In Praise of Our Lord, Savior, and True Hope

Tebow and 316 Yards Invokes Key Verse of Bible

2012-01-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

"The devout Christian's stat line in Sunday's game mirrors the numbering of the Biblical passage that Tebow at times had painted on to his black eye paint during his career at the University of Florida -- John 3:16.

The passage reads, according to the New American Standard Bible, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Officially, Tebow passed for 316 yards against the Steelers, completing 10 of 21 pass attempts -- meaning he passed for 31.6 yards per completion."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/09/tebows-biblical-game-316-yards-invokes-key-verse/?test=faces#ixzz1j06lzl3Z

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

Prayer Within A Festive Christmas

By: Kara L. Kraemer

Wakened shadows of bright lights glow from within my heart,
To feel the beating ember of hope, resolute and stalwart.
There amidst the clamor of Christmas bells, I know
Glory and honor due to You this season will flow
Even up into the heavens.

A silent prayer within me swells,
Alight with thanksgiving that dwells
For always within for the Son whose name we praise
And celebrate with peace and love on holy days
Throughout all the earth.

O Blessed Redeemer, never does Your beauty wane.
Robed in splendor, You are king and will forever reign.
We triumph in Your coronation,
Rejoice in our eternal salvation
From within the depths of our souls.

The Treaty of Tripoli cannot be studied as a stand-alone document

2011-12-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

Intro
Those who wish to claim America is not founded upon Christian principles predictably bring up one particular document--the Treaty of Tripoli. It serves as the foundation for their entire argument. However, using only that one document as the basis in understanding the why behind our country's dominant religion is simplistic.

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Faith flourishes most sincerely without government interference
While America was not founded as a theocracy, her founding was shaped by Christian moral truths and not by secular ideas that stemmed from our colonial roots. Our founders firmly believed that our laws must coincide with God's ordained moral standards and that human laws took a back seat to moral laws. America's founding documents presuppose a Supreme Being and espouse a Christian point of view, and yet in wisdom our founders designed a constitutional order for all citizens, not just fellow believers. Our Constitution proposes that each citizen should be free to worship God (or not) as conscience motivates.

In regard to Jefferson's Letter: Thomas Jefferson once and in a personal letter used the phrase "wall of separation between church and state," and that phrase has actually displaced the true words of our First Amendment in an effort to progress that church and state shall not intertwine with one another. Note that two days after completing his letter to the Danbury Baptists, Jefferson attended church services that were being held in the U.S. Capitol. Note, too, Jefferson as President in his second inaugural address encouraged all Americans to join him in seeking “the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our forefathers, as Israel of old….”

Of similar use is the otherwise obscure Treaty of Tripoli which has proven controversial for the very reason that one particular clause found in it seems to contradict our Christian roots. The one clause in the document is used to make the whole case against Christianity as the foundational religion of America.

In spite of the Treaty of Tripoli, America, nevertheless, was and is still considered a Christian nation; and though true that our founders described America as a Christian nation, there is a constitutional prohibition against a federal establishment. The national government is denied all power over religious matters.

Our Beginnings
The first Congress crafted the First Amendment. That same Congress appointed congressional chaplains and paid them! It also reauthorized the Northwest Ordinance, which held that “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”

Furthermore, immediately after the Bill of Rights was approved by the House, Elias Boudinot recommended that a day of public thanksgiving and prayer be announced on a national level. There were fears that such a public address by the President would bring us back toward old habits of the Europeans. Out of those fears, it was recommended instead that such a religious address should be done only through the individual states.

Roger Sherman, for this momentous occasion, defended the stance of Boudinot because, according to the Annals of the Congress of the United States, the practice of thanksgiving was biblically justified:

"Mr. Sherman justified the practice of thanksgiving, on any signal event, not only as a laudable one in itself, but as warranted by a number of precedents in Holy Writ: for instance, the solemn thanksgivings and rejoicings which took place in the time of Solomon, after the building of the temple, was a case in point. This example, he thought, worthy of Christian imitation on the present occasion."

As it turned out, the majority of the House and Senate agreed. George Washington also agreed and gladly gave the famously important 1789 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation.

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…
I do recommend…the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be….
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the People…"

Continuing the tradition, religious proclamations were also issued by Adams and Madison. Jefferson as President did not issue any similarly religious proclamations but he used other forums to employ religious utterances. It is Jefferson who wrote in his "Notes on the State of Virginia,"

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Our self-governing republic requires a moral people.
Faith is an important, if not indispensable, support for morality. As previously mentioned, our founders did not want Congress to establish a national church, and there were even those who wished no establishments at the state level either. Yet on the whole they believed, as George Washington declared in his Farewell Address, that of “all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

John Adams, a deeply devout Christian, was among those aware that an established religion could bring about legal persecution of minorities and the temptation to wage holy wars. Also did he realize that a religious people were guided and united by similar moral values and beliefs.

It was Adams who declared:

"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity. . . . I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature."

None of our founders believed as many do today that political leaders must avoid all religious words or that government property cannot display religious symbols. They would certainly have approved of nativity scenes or the Ten Commandments in government buildings and would have welcomed for government officials to promote Christianity. Today's ideas of total separation between church and state are irrelevant in regard to our history.

While faith flourishes most sincerely without government interference, it should not have to fight government hostility.

Words of our founders
Noah Webster explained that America was a Christian nation different from old Europe, "The ecclesiastical establishments of Europe which serve to support tyrannical governments are not the Christian religion but abuses and corruptions of it."

The Christianity practiced in America was described by John Jay as "wise and virtuous" and by John Adams as "rational."

Of no small mention is that Daniel Webster expressed in an 1844 speech to the Supreme Court, "Christianity to which the sword and the fagot [burning stake or hot branding iron] are unknown – general tolerant Christianity is the law of the land!"

What lead up to the Treaty of Tripoli
The Barbary States of North Africa (Tunis, Morocco, Algiers, and Tripoli) were in conflict against "Christian" nations, which included the United States shortly after we won our independence from England.

Justified as retaliation for what Christians long ago had done to them, the four Barbary Powers regularly attacked American merchant ships, taking their goods and enslaving the "Christian" seamen. Families and local church groups often had to participate in fundraising efforts to gather ransoms for captured individuals.

Two examples:
1784: Pirates captured U.S. schooner Maria. Those on board were taken to Algiers and imprisoned after being paraded through the streets and humiliated as "infidels."
1793: Algerian pirates captured Polly and imprisoned the crew. The captain informed the Americans they could expect harsh treatment "for your history and superstition in believing in a man who was crucified by the Jews and disregarding the true doctrine of God's last and greatest prophet, Mohammed." A Christian crew member of the Polly, John Foss, wrote of his years captive in Algiers, “As we passed through the streets, our ears were stunned with the shouts, clapping hands, and other acclamations of joy from the inhabitants, thanking god for their great success, and victories over so many Christian dogs, and unbelievers, which is the appellation they generally give to all Christians.” Journal of John Foss, Several Years a Prisoner in Algiers, 1798, Angier March, Newbury Port, Mass.

In 1793 President Washington sent Col. David Humphreys to try to negotiate treaties with Algeria, Tripoli, and Tunis. A little later, James Simpson was sent to renew the agreement we already had with Morocco because the country had a new ruler who announced his plans of attack against nations who did not negotiate peace with him.

The new Sultan agreed to the old peace treaty. He told Simpson, "The Americans, I find, are the Christian nation my father, who is in glory, most esteemed. I am the same with them as my father was, and I trust they will be so with me."

In the meantime, Washington set in motion the plans to build up our navy, which was in pitiful condition.

Col. Humphreys later assigned Joel Barlow to form the treaties with the other three Barbary nations. On October 8, 1796, Barlow commissioned Richard O'Brien to negotiate peace with Tripoli.

After negotiations were concluded, the Treaty was forwarded to the United States. President Adams submitted it for ratification, and he wrote to the Senate, "I lay before you, for your consideration and advice, a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and subjects of Tripoli, of Barbary, concluded, at Tripoli, on the 4th day of November, 1796."

Terms of the treaties
The numerous treaties of "Peace and Amity" negotiated with the Muslim Barbary nations were unfavorable to America. We were required to pay staggering amounts of money or else give outrageously expensive gifts such as a warship to each country in exchange for freedom from attacks in the Mediteranean.

The 1797 treaty with Tripoli was meant to show respect to the Muslims for their chosen religion. We assured them we were not like Christian countries of old insofar as we would not engage a "Holy War" against them. We assured them our government was not founded on the Christian religion as it has in itself no character of enmity [hatred] against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims]. Thus, we read Article XI:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion as it has in itself no character of enmity [hatred] against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen [Muslims] and as the said States [America] have never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

It is important to note that the Article XI refers to the federal government and that religious considerations are left solely to the state governments. It is also important to note that each states' constitution as first formed is decidedly Christian.

While the Treaty of Tripoli contained the controversial Article XI, other treaties negotiated at the same time with Algiers and Tunis did not contain similar clauses.

General William Eaton
Eaton was first appointed by President John Adams as "Consul to Tunis." Under President Jefferson, he became "U.S. Naval Agent to the Barbary States," authorized to lead a military expedition against Tripoli.

By the end of the eighteenth century, the United States was behind in payments to Algiers. Joel Barlow worked to negotiate terms with Algiers which President Adams found unacceptable. Adams then sent William Eaton to negotiate more agreeable terms, but demands of Algiers and Tripoli increased, which angered Eaton to the point where he'd prefer to use military force to secure trade in the region.

Eaton's official correspondence during his service confirms that the conflict was a Muslim war against a Christian America. His letter to Secretary of State Timothy Pickering apprised Pickering of why the Muslims are such dedicated foes:

Taught by revelation that war with the Christians will guarantee the salvation of their souls, and finding so great secular advantages in the observance of this religious duty [the secular advantage of keeping captured cargoes], their [the Muslims'] inducements to desperate fighting are very powerful.

When John Marshall was Secretary of State, Eaton informed him, "It is a maxim of the Barbary States, that 'The Christians who would be on good terms with them must fight well or pay well.'"

President Jefferson sent ships to blockade Tripoli. In 1803, as fate would have it, the U.S.S. Philadelphia ran aground in Tripoli, and its 300 sailors were imprisoned. Jefferson called for war.

We learn of General Eaton's thoughts through his personal journal,

April 8th. We find it almost impossible to inspire these wild bigots with confidence in us or to persuade them that, being Christians, we can be otherwise than enemies to Musselmen. We have a difficult undertaking!
May 23rd. Hassien Bey, the commander in chief of the enemy's forces, has offered by private insinuation for my head six thousand dollars and double the sum for me a prisoner; and $30 per head for Christians. Why don't he come and take it?

U.S. ships bombarded Tripoli, and the blockade was stepped up. Tripoli no longer believed we were a "feeble sect of Christians" and agreed to negotiate another peace treaty. As it turns out, the wording in the new treaty was slightly different in regard to our Christianity--it stated that the United States had no established church.

While discussing the Barbary conflict with Jefferson, Adams declared:

The policy of Christendom has made cowards of all their sailors before the standard of Mahomet. It would be heroical and glorious in us to restore courage to ours.

The United States agreed to pay Tripoli $60,000 in order to secure the release of the hostages captured from the Philadelphia.

Eaton returned to the United States as a hero. America realized because of his military victory, the muslims were motivated to sign a new 1806 Treaty of Tripoli, the first treaty that did not include the payment of tribute. However, Eaton was appalled that we paid ransom for the freeing of the hostages.

Shortly after the military excursion against Tripoli was successfully terminated, its account was written and published. Its title is:

The Life of the Late Gen. William Eaton . . . commander of the Christian and Other Forces . . . which Led to the Treaty of Peace Between The United States and The Regency of Tripoli

First published at NewsFlavor Atheists hide the truth, guilty of fraud “Some Arab pirates were skilled bluewatersailors, and terrorized Christians 1,000 miles away. One spectacular raid all the way to Iceland in 1627 took nearly 400 captives. We think of Britain as a redoubtable seapower ever since the time of Drake, but throughout the 17th century, Arab pirates operated freely in British waters, even sailing up the Thames estuary to pick off prizes and raid coastal towns. Once in North Africa, it was tradition to parade newly-captured Christians through the streets, so people could jeer at them, and children could pelt them with refuse. At the slave market, men were made to jump about to prove they were not lame, and buyers often wanted them stripped naked again to see if they were healthy. This was also to evaluate the sexual value of both men and women; white concubines had a high value,and all the slave capitals had a flourishing homosexual underground.The pasha or ruler of the area got a certain percentage of the slave take as a form of income tax. These were almost always men, and became government rather than private property. Most of these public slaves spent the rest of their lives as galley slaves, and it is hard to imagine a more miserable existence. Men were chained three, four, or five to an oar, with their ankles chained together as well. Rowers never left their oars, and to the extent that they slept at all, they slept at their benches. Slaves could push past each other to relieve themselves at an opening in the hull, but they were often too exhausted or dispirited to move, and fouled themselves where they sat. They had no protection against the burning Mediterranean sun, and their masters flayed their already-raw backs with the slavedriver’s favorite tool of encouragement, a stretched bull’s penis or “bull’s pizzle.” There was practically no hope of escape or rescue; a galley slave’s job was to work himself to death—mainly in raids to capture more wretches like himself—and his master pitched him overboard at the first sign of serious illness.”

TREATY OF TRIPOLI, APRIL, 1806 ARTICLE XIV.
“AS the government of the United States of America has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity of Mussulmen, and as the said States never have entered into any voluntary war or act of hostility against any Mahometan except in defense of their just rights to freely navigate the high seas, it is declared by the contracting parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two nations. And the consuls and agents of both nations respectively shall have liberty to exercise his religion in his own house. All slaves of the same religion shall not be impeded in going to said consul's house at hours of prayer.”

John Adams's Fast Day Proclamation
Begun in 1775 and adopted under the new federal government by Washington, John Adams continued the practice of issuing fast and thanksgiving day proclamations.

At a time when the nation appeared to be on the brink of a war with France, Adams urged the citizens to: "acknowledge before God the manifold sins and transgressions with which we are justly chargeable as individuals and as a nation; beseeching him at the same time, of His infinite grace, through the Redeemer of the World, freely to remit all our offences, and to incline us, by His Holy Spirit, to that sincere repentance and reformation which may afford us reason to hope for his inestimable favor and heavenly benediction." Fast Day Proclamation, 1798, John Adams. Broadside Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.

"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places...."

2011-11-30T09:01:00.000-08:00

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Well known is that Jesus Christ offered earthquakes to those who believe as a sign that we are entering into the last days when we see them (earthquakes) increase in frequency and size. They will be like birth pangs, coming closer and closer together as we prepare to enter the Apocalypse.

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." -Luke 21:11

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." -Mark 13:8

"So you in like manner, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that it is near, even at the doors." -Mark 13:29 (Note: Up until recently in context of world history, it was not possible to actually see effects of earthquakes around the globe.)

A C-17 Globemaster III delivers humanitarian aid into the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 18, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. James L. Harper Jr.)[100118-F-4177H-957.JPG]

Year 2010 was a banner year for major earthquakes whereby the 7.0 magnitude January earthquake in Haiti produced almost all the earthquake fatalities and injuries suffered for that year. The nation was essentially destroyed.

A magnitude-8.8 earthquake near Chile in February was 500 times more powerful than the one in Haiti but it produced less deaths, about 577 compared to Haiti's 200,000+. China's April earthquake was 6.9 magnitude and killed nearly 3,000 people.

July 2010 brought a 6.6 earthquake in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and, thankfully, created no casualties. California experienced a 6.5 in January with some injuries and no casualties.

Around Thanksgiving last year, an unusual earthquake hit New York, a 3.9 which caused no damage or fatalities. Also unusual that winter were the earthquakes in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., where the shaking was enough to be felt but caused no real damage.

Earthquakes occur frequently throughout the world each year but are rarely detected because of their very small size. What was unusual about 2010 is that there were 22 seismic events which measured at 7.0 magnitude or higher, the largest number since 1968 according to reports from the the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The previous year of 2009 showed 17 earthquakes that were over magnitude 7.0. Neither year, however, competes with 1943 when there were 32 major earthquakes.

Interesting are USGS statistics which show that the number of magnitude 5.0 to 9.9 earthquakes in 2010 was 2,117. The number of such quakes has increased considerably from ten years previous, which was 1,505 in year 2000.

Largest earthquakes in year 2011

January: Argentina--7.0;Chile--7.1; Pakistan--7.2; Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia)--7.0
In February, the largest earthquake magnitude was 6.8 near Chile.
March, April, July, and September found several devastating earthquakes in Japan, the largest being an unbelievable 9.0 on March 11.
In May, Loyalty Islands were hit once again with the month's largest earthquake, 6.8 magnitude.
June: Alaska was hit with a 7.2 earthquake.
July: Kermadec Islands (part of New Zealand) region was hit with a 7.6.
August: Vanuatu experienced two massive earthquakes, 7.0 and 7.1 magnitudes, and another one in September at 7.0 magnitude.
October: Eastern Turkey was hit with a 7.1 and Kermadec Islands experienced another quake at 7.4.
November found Oklahoma hit by small, but larger than normal for the location, earthquakes.

Many biblical scholars believe the increase in recorded earthquakes are a marvelous portent. John Claeys, for example, author of the book Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock is quoted as saying,

“Perhaps we ought to consider the possibility that their increase is an indicator that creation is ‘groaning’ ever more ‘loudly’ as we come closer to the tribulation period.”

First published on Examiner
Topic Daily Globe Topic

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T00:04:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Proclamation

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

One minute prayers for a nation in turmoil

2011-10-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hospital Tries to Starve 55-Year-Old Man to Death
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, bless the Alliance Defense Fund in Maryland, who stopped the death of Daniel Sanger, a man Frederick Memorial Hospital reportedly began starving to death for six days without food and water, because his wife gave permission to kill him, even after he told his mother and doctor he wanted to live. From Deut 30:19 we pray people choose life, and nobody ever signs a Do Not Resuscitate authorization forcing hospitals to stop your food, water, or air, causing death sooner than God, because allowing eating, drinking, and breathing are not extraordinary measures, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lesbian Parents Abuse 11-Year-Old Adoptee, Turn Boy Into a Girl
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, bless Walt Heyer, a man who repented and regrets changing his gender, and psychiatrists Dr. Keith Ablow and Dr. Paul McHugh for reportedly declaring the truth, that lesbians Pauline Moreno and Debra Lobel are abusing their 11-year old adopted son Tommy by forcing him to have hormone treatments to try to make him a girl, and they are reportedly calling him 'Tammy.' God help the government remove abused children from homes of homosexuals who violate children’s minds and bodies, and from Romans 12:2 renew Tommy’s mind, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Obama Helps Muslim Sue Berkeley School District
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are grieved by the Obama administration’s choice to sue the Berkeley School District for “religious discrimination” and for giving a muslim teacher, Safoorah Khan $75,000 in back pay, damages and attorney’s fees – even though she quit her job after the school denied her three weeks of absence for a trip to Mecca, skipping class in the middle of the year. The Obama administration would never sue a school to help Jewish or Christian teachers or parents visit Israel. From Ezekiel 22:12, God you detest “unjust gain,” in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
See story behind ruling, click here.

Christian Film “Courageous” Remains in Top Ten for Three Weeks
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for great success by another of Sherwood Baptist Church’s movies, Courageous, which tells the story of five men on their journey to become better fathers. Competing against new Hollywood movies and costing only $1 million to make, this Christian film earned $57 million dollars, including $22 million on opening weekend, and has ranked in the top 10 for three weekends in a row. From Exodus 31:3 please continue to bless the crew at Sherwood Baptist Church with skill, ability and knowledge to create hundreds more films, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reaffirm "In God We Trust" as the National Motto.

1996 Defense of Marriage Law (DOMA) Violated by Obama’s Pentagon
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, protect the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a good law passed in 1996 that is now fully assaulted by homosexual activists who already repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the military. If DOMA is overturned it would force homosexual marriage and bonus pay in all 50 states, with free health care coverage, housing and money rewarding biologically deviant behavior at our expense. Genesis 2 reminds us that real marriage is solely between one man and one woman. Lord, please protect Your institution of marriage which represents Christ and Your church, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Hotel Cancels Anti-Sharia Conference and Jewish Speaker Pamela Geller
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You condemn the anti-semitic Hyatt Hotel in Sugar Land, Texas, for cancelling a Tea Party event on the same day Jewish author, Pamela Geller, was scheduled to speak on the dangers of Muslim Sharia Law in America, because the Muslim terrorist front group, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) complained. We ask Your Peace to be on Pamela Geller and all who understand our need for protection from Islamic terrorists, and from Psalm 122:6 we also pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and persecuted Jews and Christians alike, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Repeal Obamacare - and defund Abortion!

Somalia: Christian Teen Beheaded by Muslim Extremists
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we rejoice with Guled Jama Muktar, a 17 year-old Christian teen who was considered worthy to be martyred for your name and now wears a white robe in heaven, as you say Christian martyrs do in Revelation 6:11. Guled was beheaded by Shabbab Islamic militants on September 25th near the Somali capital, after they stalked him and his family for the last three years. Please bring peace and healing to Guled’s parents as they grieve the loss of their son, and they continue to evangelize Muslims, in Jesus’ Name, Amen. See article, click here.

Adapted from Pray in Jesus name project

Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was vindicated by Congress after being honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007, after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

Pastor in Iran to be executed for his belief in Christ

2011-10-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

The ACLJ is asking all concerned citizens to sign a petition to Hillary Clinton for help in sparing the life of a pastor guilty of embracing Christianity.

Embracing Christianity doesn't sound like it should be a crime; but in Muslim-controlled Iraq and in spite of their constitution, it is enough to get a former Muslim executed. The White House has condemned the death sentence and Iran's "utter disregard" for religious freedom.

The Iranian government is hoping Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will recant his faith, but the pastor has responded that he cannot deny his faith in Christ. Since Iran does not wish the world to see the truth of its justice, false reports from the state media are now starting to circulate. They say that Pastor Youcef is guilty of Zionism, that he has committed crimes that threaten Iran's security. Also, they indicate he is accused of rape and extortion.

These charges arise in order to cover the real reason for Pastor Youcef's appointed execution. Before worldwide attention, documents in a ruling from the Iranian Supreme Court show Nadarkhani was sentenced to execution by hanging for “turning his back on Islam” and “converting Muslims to Christianity.”

According to Jay Sekulow, ACLJ:

"The only question now is whether the Iranian government is actually leveling these new charges against him in court or just throwing out new accusations to try and deflect media attention."
“One thing is clear, if Fars News is acknowledging Pastor Youcef's trial, we know that Iran's leaders are fully aware of it too - that's a good thing."

The ACLJ is working hard with Congressional leaders, the United Nations, international media, and Pastor Youcef’s attorney; and Iran is weary of the international pressure.

Hillary Clinton has released a statement that the U.S. is deeply concerned; but in order to save the pastor's life, it is imperative that she use the weight of the U.S. State Department to call on Iran for Pastor Youcwef's unconditional release.

Pastor Youcef and family

It is not too late to for the petition to have an effect on Iran's final decision in regard to Pastor Youcef.

Continue reading Petition to Hillary Clinton to save Christian pastor in Iran - http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-yakima/petition-to-hillary-clinton-to-save-christian-pastor-iran#ixzz1Zyrjpy5Q

The Great Commission - Ways of spreading joy through charity

2011-08-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Some of us serve God and spread the Gospel through mission work or through our writing, door-to-door witnessing, church ministries, etc. Perhaps we don't do as much as we feel we should because of other pressures, limited opportunities, and then our energy only goes so far.
To supplement your efforts in serving God, consider working from your home by writing letters/cheery cards or sending brochures/books to others in need of uplifting. Share knowledge about the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Or seek out volunteer work in your neighborhood among those longing for friendly attention and according to your own schedule.

Write to a prison inmate. See Washington profiles.

Oregon profiles Idaho profiles Virginia profiles Other states

Prison pen pals, "How WriteAPrisoner.com and You Change the World…"
Florida, Indiana, and Missouri do not allow WriteAPrisoner to work with inmates. Write to the governors of those states, click here.

The Alliance is living the call together: "When it comes to sharing the reason for our hope, faith, and joy, we reach more people when we work together. Our partnership in building Christ’s Church worldwide is getting the job done!" On Facebook

Washington Department on Aging and Elder Services
Senior services state-to-state
Tips for visiting a nursing home

"Adopt a nursing home patient" program

"The Foundation will help locate a facility in your area and enable you to become a community volunteer. To learn more about how local volunteers can get involved to help those in need, please contact Shari Rhoads, President and co-founder, Dorotha C. White Foundation at 1-800-789-4836 or srhoads@dcwhitefoundation.org."

Adopt a nursing home on Facebook
The Senior Source

Thanksgiving holiday/Florida: "But for too many on the outer edge of life, Thanksgiving will be spent without family or friends. Assisted living facilities around the state are encouraging volunteers to spend some time with seniors this holiday weekend. If you’re interested in helping out call a nursing home near you or contact Florida’s Long-term care Ombudsman Program at 1-888-831-0404 or visit their website." On Facebook.

Christmas for Seniors, Facebook

American Bible Society Your prayers are needed. "Orphaned boys and girls are hungry to know God and thirsty for hope...." Share your story
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Visiting orphans "Visiting Orphans is a mission sending agency that works to fulfill the biblical mandate given in James 1:27 of "visiting orphans" in their distress. We are currently leading trips to: China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Rwanda & Uganda." Pray for Visiting Orphans. Buy from their store.

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Orphanages throughout the world.
North AmericaSt. Joseph Orphanage - Canada
Stephen Wiggins Home for Boys - Canada
Corazón de Vida - USA
Covenant Ranch - USA
Angel Guardian Orphanage AGO Hangout - USA
Angel Guardian Orphanage - USA
McClelland Children's Home (now School)- USA
Goodland Presbyterian Children's Home - USA
Buckner Children's Home - USA
St. Joseph's Village Rockleigh - USA
St. Joseph Orphanage - USA
Rose of Sharon Association - USA
Oxford Orphanage - USA
Florida Baptist Children's Homes - USA
High Plains Children's Home - USA
His House Children's Home - USA
Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services - USA
Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) - USA
Milton Hershey School - USA
Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes - USA
Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina - USA
Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children - USA
Bethel Bible Village Children's Home - USA
The Palmer Home for Children - USA
Unite The World (penpal service) - USA
Charleston Orphan House - USA (former orphanage)

Visiting the homebound
Visiting those in the hospital, the sick, homebound, and elderly
Visiting sick kids
Send get well cards to sick kids
Visiting the sick

How to write to our troops
Support our troops

One minute prayers for a nation in turmoil

2011-06-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

New York forces Gay "Marriage"
with help from four RINOs
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are grieved that the New York State legislature has forced homosexual "marriage" against the will of God and the people, by a 33 to 29 vote. Four Republican traitors voted for this bill, including:
James Alesi, Stephen Saland, Roy McDonald, Mark Grisanti.
They sided with all the anti-Christian Democrats. One courageous Democrat--Senator Ruben Diaz--voted against gay marriage.
Homosexuality is unnatural against the laws of nature, the laws of God. Show us how to work against this deviant law and help us. Father, please forgive and heal our nation.
In Jesus Name. Amen.

62 Percent Of Americans Support Traditional Marriage
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are thankful for the results of a new national survey that shows sixty-two percent of Americans believe marriage is defined as only between one man and one woman, the way You created it in Genesis 2:24 when You said Adam would be united to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. All thirty-one states that have allowed a vote have defined marriage as only between one man and one woman. We pray for victories in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Indiana who will soon be voting to protect marriage. In Jesus Name. Amen.

NBC Censors “Under God” From Pledge of Allegiance
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are outraged, joining millions of Americans, who expressed frustration, anger, and disappointment on the internet, when NBC television twice censored the words “Under God, indivisible” from the Pledge of Allegiance during their broadcast of the U.S. Open. We recall Psalm 32:12 that the nation is blessed whose God is the Lord, but sadly we endure the insults of media producers who no longer honor God. Thank God that public pressure was immediate and loud enough to force NBC to offer an apology. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The Pledge of Allegiance (oath of loyalty) was formed in 1892. It was formally adopted in 1942. To distinguish our country from the atheistic communists, Congress in 1954 voted in the words, "under God." Ever since, the words, "under God" have been recited as part of the the pledge by Boy Scouts, Rotary Clubs, in schools, before sporting events, etc.

Democrats Pushing Tax-Funded Abortions at Military Bases
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You help defeat the pro-abortion MARCH for Military Women Act, filed in the U.S. Senate by Democrats Boxer, Gillibrand, Murray, Shaheen, and Lautenberg, a bill which means to overturn the law’s current ban on abortions in military hospitals, and would force taxpayers to pay for the abortions performed on our troops, hurting both mother and father, and killing their child. We recall Your command from Exodus 20:13 that we shall not murder. God help Senators vote for life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

“For YOU created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Anglicans Ordain Gay Bishops; Methodists Convict Lesbian Pastor
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, Jude 1:4 reminds us about certain men who … have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. God rebuke the Anglican Church who plans to ordain openly homosexual bishops, but bless the United Methodist Church who convicted a lesbian Methodist pastor of marrying homosexuals by a 13-0 vote of her clergy peers. We pray for all clergy who reject the Bible, that they would repent and turn faithfully toward Your Word. In Jesus Name. Amen.

California Textbooks To Teach Homosexual Indoctrination
U.N. Pushes Special Rights for Homosexuals
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You help defeat California’s SB48, which law would re-write textbooks to promote gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons as positive role models that children will be taught to admire, to admire basically because of their gay-ness. We do not need to teach our children in school about homosexuality. God Bless Randy Thomasson and others whose ministries have been obedient to your word as in Isaiah 21:6 by being watchmen on the wall, and reporting what they see and shouting it out, so that Your people can take action. Bless and move Your people to rise up and take action against this evil bill. We pray also about Secretary Hillary Clinton who has pressured the U.N. to a 23-19 vote to affirm homosexuality as a special right, based on alleged “abuses and violations that LGBT people face…based solely on who they are and who they love.” In spite of her deceitful words, we do well to remember that love is not selfish lust.
With the affirmed resolution, the U.N. has effectively placed Christians in harm's way and for persecution worldwide simply because of their beliefs and resolve to express them. Proverbs 29:2 reminds us that when the righteous rule, the people rejoice but when the wicked rule, the people groan. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Above adapted from prayers formed by the PrayinJesusnameProject
Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was vindicated by Congress after being honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007, after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

II Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Last days: The mystery of lawlessness is a set of beliefs that is totally contrary to "the truth"

Army National Guard Officer refuses to cooperate
Protection for a group that is not disadvantaged

Catholic Charities sticks with their religious convictions

2011-06-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

First it was Catholic Charities of Rockford, Illinois.
Now both Peoria and Joliet Catholic Charities have followed suit in reaction to new policies designed to accommodate civil unions. They have written letters to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) explaining that it was against their practice to place children with unmarried cohabiting couples, whether straight or gay.

Catholic Conference of Illiniois executive director Robert Gilligan said it isn't exactly a "radical notion" that children are best served in families where the parents are a married, straight couple or a single individual. He plans to be working with state legislators in hopes for a measure to "protect the groups' religious liberty."

Traditionally in America, the government has needed and appreciated service from private agencies to help with ongoing problems in society such as in feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, administering to the sick, or finding suitable homes for children without responsible parents. In return, the government has provided funding for these agencies of charity.
Oftentimes, the best-run charitable groups are those motivated to begin because of their faith and willingness to serve God. Today, however, the government wishes those agencies to put their service above their faith, which would in some cases defeat the motivation for getting involved in the first place.

From the ACLU is this analysis:

Catholic Charities is free to practice in accordance with its religious teachings. But if it chooses to accept tax dollars to perform the state’s job of finding families for children in state custody, it may not use religious criteria — as opposed to child welfare criteria — in choosing families for them.....
An agency that places its own values above the interests of the children it previously accepted into its care does a great disservice and in some instance affirmative harm to those children.

Diocesan communications director Penny Wiegert revealed,

“Catholic Charities and other religious agencies implored the State of Illinois to allow their agencies to refer civil union couples to other adoption and foster care agencies so as to not violate the moral teachings of their faith.”

However, that is not what happened. As a result, Catholic Charities of Rockford ended its publicly funded foster care and adoptive services while Catholic Charities in Peoria and Joliet temporarily suspended issuing new licenses for foster care and adoptive parents. They will close four of seven offices and lay off 58 caseworkers and employees. Non-state funded services, including private adoption, will be continued.

“Our caseworkers do this work not just because it’s their job, but because it is their calling,” said director of Catholic Charities Frank Vonch. “The children and families they serve are just an extension of their commitment to our mission, which serving children is at its basic core, so it is a very grave loss for them as well as for everyone involved with charities....we can no longer contract with the State of Illinois whose laws would force us to participate in activity offensive to the moral teachings of the church – teachings which compel us to do this work in the first place.”

Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) spokesman Kendall Marlowe is reviewing the issue:

"Short term, we will explore every option to prevent further disruption in these children's lives. This isn't a viable long-term solution. Eventually these agencies would attrit their way out of foster care simply because they'd run out of foster homes."

It is not over yet. Catholic Charities has sued the State of Illinois.

Catholic Charities refuses to place children with same sex couples, click here.

Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Thomas More Law Center Honors Our Fallen on this Memorial Day
Friday, May 27, 2011

Memorial Day is a time to remember the fallen heroes throughout our nation’s history “who gave the last full measure of devotion” to their nation. Mere words cannot capture the enormity of their sacrifice or the anguish of loved ones they left behind.

Let us take this time to remember and pray for our troops who have died in battle and for their loved ones who still mourn their great loss.

Let us also pray for our troops who are in harm’s way today.

I want to remember the sacrifices of Captain Michael Martino, USMC, and Major Gerald Bloomfield, USMC, who died in defense of their country. Their honorable names are memorialized at the foot of the Mt. Soledad Cross.

I close this Memorial Day message with a favorite poem by Marine Chaplain Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, which pays tribute to our courageous soldiers for their service in protecting the fundamental liberties guaranteed by our Constitution:

It is the Soldier
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.
God bless America.

Sincerely yours,

Richard Thompson
President and Chief Counsel
Thomas More Law Center

Christian prayer is allowed at Memorial Day ceremony, click here.

May 5: National Day of Prayer

2011-05-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I will trust. --

Psalm 91:2

Hymn, "A Mighty Fortress," click here.

"Let us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that we often take for granted."

President Obama proclaimed Thursday, May 5, 2011, to be a National Day of Prayer.
In the proclamation, he acknowledged that "Prayer has played an important role in the American story and in shaping our Nation's leaders" and that "from the earliest years of our country's history, Congress and Presidents have set aside days to recognize the role prayer has played in so many definitive moments in our history."

NationalDayofPrayer.org
White House Proclamation

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

Crucifixion

Resurrected!

The confusing book of Revelation

According to biased research, people who refuse evolution do so because they suffer death anxiety

2011-04-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

An article describing research by the University of British Columbia and Union College of New York starts out with saying "research examined the psychological motives underlying widespread support for intelligent design theory (IDT), a purportedly scientific theory that lacks any scientific evidence; and antagonism toward evolutionary theory (ET), a theory supported by a large body of scientific evidence."

Actually, though, there are many respected scientists who would not accept the above sentence as written. Intelligent design basically and scientifically refutes the theory of evolution with overwhelming negative evidence. With facts and scientific knowledge, common sense and logic do support Intelligent Design.

The aforementioned article is one against teaching IDT in schools; and even though there was a recent ruling in PA against teaching IDT alongside evolution, the "handwriting on the wall" (Louisiana and Texas) shows the debate is far from over. A major branch of Canada's federal research funding agency refused to fund research examining "negative effects of IDT's notoriety, on the grounds that there was not 'adequate justification for the assumption …that the theory of Evolution, and not Intelligent Design, was correct.'”

Do we believe in God because we're afraid not to? The approach of the study is to examine inner feelings of people in regard to death: those who accept evolulution as truth versus those who do not. In short, it wants to find what is wrong psychologically with those people who insist Creation explains our beginnings. What are their "psychological motives, beyond logic and reasoning."

The theory they are trying to establish is based on supposing that those with the belief in creation comes as a "terror management" strategy stemming from a heightened awareness of their own mortality. Now that is interesting: do people most aware of their mortality tend to be the same people most likely to believe in God?

In regard to politics: "A comprehensive meta-analysis found that political conservatism is at least partly rooted in the basic need to manage feelings of threat and uncertainty." They liken a conservative's need for psychological security to that of a young child or an adult with Alzheimer's.

Then they go on to say that educated people usually are evolutionists; and if someone wants to believe in Creation but doesn't want to forsake the "feeling of belongingness in the broader culture of Western science-educated individuals," they (Creationists) have to cling to the hope that there might be scientific evidence to support their childish belief.

Since ET "on its face" offers a random, negative approach to life, giving no more meaning to a human's life than to that of a cockroach, they theory that Creation-believing people cannot bear such anxiety and prefer to think there is order and meaning in life. (Sentence from the article: "ET does not confer any sense of greater meaning or purpose, instead asserting that human life is the result of the same natural forces that produce viruses and cockroaches.")

What their research concluded

With 1,674 U.S. and Canadian participants of different ages and educational, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds, one group was separated to imagine and write about their own death. A control group was set up to imagine and write about pain from dental work.

Then they were to read two selected excerpts from the writings of Michael Behe (Creation Scientist) and Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary Biologist). Both excerpts were written from a scientific standpoint with no religion involved.

Those who imagined their own death reported greater support for intelligent design and liking for Behe compared to those who imagined dental pain.

In another part of the study, participants read an excerpt from science writer Carl Sagan which argued natural forces in the world could also provide a sense of meaning. Those participants who read the excerpts showed reduced belief in intelligent design compared to those who had not read the excerpt. Jessica L. Tracy, who helped conduct the study, concluded:

"These findings suggest that individuals can come to see evolution as a meaningful solution to existential concerns, but may need to be explicitly taught that taking a naturalistic approach to understanding life can be highly meaningful."

"Natural science students have been taught to view evolutionary theory as compatible with the desire to find a greater sense of meaning in life. Presumably, they already attain a sense of existential meaning from evolution."

So the study suggests that, for some of us, if we believe life has existential meaning without God, then we'll have no need for God. We would then be more inclined to accept evolution and ignore with faith all its scientific flaws. This is a switch: instead of believing evolution to rid God from our consciousness, we now rid God from our consciousness in order to believe evolution.

For original article, references, and brief discussion, click here.

Bobby Ghosh explains why muslims are violent over abuse of Koran while Christians are not violent over abuse of the Holy Bible, the "Word of God"

2011-04-05T04:21:00.000-07:00

MSNBC "Hardball" with Chuck Todd
According to MSNBC guest and Time Magazine world editor Bobby Ghosh, the Koran is from God while the Bible was transcribed by man. That is why each individual Koran is, according to him, more sacred than any Bible.

"The Bible is a book written by men. It is acknowledged by Christians that it is written by men. It`s the story of Jesus.
But the Koran, if you are a believer, if you`re a Muslim, the Koran is directly the word of God, not written by man. It is transcribed, is directly the word of God.
That makes it sacred in a way that it`s hard to understand if you’re not Muslim."

Original article and video, click here.

Re-affirming our National Motto: "In God We Trust"

2011-03-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

In 2006, San Francisco's 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled against atheist Michael Newdow's complaint about our motto "In God We Trust" being unconstitutional and infringing on his beliefs.

He tried to get the phrase which was first put on U.S. coins in the 1860s and on paper money in 1957 to be removed permanently from our currency. He claims it "excludes people who don't believe in God" and that it violated his First Amendment rights.

U.S. District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr., said the phrase did not trample on Newdow's avowed religious views. The court found "In God We Trust" to be patriotic, not religious, writing it "has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion."

Newdow appealed to the U.S. Supreme court, but last week it refused to hear him.

A New Resolution
In response to several attempts to strip God from America's heritage, a resolution re-affirming "In God We Trust" as the national motto has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee and is now headed for a full House vote.

H. CON. RES. 274
Reaffirming 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Reaffirming 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
-Whereas 'In God We Trust' is the official motto of the United States;
-Whereas the sentiment, 'In God We Trust', has been an integral part of United States society since its founding;
-Whereas in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction;
-Whereas the Declaration of Independence recognizes God, our Creator, as the source of our rights, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.';
-Whereas the national anthem of the United States says 'praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation . . . and this be our motto: in God is our trust.';
-Whereas the words 'In God We Trust' appear over the entrance to the Senate Chamber and above the Speaker's rostrum in the House Chamber;
-Whereas the oath taken by all Federal employees, except the President, states 'I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.';
-Whereas John Adams said, 'Statesmen may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.';
-Whereas if religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United States was founded cannot be secured;
-Whereas as President Eisenhower said and President Ford later repeated, 'Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor, an American way of life.'; and
-Whereas President John F. Kennedy said, 'The guiding principle and prayer of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be 'In God We Trust.': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes that trust in God is embedded into the fabric of society and history of the United States and rejects the notion that the laws and Constitution of the United States require the exclusion of God from matters of government and public life; and
(2) reaffirms 'In God We Trust' as the official motto of the United States and supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.

Rep. Randy Forbes and two dozen other members are sponsoring the resolution. Forbes reasons, "We will give inspiration that our people across the country need. If we can succeed in getting ‘In God We Trust’ engraved in the United States Capitol Visitor Center, I believe we can succeed in engraving that motto on the hearts of Americans once again."

Several Republicans agree with Forbes, saying God had a hand in founding the United States and is responsible for the nation's success. U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana said the "hand of providence" has guided America. He continued that God "rewards those, including nations, who earnestly seek Him."

U.S. Rep. Steve King of Iowa echoes the same sentiment, "I believe the Founding Fathers were moved around like men on a chessboard put in place at that time so the world could have America." If references to God are discouraged in public buildings, "in the end, it wouldn't be an agnostic nation, it would be an atheistic nation imposed by the minds of people who revert to the hard-core left."

Once the measure passes the House, it still is subject to approval by the Senate.

Video
See original article and references: Bedrock upon which our nation is built: "In God We Trust"--National Motto

One minute prayers for a nation in need

2011-02-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood Passes House 240-185

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we rejoice the House of Representatives passed the Amendment by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) to defund Planned Parenthood, saving taxpayers $363 million per year and saving countless babies from murderous abortions. God help the Senate pass this pro-life measure, and give another victory to all our petitioners who faxed their Senators, obeying Deuteronomy 30:19: “choose life so that we and our children may live.” And persuade President Obama to repent and sign this bill into law, so that all may know America chooses life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

California Missionaries Kidnapped by Somali Pirates

Let us pray. Almighty God, we pray you rescue the 4 American missionaries whose yacht full of Bibles were hijacked by Somali Pirates near Djibouti, and are being held for ransom. God save Jean and Scott Adam, a California couple, and their two aides who have sailed the world for years since 2004 giving away free Bibles, and save the other 660 hostages on 30 ships held by pirates. Help their captors see and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. From Luke 4:18, God sent Jesus to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…to release the oppressed, in Jesus name, Amen. (The four Americans Christian hostages were killed. Story, click here.)

North Dakota House Approves Personhood of UnbornLet Us Pray. Almighty God, bless North Dakota State Representative Dan Ruby who introduced the Defense of Human Life Act, “HB 1450” which passed overwhelmingly by a 68-25 vote last week in the House. We pray now as this moves to the Senate that the hearts of the legislators would stand for life, and acknowledge that a “human being” is an individual member of the species homo sapiens at every stage of development, as this bill declares. From Psalm 139:13-14, You knit us together in our mothers' wombs and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Virginia: Senate Rejects Prayer Amendment

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are grieved by the party-line vote of 4-3 when all Virginia Democrats voted against prayer and liberty in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, denying a popular amendment to clarify a persons right to pray on public property. The bill, HJ 593, had previously passed the Virginia House by a vote of 66-33. God Bless Delegate Bill Carrico who submitted the bill, and help those VA democrats repent of stopping prayer. From 1Thessalonians 5:17 we pray without ceasing, despite those who want to silence the public prayers of the saints, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Arizona Tries to End Homosexual Bonus Pay

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, bless the Arizona state legislators who are cutting homosexual bonus pay from the state budget, and ending free health care for same-sex partners who refuse to get their own jobs with health benefits, expecting tax-payers to pay extra to reward their abnormal ways. The state had already cut off heterosexual domestic partner benefits on January 1, so we now pray for equal treatment, and pray the government would not endorse homosexuality. Grant justice, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Congressman Defends “Mother” and “Father”

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, Isaiah 5:20 reminds us that we live in a time when men will call evil good and good evil. God Bless Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA) who is doing good by introducing the Parental Title Protection Act which would require all federal agencies and contractors to use the words “mother” and “father” when describing parents on all official documents and forms. This after homosexual activists recently removed mother and father from passports, and replaced them with “parent 1” and “parent 2.” We pray our government defines marriage as Jesus did in Matthew 19, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Afghan Christian Charged with Apostasy

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for Afghan Christian convert Said Musa who is in prison and facing a death sentence for apostasy from Islam. He said, “I believe in God Almighty and in His only Son. My Lord is the light of the world. He’s alive, not a dead person…my sin is this, I believe in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Musa also believes Mark 8:36, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul” as is evidence in his letters from prison. Lord rescue Said Musa, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Adapted from the "Pray in Jesus Name" project.
Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007 after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, (but was later vindicated by Congress), are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

Millions of Chinese turning to Christianity

2011-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Congressional bill introduced to save Mt. Soledad War Memorial Cross from ACLU

2011-01-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

The spectacular cross presently atop Mt. Soledad in LaJolla, California, was built in 1954 as a war memorial. It wasn't until 1989 that opponents of the cross have been trying to get it removed legally by claiming the cross is a religious symbol and does not make a suitable war memorial.

In 1991, a judge in the Southern District of California, ruled that since the cross was permanently positioned inside a public park and was maintained at taxpayers' expense, it violated the "No Preference" clause of the California Constitution.

In 1992, San Diego voters approved Proposition F, which allowed part of Mt. Soledad Natural Park to be a non-profit corporation for maintenance of a historic war memorial. However, the Ninth Circuit Appellate Court held that "highly visible, religiously significant Easter crosses, erected in public parks owned and maintained by local government, in the absence of any symbols of other religions, and without any independent historical significance, violated the 'No Preference' Clause of the California Constitution."

A few years later, the city sold the land at the base of the cross to the nonprofit Mount Soledad Memorial Association, and it became part of a Korean War Memorial. Since then over 2,500 plaques engraved with names and photos of war veterans have been installed on walls at the base of the cross.

From 1997 to 2008, disputes involving the sale of the land and the constitutionality of the cross on the land went in and out of court. In 2006, the federal government obtained the title to the cross and its surrounding property by eminent domain and declared the cross to be a national war memorial.

In 2008, U.S. Federal Judge Larry Burns ruled that the cross could remain, writing, "The Court finds the memorial at Mt. Soledad, including its Latin cross, communicates the primarily non-religious messages of military service, death and sacrifice. As such, despite its location on public land, the memorial is Constitutional."

Last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and decided that since the 43-foot-tall cross was on public land and because it seemed to endorse a particular religion, it violated "separation of church and state." The ACLU was glad for the ruling as is reflected in the words by Daniel Mach, Director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief,

"We are pleased that the court recognized the fundamental principle barring the government from playing favorites with religion. Unlike religious symbols on individual headstones that appropriately reflect the personal faiths of fallen American soldiers, when the government displays a giant sectarian symbol as a national war memorial, it sends a divisive message valuing the sacrifices of some service members above all others."

Contrarily, Joe Infranco, senior counsel of The Alliance Defense Fund, was appalled that the memory of troops should be dishonored because the ACLU and a few others are offended by the presence of the cross.

"It's tragic that the court chose a twisted and tired interpretation of the First Amendment over the common sense idea that the families of fallen American troops should be allowed to honor these heroes as they choose."

San Diego County Reps. Duncan D. Hunter of Alpine, Darrell Issa of Vista, and Brian Bilbray of Solana Beach have reacted to the hateful ruling by introduction of a bill to block removal of the cross. The bill would allow religious symbols that are part of military monuments.

Bilbray and Hunter have also written to U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to continue the legal fight to keep the cross from being removed.

For article, references, video, click here.

American Atheists erect new billboard proudly declaring all religions are scams

2011-01-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

Huntsville, Alabama: American Atheists erected a billboard over the weekend, which is seen by northbound traffic on US-231 Memorial Parkway, a billboard which claims that all religions are scams. "This is a great news day for American Atheists!"

While all religions are scams, according to the billboard, "American Atheists" has been "telling the truth since 1963."

Blair Scott, communications director for American Atheists, expressed a purpose for the ad:

"[O]ur target is not the Christians, but all the atheists and agnostics still in the closet who are still pretending, still playing the game, still putting up a facade."

Like who? There is no advantage in pretending to be a Christian, not on earth and not for hope in afterlife.

American Atheists openly and carelessly throw out accusations against people of religion, saying they "scam" to raise money via a fraudulent business scheme, that leaders attempt to intentionally mislead to receive financial or other gain and that their followers are willing victims.

According to American Atheists, all religions receive money from the flocks who are deceived. However, the atheist group neglects in comment that many non-Christians also give to Christian organizations such as the Salvation Army or Samaritan's Purse because they've seen and believe in the good work such organizations do for humanity.

American Atheists goes on to contend,

"Billions of adherents, many of whom are preachers themselves, all victims of this Great Scam. Some know it's a scam, yet defend religion because they like the lies. They like the fraud. They like the false sense of security. Unfortunately, no matter how much you like a lie, it doesn't make it truth. It DOES make religion a great scam if victims are willing to defend it, even in the face of truth."

Billions? Nobody likes fraud or a false sense of security. In fact, many a Christian throughout history has given up security for their belief.

Do these billboard atheists in America even understand that Jesus and His disciples are a proven fact of history, as much as any historical figure from ancient times? Do they understand witnesses, including those outside the Bible, have documented the wonders of Christ? Do they know what this man Jesus taught? Atheists may refute that Jesus knows clearly about the afterlife while we do not; but they can't refute that many of us truly believe in Jesus as the Son of God.

After the death of Jesus, the disciples hid and were afraid, disenchanted, and discouraged. When He resurrected and appeared to them, they underwent a transformation. Suddenly and seemingly inexplicably, they became without fear. They carried His message to remote parts of the world, all of them eventually (exception John) experiencing a martyred death. Not one of them denied their faith when a simple denial would have saved their lives. Not one.

Reword the atheist's quote, "religion a great scam if victims are willing to defend it, even in the face of truth" to "religion a great power since believers are willing to cling to it, even in the face of death."

Christians are used to being ridiculed by non-believers, and it will be interesting to see how people of other faiths respond to this ad.

For original article/video of ad, click here.

Have a holly, jolly Christmas

2010-12-25T01:45:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Luke 2:9-12: And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13-14: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times. ”

Isaiah 9:6-7: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

"Prayer within a Festive Christmas," click here/here.
"Secularization of Christmas" "The anti-American grinch is trying so hard to stamp out those Nativity scenes"

Astronomer discriminated against because he is an evolution skeptic

2010-12-18T23:11:00.000-08:00

C. Martin Gaskell, who currently teaches at the University of Texas, says he is not a creationist but he does see problems with the theory of evolution. His belief regarding evolution was enough to alarm professors three years ago at the University of Kentucky.

In 2007, Gaskell was an astronomer at the University of Nebraska and was also a leading candidate uniquely qualified for the position of director at the University of Kentucky's MacAdam Student Observatory. In fact, he was at the top of a list of applicants considered by the search committee, one member of the committee calling him "breathtakingly above the other applicants."

However, he was not selected. Gaskell believes it is because of his religious faith and because they found statements of his that were perceived to make him a non-believer in the theory of evolution. Therefore, Gaskell has sued the university, claiming lost income and emotional distress, and he feels "one should not allow universities to get away with religious discrimination."

The story behind the non-selection of Gaskell

It seems after being passed over for the position, Gaskell later learned that professors had discussed his purported religious views during the search process. Some expressed that his Christian faith could conflict with his duties as a scientist, calling him "something close to a creationist" and "potentially evangelical." According to court records, they wrote each other in internal e-mails about Gaskell's faith and that it might affect the job, part of which is lecturing publicly on science.

The e-mails indicated the professors were on edge about hiring a Christian, partly because around this time a Bible-based museum in Kentucky had just opened. The museum asserted the authenticity of the Bible's creation story and was getting national attention. Biology professor James Krupa wrote to a colleague in an October 2007 e-mail, "We might as well have the Creation Museum set up an outreach office in biology."

In 1997, Gaskell, by invitation from the UK, had given a lecture called "Modern Astronomy, the Bible and Creation," which he developed for "Christians and others interested in Bible and science questions..." It outlined men of historical scientific significance and their interpretations of the creation story in the Bible. In his notes, Gaskell mentions evolution, saying the theory has "significant scientific problems" and includes "unwarranted atheistic assumptions and extrapolations."

Gaskell was asked about the lecture during his job interview and felt that the questions related to religion were "inappropriate." "I think that if I had a document like this and I was advocating atheism ... I don't think it would be an issue."

Maintaining a certain scientific image was also important to the professors at UK, and they didn't want that image damaged by Gaskell. An astrophysics professor, Moshe Elitzur, told the chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michael Cavagnero, in an e-mail that hiring Gaskell would be a "huge public relations mistake." He feared what the newspapers would print about hiring a creationist.

The case will go to trial

Once again, Gaskell said he is not a "creationist" and his views on evolution are in line with other biological scientists. In his lecture notes, Gaskell explains that Christians who believe the earth is a few thousand years old are basing their belief on "mostly very poor science."

Last month a judge rejected a motion from the university and allowed it to go to trial Feb. 8. U.S. District Judge Karl S. Forester wrote in the ruling, "There is no dispute that based on his application, Gaskell was a leading candidate for the position."

For original article with references, click here.

Penalty flag thrown at Ronnie Hastie because gesture of praise to God after touchdown was "unsportsmanlike conduct"

2010-12-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

For original article, references, and video, click here.

The game was a state semifinal match between the Tumwater Thunderbirds and the East Valley Knights at the Tacoma Dome.

Tumwater High School running back Ronnie Hastie scored a touchdown on a gorgeous 23-yard run in the second quarter of the team's win (63-27) over East Valley in Washington.

After Hastie scored, he dropped to one knee and pointed to the heavens. Hastie later explained:

"It's my way of giving glory to God, not to myself. I want to give God the credit. He gives me the strength. He's the one who gives me these abilities in the first place....It's something I've done as a tradition."

The referee, whose purpose is to make sure the competition is fair and safe, literally threw a penalty flag at him and said he was showing unsportsmanlike conduct. Unsportsmanlike conduct? Guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct because of a two-or-four-second celebration, which was deemed "excessive"?

It would appear, according to the official rules, that Hastie did not follow the "immediately must return the ball" rule, but he was not guilty of "unsportsmanlike conduct." NCAA Football Rule 9-2, Article 1(a)(1)(d) prohibits:

"Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves);" in addition, Rule 9-2, Article 1(a)(2) asserts that "After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot."

"Additionally, if a player's actions is considered 'unsportsmanlike conduct,' the result is dead-ball foul; a 'flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct' foul requires player ejection. If a player’s nonfootball-related act (e.g. taunting or cursing) causes an opponent to physically retaliate, it is considered fighting and both players are ejected."

Seeing as how the referee is given discretion to determine if a player's actions disrupt a game, this is one rule that is there to be intelligently enforced--best applied only if appropriately helpful to the circumstance. In this case, as there was no harm to the opponents or to the integrity of the game, enforcement of the rule by the referee did nothing to aid the game. Penalty should not have been called.

Hastie was accused by the referee of drawing attention to himself, but actually that is an accusation more appropriately fitting to the referee. He is the one who interjected himself into a game where he was not needed.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association will be taking another look to see if the referee's call made any sense. Since the rule is there, Hastie has already agreed that the next time he scores a touchdown this season, he will follow the rule (i.e., give the football immediately to the official) for the sake of the team in order to avoid the chance of penalty, "I'll just point to the sky once I'm off the field."

photo by Tony Overman

Thanksgiving Week is National Bible Week

2010-11-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Bible: Born in the East and clothed in Oriental form and imagery, the Bible walks the ways of all the world with familiar feet and enters land after land to find its own everywhere. It has learned to speak in hundreds of languages to the heart of man.
Children listen to its stories with wonder and delight, and wise men ponder them as parables of life. The wicked and proud tremble at its warnings, but to the wounded and penitent it has a mother's voice. It has woven itself into our dearest dreams; so that love, friendship, sympathy, devotion, memory, hope, put on the beautiful garments of its treasured speech. No man is poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own.
When the landscape darkens, and the trembling pilgrim comes to the Valley named of the Shadow, he is not afraid to enter; he takes the rod and staff of Scripture in his hand; he says to friend and comrade, 'Goodbye; we shall meet again;', and, confronted by that support, he goes toward the lonely pass as one who walks through darkness into light. Henry Van Dyke

From Our American Forefathers: He who made all men hath made the truths necessary to human happiness obvious to all… Our forefathers opened the Bible to all. Samuel Adams "American Independence," August 1, 1776. Speech delivered at the State House in Philadelphia]

It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.

George Washington

The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.

Patrick Henry

I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen. John Adams, December 25, 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson

For more quotes from our Founders, click here.

History:
After the death of Solomon and the division of Israel, the Scriptures were suppressed by many of the inferior kings. It was King Josiah (II Kings) who lead his people in a revival and made known the Scriptures which he read to them in the temple.
The scrolls he read from were carried away and survived their seventy years of captivity in Babylon.
When the Jewish exiles returned to their land in 536 BC, Ezra, the priest/scribe, gathered together all scrolls he could find and made them into one complete work. Most Bible scholars persuade that Ezra, motivated by the direction of God, made additions and updates to the scrolls as he worked on connecting them into one edition. He divided the one complete work into three sections: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Holy Writings.

The Jews combined several related books--such as I and II Samuel into Samuel, I and II Kings into Kings, and I and II Chronicles into Chronicles. They also joined Judges and Ruth, Ezra and Nehemiah, Jeremiah and Lamentations, and the twelve Minor Prophets.
Apparently, the Jews combined these books to reduce the number of scrolls in the Hebrew scriptures to twenty two, which is also the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
Although the number of books in our Old Testament and their arrangement today has changed from ancient times, the text itself has not changed...not one letter, not one jot or tittle... from the Hebrew Bible.

How the books got divided into Chapters: "About A.D. 1248 Cardinal Hugo de Santo Care, while preparing an index to the whole Bible, divided it into its present chapters, subdividing these into several parts by placing the letters A, B, C, D etc. in the margin at equal distances from each other. These divisions were later introduced into many printed editions such as Stephens' Greek New Testament of 1550, still without verse numbers.

Cardinal Hugo's divisions were used in many manuscript copies of the Latin Vulgate, and gradually found a place also in later Greek manuscripts written in Western Europe, and in the earliest printed and all later editions of the Greek New Testament.

Verses: The divisions made by Hugo with the letters of the alphabet, and those adopted by Pagninus in his Latin Bible of 1528, were inconveniently large, and Robert Estienne (better known to us as Stephens) introduced a system of numbered verse divisions in his Greek New Testament published at Geneva in 1551. For this he used as his model the short verses into which the Hebrew Bible had been divided by Rabbi Nathan in 1508, first printed in Venice in 1524. Henry Stephens, Robert's father, had introduced verse numbers in his 1509 edition of the Psalms." For more information write to:
Trinitarian Bible Society
Tyndale House, Dorset Road
London, SW19 3NN, England
Telephone: 0 181 543 7857

Prayers for a hurting world

2010-11-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

Obama Praises Indonesia Let Us Pray. President Obama’s false praise of Indonesia is assumed a model of religious tolerance and should be condemned since violent Muslims have killed over 10,000 Christians in Indonesia between 1998 and 2003, and they have burned down over 1,200 churches in the last decade. We also pray You save Indonesia from their hatred towards Jesus and Christians, from IIPeter 3:9, that all will come to repentance because the Lord desires none to perish. God open the eyes of President Obama so he can stop telling lies about Islam and Indonesia, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum omits “Under God” from PledgeLet Us Pray. Almighty God, we are saddened by Democrat Congresswoman Betty McCollum from Minnesota who recently led the Pledge of Allegiance in Congress and intentionally omitted the words “Under God” even though she pretends to be a Catholic during campaigns. We are also sad she was re-elected last week, while she continues to disrespect the Pledge of Allegiance and thumb her nose at Almighty God. We pray from 1Timothy 2:4 that Betty would get saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, that Jesus is God and God should be honored, and never disrespected, in Jesus Name. Amen. ---

(In 2004, Jim McDermott omits 'under God,' during Pledge of Allegiance, click here.)

Pakistani Christian Sentenced to Death for Preaching JesusLet Us Pray. Almighty God, we are saddened by the death sentence that was handed down this week for Asia Bibi, who was accused and arrested in June of 2009 for "blasphemy" against "prophet" Mohammed, simply by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now we pray for Asia and her lawyers to appeal this unjust death sentence. From James 1:5 we pray for wisdom, and from Matthew 5:12 we rejoice for Asia knowing her reward in heaven is great if she is persecuted for Christ’s name. Vindicate her stand for Jesus, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Pope Benedict Calls for Worldwide Prayer Against AbortionLet Us Pray. Almighty God, bless Pope Benedict XVI who issued an unprecedented declaration and request for prayers worldwide from all pro-life people against abortion. We agree and pray along with the Pope and all who are opposed to the slaughter of innocents, that abortion would no longer be accepted by any nation on earth. From Ecclesiastes 11:5, just as we do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, we know we cannot understand the work of God, but we affirm the creation of all life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Planned Parenthood Sells Graphic Sex Guide for YouthLet Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray that You awaken the masses so they see the wrongdoing that Planned Parenthood continues to promote, including recently a brochure called “Healthy, Happy and Hot” which is aimed at young people and encourages casual sex with multiple partners, as well as oral, anal, and homosexual sex. Such rubbish pollutes the minds of our youth and makes it harder for them to understand and follow wholesome, healthy paths. From ITimothy 4:12, we pray that no one should look down on young people who should be examples of moral behavior in speech, life, love, faith, and purity. And we pray Lord, that You raise up and give strength to more young Christians in living lives in accordance with Your commandments, in Jesus name, Amen.

Amazon Stops Selling a Guide for Pedophiles
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank you for the citizens that rose up and complained to Amazon.com for selling a self-published guide titled “The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-lover’s Code of Conduct” by Phillip R. Greaves, and got that book removed. We pray now that God heals all who have been the victims of sexual abuse by pedophiles and for continual public awareness to speak out against this heinous sin. From Matthew 18:6 we warn that anyone who harms a child may be drowned in the depths of the sea, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Muslims Beat and Fire Christians in Bangladesh Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You Bless Ayanal Hague, age 63, and his 22-year-old son Lal Miah, and their families in Bangladesh, who have refused to recant their faith in Christ, despite persecution from muslims who beat them and deprive them of work. Romans 8:18 declares, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Strengthen our brothers in the faith that know Your word to be true and who have suffered for their faith. Comfort and protect all now being persecuted, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Above adapted from the "Pray in Jesus name" project.
The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007 after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, (but was later vindicated by Congress), are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

November 14: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted

2010-11-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

For original article and references, click here.

Reports of Christian persecution around the world seem to be on the increase.

In Asia, a Christian man was sentenced to three years in prison for showing a film about Jesus Christ.

According to Jonathan Racho of International Christian Concern, another anti-Christian incident occurred recently in India:

"A group of Hindu radicals severely beat a pregnant Christian woman while she was attending the funeral of her infant daughter in Orissa, India. Orissa is the same state where in 2008, radicals killed 100 Christians and forced 55,000 Christians from their homes. Another attack had occurred a week earlier in Eritrea, which borders Ethiopia. Eleven Christians were arrested and taken to unknown locations."

Christians arrested in India endure much suffering. Racho relates that they are "imprisoned in metal shipping containers, military barracks, and underground dungeons -- and many die due to torture and harsh prison conditions."

Pakistan
Last summer in Pakistan, two Christians, a pastor and his brother, were shot and killed on courthouse steps.

They had been found innocent after standing trial on accusation under Pakistan's blasphemy law. The brothers supposedly had written and circulated a pamphlet that denigrated Muhammad.

Racho commented that the "Muslims know the law and whenever they want to persecute a Christian, any Christian, they simply go ahead and accuse the Christian of blasphemy." Innocence doesn't matter. "If a Christian is accused of blasphemy, even if the Christian has not done it, and even if the police have proved that the person hasn't done it, it doesn't matter for them."

A forensic analysis of the handwriting showed that the brothers could not have written the document.

"The police came up with an expert witness and the expert testified that the handwriting on the pamphlet doesn't match Rashid or Sajid's handwriting. So obviously, someone else must have written it and put the brother's names and phone numbers on it."

"Christians in Pakistan are treated like third-class citizens, and it's almost on a daily basis that the Christians in Pakistan face discrimination, and it's very common for Christians to be killed, for Christians to face a blasphemy charge without committing any blasphemy actually."

Intelligence analyst Bill Warner, Center for the Study of Political Islam, is not surprised by shootings of Christians found innocent.

"The killing of a blasphemer is pure Shariah and is Sunna, the perfect example of Muhammad....Muhammad repeatedly had people murdered, assassinated and executed for nothing more that disagreeing with him. When he conquered Mecca he issued death warrants for all the intellectuals and artists who had opposed him. To disagree with Muhammad was and is a capital offense."

Jonathan Racho agrees and adds that the Pakistani government is trying to get the U.N. to adopt its blasphemy law as part of the International Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements.

"Petition to United Nations to award Refugee Status to Pakistani Christians," click here. "We wish to draw your kind attention on rising violence against Christians on pretext to blasphemy law, enforced conversion, kidnap and gang rape of Christian women, vandalism of Churches, desecration of Holy Bibles, attacks on homes of Christians, killing of innocent Christians and destruction of Christian properties in Islamic Republic of Pakistan."

•Pastors and church staff can call 1-800-422-5441 to receive a free kit of information, presentations, and videos about the persecuted church

Woman sued for seeking Christian roommate, and ADF came to her defense

2010-11-05T18:46:00.000-07:00

A 31-year-old nursing student advertised on her church bulletin board for a Christian roommate to share her 900 sq. ft. house. Someone took the ad down from the bulletin board and reported it to HUD. HUD told her she was in violation of the law, needed to attend classes to learn how not to be discriminatory, and had to pay a fine. ADF lawyers took up her cause.

For original articles and references, click here/here.

HUD has been given authority to enforce the Fair Housing Act (FHA) of 1968 which prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and religion. Protected classes were expanded in 1974.

(The FHA exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members. It is illegal for anyone to advertise a preference based on the protected classes listed above.)

Tag: Alliance Alert relatedHUDTwitter Religious Liberty World News

"This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act."
"Fair Housing is the right of individuals to obtain the housing of their choice (rent an apartment, buy a home, obtain a mortgage, buy homeowners insurance, etc.), free from discrimination based on the protected classes."

If someone violates the Fair Housing Act, then HUD can require the offender to compensate for actual damages.
Apparently, a 31-year-old Christian woman who wanted a Christian roommate violated the Fair House law by advertising for a roommate on a bulletin board at her church, stating, "Christian roommate wanted."

Since the ad "expresses an illegal preference for a Christian roommate, thus excluding people of other faiths,” according to the complaint filed by the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, she is in violation of the law.

The case was turned over to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

Depending on the outcome of the case, the woman could face several hundreds of dollars in fines and “fair housing training so it doesn’t happen again.”

What kind of law says a woman cannot express in advertising the kind of person she is looking for as a roommate based on any criteria she wishes?

The Alliance Defense Fund has taken on her case:

"Christians shouldn't live in fear of being punished by the government for being Christians. It is completely absurd to try to penalize a single Christian woman for privately seeking a Christian roommate at church -- an obviously legal and constitutionally protected activity. Not content to just lock Christians and their beliefs into the four walls of their church or home, some groups also want to invade those walls and force their own ideas upon them by force of law."

"The First Amendment guarantees us Freedom of Religion, and we have the right to live with someone of the same faith. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is denying her rights by pursuing this complaint."

A letter has been sent to the state asking the authorities to dismiss the case as groundless.

Nancy Haynes of the Fair Housing Center agreed the woman has every right to seek and live with a Christian roommate. She just can't advertise it publicly.

For real?

The state wants the woman to get training in federal law, and they want her to reimburse the Fair Housing Center $300 for the time it took to investigate the complaint.

According to Joel Oster of the ADF:
---"Well, oddly enough if you look at this statute, it does not provide even an exception based upon gender," states the attorney. "So according to this statute, she can't even discriminate based upon gender. If you look at this, this lady would have to accept a male roommate of an opposite or an opposing religious belief into her house. It's preposterous."
"Oster believes the rule needs to be clarified, and says his client is considering a lawsuit to bring about that change if necessary."

Tue, 11/09/2010 - 20:35
ADF President and CEO Alan E. Sears writing at Inside the Issues: "If you have any doubts that things are changing in America today, consider the case of a single woman in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who posted an advertisement for a roommate on her church bulletin board. As a Christian, she stipulated that she’d like the roommate to be a Christian, too . . . Unfortunately, even though the complaint was dismissed, the problematic 'anti-discrimination' housing law – which states that a person cannot seek out renters based on gender or religion – is still in effect. ADF is considering filing a lawsuit to strike down this problematic law, based on how it was applied in this case."

"She is not prohibited by either federal law or state law from seeking a Christian roommate. Neither Title VII of the US Fair Housing Civil Rights Act of 1968 nor the Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act No. 453 prevents a woman like [her] from seeking a Christian roommate."

HUD's application of the law is a violation of the First Amendment right to freely associate.

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster called the attempt to criminalize Rowe's effort to seek a Christian roommate "nothing short of absurd."

ADF attorneys sent a letter on behalf of the single woman. They asserted that the complaint was groundless and that any government interference would be a blatant violation of Rowe's First Amendment rights to freedom of association.

After an investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a dismissal stating that there was no reasonable cause for the allegation.

Oster of ADF stated:

"This complaint should have never been brought. It is borderline frivolous to suggest that a single lady can be fined by the government simply for seeking a Christian female roommate to share her 900-square-foot house."

"HUD did the right thing through its dismissal of the frivolous complaint. Anti-religious groups wanting to confine Christians and their beliefs within the four walls of their church or home cannot also invade those very walls by forcing their own ideas upon Christians through threats of severe punishment.”

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights said that its probe revealed "legal issues that involved questions of federal and possibly U.S. constitutional law, which required that we coordinate with HUD to assure uniform application nationwide."

ADF made clear that even though the complaint was dismissed, the "anti-discrimination" housing law is still in effect. The law states that a person cannot seek out renters based on gender or religion.

ADF may decide to file a lawsuit to strike down the law as it was applied in the church bulletin board case.

Apartment managers fired because of Christian artwork they displayed

2010-11-02T22:54:00.000-07:00

For original article and references, click here.

Employment and housing discrimination case: Liberty University Counsel at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals requested that a trial court’s summary judgment be reversed.

Daniel and Sharon Dixon were fired by The Hallmark Companies from managing a Florida apartment complex for being “too religious.” They were also evicted from their apartment.

Why does Hallmark consider them to be too religious? Because of a 26 inches by 50 inches stained glass artwork with the phrase, "Consider the lilies...Matthew 6:28," which was displayed in the rental office.

After asking if and learning that the artwork referred to Scripture, Hallmark supervisor Christina Saunders told Mrs. Dixon to remove it immediately. Mrs. Dixon was willing to discuss the matter with the supervisor and with her co-manager husband; and as she briefly left to find Mr. Dixon, the artwork was removed by the supervisor.

Upon their return, the supervisor told them not to bother looking for the stained glass piece because they were fired for being "too religious" and had to vacate their apartment within seventy-two hours. Saunders had removed the artwork, entered the Dixons' apartment without their permission, and placed the artwork there.

This happened in 2008 after the Dixons had managed an apartment complex owned by Hallmark in Florida for eight years. They also had worked for Hallmark Companies previously for a couple of years, managing two different complexes. Their artwork was displayed at each of those offices without complaint.

The Dixons filed a federal action claiming discrimination based on religious beliefs.

A federal district court judge ruled summarily against them saying there was no need for a jury to hear the case since no reasonable jury could possibly find any discrimination against the Dixons.

It is hard to understand how a judge could rule this way when they were fired for no reason but religion and Title VII and Title VIII clearly prohibit discrimination in employment and housing on account of religion.

"Employment discrimination occurs when an employer adversely singles out employees or job applicants on the basis of age, race/color, gender, disability, national origin, religion, pregnancy, or veteran status."

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel, commented:

“Hallmark cannot sweep religion from the workplace. While The Hallmark Companies can choose the décor of the workplace, their supervisors cannot fire employees solely because they are ‘too religious.’ When a jury hears this case, it will be clear that The Hallmark Companies crossed the line.”

Saunders denied allegations that she told the couple they were "too religious." Yet they were not fired for job performance.

On October 28, 2010, Horatio Mihet, Senior Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel, presented oral arguments:

"The artwork was displayed in the leasing office, right next to prominent disclaimers that Hallmark does not discriminate in housing decisions against anyone."

A ruling by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is expected later this year.

Mihet is certain that the court will reverse the summary judgment, remand action back to district court with instructions to move the case to a jury trial, and that a jury will find that Hallmark did indeed unlawfully fire the Dixons for being "too religious."

"Hallmark’s counsel actually admitted during argument that, had Hallmark asked him whether the picture should be removed, he would have advised that it should stay on the wall."

Christians fired for displaying Bible verse in workplace
Let us pray. Almighty God, we pray you restore Daniel and Sharon Dixon, who were fired and evicted from managing an apartment complex by a man who said they were “too religious,” because they displayed, in the rental office, a small stained glass artwork with flowers and the phrase "Consider the lilies... Matthew 6:28." God we pray the 11th Circuit Court of appeals enforces the law, since Title VII and VIII prohibit discrimination in employment and housing on account of religion. From Matthew 5:10, bless the Dixons who are persecuted for righteousness sake. In Jesus name, Amen.
From Pray in Jesus name project: Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt

America was founded upon Christian tolerance of religious faith yet that very faith that gave birth to tolerance is itself not tolerated in today's America. We have gone from Pilgrims seeking religious expression of their Judeo-Christian beliefs to discrimination against those same beliefs in the name of tolerance. This is progress?

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."

-- Patrick Henry

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692

2010-10-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

'Cotton Mather played a prominent role in the Salem witchcraft trials by virtue of his position as head of the Puritan church in Boston. Although his 1689 essay, "Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcraft and Possessions," had fostered much of the hysteria surrounding the trials, Mather, like his father, Increase, did attempt to exclude "spectral evidence" from the trials and to induce the courts to hand down lenient punishments.' Source

Samuel Parris was a merchant who also served as a pastor in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, a growing town which was undergoing the stress of rapid economic and political transitions.

Upon his return to his home in Massachusetts from a business trip in Barbados, he brought back two slaves. One of these slaves, Tituba, was designated by him to take care of his nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth and his eleven-year-old niece Abigail.

Parris allowed the girls virtually no entertainment, and so they found the stories of Tituba quite fascinating as she told them about the voodoo practices of her native island. The girls told some of their village friends, including Ann Putnam; and all of them started playing with the voodoo Tituba described. They even began to engage in fortune-telling.

Then in January 1692, Elizabeth (Betty) and Abigail started having mysterious fits. During a church service Betty screamed, and she started writhing on the floor. Then the other girls fell to the floor and started having similar types of fits while making strange, sometimes animal-like noises.

A doctor became convinced their pain was caused by witchcraft. As belief in witchcraft was not uncommon throughout the 17th century America and Europe, the townspeople became alarmed. They begged the girls to tell them who was causing the torture.

The young girls finally thought of three names to cry out: Tituba the slave, Sarah Good--a homeless woman, and Sarah Osborn--a sickly old woman who had married her servant. These women were arrested and moved to the Boston prison where Sarah Osborn died.

Thus, a tragic chain of events in public hysteria had begun.

Samuel Parris called in more authorities to determine if the girls' affliction was indeed caused by witchcraft. Although Betty was sent away and did not participate in the trials, the other girls were coached by women to stage public demonstrations of their affiction when in the presence of 'witches.'

Both Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn before her death had held to their innocence, but Tituba confessed of being a witch after a beating by her master Parris. She said she had been ordered by a black dog to hurt the girls and that she could ride through the air on a pole to attend the witch's meetings. She further told the magistrate that there were other witches in Salem led by a tall man who had a white beard. With Tituba's story of there being other witches, pressure was placed on the girls to give out more names of witches in their midst.

Ann Putnam, directed by her mother, pointed at Martha Corey, a member of the Salem Village congregation. During her trial, Martha maintained her innocence but the girls in attendance cried out in fits of supposed torment and anguish. Believing the girls, her own husband testified against her.

Rebecca Nurse, a prominent member of the church and also a grandmother to four-year-old Dorcus Good, was accused directly by Ann Putman's mother. Rebecca's family had been involved in disputes with the powerful Putnam family. Before she was executed, she was heard to say, "Oh Lord, help me! It is false. I am clear. For my life now lies in your hands...." Shortly after Rebecca died, the small child Dorcus was accused as well and would spend months chained to a wall in the town jail.

The court allowed testimony against accused witches that they were seen at night as spirits or in a personal vision. Though such accusations could in no way be verified or be converted into common sense, victims lost their lives.

Local tavern owners John and Elizabeth Proctor had been vocal about their opposition to the trials; they were soon accused of being witches themselves. Rebecca Nurse's sister Sara Cloyse was also accused. While these three awaited trial, arrests were made of Mary Warren, Bridget Bishop, and Abigail Hobbs.

Giles Corey was also arrested but refused to stand trial. He was pressed to death under a pile of rocks.

Abigail Hobbs was known to be mentally unwell but the magistrates still accepted that she was a witch, and they believed her accusations against Nehemiah Abbot, William and Deliverence Hobbs, Sarah and Edward Bishop, Mary Ester, Mary Black, Sarah Wilds, and Mary English. These nine were arrested in April. Accusations against Nehemiah Abbot were later dropped.

The psychological madness began to include people who were not familiar with any of Salem's local grudges; and the accusations continued to grow into a powerful force of Salem until they finally reached the wife of a new Governor from England, Sir William Phips. With this blow, suspicions began to rise about whether or not the accusations were genuine.

Increase Mather (father of Cotton who wrote, 'If a Drop of Innocent Blood should be shed, in the Prosecution of the Witchcrafts among us, how unhappy are we!) forcefully argued that it would be better that ten witches go free than the blood of a single innocent be shed. The other ministers took a strong stand; and the trials were halted. Those still in jail were later acquitted or given reprieves. Almost as fast as it had started, the witch hunt ended.

In all, nineteen people were hanged at Gallows Hill, one pressed to death, and four others died in prison awaiting trial Many of those accused had lost their property, their money, and retained the stigma of being a witch for the rest of their lvies.

Ann Putmam was the only one of the girls to publicly stand in front of the Salem congregation to apologize. She said it was a great delusion of Satan that made her act as badly as she did.

----------------------------------

Cotton Mather was a scholar who struggled through and tried to explain the superstitions of his time.

Excelling in his entrance exams in Latin and Greek, he began Harvard at only 12 years of age. After receiving his M.A. at age 18, he wished to become a pastor but delayed because of a terrible stutter. He turned his mind to medicine and is recognized as having been a progressive medical advocate for his day.

Before the outbreak of accusations in Salem Village, Mather had already published his account, Remarkable Providences (1684), outlining clinical symptoms of being possessed. He actually took a child into his home to make a more intense study of the phenomenon. Later scholars have suggested that his book described the symptoms of clinical hysteria. His publication, Curiosa Americana, proved him an accomplished scientist and earned him election to the prestigious Royal Society of London, England.

"Although Mather was not directly involved in the proceedings of the Salem witch trials, he wrote a letter to one of the magistrates in the trials urging caution in the use of spectral evidence. Mather was also the author of the "Return of the Several Ministers," a report sent to the judges of the Salem court. This document advised caution in the use of spectral evidence, saying that the devil could assume the shape of an innocent person. However, the final paragraph of the document appears to undercut this cautionary statement in recommending "the detection of witchcrafts". Thus the courts interpreted the letter as Mather's seal of approval for the trials to go on." Source

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On the brighter side: Halloween Poem, click here.

The patriotic ghosts, click here. SNL parody, click here.

Christian flag ordered to be taken down. Citizens fight peaceably and effectively against decision.

2010-10-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

Someone contacted the ACLU and the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State this past August because he had to point out a flag which has flown for years over a Veterans Memorial at a passive park in King, North Carolina. He simply didn't want the townfolk to suffer the imposition of a religion.

The Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) and the ACLU both sent letters to the City threatening lawsuits if the flag was not taken down. Because lawsuits would cost an estimated $300,000 to fight, the City Council voted to take down the flag. The vote was 3-1 to remove the Christian flag on the advice of City Attorney Walter W. Pitt, Jr. According to Manager John Cater:

"The City received inquiries from the ACLU and the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State suggesting that the Christian flag flying over the Veterans Memorial at Central Park violates the Establishment Clause of the 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution. At the advice of the City Attorney, the City Council voted to take down the Christian flag at last night's City Council meeting citing the enormous cost associated with fighting a potential law suit on the issue."

So the ACLU and AU proudly bullied a small town of about 6,000 reluctant residents into taking down a Christian flag from a Veterans Memorial, 'All gave some, and some gave all.' Little by little, they (ACLU/AU) erase any sign of Christianity from public property and proclaim they are performing a service for the good of the nation. Do they hope that by erasing Christian symbols from our nation that they will erase the Christian spirit as well?

Mike Marshall was awakened to realize he should have been flying a Christian flag all along. He is owner of Divine Catering located across the street from the memorial; and in response to the ordeal, he erected a 35-foot flag pole to fly the Christian flag. He explained, "We just thought it would be a good way to show people what we think about the whole thing. I know its not city hall, but its as close as we could get."

His idea caught on. The sales of Christian flags skyrocketed in King, and they are being flown high and wide throughout the area. Mike Marshall again commented:

"They were talking about one obscure flag in the back corner of the park. All of a sudden, there's flags on every porch, on every business and in every yard. It really brought a lot of awareness to the fact that this is a Christian community."

According to the Winston-Salem Journal:

"The controversy surrounding the removal of a Christian flag from the town's Veteran's Memorial is helping Gullion's Christian Supply Center -- so many people have bought Christian flags that the store has ordered 300 more to satisfy demand."

Rally and Prayer Walk

Reverend Kevin Broyhill, pastor of Calvary Baptist, said that his church will raise money to officially fight the lawsuit.

“I believe that the citizens of King are upset about that the flag was taken down. It means something to them. It represents their heritage. People give to what they believe in.”

Working with Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church, and Return America, he will organize a rally this month over the issue.

An online Christian evangelical ministry called Running the Race for the Prize held a peaceful prayer walk at Central Park this past Sunday. “We choose to go to the Lord in prayer," said Brent Daniels, founder of the ministry.

Original article with references, click here. Addendums to article, click here.

Compromise on Christian flag Winston-Salem Journal Christian flag taken down No compromise
War veterans guarding Christian flag

Somali Christian killed, His four children kidnapped to be trained as soldiers

2010-09-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

No longer wanting to be a muslim, Osman Abdullah Fataho converted to Christianity and became a member of an underground Christian movement. Because of his conversion, al-Shabaab used that as an excuse to murder him in front of his wife and children at his home located about 19 miles from Mogadishu, Somalia.

They took Fataho's children to be brainwashed in the ways of the Koran and trained as soldiers. Upon surrender of the children and because the assailants were not sure of her religion, the mother was let go.

Al-Shabaab is an Islamist insurgency group with ties to al-Qaeda and which pledges allegiance to Osama bin Laden. It describes itself as waging jihad against "enemies of Islam," including the UN and Western non-governmental organizations that distribute food or other aid in Somalia.

Al-Shabaab controls large parts of central Somalia and enforces Islam most strictly. For example, they recently banned football, BBC broadcasts because they carried the “agenda of the crusaders” and “opposed an Islamic administration” and also bell ringing that signals the end of school classes “because they sound like church bells.”

The transitional government in Mogadishu has been fighting insurgents to retain control of the country. However, that would not necessarily be good news for Christians in the area as President Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed, considered a moderate, also believes in the death penalty for those who willingly leave the Islam faith.

The Somali President believes his job is the most difficult in the world. His country has suffered 20 years of civil war and has experienced little progress as he rules little more than a few blocks in Mogadishu. Yet even that is threatened by former allies in Somalia's Islamist movement. His country is considered the world's most failed state, and its continued chaos allows a home for terrorists, including pirates.

Sharif admits he is a strict Islamist but he asks for help from the West:

"Without leaving our Islamic principles, we can have relations with the West. I believe my government can succeed in reducing the gap."
"My dream is to see peaceful, prosperous Somalia where everyone can get his rights, freedom and livelihood without harming others."

"The Pentagon is looking for ways to expand the aid it is already providing the African nations, including additional training, equipment, logistical support and transportation for the troops there."

Names of kidnapped children
For those who wish to include the abducted children in their prayers, they are:
Ali Daud Fataho, 5 years old
Fatuma Safia Fataho, 7 years
Sharif Ahmed Fataho, 10 years
Nur Said Fataho, 15 years

Somali Christian Killed, Four Children Kidnapped
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we believe 2 Timothy 3:12, “…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution," as we pray today for four children, Ali Daud (5), Fatuma Safia (7), Sharif Ahmed (10), and Nur Said (15), who were abducted by muslims in Somalia, to be brainwashed and trained as Islamic soldiers, after the muslims murdered their father and took their mother. Lord, protect the minds of these children, so that they would know and remember that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and not Islam. In Jesus Name, Amen.
prayer adapted from CHAPS

For original article and sources, click here.

Worldwide persecution of Christians, click here.

Alliance Defense Fund wins another case for freedom of religious expression

2010-09-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a 2-1 ruling said that the University of Wisconsin at Madison improperly denied funding for a Roman Catholic student group, imposing unconstitutional limits on activities involving worship. They (UW) violated the First Amendment.

ADF had filed suit on behalf of Badger Catholic, formerly known as the Roman Catholic Foundation. Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence explained:

"A university can define the kind of extracurricular activity that it chooses to promote, reimbursing, say, a student-run series of silent movies and a debate team, while leaving counseling to the student-health service that the university operates itself. But the University of Wisconsin has chosen to pay for student-led counseling, and its decision to exclude counseling that features prayer is forbidden."

Once a university allows any category of student activity to receive support, it can't bar support for that activity just because it may involve worship. Judge Frank H. Easterbrook wrote:

“The constitutional rights of Christian student organizations should be recognized by university officials just as they recognize those rights for other student groups. The university funded the advocacy and expression of other student organizations but singled out Badger Catholic for exclusion based purely upon its viewpoint. The 7th Circuit rightly regarded this as unconstitutional.”

Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, acted concerned for the safety of religious freedom in our country and called the decision dangerous:

"Activities like evangelism, prayer, and worship should always be supported with funds given voluntarily. For a long time, this was a central principle of church-state law. In recent years, courts have drifted from this concept, much to the detriment of religious freedom. Whether university-based or not, religious groups should pay their own way. Any other system smacks of a church tax."

However, it is hardly true that dispensing fees to Badger Catholic group imparts an endorsement of religion. The panel said as much in their conclusion:

“The University of Wisconsin is not propagating its own message; it has created a public forum where the students, not the University, decide what is to be said. And having created a public forum, the University must honor the private choice…. (A) university cannot shape Badger Catholic’s message by selectively funding the speech it approves, but not the speech it disapproves. Once it creates a public forum, a university must accept all comers within the forum’s scope.”

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for the work of The Alliance Defense Fund and for their recent win defending Badger Catholic against the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The UW tried to show unconstitutional discrimination by not giving Badger Catholic funding because they were a religious student group. We thank God that the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Constitution and restored their funding. Now we ask for Your continued blessing on those who stand for what is right. From Proverbs 21:21, he who pursues righteousness and love, finds life, prosperity and honor, in Jesus Name, Amen.
Prayer adapted from CHAPS

Badger Catholic v. Walsh, court decision. Alliance Defense Fund News Release

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12, NIV

Victory for American atheists as Christian symbol is declared unconstitutional

2010-08-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

The American Atheists, Inc., the 'premier organization laboring for the civil liberties of Atheists' has been dedicated and working hard since 1963 to keep our separation of church and state rights from being violated. Following is just one example of their promotion efforts to erase Christianity from the public.

In 1998, the Utah Highway Patrol Association (UHPA) in a gesture of memory and gratitude began putting up 12-foot high crosses near places where Utah highway patrol officers died in the line of duty. Each cross showed the Highway Patrol Officer's insignia as well as his or her name.

The crosses are paid for by the Utah Highway Patrol Association with private dollars. They are privately owned and maintained. According to Lt. Lee Perry, U.H.P. Section One Commander, when someone drives by, they will recognize the crosses as symbolic for a person who died.

The crosses were the idea of Perry and his friend, former police officer Robert Kirby, now a columnist for The Salt Lake Tribune. Though the cross is not commonly used by Utah’s dominant religion, the LDS Church, they chose it because it could convey quickly to motorists a 'message of death, sacrifice, and honor.'

The program was implemented in freedom without interference from the State of Utah which "neither approves or disapproves of the memorial marker." If allowed to continue, the practice could through the years spread to other states as a reminder for highway safety in dedication for fallen officers. (See Washington State Patrol, Service with humility.)

"I can't tell you how much this means to the memories of these 14 men and their families," said UHP Capt. Ron Ostler.

American Atheists, Inc., can't believe that crosses are not necessarily Christian as an acceptable symbol of burial. They argued in Utah federal district court that the white crosses weren't chosen simply to honor comrades but that since those crosses have official Utah Highway Patrol logos and were on public property, they were therefore a government endorsement of Christianity.

In late 2007, the court decided that while the cross retained a religious meaning when in a religious context, it was understood and used by all as essentially a secular symbol representing death and/or burial when used as a memorial:

"...the cross has attained a secular status as Americans have used it to honor the place where fallen soldiers and citizens lay buried, or had fatal accidents, regardless of their religious belief. And the progression of the cross from a religious to a secular symbol continues as crosses are increasingly used to symbolize death in advertising campaigns, films, television, and seasonal holiday decorations -- frequently having nothing to do with religion or a particular religious belief. Consequently, the court finds a reasonable observer, aware of the history and context of the community would not view the memorial crosses as a government endorsement of religion."

American Atheists didn't buy the argument but believe that every time they have to look at one or more of those crosses, then their separation of church and state rights are being violated. They appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the Tenth Circuit sided with them.

A three-judge panel said in its 38-page ruling (American Atheists v. Duncan (08-4061) that a "reasonable observer" would conclude that the crosses indicate Christianity was being endorsed by government and to "fear that Christians are likely to receive preferential treatment from the UHP."

Though many roadsides show crosses placed by private individuals honoring a dead relative killed in car accidents, the court stated:

"The mere fact that the cross is a common symbol used in roadside memorials does not mean it is a secular symbol. The massive size of the crosses displayed on Utah's rights-of-way and public property unmistakably conveys a message of endorsement, proselytization, and aggrandizement of religion that is far different from the more humble spirit of small roadside crosses."

David Silverman, the Vice President and National Spokesperson for American Atheists, Inc, said that his organization didn't want this fight but "How anybody could say crosses are not Christian is beyond all of us. It's completely inappropriate."

When Silverman heard the ADF might take this fight to the Supreme Court, he thought it was the wrong thing for them to do, "If they bring it to the U.S. Supreme Court to have the Court decide if crosses are not Christian, that will be a waste of time and a waste of Utah's money!"

The crosses will remain up until all appeals are exhausted.

Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we ask from James 1:5 that You would grant wisdom and victory to the Alliance Defense Fund attorneys who will be appealing the Tenth Circuit Court ruling that favored American Atheists Inc, and ordered the removal of crosses from the roadside memorial that honored fallen Utah troopers, saying that any Christian symbol on government property violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. God help the Supreme Court overturn this, so we don’t have to fear removal of the crosses at Arlington Cemetery next. We pray for a victory for the ADF, in Jesus Name, Amen. (taken from CHAPS)

Based on precedent, the ADF will most probably win at the Supreme Court as shown last April in regard to the Mojave cross, (Salazar v. Buono), a Latin cross which was placed atop a prominent rock outcropping in 1934 to honor war dead.

After that ruling, vandals sneaked out into the desert to cut down and steal the cross.

Fortunately, after Utah's crosses are allowed to stay, they won't be so easy to make disappear.

For original article and references, click here.

Christian-related News Events in America

2010-08-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Court Says College Can Expel Christian Student
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, We pray for Julea Ward, who is now a former graduate counseling student at Eastern Michigan University because a judge ruled a college could expel her because she is a Christian and has refused to counsel homosexual clients. Judge Steeh agreed with the University saying that she could only remain in the program if she went through “remediation” so she could “see the error of her ways.” From 1Peter 4:14 bless Julea Ward with Your Spirit of glory, for she has been persecuted for Your truth, in Jesus name, Amen.

Charges Dropped Against Man Arrested For Praying
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank you for the great news that criminal charges were dropped against Joe Holland who was the first person arrested under the “Bubble Zone Ordinance” outside of an abortion clinic because he was praying on a public sidewalk. Thank you for using the Thomas More Society to defend Holland, and for letting this be an illustration of 1Peter 3:12 which says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” In Jesus Name, Amen.

The “bubble law,” adopted in a number of cities including Denver, Chicago, and Oakland, California, applies to any health-care facility, including hospitals and immediate-care clinics. It usually surrounds one of the nation’s most polarizing subjects: abortion.

The ordinance in Chicago states: "No person shall knowingly approach another person or vehicle within eight feet of such person or vehicle, unless such other person consents, for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to or engaging in oral protest, education or counseling with such other person or vehicle in the public way or sidewalk within the radius of 50 feet from any entrance door to a health-care facility."

It is important to understand that the law does not give any door a bubble, it gives people a bubble that cannot be approached within.

The law was patterned after the Denver law which was challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court, and for which the Supreme Court backed in restrictions on anti-abortion protests. Scalia dissented, called the ruling "one of many aggressively pro-abortion novelties announced by the court in recent years."

Kennedy's dissenting opinion said, "Today's decision is an unprecedented departure from this court's teachings respecting unpopular speech in public areas," while Stevens explained the Colorado law:

"is not a regulation of speech. Rather, it is a regulation of the places where some speech may occur. The 8-foot restriction on an unwanted physical approach leaves ample room to communicate a message through speech. Demonstrators can stand on the sidewalk at clinic entrances and hand leaflets to those entering the clinic as they pass by."

The decision marked the first time the Court reviewed a state's attempt to regulate anti-abortion demonstrators outside health clinics.

According to Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of Pro-Life Action League, "The Chicago bubble zone isn’t just an attack on pro-lifers in Chicago. Planned Parenthood is eager to shut down sidewalk counseling across the country, and this is just a first step."

The first arrestee under the ordinance was Joseph Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student. He was arrested outside a Planned Parenthood's facility in July after the facility's staff called the police to say he was breaking the ordinance as he was praying on their public sidewalk.

Witnesses claimed and a video (see first video below) showed Holland praying; but since he was not leafleting, sidewalk counseling, engaging in oral protest, or displaying a sign, he was not breaking the ordinance. He should not have been arrested.

The Thomas More Society secured a dismissal of all charges. Peter Breen, Executive Director and legal counsel remarked:
"We are pleased that the City of Chicago has dismissed these false and baseless charges against Joe Holland. The First Amendment protects prayer on a public sidewalk in Chicago the same as in any other city in the country. We hope that the city will cease the suppression of pro-life speech under the 'bubble zone' ordinance and dismiss the lone remaining case, brought against David Avignone, who was arrested a few days after Joe."

The Thomas More Society will also represent David Avignone, the second 'bubble zone' arrestee, arrested the same week as Holland. Avignone's first court appearance is August 30.

Chicago is one of more than 170 cities in 45 states 'joining together for the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history,' September 22 - October 31, 2010, for 40 Days for Life with prayer, fasting, peaceful vigil, and community outreach. "We are praying that, with God's help, this groundbreaking effort will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our city -- and throughout America." For original article and more information, click here.

Wikileaks tied to angry homosexual In the Military
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, once again we have seen how the lives of military people are at risk as evidenced by the act of sedition that Bradley Manning, PFC, reportedly engaged in when he handed over thousands of classified documents to Wikileaks. He was upset over a break up from his homosexual boyfriend and the 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy. Manning now reportedly wants a sex change after leaking the military secrets on the Internet. Lord, bring justice in Jesus Name, Amen.

Catholic Professor Kenneth Howell Reinstated by University of IllinoisLet Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for answering our prayer from July 23, 2010, for Dr. Kenneth Howell who was fired from his job because he agrees with the Catholic teaching on natural law, which condemns homosexuality at unnatural. Thank you for the Alliance Defense Fund’s work in defending his rights and restoring Dr. Howell to his job again, for in Hebrews 11:6 you reward those who seek you. Give Dr. Howell tenure, and use him mightily for Your good purposes at the University of Illinois, and silence those who hate righteousness, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Study Shows Homosexual Parents Raise Homosexual ChildrenLet Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for the research of Dr. Trayce Hansen who exposed how pro-homosexual researchers concealed findings that show between 8% to 21% of children parented by homosexuals are far more likely to engage in homosexual behavior compared to less than 1% of the general population. This evidence proves a mother and father is the best way to raise children, and why Jesus repeated Moses’ teaching in Mark 7:10 that we are to honor our fathers and mothers. In Jesus Name, Amen.

70,000 Saved In Dominican Republic
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank You for the nearly 70,000 souls saved in the Dominican Republic through the outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's My Hope ministry, and for the members of more than 5,500 churches who opened their homes for 59,000 meetings and events that included TV sermons and testimonies from Reverend Billy and Franklin Graham. God’s will in 2 Peter 3:9 is that no one should perish, but that all should come to repentance, here demonstrated through the efforts and prayers of those hearts willing to share God’s love with others. In Jesus Name. Amen.

850 Rabbis Rebuke Israel for Recruiting Homosexuals
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for the 850 American Rabbis who are rebuking the Israeli Minister of Tourism for funding a 6 month outreach effort to attract homosexual tourists from France and Germany, which violates the teaching of the Torah in Leviticus 18:22-30, “Let not the land vomit you out for having contaminated it (with such abominations).” And as Israel also promotes homosexuality in Jerusalem in an ultra-religious neighborhood, constituting the spiritual rape of the Holy Land. God we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, in Jesus Name, Amen.

In memory of the Ten-member medical team ambushed and killed by Taliban fighters

2010-08-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

We grieve the following 10 medical team members by name - six Americans, two Afghans, one Briton and a German - that were gunned down Thursday after finishing a two-week unarmed mission to provide medical care to impoverished villagers in remote Nuristan province of Afghanistan. All of the expatriate medical personnel were unpaid volunteers to serve the Afghan people.

The gunmen marched the aid workers into the forest, stood 10 of them in a straight line, seven men and three women, and shot them. The police found their bodies Friday.

The mission's team leader, Dr. Tom Little of Delmar, N.Y., an optometrist who had been working in Afghanistan for the past four decades and is a fluent Dari speaker.

Brian Carderelli of Harrisonburg, Virginia, a freelance videographer who worked as a public relations manager for the International School of Kabul. He was recruited by the school shortly after he graduated from James Madison University in 2009. "Brian quickly fell in love with the Afghan people and culture," the school said in a statement.

Daniela Beyer of Chemnitz, Germany, was a linguist and a translator in German, English, and Russian. She also spoke Dari and was learning Pashto. She joined the eye camp so that she could translate for women patients.

Dr. Thomas Grams quit his dental practice in Durango, Colorado, four years ago to work full-time giving poor children free dental care in Afghanistan and Nepal.

Dr. Karen Woo, lone Briton among the dead, gave up her job with a private clinic in London to work in Afghanistan. "The effort is worth it in order to assist those that need it most." She was a general surgeon and went on the trip to bring treatment to mothers in the remote parts of Nuristan.

Dan Terry, who had lived in Afghanistan since 1980 with his wife, rearing three daughters while working with impoverished ethnic groups, trying to make connections between aid organizations and the government to improve services in remote areas. "He had a heart for the rural areas of Afghanistan," International Assistance Mission (IAM) said in a statement.

Glen Lapp, a trained nurse from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had come to Afghanistan in 2008 for a limited assignment but decided to stay, serving as an executive assistant at IAM and manager of its provincial eye care program, according to the Mennonite Central Committee, a relief group based in Akron, Pennsylvania. "Where I was, the main thing that expats can do is to be a presence in the country...treating people with respect and with love." He also previously helped with medical response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Cheryl Beckett, daughter of a Knoxville, Tennessee, pastor, had spent six years in Afghanistan and specialized in nutritional gardening and mother-child health. She was her high school valedictorian at a Cincinnati-area high school and held a biology degree, had also spent time doing work in Honduras, Mexico, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Mahram Ali, an Afghan from eastern Wardak province, had worked as a watchman with NOOR eye hospital in Kabul since 2007. He guarded the team's vehicles as they left them to trek more than 100 miles into Nuristan. He leaves behind a wife and three young children.

Jawed, an Afghan from Panjshir province, worked as a cook at a government eye hospital in Kabul and had been given time off to go with the IAM team. The organization said Jawed, who had gone on a number of similar trips with the IAM eye doctors to Nuristan, was well-loved for his sense of humor. He also helped the doctors hand out eyeglasses.

The police said the aid workers - eye doctors, nurses and technicians - were hiking into one of the toughest areas of the country to provide services. They were advised there was no Taliban active in the area.

The expedition set out three weeks ago to reach the northeastern corner of Nuristan province, traveling by foot with pack horses to carry their medical equipment, and hiking over a 16,000-foot pass into the Parun Valley.

The lone survivor was their Muslim driver who said the missionaries were killed because they were “preaching Christianity” and the Koran teaches muslims to “kill the infidels” in Surah 9:5.

According to the Taliban, 'They were not actually here to provide medication for people but were here for spying," he said. "The punishment for spying is death."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in Washington, "We are heartbroken by the loss of these heroic, generous people." She condemned the Taliban for the deaths and what she called a "transparent attempt to justify the unjustifiable by making false accusations about their activities."

As we pause a moment in honor of these great men and women, we offer a short prayer to our heavenly Father that You would comfort the grieving families with Your comfort, as the dead receive a martyr’s reward in heaven, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Seven one-minute prayers for our nation in distress

2010-07-28T05:06:00.000-07:00

Police Ban Prayer on U. S. Supreme Court Grounds
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for The Alliance Defense Fund who has stepped up to defend Maureen Rigo and her students who were told that they could not pray outside the U.S. Supreme Court building by the court police--bowing their heads in prayer allegedly violates statute 40 U.S.C. 613 which bans parades and processions on the public sidewalk. We are reminded of Jesus’ words in John 15:20: No servant is greater than his master, for if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
Please bring victory for free speech and prayer, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Florida Atheists Sue to Stop Prayers at City Meetings
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are reminded of Proverbs 10:23, “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.,” as we think of a Central Florida atheist organization who is suing to stop the city commission from opening meetings in prayer. These fools are outraged at the use of the name of 'Jesus Christ' in prayer and claim the word “Jesus” is banned by the First Amendment. In truth, the law is NOT being violated by prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
See article on atheist group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, click here.

63 Congressmen Go to Court to Defend National Day of Prayer
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank You for the bipartisan support of 63 Congressmen and 4 Senators who are members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and have filed an amicus brief to defend the National Day of Prayer in court. God grant victory in this case, and we acknowledge from James 1:17 how John Adams prayed in 1798 the duties of humiliation and prayer be accompanied by fervent Thanksgiving to the bestower of every good gift, for protecting and preserving the people of these United States and giving us freedom, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Despite Obama’s Executive Order Pennsylvania to Finance Abortions
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You condemn the use of $160 million in federal tax money sent to fund abortions in Pennsylvania, despite the phony executive order that President Obama signed, which ordered barring the use of federal funds to finance abortion. We confess the sins from Proverbs 6:16-19: haughty eyes and a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, planning wickedness, running toward evil, and false witnesses uttering lies. God You hate all of these sins, so awaken your people to elect new leaders, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Principal Takes A Stand on Principle in SC
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for Principal Eddie Walker, who has been an educator faithfully for 31 years and who recently took a stand and retired early because a South Carolina school district forced him to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance at Irmo High, which he felt could be potentially damaging and hurtful to kids. We now ask that you would promote Mr. Walker to another place of service and bless him for taking a stand. From Romans 1:17: It is the righteous man who lives by faith, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Biblical Lutherans v. Unbiblical Lutherans on Homosexuality
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for Lutherans today, and ask that You would bring the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America back to biblical roots and to repentance for their unbiblical stance on ordaining homosexual clergy. We also pray that You would protect the more biblical Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod from attacks by the ELCA and bless them for the two new resolutions they have adopted, one saying homosexuality is contrary to scripture and the other on confession. From Revelation 2:20 we pray for deliverance from Jezebel spirits who mislead your servants into sexual immorality. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Christian Center Planned at Ground Zero to Counter Mosque
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank You for evangelist Bill Keller who is building a Christian Center at Ground Zero so that Your truth will be known to those watching and turn people from darkness to the power of Your light so that all may repent and receive forgiveness of sins, as You declare in Acts 26:18 and which the planned Mosque at Ground Zero will never offer. We also pray You provide all funding and use this new Christian Center to lead many muslims to faith in Christ, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Above adapted from 'The Pray in Jesus' Name Project.'
Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007 after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, (but was later vindicated by Congress), are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

"The rays of my torch, piercing the darkness, bring lost ships to safe anchorage and carry my light to the oppressed."

2010-07-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

In 1865, a group of influential men in France met at the home of Edouard Rene de Laboulaye, a learned man who had great love for the ideas behind America. He believed in the common love for liberty that existed between our country and his.

EDOUARD RENE DE LABOULAYE 1811-1883 As proof of the friendship and the community of emotions of the people of the two countries, Laboulaye pointed out that the people of the United States honored the remembrances of common glories, and loved Lafayette and his volunteers as they revered American heroes. He declared that this common heritage was of far greater importance in America than the political acts of the French government. Adapted from Harper's Weekly, December 15, 1866.

"Although a subject of Napoleon III, this outspoken republican had in 1850 printed a discourse on the American Constitution and "the utility of studying it," had written a learned "Political History of the United States," a paper on the youth of Benjamin Franklin, and a novel, "Paris in America," in which a character says: "The folly of love and the madness of ambition are sometimes curable, but no one was ever cured of a mania for liberty." In the same book, liberty is described as the "daughter of the Gospel -- sister of justice and pity -- mother of equality, abundance, and peace."" from STATUE OF LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD By Rodman Gilder, 1943

The French were so moved by the beauty of America's freedom from tyranny, they decided to give a gift to its citizens as a symbol of eternal friendship, a gift that would be from a people to a people, not from a government to a government. Victor Hugo was among those enthusiastic to give a sculpture by Auguste Bartholdi to the robust, fledgling country.

As Sculptor Bartholdi believed deeply in republican government and dreamed of having it in his native France, he remarked, "I will try to glorify the Republic and Liberty over there, in the hope that someday I will find it again here."

After Bartholdi visited America, he wrote:

"The picture that is presented to the view when one arrives at New York is marvelous: when - after some days of voyaging - in the pearly radiance of a beautiful morning is revealed the magnificent spectacle of those immense cities, of those rivers extending as far as the eye can reach, festooned with masts and flags; when one awakes, so to speak, in the midst of that interior sea covered with vessels - some giants in size, some dwarfs - which swarm about puffing, whistling, swinging the great arms of their uncovered walking beams, moving to and fro like a crowd upon a public square, it is thrilling."

The hope of France in helping America during the Revolution is remembered and expressed in Bartholdi's statue. Deep inside the artwork is the spirit of Lafayette as he stepped ashore from a small boat, 'offering heart and sword to General Washington.'

Bartholdi's intent was for people around the world to be inspired enough to copy the freedom of America, not to leave their country for ours.

The statue, inaugurated in 1886, was given as a revolutionary symbol for the oppressed to throw off their chains and create their own democracy under law.

The New Colossus
The famous poem, a hymn to immigration, by Emma Lazarus has no connection at all with Bartholdi's vision. Her poem was written "for the occasion" of an auction to raise money for the Statue of Liberty's pedestal. It wasn't until 1903 that friends of the great poet wished to honor her after her death with a dedication.

The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The true and noble meaning behind the Statue as "Liberty Enlightening the World" has been lost as the new purpose for America's existence is based on a myth. It is now considered by many to be the world's permanent doormat for which the Statue is the greeter and 'Mother of Exiles.'

James Russell Lowell wrote that the poem gave the Statue of Liberty a "raison d'être," while Paul Auster wrote that "Bartholdi's gigantic effigy was originally intended as a monument to the principles of international republicanism, but 'The New Colossus' reinvented the statue's purpose, turning Liberty into a welcoming mother, a symbol of hope to the outcasts and downtrodden of the world."

Author John T. Cunningham wrote that "The Statue of Liberty was not conceived and sculpted as a symbol of immigration, but it quickly became so as immigrant ships passed under the statue. However, it was Lazarus's poem that permanently stamped on Miss Liberty the role of unofficial greeter of incoming immigrants."

A burqa for the Statue of Liberty?

One minute prayers for our nation in distress

2010-07-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

TWEET these words on Facebook/Twitter: Speaker of the House Bans "Jesus" as illegal speech during prayers, fires Pastor. Sign free petition! http://tinyurl.com/illegaljesus

Pastor Fired for Praying in Jesus Name
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank you for the courage of Pastor Ron Baity who was fired by the anti-Jesus Speaker Joe Hackney of the North Carolina State-House, because he prayed in Jesus’ name. Pastor Baity refused to deny Christ, or water down his prayers, knowing that if he did, that You would also deny him, from Matthew 10:32. We ask that You would bring victory to his cause, and inspire the people of North Carolina to rise up and take back their government, and restore Pastor Baity’s liberty to pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Anti-Jesus Mayor of Dearborn Michigan Defends Jailing Christians
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are grieved at the lack of justice and truth coming out of Dearborn, Michigan, against four Christians, from the Acts 17 ministry, who were handing out the gospel at an Arab festival. Even though they did not approach anyone at the festival, they were charged with disturbing the peace. Even Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. has fully sided against the Christians. But Lord, we know that if You are for us, then no one can be against us, from Romans 8:31, so we pray for all charges to be dropped, in Jesus Name, Amen.

ACLJ Appeals Bogus Ruling Against Day of Prayer
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for the American Center for Law & Justice who helped appeal the bad decision by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb of Wisconsin, that the National Day of Prayer is somehow unconstitutional, after the atheistic complainers at the Freedom from Religion Foundation demanded they state-enforce atheism. We pray for God to bring justice so that liberty is no longer trampled in America, as Your Word says in Habakkuk 1:4, that the wicked hem in the righteous so that justice is perverted. God pull Your strings against the wicked, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Will Mississippi Voters Be Allowed to Vote on Life?
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for victory over the tactics of Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and others who have filed an injunction against the Mississippi Secretary of State, seeking to stop Mississippi voters from passing the Mississippi Personhood Amendment. The Personhood Amendment says, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.” Bring victory to Personhood USA in every state, as they fight injustice and love their neighbors, even the preborn, as you tell us in Leviticus 19:18, in Jesus Name, Amen.

CBS and NBC Reject Ad Against Ground Zero Mosque
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for GOPTRUST.com who just developed a video commercial exposing why Muslims want to build a mosque on ground zero. We pray God condemns the outrageous censorship from CBS and NBC who refuse to air the Truth and want to silence how this mosque is being built on hallowed ground where 2,996 innocent people were murdered on 9/11. Lord, we pray that the GOPTRUST message would be amplified, and that You expand the territory of the righteous, as Jabez prayed in 1Chronicles 4:10. Honor the memory of the 9/11 victims, in Jesus’ name, Amen. To see ad, click here.

Catholic Professor Fired For Teaching Natural Law Theory
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for Dr. Kenneth Howell, who was fired by the University of Illinois after being targeted by an anonymous student who hated Howell’s class on the Catholic view of Natural Law which condemns homosexuality as unnatural. God help the Alliance Defense Fund defend Dr. Howell’s academic freedom, as his case is now under review, and please bless him for enduring religious persecution and discrimination. We know from Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that you reward of those who seek you. Reward Dr. Howell, in Jesus Name Amen.

Louisiana Becomes 4th State to Opt-Out of Federal Abortion Mandate
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal who signed House Bill 1247, “The Abortion Insurance Opt-out Act”, which exempts his state from receiving mandatory abortion funds from the recently enacted Obamacare health law. We pray that you would bless Governor Jindal for protecting life, and we ask that you would raise up more Governors and Representatives who would boldly stand for life and legislation to defend the unborn. From Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Above adapted from 'The Pray in Jesus' Name Project.'
Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007 after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, (but was later vindicated by Congress), are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

Let's Put God Back in America

2010-07-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Below is from Christian News Wire:

Speaker of North Carolina State House Joe Hackney is under fire this week for firing heroic Pastor Ron Baity who refused to deny Christ. Hackney had pressured the pastor to water-down his prayers, then punished the pastor with exclusion because he held firm to his conscience.

Pastor Ron Baity confirmed his troubles began during the week of May 31 when a House clerk asked to see his invocation which included prayers for our military, state lawmakers, and a petition to God asking him to bless North Carolina.

"When I handed it to the lady, I watched her eyes and they immediately went right to the bottom of the page and the word 'Jesus.' She said 'We would prefer that you not use the name Jesus. We have some people here that can be offended.'"

When Baity protested that he himself would be offended if the government ordered him to deny Christ, she brought the matter to the attention of House Speaker Joe Hackney personally.

Speaker Hackney then decided to disinvite Pastor Baity, that he could pray that day only, but would not be allowed to pray again in the future, and the pastor's services were terminated for the remainder of the week as scheduled, because he prayed "in Jesus' Name."

"I got fired," said Pastor Ron Baity to Fox News Radio, "When the state tells you how to pray, that you cannot use the name of Jesus – that’s mandating a state religion," he said. "They talk about not offending other people but at the same time, if they are telling me how to pray – that’s the very thing our forefathers left England for."

Hackney is now pretending he's not responsible to immediately rescind his own verbal ban on the name of Jesus Christ by instead appointing a six-member "bi-partisan" panel to decide whether "Jesus" is an illegal word.

Both the First Amendment and Articles 13 and 14 of the North Carolina Constitution protect everyone's right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of conscience.

The Pray In Jesus Name Project, led by former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, (who was himself punished for praying "in Jesus' name" but was vindicated by Congress), has now gathered over 1,000 free petition signatures on the first day of the North Carolina crisis, and has begun faxing all free petition comments to all 120 State House and 50 Senate Members. "That adds up to 170,000 faxed petitions, which are now being delivered instantly, at great cost but with great thanks to small donations from pro-Jesus citizens from all 50 states," said Chaplain Klingenschmitt.

Click here for prayer and petition.

left, Pastor Ron Baity

Christian News Wire
NC House Panel formed to examine prayer rules
The Christian Post

One Minutes Prayers for a nation in distress

2010-06-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Court Bans Ten Commandments as Unconstitutional
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You overturn the ruling by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, who ruled 2-1 that a public display of the Ten Commandments somehow violates the Constitution, which was founded on the Ten Commandments. God Bless Judge James Ryan who is recommending a rehearing by the full court, as Matthew 22:21 says we should render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God’s. We agree with our 6th President John Quincy Adams who said there is an “indissoluble bond in the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity," in Jesus Name, Amen.

Valedictorian Banned From Thanking God At Graduation
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank You for the faith of Renee Griffith, who refused to remove references to Christ and God in her valedictorian speech, and as a result wasn’t allowed to give her speech. Thank you also for The Rutherford Institute who now defends her right to free speech and has appealed a ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. Now we pray for a complete victory for free speech, for the right to acknowledge God and Christ in public settings. From Psalm 25:21, God upholds those with integrity and protects them, in Jesus Name, Amen.

The Boy Scouts Sued by Homosexual Complainers
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we ask for a victory for The Boy Scouts of America, as they fight a new lawsuit from homosexual complainers claiming this faith-based institution somehow discriminates against sin and, therefore, should not be allowed to meet in a city owned building as other groups do, violating a fair practices ordinance even though the Supreme Court has ruled previously that the Boy Scouts can exclude homosexuals because they are a private organization. From Jeremiah 29:7 we seek the peace, prosperity, and welfare of the scouts, and we pray for victory, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Update: Answered Prayer! Jury Protects Boy Scouts from Homosexuals
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank You for hearing our prayer from Jeremiah 29:7 last week, and giving peace, prosperity, and victory for the Boy Scouts as they resisted the homosexual complainers and the city of Philadelphia who tried to stop the God-honoring Boy Scouts from using public property. Thank You for the jury who agreed unanimously that Philadelphia violated the Boy Scouts First Amendment rights and ruled they cannot be evicted or have to pay to use the city offices they’ve held for years. Thank you for honoring Your people’s prayers, in Jesus Name, Amen.

House Bill Fails To Repeal Obamacare 187-230
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank You for the 166 Republicans and 21 Democrats who voted to repeal the unconstitutional individual mandate in H.R. 5486, the Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act, which would’ve given people the opportunity for personal choice in healthcare, and also enforced deficit reduction, even though the measure failed. Lord, we are grieved by the unethical and immoral health-care takeover by our government, and we see Proverbs 29:2, when the righteous rule the people rejoice, and when the wicked rule, the people groan. Today we groan at yet another Government takeover, in Jesus Name, Amen. motion to Recommit the Small Business Tax Bill (H.R. 5486) to committee. (The language would also have repealed the federal individual health insurance mandate.)

Reaffirming ‘In God We Trust’ As The Official Motto
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for Representative Randy Forbes’ House Resolution 274 which reaffirms "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. Lord, thank You for the 72 cosponsors of this resolution and ask that more Representatives would cosponsor this resolution and help it pass in the House. From Psalm 20:7 we declare that while some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Conservative Congressmen Stand With Israel
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank You for the 78 House Republicans led by Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) and fellow conservatives who sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supporting Israel's right to defend her people and join Egypt’s blockade of the Gaza Strip that has proven vital in keeping weapons out of the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas. Dear God, we recall your promise from Genesis 12:3 that You will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel. Thank You for Your blessing, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Obama Hosts Palestinian Leader At White House
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You condemn President Obama’s actions to give another $400 million in aid to the Philistines (Palestinians) and support Mahmoud Abbas’ plan to take Jerusalem away from Israel. Obama called for a separate Palestinian state, even while funding weapons and Hamas terrorists that will endanger Israel. From Psalm 122:6 we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and pray God make Your land and Your chosen people safe and secure. God show Obama that giving away the land of Israel, one piece at a time, will never bring peace, but destruction, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Answered Prayer! Free Speech Restored at Liberty Bell Display
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for delivering justice and restoring freedom to Michael Marcavage after he was arrested in 2007 for preaching at the site of the Liberty Bell. Thank God for the unanimous ruling by the Appeals Court judges, who agreed his First Amendment rights were violated and the state cannot stop him from preaching the gospel on a public sidewalk. God raise up more like Marcavage and Repent America to “Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof,” as the Bible commands us in Leviticus 25:10, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Rutherford Institute Defends Student’s Right to Wear Patriotic Clothing
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank You for the work of John Whitehead and The Rutherford Institute who are defending students at Live Oak High School in California, who were punished for wearing patriotic red, white, and blue T-shirts on Cinco De Mayo and told by their principal to remove them because it was a Mexican holiday. Please give victory to the students and our First Amendment in court. We pray Psalm 21:11 that although some plot against America and devise wicked schemes, they will not succeed and the Truth shall prevail, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Supreme Court Denies Christian Student Group First Amendment Rights
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we grieve at another strike against the First Amendment in the 5-4 ruling in Christian Legal Society v. U.C.Hastings, where a Christian student group has been told by the Supreme Court they cannot select Christian officers who adhere to biblical beliefs, and they must allow homosexual leadership before they can get equal access to student resources. Lord, we pray now for wisdom from Ecclesiastes 9:18 because wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Lord, allow Truth to prevail regardless of the compromise of the Supreme Court, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Obama Violates DOMA Forcing Businesses to Grant Gay Leave
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, Your Word says that only a man and a woman can marry, and children are a gift from the Lord in Psalm 127:3. Lord, you defined family, and we pray You condemn President Obama’s illegal power-grab that just declared homosexual “families” as equal to real families, forcing private Christian business owners to grant 12 weeks of unpaid leave to homosexual “families” under the Family Medical Leave Act, which now violates the Defense of Marriage Act signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. God restore religious exceptions in the law, in Jesus Name, Amen.

'XXX' Domain Advances, Endangering Children who Access Porn
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are saddened by the recent decision by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to allow the “.XXX” internet domain ending for use by pornographers, even though they have denied this domain in the past. Now we pray from Job 31:1 that we would not pursue these websites which will be easier for children to find and cause much harm to their spirits. Please protect everyone from this unhealthy trap and snare, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Google Pays Taxes for Gay Employees, but not Unmarried Heteros
Let us pray. Almighty God, we pray according to Psalm 33:10 that You bring the corporation Google to nothing and frustrate the plans of their decision to give bonus pay to homosexual workers, (but they deny the same bonus to heterosexuals), to offset federal taxes that unmarried folks pay on health benefits, as if extending infertility benefits to homosexuals could overcome their biological sterility. We pray for healing of confusion and from 2 Peter 2:14 against the enticement of unsteady souls. Obstruct the efforts of Google to reward sin with extra money, we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Hawaii Governor Vetos Homosexual "Marriage" Civil Unions Bill
Hawaii's governor vetoed legislation that would have permitted same-sex civil unions, ending months of speculation on how she would weigh in on the contentious, emotional debate.
Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's action came on the final day she had to either sign or veto the bill, which the Hawaii Legislature approved in late April. "I have been open and consistent in my opposition to same-gender marriage, and find that House Bill 444 is essentially marriage by another name." She said voters should decide the fate of civil unions, not politicians, "The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day," Lingle said. "It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude to be made by one individual or a small group of elected officials."

Above adapted from 'The Pray in Jesus' Name Project.'
Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007 after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, (but was later vindicated by Congress), are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.

A troubled nation turns to God

2010-06-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Dear God, please watch over our country, guide us, and help us as the New York City Landmarks Commission evaluates any plans to build a 13-story Islamic Mosque at Ground Zero, literally at the same building where the landing gear fell on 9/11, when Islamic Terrorists killed 2,996 innocent Americans and civilians. We ask that they don't insult the memory of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, and don't reward the Muslim terrorists.

Defense Bill Includes Abortion Funding for Military Bases
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for the defeat of the Defense Budget Amendment proposed by Senator Roland Burris (D-IL), that would fund abortions on military bases both domestic and overseas. We declare Psalm 139:13-16 that You knit us together in our mother’s womb, that all children are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that Your eyes saw our unformed body even before our days came to be, and so we stand for life. We praise You God, the author of Life, and ask boldly that this bill would fail miserably, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Atheists Threaten “In God We Trust” in California City
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we know from Psalm 14:1 that the fool has said in his heart that there is no God, proving atheist complainer Annie Gaylor is a fool, and so is her organization the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Please silence the mouths of these fools, and grant us another court victory for the national motto, “In God We Trust”, to be displayed above the city seal of Ontario California, as the city council voted unanimously. God bless the Pacific Justice Institute with victory in defending the God-fearing people of Ontario, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Obama Declares June Homosexual Month
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we reject President Obama’s disgusting promotion of homosexuality and trans-gender genital mutilation, as he claims to speak for America by declaring June a month of arrogant pride endorsing these deviancies. Lord, we declare your word from Proverbs 29:2, “when the righteous rule the people rejoice, when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Lord, we groan at the wickedness Obama promotes, and we ask that You would bring this man to a place of real repentance and salvation, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Grassroots Efforts to Keep Out Kagan
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for a miracle, that extreme liberal Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is denied a place on the Supreme Court.* We also pray boldly for a grassroots uprising to petition all 100 Senators to filibuster and block this wicked nominee. From Proverbs 21:21 we know that he who pursues righteousness and love, finds life, prosperity, and honor. Father, please honor your people and hear our cries for a righteous Supreme Court judge, not another wicked one. Raise up the godly to oppose the evildoer, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Judge Bans Graduations Held in Church
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray for U.S. District Court Judge Janet Hall who your word declares an unrighteous judge because she sides with evil and not righteousness, having just ruled that two Connecticut high schools cannot hold their graduations at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield because she says that is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Lord, even though the wicked rule, we declare from 1 Timothy 4:10 that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Gambling Law Takes Effect; Barney Frank Hates Law
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, thank you for passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act that took effect recently ordering banks to stop credit card and other electronic payments to illegal gambling websites. We ask now that You would stop Congressman Barney Frank from passing his new legislation that would overturn this good law. Lord, we know from 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and please protect families from the evil which gambling promotes, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Above adapted from 'The Pray in Jesus' Name Project.'
Disclaimer: The views of Chaplain Klingenschmitt, who was honorably but involuntarily discharged from the Navy in 2007 after facing court-martial for praying 'in Jesus name' in uniform, (but was later vindicated by Congress), are his own personal views, not the views of any political party, government, or organization.
*Supreme Court Judges are to Uphold the Constitution

Turkey's Catholic Bishop Beheaded by Muslims
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we are saddened and grieved by the recent beheading of Catholic Bishop Luigi Padavese of Turkey, who was murdered by Islamic terrorists who yelled “Allah Akhbar! I killed the great Satan!” while butchering the Christian to death. From 2 Corinthians 1:4 we pray God comforts His Church, and allow the Church to offer comfort to the poor people of Turkey who are oppressed by radical Islamic terrorists. We pray for the terrorists themselves, that God would deliver them out of such a dark and false religion, and bring them to justice, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Pro-Life Prayer Made Illegal in Washington, DC
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank you for the stand of Bound4Life and the Rev. Patrick Mahoney who was recently arrested for praying on a public sidewalk, to end abortion in Washington DC. God we know that sidewalk was public for decades despite brand new deceptive claims by Planned Parenthood, who now says it’s their own private property. So we pray from Deuteronomy 28:3 that Your people would be blessed in the city, and the country and that the world will see what is happening to righteous people in America while they stand for You, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist Betrays Pro-Lifers, Vetoes Ultrasound Bill
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we declare James 1:8, that a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways, exposing Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who once claimed to be pro-life but now has dropped any pro-life message from his campaign website, and even worse, thumbed his nose at conservatives by vetoing a bill that would require abortion-minded women to see an ultrasound picture of their innocent child. This despite thousands of pro-life people contacting Crist and urging him to sign the bill. God inspire the people of Florida to throw Crist out of office, in Jesus Name, Amen.

9-6 Vote to Keep Homosexual Blood out of Blood Supply
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank you for 9 members of the Department of Health and Human Services who voted to keep homosexual blood out of our national blood supply, since the Merck Medical Manual (p. 1500, 15th ed.) reports that 28% of male homosexuals admit having more than 1,000 sex partners, and 75% admit multiple sexual contacts with strangers, and AIDS continues to grow exponentially among gay men. God keep our blood donors clean, and we know from Hebrews 9:22 that only the blood Jesus shed on the cross can forgive our sins, in Jesus Name, Amen.

N.Y. Senate Committee Rejects Gender Bill
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we thank you for the narrow 12-11 victory in the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee that voted to reject the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which would have forced sharing of all public women’s bathrooms with cross-dressing men, and created special rights for self-mutilaters. God now help the U.S. Congress reject Barney Frank’s ENDA bill that would do the same thing nation-wide, since in Genesis 2 God created man and woman without any mistakes, the same way Jesus defined marriage in Matthew 19, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Obama’s Judge Chatigny Lenient on Sex Offenders
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we pray You help defeat President Obama’s promotion of Judge Robert Chatigny to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, since he gave sex offenders, rapists, and child pornographers lean sentences and disregarded the suffering of the victims. Lord, even the liberal Senator Feinstein (D-CA) declined to vote for his nomination! From Proverbs 29:2 we pray for righteous judges who can properly discern good from evil, and defeat those like Robert Chatigny who side with the perpetrators instead of their victims. God protect the innocent by causing his nomination to fail, in Jesus name, Amen.

Methodist Seminary Promotes False Religions
Let Us Pray. Almighty God, we obey Ephesians 5:11 by exposing the evil deeds of darkness at the Claremont School of Theology who just created a “University Project” designed to promote training in the false religions of Islam, Hinduism, and other idolatry. They deny Jesus’ teaching in John 14:6, that nobody comes to the Father except through Christ, and abuse funding from Methodist Churches founded by John Wesley. God we pray You condemn the heretics at this school, and pray You grant discerning of spirits to students, to seek biblical doctrine elsewhere, in Jesus Name, Amen.

The land of Israel belongs to Israel - Who are the Palestinians?

2010-06-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

After the Roman destruction of Israel in A.D. 70, Israel began to be called 'Palestine.' It was ruled by many different invaders for the next few hundred years, including European Crusaders who tried to wrest it back from the muslims when they took control in the 7th century.

Muslims ruled the land of Palestine with neglect from A.D. 635 until 1917. In time and under their lack of care, the land became desolate with withered fields, no trees, no people, very little rain, eroded soil, malaria-ridden swamps, and rocky mountainsides.

Such a sorry and heartbroken sight was the land of Palestine. Mark Twain called it 'monotonous and uninviting' and famously remarked in his 1869 book, The Innocents Abroad:

"Stirring scenes occur in the valley [of Jezreel] no more. There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent – not for 30 miles in either direction. There are two or three small clusters of Bedouin tents, but not a single permanent habitation. One may ride 10 miles hereabouts and not see 10 human beings."

Meanwhile, as the Jews suffered persecutions in Russia and Eastern Europe, some of them fled to Palestine to escape the massacres.

During the 1800's, the Jews were able to buy property from the Ottoman Turks. Since the land was useless, the Turks were glad to sell it to the 'dumb' and desperate Jews; and the Turks got away with selling pieces of land at extremely high prices.

Baron Edmond de Rothschild, the “Father of the Yishuv” (the Jewish settlement in Palestine) was for decades the largest Jewish landowner in Palestine and Transjordan. The Rothschilds funded much of Israel's governmental infrastructure. For examples, James A. de Rothschild financed the Knesset building as a gift to the State of Israel, and Dorothy de Rothschild donated Israel's Supreme Court building.

Britain encouraged Jewish immigration to Palestine and Jerusalem by establishing several religious societies and missionaries to help the Jews settle in. Some of these societies are Al Torah Society (1802), Palestine (1805), and London Missionary (1825). Al Maseery 1982.

Napoleon also encouraged Jewish thinkers and leaders when he proclaimed that the Jews were the legal heirs of Palestine during Akka Seige in April 1799. Awadh 1971.

Britain opened a consulate office in Jerusalem in 1838 to protect the Jews. Germany (1842), France (1843), Austria (1849), Spain (1854), the United States (1857), and Russia (1861) followed suit. The London Times said on July 17, 1841, in an article entitled, Syria and Jews Resurrection, that the "Jews definitely will settle in Palestine with the aid of the five superpowers; this has been taken seriously" Al Natsheh 1984.

The Jews worked hard to make the land prosper, many of them dying from hardships of the land and the disease of malaria. They didn't give up, and their efforts were rewarded. The land began to blossom.

And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. Isaiah 61:4

Neighboring peoples were amazed. Hoards of muslim poor from Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt came into the land to work for the Jews. They stayed and formed small settlements. From those workers is where most of today's 'Palestinians' have descended. (Israel has in the past offered them citizenship.)

When the Hashemite Tribe (people who trace their ancestry from Hashim, the great-grandfather of Muhammad, and who ruled over Mecca and Medina for centuries) were driven out by the Saudis, the British gave them rulership over the immigrant migrant workers in Transjordan. The British said this would be "The State of Palestine." The Hashemites, who make up about 20 percent of the population, turned it into the Kingdom of Jordan.

On August 23,1959, the Prime Minister of Jordan stated, "We are the Government of Palestine, the army of Palestine, and the refugees of Palestine."

The West Bank and the Gaza Strip were controlled by the Jordanians and Egyptians from 1948 to 1967. There was no mention of giving up that land out of concern and fairness for today's Palestinians. After the Six-Day War in June, 1967, Israel controlled the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Suddenly, there was outcry that the Palestinians needed land and that the West Bank and Gaza should be given to them.

God warned:

Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Surely I have spoken in My burning jealousy against the rest of the nations and against all Edom [Arabs], who took MY LAND to themselves as a possession, with whole-hearted joy and spiteful minds, in order to plunder its open country ... But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to MY PEOPLE ISRAEL, for they are about to come.' Ezekiel 36: 5, 8 NKJ

Palestinians - Who are they? Jordan strips Palestinians' citizenship History of Israel and Palestine Brief History of Zionism and Creation of Israel

ISRAEL, A MIRACLE

by Eva

Untouched by man, the land lay bare;

No fruit nor flowers did grow there.

A wild and unkempt land it was

The wilderness.

Then pilgrims with tools and seeds.

They came to plow the cold, hard ground,

To plant their seed, and to water the ground

With blood, sweat, and tears.

Expelled from the world,

They joined hands and came

To rebuild their homeland, to plant, and to pray,

Believing their families would join them one day

In the land of the Jews.

They gave up their old lives in

Exchange for the new, and

Israel prospered and Israel grew,

Where she stands a reminder to both Gentile and Jew

A miracle.

Published August 23, 1998

The Jerusalem Post Daily Internet Edition