Update from CNN: "It shall be called the Highway of Holiness!"

This is an update from a previous post: "I-35 Loredo to Duluth". I have no issue with people praying for others or their city or doing good work to improve their city; however I still have major issues, with the use of Scriptural numerology being played off as divine revelation and the proselytizing that is also being reported in other avenues.

In the original video post all one has to do is watch the counter of the video and see that about a third of the video if not more was a direct attack on homosexuality. These aren't just prayer sessions these "purity sieges" are demonstrations and in some cases in the face protest similar to an old style abortion clinic rally or a civil rights riot and that is another issue, but this is not prayer it is vengeance, and that is reserved to God alone!

For in my honest opinion, this is not a freedom of religion issue or a separation of church and state concern; however as originally reported and still alluded to in this article, is a violation of freedom of association and the possibility for disturbing the peace or inciting a riot as they "chanted loudly and vibrantly, making many people in the neighborhood wonder what was going on" (which is not Constitutionally protected speech). Also not forgetting to mention the fact that, one could consider some of the "praying" defamatory and hate speech, "...They prayed that adult businesses along the corridor would *insert inner baptist black woman here:"see the light" * and perhaps close down....".

You aren't going to close down your adult businesses until you understand that sexuality (no matter how it is defined or practiced with normal regard) isn't a bad thing or something to be feared and you give the people who work in those industries a reason to quit making three hundred dollars for twelve hours of work on weekends or five hundred dollars a squirt in a twenty to forty minute film sessions by forcing the industries to change and raise the standards of workplace environment. Then the employees and businesses start loosing money, which is plain and simple economics. One could start by removing alcohol from the Gentlemen Clubs and allow them to only serve coffee and soda, it works up in Michigan. The other personal reason btw, that I have issues with these "intercessors", they classify normal gay bars as "adult businesses" but not normal straight bars as well. That is what we call a double standard, and oh wait, wait, discrimination- which no longer makes this a religious action but a legal and political one.

Hitting the road (literally) with some faithful

Editor's note: In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events. Here, Gary Tuchman talks about covering people praying on what they call America's "holy highway."

DALLAS, Texas (CNN) -- If you turn to the Bible -- Isaiah Chapter 35, Verse 8 -- you will see a passage that in part says, "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness."

Now, is it possible that this "highway" mentioned in Chapter 35 is actually Interstate 35 that runs through six U.S. states, from southern Texas to northern Minnesota? Some Christians have faith that is indeed the case.

It was with that interesting belief in mind that we decided to head to Texas, the southernmost state in the I-35 corridor, to do a story about a prayer campaign called "Light the Highway."

Churchgoers in all six states recently finished 35 days of praying alongside Interstate 35, but the prayers are still continuing.

Some of the faithful believe that in order to fulfill the prophecy of I-35 being the "holy" highway, it needs some intensive prayer first. So we watched as about 25 fervent and enthusiastic Christians prayed on the the interstate's shoulder in Dallas.

They chanted loudly and vibrantly, making many people in the neighborhood wonder what was going on. They prayed that adult businesses along the corridor would "see the light" and perhaps close down.

They prayed for safety and freedom from crime for people who lived along the interstate. They prayed that all Americans would accept Jesus into their lives. Video Watch believers offer prayers »

The woman who came up with the concept of "Light the Highway" is a Texas minister named Cindy Jacobs.

She says she can't be sure Interstate 35 really is what is mentioned in the Bible but says she received a revelation to start this campaign after "once again reading Isaiah, Chapter 35."

Jacobs also points out that perhaps there is a link between the area near this highway and tragedies that have happened in history, such as the bridge collapse on I-35 in Minneapolis last August and the assassination of JFK 44 years ago near I-35 in Dallas. That's why prayer certainly can't hurt, she adds.

Now, it's only fair to say most people, the religious and the non-religious alike, don't buy any of this, but none more than the owners of some of the adult businesses along I-35.

At an adult go-go club, the owner tells us he resents people trying to impose their will on others. And he says his club holds fundraisers, food drives and toy drives to help the community.

But on the side of the road, the prayerful aren't going to change their minds. Holy highways and nude clubs, they believe, are not a combination God has in mind.

One one last note regarding the last few sentences of the article:
Who did Jesus dine with? He dined with the fishermen, the publican, and the whore!
I think more than anyone God can use something "evil" (like "nude clubs") for good. If the intercessors stance is negative to that approach, then they are in violation of direct texts of Scripture and the Grace we have all received freely. To assume otherwise is equally blasphemous as they assume the actions or lifestyle of said people and businesses can be.

CLARIFICATIONS
(from questions submitted confidentially):

What do I mean in "certain comments made" without any platitudes?

Yes I am saying that, what they are doing on the side of the road is not prayer but calling down for vengeance and judgment, when they should be calling out for mercy. Somewhere along the way they got the messages of Scripture turned around in their practice of faith and they are actually doing the job of Lucifer, not the job of the Church.

....in a continuation from the last paragraph, an answer to your third and fourth question:

Furthermore, "What they are doing is not true prayer", I am not saying that their hearts aren't in the right place and that God cant work through the groups' intention of righteousness. I am saying that their leaders need to be told to read the Good Book over again and take some instruction in the spirituality and discipline of prayer its self. Prayer is not just something that one does it is something one becomes and changes the world around them. But then again I'm an idealist and a modern traditionalist.

What do I really know, correct?, to respond to your statement in the form of the fifth question:

Fundamentalism is defined as, "a conservative political response to a failed liberal experience with religious overtones and presentation"; therefore, this isn't a religious action but a legal and political one.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:]

Certain questions were modified by Editor so as not to reveal the source of the questions in anyway possible. Thanks to Charles M. Langley for forwarding F6 this CNN news story.

[ To Be Continued...]