To ANNE FLEETWOOD: a public notice

Restaurant review: Montana’s Cookhouse (8735 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill)

While in Richmond Hill for some business the other day, I decided to stop by Montana’s Cookhouse at 8735 Yonge Street for a quick lunch. After all, they do have this banner outside about certain lunch dishes being ready in 15 minutes, guaranteed:

After pondering the lunch choices, I decided to try the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($10.99) with a Pepsi ($2.99). I was pleased that a side Caesar salad was available at no extra charge, unlike some other restaurant chains. After taking my order, my server quickly returned with a countdown timer set at 15 minutes, showing that they are serious about the guarantee. Obviously if my food still has not arrived when the timer hits zero, there would have been a discussion about free lunch with apologies. With real consequences, this is the true form of accountability, unlike the distorted version preached in some religious circles. For practising real accountability, and for providing a legitimate link between two separate themes of this blog, Montana’s gets bonus points.

It turned out lunch was ready way before the 15 minutes was up. In fact, there were more than 8 minutes left on the timer when my pulled pork sandwich arrived (add a few seconds for the time it took for me to get the camera from its case to take the picture):

The pulled pork sandwich was amazingly good. It was served on delicious garlic bread, plus both the meat and the sauce were excellent. Nothing about the taste indicates that it was ready in less than 15 minutes. In other words, it was gourmet quality at fast food speed:

The service was fast and attentive, with my Pepsi refilled as soon as the glass was near empty. My server was cheerful and provided a great lunch experience.

Montana’s exceeded my expectations for a quick but good lunch. In fact, I was so satisfied with lunch that I decided to return for dinner on another day.

After ordering, I noticed two minor problems and mentioned them to staff. One was fixed immediately, while the other needed further follow up but was taken seriously.

Since Montana’s is proud of its ribs, I decided to get the Beef Ribs and Wings Combo ($23.99) in honey garlic with sweet potato fries and corn:

The wings were very good, being nice and crisp. I would consider Montana’s to be a strong contender for Best Chicken Wings. If you are able to, have some wings there.

The excellent sweet potato fries were another highlight of dinner. Being tasty and crispy, it is a great side dish choice that is highly recommended. The corn and cornbread were satisfactory as well.

The beef rib met my expectations. There were lots of meat and I was filled up. Definitely not hungry afterwards. Both the beef quality and the preparation were good, but on the other hand, it did not stand out as exceptional. If I really wanted to have beef ribs, I would order them from Montana’s again, however, given the choice, I would get more chicken wings instead.

Service at dinner was enthusiastic and attentive, which I would rate as very good.

Bottom line: Montana’s is a top pick for lunch, and worth considering for dinner. Order wings if you can.

Pharisee church pastor condemns the prophet Elijah for “sinfully living with a woman who is not his wife”

In his latest tirade against “deteriorating morality in the world”, the Pharisee church pastor called the prophet Elijah in the Bible “a man of sin who violated the many and always-expanding rules of Christian accountability” for living with a widow while he stayed in Zarephath.

“An important rule of Christian accountability is that a man must never live with a woman who is not his wife,” the Pharisee church pastor explained. “If Elijah wanted to live with that widow, he should have married her first. Since he did not do so, he was living in sin.”

“It is therefore obvious why the widow’s son became so sick that he died,” continued the Pharisee church pastor. “As I have preached before, all diseases, from the common cold to cancer, are caused by sin in your life. The illness and death of the widow’s son is the result of either the child’s own sins, or the sins of his parents, or both. With his mother living in sin with the man Elijah who was not her husband, this child’s sickness and death is well deserved as a measure of Christian accountability.”

“If Elijah were indeed a prophet, as he is commonly known, he would know to never associate with sinners, such as a woman living with a man who is not her husband, in order to keep himself pure and holy in accordance with the rules of Christian accountability,” explained the Pharisee church pastor, “because Christians are not allowed to associate with sinners. I have no doubt that the man of sin Elijah has been burning in hell since his death.”

But, Pharisee church pastor, Elijah was apparently told to live with the widow in Zarephath, would that not be an acceptable excuse?

“The one who told Elijah to live with a woman who is not his wife is clearly even more sinful than Elijah,” thundered the Pharisee church pastor in response, “and whoever this is needs to immediately join in one of my Christian accountability groups, so I can hold him accountable as his accountability partner.”

Pharisee church pastor, as someone who says that you will hold God accountable, I suppose that if God is to come into the world, you would crucify Him to death on a cross.

Qur’an-burning Florida pastor did it for “Christian accountability”

Yesterday, we learned of the tragic deaths of at least 12 United Nations workers in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. They were killed by rioters who were protesting against the March 20 burning of the Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, by Florida pastor Terry Jones.

Afghans Angry Over Florida Koran Burning Kill U.N. Staff

Pastor Who Burned Koran Demands Retribution

So what was the motive for Jones’ Qur’an-burning stunt? His own words provide the answer:

“We must hold these countries and people ACCOUNTABLE for what they have done as well as for any excuses they may use to promote their terrorist activities. The time has come to hold Islam ACCOUNTABLE. Our United States government and our President must take a close, realistic look at the radical element Islam. Islam is not a religion of peace. It is time that we call these people to ACCOUNTABILITY.” (Emphasis mine)

In other words, Jones is an advocate of “Christian accountability”, the idea that Christians can somehow “hold others accountable”. As I have discussed before in Bible-based objections to “Christian accountability”, this heretical teaching is contrary to the Bible, and is an unwarranted intrusion into other people’s lives. While in most cases the damage of this heterodox idea of “Christian accountability” or “accountability partners” is limited to severe emotional distress, Jones’ “accountability” has led to the deaths of at least 12 innocent people.

Remember, Jesus Christ is the only one who has the authority to hold people accountable. Not Terry Jones, nor any other Christian.

Pharisee church pastor condemns postal (snail) mail for “promoting homosexual affairs”, calls for boycott by Christians

In today’s sermon, the Pharisee church pastor informed his congregation that he has instructed all church staff and Christian accountability group leaders to discontinue receiving and sending postal (snail) mail, because postal letters can be used to “facilitate and promote homosexual affairs”. He called on all Christians to immediately join in the boycott as well:

“I've been in extended counselling with couples with marital problems because of letters sent through the mail for the last year and a half,” said the Pharisee church pastor. “What happens is someone from yesterday surfaces, it leads to conversations and there have been physical meet-ups. The temptation is just too great.”

“The instruction will go to the entire church,” the Pharisee church pastor added. “You already heard what I'm asking of my Christian accountability group leaders, as well as those for whom I am the accountability partner. I hereby proclaim a new fundamental Rule of Christian Living for all Christians: all Christians must immediately stop sending and receiving postal mail, or risk being disowned by Jesus Christ on Final Judgement Day.”

“In the past, I have only instructed married Christians to open each other’s mail, and to submit their letters for inspection by their accountability partners, as a means of Christian accountability,” explained the Pharisee church pastor. “However, with the sin of homosexuality being so prevalent in this year 2010, more and tighter rules need to be followed in order to be saved from eternal burning in hell. Now, if you want to go to heaven, you need to immediately abstain from postal mail.”

“Remember, to have eternal life and get into heaven, grace is not enough,” stressed the Pharisee church pastor. “You also need to be held accountable by an accountability partner in Christian accountability, as well as strictly follow an expanding list of Rules of Christian Living proclaimed by me.”

Say, Pharisee church pastor, I saw you take a subscription copy of “Out” magazine from your mailbox the other day…

Pharisee church pastor calls bed bugs “God’s wingless angels to punish those who embrace homosexuality”

In his latest sermon, the Pharisee church pastor proclaimed that bed bugs are “God’s wingless angels to punish those who embrace homosexuality”.

“God’s anger is poured out over the sinful cities that have embraced the evil of homosexuality,” said the Pharisee church pastor. “As examples, when one reviews the top 10 cities with the worst bed bug infestations, one can clearly see that they are those cities that have allowed homosexual sin to flourish.”

Details of the correlation between bed bugs and homosexuality, as described by the Pharisee church pastor on various occasions, are as follows:

10. Denver, Colorado

“Denver is being punished because they instituted something called the Colorado Gay Rodeo,” said the Pharisee church pastor. “A rodeo is where true masculine men celebrate their maleness, but homosexuals have desecrated this activity by associating it with sodomy. It is for this evil that bed bugs were sent to destroy Denver.”

9. Chicago, Illinois

“Judgement is on Chicago through bed bugs, as they established the first officially recognized homosexual neighbourhood in the United States,” explained the Pharisee church pastor. “In addition, they host a disgusting homosexual parade every year. Even worse, there is a homosexual part of the city called Boystown, a most revolting name that betrays the secret agenda of homosexuals to corrupt pure and innocent boys into a life of homosexual debauchery.

“Fortunately, there are true men like myself who are dedicated and devoted to engaging boys intimately since when they are young, so they can be guided to the path of holy manhood and grow up filled with masculinity from, I mean like, myself.”

Pharisee church pastor, that last bit was…interesting.

8. Vancouver, British Columbia

“The greatest sin committed by Vancouver is the embracing of homosexuality,” declared the Pharisee church pastor. “During the winter when manly men, like me, are sharing physical body warmth to keep out the cold, Vancouver organizes a winter homosexual celebration and thus tainting masculine warmth-sharing with the overtures of sodomy.

“That is why bed bugs have been sent to punish Vancouver.”

The Pharisee church pastor then looked at me. “You know Andrew, I really enjoy sharing body warmth with masculine men during the wintertime,” he said, while wiping away some drool.

7. Durham, North Carolina

“Bed bugs were sent to Durham to punish them for their homosexual parade,” said the Pharisee church pastor.

That’s a pretty short explanation compared to the other cities so far, I replied.

“Well, that’s reason enough!” was the Pharisee church pastor’s reply.

6. San Francisco, California

“San Francisco calls itself the homosexual capital of the world,” proclaimed the Pharisee church pastor. “Not only are they indulging in their sin, they are actually filled with pride for being sinful.

“With an annual homosexual parade for the past 40 years, and being the self-appointed capital of homosexuality, it is fitting that large numbers of bed bugs have been dispatched to punish this modern-day Sodom. Bite away, wingless angels!”

5. Manchester, New Hampshire

“New Hampshire has abandoned its Christian heritage and instead embraced the evil of homosexuality,” roared the Pharisee church pastor. “They actually allow homosexuals to marry each other, in defiance of God’s design for marriage. For this, they already deserve a huge contingent of bed bugs.

“But even more, New Hampshire is also where that apostate sinner V. Gene Robinson, heretic homosexual Bishop of the satanic Episcopal Church, bases his diabolical operations. I am pleased, however, that the angelic bed bugs have succeeded in forcing Robinson into early retirement. I ask God to send even more bed bugs to Manchester, until New Hampshire’s sin of embracing homosexuality is sucked out of it.”

4. Bloomington, Indiana

“Bloomington is particularly sinful in its embrace of homosexuality, even declaring that it is homosexual everyday in Bloomington in its slogan,” declared the Pharisee church pastor. “Even worse, it is the home of the first student-sponsored homosexual competition held on any college campus.

“By flaunting their well-formed bodies to the public, each year the contestants engage in immoral seduction of me, I mean, ordinary wholesome men to the sinful trap of homosexuality. That is why Bloomington has a bed bug epidemic.”

Pharisee church pastor, since you somehow are always in Bloomington each year at the time of Miss Gay IU, you are obviously an expert in this event.

3. Toronto, Ontario

“Bed bugs have been sent by God to punish Toronto because it and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club have embraced homosexuality,” said the Pharisee church pastor. “As I have preached before, the Toronto Maple Leafs will not win the Stanley Cup because God is punishing them for embracing homosexuality. Since the entire city in now in sin, bed bugs have been sent as the next punishment.

“Until Toronto repents and everyone is held accountable through accountability partners in Christian accountability, more punishment from heaven will follow.”

2. New York City, New York

“The sin of New York, for which they are being punished by bed bugs, is their acceptance of homosexuality,” declared the Pharisee church pastor.

But, Pharisee church pastor, if we are discussing what could be the sins of New York, should we not be talking about greed and avarice?

“I don’t know anything about that. All I know is that homosexuality is the sin of all sins, and bed bugs have been sent to punish those who embrace it,” replied the Pharisee church pastor.

1. Columbus, Ohio

“Some have called Columbus one of the United States’ more underrated homosexual cities,” thundered the Pharisee church pastor. “But the sin of homosexuality cannot be hidden from the judgement of God, and Columbus cannot escape the punishment by bed bugs.

“Columbus has allowed itself to contaminate wholesome sports by hosting homosexual bowling and softball tournaments. What can be more sinful than the display of toned bodies, touched by homosexuality, in motion? Mmmm…I mean what an abomination!”

Thanks for your detailed explanations about bed bugs, Pharisee church pastor. Say, you have been scratching yourself quite a bit lately…

What the Bible really says about confessing sins

If you want to know the Biblical truth about confessing sins – as opposed to popular teaching in too many churches – check out the excellent post Completely Forgiven? When Confession is Bad for You at the Escape to Reality blog. It is a must read on this subject.

There is no further sanctification required after justification. Everyone who is justified through Jesus Christ is fully and completely sanctified.

There is no further sanctification required after justification. Everyone who is justified through Jesus Christ is fully and completely sanctified.

I developed this notion while researching what is wrong with the idea of “ Christian accountability”, the teaching that Christians need to have “accountability partners”. Noticing that Bible teachings against “Christian accountability” are the same as that against the Judaizers from the days of the apostles Peter and Paul, I realized that legalism in any form can be identified by the teaching of “after accepting the grace of Jesus Christ, you must now start to do this”. To wit:

Judaizers circa 1st century AD: “Christians, now that you have accepted the grace of Jesus Christ, you must now be circumcised and obey the Laws of Moses”.

Catholic legalism: “Christians, now that you have accepted the grace of Jesus Christ, you must now go to church every Sunday, confess your sins to a priest every week, pray the rosary every morning, and receive the sacraments.”

Charismatic legalism: “Christians, now that you have accepted the grace of Jesus Christ, you must now also be baptized in the Holy Spirit and start speaking in tongues.”

Latter-day Saints: “Christians, now that you have accepted the grace of Jesus Christ, you must now also become a missionary, be sealed with your spouse(s) in celestial marriage, and never again consume alcohol, coffee, tea, and tobacco.”*

Christian accountability proponents: “Christians, now that you have accepted the grace of Jesus Christ, you must now also be held accountable by accountability partners in Christian accountability.”

In other words, “Grace is not enough. After grace, this:”

I noticed that the “this” is always presented as a form of sanctification, some means to make a believer “more holy”. Christians who practise the “works of sanctification” are held to be better than those who do not. Legalists may admit that the grace of Jesus Christ is enough, but they will say that it is only enough for you to be a “minimal Christian”. In order to be a “good Christian”, you need to practise the works of sanctification, as per the legalist’s prescription.

In contrast, the Bible describes all Christians this way:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27)

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Notice the absence of any distinction between “minimal” versus “good” Christians in these passages. All followers of Jesus Christ are the same in nature.

This is not to suggest that Christians cannot grow closer to Christ through time and willingness to cultivate intimacy with God. Being a relationship, however, we grow close to God by a desire in the heart, and not by following rules. To take marriage as an example, no matter how close the spouses are as newlyweds, they would want to be even closer to each other on their 50th wedding anniversary. And if that’s the desire in their hearts, they will! But can anyone say, because of that, they are now only a “minimal husband” or “minimal wife”, and will not become a “good husband” or “good wife” until their 50th wedding anniversary? Or can anyone say that, in order to be a “good husband” or “good wife”, they need to follow a bunch of rules such as obligatory kissing routines, mandatory greetings, and prescribed activities? I don’t think that anyone would enjoy getting “obligatory kisses” from their spouse anyway, since those are false, and feel that way. If one desires to become closer to one’s spouse and to express one’s love, one will automatically and authentically do those things that would accomplish that goal, and the proficiency in which one does those things will be better and better. Likewise, if we desire to become closer to God and to express our love for Him, we will automatically (through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in us) and authentically do those things that would make us more like Christ and would achieve God’s will of us. And we will do those things better over time as well.

So, just as someone becomes a husband or wife fully and completely on the wedding day, anyone who is justified through faith in Christ was also fully and completely sanctified at that same time. To say that there is some mandatory process of sanctification that needs to happen after justification, is just legalism.

This video message is also worth pondering:

*Note: That being said, the Book of Mormon declares in Moroni 10:33, “And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” It seems that, had the LDS stopped there, many Mormons today just might be fans of Starbucks lattés.

Pharisee church pastor condemns Katy Perry for “inciting lust in the hearts of children”

The Pharisee church pastor was upset today after watching some children’s programming.

“That harlot Katy Perry is now inciting lust in the hearts of children,” he proclaimed. “By displaying her lust-inducing breast cleavage, she is sexualizing our children, just like Dalton McGuinty, Ontario’s antichrist Premier.

“I have previously preached extensively on the lust-inducing and seductive power of female breasts. That is why, in my Christian accountability questions, women are asked if they have ensured that that way they dress did not result in men who are not their husbands to experience lust. Remember, if any man who is not a woman’s husband feels lust when he looks at her, she is an evil prostitute and adulterer. A woman is accountable and responsible for making sure that men do not experience lust with her as the object.”

The offending video is here:

The Pharisee church pastor added, “If Katy Perry were my daughter, as a pastor, I would condemn her to hell and publicly announce that this sinner is no longer my daughter. This is the same course of action I described when I talked about if I had a son who is homosexual. Strict adherence to the many rules of Christian living overrides all other considerations, like love.

“Speaking of that unpardonable sin of homosexuality, Katy Perry is well known for her promotion of lesbianism, in addition to her wanton seduction of men. By displaying her breasts, therefore, she is inducing immoral lust in the hearts of both boys and girls, in a conspiracy with Ontario’s antichrist Premier Dalton McGuinty.

“Katy Perry’s harlotry can be directly traced back to her consumption of deviled eggs earlier in life. It is obvious that eating the Devil’s eggs leads to the Devil growing inside you. Now that the Devil in Miss Perry has matured, she seeks to incite lust in every heart, whether that be of a man, woman, boy or girl.

“Katy Perry needs to be held accountable by an accountability partner, preferably myself, in Christian accountability.

“Remember this: Katy Perry’s breasts represent one of the most corrupting influences on children nowadays.”

Pharisee church pastor, I don’t think even Katy Perry’s Christian parents agree with you. Keith and Mary Hudson commented, “The love of God saved all of us with a hand of mercy, not a finger of judgment.”

Besides, today’s toddlers would most likely recognize Katy Perry’s breasts as meal containers. As for who is filled with lust, Pharisee church pastor, perhaps you might want to look in a mirror?

Christian accountability / accountability partners in action (video)

In this video, we see Charlie being “held accountable” by his “accountability partner” in “Christian accountability”:

 

 

“All diseases, from the common cold to cancer, are caused by sin in your life” declares the Pharisee church pastor

It being the middle of ragweed allergy season, I let out a few sneezes during my last visit to the Pharisee church pastor’s office.

“Andrew,” said the Pharisee church pastor, “you need to confess your sins and be held accountable in one of my Christian accountability groups. You clearly have sin in your life.”

Say what?

“You are obviously unwell. This means you have sinned. All diseases, from the common cold to cancer, are caused by sin in your life. Disease is one of many ways that God uses to punish people for their sins. Because of that, if I see that someone is sick, I know automatically that it is because of sin in that person’s life.

“For example, let us suppose someone is born blind. I know right away that someone must have sinned to cause this blindness; the only unknown is whether it is the blind person who is the sinner in need of Christian accountability, or whether it is that person’s parents who sinned and need to be held accountable.”

Pharisee church pastor, I can see how the parents could have sinned. But how is it possible that a newborn infant could have committed sins by birth?

“Andrew,” replied the Pharisee church pastor, “you need to pay better attention to my teachings! Recall my teaching on the evils of the AIDS vaccine. Children, even those who have just been born, can be punished through diseases, as preventive judgement. These children would have grown up to become homosexuals, adulterers, and prostitutes, and for that reason they are punished by diseases such as AIDS.

“It is also possible that someone could have committed sins while being a fetus. While the specific sins committed by a fetus is not known, what I know is that all living persons, born or unborn, are sinners who need to be held accountable by accountability partners or Christian accountability groups.

“Another clear example of someone being punished, through disease because of sin, is Stephen Hawking. This sinful man is best known for his atheism, followed by his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The connection between the two is that his atheism is the reason for his disease.

“What Stephen Hawking needs to do is to repent from his atheism and numerous other sins, and be held accountable in Christian accountability. I understand that Hawking will be making frequent visits to the Waterloo area. He should count it a blessing that I happen to be running a Christian accountability group for executives of Research In Motion (RIM), makers of the Blackberry smartphone. I invite Hawking to join my group, so I can hold him accountable for his sins. By having me as an accountability partner, and repenting from his sins, Hawking may perhaps accomplish something with his life, and maybe make a contribution to society.

“The most important thing to remember is this: all disease is caused by sin in that person’s life. If someone is sick, it is because of sin, and that person is being punished for it. The sick person needs to be held accountable for their sins by an accountability partner, in a Christian accountability group.”

Say, Pharisee church pastor, I heard you having a coughing fit the other day…