At the U.N., a Dangerous Leap of Faith

President Bush traveled to the United Nations Wednesday to join Gordon Brown of the U.K. and Shimon Peres of Israel at a two-day conference presided over by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The conference is a continuation of last July's summit of world religions held in Spain and also organized by King Abdullah and the Muslim World League. Later today, the U.N. is expected to endorse a statement issued at the conclusion of the Spain conference on the importance of religion and humanity's common values. Among them is "respect for religions, their places of worship, and their symbols ... therefore preventing the derision of what people consider sacred." All religions deserve respect, but the devil is in the details. As Leonard Leo and Donald Argue, members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, point out, this language is "a cleverly coded way of granting religious leaders the right to criminalize speech and activities that they deem to insult religion." In other words, this may be giving U.N. approval to Islamic "blasphemy laws," which are used to stifle dissent. If King Abdullah and other supporters of the Madrid statement truly care about the value of religion, they must allow people to freely practice the faith of their choosing, as prescribed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, rather than give cover to blasphemy laws.

Texan Holds 'Em

After a year-long battle with congressional Democrats, President Bush had the last word on online wagering yesterday, after the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department issued a joint rule that will finally put a stop to illegal Internet gambling. FRC had worked extensively on the issue with House conservatives, helping them fend off members like Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) who were scheming to keep government agencies from implementing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). Without these new regulations, the law, which passed easily (317-93) last year, would have been useless. Now that the final puzzle piece is in place, banks and other payment agencies will have until December 2009 to stop credit card and other electronic payments to illegal gambling websites. This is a huge win for the family movement, which had argued that the banking industry had the technology to enforce the bans on Internet betting but not the will. Thanks to President Bush, who recognized the importance of closing the deal on UIGEA before leaving office, financial institutions will be obligated to protect Americans from a predatory industry that spawns an addictive habit which devastates families.

More Cultural Cold Feet?

Marriage proponents in California had hoped the passage of Proposition 8 would bring an end to the emotional roller coaster for state voters. Unfortunately, the relief of protecting marriage in America's biggest state has been somewhat clouded by threats of litigation and statewide demonstrations. This weekend, churches were hounded by protestors, angry at the role Christians played in beating back the cultural tide. At a rally outside of the Mormon temple, homosexuals even turned on their own, hurling racial insults at gay African Americans who were there to demonstrate with the "No on Prop 8" crowd.

Perhaps the most surprising revolt of all on marriage is the one brewing among some Republicans. Although marriage proved to be the most winning issue on Election Day, a handful of high-profile Republicans insist on distancing themselves from it. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a longtime opponent of Proposition 8, sounded more like a blue-blooded liberal on CNN Sunday, saying he hopes the state Supreme Court would "undo" Prop 8. "I think the important thing for the Republican Party is now to... look at other issues... and not to get stuck in ideology." On the contrary, November 4 made it painstakingly clear that the GOP's only hope for survival is moving back toward a solidly conservative ideology.

Smash & Grab

This was written by a fellow pastor:

While watching a documentary on violence and self-defense I saw a scene that contained a road sign which stated: "Warning, Smash and Grab Area." It got me to thinking....

On Jan 20 the following will immediately become a "smash and grab" area for the new administration:
- abortion limitations
- oil and gas drilling
- stem cell research
- tax dollars for abortion

“There’s a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for Congressional action, and I think we’ll see the president do that,” John D. Podesta, a top transition leader, said Sunday. “He (Barack Hussein Obama) feels like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that the Bush administration has set.”

PRAY FOR GOD'S INTERVENTION
PRAY FOR GOD'S PROTECTION

PRAY FOR BOLDNESS FOR THE LORD'S PASTORS & CHURCHES (added by me - RGH)