love and Liberty,

Sandra Yeager

Kentucky State Coordinator

We the People Foundation

How many times did we hear the Right slam Obama as nothing more than a “community organizer”?  The evangelical extremists have been proficient and successful at this practice of conveying calls to action since President Obama was in grade school.  This letter is but one method of spreading their messages virally and igniting the millions of congregational members across America who are prompted to action by the propaganda of fear.

This is not a peaceful difference of opinion.  This is an intentional campaign to rally these followers into the frenzy I have so oftern referenced to Sarah Palin.  These are the same crowds and Sheeples.

This organization CC2009 got it’s start in 2001 and is now re-invigorated and ramping up its efforts topromote tyranny.  I cannot stress this loudly enough!  We MUST educate ourselves and those around us.  This is NOT a simple Republican vs Democrat issue.  This is about diffusing all out extremism in America that is equated to the same cult-like devotion to any other radical movement.

This letter alone is going out to thousands of dominionist churches in the United States, and the members in those churches range in the millions.

Palin Plays Persecuted Martyr in Political Move?

Yet ANOTHER Press Secretary for Palin!  She never tires of being the first governor in Alaska to set records.  Let me introduce you to her FOURTH Press Secretary!  David Murrow…another ‘c’hristian zealot joins her staff.

And another “Promise Keeper” to boot!  (Like the morally superior Senator John Ensign)

Gov. Palin selects new spokesman

Bill McAllister forced out after less than one year

By Pat Forgey | JUNEAU EMPIRE  June 28, 2009

The turnover continues in Gov. Sarah Palin’s public relations staff, with her top spokesman, Bill McAllister, forced out after less than a year in the position.

Murrow said he was too busy to talk to the Empire on Friday, but earlier told the Alaska Budget Report Newsletter he began the job June 10 and is paid $103,716 annually.

Replacing McAllister is David Murrow, an author of Christian books who lives in Chugiak.Murrow is Palin’s fourth communications director, following McAllister, Rosanne Hughes and Meg Stapleton. Hughes remains in Palin’s communications office as director of external communications, while Stapleton is now working for Palin’s political action committee.

Deputy Press Secretary Sharon Leighow remains in the office, while two other deputy press secretaries have departed; Beth Leschper is now handling communications duties for the Department of Labor, and Charles Fedullo has returned to the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Murrow told the Budget Report that he owned a media production company that once did work for a Palin campaign, and is also author of two books on Christian men and church.

According to the American Library Association’s Booklist, “Murrow advocates injecting a strong shot of testosterone into the proceedings to restore the masculine spirit to the church,” in his first book, “Why Men Hate Church,” published in 2004.

In 2008 he published “How Women Help Men Find God.”

WAIT! But what about this?  ”Women are not permitted to teach men (1 Timothy 2:12)”

Interesting isn’t it that the “Church” he refers to – the evangelical, dominionist, New Apostolic Reformation, Patriarchal, Born-Again-Jesus-Is-Coming! -Church…who preaches that women are to be as submissive to their “men” as the men are to God, is asking for women to drag their poor unwilling male partners to church services?  How does this fit?

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22-24).

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church” (1 Corinthians 14:34,35).

I find that fascinating and perplexing.  If women who are to follow and the men are always to lead in church how are they doing that if the guys aren’t showing up?

“The more traditionally masculine side of Christianity enjoys crossing swords with hostile secular worldviews. So, as long as Christianity appeals to the emotional, therapeutic, interpersonal, relational areas, it’s not going to appeal to men as much as to women,” a Murrow colleague, Pearcey stated.

‘Many churches emphasize Jesus’ softer teachings, like his love and his desire to save, and they ignore the doctrines of sin and hell, but men dislike liberal Christianity — “a mild religion of progress and enlightenment” as opposed to a battle between good and evil”.

So if you want a guy to show up for Sunday go-to-meetin’ then you better have some war games, gun talk, hellfire and brimstone.  Throw in a little “we don’t tolerate “homos”, save the unborn – blow up the clinics, and a rally cry to raise up arms in the name of God!  And by God these boys will come a runnin’!

“Men want to expend their lives for a great cause, even if it involves risk, according to Murrow. He said that’s why the U.S. military’s “Army of One” campaign was effective. But American churches rarely teach about Christian suffering and martyrdom, Murrow said.  ”Instead, today’s Christianity is presented as an antidote to these things”, he said.

To reach men, churches should stress the cost and dangers of following Christ — including Christians’ conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil”

And we sure don’t want all that touchy-feely love and peace stuff!  Reverend “Guns and God” Pagano from Kentucky could join forces with Palin’s new-hire and franchise his Church Gun Raffle services in his Church for Men and engage those poor lost male souls that Murrow seems to identify with at such length.

Murrow goes on to say, “Touchy-feely sermons come from touchy-feely pastors. A feminized church tends to attract more “gentle, sensitive, nurturing” leadership”.

Why do you suppose they think this is contrary to the teachings of Christ?  It is frightening to have such blatant repudiations of Christ as a kind and gentle teacher and caregiver of the poor and downtrodden – to instead place emphasis on “masculine” violence, punishment, and a retributive nature of an angry and warlike God.

“Texas for Sarah Palin.com” responded to this appointment thusly, “David Murrow is obviously a trusted friend, one who knows and understands Sarah Palin. They share an abiding faith in the Lord”.  That is their litmus test isn’t it?  More Murrow…

Murrow suggests that we, “Consider Islam. It just feels more masculine. Men who practice Islam actually enhance their manhood in the eyes of their peers. There are still strong gender roles. Islam has stringent requirements, including an epic journey (haj). Concepts such as heroic sacrifice and holy war live in Islam. The genders worship separately. And compare our visions of heaven: Christians offer eternal singing, Muslims offer eternal sex!”

And I suppose in Murrow’s heaven Viagra is handed out each day with your daily bread and a nice harem. Somehow I think they are missing the point – but with that attitude he will make a real gem of an addition to the GOP gallery I discussed in an earlier post, 123 GOP! Or I am and what he is REALLY saying is that he wants the women and all their girly frills gone altogether and prefers a Manly-Man’s Church altogether….whatever!

Well there we have it!  Another wise and thoughtful choice by Sarah Palin.  Let’s see what kind of “spinning” will come out of the Guv’s office now.

And WE’RE the FASCISTS!?  This is the fringe that Sarah Palin excited and ignited.  Well, – after all – she IS one of them.  As a devoted Assemblies of God-bot herself these are her “PEEPS”!  Or I should say – SHEEPS!

Salon.com Article

June 28, 2009

“New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky is welcoming “responsible handgun owners” to wear their firearms inside the church Saturday, June 27. An ad for the event said that there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.

“We’re just going to celebrate the upcoming theme of the birth of our nation,” said pastor Ken Pagano. “And we’re not ashamed to say that there was a strong belief in God and firearms — without that this country wouldn’t be here.”

Pagano’s Protestant church, which attracts up to 150 people to Sunday services, is a member of the Assemblies of God.

Pagano, 50, said some members of his church were concerned that President Obama’s administration could restrict gun ownership, and they supported the plan for the event when Pagano asked their opinion.

Marian McClure Taylor, executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, an umbrella organization for 11 Christian denominations in Kentucky, said Christian churches are promoters of peace, but “most allow for arms to be taken up under certain conditions.”

He said the point was not to mix worship with guns, though he may reference some passages from the Bible.”

There is a new term being born by the actions of these fanatics in America, Christofascism:

“Some scholars consider Christian Reconstructionism to be a quasi-fascist movement because it is explicitly opposed to religious liberty and human rights. Berlet and Lyons have written that the movement is a “new form of clerical fascist politics.”[10] Karen Armstrong sees a potential for fascism in Christian Reconstructionism, and claims that the system of dominion envisaged by Christian Reconstructionist theologians R. J. Rushdoony and Gary North is totalitarian: “There is no room for any other view or policy, no democratic tolerance for rival parties, no individual freedom.”[11] Wikipedia

This kind of delusional paranoid disorder is contributing to the panic that justifies the propaganda spewed by “Reverend” Pagano, and their ability to lead the sheeples is predicated on maintaining a constant level of fear in much the same way GW Bush used the emotion of fear to stay in office as president.

This fear was so fired up and intense on November 5, 2008 – the day following the election of President Barak Obama, a black man, to the highest office in our country - that gun sales rose 500%!  And it is still virtually impossible to walk into any gun store in the United States and purchase ammunition for the majority of firearms that people own.  (The munitions companies are sure LOVIN’ it!)

They nurture this paranoia by spreading falsities such as their claims that he is a Muslim, foreign born anti-Christ.  Even prominent leaders within the Republican Party and media shock jocks feed this uninformed populace by making proclamations that they can’t wait to see Obama and the “liberals” fail even at the expense of ruining our economy and threatening our democracy.  They are so inculcated in their belief that they truly believe this type of treason is uniquely “Patriotic” to the Born-Agains!

As much as I was frightened by Bush’s lack of intellect and the “master-minds” behind his presidency, I never once delighted in the notion of his failing so we could somehow “win” and be proven right!  It was the opposite! I prayed that he would be miraculously struck upside the head in the middle of the night by a “smart-stick”!!

These Phalse Prophets from “Mount-Holier-than-Thou” continue to breed the false notion that our country was founded on a singular religious doctrine and that we are supposedly one nation under their version of an armed God.  The Sheeples in their congregations are like sponges and absorb the rhetoric of hate and dissension from the pulpits to be the one and only truth, and prepare to join what these evangelical dominionists have created – the ranks of the Army of God and Joel’s Army training grounds for battle in the name of God.

The greatest threat to our freedom is an uninformed and uneducated citizenry!  And actions such as this “Bring Your Gun to Church Day” garbage is antithetical to the Bible and very, very dangerous to our democracy!  Notice the language of love and peace by Pastor Mutthee, Palin’s friend and the holy authority that anointed her and rebuked witchcraft in the name of God.  They hear this call to arms and violence and corporeally respond!

When this is combined with skilled salesmen in their churches representing themselves as Preacher/Reverend/Bishop/Pastor/Priest/Elder/”Dr.” (of course they are ALL Ph.D’s!) in ordained clothing, this uneducated Sheeple congregation reveres them as ultimate authorities, and they are taught through repetitive indoctrination that to question these “men of God” is to allow Satan into your life and is a sin punishable by the fires of Hell.

Wow…what a Sunday blog!  WWJD?  I’m thinking he would not be viewing Pagano’s New Bethel Church as a house of prayer, but a breeding ground for intolerance and fear.

Pagano = Messenger of Christ?  Ummm…Not-so-much!