ON WATCH IN WASHINGTON

WEDNESDAY ALERT

15 October 2008

Conn. Court Approves Same-Sex Marriage The Connecticut Court relied heavily on the California court's own 5-month-old gay-marriage ruling to reach many of its conclusions. Connecticut became the third state in the nation to legalize "gay marriage" Oct. 10 when its Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated ruling. The Court ruled 4-3 that a ban on gay marriage violated the state's constitution. Gov. M. Jody Rell said of the decision, "I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut." The Connecticut court's decision directly named California's high court nine times and separately cited its May 15 ruling 15 times. (Quchronicle.com, Baptist Press, ADF Alliance) (Photo: Connecticut Supreme Court Justices - Seated, L to R:  Justice Flemming L. Norcott, Jr., Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers, Justice Joette Katz. Standing, L to R: Justice Barry R. Schaller, Justice Peter T. Zarella, Justice Richard N. Palmer, Senior Justice William J. Sullivan and Justice Christine S. Vertefeuille.) ACROSS THE COUNTRY  Polls: Californians Favor Propostion 8 California polls shock same-sex marriage supporters Supporters of same-sex marriage in California are scrambling to raise funds in response to an unexpectedly strong campaign by Christian conservatives and others to amend the state constitution and ban the practice. Proposition 8, a state ballot initiative up for a vote on November 4, would amend the state constitution so that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Gay rights activists were shocked when a public opinion poll published this month found 47 per cent of respondents favored the measure, with 42 per cent opposed and 10 per cent undecided. (FT.com 10/14/08)   Florida Amendment on November 4 Ballot Traditional marriage advocates seek to cement law into state Constitution. An opinion piece published in Florida's "News Chief" says - "We need a constitutional amendment to avoid what happened last week in Connecticut and what recently happened in California and Massachusetts. You see, each state has the right to define marriage by law, but state courts are changing their state's legal definition. Because we don't want that to happen in Florida, we need to add a definition to the Florida Constitution so the courts can't overrule it." To learn more, visit http://www.yes2marriage.org.   1st Graders Take Trip to 'Gay Wedding' The debate in California over whether "gay marriage" legalization would impact what is taught in public schools heated up Oct. 10, when a San Francisco first-grade class took a field trip to city hall to help celebrate a lesbian wedding. The 18 public-school first graders took the field trip to surprise their teacher, Erin Carder, who had just "married" her partner. Following the ceremony the children tossed pink rose petals and blew bubbles on the women. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated the "wedding." Liz Jaroslow, the school's interim director, said that the ceremony was a "teachable moment." But Chip White, press secretary for ProtectMarriage.com, the main group behind the Yes on 8 campaign, disagreed. "It's totally unreasonable that a first grade field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," White said in a statement. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to understand it." The ProtectMarriage.com website says the "wedding" demonstrates that "unless Prop. 8 passes, children will be taught about same-sex marriage in public schools." (Baptist Press 10/14/08) ELECTION 2008  Final Presidential Debate Tonight October 15, 9 p.m. Eastern Presidential Debate Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY Domestic Policy Moderator: Bob Scheiffer   Voter Guides:    "Where do the Candidates Stand? - 17 Issues" "Where do the Candidates Stand on Life?" 2008 Congressional Candidate Voter Guide  Saddleback Forum Video & Transcript: Obama / McCain with Rick Warren   Exercise Your Responsibility to Vote Intercede for good government and mercy. On Tuesday, November 4, U.S. voters will elect a President and Vice President, an entire House of Representatives, one third of the Senate, scores of state and local officials, and vote on important marriage and other referenda.   Intercede for mercy and good government, and that Christians take the time to examine candidates, positions and issues on the basis of biblical truth, virtue, and character. Intercede that godly local, state, and national pro-life and traditional family candidates be granted resources, campaign workers, objective media exposure this final month, and favor with voters. Intercede that Christians and God-fearing citizens will exercise their privilege, duty, and responsibility to vote.   Jackson: Zionists Control U.S. Policy Jesse Jackson says that the most important change in an Obama presidency would occur in the Middle East, where "decades of putting Israel's interests first" would end. Prepare for a new America: That's the message that Jackson conveyed to participants in the first World Policy Forum, held at a French resort last week. Jackson believes that, although "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" remain strong, they'll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House. "Obama is about change," Jackson told me in a wide-ranging conversation. "And the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it."   For those who don't have a Jackson translation dictionary, the word "Zionists" is Jackson terminology for saying "Jews." Don't forget this is the same man who referred to New York City as "Hymietown." Jackson, like so many on the radical Left, is an anti-Semite, and he knew exactly what message his foreign listeners would hear when he said "Zionists." (NY Post, Campaign for Working Families 10/14/08) States to Vote on Gambling Expansion   This year alone, there have been at least 250 attempts by states to create or expand gambling. And on Nov. 4, six states - Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Missouri and Ohio - will vote on gambling expansion. While the $91 billion-a-year gambling industry is pouring money into the ballot initiatives, grassroots groups are trying to fight back. "Citizens cannot take a backseat this year," said Chad Hills, analyst for gambling research and policy at Focus on the Family Action. "Any of these measures could go either way. And it's going to be very close." (CitizenLink) U.S. ECONOMY  Corruption in Financial Institutions The U.S. National Debt has now passed the $10 trillion dollar mark!  See the U.S. "debt clock" at the bottom of the IFA webpage   "You cannot serve God and Mammon."  (Mt 6:24) "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  (1 Tim 6:10)    Offer prayers of repentance for any personal financial mismanagement, and for the greed and moral failure which are at the root of the financial and economic crises we are facing.  Intercede for mercy upon all suffering due to the wrong decisions of others, for deliverance from the power of Mammon, for grace unto repentance, and for God's cleansing from corruption.    Pray for a restoration of biblical standards, ethics and morality in America's businesses and workplaces.  IFA chairman John D. Beckett's book, "Mastering Monday," is highly recommended reading for informed and strategic marketplace intercession.   Intercede for a breaking of "the near-incestuous relationship between politicians and big-time government-supported financial institutions," as Charles Colson phrased it in this recent BreakPoint commentary.  Pray that God grant grace for repentance and the necessary change of direction and restoration of fiscal responsibility in our lives and in federal, state and local governments.  Pray for deliverance from personal and national debt. To order "Mastering Monday" book click here.  To order Audio Book click here. Or call toll free 1-800-872-7729. U.S. to Invest in Banks    Ask the Lord for mercy and grace in upholding and supporting the American free-enterprise, free-market system, while at the same time cleansing corruption.   Even as President Bush signed the $700 billion rescue plan for the financial system two Fridays ago, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. was beginning to realize that the way he had planned to spend the money might not fix the meltdown in global markets. Paulson and his colleagues turned their attention to a different approach: making investments in banks.   House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the lead House GOP negotiator on the bailout package, expressed support for the new Treasury initiative, suggesting that taking stakes in the banks and firms as a way to provide immediate capital.   Who Owns the U.S. National Debt?   In fiscal year 2007, the United States national debt was owned by: Japan - $644 billion China - $350 billion United Kingdom - $239 billion Oil exporting countries - $100 billion U.S. state and local governments - $467 billion Individual investors, including brokers - $423 billion Public and private pension funds - $319 billion Mutual funds - $243 billion Holders of U.S. savings bonds - $206 billion Insurance companies - $166 billion Banks and credit unions - $117 billion   See the U.S. Debt clock at the IFA website (look at the bottom of the page)   Spreading Socialism   Gary L. Bauer of Campaign for Working Families: "Will America embrace free market capitalism or will we abandon our traditions and take a radical lurch to the left with the socialist policies espoused by Barack Obama? Will this new economic crisis lead to a new revolution in America? That is the question we will face in 21 days.   "Obama has repeatedly promised to raises taxes on successful entrepreneurs and families, and over the weekend a plumber called him out on it. He asked Obama, "Do you believe in the American dream? I'm being taxed more and more for fulfilling the American dream." "Obama responded by saying, "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." Let me again quote the German philosopher and founder of the communist ideology, Karl Marx: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." In other words, you will produce what you can using your talents and then government will use its power to take your earnings and "spread" them to others who are unable or unwilling to do as well. 'Spreading the wealth' may sound nice, but it has never worked. The 'workers' paradise' Marx dreamed of was tried in the Soviet Union with its mandated results and planned economies. The Soviet Union no longer exists. "But Obama wants to try it here. He constantly talks of tax policy in terms of 'fairness' - whether or not it actually works.   The Ohio plumber who questioned Obama's tax plan ought to be running for public office. He's got it exactly right -- Obama's tax policies will punish success and they will punish working families." (Gary L. Bauer, End of Day Report 10/14/08)   Deadly Wildfires Fires in California   California's hot weather and dry conditions triggered two big fires in the bone-dry state on Sunday. Two people have died and almost 27,000 acres have been burned.      People in the San Fernando Valley woke up today to brilliant blue skies mostly free of smoke and ash for the first time in four days. Gone were the convulsive winds that at times reached gale force. Nowhere could police be found using bullhorns to order residents out of homes and away from deadly fires that blackened more than 18,000 acres, destroyed nearly 50 homes and killed one man. A freeway traffic death also was blamed the fires. The outbreak of fires followed the weekend arrival of the first significant Santa Ana winds of the fall. The notorious Santa Anas usually sweep in between October and February (AFP)   U.S. Food Banks Overwhelmed There are 35 million Americans living without knowing consistently from where their next meal will come. Pray for the most needy among us - those who are homeless, those who have lost jobs, and those who are vulnerable to the coming cold winter months. In an interview with the Herald Tribune, Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of the nation's largest food bank network, America's Second Harvest, said, "In January we surveyed our 200 food banks and demand was up 20 percent over last year. We're seeing more and more people visiting food banks for the first time because they've lost their jobs or they're not getting raises. They can't afford vegetables or protein, the essentials of a good diet. Most of the people who come to food banks are on food stamps, but those are only $3 per person a day.   "There are 35 million Americans living without knowing consistently where their next meal will come from. I think that's pretty stunning. Making the situation all the more critical, food is up year over year 7 or 8 percent, dairy products and meat are up 25 to 30 percent, fuel is up 35 percent year over year.   "We (America's Second Harvest) receive $75 million a year and we need about $250 million a year to feed the new demand. Most of our donations are from large manufacturing companies like Kellogg, General Mills. About a quarter of our donations come from the government. (HeraldTribune.com 8/7/08) ON FOREIGN FRONTS    Iraqi Christians Threatened, Murdered    Thousands of Christians in Northern Iraq have left their homes in the past week, terrified by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists ordering them to convert to Islam or face death. Thirteen Christians have been slain and those who have fled are seeking refuge in monasteries, churches and with family members in other towns   More than 8,300 Christians have fled violence in Mosul since last week. Humanitarian teams are distributing food and aid materials to all displaced families. Islamic extremists have frequently targeted Christians and other religious minorities since the 2003 U.S. invasion, forcing tens of thousands to flee Iraq. (AP 10/15/08)   Caribbean Hurricane Gaining Strength    Pray for the resettlement efforts in cities all across our country and in the islands of the Caribbean, having been misplaced by destructive hurricanes this season. Pray that those being resettled would hear a clear Gospel message and come to a saving faith in Christ.   Continue to pray for strength for relief workers, police, and fire personnel. Pray for the churches and agencies in the devastated areas to come together in unity, and to have a new vision for the rebuilding of the affected areas; and that churches would be able to work together in mutual esteem, humility, and unity to minister to those in need.   Hurricane Omar in the eastern Caribbean strengthened early Wednesday as it headed toward Puerto Rico. Omar is the 15th named storm of the Atlantic season and could strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane with winds of at least 96 mph, by the time it nears Puerto Rico later Wednesday. The system was not seen as a threat to key oil and natural gas producing areas of the Gulf of Mexico. (Reuters 10/15/08)   Pray for All Men "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  - 1 Timothy 2:1-4