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Vol. 1 No.9                                                                                                                                   October 12, 2004

          From the Desk of Pastor Rick Scarborough

GEORGIA COUNTY MAY LOSE TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT

Sadly, Barrow County, Georgia, may lose the Ten Commandments display in its courthouse, due to its inability to pay attorneys' fees to defend the monument.

Thus far, the county has spent $135,00 defending against a lawsuit seeking to have the display removed. All of that has come from church donations. But funding has run out, the case drags on, and the other side apparently has inexhaustible resources.

Due to a law passed by Congress decades ago, if a governmental entity loses a First Amendment case, it's required to pay plaintiff's attorney's fees. On the other hand, if a group seeking to eradicate God's law loses, it doesn't have to pay a penny to the city or state which may have spent hundreds of thousands dollars defending the symbols.

This encourages groups like the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State to go on a seek-and-destroy mission against tokens of America's Godly heritage. It's just one more way the legal deck is stacked against Christians trying to preserve one nation under God.

BIRMINGHAM POLICE PIN HOPES ON TEN COMMANDMENTS

After three police officers were killed in the line of duty, cops in Birmingham, Alabama began wearing Ten Commandments pins as a tribute to their fallen comrades.

It is a fitting tribute. After all, the injunction against murder comes not from the Declaration of Independence or United States Constitution but from Sinai. By wearing these pins, police silently attest to the fact that the killers of their brother officers violated God's law, as well as the laws of man (and the reality that the latter are based on the former).

The Birmingham PD should brace itself for the inevitable assault by the ACLU, which worries less about cop killers than public display of Thou Shalt Not Kill.

CATHOLIC STUDENT SILENCED DURING "DIVERSITY WEEK"

A federal district court judge ordered the Ann Arbor public schools to pay $102,738 in attorneys fees to the Thomas Moore Law Center, which successfully represented a student whose free-speech rights were violated.

During so-called Diversity Week 2002 (which, if truth in advertising applied here, would be called Celebrate Homosexuality Week), Betsy Hansen was silenced when she tried to present the teachings of her church on homosexuality, at an assembly where all of the speakers were pro-gay rights.

This highlights a travesty: In the guise of teaching sensitivity, many schools have become brainwashing forums for the homosexual agenda. Just imagine what they'll be able to do in our schools, if gay marriage becomes the norm.

CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS BRAVE THE STORM IN OKLAHOMA

More than 300 Christians braved a driving rain to show their support for Biblical values at a rally for "God and Country: For Such a Time as This," on the South steps of the Oklahoma Capitol this past Sunday.

I was privileged to address these stalwarts, along with State Senator Jim Williamson (leader of Oklahomans for Protection of Marriage) and Mike Jestes (executive director of the Oklahoma Family Policy Council).

Oklahoma is one of 10 states that will have marriage protection amendments on the November ballot. On Sunday, Christians weathered the storm to rally for the amendment to maintain God's definition of marriage, as well as in support of greater Christian political participation.

I was proud to be with them and encouraged by their commitment to the tradition that made America great.

ACTION TODAY

KEEPING THE CROSS IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SEAL

The Campaign for California Families is supporting a petition drive to keep the cross in the Los Angeles County seal. If they can collect 341,212 valid signatures by March 1, 2005, it will stop a scheme by the ACLU and three county supervisors to remove the cross, until the people vote.

The seal, which was designed in 1957, contains a small cross, to honor the Christian missionaries who helped establish the early settlement that became Los Angeles.

Patriot pastors and concerned Christians in or near LA County are urged to help gather signatures. Others may wish to contact The Campaign for California Families at (916) 443-1410 or at http://www.savecalifornia.com to find out what they can do to help. Pray for the success of the petition drive. If the ACLU and the liberal supervisors have their way, next, they'll want to change the county's name. After all, doesn't The Angels, violate their distorted view of the First Amendment?

EARLY VOTING

With less than three weeks to go before what could be the most important election in our lifetimes, voting by absentee ballot has already begun..

You don’t have to be away from home to take advantage of this option. Many states make liberal provision for absentee voting.  To find out who qualifies for using an absentee ballot, go to the website of your state’s secretary of state.

MAYDAY FOR MARRIAGE

This Friday, October 15th, is the Mayday for Marriage rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (noon to 3pm). Mayday is the international symbol for an impending disaster - which is exactly what gay marriage would mean to the institution of marriage and the family.

Distinguished speakers will include Dr. James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Rabbi Daniel Lapin and Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. For more information - including registration and transportation for the rally -- go to http://www.maydayformarriage.com.

AMERICA FOR JESUS

Here's a message from my friend Bishop John Gimenez. National Chairman of America for Jesus - A Day of Fasting and Prayer for America (October 22nd, starting at noon, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.)

"I Timothy 2:1-2 commands us to pray for all in authority that we might lead Godly lives in peace. We also know that the God of our Covenant tells us that a nation that is in right standing before Him will defeat her enemies."

"We are honored to ask you to join our network of churches and a growing number of leaders across the Body of Christ for a time of fasting and prayer on the Mall, October 22, 2004 at 12pm."

I have been given the honor of speaking at this rally. I hope as many of you as possible will attend this historic event. For more information, go to http://apjc.unored.com.

 

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