The Rick Scarborough Report
September 28, 2007
Volume 3, Number 38
In this Issue
1) Get Ready to Go To Jail, Preachers!!
2) Home Schoolers Being Persecuted in Germany
3) It's all About the Judges
4) Gala a Grand Success
GET READY TO GO TO JAIL, PREACHERS!!
In a shocking display of arrogance and transparent hatred of decency
and tolerance for religious freedoms, Senator Ted Kennedy likened
those who perpetrate crimes against homosexuals to terrorists as he
again linked hate crime legislation to a Defense Department
authorization bill. The bill passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of
60-39, proving once again that most senators prefer to cater to an
immoral minority rather than fund our troops. No doubt some will
assume and assert that I am defending hate crimes against homosexuals
by the above statement. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
I am asserting that Senator Kennedy and his allies in the senate are
now declaring open season on preachers and others who believe, as I
do, that homosexuality is a sin--and that the Scripture makes it clear
that it is a sin. If hate crime legislation is expanded to include
homosexuals, as Kennedy and his comrades are determined to make it,
the ACLU and other leftist legal eagles will finally have the federal
authorization to silence Bible preachers across America.
Senator Kennedy, regardless of his denials, knows that federal
criminal statutes hold equally accountable both the perpetrator of a
federal crime and those who aid and abet the crime. The simple fact
is, when this terrible legislation is passed--and signed into law--any
preacher who preaches that homosexuality is sinful over the airways
will then be liable for any "hate" crime perpetrated upon a
homosexual--if it can be proven that that preacher's sermon
could have prompted the perpetrator to criminally assault a
homosexual.
The day this legislation passes religious freedom will no longer exist
in America. Senator Kennedy is already laying the groundwork for such
criminal pursuit of preachers when he equates those who commit crimes
against homosexuals with terrorists. Why not equate all crimes against
all Americans with acts of terrorists? What makes a crime against
someone who practices sodomy more violent or despicable than a crime
against a grandmother who is out shopping for her medications after
dark and accosted by a crack-head? Yet that is the effect of
hate-crimes legislation.
It is unnecessary, unfair and constitutionally unjustifiable. Yet
Senator Kennedy and his allies in the senate will not stop until it is
passed. Or until you and I make it clear that we will not surrender
our freedoms. You MUST send your objections to this ungodly assault on
religious freedoms and free speech now. Click here to send a message
to President Bush encouraging him to again veto this ungodly
legislation.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id;=287
Click here to send a fax to every U.S. congressman expressing your
opposition to this legislation. Rest assured this same legislation
will soon be presented to the House of Representatives.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN;_ID=2481
Click here to express your outrage to Senator Kennedy for his attack
on religious freedom.
http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm
HOME SCHOOLERS BEING PERSECUTED IN GERMANY
Attacks and persecution of Christians are growing around the world,
but nowhere faster than in Germany. Missionaries are now being
deported from Germany for the crime of not giving their children to
government schools. Earlier this year the German government declared
war on home schooling when a student was taken from her home and
placed in a psychiatric ward for being home schooled.
Commenting on this growing assault on home schoolers in Germany, a
spokesperson for Home School Legal Defense Alliance reported, "German
officials appear to be more determined than ever to rid their country
of influences that may contribute to the rise of what they call
'Parallelgesellschaften,' parallel societies. Never mind that Germany
has hundreds of thousands of genuinely truant youth hanging around
street corners; school officials have determined that parents
diligently educating their children at home are a greater danger to
German society." Mike Farris, founder of HSLDA, recently wrote to his
constituents, "It seems as if a week doesn't go by without another
family being threatened with fines, imprisonment or the loss of their
children."
"In most cases families are fined, sometimes thousands of dollars, or
when threatened with the removal of their children by German youth
welfare authorities, have fled the country," he continued. "Other
families have been (and remain) separated for years--the fathers
remaining in Germany to provide for their families, and mothers and
children living in another country where they are able to safely home
school."
Why do I bother to bring this to your attention? There is a growing
movement in the educational establishment in America to curtail the
phenomenal growth of the home school movement in this country. As more
and more parents opt to take their children out of failing government
schools in the U.S., the edu-crats are growing increasingly fearful
that their lock on billions of federal and state dollars may erode as
the graduates of these home schools prove that viable alternatives
exist to failing public schools.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JUDGES
In this new era of 24 hour continuous news, speculation is rampant
about who will be the nominees from both major parties next November.
Last week, James Dobson caused quite a stir with his pointed email
announcing his refusal to support Fred Thompson, seriously wounding
the Thompson candidacy if not fatally so. Just days before that, Mike
Huckabee provided another stunning example of his growing strength
among evangelical voters with his strong showing at the Value Voters
debate and straw poll in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Meanwhile, Mitt Romney seems to be doing all the right things in early
primary states where his polling numbers are strongest, making his
candidacy viable even though many values voters doubt the legitimacy
of his conservative values.
And then there's Senator McCain--whom every God fearing American
admires for his courage under fire and the price he paid for our
freedoms as he languished in a Vietnamese prison camp for years.
Unfortunately, bad advice during the 2000 campaign led to a
denunciation of the religious right which some of us will never
forget, and while he has sought and received forgiveness for that his
assault on the American voters through McCain-Feingold has proved to
be one transgression too many in the minds of most grass roots
activists.
And lastly there's Mayor Giuliani, who in my opinion is the best
Democrat to ever wear a Republican mantle. With his pro-gay,
pro-choice values he continues to stun most of us on the front lines
of the culture wars as he piles up money and endorsements from the
party of pro-life and pro-family values, causing many value voters to
lose heart and interest in showing up in the fall.
To all of that I say emphatically, "Grow UP!!!" When I
hear my friends, and people I admire, saying that they will either
stay home or go to a third party, I lose my patience. Five years ago I
stepped out of a good pastorate to devote my full attention to
educating pastors and congregations on what Christian citizenship
truly means and teach them why Christians, of all people, should and
must stay engaged. Now some of the men who most inspired me to get
involved are acting like our movement is dead and the cause is lost.
And most remarkably, they are acting that way when we are the closest
we have ever been to victory. We are arguably one vote short of
overturning Roe v Wade and over thirty years of judicial activism
which has decimated our country. The next president will likely
appoint a minimum of two justices to the Supreme Court. Justice
Stevens is 87 Years old and his health is failing. Justice Ginsburg is
74 and battling cancer. Many court observers believe these two
justices are holding on now in the hope that a liberal president who
shares their views for America will be in place in '08 to name
their successors. I am committed to seeing to it that they are
disappointed in that hope.
I have often said I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat, but I am a
Christocrat--and I hold fast to my belief that God's Word is
true and that He birthed the vision that became America. It was
judges, not the people, who assaulted prayer and Bible reading in our
public schools in the early 60s. And it was judges who decided that
the school house and the court house was no place to post the Ten
Commandments, not the people. And it was judges, not the people, who
found a right of privacy in the U.S. Constitution that opened the door
to abortion on demand and gay marriage.
The next president will determine whether our courts return to their
constitutionally mandated responsibilities and cease legislating from
the bench, or continue to erode America's long held biblical
traditions. And I for one do not intend to sit idly by and allow evil
to triumph because good men choose to do nothing--or worse, do the
wrong thing.
I have often said in speeches to churches, "the only thing worse
than not voting, is voting without a clue as to what you are voting
for." When it comes time for the '08 elections, we must be
armed with truth and determined to vote our values. If enough of us do
that, we will get a president who will make the right choice when it
comes to nominating judges. In '08, it's all about the
judges!
So, what's a value voter to do? Wait, watch and pray. God will
give us his man in his time. We may have to hold our nose as we vote
in '08, but we must and we will vote. And if perchance we
don't get everything we desire, we must stay engaged or America
is lost. And we must not forget that this election is not just about
the presidency. There are good men and women up and down the line who
deserve our support and our prayers.
The last time I checked, the fat lady had not yet sung. Stay tuned and
fight the good fight.
GALA A GRAND SUCCESS
Vision America's annual dinner and gala turned out to be
everything we could have hoped for and more. Over 500 people attended
this wonderful event including Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst,
State Comptroller Susan Combs, more than 50 state and local elected
officials and judges, and numbers of ministers and church members, as
we celebrated the mixing of church and state the way our founding
fathers intended.
Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt was awarded our national
clergyman award--the Daniel Award--given each year to a clergyman who
demonstrates the courage and faithfulness of Daniel, who took his
faith into the arena of public policy. The people responded with
appreciation and admiration to Chaps as he told his story of how one
committed man can change the course of history for a whole nation.
Click here to receive a copy of Chaps testimony that evening.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Ecommerce?store_id=2461
We also awarded a National Hero of the Faith Award to Senator John
Cornyn for his heroic work on our behalf in the U.S. Senate,
particularly citing his tireless work to preserve marriage as being
between a man and a woman, as well as his recent stand on behalf of
General Petreaus. To receive a video of his remarks, click here.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Ecommerce?store_id=2461
Perhaps the highlight of the evening came when we presented a 14
minute video depicting how far Vision America has come in 10 short
years. I was moved to tears to consider that this whole ministry began
with a simple vision of calling America's pastors to stand up,
speak up and refuse to give up. How far we have come in such a short
time. I would love to send you a complete video of the night, which
will hopefully inspire and excite you as you become a partner with us.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Ecommerce?store_id=2461
We dedicated the evening to the memory of Dr. Falwell and Dr. Kennedy,
both of whom participated in the first meeting of Vision America and
were there in the beginning as founding members of our National
Advisory Board. They are now gone, but by God's grace and with
His assistance, I intend to stand on their shoulders and continue
their work in saving America. I need your help to do that. Please
consider joining our growing army of Patriot Partners. Click here to
discover how you can help me today.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN;_ID=1504
Janet Folger presented the keynote address at the gala. Her speech
needs to be played for the entire nation. When she finished all 500
attendees stood to their feet and applauded. For a small donation, we
will send you the DVD with her message on it. Click here to receive
your DVD.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Ecommerce?store_id=2461
God bless you as you pray for and support Vision America.
Pastor Rick Scarborough
---
70 Weeks to Save America
The future of our nation is at stake!
Get involved today!
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/PageServer?pagename=OneDayCrusadeVideo
---
Make a tax-deductible donation to support the ongoing work of Vision
America by clicking here. Your donation will immediately impact the
future of our nation.
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN;_ID=1142
---
Get the essential tools you need to stand for biblical values
Click here to visit the Vision America bookstore
http://www.visionamerica.us/site/PageServer?pagename=PublicationsLanding
---