Politically correct police have won.

Carrie Prejean stripped of the Miss California crown. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525716,00.html

If you haven't followed this story it is one worth catching up on. Miss California was in the top three in the recent Miss USA pageant when in the interview part of the pageant she was asked her opinion of same-sex marriage. She had the strength of character to state what she believes. She said, "...a marriage should be between a man and a woman."

Since that statement Miss Prejean was treated as if she was the second coming of Adolf Hitler. Her name and character has been drug through the mud. She has been ridiculed and called hypocritical. The way she was treated you would think she had called for the death of all living polar bear cubs in the world.

And finally yesterday the news, literally news, came out that she had been stripped of her current title. Miss Prejean heard about the move in the news a sign of true disrespect. The “official” reason for her being ousted as Miss California was, “contract violations”. We could believe that if she had not been treated the way she was after her stance on same-sex marriage. Anyone with half a brain knows why she was stripped of her title.

The point of this story that I want to focus on is this: she was punished for her beliefs. In a day in which we are told there is no objective truth. We are told there is no right and wrong. It amazes me that in this setting someone can be punished for their beliefs. The true hypocrites in this story are those who mistreated Miss Prejean for her stance.

I also want to unequivocally state my position on the same-sex marriage issue. I believe marriage should be defined as one man and one woman united for life. This stance is not my own and of course it is not unique to me. This comes from the standard that has been set for my life: the Bible!

I also want to state that I love all people, just as Jesus did and just as the Bible calls me to do. I love homosexuals and I understand the struggle with sin, but that does not give us the right to change the standard just because we struggle.

So the next time you see someone punished for their beliefs stand up for the rights we still enjoy in this country to state our beliefs. “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…”, Amendment I to the Constitution of the United States. And love them no matter what side of the issue you may be on.

Summer is here!

Summer is here! This seems to be the greatest news for students every year. Why? Summer brings freedom and fun. We have two rules in our student ministry: #1 have fun, #2 be respectful. I want to challenge and encourage our students to have a lot of fun this summer. Enjoy your swimming, cook outs, vacations, family time, and friend time.

I also want to challenge our students to seek God this summer. Don’t let the summer pass you by without taking the opportunity to see what God would be leading you to do this summer and upcoming school year. “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. Seek God this summer!

To the wonderful supporters of our student ministry please be aware that we will need some funding support this summer. We are going to ask everyone to pay what they can to attend Falls Creek, but we are not going to turn anyone away because of money. If you can support our students financially please let me know. And as always please keep our student ministry in prayers!

We are also in need of sponsors, drivers and cooks to help with Falls Creek this summer. We are going July 13-18 this year. If you can not help the entire week that is fine, just let me know what you can do. Please let me know soon so we can begin serious planning.


Ministering with you,


Doug Brown
P.S. follow me on twitter, pastordougbrown, it’s fun!

Drop the baggage and Become a Follower of Jesus!

In Paul's second letter to Timothy Paul gave a strong charge to a young pastor, Timothy.

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:22-26 NIV

Paul's challenge is clear, we must give people the hope that comes from the truth of Jesus Christ. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6 NIV This is the truth and the hope of the good news of knowing Jesus.

But, Paul also laid out a pattern that we must follow if we want to get to the point with people that we give them hope. In the United States we like the quickest way. We want the short cut. We want the value meal and we want it now. But there is a process to living the Christian life.

First Paul said we need to leave the bad behind. We need to leave evil desires. We need to leave foolish and stupid arguments.

Leaving the bad stuff is not enough. We must then chase after the good stuff. We must chase righteousness. We must chase faith. We must chase love. We must chase peace.

When we have reached this point we are in a position to gently teach hope. Peter spoke to this process as well when he said: "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." 1 Peter 3:15 NIV If we are not prepared we can't give hope.

So, what do you need to leave behind, what can you do to pursue Jesus? If you are preparing yourself and if you are following the process God will bring people in your life that you can share hope with!