Pastor Arrested In Illegal Snake Bust

So this is what happens when you take one verse and the Bible too literally. Sure glad I do not go to this church (Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro, Kentucky - There is no church website that I couldn find these people probably don’t believe in the intranet because it is not in the Bible). A lady was killed in the church around 1995 from a snakebite. From what I gather the handling of snakes takes place in a minority of churches in the Appalachia region. This practice is taken from the Bible verese where it states true believers can take up serpents, Mark 16:17-18:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. - Mark 16:17-18

These people call themselves “Sign Followers” and they don’t just hanlde snakes but take Mark 16:17-18 literally and practice handling fire, healing the sick, drinking strychnine, and casting out demons. And appearenlty this is done not to prove anything, but conform to the Word of God. The churches are independent and are connected to three American movements in Protestantism: Holiness, Pentecostalism, and Fundamentalism. These people generally consider themselves as Holiness, and like fundamentalist believe in the literal interpretation of scriputure.

There actually has been a book written about the Coots family (the pastor who was arrested was actually interviewed for the book). The book is The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith written by Fred Brown.

The whole thing sounds to me like Luke 4:12 where testing God is not trusting God.


See article about pastor being busted:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/11/pastor_among_suspects_in_illegal_snake_bust/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news

Well At Least I Am Not Going To Hell

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!

That is where I went...this was fun and I always have been interested in Dante's Inferno although theological he and I are different. Some of the questions I didn't like, because the questions took on certain assumptions (Like what conduct is sin). Below is my score in more detail click the link below my scores and take the test yourself:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Extreme
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Moderate
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Very Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Low
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

What Is A Super Bishop - And What is With The Pope?

What is a super bishop sounds to much like a super delegate which spells super trouble (Which Americans have seen first hand.). So good for the Anglican Church for again being the forerunners. I was raised in a denomination that didn't allow woman in leadership positions at all which I would later find was just pure legalism (And Jesus had his hardest time with these kind of people.). So now the Bishop of Rome is chiming in about his disappointed over this decision. Well, he doesn't recognize the Anglican Church or any other church other than the Roman Catholic Church for that matter soo why would he even comment. See here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7494517.stm

A Week After Black Monday

It has been 7 days since "Black Monday" at work (Where 10% of the people were laid off in my huge division). We will see what today has in store. This Sunday I was talking to a lady I just met and she said her company was going to lease a parking lot from our company. So where are some of are people going to park?

Congratulations Rafael Nadal!!!

The third time is the charm in what is being called the best final of all time.

Amy Winehouse Needs To Say Yes To Rehab (Yes, Yes, Yes)

I love her music, think she is a great talent, but I have pretty much given up on her. Come on Amy start taking care of yourself for your sake (most importanlty) and ours.

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx/?news=321650&GT1=28102

Previously I would have thought this was some type of publicity stunt or just Amy trying to mess with everyone's heads. But, now I just think she is just really messed up (Don't be a Janis Joplin, Amy!!!). And on a side note what about Madonna faking a story about divorcing Guy Ritchie for a publicity stunt? Crazy Madonna, but she knows how to make money.

Christie Brinkley Should Have Stayed Married To Billy Joel

It is unbelievable what a creep this guy is and then he has the nerve to ask for custody of his kids. Now that is a scary thought.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkup5ZpxMcuIEYOKZ_pTMDJQmB_wD91M17DO0

I really don't think he understands what she is so upset about (He probably has gotten by with everything is entire life until now). Okay I love celebrity gossip. Gossip isn't good and I totally understand that and it is very undgodly. But, it is a good escape from other things unless you are the person being gossiped about (And I didn't buy a gossip magazine for five years after the Diana tragedy.). And Christie wanted this entire thing open so who am I to argue with her. On the other hand he did tell her he was sorry.