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! Hundreds Arrested in Sex Trafficking Sting February 07, 2012

NEW! Religious Freedom Versus Contraception Coverage January 31, 2012

NEW! 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

House Church Movement Keeps Growing April 26, 2011

Bees, Bats, and Stinkbugs April 26, 2011

Kentucky Senate Passes Bible Class Curriculum March 01, 2011

So The Dollar Is Falling - So What? (Here's What) February 22, 2011

The Economics of Pharmakeia by Mary Miller

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

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! 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.

NEW! 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.

NEW! 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.

NEW! 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.

NEW! 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.

Senate Extends The Patiot Act - Minutes before the midnight deadline Thursday, President Obama approved a four-year extension of the government's Patriot Act powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. "I think it is an important tool for us to continue dealing with an ongoing terrorist threat," the president said from the G-8 Summit in France.

Republicans Block Extreme Liberal Obama Nominee - The U.S. Senate blocked the nomination of Goodwin Liu to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the first rejection of one of President Barack Obama's judicial choices. Opponents said Liu, 40, lacks necessary courtroom experience and has activist judicial views reflected in writings and speeches supporting expanded welfare rights, gay marriage and privacy rights. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Liu as a judge might favor contemporary ideas over the Constitution's legal standards.

'So Help Me God' Will Stay In Presidential Oath - The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up an atheist challenge to the use of the phrase, "So help me God," at the conclusion of the presidential oath of office during a president-elect's inauguration. The lawsuit initially asked a federal judge to block Chief Justice John Roberts from reciting "So help me God" while administering the oath in January 2009 to President-elect Obama. It also sought an order preventing two members of the clergy from conducting an invocation and benediction during the 2009 inauguration. A federal judge threw the suit out, ruling that the atheists lacked the necessary legal standing to bring the litigation.

Southern Tornadoes Aftermath - Food, Sweat and Prayer - Tornadoes that wreaked havoc across the Southern and Eastern USA two weeks ago left great need in their wake. Tuscaloosa's Mayor Walt Maddox has faith in his city and his people, and they have faith in him. All have faith that God will see them through. Prayer, and a good knowledge of how government works, has carried him ever since. He walks among the devastated in the catastrophically hit parts of the city. He takes information and people with him to aid those who don't know, trust or understand government help. he Red Cross had 25,000 ready-to-eat meals, mobile clinics and medical staff on the way April 29. The Salvation Army was providing emergency shelter on the same day, as was Samaritan's Purse. Local volunteers are staffing many of the service and food centers. Americares and Direct Relief International were establishing with the appropriate authorities, where to set up full-scale clinics.

The National Day Of Prayer Is This Thursday - The National Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday, May 5th. The 2011 National Day of Prayer has special significance due to a recent court ruling by a panel of the US Court of Appeals, which affirmed the constitutionality of the law requiring the President to proclaim a National Day of Prayer each year. The US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, based in Chicago, ruled 3-0 that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and its plaintiffs do not have standing to continue their challenge of the 1952 congressional act declaring an annual National Day of Prayer. This year's theme is A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

National Day Of Prayer Still Constitutional - The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit dismissed a lawsuit last week claiming that the President's National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. The lawsuit, filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, claims that the day violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The Establishment Clause provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

Townspeople Still Say Lord's Prayer Regardless of Policy - Point Pleasant Beach Councilman Frank Rizzo said he will continue saying the Lord's Prayer if the audience does at council meetings, despite the council passing a new policy for more of a generic prayer. The council, including Rizzo, unanimously passed a resolution at Tuesday night's meeting to adopt a policy using a prayer that is consistent with court rulings. But will it really make a difference? For the past few months, the council has been observing a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance. However, a group of 15 to 20 residents have been saying the Lord's Prayer and Rizzo has been mouthing the words along with them.

More Teens Choosing Abstinence - According to new data released in March by the National Center for Health Statistics there has been an uptick in abstinence among 15-to-24-year-olds. The survey revealed that 29.9 percent of men had not had any sexual contact ever, while 28.3 percent of women had abstained. In the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), only 22.7 percent of women and 22.6 percent of men reported they were abstinent. "They can choose," Joy Bullock, executive director for the Manhattan Pregnancy Testing Center, said. "Young people are very bright. They can have control over their own bodies. They're not wild animals who don't have any ability to make decisions or be in control."

Troops To Be Given Gay Sensitivity Training - Four branches of the military have begun sending training material to 2.2 million active and reserve troops as a prelude to opening the ranks to gays, with instructions on, for example, what to do if an officer sees two male Marines kissing in a shopping mall. Key themes are that sexual orientation will no longer be a bar to service, that all service members must respect each other, and that the partners of gay troops will not receive the benefits of heterosexual spouses.

US Supreme Court Supports Tax Breaks For Religious Schools - The Supreme Court's conservative majority opened the door for new state support for religious schools, ruling that special tax credits that pay for children to go to church schools cannot be challenged by dissenting taxpayers. The 5-4 decision is a major win for those who support the "school choice" movement and aid to parochial schools, and a potentially far-reaching loss for defenders of the separation of church and state.

Spending Cuts Ahead in Wisconsin - Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a budget that makes deep cuts in spending on Tuesday, and he said the cuts could be even worse if Democrats continue to block his plan to curb the power of public sector unions. Walker, whose proposal to restrict collective bargaining sparked huge protests and a nationwide debate, said his budget would reduce state spending by 6.7 percent and slash more than 21,000 state jobs. He said the cuts would reduce the state's structural budget deficit by 90 percent to $250 million by the end of fiscal 2013, the lowest in recent history.

Congress Can Still Defend DOMA - The legislative action arm of a non-profit public policy organization is asking the public to fight the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The administration backed away last week from defending DOMA, the law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, in at least two federal courts where the law was ruled unconstitutional. But Chris Gacek, senior fellow of regulatory affairs at the Family Research Council, says Congress could get the last word if it decides to take action.

Church Wins Discrimination Case - The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled that the city of San Leandro illegally discriminated against a church by not allowing it to use its own property for worship services. Faith Fellowship outgrew its current location in a residential area of San Leandro and scoured the city for a larger site that would have less impact on their neighbors. They found only one building in the city that would fit its needs—a vacant industrial building in a part of town that was virtually deserted on the weekends. Relying on statements from city officials, the church bought the building and prepared to relocate. The city then shocked the church by denying rezoning and refusing to allow them to move in, with officials saying they preferred tax-producing entities like entertainment venues to service-oriented non-profit religious institutions.

'Expose Planned Parenthood' Prayer Vigil Held - A number of pro-life groups held prayer vigils at noon Monday outside of Planned Parenthood clinics across the country. The event is called "Expose Planned Parenthood" and is a result of a number of undercover videos released over the past several weeks that show alleged abuses. Planned Parenthood clinics in Utah were among the targets of a nationwide prayer vigil on Monday, where participants claimed the organization plays into illegal sex trafficking. Organizers also support an initiative in Congress to end about $360 million in Title X funding, which provides about $2 million of Planned Parenthood's $7 million annual operating budget in Utah.