Dear Praying Friends,
As people motivated to pray for our nation anticipate Christmas and the new year, and ponder the upcoming elections and world events, what a comfort it is to hear the Christmas promise as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah (Is 9:6,7):
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
Pray for President Bush -With just a year left in his term and liberal Democrats in control of both Houses of Congress, President Bush and the GOP minority in Congress have worked together successfully to prevent passage of several pieces of major legislation that would have proven objectionable to the vast majority of pro-life, pro-family Americans. The President used the veto pen for the first time just last year, to reject the expansion and funding of embryonic stem cell research. Since then he has twice vetoed the socialist-leaning State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Using the threat of a veto he has forced liberals to scale back on their war funding reductions, tax hikes, energy and spending bills. His threat to veto bills meddling with pro-life policies helped Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) block a liberal plan to overturn the Mexico City Policy, which prevents U.S. aid from funding abortions in foreign countries. (see
Majority Pain).
- May God give President Bush great courage, strength and wisdom in the year ahead to protect the nation from immoral public policy, especially the unthinkable anti-life, anti-family agendas advocated by many in the Majority! May whoever fills the Presidents shoes in 2008 do likewise! (Josh 1:7; 23:6; Mt 5:37; 1 Tim 2:2; Tit 2:11-14; Jude 7)
Watchmen on the Wall - When pastors step up to take moral leadership in their communities, their impact can be significant. God has given authority to His shepherds that no one else can share or replace. Here are a couple of examples:
After a bill to legalize same-sex marriage was hastily introduced during the lame-duck session of the New Jersey Legislature (11/29/07), Vineland Assembly of God Pastor Ralph Snook, who had recently attended a pro-traditional marriage rally in Trenton led by Len Deo and the New Jersey Family Policy Council, acted quickly to organize local pastors to urge the City Council to take a stand in favor of one-man, one-woman marriage. The Council passed the resolution with just one dissenting vote, making it the second NJ municipality to take a public stand for marriage.
In Washington, DC, Pastor Donnell Jones of the Grace Covenant Church learned one night before the final hearing that the DC School Board would pass new DC health standards that would eliminate abstinence education and establish only values-free "comprehensive" sex education, all when DC's HIV AIDS rates are on the increase. Jones abruptly changed his schedule and rushed to the 4-hour long meeting to state his case for abstinence education. His testimony and expert testimony from others, including FRC's Moira Gaul, and a last-minute letter from a small group of area pastors prompted the Board to make last minute changes to the standards to "place greater emphasis on abstinence education." The new, broader standards were passed, but abstinence education remains in place.
When pastors are alert to the spiritual threats often posed by local, state and federal legislation, and they take action to defend their faith and the families they serve, their voices are most often heard (see
Vineland, NJ,
Washington, DC).
- Pray that during the year ahead, preachers across America will preach great election sermons as did the clergymen of our nation's founding era. May they step out to apply Biblical truth to the relevant debates in the public square and may God ignite a spirit of revival and reformation in our churches and our nation! (Rom 1:17; 1 Tim 4:1-4; Heb 11:7)
Colorado Tragedy - the tragic murder of Christians at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and the YWAM training center in Arvada, Colorado, highlight the need for churches to be prepared both spiritually and practically. We need to continue to keep our brothers and sisters in Colorado in prayer, especially the families who lost their loved ones. The courage and strength of those who survived is inspiring to us all. (see
Test of Faith,
More than Prayer).
- Praise God for the difference that faith in His Providence and His grace makes when even the most terrible of tragedies occur. May God undergird each family and bring healing to the wounded and comfort those whose loved ones did not survive. Pray for God's protection for His churches across America. May they find practical guidance to establish plans of action for contingencies such as these! (Jn 16:33;
Local Church Changing the Culture -Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, surprised Hollywood last year with its hugely successful movie produced by volunteer church members on a $100,000 budget. "Facing the Giants," grossed over $10 million at a relatively small number of commercial theater screenings. A year later, DVD sales and screenings in churches and other public venues continue to reach people around the world with a life-changing Christian message. Over ten thousand thrilled viewers have written or emailed the Church, 3000 saying they received Jesus Christ as Savior after viewing the film.
The church is now producing another film -
Fireproof (opening August, 2008). Kirk Cameron (
Growing Pains,
Left Behind,
Way of the Master) plays the lead. Like other members of the cast and crew, he serves as a volunteer). The film promises to be a lifesaver for marriages across America. Under the leadership of Pastor Michael Catt, who is also President of the Southern Baptist Convention's 2008 Pastors' Conference, the church's motto is, "We can change the world from Albany, Georgia!" Catt says that after $5 million in advertising and promotion, and with 50 to 60% of ticket sales going to the local theater, the church received almost none of the proceeds from "Giants" but "the word got out." Provident Films, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures is working with the Church on
Fireproof. Reaching people through the Gospel is the local church's primary task, the key to changing our culture and ultimately public policy. With Hollywood having played a major role in our nation's cultural decline, the creative, Sherwood Baptist's life-changing ministry through media is an inspiration to churches everywhere (
A year later,
Giants,
Church, Fireproof).
- May God continue to bless the ministry of this church and others who step out in faith to do extraordinary things to reach people with the gospel and to impact our culture for Christ! May God restore, protect and preserve the institution of marriage, and may He heal struggling and broken marriages across our land. May the Church in America meet his conditions and humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, so that God can hear our prayers, forgive our sins and heal our land, including an unprecedented number of broken marriages, single mother families and illicit partnerships that spell doom for our culture if God does not intervene.
Florida Marriage Amendment - Last week our friend John Stemberger, President of the Florida Family Policy Council and organizer of Florida4Marriage, announced that the Florida Division of Elections had confirmed that the group's petition effort had surpassed the 611,009 signatures needed to put a marriage amendment on the 2008 November ballot. Florida voters will have an opportunity to become the 28th state to define marriage in their state constitution as the union of one man and one woman. But opponents are organizing and the battle is already underway. In Arizona, voters failed to uphold marriage by a small margin, due to disinformation spread by opponents during the days immediately prior to the Election. Florida liberals are now falsely claiming that the amendment would take away senior citizen benefits. Stemberger says the misinformation campaign won't work in Florida. "This time," he told reporters, "we're ready for them" (see
Florida4Marriage.org,
Petition Qualifies, Coalition).
- May God continue to bless the Marriage Amendment effort in Florida, and may Floridians turn out in unprecedented numbers next November to register their support for marriage as between a male and a female - just as God instituted (Gen 2:24; Ex 20:14; Dt 11:1; Ps 107:2; 110:3; Heb 13:4).
Anti-Christmas/Pro-Ramadan Congressmen - Last week the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 847, a resolution "recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith." Sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) the measure passed by a huge margin. Yet, 17 Democrats who voted either "nay" or "present" to Christmas, voted formally to recognize Ramadan and Islam in October. H. Res. 635, sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), which acknowledges the "commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commended Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith."
The following members voted "no" to H.R. 847 but "yes" to H. Res. 635: Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Fortney Stark (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
Those who voted "present" on H.R. 847 and "yes" on H. Res. 635 include: Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Peter Welch (D-VT) and John Yarmuth (D-KY). Something is very wrong here (see
Christmas Resolution,
Ramadan Resolution).
- May God open the eyes of our leaders who have demonstrated inconsistency and bias toward American Christianity! May God give them an understanding and heart appreciation for our nation's Christian heritage - the very heritage that has given us the strength and disposition to extend tolerance toward people of other faiths! (Ex 22:21; 23:9; Lev 18:26; 2 Kg 6:17a; Pr 22:8; Tit 2:15).
Finally, there is great hope amid these troubled times, especially as we endeavor to take hold of God and his promises to heal our land (2 Chr 7:14). As we enjoy Christmas in our free land, let us pray for our brethren around the world who do not enjoy such freedom. Let us also pray for the men and women risking their lives abroad for the sake of our freedom and security, who will not enjoy the comfort of home and family this Christmas. May we pray, too, for their families and for the loved ones of those who, in the service of our country, made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us this year, whose families will know grief in the absence of their husband, wife, mommy or daddy, sister or brother, son or daughter this Christmas. May the Prince of Peace and God of all comfort minister to each one and draw them close to Himself. And, as always, thank you for praying!