And Then There Were Two

After an unpredictable primary season, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) finally put the exclamation point on his candidacy last night by capturing enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination. Today the race begins in earnest to decide in whose hands the future of our nation rests. Representing the Democratic side is a one-term U.S. Senator who is possessed of vast rhetorical skills. For all of Obama's references to unity, he is lukewarm about nothing. There is no better proof of it than the size of the frenzied, standing-room-only crowds he draws in every city he visits. Barack's intensity is infectious, and his language is soothing, but his votes and views have earned him the rating of the most liberal U.S. Senator. Last week he told conservative South Dakota, "I am not pro-abortion." Not only has he voted in favor of abortion, partial-birth abortion, and abandoning babies that survive botched abortions, Obama has voted to force taxpayers like you and me to pay for it.

In the GOP corner is a decorated war hero who possesses an impressive track record on social issues but a reluctance to speak openly about them. Will John McCain now start drawing distinctions with Obama by returning to the GOP's core values fiscal and social responsibility? To be successful, McCain must breathe new excitement into his campaign by rallying values voters, who are registered as Republicans, Democrats and Independents, around a conservative, pro-life, pro-family, pro-American platform. Yesterday, when California finalized the marriage protection amendment for the November ballot, Sen. McCain had a golden opportunity to distance himself from the Democratic front runner on what may be a deciding issue in the general election. But instead of driving a stake in the ground for marriage after two weeks of near-silence on the issue, John McCain's statement was, "I welcome the news that the people of California will have the opportunity to decide on the question of the definition of marriage..."

While you can fault President Bush for some things, he has never been indifferent on life, marriage, faith, and family. His final message in Ohio on the eve of a victorious 2004 reelection campaign was about the values that are vital to our families. He stood in Wilmington before a boisterous crowd and said unapologetically, "I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial-birth abortion. I stand for the appointment of federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law... My opponent voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. There is a mainstream in American politics, and [my rival] sits on the far left bank."

The Two Faces of America

As America enters a grand debate over public policy, I think it's vital that we also maintain our focus on personal character, particularly as it pertains to the values we esteem in our leaders and legislation. This week, columnist Peter Schweizer made headlines for his article, "Conservatives more honest than liberals?" In it, he chronicles a series of recent polls and surveys that point to America's state of moral confusion and the ideological discrepancies that appear to be fueling it. In the National Cultural Values Survey, the Culture and Media Institute compared the answers of what they termed "Orthodox" respondents (those who consider faith in God the most important ingredient for a good and moral life) to "Progressive" respondents (those who reject religion and follow their own moral compass).

When researchers posed a series of questions to these groups, the inconsistencies were startling. On adultery, a behavior almost universally condemned, 35% of Progressives said, "There are some situations where [it's] understandable," compared to 3% of Orthodox. To the statement "Sex between unmarried adults is always wrong," 68% of Orthodox responded yes, while only 3% of Progressives agreed. Almost half (45%) of Progressives said it was okay to break some laws because "they are outdated or breaking them doesn't hurt anyone," compared to 13% of Orthodox. Asked if it was okay to cheat the federal government on taxes, 49% of Progressives said it was okay, while less than half the Orthodox (21%) concurred.

A survey by World Values took things a step further and compared the values of self-described liberals and conservatives. On nearly every subject, "very liberal" respondents were more likely to abandon integrity in favor of personal interest. Compared to "very conservative" participants, they were more likely to approve of buying "stolen goods," lying to Uncle Sam, accepting welfare benefits they don't qualify for, and drinking a can of soda in a store without paying for it. This "honesty gap" could mean a couple of things. Either conservatives really have more character than liberals, or they're simply more conscientious about maintaining their image of adhering to standards of right and wrong.

Source: FRC.

Memorial Day

In remembering our heroes, we honor the great sacrifices made for the dreams of every American. May we never forget their strength, courage, and profound willingness to stand up and defend our way of life. I hope and pray this important holiday finds you and your family well and inspires you to continue praying for the men and women that serve in our armed forces. And let's not forget that we live in the greatest nation in the world because of the sacrifices they have made.

What a Joke!!!

The United Nations Human Rights Council, which has yet to prove its worth in fighting violations, has new members.

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights had taken a bad rap for its membership and was abolished for that reason in 2006. In its wake, the Human Rights Council was established and the U.N. held an election this week to appoint new members to the Council. The General Assembly filled 17 seats out of 47, and in that process rejected Sri Lanka while approving Pakistan.

Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs believes the Human Rights Council could still suffer some of the old problems.

"Now, with this election, some of that old criticism could still be brought to bear," he suggests. "Some countries were left off the list because of perceived human-rights abuses; but still, a country like Pakistan -- which doesn't have the best human-rights record, particularly as it relates to our Christian brothers and sisters -- was elected to the Council," Nettleton explains.

He also questions whether the Council will be effective and wonders about the selection process.

"It's a little bit of a balancing act and I think, you know, in the case of Sri Lanka, obviously a place where there have been human-rights problems, there have been religious freedom issues. But then you look at a country like Pakistan where there have been some of the same issues and you wonder how one gets left off [the Council] and the other one gets put on," Nettleton points out.

According to Nettleton, this Council will be closely watched by the media to determine whether they can turn their talk into action. Let's not hold our breath on that one.

Source:OneNewsNow

Follow Up

In following up on a previous post on what the Brithish House of Commons was doing about animal-human cloning,here is the update the British House of Commons has passed an animal-human hybrid law that pushes the U.K. deeper into science's uncharted waters than any other country in the world. After just three hours of fiery debate, critics of the research fell far short of blocking this radical marriage of the human and animal species. By a lopsided 336 to 176, MP's granted scientists the license to create any kind of hybrid, including those derived from cloning, animal eggs and human sperm, genetic engineering, and more. From here, the outlook is bleak. Hybrids will likely be approved in a final vote next month. Making matters worse, MP's also approved the creation of "savior siblings," which means that parents can use fertility treatments to create an embryo whose genetic material would be harvested to help a sick older child. Here at home, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) and Rep. Chris Smith's (R-N.J.) bill banning animal-human hybrids sits idle. Contact your leaders and ask them to move quickly in distancing America from Britain's ethical quagmire.

At it Again

A federal circuit court in Virginia struck down that state's ban on partial-birth abortion, despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court last year upheld the federal ban on this gruesome procedure. This is a troubling decision that speaks to America's ongoing problem with judicial arrogance. Virginia has been trying to ban partial-birth abortion for years. Its law was already struck down once, and now the Fourth Circuit, by a 2 to 1 vote, said it was still unconstitutional, this time because it might be used against an abortionist who started a legal abortion and then accidentally performed a partial-birth abortion. Judge Niemeyer in dissent scoffed at such an implausible claim and pointed out that hypothetical challenges like this one are no longer acceptable according to the Supreme Court. Part of the strength of last year's Supreme Court ruling was its insistence that abortionists bring real cases with real facts when challenging an abortion law. But the Fourth Circuit ignored this admonition and overturned the will of Virginians on the basis of a hypothetical claim from the abortion industry. The Commonwealth must seek review of this activist decision that thumbs its nose at both the people of Virginia and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Resource: FRC

Pork and more Pork

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has a funny way of expressing his appreciation for our troops this Memorial Day. Rather than honoring our soldiers with the funding they need, the Senate is stuffing the war supplemental bill with pro-abortion paybacks for groups like Planned Parenthood. By fattening up the legislation with controversial earmarks, the leadership has not only jeopardized the timetable for the bill's passage but raised the possibility that it will not pass at all. Despite the urgent needs of our servicemen, Reid and his liberal allies are more concerned about funding the war against the unborn than the war in Iraq. The bill is rolling in pork, including a provision that would give groups like Planned Parenthood a big discount on contraceptives and Plan B, which can act as an abortifacient. It would also be a massive cash cow for university health centers, which would also be eligible for a discount on such drugs. Keep in mind that these clinics already make profits on the pills when they mark them up for resale. Nor are many of the recipients suffering in the financial department, thanks to a hefty investment of your hard-earned tax dollars. So the $165 billion question is: What does any of this have to do with Iraq? Absolutely nothing. Reid's personal political agenda is exposing our active-duty troops to new risks as they wait on Congress to duke out the abortion provisions. The bill is bloated with millions of dollars in other unnecessary pet projects for infrastructure, health care, NASA, and more. Until Democrats put their anti-war vendetta aside and both parties rein in spending, the supplemental faces failure on the floor or due to the President's veto pen. Contact your Senators today and remind them that this is no time to make a political statement. Now is the time to support our troops!

Source: FRC.

The GOP's Dirty Dozen

Thursday, 12 Republicans, led by Rep. Mark Kirk (Ill.), quietly sent a letter to President Bush asking him to keep the current Title X regulations. The current rules bar pro-life groups from receiving Title X funds and allow groups like Planned Parenthood (PP) to use dollars to help keep their profitable abortion business viable. The existing Title X policy was put in place by President Clinton, who overturned President Reagan's regulations which protected taxpayer monies by separating the supposedly clean side of PP's business (PAP and breast cancer screening, HIV testing, etc.) from the abortion side. A large majority of Americans including me believe that the federal government should not be funding abortionists, yet that is exactly what President Clinton's regulations, which have been maintained by President George W. Bush, do. If this Dirty Dozen were really serious about protecting the supposedly legitimate side of PP, they would welcome new regulations to protect those efforts. In light of recent revelations that PP clinics across the nation have been involved in racism, defrauding taxpayers and complicit in the statutory rape of young girls, someone should ask these appeasers of abortion and bad government why they seek to shield potential criminal activity. If President Bush fails to act, our future President should. These changes are necessary to protect women and to protect PP from itself. Contact your congressmen if they appear in the following "Dirty Dozen" list and express your disappointment: Reps. Mark Kirk (Ill.), Christopher Shays (Conn.), Kay Granger (Texas), Jim Ramstad (Minn.), Charlie Dent (Pa.), Rodney Frelinghuysen (N.J.), Ralph Regula (Ohio), David Hobson (Ohio), Judy Biggert (Ill.), Mike Castle (Del.), Wayne Gilchrest (Md.) and Deborah Pryce (Ohio).

Source: FRC.

Sign of the Times

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, a self-described Catholic, is on a personal mission to end the daily recitation of the Lord's Prayer in Queen's Park, home of Ontario's governing body. Three months ago, he announced to his colleagues that it was time to "move beyond the open acknowledgment of Christianity in the Ontario government." To spur on the process, he asked a committee to draft a "religiously neutral prayer" that would replace it. Despite Canada's rampant liberalism, the majority of citizens are still professing Christians, thousands of whom have not embraced McGuinty's idea. The plan has prompted such concern that the Queen's Park website crashed from the nearly 6,000 emails in protest. Hundreds of other phone calls have overwhelmed the lines, forcing McGuinty to defend himself in the press and on the airwaves. Even the premier's own mother has chastised her son for abandoning his faith. Although McGuinty refuses to back down, he has agreed to consider his committee's recommendation.

Source:FRC

Women in Combat

While many families were celebrating Mother's Day with their loved ones yesterday, thousands of women were miles away from home, serving their country on active duty. While the life of any deployed soldier is tough, the growing number of female recruits means even greater sacrifices on the home front, as many cope with long tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The physical demands are high, and it appears that the chance of being put in combat situations is even higher. In 1994, the Clinton-era Defense Department scrapped a rule that protected women from being assigned to front-line positions. By law of Congress, women are supposedly still protected from being assigned to combat roles. Unfortunately, the law protecting female soldiers has gradually been chipped away by Pentagon bureaucrats who are engaging in social experiments on a massive scale. As an editorial in USA Today suggests, the reality of the risks women are facing in Iraq does not match the restrictive policy in the law. Unfortunately, the paper wants to scrap the law rather than reform the reality. This exposes women to unacceptable dangers. Women have historically played a vital role in America's military, and they should continue to serve where appropriate but not in combat.

Source:FRC.

Weekend Reflections

Still going through the book of John. Pastor P. taught a sermon titled Never Alone based on John 16:4-15. Here are my thoughts and what I got out of the teaching.

1) The Holy Spirit Testifies. Testifies of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit never attracts attention to itself but always points to Jesus. We must do the same always point people to Jesus.

I can't do ministry without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

2) The Holy Spirit Convicts. Conviction will always lead me to the Lord. Conviction leads a person to conversion. Condemnation leads people away from the Lord.

God will not forgive the rejection of the Holy Spirit.

3) The Holy Spirit Guides. The Holy Spirit guides us to the truth.

The Holy Spirit helps us in testing the spirits.

The Holy Spirit guides us through circumstances.

The Holy Spirit guides and speaks to us in times of prayer.

All of us have a relationship with the Holy Spirit the question is what kind of relationship do we have.

Sobering. A Friend is Gone.

Got some sad news today, a friend of mine passed away. He was still young (in his 50s) and still adventurous. He was living the retired life just bumming around and riding his Harley. I remember our time together in the PD how he used to say “got to live everyday like it’s the last one”, I wonder if he still felt that way. Anyways I hadn’t seen him or talked to him in a long while, feel bad about that, specially cause I don’t know if he knew the Lord. I feel bad that I only talked to him about the Lord once. Maybe I should have been more persistent. All of this makes me put everything in perspective; I’m I living my life to the fullest? I’m I ready to go? Have I done all I can to tell my unsaved friends about my Lord and Savior Jesus? The first two questions I have pretty much under control, the last one sad to say I have failed. I need to remember that tomorrow is not promised to us and that today is the day of salvation. Good bye my friend all I will choose to remember are the good and fun times we shared. I hope and pray that even though I didn’t lead you to Jesus someone else did. I hope and pray that I will see you again.

Are We doing Enough?

Is the church doing enough to help the poor? Sixty-seven percent of Americans think so. According to a recent national survey the majority of those polled said their "church already does enough to help the poor in [their] community." But is there more to do? Steve Haas, the vice president for church relations at World Vision, is using the research as a call to conscience for believers. According to Haas, Christians are just "scratching the surface" when it comes to helping the less fortunate. As Christians, we have a personal and corporate responsibility to engage in the war against poverty. It is, and has always been, primary to the Gospel message. Scripture makes it clear that our responsibility to address the plight of the poor is fundamental to living out our faith. Arthur Brooks points out in his book Who Really Cares? that liberals equate this responsibility with the call for more government programs. This effort to shift the responsibility to the government deprives the giver and the recipient of tangible and intangible benefits and studies also show it is very ineffective. For decades, this reliance on big government to care for the poor has done more to perpetuate American poverty than alleviate it. Instead of breaking the cycle of poverty by addressing the root causes like the breakdown of the family government programs are actually prolonging the problem with short-term fixes. This liberal approach to welfare is devastating to the poor and to the entire nation. The more the church does, the less our government will have to do. Local faith-based charities are not only more effective, but they have also proven more efficient. If your church doesn't have outreaches to the poor, I encourage you to consider partnering with another ministry or starting one of your own. The more energy we put into meeting our neighbors' needs, the greater our opportunity for sharing the rich message of Jesus Christ.

Is this Ethical???

According to Dr. Calum MacKellar, the U.K. could soon add "humanzees" to its list of attractions. In an interview with The Scotsman, Dr. MacKellar, research director at the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, says the half-man, half-chimp hybrid is just one of the many species that could become a reality if the government doesn't act quickly. Mackellar warns that human sperm has been and will continue to be inseminated into animals research that the current Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill allows. The bill, which is creating uproar in Parliament, is schedule for debate in the House of Commons this May. There's no limit to the list of horrors that the legislation would tolerate, including animal-human hybrids, savior siblings, and artificial gametes. "There's a desperate need for organs . . . if they could create these humanzees... [some scientists would argue that] we could have a large provision of organs,"
Dr. MacKellar said. Over the past few years, plenty of animal hybrids have been coaxed into existence, including wholphins (whale and dolphin), lepjags (leopard and jaguar), and a pizzly (polar and grizzly bear). We are quickly approaching a threshold of irresponsibility that is not only immoral but stomach-turning. Unfortunately, the U.S. is letting its scientists roam freely through this unethical territory. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) hopes to change that. Last week, he introduced a companion bill to Sen. Sam Brownback's (R-Kans.) Human-Animal Hybrid Prohibition Act. Under H.R. 5910 and S. 2318, America would ban the creation of all human-animal hybrids.

What Next?

The Boston Globe has published an expose on a Massachusetts doctor who recently launched a sex change program for kids. The controversial "Gender Management" clinic, located at Children's Hospital Boston, aims to help young people delay puberty so that they can decide if they want to be a man or woman. With patients as young as 10, Dr. Norman Spack has been described as an "evangelist" for trans gender kids. In a "Q&A" session with the Globe, Dr. Spack says he administers powerful hormones to help kids "rewrite their future." When asked for the most difficult ethical issue he faces, Spack responds, "... You have to explain to the patients... [that] they may not be able to have children. When you're talking to a 12-year-old, that's a heavy duty conversation." But, he says, "if they don't [have the sex change therapy], they'll always have trouble fitting in." Most of us would agree that there's a lot more at stake here than "fitting in." Apart from the moral complications (which are too many to count), this is an adult decision. A 10-year-old child cannot possibly understand his sexual identity or comprehend the full meaning of sterility. But the hospital does. And it should know better than to lend space and credibility to a doctor who uses his radical agenda as an excuse to experiment on little children.

Source: FRC, Boston Globe

Earth Day (The Truth)

An estimated billion people celebrated Earth Day around the world yesterday, but few seem to understand its true motivation. Earth Day is not just another reminder to use recycled paper or drive energy-efficient cars. It's a calculated attack on the sanctity of human life. Population control is inextricably linked to the environmental and abortion movements. For years, the Sierra Club and other green militants have said that the best way to consume fewer resources is to have fewer children. Their own website says, "Talk to your decision-makers and demand an increase of funding for voluntary family planning programs and access to comprehensive sex education for young people." Last year, Optimum Population Trust released a paper that was even less subtle. It claimed that children are "bad for the planet" and called on nations to reduce the global population by five billion which would only be possible by forced abortion and sterilization. And how could we forget Barry Walters? The Australian professor published an article last year advocating a "baby tax" for every couple with more than two children. The latest fad crisis is global warming, but even that is just another excuse to fund "Planet" Parenthood and similar groups. Stewardship of God's creation is the responsibility of every Christian. But we must realize that there's a greater threat to the environment than climate change or scarce resources and that's the threat of environmental extremism that elevates the planet above people.

Source: FRC

Preptime

Preptime was the title of the teaching from pastor P. this weekend. We are still going through the book of John, we are up to the fifteen chapter. Anyways here are some of my notes from the teaching.

The Reality: The world will hate us (Christians)the same way that they hated and still hate Jesus. "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you". (John 15:18).

We as Christians will get persecuted, we are seeing this happen now in this country. We can see it in the way Christians are portrayed on T.V. How Christians get portrayed in the media. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20). "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim 3:12).


The Reason: The truth is narrow minded. People don't want to hear about their sins. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin" (John 15:22).

People want to believe that there are many ways to get to God. They want to read and hear that all roads lead to heaven. But Jesus was real clear about the fact that He is the only way to the Father. "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

The Resource: so now that we now that we will get persecuted and we know why, we also know that the Lord will not leave us without the resource to deal with it. And that resource is the Holy Spirit. "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me" (John 15:26).

Praise!!!

Just got back from the water baptism. Wow, it was awesome, I'm still feeling the "high". I am so humbled by the fact that the Lord will allow me to be a part of such an important decision in people's lives. The day was beautiful, a typical south Florida morning sun out not a cloud in the sky, the water was cold though. Anyways the best part of the whole thing was listening to the people telling their stories of how they came to the Lord and what He is doing in their lives. It was also awesome to baptize young people and to see how fired up for God they are. Man as I looked at them I wished I could have been like that at their age. Overall it was an amazing experience AGAIN!!!. I never get tire of doing this. Rudy (our media guy) and his team where out there and they got some great footage so we will see a video pretty soon..

Wow!!!

Just got back from the youth concert. There were at least a couple of hundred kids there. It was awesome to see so many kids having a great time worshiping the Lord. The two bands were amazing. Among Our Refuge started things up and man let me tell you they were great they really brought it on. They are sooo young but yet they are great musicians and above all they love the Lord. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. Alexander was the second band and they also played a great set. Overall the music was awesome but the greatest thing of all was to see a whole bunch of kids giving their lives to the Lord, to Him be the glory. I really felt His presence tonight. Well now I got to sleep fast cause tomorrow we have the baptism.

Stoked!

I'm really stoked about tomorrow, see we CCK are having our first baptism of the year. It will be at the usual place out in Crandon Park. I'm stoked because as a pastor I have the honor of being in one of the teams that will be performing the baptism. I so look forward to hear the glory stories of the people that will get baptized, I so enjoy to hear what great things God is doing in their lives. Anyways if you never been baptized then tomorrow is your chance, come on out and follow one of Jesus' commandments. Bring an appetite also cause there will be plenty of food. If you have already been baptized come out anyways and show support for your brothers and sisters. Anyways is supposed to be a beautiful day tomorrow. Can't wait!!!

Tonight at CCK

Tonight at CCK Uth Nation (the youth ministry) is hosting a concert/outreach. Two local bands Alexander, and, Among Our Refuge will be rocking the place. Pastor Jose will say a few words and afterwards plenty of food and fellowship. What better way to spend Friday night than with friends listening to good music and eating free food? It all starts at 7:30 so come on down.

Play Ball!!!

Yesterday I had the opportunity of going to a Marlins game. It's the first time this season that I go and by the looks of it I picked the wrong day to go. The Marlins got crushed by the Braves, but I had a great time, I went with Pastor Pedro and his dad Pedro sr. I tell you there is something about going to a baseball game that takes me back to when I was a kid. Anyways there is nothing like spending time with friends eating peanuts telling stories and watching baseball. It doesn't get much better than that.

Another Illusion

Environmentally friendly fuels may appease the conscience of ecology lovers and make drivers in the U.S. feel greener, but a report out of the United Nations reveals a dark side to going green. According to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the demand for biofuel particularly ethanol is creating a crop shortage that's resulting in a deadly famine for many of the world's less fortunate. The U.N. estimates that the amount of corn it takes to fill a 12.5 gallon car tank with ethanol is enough to feed a child for an entire year. America is already devoting 18 percent of its grain to ethanol production, and other countries are following our lead. Food prices are up, and the number of Third-World families that can afford to eat is down. In effect, this paranoia over global warming is leading to global hunger, a crisis far more destructive and credible than climate change. Despite what Al Gore says, this prescription for "solving" a climate problem (which scientists have yet to confirm) is not only expensive but also deadly.

Source: FRC

Taxman Cometh!

As we are all painfully aware, today is Tax Day that time of year when we are reminded that while we are working within a household budget, the U.S. Congress is already thinking of creative ways to spend our money or extract more of it. The latest example comes from House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) whose bill, the "Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act" (H.R. 5719), is scheduled for a vote this week. Ironically, the only assistance his legislation offers is to put a greater tax burden on the seven million Americans who have Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Under HSAs, participants can set aside their own money and invest it. If they use that money for medical purposes, members aren't required to pay taxes on their account. Rangel's H.R. 5719 would force HSA members to wade through piles of paperwork, which, if filled out incorrectly, would result in a hefty fine. Chairman Rangel (who has never met a tax hike he didn't like) sees this bill as an opportunity to create more unnecessary government bureaucracy in pursuit of more tax dollars. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of tax hikes to come as Rangel and the Democratic majority plan on letting the Bush tax cuts expire. Without permanent tax relief, the average family will be paying an extra $3,500 every year to Uncle Sam.

Source: FRC

This is Strange

For the last couple of days I have been reading about a very interesting man. What make this guy so interesting is that he is a double amputee but he is also an athlete, yep you read right, he is a runner. He is able to compete because he wears prosthetic racing legs called "Cheetah Blades." Because of this he has earned the nickname the "Blade Runner." He's so good that he was a gold medalist in 2004 at the ParaOlympic games in Athens, and at the South African National Championships last year he finished second in the 400 meters, but get this he was running against able-bodied runners. Anyway, now the IAAF has ruled that this guy is ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because according to them the prosthetic racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage. Wow that is in credible. I mean what are the odds that a double amputee could actually have an "unfair" advantage in a sport such as running? What are the odds that a man can loose both of his legs, yet have the will and mental toughness to become a champion runner who is actually good enough to compete in the Olympics? These questions make me think of the verse in the book of the prophet Jeremiah which says: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11). So what we may think that is a coincidence or an unfair advantage is simply what the Lord has intended for us all along.

GodTube.com - Allow me to re-introduce the Christ

GodTube.com - Allow me to re-introduce the Christ

Media Bias

By playing favorites and writing slanted stories, the press has been having an unprecedented field day with the presidential race.

The New York Times ran a page one story insinuating that there was something wrong with John McCain’s relationship with a pretty female lobbyist, even though no favors were exchanged and no one had sex.

Correspondents who accompanied Hillary Clinton on her 1996 trip to Bosnia knew that her claim of having come under sniper fire was false, yet none of them did a piece saying her story was untrue. Instead, among themselves, they tittered about the story, which she had told before less dramatically. Read Story Here.

Source: Ronald Kessler

McCain Starting to Attract Attention

David Brock, founder of the liberal organization Media Matters for America, is spearheading an effort to launch a $40 million campaign to attack Republican John McCain in the months leading up to the November presidential election. Read Story Here.

Tolerance Double Standards

In New Mexico, religious rights can disappear in a flash, and no one has learned that painful lesson better than Elane Photography. The company, a Christian husband-and-wife team named Huguenin, has become the latest victims of religious intolerance at the hands of the state of New Mexico for refusing to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony. When a lesbian couple tried to hire the owners for their "wedding," Elaine and her husband declined, saying that the ceremony violated their moral beliefs. To get even, the women filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Division, alleging that the couple discriminated against them. They asked the commission to issue an injunction that would ban the company from ever rejecting a contract based on a client's sexual preferences. Yesterday, the commission charged Elane Photography with "sexual orientation discrimination" and ordered the couple to pay $6,637.94 in attorneys' fees to the lesbians who filed the suit. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), who represented the photographers, called the ruling "a stunning disregard" of the First Amendment. Together with the couple, ADF has vowed to appeal. As a private company, Elane Photography has the freedom to establish its own criteria on issues of conduct and conscience. Clearly, the commission is so consumed with advancing the homosexual agenda that it is willing to trample the couple's constitutional rights in the process. Perhaps what is most infuriating about this decision is that the Huguenins' Christian beliefs aren't the only thing opposed to same-sex "marriage"--so is New Mexico's law. Neither civil unions nor homosexual "marriage" is recognized by the state. The Huguenins have the right to refuse to photograph any number of things they regard as moral issues, whether it's a photo shoot at Planned Parenthood, a poster for the Ku Klux Klan, or a keepsake album for participants in a baby seal hunt. The Constitution may offend the politically correct crowd, but it is quite clear that Americans should not be forced to promote a private message that violates their conscience.

Source: FRC.

Outrage!

By now most of us have seen the disgusting video of several teenage girls brutally beating a former friend. The reaction has for the most part been one of anger and disgust as well as bewilderment. People asking questions such as, how can this be? Where did we as a society go wrong? Well I have my own opinion about this. If we as a society teach these kids that they come from animals (evolution), why should it surprise us when they start acting like animals. If they can’t pray, or talk about God in school but they can talk about sex, murder and mayhem, why be surprise when they participate in all those things. Just look at the movies they watch, the music they listen to, the role models they admire and you will begin to see why they act the way they do. Young people today need direction and encouragement. Believe it or not they want to be told what is right and what is wrong. We as the parents, mentors, pastors and teachers have the responsibility to make sure they hear the truth. The truth that comes from the Lord. The truth that says that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. It is up to us to make sure that our young people meet our Lord and start a relationship with Him that is the only thing that will stop them from a continuous downward spiral.

Helping or Harming?

Starting tonight, the contestants on "American Idol" will be getting vocal about global poverty. As part of its second annual telethon, "Idol Gives Back," the Fox talent show hopes to raise millions of dollars to alleviate poverty in the U.S. and Africa. Instead of competing for themselves, the stars are competing for charity. Corporate sponsors have agreed to donate a set amount to groups like Save the Children and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for every vote cast. While it's admirable that the show wants to help the poor, the organizations they are supporting certainly don't have the vote of the pro-life community. Although the word "children" appears in the name of almost every one, many are part of the who's who of worldwide abortion promoters. UNICEF has partnered with International Planned Parenthood for 30 years. If these celebrities want to stop the real suffering, they need to be transparent about where the funding is actually going. But even that task may prove difficult after Idol officials refused to disclose a formal report of last year's $76 million. According to the New York Times, millions of dollars have yet to be allocated by Idol from last year's telethon haul. If the show prompts your family to give, consider donating to an organization that shares your values not one that masks its radical agenda.

Source: FRC.

Sports, Religious Freedom and Politics

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)has joined an already crowed Tibetan bandwagon by calling for President Bush to boycott the opening Olympic ceremonies in Beijing. Clinton's objections came just hours before the Olympic torch touched down in San Francisco, its only stop on American soil after a tumultuous tour through Europe. Both Clinton and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are protesting on behalf of the Dalai Lama, whose followers were the victims of a brutal clash with the Chinese government. I find it kind of hypocritical that while a handful of mistreated Tibetans have captured the attention of U.S. leaders, the plight of hundreds of Chinese Christian pastors continues to go unnoticed and unopposed. Isn't the American ideal religious liberty for all, not a select few? Our leaders are creating the impression that when it comes to defending religious freedom overseas, Chinese Christians need not apply. Meanwhile, we've heard not a peep from Olympic sponsors that are helping to give China the world stage. McDonald's, Coca-Cola and the other sponsors who stand to gain millions of dollars from their Olympic exposure should send a message that they put a higher value on religious freedom than corporate profits. But don't hold your breath.

Source: FRC.

Just a Though

The more I talk to people the more I realize how hungry they are for the truth. I mean the real truth, not what the media and Hollywood is selling them. I also think that when it comes to spiritual matters they want to be confronted and challenged. That is why is so important to not be afraid to tell them about the political incorrect themes that the Bible deals with. Today so many churches and denominations are so afraid to deal with these themes for fear that they will offend their members, so instead they feed their flocks a watered down version of what God wants them to hear. How do we solve that problem, well here at CCK we do it very simply by teaching the whole counsel of God. Yep! we teach through the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelations. This way we address all the subjects and themes that society is facing. As a result we have seen how the Lord has blessed and changed people. Every week we see lives being changed by the truth, the real truth. Don't believe me? Come and see for yourselves.

Acupuncture: Can it help?

As some of you know I have to deal with chronic back and neck pain due to injuries that I have sustained, well recently I decided to give acupuncture a try to see if it helps me with the pain. So far I'm happy to say that after two sessions my neck pain is almost gone. Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin, to various depths at strategic points on your body. Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago, but over the past two decades its popularity has grown significantly within the United States. Although scientists don't fully understand how or why acupuncture works, some studies indicate that it may provide a number of medical benefits. Are there any of you out there that have tried this. If so tell me did it work for you?

Standing on Principle

In what has been called "Ground Zero" in the fight for faithful Anglicanism, a state circuit court judge has handed a key victory to the 11 Virginia churches that voted to break away from the Episcopal Church (EC) over its growing hostility to the Gospel Truth. The EC's actions, including the consecration of an openly gay bishop, have done irreparable harm to its relationship with global Anglicans, leading EC membership to decline by the tens of thousands. When efforts to reconcile with the EC failed, orthodox churches in Virginia felt they had no choice but to vote to sever ties and realign as an outpost of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. But the stand for orthodoxy came at great cost to the Virginia faithful. Armed with wealthy endowments, the EC and Diocese of Virginia launched an unprecedented multi-million dollar suit against the 11 churches, their rectors, vestries, and trustees in early 2007, threatening to confiscate their property and church homes-some of which have stood near the nation's capital for 200 years. With scant resources, the 11 churches banded together in defense of their land, becoming a focal point of the national movement to preserve biblical Truth. Even Virginia's Attorney General Bob McDonnell weighed in, arguing that the parishes of the new Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) were entitled to their property under a Civil-War era division statute. Last Friday, Judge Randy Bellows agreed and ruled in favor of the 11 churches in what is certain to be a prolonged legal battle. Although the EC has indicated its intention to appeal, the significance of this victory could be felt well beyond these church walls. In a story of David versus Goliath proportions, the precedent established in Virginia could trigger a wave of exodus in other states. Already 200 American parishes have voted to disaffiliate with the EC, and similar property disputes have erupted in California and Ohio. As conservative Methodists and Presbyterians wrestle against their own liberal drift, all eyes are on Northern Virginia. What happens there could send a resounding message to every denomination's hierarchy that on Truth, God's people will not compromise.

Source: FRC.

Katinas at CCK

Saturday night service was awesome. The Katinas were the musical guest tonight, they did an awesome job of leading us in worship. Their set was solid, mixing their hits along with other worship music. On the teaching side pastor Pedro was "on" as usual, he taught on John 15. The place was packed, good music, good teaching and good friends, what else can we ask for. Can't wait to see how tomorrow turns out.

Marriage No Longer England's Cup of Tea

A new report on the crisis of marriage in the U.K. is sending shock waves throughout the nation, as the proportion of Britons who tied the knot in 2006 is the lowest it's been since records began in 1862. The Office for National Statistics said that in 2006 "fewer than ten in every 1,000 single adults in England and Wales" got married. And the biggest culprit for the decline appears to be none other than the British government. The U.K.'s tax code rewards single parents and penalizes married spouses, leading more couples to beat the system by "living apart together" in civil unions. By embracing and even incentivizing these civil partnerships, the U.K. is fueling the traditional family's complete collapse. When you rob marriage of its meaning, as Britain has done, and deemphasize it, a nation naturally experiences less of it. In the U.S., we see the European influence slowly creeping across the pond and into American public policy as more liberals devalue traditional marriage and family. Leaders in the U.K. insist that this report is the wake-up call the nation needed. In the last week, many MPs have pledged to introduce legislation that would entice more couples to marry. Let's pray it's not too late.

Source: FRC.

Common Sense at Last!!!

Common sense has finally prevailed in California, the site of one of the nation's most disgraceful court rulings in at least a decade. The Second District Court of Appeals, which shocked Americans by banning homeschooling by any parent without a teaching license, has vacated its decision. The court has agreed to rehear the case later this spring and is soliciting briefs from various state officials, teacher unions, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. For weeks, the three-judge panel received blistering criticism from state leaders, pro-family organizations like FRC, and hundreds of thousands of American families. In the hands of an activist court, what began as a simple child welfare case turned into an indictment of the entire homeschooling movement. Even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) denounced the ruling, saying, "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts, and, if the courts don't protect parents' rights, then, as elected officials, we will." The judges' retraction is a testament to the power of the public's response. It still counts!

Source: FRC.

He Is Risen!!!

Several years ago, Mel Gibson's movie Passion of the Christ touched off a firestorm of controversy. Some commentators, even the thoughtful Charles Krauthammer, charged that it was anti-Semitic. But millions of Christians flocked to movie theaters to watch this stunning dramatic portrayal of the events of Holy Week. A quote attributed to the late Pope John Paul II circulated widely at the time: "It is as it was."

We are led to contemplate again this year the events of that long ago week in the Holy Land. Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Tens of thousands throng the streets shouting "Hosanna" and "Hail to the Son of David!" They place their cloaks and palm branches at His feet. By midweek, however, the mood changes. On a day known to history as Spy Wednesday, Judas Iscariot secretly betrays Jesus to the leaders of the Sanhedrin, the legislative assembly. The next day, Jesus has His Last Supper with His disciples. He knows that He will be betrayed. He knows all our hearts. When Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays that we His followers will be one. That must be our prayer, too.

Taken captive, Jesus is passed back and forth between Pontius Pilate and King Herod. Herod is the man the Romans use to keep the Jewish people in subjection. Pilate and Herod had been antagonists before this time, but they find a common interest in condemning Jesus. Their unholy alliance is sealed in innocent blood. Jesus is led away to be crucified. He endures beating, spitting, and the cruel taunts of the crowd. He does this not just to atone for the sins of the guilty people before Him. They have flocked to see the spectacle of the King of the Jews being slain like a sacrificial lamb. He does this for us, for our sins. While we were yet sinners, Jesus came and died for us.

Indescribable love and unbearable suffering converged in the person of Jesus Christ on that Cross. And when Jesus completed the time of His suffering and anguish - His mission to set us free from our slavery to sin and its hellish consequences - He cried out from the Cross: "It is finished!" Three days later, God showed His resounding approval by raising His Son back to life, and His resurrection gave us an invincible hope.

The Glory of the Resurrection lives on. The tomb where they laid His body is empty. The stone has been rolled away. The Son of Man has ascended and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. This we know. This we believe. It is to this great truth that we bear witness.

I pray that you and your family will be especially blessed this resurrection Sunday. And I say: He is Risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

The Greatest Man in History

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!

Remember Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life!!!

Good Friday Service

We had an awesome Good Friday Service at the church last night. It was packed, it was awesome to see so many people, and feel the excitement about remembering what our Lord did for us. It was also great to feel the expectation that everyone has about our upcoming Resurrection Service this Sunday at the Bank United Center at UM.

Good Friday/Purim

Tomorrow an important Jewish holiday and an important Christian holiday coincide. As we Christians solemnly observe Good Friday and anticipate Resurrection Sunday, the most joyous day in the Christian year Jews will be celebrating Purim, which begins tonight at sundown.

Purim recalls the deliverance of the Jewish people from their enemies nearly 2,400 years ago. The Purim story, found in the biblical book of Esther, is one of the most memorable in the entire Bible, one that Jews will hear read in synagogue during Purim services.

Here is the story in a nutshell: The King of Persia chooses a beautiful young woman named Esther to be his queen, unaware that she is Jewish. Esther hears from Mordecai, her uncle, that the King has entrusted the fate of Persian Jews to Haman, the King's top adviser. Haman hates the Jews, and issues an order to kill them all.

At great risk to her own life, Esther reveals to the King that she is Jewish and pleads with him to save her people. He agrees to do so, and, in a fitting twist, hands down to the evil Haman the death sentence Haman himself had planned to give the Jews.

Even if Esther's story is familiar to you, I urge you today to re-read it and reflect upon its timeless message. Esther's bravery and obedience to God, her willingness to put her own life on the line to save her people teaches us a valuable lesson about self-sacrifice and purpose that is as true and meaningful today as it was thousands of years ago.

Haman, too, is more than just a historical figure. Looking around, we can see that there are plenty of "Hamans" in the world today. We hear echoes of Haman in Iranian president Ahmadinejad's frequent calls to destroy the Jewish state… in the pronouncement by Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal that, "Before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded"… in radial Muslim clerics who preach that Jews are the "descendants of apes and pigs."

One of the messages of Purim a message that applies to Jews and Christians alike is that in a world with no shortage of "Hamans," we need more "Esthers" committed to standing humbly before God and seeking to defend His people in the face of all difficulties.

I wish a festive Purim holiday to my fellow Jews and, to my Christian brothers and sisters, a joyous Resurrection Day. And, to all, prayers for shalom, peace.

Source:IFCJ

Syria Gets Warned

Israel recently conveyed a warning to Syria through a third party that it would hold Damascus accountable if Hizb'allah launched attacks on the Jewish state, Israeli and European sources said on Friday.Full Story Here.

Can You Believe This?

A Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered Starbucks to pay its California baristas more than $100 million in back tips that the coffee chain paid to shift supervisors.Full Story Here.

Hillary Leads Obama in Gallup National Poll

For the first time in nearly six weeks, Hillary Rodham Clinton leads Barack Obama, 49 percent to 42 percent in daily tracking polling conducted this past Sunday to Tuesday. Could the Obama's pastor controversity have anything to do with it??? Or maybe Linbaugh's operation Chaos? Full Story Here.

Double Standards/Hypocrisy

It took Barack Obama more than a year to repudiate his former pastor's racially charged anti-American tirades, but when it came to denouncing Don Imus for his racial slurs against the Rutgers girls basketball team, it took Obama only a week to demand the shock jock be fired. Full Story Here.

An Ugly Future in a Violent Present

Americans recently got a glimpse of the ugly future we will see if the pro-abortion movement consolidates its position in the upcoming elections. According to Lifenews, the Feminist Majority recently held its young women's leadership conference at the National Education Association. The featured speaker? The infamous abortionist, George Tiller. Tiller regaled the crowd with slides of aborted babies. He condemned "live birth abortion," the process of prematurely birthing babies, as a "sloppy technique," and said "the guy that did that ought to have his head beat up." He also condemned medical care for newborn handicapped babies. He says they're burdens on women and society. It is sad to hear such evil during the holiest week of the year for Christians, the week in which we remember what it means to love others, that is, to be willing to bear their burdens. The handicapped, whether as infants or adults, are not burdens; they are human beings. They are members of our society, our culture, our country. They are not less worthy of love, respect, and care because they are handicapped. But what kind of world will it be where "young women leaders" are told to work for a time when babies are killed rather than cared for? Tiller seems to have forgotten that federal law prohibits the "live birth abortion" he condemned as "sloppy." The Born Alive Infants Protection Act was passed during the Bush administration. It requires standard medical care to be given to babies who survive abortions. But perhaps it is too much to expect him to remember, when the Bush administration itself has done little to enforce the Act and to educate the public about it.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On the evening of the invasion, President Bush told the men and women of the Armed Forces that "the peace of a troubled world and the hopes of an oppressed people now depend on you. That trust is well placed." While many things have not gone according to plan in Iraq, our service men and women have certainly earned that trust.

In cities across our country, streets will be filled with anti-military zealots blocking traffic, disturbing the peace, and protesting our continued presence in Iraq. Whatever your views on the war, let's not lose sight of the men and women who are serving. By choosing to serve us, our all-volunteer force puts an enormous strain on their personal lives and families. While service members fight abroad they are missing the special moments many of us take for granted. They can't take the day off to celebrate holidays with loved ones. They miss anniversaries, birthdays and even the births of their own children. These are tremendous acts of selflessness.

Please take time today to show your support for our troops. Pray for their continued strength, for their safety, and for their families while they sacrifice to establish peace in a troubled world.

Is the Third Intifada Coming?

Washington sources report that Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas has put President George W. Bush and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice on notice. He has sent them a warning that he means to break off peace talks with Israel unless prime minister Ehud Olmert comes through with concessions by April. Full Story Here.

Methodists Invite Children Into Alternate Universe

The book, “From Palestine to Seattle: Becoming Neighbors and Friends” published by United Methodist Church is billed as a “storybook on Israel and Palestine” for children six through 12. This is no benign Sunday school text, however. It is a well-crafted bit of propaganda that portrays Israeli security checkpoints as the cause, not the result, of Palestinian violence. Full Story Here.

China Can't Hold a Torch to Olympic Standards

China may have agreed to start talking about human rights, but getting officials to act on them is an entirely different matter. In the last year, hundreds of church leaders have been brutally arrested and detained. Others have been sent to remote labor camps, where the regime plans to "reeducate" them on matters of faith. However, as the situation worsens in China and more Christians are persecuted, the U.S. is letting the opportunity to demand better behavior slip away on the eve of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Rather than leverage the influence of the international community to pressure the Chinese to clean up their act, the State Department has taken an unusually mild approach to the scores of human rights violations perpetrated by China. Just months before Beijing takes the global stage as host of the 2008 Games, China is absent from the list of the world's most "systematic human rights violators" in the latest U.S. report. Instead, the Chinese were listed with other nations which "continue to deny citizens basic human rights."

The administration's position undermines human rights advocates around the world who see the Olympics as a chance to prod China to end its cycle of abuse. Now the State Department seems more intent on befriending the Chinese than spotlighting their legacy of violence and oppression. Calls and letters which called for U.S. intervention in the case of 21 captive pastors, continues to go unanswered by the administration.

Gauges of Sin

A new study from Ellison Research shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans (87%) believe in the notion of "sin" as "something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective." The survey, which included over 1,000 adults, also compared 30 of the most objectionable behaviors and whether respondents qualified them as "sinful." Adultery tops the list 81 percent of Americans consider it a "sinful" activity. There was also a majority of individuals who believe racism (74%), drug use (65%), abortion (56%), and homosexual sex (52%) are also sins. Interestingly enough, more people believe that it's sinful to gossip (47%) or swear (46%) than engage in premarital sex (45%). The major disparities in the survey were mostly political not religious in nature. Among liberals, only 77 percent believe in the concept of sin, compared to 94 percent of conservatives. It's encouraging to know that in this day of moral relativism that a majority of Americans still recognize and believe that there is such a thing as sin, even if there are devils in the details.

Source: Family Research Coalition.

Thinking Outside the Box...Office

Just how much impact do family values have on Hollywood? A lot, according to a study released by the Nielsen Company. In its research of 400 films from 2005-2007, the amount of profanity in a PG movie was the biggest indicator of how well it did at the box office. On a scale of one to 10--10 being the most offensive--movies that scored a 0.8 on the profanity scale made an average of $69 million. On the flip side, the profits for a film that scored a 2.8 were nearly slashed in half, drawing an average of only $38 million. Surprisingly, the amount of profanity--more than sexuality or violence--was the most significant indicator of how well a PG film would fare. According to Research and Marketing Director Dan O'Toole, PG language is what makes the difference between a box office winner and loser. Hollywood is no different from any other industry when it comes to the bottom line. Money talks, and we can only hope that more producers start listening.

Source: Family Research Council.

The Sopranos are Alive and Well, Living in Italy

As the Italians prepare to elect a prime minister, it seems that they have other things to worry about. My favorite country it seems is embroiled in a fight of dire proportions. No one will win next month's elections in Italy, especially not the nation's citizens. For all the campaign rhetoric about change and reform, everyone seems dead set on ignoring the country's fundamental problem: organized crime, or what we might call our criminal economy a.k.a The Mob. Full Story Here.

Another Political Scandal

Political worlds were shaken yesterday when the inappropriately named "Mr. Clean," New York Governor Elliot Spitzer, earned a new nickname as "Client 9." The governor received his new nickname after it was discovered that he had paid thousands of dollars to transport a prostitute across state lines.

Beyond the public humiliation that this type of behavior always causes to innocent family members, who have my prayers, Gov. Spitzer's alleged actions are criminal, a felony under the Mann Act, which bans the interstate transport of women for "immoral purposes." The New York governor arranged for the prostitute's Amtrak ticket from New York to Washington.

Four other defendants charged last week in the sting that swept up Mr. Spitzer have already been charged under the act. Calls for Spitzer's resignation have been swirling amid threats of impeachment. Only Mr. Spitzer can decide if he should resign; however, voters certainly have the right to consider whether or not he is qualified to stay in office.

Gov. Spitzer, who is hailed for his public dedication to strong ethics, has actually built much of his political reputation as a bully towards pregnancy care centers and pro-life organizations and as a champion of abortion-on-demand and NARAL. As New York's attorney general, Elliot Spitzer spent taxpayer time and treasure attacking those who aid pregnant women. Shortly after winning the governorship, he pushed for legislation that would have made abortion in New York even more pandemic while stomping on the rights of religious providers like Catholic hospitals. In his time of need now he will likely turn toward his family; it's a great sorrow that so much of his career has rested on vicious attacks on family values.

Source: Family Research Council.

Southern Baptist Convention jumps on Bandwagon

Despite growing research to the contrary, a handful of leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) have formally jumped on the global warming bandwagon, calling it an urgent issue for its 16.3 million members. The proclamation, signed by SBC President Frank Page, came as a shock to the members of America's largest Protestant group, which has long been skeptical of such claims.

This global warming pronouncement is a definite departure from official statements from the SBC membership, which passed a resolution just last year questioning the evidence of global warming. This past week in New York City, a group of 100 leading scientists on the issue released a new report stating that there is no "convincing evidence" of a man-made global warming crisis. Instead, they demonstrated through data that the world has been experiencing a noticeable cooling pattern over the last 10 years. Meanwhile, the signatories of the SBC declaration, none of whom are scientists, insist that the threat to the environment "requires government action to assure the health and well-being of all people." While environmental conservation and less dependence on foreign energy sources are vital concerns to all people of faith, the global warming agenda threatens to be a wedge issue that divides and distracts Evangelicals.

Unfortunately, these SBC leaders are lending credibility to a movement that sorely lacks it. Like the Evangelical left, these SBC leaders are relying too heavily on government intervention, which usually creates a bigger mess than it solves.

Christians must take a balanced approach to the stewardship of our planet one that doesn't rush to bad conclusions, bad science, bad policy, and bad results.

Source: Family Research Council.

The More Things Change, The More they Stay the Same

Now that Fidel Castro has officially stepped aside, Cubans are complaining more than ever before on conditions in their island nation — but the new government has given little hint that significant change is imminent.

That’s the report from Mark Potter, an NBC correspondent who has traveled to Cuba many times over the last two decades.

“I have never heard so many everyday Cubans openly criticizing life on the island as I did during this last trip to cover Raul Castro’s officially taking over the presidency from his ailing brother Fidel,” Potter writes in a blog.

“In past years, such public complaining would have been punished and was rarely heard.”

The impetus for much of the new Cuban carping is Raul Castro himself, who after becoming interim president more than a year ago urged Cubans to openly express their grievances, Potter notes, adding that the Cubans are “fed up with low wages that can’t even cover basic necessities, overcrowded buses, meager supplies in government-run stores and long waits and too few workers in Cuba’s vaunted health care system.”

Among the other major gripes of Cubans — especially younger ones — are:

Not having open access to the Internet and satellite television.
Being barred from buying or selling a home or car.
The lack of citizen access to Cuba’s luxury hotels, where only foreign tourists are allowed.
Inability to travel outside the country without prior government approval.
Many Cubans had rising expectations of change following Raul’s call for criticism and Fidel’s departure — but they were dashed on the day Raul formally became president, Potter reported.

That’s when the government announced that the new first vice-president was not a younger reformer, as widely hoped, but a hardliner — 77-year-old Communist Party ideologue Jose Ramon Machado Ventura.

One Cuban woman told Potter she was going to sit down and cry.

At It Again!!!!

Planned Parenthood Accused of $180 Million Fraud, the latest victim of Planned Parenthood's thieving appears to be none other than the California government. A former Vice President of Finance for the L.A. affiliate, P. Victor Gonzales, has filed a whistle blower suit in federal court, claiming that Planned Parenthood committed years of fraudulent over billing against government-funded programs. Gonzales submitted documents spanning the late 1990s to 2004, including a series of audits, which suggest that the nation's biggest abortion merchant may have swindled upward of $180 million from California taxpayers. Gonzales says he was fired in 2004 after repeated attempts to address the "illegal accounting, billing, and donation practices of Planned Parenthood" with his supervisors. According to Gonzales's attorney, Planned Parenthood manipulated its status as a charitable organization in order to buy contraceptives at a discounted rate, then billed the state's Medi-Cal program for 12 times as much as it paid. The Los Angeles Times obtained copies of the 2004 audit, which substantiates over $5.2 million in overbillings at the San Diego branch during fiscal year 2003 alone. In total, the overcharging is said to exceed $10,000,000 a year. In addition to the birth control scam, Gonzales also claims that the Los Angeles branch violated the IRS code that prohibits political advocacy from charitable organizations by forwarding about $12,000 a month to the Sacramento branch for "lobbying" expenses. At least one PPLA executive used a corporate credit card to make Victoria's Secret and private video purchases on the government's dime. And the list of alleged abuses goes on. Although the suit was filed in 2005, it was made public on Friday--much to the dismay of the PP spokesmen, who were already facing a public relations nightmare after tape recordings revealed that employees agreed to accept racially-motivated donations. We can only hope that California responds swiftly to investigate this charge of gross exploitation of taxpayer dollars. Regardless of the outcome, we urge the state to move quickly, as Virginia has done, to de-fund Planned Parenthood and end its relentless cycle of exploitation against women, children, and taxpayers!

Source: Family Research Council.

They Have Arrived!!!

Kyle Busch nabs Toyota first Cup victory with Atlanta win; Stewart second. This sport has been dominated by domestic brands. Now we will experience a foreign invasion. Check out the top ten:
1. Kyle Busch, Toyota
2. Tony Stewart, Toyota
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
4. Greg Biffle, Ford
5. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
6. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
7. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
8. Matt Kenseth, Ford
9. Brian Vickers, Toyota
10. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet
Full Story Here.

Harvard Update

At Harvard University, the debate over religious tolerance is getting physical. At one of the campus gyms, the school has agreed to ban men during certain hours of the week to accommodate Muslim women who say "it offends their sense of modesty to exercise in front of the opposite sex." The decision has been incredibly unpopular across campus, and for good reason. In the name of broadmindedness, the administration is giving preferential treatment to one religion over the others. The policy, which is being implemented on a trial basis, goes well beyond inconveniencing the men in the student body. It shows Harvard's willingness to push conformity with Islamic law. Unfortunately, we are seeing an outbreak of this type of reverse discrimination in schools across the country. They make special concessions for Muslim students to practice their religion but stifle the rights of Christians to publicly pray or worship. Promoting modesty has not been high on the Ivy League's agenda in other settings either. Make no mistake. The Islamic community is testing the waters here to see how far this notion of "tolerance" and "political correctness" will take them in accomplishing their broader agenda.

Border Incident Probed In Times Square Bombing

Nearly a full day after the explosion in Times Square, law enforcement officials said they had no suspects. Story Here.

UN Security Council fails to Condem Jerusalem Massacre

The UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement overnight Thursday on issuing an official condemnation over the deadly shooting attack in Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva because of Libyan opposition. Full Story Here.

Meet Obama's Pastor

In a sermon delivered at Howard University, Barack Obama’s longtime minister, friend, and adviser blamed America for starting the AIDS virus, training professional killers, importing drugs, and creating a racist society that would never elect a black man as president. Read Article Here.

Huckabee Prepping for 2012 Bid

Huckabee intends to use as a model Ronald Reagan’s efforts following his failed run in 1976 and leading up to his success in 1980, the Washington Post reports. Full Story Here.

McCain Not Attracting Evangelicals

Evangelicals sent a strong message in Tuesday's Republican primaries in Texas and Ohio by voting overwhelmingly for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, while almost every other Republican demographic group chose Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz), exit polls show. Full Story Here.

Obama E-mail: Clinton Desperate

Barack Obama’s campaign has sent out a fundraising e-mail downplaying Hillary Clinton’s victories in Tuesday’s primaries and calling her campaign “increasingly desperate.” Read Article Here.

Republicans Helped Hillary Win Texas

Republican crossover voters apparently helped win the Democratic primary in Texas for Hillary Clinton — with one in every 10 Democratic votes came from Republicans. Full Story Here.

Terror Attack in Jerusalem

Washington, D.C., March 6, 2008) Horrifying news out of Jerusalem today, eight killed after a terrorist opened fire with a machine gun at a religious school in Jerusalem. The attack stunned Jerusalem residents in that not a single terrorist action took place in the Holy City in all of 2007. Israeli security forces are moving quickly to seal the city and prevent any additional attacks.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas immediately denounced the attack while Hamas praised it. In Gaza, Palestinian crowds began celebrating the Jewish deaths, dancing in the streets and handing out candies.

Nevertheless, officials in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government said peace talks with the Palestinians will go on. Many Israelis fear, however, that such talk means Olmert remains committed to dividing Jerusalem and giving the West Bank (Judea & Samaria) to forces hostile to the Jewish State.

More details on the shooting: "One terrorist infiltrated a rabbinical seminary at the entrance of Jerusalem and opened fire after nightfall Thursday, police said," according to Ynet News. "The ZAKA emergency response service has confirmed at least eight people have been killed in addition to the terrorist. Jerusalem police commander Aharon Franco refuted initial reports from the scene claiming there were two gunmen. Franco said that only one attacker opened fire at the seminary and told reporters at the scene that ''an Israeli army officer nearby'' shot the gunman dead. The 'Galilee Freedom Brigades' - an Israeli-Arab group - has claimed responsibility for the attack. The organization has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in Israel in the past....There were no attacks by Palestinian terrorists in Jerusalem during 2007, though police and the military claimed to have foiled many attempts. Between 2001 and 2004 Jerusalem was a frequent target of Palestinian attacks, including suicide bombings on buses."

Source:Joel C. Rosenberg.

Huckabye

Super Tuesday II, as it was dubbed, did determine who the Republican nominee will be. As the votes were counted in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont Tuesday night John McCain surpassed the 1,191 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination. Mike Huckabee, who continued to draw strong social conservative support in Tuesday's primaries, congratulated McCain and announced he was stepping out of the race.

Despite his exit, no one can deny how influential Mike Huckabee was in championing values issues in this crucial race. While Tuesday night was clearly a victory for McCain, the Arizona senator acknowledged that his work is just beginning. To succeed in his bid for the White House, McCain must consolidate his support among conservatives, including social conservatives, which will not happen just because he is the Republican nominee.

In the wake of the Republican scandals that began to surface in 2006 and the failure to advance most of the social conservative agenda, unqualified support for the GOP has diminished. A poll released last month by George Barna revealed that if the election were held then, only 45 percent of Evangelicals would vote for a Republican candidate. That number is down from 85 percent of Evangelicals who voted for George W. Bush in 2004.

John McCain will have to convince social conservatives that their issues matter and that he can talk about them as a candidate and act upon them as president. The contest for the Democratic nomination appears to be a new version of my favorite show "Survivor," as Hillary Clinton managed to keep her campaign alive by winning the primaries in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island. The focus now shifts to the April contest in Pennsylvania as the next possible deciding point for the Democratic Party.

Source: Family Research Council.

Religion of Peace Strikes Again in Pakistan

At least 40 people murdered in a suicide bomb attack at an anti-terrorist tribal meeting in northwestern Pakistan.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A suicide bomber blew himself up Sunday at a large meeting called by tribal elders pushing for peace in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 100, witnesses and officials said.

It was the third suicide bombing in as many days in the volatile northwest, where security forces were battling pro-Taliban Islamic militants.

Thousands of people were at the meeting in Darra Adam Khel in North West Frontier Province about 25 miles south of the provincial capital, Peshawar. The five tribes involved wanted to finalize a resolution calling for punishing anyone who sheltered or helped militants, including those of al-Qaida and the Taliban, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said on state-run Pakistan Television.

Alam Khan, a tribesman who attended, said a young man walked up to a group of elders and blew himself up.

Source: Little Green Footballs.

Jewish Backlash Against Obama

Jewish voters in New York State including Democrats could support Republican John McCain in the November election if Barack Obama wins his party’s nomination, according to Fredric U. Dicker’s “Inside Albany” column in the New York Post. Full Story Here.

What is he talking about?

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told a crowd at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, Sunday that he believes the Sermon on the Mount justifies his support for legal recognition of same-sex unions. He also told the crowd that his position in favor of legalized abortion does not make him "less Christian. Full Story Here.

Ricin update

FBI agents wearing protective suits searched Sunday for the deadly poison ricin at a suburban home where a man possibly sickened by the deadly poison had once lived. Full Story Here.

Vegas Update: Weapons, Anarchist Cookbook Found

The ricin found in Las Vegas is almost certainly part of a deliberate plot of some kind; authorities continue to insist there was “no link to terrorist activity,” but now they’ve found firearms and an “anarchist cookbook.” Check the article below:

LAS VEGAS - As police tried to piece together how a rare, deadly poison ended up in a motel for transients, the 57-year-old man who could hold the key lay unconscious in a hospital.

Adding to the mystery, police said firearms and an “anarchist type textbook” were found in the same room where the ricin was discovered two days later.

Capt. Joseph Lombardo said at a news conference late Friday that the book was tabbed at a spot with information about ricin. Police found the firearms and books on Tuesday after a manager at the Extended Stay America motel called police upon discovering weapons, he said, without elaborating. After authorities seized the book and weapons, tests for ricin were conducted but came back negative, Lombardo said.

He said a 53-year-old friend or relative of the sick man contacted motel management on Feb. 22 to inform them about pets in the room.

Earlier Friday, police Deputy Chief Kathy Suey said the friend or relative found two vials of ricin on Thursday after going to the motel to retrieve the hospitalized man’s belongings. Authorities on Friday confirmed that the vials contained ricin. It was unclear how long the vials were in the unoccupied motel room, and whether they might have been overlooked when ricin tests were conducted on Tuesday. Lombardo did not address such questions during the brief news conference.

“The only positive tests (were) on the powder in question” in the vials, he said.

Authorities said there was no apparent link to terrorist activity, and no indication of any spread of the deadly substance beyond the vials. The 57-year-old man was the last to stay in the room, and has been in critical condition since calling an ambulance on Feb. 14 complaining of respiratory distress.

Authorities offered little more about the man’s identity: He left pets in the room and was not considered a suspect. A dog was found dead, but the animal had gone at least a week without food or water, Suey said.

Source: Little Green Footballs.

Jihad Warriors/Whiny Crybabies

As usual, when Palestinian sneak attacks get too brazen and Israel strikes back, the brave jihad warriors turn into whiny crybabies.

And the media immediately start propagandizing for all they’re worth. Check it out:

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Palestinians threatened Saturday to call off peace talks with Israel after 35 Gazans, at least half of them civilians, were killed in pitched battles between Israeli troops and rocket squads that escalated sharply.

Israeli troops, backed by tanks and aircraft, went after militants who bombarded southern Israeli communities near Gaza with rockets and mortars. The 35 deaths pushed the Palestinian death toll to 65 since fighting flared Wednesday. More than half of those killed were civilians.

The spike in violence came as Israel was threatening to launch a broad invasion of Gaza, and just days before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to arrive in the region on her latest peacekeeping mission.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia said Palestinian leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas, recommended suspending peace talks at a meeting Saturday in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

“I think it will be suspended,” Qureia said. “What is happening in Gaza is a massacre of civilians, women and children, a collective killing, genocide,” Qureia added. “We can’t bear what the Israelis are doing, and what the Israelis are doing doesn’t led the peace process any credibility.”

Notice: this is Fatah, whining about Israel cracking down on Hamas, even though Fatah and Hamas are pretending to be enemies.

Source: Little Green Footballs.