The Whipping of a 15 Year Old Girl and Christmas

AP CAIRO — a 16-year-old Christian girl from southern Sudan said Friday she was lashed 50 times for wearing a skirt deemed indecent by authorities in the north who enforce a strict version of Islamic law.

Silva Kashif said a policeman in a Khartoum market arrested her last week for wearing a skirt beneath the knee.

She was convicted of offending public morality and received 50 lashes in the courtroom.

"I was treated like a criminal," Kashif said in a telephone interview. "I am confused what to wear. The trousers were an issue. My skirt was beneath the knee. What more can I do? I am Christian. My tribe and my customs permit me to dress like this."



This troubles me greatly. We just had Thanksgiving, which is the least offensive of the Christian celebrations, since everyone or every faith or lack of can be thankful for something. We are fast approaching Christmas. In everyday conversations we can call it such. However in the business and scholastic world it has been reduced to a Holiday so we don't offend those who are not Christians.

When I was a little guy there were two sisters in my fifth grade class that were Jehovah Witnesses. Back in the 1960's our teacher could read a Bible verse, we could say The Lord's Prayer and we could have Thanksgiving and Christmas parties in which we could sing hymns and carols of the season.

I can still see the faces of Esther and Martha with their noses pressed on the glass of the window of the closed door that blocked them out of the Christmas party. This was at their parents request since Jehovah witnesses didn't believe in Christmas celebrations. Both of the girls were sobbing.


Last week I asked my older grand kids if they sang any Thanksgiving songs at their school. They both said no, they weren't aware of Thanksgiving songs.

The above AP story regarding the poor 15 year old Christian girl appeared around the 24Th or 25Th of November of this year in many newspapers.

Modern society demands that we conform and not express our faith and beliefs lest we offend. We are not permitted to have prayer in school or demonstrate ones faith.

And yet I have known of folks who have traveled to predominantly Muslim countries. Those countries don't seem too wishie-washy in punishing those who don't conform to their ways through strong arm tactics and force as it witnessed in the above story.

Both of these thoughts, the forbidding of Christian Holidays and the brutal whipping of a young girl, bring to mind the words of our Lord that are found in Matthew 18:6.

I will go over the words in different Biblical translations to provide the underlying meaning of His Words.

Within the New International Version;

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

The passage from the King James Version;

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.


Young’s Literal Translation states;

…and whoever may cause to stumble one of those little ones who are believing in me, it is better for him that a weighty millstone may be hanged upon his neck, and he may be sunk in the depth of the sea.


In a wonderful online site the author Lee Smith has put together an excellent study of Matthew. Here I have consolidated some of his remarks concerning Matthew 18:6;


In the New Testament the word Sin was also used of a stumbling block or something which trips someone up from walking the correct way and the meaning of stumbling block is probably the best in the context here.

The Revised Standard Version's rendering of the word implies that there’s a certain force in the stumbler’s life which makes the childlike believer sin regardless of their own freewill. Their translation which, in Matthew 18:6 for instance, speaks of "...whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin...".

This should be better rendered "...whoever is the cause of stumbling to one of these little ones who believe in Me..." so that the person is not seen to be the force that makes the sin but the lead that encourages it.

Bible teacher Leon Morris therefore interprets the verb used as giving the reader "...its idea of entrapment which indicates that the person in question is leading the little one into something that that little one does not properly understand. The little one is deceived into committing sin..".



Punishing a Christian for being a Christian or causing a child to not have the freedom to believe God's Word is no different from placing a stumbling block before them. This holds true for those that abuse children by beating and whipping them as well for those not acknowledging the Christian historical aspects of Christmas.


Let us celebrate our faith and belief.

Christian (and Jewish) Holiday Gift Ideas

Do you know a nice Jewish Cat Lady?
Then here's the perfect gift of the holidays that she can use to commemorate the oppressive Syrian rule, the torture of Chanah's sons and of course the Maccabees, all while celebrating the love she has for her 80 plus cats.



Luke chapter 6, verse 38 says; "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Whoo-hoo! Now you can be reminded of this as you chew on squishy, sugary bubble gum. Ain't life grand!



What child would not be excited to spend their play time with the delightful Ten Plagues of Egypt Finger Puppets. After all what is more fun than a plague?









Pass the Word of God with minty-fresh breath by using Testamints. Sinners will love you for it.











I realize that Jesus took bread and said, "This is my body, broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me." I'm not sure that he had baby Jesus cookies in mind. I mean really! Could you eat baby Jesus?




Chocolate and Jesus! I love 'em both. Just not together in one carb-packed serving. The product name is well..it's just not right!
But that's just my opinion.














Next time you go to the beach, display your faith with Jesus Loves You flip-flops. Folks will say, "There goes that crazy Christian."





















Don't let your boy grow up with a role model like the GI Joe Action figure. Set him straight with the new Jesus Action figure. My Lord and Savior can whoop GI Joe with both of His hands tied behind His back.




You gotta' start the girls early on becoming good church ladies and taking care of themselves.


And here is the perfect product to "redeem your reputation" as it says on the box. Get your daughter some Lookin' Good for Jesus make-up and bubble bath.






Tackle sin. Coordinate a good defense for your faith. Run with it and pass it on. You can with you new Jesus is my Coach football figures! Rah-rah, sis-boom-bah!






Why settle for reading a comic book...excuse me...graphic novel about the Miracles of Jesus in only 2 dimensions, when you can read about the Miracles of Jesus in 3 dimensions with the Miracles of Jesus with 3 D GLASSES!






Next time you have guests over for dinner, delight them with Grapes of Galilee Wine. Made from grapes grown along the Jordan River and gently aged for two weeks before being packaged in a plastic bag and put into a box. Remember, "He has trampled out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored."





I know, a mutt nativity set!

Nothing says Away in a manger than these delightful mangy critters. Ah, Look, puppy Jesus wants His belly rubbed.

Praise Music At Church - Thoughts of an Old Jesus Freak

My wife listens to Christian music throughout the day, so she knows some of the newer Praise songs off of the various WOW compellation CD’s that are sold at Christian bookstores and are prominently placed next to the cash register to encourage shoppers to buy the latest version of this CD, which I think comes out on an anual basis.

You will find CD right next to the TestaMints and Scripture Lollipops at the Family Bookstore.

I suppose that is how folks learn the music and lyrics these days. It is a lot of bother to read music, especially for a generation that has forgone learning to play guitar and instead uses a toy guitar and a video game to become a Rock Star.


Something must be wrong with me because of the way I feel at many modern churches during Praise Music time.

I must be turning into a Christian curmudgeon.

Anymore when I go to church, I do not know the tune or the lyrics to any of these songs. The songs all seem to sound alike. The lyrics are certainly similar. Linny knows some of them, but even she is unfamiliar with many.

I guess I am stuck in the 70's.


The sound systems in many of the churches are massive and extremely expensive.





When I was a kid, I sang in two different church choirs. Both had twenty watt Bogen P.A. amplifiers with no EQ and one ceiling mounted speaker on each side of the church.

The pastor used the microphone for his sermon. He had one of those old lapel mics with the cord dragging on the floor. The choir only had their voices.

The band was made up of an older woman who played the organ.


In the end run, perhaps computers, Power Point and computerized projectors may be less expensive than hymnals.

But have you ever priced those projectors? Most retail for around $4,000.


Perhaps it is because I was younger, but it never bothered me to stand up for all five verses of A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. I knew I was going to sit down after we were done and listen to the sermon.

However the Praise Times at church have you standing for 45 minutes or more. I suppose I would not mind, if I actually felt I was Praising God in song. I just don’t feel that way. I am certain that some folks are into this, because they are dancing, waving, clapping and doing the Pentacostal bop. That’s just not me.

Despite what Larry Norman sang, I really like the old hymns. Some of these have been handed down and have withstood the test of time. My daughter got me a couple of books last year about the stories behind the hymns. It was a very interesting read.

In one of my blogs I have done some research on one old Jesus Movement song called We Are One in the Spirit. The song has some history behind it regarding why it was written and how it gained popularity in those days. I know there are some modern Praise and Worship Music, such as those of Rich Mullins’ songs that have history.


As far as Praise Bands vs. Choirs, I like them both, but I sure learned a lot back in my choir days. One of the choirs hired graduate students from CCM as (dare I say) ringers to make the choir sound good. It was a good experience to learn from them and talk music with them. It would seem that more people could participate in a choir than the five or six musicians that form a Praise Band.

I suppose they serve a purpose, but drum cages are just plain weird next to the altar.

It is funny that I started out 35 or 40 years ago singing, playing and writing Christian songs with a rock beat with a guitar backing. We see what this music has evolved (can I use that word?) into in the Church and I cannot say I don't totally care for it, but perhaps it needs some tweeking. Most Black churches have always had a great blend of excellent choirs and bands.




Don't even get me started about Backing Trax!

My Favorites - At The Jesus House

In response to Terry Fishers recent post on The Jesus House Blog regarding his favorite performers, I have decided to write on the same subject and offer my ten personal favorite singer/songwriters that I recall from those sweet long ago days.


I’ll preface this by saying there are some folks that I never heard perform at the Jesus House. And although some of them are near and dear, I've limited my list to those my 57 year old memory can recall as performers.

For instance Rick Marksberry and Andy Danzl were folks that I knew from the Jesus House and got to know even better at Fellowship Christian Church. I don't believe I saw either of them play music at the Jesus House. I consider both close friends and my brothers in Christ.









Just about everyone I know from the Jesus House comments on Wiloughby Wilson as being a great band. Unfortunately I did not have the good fortune to see or hear Wiloughby Wilson perform. I was living in Middletown Ohio and occupied with business and family during that era.


I’ve since met Jim Wilson and have great admiration for him and and that excellent guitarist and David Gilmour impersonator Ric Fields. I enjoy the music they play as The Perculators.

I also have no recollection of hearing Prodigal play at the Jesus House. As I've mentioned I knew Ric Fields and met a dark haired Dave Workman in subsequent years before he became an old, gray pastor.

There are probably some others that I have forgotten over the years. I do apologize.

With that said, here is my list of favorites. All of which I have seen many times sing and play their songs at The Jesus House.

1. Mike Wilshire was by far my favorite performer. He was and still is an extremely talented guitarist and vocalist. Adrian Belew writes about Mike on his webpage and says that Mike Wilshire could have had a wonderful career in music, except he chose to be a pastor.

Mike wrote the most beautiful and meaningful songs. He performed them on his old Martin double–ought guitar and sang them in the loveliest style.

Beyond talent, Mike was a deeply committed Christian and the most important thing by far to him was to share his faith and love of The Lord. It was a special treat to hear Mike sing and harmonize with his friend Blaine Shepherd. The first time I heard them I couldn’t imagine how so much music could come out of two guys just singing and playing guitar.

I learned most of his songs and made them my own. Without know it, he taught me a lot about playing finger style guitar.


2. Randy Matthews is someone I first say when he was singing at Spiritual Revolution Day in 1971. Later I met Randy at the Jesus House. This was during the times when he would sing his songs and preach of God's Love. (Long before his pirate days. 'ar, 'ar, 'ar.)

Randy’s father wrote the Gospel song Peace In The Valley, which became a hit for Elvis. Randy followed in his father’s footsteps by writing a series of songs about The Lord. Since this all happened in the early days of the Jesus Movement, Randy was one of the originators of what came to be known as Jesus Music. I vividly recall Randy singing a song about the crucifixion and pounding on his Martin D-28 when it came to the part about driving the nails in Jesus’ hands.


3. Rising Hope was my very favorite Christian music group. I have written about them before. At the time they were comprised of Michael and Susan Goldberg and Ross Johnson. Later on they added Chris Adams as their bass player. They were the Peter, Paul and Mary of Jesus music. Their vocal blend was exquisite. Their songs could be moving or humorous. Their performance which usually included a multi-projector slide show with a voice-over by Mikal Keifer set them apart.

Changes happened as change usually does. Michael and Susan went their separate ways and both still hold Jesus above all. Ross Johnson married the lovely Lyndell from Australia and his family still celebrates Gods Love.

4. I met Jim Bankowski one evening when I was visiting with Whitey and Joanna Slayback. Joanna picked him up and brought him to her home to visit and have some homemade vegetable soup. Jim was the scrawniest fellow I have ever seen. He was dressed in a T-shirt and patched bib overalls that were more patches than overalls. Jim brought his beat-up old Martin dreadnaught guitar with him and sang some songs he had written.

He had a deep baritone voice, which was not the usual style of that era. However it worked for him. He also used strange tunings that seemed to be different for each song. He too shared his love of The Lord with everyone he met and was the humblest fellow I've ever met.


5. Rich Mullins is a guy that I met once or twice at the Jesus House and at some other venues in the Cincinnati area. I never really got to know him. As a lot of other musicians, Rich seemed kind of shy and distant when he wasn't singing and playing.

The first time I saw him play, he was seated before the big green Jesus House upright piano. That piano was a wreck. It was missing ivories from the keys and it was out-of-tune. However Rich made that piano sing in a style that was reminiscent of Elton John. He sang with the most amazing voice. I sat there thinking I can’t compare this guy to Elton John, since Rich is so much better. Rich was blessed with amazing talent and insight. I'm glad that God used him and shared his music with many, many others.


6. Adams-Fishy-Odor. When Chris Adams was not playing bass with Rising Hope, he sang in a band that consisted of long time Jesus House director Terry Fisher and long time Jesus House affiliate Kent Odor. It is a good thing to make music with your friends and that is what those guys did.

Terry wrote some very moving Christian songs as well as some extremely funny songs. Kent still has that wonderful and powerful voice. The brother could really belt out a song. Chris is still one of the best bass players around, bar none. Whenever those guys performed it was always a good time.


7. Sharon Wilson and Sherri Fayard always stood out as having some of the most beautiful singing voices that I have ever heard. Sharon took some classical guitar lessons and this style showed up in her playing.

Both girls wrote some of the most beautiful and meaningful songs, that were quite often taken straight from God’s Word. I was always so happy to visit the Jesus House and learn that they would be singing. I would just close my eyes and take in their beautiful voices.

8. Randy Moody was Cincinnati’s comic relief of the Jesus Movement. Randy had a million stories and it was always great fun to sit down and hear about Nate the Snake, Randy’s tales of being a hospital orderly or stories of Randy’s fellow employees at Swallens. Randy came up with some beautiful and well written songs. He also came up with some songs that were just a hoot.


9. Deny Brigance had been a regular performer at the Blind Lemon in Clifton. He was in a rock band called Monk and then he became a Christian.

Being a natural born singer/song writer/Deny turned his talent to writing Christian music. He had a high tenor voice that was extremely powerful. He also had a great ability to organize other musicians in an effort to make the songs he wrote come out the way he heard them in his head. I always loved to hear Deny whenever he was at the Jesus House.



10. Bob Clark sounded like Neil Young meets America (the band). Bob had that sort of pinched vocal quality that stood out. And the guy could write a wonderful tune. I don’t think he performed often at the Jesus House, but when he did it was a joy to hear him sing.