Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Tomorrow most if not all of us will get together with family and friends and celebrate Thanksgiving. It is a time of reflection and remembrance, a time when we remember those pilgrims of long ago and their journey in search of a new land, but why did they come? They tell us plainly in the governing document they signed, the Mayflower Compact: "For the Glory of God and the Advancement of the Christian faith, and the honour of our King and Country." They wanted to worship the Lord in the way their consciences and their understanding of Holy Scripture led them, which included building a community in which they could daily live out their faith in Jesus Christ. They called their dangerous effort "an errand into the wilderness." Sadly, many of them died in that first terrible year. Hunger and disease took their toll. But the Pilgrims are honored because they did not give up.

When their little ship, the Mayflower, returned to England, not one of their little band abandoned the call. They called on God to sustain them. And they accepted the timely help of the Wampanoag Indians, especially the English speaking Squanto. Without this help, they might all have died.

The story of Plymouth Rock also reminds us of the Israelites in the Old Testament. They would place standing stones in key places to help them remember how God had led them, how He had watched over them. The Pilgrims identified most strongly with the people of God in the Bible. There may never have been so highly literate a community. All the Pilgrims eagerly learned to read words so that they might read the Word.

This Thanksgiving is a good time to remind our children of the many blessings that Our Lord has showered upon us in the past year. Even in this time of war and of deepening economic hardships, the harvests of our fields are still abundant. Our people have been spared further terrorist attacks, and we passed through a hotly contested election without the violence that too often mars political conflict in less happy lands.

Most of all, we give thanks for the joys of family life. When we gather around a holiday table, the faith, love, and commitment of mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers bind our family circle. Let us also remember to give thanks to God for the brave young men and women who stand guard for us and our blood bought freedoms in distant lands.

And let us resolve in this season to live as "living stones [who] are being built into a spiritual house." (1 Peter 2:4-5).

God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving.

The Alchemist

I got this book from my daughter who read it as required reading for her English class. The Alchemist,written by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, is the story of a Shepard boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Santiago is quite content traveling in the countryside with his sheep, and dreaming of the merchant's daughter in the village where he sells his wool. That is until he has a dream in which a child appears one day and is playing with his sheep. Suddenly the child takes him by the hands and transports him to the Pyramids, telling him "If you come here you will find a hidden treasure." He meets a gypsy woman, a man who calls himself the king of Salem and an alchemist on his journey, all of whom point him in the direction of his quest.

Coelho writes with simplicity and directness. The whole novel is only 167 pages long and reads like a fairy tale. Coelho appears to be a new age proponent who in this novel borrows from various known religions to try an ecumenical approach to our journey on this earth. This is a very shallow tale disguised as a deeply spiritual fable. The Alchemist is a conflicting mixture of Christianity, just enough hints at mysticism to make it attractive to New Agers, the most simplistic of self-help guruism, and a random sampling of anything else leaning vaguely toward shallow spirituality.

I'm surprised and annoyed that this book is required reading at my daughter's school especially since it is a Christian school. If you are thinking about getting this book, please, do yourself a favor and steer clear of this inconsequential book.

What is this World Coming to???

Florida Boy Arrested For Gas Attack, 12-year-old charged after deliberately "breaking wind" in class. Read Story Here.

In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day

A fellow staff member lent me this book. It was written by Mark Batterson who is the lead pastor at National Community Church in Washington D.C. Don't let the funny tittle fool you this is an awesome and inspiring book. The book is based on an obscure passage in the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel (23:29, 30). It centers on the story of an Israelite warrior (Beniah) who encounters a lion in a pit on a snowy day. The plot is that instead of Benaiah running away like most of, if not everyone of us would do, he jumps in to the pit and kills it. Throughout the book Batterson points out that this is the kind of courage that us as Christians must have.

Batterson structures the book on the seven skills he believes will help people chase the biggest lions. The skills according to Batterson are: overcoming adversity, unlearning fears, embracing uncertainty, calculating risks, seizing opportunities, defying odds, and looking foolish.

This book challenged the way I think about faith, and I hope it will find expression in the way I live out my faith. The book is sprinkled with references to pop culture and ancient culture, it digs out Biblical principles and helps us understand their relevance in our everyday live here in the 21st century. But the good thing about this book is that it's not Mark Batterson's story. And it's not Benaiah's story. It is God's story and it is one He wants to write in and through each of our lives.

This book is a fast and funny read, and it will leave you with lots to think about. It made me want to jump out of my chair and start running after God with more intensity and focus than before. It wil make you laugh, it will amaze you, it will inspire you, and it will help you in your walk with God. I give it five stars.

Ken Ham at Calvary Chapel Kendall

This weekend Ken Ham, president and founder of Answers in Genesis - U.S. and the new, highly acclaimed Creation Museum will be at my home church Calvary Chapel Kendall .

Ken’s teachings emphasize the relevance and authority of the book of Genesis, including some of the “hot button” topics of our day. He provides biblical and scientific answers to some of the most difficult questions people ask about the Christian faith, including: Can we really trust the Bible from its very first verse? How do we know there is a God? Are dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible? How can we evangelize more effectively?

Come and join us for our regular weekend services and a special two part series on Sunday evening. This is going to be an amazing weekend you won’t want to miss! Be sure to invite all your friends.

Saturday, Nov. 22 @ 6:00pm
Sunday, Nov. 23 @ 8:45am, 10:30pm, 12:30pm
Special Evening Sessions: Sunday, Nov. 23 session:01@6:30pm & session:02@8:00pm
Childcare will be provided

The Land of the Re-Threads

Breaking news suggests that President-elect Obama is unlikely to govern from the middle. By appointing former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D) as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 44th President provided a frightening glimpse of his new Cabinet. According to Politico, "Daschle was also considered for health care czar in the White House, but the transition team decided he could be more effective with Secretary in front of his name." As Majority Leader, Daschle was a notorious opponent of every pro-life measure. He blocked the partial-birth abortion ban, voted for taxpayer-funded military abortions, and supported a measure that would have forced Americans to pay for the distribution of the morning-after pill to young school girls. Apart from his extreme political ideology, the selection of Daschle is even more troubling because the South Dakotan lacks any experience in the public health arena. To most Americans, who thought this election was about "change," these appointments must seem incredibly ironic. So far, the new Obama administration has only managed to change the titles of the same old liberal leadership.

Source: FRC

Kudos for Congressman Tancredo

Congressmen to Bush: Pardon Imprisoned Border Agents. Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo from Colorado has long led the fight to free agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, who were both resentenced last week. Read Story Here.

I'm Embarrassed by These Guys

"To listen to some Republicans you would think that traditional conservatives, the defenders of the unborn and the integrity of marriage were responsible for two wars gone sour, over-spending at a level to embarrass Lyndon Johnson, the largest expansion of entitlement spending since the Great Society, numerous cases of GOP corruption, betrayal of the public trust, and the miserable results in the presidential and congressional elections..." Like me, Tracy Mehan of the American Spectator is fed up with the Republicans' post-election finger-pointing. In his op-ed "Social Conservative as Scapegoats," he lashes out at the GOP's centrists for blaming November 4 on "the solid and most loyal" wing of the Reaganite coalition. To those of us in the pro-family movement, the Establishment's diatribe is a familiar one. When the GOP succeeds because of social conservatives, our importance is ignored. When the party fails for overlooking us, values voters are somehow to blame. With the exception of Gov. Sarah Palin and some hollow overtures by the Democratic Party, the 20 percent of voters who cited "moral values" as their first or second priority in this election had no real horse in this race. Maybe that explains why believers were less active in this election cycle. More than four million Americans who go to church more than once a week and voted in 2004 stayed home on November 4. Those voters would have made up half the difference between McCain and Obama. As the members of the Republican party jockey for position in this brave new Congress and sort out their internal leadership, a commitment to life and marriage is non-negotiable. Without it, the prospects of a Republican revival are bleak. As Karl Rove rightly points out, "These values are often more popular than the GOP itself."

Source: FRC, American Spectator

Could History Repeat Itself???

Barack Obama is warned to beware of a ‘huge threat’ from al-Qaeda
Security officials fear a ‘spectacular’ during the transition period. Read Story Here.

So Much for Global Warming!!!

The world has never seen such freezing heat. Read Story Here.

The GOP Lacks Courage, Conviction, and Leadership

Right on schedule, a small group of GOP centrists started wagging their fingers at values voters this week, blaming them for every lost opportunity on November 4. In the post election dust up, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) say they want to revisit a losing strategy for Republicans moving Left. "The answer," they claim, "is not to become a more conservative, combative party," but to acquiesce on the GOP's core issues in favor of energy and the environment.

Christine Todd Whitman, co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, joined them in a blistering op ed that blames the pro-family movement for everything from lost congressional seats to John McCain's campaign defeat. She claims Republicans are "hostage to social fundamentalists" and damns the party to a "long time in the political wilderness" unless it rejects values voters. She cites the selection of Sarah Palin, a "sop" to social conservatives, as evidence of the problem.

The unpleasant reality for Whitman is that Palin was the most compelling part of the Republican ticket not in spite of her pro-family beliefs, but because of them. In a Rasmussen poll, more Republicans actually believed that Palin was the "right choice" (71%) for the GOP ticket than John McCain (65%). There is no better rebuttal to these disgruntled partisans than passage of the state marriage amendments. Despite what the centrists claim, it was a social issue not energy or the environment that delivered the most sweeping, bipartisan victory in the entire election.

Republicans are in this wilderness, not because they spent the last six years embracing limited government and moral values, but because the two parties were almost indistinguishable. The future of the GOP depends on strong leaders who will embrace a positive message of faith and family. Only then will the GOP win the respect of voters.

Source: FRC, Rasmussen Corp

Kudos to Sears

These days, it's tough to find companies that share our values. But this holiday season, some retailers are doing good. At Sears, they're giving back to the community by supporting our troops. By law, employers are required to hold jobs open for any military personnel who are called up for duty. Sears is doing our soldiers one better. To protect their workers from taking a pay cut and losing their benefits when they leave for the front lines, Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits-including medical insurance and bonus programs. A Sears Customer Service rep said, "[We] regard service to our country as one of the greatest sacrifices our young men and women can make. We are happy to do our part to lessen the burden they bear." I salute Sears and other corporations who make their own sacrifices on behalf of America's bravest.

Source: Sears

Intolerance: May be Coming to Your Church Next

Last year, Barack Obama said, "I am absolutely convinced that culture wars are so nineties; their days are growing dark." One year later, the culture wars are not only here they're raging. In their blind fury over Proposition 8, homosexual activists are doing more to hurt their cause than help. Groups like BashBack are storming churches, stomping on crosses, vandalizing buildings, and assailing Christians. On Sunday, the protests, which are spilling into every corner of America, arrived unexpectedly on the steps of Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan. About two dozen homosexuals set off fire alarms during services, rushed the pulpit, and accosted worshippers. The police didn't make any arrests, but this was far from an isolated incident. Other marches are being planned near churches as we speak.

Make no mistake; this violence is calculated. These extremists are doing everything they can to invite a new "Stonewall," hoping that a response by law enforcement will go too far and create a backlash of sympathy for the gay movement. The slightest provocation by police or Christians would be disastrous. As difficult as it is, refuse to be intimidated. As Matthew 5 reminds us, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven...

Source:FRC

A Line In the Sand

Facing the most pro-abortion administration in U.S. history, the Catholic Church is mobilizing to respond. In a meeting yesterday, 220 Catholic bishops drafted an official statement, warning Capitol Hill and President-elect Obama that passing the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would be viewed as a direct attack on religion. Back in July of 2007, Barack Obama announced at a Planned Parenthood banquet that signing FOCA was his first priority: "Well, the first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. ...On this fundamental issue, I will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield." With almost full control of Congress, Obama will be expected to live up to his promise as payback for the abortion community's support. If successful, the newly expanded majority would abolish over 300 pro-life laws and restrictions even reinstating partial-birth abortion.

Although the Catholic bishops have offered to work with the administration on a number of issues, the defense of life is non-negotiable. "This is not a matter of political compromise," said Bishop Daniel Conlon of Steubenville, Ohio. "It's a matter of absolutes." For some leaders, the church's forceful opposition to FOCA could be the excuse Catholic Democrats need to vote the legislation down.

If not for their conscience, members should be wary of the Bishops' warning for the mere fact that Catholics are a powerful player in the U.S. health care system. As Ed Morrissey points out, Catholics run more than 550 hospitals and 415 clinics in America, spending billions out of pocket to help the disadvantaged get the care they need. Under FOCA, religious providers would have two options: either comply with the abortion mandate or end their services completely. Is Congress so intent on appeasing Planned Parenthood that it would jeopardize the health care of 90 million Americans? We'll see.

Source:FRC

The More Things Change The More they Stay The Same

Barack Obama's website, once home to the President elect's sweeping plan for America, is surprisingly empty. Blogs are speculating why the massive, 25 point agenda was replaced this week with a brief statement. But in Washington, where people are policy, Americans should focus on Obama's personnel directory not his website to understand where our country is headed.

This week, as reports circulate about who the President elect's appointments will be, the spotlight has briefly rested on Susan Wood, co-chair of Obama's "advisory committee for women's health." Wood, who is vehemently pro-abortion, is rumored to be the next commissioner of the FDA. Three years ago, Wood was at that very agency, heading the Office of Women's Health. When her boss postponed a plan to make "emergency contraception" available to teen girls over the counter, Wood resigned in protest. She was outraged that the FDA wanted to delay sales until they could ensure that children under 16 could not access the drug without medical supervision. Under Wood's authority, the FDA would err as she does on the side of abortion advocacy, not American safety.

Her influence in the Obama administration could also mean the end of pro-life measures in our global AIDS policy. In a speech, Wood claims the U.S. has been "going in the wrong direction" on PEPFAR. While leaders in Africa have universally praised Bush's emphasis on abstinence and monogamy, Wood hints that the new president will implement a condom-based approach "not just this narrow, political ideology." That would be bad news for Africans

Source:FRC

Where is the Tolerance?

Members of the radical "No on 8" campaign in California have quickly turned their disappointment over the homosexual marriage ban into rabid hostility. Protestors have flooded the streets in Los Angeles with their sights set on the Mormon Church, railing against its leaders for their powerful role in protecting marriage. Together with allies in the Catholic and Protestant churches, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) was one of the main ingredients in Proposition 8's success. The Mormon Church's donations, estimated at roughly $22 million, fueled the hundreds of ad placements across the state that ultimately tipped the scales in the amendment's favor. Yesterday, 2,000 homosexual activists vilified the church, huddling outside the gate of an L.A. temple with profane signs and rainbow flags. Today, another march is scheduled for Temple Square in Salt Lake City, but the Church's leadership has no regrets about its involvement. In a statement, Elder Clayton said, "We believe it's a moral issue, and we reserve the right to speak out on moral issues." At LDS headquarters in Utah, leaders called for a ceasefire with gay activists and "goodwill" on both sides. Unfortunately, that message has yet to stick with the "No on 8" crowd, which has lashed out with unprecedented aggression against the faith community. Apart from the attacks on the LDS church (including ugly ads that depict Mormon missionaries invading the home of a lesbian couple and tearing up their marriage certificate), churches like Jack Hibbs' Calvary Chapel at Chino Hills have been spray-painted, cars vandalized, and police have confirmed at least two reports of physical assault. Once again, the Left is proving its unwillingness to practice the very "tolerance" they preach.

Source:FRC

Restructuring has Begun

The GOP has started a much needed restructuring and it started at the top. Republican Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is stepping down from his leadership position in the House. Congressman Blunt was the main architect of several of the GOP's biggest legislative successes this year, including provisions that protect U.S. taxpayers. It is expected that Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will succeed Blunt as Whip, who would be a good choice. Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) is also stepping aside from the third highest ranking minority position, Republican Conference Chairman, and may well be replaced by the well respected Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). Finally, there is talk that former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele is in line to take over the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. Each of these conservatives has shown a commitment to the values that were once the GOP's guiding light. By embracing these leaders, perhaps the Republican Party will rediscover its true voice and return to the fundamental principles that brought it such success.

Source: FRC

The Winds of Change are Blowing

For the first time in several years, record numbers of Americans cast their ballots to steer the world's greatest power in a "new direction," seeing in Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) the change they so desperately sought. While assuming the presidency of the United States will be a relatively small step for Sen. Obama, it is a giant leap forward for America, putting our racially divided past far behind. Breaking down barriers and capturing imaginations, he soared to the White House with support from virtually every corner of our nation.

With Obama confidently in control, his party also made gains in Congress. Although Democrats fell shy of the 60-seat majority needed to make the Senate filibuster-proof, Democrats won 18 races to the Republicans' 13. Four are still undecided. Of the 11 Senate "True Bluers" who voted 100% of the time on family issues, it was a relief to see that only two lost, Sens. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.). The Democrats also expanded their majority in the House, winning 255 seats, including 20 that were previously Republican. There, the "True Blue" casualties were also costly but not catastrophic. Of the 104 pro-family stalwarts, just seven lost, Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Thelma Drake (R-Va.), Ric Keller (R-Fla.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Bill Sali (R-Idaho).

While conservatives will miss these principled voices, we could have lost more. What I have seen and what the exit polling appears to confirm is that this election was driven by the economy and a loss of confidence in the GOP. Despite what some may claim, the nation is not lurching to the left socially. In exit polling commissioned by FRC, voters were asked where "moral values" ranked in their list of priorities. Back in 2004, 22% of voters rated moral issues as their first priority when voting. Yesterday, in the midst of the greatest economic challenge in over two generations 20% of voters still cited "moral issues" as their first or second priority. Trust me, the issues we care about and those who care about them are not going away.

Source: FRC

The People Have Spoken

Senator Obama is now President-elect Obama. After a decisive victory he will assume office with a mandate. His mandate has meaning, especially on the economy and new efforts at international cooperation. But it is clear from the results of the ballot initiatives that he has no mandate to advance a radical social agenda that would destroy human life and overturn man-woman marriage. His stated positions on life and marriage are not where the American people stand on these issues. We as conservatives congratulate him, but as conservatives we will be reminding him, today and every day, that values aren't just among the issues; they are the core issues. We must also remember that we live in the greatest nation on earth, a nation that sees the transition of power every four or eight years without the shedding of blood. A nation that sees heated and sometimes spiteful debates over issues but in the end we can come together and agree to disagree. I thank God for this nation, and I pray that He will give wisdom and vision to President Obama.

Can We Ever Get A Straight Answer from This Guy???

In a taped appearance on MTV, presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) gave a muddled statement of his position on same-sex "marriage." "I've stated my opposition to [Proposition 8, California's ban on homosexual "marriage"]. I think it's unnecessary," Obama said. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about." Twenty-six states have state constitutional amendments that define the institution of marriage as the union of one man and one woman-and another 17 have laws that offer the same protections. Millions of Americans across this nation have spoken on what the the definition of marriage should be. In contrast, 12 activist judges in three states, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, have abused their power to overturn the historical and biblical definition of marriage. Would Senator Obama say that the actions of these judges are what "America is about"? On this issue, we need leadership from our elected officials. They cannot merely vote "present" and think "absent" when it comes to marriage.

Get Informed, Get Your Guide and Vote...

Using an undercover camera, Students for Life of America (SFLA) has produced new evidence that infanticide "does happen" at Planned Parenthood abortion clinics. When asked by a pregnant mother if her baby could be born alive at a New Jersey clinic, the nurse responded, "It does happen, but it wouldn't be able to survive on its own so eventually the baby does die." The tape, one in a long line of incriminating videos released to the media, was posted on YouTube to show Planned Parenthood's refusal to comply with the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Just days later, YouTube removed the post, saying it "violated the website's terms of use." YouTube may turn a blind eye to these injustices, but the U.S. Congress should not. Time after time, the leadership on Capitol Hill has refused to investigate Planned Parenthood, one of the biggest beneficiaries of your taxpayer dollars. Instead of freezing its funds, liberals are seeking ways to increase them! Before you vote for the next class of congressmen, make sure you know where your candidates stand on taxpayer funded abortion. Log on to www.frcaction.org for your free copy of a voter guides.

What our Kids Watch Makes a Difference

A new report suggests that television may be playing a starring role in your child's sex education. In a study of 2,003 teens aged 12-17, scientist Anita Chandra of RAND Research found that children who watched programs with "high levels of sexual content" were almost twice as likely to become pregnant as kids with limited exposure to such shows. The study, which was released today in the journal Pediatrics, is said to be the first to establish a real link between teen pregnancy and racy programming. When asked what shows they preferred, kids admitted to watching "Sex and the City," as well as the innuendo-heavy "Friends," "That '70s" Show," and reality fare. "This might surprise people, but sitcoms had the highest sexual content," Chandra said. Yet for all the glamorization of sex, very little attention has been paid to its consequences. "If teens are getting any of their information about sex from TV, they're very rarely going to get a balanced portrayal," Chandra said. "When there is [sexual content], how often is it coupled with a discussion of [the risks]?" Not very often, according to the Kaiser Foundation. A few years ago, it found that only 10 percent of shows with adult content made a passing reference to the dangers of sexual activity. Of course, RAND's research is far from the first blemish on television's record. Scientists have compiled quite a case against TV, which includes everything from early sexual activity and heightened aggression to an increased rate of STDs. Now that teen pregnancy has been added to the list, I can't help but wonder when has television been associated with anything positive? While it's easy to become enraged with Hollywood, the burden of protecting our children falls on us. We cannot be complacent about what our kids are watching and expect them to take our values seriously. Sex education or the lack of it starts in the home. Don't let your television do the talking. Send your kids a clear message on abstinence before their innocence goes right down the tubes.

Source: FRC, Rand Institute