Pulpits Are Silent

Jeremiah 5:26-31

For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men. Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich; they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

Despite what the political parties would like you to believe, the problem in America is not the politicians, it is the pulpits. I hate to break the news to you, but most of America’s pulpits are filled with cowardly men unwilling to address the issues that have swept over our country like a tidal wave.

I am about fed-up with what I see. How did we ever get such man-pleasing leaders? All that our fore-fathers held dear is being destroyed before our very eyes and hardly a peep from the pulpit. They don’t want to hear it. It's the pulpiteers that I am talking about. They are concerned with being too harsh, they tell me that “Jesus is in control,” that they are not “called” to fight evil and that "we should pray for our enemies.”

What we need is a return of the Voice of God thundering through the prophets standing in America’s pulpits. Not the prissy purpose driven therapeutic Christianity drivel passing as the Gospel today. Few of the feminized-preachers of the day can hold a candle to those who ushered in The Great Awakening which led to the American Revolution, and the abolition of slavery -- two world-changing events spearheaded by the pulpit.

·         Public schools are destroying the faith of Christian children and the pulpits are silent.

·         Legislation is introduced to remove the rights of parents and the pulpits are silent.

·         Children are taught they came from apes and the pulpits are silent.

·         Millions of children are “medicated” to control their behavior and the pulpits are silent.

·         Gambling is promoted to pay for schools and the pulpit is silent.

·         Precious babies are being murdered in the womb and the pulpits are silent.

·         Planned Parenthood kills babies with our tax dollars and the pulpits are silent.

·         Judges make laws and the pulpits are silent.

·         Tolerance trumps Truth and the pulpits are silent.

·         Sodomy is granted legal protection and the pulpits are silent.

·         The institution of marriage is crumbling and the pulpits are silent.

·         Obama says the Sermon on the Mount justifies gay marriage and the pulpits are silent.

·         Government has replaced God as defender and provider and the pulpits are silent.

·         Faith-based initiatives invite the government into the Church and the pulpits are silent.

·         The IRS muzzles the voice of the Church and the pulpits are silent.

·         Taxes are levied to do the work of the Church and the pulpits are silent.

·         The Church locks arms with compassionate-conservativism and the pulpits are silent.

·         Children’s service agencies separate family members and the pulpits are silent.

·         Self-help books replace the Bible and the pulpits are silent.

·         A Purpose Driven Life is elevated above dying to self and the pulpits are silent.

·         Leaders say Christians and Muslims worship the same God and the pulpits are silent.

·         The Constitution is ignored and the pulpits are silent.

·         Pagans pray to open a session of Congress and the pulpits are silent.

·         Our elected officials lie and steal and the pulpits are silent.

·         Private property is stolen by government and the pulpits are silent.

·         Mother Earth is protected more than Father God is defended and the pulpits are silent.

·         Illegal aliens over-run our borders and the pulpits are silent.

·         The entertainment industry celebrates debauchery and the pulpits are silent.

School District Reverses Policy, Allows Equal Access to Religious Viewpoints

The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) recently assisted a Church in gaining equal access at a public school to distribute materials related to release time religious and moral instruction. Under California law, parents are permitted to request that their children be released from school supervision for a limited period every month in order for their child to receive religious and moral instruction that the child does not receive from the public school.

Unfortunately, the school district had a policy that prohibited anyone from distributing “religious materials” including information related to the release time religious and moral instruction that was authorized under state law. To make matters worse, the district allowed distribution of secular materials and specifically targeted religious materials for discrimination.

After discussing the issue with our client, the ACLJ drafted a letter explaining that the school’s policy constitutes viewpoint discrimination against religious speech and that the policy violated the First Amendment’s prohibition on restricting free speech. In addition, we explained that the policy was facially inconsistent with the state law which allows supervised release time for religious and moral instruction.

Thankfully, after church representatives presented the letter to the school district explaining the law, the school district has agreed to change its policy to comply with First Amendment requirements and give equal access to all viewpoints. The Church will now have equal access to distribute material related to the release time religious and moral instruction.

The ACLJ is pleased with this outcome and looks forward to continuing to vigilantly protect and ensure the ongoing viability of religious freedom and liberty in the United States and around the world.

Death of Common Sense

Wyoming agrees to settle abortion protest lawsuit

 By The Associated Press

CHEYENNE — The state of Wyoming settled a federal lawsuit filed by an anti-abortion pro-life group.
Under the settlement, the state admitted that state officials violated the constitutional rights of WyWatch Family Action by removing a display of materials it posted in a tunnel leading to the state Capitol last year.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal approved the settlement and dismissed the lawsuit on Thursday.
Under the settlement, the state admits that it unconstitutionally prevented WyWatch from engaging in protected expression during the 2011 legislative session. The state agreed to pay the group $1 in nominal damages and $30,000 in attorney fees.

The State Building Commission, composed of the state's five statewide elected officials, this year banned all outside groups from displaying materials in the tunnel.

Deafening Silence

Moral Issues in the Election

By Chuck Colson | Published Date: February 06, 2012

This reflection from the 2010 elections continues to be relevant for this year.

Here we are, six days from the midterm elections, and the silence is deafening.

Next Tuesday, I hope you will do your Christian duty and head to the polls to vote for the candidate of your choice. I trust that your faith will guide you in your decision. Which candidate will best promote justice and preserve order? After all, those are the biblically sanctioned roles of government.

And which candidate best exemplifies the cardinal virtue of prudence in his or her public and private life?

And which candidate will best promote the sanctity of human life, advocate for traditional marriage, and protect religious freedom?  Well, if you’ve got an answer for that last question, then you’re among the few. Because for the life of me, I have never heard so little about these core issues during a political campaign. These core issues—human life, marriage, and freedom—which—all expressed so powerfully in the Manhattan Declaration and supported by half a million signatories, aren’t even on the political radar this year.

And that, to me is shocking.

Shocking to me because I know that politicians are survivors. They watch the polls. They know what people want. And all the candidates seem to be talking about is the economy.

One side swears up and down that they have saved our economy from another great depression. The others side says Congress is spending our nation into bankruptcy and that they’ll slash federal spending.

But no one—OK, hardly anyone—is talking about life, marriage, and liberty.

Why is that? It’s because we Christians--whether it’s from culture-war fatigue or worry over our own jobs and bank accounts--have not been vocal enough on these issues.

The Republicans devised their Pledge to America after months and months of polling, focus groups, and web chats. These moral issues weren’t on their supporters’ minds or lips—at least not until I asked you to tell the Republican leadership that you want them to address these issues. You emailed by the thousands . . . but it was only enough to get the Republicans to throw us a bone. One short paragraph in a 45-page document!

But folks, I’ve made the case again and again, we cannot have a healthy economy apart from morality and ethics. Without promoting stable, healthy families, without protecting life and freedom, without promoting a Christian ethic that values work and saving over instant spending and gratification, no economy or nation can thrive.

So, where do we Christian stand with our political leaders and the two political parties?

I want you to come to ColsonCenter.org today and watch this week’s Two Minute Warning. It’s called “Politically Homeless.” I want to share some thoughts and observations that may startle you.

And I also want you to share your thoughts with me. Go to ColsonCenter.org or BreakPoint.org and click on “Speak Out with Chuck” session. How should Christians approach this election? Will either party ever realty promote the values we hold dear? I want to hear from you. I will read every comment and will respond where I can.

But make no mistake. No matter how silent the candidates are on life, marriage, and liberty, we believers must never be silent. For the sake of our faith in Christ, our nation, and the common good, we must speak out.

AUL’s “Life List” Shows Huge Legislative Gains for Life in the 50 states in 2011

By Americans United for Life
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
And AUL prepares for 39^th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Events with AUL’s
Dr. Charmaine Yoest and Abby Johnson together during the March for Life.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (01-19-12) –Americans United for Life released its seventh annual “Life List” – a ranking of all 50 states based on the way each deals with a comprehensive list of life issues – from abortion to euthanasia. For the second time in three years, Louisiana tops the list, followed closely by Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Arkansas.

Washington, California, Hawaii, Vermont, and Montana come in as the least life-affirming states, while Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, and Utah rate as the “most improved.” For the entire list, and a graphic model of the nation, click here.

AUL CEO and President Dr. Charmaine Yoest said that the remarkable gains for Life at the state level reveal that many state legislators are creating a blueprint for legislative changes when Roe v. Wade is ultimately overturned. 2011 was a watershed year in the defense of life. Forty-seven states considered more than 460 abortion-related measures, ultimately enacting more than 70 of them. And that is just the beginning.

Yoest noted that AUL legislative involvement was significant. During the 2011 state legislative session:

At least 86 bills were introduced in 32 states that were based in whole or in part on AUL’s model language and/or on which AUL consulted and advised.

• AUL’s experts testified 21 times, supporting 20 pro-life bills and opposing legislation in Hawaii that would have compromised healthcare freedom of conscience.
• AUL distributed more than 1,600 copies of our model legislation (with accompanying policy guides) to individuals in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and overseas nations.

“As the legal arm of the pro-life movement, the AUL legal team has created the legal architecture for reversing Roe v. Wade,” said Dr. Yoest. “The states are preparing for the day after Roe. And as the Life List documents, we’re seeing tremendous gains in defending life in law.”

One of the key tools for state legislators who wish to advocate for constitutionally sound and effective pro-life policies is Defending Life, AUL’s guidebook of Model Legislation. This year’s soon-to-be released guidebook will include 43 pieces of model legislation, including legislation restricting insurance coverage of abortions within state Exchanges created pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s healthcare plan. AUL’s model legislation has already been used by five states to opt out of Obama’s healthcare law.

Morality and the Economy

No Separating the Two

By: Chuck Colson|Published: January 9, 2012

The next election should be all about the economy, right? Wrong in spades!

During the seemingly endless build-up to the Iowa caucuses, there was one consistent refrain repeated over and over. It’s like the big lie — the more you keep repeating it, the more people are going to believe it, but it remains a lie.

The lie was simply this: that the political parties have to choose between social issues and economic issues. This year, the media and the party machines are telling us ad nauseam that the only issue that matters is the economy.

So any candidate who wants to win the White House should just shut up about things like marriage, the sanctity of life, religious liberty, and those other annoying issues that distract us from focusing on jobs and the economy.

But that’s crazy! Doesn’t anybody get the connection between the social issues and economics issues?

One candidate who does, Rick Santorum had the courage to link the two in a recent Iowa town hall meeting. (And before I go on, please, folks, I’m not endorsing him or anyone. I never do.)

Here’s what Senator Santorum said:

“Yes, [the election is] about growth and the economy, [but] it’s also about what is at the core of our country . . . faith and family. You can’t have a strong economy, you can’t have limited government if the family is breaking down and we don’t live good, moral, and decent lives.”

Precisely right. And what does he get for his remarks? Backhanded compliments for his showing in Iowa and a stern warning from, among others, the conservative National Review:

Here’s what the National Review wrote online:

“In a general election…where the focus is almost certainly going to be on economic issues, it is questionable whether Santorum’s relentless focus on social issues will play well with independent voters, especially in the crucial suburbs.”

Hogwash. If the nation’s current economic crisis has taught us anything, it’s that a healthy economy cannot thrive in the midst of moral breakdown. Ethical failures on Wall Street, Main Street, and Capitol Hill put us into this mess we’re in today, as I’ve said many times before.

But how about some facts? I’ll have the citations for you at BreakPoint.org: Take incarceration rates: something Santorum has alluded to and I’ve seen with my own eyes: “Young men who grow up in homes without fathers are twice as likely to end up in jail as those who come from traditional two-parent families.” And “70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes.”

How about education? 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes. And children from low-income, two-parent families outperform students from high-income, single-parent homes.

I could go on and on.

Do you think that crime rates, incarceration, low educational achievement, out of wedlock births, affect the economy and government spending? Of course they do, and the statistics prove this!

If you want a healthy, thriving economy you’ve got to have a strong moral societal foundation. And any so-called “conservatives” who think otherwise are simply deluding themselves; the two issues simply can’t be separated.

As Christians, we can’t buy into the lie that we can separate economic prosperity from moral behavior. And we can’t be afraid to hold the candidates’ feet to the fire on this, either.

Baker Won't Play Flour Girl at Gay 'Wedding'

She may be a baker, but Victoria Childress isn't in it for the dough. At her Iowa Cake Cottage, she knows the recipe for success is sticking by your convictions--even if it costs you some business. So when two lesbians asked Childress to make their "wedding" cake this fall, she politely refused. "She introduced herself," Childress told Fox News, "and I said, 'Is this your sister?' She said, 'No, this is my partner.'" At that point, Victoria knew what she had to do. "I was straight-forward with them and explained that I'm a Christian, and that I have very strong [beliefs]." When the couple went to the press with their story, gay activists launched a boycott. "It's not to discriminate against them," Victoria explained on TV. "As I keep saying, it's not so much to do with them as it's to do with me and my walk with God and what I will have to answer for."

The two lesbians don't see it that way. "It was degrading," they told KCCI. But apparently, calling Victoria a bigot is not? Obviously, the only form of discrimination that's acceptable in this country is directed at men and women of faith. Whether this couple likes it or not, religious freedom is for everyone--including Christian business owners. Just because Victoria runs a bakery doesn't mean she has to check her conscience at the kitchen door. Childress is well within her rights to decline an order that would force her to join in the assault on marriage.

Usually, homosexual activists like to sugar-coat their agenda--but not these two. The couple came right out and admitted that this controversy " is not about cake or someone's right to refuse service to a customer." It's about running Christians out of business. Unfortunately, Americans don't seem to understand that religious freedom and same-sex "marriage" can never coexist. Why? Because the Left's definition of "tolerance" is surrender. And until more people like Victoria dig in their heels and refuse, homosexual activists will continue to bully anyone who disagrees with them.

Despite the threats and hate mail, Victoria has no regrets. "People are telling me they were proud of me for standing up for my beliefs because not many people do that these days," she said. "Business people are afraid to because they're afraid to lose money." At the Cake Cottage, Victoria isn't worried about her profits getting battered. This baker's here to serve Jesus.

The Supreme Birth Announcement

Conservatives won a major victory in an arena that hasn't always been kind to the traditional family: the courts. Earlier this year, in the state of Louisiana, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had weighed in on a decision with big implications for the definition of marriage.

A same-sex couple had been issued a birth certificate in New York that listed both partners as parents which, of course, is biologically impossible. When the men moved to Louisiana, they demanded that the local registrar give them a duplicate certificate. The registrar refused, pointing out that such a request would violate state law. In response, the homosexuals sued the state to force the recognition of their relationship on an official government document.

Although they won in the lower court, a majority of the full Fifth Circuit (with 16 judges sitting in on appeal) overturned the decision and upheld Louisiana's adoption law. They agreed that the statutes are reasonable means of promoting a stable and nurturing environment for children.

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court turned let the decision stand. By refusing to hear the case, the justices dealt a big blow to the Left's hopes of changing the rules of adoption and the mother-father norm.

Lost Episodes: Our Hope in Suffering

Written by aaron | August 9, 2011

Once bitter political rivals, but now reconciled as friends, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were prolific in their correspondence later in life. Not surprisingly, the subject turned to matters of faith. On August 9, 1816, John Adams wrote his former sparring partner about a renowned Dutch pastor, and then turned to the sufferings of this life and the hope of eternity: 

“Promise me eternal life free from pain… [W]ithout the supposition of a future state, mankind and this globe appear to me the most sublime and beautiful bubble and bauble that imagination can conceive. Let us then wish for immortality at all hazards, and trust the Ruler with His skies. I do; and earnestly wish for His commands, which to the utmost of my power shall be implicitly and piously obeyed.”* 

John Adams testified that there was more than suffering and superficiality of this life, that there is a God who reigns, that He is our hope of eternal life free of pain, and that we are accountable to obey His commands. That is another lost episode in American history. 


*Source Citation: John Adams to Thomas Jefferson on August 9, 1816 as found in Albert Ellery Bergh, ed., The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 20 vols., (Wash­ington, DC: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Assoc., 1907), 15:64.

Lost Episodes: Government Under God’s Will

Written by aaron | August 4, 2011

The English colonists settling in what is Exeter, New Hampshire, set forth their government on August 4, 1639, declaring:

“Whereas it hath pleased the Lord to move the heart of our dread sovereign Charles by the grace of God King &c to grant license and liberty to sundry of his subjects to plant themselves in the western parts of America…

We his loyal subjects, brethren of the church in Exeter,…considering with ourselves the holy will of God and our own necessity that we should not live without wholesome laws and civil government among us of which we are altogether destitute, do in the name of Christ and in the sight of God combine ourselves together to erect and set up among us such government as shall be to our best discerning agreeable to the will of God…

[A]nd binding of ourselves solemnly by the grace and help of Christ and in his name and fear to submit ourselves to such godly and christian laws as are established in the realm of England [1 Peter 2:13-17]…and to all other such laws which shall upon good grounds be made and enacted among us according to God that we may live quietly a peaceably together in all godliness and honesty [1 Tim. 2:1-2].”*

The Biblical worldview of these early settlers in New Hampshire regarding the purpose of government is yet another lost episode in American history.

*Source Citation: Thirty-three signatories in Exeter on August 4, 1639 as found in Jeremy Belknap, The History Of New Hampshire: From a Copy Of The Original Edition Having The Authors Last Corrections To Which Are Added Notes Containing Various Corrections and Illustrations Of The Text And Additional Pacts And Notices Of Persons And Events Therein Mentioned, John Farmer, ed. (Philadelphia: Robert Aitken, 1784; Dover, NH: S.C. Stevens and Ela & Wadleigh 1831), 432.

Independence and Liberty – America’s Christian Heritage

Following is an excerpt of an interview with Historian David Barton I listened to today.

Q) Who are some of the Founding Fathers that have been omitted from our history books?

David Barton:

(O)f the 56 individuals who signed the Declaration of Independence, 27 had seminary degrees. … That’s fairly impressive. I mean, that’s like saying the U.S. Congress today is made up of half pastors. That’d blow our mind, but that’s the way it was back then. Well, the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon here is responsible for two American translations of the Bible.

Why is it nobody ever hears about Gouverneur Morris today and he’s the guy who penned this thing? Well, when it comes to faith in Jesus Christ, when it comes to public religious expression, religious activities in general, Gouverneur Morris, like so many other[s] of those Founding Fathers, is absolutely politically incorrect.

… (I)n 1789, when the Constitution was ratified, the very next two years consecutively — 1790, 1791— Morris authored two works on the Constitution. You know what he told us? He said, “Religion is the only solid basis of good morals. Therefore, education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man toward God.” Now that’s nowhere close to the national policy we have today, but then again, what does he know? He just wrote the Constitution.

This is the irony of not knowing our own heritage, not knowing what was in our background, not knowing what the intent was.

The same way, another Founding Father to have a lot of fun with is this man, James Wilson. … Wilson is the next-to-last man to sign the Constitution. (H)e is the second-most active member of the Constitutional Convention. (He) spoke on the floor of the convention 168 times and so, here he is, the second most active. He signs the Constitution. When George Washington becomes President, he puts James Wilson on the U.S. Supreme Court as an original justice on the Court. So, here he is, one of our leading justices on the Court. And in 1792, he authored America’s very first legal commentaries on the Constitution.

…

He starts out by saying, “You cannot separate God’s law from civil law. Those two things are inseparable. Human law must rest on that which is divine.” He says, “Far from being rivals or enemies,” he said, “religion and law are twin sisters. They’re friends; they’re mutual assistance. Indeed, these two sides just run into each other.”

That’s a great description of where we are today, a word description, because today, they do run into each other. It’s like a head-on collision.

… Today law and religion are enemies. They don’t get along, but back then, they were like two yoke of oxen, pulling in the same direction, never to be separated.
Another Founding Father I have a lot of fun with, because he speaks to a very contemporary issue is this man, William Samuel Johnson, signer of the Constitution. … Johnson was not only a signer of the Constitution; he was one of America’s leading educators. He’s the first ever president of Colombia College in New York. [It] still exists today. And as a leading Founding Father, as a prominent educator, he was very often asked to address public school graduations.
…

“Students,” he said (at one graduation), “you this day have received a public education, the purpose whereof has been to qualify you better to serve your Creator and your country. …Now, you are sensible. …Your first duty is you were sensible of those you owe to heaven, to your Creator and to your Redeemer. Let these be ever present to your minds and exemplify it in your lives and conduct.” And for the rest of his oration, he went through specific Bible verse after specific Bible verse. The very next one he used, he said, “Students, we are told in Acts 17:28, that in Him, we live and move and have our being.” He said, “I want you to remember that apart from Jesus Christ, you can do nothing in your life.” And he went that way for verse after verse after verse.

Now I guess it’s unfortunate that somebody didn’t tell him that what he was doing was unconstitutional. I guess he just didn’t realize that. You see, this is the irony. If we did the exact same religious practices of those who gave us the document, today they’d be struck down under that same document, supposedly by their authority.

Now how has this come to be? Well particularly in the last three decades, we’ve really seen that the changes in textbooks, and in the rhetoric, etc. And we’re told basically, that America is a secular nation, created on a secular document by secular people, who wrote that secular document and that’s why it’s to remain secular today. And that’s why we’re not supposed to have this public religious expression.

Man Arrested for Reading Bible in Public

On February 2, 2011 Mark Mackey, Edmond Flores Jr. and Brett Coronado were arrested on the sidewalk in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in

When questioned on what grounds they were being arrested, the arresting officer, Darren Meyer said; “Absolutely, you were asked to leave and didn’t”. Not realizing that being on a public sidewalk was unlawful the men continued to quarry the grounds for the arrest asking what law they had broken. Officer Meyer offered no further explanation for the arrest.

Later that day the men were charged with suspicion of trespassing and interfering with public business.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

The video clip only shows the arrest of shows Mark Mackey. Edmond Flores and Brett Coronado were arrested shortly afterward.


April 29, 2011 Advocates for Faith and Freedom, representing the three men, filed a federal lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol claiming their freedoms of speech and religion were infringed upon when they were arrested while preaching outside the local Department of Motor Vehicles office. Attorney Jennifer Monk is confident that this is a clear case of viewpoint discrimination, only because it's a religious message.

Evangelists Plead 'Not Guilty' to False Charges for Preaching Christ at Philadelphia's Largest Mosque

PHILADELPHIA - Two Christian evangelists pled "not guilty" yesterday to false charges relating to their arrest for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Philadelphia's largest Islamic mosque over the Fourth of July weekend. Their case now heads to trial.

On the night of Saturday, July 3rd, evangelist Michael Marcavage of Repent America (RA), and evangelists Ken Fleck and Mike Stockwell were compelled by God to witness at "Masjid Al Jamia" in Philadelphia. Upon arrival, they sang a hymn and began their outreach activities of open-air preaching and witnessing to the Muslims on the public sidewalk that were leaving the building. However, as they ministered, the evangelists were soon approached by a security officer from the University of Pennsylvania who told them that they could not preach on the public sidewalk outside of the mosque. When Marcavage stated that they were not leaving, the security officer radioed university police.Within minutes, a swarm of security and police officers descended upon the evangelists. One of the officers, Nicole Michel, immediately confronted Marcavage, who was videotaping the situation, and assaulted him by grabbing his hand and forcibly turning off his video camera. The officer's demeanor then escalated into extreme hostility to the point that Marcavage became concerned and called 911 to ask for a supervising officer to come to the scene. When Officer Michel saw Marcavage videotaping the situation again, she declared, "He's going [to jail]," and placed him in handcuffs while another officer stated, "All three of them are going." When the supervising officer, Sergeant Andrew Malloy, finally arrived, he consented to the evangelists' arrests. Marcavage and Fleck were subsequently taken into custody. Stockwell, however, was not arrested, but was commanded to leave immediately. As he left the scene, he heard Officer Michel stating, "I'm concerned about what's on the video" to another officer. The video camera was not brought into the police station with the evangelists' other belongings.

After the evangelists were released from jail and their belongings were returned, they discovered that police destroyed their video evidence by completely recording over the footage that had been captured. The mosque's video surveillance, which is being subpoenaed for trial, will hopefully be produced and show the unlawful actions of police.

"Hostility is rising against Christians in America and police interference with the proclamation of the Gospel is now commonplace, which will only continue to escalate with the rise of Islam," Marcavage stated. "Regardless of those who wish to silence and harm us, we will be faithful in preaching the cross of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation," Marcavage concluded.
Marcavage and Fleck have been charged with two summary offenses for preaching "disorderly conduct" and "obstructing a highway." A trial date is set for August 10th at 9:00 a.m. in Philadelphia Community Court, 1401 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word ..." - Acts 4:29

A CALL TO ACTION: Don't let these officers get away with their unlawful and egregious behavior without your voice of opposition! Please act by doing the following:

1) Pray that these evangelists would be completely vindicated of these false charges.

2) Contact Maureen Rush, Vice President of Public Safety at the University of Pennsylvania, and respectfully but firmly express your disgust over the behavior of Officer Nicole Michel and ask that she be terminated for her outrageous actions as she is a danger to public safety. Also, request that Sergeant Andrew Malloy be disciplined for his unlawful handling of the situation by violating the civil rights of the evangelists.

Address: Maureen Rush
Vice President of Public Safety
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Public Safety
4040 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Phone: (215) 898-7515
E-mail: mrush@publicsafety.upenn.edu

3) Contact Mark Dorsey, the Chief of Police at the University of Pennsylvania, and similarly state your outrage at the actions of Officer Nicole Michel and Sergeant Andrew Malloy.

Address: Mark Dorsey
Chief of Police University of Pennsylvania
Department of Public Safety
4040 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 898-4483
E-mail: mdorsey@publicsafety.upenn.edu

Sample comment: "I am disturbed by Officer Michel's abusive treatment of the three evangelists who ministered outside of the Masjid Al Jamia Islamic mosque over the Fourth of July weekend. Moreover, I am especially concerned that Officer Michel unlawfully tampered with evidence to cover up her actions. I would encourage your department to promptly investigate her behavior on the night of July 3rd, and that she be subsequently terminated for her outrageous, dangerous and illegal behavior. Sergeant Andrew Malloy's actions were also improper and inappropriate in consenting to the arrests of the evangelists, and he should be disciplined accordingly."
4) Forward this message to your family and friends!

'God' in Pledge, National Motto Ruled Constitutional

SAN FRANCISCO - The pledge does not constitute an establishment of religion, Judge Carlos Bea wrote for the majority in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. "[T]he Pledge is an endorsement of our form of government, not of religion or any particular sect."

The three-judge panel ruled 2-1.

"The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded and for which we continue to strive," Bea stated in the opinion.

Full story: 'God' in Pledge, National Motto Ruled Constitutional