Chapter 65

65
HEADQUARTERS, STRATTON MINISTRIES, SAN DIEGO

Buck Stratton held a glass of bourbon in one hand and the television remote in the other. Glancing at the clock, he was hoping he hadn't missed Ableman's editorial. He mused to himself, "This here Liberal New Ager practically writes my sermons for me. Too bad he's goin' wind up in the pit with his false prophet."

The sportscaster was just winding down. "And that, all you Hornets fans is the wrap up on tonight's game and our full report on your favorite teams around the country. Tune in tomorrow for a special report by News 18's sports staff on the outlook for Super Bowl XXXIX."

"Now, here is News 18's managing editor, Karl Ableman, with some closing thoughts in his editorial message."

Ableman was smart and quick. He was a Jew but he damned sure wasn't one of the chosen of Israel. Long ago Buck Stratton had learned not to take the newsman on in public exchange. "The son of a bitch knows a lot about the Christian religion for a Jew." he thought to himself. "He's also damned dangerous."

"Good evening. This is Karl Abelman with some editorial thoughts on today's news. In the midst of the growing civil unrest in our country, the giant Buck Stratton Ministry has now started a cheap fad making scars on the foreheads of the faithful and calling it the MARK OF GOD after some out of the way part of Revelations. The process is both painful and dangerous for adults, but it has also been encouraged for children -- including very small children and in some cases even newborns."

"Of the more than a million Americans who have so far had this process -- after paying a 'love offering' of $129.95 each --a precedent case has emerged in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Child Protective Services has filed child endangerment charges against a young Christian couple after they had their two week old daughter burned by the 'salvation technicians' at a Buck Stratton service center. Judge Patricia Kline ruled for the Child Protective Services today, starting yet another of the inevitable riots outside the court house. Her comment was 'We are not going to purposefully burn scars into little children's faces in my district. This is midieval!' So there we have one view."

"Meanwhile, in Tallahassee, a similar case was filed immediately to test the legality of the procedure in Florida. Unlike Philadelphia, the Child Protective Services attorneys were castigated by Judge Frank Little as being 'agents of the anti-Christ'. Judge Little continued in his ruling, saying that Child Protective Service laws should be written to reflect Biblical teachings concerning child-rearing. Judge Little, of course, got his own riot outside the court house."

"So is burning the MARK of GOD into the forehead of your child an act of abuse? Not if you have the good sense to get a judge with the Mark of God in his own forehead."

"Meanwhile, we are all waiting with baited breath for the outcome of a Sacramento, California, case where eight year old Lindsey Blodgett, with the aid of the ACLU, is suing her parents because they won't let her get the MARK OF GOD. Her reason for wanting it? She doesn't want to go in the pit with the bugs."

"Thank you Pastor Stratton. You are clearly making the world a better place."

"This is Karl Ableman wishing you a safe night. Thank you all for watching News 18."

Buck Stratton settled a little further into his Lazy Boy. "No, Mr. Ableman, thank you. Thank you very much."