NationStates Jolt Archive

*The Hour of Truth is a Syndicated Religious Program that is an outreach ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Nationstates. The PCNS (Presbyterian Church in Nationstates) subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith and stands for the Orthodox Truths of the Christian faith in the face of modernism in and outside the body of Christ. Each week, the program will feature a live sermon from the world famous pulpit of the New Geneva Presbyterian Church (formerly the Imperial Cathedral) from the Head Pastor and Moderator of the PCNS, Dr. Kenneth Stevens, as well as short segments addressing the current issues of the day, on NS and off, and a guest speaker. Without further adieu, the first program will begin.*

*fade in from black of an aerial shot of the city of New Geneva, with the New Geneva Presbyterian Church, the largest building and the city, and the largest Church in the NS world towering 150 stories into the air. The giant steeple of the church is infact a skyscraper of sorts that contains the offices of the many ministries and programs of the PCNS*

*Announcer* "Welcome to the Hour of Truth, sharing the truth like the trumpet sounds, that the walls of lies come crumbing down. Your host is Dr. Kenneth Stevens, the Head Pastor of New Geneva Presbyterian Church and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Nationstates. Come join us as we light the torch of truth that all the world may be made to see."

The 1025 rank organ (the second largest in the world) sounds powerfully the opening chords of the processional hymn.

"For all the Saints, who from their labours rest,
Who thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name O Jesus, be forever blessed,
Alleluia, alleluia!"

The 200 voice chancel Choir began processing down the cavernous sanctuary. The size of 3 football stadiums, it sat nearly 50,000 at full capacity. This day, roughly 25,000 were in attendance. The chancel was decorated with geometrically patterned stain glass windows that towered stories above the parishoners. Huge columns of marble and coral ascended skyward to support the dome of the sanctuary.

"Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might,
Thou their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear their one true light:
Alleluia, Alleluia!"

As the choir took their place high on the chancel beneath the front facade of the giant organ, the ministering pastors filed into their places in the pulpits.
The organ then majestically modulated the key blaring the trumpets in the front and on the sides of the church before introducing the tune in the largest pipes of the organ, shaking the ribcages of all present.

"From Earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!"

As the last notes ascended into the air, Dr. Stevens began to pray.

"Oh Lord, most gracious, we thankyou for bringing us together today on this, your most Holy Day. We ask you forgiveness for our transgressions both as citizens of heaven, as a church, and we ask forgiveness for our nations. Lord we further ask that you would bless the Television outreach of the newly constituted Presbyterian Church in Nation States. May we advance your truth in the face of Hell's lies wherever this program is seen and your word is heard. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...Amen."

*fade to image of Calvin's crest carved into the towering pulpit*

Today, on the Hour of Truth, former vice Protector of New Geneva, Marechal Alexandre Brune will address today's world leaders about how God wants our governments to rule, and later Dr. Anthony DiRiesta a leading Ob/Gyn will speak about the horrors of legalized abortion. But first, Dr. Stevens' message.

*Camera focuses on Dr. Stevens*

"Our Old Testament reading today comes from Isaiah, Chapter 1, Verses 21-27. Listen...this is the word of the very living God."

How is the faithful city becme an harlot! It was full of judgement; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: everyone loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come to them. Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, the might One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: and I will turn my hand upon thee and purely purge away thy dross and take away all thy tin.

Dr. Stevens paused a moment before speaking thoughtfully. "One thing I wish to point out to those present today, and to those watching through television, is that the following sermon is directed principly to the government under which many of the current Churches of this denomination operate, and the nations for which this denomination was once named. However this equally applies to every government that reigns today, almost without exception.

God has passed judgement upon us. He has taken away our possessions, our power. He has reduced us to low abasement. The Greater Prussian Empire, once one of the mightiest governments in the world has collapsed. The Empire is dead. I don't care what empty puppet shows they put on in Derscon from time to time...Greater Prussia is dead. It died when we ceased to pursue God's vision of government. It died when we let politics and power go before the great Commission. For the first part of its existance, Greater Prussia probably did more to advance the protestant Church than any government. It was known worldwide as the heart of the Protestant religion. Now it is known as the heart of nothing, because its heart is gone. God ripped it out! And he is calling us to repent. To restore the original systems that we once had in place. He is calling us to pick up our cross and follow after him.

Too many are concerned with following after money, after power, even following after the Emperor, and no one remains in our leadership that is in the least bit concerned about God's commands and judgements on our nation.

Do not judge me as unpatriotic, before change can take place, there must be a recognition that it is necessary. And if the people of the Empire havent seen it by now they are blind! We have nothing! The membership is gone, the wealth is gone, the possessions are gone! The glory, our Monarchy...all gone! I am loyal to my government, but my loyalty to God is greater than all these things. And I call on governments around the world look very closely at their actions. If you should, when you walk out of this building or away from your television set, see Christ coming down in all of his glory...what would you do. For many in government...they would run and hide. Because they know FULL WELL that the works of their hands are not after the will of God.

For those governments that wish to change, but do not know how. The PCNS has a ready and capable team of formal government officials who served for years in various posts in various national and international governing organizations who can serve as advisors and help you to reclaim your government and your people for Christ. Today, I sent a letter to the head of what remains of Greater Prussia offering the denomination's assistance to him and all remaining members in turning this country back on track just as I offer this assistance to all countries, the world over who seek it. Perhaps in our time...we can reclaim this world for Jesus Christ.

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STAND BY FOR AN OCC BROADCAST
Mr Graves is in Pantoland under arrest. Thus this broadcast either
1. a godmode out of pantoland
2. a dream.

So what is it? is JR Ewing not dead or did Graves just become the big JC

OOC: D'oh. Forgot about that. Sorry bout that. I sadly have no desire or time to play out the panatonian thing as I am only back on a limited basis this summer. I'll change characters and assume that Graves died in captivity of natural causes.

Announcer: And now a word from Dr. Stevens on the plague of legalized abortion. It is important that every Christian stand firm and confront the culture for Christ on this most important life and death issue. Dr. Steven's drives the severity of this issue home in his sermon from a year past on abortion laws worldwide. Here is Dr. Stevens...

"During the early days of the abortion debate, the question of whether or not there was a human life in the womb, or merely a blob of flesh was a legitimate question to ask but today science has answered that question and closed the topic for debate. But, in doing so, it has raised a whole new line of questioning that cannot be answered by science alone: “Is the being in the womb a person?”

Ancient superstition believed that a child became a person at “the quickening”, (usually at the end of the first trimester or early in the second) when a mother began to feel the child move. It was at this point that the child was considered to have a gained a soul, and in British Common Law, abortions were legal up until that point as they were in ancient Greece. However, scientific advances in the 19th century made it painfully obvious that the quickening was not the point at which the soul entered into the child and laws were passed in Great Britain and the United States and the world over making abortions illegal at any point of the pregnancy. Further scientific discoveries in this century have done nothing to invalidate this point of view. In truth, they have done much more to confirm the scientific discoveries of the 19th century and to reinforce the rightness of the actions of the legislators of that time.

We now know that the fetus is moving many, many weeks before the mother is even able to feel it. The fetal brain is able to coordinate muscular functions before most abortions take place. Further, we know as a scientific fact from the study of fetal development (which shall be looked at more in depth in the upcoming section on drawing lines) that human life is present long before there is movement at all. Instead of forging ahead and modernizing, many in the American mainstream have begun to ignore the science and trust on antiquated, superstitious ideas that there is some point at which a soul enters the baby and before that point it wasn’t a child, and after it, it is. Or to put it in verbage more consistent with the proponents of this view, “There is a point in its development at which the fetus becomes a person where it wasn’t one before.”
This return to the old superstitions also represents an abberation, a step back if you will, in the progress of Western History. To quote Jean Bethke Elshtain, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago:

“We have measured progress in the west by our sometimes agonizingly slow movement towards regonition of human status of those once denied such standing. The history of slavery is a case in point. What was once routine in the ancient world --- Economies built on Slavery --- became, over time, problematic, and finally, unthinkable…Movement towards women’s moral and civic equality followed a similar path. The long arc that bends towards the inclusion of human beings in the moral community rises from the recognition that the arbitrary removal of whole classes and categories of persons from moral concern --- whether on the basis of race or gender or ethnicity or religion --- is a sign of moral degeneration, not progress.”

We have, in denying the unborn their right to being recognized as human and deserving of life, turned our back on progress and liberalization. The true liberal spirit is one of helping the small, and the downtrodden, helping those who are unable to help themselves. The liberal spirit is recognizing all mankind as a brotherhood in which all are equally human and equally deserving of life, and equally deserving of basic human rights. Abortion is an act of destruction and oppression, masquerading itself as an act of compassion and charity.

Sylvia Plath wrote that “their sits no higher court than man’s red heart.” It has been this highest court that has, through the years, overturned the decisions of Supreme Court’s and Governments that chose slavery and oppression of women. It has been this highest court of all that has loved liberty more than life and bequeathed freedom to all the son’s and daughters that live in the free world through sacrifice and hardship. It is this very red heart that has been made jaded and black.

Justice in this court is no longer simply blind, but deaf and mute as well. It is this court that has had its ears filled so full of pleas for choice, for compassion for the mother’s hardship (as serious of an issue as that may be), for the life the child might have, and with all sorts of other emotional reasons and pleas to continue the practice of abortion that it has grown deaf to the silent screams of over 1.6 million babies that are murdered each year. And for what? For choice? For charity? These are just words…concepts that men invent to justify what they know is wrong. There is no reason, no matter how grave the circumstances, where a man is justified in taking the life of an innocent human being, no matter how greatly he or she will benefit.

For a Government to turn its back on a whole class of people, the unborn, is almost as unbelievable and unsupportable as a Government reinstituting slavery. The great moral ethicists and luminaries of the ninteenth century who saw slavery for the evil that it was and removed that blight from the face of the earth are, in many cases, the ones who went on to do the same to the once legal practice of abortion. To accuse these men of not having the necessary science to understand the decision they were making, or question their moral authority on these issues because of their religious beliefs is nothing more than an exercise in misdirection. It was after all, the Christian Church that led the way in abolition long before it was viewed as popular, or right, or even a worthwhile cause to pursue. Further the science of their day told them the same thing the science in our day tells us in greater detail. To invalidate their decision making ability on this monumental issue is to invalidate it on slavery…a step few would be willing to make.

Every Christian must standfirm in the face of modern ideology when it comes to abortion. It doesn't matter who we know that has had an abortion or what a nice person they are. A person's actions may be wrong and a person still be essentially good. God will forgive the crime of abortion if we beg forgiveness. But this indiscriminate distruction of his creation is a reason that his judgement may soon fall upon the world. If you or a friend are struggling with a crisis pregnancy. We invite you to visit one of our many crisis pregnancy centres, or if there is not one in your area, call us and we will direct you to another reputable facility in the area where you will be greatly informed about your options, about your choices if you will. I further invite every believing Christian on earth to join the crusade to end this modern day Holocaust. Let us be silent to more, but stand up to those who view life as no more than a commodity. God is watching...what are you going to do?

Father Michael Cesari sat in his office, watching the broadcast of the Hour of Truth. His Eminence, the Archbishop of Carmel, Joseph Marco, had been called away to Rome for a meeting with the Secretary of State there, and, as was expected, was prevented from returning due to the trouble in the Prussian Empire. As such, Father Cesari was attending to the day to day duties of the Church in Cherry Ridge.

As he watched the broadcast, he thought to himself, The last thing we need now are these raving protestants telling us we abandoned God. Thinking to himself for a few more seconds, he thought, They probably think I am of the devil anyway. He straightened his cassock, and left his office. He pushed the Geneva Presbyterian Church to the back of his mind, as he had to now celebrate a Mass for the local high school. Ironically, it was to be broadcast by one of the largest Catholic broadcasters the world had seen.

To: The ArchBishop of Carmel
From: Dr. Kenneth Stevens, Moderator PCNS and Senior Minister of New Geneva Presbyterian Church

Dear Sir,

Though we may have some great differences of opinion, and indeed may doggedly oppose eachother on some issues, I believe now is the time more than ever for us to work together on a common cause that affects the world greatly.

I am not sure if you were an audience to the first Hour of Truth broadcast since the absence of Dr. Graves, but, if you were, you will have noticed a large segment dedicated to the opposition of legalized abortion in the NS world. I believe it would go a long way towards the advancement of the cause for yourself to appear in a short, taped segment on the Hour of Truth giving insight into your deepest held beliefs on abortion and the reasons for the Church's opposition to it.

And should national business bring you to New Geneva, you are welcome in the Pulpit in New Geneva to be our guest on that Sunday.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Kenneth Stevens

The Reverend Doctor Kenneth Stevens, Pastor of the New Geneva Presbyterian Church and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Greater Prussia

His Eminence, the Archbishop of Carmel, Joseph Cardinal Marco, has been called away to Rome pending the end of the Prussian troubles. Though he disagreed with the decisions, he has submitted to the will of Christ's Vicar on Earth. Perhaps this is for the better, for if he is killed, a symbol of unity will be lost. As such, I have been instructed to take over his domestic duties for the time being.

I thank you for your invitation, and will attempt to make an appearance in the near future. I am, as I am sure you are as well, wary of false ecumenism that leads no where. However, I am certain this is a genuine invitation to preach, and if time allows, I will accept the offer, though I will not lead a non-Catholic service, I will participate if it is referred to as an Ecumenical Service, so as not to cause scandal to the more radical elements of the Ridgian traditionalist movement.

I may well be seeing you soon.

God Bless,

The Rev. Fr. Michael V. Cesari

Father Joseph had just replaced his broken TV when the broadcast by Presbyterian Church in Nationstates first appeared. All the other channels were temporarily off-line so he didn't have much choice to watch Dr Stevens ramble on about abortion during the Hour of Truth. Well, it was either football or this. After an hour, he got rather bored switched to the Jerusalem United vs Jerusalem City Rovers derby. He'd write to Dr Stevens later, after he finished watching the extra time.

STAND BY FOR AN OCC BROADCAST
Mr Graves is in Pantoland under arrest. Thus this broadcast either
1. a godmode out of pantoland
2. a dream.

So what is it? is JR Ewing not dead or did Graves just become the big JC

*walks up to Graves with a cellphone and webcam, broadcasts*

On the next Hour of Truth...(OOC: Another thread)

Dr. Stevens will deal with the Separation of Church and State. What does the Bible say...and what is a Christian's role in the government.

A Candidate for the head of the Northop Grumman Baptist Convention where this issue has come to a head in the form of a Civil war will speak to Dr. Stevens about the problems in his country.

Also...

A special segment will air about the plight of Rev. Dr. Peter Graves who is being held prisoner in Pantocratoria pending extradition to either Iesus Christi or the United States of Allanea under the hideous and false charges of Child Molestation, Murder, and Rape. Dr. Graves was the founding minister of this very Church and Denomination. We will air special evidence and specially declassified government documents proving the innocence of Dr. Graves.

OOC: If anyone wishes to be a guest on the show, or wishes to suggest a topic or anything of that nature, feel free to post here.

OOC: It's Pantocratoria not Pantocratonia. Prisoners can have their lawyers issue statements to the press (i.e. written down by the prisoner and read to the press by somebody else), but cannot be interviewed or filmed in prison while their case is on-going. No recording equipment other than that employed by the official court recorder may be used inside the court room, either, nor may any photograph be made of any person inside the court room while they are inside the court room (newspapers sometimes commission special sketch artist to draw pictures of defendants and judges instead). So long as all that is respected, that's fine.

OOC: Fixed the Problem. Sorry that I keep mistyping.

OOC - Next poll, can you make it last longer ...

Now, I'll be sure to word this carefully, seeing as I know how you fanatical Christian types all love to argue every minute detail, but...

Legal in the first three trimesters, but illegal after that

Unless the pregnancy extends for far longer than the standard nine month period, usually killing something after the first three trimesters is considered homocide, if not manslaughter or euthenasia.

whoops. Typo. Didn't realize that til you pointed it out.

I meant to say in the first trimester, and illeagal in the second two.

Ill do the poll again for another show. Btw, since when am I fanatical? wait...oh yea.