Monitor The Strategic Trends

Introduction:

“It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.”
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

The Best of Times?

By many reckonings, it appears to be the best of times in America: We enjoy a robust economy, reinforced by continually advancing technologies. At least one computer in every home, and a personal telephone on almost everyone’s belt. People are buying their 3rd and 4th cars. Our military is the most feared throughout the world. Indeed, in many ways, it seems like the best of times.

Judgment on the Horizon?

However, let’s assess the State of the Union in the mirror of God’s Word. Homosexuality is accepted as simply “an alternative lifestyle.” We murder babies that are socially inconvenient. We change marriage partners like a fashion statement. We have abandoned the sanctity of commitments in our families and in our businesses. Immorality and deceit have come to characterize the highest offices in our land; our politics have condoned and covered up more murders than we dare list. Our public enterprises have been prostituted to the convenience of the elite. Our mainline media takes pride in forming public opinion rather than informing it, which had been its sacred role in a representative republic. Our culture has disconnected character from destiny. Our entertainments celebrate adultery, fornication, violence, aberrant sexual practices and every imaginable form of evil. We have become the primary exporters of everything that God abhors.

One of the major theological mysteries is why hasn’t God judged America? The parallels in Bible (Cf. Hosea 4-14; Isaiah 5; et al) would suggest that it is long overdue. The only ostensible answer is God’s commitment in Genesis 12:2-3, in which He promises Abraham that He “will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee.” It may well be that America has been spared-so far-due to its support of the nation of Israel. But that, too, may be short lived...

Conspicuous by Its Absence?

One of the mysteries in the Biblical prophetic scenario, is where does America appear?

The final battle-the Battle of Armageddon-is a four-power conflict: triggered by the “Kings of the South” (Egypt?), responded to by the “Kings of the North” (Syria? Russia? ...various opinions), and dominated by a Western Confederacy (The Antichrist, et al) until the “Kings of the East” are drawn in.

Where is the United States? There are many conjectures among scholars. Some assume that we will ultimately be somehow associated with the Western Confederacy. The continuing erosion of our constitutional republic, plus the increasing move toward a police state to “fight terrorism,” seems consistent with the growing tide toward a global government.

Others assume that America simply will not be a major player at that time. As variations of this second view, some suggest that America will have become economically and militarily less relevant by then. Others (disturbed by the hint in Ezekiel 39:6), fear that we may have been the subject of a major nuclear exchange over the growing tensions in the Middle East.

Life Cycle of Nations

As we study the rise and fall of nations, there is a disturbing sequence throughout history. The sequence of nations, as observed by Alexander Tyler, 1750, follows a predictable pattern “from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependence back again into bondage." It is hard to deny that we may well be at the zenith of that sequence. If you ask the average American what is the biggest problem facing our nation, Is it ignorance or apathy? He will likely answer, “I don’t know and I don’t care!”

It remains to be seen whether the wake-up call of September 11, 2001, will prove to be more effective than simply a brief spasm of patriotism, or whether it may lead to a more serious revival and return to our heritage. In any case, we each need to prepare and to rise to the opportunities that present themselves for a spiritual revival and we must begin with ourselves. God has declared an immutable principle:

If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Notice that this isn’t addressed to the Congress, or the Administration, or to the pagan left. It is addressed to His people, who are called by His name. It is the members of the Body of Christ that are standing in the way of what God would prefer to do in our land. A revival needs to begin with us.

NEW! Deporting Aliens, Protecting Citizens May 15, 2012

David Wilkerson: Power And Prayer May 08, 2012

National Day of Prayer is May 3 April 10, 2012

Arizona Law Could Mean Internet Censorship April 03, 2012

Healing and Trayvon Martin March 27, 2012

Your Vote Counts March 20, 2012

Educational Freedom Bill Considered in OK March 13, 2012

Fluke's 'Reproductive Justice' vs Religious Freedom March 06, 2012

The Pledge Of Allegiance Under Attack February 14, 2012

Hundreds Arrested in Sex Trafficking Sting February 07, 2012

Religious Freedom Versus Contraception Coverage January 31, 2012

The State Of The Union January 31, 2012

Healing From Roe January 17, 2012

US Marriage Rates The Lowest Ever January 17, 2012

The Supreme Court Hears A Dirty Words Case January 10, 2012

Embryo Research and Gender-Based Abortions December 06, 2011

Child Abuse Scandal And The Court Of Public Opinion November 22, 2011

Billboards To Call Jesus A Myth November 15, 2011

Teen Sex Down October 25, 2011

The Bible and Politics October 18, 2011

Churches And Politics: Can They Mix? October 11, 2011

Home Bible Study Fined, Required To Get Permit September 27, 2011

New Abortion Laws Upheld in AZ, Smacked Down in TX September 06, 2011

Crowds Recite Lord's Prayer Despite PA System Ban August 30, 2011

California To Outlaw Fitted Sheets? August 16, 2011

Planned Parenthood Defunding Blocked In Kansas August 02, 2011

A Whole Lot of Praying Going On... But... July 26, 2011

Cut, Cap, And Balance Passes House July 19, 2011

Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Against Violent Video Games June 28, 2011

Tornadoes, Socialism, and Climate Change June 14, 2011

Jack Kevorkian's Legacy of Death Lives On June 07, 2011

Freedom To Challenge Darwin Protected In Louisiana May 31, 2011

A Cure for the Depression by Steve Elwart

The Wheat and the Tares by Mary Gehl

The Economics of Pharmakeia by Mary Miller

The Days of Black Swans by Mary Miller, Executive Analyst, Koinonia Institute

Global Threats by Steve Elwart, Senior Analyst, Koinonia Institute

River Lodge Conferences by Chuck Missler, President/Founder, Koinonia Institute

WHY PREPARE? by Mark Gustafson, Chief Operations Officer, Koinonia House

The Future of Energy by Steve Elwart, Senior Analyst Koinonia Institute

States In Crisis by Mary Miller

The Decline of the U.S.: Habakkuk's Dilemma by Chuck Missler, President of Koinonia Institute

Decline of the U.S.: Sound Money by Mary Miller, KI Executive Analyst

Issachar Report: Normalcy Bias and the U.S. Dollar by Mary Miller, Director of Issachar Studies and IDB

Islam Taught in Charter Schools: The Gulen Movement by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Issachar Report: Rescuing a Broken America: Part 2 by Mary Miller, Director of Issachar Studies and IDB

Issachar Report: A New Way to Look at "Coordination" by Mary Miller, Director of Issachar Studies and the IDB

State of the Union: Has Judgment Come to America? by Mary Miller, Director of Issachar Studies and IDB

A Bushel of Wheat for a Penny: Part 3 Hyperinflation and its Effect on Cultures by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

A Bushel of Wheat for a Penny: Part 2 The Rise of the Central Banks by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Commodity Money and Fiat Money: A Bushel of Wheat for a Penny by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Issachar Report: Border Insecurity: The Deceit of Audacity by Mary Miller, Director of Research

Issachar Report: U.N.American Education by Mary Miller, Director of Research

A New Hidden Tax? The Value Added Tax by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Issachar Report: The Tenth Amendment Debate by Mary Miller, Director of Research

Strategic Update: How Do You Spell Economic R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y? by Mary Miller, Director of Research

2010 and Beyond: The Middle East in the Crosshairs Part 3 by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

INTERPOL: America's New Police Force? by Mary Miller, Director of Research

Issachar Report: The Middle East in the Crosshairs: Part 2 by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Issachar Report: Is Hate Speech a Hate Crime? by Camilla Bryner, IDB Folio Specialist

2010 and Beyond: The Middle East in the Crosshairs by Steve Elwart, IDB Folio Specialist

Issachar Report: "Cap & Trade is a Tax...a Big One" by Steven Elwart, Koinonia Institute

Hosea, Can You See? The Slippery Slope of Deception by Mary Miller, Koinonia Institute

Twilights Last Gleaming, Update: The Fleecing of America by Mary Miller, Koinonia Institute

Our Continuing Vortex Series: The Impending Storm by Chuck Missler

A Forecast for 2008: The Turbulence Ahead by Chuck Missler

The Vortex Strategy: Part 3 Guarding Your Liquidity by Chuck Missler

Updated Briefing: The Vortex Strategy: Part 2 by Chuck Missler

Updated Briefing The Vortex Strategy: Part 1 by Chuck Missler

Excerpt from Prophecy 20/20 The American Challenge by Chuck Missler

For the Fourth Understanding the Worth of our Nation by Frank Salvato

In Memoriam The Passing of the Constitution by Chuck Missler

An Alternate Scenario: The Twilights Last Gleaming? by voicefromzion.org

A New Threat on the Horizon: The Quiet Game by Chuck Missler

An Interesting Perspective: The Denial of Guilt by Bruce Malone

An Additional Perspective: Katrina's Geopolitical Legacy by Chuck Missler

A Respite for America? An Election Mandate by Chuck Missler

Hosea, Can You See?: Hosea's Challenge to America by Chuck Missler

Twilight's Last Gleaming: Clinton's War on Hate Bans Christian Values by John Loeffler and Berit Kjos

None Dare Call It Fascism: Reflections on Our Republic by Chuck Missler

A Personal Challenge: Our Desperate Warfare by Chuck Missler

Freedom of the Press? Media Madness by Chuck Missler

Twilight's Last Gleaming? Judgment on the Horizon by Chuck Missler

The Federal Reserve: The Engine of Power by Chuck Missler

News Sources

NEW! Record Low Number of Pro-Abortion Americans - A new Gallup survey out today finds the percentage of Americans who identify them selves as supporting legalized abortion has dropped to a record low. "The 41 percent of Americans who now identify themselves as 'pro-choice' is down from 47 percent last July and is one percentage point below the previous record low in Gallup trends, recorded in May 2009," the polling firm noted. On the other hand, 51 percent of Americans call themselves pro-life, one percentage point away from the record high. The percentage of Americans identifying themselves as pro-life has trended higher since 1995, when the partial-birth abortion debate began in earnest and ultrasound technology made it so pictures of unborn children were the first baby pictures most parents saw.

NEW! Multiple Generations Inspired By Nat'l Day of Prayer - Better than 400 people in Madison County turned out for the National Day of Prayer on May 3, and they ranged in age from those just starting out their school careers to some who could likely teach us all a thing or two about faith. More than 30 churches in all gave testament to importance of the day in Madison County with attendance at one of the major events. That feeling of unity provided a blessing that was surely felt by young and old around the area. "As organized as it was, there was a lot of spontaneity and fellowship that is difficult to describe," Joe Williams, committee chair for the National Day of Prayer event at Bedias Baptist Church, said. "I look forward to it next year, and pray that the Spirit we left it with will continue on until next year." The theme for the National Day of Prayer this year was "One Nation Under God," and Madison County represents just one of thousands of communities across America where the faithful gathered May 3 to seek God on behalf of their families, towns, counties, states and nation.

May Day Protests - Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says he's making an emergency declaration allowing police to confiscate items that can be used as weapons following violent May Day protests that left storefronts and car windows shattered. Police said officers made at least three arrests after hundreds of people marched through downtown Tuesday afternoon. A 23-year-old man was arrested for vandalism and a 19-year-old man with a knife was also arrested. Protestors dressed in black clothing smashed windows of retail stores and banks, and spray-painted parked cars, reported Q13 FOX News. NikeTown, American Apparel, HSBC, and Wells Fargo were among the businesses protesters vandalized.

From Watergate To Redemption: Remembering Chuck Colson - After Chuck Colson passed away on Saturday, obituaries naturally remembered him first and foremost as the lawyer and Watergate conspirator who went to jail for obstructing justice. They also noted that, while in prison, he found Christ and dedicated himself to prison ministries. Colson took literally Christ's command to visit and comfort those in prison, a ministry that middle-class congregations had previously ignored. He got prisons to set aside wings or buildings for inmates who wanted to live in a structured, faith-based environment. He got congregations to see it as part of their mission to partner with prisons and individual inmates, leading prison programming aimed at turning men's lives around. Most of all, he got law-abiding citizens on the outside to encounter inmates, face to face, not as nameless, faceless threats but as their brothers to be redeemed. And, in doing so, Colson changed the terms of debate.

Kids May Sing 'God Bless The USA' Says Bellingham - Parents at a Massachusetts elementary school were furious after educators first removed the word 'God' from the popular Lee Greenwood song, "God Bless the U.S.A." and then pulled the song all together from an upcoming concert. Children at Stall Brook Elementary School in Bellingham were told to sing, "We love the U.S.A." instead of "God Bless the U.S.A.", though the song's writer, Lee Greenwood, had not given his permission for the words of his song to be changed. After parents started complaining, school officials removed the song from the school assembly concert altogether. The superintendent of Bellingham Public Schools finally released a statement last Wednesday stating that students would be allowed to sing or not sing "God Bless the USA" during an upcoming assembly at Stall Brook Elementary School. "Political correctness is certainly a consideration in the public sector," Superintendent Edward Fleury wrote in a statement posted on the district's website. "Students will be allowed to sing or not sing the words 'God Bless the USA' as they sing in celebration of their acquired knowledge," he said. "No other words will be substituted."

Trayvon Martin Shooter Charged With 2nd Degree Murder - The neighborhood watchman who shot and killed Miami Gardens teenager Trayvon Martin is scheduled for a bond hearing Thursday at 1:30 p.m. after a special prosecutor charged him with second-degree murder following 45 days of protests, petitions and intense national media coverage of the case. George Zimmerman, 28, turned himself in to police in Jacksonville after the charges were announced late Wednesday. Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials then transported Zimmerman from Jacksonville to Sanford, where he is now a protective custody inmate at the Seminole County Jail.

Supreme Court Skeptical of Health Care Law - A clearly divided Supreme Court cast serious doubts on the Obama administration's signature health care law Tuesday, emboldening the Republicans who now are eagerly campaigning to kill it. In a historic clash that foreshadows a close election-year decision, justices revealed sharp splits about whether Congress went too far in mandating that U.S. residents buy health insurance or pay a penalty. But while the justices appear as divided as the country itself, skepticism dominated during the unusually long oral arguments. "The federal government is not supposed to be a government that has all powers," Justice Antonin Scalia said. "It's supposed to be a government of limited powers. ... If the government can do this, what else can it not do?"

Justice Department Defends Mt Soledad Cross - The Justice Department on Wednesday filed legal briefs asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in 2011 that the San Diego-area Mt. Soledad War Memorial was unconstitutional because it includes a 29-foot Christian cross. "The decision below, if permitted to stand, calls for the government to tear down a memorial cross that has stood for 58 years as a tribute to fallen service members," the government wrote.

Obama Admin Proposes Faith-Based Exemptions For Birth Control Mandate - The Obama administration is offering to expand the number of faith-based groups that can be exempt from the controversial contraception mandate, and is proposing that third-party companies administer coverage for self-insured faith-based groups at no cost. The newest offering from the White House would allow religious groups — dioceses, denominations and others — to decide which affiliated institutions are "religious" and therefore exempt from the new requirement that employers offer free contraception coverage as part of employee insurance plans.

Iran Denies That Christian Pastor Faces Execution - Under fire from a United Nations Human Rights panel, a top Iranian official claims a Christian pastor insulted Islam but denies he faces execution. Iranian human rights envoy Mohammad Javad Larijani denied that Nadarkhani faces the death penalty, though the sentence was spelled out in a ruling handed down by Iran's highest court last fall. Larijani also offered a new set of charges against Nadarkhani, including preaching to youth without their parents' permission, converting his home into a church and offending Islam. In recent months, there has been an increasing international outcry for Iran to release Nadarkhani. At the council session, representatives of the European Union expressed concern over numerous human rights violations and the pastor's case in particular. Representatives from Norway and Germany also have urged Iran to review Nadarkhani's case.

Southern Woman: GCB's Not That Funny - Christians, just like every other member of our species are human, too. And that means that some of us might even be quirky. That combo is often funny. Poking good-natured fun at being slightly offended that the pastor has a nicer car than you do, the humiliation that comes when your kids act up in church, and the hair gel meter for your worship leader is funny because it's real life. While Christians need to be able to laugh at themselves, this sitcom won't be the conduit. "GCB" has a lot of problems, the largest being that it's just not that funny. As usual, when Hollywood goes this route, it inevitably misses clever and, instead, comes across as condescending and mean. Hollywood's writers, producers, and actors do not take the time to get to know us well enough before they portray us and, therefore, parody Christians based on preconceived notions.

Ultrasound Before Abortion Says Virginia Senate - Women who want to have an abortion in Virginia must first have an ultrasound under precedent-setting legislation that narrowly passed the Virginia Senate on Tuesday. Conservative Republicans in the evenly divided chamber, with the help of two pro-life Democrats, dismissed complaints from women's rights groups and national ridicule from late-night comedians to approve the bill on a 21-19 vote.

Same-Sex Marriage Heading To Supreme Court - A federal appeals court ruled against California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday. In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the state's Proposition 8 "works a meaningful harm to gays and lesbians" by denying their right to civil marriage in violation of the 14th Amendment. Supporters of Proposition 8, which passed with 52 percent of the vote in 2008, said they were willing to take the issue all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. A stay halting same-sex marriages remains in place as the appeals continue.

Komen for the Cure Defunds Planned Parenthood - The breast cancer awareness organization Susan Komen for the Cure is defending its decision to revoke funding for the Planned Parenthood. The key in the Komen decision is the grant criteria it uses to make grants. Planned Parenthood does not perform mammograms at any of its centers across the United States, and Komen says it is implementing "more stringent eligibility standards to safeguard donor dollars." Its new guidelines also prevent it from funding any group under congressional investigation, but the breast screening issue reportedly has the effect of ending Planned Parenthood's funding even if the current Congressional probe finds Planned Parenthood free of any wrongdoing.

Authorities Round Up 104 Suspected Mexican Mafia Members In So. Cal. - Authorities arrested more than 100 members and associates of the Mexican Mafia street gang in southern California as part of investigation into a wide range of offenses such as racketeering, kidnapping, attempted murder and drug trafficking, federal officials said. The arrests were made primarily in San Diego County and were the culmination of three major investigations on gang activity in the area, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said Wednesday.

Full Text Of State Of The Union - The full text of President Obama's 2012 State Of The Union speech can be found at the above link. We will give perspective on the speech in next week's eNews.

Alaska Airlines To Stop Giving Out Prayer Cards - Alaska Airlines is ending decades of giving passengers prayer cards with their meals, saying Wednesday the decision was made out of respect for all passengers. Airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said the airline heard from customers who preferred not to mix religion with transportation. "Some customers were comforted by the cards and some didn't feel religion was appropriate on the plane and preferred not to receive one," she said. The cards offer a short excerpt of a psalm from the Old Testament printed on a beautiful photograph. One current example includes this excerpt printed over a beach scene: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever."

US Supreme Court Won't Hear Board Prayer Cases - The justices today left intact a federal appeals ruling that said a North Carolina county board was violating the constitutional separation of church and state by opening most of its sessions with a Christian prayer. The high court also refused to review a separate decision that barred prayers at meetings of a Delaware school board. In the North Carolina case, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners used private religious leaders to deliver its prayers, each year inviting members of various faiths to sign up on a first-come, first-served basis to deliver an invocation. The result tended to be prayers that were predominantly Christian. From May 29, 2007, to Dec. 15, 2008, almost 80 percent of the prayers referred to Jesus.

Appeals Court Lifts Ban On Texas Ultrasound Law - The Texas sonogram law, requiring women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound in order to view the fetus and hear its heartbeat, doesn't violate constitutional protections and can go into effect, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. The three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals lifted a ban on the law that had been imposed in August by U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks. Other issues and a formal ruling on the case are still pending before Sparks. "We are thrilled by the ruling," said Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, adding the law protects women. "This is about raising the standard of care regarding informed consent about abortions to the same level any patient would expect from any other medical or surgical procedure," he said.

Assisted Sucide Is Illegal in Hawaii - Doctor-prescribed death is illegal under Hawaii law despite what a pro-death group has argued, according to a newly authored legal opinion issued by Hawaii Attorney General David Louie to Sen. Josh Green, M.D. Green requested the opinion after learning from media reports and an Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney that the group Compassion and Choices was publicly arguing that state law allows for physician-assisted suicide. According to Green, the attorney general's legal opinion states that state law "does not authorize physicians to assist terminally ill patients with dying" and "a physician who provided assistance with death could be charged under Hawaii's manslaughter statute."

Pro-Life NJ Nurses Will Not Have To Participate In Abortions - All but four nurses in same-day surgery unit at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey signed on to a lawsuit filed October 31 after being notified in writing that the hospital's new policy would require same-day surgery unit nurses to assist in abortions. Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defense Fund described the settlement as a "victory", saying, "[T]he hospital finally agreed to obey the law and not force our clients to do any work on abortion cases in violation of their beliefs. The hospital agreed not to penalize our clients in any way because they choose to not help abortions, according to their legal rights."

Churches Praying For Camden NJ - A South Camden congregation will call for divine intervention in the fight against violence and poverty on New Year's Day. In what he is calling a "drive-by prayer" session, the Rev. John Parker is eliciting his Antioch Baptist Church congregation to cruise through Camden next Sunday praying for God to heal a violence-plagued city that elected officials have been unable to cure. Parker said it is time for the churches in Camden to call for a divine intervention rather than rely on the plans of others to fix the city where 50 people have been killed this year and nearly 40 percent of the approximate 77,000 residents live in poverty.

Churches Praying For Camden NJ - A South Camden congregation will call for divine intervention in the fight against violence and poverty on New Year's Day. In what he is calling a "drive-by prayer" session, the Rev. John Parker is eliciting his Antioch Baptist Church congregation to cruise through Camden next Sunday praying for God to heal a violence-plagued city that elected officials have been unable to cure. Parker said it is time for the churches in Camden to call for a divine intervention rather than rely on the plans of others to fix the city where 50 people have been killed this year and nearly 40 percent of the approximate 77,000 residents live in poverty.

Recession Has Inspired States To Cut Gov't Jobs - State governments across the country have cut more than 80,000 jobs since the beginning of the recession, reflecting steep drops in tax revenue. Data collected by AP reporters in all 50 states show the number of government employees has declined along with per-capita general fund spending. The national average of state employees per 1,000 people has dropped from 8.1 to 7.6, thanks to layoffs and hiring freezes since the 2007-08 budget year. Even as the total number of state employees has plummeted, the ratio of public employees per 1,000 residents varies widely by state, the AP reporting found. Alaska had the most with 34.9, while Illinois had the fewest with 4.1 after cutting more than 4,000 workers from the state payroll since 2007. The AP figures _exclude_ K-12 teachers and employees in higher education systems.

Thousands Support Texas Town Nativity Scene - As many as 5,000 attended a rally in a small Texas community to show their support for a Nativity scene under attack by a Wisconsin-based atheist group, according to a minister who organized the event. "We are humbled at the turnout of the crowd," said Nathan Lorick, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Malakoff. "This message is resonating in the hearts of people all over the country." The Freedom From Religion Foundation had sent a letter to Henderson County, Texas explaining that a local resident had complained and they wanted the Nativity removed from the courthouse lawn.

Abortionist's Wife Guilty Of Performing Late Term Abortions - The wife of a disgraced doctor on Tuesday admitted to performing an illegal late-term abortion at her husband's clinic, a now-shuttered facility that authorities described as a filthy "house of horrors" where newborns were routinely murdered. Pearl Gosnell, 50, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to performing an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy, two counts of conspiracy and participating in a corrupt organization, according to court documents. Authorities said Gosnell's husband, Kermit Gosnell, ran the Women's Medical Society, an abortion clinic in west Philadelphia where babies born alive were killed.

The Tehran, Havana, Caracas Axis - Cuba and Venezuela have become the most strident defenders of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the three countries have formed a strategic partnership to evade U.N. and U.S economic sanctions. Iran is an increasingly important politico-economic player in Latin America. Its influence transcends geography, language, culture and religion. At the heart of this growing Iranian influence is a peculiar trilateral political configuration with Cuba and Venezuela. In the case of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, the unifying point seems to be virulent hostility toward the United States, liberal democracy and market economies. Increasingly, the Tehran, Havana, Caracas bloc speaks with a unified anti-American voice in a concerted effort to undermine U.S. influence by any means at its disposal.

NYC Can Keep Churches From Renting Schools - The Supreme Court has rejected an evangelical church's plea to overturn New York City's ban on renting public schools for religious worship services. That means the city now has a green light to begin evicting congregations who pay rent to use public school buildings for church services. The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case leaves in place a federal appeals court ruling that upheld the city's policy. The court case involved the Bronx Household of Faith – a church that paid weekly rent to hold worship services at a public school since 2002. The church, along with five dozen other congregations, was allowed to continue worshipping at public schools pending the outcome of the lawsuit. Churches will have to vacate public schools on Feb. 12, 2012.

Injunction Issued Against NC's Pro Life Plates - A federal judge on Monday issued a preliminary injunction that stops the state from issuing license plates with an pro-life message. The suit was filed by the ACLU of North Carolina, which argued that the state's "Choose Life" plates were a violation of the First Amendment as there was no plate with a message for pro-choice drivers. U.S. District Judge James Fox issued the injunction, and held that the driver of the vehicle is the one buying the plate and spreading the message. The case came down on whether the specialty plates were considered private speech - protected by the First Amendment - or government speech, which the legislature can control.

Texas Passes Pro-Life Laws: Abortionist Quits - Abortion practitioner Neal Adam Poch has quit doing abortions at a Fort Worth, Texas Planned Parenthood abortion clinic and local pro-life advocates say a new pro-life law the state legislature approved is the reason why. Jeff Williams, the coordinator for 40 Days for Life in the large northern Texas city says Poch quit his post as a Planned Parenthood abortion practitioner on Saturday. He credits the new law requiring abortion practitioners to give women considering an abortion the opportunity to see the ultrasound they perform beforehand with prompting Poch to stop doing abortions. Poch doesn't want the extra work load.

Mississippi Voters Cast Ballots On Personhood-At-Conception Admendment - Mississippi voters are casting ballots Tuesday on an amendment to the state constitution that would define personhood as "every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof." If approved by voters, it could make it impossible to get an abortion in the state and hamper the ability to get the morning-after pill or use in vitro fertilization treatments that leave unused fertilized eggs. Some pro life groups fear this step could lead to a Supreme Court ruling that would actually strengthen Roe v. Wade. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour offered his support despite some reservations."I have some concerns about it," he said in a statement issued Friday. "But I think, all in all, I believe life begins at conception, so I think the right thing to do was to vote for it."

Montana Debates Presence of Jesus on Big Mountain - Congressman Denny Rehberg has proposed a land swap to keep a controversial statue from being moved off Big Mountain in Whitefish, Montana. The statue of Jesus has sat on a piece of Forest Service land for more than 50 years. Now forest officials are considering pulling the statue after a group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained that it violates the separation of church and state. Under the plan, Whitefish Mountain Resort would trade a similar plot of land to the forest in exchange for the land the statue sits on. On Monday, the Forest Service opened the public comment period on whether to remove the statue. Comments will be accepted up to December 8.

Prescription Drugs Kill More People Than Heroin - More people die in America every year from prescription drug abuse than die from heroin and cocaine combined. That stunning finding comes in a new report Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found a fourfold increase in deaths from prescription narcotics over the past decade. Not surprisingly, it coincides with a fourfold increase in the number of prescriptions written for the powerful painkillers.

'In God We Trust' Affirmed As U.S. Motto - The American public can rest assured that "In God We Trust" is in fact the official motto of the United States. The Republican-led House approved a resolution Tuesday night to reaffirm the slogan as the country's motto and encourage the public display of it in all public buildings, public schools and other government institutions. The phrase "In God We Trust" has been the official U.S. motto since 1956.

America Still The World Power? - Ambrose Evans-Pritchard argues that America hit a dip, but is climbing back on top. He says, "The American phoenix is slowly rising again. Within five years or so, the US will be well on its way to self-sufficiency in fuel and energy. Manufacturing will have closed the labour gap with China in a clutch of key industries. The current account might even be in surplus...The US already meets 72pc of its own oil needs, up from around 50pc a decade ago...Meanwhile, the China-US seesaw is about to swing the other way. Offshoring is out, 're-inshoring' is the new fashion."

Oklahoma Judge Blocks Anti-Abortion Drug Law - A judge blocked a new Oklahoma law on Wednesday that would have prohibited women in the state from having medication-induced abortions to end unwanted early-term pregnancies. The law had been scheduled to go into effect on November 1, but state District Judge Dan Owens issued a temporary restraining order. Oklahoma lawmakers approved the law barring drug-induced abortions earlier this year, saying they were seeking to protect women's health. A similar law in North Dakota has also been blocked in the courts and remains under review. The Oklahoma law's sponsors have said that abortion-inducing drugs have led to the deaths of eight women in the United States.

Celebrating Two Years Of Freedom From Abortion - Abby Johnson writes about her two years since resigning at Planned Parenthood: "Today is year two. The second year since I walked away from Planned Parenthood. The anniversary of my new life. I am a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, and a new creation in Christ. These two years have been the best of my life... I am filled with emotions today. I am happy because I never thought my life would turn out so beautiful. It is wonderful to follow God's plan. I am blessed in a way that I don't deserve. I have amazing friends ... friends that I didn't have just two years ago ... friends that will be with me the rest of my life. My marriage is better than it has ever been. I never realized how the evil of my job had crept into my life at home. Now we are free of that. I value my daughter more than I ever have. ... I am also burdened today. So many of my friends are still there, in those clinics. People that won't communicate with me anymore. I feel broken for all of those that are still caught in the justification of the abortion industry." [Read more at the title link above.]

Taking The Wall Street Protestors NOT Seriously - 'David Kahane' writes from New York..."They're marching for liberation," explained Ginger..."From capitalist hegemony, patriarchy, oligarchy, poverty, bigotry, usury, antimony, simony, parsimony, parsnips, passports, indentured servitude, ignorance, bad credit scores, college loans, interest on college loans, paying back college loans, thinking about paying back college loans, the minimum wage, the maximum wage, really crappy bridges that fall down, and not enough free swampland. Among other things." Ginger is always on top of stuff like this... "No, seriously," Bergbloom continued. "I mean, look at all these fine young people, protesting Wall Street but loving President Goldman Sachs. Denouncing capitalism while checking their daddy's investment portfolio over at Bloomberg.com on their iPhones. Demanding to be paid for simply existing, while insisting that those who actually have a job get less money in order to support their freedom to choose indolence over work..."

Few Christian Young People Waiting Til Marriage - Eighty percent of young, unmarried Christians have had sex. Two-thirds have been sexually active in the last year, even though, according to a recent Gallup poll, 76 percent of evangelicals believe sex outside of marriage is morally wrong. In spite of the perception that everyone is doing it, there are Christians who are successfully reserving sex for marriage. Even though most Christians believe abstinence is the right thing, something needs to change for believers to truly live out their faith and pursue holiness in every area of life.

'Courageous' Grosses Fourth At Weekend Box Office - The Christian-themed film, "Courageous," opened in just 1,161 theaters this past weekend. According to boxoffice.com, "Courageous" sits in the fourth position for the weekend with gross revenues of just over $9 million. It is a movie meant to inspire fathers to not leave their families, to love their children, to not fail. "Courageous," depicts four police officers who share a commonality both as fathers and in their effort to become better ones. Alex Kendrick, who co-writes with his brother Steven, says, "The reason we put it in a law enforcement setting was that, as you know, a motto from law enforcement is to serve and protect, and then we drew a correlation to what a father is supposed to do." "We drew that correlation and said, 'Wouldn't it be interesting if we put this in the context of police officers who are also dads, and they may be heroic on the streets but it also takes courage to be a great dad - not just a good enough dad.'"

GOP Holds Planned Parenthood Accountable For Spending - House Republicans have begun an investigation into Planned Parenthood's use of federal funds, questioning whether the national network of abortion providers has proper checks in place to prevent violations of federal law. Under federal law, clinics that perform abortions can obtain federal money for health and contraceptive services but are not allowed to spend any of that money on abortions except in rare cases. Planned Parenthood reported $1.1 billion in revenue from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, of which $363.2 million was from federal, state or local grants and contracts. All of that money went to local affiliates.

America Abundantly Taxes Its Rich - In 2010, according to the TPC, Americans in the bottom 20 percent of income earners paid minus (-)3.8 percent of the total federal income tax burden. In other words, they got more back, in income tax credits and the like, than they paid in. Those in the middle quintile (with an average income of $44,000) paid 3.9 percent of the total federal income tax burden. And those in the fourth quintile (whose income ranged from $58,000 to $102,000) paid 15.1 percent of the total federal income tax burden. Meanwhile, Americans in the highest 0.1 percent of all income-earners — these are the very rich, with incomes of at least $1.974 million — paid 16.4 percent of the total federal tax burden. In other words, the top 0.1 percent paid more toward the workings of government than the bottom 80 percent did. That's despite the fact that the bottom 80 percent collectively made more than six times as much money as the top 0.1 percent did.

Americans Have Religion - Tailored To Suit Themselves - America has drifted from clearly defined religious denominations to faiths cut to fit personal preferences. The folks who make up God as they go are side-by-side with self-proclaimed believers who claim the Christian label but shed their ties to traditional beliefs and practices. Religion statistics expert George Barna says, with a wry hint of exaggeration, America is headed for "310 million people with 310 million religions." "We are a designer society. We want everything customized to our personal needs — our clothing, our food, our education," he says. Now it's our religion.

RI School Keeps Prayer On School Wall Despite ACLU Threats - Last year, the ACLU asked Cranston High School West in Rhode Island to remove an 8-foot-high prayer addressed to "Our Heavenly Father," after a parent complained. But in March, school officials voted to keep the mural, which has been displayed since the early 1960s. The ACLU sued the city, alleging the mural promotes a particular religion. Attorneys for the city and School Department disagree. After giving the issue much thought, school officials "decided not to erase history for the sake of political correctness," say attorneys. A court hearing is scheduled for October 13.

We Need To Pray, Mayor Bloomberg - There is a deep well of courage in the American spirit — courage displayed at Ground Zero, at the Pentagon, and in the air over Pennsylvania. There's also a deep well of faith — faith displayed even as the smoke still poured from the World Trade Center site. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision not to invite clergy of any faith to commemorate the anniversary Sunday at Ground Zero is a mistake. The move is deeply offensive to the many Americans who find solace and healing in prayer. He still has time to act. He should clear the way for clergy and religious leaders to participate — to pray for our nation, and to pray for those who are still suffering from the pain and loss of Sept. 11, 2001.

Pre-Game Prayer Eliminated Over Lawsuit Threat - Bell County, Kentucky school officials have ended the tradition of having a minister lead prayer over the public-address system before high school football games because of a complaint from a Wisconsin-based group that promotes the separation of church and state. Friday's home game against Lexington Catholic was the first in decades that didn't include a prayer before the game, said Bell County Superintendent George Thompson. "People were kind of jolted when we did the National Anthem and then kicked off" without the prayer, Thompson said.

If Only iPhone and iPad Were Made In America - The problem facing the American economy is clear. The nation's unemployment rate, still above 9 percent two years after the official end to the recession, needs to improve so that growth returns. In the 21st century, America is at the forefront of the technology revolution. On Tuesday, we saw Apple back in the news for briefly passing Exxon in market value to become the world's largest company. Not so many years ago, Apple was nearly bankrupt. That was before the smartphone and tablet revolution that Apple has so effectively conquered, if not created, with its iPhone and iPad products.

Mayor Alleges Stiff Corruption In Arizona Town - The far western Arizona town of Quartzsite was in disarray Monday after the town council ousted the mayor from power and declared a state of emergency. Ed Foster was elected as mayor in May 2010 on a campaign promise to investigate corruption allegations in the town. He said since being in office, he has discovered that every pay period, eight to 10 paychecks go to unnamed people and that he has been denied access to financial records to find out where the money goes at every turn. He said that's been happening since 1991 and amounts to $250,000 every year. "That's literally millions of dollars," he said.

The Ledge - A Movie That Promotes Atheism - Standing on the ledge of a building as a police officer tries to talk him down, a man must make a life-changing - and potentially life-ending - decision: Should I jump? It's a story of religion, love and revenge that pits a conservative Christian husband against an atheist who has seduced the religious man's Christian wife. The film is written and directed by Matthew Chapman, an outspoken atheist who says it's Hollywood's first offering to feature an openly atheist hero in a story about religious conflict. It's no surprise that a movie with an atheist hero and a Christian villain is already attracting criticism.

Conscience v. Gay Marriage: NY Town Clerk Resigns - Laura L. Fotusky, the town clerk of Barker, NY said that her religious beliefs made it impossible for her in good conscience to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Her last day in a job that she has held for four years is Thursday, three days before New York's same-sex marriage law goes into effect. "I've gotten some negatives," Ms. Fotusky said, "but I've gotten a tremendous amount of support." By her estimate, favorable reactions outnumber the hostile by five to one. "I had somebody stop me in the store today saying that they admired someone standing up for their convictions, that it was nice to see that," she said.

14 Women Killed by RU 486 Abortion Drug - The US Food and Drug Administration has quietly released a new report about the deaths of and injuries to women from the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug and the Obama administration has done nothing to make the information available to women. Following its approval during the Clinton administration, the FDA released a report in 2006 that received widespread attention for showing more than 1,100 women had been subjected to "adverse effects" resulting from their taking the abortion drug mifepristone, commonly known a RU 486. Pro-life advocates have waited five years for the FDA to come out with a new report of problems associated with the drug — despite mounting evidence that the abortion drug continues to kill and injure women across the globe.

'New Hope' Film Deals With Teen Suicide - Most people probably do not realize they are doing it - that drop in their voices when talking about sensitive subjects such as suicide. The movie set for Rodney Ray's new production "New Hope" was anything but silent. Last week, people showed up at Neville High School's gym from all over the community - and some even farther - to spend a dozen hours filming as extras in the low-budget, faith-based film that was merely an idea in Ray's mind until teen suicide slammed northeastern Louisiana.

The Miracle Of American Independence - On July 3, 1776, excited and fulfilled as a man can be after putting his life on the line for a cause, future president and current revolutionary John Adams, in a prophetic letter to his wife, Abigail, wrote: "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding Generations, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward ..." The note wasn't particularly eloquent and Adams capitalized way too many words, but he nailed the rest, except for the date...

Same-Sex Marriage Legalized In New York - New York, the nation's third most populous state, will join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the Washington capital district in allowing same-sex couples to wed. The passage of New York's legislation was made possible by two Republican senators who had been undecided.The sticking point over the past few days: Republican demands for stronger legal protections for religious groups that fear they will be hit with discrimination lawsuits if they refuse to allow their facilities to be used for gay weddings.

Indiana Planned Parenthood Gets Medicaid For Health Services - Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana started seeing Medicaid patients again Saturday, the day after a federal judge ruled the state couldn't cut off the organization's public funding for general health services even though it also provides abortions. Planned Parenthood of Indiana has been without Medicaid funding since May 10, when Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the law that cut off about $1.4 million and made Indiana the first state to deny the organization Medicaid funds for services such as breast exams and Pap tests.

Harrisburg Mayor Turns To Fasting And Prayer For City - Mayor Linda Thompson says she won't eat for three days, and she's not alone. Some religious leaders are calling on their followers to fast and pray for the good of the city. Thompson said the fasting was her idea as a way to unite Harrisburg and encourage local leaders to work together in solving the financial crisis. "Things that are above and beyond my control, I need God," Thompson said. "I depend on Him for guidance. Spiritual guidance. That's why it's really no struggle for me to join this fast and prayer."

One Daddy With Faith In God - There will come a time when his great-great-grandchildren will set out to do a family tree and have to search for his name and birth records. They will never know the times his powerful prayers lifted up those too sorrowed to pray for themselves or the times he pulled the last dollars from his pocket to give to someone in greater need. They will never know the integrity of a man so formidable that the men with whom he dealt always called him, "Honest Ralph."

Texas Governor Rick Perry To Fast And Pray - When Gov. Rick Perry invited fellow governors to join him on Aug. 6 for "a day of prayer and fasting on behalf of our troubled nation," some speculated that he was trying to raise his national visibility for a possible presidential run. Catherine Frazier, the governor's spokeswoman, said the timing was coincidental. "The governor thought of this back in December," Ms. Frazier said. "It has nothing to do with politics. It is about coming together to pray for our nation."

Long-Outdated Science in Proposed Texas Curricula - According to a study released today by the non-profit Discovery Institute, bogus embryo drawings, long-debunked claims about tonsils, and outdated information from a 1950s lab experiment highlight the glaring bloopers found in proposed science curricula currently being considered by the Texas State Board of Education. "Retro-science must be in, because the proposed curricula are filled with outdated scientific claims," said Casey Luskin, a policy and education analyst with Discovery Institute. "It's truly amazing how much discredited information keeps getting recycled year after year."

Oil Drops With Slugglish World Economy - Oil dropped in New York, headed for its first monthly decline since August, on speculation that fuel demand will falter amid a slowdown in the U.S. economic recovery and Europe's continuing debt crisis. Futures slipped as much as 1 percent before reports this week that may show U.S. employers hired fewer workers in May and manufacturing cooled. Concern that European governments will struggle to resolve the region's debt crises weakened the euro against the dollar, reducing the appeal of commodities priced in the U.S. currency.