Merry Christmas!

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.

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On This Night so long ago!

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Luke 2:8-18 The Message

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The Church through History

In the beginning, the church was a fellowship of men and women who centered their lives on the living Christ. They had a personal relationship with the Lord. It transformed them and the world around them.

Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy.

Later it moved to Rome, where it became an institution.

Next it moved to Europe, where it became a culture.

Finally it moved to the United States, where it became an enterprise.

We’ve got far too many churches and so few fellowships.

-Richard Halverson

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Homeschoolers in the News

It is right , appropriate and necessary to balance the scale of press coverage of two young men recently in the news who were both homeschooled.

One-of-a-kind Tebow Becomes First Sophomore to Win Heisman

Dec 8, 11:05 PM (ET)

By RALPH D. RUSSO

NEW YORK (AP) - Tim Tebow took a few deep breaths, steadied himself, then plowed through his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech much the same way he takes on tacklers - fast and furious.

In rapid fire, Florida's sophomore quarterback thanked everyone he could think of, some of them twice. When it came time to take hold of the 25-pound bronze statue, he looked as if he wasn't sure whether he should run with the prize or throw it. He does both so well.

Florida's folk-hero quarterback with the rugged running style and magnetic personality became the first sophomore to win the Heisman on Saturday night.

"I am fortunate, fortunate for a lot of things," Tebow said. "God truly blessed me and this just adds on. It's an honor. I'm so happy to be here."

Since 1935, when Jay Berwanger of Chicago won the first Heisman, every winner had been a junior or senior - until Tebow, who picked up quite a souvenir on his first trip to New York.

"It's surreal a little bit," he said. "It's just overwhelming."

Homeschooled by missionary parents who run an orphanage in the Philippines, Tebow took advantage of a Florida state law to play for Nease, about 90 miles from the University of Florida campus.

Tebow has worked and preached at his parents' orphanage since he was 15. He regularly speaks at schools and delivered his message of faith at a prison in Florida earlier this year.

"Tim Tebow is the real American hero," said Tebow's high school football coach, Craig Howard. "He's the real deal."

And then the other -

Colorado Church Gunman Had Grudge Against Christian Group, Cops Say

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The gunman believed to have killed four people in a pair of shooting sprees at a megachurch in Colorado Springs and a missionary training school near Denver had been thrown out of the missionary school a few years ago and had been sending it hate mail, police said in court papers Monday.

The gunman was identified as Matthew Murray, 24, who was home-schooled in what a friend said was a deeply religious Christian household. Murray's father is a neurologist and a leading multiple-sclerosis researcher.

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Mitt and his Mormonism

The purpose of this blog is to dispel myths and heresy, pull back the curtain on the excesses and outrageous behavior that goes unchecked and for whom no one is asked to give an account. It is also to challenge the body of Christ to think and research, to pray and meditate, to seek and find truth rather then simply swallow whole all that is spoon fed from pulpits and broadcasts.

In the midst of all the hype surrounding the 2008 presidential election, I find that I can no longer sit idly by but must chime in with my two cents.

It reminds me of an episode of M.A.S.H. BJ had made the comment to Hawkeye that, to Hawkeye, everything was a joke and that it would kill Hawkeye to go without making a joke for even a day. Hawkeye bet BJ that he could go for a whole day without making a joke or a wise crack.

As the episode progressed, so many things happened for which Hawkeye could have a retort or sarcastic remark but he prevailed and keep quiet. That is until the stroke of midnight when Hawkeye cranked up the camp's PA system and rattled of a litany of smart remarks, retorts and comebacks that had built up during the day.

I do not want to be in that position. I do not want to wait until it is almost to late to voice my opinion or highlight the opinions or actions of others that may prove to the benefit of righteousness.

With that in mind, I give you the following article regarding Mitt Romney and the beliefs of the Mormon cult in that hopes that when the light is shone on the works of darkness, truth will win out!

Can Mitt Romney Serve Two Masters?
The Mormon Church vs. The United States of America
Article/Release written by Tricia Erickson, President of Crisis Management, Inc.
Copyright March 4, 2007

Months ago, I was watching Hannity and Colmes. Sean Hannity, who I have great respect for, said something to the effect that “No one should criticize Mitt Romney because of his faith”. Well, Sean, you are one of my favorite people and 99% of the time, I agree with you, however, this time you were really wrong. Let me explain to you and the American people why Mitt’s Mormon faith is precisely the reason why Americans should be deeply concerned.

Let me ask you this: Would you have confidence in a president, in a time of war or otherwise, if he had lived a life of believing deception? Would you feel secure with our president if he not only believed in a fabricated religion, but he also is called by his church to preach this distorted gospel and spread Mormonism throughout the world? Would you feel secure with a president who is bound to follow a false prophet? Do you know that if Mitt Romney does not follow what the prophet of the Mormon Church tells him to do, that he is an apostate and can lose his place in the Mormon afterlife? Would you really feel comfortable voting for such a person to be the leader of this country and the free world?

Click on the title of the article to read it in its entirety. It's quite an eye-opener.

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Gov. Mitt Romney's "Faith in America" Address

I am still watching and praying concerning this upcoming presidential election but I join with those who were impressed with Gov. Romney's speech. What follows is the opening paragraphs of the speech. To read the speech in it's entirety, click on the title above.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction.

"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.

"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams' words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.

"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.

To watch a recording of the delivery of the speech, click here.

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How Venezuela's Church Is Challenging Hugo Chávez

J. Lee Grady at Charisma Magazine

Although Christians are sharply divided by politics, a growing number of believers are speaking out against their socialist president.

Depending on who you talk to in Caracas, President Hugo Chávez is either a socialist messiah or a demonic tyrant. He quotes the Bible yet he incites violence. He talks of liberating the poor and enjoys their support, yet he is best friends with the world’s dictators—including Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

You might expect most Venezuelan Christians to be united against Chávez, but that is hardly the case. In fact, in a nation where Pentecostal churches have grown rapidly in recent years, believers are evenly divided by the man who once denounced George W. Bush as a “devil.” Many Pentecostals are in fact chavistas, the label used for Chávez’ hard-core fans.

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'The Golden Compass' goes South – way South

Posted: December 3, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Chuck Norris
© 2007

Last weekend we released a new video on YouTube giving the reasons why former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is "Chuck Norris approved" for president.

This upcoming weekend I'm giving the worldwide release (Dec. 7) of the children's movie, "The Golden Compass," a definite "Chuck Norris disapproval."

I normally don't critique others' movies, but this one not only warrants critiquing but condemning. The reasons are it will very subtly push agnosticism, atheism, secularism and anti-Christian thoughts upon youthful minds and hearts.

There is hot debate right now about this movie all over the Internet. And liberal news agencies and publications are waging war to assure its global proliferation, viewing and success.

Is this for real?

When I first heard about the movie via e-mail, I thought it was another Internet-perpetuated urban legend. I was shocked to discover it was real, and the books upon which it is based have already gained some award-winning acclaim. (They are a trilogy from Philip Pullman called "His Dark Materials.")

On the surface, "The Golden Compass" comes across as another fantasy-filled movie like "Harry Potter" or "Chronicles of Narnia." What lies beneath, however, is a tale spun with intention of promoting antagonism against the church and Christian belief.

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