FREEDOM DECEMBER 2010

"STAND FAST THEREFORE IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE" (GAL 5:1)

www.freedompublications.org

FREEDOM BUSINESS GROUP INC

IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 1

FED UP! GOV. PERRY'S CRUSADE OBAMA MORE COMFORTABLE

PAGE 2 & 3

YOUR VOICE OF FREEDOM RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS

PAGE 4

DOING GOOD ONE SEARCH OR ONE PURCHASE AT A TIME RACISM ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TEA PARTIERS

PAGE 5 PASTORS CORNER

Kenneth & Gloria Copeland

PAGE 6 & 7

DRUG ADDICTS WELCOME

MUSIC CONNECTION

PAGE 8 & 9 WALL BUILDERS

CHRISTMAS WITH THE PRESIDENTS

PAGE 10 & 11

PRINCIPLES OF PROSPERITY

WOMEN OF FAITH PAGE 12 & 13

6 REASONS WHY GOLD & SILVER ARE GOING HIGHER

PAGE 14 & 15

VALEDICTORIAN HAD RIGHT TO MENTION GOD BLAZERS CHAPLAIN COMMENDS YMCA EVIDENCE FOR CREATION

December Issue 2005 DECEMBER 2010

FED UP! GOV. PERRY’S CRUSADE TO REIN IN WASHINGTON

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respect for the U.S. Constitution have been a major source of hope and inspiration for Perry.

“The good news is that the people are taking action,” Perry said. “The Tea Party movement began in earnest as the result of boiling frustration among Americans, triggered by the dramatic expansion of government in their private affairs.”

exas Gov. Rick Perry believes what ails America isn’t the fault of its citizens, but the fault of the federal government.

Perry, who just won his third term as governor of the Lone Star state, said he’s fed up with government telling Americans Texas Governor. Rick Perry what they can eat, whether they can own guns, what prayers they can He said following the Constitution would lead to pray, and where. much less rule by unelected justices and judges, who The Texas governor is also preaching that Washing- increasingly lord their power over America by legislatton is spending money the country doesn’t have for ing from the bench. programs Americans don’t want.

The Supreme Court “long ago wrested away from the The Tea Party movement and its cries for less people the power to decide what is right and what is government, less spending, less taxing, and more wrong and at the most fundaContinued on Page 12

OBAMA MORE COMFORTABLE WITH POTENTIAL U.S. THREATS?

By Chad Groening - OneNewsNow

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bestselling author and former senior military rity. He is concerned about Obama’s willingness to aide isn’t confident that President Barack negotiate with a tyrant like Ahmadinejad.

Obama is adequately dealing with the threats “I think Obama is more comfortable with Ahmadinefrom Iranian strongman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. jad than he would be talking to me. Obama has As a gift to cap off the Iranian leader’s two-day visit agreed to talk with the Iranians.” But the former senior military to Lebanon, Hezbollah recently gave Ahmadineaide contends that jad an Israeli rifle “Ahmadinejad is that was captured a madman. He is during the terrorist developing nuclear group’s 2006 war weapons. If allowed with the Jewish to field a nuclear state. Following weapon, he will that event, Venobliterate and ezuelan strongman destroy Israel. That Hugo Chavez, who simply cannot haphas backed Iran pen on...Obama’s in its confrontation watch or anybody with the West over else’s watch.”

Tehran’s disputed But unfortunately, nuclear program, Patterson believes paid Ahmadinejad a Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson & Iranian strongman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the Israelis will visit in Tehran. have to act alone in order to take out Iranian nuclear installaRetired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson, who tions served as the senior military aide to Bill Clinton “It’s going to have to come down to one of two things in my in the 1990s, recently released his new book, mind: Either we attack those sites and take care of it, which I Conduct Unbecoming: How Barack Obama is Destroying the Military and Endangering Our Secu- don’t see happening under President Obama in any way shape .

Continued on Page 14

FREEDOM

From Our Heart To Yours FREEDOM is a free Newspaper Magazine produced by FREEDOM PUBLICATIONS, a member of FREEDOM BUSINESS GROUP INC, a company that Amelia and I formed in 2010.

When the Lord instructed our ministry, RSMI, to be a Voice of Freedom, to inspire, to encourage, to give hope, and to strengthen people’s faith, the vision of FREEDOM was birthed shortly thereafter.

John 8:32 soon became the foundation scripture for FREEDOM. “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

We are to print and publish the truth in a way that would inspire hope and faith in the individuals who read it.

FREEDOM is helping Amelia and I fulfill that vision.

And so in May of 2003 through much prayer, I started out with a notebook and a pen, and began casting this vision to some local businesses here in the Northern Iowa area.

In June of 2003 FREEDOM PUBLICATIONS published its first 8 page newspaper with sixteen (16) local businesses advertising in it.

As a result of steadfast diligence, and through the hard working efforts of my wife Amelia, and support staff, FREEDOM is now 16 pages, and is distributed primarily to over 90 cities, between Rochester MN, and Albert Lea MN, and Clear Lake IA and Mason City IA. We are finding out that FREEDOM is read all over the world as well. We are getting calls and letters from people just like you, who have picked up the paper at one of our many free distribution points, and have enjoyed its information, and inspiration.

As Amelia and I continue to pray for the mission of FREEDOM, we both believe that FREEDOM is to be a source where we take a stand for faith in Jesus Christ, and for the FREEDOM He brings as well.

Galatians 5:1 tells us to: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

So FREEDOM is here to strengthen your faith, and to stand for the Christian principles of freedom on which our nation, the United States of America was founded upon.

To this day FREEDOM continues to do just that. It is a reliable source of information and encouraging ministry related articles for the whole family to enjoy.

Many don’t realize it, but FREEDOM is a reader supported paper. We do sell advertisement spots to local businesses, but the rates are purposely low to provide a marketing source to help local businesses grow and prosper, without those overwhelming marketing costs.

Your financial support of this paper makes its possible for Amelia and I to produce, publish, and distribute this paper to thousands of homes here locally, and to thousands of homes all over the world as well.

If you would like to support FREEDOM you can give your tax deductible donations to Rory Synoground Ministries International at 1207 1st Ave N.W. Austin MN 55912 or online at www.rsmifreedom.org.

Thank you for your support, and God Bless you.

Rory & Amelia Synoground

FREEDOM

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Rev. Rory Synoground Founder and President of Rory Synoground Ministries International www.rsmifreedom.org

RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold frankincense, and myrrh. " (Matt. 2:11)

never used it? Do you think that he just buried it in the sand, like the unfaithful steward, and never produce any increase with that gold. NO!

God chose Mary and Joseph, because He knew their faithfulness. When God brought the gold, frankincense and myrrh, it was t one time in their life, Mary and Joseph His divine provision operating in their lives. were not abundantly rich people. In fact They became instantly rich! As soon as the when God had chosen them to be the wise men left, God told Joseph through a parents of Jesus, Joseph was a workingman, dream to escape into Egypt because Herod was seeking to kill Jesus. who made a living by carpentry.

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They were not extremely poor, but they were not in abundance. You can understand their social status by observing the sacrifice they gave on the day of dedication. They gave a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons (Luke 2:24).

They now had the means to do this. Not only were their needs met financially and physically, but God’s delivering power was in complete operation.

We need to understand something, when God comes on the scene, every need is According to the Levitical Law, when a male fulfilled, every lack is destroyed, and Jehovah Jireh paves a way for our deliverance. child is born to a woman, after seven days, she is to bring a sacrifice as an offering to the You see God blessed Mary and Joseph for temple on the eighth day. The law states that their obedience in receiving the Word of you were to bring a lamb, but if you could not the Lord, and acting on it. afford a lamb, then two birds would be acGod Came On The Scene cepted. The rich would bring a lamb, but the I want you to know something, the same poor would bring the birds. thing that happened to Mary, happened to you, when you accepted Jesus Christ, the When Mary and Joseph received the call to Word, as your Lord and Savior. bare Jesus, they instantly obeyed. In Luke 1:34-35 you can see the account of Mary’s According to 1 Peter 1:23 we are born obedience. Mary asked the angel; “How can I again not of corruptible seed, but incorruptgive birth seeing I have not known any man?” ible seed, by the Word of God which lives And the angel answered and said unto her, and abides forever. When you accepted “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Word of the Lord in your heart, the the power of the Highest shall overshadow Holy Ghost came upon you, and the power thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall of the Highest overshadowed you, and be born of thee shall be called the Son of conceived in you a new creature.

God” (Luke 1:35).

A child, a son, a daughter of God was So Joseph and Mary did as the angel had told born. God came on the scene! God is now them, and when Mary had brought forth her manifested in your flesh. You are now a firstborn son, Joseph called His name JESUS new being. A spirit of adoption has raised (Matt 1:25). you up from the bondage of sin and death, I want you to notice something, Jesus - Em- and has set you down at the right hand of manuel - which being interpreted, “God with God the Father. us,” came on the scene, and into their lives.

Yes, you are the righteousness of God God was now manifested in the flesh. in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21). Ephesians Because of their obedience, God moved on 2:5-6 says: Even when we were dead in sins, (He) hath quickened us together with three wise men to go and find where Jesus Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath dwelt. When they arrived they worshipped raised us up together, Continued on Page 6 Him, and gave Him gifts (Matt 2:11).

The gifts that the wise men gave Jesus were gold, a very expensive perfume, and medicine. Notice that one of the gifts given was gold. What do you think Joseph did with that gold?

Proven Faithfulness Do you think that He just held on to it and

Pastor Rory Synoground Speaking at the Breaking Free Conference August 2010

FREEDOM

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DOING GOOD ONE SEARCH OR ONE PURCHASE AT A TIME! Supporters of Rory Synoground Ministries International, & FREEDOM Business Group Inc are raising funds just by searching the Internet and shopping online!

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hat if even a fraction of the billions of dollars generated by search engine advertisers and online shopping was directed towards inspiring hope and faith, by supporting the ministry efforts of RSMI and FREEDOM Rory Synoground Ministries International has teamed up with GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com to do just that!

With GoodShop.com, consumers are helping their favorite causes by shopping at more than 1,600 well known retailers including Amazon, Target, Apple, Macy’s, Best Buy, Orbitz, Staples and others. The shopping experience and the prices are exactly the same as going to the retailer directly, but by going through GoodShop, up to 30% of the purchase price is donated the user’s favorite cause!

In addition, for every search conducted on the Yahoo and Bing-powered GoodSearch. com search engine, approximately one penny is donated to the user’s favorite charity.

Use it exactly like any other search engine, but with GoodSearch, the pennies add up quickly! Just 500 people searching four times a day will earn approximately $7,300 a year!

And, it doesn’t cost the users a thing!

It’s a form of philanthropy that works for everyone in this tough economy!

RSMI plans on using the money raised from these programs to help pay for pay for the production and distribution of the FREEDOM

paper, as well as funding the evangelistic efforts of RSMI in ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

More than 94,000 nonprofits and schools are now registered with GoodSearch and GoodShop and more than 100 organizations are registering daily. GoodSearch has quickly spread via word-of-mouth and the blogger community.

Examples of other organizations listed on the site include: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation which has earned nearly $15,000; the ASPCA which has raised more than $35,000; and The National Inclusion Project which supports children with disabilities and has earned more than $14,000.

“Every penny counts”, says Pastor Rory Synoground, President and CEO of RSMI, and FREEDOM Business Group Inc. “While doing a search or shopping online why not raise money for our cause? There is absolutely no reason not to use GoodSearch and GoodShop - it’s so easy” “We know there are a lot of people who want to do good but may not have the time or the money to help out.” said Ken Ramberg, Co-Founder of GoodSearch and former President of JOBTRAK, the largest online career site for college students (now a division of Monster.com). “GoodSearch and GoodShop make it as easy as possible. We’ve taken something people do every day -- searching the Internet and shopping online -- and have turned it into doing good.”

Contact Pastor Rory Synoground at Rory Synoground Ministries Int by calling 641512-8485 or visit us online at www.rsmifreedom.org and click on the GoodSearch Icon Bage for more infromation.

WEST SAYS RACISM ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TEA PARTY BY LIBERALS DIDN’T WORK

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lorida’s first black Republican congressman since Reconstruction credited the Tea Party with standing up against allegations of racism from the left in supporting his successful candidacy.

“So I think that the — the liberal progressives saw the strength of the grassroots movement that we call the Tea Party, which stands for ‘taxed enough already’ and they tried to turn against it,” Rep.-elect Allen West (R-Fla.) said Friday on Fox News’s “Hannity.”

“And the No.1 thing that you always try to do to silence an opponent in the United States of America is to call someone a racist.”

West said that attempts to tarnish the Tea Party did not foil his campaign. “And we see that that did not work whatsoever,” he said.

“Well, I think the most important thing with our race is that we ran on honor, integrity and

character,” said West.

By Kevin Cullum

Another historic election took place in South Carolina, where Rep.-Elect Tim Scott also became the first black Republican congressman from his state since Reconstruction.

Scott said he grew up in a single-parent household, where he experienced “tough love,” and that the country needs to experience a similar idea.

“And I think it’s part of what we need in America today is we need to have an opportunity to experience tough love,” he said. “And that really means to limit the role of the government.”

The two new members will join a Republican majority in the House. West has announced that he will join the Congressional Black Caucus, saying he plans to join the Democratic-dominated bloc to challenge the CBC’s “monolithic voice.”

FREEDOM

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PASTORS CORNER LET’S HAVE CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR

by Kenneth Copeland

done. He began treating them like they’d never sinned. He reached out to them in His great love. He totally offered Himself to man as though Jesus had already gone to the cross.

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Kenneth & Gloria Copeland

hat a great time of year Christmas is. It’s the greatest time of all to win souls and put love into

action.

During those few days every year, people are tenderhearted. They’re more open to giving and receiving than they are at any other time. That opens them up spiritually and puts them in a position to receive testimonies and ministry from you and me.

As you reach out to them in the days ahead, remember: Love and faith are the keys. When you’re ministering the love of God with faith, the Word will not return void: You’ll be irresistible to those with needs.

In light of that, I want to share something with you that will be a special blessing during the Christmas season—not only to you, but also to all the people around you. It will be a blessing to people you’ll be sharing with who don’t know Jesus as personally as you do.

You’ll find it in Luke 2:13-14. There the Word of God says, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Notice these angels were praising God for a particular reason. They were praising Him because peace was being declared between God and man, between heaven and earth. But wait a minute!

They were making the declaration at Bethlehem. Jesus was only a newborn baby at that time. How could peace be declared between God and man before Jesus had faced one test, before He had gone through even one temptation, before any battles for men had been fought, before one person was ever healed under His ministry?

How could God send the angels to say such things when the battle for man’s redemption was still 33 years away?

Peace was declared by faith, that’s how!

As Romans 4:17 tells us, God calls things that be not as though they were. He had already set his faith on man’s redemption.

So, as far as He was concerned, it was

Because of God’s faith and love, everything turned out perfectly. Jesus won every battle and took man away from Satan’s authority and dominion.

Now, keeping all that in mind, I want you to think about something. If God acted as though the work of the cross was already completed before Jesus ever went to the cross, how do you think He is acting now?

Living As If We’re There Already He is acting as though we were already in Glory. He is saying that we’ve been raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. As far as our heavenly Father is concerned, you and I are already there!

We need to start living that way! Where our needs are concerned and where our relationship with God is concerned, we need to live as though we’re already seated with our Lord in Glory.

Let’s begin to look at one another in Christ Jesus and treat one another like we were already in heaven. If we will, heaven will come down among us! After all, we all look a whole lot better in Jesus than any other way.

This can be the greatest Christmas any of us have ever had, if we’ll really make it great for someone else instead of waiting for everyone to do something great for us.

After all, we’re celebrating Jesus’ birth and not our own. So get that celebration off to a powerful start.

First, read the Christmas story in the Word again very carefully. Let it come alive and be real in your heart, and not just a fable.

Second, make giving your priority. You need to give, give, give. And don’t just give things that can be bought—give joy, peace, and love. If things have gone wrong between you and someone else, take this opportunity to make them right.

Finally, take on the spirit of joy! The Word says joy to the world. Take on that joyous spirit. Spread it around everywhere you go.

As you do these things, you’ll begin to realize that your needs are being met even though that’s not your primary goal.

That’s when it will dawn on you that this is not just a Christmas attitude, it’s Jesus’ attitude. It’s an attitude you and I can have 12 months out of the year!

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FREEDOM

DRUG ADDICTS WELCOME AT KENTUCKY CHURCHES by Carol Saia

“God has given us a lot of the people that nobody wants. And we take ‘em. We love ‘em. And God’s transforming them into the kind of people that everybody wants.

They’re faithful. They’re loyal. They love Jesus. And I’m honored to be their pastor.”

people saw no reason to flip hamburgers when they could earn two thousand dollars a week selling drugs. And many saw dealing as the only way to support their own habit.

One recovered addict divulges she and her husband had a two-thousand-dollar-aweek habit. Drug dealing was so common and open that one bootlegger turned drug dealer had a drive-through window with more customers than Wendy’s, Hardees, Donald Sims, pastor of City of Hope Church, Arby’s, and MacDonald’s combined, acdiscloses that 70% of his church members are cording to the FBI. new converts and 50% of those are recovering He stayed in busiaddicts. He affirms, “God has given us a lot ness for 30 years of the people that nobody wants. And we take because he paid ‘em. We love ‘em. And God’s transforming nine to twelve city them into the kind of people that everybody and county ofwants. They’re faithful. They’re loyal. They ficials every week. love Jesus. And I’m honored to be their pasThe honest tor.” policemen were frustrated when Clay County has a 200-year history of viodealers they arlence and corruption, and corruption opened rested were back the door to substance abuse. Moonshine stills on the street before the paperwork was supplied alcohol to people living in hollows in completed. In the high school, students the hills. Bootleg whiskey defied prohibition.

Later, marijuana cultivation became widespread smoked pot, with impunity, during breaks, and occasionally in classes. Christians acand cocaine appeared on the scene. Highcepted the situation as an inevitable sign grade marijuana from Eastern Kentucky supof the times that they could do nothing plied dealers across the U.S. Then came pain about. pills and others. Southeast Kentucky became known as the “Painkiller Capital” of the U.S. Churches worked to alleviate some of the The latest scourge is methamphetamines. problems of the 70% who were unemployed in their county. One church had a Businesses packed up and moved elsewhere clothing warehouse. Another supplied furbecause they could not rely on their workers, niture. Another had a food bank and a free 80% of whom were on drugs (as reported by medical clinic. The churches supported Paul Hays, Deputy Director of UNITE). Many one another’s ministries to the community. good people moved away to find jobs. Young

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hurches in Manchester, Kentucky, used to fear drug addicts and did not want them in their places of worship. Often they were dirty and smelly and didn’t fit in. Now many churches welcome them.

RECEIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS

Continued from Page 3

new light this Christmas. Realize that and made us sit together in heavenly places in God the Father is now with you, and you Christ Jesus. are now in your shiloh place, beside Him. You see, Father God raised Jesus up from the This is a place of safety, peace, rest, and dead to a heavenly place beside Him. Epheprosperity. sians 1:20 says, “and set Him at His own right Just like He sent the wise men to Mary hand in heavenly places.” and Joseph to bless them abundantly, God There is a specific place beside God that is will send you your wise men, to bless you designated for His children, a place of coverabundantly. ing, and a place of glory. In 1 Samuel 3:21 we During this holiday season, remember God read; “And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel is with you. Even if it looks like you are in stable barn financially, in an outcast posiin Shiloh through the Word of the Lord.” tion socially, or in a prison of sickness, and The word Shiloh is defined as a literal place. disease, God is working in your behalf.

It is a literal place of safety, rest, peace and prosperity. Shiloh is also a name for the Mes- These things are all subject to change!

When you receive the incorruptible seed siah, as understood by the ancient Jewish of God’s Word, God’s delivering power is interpreters. activated. You are raised up to a position Jesus Christ is our Messiah; He is our Shiloh beside Him, where you can expect Him to place. This place called Shiloh represents our be sending people your way to bless you. position in Christ Jesus. It is the secret place You can begin expecting visions in the where only His children can dwell. It is there night time, every need being met, every that Father God reveals Himself to us. ounce of lack being destroyed, sickness, Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply and disease running from you as if in terror, all of your needs, (where?) according to His and a whole new life being birthed before riches in Glory, by Christ Jesus.” In Glory, in your very eyes. the secret place beside God, is where all your God bless you as you receive The Gift of needs are met.

Jesus this Christmas!

Receive the gift of Jesus, the Word, in a whole

FREEDOM

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TOP MUSICIANS UNITE TO SUPPORT IJM: FREEDOM CD BRINGS TOGETHER TOP-40, DOVE- AND GRAMMY-AWARD WINNERS

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op musicians have united together for a single cause: IJM’s work to bring rescue to victims of modern-day slavery, sex trafficking and other forms of violent oppression.

Twenty-six of today’s leading artists contributed songs to “Freedom,” a new two-disc album that supports IJM’s frontline work.

Packed with new and never-before-released material from top-40, Dove- and Grammyaward winning artists, the album has already become one of the fastest-selling records in exclusive distributor Family Christian Stores’ history.

Order your copy of this extraordinary collaboration today.

Go to our Bookstore at www.freedompublications.org

“IJM is fighting to bring freedom and hope to victims of modern-day slavery – and they’re getting results. GRO and our fans are passionate about this work of justice, which is why we’re so excited to be a part of the ‘Freedom’ CD project.”

Lucia, Vice President of Global Communications for IJM. “We’re so honored by the group of talented musicians who have lent their voices and their music to this urgent cause – and grateful for the significant work and sacrifice of the record labels, publishers and Family Christian Stores to make this project a reality.”

The music featured on the collection ranges from the urban R&B-influenced “Justus” by the Washington Projects, to a new acoustic version of TobyMac’s hit “Hold On,” to songwriter Sara Groves’ intimate piano and voice performance of her chart-topping “When the Saints.”

Every purchase of “Freedom” helps — Green River Ordinance, whose hit single support IJM’s work to “Don’t Give Up,” opens disc 2. bring rescue, justice What unites the diand long-term aftercare verse group of artists to victims of violence. is their passion for The collection, which the work of justice. “It retails for only $5, also is an honor for Third equips supporters to Day to take part in become advocates for the Freedom project,” the 27 million children, explains Third Day’s women and men held David Carr, whose as slaves today. Each Grammy award-winalbum includes a ning band contributed bonus DVD featuring “To be honest, I don’t understand how anyone the album’s stirring IJM’s documentary could not be excited about the work that IJM is opening number, At the End of Slavery, doing. We feel that we are called to rescue, “Arise.” “We have just justice and mercy, and it moves our heart to see designed as a tool to recently been made how effectively and passionately IJM exhibits all introduce others to more aware of the three. Since God roke our chains, we want to the reality of moderntragedy of modern-day be involved in breaking the chains of others.” day slavery and the slavery and the vari— Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North, who hope for a final end contributed the new song ous ways it presents to this crime, and an itself. This is an issue “All I Have” to the compilation. introduction to Famthat upon learning ily Christian Stores’ about it, one cannot James Fund in support of orphans and just look the other way, and we certainly have widows. chosen not to. The work of IJM is monumental and we are proud to lend our support for their “Every victim of violent oppression needs an advocate. By supporting the ‘Freedom’ efforts. The body of Christ has to respond, and this is our hour project, listeners are not only getting an incredible album, but joining the movement to give the voiceless a voice” says Amy

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FREEDOM

“CHRISTMAS WITH birth of Christ; the holiday was instead established by Roman tradition, thus making it – in their view – one of the many “pagan” holidays that had been inculcated into the corrupt church that had persecuted them, and which they and other religious leaders wished to reform. Consequently, Christmas in New England remained a regular working day.

In fact, Massachusetts passed he White House observance an anti-Christmas law in 1659 of Christmas before the declaring: “Whosoever shall be twentieth century was not found observing any such day an official event. First families as Christmas . . . shall pay for decorated the house modestly with each offense five shillings as a greens and privately celebrated the fine to the country.” The law Yuletide with family and friends. was repealed in 1681, but the Christmas in Early America: holiday still was not celebrated the Pilgrims and Puritans of by religious non-conformists or New England found no Biblical dissenters (i.e., the Puritans and precedent for a public celebration Pilgrims); it usually was celebrated of Christmas (recall that the only by a few Anglicans (later goal of these groups was to Episcopalians), Catholics, and simplify religious worship and other more formal or high-churchto cut away all religious rituals tradition New England families. It and celebrations not specifically was not until the 1830s and 1840s cited in the Bible); nothing in the that Christmas celebrations were Bible established any date for the just beginning to be accepted in

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New England (primarily due to the influence of large-scale Christmas celebrations in cities such as New York) – although as late as 1870 in Boston public schools, a student missing school on Christmas Day could be punished or expelled. By the 1880s, however, Christmas celebrations had finally become as accepted in New England as they were in other parts of the country.

White House Tree History Christmas Tree Trivia: • In 1889, the tradition of a placing an indoor decorated tree in the White House began on Christmas morning during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison.

• In 1895, First Lady Frances Cleveland created a

“technology savvy” tree when she hung electric lights on the White House tree (electricity was introduced into the White House in 1891).

• 1901-1909, Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons.

• In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn.

• In 1929, First Lady Lou Henry Hoover established the custom of decorating an official (and not just a personal) tree in the White House – a tradition that has remained with the First Ladies.

• In 1953, the Eisenhowers sought out Hallmark Cards to assist them in creating a

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Author and historian David Barton is the Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization which distributes historical, legal, and statistical information; and helps citizens become active in their local schools and communities. WallBuilders is a name taken from the Bible book of Nehemiah. And just as Nehemiah led a grassroots movement in Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of that city and restore its strength and honor; so, too, WallBuilders seeks to energize the grassroots today to rebuild that which makes America strong—its constitutional, moral, and religious foundations.

THE PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS” ” presidential Christmas card – the beginning of the official White House Christmas card.

• In 1954, the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony is named the Pageant of Peace.

It is held each year in early December to light the National Christmas Tree and includes performances by popular entertainers before the lighting of the National Christmas Tree by the President. The National

Christmas Tree remains lit through January 1.

• In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of Christmas Tree themes when she decorated the Christmas tree in toy trimmings from the Nutcracker Suite ballet

by Tchaikovsky.

• In 1963, the first Christmas card to include an explicitly religious element was the Kennedy card featuring a photo of a Nativity Scene set up in the East Room of the White House.

Jack and Jacqueline had signed 30 cards before their final trip to Dallas. None was ever mailed.

The National Christmas Tree that year was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following President Kennedy’s assassination.

• In 1969, the Pageant of Peace was embroiled in legal controversy over the use of religious symbols, and in 1973, the nativity scene that had always been part of the pageant was no longer allowed.

• In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament.

This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran….

• In 1981, President Ronald Reagan authorized the first official White House ornament, copies of which were made available for purchase.

• In 1981, Barbara Bush took the first of twelve rides in a cherrypicker to hang the star at the top of the National Christmas Tree.

• In 1984, the Nativity Scene was allowed to return to the Pageant of Peace, and when the National Christmas Tree was lit

on December 13th, temperatures were in the 70s, making it one of the warmest tree lightings in history.

• In 2001, the first White House Christmas card to contain a Scripture was chosen by Laura Bush. Quoting from Psalm 27, it said “Thy face, Lord, do I seek. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living,” which is what Laura Bush believed would happen after the tragedy of September 11. She chose that Scripture on September 16 (only 5 days after 9/11) based on a sermon the chaplain had preached at Camp David. The Bushes regularly used Scriptures on their Christmas cards.

Available at www.wallbuilders.com

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PRINCIPLES OF PROSPERITY

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DON’T CHOKE YOUR PROSPERITY

here are Christians today who are living the abundant life. They’re healthy and happy, living in gorgeous homes, driving luxury cars, taking dream vacations and enjoying close family relationships. They are like trophies that display God’s goodness and faithfulness to prosper His people.

by Creflo A. Dollar

states how God wants us to live: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

You see, until your soul prospers in the knowledge of what the blood of Jesus has already purchased for you, your heart won’t be willing to receive it. And when you don’t know what is yours or you’re unwilling to receive His best, you choke your prosperity. In other words, you hinder it from manifesting itself in your life.

Yet, while some Christians have tapped into the abundant life, others are still struggling, living from paycheck to paycheck, uncertain of their rights and privileges as children of God. Child of God, you may Well I’m here to tell Pastor Creflo A. Dollar be comfortable with your you that God wants to standard of living, but it’s prove His goodness to all of His childrennothing compared to what He has planned including you! for you!

You may say, “I don’t need very much.

Receive God’s Best I’m happy with the little bit I have.” Child I remember the first time I was challenged to of God, the Word clearly tells us that there should be a distinction between His release the chokehold on my prosperity. My wife, Taffi, and I dreamed of owning a specific children and those who don’t know Him. kind of home that, at the time, was one of Isaiah 61:9 says, “And their seed shall the best. When God blessed us to buy one, be known among the Gentiles, and their we thought, This is it. Now we’re settled. We offspring among the people: all that see were comfortable and satisfied. them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the One day a friend of mine Lord hath blessed.” came by and we went to look at houses. As we You see, a prosperous passed by the lovely homes, lifestyle is attractive. the Lord showed me that God wants the world He wanted to give me more. to see that His children He said, Don’t get satisfied, are empowered to because I want to do prosper. The word exceeding and abundantly empower means “to more than you can think. I license.” In other . have a covenant of increase words, God has with you. I was about to given you a license to settle for less when God succeed. wanted to increase me more and more (Ps. Heirs According to the Promise 115:14). When I released the chokehold, I The unsaved world knows that children received the manifestation of God’s Word. of royalty live grand lifestyles and are Psalm 35:27 says, “Let them shout for joy, exposed to the best life has to offer.

Likewise, since Jesus is the King of kings, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: and you are a joint heir with Him, you are yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord a member of God’s royal family; therefore be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” That means God you are entitled to live a prosperous life. loves you tremendously. And, like a father, Galatians 3:29 says when we belong to He desires that you be healthy, happy and Christ, we are heirs to everything God enjoy life to the fullest. promised Abraham. How you live on the Because I’m a father, I can relate the love earth today, however, is limited to your and desire I have for my children to the love knowledge of what belongs to you and and desire God has for His children. I want your willingness to receive it. the best for them. I want them to excel, For years, Christians have accepted the mature and be healthy. If all of my children idea of “just enough.” We didn’t know were prosperous except one, I would be that material wealth was part of the displeased. And if all of them experienced covenant that God made with Abraham, wealth, but lacked health or godly so we believed it was wrong to possess friendships, I would be unhappy. it. We also didn’t know that by the stripes Likewise when you are lacking in any area of Jesus we were already healed (1 of your life, God is not pleased. He can’t Peter 2:24). But 3 John chapter 2 clearly

get glory for being faithful to His Word if your standard of living is the same as that of unbelievers. In other words, your prosperity is supposed to draw the unsaved to God. Child of God, take time to get in the Word and meditate on what belongs to you. As you renew your mind to God’s promises, you won’t choke your

prosperity. Instead, receive what He has always intended for you. Your Father is El Shaddai-the God Who is more than enough. He is more than able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or even think (Eph. 3:20). Now allow Him to do it for you!

Excerpt permission granted by World Changers MInistries

www.worldchangers.org

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A HOUSE THAT GRACE BUILT I took my seat one Sunday On my favorite pew Got comfy on a cushion With a perfect view.

I could see the Robinsons They’re on the rocks, it’s true.

The Jones were there- their boy drinks The Smiths- they just got sued.

And there was old man Worthington More money than the bank But I’ve watched very carefully He never fills the plate.

The organist filled up her pipes We stood to sing a hymn I nudged a friend beside me “Look what the cat dragged in!”

“How dare he darken sacred doors Some nerve to walk inhere.”

My nose rose up to greet him Made sure he saw me sneer.

The perfect conversation piece He was at lunch that day We only stopped long enough To bless the food and pray.

That night I crawled into my bed I tossed and turned ‘til late I reach for my antacids “Must be something I ate.”

I fell into a restless sleep And had a dream so real I stood before a mansion In a crimson field.

I reached my hand to knock On a door shaped like a cross My eyes fell on a message There on the door embossed.

This is a house that grace built You are welcome here You’ll find no condemnation Enter without fear.

The door opened before me I found myself in side It felt so unfamiliar I found no place to hide.

Suddenly before me Were faces that I knew The Robinsons, the Smith’s, the Jones Just to name a few.

And there was old man Worthington Passing’ round the plate Filled with appetizers Many took and ate.

A gentle hand slipped into mine He gave me quite a fright It was that man the cat dragged in!

But no cat was found in sight.

“So glad you graced our sacred door,” He said, “Fell right at home”

by BETH MOORE:

Then all rose up to greet me. . . .

If I had only known.

Though he looked a little different No doubt it was that Man But when He put His arms around me I saw nail scars in His hand.

This Poem taken from the book "Further Still" A collection of poetry and vignettes

by Beth More.

This poem should be a real eye opener to a lot of us.

You know, we are the church regulars, who sit in the same seat every Sunday year after year. We think we know everything there is to Amelia Synoground know about everyone in our church, or our community.

We gossip and judge each other without any remorse, especially those new comers who don’t seem to fit in our particular group.

This poem communicates a clear Biblical principle, in that, every time we critize someone, we are really critizing Jesus. He is in all of us.

When we pass judgment on them we are passing judgment on Jesus.

Well its time to take a good look at our own hearts. Instead of spreading rumors, judgements, & giving evil looks, let’s reach out to those that are hurting by showing them unconditional love.

In fact go ahead and take an individual, or a family that’s struggling a bag a food, a gift certificate to a local grocery store, a casserole for dinner, or offer them a car ride to work, or church. Do something good in their life, instead of judging them, or accusing them for missing it with God. I encourage you to simply ask God how He might use you to reach out to someone in need. Love is simple when your giving is truly for someone else, and not motivated by selfish reasons.

This Christmas, put Christ back into Christmas.

Lets put asside our judgements, and love unconditionaly, by giving grace to others with no strings attached.

FREEDOM FED UP! GOV. PERRYS CRUSADE Continued from Page 1

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mental level how we should live our lives,” Perry said.

Ponzi would be ashamed.

“The fact is our children know that the money that they’re putting into Medicaid they’ll never see,” he told Fox News Sunday. “And they need to fix it.”

The three-term governor says heeding the law of the land would stop much federal overreach, such as President Obama’s health care plan.

Perry believes that plan is the clos“And it is a Ponzi scheme,” he reiterest America has come to outright ated. “I don’t know how you would socialism. explain it any other way. There are fewer people paying into it and our He has tough words for programs kids are never going to see any benlike Social Security as well, charging efit from it.” that it’s such a nasty Ponzi scheme even the infamous swindler Charles

6 REASONS WHY GOLD AND SILVER ARE GOING HIGHER

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his week saw gold cross the $1,400 barrier for the first time, before it pulled back. Is the gold bull market over? Ha!

Since my $50 Silver and $2,500 Gold report launched Oct. 8, gold gained more than $150 to its recent peak — at a time when many people were expecting gold to take a trip back to test $1,000 an ounce. So we’re due for a correction, but it may not be nearly as deep as many people are hoping.

Corrections are a normal and necessary part of any bull market, and man, do I see this pullback as a golden opportunity — a chance to buy great gold and silver stocks that we missed the first time around!

Meanwhile, silver is outperforming gold percentage-wise, just as I predicted in my report. Take a look at this chart:

Quite a move, eh? Now, the U.S. dollar is rallying — as I talked about in my Tuesday video titled Is the U.S. Dollar Poised to Rally? — and both gold and silver are pulling back.

Many people are waiting for silver to pull back to $20 to buy it again, just as they waited for gold to pull back to $1,000. Don’t hold your breath, and don’t waste the opportunity.

Many people missed that last $400 move as gold charged from $1,000 to $1,400. Don’t miss the next leg of gold’s big rally.

Let me show you six reasons why this pullback may not be a big one and why gold is going much higher, and probably sooner than many on Wall Street believe possible.

Reason #1: Europe’s Debt Problems Haven’t Gone Away. The United States isn’t the only country with a debt crisis. The euro zone has its own government debt/bank-

by Sean Brodrick

ing crisis, a crisis that nearly sank the euro mere months ago, as Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain teetered on the brink of insolvency.

Europe was able to paper over the problem for a while, but now we’re seeing Irish 10-year spreads moved to 5% and Greek spreads to 9%. Investors are starting to bet those governments will bust their budgets.

So, worried Europeans are (again!) moving into the safety of the hard currencies — gold and silver. It’s a trend that could continue through December as Greece holds elections and Ireland wrestles with a new austerity budget plan.

Reason #2: The Debt Crisis Is Global. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the 15 most advanced nations of the world, including the United States, will have to borrow a whopping $10.2 billion in 2011. The money is needed to repay maturing bonds and finance budget deficits. Source: The Wall Street Journal Japan is in worse shape financially than the United States.

But we’re giving the Japanese a run for their money. The Federal Reserve has committed to buy an additional $600 billion in U.S. government debt over the next eight months.

This raises another red flag. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that the chances that investors will balk at lending to governments “remains high for advanced economies.”

If the risk of government default is rising, where do you hide out? Gold and silver are a good place to start!

Reason #3: Central Banks Continue to Buy. You know who’s not worried about the high price of gold? Central banks. They continue to snap up the yellow metal; obviously they’re banking on higher prices.

There are two parts to the central bank/gold equation: Buying and selling. On the sell side, central banks and the IMF sold about 94.5 metric tons of gold in the year that ended last month. Most of this was IMF gold. And the total was down a whopping 40% from a year

6 REASONS WHY GOLD AND SILVER ARE GOING HIGHER

Times that the Group of 20 leading economies should consider adopting a On the buy side, we know that countries global reserve currency based on gold including Russia, Venezuela and India as part of a bigger reform of the global are buying a lot of gold. In fact, Russia financial system. has been steadily building its stockpile of gold all year, buying it every month. It Such a move would be an end to the started with 16.7 million ounces in Janu- current global regime which is based on the dollar as the world’s reserve ary and just added another 500,000 currency. That would cut the hamounces in October to hit 19.5 million strings on the U.S. dollar. ounces. earlier!

Even developed nations are buying gold — France’s gold as a percentage of its reserves rose from 42.5% to 63.3% and Portugal jumped to 83.7% in 2009 from 39.9%. And China is probably buying a lot of gold, though we won’t know until long after the fact.

So ask yourself, how can both the euro go lower and the U.S. dollar go lower?

The answer is that both are going to go lower against hard currencies — gold and silver.

Here in the United States another new fund was launched — the ETFS Precious Metals Basket (GLTR on the NYSE). GLTR holds a basket of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in fixed weights — 0.03 ounces of gold, 1.1 ounces of silver, 0.004 ounces of platinum, and 0.006 ounces of palladium.

The gold and silver underlying the ETF will be held in London, while the platinum and palladium will be held in either London or Zurich. I don’t know if I’ll ever use this fund, but it’s one more shiny lure for investors hungry for precious metals, and I think we could see a lot more funds of varying components debut before the big bull run is over.

To be sure, past performance is no guarantee of future results. But if these trends stay in place — and I think they should — gold and silver should continue to outperform the S&P 500.

Reason #6: Gold Is Running Rings Around the S&P 500. The S&P 500 is up nearly 9% so far this year, which Reason #4: Investors Are Piling Into seems pretty good. But that’s only beGold. Central banks aren’t the only ones not deterred by higher gold prices. cause the S&P 500 is priced in dollars, Investors large and small aren’t blinking and the U.S. dollar’s big trend is lower.

What happens if you price the S&P either. The World Gold Council estimated late last month that gold holdings 500 in gold or silver? The results may surprise you ... in ETFs hit a new record in the third quarter.

As you can see, priced in gold, the What’s more, a new gold ETF just made S&P 500’s 9% gain turns into a its debut in Hong Kong. The Value Gold 14.85% LOSS. And valuing the S&P ETF will hold its gold locally, and offers 500 in white-hot silver is even worse Asians unnerved by the global currency — since silver has soared this year, the S&P 500 has lost more than 33% and debt crises a new way to hedge of its value in silver terms. their portfolios.

Reason #5: The World Starts to Shift Away from the U.S. Dollar. If you watched my video Tuesday, you know that I have turned short-term bullish on the U.S. dollar. But that’s just a zigzag in a long-term bear market for the greenback.

All This and Silver Too I think silver will continue to outperform gold going forward, at least in the short term. It is an industrial metal as well as a precious metal, and the global economy is firing on all cylinders even as the U.S. economy continues to sputter.

Investment demand for silver is riproaring, and it got a shot in the arm from the $575 million debut of the new Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV on the NYSE, PHS.U on the TSX) in Canada.

My intermediate-term target of $31.39 on silver that I gave in October now seems too conservative. Longer-term, I think silver is going to $50 an ounce.

We’ll see just how fast we get there.

Lock and Load with an Arsenal of Gold and Silver Bullets

The storm clouds gathering over the U.S. dollar are ominous. French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently emerged I’ve published two gold reports this from a meeting with China’s leader Hu Jintao, and called for a new global year. The first, New Gold Rush, came out in June. Subscribers grabbed profmonetary system. its on that portfolio multiple times. We Since the current system is based on track banked gains of about 17% (or the U.S. dollar as the reserve curmore than $4,300 before commissions) rency, this move is a direct assault on on the closed positions, and recently the dollar’s primacy. And since gold is the remaining open positions showed priced in dollars, if the dollar is going about 43% in open gains. These gains, down, gold will go up. open and closed, ran rings around the In fact, World Bank chief Robert Zoel- S&P 500. New Gold Rush is closed to lick said in an article in the Financial

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6 REASONS WHY GOLD AND SILVER ARE GOING HIGHER new subscribers.

Then, last month, I published $50 Silver and $2,500 Gold. This report is oriented more toward the smaller-cap silver and gold names I think can blast off in this leg of the precious metals bull market. It also took off straight out of the gate.

Now, it wasn’t a smooth ride — one of the picks didn’t work out, as sometimes happens with these small stocks, so we exited that one quickly at a loss of less than $300. While

losses aren’t fun, knowing when to cut your losses is part of the business. I then added a new pick that quickly racked up enough open gains to more than make up for the loss — and then some!

Warts and all, the $50 Silver and $2,500 Gold portfolio was recently up more than 11% since it was published Oct. 8. Individual performance may differ. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 gained just 4.9% at the same time.

So, my SECOND silver and gold report is showing about twice the performance of the

S&P 500. And we’re seeing a pullback in gold and silver right now — a pullback that probably won’t last long.

If you’re a gold bull — like I am — you’ll use this opportunity to add to your positions and maybe buy new positions.

And if you haven’t gotten onboard the train with $50 Silver and $2,500 Gold, this pullback is a GREAT opportunity for you to do.

It takes nerves of steel to buy when the market is going down. But that’s when you stand to make the biggest gains.

The big trend in gold is up, and my $50 Silver and $2,500 Gold portfolio should go along for that sweet ride.

For more information go to www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com

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OBAMAS OBAMA S COMFORTABLE Continued from page 1

or form, or the Israelis do, which they will no doubt do under Netanyahu if they’re forced to, which I think would cause a lot more upheaval in the region than we would...agree to,” he suggests.

lous lawsuits, and he backs a constitutional amendment that would give individuals the right to privately contract for medical care.

Regardless, he understands that repealing ObamaCare will not be easy. “I believe the Senate might be chastened by the electoral The bestselling author further thinks Obama results, and therefore might even go along is sitting on his hands as Iran develops nuwith that. But it’s a real stretch to think that clear weapons that will someday be pointed Obama is going to sign off on a repeal of at the U.S.“ObamaCare is so massive and what complex that to try to pick through it to find he something good in it is just not worthwhile, conand there’s a real risk of leaving behind awful sidstuff,” he suggests. ers a sucSo Amerling says Congress should consider “common sense, free market” proposals that include transferring to employees the tax breaks employers get for buying health plans.

In addition, he argues that people should be allowed to buy coverage from outside of their state to ensure that they get the plan they want at the price they want.

The nephrologist also favors a “loser pays” Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson system for medical malpractice to cut frivo-

VALEDICTORIAN HAD RIGHT TO MENTION ‘GOD’ AND ‘CHRIST’ IN ADDRESS: MONTANA SUPREME COURT by Peter Smith

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religious speech during graduation ceremonies are applied evenly to all student speakers,” and the policy itself was “drafted with the specific intent of maintaining [school] District neutrality toward religion, as is required by the Establishment Clause.”

The high court issued its decision Friday, sayThe Establishment Clause of the U.S. Coning Renee Griffith’s rights to free speech and freedom of religion under the state and federal stitution states “Congress shall make no law constitutions had been violated by officials with respecting an establishment of religion, or the Butte High School and the school district. prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Renee Griffith, one of the ten high school vale- The state Supreme Court’s decision now dictorians in the class of 2008, had planned to nullifies Todd’s ruling. say in her graduation address that she “didn’t Griffith’s attorney, William J. O’Connor II, told let fear keep me from sharing Christ and his LifeSiteNews.com earlier this year that he joy with those around me.” She also wanted to would be taking her case to the high court speak about “being someone who lived with a because the district’s policy entails “viewpurpose from God with a passionate love for point discrimination,” which is prohibited him.” under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

However, Principal John Metz, and the superin- “You can’t say people can speak on their tendent for Butte School District No. 1, Charles personal point of view except if their personUggetti, demanded Griffith replace the words al point of view involves religion,” he added.

Griffith originally filed a complaint with the “Christ and his joy” with “my faith,” and “from Human Rights Bureau of the State of MonGod with a passionate love for him” with the phrase “derived from my faith and based on a tana in July of 2008. After the Bureau dismissed her complaint, Griffith filed a further love of mankind.” complaint in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial Since Griffiths would not make the suggested District Court, Yellowstone County, in April changes to her address, Metz and Uggetti did of 2009, alleging that six state and federal not allow her to speak at graduation. rights were violated by Uggetti and Metz.

Back in February, Yellowstone County District Judge Gregory Todd ruled in favor of the school district against Griffiths. The judge stated the “policies and practices of the District prohibiting he Montana Supreme Court has reversed a district judge’s ruling that school officials could censor a valedictorian’s speech that contained references to God and Jesus Christ.

BLAZERS CHAPLAIN COMMENDS YMCA

P

ortland Trail Blazers chaplain Al Egg says recent efforts by YMCAs in the metro area to emphasize the agency’s Christian roots are a great thing that he likely would have welcomed when he was a youth involved in “Y” programs.

by John Fortmeyer

don’t remember ever hearing about God.”

That is ironic, he said, because each year “every YMCA branch signs a pledge of commitment to Jesus.”

As for the world of basketball with which he is so familiar, Egg said its “I’m so thankful for the effort now to very roots are in both the YMCA and bring the ‘C’ back to the Y,” said Egg, re- Christian outreach. He said the invenferring to the historic name of the Young tor of basketball, James Naismith, was Men’s Christian Association. a strongly committed Christian who introduced the game at a YMCA in Egg made his comments as featured Massachusetts. speaker at the fifth annual Christian Principles Division’s Celebration and “Basketball was invented as an evanFundraising Event sponsored by the gelistic tool, and believe me, I share YMCA of Columbia-Willamette chapthat with our Blazers every year,” Egg lain’s office Nov. 1 at the Multnomah said.

Athletic Club.

Bob Reichen, who heads the chaplainThe chaplain’s office strengthens, cy for the local YMCAs, acknowledged encourages and comforts YMCA staff, at the start of the event that YMCAs members and volunteers as they put nationally have over the years not Christian principles into practice in the stressed the “C.” five-county Portland-Vancouver area.

The office promotes the YMCA’s mis- “The Christian emphasis to some measion to build the spirit, mind and body of sure, has decreased,” he said.

But he sees good signs that is changthose served. ing.

Egg became a Christian through the outreach of Fellowship of Christian Ath- “The ‘C’ is being restored to the center letes. In 1980 he told God that he would focus of our association,” Reichen said. be available to minister to coaches, Bob Hall, president and chief executeams and athletes, which was the birth- tive officer of the YMCA of Columbiaing of Beyond Victory Ministry. Almost Willamette, also noted the spiritual immediately, one of the NBA Portland heritage of the YMCA. He said Dwight Trail Blazers asked him to lead a Bible Moody, Oswald Chambers and George study for the team, and soon after that Washington Carver were among famed one of the athletes at Portland State believers in Christ who were associated University asked him to do the same with the Y in years past. there. Today, Egg is chaplain for the Hall said there are now more than 45 PSU teams as well as the Trail Blazers. chaplains in Ys across the nation. “It’s While Egg came to faith in Christ as an a drop in the bucket, but at least we’re adult, he says it could well have hapheaded in the right direction,” he said. pened earlier if the YMCA had been Orlando Williams, a member of the lodoing then what it is now locally. He said cal Y’s board of trustees and president he was heavily involved in the Y as a of Motus Recruting and Staffing, closed boy going to camps, serving as presithe evening with an opportunity for dent of a Hi-Y youth leadership group in those attending to show their support Olympia, Wash., as a teenager, and takfinancially. He said such support is sure ing part in youth legislatures sponsored to bring lasting spiritual results. by the YMCA. “It’s an opportunity that will last “But the ‘C’ was not there,” he said. “I throughout eternity,” he said

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EVIDENCE FOR CREATION A tremendous pyramid of evidence for design and recent creation is available for detailed study.

Romans 1:20 states: “For the invisible things of him from the creation are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead: so that they are without excuse.”

“A.M. COFFEE TRACK” I. Discovery...In 1934 Mr. A.M. Coffee of Stinnett, Texas, a pumper for the Gulf Oil Company, discovered a trail of nine “human-like footprints” in series on a rock ledge about four miles out of town. He worked one of the tracks loose and took it home.

After he showed the artifact to a few friends including his boss, various interested persons took the rest of the tracks from the site. The discovery created an instant controversy among archaeologists, geologists and anthropologists, because the sedimentary rock system of the entire area is geologically assigned Permian (assumed to be 225 million years old). The general consensus was that the print had to be a carving made by Indians, or the like. The difficulties involved in drawing such conclusions were enhanced by the fact that the print was accompanied by eight other prints in the series, along with an adjacent child’s print. Further controversy ensued when it was pointed out that the tracks were not “stylized” as other Indian carvings are.

II. Display...In recent years the original track of the Coffee discovery has been kept on public display at the Stinnett City Hall at Stinnett, Texas. One of the other tracks in the series was displayed for years at the Panhandle A&M College Museum at Goodwell, Oklahoma. It was then placed with Mr. Truman Tucker, a creationist friend of the late Dr. Walter Lang and the Creation Evidence Museum. Mr. Tucker placed the artifact with the Community Museum in Kenton, Oklahoma near his home.

His companion footprint is not quite as deep nor as distinctive as the Coffee track, but is discernible as a human footprint.

III. Description...Both footprints measure 8 1/2 inches in length. The Coffee track is a “right” footprint, whereas the Tucker track is a “left” footprint. On the slab of rock containing the Coffee Footprint is a 5-inch child’s footprint. The adult print is 3/4 inches deep, and the mud compression between the toes is evident, along with slight mud displacement around the footprint. All five human toes are clearly displayed.

IV. Definition.. The discoverer’s grandson, Mr. Fred Coffee, a member of the Stinnett City Council, is the current owner of the artifact. With his gracious cooperation the track was submitted to a nondestructive Spiral CT Scan analysis at a laboratory.

While the information was being processed through the computer, the technical staff immediately pointed to the screen and emphasized the compression areas under the track and between the toes. The staff also emphasized the clearly discernible five toes, the three arches (medial, lateral, and metatarsal), and the overall distinctive shape of the human foot.

Attention was drawn to the depressions made by the dominant “great toe,” the unique “second toe” that makes a slightly deeper depression, and the distinctive “ball” of the foot. When the analysis was complete the CT Scan had recorded the compression around the complete footprint, clearly indicating that the print was not carved or fabricated. In CT Scan X-rays the lighter areas are more dense, since the X-rays have more difficulty traveling through that medium.As it reaches the ground in forward locomotion the human foot first places pressure in the heel area, gently transfers the weight to the lateral longitudinal arch (creating a slight bulge in the upper outer section of the foot in the process), transfers the weight to the ball and the medial longitudinal arch, then transfers the weight to the metatarsal arch and the toes in a lifting motion. The enclosed documentation verifies this distinctive placement.Of significant importance is the fact that a thin crustal layer of sediment formed over the bulk rock as both layers lithofied. The crustal layer followed the contour of the contour of the depression. This thin layer is clearly seen, since a section of it peeled off as Mr. Coffee was removing the artifact.

Any carving activity would have cut through the outer layer, clearly leaving its evidence of fabrication.

V. Decision..With this new technical data in hand we have come to the conclusion that the track is indeed genuine and is a depression left by the placement of a human foot while the matrix of “mud” was still fresh and pliable. All the professional academicians to whom the Director has

shown the artifact rate it between 9.5 and 10.0 on a scale of I to 10.

We offer our congratulations to the Coffee family, and our commendation to the man who made this important discovery, the late A.M. Coffee. He is worthy of profound honor.

by Creation Evidence Museum staff writter