East Texans Sound Off On Church Sign

[paineinthearse]

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3826469&nav=1TjDeJpk



9/8/05 - East Texas
East Texans Sound Off On Church Sign

Since the sign went up at Woodland Hills Baptist Church, we have been flooded with emails and phone calls from many of you. A majority of the comments we received have been against the sign but in this report we want to give you a balance of both sides as we share some of your words.

<snip>

Sarah writes, "...I understand and agree with what they are saying on their church sign. They are not condemning the people of New Orleans. They are simply not condoning the sin in the city of New Orleans. New Orleans is a wicked city..."

<snip>

C.L. writes, "You expressed shock that a church would express God's disappointment and possible judgment on New Orleans. Have you read the Bible? Jesus in my Bible will return with a flaming sword, not as some milk toast hippie!!..."

<snip>

And this viewer writes, "I believe he is correct, if a person is a Christian and reads the Bible it is clear this was an act of judgment on this country, not saying all in that area are sinners nor all that died are sinners, but the innocent suffer sometimes with the guilty... God's judgment is on this country and it is only going to get worse. I do not believe the Pastor meant to offend anyone, it is merely and greatly a needed wake up call for all!!!"

more....

Gillian Sheridan reporting.

[Newsjock]

1. "milk toast"!

bwahahahaha. "milk toast"!

I think I can now go to sleep with a smile on my face. "C.L." is a moran.

[Carolab]

15. Yes. The proper spelling is "Milquetoast".

As in "Casper Milquetoast". What a lack of education.

[trogdor]

44. The last part was uncalled for.

n/c.

[0007]

80. Isn't education wonderful. Are you the new spelling policeman?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

104. Take a hike.

[CAcyclist]

109. Agreed

I read your post and assumed you were agreeing with the first poster in chortling at the letter-writer, CL, (and the journalist and editor who were too stupid or lazy to check the writing. Spell-check is no replacement for a proper proof-reader.).

As for your detractors, I would say to them - please read a bit more critically before going with the knee-jerk reaction.

edited for clarification

[donco6]

111. I'd bet CL has no idea where milquetoast originated.

Probably thinks its in the Bible!

[Carolab]

123. Hey, you guys. I wasn't speaking to the DUer. I meant the FREEPER.

The FREEPER lacks the education. It was THEIR quote.

[donco6]

129. I know - I was referring to "CL" in the quote.

C.L. writes, "You expressed shock that a church would express God's disappointment and possible judgment on New Orleans. Have you read the Bible? Jesus in my Bible will return with a flaming sword, not as some milk toast hippie!!..."

*This* is the "CL" I was referring to, not you Carolab!

[onager]

2. "If I owned Hell and Texas...

...I would live in Hell and rent out Texas."--Gen. William T. Sherman

[saigon68]

43. FROM FRED PHELPS BAPTIST CHURCH WEBSITE

Thank God for Katrina

http://www.godhatesfags.com/featured/20050831_thank-god-for-katrina.html

New Orleans, symbol of America, seen for what it is: a putrid, toxic, stinking cesspool of fag fecal matter.

"Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupt; they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." Isaiah 1:4-6.
America is irreversibly doomed. It is a sin to pray for the good of this evil fag nation.

"Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee." Jeremiah 7:16.
It is a sin NOT to rejoice when God executes His wrath and vengeance upon America.

"The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth." Psalm 58:10,11.
Pray for more dead bodies floating on the fag-semen-rancid waters of New Orleans.
Pray for more American bodies blown to smithereens by cheap home made Iraqi IEDs - like the IED America bombed WBC with August 20, 1995, hoping thereby to terrorize us into silence about America's fag sins.

"And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a great pestilence." Jeremiah 21:5,6.
America became WBC's terrorist. So, God, in retaliation, became America's Terrorist

[Tight_rope]

60. LOL...Good one...I live here and totally agree.

[NoPasaran]

103. Hate to be the quotation nazi

But it was actually General Phil Sheridan who commented on the Lone Star State.

[liberalhistorian]

120. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That'd be a perfect sig line!

[aquart]

3. What a bunch of creeps.

Sodom and Gomorrah was OLD TESTAMENT. These bozos want to be old time Jews, and let me tell you, we were bigots in the Bible. (And if you don't believe me, check out the return from Babylon, when we left behind the wives and children acquired in the Exile. Real nice behavior.)

Jesus was supposed to be a MUCH nicer guy. He was the one who was into NOT throwing stones. Nice kid. His mother should be proud.

[WCGreen]

4. And that was even before Abraham settled on

one god....

Jesus, these fuckers don't even know their own religion....

[reprobate]

71. Actually, the reason Yaweh is so pissed all the time is........

...that when they left Babylon and took Yaweh with them, they DID NOT take Ashira, his mate.

I mean if someone took me away from my home, forcing me to leave my wife and all the kids, I'd be kinda pissed too, and for a long time.

These folks would do far more for themselves if they studied history instead of their particular myths. And please don't get huffy when I call their religion a myth. All religions are by definition MYTHS.

[hyphenate]

89. I agree

I started a discussion the other day on that very subject, but since it's ending up like a thesis, I'm saving it to work on it for other reasons!

[WCGreen]

101. Well, the whole thing is myths....

THe Jewish portion of the bible is how a group of folks went from pagan worship to monethiesm....

I read the New Testament as a social commentary...

Too bad Falwell, this clown and all the others look at Jesus as a speed bump on the way to Arrmegedon....

[and-justice-for-all]

126. Sure dont...

They never have and never will. they are so absorbed with ruining peoples lives, the environment and the Planet that they can't even take the time to get their shit straight.
Its proof as to WHY religion should NEVER be affiliated with governmental functions of society, New Orleans is a grand example. The GOP is backed by those Hardcore conservatives that consist largely of bigots and haters. Its no different then what Nazi Germany was, this GOP and the Nazi party are so identical its horrifing.

Why that levee never got fixed...because patience is a vertue and it was excersied to perfection. Those bastards in that GOP need thrown out NOW!!!

[murielm99]

5. Sodom and Gomorrah were actually condemned for

not showing hospitality. Tell that to the creeps who are worried about black evacuees.

[ShockediSay]

100. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. "

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to
you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's
eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own
eye?

Matthew 7: 1-3 kjv

In other words those who "will be judged" are the condemned. The mission of the church is to spread the good word, the gospel of salvation. Those who are pointing out the sins of others are those who are clearly not a part of that salvation.

[Maraya1969]

6. Nominated. People need to see this shit

Help get it on the front page.

[Kerrytravelers]

7. I wish I could be could be surprised... but after life under the * regime,

sadly, I am not.

[BrightKnight]

8. The poor, old, and sick should be made to suffer.

What Bible are these fools reading.

God saved the French Quarter.

[poverlay]

17. These fools are already jealous of the raucous and thoroughly debauched

time we're going to have in "New New Orleans, the party capital of the South". That future beautiful city will draw in a ridiculous amount of tourist dollars due to Katrina.

[Maraya1969]

9. Why no signs for Charley or Ivan? Not enough black people there?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Der Blaue Engel]

14. Something smells bad here n/t

[theHandpuppet]

29. Uhhh.... yep

Time to hit the Alert.

[Solon]

19. Why worship that type of God?

Anyone reading into this as some type of divine judgement from a vengeful diety who apparently hates the poor, as demonstrated here, is a sick individual.

[and-justice-for-all]

125. Agreed...

The only thing those jack-asses preach is hate and discontent. If I was a religious person, I would swear that those groups are actually the work of the devil...But, since I dont believe in either side I think they are all full of shit.

[leftchick]

28. are you serious?

:crazy:

[amber dog democrat]

35. I beg to differ.

Otherwise a meteor might have landed on the White House long ago.

[WCGreen]

11. And what about all that gamblin' goin' on over mississpi way...

I guess cause they got hem some churches, and a god fearing republican't as gov, they are given that a pass from the almighty.....

[Avalon Sparks]

12. Geesus Christ...

I've driven by that church so many times going through Tyler while driving to my hometown (Longview) back when I was in college.

There was always some stupid message up there.

[BamaBecky]

27. Mary, Joseph and all the Saints!

I continue to be amazed at the number of fools we live with in this country.............
Bama

[pinniped]

13. Las Vegas watch out.

These wingnuts are gonna pray Lake Mead jumps over Hoover Damm and heads towards Las Vegas.

[RageFist]

81. Lake Mead is drying up from the drought :) And Hoover Dam

is so strong terrorists checked it out apparently as a target...and searched elsewhere. Lets see their god handle THAT!

[bluestateguy]

16. Southern Baptist is a very evil, wicked religion.

and every bit as violent as Wahabbi Islam.

[Lecky]

30. Jimmy Carter was a Southern Baptist

I don't consider him to be wicked and evil...I'm sure there are more like him, we just always hear about the idiotic ones.

[Bridget Burke]

37. The Southern Baptists got into politics a few years ago...

It began as an alliance with Texas Republicans. Quite a few Southern Baptists have quit the church in disgust.

[joe1991]

62. I am one that quit them n/t

[rateyes]

69. I am another one, that quit them, that is! eom

[Shadder]

130. Same here

Best thing I ever did

[ToolTex]

94. Actually, about 1976, Dr Criswell, (Dallas 1st baptist church),

decided that they needed to put born-agains in political office to get a god fearing country. He had long split the southern conference by his literal interpretation. WHEN I was told he had floated the idea in a bible study one night, I thought what a stupid cult. I never imagined that the concept would destroy the USA. Had I but known then that I could kill one man to save America...

[ret5hd]

48. the key word there is 'was'...as in 'no more'.

[Lecky]

87. Ah...thanks, I had no idea he quit. n/t

[Southpaw Bookworm]

49. Yeah, but he left

Because of their draconian position on women's issues.

[marshall]

54. Jimmy's membership

Didn't Jimmy renounce his membership in the Southern Baptist church a few years ago when they voted to maintain their rules about women being in subjugation to their husbands? Go Rosalynn!

[tavalon]

64. Oh, that makes me happy

I have always prefaced my glowing comments about Jimmy Carter with, "even though he's a Southern Baptist,........."

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was Southern Baptist as well until a little after my marriage. And it had to do with that subjugation thing. It wasn't acceptable to me or my husband.

[FlaGranny]

59. Yes, but Jimmy Carter quit them. n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

65. The operative work here is "was".

It's my understanding that the left the Southern Baptists some years ago because of stuff like this. Info here:

http://www.baptiststandard.com/2000/10_23/pages/carter.html

[davidinalameda]

98. He left the church a few years ago

it was after the SBC went on record as saying that men were the head of the household and that women are subserviant

[Lecky]

119. Wow, I have even more respect for the man...

I didn't think it was possible.

[mitchum]

58. Agreed! The Southern Baptist Church was FOUNDED on inhumanity...

They broke away from the Baptist church in the antebellum days when the Baptist church joined the abolitionist movement. Seems pretty plain to me that it doesn't get any more evil or unchristian than that. I don't remember Jesus saying "OWN your brother"

[Pacifist Patriot]

75. Southern Baptists splintered. There are SB churches that

do not belong to the Southern Baptist Convention. A distinction should be drawn here. It is the SBC that perverts Christianity in my opinion.

[Ariana Celeste]

77. you're right..

My gramma is an SB but she is the sweetest, most generous person I know, and helped me to become the liberal I am today.

[kick_them_hard]

18. Someone with more post than me RECOMMEND this

Let's pour more salt into the wound! so say the pious. God, Im glad I dont live in the south

[Judi Lynn]

24. I did it. Welcome to DU, kick_them_hard!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

[Habibi]

20. Modern American journalism . . .

"A majority of the comments we received have been against the sign but in this report we want to give you a balance of both sides as we share some of your words."

Um, what? Most responses were negative but you need to give "a balance"?

[keopeli]

21. New Orleans is an incredibly hospitable place, not anything like Sodom and

You would think that a church would know their bible.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is not about sexual perversion: it is about treating strangers poorly. The Hebrew law clearly violated, as pointed out in the bible, is the Law of Hospitality, which says that you treat your visitors with respect.

When the people of Sodom, who were not good people, heard that Lot was hosting a visitor in his house, they came banging on his door demanding Lot allow them to have sex with the visitor. (By the way, the visitor was an angel.)

To persuade the Sodomites to leave the visitor alone, Lot offered his virgin daughter to the Sodomites, but they didn't want his offer.

Hebrew scripture uses this story to reinforce the cultural laws of the time. Clearly, visitors were not to be seduced. Rather, they were to be treated hospitably.

I know the city of New Orleans is nothing like Sodom and Gomorrah because they welcome diverse people with open arms.

How could a church get that simple point so wrong?

[BrightKnight]

22. Lost in New Orleans

I took the wrong bus and got lost in a poor neighborhood of New Orleans. It was raining and getting dark. I must have looked lost. Two different people asked me if I needed help. They were both warm, easy going, and very helpful. They made me feel at ease and got me where I needed to go. I didn't even have to ask for help.

I lived in poor Chicago neighborhoods during the worst of the crack epidemic. New Orleans was nothing like that.

-------

Tyler has a small Baptist church almost literally on every block. I doubt that the minister or most of the congregation had any direct experience with New Orleans.

[amber dog democrat]

36. Years ago as a disoriented traveler

a city bus driver engaged me in a conversation, wanted to know if I was OK and on one of his stops got off his bus and brought me a coke from a vending machine...just to encourage and wish me well.

I never experienced ANYTHING less than generosity and kindness from New Orleans residents. I used to to there on my days off when I was a deckhand on the Lower Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers.

I can't fathom those good people being devinely punished. Here I am, just some white kid with long hair nobody knows...and I never found better hospatality anywhere else. I'd say someone other than God had a hand in this.

[ToolTex]

95. Don't count on it.

He was probably over in NO every third week for his monthly blow job!

[Solly Mack]

23. sick people in dire need of therapy and a padded room

[dutchdoctor]

25. church sign in response

[bvar22]

26. Send them this!

"GAWD punished New Orleans because it was an abomination in his sight like Sodom and Gamorrah!"

"GAWD destroyed the homosexuals and immoral people of New Orleans!"

The Sodom And Gamorrah On The Mississipp!
Oh, Lord! Break forth and wash the slime from this Earth!
--Tom T. Shiftlet, in F. O'Connor's "The Life You Save May Be Your Own."

Let's just remember what the Lord is washing away:

Long before the SuperDome,
Where the Saints of football play,
Lived a city that the damned called home,
Hear their hellish rondelet...

New Orleeeans...
Home of pirates, drunks, and whores!
New Orleeeans...
Tacky, overpriced, souvenir stores!
If you want to go to Hell, you should make that trip
to the Sodom and Gomorrah on the Mississipp'!

New Orleeeans...
Stinking, rotten, vomiting, vile!
New Orleaaans...
Putrid, brackish, maggoty, foul!
New Orleeeans...
Crummy, lousy, rancid, and rank!

New Orleeeans!

http://vaguenihilism.blogspot.com/2005/08/sodom-and-gamorrah-on-mississipp.html

I heard this little tidbit today.
As a long term resident of New Orleans (45 years) I thought I would post a rebuttal for those of you who have yet to hear this nonsense.

The ONLY place in New Orleans that was NOT destroyed was the area where most of the gays and sexually liberated people live....
The French Quarter!!!!



It seems that GAWD spared the gays!
Is the gay community the modern day LOT whom the angels protected when GAWD destroyed Sodom and Gamorrah?
If someone wants to preach that GAWD destroyed New orleans because of immorality,
they should be forced to acknowlege that GAWD spared the French Quarter and those who live there.


Are the residents of the French Quarter the ONLY people from New Orleans to Mobile that are holy in the eyes of GAWD??





The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[Torgo Johnson]

31. You know what...Fuck these people.

When New Orleans gets rebuilt,let's have Mardi Gras all year round. Lets see if that makes their tight asses even tighter. These hypocrites keep on whining about looting food. What would they expect to do if they were starving? Pray to God and hope Jesus comes down out of the sky with fish and loaves of bread??

[xchrom]

32. and the holocaust was yet another judgement on jewish folk?

lol -- the ignorance and cruel stupidity oft these people is beyond comprehension -- they are rabid, diseased and not fit to live in community with anybody but themselves.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

50. Don't forget AIDS

A gift from god to destroy the homosexual menace.

[bee]

61. hmmm. and here I thought it was a gift from the government.

at least according to those pesky declassified documents.
but guess I was wrong. my bad. :sarcasm:

[Southpaw Bookworm]

63. Your version is closer to the truth

I have a feeling, but mine is what you'll hear in a lot of seemingly mainstream churches.

[Raksha]

117. I've had some fundies tell me that!

Re "and the holocaust was yet another judgement on jewish folk?"

With a straight face too, and even knowing that I'm Jewish. And THEN they have the utter GALL to say they aren't anti-Semitic!

And believe it or not, those are the nicer ones. The really evil ones quote that infamous line from the NT "His blood be upon us and upon our children" and then they say, "The truth hurts, doesn't it?"

God, how I HATE fundies! My opinion of non-fundamentalist Christianity (except for the Gnostics) is not all that charitable either.

[JNelson6563]

33. Unlike say, Las Vegas

Yes, we must all be fearful of the all-loving bible-god. :shrug:

.

[reprobate]

72. Their version of a god is a schizophrenic.

One minute he loves everyone he created. The next minute he destroys everyone he created.

Now that's my definition of SICK!

[barbaraann]

34. Were the people of Johnstown wicked?

http://www.johnstownpa.com/History/hist19.html

[amber dog democrat]

38. The same thing for the Krakatoa victims.

in 1883. Good point.

[ChrisK]

39. These are the same people that see the face of mary in grilled cheese.

They sadly, look for "signs" in anything and say its god's work...no matter how far-fetched the "sign" might be.

"innocent suffer sometimes with the guilty"..So god is too stupid to enact punishment to just the ones doing the sinning and leave the non-sinners alone?...made the world and nature and the sun and the starts but just too stupid or maybe needs some glasses or laser surgery to get a bit better aim?..yea, I'm buying that one :eyes:


And they wonder why folks turn away from religion....I know most are not like this but someone in there religious community needs to have a LONG talk with the people in charge there and "ed-u-ma-cate" them in the teachings of love and peace and helping there fellow man...I'm almost sure that there was a guy in the bible who talked about those things, went on and on about it.

[ladylibertee]

40. Oh there they go again.......

I am so sick and tired of these so-called, self righteous, hypocritical warped minded idiots who think God is out to get people.These same so called holy ones are worse than the people they criticize and damm to hell.for the last time, if God used Katrina to punish new Orleans then,according to the weather in The MidWest, particularly where I live in Wisconsin, We' re all going to hell. tornadoes, Ice storms, 8 to 10 feet of snow, humid mosquito infested summers.....Oh Ya you Betcha !!!!!!:sarcasm:

[ima_sinnic]

41. bwahaha! "not condemning the PEOPLE, just the CITY"

How do these people function with their brains all messed up like that?

"They are not condemning the people of New Orleans. They are simply not condoning the sin in the city of New Orleans. New Orleans is a wicked city..."

and just WHO is committing this "sin" if not the people?

hey great god ya'll got there! "this city is "sinful" because it likes to party too much--it's actually laughing and having a good time! I must smite this city with my Incredible Wicked City Smiter--oops, heh heh--sorry about those people who happened to be there." (remember them? those post-fetal humans?)

[NuttyFluffers]

122. Might as well say, "We condemn the nose, not the face."

Just as insipid as that trite line of condemn the sin not the sinner. well, either you believe in the sin, which MUST be a conscious act, and thus the sinner is thus condemned by his own actions, or your just hypocritical and plain ol' fucked in the head. but hypocrisy is bread and butter to them; funnily enough its the staple of the most selfish and evil people as well. funny that.

and we are the batshit crazy moonbats to them. :crazy:

[formercia]

42. What kind of dirty little secrets does the church choir have?

These kind of churches usually turn out to have their own goings on after hours. Conservative christian males tend to be into BDSM.

[trogdor]

45. Needs more cowbell...

...and a couple of 12-gauge shots center-of-mass.

[melody]

46. Ignore them - that's my uncle's Baptist church

Lets just say, they're not exactly a mainstream group in town.

[maxrandb]

47. I Can't Open the Article/Picture

What does the sign say???

[swimboy]

51. It says

The Big Easy is the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.

Compassionate, eh?

[leftofcool]

52. Puh-fucking-leeze

These people are idiots! Yes folks, some mythological god/goddess waved his/her mighty hand creating a mighty wind which brought in flood waters causing a levee to break and sink NO. Calling Noah!!!!!!!! Ya gotta just love it!

Left of Cool

[ToolTex]

99. Calling Noah!!! Let's see, two gay guys, two tyrannosaurus Rexi,

two lesbians, two fleas, two english springer spaniels, two rednecks, two donkeys, two mules, two yeller cats, two black cats, two striped cats, two short haired cats, (drat, what colors?), ...
Ya gotta just love em! They're too gawd damn dumb to shoot and not worth the power to blow em away!

[defiant1]

53. Just another example of....

compassionate conservatism.

:puke:

[QC]

55. "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom...

pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49, KJV)

[Inland]

68. Nice quote. Bible on searchable CD-ROM? nt

[QC]

74. I've seen the passage elsewhere and remembered it.

Looks like the Republicans are the real Sodomites here.

[Inland]

118. I am duly impressed

Esoteric passage and appropriate.

[IndianaGreen]

132. Describes the American leisure class to a Tee!

Fundamentalists don't preach Jesus! Jesus railed against the rich and powerful, and he called for protecting the disposed, the poor, the orphans, and children. Jesus never uttered a word saying that women must submit the men's authority. Jesus never mentioned homosexuality or abortion. Jesus never mentioned "The Rapture."

It is easier to preach Paul. Paul never met Jesus. Paul was never among Jesus's followers. Paul's conversion, the result of landing on his head after falling off his horse, can be attributed to brain damage.

Paul is a false prophet! He told his followers to not bother with marriage for the end of the world was at hand. This prediction did not turn out to be true. Paul also hinted at what fundies refer to as "The Rapture," an obscure verse making claims that were never corroborated by the authors of the Gospels or by James, Jesus's own brother.

Speaking of James, he totally blew Paul's theology off the water. Paul's theology was that belief in Jesus was enough for salvation. James's response (remember he was Jesus's brother) was that faith without works was a dead faith.

[silvermachine]

56. These radical clerics really do hate America....

EOM.

[AzDar]

57. "How unlike their Christ, these 'Christians' "... M Ghandi. n/t

[paineinthearse]

66. 2 related KTLV stories

I was tired when making the initial post and missed these two others:

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3820292&nav=1TjDeGmD

Local Church's Sign Offends Evacuees
KLTV, TX - Sep 7, 2005



A confrontation this morning between an East Texas church and an evacuee from New Orleans. It centers around a sign out front of Woodland Hills Baptist Church on Old Jacksonville Road in Tyler, about a mile inside the loop. Some say the message is offensive. "I drove by that sign and was just horrified when I saw that," says Kelly Jackman who now lives in Tyler but used to live in New Orleans.

That sign at Woodland Hills Baptist Church reads ,"The big easy is the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah." Kelly along with her sister Robin Lafont, an evacuee from New Orleans, showed up this morning at the church to talk to the man who put it up, Pastor Wiley Bennett. During a heated discussion, Robin asked, "What's the point of the sign out there?" Pastor Bennett replied, "The point of the sign is New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New York City are some of the most wicked cities in America."

Robin, who still has family members unaccounted for in New Orleans, is offended by the sign. "I'm telling you. This hurts. Why would you want to put more hurt, more salt in my wounds and why would you want to do this to me?" Kelly adds, "And to go by and see this church saying that God did this to destroy these people and basically they're celebrating that by putting that sign up there saying look at what God has done. He has destroyed the city of New Orleans because it is evil."

Pastor Bennett says, "Anybody that's ever visited New Orleans, the very name its self - Big Easy - denotes that it's easy to find sin there." Pastor Bennett says the sign, is a sign of the times. "The purpose of the sign is to wake American up to the fact that America is going away from God. New York City's 9/11 was a call of judgment and New Orlean's horrible incident was judgment on a wicked city." Pastor Bennett was quick to point out that the church has helped evacuees by donating clothing, food and lodging, but their good will seems to be overshadowed by the sign.

more....

&

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3825536&nav=1TjDeJNf

9/8/05-Tyler
Churches React to Controversial Sign



Churches in East Texas have also been getting calls from their members who are offended by the controversial sign outside Woodland Hills Baptist Church and the message it could send about East Texas. Two ministers we talked to are actually housing evacuees and the others are trying to help any way they can. It's a controversy they'd like to turn around.

Pastor Dale Perry at Friendly Baptist Church says, "We're about helping those that need and we've got people that have come into this area who have lost their families, they have lost their homes, everything. So what we're about is helping them rather than really being concerned about what people put on a marquee." Dr. David Dykes at Green Acres Baptist Church says, "Some of the evacuees here in Tyler have seen that sign and have been greatly offended by it and hurt and I think they need to not go look at that sign. They need to come look at our Family Life Center where hundreds of evacuees are being cared for, go to First Christian, Marvin Methodist and the other churches who are showing the love of Jesus to these people.

Pastor Mark Price with SouthSide Baptist Church says, "There's a time for everything, the Bible says. There's a time when we preach judgement, but there's also a time when we teach grace, mercy, love and hope and I think we're in a time when we preach the love, grace, mercy and hope." Dr. Mike Dent at Marvin United Methodist Church says, "I would want them to know what they have experienced here is God's gracious compassion through his people, that God's love is for us in the midst of the storm. God doesn't create the storm, but brings us through the storm to comfort us and to care for us and lead us forward in a very difficult time for these people."

While the ministers we talked to do not agree with Woodland Hills Baptist Church's timing or message on their sign, they did say Pastor Wiley Bennett has the freedom of speech.

Dana Dixon, reporting. [e-mail]

Video of all three reports (the initial post plus these two are available at

East Texans Sound Off On Church Sign http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3826469&nav=1TjDeJpk
Churches React to Controversial Sign http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3825536&nav=1TjDeJNf
Local Church's Sign Offends Evacuees http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3820292&nav=1TjDeGmD

[paineinthearse]

79. Additional photos and video

Should have said that in the subject line.

[ToolTex]

102. Or I recognize that fat bastard.

I've seem him at the local gay bar over here. Makes sense to me, we're about 50 miles from Tyler. That's probably a pretty safe distance for the pastor to drive. Not as likely to be recognized as in Dallas.

[paineinthearse]

67. Coverage from "Watching the Watchers"

http://watchingthewatchers.org/story/2005/9/8/135924/6680

By ~A!, Section Ranting
Posted on Thu Sep 08, 2005 at 01:59:24 PM EST

A confrontation this morning between an East Texas church and a New Orleans evacuee centered around a sign out in front of Woodland Hills Baptist Church on Old Jacksonville Road in Tyler, Texas. The sign reads: "THE BIG EASY IS THE MODERN DAY SODDOM AND GAMORRAH"

It seems Kelly Jackman, a New Orleans evacuee, stopped by the church to talk to the "good Christian pastor" who put the sign up, Mr. Wiley Bennett.

Bennett says "The point of the sign is New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New York City are some of the most wicked cities in America.", WatchingTheWatchers has learned.

It was only a matter of time before these fundamentalist, christianiban terrorists started glorifying the death and destruction of the single worst natural disaster in the history of our nation. They revel in the death of anyone they think is not like them.

more.....

[onager]

83. You forgot Poland...er, I mean Los Angeles,

Bennett says "The point of the sign is New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New York City are some of the most wicked cities in America.", WatchingTheWatchers has learned.

Hey! As a resident of Los Angeles, I deeply resent this omission! We're the Porn Capital of the World! We have witches and necromancers listed in the Yellow Pages! HOLLYWOOD is here, ya moron!

We local atheists frequently attend meetings of such suspicious groups as the Skeptics Society. Which, BTW, holds its meetings in that sinkhole of depravity, Pasadena. And at a site which has done more to destroy world religion than Madalyn Murray O'Hair and Pat Robertson combined--Cal Tech!

They teach science there. Speaking of depravity...

[Akoto]

70. Things like this make me want to puke.

Anyone who would take genuine pleasure in the death of one person, much less thousands, is sick. I'm not a Christian, but I know enough of the religion to know that these people aren't, either.

These radical clerics seize any opportunity they can to spew their hatred. It's the only way they can draw attention to their faith in a world that is no longer ruled by it.

[Vinnie From Indy]

73. A Flaming Sword Ain't Gonna Cut it

If the Bible is indeed to be literally believed as these people profess, I certainly hope they realize that Jesus will need a tad bit more firepower than a "flaming sword" to deliver his much foretold global ass whuppin'.

[donheld]

76. Who's in charge of their sign, the Pharisees, or the Sadducee's?

[brentspeak]

78. Some people need to read E.Masters' "Spoon River Anthology"

Ninety years ago, that book of poems demonstrated, once and for all, that Small Town America is just as "sinful" as its big city counterparts. The people of East Texas might just recognize themselves in the pages of "Spoon River Anthology".

[patcox2]

82. Or listen to the Violent Femmes "Country Death Song."

Or read "Absalom, O Absalom," or any other of Faulkner.

[elmerdem]

86. weren't some of the victims Southern Baptist

question: wouldn't there be many Southern Baptist churches in NO in the poorer neighborhoods?

Does anyone have any facts or statistics on the religous make up of the city?

[peacetalksforall]

84. What does the sign say - it's not in the article that has been linked?.

[shadowknows69]

85. Where is the divine justice in

"the innocent suffer sometimes with the guilty"

Gee I think our man made system of justice (fucked up as it is), Guilty=punished innocent=free/not punished, is a little more "Just" than that. You guys sure you're not talking to the other guy because that doesn't sound like any kind of God I'd want to put my faith in. Do you get extra points in heaven for being obliterated with the guilty?

[hyphenate]

88. "compassionate conservatism"

is really short for "you fucking faggots, stay the fuck out of my life and my town!"

Or words that trash a good percentage of the population in our country, whether they are gay, black, jewish, islamic, hindu, or in some way different from your typical intolerant asshole WASP.

[disconnected]

90. I thought NO was Babylon

...at least that's what other folks have been saying.

A BOOK:
http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/Books/Spring2004/books/Long_Southern_Babylon.html

ANOTHER BOOK:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060513926/104-1099707-1216710?v=glance

A BIBLICAL PROPHECY SITE:
http://www.biblenews1.com/history5/20050831norleans.htm

KNIGHTS OF BABYLON:
http://www.knightsofbabylon.com/
(Mardi Gras parade website)
Welcome to the website of the Knights of Babylon. Our parade will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 5:45pm. Our parade follows the traditional Saint Charles Avenue route which can be found by clicking here.
Please enjoy your visit to our website and come back soon.


You know I think we do need to be warned by this situation. It easily could have been us. We never know how much time we have and none of these people were any worse than the rest of the people in this country.

A baby was stabbed in New York.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/08/news/baby.php

In NC: Baby's Body Found At Asheville Recycling Center
http://www.wral.com/news/4951752/detail.html

It goes on and on. We should all care more and try to make our country better, we ALL need to improve not just NO.

[indigo32]

91. It's people like these...

that have thoroughly and permanently driven me away from the church.
:puke:

[TexasLawyer]

92. Why did God spare the French Quarter?

That's where most of the "sinning" takes place. Also, does God hate poor people? They're the ones who usually end up living where no one else wan't to live, like the most low-lying areas.

I don't think a lot of people have thought this through. Where is Christian charity? Where is "judge not lest ye be judged?"

[MeDeMax]

93. What Unbelievable Audacity

my my these self appointed divine judiciary, or atleast they seem to think so.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

96. It's just a little Peyton Place

... and they're all East Texas hypocrites.

I'm sure if you were to look into their congregation you'd find plenty of "sinning" going on. No doubt that's why they aren't looking too closely at themselves.

"He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her." This was supposed to be said by the son of God as a lesson against this type of judgment.

Sadly, this passage from the New Testament is unknown to this type of Christian. As is pretty much any of the New Testament excluding Revelations, and that they contort so badly it's laughable.

If these so called Christians were to follow the teachings of Jesus they'd be forgiving, loving and pacifists. How are we supposed to respect what they say when they show no respect for the words of their own God?

I just don't get it.

[moobu2]

97. Repent or

our loving God will drowned you in feces and your babies too <rolls eyes>. These "Christians" have been using natural disasters for eons as a tool to scare people. I'm sure most of them are saying similar things from the pulpit all across the country.

[aasleka]

105. Not Jesus it's Al

Actually it says Jesus will come back with a tongue like a sword.

They must be thinking of Al Franken who is also Jewish but weilds the flaming sword of truth.

[really annoyed]

106. Cute....

People in this country are always amazing me with their lack of compassion. Hopefully, these people are just a minority.

[Opusnone]

107. WHAT ABOUT CRAWFORD, TX?

Isn't there more sinning headquartered there on a ranch?

[Miss Chybil]

108. God's punishing the US for electing evil people to run our govenment.

Augh!

[TxGran]

110. Poll

If you get on the link and click back to the home page there is a poll asking if the sign should be removed.

[donheld]

112. It's hard to believe these people believe in a place called Hell!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[VegasWolf]

113. Those wonderful Christians at it again!

:sarcasm:

[FyurFly]

114. I'm Sure Jesus

Would Approve /Sarcasm off

[Alexodin]

115. Reminds me of a joke

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump. I ran over and said: "Stop. Don't do it."

"Why shouldn't I?" he asked.

"Well, there's so much to live for!"

"Like what?"

"Are you religious?"

He said, "Yes."

I said, "Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

"Christian."

"Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

"Protestant."

"Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

"Baptist."

"Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

"Baptist Church of God."

"Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God."

"Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"

He said: "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915."

I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.

[enki23]

116. isn't it interesting how god mostly operates within geopolitical units?

are we sure god is judging "our country?" why not "the south?" maybe god is judging red states, or the bible belt. maybe he's judging geopolitical units that begin with the letter "L?" louisiana suffers for lebanon's sin. lesbian sin? maybe he's punishing the entire northern hemisphere. the western hemisphere? the whole planet? maybe he was really, really angry at a chinese family, and the rest is just collateral damage.

or maybe new orleans is suffering for the sins of new york? maybe god is functionally illiterate? maybe it's suffering for the sins committed in urban areas worldwide? maybe he's punishing the planet? or hell, maybe god is a klansman, or a bob jones university alumnus. maybe he's punishing us for interracial marriage. maybe he just wanted to make southern louisiana "whiter."

personally, i think it's because so damned many oysters and other shellfish are eaten in the area, with total and reckless disregard for god's law. watch out maine. you have been seriously fucking warned.

[VegasWolf]

121. Funny! Clever! nt

[Jamastiene]

133. ROFLMAO!!! That's a good one. n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

124. I have one thing to say....

FUCK YOU!!!damn bible humping assholes.  I am not remotely
religious and I don't understand that human weakness to rely
on something thats totally unseen for life's answers...pray
for this and they pray for that, total bullshit. 

 It also appear that they like to judge others, isn't that a
sin in their world?? It seems they cannot, as usual, follow
their own rules. 
The only wake up call I see is the one they need to snap out
of, no deity in the sky is going to save your ass from meteor
the size of Rhode Island or an Earthquake that turns
California into an island.

 Religious conservatives are the number one reason for
progress setbacks in the world. Our England pioneers fled
religious persecution that had over come its governing system
and look at us now. 200 hundred years later and we are back
where we started, a religious sect that is attempting to force
its moral values onto society and corrupt the government.
Well, let me tell you jesus crispies a thing or 2....Number
one, you will not succeed. Number two, Jesus was the ultimate
liberal.  How can you say you are doing the work of God and be
a hater, bigot and a liar?? 

 Enjoy your stay in Hell because thats where your
heading...Not the people of New Orleans.
 

[Tsiyu]

127. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

When some Righty Tighty starts with that sin shit, have the above phrase memorized word for word. It's in their bible too.

Then, when they stand there stunned, ask them if they think Gawd should blow off their roof next time they sin. Or maybe he should kill their firstborn? Which punishment are THEY waiting for, since we ALL sin, according to the bible?

[sakabatou]

128. Thes epeople are no siesmologists

Mrs. Jackson writes, "I totally agree with Mr. Bennett... The hurricanes and earthquakes are going to get stronger and stronger and the next one could be big enough to make it to Texas. We all need to open our eyes, especially those who can't understand the sign at Woodland Hills."

BWAHAHAHA!

[Jamastiene]

131. Did I miss an important memo? RAINBOWS people. Remember?

Since when did New Orleans top San Francisco as the gay capital of the world?

Those people are false prophets by the way. The real Christians remember the little big thing about oh, I don't know, judge not lest ye be judged.

I'll go ahead and add something controversial that I believe. The gently winds that make you feel comfy in spring and fall are God's winds. The hurricanes, tornadoes, and all the other bad weather involving water are NOT the work of God. If I am not mistaken, He made that promise somewhere in the Bible. Remember the meaning behind the rainbows???

I've been studying.
Here's something interesting:
"Look upon the rainbow, and praise Him that made it."-- Ecclesiastes 43:2

And here's a link to more to prove they are wrong:
http://www.angelfire.com/on2/debbysdigest/GodsRainbows.html