Let's Build a Cross

 

Let's Build a Cross by Lona Walker

Political party affiliation was totally irrelevant that day in 1934 when veterans from WWI banded together to build a memorial to those who would not be coming home. They had journeyed to the Mojave Desert in search of physical and emotional healing after the war; part of that healing included remembering those they had left behind. They constructed a single white cross on a spot called Sunrise Rock where nearby the words could be read, “Erected in memory of the dead of all wars.”

It was more than just a cross to them and to the volunteers that would continue to maintain it. No one could have comprehended that many years later it would become a source of legal controversy. Sunrise Rock was owned by the United States Government and a religious symbol on government land had now been declared offensive.

Regardless of your political position concerning the 2012 election, I’m confident everyone could find common ground in one area—America has drastically changed. Whether you are encouraged or discouraged about the direction this nation is heading, you will certainly agree it is moving at the speed of light. It is now a different America.

 In 1963 the Church collectively gasped when Madalyn Murray O’Hair succeeded in winning a landmark case that ended prayer and Bible-reading in public schools. Little did we know the slippery slope our nation was on and that it would lead to the decline of our educational system. In schools today, suicides and shootings are common and the pledge of allegiance is a distant memory.

 Roe vs. Wade caught many off-guard when abortion was legalized in 1973 and referred to since as “a woman’s right to choose.” But the gory details of saline solutions, partial-birth abortions, and live-birth abortions were ignored by anyone having a moral compass as it snowballed out of control. Today “Planned Parenthood” has been called the largest abortion provider in the United States and receives almost half of its funding from you and me, the tax payers. Incredibly, they have been documented advising a young mother on how to obtain an abortion should she discover her baby is not the gender she desires. I don’t believe anyone suspected what our Supreme Court had done until we realized that a woman’s right to choose left them with such morbid choices. 

From a Christian perspective, this election season has proven the line is no longer blurred and the grey areas have morphed into contrasting shades of black and white. We are at a crossroads unlike any other, and the issues at stake could change the direction of our nation forever. The cultural landscape of America would now be unrecognizable to our forefathers who founded this country upon trust in God.  There will be a price to pay for those generations that walk the path behind us, as we teeter on the brink of adopting socialistic policies that threaten their freedoms and liberties. The removal of prayer from our schools was merely the first crack in our foundation. It sparked a landslide, bringing us to the issues we face today that can no longer be described as “right” and “left”—but as right and wrong.

The fact is that 23.5 million people are unemployed or underemployed with unemployment continuing to rise. A third of U.S. home owners with mortgages were still “underwater” on their mortgage as of the first quarter of 2012. Gas prices have soared to heights never before seen. Standard and Poors downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time in history last August as the national debt continues to hover at approximately $16 trillion and counting. Economists warn that we are most likely headed for a new recession in months to come. Not only this, three California cities have filed bankruptcy, while eight more have declared a fiscal emergency. The economic crisis is certainly not limited to California as cities from coast to coast are scrambling for an answer.

Courtrooms across the country are now void of the Ten Commandments while our government’s relationship with Israel continues to become more strained. “Happy Holidays” has replaced the “Merry Christmas” greeting to shoppers during the time we celebrate His birth. Lawsuits have forced nativity scenes to be removed from government property from sea to shining sea.

 We have seen “The National Day of Prayer” come under attack and have heard our leadership at its highest level proclaim that we are not a Christian nation. Sadly, according to the evidence, maybe we’re not anymore—but we are still home to millions of godly, Christian people that simply need to be reminded of who we collectively are.

The Statue of Liberty in the New York harbor welcomed immigrants from all over the world that played a role in making this nation great. Today the subject of immigration has been extremely divisive. Regardless of your position, there is one thing that can’t be disputed. Whether today’s immigrants are here legally or illegally—they all have a soul in need of a risen Savior. 

 The Mexican border has been the subject of much controversy and the “Dream Act” has been re-written and adjusted conveniently to fit the requirements of the party presenting it at the time. The crime wave due to wide-spread corruption and the Mexican drug cartel has sparked warnings from the U.S government advising us not to travel to the neighboring country of Mexico, however, people from that country are still coming to the U.S. While we may agree that illegal immigrants in many cases have overloaded our government systems and affected our economy, we should take advantage of this opportunity to reach them for Christ. We may not be able to go to them, but America has become a mission field in many ways. In this case we have the chance to show the love of God to immigrants we could not otherwise reach—regardless of their legal status.

More recently we have faced the most unthinkable challenge yet to our country, one that touches the very core of who we are—The Defense of Marriage Act.

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was enacted September 21, 1996 and is a United States federal law that defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman for federal and interstate recognition purposes in the United States. It passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law. Under the law, no U.S. state or political subdivision is required to recognize a same-sex marriage from another state. Section 3 of DOMA codifies the non-recognition of same-sex marriages for all federal purposes, including insurance benefits for government employees, Social Security survivors' benefits, and the filing of joint tax returns.

Today the leadership and legislators responsible for passing the law have changed their views and now advocate DOMA's repeal. The current administration announced in 2011 that it had determined that section 3 was unconstitutional. Though it would continue to enforce the law, it would no longer defend it in court.

What so many other attacks on our religious and moral freedoms could not do, the attempt to redefine marriage as we know it has. The Church is waking up. 

Christians from across the nation are girding up their armor to fight the battle. Pastors are affirming from their pulpits the seriousness of taking a stand.

Recently Pastor Josh Pennington of Christpoint Church in Joplin, MO preached a message titled, “Great Families Don’t Just Happen.” In it he said, “I understand people who are struggling in ‘that lifestyle’—people who are struggling with drugs—people who are struggling with alcohol—people who are struggling in the world, but as a church we cannot close our doors. We cannot shut our hearts of love to those people. We’ve got to learn to disciple them. However, at the same time, as a church, according to biblical authority, we do not endorse same-sex marriage. I understand that we have got to love people.  We want the prostitute, we want the drug addict, and we want the homosexual so they can have a transformation in their spirit and serve in the kingdom of God.”

Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX said in a recent interview: “Sometimes we look at being gay as a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth. I don’t think God categorizes sins.”

Bishop T.D. Jakes, founder and senior pastor of The Potter's House of Dallas, TX stated in an interview: “I’m called as a pastor to give the scriptural position on it. That doesn’t mean that I have to agree with you to love you; I don’t dislike anybody. I love everybody.” Then he went on to say, “I think sex between two people of the same sex is condemned in the Scriptures, and as long as it is condemned in the Scriptures, I don’t get to say what I think. I get to say what the Bible says.”

Rev. Billy Graham said, “Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern. I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected.”

Bishop Anne Jimenez, founder and overseer of Rock Ministerial Fellowship and senior pastor of Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, VA recently told Charisma magazine: “Marriage is a biblical institution that mirrors the relationship between Jesus and His bride, the Church. It is a loving relationship that is at the core of our beliefs and something we will fight for.”

Bishop Anne is one of many actively doing something about the moral and spiritual decline of America as she is calling a Solemn Assembly in Philadelphia, “America for Jesus” on September 28 and 29 for the single purpose of praying for our nation.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If the Church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.”

President Ronald Reagan reminded us that “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

We are the only nation in the world where God over government is written into our constitution. Now is the time to remind ourselves of that.

According to “Your Vote Matters,” approximately 50 percent of Christians in America are registered to vote. Of those 50 percent, only half will actually do so. To quote from their website, “When a vote is cast to reflect God's moral principles, you're not merely taking advantage of your rights, but you're performing a duty essential in preserving, or in some cases, repairing, the moral fabric of our nation.”

It's Time for Pentecostals to Make a Difference in Our Nation

 

It’s Time for Pentecostals to Make a Difference in Our Nation -By Steve Strang

No one needs to tell you America is in a mess. But our problems go beyond the dismal economy or high unemployment—they’re moral.

What once was a strong Christian nation has become more secular and less godly in the past few decades. And this has happened on our watch! No one can point fingers, because we’re all to blame. We’ve let the media and entertainment industries, the educational system, and general culture slide to the point where the President of the United States says he supports the concept of a man “marrying a man” and a woman “marrying a woman.” Who would have thought this would ever happen?

When the Holy Spirit was poured out at the beginning of the 20th century, the burning debate among Christians was over prohibition. Preachers preached against drinking, gambling, and other vices. With the rise of modern technology and the Internet, we don’t even try to stop pornography anymore. All of those vices are now accepted as common practice in our society.

When Hitler rose to power, most Jews couldn’t believe he was as bad as he declared in his book Mein Kampf. After all, this was cultured Germany. Christians didn’t believe it either. As a result, millions of Jews and Christians died. Sadly, although they told themselves in 1932 it “wasn’t that bad,” it was that bad—and worse!

Things are bad in America, and we must wake up. If you don’t believe this, google Wikipedia for the “humanist manifesto” published in 1933, or google the “homosexual manifesto” published in 1987. It's scary how many of the things predicted then have come to pass, such as wanting to criminalize what God’s Word says about human sexuality by calling it “hate speech.” Others believe we have a right to trump God in defining life. Those are just a couple of the many fronts on which modern-day America is trampling upon its godly foundations.

A Heated Battle
Clearly, we are in a culture war—and with the other side, anything goes. Those who hold to biblical values are the only ones keeping sin from totally dominating the culture. Many of these biblical values have been made a part of our legal system since the days of our Founding Fathers. However, as we have seen changing opinions on drinking, gambling, easy-divorce, abortion-on-demand, and now, so-called same-sex “marriage,” the laws are being changed as the culture slides into decadence.

We must act before it’s too late. Those of us who believe that we “do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities [and] powers” (Eph. 6:12) must also war in the spiritual realm on our knees!  

Pentecostal Power
Historically, Pentecostals have been more interested in piety and the anointing of the Holy Spirit than being activists. During World War I, most Pentecostals were pacifists. Most Christians involved in politics were from mainline or evangelical churches, and they often didn’t even want Pentecostal support because of anti-Pentecostal bias of the era. That view has changed tremendously. As the culture has become more hostile and many in the Church have become lukewarm, Christian warriors in the culture war are embracing Pentecostals with open arms. That’s because not only are Pentecostals fervent in our beliefs, in the face of hostility we are willing to stand up for our beliefs—such as the Pentecostal experience—even when it’s unpopular. Being marginalized or out of the mainstream is nothing new to Pentecostals.

Is there compromise in Pentecostal circles? Sadly, too often the answer is yes. But at least moral compromise is still considered backsliding and not the newest liberal trend to embrace. And though imperfect, Pentecostals at least have upheld standards that we have already seen lowered in the wider Christian community. (Thank God, those among Pentecostal tradition who accept homosexuality have created their own groups and not infiltrated existing Pentecostal denominations).

Godly Leaders Needed
The overwhelming majority of Pentecostals still believes in righteousness. But at this crucial juncture for our country in which we need those real believers to stand up, it’s especially important for Pentecostals to do so because we hold fast to the values outlined in the Word of God. We need people who believe the Bible and who know right from wrong to get involved. We need Pentecostals who will run for office or prepare themselves for positions of leadership in business, entertainment, and other arenas of the culture—not just in our own churches. We need those who will re-establish godly standards for our country and our communities.

Christians in past generations battled slavery, prayed for the Iron Curtain to fall, and stood in the gap for Israel to be restored as a nation. They served as powerful examples of how believers can shape the nations. Now, we must do the same for America. We must pray that the spiritual forces at work that destroy our freedoms and the culture will be overcome and that righteousness will prevail. Remember, the Bible says to pray for good government so we can lead quiet and peaceful lives (1 Tim. 2:2). (And by inference, win the world for Jesus).

 

We must put legs to our prayers. James 2:17 says faith without works is dead. Therefore, we must act. In an earlier era, that would have meant joining hands with non-Pentecostal Protestants. Today, we don’t have the luxury of denominational parochialism. This is war, and we must join forces with Bible-believing Catholics, conservative Jews, and even those we consider cults, such as Mormons. These groups all believe in conserving traditional values from the Bible, which means we share a common vision for America’s future.

America’s Healing
We still have time. If we, as God’s people, will humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven and heal our land (2 Chr. 7:14). The Church must help those who share our values, whether or not they are believers. That means voting based upon the Word of God, not on party affiliation, or whoever promises the most to voters. We must pray and then vote. Vote your values. Get others to vote their values. Let’s start a movement with the power and passion of the Holy Spirit. It’s time to stand up.

 

Like Esther, perhaps God raised up us Pentecostals for a time such as this.

 

 

Steve Strang is a fourth-generation Pentecostal who has covered the “Spirit-filled community” since he founded Charisma magazine 37 years ago. In 2005, Time magazine listed him as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.

Election 2012: Keeping First Things First

Election 2012: Keeping First Things First by David Barton

As the November general election approaches, the Bible offers clear guidance to biblical voters to help them evaluate the candidates.

Maintain a national, not a personal perspective. Since the Scripture declares that “Righteousness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34, NKJV), then advancing issues that directly impact national righteousness must be a primary consideration. According to the Bible (c.f., Deuteronomy 28; 1 Chronicles 21; 1 Kings 18), a nation’s righteousness is determined by its public policies and how well those policies conform to God’s standards.

So how does a nation ensure that it will have God-honoring policies? Proverbs 29:2 answers that question: “When the righteous increase [rule], the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (ESV). Very simply, if a nation wants God-honoring policies, it must have leaders like Daniel, Nehemiah, or David rather than leaders like Ahab, Manasseh, or Jeroboam. In America, the only way there will be God-honoring leaders is if God-honoring citizens elect them; so the first and foremost consideration in any election is whether the candidate will advance policies that promote biblical standards of righteousness.

Prioritize the issue. In past elections, the millions of biblical voters who sought to advance issues of righteousness through their vote were dubbed “value voters.” Those whose agenda did not benefit from these voters are now trying to win their support by making their own particular issue seem biblical or moral. Therefore, the Rev. Robert Edgar (the former general secretary of the very liberal National Council of Churches) asserts, “You can’t read the Old Testament without knowing God was concerned about the environment, war and peace, and poverty. God doesn’t want 45 million Americans without health care.” Supporters of homosexual marriage now assert that it is “moral” to extend partnership rights to homosexuals who have “committed” themselves to each other, and pro-abortion advocates similarly claim that it is “moral” for a poor mother to have an abortion rather than give birth to a child she might not want.

But this is not to say that the Rev. Edgar is wrong in claiming that the Bible addresses helping the poor, war and peace, the environment, and health care. It does—and it also speaks about numerous issues he did not mention, including immigration, treaties, taxation, property rights, and national sovereignty.

Each of these is addressed in the comprehensive system of 613 laws delivered through Moses in the Old Testament. But God also made it abundantly clear that not all issues were equal, for within that expansive system He issued His “Top Ten” (the Ten Commandments), thus creating a prioritization of what was most important to Him.

Protecting innocent life did make God’s Top Ten (#6), as did protecting the sanctity of marriage (#7), but the issues of poverty, environment, health care, immigration, taxation, etc., did not make His Top Ten. This is not to say that the other issues are not important, but rather that citizens should always keep the most important things at the top of the list. Listed below are some of the issues facing the nation today.

Abortion and inalienable rights. Defending the unborn must continue to remain a priority for biblical voters. The right to life is the first of the three specifically enumerated inalienable rights set forth in our founding documents and American government was established on the thesis that certain rights come from God and that government must protect those rights inviolable. Significantly, if a leader does not protect the inalienable right to life, then all other inalienable rights are likewise in jeopardy.

Modern history demonstrates that when a leader is wrong on the inalienable right to life, then he will almost certainly be wrong on the protection of private property (as guaranteed in the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution), the biblical right of self defense (the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed in the Second Amendment), the right of religious expression (guaranteed in the First Amendment), the sanctity of the home (guaranteed in the Third Amendment), etc. Therefore, where a candidate stands on the issue of abortion is of paramount importance, not only for the sake of the unborn but also for the preservation of our other inalienable rights.

Homosexuality and the moral law. If a candidate is willing to accept, empower, and advance homosexuality, it is a clear indication that he or she does not embrace the moral absolutes of the Bible. Today, some have rejected the biblically-established rights and wrongs in favor of their own personal preferences—a situation thrice denounced in the Scriptures as “every man doing that which is right in his own eyes” (see Deuteronomy 12:8, Judges 17:6 and 21:25).

Previous generations understood that obeying God’s moral laws always benefited a society (Deuteronomy 6:24). In fact, a popular 1814 legal commentary documented the adverse effect on a society from rejecting God’s moral law regarding homosexuality:

 If it [sodomy] once begins to prevail, not only will boys be easily corrupted by adults but also by other boys; nor will it ever cease—more especially as it must thus soon lose all its shamefulness and infamy and become fashionable and the national taste; and then . . . national weakness (for which all remedies are ineffectual) must inevitably follow; not perhaps in the very first generation, but certainly in the course of the third or fourth . . . .  Whoever, therefore, wishes to ruin a nation has only to get this vice introduced, for it is extremely difficult to extirpate [remove] it where it has once taken root because it can be propagated with much more secrecy . . . and when we perceive that it has once got a footing in any country, however powerful and flourishing, we may venture as politicians to predict that the foundation of its future decline is laid and that after some hundred years it will no longer be the same . . . powerful country it is at present.”

While there are many areas specifically addressed by God’s moral law (e.g., adultery, pre-marital sex, etc.), only homosexuality is currently the focus of favorable political action. Therefore, where a candidate stands on that issue is one of the best indicators of whether he recognizes and embraces God’s moral absolutes.

Public religious acknowledgments. The Ten Commandments begin with the pronouncement, “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2, NIV). Christians often attach this declaration as a crucial prologue to the Ten Commandments, but Jews consider that forceful declaration to be the First Commandment. They properly believe that acknowledging God is the highest priority and that the commands listed after that affirmation have force only because God is recognized for who He is and is acknowledged as the Source behind those commands. Therefore, acknowledging and honoring God is a priority in His Top Ten.

Today, secularists have convinced many Americans to accept a compartmentalization of their faith, telling them that it is appropriate to acknowledge God at church, home, or in other private settings, but not in public venues. If a candidate holds this position, it means he is willing to disconnect God from what he does, and the entire nation is put at risk by leaders who compartmentalize faith.

Biblical voters should select leaders who will seek to protect and expand, rather than restrict or weaken, the opportunity for the public acknowledgment of God and the inclusion of His principles in public venues.

Cast a vote. It is your responsibility as a voter to research each candidate. Once you have examined where a candidate stands on the non-negotiable issues, only then should you extend your consideration to include other issues (e.g., economics, foreign policy, taxes, military, health care, energy, etc.).

No candidate will ever be the perfect candidate and support all the things that you do, but that must never be the sole measuring stick for selecting a candidate. After all, if that were true, then today’s faith voters likely would not have supported most of the biblical heroes had they run for office today, for David—although a man commended by God and recommended as our example in numerous areas—was guilty of adultery (and more); Noah had trouble with drunkenness; Samuel, Eli, and Gideon did not control their children; Lot committed incest; Moses was guilty of murder; etc. God regularly used very imperfect individuals—even individuals with major flaws—to accomplish great and positive things in the life of a nation. We should therefore always support the candidate most in line with the non-negotiables, not the superficially “perfect” candidate.

Biblical voters must develop an attitude of unswerving duty coupled with a resolute steadfastness, and must vote in every election. In Luke 19:13 Jesus commands, “Occupy till I come,” and for the sake of this generation, as well as future ones, we must be active citizens. The responsibilities facing God-fearing citizens in this election are somber, and the potential repercussions from our actions (or lack thereof) are both far-reaching and long-lasting.

7 Web Resources for Election Season

By Ken Row

It’s mud-slinging season in the United States and this one’s a doozy. Same-sex marriage advocates speak louder and with larger platforms than ever before. Pro-lifers continue to debate pro-choicers. Bankers and CEOs lean to the right; universities and tech companies lean to the left. Tea parties have been held; Wall Street has been occupied, and everyone, everywhere seems to be hollering about something.

To make matters worse, the Internet has opened up a floodgate of information. Every day, between my email in-box, my twitter feed, and my Facebook account, I get inundated with political messages, sent by hundreds of friends who have inadvertently become activists. They text; the internet delivers, and I get overwhelmed.

How am I supposed to know who is right? If I want to make an informed vote based on reliable, unbiased information, where can I go?

The good news is this: the Internet has some answers—we just need to know where to look.

1. WWJD: What Would Jesus Do?
The Bible contains over 30,000 verses, many of which can speak to any situation we face—whether political or everyday situations. Finding the answer may be as easy as reading the Bible, and to help with that, here are a couple of great Bible web sites:

Bible.cc - search multiple versions by Scripture or a phrase, see results for multiple versions and/or languages at once—quick and easy! This site includes maps, commentaries, and word study tools.

BibleGateway.com - includes some Bible translations that bible.cc doesn’t carry (e.g. The Amplified Bible, The Message).

2. Fact or Fiction?
The optimist in me wants to believe everything; the pessimist in me wants to doubt everything, but the realist in me uses sites like these . . .

FactCheck.org - this site consistently wins the Webby award for the best political site on the Internet. FactCheck.org monitors political debates, speeches, and articles, and then, if errors are made, FactCheck lists the errors and points to the accurate information.

PolitiFact.com - like Factcheck.org, but features a “truth-o-meter” ranking statements as true, mostly true, half-true, mostly-false, false, or “liar-liar pants on fire.”

Snopes.com - Any time I get an email or read a Facebook message asking me to “pass this on to everybody I know,” I simply don’t. I never pass anything on. I do, however, check the statement against snopes.com—the “definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.” I even check things that say “verified by snopes.com” because many things say they’re verified, but they’re actually not.

3. Follow the Money
To be elected, it takes money—a “war chest”—but few politicians are rich enough to pay for their own campaigns. They have to recruit supporters, often making agreements such as, “If you help me get elected, I promise I will . . . . ” So the questions for voters are: Who’s buying whom—and at what cost? These sites have the answers:

OpenSecrets.org - run by the Center for Responsible Politics, this bi-partisan site monitors political contributions and expenditures, and shows exactly where the money is coming from and where it’s going.

MapLight.org - this site cross-references the data from opensecrets.org with legislative data from govtrack.us to show how contributions from big corporations and political action committees (PACs) are influencing current legislation.

4. Tired of Mud-Slinging on TV? Use This!
If you’re watching a political ad on TV or YouTube and you want to know immediately who’s behind the ad, how much they paid, and whether the claims are fact-based or not, the answer could be as close as the cell phone or tablet in your hand. Android and iPhone apps can listen to ads while they play, match the audio against a database, and provide details in about 30 seconds.

AdHawk.sunlightfoundation.com - For iPhone and Android, Ad Hawk shows who’s behind the ads and how much they spent.

SuperPACApp.org - For the iPhone/iPad only, the Super PAC app also shows what claims are being made and whether the claims are factual or not.

5. Straight from the Horse’s Elephant’s/Donkey’s Mouth
Instead of relying on what someone tells you about a party’s platform, you can go straight to the source and read the party platform yourself. The web sites for the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian parties have downloadable copies of their 2012 platforms at these web addresses:

Republicans:	www.gopconvention2012.com/media-portal
Democrats:	my.democrats.org/platform
Libertarians:	www.lp.org/platform

6. Foreign News Sources
News businesses are businesses—entities that make money by selling news. The more news they sell (or the larger the audience), the more they make. Conservative outlets bias their news to conservative audiences, because that’s where they make their money; likewise, liberal outlets bias to liberal audiences. One way to eliminate some of the conservative/liberal (or Republican/Democrat) bias is to see what a disinterested party has to say, which is where these foreign news sources come in handy:

rt.com -- Moscow, Russia
jpost.com -- Jerusalem, Israel
bbc.co.uk -- Great Britain

Note: While foreign news sources may be unpolluted by American bias, they still speak with worldly wisdom, which, according to James 3:15, can be earthly, sensual [self-centered] and demonic. No matter where you get your news, always seek the wisdom which is from above (James 3:17).

7. Something for Sunday Morning
All of this web-based information is nice, but what about the pastor who wants to put resources right in the hands of their congregation?

iVoteValues.org - provides resources just for churches and pastors, including:

• Legal “Do’s and Don’ts” [worth reading just for this!]
• Videos
• Print-ready advertising materials
• Voter registration materials
• Presidential voter guides

It's a Big Deal

It’s a Big Deal (by Bishop Charles G. Scott)
It’s about the economy.
It’s about the war.
It’s about equal rights.
It’s about progress.
It’s about right to choose.
It’s about right to life. It’s about insurance.
It’s about borders.
It’s about whatever people would like to use to fill-in-the-blank.

WRONG . . . according to God’s Word, it’s about righteousness. Righteousness is a really big deal with God. The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34, NKJV). The Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). These other things have a place in the debate of leadership, but when it comes down to the final decision, there is one key question to answer: Who is the person who will lead our nation in righteousness? The Bible says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012 America will chose individuals to serve in federal offices. As Americans, we have the privilege of choice. We are blessed to live in a Republic with a form of government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people (Abraham Lincoln). We are blessed to live in a nation that recognizes the evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights. We are blessed to choose our leaders who will govern based on the consent of the governed. These are the tenets of our American government (Declaration of Independence).

Our nation is founded upon the righteousness of God. The two huge oak doors that enter into the Supreme Court chambers have the Ten Commandments engraved upon them.

Every state of the United States of America acknowledges God and/or the Bible in its state constitution.

Each session of Congress starts with a prayer led by the Chaplain of Congress, a position that has been in existence since 1777 and paid for by the taxpayers of America.

According to the New York Times, 93 percent of Americans believe in God. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/americans-and-god.html)

According to David Barton, 58 million Christians will not vote. (http://www. wnd.com/2011/12/373673/)

The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

The Word of God has established righteousness for each and every generation. America cannot build its future on political slogans that sound nice on t-shirts and bumper stickers. America needs a decision for righteousness.

Your role? It’s simple, but it is a big deal, a really big deal. Get involved and take a stand for righteousness.

America is a great country. Our founders made great sacrifices, and our forefathers continued their example to keep America great. Now, we are in a conflict for righteousness. In order to keep America great, we must stand for righteousness.

If you are silent on November 6, you have no right to be a critic on November 7.

General Omar Bradley wrote, “America today is running on the momentum of a godly ancestry. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”

It’s a big deal to take responsibility for our nation. It begins with a ballot. A ballot that has been prayed over. A ballot that is aligned with the Word of God. A ballot that stands for righteousness. That is a really big deal.

10 Creative Ways to Appreciate Your Pastor

#1 Pastor VS Food

Pastors love to eat.  Take one entire week and bless your Pastor and his family with dinner every night!

#2 Extreme Home Makeover
Some Pastors are skilled tradesman, others are not!  Plan to help your Pastor with that project he has been putting off, with that deck he has always dreamed of building, or that landscaping that has desperately been needed.

#3 Prosper My Ride

Everyone loves a clean, detailed vehicle!  Take Pastors ride to the next level and top off the gas tank while you're at it!

#4 Extreme OFFICE Makeover
Plan an extreme makeover of yours Pastors office! What is that new piece of furniture that your Pastor would absolutely love? How about some fresh paint? A new coffee maker?
 


#5 Get Out of Church Free
Give Pastor an extra weekend off!  Encourage him to go visit friends, family or just flat get out of town!

#6 Honey I Blessed the KIDS
Want a great way to make your Pastor feel incredible?  Bless his/her kids!  Go over the top to do something special for their children.  Take them out.  Purchase them a gift.  Slide them some extra cash, etc. etc.

#7 Mail Blitz

Absolutely FLOOD your Pastors mailbox with cards and letters of appreciation for a solid week! 

#8 Send Your Pastor PACKING
on VACATION of course!! What is that unique trip your Pastor would absolutely love? Is it a fishing trip? Golf excursion?  Quiet bed & breakfast?  Find out what it is and send them a packing!





#9 Money Tree
Money doesn't grow on trees. BUT why not let that happen during the month of OCTOBER!  Bless your Pastor with a tree full of money!

#10 31 Days of Madness Gladness
A day in the life of a Pastor can be interesting to say the least. Make the entire month an unforgettable one for your Pastor by scheduling one thing a day to bless your Pastor!

Thousands Gather in Front of Independence Hall to Pray for National Healing at America for Jesus 2012 Solemn Assembly affirms new Delcaration of Dependence on God, Calling the nation back to Biblical values...

Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 2012 - Exactly 40 days before the national election, nearly 25,000 individuals gathered over two days on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Sept. 28-29, for America for Jesus 2012 (AFJ). The purpose of this solemn assembly that gathered Christians representing all races, parties and denominations from across the United States, was to pray for the healing of our nation and call America back to God.

"Today we have come to a historic place to make spiritual history in America," said Rev. Billy Wilson, co-chair for America for Jesus 2012, acknowledging our nation's founding documents declaring we are 'one nation under God,' that were drafted and signed in nearby Independence Hall. "Today we have come back to this place because we believe America is in a spiritual drift that must be turned around."

"This is not a political rally; we have come today as the people of God," Wilson continued. "The destiny of our nation does not rest in Washington, D.C.; it does not rest in the White House, the congressional house or in the court house. We believe that the destiny of America rests in the church house and in your house and in my house."

State Senator Stewart Greenleaf noted that America was founded by God-inspired individuals like William Penn, telling the crowd, "Today has been designated by the Pennsylvania State Senate as William Penn Day, and we pray that our nation will continue to be a beacon to the world."

Deputy Philadelphia Mayor Richard Negrin brought greetings from City Hall saying, "You are standing on holy ground. In that building behind you, there are three words, 'We the people.' We have a right to worship...to exercise our religion, our free speech and all our rights in the Bill of Rights. Today you stand here with faith in your heart and a burning desire to worship just like William Penn did all those years ago."

The two-day event began with a youth rally on Friday evening. Bishop Anne Gimenez, pastor of The Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, Va., visionary and national chairman of America for Jesus 2012 told several thousand teens gathered, "America for Jesus will be a shout heard around the world. This is a beginning of a push for righteousness in America. We're here to declare the Word of the Lord!"

The program incorporated a diverse array of influential Christian leaders, including Bishop Harry Jackson, Vonette Bright, Rev. Jim Garlow, Rev. Cindy Jacobs and author Jonathan Cahn.

On Saturday, Dr. Tom Phillips, director of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, read a letter of greeting and solidarity from the 93-year-old evangelist, whom he said was burdened for America and plans to preach one more time on his 95th birthday next year.

"Nothing could be more urgent than for God's people to come together and pray for our nation and our world," Mr. Graham wrote. "Our only hope is to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and faith and to seek to obey Him in every area of our lives, as individuals and also as a nation...As you gather in this historic place, which gave birth to our nation's Declaration of Independence, may your presence give birth to a new declaration for our nation, a declaration of dependence upon almighty God."

According to Rev. Sammy Rodriguez, the next great movement in America will not be the Tea Party nor the Occupy Wall Street movement, but a Christ-centered, Bible-based righteousness and justice movement. "I am convinced that America is not done with God and God is not done with America," he said.

"We are not here for an event, but to seek the heart of God, as there is a battle for the soul of our nation," said Doug Stringer. "God's blessing on this nation can become a path for America to bless the world; but it depends on a posture of humility in the Church. While men reach for thrones to build their own Kingdoms, Jesus came with a towel to wash his disciples' feet."

Television broadcaster Pat Robertson noted that in 1607, the first English settlers knelt in prayer around the cross, dedicating this new nation to the Lord. "I don't care what the ACLU says or any atheist says, this nation belongs to Jesus," he declared. "We will never change America through politics. We will only change America through a mighty outpouring of God's Holy Spirit."

Rev. Tony Perkins expressed gratitude to God that this nation was founded on righteousness and divine justice. "Our founders . . . did not build an altar to government; rather they launched a country that would honor you," he said. "Today we look for government to be all that we need. Government can never be all we need. We need you."

Throughout the day, other Christian leaders offered prayers for America and its people, including Bishop E.W. Jackson: "You are not only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, You are the God of George Washington, the God of Thomas Jefferson, the God of Patrick Henry and you are our God, the God of the United States of America. We are here to worship and acknowledge You and give praise to Your holy and righteous name."

Pastor Phil Cappuccio reminded the audience that, 236 years ago, the sound of the Liberty Bell was heard throughout this square. "Today, we lift up our voices - not in protest, but in repentance - that God will heal our land. Let there be a new sound, a sound of awakening."

Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress called upon God, "I pray that as your people we will get up off our blessed assurances on Nov. 6, that we would go out and not vote for a party or a candidate but that we would cast a vote for righteousness. Our mandate is not to save America, but to save Americans from your coming judgment."

Early in the nine-hour rally, Rev. Wilson called for a time of repentance for the seven deadly sins - pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and anger, and slothfulness - that are the root causes of the problems in our nation. Various Christian leaders led prayers for forgiveness for specific and related social issues, such poverty, unemployment, crime, sex trafficking and government stewardship.

"We have come to do surgery in the name of Jesus, going after the root to see our nation changed," Wilson said, before prayers were offered in each category during several hours of the program. "We believe God is going to heal the headwaters of America and see deliverance from these capital sins so that righteousness can again exalt our nation."

As a practical demonstration of Founding Father William Penn's sentiment, "Let us try what love will do," AFJ's Love Philadelphia reached out to the poor and needy of the City with a hand of compassion and a message of hope. On Sept. 15, more than 1500 volunteers gathered at eight care sites, serving 15,000 people with 150,000 pounds of groceries in the name of Jesus. Relief agencies such as Operation Compassion, Operation Blessing, Convoy of Hope, and A Can Can Make a Difference all donated trucks to the outreach.

America for Jesus 2012 was organized by One Nation Under God, a coalition of ministries that sponsored the watershed Washington for Jesus events in the 80s and 90s, which focused on prayer, repentance and revival, based on God's promises found in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

To-date, the five national and numerous regional rallies attended by several hundred thousand people have made significant impact affecting millions across the country and the national movement continues to call for a return to biblical values rather than endorsing any particular party or candidate.

"Forty days before the election, we will be bringing the salt of the nation to the headwaters of America to pray for an awakening and for the spiritual needs of the country," said Billy Wilson, co-chair for America for Jesus 2012 and Executive Director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal.

Rev. Herb Lusk commended the inclusive nature of the day's events, saying he was impressed by the leaders' reaching out to the African-American community and keeping the event from becoming politicized. "The committee came to me early and asked me for advice, and I told them it needed to be clear that this was about America, that it wasn't political, or the African-American community would not be involved," he said. "They listened, and it worked. Not only is God going to bless white America, he's going to bless black America."

Program participants and organizers alike expressed hope and excitement about the outcome of the rally. "I'm so encouraged the Body of Christ has come together in Philadelphia," said Vonette Bright. "I believe this will be the beginning of renewal and a spiritual awakening that will bring us back to the principles on which this nation was founded."

AFJ 2012 National Coordinator John Blanchard echoed her sentiments: "This is the most powerful solemn assembly I've ever personally attended. I believe a window of grace is open for the nation to launch renewal for transformation in America."

For more information, please visit http://www.americaforjesus2012.org/.