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Here are a few important issues I wanted to share
with you before the next full issue is released…
1. Urgent churchwide prayer:
Proposition 8
On Monday, three judges from the ultra-liberal Court
of Appeals for the Ninth District drilled lawyers for
about 4 hours on Proposition 8. This is a historic case
that will impact the definition of marriage and
religious freedom across America.
Plus, on trial is the right of Americans to
vote on an important issue, versus the opinion of a
judge.
The first half of the session was to determine if the
Proposition 8 legal team had “standing,” because
Governor Schwarzenegger and Governor-elect Jerry Brown
both refused to uphold their duty to the voters and
represent Proposition 8 in court.
It was tough, antagonistic grilling by the judges…the
court may say the Proposition 8 lawyers have no
“standing” and let the lower court position win. Their
attitude was skeptical.
The second half was about the
constitutionality of Proposition 8. The institution of
marriage was on trial.
One lawyer on the case arguing in favor of
Proposition 8 is Charles Cooper. He used a U.S. Supreme
Court quote to make the case that marriage between a man
and a woman is “fundamental to the very existence and
survival of the human race.”
Standing before the appeals court, Cooper said, “The
traditional definition of marriage has existed
throughout the existence of this country. It has
been the governing definition and understanding of
marriage in this state since its founding and basically
throughout the country and throughout the world, for all
time.”
In 2008 when Proposition 8 was first on the ballot,
California voters passed the measure by 52%. They
affirmed by their vote to define marriage as between a
man and a woman.
Then Vaughn Walker, the district judge, stepped in
this past August and declared the amendment
unconstitutional. He cast aside morals, and said moral
disapproval by itself is not a proper justification to
prevent gays and lesbians from having rights to
marry.
If the court agrees to “standing,” then they will
rule on whether Proposition 8 was constitutional or
not.
The judges were very hostile to pro-marriage
arguments. Who are these judges?
1. Stephen Reinhardt, a liberal judicial activist. It
was requested because of his wife’s ties to the ACLU and
the anti-Prop 8 campaign that he remove himself from the
case. He refused.
Reinhardt has time and again ruled against the “under
God” phrase in our Pledge of Allegiance. This is the
judge Jimmy Carter nominated in 1980.
2. Michael Daly Hawkins is a liberal judicial
activist appointed by President Clinton.
3. The third is Norman Smith, appointed in 2007 by
George W. Bush. He seemed as hostile as the other two
during the hearing.
Here’s what you can do: Pray.
Pray personally.
Pray in your Bible study group.
Pray in your church…put a notice in
the bulletin for congregational prayer. Pray about it
before the worshippers.
The church is acting in indifference to this
issue…but it impacts not only our kids’ future, but the
church’s future as well.
Click here to see the impact to
Christian liberty in this 1:45-second explanation.
What do you think? Email me at craig@electionforum.org.
2. Bush visits Pastor
Rick
A crowd filled the Saddleback Church where former
President George W. Bush spoke in an interview with
Pastor Rick Warren. Simultaneously, the live interview
was broadcast via the Internet to 164 countries, where
leaders are tied into Pastor Warren’s Purpose Driven
network.
Bush attributed his principles of leadership
to his Christian faith.
Throughout his presidency, he held fast to the
principle, “to whom much is given, much is required,”
knowing he had been given much. He also spoke of his
core belief that “all life is precious,” which guided
decisions during his administration.
“There’s nothing worse than trying to lead an
organization and being full of self-pity,” Bush said.
“‘Why me?’ It just doesn’t work.
“People don’t want to follow somebody. What they want
to do is follow somebody that says no matter how high
the hill, we’re going to go up it…the Good Book teaches
you, you think you got it tough—imagine the risen Lord,
how he felt.”
Bush would read up to 92 books in a year
while in office. He had a regular discipline to read the
Bible daily…the first thing he read upon waking.
3. Mother sentenced to death by
hanging for her Christian faith
Asia Bibi is in custody in Pakistan, waiting. After
bearing the injustice of prison for a year and a half,
and awaiting her impending execution by hanging, Bibi is
waiting.
She’s not the only one. Her husband waits.
Bibi is the mother of 5 young children who are also
suffering…and waiting.
Bibi’s crime? While working in the fruit fields, she
went after drinking water. When she returned, she
offered it to other women. The women declined to drink,
stating the container was contaminated since it was
touched by a Christian.
A few days later, she was dragged away by a
group of Muslims. Her false accusation: Speaking against
the Prophet Mohammed.
Pakistan is overwhelmingly Muslim. Only 5% of the
country’s 175 million is Christian. Large, violent
protests against releasing Bibi have already become
widespread, and should she be freed, the unrest may
escalate into a massive resistance, anarchy and
chaos…not just toward Bibi, but all of the other 5% of
Christians living there.
Bibi has become a nationwide target. A
fundamentalist cleric even openly declared a reward for
anyone who murders her while in jail.
The political tension over this case, which is
scheduled for hearing this month, may provoke an
enormous backlash of extremist Muslims if Bibi is
pardoned.
Click here to watch this short video
about Bibi.
What do you think? Email me at craig@electionforum.org.
Pray for her protection, and for her court hearing
that she will be found innocent and released. Pray also
for other Christians in Pakistan.
4. Christmas movie
must-see
I highly recommend that you, your kids and your
grandkids see the movie The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
It’s based on C.S. Lewis’ famous work. While it was
created for a mass audience, it still has a strong
Christian allegory. To get a full review, click here to see what the
Movieguide® says.
Christians need to support positive films like this.
I hope you enjoy its special message.
5. Church denied
rights
The Rios De Agua Viva Church of Chicago is a Hispanic
congregation of about 250. The church has charged that
their First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights
have been violated, and they have filed a federal
lawsuit. The case claims that the city is violating the
Federal Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Act
(RLUIPA).
The city is motivated out of malice, and working to
change zoning codes and prevent the church from
occupying its own property, the church says.
Please pray for victory in the
case.
6. Apple censors Christian
iPhone application
I’ve encouraged all readers to sign the Manhattan
Declaration, which is prolife, pro-marriage and for
religious liberties. It’s been signed by one and a half
million Christians.
Apple has censored the petition. After only a month
of featuring the new Manhattan Declaration iPhone app in
the iTunes store, Apple secretly dropped it. Apple caved
to the pressure from a website of a small minority of
Americans who said the Manhattan Declaration was
offensive.
Now it is no longer available to download and
view and sign from your phone.
If you’d like to complain to Apple about this, click here.
7. Adoption and the
Christian
As we close 2010, would God be putting it on your
heart to adopt a child in 2011?
The Biblical basis for adoption is compelling, and
it’s a blessing for both those who adopt a child and the
child who joins a loving family by this means. Click here to watch a beautiful
5-minute message on the Biblical basis of adoption by
John Piper.
What do you think? Email me at craig@electionforum.org.
Finally, this video is getting a lot of distribution
for Christmas. It should bring a smile to your face! Click here to be pleasantly
surprised.
Have a blessed and glorious
Christmas. Our full issue of Realty
Alert will be out after Christmas.
Yours in love,
faith and hope, | 
