Our comic books too?

Is nothing safe? Apparently Indonesian artist Adrian Syaf snuck some anti-Christian and Jew messages into X-Men Gold #1.

According the the Independent, the comic book contains numerous reference to Indonesian protests against the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

I think the Independent got it wrong though. They characterize the protests as Indonesian when they should say Indonesian hard-line muslim protests. They don’t like the mayor because he’s a Christian. Seems a little bigoted and anti-democratic to me.

God said God love you

I found this Christian screed glued to a light pole near the Cerritos Promenade. Apparently, God said God love you very…

New news sources

I found two new news sources this morning. One is a post on Reddit about the arrest of 33 clergy over the past month. I had read most of these stories by other means, but it was nice to find them all listed in one place. The other source was also on Reddit; a subreddit called r/Pastor/Arrested. It’s a frightening collection of hypocrites.

Read and upvote!

INSTANT: A Short Documentary

Two pastors arrested for sex trafficking children

Toledo, Ohio. Pastors Cordell Jenkins and Anthony Hayens were taken into custody by the FBI for recruiting, enticing, harboring and transporting younger than 18 for commercial sex acts. Basically, the pastors were pimps and their victims were underage girls.

The Life and Time son Bruce Gerencser, an excellent blog by the way, has the full story.

Pastor Jenkins stands accused of the repeated violation of a girl, starting when she was just 14 years old. He allegedly turned the child into a prostitute and used threats to keep her in line.

According to that document, Mr. Jenkins took the girl, identified by the FBI as Juvenile No. 1, to a Red Roof Inn in Toledo on “at least two occasions,” including once after Mr. Jenkins had pressured the girl to find an acquaintance for a shared sexual act and she complied. Source: Toledo Pastor, 2nd man accused of sex with teen.

One aspect of this case that I find repeats itself in other stories of clergy sexual abuse is the “church as a business” where unqualified people open churches like the Abundant Life Ministry, and then assume the mantle of legitimacy which they then use to exploit others. In this case, children.

Youth pastor Charlie Hamrick arrested

Youth pastor Charlie Mabern Hamrick (54) was arrested and charged with over 40 counts of capital sexual abuse of children under the age of 12 and other heinous charges. The abuse spanned decades. Hamrick was a youth pastor at Pine Forest United Methodist Church in Pensacola, lead a youth group as a volunteer at Harvest Christian Center in Cantonment and was a football coach at Tate High School in Pensacola.

The stories of his abuse are disturbing…

• Hamrick allegedly told the boy to grab his erect penis, saying it was the safest way to ride (an ATV).
• Hamrick used educational video sessions with groups of boys to introduce videos featuring explicit scenes of sex and male masturbation. 
• Hamrick gave unlicensed youth physicals which included examining genitalia. 
• Hamrick took a boy home from his youth group and molested him under a blanket while his wife was in the room.

There is a thread of religious enablement in the stories too. Apparently the abuse was reported when Hamrick was caught in the act of abuse and the church promised he would not work with children again.

Keeping score with Trump

Manafort (Resigned)
Crowley (Bows out)
Puzder (Bows out)
Flynn (Resigned)
Sessions (Recused)
Bannon (Demoted)
Nunes (Recused)

I’m thinking Flynn will end up in prison. Sessions will resign. Nunes will go down in flames at his next election. I’m not sure about Manafort.

New podcast: The Existential Files

My old friend Dr. Louie Savva of everythingispointless.com turned me on to his new podcast, The Existential Files. I listen to a few episodes this morning. I like it. I thought you might too. Enjoy.

Episode #35 with Yannick Jacob, the programme leader for the MSc Coaching Psychology at UEL and he also teaches and lectures on the topics of existentialism, coaching, mediation and positive psychology.

Episode #32 with Professor Christopher French, head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths College,

At one point he may been a man of God

My most favorite hypocritical Christian comment ever… “at one point he may have been a man of God.”

Pastor Wade David of the historically black church, Munger Avenue Baptist Church in Dallas, was arrested for theft of up to $500k. He allegedly used the funds to fund his lifestyle. Although there are no allegations of hookers and blow, but there are allegations of planned hotel room stays and… alcohol. The money was earmarked for helping addicts and the needy. The church is broke.

More on pastor James Rankin

I’m my original post on Baptist pastor James Rankin and his arrest for possession of child pornography, I did not speculate on why he would collect child porn. I figured the information would come out eventually. I did not realize it would be so stupid.

Pastor James Rankin’s explanation… he did it “to remind himself of what other people like to look at.” Really? What other people?

Investigators are not buying it. The 50 images, some of which look homemade, span the last few years. There is a concern that Rankin may have produced some of the photos. Rankin is toast.

Think back Baptist sheeple of Texas… how many of your children did this man baptize? If a pastor is convicted of child porn, was he really a Christian. Does the Baptism ritual count if done by a man pretending to be holy?

Pastor’s daughter arrested in Oklahoma

Stormy Kristen Ledbetter, 30 and the daughter of an Oklahoma pastor, was arrested for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old boy. The abuse allegedly happened in the pastor’s home.

Pastor Ledbetter, a former Chaplin to the Pauls Valley Police Department, and pastor of Paul’s Valley Church of the Nazarene. The mission of Ledbetter’s church is To make Christlike disciples in the nations. I don’t think child molestation is Christlike.

Baptist pastor James Rankin arrested

Baptist pastor James Rankin was arrested for possession of child porn. Rankin (78) was an associate pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church (cached) in Hurst, Texas. An employee of Best Buy found child porn on a computer belonging to Rankin. Local police made the arrest. The Geek Squad strikes a blow for justice!

Hurst is 99 miles from Waco. I’ve got friends in Waco, so I worry.

Coachella Valley Farm Workers

I found an interesting photography project: Coachella Valley Farm Workers.
It’s full of wonderful photos and great stories, including a few videos. The site was profiled on LA Weekly - Photographer Noé Montes' Portraits of Coachella Valley Farm Workers Shed Light on the Unseen
The photographer, Noé Montes, is on Instagram as @noemontesla

So Pat Robertson was wrong about Trumpcare

Pat Robertson was so sure, like god herself gave him the inside scoop. Mark my words. It will pass…

Nope! Nope! Nope! via Right Wing Watch.

A microphotography insect obsession