School’s out! Superboy finally completes his Legion orientation

Yup, we’re all allowed a little frivolity, even amidst a pandemic.

Last month, LSH #4 concluded with Superboy’s orientation being interrupted by the theft of Aquaman’s trident and the Science Police arriving at Metropolis to shut down the Legion under orders of the United Planets’ Madame President Brande. Let’s pick up the action in…

Legion of Super-Heroes #5
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, Pencillers: Ryan Sook and Scott Godlewski, Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger, Colors: Jordie Bellaire
DC Comics,  March, 2020

Plot

As the Science Police surround Legion headquarters and a conflict appears inevitable, Brainiac 5 is able to talk down the S.P. commander. Brainy then instructs Superboy to complete his orientation and sends out a contingent of Legionnaires led by Ultra Boy to search for the stolen trident. Back in orientation-mode (coordinated by Computo, the Legion’s AI control system), Superboy experiences Madame President’s former appearance before the U.P. Council calling for the creation of the Legion based upon the revered heroes of the 21st century, the Justice League. In the next revisited scene, Superboy experiences Brande in conference with Rokk Krinn/Cosmic Boy, Imra Ardeen/Saturn Girl, and Garth Ranzz/Lightning Lad, requesting that they form the Legion. After Brande leaves, the trio agrees to organize the Legion, but are wary of Madame President’s motives. The three founders immediately seek to enlist Brainiac 5 of the planet Colu, who is already renowned throughout the galaxy for his intellectual prowess. Brainiac 5 surprises the trio by not only enthusiastically accepting the offer of membership, but then delivering a soapbox soliloquy by which he asserts the need to bring Jon Kent/Superboy to the 31st century in order that the heroes of both ages are aligned in the effort to defend the galaxy. As Superboy’s orientation ends, we learn that Aquaman’s trident has been found. In the final panel, an alarm sounds for the entire populace to evacuate New Earth immediately.

Comments

Bendis is doing a nice job of introducing the reader to the Legion’s origins while simultaneously interweaving the plotlines involving the Legion’s increasingly antagonistic relationship with Brande and Aquaman’s trident. A few interesting sidebars in this issue were 1) the introduction of Dr. Fate and Monster Boy to the Legion roster, 2) Invisible Kid resigning from the Legion in a huff, and 3) Chameleon Boy revealing Madame President Brande is his mother. There are also references to Sir Oliver Queen the Eleventh (aka Green Arrow) and the Watchmen that only DC Universe nerds* are going to pick up on. I’m definitely enjoying all of the plot twists of this inaugural epic. I’ve seen several Legion relaunches/reboots over the decades, but Bendis’s dialogue and characterizations are the best yet. Penciller, Scott Godlewski, decently spells Ryan Sook in the Superboy orientation frames, although Sook is definitely the master.

Personal sidebar: Our local comic shop is in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was forced to download the LSH #5 e-comic to my Kindle, which has a screen size of only 7.25″x 4.75.” I’m glad to have it, but it’s definitely not an ideal way to read a comic book.

*I’m definitely not a DC Universe expert (like Sheldon Cooper). I initially glossed over the aforementioned references, but later learned their significance via some internet articles.

Roman Catholicism’s reaction to COVID-19

In the last several weekend roundups, we have been observing and discussing how the Roman Catholic church has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Roman Catholicism is a works-righteousness religious system, which teaches its members that they must receive the church’s sacraments in order to allegedly acquire graces that will enable them to obey the Ten Commandments (impossible!) and church rules in the hope of possibly meriting salvation at the moment of death. A religion comprised of compulsory sacramental rituals administered solely by its ordained clergy is paralyzed when access to the rituals is blocked. In reaction to the crisis, the Catholic church is scrambling in an attempt to offer sacramental “alternatives” (e.g., spiritual communion, general absolution, etc.).

What’s interesting about Catholicism is that while it demands that its members strictly adhere to its rules and rituals, it dichotomously grants that all non-Catholic religionists AND EVEN ATHEISTS are also able to merit Heaven if they nebulously and indefinably “follow the light they are given” and are “good.” That’s Universalism, folks, NOT Christianity.

On March 18th, the Italian daily newspaper, “La Repubblica,” published an interview with pope Francis regarding his thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, Francis offered the following as “encouragement” in these challenging circumstances:

“We are all children of God, and He watches over us. Even those who have not yet met God, those who do not have the gift of faith, can find their way through the good things that they believe in. They can find strength in their love for their children, their family, their brothers and sisters. Someone might say: ‘I cannot pray because I do not believe.’ But at the same time we can believe in the love of the people we have around us, and there we can find hope.”

What the pope said is a lie straight from the pit of hell. God’s Word says that everyone is God’s creation, but not everyone is God’s child.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” – John 3:18

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2

I learned of the pope’s remarks via the interesting 50-minute video below. In this Zoom podcast, originally posted on March 28th, Leonardo De Chirico, pastor and director of the Reformanda Initiative, along with Clay Kannard, and Reid Karr, both also members of the RI team, discuss, “Rosary, Indulgences & Humanism: How is Roman Catholicism facing the Coronavirus Crisis?”

Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 4/4/20

Welcome to the Weekend Roundup, my friends! The COVID-19 pandemic obviously continues to dominate local, national, and international headlines.

• NYC Mayor Threatens to Close Churches ‘Permanently’ for Meeting during Coronavirus
• Florida church jammed for Sunday service despite pandemic
• Liberty University Brings Back Its Students, and Coronavirus Fears, Too

Some Protestants of various denominational affiliations have made headlines this past week by holding worship services in defiance of bans on public gatherings. COVID-19 has a proven track record of contagion and lethality. Christians who defy public health directives are not only giving Christianity a bad name, they are also endangering people’s lives.

• Mass streaming a success for St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Spiritual Communion when there’s no Eucharist available
• US bishop suspends last rites in response to coronavirus pandemic

The Roman Catholic church’s salvation system is largely dependent on its sacraments. The last couple of weeks, we have been following how the RC church is modifying its sacramental rituals in light of restrictions on public gatherings. For example, Catholics were always taught in the past that the graces associated with the mass were imparted only upon those who physically attended. Watching mass on TV, Catholics were told, did not impart graces to the viewer. Since physical attendance is not possible during this pandemic, the RCC has done a flip-flop and is now encouraging Catholics to watch mass via television and/or streaming. Catholics are being told by their priests and bishops that “spiritual communion,” i.e., contemplating and desiring the Jesus wafer, is as effectual as physically consuming it! Another casualty of the pandemic is the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, i.e., last rites. Most Catholics are counting on the sacrament of extreme unction/last rites/anointing of the sick administered by a priest to “get them right with God” before they die, but the pandemic is limiting access to priests. If you desire to genuinely get right with God, repent of your sin and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior by faith alone!

• Catholics Can Still Find Public Mass — and Even Communion — During the Coronavirus Crisis

Catholics are so dependent upon the mass and receiving the Jesus wafer as part of their works-righteousness religious rituals, that some priests are defying public health guidelines and diocesan directives and surreptitiously opening masses to the public and distributing the “host.”

• ‘I’m Not Imagining No Heaven’: Larry the Cable Guy Calls Out Celebrities for Singing ‘Imagine’ amid Coronavirus Outbreak

A couple of weekends ago, I reported that some Hollywood celebrities were trying to rally the nation amidst this pandemic with a rendition of John Lennon’s atheistic paean, “Imagine.” Larry the Cable Guy is having none of it.

• As coronavirus keeps parishioners homebound, Christian clergy debate online Communion

This article refers to Bible-denying, mainline Protestants, but evangelical Christians are figuring out how to take the Lord’s Supper “together” while viewing services online. Our church is doing virtual communion tomorrow and my wife and I are prepared with grape juice in the fridge and bread in the pantry.

• Who comes to mind when Americans think of evangelical Protestantism? Pew data reveals

Americans were recently asked, “Who comes to mind when you think of evangelical Protestantism?” and 21% responded with “Billy Graham,” the most popular answer. It’s ironic that Graham was actually an enthusiastic friend of Roman Catholicism and its false gospel and therefore was at odds with true evangelical Protestantism.

Answering the rebuttals of a Catholic apologist, #18: “Up Out of the Water”

Today, we continue with our series responding to “Meeting the Protestant Challenge: How to Answer 50 Biblical Objections to Catholic Beliefs” (2019), written by Karlo Broussard. With this next installment, the Catholic apologist begins a twelve-chapter section on Sacraments beginning with baptism. In this chapter, Broussard counters Protestants’ argument that the proper mode of baptism is only by immersion because after Jesus was baptized, He came “Up Out of the Water.”

Broussard delves into some of the other important differences between Catholics and Protestants regarding baptism in the chapters that follow, but in this chapter he focuses on whether baptism should be by sprinkling/pouring (i.e., affusion, Latin, affusio, to pour on), the Catholic mode, or by complete immersion as most Protestants believe. Broussard presents two Bible verses that Protestants use as proof texts for baptism by immersion only:

Acts 8:36-39: ³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

Mark 1:10: And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

In addition, Broussard acknowledges the Protestant argument that the Greek word for baptize, βαπτιζω, baptizo, means to immerse.

The Catholic apologist argues that the coming up out of the water mentioned in the two passages that are presented doesn’t necessarily refer to immersion, but could easily refer to the Ethiopian eunuch and Jesus only standing in the water for a sprinkling/pouring “baptism” and then ascending out of the body of water. Continuing his rebuttal, Broussard goes to Mark 7:2-4* and points out that the Greek words for wash and washing, baptisōntai and baptismous respectively, which are obviously related to baptizo and are used in the text to refer to the ritual washing of hands and vessels by the Pharisees, did not necessarily refer to immersion according to a modern Rabbinical Jewish source that’s cited.

Broussard then cites the Didache (1st-2nd century A.D.) and Letter to a Certain Magnus (255 A.D.) written by Cyprian, which recommended baptism by immersion, but specifically permitted sprinkling/pouring if circumstances don’t allow for immersion.

Okay, now let’s answer Mr. Broussard’s arguments. First off, God’s Word commands new believers to be baptized in several passages such as Matthew 28:19-20. Baptism is the public testimony of a new believer’s faith in Jesus Christ. We see from passages such as Romans 6:3-4 that baptism is a symbol of the believer’s identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Baptism by sprinkling/pouring obviously does not picture Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

Broussard’s suggestion that Acts 8:36-39 and Mark 1:10 do not necessarily indicate baptism by immersion is interesting. Broussard later refutes his own suggestion by producing the Didache and the Letter to a Certain Magnus, which state that baptism by immersion is the norm unless sufficient water is unavailable. Sufficient water was available in both cases.

Broussard engages in subterfuge by arguing that since washing and immersion had the same the root in the Greek, that they were therefore equivalent. No need to respond to Broussard’s lexical sophistry other then to repeat that baptizo/baptize strictly means to immerse. Objects can certainly be washed either by being immersed or by not being immersed, but immersion means immersion.

In regards to the mention of baptism via sprinkling/pouring in the Didache and the Letter to a Certain Magnus, Scripture, our ONLY authority in matters of faith and practice, does not address what to do in cases where sufficient water is not available for immersion or when suppliants are not physically able to be immersed (due to fragile health, etc.). Baptism is important, but not essential for salvation (see the thief on the cross in Luke 23:32-43). The early church would have done well to maintain baptism strictly by immersion rather than allowing for accommodations. Such compromises led to great error. In the next three chapters, we’ll discuss how baptism, the public profession and symbol of conversion to Christ, was eventually transformed into a sacrament alleged to regenerate a soul.

What is the proper mode of baptism?
https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-mode.html

If a person wants to be baptized, but cannot – what should be done?
https://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-cannot.html

*In citing this reference, Broussard mistakenly forgot to include the chapter number.

Next up: “Believer’s Baptism”

Throwback Thursday: New organization, the Reformanda Initiative, seeks to educate Evangelicals about Roman Catholicism

Welcome to this week’s “Throwback Thursday” installment. Today, we’re going to revisit a post that was originally published back on November 25, 2015 and has been revised.

I guess you could say I’m a bit of a Christian “Rumpelstiltskon.” I attended an independent fundamental Baptist (IFB) church for eight years (1983-1991), but ended up walking away from the Lord because I became so fed up with “churchianity” and the legalistic aspects of fundamentalism. I finally returned to my patient and wonderfully merciful Lord (Who never left me) in 2014.

Well, from my perspective many of the changes within the church after 23 years were quite dramatic. There aren’t too many people calling themselves “fundamentalists” these days. Moody Monthly magazine is only a distant memory. Hymn singing before the sermon as largely been replaced by rock music with Christian lyrics on the overheads. Pastors now wear sneakers, flannel shirts, and blue jeans (sometimes even skinny jeans!) on Sunday mornings. Churches have shed denominational names for “more welcoming,” hip monikers.

Okay. I’m not complaining. No doubt the differences seem so radical to me because I’ve been away for so long. But there is one noticeable change that’s very troubling and that’s the change in the church’s attitude towards works-righteousness Roman Catholicism.

Back in 1991, there were definitely signs of growing cooperation, accommodation, and compromise with Roman Catholicism, but in 2015 the compromise and betrayal of the Gospel is going full bore. A recent survey revealed 58% of evangelical pastors believe the pope is a born-again Christian. I shake my head in utter disbelief!

The change didn’t happen overnight. Ecumenism with Rome began creeping into evangelicalism as far back as the 1960s via Billy Graham. In the 1980s, as Christians became increasingly involved with politics and culture battles, people like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson said, “Sure, we disagree with Catholics on some doctrines, but we need them in our fight to “reclaim America for Christ.” How did that work out?

Predictably, political cooperation led to doctrinal accommodation and compromise and by the mid-1990s, people like Charles Colson, Bill Bright, and J.I. Packer were actively campaigning for the church to recognize salvation-by-works Roman Catholicism as a Christian entity. Anyone who objected was dismissed as an old-school doctrinalist or backwater fundamentalist.

But there’s no need to despair. There’s still a large group of faithful believers who are defending the Gospel of grace. This past year I was happy to see new books on Catholicism from Richard Bennett, Gregg Allison, and Leonardo De Chirico.

Here’s some more good news. Yesterday I was reading De Chirico’s blog and I see he has partnered with Allison, Michael Reeves, and Greg Pritchard in creating the Reformanda Initiative, an effort to “identify, unite, equip, and resource evangelical leaders to understand Roman Catholic theology and practice, to educate the evangelical Church and to communicate the Gospel.” Take just five minutes and check out the many resources available on the organization’s web site via the link below:

http://reformandainitiative.org/

Let’s support and pray for the Reformanda Initiative. Get the buzz going. Send the link to your pastor and to any others the Lord directs. Evangelical pastors and their flocks desperately need to be educated about Roman Catholicism.

Postscript: Since the above post was written back in November, 2015, Dr. De Chirico and Reformanda Initiative have been faithfully educating evangelicals about the false gospel of Roman Catholicism and the need to reach out to Catholics with the Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

Kazan Redux: Elia Kazan’s Sixth Film; “Panic in the Streets”

It’s time for another film review in our Elia Kazan 2020 Redux series, but today we’re going to do a flip-flop. The next installment in our cavalcade was supposed to be Kazan’s fifth film, “Pinky,” but in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, I thought it would be appropriate to first re-review Kazan’s sixth-film, the provocatively titled, “Panic in the Streets,” which deals with an outbreak of pneumonic plague in the city of New Orleans. We’ll get to “Pinky” in a couple of weeks. The review below was first posted on February 5, 2017 and has been revised.

Panic in the Streets
Directed by Elia Kazan and featuring Richard Widmark, Paul Douglas, Barbara Bel Geddes, Walter (Jack) Palance, and Zero Mostel
20th Century Fox, 1950, 96 minutes

After achieving remarkable success with his first five films, Fox allowed director, Elia Kazan, an incredible amount of freedom in his next project, the film noir thriller, “Panic in the Streets.” This movie is a relatively simple story, but Kazan made the most of it by controlling all aspects of the creative process including casting and daily revisions of the script. Also, filming was done entirely on location in New Orleans. Some contemporary viewers will watch “Panic” and not be impressed, but in 1950 it revolutionized American cinema by the way it captured the grittiness and grime of The Big Easy. New Orleans, in essence, became the film’s main character.

Plot

A sick man is murdered on the New Orleans waterfront by some petty thugs for prematurely cashing out of a card game. When the dead body shows up at the morgue, Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) of the U.S. Public Health Service determines the person was infected with highly contagious pneumonic plague. Police Captain, Tom Warren (Paul Douglas), is directed to find the killer/s in forty-eight hours to stem an epidemic. A dragnet ensues and Reed and Warren are eventually led to Poldi (Guy Thomajan), Fitch (Zero Mostel), and crime boss, Blackie (Jack Palance). A chase takes place with Fitch and Blackie scampering through a dock warehouse like a couple of diseased rats. The pair is apprehended and New Orleans is safe from the dreaded plague.

Commentary

“Panic in the Streets” is an absolutely delightful film. Kazan often stated it was the first of his films that he actually liked, even going so far as to say it was “the only perfect film I made.” All filming was done on location in New Orleans in some of the “less savory” sections of the city. Many, many non-actors are used adding to the film’s powerful sense of realism. Cinematographer, Joseph MacDonald, does some extraordinary work on this picture. The cast is fantastic and I’m not exaggerating. Film noir veteran Widmark’s performance is very enjoyable. Even though his character is a thoroughly likeable guy, Widmark also brings a bit of film noir edginess. There’s a couple of touching domestic scenes with Widmark and Barbara Bel Geddes as Reed’s wife that counterbalance the frenzied manhunt. Kazan admired the cast, however he was critical of Paul Douglas in the role of police chief. I agree the ham-fisted lug is a bit “over the top” at times, but in my opinion he’s perfect for the part. His interplay with Widmark is the core of the film. Palance is simply superb in his film debut as the small-time crime boss. There’s few film portrayals more menacing than Palance’s short-fused Blackie. His previous career as a boxer as well as reconstructive surgery following a wartime plane crash left Palance with a face that could terrify with just a scowl. Mostel, as Blackie’s cowering but tightly-coiled stooge, is a treat. Later black-listed by the film industry, Mostel, became a sought after commodity on Broadway. Screenwriters, Edward and Edna Anhalt, brought home an Oscar for Best Story.

For all of you trivia buffs, the little person who appears in a couple of scenes with Blackie is Pat Walshe who played Nikko, the leader of the winged monkeys in “The Wizard of Oz.” Tommy Rettig, who gives a natural performance as the Reeds’ young son, would go on to play Jeff in the first three years of the popular television series, “Lassie.” For a final piece of trivia, don’t blink or you may miss a cameo of Kazan sweeping the floor in an early scene.

Kazan reached a level of realism and authenticity in “Panic in the Streets” that startled Hollywood and theater audiences and set the foundation for a string of movies that established him as the most important American filmmaker of the 1950s.

“Panic” was released on Blu-ray in 2013. Special features include a knowledgeable commentary from film experts, James Ursini and Alain Silver, as well as biographies of Widmark and Palance.

Additional thoughts from a believer’s perspective

In two of the film’s scenes, Widmark pleads with the New Orleans city government to keep the manhunt under wraps lest the citizenry panic, flee the city, and spread the epidemic to the rest of the United States and the world. This kind of “global community” socialist message was a favorite of entertainment industry Marxists like Kazan and elicited great interest from the House Un-American Activities Committee, which would eventually subpoena Mostel and Bel Geddes, leading to their blacklisting. Kazan would also be called before the committee, but his eventual friendly testimony earned him the undying wrath of liberals.

Believers are aware that a different epidemic plagues mankind; the epidemic of sin. We are all born with sinful natures. The Bible says the wages of sin is death and eternal punishment. There is no escaping it on our own. But God provided the “cure” for man’s sin by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus rose from the grave, conquering sin and death and offers eternal life and fellowship with God to all those who repent of their sin and accept Him as their Savior by faith alone.

All local and national government health agencies train to confront potential threats to public health. Christians, how are we doing bringing the hope of Jesus Christ to the world?

“Panic in the Streets” and most of Kazan’s other 18 films are available via Amazon video streaming.

Next up: “Pinky”

Truth from Arkansas! Sunday sermon series, #25

It’s Two-fer-Tuesday, my friends, which means two new sermons from the brethren down in Arkansas.

Please note: Because I prepare my posts well in advance, these sermons are being published a few weeks after they were originally preached. References to the current COVID-19 pandemic will become more apparent in a couple of weeks.

First, we have Pastor Roger Copeland at Northern Hills Baptist Church in Texarkana preaching about faith and worship. Many people claim to “worship” God, but if they approach God by anything other than through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, then their “faith” and their “worship” are useless. See Bible. Read about Abel and Cain.

Next, Pastor Cody Andrews at Holly Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Star City exhorts us to put on the new, Christian coverings mentioned in Colossians 3:12-14, those being compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love.

Pastor Roger Copeland – Faith Worships

 

Pastor Cody Andrews – Putting On Your New Clothes

The Keys to Spiritual Growth

The Keys to Spiritual Growth
By John MacArthur
Crossway, 2001, 196 pp.

You’ve just accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior by faith alone and have been spiritually reborn as a child of God! Now what? It’s very helpful for new believers to read a good book on the basics of spiritual growth. It’s also helpful (and needful) for “seasoned saints” to periodically “go back to Bethel” for personal reexamination and encouragement. This book on the keys/basics to spiritual growth by Pastor John MacArthur is an excellent resource. If you’re one of those “seasoned saints,” pass it along to a new believer after reading it yourself.

Chapters

1. The Master Key – A Presupposition
2. The Master Purpose   – The Glory of God
3. The Master Plan – How to Glorify God
4. Obedience – Unlocking the Servants’ Quarters
5. The Filling of the Spirit – Unlocking the Power Plant
6. Confession – Unlocking the Chamber of Horrors
7. Love – Unlocking the Bridal Suite
8. Prayer – Unlocking the Inner Sanctum
9. Hope – Unlocking the Hope Chest
10. Bible Study – Unlocking the Library
11. Fellowship – Unlocking the Family Room
12. Witnessing – Unlocking the Nursery
13. Discernment – Locking the Security Gate

Thanks to Pastor Jimmy at The Domain for Truth for alerting us to free downloads of this book from Crossway Publishing here.

Odds and Ends during the COVID-19 Pandemic

I’ve accumulated a few “odds and ends” that pertain specifically to the COVID-19 pandemic that I wanted to share:

• John MacArthur sermon on the pandemic and the believer’s response

This past Monday and Tuesday, Grace to You presented a sermon in two parts that was originally delivered last Sunday by John MacArthur that addresses the believer’s response to the pandemic. There’s all types of information swirling around out there regarding the current health crisis, but my wife and I were abundantly blessed by this sermon:

The Promise of Peace in a Worried World – Matthew 6:25-34 – Part One
http://cdn.gty.org/podcast/20200323.mp3?x-source=radiopodcast

The Promise of Peace in a Worried World – Matthew 6:25-34 – Part Two
http://cdn.gty.org/podcast/20200324.mp3?x-source=radiopodcast

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• Marriages in trouble during the pandemic

I have heard reports in the media that divorce attorneys are keeping extremely busy during this crisis. Divorce lawyers in some locales are reporting that business is up as high as 50%. Why? The lockdown is forcing husbands and wives to interact together much, MUCH more than they normally would. The prolonged, close proximity along with the other various life-challenges that are part of this pandemic are putting a strain on marriages, especially those that are already in trouble. My wife and I are polar opposites personality wise, which is one of the reasons I was attracted to her 46 years ago. But personality differences can also lead to annoyance, frustration, and conflict. When we both became mostly house-bound last September, there were some immediate interpersonal challenges because of our new circumstances. Our anchor was/is the Lord and our daily “Jesus time” devotion together really kept us on track. If you’re experiencing some marriage tensions because of the lockdown/quarantine, my advice is to begin a daily praise and devotional time dedicated to the Lord with your spouse, beginning yesterday.

Divorce rates jumping in corona-quarantined couples
https://pagesix.com/2020/03/24/divorce-rates-jumping-in-corona-quarantined-couples/

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• Coronavirus spiking in Louisiana

Louisiana is reporting rapid escalation of COVID-19 contagion compared to other states in the Southeast. Many are speculating that the virus was spread quickly during the extremely congested and unrestrained Mardis Gras festivities in New Orleans on February 25th. Mardis Gras (French: Fat Tuesday) is Catholic society’s celebration of excess and indulgence prior to the rigors of Lent.

Coronavirus cases skyrocket in New Orleans, Mardi Gras likely to blame
https://nypost.com/2020/03/26/coronavirus-cases-skyrocket-in-new-orleans-mardi-gras-likely-to-blame/

Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 3/28/20

Welcome to the weekend, my house-bound friends!

• Parish’s drive-in offers Catholics safe way to adore Blessed Sacrament

Last weekend, I mentioned some Catholic parishes were instituting drive-by confession in reaction to the COVID-19 virus. This week, I see some parishes are lining up cars in the parking lot so people can worship the Jesus wafer as it sits outside displayed in a “monstrance” (photo above). The worship of the faux Jesus wafer is the result of the RCC’s literalist interpretation of John 6 and the Last Supper accounts in the four gospels.

• Pope announces extraordinary ‘urbi et orbi’ blessing on March 27

Pope Francis brought out the heavy artillery yesterday against COVID-19 by issuing a “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) extraordinary papal blessing. Everyone who witnessed the blessing live via television, internet, or radio was allegedly granted a “plenary (full) indulgence” which is purported to remove all temporal punishment remaining after confession and/or punishment for venial sins that would otherwise have to be expiated in purgatory. Did you understand all that? Don’t worry, 95% of Catholics could not explain a “plenary indulgence” or what “temporal punishment” was either.

• Catholic church modifies legalistic practices amidst Covid-19 pandemic 

The Catholic religion is inextricably bound to its sacramental ceremonies administered by its priests inside of their consecrated church buildings. But what are practicing Catholics to do when their churches have been closed during this pandemic and the sacraments are not available? The RCC is trotting out such emergency alternatives as “spiritual communion” and “general absolution.” But some inquisitive Catholics must be wondering, if these alternatives are OK in emergencies, why not at other times? The vast majority of Catholics could not care less either way because they don’t attend obligatory Sunday mass or yearly confession even in the best of circumstances.

• Pope Francis: If You Can’t Get to Confession, You Can Confess Directly to God

What? Pope Francis is advising housebound Catholics to confess their sins directly to God? Is Francis turning Protestant? No, this is a concession to these extraordinary times when sacraments aren’t available, but Catholics are still taught they must merit their salvation.

• Vatican decrees plenary indulgence for all Catholics dealing with coronavirus

Speaking of plenary indulgences, the RCC is opening the floodgates and issuing indulgences to everyone who contracts the COVID-19 virus, all caregivers of COVID-19 patients, and even everyone who prays for the COVID-19 sick. What about the poor Catholic who has some other serious illness and misses out on this “plenary indulgence” granted strictly to those affected by COVID-19? Are they chopped liver? [Please, no emails. I’m being facetious.]

• Some bishops allowing Catholics to eat meat on Lenten Fridays because of pandemic chaos

It’s difficult to get out and even buy groceries these days, so some Catholic bishops are “magnanimously” lifting the ban on meats on Lenten Fridays. Some bishops are saying Catholics have already sacrificed enough during this pandemic crisis and don’t need the hassle of Lenten Friday meat abstention.

The various reactions to the virus pandemic by the Catholic hierarchy and clergy are shining a spotlight on the inanity and arbitrariness of the Roman church’s legalistic rules and rituals. The modification of legalistic precepts during this crisis should cause Catholics to question their validity. However, there is a Gospel that NEVER changes despite the circumstances and that is the Good News! of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

• Canadian Bill Would Jail Christian Parents Who Attempt to Discourage Their Child’s Same-Sex Attraction

Canada is several years ahead of the U.S. as far as “progressive” legislation, but I can see this happening here in the U.S. very soon.

• John MacArthur: The Gospel, the Church, and the COVID-19 Pandemic and an Unavoidable Irony

In this excellent, 17-minute video presented by Ligonier Ministries, John MacArthur addresses what the Christian’s attitude should be in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic. He also mentions a startling irony: the country is rightly concerned with properly treating all of the victims of the virus, approximately 1700 Americans have died from the virus to date, and protecting all of the healthcare workers, yet there is comparatively little regard for the 2400 daily victims of the ongoing abortion genocide in the U.S. One of the blessings of this pandemic is that some pregnant women will reconsider going to a facility and having an abortion. Several states are pressing to have abortion classified as “nonessential surgery” during this pandemic crisis.