The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692

'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.

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

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

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

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

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.