“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  John 1 When did God become flesh?  At conception?  At birth?  If Jesus Christ had been aborted during Mary’s pregnancy, would it have been just a blob of issue destroyed, or the Son of God? After the angel revealed God’s plan for man’s redemption to Mary, she responded, “Be it done unto me according to thy word!”  The Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Highest overshadowed her.  The virgin was with child and the child within her womb was the Son of God!  Emmanuel!  God with us! Unto Joseph, Mary’s espoused husband, the angel of the Lord said, “Fear not to take unto thee Mary…for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 1:20)  “That which is conceived” leaves no room for doubt or question.  The Bible says that human life begins at conception, not birth.  And each human life is valuable in the sight of God, no exceptions.  God created man in His own image and likeness.  God breathed His very life into man’s nostrils.  Man is sacred to God, different and set apart from all other forms of life.  God has a plan and purpose for each one of us.  No one is disposable.  No one is a “throw away.”  And all of mankind need each gift of life that God gives.  Each death is our loss.  This Christmas season as we are thanking God for the Gift of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ and celebrating His birth, let’s remember all the precious gifts of life that God has sent, which will never be “unwrapped”, allowed to be born, to be held, loved, and treasured.  Is there room in our hearts for them?  My hope and prayer is for everyone to have a blessed Christmas, making room in our hearts for the glorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  And then can we make room in our hearts for all the precious gifts of life that He sends?

Whereas:  In 1776 General George Washington headed a Congressional Committee authorized to design and produce one official Flag, which could be clearly distinguished at sea and not mistaken on land; a Flag representing the unity, strength, and noble purpose of the United States of America, a new Flag for a new Country, and

Whereas:  The Congressional Committee of George Washington, Robert Morris and John Ross commissioned Philadelphia resident, Mrs. Betsy Ross to sew a Flag of red and white stripes, with white stars on a field of blue.  The Flag’s colors and shapes were carefully chosen:  Blue, a strong color; White, a pure color; and Red, a brave color. The thirteen stripes of red and white were to represent the original thirteen colonies, joined together in unity as one.  A star is a symbol of light and truth.  On the field of deep blue bunting was a white star for each state, showing each state being equal, and

Whereas:  This Red, White and Blue Flag has henceforth been the standard and emblem of the United States of America.  It has been proudly displayed at every Fort, boldly carried onto every battlefield, gloriously waved aboard every American ship and sharply saluted by every American soldier throughout our history.  Throughout the world, the “Stars and Stripes” are raised at sunrise after the trumpeting of “Reveille”, and reverently lowered at sunset to the haunting sounds of “Taps,” and   

Whereas:  During the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key penned the profound words about our flag in what became our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”.  It ignited the flame of patriotism and continues to inspire all Americans as we see that “our Star Spangled Banner yet waves, over the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Americans salute our flag and sing our national anthem at every ball game and community gathering where Americans meet in every city, town and village, and

Whereas:  In World War II at Iwo Jima in 1945, the United States Marines  fought their way through to the top of Mount Suribachi to raise our American Flag in hard-fought victory.  Photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the inspiring picture of the triumphant flag-raising, which circulated the globe, giving hope to free and enslaved people everywhere, and 

Whereas:  It is the American Flag which drapes the coffins of all our fallen soldiers and is presented to the surviving families.   That flag symbolizes that our soldiers have not died in vain but for a noble cause, and

Whereas:  Henry Ward Beecher, a prominent 19^th Century clergyman and social reformer, stated:  “A thoughtful mind, when it sees a nation’s flag, sees not the flag only, but the nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the nation that sets it forth,” and

Whereas:  “Old Glory” has been reverently acknowledged by patriots of every age.   Americans cannot be separated from the emblem that stands for us.  Our flag is a part of us, and we of it.   An attack on the American Flag is an attack on the American people, “and the republic for which it stands.”  An assault on the Flag is an assault on the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the people over which the Flag waves, and

Whereas:   Flag Day on June 14^th is a national holiday which is celebrated by Americans throughout the country, when we reflect on the meaning and significance of our “Grand Old Flag, the emblem of, the land we love.” Every day of the year our flag flies over the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court Building, national cemeteries, county courthouses, and homes throughout our nation.   In the churches, schools, and classrooms, all Americans, young and old, respectfully rise to their feet to pledge allegiance to the flag we love, and

Whereas:    The United States Flag precedes every United States delegation on foreign soil, and is flown over every U.S. Embassy throughout the world, and

Whereas:  In July 1969, images of Apollo 11 astronauts planting the American flag on the Moon signaled a profound achievement for the United States and the entire world, and

Whereas:  In 1861 Henry Beecher Stowe stated, “Our Flag carries American ideas, American history, and American feelings.  Beginning with the Colonies, and coming down to our time, in its sacred heraldry, in its glorious insignia, it has gathered and stored chiefly this supreme idea:  Divine right of liberty in man.  Every color means liberty; every thread means liberty; every form of star and beam or stripe of light means liberty:  not lawlessness, not license; but organized institutional liberty, - liberty through law, and laws for liberty.  It is not a painted rag.  It is a whole national history.  It is the Constitution.  It is the government.  It is the free people that stand in the government of the Constitution,” and

 Therefore:  The history of our country is one of loving and honoring our American flag.  It is worthy of respect and protection.  Laws must be enacted by our United States Congress to criminalize desecration of the United States Flag on American soil, making it a federal crime to “knowingly cast contempt upon any flag of the United States by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon it.”  Congress must not allow this law to be subject to Judicial Review, which is within the power of Congress, Article III, Section 2, Paragraph 2 of the United States Constitution.

Now the very existence of our military chaplains is being threatened by the Obama administration's attempt to change the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy to permit open displays of homosexual behavior in the military.  Christian and Jewish Chaplains will not be permitted to teach Biblical doctrine regarding homosexuality.  They can be discharged from the service for their refusals to perform "marriages" between persons of the same gender.  A host of consequences, including losing their military careers and retirement benefits, can be meted out to chaplains who will not compromise Biblical truths.

Our troops will be severely punished as well, losing the caring, compassionate guidance and ministry of good people, just when they need them most, during time of war.

Let's show our support for our troops and chaplains, too, by informing our communities, pastors and churches about this dreadful and dangerous change that is likely coming in December by the Obama Administration. 

The name Christopher means Christ-bearer, and he believed God called him to bring Christ to the heathen.  He desired the wealth of the Indies to finance world evangelism and one last great crusade to take the holy land away from the Muslims.  Ferdinand and Isabella had finally stopped the advance of Islam into Spain, which enabled the sovereigns to start the new exploration venture with Christopher Columbus.   Columbus asked for 10% of the discovered wealth, the title of Admiral, and to be made governor of all the lands he found.

The first sentence in his logbook for the voyage was, "In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ."After sailing due west by dead reckoning, (he said he didn't make use of navigational instruments but the Holy Spirit led him), Columbus landed on an island, fell to his knees with his men in prayer and praise to God, planted a large cross, and named it San Salvador.  It means Holy Savior.  

The naked natives rejoiced to see the pale men from the east and Columbus took care to make sure that they were not taken advantage of by his men.  Some of the Spaniards had been released from prison to man the ships and were not of noble character.  They were trying to give cheap trinkets in exchange for valuables.  Columbus forbade it and gave good gifts to the natives, asking nothing in return, hoping to win their favor so they'd be receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He cared for the souls of the natives and where they'd spend eternity.  Pardon me, but who could characterize that as mean?  Columbus said they were so gentle and child-like that he believed they would make good Christians. 

While Columbus was absent from some of the islands, his crew (former criminals released from prison for the voyage) engaged in despicable behavior with the natives.  The spreading of disease traveled both ways, from the natives to the Europeans and from the Europeans to the natives.  Christopher Columbus was never implicated in wrong-doing by the honest whistle-blower who reported it. 

Everything I've read from primary and secondary sources has revealed Christopher Columbus as a kind man of strong faith and great courage.  He opened the door for the exploration and colonization of the new world, bringing the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ to those who had never heard the gospel.   Our nation was built on that foundation.  Thank you, Columbus!  I'm celebrating Columbus Day and hope you wil, too.       

Here's the link to the Columbus Letter

Although they are supposed to have a prayer meeting, the theme for this gathering is not humble petition.   The Muslims' theme is, "Our Time Has Come."  What an authoratative declaration of power!  What an intimidating, frightening, and even terrifying proclamation to a post 9-11 people! 

I suppose the question is, now that the Muslims "time has come" in the United States of America, what are they going to do with it?  Do they want to initiate Islamic law in the shadow of the Capitol which stands for freedom?  Islamic law and freedom do not go together; never have,never will.  By the way, how will we know what they're doing, what they're saying, and what they're printing?  

Please visit their web site to see for yourself:islamoncapitolhill.com