Light Writer: Lou Comunale

WHAT THE ARAB SPRING HAS WROUGHT

2011-08-19T18:43:00.003-04:00

While American liberals reacted with glee over the uprisings across the Middle East, including the overthrow of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, what has been the outcome? We find in Egypt, for instance, there has been a growing anti-Israel sentiment and, within Israel, a growing concern that Israel is now more vulnerable to attack than before. The Arab Spring in Egypt has given permission for the more destabilizing elements within Islam to become more prominent in the region.

The proponents of the uprisings, here in the U.S., lauded the overthrown of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, ignoring the fact that for decades Mubarak has held back the more violent streams within Islam, the Muslim Brotherhood for instance, thus maintaining a semblance of peace between Egypt and Israel.

But now?

We're seeing Israel coming under a growing threat. This week we have seen two attacks on Israel, stemming from the Gaza Strip -- which is between Israel and Egypt.

THURSDAY ATTACK ON ISRAEL: Reuters reported that "Gunmen kill six in Israel in attack near Egypt border." News item here (or below).

FRIDAY ATTACK ON ISRAEL: Israeli News reported that "Synagogue Hit as Grad Missiles Fired at Be’er Sheva and Ashdod." News item here (or below).

This reminds me of Prophet Kim Clement's comment that Islamic radicals were attempting a 30 day attack on Israel (an attack a day) for September, 2011, marking the 10th anniversary of 9/11. But in Clement's word, he says that this plan will be prevented.

Prayer is needed for the peace in Israel.

References:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/08/islamic-jihadists-murder-six-wound-25-in-attacks-on-vehicles-in-southern-israel.html

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146967#.Tk7fTFtCOSp

http://kimclement.tv/?ref=play&i=521&nowshowing=1

The Power of Prayer in Modern Times

2011-04-22T15:29:00.011-04:00

Amid rabid forest fires across the state of Texas, Gov Rick Perry issued an appeal for all to pray to God for rain.

Would that all politicians and national leaders followed the same pattern.

If a political leader asks for prayer for solving problems and issues in the land, let us as Christians eagerly join with them and pray. This is a way we can advance the Kingdom of God across the land. This is a way we reform the culture that has been perverted due to negligence of those who know better.

As a means of encouragement to pray, I want to share a story about the great World War II American military hero, General George S. Patton. You've heard of him. But did you know that he issued an appeal for, not rain, but the clearing of rain, which resulted in stopping the Nazis' advance into France. It's a thrilling story of how God still hears the prayers of his people. If you really want to see revival and awakening come into the land, then pray for the leaders that God has set over us and especially pray when they ask us to. Here's the story.

The True Story of The Patton Prayer by Msgr. James H. O'Neill (From the Review of the News 6 October 1971)

Many conflicting and some untrue stories have been printed about General George S. Patton and the Third Army Prayer. Some have had the tinge of blasphemy and disrespect for the Deity. Even in "War As I Knew It" by General Patton, the footnote on the Prayer by Colonel Paul D. Harkins, Patton's Deputy Chief of Staff, while containing the elements of a funny story about the General and his Chaplain, is not the true account of the prayer Incident or its sequence.

As the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army throughout the five campaigns on the Staff of General Patton, I should have some knowledge of the event because at the direction of General Patton I composed the now world famous Prayer, and wrote Training Letter No. 5, which constitutes an integral, but untold part, of the prayer story. These Incidents, narrated in sequence, should serve to enhance the memory of the man himself, and cause him to be enshrined by generations to come as one of the greatest of our soldiers. He had all the traits of military leadership, fortified by genuine trust in God, intense love of country, and high faith In the American soldier.

He had no use for half-measures. He wrote this line a few days before his death: "Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself and to American tradition." He was true to the principles of his religion, Episcopalian, and was regular in Church attendance and practices, unless duty made his presence Impossible.

The incident of the now famous Patton Prayer commenced with a telephone call to the Third Army Chaplain on the morning of December 8, 1944, when the Third Army Headquarters were located in the Caserne Molifor in Nancy, France: "This is General Patton; do you have a good prayer for weather? We must do something about those rains if we are to win the war." My reply was that I know where to look for such a prayer, that I would locate, and report within the hour. As I hung up the telephone receiver, about eleven in the morning, I looked out on the steadily falling rain, "immoderate" I would call it -- the same rain that had plagued Patton's Army throughout the Moselle and Saar Campaigns from September until now, December 8. The few prayer books at hand contained no formal prayer on weather that might prove acceptable to the Army Commander. Keeping his immediate objective in mind, I typed an original and an improved copy on a 5" x 3" filing card:

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.

I pondered the question, What use would General Patton make of the prayer? Surely not for private devotion. If he intended it for circulation to chaplains or others, with Christmas not far removed, it might he proper to type the Army Commander's Christmas Greetings on the reverse side. This would please the recipient, and anything that pleased the men I knew would please him:

To each officer and soldier in the Third United States Army, I Wish a Merry Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We march in our might to complete victory. May God's blessings rest upon each of you on this Christmas Day. G.S. Patton, Jr, Lieutenant General, Commanding, Third United States Army.

This done, I donned my heavy trench coat, crossed the quadrangle of the old French military barracks, and reported to General Patton. He read the prayer copy, returned it to me with a very casual directive, "Have 250,000 copies printed and see to it that every man in the Third Army gets one." The size of the order amazed me; this was certainly doing something about the weather in a big way. But I said nothing but the usual, "Very well, Sir!" Recovering, I invited his attention to the reverse side containing the Christmas Greeting, with his name and rank typed. "Very good," he said, with a smile of approval. "If the General would sign the card, it would add a personal touch that I am sure the men would like." He took his place at his desk, signed the card, returned it to me and then Said: "Chaplain, sit down for a moment; I want to talk to you about this business of prayer." He rubbed his face in his hands, was silent for a moment, then rose and walked over to the high window, and stood there with his back toward me as he looked out on the falling rain. As usual, he was dressed stunningly, and his six-foot-two powerfully built physique made an unforgettable silhouette against the great window. The General Patton I saw there was the Army Commander to whom the welfare of the men under him was a matter of Personal responsibility . Even in the heat of combat he could take time out to direct new methods to prevent trench feet, to see to it that dry socks went forward daily with the rations to troops on the line, to kneel in the mud administering morphine and caring for a wounded soldier until the ambulance Came. What was coming now?

"Chaplain, how much praying is being done in the Third Army?" was his question. I parried: "Does the General mean by chaplains, or by the men?" "By everybody," he replied. To this I countered: "I am afraid to admit it, but I do not believe that much praying is going on. When there Is fighting, everyone prays, but now with this constant rain -- when things are quiet, dangerously quiet, men just sit and wait for things to happen. Prayer out here is difficult. Both chaplains and men are removed from a special building with a steeple. Prayer to most of them is a formal, ritualized affair, involving special posture and a liturgical setting. I do not believe that much praying is being done."

The General left the window, and again seated himself at his desk, leaned back in his swivel chair, toying with a long lead pencil between his index fingers.

Chaplain, I am a strong believer in Prayer. There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by Praying. Any great military operation takes careful planning, or thinking. Then you must have well-trained troops to carry it out: that's working. But between the plan and the operation there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory, success or failure. It is the reaction of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some people call that getting the breaks; I call it God. God has His part, or margin in everything, That's where prayer comes in. Up to now, in the Third Army, God has been very good to us. We have never retreated; we have suffered no defeats, no famine, no epidemics. This is because a lot of people back home are praying for us. We were lucky in Africa, in Sicily, and in Italy. Simply because people prayed. But we have to pray for ourselves, too. A good soldier is not made merely by making him think and work. There is something in every soldier that goes deeper than thinking or working--it's his "guts." It is something that he has built in there: it is a world of truth and power that is higher than himself. Great living is not all output of thought and work. A man has to have intake as well. I don't know what you it, but I call it Religion, Prayer, or God.

He talked about Gideon in the Bible, said that men should pray no matter where they were, in church or out of it, that if they did not pray, sooner or later they would "crack up." To all this I commented agreement, that one of the major training objectives of my office was to help soldiers recover and make their lives effective in this third realm, prayer. It would do no harm to re-impress this training on chaplains. We had about 486 chaplains in the Third Army at that time, representing 32 denominations. Once the Third Army had become operational, my mode of contact with the chaplains had been chiefly through Training Letters issued from time to time to the Chaplains in the four corps and the 22 to 26 divisions comprising the Third Army. Each treated of a variety of subjects of corrective or training value to a chaplain working with troops in the field. [Patton continued:]

I wish you would put out a Training Letter on this subject of Prayer to all the chaplains; write about nothing else, just the importance of prayer. Let me see it before you send it. We've got to get not only the chaplains but every man in the Third Army to pray. We must ask God to stop these rains. These rains are that margin that hold defeat or victory. If we all pray, it will be like what Dr. Carrel said [the allusion was to a press quote some days previously when Dr. Alexis Carrel, one of the foremost scientists, described prayer "as one of the most powerful forms of energy man can generate"], it will be like plugging in on a current whose source is in Heaven. I believe that prayer completes that circuit. It is power.

With that the General arose from his chair, a sign that the interview was ended. I returned to my field desk, typed Training Letter No. 5 while the "copy" was "hot," touching on some or all of the General's reverie on Prayer, and after staff processing, presented it to General Patton on the next day. The General read it and without change directed that it be circulated not only to the 486 chaplains, but to every organization commander down to and including the regimental level. Three thousand two hundred copies were distributed to every unit in the Third Army over my signature as Third Army Chaplain. Strictly speaking, it was the Army Commander's letter, not mine. Due to the fact that the order came directly from General Patton, distribution was completed on December 11 and 12 in advance of its date line, December 14, 1944. Titled "Training Letter No. 5," with the salutary "Chaplains of the Third Army," the letter continued: "At this stage of the operations I would call upon the chaplains and the men of the Third United States Army to focus their attention on the importance of prayer.

"Our glorious march from the Normandy Beach across France to where we stand, before and beyond the Siegfried Line, with the wreckage of the German Army behind us should convince the most skeptical soldier that God has ridden with our banner. Pestilence and famine have not touched us. We have continued in unity of purpose. We have had no quitters; and our leadership has been masterful. The Third Army has no roster of Retreats. None of Defeats. We have no memory of a lost battle to hand on to our children from this great campaign.

"But we are not stopping at the Siegfried Line. Tough days may be ahead of us before we eat our rations in the Chancellery of the Deutsches Reich.

"As chaplains it is our business to pray. We preach its importance. We urge its practice. But the time is now to intensify our faith in prayer, not alone with ourselves, but with every believing man, Protestant, Catholic, Jew, or Christian in the ranks of the Third United States Army.

"Those who pray do more for the world than those who fight; and if the world goes from bad to worse, it is because there are more battles than prayers. 'Hands lifted up,' said Bosuet, 'smash more battalions than hands that strike.' Gideon of Bible fame was least in his father's house. He came from Israel's smallest tribe. But he was a mighty man of valor. His strength lay not in his military might, but in his recognition of God's proper claims upon his life. He reduced his Army from thirty-two thousand to three hundred men lest the people of Israel would think that their valor had saved them. We have no intention to reduce our vast striking force. But we must urge, instruct, and indoctrinate every fighting man to pray as well as fight. In Gideon's day, and in our own, spiritually alert minorities carry the burdens and bring the victories.

"Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good weather for Battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked enemy whose banner is injustice and whose good is oppression. Pray for victory. Pray for our Army, and Pray for Peace.

"We must march together, all out for God. The soldier who 'cracks up' does not need sympathy or comfort as much as he needs strength. We are not trying to make the best of these days. It is our job to make the most of them. Now is not the time to follow God from 'afar off.' This Army needs the assurance and the faith that God is with us. With prayer, we cannot fail.

"Be assured that this message on prayer has the approval, the encouragement, and the enthusiastic support of the Third United States Army Commander.

"With every good wish to each of you for a very Happy Christmas, and my personal congratulations for your splendid and courageous work since landing on the beach, I am," etc., etc., signed The Third Army Commander.

The timing of the Prayer story is important: let us rearrange the dates: the "Prayer Conference" with General Patton was 8 December; the 664th Engineer Topographical Company, at the order of Colonel David H. Tulley, C.E., Assistant to the Third Army Engineer, working night and day reproduced 250,000 copies of the Prayer Card; the Adjutant General, Colonel Robert S. Cummings, supervised the distribution of both the Prayer Cards and Training Letter No. 5 to reach the troops by December 12-14. The breakthrough was on December 16 in the First Army Zone when the Germans crept out of the Schnee Eifel Forest in the midst of heavy rains, thick fogs, and swirling ground mists that muffled sound, blotted out the sun, and reduced visibility to a few yards. The few divisions on the Luxembourg frontier were surprised and brushed aside. They found it hard to fight an enemy they could neither see nor hear. For three days it looked to the jubilant Nazis as if their desperate gamble would succeed. They had achieved compete surprise. Their Sixth Panzer Army, rejuvenated in secret after its debacle in France, seared through the Ardennes like a hot knife through butter. The First Army's VIII Corps was holding this area with three infantry divisions (one of them new and in the line only a few days) thinly disposed over an 88-mile front and with one armored division far to the rear, in reserve. The VIII Corps had been in the sector for months. It was considered a semi-rest area and outside of a little patrolling was wholly an inactive position.

When the blow struck the VIII Corps fought with imperishable heroism. The Germans were slowed down but the Corps was too shattered to stop them with its remnants. Meanwhile, to the north, the Fifth Panzer Army was slugging through another powerful prong along the vulnerable boundary between the VIII and VI Corps. Had the bad weather continued there is no telling how far the Germans might have advanced. On the 19th of December, the Third Army turned from East to North to meet the attack. As General Patton rushed his divisions north from the Saar Valley to the relief of the beleaguered Bastogne, the prayer was answered. On December 20, to the consternation of the Germans and the delight of the American forecasters who were equally surprised at the turn-about-the rains and the fogs ceased. For the better part of a week came bright clear skies and perfect flying weather. Our planes came over by tens, hundreds, and thousands. They knocked out hundreds of tanks, killed thousands of enemy troops in the Bastogne salient, and harried the enemy as he valiantly tried to bring up reinforcements. The 101st Airborne, with the 4th, 9th, and 10th Armored Divisions, which saved Bastogne, and other divisions which assisted so valiantly in driving the Germans home, will testify to the great support rendered by our air forces. General Patton prayed for fair weather for Battle. He got it.

It was late in January of 1945 when I saw the Army Commander again. This was in the city of Luxembourg. He stood directly in front of me, smiled: "Well, Padre, our prayers worked. I knew they would." Then he cracked me on the side of my steel helmet with his riding crop. That was his way of saying, "Well done."

(This article appeared as a government document in 1950. At the time it appeared in the Review of the News, Msgr. O'Neill was a retired Brigadier General living in Pueblo, Colorado.)

TO RENEW AMERICA

2011-03-19T11:59:00.006-04:00

Christians need to begin to engage in politics. It's an area in which Christians have been removed from influence by secularists who want to dissolve righteousness from a nation.

It is time for Christians to show "love for their neighbor" by preserving Judeo-Christian ethics in this land. It is the only ethic that can save a nation.

Newt Gingrich, in his new book entitled, " TO SAVE AMERICA, Stopping Obama's Secular-Socialist Machine," offers some important guidelines for Christians to engage in the public arena to preserve the eroding culture.

Pray -- for our nation and its leaders, that God will continue to pour out his blessings on America.
Register to vote.
Learn about the issues, especially those that threaten religious liberty.
Learn the religious liberty positions and records of elected officials and candidates for office.
Vote in every election. No candidate will agree with you on every issue, every time, but vote for the candidates who most closely represent your views.
Use your influence to educate and persuade others about the importance of protecting religious liberty, encourage them to run for office (hmm?).
If you have leadership ability and want to fight to protect freedom, consider running for office yourself (double hmm!).
If you are concerned that a measure in Congress, your state house, or county or town board will adversely impact religious liberty, tell your elected representatives how you want them to vote.
When you see or experience an encroachment on religious freedom, write a letter to the editor or an opinion article for your local paper, or call talk radio. If you don't speak up, maybe no one will. But if you do, you can frame the debate and help get good legislation passed and bad legislation defeated.
Organize a voter registration drive at your church.

That's for starters. Here's hoping that you all take this to heart and get involved to save our Judeo-Christian heritage and to help bring an awakening to the land.

IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE?

2011-02-25T18:47:00.009-05:00

Newt Gingrich makes a good case for impeachment against Pres Barack Obama because of his recent rejection of defending the law (specifically the "Defense of Marriage Act" -- that's the law that declares that marriage is between a man and a woman).

In an article in Newsmax, Newt says “Clearly it is a dereliction of duty and a violation of his constitutional oath and is something that cannot be allowed to stand.”

Indeed, imagine any other president coming along and just arbitrarily citing which laws he was going to adhere by and which ones he would not. Remember they already came into office swearing on a bible, affirming that they would uphold the laws of the land.

Suppose he decided that defending the nation against terrorism wasn't his cup of tea anymore. Which come to think of it, he may have been doing already by rejecting the war on terrorism, dismissing any clear threat from Islamic terrorists and by handling all such terrorist defendants in civilian courts.

Continuing Newt said that his decision sets a “very dangerous precedent” that must not be allowed to stand. I agree.

There was another issue as well. Do you remember when Obama sued the state of Arizona over the state's attempt to enforce the federal illegal immigration laws?

What? In this wildly illogical scenario, Arizona was actually trying to follow the federal law by protecting its borders against illegal immigrants and the U.S. government sued that state!

That may have been unconstitutional as well.

Sidenote here: Speaking about "dereliction of duty," what about those democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin fleeing the state and their duties in order to not pass legislation that they want no part of.

What is happening to our elected politicians? -- specifically our leftist-democratic officials? They are creating a political culture of immoral and unethical behavior, such as we've never seen before.

We are in desperate need of a tidal-wave change in our leadership -- we must have a new breed of political leadership that values our constitution and Judeo-Christian heritage, with convictions of right and wrong, wisdom and folly, righteousness and evil.

But getting back to the impeachment: I'm not at all for impeachment, but I would hope that presidents and all elected officials would uphold the laws of the land. That's what they were elected to do.

IN DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH in the Netherlands

2011-02-07T18:07:00.005-05:00

Geert Wilders, modern-day hero in the struggle to preserve European culture against Sharia Law, faces a retrial on so-called "hate speech" in Amsterdam. Here is his concluding statement at court. He needs our prayers.

The lights are going out all over Europe. All over the continent where our culture flourished and where man created freedom, prosperity and civilization. Everywhere the foundation of the West is under attack.

All over Europe the elites are acting as the protectors of an ideology that has been bent on destroying us since fourteen centuries. An ideology that has sprung from the desert and that can produce only deserts because it does not give people freedom. The Islamic Mozart, the Islamic Gerard Reve [a Dutch author], the Islamic Bill Gates; they do not exist because without freedom there is no creativity. The ideology of Islam is especially noted for killing and oppression and can only produce societies that are backward and impoverished. Surprisingly, the elites do not want to hear any criticism of this ideology.

My trial is not an isolated incident. Only fools believe it is. All over Europe multicultural elites are waging total war against their populations. Their goal is to continue the strategy of mass-immigration, which will ultimately result in an islamic Europe – a Europe without freedom: Eurabia.

The lights are going out all over Europe. Anyone who thinks or speaks individually is at risk. Freedom loving citizens who criticize islam, or even merely suggest that there is a relationship between islam and crime or honour killing, must suffer and are threatened or criminalized. Those who speak the truth are in danger.

The lights are going out all over Europe. Everywhere the Orwellian thought police are at work, on the lookout for thought crimes everywhere, casting the populace back within the confines where it is allowed to think.

This trial is not about me. It is about something much greater. Freedom of speech is not the property of those who happen to belong to the elites of a country. It is an inalienable right, the birthright of our people. For centuries battles have been fought for it, and now it is being sacrificed to please a totalitarian ideology.

Future generations will look back at this trial and wonder who was right. Who defended freedom and who wanted to get rid of it.

The lights are going out all over Europe. Our freedom is being restricted everywhere, so I repeat what I said here last year:

It is not only the privilege, but also the duty of free people – and hence also my duty as a member of the Dutch Parliament – to speak out against any ideology that threatens freedom. Hence it is a right and a duty to speak the truth about the evil ideology that is called islam. I hope that freedom of speech will emerge triumphant from this trial. I hope not only that I shall be acquitted, but especially that freedom of speech will continue to exist in the Netherlands and in Europe.

URGENT: PRAYER ALERT FOR EGYPT

2011-02-07T00:12:00.004-05:00

I thought this was important to pass along. It's a prayer update from Capitol Hill Prayer Partners about the ongoing situation in Egypt. It not only gives strategies for intercession, but it also gives a good overview of the "real" situation going on in the Middle East -- things that the media has no conception about. And, despite the West's "good" intentions, after all is said and done, we'll find that we've created a monster in the Middle East if we don't prevent it through intercession.

Anyone who'd like to receive future Prayer Updates can email: chpp@patriot.net

ALERT #2: PRAY FOR EGYPT --

A Guide for Intercession

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." (Psalm 18:6)

Introduction

Last Tuesday, February 1st, we released a special edition called: "Alert: Pray for Egypt." That alert was written by an anonymous prayer partner, with great insight.

Tonight, our anonymous friend has sent us another message with great insight and, rather than keeping this to ourselves, we wish to again forward this information along to you.

Please note that part of this news is not from the mainstream media, but is based upon dreams and visions which we believe to be from the Lord.

Thank you all for prayerfully considering this alert, and for praying through its points as the Lord leads.

In His Grace . . . and watching with you . . .

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners

Where Are We Now?

It is hard to fathom what is going on in Egypt right now! Two and a half weeks ago, we would never have considered this kind of thing taking off as it has; opening the door to a fundamentalist, terror organization to hold governmental power at Israel's southern border. Did this come out of the blue or was this the result of problems incubating for a long time? The answer to that reads like the options in a multiple-choice question.

A. The protestors in Cairo are angry, impoverished, democracy-starved people; tired of living under a corrupt dictator for 30 years.

B. The protestors are largely members of (have been orchestrated by) the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been trying to destroy the Mubarack government (and his connections to Israel and the West) for nearly 30 years.

C. The protestors are deluded Egyptians, who have accepted the lie that Sharia law is the only way to improve their lives and to insure their rights. Furthermore, it is the only way to rid the region of the wicked Jews of Israel, in order to bring forth Islamic peace and justice.

D. The protestors are internationals . . . imported Moslems, and lawless terrorists . . . following an agenda that has been laid out, and paid for, by hidden power brokers, intending to overthrow the government of Egypt, for the destruction of Israel.

Very likely the answer to the question (what are these Egyptian protests all about?) requires a fifth option: ALL OF THE ABOVE. One thing for certain, the answer to the question is not: NONE OF THE ABOVE. While some secular college students in pursuit of democracy may have started the protests, the student voice was quickly replaced by something far from their goal. Still, the foolish left wing media, along with the international leaders of the free world, continue to declare that this is all about human rights and democracy. I have wanted to write this report for the past two days. It was just not coming together in a distilled fashion, so I waited for the Lord to bring His pieces of clarity to my understanding. He gave me three revelations that I can now share with you.

#1: The Lord told me that this action in Egypt is, what He called, A BAIT AND SWITCH operation.

#2: Last night I had a dream . . . details to follow.

#3: When I asked the Lord, what was the role of the intercessors, He told me that we are to be CIRCUIT BREAKERS.

I will address each of these three revelations individually.

Bait-and-Switch

#1: When I inquired of the Lord, what the turmoil in Israel was all about, He answered with a term unfamiliar to me . . . "WHAT IS GOING ON IS A BAIT-AND-SWITCH." I believe I had heard that term somewhere before, but I really didn't know what it referred to. I had to go to the Internet to seek out the definition, so that I could gain understanding regarding the Lord's answer to me. Here is what I discovered:

Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud, which is often used in retail sales . . . but which is found in other business dealings, in negotiation, settlement offers, and in other contexts as well. Here is how it works: Something is advertised in such a way as to make it appear very desirable and available for a limited time, at an amazingly low cost. The advertisement brings in the customer. Once inside the store, the expectant customer is told that the advertised commodity is no longer available (sold out most probably). However, that customer will be "generously" offered an even more desirable product, at a "slightly" higher price . . . but which is reported to be a much better value. In essence, the bait-and- switch suggests that the merchant is bringing comfort to ease the disappointment of the consumer (who is believing that he missed the big deal . . . but which in fact was really just the bait to bring him into the store). The added price paid by the customer (for the substituted, more costly item) increases the profit of the seller, and pays for the advertising needed to bring the buyer into the store (where he then purchases what the merchant really wants to sell him). The item that served as the bait was never freely available to all; but the customer never knows that. His disappointment is turned into joy as he purchases something he didn't intend to buy . . . at a higher price . . . because of the way that it was packaged and promoted to mislead his heart and understanding. The seller gets more of what he wants, while allowing the buyer to have the illusion that he is getting a good deal on more than he knew he needed.

When I read the description of the bait-and-switch, I knew instantly what the Lord was saying about the situation in Egypt. The "organizers and promoters" of this "uprising" might have used obtaining more freedom, democracy, prosperity, less corruption, or whatever, to bring the people to the Square to protest.

Once there, the message was switched. It became something like: "Let's take this higher and farther . . . let's go beyond just getting rid of corruption and police oppression (which we really don't have available as a possibility now) and go for a complete regime change; taking out Mubarak. Let's go even better, and call for total Sharia law (which is the highest and best law in the world). Sharia law will finally insure that we will finally be able to destroy Israel and the West. It only costs just a little more (actually it will cost these people dearly, as Sharia law denies all freedom, and is frightfully controlling, punitive, narrow, etc.). Like the American election two years ago, the change offered (the bait) hooked the people. Only later did the American people begin to understand that the agenda they "bought" had not been truthfully presented . . . but now it was too late to go back. So how do we pray against the bait-and-switch?

DECREE:

"Nothing is too difficult for thee!" (Jer. 32:17)

--Pray that the Lord would release an anointing of discernment upon all those Egyptians, who know Him . . . and upon all those who seek real truth and justice.

--Pray that the Lord would release a spirit of Mistrust of the Merchants upon those who are not led by the Holy Spirit . . . so that they will question the deal, and demand the details.

--Pray for a release of the Spirit of Truth, so that the deceivers will be unable to lie. Pray that the truth pours from their lips unrestrained; revealing what they are intending to do, as well as revealing the powers and personalities, who are really behind this uprising.

--Pray that the frustrated/disappointed people, who have been eager to buy Sharia law and the Moslem Brotherhood's leadership role as comfort, will suddenly become afraid of making that purchase.

--Pray that those, who have bought the switched goods in the past, will arise to shout a warning to the unsuspecting customers being baited.

--Pray that the Lord would totally uncover satan's bait-and-switch trick in regard to Islam . . . not only in Egypt, but throughout the world.

--Pray that the true freedom, offered by the God of Israel, would be presented to the disgruntled masses, in a way that they would see the truth of it and desire it.

Revealed in a Dream

Last night in a dream, I was observing the birth of a baby. MANY attendants were on hand as part of the delivery team. As I was observing the baby crowning, with the end of labor at hand, I cried out, "Stand back! Do not touch this baby! I must not be received and nurtured to have life." No one would listen to me. Suddenly the baby was born with a great shout of joy from the crowd. I backed away even further from this scene. Within minutes, the baby literally exploded, killing everyone who was in the celebration circle.

#2: The dream of the birth and the exploding baby. I believe that many people, who were there to assist in the birth of this baby, were the leaders in the Western world (the USA, the UN, the EU members, etc.). The baby about to be born was "the new order" in Egypt . . . this little baby named Freedom To Choose. So many of the deluded western leaders think that those in the Arab world . . . and those from the Islamic world . . . desire democracy and freedom, as we know it in the West. They do not. We have seen that when Moslems (with Islam in operation) are given the freedom to vote and to choose, they choose sharia oppression and oppressive leaders. Where they do not make the choice for these things, most often the vote of freedom enables wicked people to usurp power; becoming oppressive leaders to silence the voices of opposition.

The exercise of freedom and democracy requires a Judeo-Christian foundation in order to function successfully . . . i.e. morals and values where all human life is precious . . . where love and truth are virtues . . . where kindness, honesty, fairness, generosity, and mercy are lauded . . . where males and females have equality . . . and where beloved children are protected from harm, etc. Democracy is incompatible with Islam. In Islam you find the following characteristics:

1) a foundational "conqueror vs. slave" mentality 2) a freely expressed/embraced hatred, mingled with excitement over the spilling of an adversary's blood, to further the Islamic agenda 3) the telling of lies is lauded and seen as a useful tool to gain advantage 4) personal freedom is disdained and condemned, etc.

The dream the Lord gave to me is saying that if those in the democratic West assist in the birth of this "democratic", Islamic Brotherhood baby, and give it support, that the baby will blow up in their deluded faces and end up killing them.
DECREE:
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

--In the dream, I was crying out for the delivery team to back away and let the baby fall, but they would not listen. We need to pray that those to have ears to hear . . . and those who have the position to influence this outcome . . . and those who have the message of truth to shout . . . will all fulfill their roles in this hour.

--We need to pray that blind people will open their eyes, to recognize the mother and father of this child. Islam is the father, while the Islamic Brotherhood, in conjunction with the one world global power brokers, have been the mother (the human seed, the incubator, and the delivery system to birth this baby into Egypt . . . and from there into the world). I am totally pro-life, but when an ideology, strategy, or methodology is evil, we must pray that the Lord would curse it with famine and deny it life and breath.

--Pray that this birthing team would smell the stench arising from this orchestrated conception and birth . . . that they might run from assisting it.

--Pray that the leaders in Israel will not give this emerging Islamic sharia arrangement any nod, encouragement, or support. God will protect Israel as long as we stand back from embracing this evil development.

--God wants to birth wonderful things into Egypt. He wants to birth Truth, Justice, New Life, Faith, and Blessing into Egypt. Let's pray those things into birth and into life for the people.

"Circuit Breakers"

"Circuit Breakers"

#3: The Lord is asking the intercessors to serve as Circuit Breakers in this situation.

Again, I found myself hunting for information about what it means to be a circuit breaker, as I have never delved into that field of study.

Let's start with the foundation that the Lord has wired Egypt for prosperity in Him. However, satan has been busy laying down his circuitry and wiring to bring about his agenda. Right now satan is pumping unholy power, force and influences into this situation. His goal is to power up and to operate a deadly machine of sharia that will destroy Israel and all those who are counter to it (which must be the Christians as well as the Jews). A circuit breaker can literally shut down the power by removing access to the electricity that is flowing through the wires. A circuit breaker will provide protection to the wires against overloading; when too much current is trying to flow through them in regard to their ability to carry the current. They protect from "ground faults" . . . when hot wires happen to touch neutral wires; causing a sudden spike of current, because the resistance drops to nearly zero; allowing the current to flow dangerously uncontrolled/uncontained). Circuit breakers also protect against a short circuit; when a hot wire becomes broken, or when the insulation is worn through enough to make contact with a ground; causing a structural, electrical fire if the breaker fails to shut it down. The design of the circuit is to allow for the flow of power from the source to that which it will empower and then return to the source. The circuit breaker interrupts the flow; keeping the circuit from completing its course of empowering everything on its line. A circuit breaker can shut down the power and keep it down, until the breaker is reset. If the problem still exists, the breaker will keep shutting down the power until a repair or adjustment is made.

Do you see God's wisdom in this intercessory strategy? Satan is running his agenda; hoping to empower his "appliances"(his servants) throughout the world. In Egypt right now there are many ground faults . . . where neutral people (note: the term secular in Islam refers to those who are not subscribed to Sharia . . . it does not mean that the seculars do not embrace Islam) are connecting to hot Islamic people, and are being suddenly, surprisingly, altered by the power spike. Right now, the insulation is very thin. The heavy flow of demonic, Islamic, power could cause a devastating structural fire, not only throughout Egypt's society, but consume many others as well. The fires of hell are keen to burn on the earth . . . going from the source and then back to it). Israel is certainly within striking distance. It would take very little for Europe and the USA to be set ablaze as well.

In the past 24 hours, 11 Coptic Christians were slaughtered as Moslem neighbors broke into their homes through the roof; descending like an unholy fire upon them with murderous hatred. If this isn't an example of unholy current that needs to be shut down, I don't know what is. We need to step into this revealed strategy of being circuit breakers, and begin to move in it.

DECREE:

"Overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21)

--Pray that the Lord would inspire us with words of declaration, out of His Spirit, that would shut off the power in this demonic flow of energy into Egypt.
--Pray that the Body will come together in sighted unity . . . not in blind harmony . . . to meet this challenge.
--Pray that the Lord will reveal to us the precise places where there are unholy "ground faults" . . . where tolerant people are allowing the demonic powers to run through their neutrality of tolerance to reach others.
--Pray that the Lord would pour out living water on the fires that are already burning; and which are consuming people, nations, and institutions. Too much of this Islamic current is being allowed to flow in great power/authority.

--Decree that the Lord will empower our prayers, arising out of His wisdom, so that the heavy flow of demonic power pouring into Egypt right now would be shut down.
--Pray that we will continue to click off the power every time the circuitry repairs itself or whenever satan makes a new strategy of evil.
--Pray that the Lord will give us intercession and decrees to shut down the power, which is currently coming through broken wires; causing short circuits (through foolish politicians, through the media, religious leaders, foolish laws, and unwise justices)
--Lord teach us to be circuit breakers and give us the courage and the faith to play our role successfully to Your honor and glory.

In Closing

In Closing . . .

I will conclude this update at this point. There is more revelation to come, but I want you to receive this as quickly as possible. May the Lord lead you in the application of these revelations and add to your understanding of them.

This afternoon the Lord said these words to me: "Call the people into the shelter of My hand. The storm is not coming. It is HERE."

May the Lord bless, lead, and keep you . . . in the shelter of His hand,

[Name withheld upon request]

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM IS A BIBLICAL CONCEPT

2011-02-04T18:09:00.008-05:00

Dedicated to Ronald Reagan on his 100th Birthday, on his advocacy of American Exceptionalism.

"I believe this blessed land was set apart in a very special way, a country created by men and women who came here not in search of gold but in search of God. They would be free people, living under the law, with faith in their Maker and their future." -- Ronald Reagan, Natl Prayer Breakfast, 2/4/82.

Centuries of belief in American Exceptionalism was almost erased by President Barack Obama during a press conference in Strasbourg, France (April 2009), when he was asked the question: Do you believe in American Exceptionalism?

"I believe in American exceptionalism,” he stated. And just when you thought he really associated himself with countless presidents before him, he continued, “Just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism." (1)

Sigh.

The president saw no real value in defending American exceptionalism. But what is American exceptionalism? How does it distinctively separate us from other nations? Is that even a politically correct thing to say? While there are varied aspects of American exceptionalism, including secular, let’s primarily discuss the religious implications of the term.

And could American exceptionalism possibly be traced to the Bible?

ORIGINS OF THE TERM
The French historian Alexis de Tocqueville seems to have coined the phrase in mid-1800s when he described the United States and the American people in his book "Democracy in America" as “exceptional.” (2)

Exceptional, but why?

That notion that America is exceptional can be traced even further back to colonial times, at the very founding of the nation. The Puritans regarded the settling of the North American continent as a Promised Land, where a new Canaan can be built as a model for the rest of the world. (3)

President Ronald Reagan’s favored term, “city on a hill” (Matt 5:14) to describe the United States, can be traced to Puritanical leader and first governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, John Winthrop.

(INCIDENTALLY: To all those who think that Christians need to be separated from politics –Surprise! Here we have an early Christian leader who was also a politician! – as was Reagan himself.)

Winthrop delivered a lay sermon aboard the Arbella, during its passage to New England in 1630, in which he declared that his fellow settlers "must Consider that wee shall be as a Citty upon a Hill, the eies of all people are upon us." What an understatement!

His words, having been circulated in manuscript form throughout the colonies, have since become one of the main formative texts of American self-identity and meaning. Inherent in this notion of the “city on a hill” is the belief that the American colonists, and those who have followed them, were uniquely blessed by God to pursue His work on Earth and to establish a society that would provide this beacon for the betterment of all humankind.(4)

That is what American exceptionalism means! God has blessed this nation!

GOD IN AMERICA
The preponderance of proof that America was founded upon religious principles with a fervent allegiance to God cannot be denied, despite the prevalence of present-day revisionist historians.

Having understood that government is ordained by God (Romans 13), the early settlers knew that God must be in the forefront of all its institutions. Early government was led by Christian, God-fearing men. Early schools and colleges (Harvard and Yale, for example) were instituted by Christians (knowing that you couldn’t convert people who couldn’t read the Bible, therefore it was Christians who started the educational curriculum!). Most all state governments had God and bible-based morality mentioned in their state charters and they used the Bible as the foundation of their civil laws. (5)

But one of the most outstanding characteristics of this modern government, unlike any other government previous to it, was the notion that God gives us unalienable rights – not the government, not man – but God!

Therefore these rights are given personally to the individual from God – and have nothing to do with the government.

The freedoms we enjoy today all have as their cornerstone the fact that God gives us that freedom! Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly – all come from God.

ACLU…are you listening?

This relationship with God was so crucial to the original concept of our founding that we’ve incorporated it into our Declaration of Independence, “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.”

The government doesn’t give us these rights, we receive them from God and then loan them to the state.

It was so much a part of our national identity, that by the time the U.S. Constitution was written, it began, “WE the people…”

No other nation on the face of the earth ever acknowledged God so prominently in its founding as did the United States.

Well, maybe one other did. But we’ll hold that thought till later.

VAST BLESSINGS
The facts speak for themselves. There has been no other nation that has been more blessed than America. The “city on the hill” became the greatest nation on the earth, setting the standard for industry, economics, inventions, technology, food production, entertainment – and unselfishly proclaiming that people from all the world are welcome to come and experience a portion for themselves.

As President Abraham Lincoln said, “We find ourselves in the peaceful possession of the fairest portion of the earth, as regards fertility of soil, extent of territory, and salubrity of climate…. We…find ourselves the legal inheritors of these fundamental blessings. We toiled not in the acquirement or the establishment of them.”

Generous to a fault, the United States has blessed the world for decades with food distribution, nation building, charitable donations, missionary work, technology sharing and saving the world in two world wars.

Is this a coincidence? That this nation that has acknowledged God more than any other should be so blessed?

Not at all. We merely subscribed to a divine law that any nation that submits to God will be blessed and any nation that rejects God won’t be (Deuteronomy 28).

Can you also see that since the mid-20th century, when we’ve removed all semblance of God from our society – we can’t read the bible in school, we can’t pray in school, we can’t even have preachers endorsing political candidates anymore, for crying out loud – can you see how our nation has deteriorated in every aspect of society?

Our culture is shattered beyond recognition. Moral restrictions have been lifted from our society, that we have very little regard to what is right and wrong anymore. Our schools turn out educated amoral citizens. And these will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Our moral compass has been set to calling evil good, and good evil.

Economically we have fallen. Our currency, once the standard of the world, is slowly being edged out by other currencies. We’re 14 trillion dollars in the hole and subservient to China.

Militarily we have fallen. We are subject to global terrorism and have no answers.

We’ve saved the world twice before, but now our global influence is so weakened on the world’s stage that we can only watch on the sidelines as Egypt falls and the Middle East moves toward global Jihad.

Lincoln’s proclamation for fasting and praying for this nation from 1863 is all the more relevant today: “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God…and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord…. We have been the recipients of the choicest blessings of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. “We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation ever has grown; but we have forgotten God! We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.”

The light on that city is flickering, slowly dying out – because in our modern, enlightened, ACLU-dominated culture, we’ve removed God from our land.

But there’s still hope. We can still see a reversal in our future.

BIBLICAL CONCEPT
Earlier I referred to another nation that was founded upon God; another nation that was “exceptional” because of its unique relationship with God – that nation was the nation of Israel.

God led a small, ragtag outfit out of Egyptian slavery and gave them a homeland and blessed them there. God set up a special relationship with the Israelites that if they would follow God, then He would set them up as “exceptional” and “blessed” and “prosperous” over all the other nations. Sound familiar?

They would be unique among the nations.

Take a look at Deuteronomy 28. While some mistakenly use these scriptures to apply to individuals, this entire chapter is laying out the ground rules to nations that would submit to God. The founders of the United States knew these scriptures:

(1) If you indeed obey the LORD your God and are careful to observe all his commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will elevate you above all the nations of the earth.
(2) All these blessings will come to you in abundance if you obey the LORD your God:
(3) You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the field.
(4) Your children will be blessed, as well as the produce of your soil, the offspring of your livestock, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks.
(5) Your basket and your mixing bowl will be blessed.
(6) You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
(7) The LORD will cause your enemies who attack you to be struck down before you; they will attack you from one direction but flee from you in seven different directions.
(8) The LORD will decree blessing for you with respect to your barns and in everything you do — yes, he will bless you in the land he is giving you.
(9) The LORD will designate you as his holy people just as he promised you, if you keep his commandments and obey him.
(10) Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you belong to the LORD, and they will respect you (that’s the city on the hill motif!)
(11) The LORD will greatly multiply your children, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil in the land which he promised your ancestors he would give you.
(12) The LORD will open for you his good treasure house, the heavens, to give you rain for the land in its season and to bless all you do; you will lend to many nations but you will not borrow from any.
(13) The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always end up at the top and not at the bottom, if you obey his commandments which I am urging you today to be careful to do.
There is a cause and effect in this chapter. Simply put, if a nation follows God, even as the United States has followed God and His word, that nation will receive abundant, “exceptional” blessings. It’s not different from today. America in many ways has been the recipient of national promises and blessings God promised to Israel.

Therefore let Israel be our guide. Read the scriptures. When righteous leaders led Israel to God, the people prospered. When unrighteous leaders led Israel astray, the people suffered.

Now continuing in the chapter, if a nation that knew God turns away from Him, there are natural consequences that come as a result of God removing His hand of blessing.

And please note, that this is not God being vindictive. It is merely a cause and effect of God removing His blessings from a people who reject Him and embrace darkness.

(14) But you must not turn away from all the commandments I am giving you today, to either the right or left, nor pursue other gods and worship them.
(15) "But if you ignore the LORD your God and are not careful to keep all his commandments and statutes I am giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you in full force:
(16) You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field.
(17) Your basket and your mixing bowl will be cursed.
(18) Your children will be cursed, as well as the produce of your soil, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks.
(19) You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out…

Do you get the point?

Now here’s the good news. Since American Exceptionalism is a concept that dates back to ancient Israel, it’s not exclusively American. It is for any nation on the face of the earth that will submit to God – not Allah, not a host of other gods – but God! They too can be exceptional.

So, let us not be ashamed of American Exceptionalism. It is our relationship with God that has set us apart. Therefore, let us embrace it and return to the God of our forefathers to continue enjoying His rich blessings upon us and avert the coming disaster.

References:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism
(2) “Democracy in America,” by Alexis de Tocqueville, “The position of the Americans is therefore quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one.”
(3) http://www.americanforeignrelations.com/E-N/Exceptionalism-The-roots-of-exceptionalism.html
(4) http://www.americanforeignrelations.com/E-N/Exceptionalism-The-roots-of-exceptionalism.html#ixzz1CYREJnkq
(5) “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States,” by Benjamin F. Morris (1863, republished in 2007)

Franklin Graham Defends Palin on Arizona Shootings

2011-01-11T23:32:00.003-05:00

I'm so glad that there are some Christian leaders speaking out against an epidemic of gross and reprehensible lies by the liberal left. Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Billy Graham, recently spoke out against the outlandish lies against Sarah Palin, in the aftermath of the Arizona shooting.

Franklin Graham Defends Palin on Arizona Shootings

Tuesday, 11 Jan 2011 08:08 PM

By David A. Patten

Internationally respected evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of the great preacher Dr. Billy Graham, jumped into the political fray Tuesday by denouncing “outrageous” attempts by the political left to blame Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the Tucson rampage that left six dead and 14 wounded.

“This is a time for mourning and prayer for the victims and their families,” Graham reminded those who appear to be trying to exploit the shooting spree for political gain.

That Graham would come to Palin’s defense suggests the backlash to liberal attempts to lay the murderous rampage at the feet of conservatives may be expanding.

“I have been shocked at the reports from those suggesting that former Governor Sarah Palin has some level of responsibility for the horrific shooting in Arizona,” Graham said in the statement posted Tuesday on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) website.

“I got to know Governor Palin when she served as governor of Alaska,” stated the younger Graham, who serves as BGEA’s president and CEO.

“She was extremely helpful to Samaritan’s Purse in providing relief to remote villages throughout the state. Most recently, she and members of her family traveled with me to Haiti where we visited cholera clinics, temporary shelter communities, and participated in an Operation Christmas Child distribution.”
Samaritan’s Purse is the ministry organization Graham founded, which conducts various international relief operations.

Graham went on to praise Palin as “a kind and compassionate God-fearing woman who believes with all her heart that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

Graham’s statement strongly suggested that he views political attacks based on the tragedy to be highly inappropriate.

“Whether you agree with her politics or not, it is outrageous to suggest that her political opinions encourage violence toward anyone,” Graham declared.
Prominent Democrats, including former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, and columnist Paul Krugman of The New York Times have been leading the charge to blame Palin and grass-roots conservatives for the massacre.

Several pundits associated with progressive politics, however, have denounced left-wing attempts to pin the cold-blooded murders on heated conservative rhetoric.

Those mainstream commentators include: Jonathan Chait of The New Republic, James Fallows of The Atlantic, Howard Kurtz of the Daily Beast, and Juan Williams of Fox News. They point out that there is no evidence the 22-year-old suspect was motivated by politics.

The Christian broadcasting group CBN reported Tuesday on a separate statement that Graham issued, urging Americans to be "measured and cautious before they place blame."

Speculation continues as the investigation continues into what touched off the shootings at a Tucson-area Safeway supermarket that critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The FBI has turned up evidence indicating the suspect have fixated on Giffords as early as 2007, long before the rise of Palin and the Tea Party movement to national prominence.

According to CBN, Graham warned in the second statement that rushing to blame anyone for the shooting before the full story is known might actually contribute to an atmosphere of angry intolerance.

"Hasty accusations have already been made before much information is known and an investigation has occurred,” he stated. “I believe this is counterproductive and could in itself incite hatred.

“This is not a time for political opportunism," he added. "Just because we disagree with someone from another political party does not mean we wish them harm."

CBN also reported that Graham is alarmed by the acceptance of “murder, violence, and rape as entertainment” in U.S. culture, as reflected in television, movies, and videogames.

Franklin Graham advised the nation to do “serious soul searching.” Otherwise, he warned, America "could see the destruction of the foundation upon which this nation was built if we are not careful."

Father and Rev. Billy Graham is now 92. By some accounts, he has preached to more people in person than anyone else in history.

Rev. Billy Graham’s staff says the evangelist has led over 2.5 million people worldwide to faith in Jesus Christ.

© Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Franklin Graham Defends Palin on Arizona Shootings
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!

O'REILLY FACTOR: Best Commentary on the Arizona Shooting

2011-01-11T23:13:00.006-05:00

It's outrageous how the left is creating a political circus over the shooting in Arizona. Bill O'Reilly has presented the best commentary on the situation and is must viewing for everyone desiring to sift through the "rhetoric" and understand truth.

I'm sure that after all is said and done, we're going to find out that the Tucson Police Department has long known about this killer, Jerad Loughner, and did nothing about him.

This attempt to implicate the whole right wing and deny the right wing of their free speech is an attempt to

1) discredit and discourage the rise of conservatism by the left;
2) hide the truth of how inept the Tucson Police Department was in excusing Loughner for his history of threats and violent behavior.

What's Behind the Favored Status of Islam in American Media?

2011-01-02T14:03:00.007-05:00

Here's an insightful article showing the widening divide of honor and favor accorded to American Muslims over American Christians.

Gary Bauer speaks the truth and I can only hope that American Christians wake up to the developing crisis in our culture. KEY LINE from his article is this:

Left-wing elites and radical Islamists are united in the common cause of upending the Judeo-Christian culture and roots of American society.

Read it here:

Few Americans would deny that Judeo-Christian beliefs and values informed the Founding of this country and that they continue to shape much of American life today. Nor would many of us deny that Americans who embrace Islamic values are a distinct minority here.

I raise these two facts because of an emerging reality: that, in a variety of contexts, American Muslims are treated better than American Christians. That might seem like a bizarre assertion, so think about it in another way: What if the Christians were treated like Muslims in America, and Muslims like Christians?

If Muslims were treated like Christians in America, Muslims would have to tolerate the defamation of their holiest images in our national museums, acts which would be called "artwork" -- and, if particularly provocative, even given taxpayer-funded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. They would also have to accept Korans being burned and thrown into toilets, which instead of inciting worldwide outrage and retribution would provoke a collective shrug of the shoulders.

If Muslims were treated like Christians, Muslims would be mocked by late night TV talk show hosts and lampooned in crude cartoon parodies. If Christians were treated like Muslims, conspicuous Christianity would be celebrated by our elites as a sign of our diversity and open-mindedness, not disparaged as an embarrassment, a nuisance and a breach of the law.

If Christianity were treated like Islam, our students would be taught a white-washed version of Christian history, with the troubling bits miscast or omitted from textbooks and lesson plans.

If Christianity were treated like Islam, if an evangelical Christian committed an evil act in the name of his faith, he would be portrayed in the media as a deviation from, not a personification of, the Gospel message. Meanwhile, our political and media elites would hasten to assure the public that evangelical Christianity is a religion of peace and that the vast majority of evangelical Christians do not support terrorism.

If Christianity were treated like Islam in America, our president, a professed Christian, would proudly attend Christian-themed dinners and events while skipping Ramadan dinners, not vice versa. And Muslim politicians would go out of their way to assure people that their faith would not affect their policy-making.

If Christianity were treated like Islam, Christmas and Easter would be publicly celebrated for what they are — the signature events of Christianity, marking the birth and the death and Resurrection of Christ — not stripped of all their theological meaning and transformed into secular holidays devoted to crass consumerism.

If Christians were treated like Muslims, NASA would be tasked with reaching out to Christians and recognizing their faith's profound achievements and contributions to science, math and engineering, instead of being told to make Muslims feel good about their rather meager scientific accomplishments.

If Christians were treated like Muslims, the Catholic Church's stances on sex, contraception and human life would be revered as welcome departures from our over-sexed, self-obsessed culture, not condemned as a cause of disease and death in the less-developed world. And if Muslims were treated like Christians, the application of Sharia law around the world would be met not with stony silence but with the outrage it deserves.

If Christians were treated like Muslims in America, amusement parks would celebrate "Christian Family Day," (Six Flags recently celebrated "Muslim Family Day"), and Christians would be asked to embrace, not set aside, their religious convictions at the door when they entered the public square. Meanwhile, Muslim imams, not Christian pastors, would fear hate crimes lawsuits for preaching orthodox views of sexuality and sin.

The notion that American Muslims face discrimination, even to the point of violence, is often posited by America's elites. But that idea evaporates under scrutiny. Remarkably few hate crimes are reported against Muslims (fewer than one-eighth those against Jews). What's more, Muslim immigration to America has risen sharply since September 11, 2001, and Muslims thrive, economically and educationally, once they arrive.

In fact, it is Christians, not Muslims, who increasingly encounter cultural elites who are hostile to their beliefs and values.

Sadly, Christians will never be treated like Muslims by America's elites. Why? Because Christianity can be attacked without fear of retribution. The Christian response to insult and attack -- "to turn the other cheek" -- contradicts the knee-jerk call to violence of many Islamists.

It's also because left-wing elites and radical Islamists are united in the common cause of upending the Judeo-Christian culture and roots of American society.

I’m not in favor of burning the Koran, and I don’t think insulting or defaming symbols of any religion constitutes art. At a time of the year when intolerance for public displays of Christianity is most acute, it is my Christmas wish that Muslims and Christians would be treated equally.

Former presidential candidate Mr. Gary Bauer is president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families.

2010 PERSON OF THE YEAR: PAMELA GELLER

2010-12-30T23:47:00.009-05:00

Sorry Folks; I just haven't been blogging as much as I would have liked. I've been content writing opinions on my Facebook profile.

But I'm going to have to change that and make the time. Anyway, here I am again with a note I posted on my Facebook wall. I've been blessed to find that two of my favorite websites atlasshrugs.com & jihadwatch.com have both printed this on their websites.

Here's the article:

Blurred vision seems to be creeping up on aging America. At times the nation seems to be unable to discern right from wrong anymore. The generations being spawned today are not only unable to distinguish between good and evil, but they even seek to fight against Godly principles and moral traditions. And they think they’re doing right.

This blurring of moral absolutes affects the media too. When national news media (Time Magazine, NBC & CNN, for instance) considers nominating Sharia Law-promoter, Ground Zero Mosque Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf as Person of the Year, we as a nation are in trouble.

When mainstream media promotes anti-heroes as objects of honor, it is refreshing to balance the scales again and promote real heroes in a world increasingly intolerant against what is good and decent.

My standard for promoting a Person of the Year is one who is making a positive difference in the world, to the point that the person should not only be honored but emulated. The Person of the Year should be one who, in the face of increasing hostility against America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and culture, continues to protect and defend our God-given freedoms for the benefit of all.

In an age when Sharia Law is gaining ground around the world, it’s important to note Ronald Reagan’s words when he said: "Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again."

The honor of this year’s Person of the Year Award goes to one who has made herculean strides in protecting our freedoms and fighting the good fight, Pamela Geller.

The story of Pamela Geller is the story of what one person with a website (atlasshrugs.com) can do in the face of insurmountable opposition against truth and righteousness.

For instance, Pamela’s latest triumph was in the city of Seattle. Can you imagine any anti-Semite in this day and age purchasing anti-Israel bus ads and any city accepting them? It happened in the state of Washington recently with this ad:

War crimes? I think not. Israel is constantly in a state of protecting itself from hostile neighbors. So, what did Pamela do? She decided to put up her own ads to counter the rhetoric.

The Seattle Transit Authority was in a bind. To avoid a hypocritical stance by not accepting her ads and to avoid the escalation of unnecessary friction by accepting the ads, they rejected the anti-Israel ads entirely, which was set for the next week.

Success.

Turning the head on politically correct arguments is her specialty. In this way, the inherent bias and ungodliness within the politically correct posture is exposed.

But week after week, Pamela unmasks the leftist radicals, stealth jihadists, & biased media in a potpourri of clever reportage and hard-hitting exposés sprinkled with biting humor.

Do you remember Rifqa Bary, the young Muslim-turned-Christian girl whose parents wanted to kill her for converting to Christianity? Thanks to Pamela’s beating the drum and calling for protest rallies – and despite the dishonest reporting of the mainstream media – a clearer picture emerged as to the dangers facing Rifqa. And now, upon turning 18, free from the threat of honor killing, Rifqa has vowed to “preach the word to all the nations.”

Another success.

It has been claimed that Pamela Geller was the one who made the Ground Zero Mosque story national news and, as a result of exposing the plans of stealth jihadists in the US, has come under such increasing opposition and actual death threats.

Fearless in the face of danger, protecting the common good, this is why I’m nominating Pamela Geller as Person of the Year.

You might, like me, pray for her protection and for her colleague Robert Spencer for all the work they undertake to preserve our Judeo-Christian heritage and to keep truth and freedom alive in America.

The reason for this pick is to encourage us all to be like Pamela Geller – because, if we all spoke out against unrighteousness, the forces that would try to derail this country would not be allowed to flourish.

Blessings, Pamela!

Growing Distrust Over Ground Zero Mosque

2010-08-26T15:45:00.003-04:00

Well, I finally made it on Hannity!

FIRST GROUND ZERO PROTEST

2010-08-20T20:04:00.002-04:00

The President Sides with the Ground Zero Mosque

2010-08-14T00:07:00.005-04:00

It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that the President would side with the Ground Zero Mosque Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Earlier this week the State Department sent the Imam out on a Mid East tour, probably in an attempt to legitimize and prop up the Imam as a "safe," moderate Muslim.

Plus, no doubt, the Imam will use this tour as a springboard for fundraising for the mosque.

Oh dear God, we need help. It's really sad that a U.S. president would side more with Muslims, than Christians; would celebrate and honor Muslim holidays over Christian ones; and try to force a Muslim triumphant mosque over the graves of thousands of Americans, who perished in the echo of Muslim terrorists shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is greater!).

There is a spiritual battle taking place over this Ground Zero Mosque and it becomes evident with the natural sequence of events that takes place on the earth.

I believe that this mosque is a satanic attempt to bring down the U.S. by having its enemies lord it over us. It becomes an entry point from which further evil and denigration of America's Christian heritage can come. In the same way that when one sins, satan gains an entry point and has rights as owner to do what he wants; here satan wants to create not only an entry point, but a stronghold over this nation. He wants to subvert Christianity and have us submit to another god.

There are two upcoming rallies at Ground Zero. Details to come in next blog! Hope you can be there.

MAY WE REVISIT THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL GAG ORDER ON CHURCHES

2010-08-08T23:36:00.004-04:00

Do you know WHO is responsible for the gag order on churches to keep them from speaking about politics?

Lyndon Johnson, who later became president.

I want to share with you a great resource on that particular history, which shows that Johnson, being a liberal, was responsible for stopping the voices of Christians since 1954.

But first, I want to share an article about what may provoke a case about the unconstitutionality of that gag order.

Georgia minister hammers Obama in bid for Congress

Associated Press - 8/8/2010 4:30:00 AM

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - A Georgia minister known for challenging the barriers between church and state is running for a congressional seat in this week's primary runoff elections.

The Rev. Jody Hice is wooing Republican voters in northern Georgia's 7th District. On Tuesday they'll select a nominee to succeed retiring GOP Rep. John Linder. Hice faces Rob Woodall, Linder's former chief of staff, in the runoff.

Hice has fought the American Civil Liberties Union over Ten Commandments displays in courthouses and dared the IRS to come after his Baptist church by endorsing John McCain in a sermon.

Now he's turning heads with billboards that use a Soviet hammer-and-sickle to imply President Barack Obama is a socialist.

NOW LETS GET BACK TO JOHNSON STORY AGAIN. (The following article is from the Firebuilders website).

The History of The Johnson Amendment of 1954

And

House Resolution 235

Compiled and edited by Kasey Kelly

February 4, 2005

Calvary Christian School - Mr. Garrisons Current Events Class

The First Amendment clearly states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,…."

The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act

House Resolution 235 was designed to revise the IRS code to remove restrictions placed on churches and non-profit organizations in 1954 by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson. Prior to 1954, churches and non-profit organizations had no such restrictions on their freedom of speech or their right to speak out in favor or against political issues or candidates.

The history of Johnson’s IRS gag order is instructive. It began with what some historians believe to be a fraudulent election of Johnson to the Senate in 1948. It has been maintained by both conservative and liberal historians that Lyndon Johnson’s election to the Senate in 1948 was won by massive voter fraud. Known as “Landslide Lyndon,” this aspiring politician was “elected” by only 87 votes. His challenger, Coke Stevenson, challenged his election and presented credible evidence that hundreds of votes for Johnson had been faked. Johnson, however, was successful in blocking Stevenson’s effort by the clever use of “cooperative” court injunctions.

In 1954, Johnson was facing re-election to the Senate and was being aggressively opposed by two non-profit anti-Communist groups that were attacking Johnson’s liberal agenda. In retaliation, Johnson inserted language into the IRS code that prohibited non-profits, including churches, from endorsing or opposing candidates for political office. In effect, Senator Johnson used the power of the go-along Congress and the IRS to silence his opposition. Unfortunately, it worked. Some in Johnson’s staff claimed that Johnson never intended to go after churches, only the two “nonprofits” in Texas. Nevertheless, his sly amendment to the tax code affected every church in America, and it is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

The legislation proposed by Rep. Jones in the 109^th Congress is designed to overturn Johnson’s vindictive gag order that now penalizes churches, churches that dare speak out against government policies and politicians that the churches may deem to be immoral or bad for America. There is no reason for this gag order to remain in effect, but Congress apparently thinks it must perpetuate bad public policy simply because it exists.

Organizations like Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, People For The American Way, and The American Civil Liberties Union continue to claim that this Johnson gag order must be upheld to protect “church/state separation.” This is irrational and fails to take into account the entire history of religious freedom in the United States.

Throughout our nation’s history-both before and after the American Revolution-our nation’s pastors freely spoke out on the political and moral issues of the day. It was their duty and their right under the Constitution to preach against immorality and corruption in the political and the moral realm. Historian James H. Hutson, writing in Religion and the Founding of the American Republic, notes: “Preachers seemed to vie with their brethren in other colonies in arousing their congregations against George III.” And, as Hutson discovered, the House of Representatives sponsored church services in its chambers for nearly 100 years. These services only ended when convenient transportation was available to take Members of Congress home for the weekend.

It is interesting to observe that our Founding Fathers and our first elected officials didn’t have any notion of “church/state separation,” so vehemently endorsed by Americans United and other modernist groups. Our Founders valued religion and wrote the First Amendment to protect the free expression of religious beliefs-and the freedom to speak out on the moral issues-including those involving politics and politicians.

The disservice that Lyndon Johnson did to religious freedom has yet to be undone, but in the current session of Congress, H.R. 235 must be passed-to undo Johnson’s vengeful action against his political opponents. We need to finally exorcise our public policies of the sad legacy of Landslide Lyndon.

Cong. Rec. 9604 (1954). Edward McGlynn Gaffney, Jr., The Unconstitutionality of Tax Regulation of Activities of Religious Organizations Relating to Politics

On July 2, 1954, Senator Lyndon Johnson was recognized from the Senate floor and the following colloquy occurred:

Mr. JOHNSON of Texas: Mr. President, I have an amendment at the desk, which I should like to have stated.

The PRESIDING OFFICER: The Secretary will state the amendment.

The CHIEF CLERK: On page 117 of the House bill, in section 501(c)(3), it is proposed to strike out “individuals, and” and insert “individual,” and strike out “influence legislation.” And insert “influence legislation, and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.”

Mr. JOHNSON of Texas: Mr. President, this amendment seeks to extend the provisions of section 501 of the House bill, denying tax-exempt status to not only those people who influence legislation but also to those who intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for any public office. I have discussed the matter with the chairman of the committee, the minority ranking member of the committee, and several other members of the committee, and I understand that the amendment is acceptable to them. I hope the chairman will take it to conference, and that it will be included in the final bill which Congress passes.

Although not subject to debate and cryptic in its origins, following that short colloquy, the amendment, unchanged in its verbiage, eventually became part of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Subsequently, it proved to have a profound effect on how thousands of tax-exempt organizations-including churches-dealt with issues relating to political campaigns.

Why Should we be upset about the Johnson Amendment?

Because it is illegal, and unconstitutional. It is just the beginning of Government intrusion into Churches.

What can we do?

Matthew 5:13-16: The Christians' Commission.

13. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and be trodden under foot of men.

14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

What can hold back corruption in our Government and in the world? Salt! We are commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world; to be those who have an impact upon the world, in holding back corruption and proclaiming the truth of God.

Footnotes: 1. Robert A. Caro, The Years of Lyndon Johnson Means of Ascent 387 (1990). 2. Id. at 317 3. Id. at 316-17 4. traditionalvalues.org

NEWT: Best Argument Against Rise of Radical Islam

2010-07-28T13:19:00.003-04:00

No Mosque at Ground Zero, July 28, 2010

(from HUMAN EVENTS)

One of our biggest mistakes in the aftermath of 9/11 was naming our response to the attacks "the war on terror" instead of accurately identifying radical Islamists (and the underlying ideology of radical Islamism) as the target of our campaign. This mistake has led to endless confusion about the nature of the ideological and material threat facing the civilized world and the scale of the response that is appropriate.

Radical Islamism is more than simply a religious belief. It is a comprehensive political, economic, and religious movement that seeks to impose sharia--Islamic law--upon all aspects of global society.

Many Muslims see sharia as simply a reference point for their personal code of conduct. They recognize the distinction between their personal beliefs and the laws that govern all people of all faiths.

For the radical Islamist, however, this distinction does not exist. Radical Islamists see politics and religion as inseparable in a way it is difficult for Americans to understand. Radical Islamists assert sharia's supremacy over the freely legislated laws and values of the countries they live in and see it as their sacred duty to achieve this totalitarian supremacy in practice.

Some radical Islamists use terrorism as a tactic to impose sharia but others use non-violent methods--a cultural, political, and legal jihad that seeks the same totalitarian goal even while claiming to repudiate violence. Thus, the term "war on terrorism" is far too narrow a framework in which to think about the war in which we are engaged against the radical Islamists.

Sharia and Western Civilization

Sharia law is used in many Muslim countries to justify shocking acts of barbarity including stoning, the execution of homosexuals, and the subjugation of women. Sharia does not permit freedom of conscience; it prohibits Muslims from renouncing their Islamic faith or converting to another religion. Sharia does not support religious liberty; it treats non-Muslims as inferior and does not accord them the same protections as Muslims. In these and other instances, sharia is explicitly at odds with core American and Western values. It is an explicit repudiation of freedom of conscience and religious liberty as well as the premise that citizens are equal under the law.

Thus, the radical Islamist effort to impose sharia worldwide is a direct threat to all those who believe in the freedoms maintained by our constitutional system.

Creeping Sharia in the United States

In some ways, it speaks of the goodness of America that we have had such difficulty coming to grips with the challenge of radical Islamists. It is our very commitment to religious liberty that makes us uncomfortable with defining our enemies in a way that appears linked with religious belief.

However, America's commitment to religious liberty has given radical Islamists a potent rhetorical weapon in their pursuit of sharia supremacy. In a deliberately dishonest campaign exploiting our belief in religious liberty, radical Islamists are actively engaged in a public relations campaign to try and browbeat and guilt Americans (and other Western countries) to accept the imposition of sharia in certain communities, no matter how deeply sharia law is in conflict with the protections afforded by the civil law and the democratic values undergirding our constitutional system.

The problem of creeping sharia is most visibly on display in France and in the United Kingdom, where there are Muslim enclaves in which the police have surrendered authority and sharia reigns. However, worrisome cases are starting to emerge in the United States that show sharia is coming here. Andy McCarthy's writings, including his new book The Grand Jihad, have been invaluable in tracking instances in which the American government and major public institutions have been unwilling to assert the protections of American law and American values over sharia's religious code. Some examples include:

In June 2009, a New Jersey state judge rejected an allegation that a Muslim man who punished his wife with pain for hours and then raped her repeatedly was guilty of criminal sexual assault, citing his religious beliefs as proof that he did not believe he was acting in a criminal matter. "This court believes that he was operating under his belief that it is, as the husband, his desire to have sex when and whether he wanted to, was something that was consistent with his practices and it was something that was not prohibited." Thankfully, this ruling was reversed in an appellate court.

In May 2008, a disabled student at a public college being assisted by a dog was threatened by Muslim members of the student body, who were reluctant to touch the animal by the prescription of sharia. The school, St. Cloud State, chose not to engage the Muslim community, but simply gave the student credit without actually fulfilling the class hours so as to avoid conflict.

In a similar instance in November 2009, a high school senior in Owatonna, Minn., was suspended in order to protect him from the threat of violence by radical Islamists when he wrote an essay about the special privileges afforded his Somali Muslim counterparts in the school environment.

In order to accommodate sharia's prohibition of interest payments in financial transactions, the state of Minnesota buys homes from realtors and re-sells them to Muslims at an up-front price. It is simply not the function of government to use tax money to create financial transactions that correspond to a religious code. Moreover, it is a strategy to create a precedent for legal recognition of sharia within U.S. law.

Amazingly, there are strong allegations that the United States now owns the largest provider of sharia financing in the world: AIG.

Last month, police in Dearborn, Mich., which has a large Muslim population, arrested Christian missionaries for handing out copies of the Gospel of St. John on charges of "disturbing the peace." They were doing so on a public street outside an Arab festival in a way that is completely permissible by law, but, of course, forbidden by sharia's rules on proselytizing. This is a clear case of freedom of speech and the exercise of religious freedom being sacrificed in deference to sharia's intolerance against the preaching of religions other than Islam.

Shockingly, sharia honor killings-in which Muslim women are murdered by their husbands, brothers or other male family members for dishonoring their family-are also on the rise in America but do not receive national attention because they are considered "domestic disturbances." (A recent article in Marie Claire Magazine highlights recent cases and the efforts to bring national attention to this horrifying trend.)

Cases like this will become all the more common as radical Islamists grow more and more aggressive in the United States.

It is in this context that the controversy over the proposed mosque near Ground Zero must be seen.

Exposing Radical Islamist Hypocrisy at Ground Zero

There are many reasons to doubt the stated intentions of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the Ground Zero mosque. After 9/11 he did not hesitate to condemn the United States as an "accessory" to the attacks but more recently refused to condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization. This is unsurprising considering he has well-established ties to U.S. branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. He has also refused to reveal the sources of funding for the mosque project, which is projected to cost $100 million.

More importantly, he is an apologist for sharia supremacy. In a recent op-ed, Rauf actually compared sharia law with the Declaration of Independence. This isn't mere dishonesty; it is an Orwellian attempt to cause moral confusion about the nature of radical Islamism.

The true intentions of Rauf are also revealed by the name initially proposed for the Ground Zero mosque--"Cordoba House"--which is named for a city in Spain where a conquering Muslim army replaced a church with a mosque. This name is a very direct historical indication that the Ground Zero mosque is all about conquest and thus an assertion of Islamist triumphalism which we should not tolerate.

They say they're interfaith, but they didn't propose the building of a mosque, church and synagogue. Instead they proposed a 13-story mosque and community center that will extol the glories of Islamic tolerance for people of other faiths, all while overlooking the site where radical Islamists killed almost 3,000 people in a shocking act of hatred.

Building this structure on the edge of the battlefield created by radical Islamists is not a celebration of religious pluralism and mutual tolerance; it is a political statement of shocking arrogance and hypocrisy.

We need to have the moral courage to denounce it. It is simply grotesque to erect a mosque at the site of the most visible and powerful symbol of the horrible consequences of radical Islamist ideology. Well-meaning Muslims, with common human sensitivity to the victims' families, realize they have plenty of other places to gather and worship. But for radical Islamists, the mosque would become an icon of triumph, encouraging them in their challenge to our civilization.

Apologists for radical Islamist hypocrisy are trying to argue that we have to allow the construction of this mosque in order to prove America's commitment to religious liberty. They say this despite the fact that there are already over 100 mosques in New York City.

In fact, they're partially correct-this is a test of our commitment to religious liberty. It is a test to see if we have the resolve to face down an ideology that aims to destroy religious liberty in America, and every other freedom we hold dear.

Your friend,

Newt

IGNORANCE IS DANGEROUS: Fierce Debate Over Ground Zero Mosque

2010-07-23T23:10:00.004-04:00

Watch this riveting debate about the Ground Zero Mosque. Civil Rights attorney Michael Gross doesn't get the seriousness of the Islamic threat, despite attempts from Christian attorney Jay Sekulow and Sean Hannity.

Ground Zero Mosque Video Expressing People's Sentiments Exactly

2010-07-09T12:19:00.003-04:00

Dumbing Down of America

2010-07-04T12:02:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately, for decades, liberal-leaning modern educators have been purposely dumbing down America by downplaying this nation's history of its real, biblical foundations with a false, anti-religious curriculum.

Thankfully, we still have our original history, for those who want to examine the evidence, that refutes that false premise.

So, it's always refreshing to find good information on the internet about our nation's Christian heritage. Take, for instance, this link.

Here, in video format, you will be given overviews of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, plus see how our founding fathers took their inspiration from the Holy Bible!

This is education your schools have refused to teach. Enjoy, and let's take back a nation that has lost its way.

America's Christian Heritage -- AUDIO FILES

2010-07-03T13:39:00.003-04:00

Just in time for this weekend! Check out David Barton's website Wallbuilderslive.com for free downloadable files of America's Christian Heritage. I've downloaded the ones outlined below to listen to this fourth of July weekend on my iPod...enjoy!

There are many to choose from, so peruse -- these are my favorites that you can download too:

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Choose your leaders biblically and get involved with community

Monday, May 31, 2010
American Heritage Series: Ideas That Birthed a Nation

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Muslim Students Trying to Rid "Year of our Lord" at Trinity University

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
American Heritage Series: "Unearthing America's Christian Foundations - Part 1"

Thursday, April 29, 2010
American Heritage Series: "Unearthing America's Christian Foundations - Part 2"

Monday, March 29, 2010
The Influence of the Bible on America - Part 1

Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Influence of the Bible on America - Part 2

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Influence of the Bible on America - Part 3

Thursday, April 01, 2010
The Influence of the Bible on America - Part 4

Friday, April 02, 2010
The Influence of the Bible on America - Part 5

When All Else Fails to Contain Oil, Governors Turn to God -- Pray Along With Them

2010-06-27T10:54:00.006-04:00

Texas Governor Rick Perry stated-" It seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join with their fellow Gulf Coast residents and others across the country and around the world to thank God, seek his wisdom for ourselves and our leaders, and ask him for his merciful intervention and healing in this time of crisis." Perry urged Texans to pray Sunday "for the healing of individuals, the rebuilding of communities and the restoration of entire Gulf coast environment."

Alabama Governor Bob Riley wrote, "Throughout our history, Alabamians have humbly turned to God to ask for his blessings and to hold us steady during times of struggle. This is certainly one of those times."

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour wrote- "Prayer allows us the opportunity to reflect and seek guidance, strength, comfort and inspiration from Almighty God and citizens of Mississippi are urged to pray..."

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared- "June 27th as a Statewide Day of Prayer for perseverance through the oil spill crisis."

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp issued a June 23 proclamation urging Floridians to pray for the families of those killed in the Deepwater Horizon "initial blast"and that God would "crown with success efforts to stop the flow of oil in the Gulf."

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp - Written by David Barton of Wallbuilders, and signed by FL Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, and the Governors of TX, LA, AL and MS.

"Whereas, we find ourselves in the midst of the greatest man-made environmental disaster in our history; and

"Whereas, it is our heritage that as a people we have been taught not only to publicly acknowledge God for the many blessings bestowed on us but also that we are to turn to Him and seek His aid and assistance in times of distress and calamity; and

"Whereas, President Ronald Reagan affirmed not only that "Prayer is the mainspring of the American spirit, a fundamental tenet of our people since before the Republic was founded" but also that "Prayer is today as powerful a force in our Nation as it has ever been. We as a Nation should never forget this source of strength";

"Whereas, President Reagan reminded us that we "have always turned to prayer at times of crisis. We recall the moving story of George Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge to ask for divine assistance when the fate of our fledgling Nation hung in the balance. And Abraham Lincoln tells us that on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg, 'I went into my room and got down on my knees in prayer.' Never before, he added, had he prayed 'with as much earnestness"; and

"Whereas, President John Adams declared that "a deep sense and a due acknowledgment of the governing providence of a Supreme Being" is necessary "to the happiness of individuals and to the well-being of communities" and "that in circumstances of great urgency and seasons of imminent danger, earnest and particular supplications should be made to Him"; and

"Whereas, Benjamin Franklin recalled that "In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered." Facing new difficulties, he queried, "And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?" He therefore recommended offering up "prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven"

"Whereas, John Hancock declared that not only was it "at all times our indispensable duty devoutly to acknowledge His superintending providence" but also that "especially in times of impending danger and public calamity...to implore His merciful interposition for our deliverance...humbly beseeching Him...to remove our present calamities";

"Whereas, Samuel Adams reminded citizens that "it being at all times our indispensable duty as a people devoutly to acknowledge the superintending Providence of God, [and] especially in times of public calamity to humble ourselves before Him, penitently confessing our sins and imploring His gracious interposition for our deliverance";

"Whereas, the Continental Congress declared that "in the hour of calamity and impending danger...we are peculiarly animated, with true penitence of heart, to prostrate ourselves before our great Creator and fervently to supplicate His gracious interposition for our deliverance"

"Now, Therefore, I, Jeff Kottkamp, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby call for a Day of Prayer on Sunday, June 27, 2010, urging citizens to pray for comfort for the families of those killed in the Deepwater Horizon initial blast; that God would crown with success efforts to stop the flow of oil in the Gulf; that He would interpose to mitigate further damage and strengthen the hands of clean up crews; that He would sustain those whose livelihood is directly impacted by this tragedy; that He would preserve the health of citizens along the coastal regions; that He would comfort all citizens impacted by the oil spill, reminding us that He is a strong refuge in times of trouble; that He would guide and direct our civil leaders and provide them with wisdom and Divinely inspired solutions to the many complex problems associated with this disaster; and that He would prevent future recurrences of this oil spill."

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, Alabama is suffering from an unprecedented disaster caused by the explosion and sinking of the BP Deepwater Horizon and its aftermath, a disaster that threatens the livelihoods of our fellow citizens, the environmental beauty of our coast, and our quality of life; and

"WHEREAS, throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for His blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty; and

"WHEREAS, citizens of Alabama are urged to pray for the well-being of our fellow citizens and our State, to pray for all those in other states who are hurt by this disaster, to pray for those who are working to respond to this crisis, and to pray that a solution that stops the oil leak is completed soon:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby declare Sunday, June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in Alabama and encourage individuals to pray on their own or with others, according to their own faith, in an expression of faith and hope.

"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that citizens of Alabama are also encouraged to give personal thanks to God for the blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance during these difficult times."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, Louisiana is entering the 66th day of an economic and environmental crisis caused by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which is the largest oil spill in American history; and,

"WHEREAS, The Deepwater Horizon oil spill already has a profound effect on Louisiana, its coastline and its people and our entire Louisiana way of life; and,

"WHEREAS, The people of coastal Louisiana are being directly impacted by the closure of our waters for fishing and oyster harvesting and many are struggling to make ends meet or provide for their families; and,

"WHEREAS, The continuing BP oil spill disaster follows the damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, which impacted many of the same communities now being struck by oil; and,

"WHEREAS, Louisiana, known around the world as the Sportsman's Paradise, is blessed with a bounty of natural treasures, including unique wildlife and fisheries and vibrant communities and traditions that are now threatened due to the ongoing catastrophic damage to our wetlands; and,

"WHEREAS, The suffering of Louisiana's state bird, the brown pelican, which was only recently removed from the endangered species list, has become symbolic of the continuing damage caused by the BP oil spill to our fragile coastline and the entire ecosystem it supports; and,

"WHEREAS, Louisiana's people are coming together to help each other now during this time of crisis just as they have persevered through losses before; and Louisiana fishermen, shrimpers and oyster harvesters are now on the frontlines of the oil spill, fighting to protect our coast; and,

"WHEREAS, Hundreds of members of the Louisiana National Guard are working tirelessly to shield our fragile marshland from oil that continues to hit our shores - even as many of them just recently returned from fighting for our country overseas; and Louisiana scientists, biologists, veterinarians and wildlife agents battle against the oil every day to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife that survive being impacted by the oil; and,

"WHEREAS, Coastal parish leaders from all along the coast have come together to implement their own ideas to protect our waters and our shores, often fighting to convey the sense of urgency and quick action that this crisis demands; and,

"WHEREAS, The American people continue to offer their support through prayers and charitable donations, and business owners and scientists share their ideas for stopping the oil; and,

"WHEREAS, Louisianians all across the world are united in hope for an end to this catastrophic event and pray for the recovery of our coastline, the rehabilitation of our fish and wildlife and the restoration of our extraordinary coastal areas that are unlike any other place in the world; and,

"WHEREAS, Our collective fight to recover from this crisis and prevent future damage continues today;

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bobby Jindal, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2010 as a Statewide Day of Prayer In the State of Louisiana and in the Gulf of Mexico."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast has suffered an unfortunate loss of life due to the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, which continues to threaten livelihoods, economies and precious coastal wildlife ecosystems with devastation and destruction; and

"WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; and

"WHEREAS, prayer provides peace and guidance in times of crisis and conflict, and reminds us of the comforting assurance of God's love for us all; and

"WHEREAS, it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join with their fellow Gulf Coast residents and others across the country and around the world to thank God, seek his wisdom for ourselves and our leaders, and ask him for his merciful intervention and healing in this time of crisis;

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim Sunday, June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and religious traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of individuals, the rebuilding of communities and the restoration of entire Gulf Coast environment in the wake of this disaster."

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's Prayer Proclamation:

"WHEREAS, Mississippians are suffering from an unprecedented disaster caused by the April 20, 2010, explosion and resulting oil spill from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil well, a disaster that threatens the livelihoods of our fellow citizens, the environmental beauty of our coast, and our quality of life; and

"WHEREAS, "Prayer allows us an opportunity to reflect and to seek guidance, strength, comfort and inspiration from Almighty God; and

"WHEREAS, citizens of Mississippi are urged to pray for the well-being of our fellow citizens and our State, to pray for all those in other states who are hurt by this disaster, to pray for those who are working to respond to this crisis, and to pray that a solution that stops the oil leak is completed soon:

"NOW THEREFORE, I, Haley Barbour, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby proclaim June 27, 2010, as a Day of Prayer in Mississippi for relief from this crisis and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico and shoreline."

Timeline of Obama Administration's Pro-Muslim Stance

2010-06-27T03:13:00.002-04:00

"Facts are stubborn things," so said President Ronald Reagan on many occasions. So we thought we'd lay out the facts -- a timeline -- showing President Barack Obama's pro-Muslim stance, as a direct affront to this country's historical world view and, more importantly, to the weakening of our nation's security.

As a matter of fact, a number of Christian groups have stated that the oil spill in the Gulf is a direct result of God removing His hand of protection upon the U.S. because of the U.S.'s refusal to side with Israel. (The list comes from Pamela Geller's Atlas Shrugs blog.)

March 2009, Obama declares the "war on terror" is over despite a dramatic increase in jihad war ops.

March 2009, he floats the idea that he will talk to violent, genocidal Hamas.

March 2009, he demands, recruits and insists that more Muslim Americans work in the Obama administration.

April 2009, Obama tells Europe to admit Islamic Turkey into EU, much to the consternation of the Europeans.

April 2009, Obama demands non-Muslims respect Islam (despite our differences) in a speech in Turkey.

April 2009, Obama in a speech from Turkey: "We are not a Christian nation."

April 2009, Dalia Mogahed, the first hijab-clad senior adviser to Obama on Muslim affairs says in an interview with terrorist- and jihad-supporting Sheik Yusuf Qaradawi's website, "Many have claimed that terrorists have 'hijacked Islam'. I disagree. I think Islam is safe and thriving in the lives of Muslims around the world. What the terrorists have been allowed to take over are Muslim grievances."

In April 2009, Obama lays groundwork for a partnership with Hamas.

May 2009, Obama promises to offer his "personal commitment" to Muslims.

May 2009, Obama calls America "one of the largest Muslim countries on the planet."

June 2009, Obama invites the Muslim Brotherhood, violent global jihadist group whose sole objective is a universal caliphate, to his speech to the ummah (Muslim community) in Cairo.

June 2009, Obama makes a stunning speech to the Muslim world from Al Azhar University in Cairo. It defies explanation.

July 2009, Obama reaches out to the violent jihadists of Hezb'allah.

July 2009, Obama creates a new office at the State department, Outreach to the Worldwide Muslim community, reporting directly to Hillary Clinton.
July 2009 State Department Welcomes Hamas Mouthpiece, Al-Quds TV, to DC to Film Propaganda.

Obama promises to close GITMO.

Obama is rebuked when plans are revealed for CIA prosecutions for 911 interrogations: Seven Ex-chiefs of CIA Oppose Case Review: ALL Sign letter to Stop CIA Persecutions.

In July, Obama sanctions the brutal crackdown of those marching for freedom in Iran and sides with the mullahcracy. He stands silent about the Iranian regime's mass executions, mass rape and murder.

July 2009, Obama plans to slash US nuclear arsenal.

September 2009. Bolton on Obama at the UN: "This is the most radical anti-Israel speech I can recall any president making" "I have to say I was very shaken by this speech."

October 2009, Obama offers millions in Muslim technology fund.

November 2009, Fort Hood Jihad Cover up: Obama Urges Congress To Put Off Fort Hood Probe, Warns Against Turning Tragedy Into "Political Theater."

November 2009, Obama offers the Taliban control of the Kandahar, Helmand, Oruzgan, Kunar and Nuristan provinces, in return for a halt to the Taliban missile attacks on U.S. bases.

November 2009, Obama Reaches out to bloody Jihadis in the Philippines.

On Thanksgiving eve, Obama issues a special Hajj message to the world's Muslims.

December 2009, Obama's "Non-Religious" White House Christmas and No Christmas Gifts for his Kids.

February 2010, Obama names a Hafiz to the Organization of the Islamic Conference. "And as a hafiz of the Koran, [Hussain] is a respected member of the American Muslim community," Obama said in his message to the Doha meeting, using the term for someone who has mastered and memorized the Muslim holy book.

February 2010, Obama cuts US space program, orders NASA to work with Muslim countries.

February 2010, covering up for jihadists in the White House.

Obama's counter terrorism adviser, John Brennan, Involved in Obama Passport Breach.

March 2010, Obama Obsession with Islam: Calls 'entrepreneurship summit' with Muslims.

April 2010, Libyan Pres Gaddafi Praises Obama: "Barakeh Obama is friend" "He is of Muslim descent, his policy should be supported...."

May 2010, Obama's Counterterrorism Adviser Calls Jihad "Legitimate Tenet of Islam."

May 2010, White House Pro-Terrorism John Brennan Speechifies in Arabic, Equates Terrorists with Shoplifters, Lawmakers Call for his Firing.

June 2010, Obama equivocates on the jihad warship convoy (affectionately named a "flotilla" by the media): Obama "Expressed a Deep Regret Over Loss of [Jihadist] Life."

June 2010, Obama Administration to Support Anti-Israel Resolution at UN.

Press conference in June 2010: First flagless "President." Ouch. How sad.

Support Arizona!

2010-06-26T16:47:00.002-04:00

Don't let Arizona stand alone in demanding that this nation secure it's borders. It's time we stood with the rule of law, and not with those who would break the law or not enforce it.

America Waking Up to Violent Islam

2010-06-25T09:22:00.006-04:00

Here's a compelling CBN Report on the lie that Islam is a "peaceful" religion. It's not! See what is happening in England in this video, and why we need to awaken to this threat in the U.S.

And, our dear friend "political correctness" has overstayed its welcome in the U.S. This must go as well.

And, please, keep in prayer that young British boy who gave himself to Islam.

Gov. Perry Delares Sunday Day of Prayer Over Oil Spill

2010-06-24T22:52:00.007-04:00

Sunday Day of Prayer for Oil Spill

AUSTIN (June 24, 2010)--Gov. Rick Perry declared Sunday a day of prayer in Texas over lives lost in the explosion of an offshore rig and the still growing environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Perry, who on Wednesday returned to Austin after more than a week in China on an economic development trip, issued a proclamation stemming from the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon.

The April 20 rig explosion killed 11 workers.

BP PLC was leasing the rig from owner Transocean Ltd. of Houston.

Perry urged urging Texans to pray Sunday "for the healing of individuals, the rebuilding of communities and the restoration of entire Gulf coast environment."

Experts said the current worst-case estimate of what's flowing into the Gulf is about 2.5 million gallons a day from the blown well, polluting shorelines from Louisiana to Florida.

A Muslim Meets Jesus

2010-06-24T21:52:00.006-04:00

The following is the miraculous, first-hand account of a Muslim turning to Jesus (from About.com/Christianity)

Khalid Mansoor Soomro is from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was an ardent follower of Mohammad until he decided to make a challenge to some Christian students at his school. This dramatic testimony tells how one Muslim convert came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Khalid's Challenge A Pakistani Muslim Comes Face to Face With Jesus Christ
by Khalid Mansoor Soomro

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15, NKJV)

When I was 14 years old I was studying in a convent school in Pakistan. I belong to a Muslim family.

My parents had forced me to learn the Qur'an by heart when I was seven, and so I did. I had a lot of Christian fellows (or acquaintances) at school. I was surprised to see them studying because I had always found Christians to be of low profile in the society.

I discussed and argued a lot with them about the accuracy of the Qur'an and rejection of the Bible by Allah in the Holy Qur'an. I always forced them to accept Islam. Often my Christian teacher told me not to do so. He said, "God may choose you as he chose the Apostle Paulus." I asked him who Paulus was because I knew Mohammad only.

A Challenge
One day during our discussion I challenged the Christians, suggesting that we each burn the other's Holy book. They should burn the Qur'an and I should do the same with the Bible. We agreed: "The book which would burn, would be false. The book which would not burn, would have the truth. God himself would save his Word."

The Christians were not ready to do this because they were frightened. Living in an Islamic country and doing such a thing could lead them to face the law and meet its consequences. I told them I would do it by myself.

With them watching, first, I set the Qur'an on fire and it burned before our eyes. Then I attempted to do the same with the Bible. As soon as I tried, the Bible struck my chest and I fell to the ground. Smoke surrounded my body. I was burning, not physically, but from a spiritual fire. Then suddenly I saw a man with golden hair at my side. He was wrapped in light. He placed his hand on my head and said, "You are my son and from now on you will preach the gospel in your nation. Go! Your Lord is with you."

Then the vision continued and I saw a grave stone, which had been removed from the tomb. Mary Magdalene spoke to the gardener who had probably taken the body of the Lord. The gardener was Jesus himself. He kissed the hand of Mary and I woke up. I felt very strong as if someone could strike me, but I would not be hurt.

A Rejection
I went home and I told my parents what had happened, but they did not believe me. They thought the Christians had me under some kind of magic, but I told them that everything had happened before my very own eyes and that many people were watching. They still did not believe me and they turned me out of my home, refusing to accept me as their family member.

I went to a church close to my home; I told the priest there all about what had happened. I asked him to show me the Bible. He gave me the Scriptures and I read about the event I had seen in the vision with Mary Magdalene. That day, February 17, 1985, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

A Calling
My family rejected me. I went to various churches and got more knowledge about the Word of God. I also followed many Bible courses and then I went into Christian ministry. Now, after 21 years, I have had the joy of seeing many people come to the Lord and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Thanks to the Lord, I am now married and have a Christian family. My wife Khalida and I are involved in the work of the Lord and have been able to share the miracles God has been doing in our lives.

Even though it is not easy and we face many hardships, we feel like Paul who went through hardships and suffering for the glory of his Savior, Jesus, who himself suffered during his walk on earth and his time on the cross.

We thank God the Father for sending his Son to this earth and giving us free, eternal life through him. Likewise, we thank God for his Spirit who encourages us day by day to live for him.

Chicago Politics?

2010-06-22T19:26:00.005-04:00

A great deal has been said about Sen Jon Kyl's (R-AZ) statement suggesting that President Barack Obama does not want to control the Arizona border because the President wants to tie any border security with comprehensive immigration reform.

This is Kyl's actual statement:

The White House has denied that the President ever said that, BUT an audio interview with Obama surfaced showing Obama's point of view of politically coupling secured borders with comprehensive immigration reform.

Who do you think is telling the truth: Kyl or the White House?

An Open Letter from Actor Jon Voight to President Obama

2010-06-22T13:03:00.006-04:00

June 22, 2010

Dear President Obama:

You will be the first American president that lied to the Jewish people, and the American people as well, when you said that you would defend Israel, the only Democratic state in the Middle East, against all their enemies. You have done just the opposite. You have propagandized Israel, until they look like they are everyone's enemy - and it has resonated throughout the world. You are putting Israel in harm's way, and you have promoted anti-Semitism throughout the world.

You have brought this to a people who have given the world the Ten Commandments and most laws we live by today. The Jewish people have given the world our greatest scientist and philosophers, and the cures for many diseases, and now you play a very dangerous game so you can look like a true martyr to what you see and say are the underdogs. But the underdogs you defend are murderers and criminals and want Israel eradicated.

You have brought to Arizona a civil war, once again defending the criminals and illegals, creating a meltdown for good, loyal, law-abiding citizens. Your destruction of this country may never be remedied, and we may never recover. I pray to God you stop, and I hope the people in this great country realize your agenda is not for the betterment of mankind, but for the betterment of your politics.

With heartfelt and deep concern for America and Israel,

Jon Voight

CULTURE AFFECTS CHRISTIANS!

2010-06-14T19:02:00.015-04:00

Recently I've been brooding over a conviction: a deep desire to "change the culture of a nation, from one that tolerates sin to one that tolerates righteousness."

Why should we care about changing the culture? We Christians are separated from the world! -- aren't we? We live apart from the world! -- don't we?

We're not affected by the world, or its culture, now are we?

Don't be too sure. The scriptures show us that culture can indeed ensnare Christians and lead us off the path of righteousness.

Scriptures describe the city of Sodom as wicked and sinful -- it was so bad there could not be found ten righteous people there. But a righteous man lived nearby named Lot. Genesis 19 speaks of a time when angels came to the city to pronounce judgment upon it. The men of Sodom were so sexually deviant that they wanted to rape the heavenly visitors.

Astonishingly, Lot proffered his virgin daughters to appease the crowd. What?

Can you see how the sexually permissive culture negatively affected his own judgment and morality so that he offered his own daughters to be molested? And he thought nothing of it! Various New Testament translations say that Lot was "vexed, oppressed, distressed" by the conduct in Sodom (2 Peter 2:7). Young's Literal Translation says that Lot was "worn down" by what was going on around him, day in day out.

His convictions were seriously seared by his culture.

The same today: one's perspective of issues can change with the constant bombardment of negative influences on TV, from classroom teachers, from devious politicians.

Prayerfully, Christians can "come out" from the ways of the world. Our allegiances and behavior are not those of the world (-- or so we would hope!).

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit, once empowered within an individual, can help us discern both good and evil as mature Christians (Heb 5:14).

But ponder the landscape of Christendom throughout the world. Pick a social dilemma in the world and see if there is unanimous Christian consensus on it. Don't you think there should be?!

Let's go down the list:

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Do we side with law and order; or do we side with the poor?

ABORTION
Do we side with the life of the child; or the rights of the mother?

GOVERNMENT
Do we want government to punish the rich to give to the poor in equal distribution; or do we want free enterprise that doesn't limit our potential?

POLITICAL PARTIES
Do we want liberal/socialistic candidates; or do we want those with traditional, more conservative values? Do we vote for someone according to ethnicity; as opposed to righteous behavior?

Unfortunately, Christian perspectives vary. And, quite often it's due to culture.

This is why I say that we need to change the culture from one that tolerates sin to one that tolerates righteousness. Today you can say the most outlandish, disrespectful, sinful thing and you get a pat on the back.

Talk about righteousness and you get a sneer.

Yes, it's time to do all we can to change the culture.

RABBI QUESTIONS HIS LIBERAL BELIEFS

2010-06-13T19:59:00.004-04:00

This story is really intriguing. The New York Jewish Rabbi, who took the footage of Helen Thomas' hateful anti-Semitic response last week, is now conflicted about his party: Liberal Democrats.

As a voting block, American Jews have been very liberal and have voted Democrat for years. I've always wondered why. Conservatives have always been more supportive of the state of Israel, than liberal democrats.

But now Rabbi David Nesenoff is conflicted. Ever since the release of the Thomas video, he has been blasted by liberal democrats with hate mail and the left-leaning media with bias reporting.

He confesses that he has been "blindly" following liberalism -- but now he's had an awakening.

May many more American liberal Jews understand that conservatism is where they belong.

Musical PRO-LIFE Message: Andrea Bocelli

2010-06-10T17:23:00.005-04:00

Andrea Bocelli, that great tenor, presents an ear-ringing affirmation for life; which may not break glass, but it's sure to break hearts.

FOR THE RECORD: Does the Koran Teach Violence?

2010-06-08T22:03:00.009-04:00

Keep this handy for those who will insist that Islam does not promote violence against non-Muslims.

Qur'an 9:29:
Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

Qur'an 9:5:
But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Bukhari 1.2.24:
Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle..."

Bukhari 1.8.387:
Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.'

Bukhari 4.53.392:
While we were in the Mosque, the Prophet came out and said, "Let us go to the Jews" We went out till we reached Bait-ul-Midras. He said to them, "If you embrace Islam, you will be safe. You should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I want to expel you from this land...

Bukhari 9.92.388:
"...Allah's Apostle said, I have been ordered to fight the people till they say 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'... "

Muslim 1.33:
It has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah...

Muslim 14.4294:
Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them... If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them...

Muslim 14.4366:
It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.

America, Open Your Eyes! More on the Ground Zero Mosque

2010-06-08T21:47:00.007-04:00

The New York City Skyline.

A skyline of mosques.

This is what is foreseen by those who would build the Ground Zero mega-mosque. The following YouTube video, from AnsweringMuslims website, explains the plans precisely.

SEND AN EMAIL TO MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG HERE:

Send a message to Margaret Chin:
District 1 - Council Member - Democrat:
chin@council.nyc.gov

Send a message to Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn:
District 3 - Council Member - Democrat:
http://www.facebook.com/christinecquinn

To Write To The Governor of New York:
David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

518-474-8390

To e-mail the Governor of New York:
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/GovernorContactForm.php

To Contact City Councilman Eric Ulirch:
(718) 738-1083

To Contact Senator Joe P. Addabbo Jr:
Mailing Information
Albany Office:
815 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
(518) 455-2322
Fax - (518) 426-6875

District Office:
159-53 102nd St
Howard Beach, NY 11414
(718) 738-1111
Fax - (718) 322-5760

Satellite Office:
66-85 73rd Place
Middle Village, NY 11379
(718) 497-1630
Fax - (718) 497-1761

Ground Zero Mosque Imam Behind Gaza Flotilla

2010-06-07T13:13:00.007-04:00

Are we beginning to see a pattern? Are we able to discern the truth yet?

We have been reporting that the Imam who is behind the proposed Ground Zero mosque has pro-terrorist views and has ulterior, malicious motives intending to bring about a symbolic conquest over and social destabilization of America.

We now learn that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is also behind the infamous Gaza flotilla incident, intended to bring about the global public condemnation of Israel.

See report here.

Powerful Backlash Against the Ground Zero Mosque

2010-06-06T22:35:00.012-04:00

Well, despite the non-presence of the mainstream media, a major protest was conducted in the area near the proposed Ground Zero Mosque in New York City -- symbolically, perhaps, it was at the corners of Trinity, Church and Liberty.

Below are two clips from the rally with Pamela Geller, of Stop Islamization of America, and Robert Spencer, of Jihad Watch, and a jointly written review below:

Despite weather forecasts of thunderstorms and rain, the skies were clear and beautiful -- but not as beautiful as this patriotic crowd of great Americans and Europeans. It was a real cross section of humanity .......... ever race, creed, color and religion were out in all their glory.

Robert and I were expecting 500; imagine our wonder when close to 5,000 showed up. This is just the beginning. We are going to sue to designate the Burlington building a war memorial. There is a large piece of an airplane in that building. That is a war memorial. Instead of a mega mosque at ground zero, let's build a 911 war memorial to the victims. The current plan for a 911 museum is several floors underground, like a dungeon. And the mosque plan calls for the mosque to be on the top floor, looking down triumphantly on the burial ground of Ground Zero.

I don't think so. The Burlington building must be a war memorial, an historic landmark. We will sue to make that happen. We will protest again in September and stage sit-ins in front of the mosque should they try to break ground. Three thousand good and decent Americans did not die in vain.

The crowd was so huge that it filled the police pens and Zuccotti Park, and overflowed to the other side of the street. American Sheepdogs with an SIOA banner were down the block, across the street, right outside Charley's.

There was little big media there, which indicates how biased they are against the Ame rican people. NY News actually ran four segments repeatedly of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered parade since I got home. And Fox is running ....get this -- Greta Van Susteren's years old interview with Natalee Holloway's murderer.

But there were loads of bloggers like El Marco, Pamela Hall, etc. I will update with their extraordinary work and photojournalism. If you missed El Marco's stunning coverage of the mosque yesterday, please go here.

Robert's reportage is here:
They started showing up long before the rally began at noon today. They came from Washington state, California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, South Carolina, Florida, and elsewhere. They were Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, atheists, Muslims of conscience. They were lovers of freedom.

An hour before the rally began, they numbered 1,000. Zuccotti Park's owners sided with the Islamic supremacists and withdrew their permit to allow us to gather there, and so the police repeatedly requested that people leave the park and move into the pens that the police had set up at Church and Liberty streets. Before noon, however, the pens were full -- and so, with free citizens having every legal right to be in the park, the park became a site for the rally despite the best efforts of its clueless dhimmi owners.

By the time the rally was in full swing, the crowd filled the pens, the park, and the other side of the street. Police estimated that 5,000 people were there, and other estimates ranged as high as 10,000. The crowd carried signs expressing their love for freedom, their contempt for Sharia, and their anger at Islamic supremacism and insult to the memories of those murdered on 9/11 that this mosque represents.

And we had a full spectrum of top quality speakers. There were 9/11 family members, including C. Lee Hanson, who lost his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter on 9/11. There were people who experienced the oppression of Sharia firsthand, such as the Egyptian ex-Muslim Nonie Darwish, the Sudanese ex-slave Simon Deng, and the Hindu human rights activist Babu Suseelan. There was Dennis McKenna, who worked recovering remains from the ruins of the World Trade Center; Alan T. DeVona, the patrol sergeant on duty on September 11, 2001; and Keith LeBow, an ironworker who was one of the first responders on the scene on September 11. There was Herb London of the Hudson Institute and Beverly Carlson of the Band of Mothers -- and a host of other speakers, all lovers of America and lovers of freedom.

The theme among all the speakers was common: the mosque is an insult to the Americans who were murdered there. It is a manifestation of a radically intolerant belief system that is incompatible with the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. And even with all the political elites against us, and the mainstream media indifferent or compromised (5,000 to 10,000 people at the rally, and no mainstream media coverage!), we will prevail. All we have on our side is the truth.

Pamela Geller did interviews with Al-Jazeera, AP, Chilean television, Italian television and many others; I was interviewed by Italian television and TV Asia. ABC? NBC? CBS? CNN? Even FOX? AWOL.

And the truth is powerful. The forecast had called for rain, but it didn't start raining in New York until after the rally had broken up. Many took it as a sign that we represented the cause of right and justice. And even with all the indifference of the politicians and the media, we sent a signal today: we will not let this injustice stand. We will be rallying again in September, and again when construction begins on the mega-mosque. We will be filing suit against the Federal Government, asking that the Burlington Coat Factory site where the mega-mosque is going to be built be designated a war memorial, a la Pearl Harbor, Gettysburg, etc., because of the part of one of the 9/11 airplanes that crashed into the roof there, and that is in the makeshift mosque that Muslims are using there now.

And above all: we will never give up.

[By the way, this is the best example of my previous blog about why average citizens are becoming the new media. No mainstream media outlet covered this story!]

YOU are the New Media

2010-06-05T12:09:00.016-04:00

The dispersion of news events is no longer monopolized by three liberal networks.

Gone are the days when a Walter Cronkite told America what was newsworthy and how to think about events. Now, in this new technology of the internet (Facebook, blogs, tweets, email blasts) YOU are the news media.

These past few years have seen the rise of the power of this new technology. While all three liberal networks have towed the democratic party line of supporting health care reform, the stimulus bill and wild, out-of-control spending, a groundswell of average citizen voices has risen to defy the talking points of entrenched news organizations.

And these citizens have been using the modern news technology of Facebook, blogs, Twitter and YouTube to get their message across. Matt Drudge and Andrew Breitbart are two such average citizens utilizing modern technology to present a counterpoint to the mainstream media. And many others -- just average people -- are resorting to reporting the news the "way it ought to be" -- without bias, and with truth, honesty and fairness.

You don't realize how influential your opinion can be before many in the audience of the new media.

The threat to the status quo is so real that the Federal Trade Commission is seeking to tax websites like the Drudge Report and distribute those funds to more tradional news outlets. But beware: "Once Congress has the power to fund the news, it can at any time attach 'strings' designed to promote certain viewpoints - in the name of fairness, of course." -- see article here.

Your country is looking for people who really love this nation to speak out against the injustices that they see and to not be content with being funneled with one-sided news stories that chip away at this nation's greatness; its freedoms and its Judeo-Christian heritage.

Speak up Americans. The moral and cultural direction in which this country goes is so dependent upon popular opinion. And popular opinion is so dependent on the voices speaking out. Use what modern technology there is and stand up for the truth.

Helen Thomas: No Friend of Israel

2010-06-04T20:31:00.013-04:00

The video you are about to see should shock you into reality, as to how prejudiced elements of our news media are towards Israel.

Providentially, we were able to capture this on video. It's just indicative of the liberal news media's anti-Israel mindset, and why we have to be vigilant about citing areas of bias.

For decades, Helen Thomas has been a stalwart White House correspondent since the Kennedy Administration. But after listening to what Thomas says about Israel, would we be able to believe that she is an unbiased reporter?

In her statement, she says that the Jews should get out of Palestine. It's unfortunate that a member of the White House Press Corps doesn't know that Jews inhabited the land since before the time of Christ.

UPDATE: Here is a segment from Fox and Friends, in which the Rabbi who took the footage speaks out. Included is Thomas' apology.

Here you can voice your opinion about the incident in a poll.

The Turkish Flotilla Incident -- Behind the Scenes!

2010-06-03T17:27:00.005-04:00

Robert Stearns of Eagles Wings hosted today a conference call with Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, Israel's Minister of Public Affairs, about the recent Turkish Flotilla incident near Israeli waters. On the line were over 500 concerned Christians, of whom I was one.

The incident was simply an act of provocation to make Israel look bad before the world's stage. Therefore, be armed with these facts, despite sympathetic news stories towards those who would destroy Israel.

9 FACTS ABOUT THE GAZA FLOTILLA INCIDENT

1. A state of armed conflict exists between Israel and the Hamas regime controlling Gaza. Under international law, Israel has the right to protect the lives of its civilians and has undertaken measures to defend itself, including the imposition of a maritime blockade to curb the smuggling of weapons by Hamas.

2. Five of the six flotilla vessels offered passive resistance to the Israeli boarding parties, and the redirection of these vessels to Ashdod was accomplished in a peaceful manner. This indicates clearly that Israel had no intention of harming any flotilla protesters.

3. However, the activists on the sixth ship 'Mavi Marmara' violently attacked the Israeli landing party with knives, iron bars, hatchets, chains and other weapons. Some activists also discharged firearms and explosives, and threw an Israeli officer over the side of the ship.

4. The premeditated nature of the violence was evidenced by the clubs, knives and bullet-proof vests that were found aboard the ship, and the coordinated actions of the attackers.

5. Having expected behavior in keeping with the flotilla's numerous declarations of 'peaceful intent', the soldiers were instead confronted with a rapidly deteriorating 'lynch' situation.

6. After several Israeli personnel were wounded, some critically, the landing party was forced to act in self-defense. Regrettably, nine of the attackers were killed.

7. The organization responsible for the ship, the IHH, promotes an extreme anti-Western agenda which has been implicated in the recruitment and financing of Jihadist terrorists worldwide, including al Qaeda. Large quantities of cash were found on board, some in the pockets of the attackers and most in courier belts ready for transfer to the Hamas.

8. The flotilla's cargo is being off-loaded in Ashdod and the humanitarian items transferred overland to Gaza in accordance with standard operating procedures. On 1 June, the Israeli Cabinet decided that the participants of the flotilla are to be repatriated as expediently as possible.

9. Israel does not prevent aid from reaching Gaza via established land-based crossings and there is no lack of humanitarian aid to the Strip. Israel repeatedly proposed that the flotilla organizers land in the port of Ashdod and transfer their aid to Gaza through the existing overland crossings. Had the aid been delivered directly to Ashdod in the first place, as Israel offered, the entire tragic incident could have been avoided.

Taking Back the Culture!

2010-06-01T20:53:00.006-04:00

With assaults upon our culture coming upon us with increased regularity, it's a wonderful sign to see people of integrity banding together to fight the onslaught of anti-Christian bigotry.

I reported on my facebook wall some weeks ago that Comedy Central was preparing an animated series on Jesus Christ. And I stated that we Christians need to band together to push back the anti-Christian, culture-bashing bastions of evildoers that have taken control of our culture.

I have said that Christians have been silent for far too long and have let circumstances (ie, Satan) run roughshod over this nation.

Enter a group of concerned Christians, Jews and Catholics to form the Coalition Against Religious Bigotry (CARB): Brent Bozell (president, Media Research Center), Tony Perkins (president, Family Research Council), Michael Medved (talk radio host), Bill Donohue (president, Catholic League), Rabbi Daniel Lapin (American Alliance of Jews and Christians) and Tim Winter (president, Parents Television Council).

Quoting from the internet article here: Comedy Central's "JC" is currently in development, which means it's still a couple steps away from becoming a Go project. The show is about Jesus trying to live as a regular guy in New York City and wanting to escape the shadow of his "powerful but apathetic father." With Comedy Central having recently censored "South Park" for trying to portray the Prophet Muhammad, some Christian leaders see the development of a Jesus cartoon as exhibiting an offensive double standard.

CARB will hold its first press conference on Thursday to urge advertisers not to support the project, should it ever hit the air.

“After we reveal the vile and offensive nature of Comedy Central’s previous characterizations of Jesus Christ and God the Father, we expect these advertisers to agree wholeheartedly to end their advertising on Comedy Central and discontinue their support for unabashed, anti-Christian discrimination," Bozell said in a statement. "Why should they be supporting a business that makes a habit of attacking Christianity and yet has a formal policy to censor anything considered offensive to followers of Islam? This double standard is pure bigotry, one from which advertisers should quickly shy away.”

("Taking Back the Culture!" will regularly feature news items on "taking back the culture.")

Memorial Day Remembrance!

2010-05-30T12:00:00.005-04:00

There is such an anointing on the song, GOD BLESS THE USA, by Lee Greenwood. My friends and I were celebrating July 4th in Florida one year and, when this song came on, there was not a dry eye in the house, nor did the song not pierce each heart.

This was the best video I found that merges Memorial Day weekend with the struggle against the Ground Zero Mosque.

Come to the rally at Ground Zero, June 6th, noon, at Zuccotti Park, formerly named and generally known as Liberty Plaza Park, in Lower Manhattan. It is located between Broadway and Church streets and Liberty and Cedar streets. Its northwest corner is across the street from the World Trade Center site.

BE THERE!

JUNE 6th GROUND ZERO MOSQUE RALLY -- BE THERE!

2010-05-30T00:05:00.005-04:00

GROUND ZERO MOSQUE RALLY, set for June 6, 2010, 12 noon, at Zuccotti Park at Ground Zero. Zuccotti Park, formerly named and generally known as Liberty Plaza Park, is a 33,000-square-foot park in Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York. It is located between Broadway and Church streets and Liberty and Cedar streets. Its northwest corner is across the street from the World Trade Center site.

BE THERE for the sake of the America you love!

Breaking News with Lou

2010-05-29T14:02:00.006-04:00

I think it's appropriate that CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) incorporated my soundbite into their news story about the inappropriate mosque at Ground Zero.

Wendy Griffith

CBN News Anchor/Reporter

Wendy Griffith co-anchors CBN Newswatch, a daily 30-minute newscast seen throughout the United States. She also co-anchors Christian World News, which is seen weekly around the world on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. She often anchors the news on The 700 Club.

A New York City community panel has given a stamp of approval to build a mosque near Ground Zero.

The city board voted 29-1 in favor of the Cordoba Mosque, despite a very contentious debate over the building.

New Yorkers are furious over the idea of building a mosque near the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

"The greatest terrorist act against this nation was Pearl Harbor. The second one was the World Trade Center bombing," mosque opponent Lou Comunale said. "Now we wouldn't normally have a Japanese center in Pearl Harbor... this is like pouring salt in the wound of America."

The mosque will also house a Muslim cultural center. Before the vote Tuesday, opponents lined up to voice their outrage.

"This is an insult. This is demeaning," one protestor said. "This is humiliating that you would build a shrine to the very ideology that inspired the attacks of 9/11."

"This house of evil will be the birthplace of the next terrorist event," another in the audience claimed.

Several family members of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks attended the meeting. Their voices went unheard, however, and the board overwhelming approved the mosque.

"We feel 9/11 very, very much," said Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, chairman of the Cordoba House, one of the group's behind the mosque project. "We belong in this area."

Rauf has promised the mosque won't be a recruiting ground for terrorists. Muslims have been praying at the site of the future 13-story mosque since fall 2009.

The recent vote, however, may not be the final approval given.

City officials argue that the building being torn down to build the mosque is a historically landmark. Another hearing is set to decide whether to preserve the building -- which used to house a Burlington Coat Factory.

If the building is deemed a historical landmark, the Cordoba Mosque will have to be built elsewhere. Otherwise, construction of the mosque will begin later this year at the current location.

What's Needed: National Day of Prayer and Fasting

2010-05-27T01:10:00.017-04:00

The Civil War was raging. The hitherto "United" States was now at war with each other. Casualties for this war, that would reach close to 700,000 people, was second only to World War ll.

The nation was in jeopardy of survival and in grave danger of ever being restored to fulfill its God-ordained destiny. Thank God there was a president at the time who know where he could go at a time of national emergency. And, being the right president at the right time, he was able to sign a proclamation that the nation as a whole appealed to the God of heaven for His mercy to bring healing and restoration to the land.

It was a time similar, in some ways, to what is presently taking place in the United States. The state of Arizona has decreed that open borders is no longer sustainable due to increased drug trafficking, crime and potential terrorism, and has enacted legislation to put a stop to illegal border crossing.

Barack Obama, President of the United States, is openly opposed to the state's legislation, which is eerily similar in tone to unenforced Federal border regulations that are already on the books.

Various cities across the nation have also opposed Arizona's legitimate call for the enforcement of border laws and have imposed boycotts against Arizona, punishing the state by millions of dollars. The nation is divided over what should be an open and shut case of the government enforcing its own laws and protecting its own borders & citizens.

To target Arizona in a publicity stunt, Obama has also invited Mexican President Felipe Calderon to the United States to chide Americans over Arizona's new ruling. Ironically, Congressmen, elected by citizens of the United States, applauded a foreign leader as he jeered one of our own state's new border laws during a special session of congress.

Never mind that Mexican border laws are so much more extreme and politically incorrect than Arizona's laws.

Unfortunately, those politicians who are openly decrying Arizona's stand are courting the illegals as a voting block. Never mind, that it totally undermines the constitution and this nation's sovereignty. For illegitimate votes, these politicians would sever this nation, in a way not seen since the Civil War.

Across the spectrum of today's headlines we find we are perilously close to never getting out of our various daunting national problems: whether it's the ticking time bomb of our exploding $13 trillion national debt; the out-of-control environmental disaster from BP's offshore gas pipeline leak; the growing dissatisfaction of the electorate and the growing alienation of our politicians who are not seeking the best interests of this nation; the chipping away of America's greatness and exceptionalism by our elected leaders, as they go around the world apologizing for the United States' very existence.

The picture is unsettling. One president did his all to preserve the union; another does all he can to divide it.

We are at a time when we as a nation should humble ourselves once again, submitting ourselves to a greater Power, who is fully capable of turning this nation right-side-up. It is time we had another national day of prayer and fasting.

Here is the full text of Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting:

Washington, D.C.
March 30, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

America: For Sale?

2010-05-24T23:17:00.005-04:00

With every passing day, it seems that this administration is giving away the keys to this once great nation. Sit down and be startled as you hear what the Vice President said in Belgium.

Geert Wilders: Warning to America

2010-05-23T23:46:00.005-04:00

Dutch politician Geert Wilders gives an American audience reason for concern about Islamic migration into Europe and America. The first video shows the startling trend of Islamic penetration and attempted domination in Europe. In the second video, Wilders gives America 10 ways to stop Islamic penetration into America.

Radical Agenda for Ground Zero Mosque

2010-05-21T02:04:00.002-04:00

What is it going to take to wake up America?

From the "let's-shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot" Department...

2010-05-17T22:33:00.006-04:00

Would someone please send this to video to Los Angeles and San Francisco city officials, who are boycotting Arizona for trying to curtail illegal immigration.

This report shows that not only illegal Mexicans cross the border, but many terrorists from the Middle East.

HUCKABEE: Stop Islamization of America

2010-05-17T17:22:00.003-04:00

Pamela Geller, an outspoken true hero representing Stop Islamization of America, urges viewers to oppose the planned 13-story mega-mosque at Ground Zero -- in a direct attempt to further humiliate America.

Rallies are being planned to stop this immoral repeat victimization of America. Join the rallies on May 25 and June 6 -- further info can be found here.

STRONGHOLDS IN THE LAND

2010-05-15T23:57:00.026-04:00

Pamela Geller of Stop Islamization of America with Lou Comunale

It's not politics as usual. It's spiritual warfare as usual.

What may first appear to be only a simple little news item, can actually carry great weight in the spirit and allow an open door for the enemy to do great damage to this nation.

Case in point.

A Muslim group, called the Cordoba Institute, has initiated plans to build a 13-story mosque near Ground Zero, where Muslim fanatics flew planes into the World Trade Center destroying it totally.

The Cordoba Institute's founder, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is insisting that this mega-mosque and cultural center is needed to bring tolerance and understanding between America and Muslims.

They plan on dedicating the mosque on Sept 11, 2011 -- on the tenth anniversary of 9/11!

Can anything be more inappropriate or humiliating to America, to allow Muslims this in-your-face victory against this nation. First they destroy our buildings which represented our financial institutions, then they build a mosque there (they occupy!).

Imams have a history of saying one thing and doing another. Their Koran speaks approvingly of lying as a means to gain inroads and control. And this Imam has stated categorically that 1) the US bears responsibility for the Muslim 9/11 attack; 2) attacks will continue until the US changes its ways; 3) the US needs to "understand" the position of the terrorists.

Fat chance that this cultural center will bring understanding between Muslims and the US.

Christians you are the salt and the light of THIS world. Your voice matters and your participation is paramount to stand against the assaults upon our culture. Yet too often we've let our isolation from the world insulate us from the growing threat upon our freedoms and upon our faith.

We've stood idly by and become jaded to the gradual erosion of righteousness in the land for the past 50 years. But it's happening on our watch.

And I believe that this nation is at a major crossroads right now, and this planned mosque is the tipping point between whether we as a nation return to our Judeo-Christian heritage or lose control all together. I will explain this as we go further.

Let me first put this into a spiritual context for you now and try to counter the mindset that says Christians should never get involved in what goes on in this world, politically or culturally.

I want to show you how your involvement here (not only in opposing this particular mosque but to generally being aware and involved in what's going on in the world), is spiritual in nature.

So, please follow me as I lay out the groundwork.

STRONGHOLDS IN MAN
We Christians have come to know how Satan operates against us in our lives. If we are living in sin, Satan is given the right to torment us in that area. So the sin that we've only begun to allow in our lives soon becomes harder and harder to deal with. It becomes a escalating problem, so that Satan's occupation becomes more and more intensified until it becomes a stronghold. And once there's a stronghold, it's much harder to overcome the sin because now you need deliverance.

This is why Jesus said for us to "sin not." Unforgiven sin gives Satan access to our lives.

Sometimes Satan occupies in areas of unhealed emotional hurt and pain. That can become his entry point as well.

STRONGHOLDS IN THE LAND
In the same way that Satan operates in man, he operates in the nations. He seeks places where sin is tolerated, whether it's within governmental leaders, organizations, corrupt laws, or localities.

San Francisco, with its tolerance towards immoral sexual behavior, is a city stronghold.

Las Vegas, with its tolerance towards gambling, is a city stronghold.

The Roe V Wade court ruling, which allowed close to 50 million abortions since 1973, is a national stronghold, and a national disgrace.

THE STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME STRONGHOLDS
The State of Arizona is now attempting to overcome a stronghold. Governor Jan Brewer has signed a ruling aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration, which has been responsible for crime sprees and drug trafficking for decades. In doing so, Governor Brewer is unknowingly attempting to reverse a fixed stronghold in the state that allowed the crossing of our border by illegals and potential terrorists.

And, just like strongholds in humans, demons tend to band together to fight the deliverance. Have you seen organizations and cities fighting against Arizona with boycotts? I thought this was the UNITED States? Why cities would side with illegals over a sister state is beyond me and is politics at its worst -- a desire to cater to illegals for future votes.

The situation in Arizona has sparked great debate throughout the land. Thankfully there are some states that want to emulate Arizona's new ruling -- that's great.

But make no mistake: Arizona is enduring a titanic, spiritual struggle to overcome a stronghold, and by extension so is the nation. The state is at the tipping point towards freedom and the rule of law, or a return to the abyss. Arizona needs your prayers and your support (by the way, the Grand Canyon is a great place to travel to this year!).

THE MOSQUE STRONGHOLD
Now let's go back to the proposed mosque at Ground Zero. Islamic fanatics destroyed the World Trade Center and attempt to erect a mega-mosque at its site. Think of it in spiritual terms. What does this imply to you?

Using Satan's methods of strongholds, the mosque is an entry point to attach itself upon an emotional wound in the United States. It symbolically signifies Muslim conquest and occupation over our soil and humiliates us as well.

Just like Satan tries to do.

This would be a resounding victory for all of Islam. And I would just hate to think that Ground Zero becomes a holy area for Muslims, who would come and worship there, cheering America's impotence in the hands of Muslim invaders.

Friends, this is a Christian nation! And we can't let that happen!

If it did, I'd hate to think about the religious implications of where this nation ends up. That's why I say we're at the tipping point. That's why I say it's not politics as usual, it's spiritual warfare as usual.

Let's not allow that to happen. Let's get involved. Let's do something. Let us fervently pray for the reversal of this planned invasion and stronghold. If that's all you can do -- great! But if you want to do more, you can!

You can call the Mayor's office and explain why you oppose the mosque being built at Ground Zero. 1-212-NEW YORK (or within NYC, call 311). Emails can be sent to the Financial Group at man01@cb.nyc.gov.

STOP ISLAMIZATION OF AMERICA
There is a group called the Stop Islamization of America (link here) that will be holding two events to oppose the mega-mosque.

On May 25, there will be a Financial Board meeting to vote on the proposal (12 members of the board had previously approved the plan, but now it goes to the entire board). The board does not have any legal authority to implement anything, however it will be a showcase for the Imam. The press will be there and we need to send a signal of opposition to the Imam, the press and the world.

It'll be at 6:00 PM, at the Three Legged Dog Art and Technology Center, 80 Greenwich Street (at Rector Street), Lower Manhattan. (see link here).

On June 6, there will be a rally at Ground Zero, specific location to be announced. Updates can be found at www.soiaonline.com

Let us take a stand for righteousness in the land and may all you do for the Lord be blessed.

Below is a debate over the mosque between Pamela Geller of Stop Islamization of Islam and Michael Ghouse of the Muslim American Congress.

Can Anyone Say "Radical Islam"?

2010-05-14T17:30:00.006-04:00

I'm not quite sure anyone in the administration can say "radical Islam."

Nor is there any terrorist war against the United States.

Nor is the sky blue!

Why Do Some Get a Pass for Hate Speech?

2010-05-12T00:38:00.004-04:00

Let's not be blinded by what's tolerated at our colleges.

Listen to a member of the Muslim Student Association state her support for a second holocaust, during a Q & A session with writer David Horowitz at the University of San Diego. May we Christians be bolder in proclaiming the gospel, as she is bold in spewing hatred.

Proposed Mosque at Ground Zero

2010-05-10T10:57:00.013-04:00

I Wrote to Fox News Commentator Glenn Beck today (me@glennbeck.com).....here's what I said.

Hi Glenn,

Love your show and the way you educate the audience.

I'd like to know why the above news item (click here) hasn't really taken root in the media. I am appalled that anyone would be contemplating erecting a mosque at ground zero.

Let me get this straight: Muslim fanatics blow up the World Trade Center and replace it with a mosque?!?!?

I'm sure you realize that mosques in America can be hotbeds of anti-American, anti-capitalist, subversive propaganda. Can you imagine if Muslims deemed ground zero "sacred ground" and gathered en masse -- ala Mecca!

Can you imagine the security problems for NYC? Can you imagine how this would signal Muslim conquest over America -- and on our soil!

There's got to be a way to circumvent the proposed building of this mosque.

Lou Comunale

WHY I SPEAK OUT!

2010-05-08T14:52:00.005-04:00

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, quote attributed to Edmund Burke.

I want to take this opportunity to explain why I’m so conscious of what’s going on in the nation.

When I speak about the things of the world, and how wrong things are, it’s a matter of waking up, what seems to be, a sleeping church, unconcerned as freedom and righteousness is slowly being taken away from them and evil is tolerated.

It’s not a matter of “loving this present world” – but like God, it’s a matter of loving the people -- "God so loved this world..."! This nation, more so than any other, was founded upon Godly principles. The United States has produced more missionaries for the world, contributed more dollars to charitable organizations than any other, and has been a beacon of light for the world for centuries.

But now, as I see America losing its way, when I see a generation that doesn’t know right from wrong, it’s not love for the world’s system that I voice my opinion, but love for the people. And like Wisdom from Proverbs cries out (I paraphrase), “How long will you tolerate evil and self-destruction?”

There is no guarantee that Jesus is coming within ten years. I wish He does, but He may not come for another hundred.

Yet, in the meantime, is it not incumbent upon us Christians to be the salt and light of the earth? If we see evil or danger approaching, is it not wise to sound the alarm?

In the 1960s, very few Christians spoke out against God being expelled from our schools. Yet, look at what our incriminating silence produced for the nation. You can see a direct correlation between expelling God from school to the national, cultural erosion that began at that time and continues to this day: in sexual promiscuity, intolerance of morals and Christianity, drug use, profanity, and just about every other evil. Today’s generation knows nothing about, and in fact mocks, the moralistic pre-60s culture.

So when Comedy Central wants to malign my Savior, you bet I’m going to say something! It has been our silence that has allowed so much of the evil we presently see.

When I see a government run amuck in debt spending, which my children will inherit and couldn’t possibly pay back, you bet I’m going to say something.

When I see a large part of the church vote for change rather than righteousness, you bet I’m going to sound the alarm – lest we repeat our mistakes in the next election.

When the news media, to support its anti-American mindset, calls certain voices for righteousness racist or homophobic – I'll be there to defend righteousness.

Presently we see an administration turning it’s back on the National Day of Prayer – so why aren't the pastors of this nation speaking out?

While we are ambassadors for a heavenly kingdom, we still live here. If evil reigns, we suffer under it. So let our lights and influence shine, lest we allow evil to be at the helm of this spiraling-downward nation. Let us not be relegated to the back of the bus any longer.

God gave us a voice, let’s use it without apology. If God’s people don’t speak out for righteousness, who will?

Why Health Care is So Crucial to this Administration

2010-03-16T19:37:00.034-04:00

After 14 long, agonizing months, health care reform has come to the finish line. Battered, rejected and defeated in public opinion, it's been raised from the dead any number of times to get to this climatic point. This is now the democrats' final "make or break" week.

And if this bill "makes" it, it may just "break" us as a nation! The debilitating burden of paying for this bill and our nation's burgeoning debt will forcibly go to our children and to their children.

The Administration and Congress have stopped at nothing to force this unpopular bill down our throats. Every week we read of more unethical practices by this Congress, using bribes, kickbacks, and the perverting of the legislative process.

But why?

If the public is so opposed to this bill, why are democrats so intent at falling on their swords to force government-run health care upon us? Why is this Administration pushing an agenda that will cause the economy to suffer catastrophic heart failure?

This is not just about health care. I repeat, this is not just about health care! If it was, there would be a greater flexibility between the political parties to come to a compromise. As it stands now, this is clearly a partisan bill, supported only by President Obama and congressional democrats. The republicans were never given an opportunity to work with the majority party.

I submit that the reason why the left is ignoring public opinion, is simple: It's about an agenda that will change the face of America for all time.

If the bill passes, we will see how the "change" that was promised will dramatically alter the American spirit and culture -- from which there may be no return.

Everything that this administration wants to impose upon this nation, begins and ends here -- in health care. This would be the biggest expansion of government control since the 1960s. Slowly but surely, this administration has been taking more and more control over the private sector, whether it's automobile companies or student bank loans, and now this health-care takeover, which would give the government control over one sixth of the nation's economy, would be the left's crowning achievement.

If this bill passes, there would be no more stopping the erosion of our freedoms and the turning of this nation into a socialist nightmare.

Of course, the behind-the-scenes reason for the president's incessant push for this bill is that his presidency is on the line and it all hinges on this passing. This is again why I say, it's not just about health care.

This is why the stacks are so high and this is why you need to make your voices heard, before it's too late. Once this bill passes, there is no more going back. If you overlook this time for action, you'll one day wake up and regret that you casually ignored your nation's cry for a health care reform that doesn't put America on the gurney!

If you'd like to contact your representative, click here.

The Crucial Week for Health Care

2010-03-14T12:29:00.003-04:00

I have never seen an administration defy the will of the people by pursuing an agenda (health care) that has already been repudiated by recent local elections. Nor, have I ever seen a congress that would stop at nothing (through bribes, kickbacks & deceit) to pass this legislation. Republican Sen Scott Brown, who was elected by democratic Massachusetts in place of Sen Ted Kennedy, brings us up to speed.

Letter to Pro-Obama Health Care Supporter

2010-03-01T02:27:00.008-05:00

I responded to a friend about health care reform, and thought it was good enough for you to read as well.

Hi ______,

I really appreciate your heart and I know where you're coming from.

So, let's start off with where we agree: 1) we agree there's a problem with affordable health care; 2) we support health care reform.

Our only real difference is how we as a nation go about reforming health care.

The bills that have been proposed by the House and Senate carry with them a major cost to the nation, through raising taxes, reducing services, growing our national debt, lowering our medical standards & clamping upon us an intrusive control over our medical decisions, that literally pushes us toward socialism. Plus, did you know, the bills do not provide coverage for all anyway. After all is said and done, after the trillions of dollars invested into this, millions of people will still be left without coverage.

But, here's something else we agree with: health care costs are astronomical! But why? It's mainly because of malpractice insurance that doctors have to pay to protect themselves from frivolous and expensive lawsuits.

Knowing this, why don't we pass one simple bill -- without adding cost to the nation!

TORT REFORM.

Tort reform is putting caps, or limits, on the amount of money doctors can be sued by patients. THIS IS WHY costs are so high -- when every little misdiagnosis turns into a major lawsuit which sends premiums through the roof. Doctors, needing to protect themselves, pay expensive malpractice insurance, the cost of which are then passed onto the patients.

The Obama Administration targets insurance providers as greedy villains. But did you know that trial lawyers are Obama's biggest financial supporters? This is why the Obama Administration rejects Tort Reform -- it would seriously impact the amount of money made by trial lawyers and thereby curtail Obama's and the democrats' campaign funding.

So, if Obama was serious about curtailing health care costs, he should start by passing a bill limiting awards for malpractice suits -- and that would cost the nation NOTHING!

Doesn't that make sense to do?

Obama rejects tort reform and, instead, creates a government bureaucracy that controls everyone's life from womb to tomb. The serious consequences of this bill include funding for abortions and denial of certain medical care to senior citizens because of their age -- despite what the White House website says!

Surely, your concern for people includes the unborn and senior citizens.

Now, let's talk about the catastrophic cost for Obama's health care reform. The nation is already squandering millions of dollars each day to foreign nations to PAY THE INTEREST on the trillions of dollars of debt we owe them. That's every day!

The US cannot sustain such crippling debt to our economy - this will certainly destroy this nation. Plus, it is already forcing the US to change our foreign policy to suit the decisions of nations we're indebted to -- as recently happened when China asked the US not to host the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was escorted out of the back door of the White House pronto. Suppose one day the Chinese take us to task for protecting ourselves against terrorism? Proverbs says, "...the borrower is servant to the lender" (22:7).

Furthermore, you might think we're getting a free ride with government insurance, but how will it be funded? The children, and their children, born during this reform will be saddled with the debilitating debt, which will be unsustainable. This would be the first time in our nation's history that we would leave our children a country in worse shape, ladened with debt, than we had received and enjoyed.

We would be literally mortgaging away the lives of our children and grandchildren by presenting them with the price tag that puts their lives and hopes into Chapter 11.

As it stands now, the US has the best medical care in the world. People of all nations -- socialized countries included -- come here when they need good health care. That's because our government has no active control over personal and private medical procedures, while every socialized country has government running mom and pop's medical affairs. We cannot emulate the socialist system.

There are other ways for us to reform health care: Obama's plans will put the nation in cardiac arrest -- which, unfortunately, his health care reform does not cover.

We must vote against these bills.

Love you Guys....blessings to you.

Lou

I Love Betty Hutton!

2010-02-20T22:29:00.008-05:00

Betty Hutton, that blond fireball that fueled wartime America in joy and song, is the most underrated, and almost forgotten, singing superstar from Hollywood's bygone era.

Entertainer of movies from the 40s and 50s, she was the biggest female star on the Paramount lot. Her exuberant singing style and comic interpretation of songs has not yet been duplicated. She costarred with all the big names: Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and gave them all a run for their money in the laugh department. Her most memorable role may have been in Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950).

ANNIE was her most sought-after role, but, as it turned out, it was the heartbreak of her life. Judy Garland was originally cast as Annie, but was removed from the role due to her addictions. The cast and crew, inexplicably, never "forgave" Betty for replacing Judy and made her stay intolerable.

She continued performing into the television era, with less and less enthusiasm and ambition.

Betty's later years were spent fighting addictions herself. Four failed marriages, loss of her millions, dispirited of life, Betty suffered a nervous breakdown in 1973. Restored to emotional well-being by Catholic Father Peter Maguire, Betty became a Catholic and gave her life wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing mattered anymore - she felt love and acceptance then, more than she ever received in Hollywood's heyday. She died in 2007, after enjoying renewed acclaim of her work.

In choosing her best song, I'm stymied! She's so talented in all the clips I've seen, how can you pick the best? Well, let's begin somewhere anyway.

Here's my initial all-time favorite that got me hooked on Hutton. Listen to the way she performs Cole Porter's lip-acrobatic-lyrics, "Let's Not Talk About Love" from LET'S FACE IT (1943).

Here's my other all-time favorite: "That's Loyalty" from RED, HOT AND BLUE (1949). Look at the way she uses every part of her body to tell the story, moving from graceful femininity to comic exuberance in a wink.

Finally, my third all-time favorite: "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" from THE STORK CLUB (1945). She is so enjoyable to watch, I could view these videos over and over again.

BONUS TRACK: Ay, what the hey. Here's another favorite: "His Rocking Horse Ran Away" from AND THE ANGELS SING (1944).

It's great to know that "this vitamin pill with legs," as Bob Hope called her, is in the Lord's presence now. (For more on Betty Hutton, go to her satinsandspurs website).

Glenn Beck at CPAC

2010-02-20T22:07:00.006-05:00

Glenn Beck, host at Fox News, gave a stirring keynote speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). Here are two selections: the first one gives an overview of early America and how the prevailing political "wisdom" of liberalism exacerbated the Great Depression.

The next selection presents a gripping understanding of America's promise, as depicted in the Statue of Liberty.

As a source of reference, Beck cites the Colossus of Rhodes as the original inspiration of the Statue of Liberty.

The Power of the Name

2010-01-23T00:45:00.003-05:00

I love this...this is the raw, tangible Power of God in your everyday life!!

The more we move closer to the return of Jesus, the more we're going to have real-life, news reports of the Power of Jesus.

Is Jesus Talking about Offerings?

2010-01-01T15:12:00.004-05:00

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE

Give and it shall be given onto you…

Is Jesus Talking About

OFFERINGS?

Most Christians today are familiar with the following scripture: “Give and it shall be given onto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” Luke 6:38.

The common teaching for this scripture is usually reserved for church offerings. It will surprise many, however, that Jesus is not talking about church offerings at all.

The following should in no way be used as an excuse not to contribute to churches or ministries – there are other scriptures that can be used legitimately for that reason. But we want to be accurate in understanding scripture and in what is being taught.

We need to have a bit more of the Berean spirit. The Bereans were Jews that were eager to hear what the Apostle Paul had to say about the Lord, but they “examined the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) whether what he preached was so or not.

When one is looking to buy a house, the common refrain is “location, location, location.” It’s not just the house, but what are its surroundings? Where is it located? That’s the same with understanding scripture – where is the scripture located and what is surrounding it. It’s all about location, or more accurately context.

Context, context, context: The context of the scripture is everything. Now, with this in mind, let’s understand the context of Jesus’ statement.

Let’s begin in Luke 6:12:

And it happened in those days that He (Jesus) went out into a mountain to pray, and He was spending the night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples. And He chose twelve of them, whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who was called Zelotes; Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also became the betrayer.

(Luk 6:12-16 MKJV)

At this point, we find that Jesus, after praying all night for guidance, has selected his disciples, who will become the pillars of His church. The word church means “called out ones.” They are being called out of the world and placed into His kingdom, with all the privileges that sonship affords – including the ability to walk like Jesus walked, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Seeing that this is a new concept – unprecedented since Adam’s fall – Jesus began teaching what this new life of being a Christian was going to be like.

Jesus was real with them! There were wonderful blessings associated with being a Christian, but there were also difficulties:

And lifting up His eyes to His disciples, He said, Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall cut you off, and when they shall reproach you and shall cast out your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. For behold, your reward is great in Heaven. For so their fathers did according to these things to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full! For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you! For so their fathers did to the false prophets.

(Luk 6:20-26 MKJV)

Here Jesus is already showing his disciples that if they follow Christ, the world will hate them and seek to hurt them. But Jesus then goes on to explain how we should react to those who would seek us harm:

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. And to him who strikes you on the one cheek, also offer the other. And to him who takes away your garment, do not forbid your tunic also. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from him who takes away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise. For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do the same. And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.

(Luk 6:27-35 MKJV)

Here Jesus ups the ante in our character – stressing the need to go above and beyond what normal people do. Normal people love those that love them and hate those who hate them. But Jesus tells us no, don’t follow that pattern!

Instead, love those who don’t love you. Give to those that are persecuting you. The bottom line is that Jesus died for these very same persecutors and that God is still seeking to bring them into His fold. Therefore, Jesus is saying, present yourselves to them as Jesus would: “for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.”

The carnal mind would scorn those and refuse to forgive those that have hurt us; which is why Jesus continues:

Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.

(Luk 6:36-37 MKJV)

Jesus is stressing the way we as Christians need to look upon those who have not yet given themselves over to Christ: merciful, nonjudgmental, non-condemning, & forgiving.

With this context in mind, we now come to the pivotal scripture:

Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again.

(Luk 6:38 MKJV)

This whole time, Jesus is talking about the way Christians are supposed to conduct themselves with the world – without intolerance, without condemnation, but with love and forgiveness.

Jesus is continuing that refrain with verse 38: the way you treat people will be the way people ultimately will treat you. Some of these people who have been persecuting Christians will have a hard time responding in anger to those who continue to show them love at all costs. Paul says, Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. (Rom 12:20 MKJV)

Also notice there is no mention of church services in verse 38; no mention of money at all. The return here is “in your bosom” – not your wallet! Bosom denotes relationship, in the same way that Lazarus was carried off into Abraham’s bosom; or the way John leaned on Jesus’ bosom.

You can continue reading through the context after verse 38 and you will find that Jesus is again contrasting the saved with the unsaved (or pre-saved, as I like to term it), and how the saved need to react to the unsaved.

Verse 39-40: And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect shall be like his master. (Luk 6:39-40 MKJV)

Jesus here reminds us that if you want to lead the blind into salvation? Set the right example yourself.

Verse 46: And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? (Luk 6:46 MKJV)

And if we’re serious about the commitment to our Lord, then we need to hear what He tells us.

So the context shows us that Jesus is talking about the way we deal with those in the world and not how much we put into offerings.

CHRISTIANITY UNDER ATTACK!

2009-10-26T19:26:00.008-04:00

CHRISTIANITY UNDER ATTACK!

Please be alert to the threats facing us today.

FROM JAY SEKULOW: Efforts are intensifying to criminalize those who speak out against Islam. It's a UN resolution that puts the lives of Christians at risk around the globe. With this ruling, a Christian couldn't say Jesus is Lord.

See Short Video (2 min) here.

Hear Radio Broadcast (30 min) here.

Folks, we need to wake up to the threat of Radical Islam, that wishes to persecute Christians and overturn America's freedoms.

Grouping 57 Muslim states, The Organization of Islamic Conference is one of the largest bodies in the United Nations. The OIC has proposed a binding resolution at the United Nations, called the Defamation of Religions Resolution. It proposes to make illegal, throughout the world, any criticism of Islam -- which, by extension, includes the proclamation and advancement of the Christian gospel over Islam.

Sharia Law is the Islamic Constitution under Allah. Islam wants the whole world engulfed under Sharia Law. And they will carry out their objective in piecemeal fashion, even if it takes decades. So, they will move methodically into every aspect of society and attempt to impose their Sharia Law wherever they go: in schools, workplaces, government.

Go to Europe and see how the social fabric has been irreversibly changed.

And, it's not a coincidence that President Obama, being the head of this nation, has opened the door, spiritually speaking, to allow an encroachment of Radical Islam into our culture.

Pray that that door gets closed in the next election.

Where Does Reality End and Illusion Begin in Politics?

2009-10-24T15:14:00.005-04:00

This is an incredible display of the literal blurring of the lines between reality and illusion.

And, it's target was the media. Yes, the media can be duped by unscrupulous individuals pursuing an agenda of media manipulation.

This video shows the halting of a Chamber of Commerce press conference by the REAL Chamber of Commerce Official!

THIS JUST IN...

2009-10-21T11:32:00.003-04:00

And, now for the news....

PROPHECY: THE NEXT TEN YEARS

2009-10-18T13:27:00.006-04:00

Prophet John Paul Jackson, appeared on Sid Roth's IT'S SUPERNATURAL TV program, giving us his prophetic insights for the United States for the next ten years or so.

What's amazing is his prophetic description of President Barack Obama. But -- man! -- do we have to pray throughout this time for America!

You can see the entire interview here:

EVIL IS GOOD

2009-10-14T20:21:00.004-04:00

We’re living in an age when it seems most people do not know the difference between good and evil anymore.

There is no more good. There is no more evil. Everything is homogenized into the middle. Everyone has so-called rights to be as profane and sinful as their imagination takes them.

We, as a nation, didn’t get here all at once. It’s been a slippery slide downward since the 1960s. There was a time when you could say prayer in school: now opponents have demonized God in the classrooms and declared that prayer in school violates separation of church and state.

Our founding fathers never thought that.

There was a time when drunks were sinful; now they constitute a disease.

There was a time when same-sex physical relations was sinful; now it’s a lifestyle choice.

There was a time when most college campuses held the Bible in high esteem; now educators discredit it as unreliable and relegate it as a fable.

There was a time when people honored men and women of Christian faith; now they’re despised.

On the international stage, Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defiantly denies the holocaust against the Jews ever occurred; then why is he given the honor of speaking at the United Nations?

President Barack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize, not for having done something laudatory, but for political reasons – essentially because the Nobel Committee sees Obama not as a staunch defender of the country, as was President George Bush, but as an internationalist – as one who will gladly dismantle America’s superpower status and reject American exceptionalism.

Take a good look at the political scene today and you will see politicians brazenly speak lies before the news cameras: and the media doesn’t investigate the truth, but simply reports on what the politician says is the truth. Even worse, is when the news media takes on an agenda or a cause; like man-made Global Warming and reports it as truth, or Congress’ socialization of America and reports it as if it were glorious.

Does anybody see anything wrong in this culture where any diabolical lie and evil-intention gets equal authority with truth and righteousness? Truly we’re living in a time which the scriptures denounce:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

(Isa 5:20 ASV)

FREEDOM IN CHRIST: Deliverance & Inner Healing

2009-10-13T21:08:00.004-04:00

What's the common definition of "deliverance"?

Most would say it is the process of casting out demons.

But Mark Baker, founder of the Sozo School of Deliverance and Inner Healing, says it has more to do with salvation's complete work in the life of a believer. His definition is: "Submitting our lives (spirit, soul and body) completely to Christ as our only Lord and appropriating the finished work of the cross so that He can destroy ALL the works of the devil."

And that includes all of the areas of one's life that still needs healing. Do you know anyone who could use this type of teaching? I'm happy to say that his six-part teaching from his School of Deliverance and Inner Healing, is available online for free on video and downloadable mp3s. And it comes with a manual as well, that you can print out for yourself.

Check out this site.

I listened to the first installment last night and I felt an anointing on it from his opening prayer. Baker, who has trained over 700 pastors and leaders in the area of deliverance, has wonderful insights and his teaching is biblically sound.

I'd recommend that you check it out and download the teaching onto your computer or recommend it to a friend.

Reagan Was Noble, But Obama Got the Prize

2009-10-12T09:24:00.002-04:00

OBAMA GETS THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE!

Perche?

The Nobel Committee, unfortunately, is really leftist and all of its selections are politically based. Now, Obama sits alongside Carter, Gore and Yassir Arafat!!!! That's right: Arafat, the terrorist, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Does that tell you anything? Btw, the committee selected Obama because he supports an impotent United States; as do they.

Check this article that puts things in perspective.

Sobering Times!

2009-10-06T20:10:00.005-04:00

The greatness that was once America is sadly floundering in a sea of moral depravity, media deception and political corruption. Our nation is on the edge socially and morally as a wide range of horrific scenarios confronts us!

Iran has stepped-up its nuclear weapons program and is threatening genocide upon Israel (it recently test-fired long-range missiles on Yom Kippur, as a display of intimidation against Israel and the West);
Capitalism, the engine which commandeered wealth for this nation, is being chipped away at by a growing chorus of pro-socialistic, anti-God forces;
The nation’s growing economic instability is causing the dollar to be devalued and potentially replaced as the world’s key currency;
Out-of-control congressional spending is creating an insurmountable budget deficit that will strangle economic growth upon generations yet unborn;
There is no sense of right and wrong, good and evil anymore;
America is rapidly losing its foundational dependence upon God and has rejected its role as the world’s leading Christian nation, as an example to the world of God’s favor and blessings.

We desperately need answers from the Lord. Thankfully, the Lord does speak to us through prophets. Chuck Pierce, Bill Hamon, and Matt Sorger, three leading prophetic voices, will join together for the next Open Heavens Conference: Releasing the Apostolic and Prophetic. You don’t want to miss what the Lord wants to say and do.

HEALTH CARE DECEPTION: Impassioned Explanation of Why the Stakes Are So High!

2009-09-30T20:10:00.013-04:00

Susan, a simple housewife from Glendale, California, called the Rush Limbaugh radio show today and gave an articulate and impassioned appeal for a return to the traditions that made this country great.

She gives a no-holds-barred denunciation of the methods and strategies of how the democratic-ruled congress wants to sandbag the American people, with a crooked, expensive health care bill that's going to impose burdensome regulations and strangle our economy.

She laments about the plight of the innocent Michigan mom who was babysitting children and the state of Michigan came down on her, accusing her of running an illegal day care. Susan says that this is how the government will come down on all of us, if we don't comply with their health care regulations.

Rush posted her discourse here. If that link is broke, you can go to Rush's page here -- there's also a transcript there. It's well worth a listen...and after you do, you'll be inspired to call your Senators and Representative.

Oh, this just in....I got a video of the exchange and here it is.

The Obama Spell is Broken

2009-09-06T11:44:00.007-04:00

News Analyst Charles Krauthammer gives an accurate chronicling of President Obama's first year in office. See here.

Read it before the liberal educators rewrite history in our children's textbooks.