Source: The following message from Tim Wildmon, AFA President, is an unabridged copy of the January 2012 ACTION newsletter that arrived in my mailbox on January 6, 2012.

Dear AFA partner,

Secularists in America are angry at Christians. Not all Christians, but Christians like you and me, who strive to live our faith outside the four walls of the church.

There was a time in our nation when no one would have taken offense to a public expression of faith in Jesus such as prayer at a football game or a Nativity on public property. But now … well, things have changed.

Today a stand for Jesus is often labeled as extreme and Christians are marked as fair game for public mockery.

Take the case of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

You might think the critiques of Tebow’s performance would be limited to the football field. But you’d be wrong. Tebow has become the whipping boy of anti-Christian secularists. Why?

Tebow is a stellar athlete who won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. He’s good-looking, polite, and respectful. You’d think all of America would love him.

But apparently many don’t. You see, Tim Tebow is known for his stand for Jesus Christ on the field and in media interviews. Throughout his football career he has written Scripture references in the eye black he wears on his face during games. He has spent summers on the mission field. He’s made it clear that he is a virgin and will remain so until he marries.

Tim Tebow doesn’t act the way the world wants him to act. And because he doesn’t, he is attacked, mocked, and ridiculed. George Weigel of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. explained why:

“Tebow is a target of irrational hatred, not because he’s an iffy quarterback at the NFL level, or a creep personally or an obnoxious, in-your-face, self-righteous proselytizer. He draws hatred because he is an unabashed Christian, whose calmness and decency in the face of his Christophobic detractors drive them crazy.”

You see, those who want to tear down what’s left of our nation’s moral fabric are waging a war against those who stand for Christian values like the sanctity of human life.

At a NARAL Pro-Choice America event, Housing and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius came right out and told a pro-abortion audience, “We are in a war.”

Consider these other recent examples of how anti-Christian bias is growing in our nation:

Frank Turek: A friend of AFA, Turek had led a number of well-received leadership training seminars at Cisco, a worldwide Internet technology company. Although the issue of homosexuality is not mentioned in the seminar, Turek was fired after a homosexual manager complained about Turek’s book “Correct, Not Politically Correct: How Same Sex Marriage Hurts Everyone.”

Jennifer Keeton: Augusta State University (Georgia) expelled Keeton from its graduate counseling program for refusing to attend sensitivity training and mix with men and women at homosexual events. She had also submitted a term paper in which she wrote that it would be hard for her to work with homosexual clients.

Viki Knox: School officials in Union Township, New Jersey, launched a full-scale investigation fo the special education teacher after homosexual activists attacked her for posting comments critical of homosexuality on her personal Facebook page.

Ken Howell: The University of Illinois fired him because of an email he sent students prior to an exam. The class was titled “Introduction to Catholicism and Modern Catholic Thought.” Prof. Howell’s pre-exam email read: “Sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are (biologically) complementary, not the same.” A student called the email “hate speech” and the school fired Howell.

And anti-Christian bias is not limited to the gay agenda. Our friends at the Family Research Council offered this list of recent attacks on Christians and Christian symbols.

New Jersey: A university hospital coerced nurses to assist in abortions.

Utah: A federal court ordered the Utah Highway Patrol Association to take down crosses commemorating fallen officers.

California: Marines at Camp Pendleton were challenged to take down a 13-foot cross after they placed it atop a mountain.

Virginia: The Giles County School Board is being challenged to remove a Ten Commandments display.

California, New York, Maryland, and Texas: Pregnancy resource centers are being attacked for their counseling and refusal to perform abortions.

Montana: An atheist group is demanding that a statue of Christ that sits on federal land atop Whitefish Mountain Resort be removed.

I could list more, but you get the picture.

I predict that as America continues this drift away from God, bias and mockery will turn into full-fledged persecution.

As Rev. Ryan Gold, pastor of New Covenant Community Church in Denver, Colorado, said during a recent AFA Journal interview:

“[The ridicule of Tim Tebow] has to do with his vocal stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the social implications of the gospel that he’s promulgated publicly for years. He’s as counter-cultural and as committed a Christian as they come. Pop culture doesn’t understand this. When carnal pleasure is at the fingertips of a young man like Tim and he instead chooses to live for Jesus Christ, it convicts, challenges, and gently condemns and calls out for attention. It exposes the culture war in our country for what it is – spiritual battle between light and darkness.”

I am convinced that Rev. Gold is right …

… we are in a spiritual war between light and dark.

But this should come as no surprise to you.

“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

Almost immediately after saying that, however, our Lord comforted us with this assurance:

“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

He has overcome the world! And now He looks to us – His disciples – to proclaim that truth to others in words, deeds, and by our lifestyle.

And while we rejoice when persecuted (Matt 5:10-12), it doesn’t mean that we should rejoice over the assault against the truth that is manifested by that persecution. Rather, we must defend the truth of God’s Word (1 Peter 3:15), a defense that promotes the keeping of God’s law as good for society.

That’s what we’ve been doing for over thirty years! Since the day God called Dad to form this ministry, we’ve stood alongside you and other God-fearing Americans to fight for biblical principles in our society.

Your dollars fund the spiritual weapons we use to carry on that fight:

• Our monthly AFA Journal magazine
• Our American Family Radio network of 192 radio stations
• Our popular Internet websites including afa.net, onenewsnow.com, afajournal.org, onemillionmoms.com, and others;
• Our email “Action Alerts” we send to some 2,500,000 pro-family activists;
• Our documentaries and feature films produced by American Family Studios, our newest division; and
• Our sponsorship of pro-family conferences and other events.

Your financial gifts allow us to do all that and more.

As those have declared this war are getting even bolder in their attacks on our families, our beliefs, our values and our freedom to live according to God’s principles, we must keep our voice loud and strong

… for the sake of our nation, our children and the glory of God.

But for your AFA to do so, we need your continued support – spiritually with your prayers and financially with your contributions. Because in the face of ridicule and even persecution, we must never be silent.

Thank you for your loyalty and devotion. I am thankful to God for having brought you into our AFA family.

Sincerely,

Tim Wildmon, president
American Family Association

P.S. You’ll be interested to know that for the fourth year in a row, Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator, has given AFA its highest rating; four stars! According to Charity Navigator, AFA “exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.” I’m proud of our record, because it shows that we are doing today as we have always done – being the best steward of the dollars you entrust to us that we can be.

P.S.S. This month for a suggested donation of $40 or more, I can send you a free copy of “Speechless,” a one-hour documentary hosted by Janet Parshall. This documentary presents the facts about how Christians are being silenced. Just mark your reply form indicating you want the DVD.

Stay active and informed at www.afa.net

 
Speechless…Silencing the Christians – Part 1 of 7

In his book Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby says that God speaks to His children through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the Body of Christ. I agree, but would also add creation, dreams, visions, and a few other things.

God has a way of getting His way. If He can steer the hearts of kings like rivers, then He certainly can steer your heart and mine.

Pr 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Pr 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

During a conversation with Rod and Carrie Stone on April 23, 2010, Rod said the climate of America now is perfect for “straight ahead Christianity.” When people start hearing Biblical truth, they are going to be attracted.

The next evening (April 24), two Jehovah Witnesses knocked on our door. My wife treated them respectfully, but did not invite them in.

During my quiet time the next morning (Sunday April 25), I had my iTunes playing for about 3 hours. During that time Lon’s Solomon’s sermon from 1991 about Jehovah Witnesses began playing. Lon is a Messianic Jew and the senior pastor of McLean Bible Church, possibly the most influential church in the Metro DC area.

As I listened to Lon, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to write a YDB devotional about his and include Lon’s audio file.

Then I went to the 9 am worship service at Soul Purpose Church. Pastor Matt Gregory happened is currently teaching a 5-week series titled “From Stress 2 Rest.” This week’s sermon was “My Faith.” Matt shared how true biblical Christianity teaches salvation by grace alone, not works. All other religions, teach salvation by doing.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God

Jesus declared He was the Son of God and that no one could come to the Father except through Him. He is the only way to heaven.

I don’t profess to be an authority about what the Jehovah Witness believe, but Lon Solomon is. Listen to his teaching and judge for yourself.

Joh 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise you as the God of truth. We acknowledge the Holy Spirit as the One who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). Speak to us Spirit to spirit. We welcome the truth. Bless us with a holy boldness to proclaim your truth in love to the confused and lost. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

John 3:20-21 “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Blessings to trust in Jesus and Jesus alone!

R. Joseph Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy
Changing Lives to Disciple Nations
Community Transformation Specialist
www.empower2000.com

P.S. Sign up TODAY for my free E-course ““30 Days To Breakthrough” God wants to transform your life NOW!

P.S.S. Spiritual Journaling will transform your life!

UNCOMMON Journaling is the key
to unlock YOUR dreams!

I’m thrilled about all the fruit Jerry and I are seeing as a result of the Web 2.0 course we are leading. It’s exciting to be able to coach other believers to share their stories, products, and services with the world. We’ve seen people with absolutely no Web 2.0 presence a few months ago begin to soar like eagles.

Rod Stone, a professional singer and song writer, is one of those people. I have seen an explosion in his creativity as a result of having the tools and the know-how to share his songs and stories on his new blog “Stuff I Believe In.”

Last week, Rod created and published a YouTube video called “The Prayer” using one of his songs. I’ve listened to and/or watched that more than ten times already. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time.

Rod writes:

“I have been amazed at how quickly our once Christian nation has descended into moral relativism and Secular Humanism. God’s once tangible covering of protection and prosperity is slowly being taken away and what is left is fear and despair along with the uneasy feeling that we will soon go the way of Rome. We are seeing the rapid dismantling of our capitalistic system to centralized government control. Sound familiar? Just look at Europe.

When Jesus is taken out of everything, there is nothing to do but spiral into the morass of darkness that comes when you put man above God. We need to stand as Christians and fight for truth, not from a place of hatred but from a place of conviction and love. This has always been a part of the Christian experience and I pray this song will be a reminder that we are to love and even pray for those who persecute us. Sounds kind of hard doesn’t it? But with out those prayers people will never find the freedom that comes through Christ, and this once great nation will continue to fall into decline.”

CLICK HERE to visit Rod’s life-changing blog “Stuff I Believe In.” If you enjoy it, take an extra 3 minutes to write a comment on both the blog and at YouTube. 20 people have already done so. A group of us is having a Twitter party today making people aware of this video. It you’re on Twitter join in. Rod’s Twitter name is rodstonemusic.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for Rod Stone’s amazing gift of song and story telling. Thank You for his amazing YouTube video The Prayer. May that video touch many, many hearts and help bring America back to its foundational roots. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Blessings to stand and fight for truth in love and with conviction!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR & The Journal Guy

P.S. If you have comments to share, please post them publicly on my blog rather than sending me emails. Thank you.

“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)

What’s true and what’s not about Christmas?

Many of us are familiar with the well known song “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Jim Liebelt, Senior Editor of Publications for HomeWord, has written a very interesting article titled “The ’12 Duh’s’ of Christmas.” Below is the first part of that article. Visit the Link of the Day to discover what’s true and what’s not.

We know everything there is to know about Christmas, right? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Here’s a fun family quiz with a dozen questions to test your knowledge about Christmas that will help you separate fact from tradition and sometimes, plain fiction. The following are all true or false questions…

1. The innkeeper in Bethlehem told Mary and Joseph, “There’s no room for you in the inn.”

2. Jesus was born inside a barn/stable.

3. Xmas is a disrespectful abbreviation for Christmas – taking Christ – so to speak out of Christmas.

4. Jesus wasn’t really born on December 25.

5. “The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes…” (from Away in a Manger).

6. The “wise men” followed the star in the sky to the manger where Jesus was.

7. The “wise men” who found Jesus were not kings.

8. A ‘manger’ is a stable for domestic animals.

9. The first candy cane was made to be a visible reminder of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

10. The Bible says that three “wise-men” visited Jesus.

11. Our nation’s earliest colonies insisted on making Christmas a holiday.

12. Jesus’ birthday was not celebrated by His earliest followers.

Prayer Power
Jesus, thank You for the love, joy, and peace that abound during the Christmas season. Thank You that the celebration of Your birth waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Amen.

Link of the Day
Answers to “The 12 Duh’s of Christmas” [http://www.homeword.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.aspx?iArticleId=449]

Blessings to have Christmas in your heart!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Have you discovered the beauty, wonder, and wisdom of the Bible?

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” – George Washington

“Most people are bothered by those passages in Scripture which they cannot understand. The Scripture which troubles me most is the Scripture I do understand.” – Mark Twain

“The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.” – Napolean Bonaparte

“The shortest road to an understanding of the Bible is the acceptance of the fact that God is speaking in every line.” – Donald G. Barnhouse

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to men. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.” – Abraham Lincoln

“To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible.” – Queen Elizabeth II

“Sin will keep you from this Book or this Book will keep you from sin.” – Dwight L. Moody

“If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folks from digging into the Bible.” – James I. Packer

“What makes the difference is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but how many times and how thoroughly the Bible has been through you.” – Gipsy Smith

“If we love the Lord Jesus, we shall love the Bible because it speaks to us of Him.” – John R. W. Stott

“The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible is the religion of Christ’s church.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for the power and wisdom of Your Word. Despite all the bibles in America, there is a famine of the Word of God. Only You can draw people to Yourself. Only You can create a desire and hunger in the hearts of Your children to know You through Your Word. We ask You to do that. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Quotes about the Bible

Blessings to have the Bible touch your heart, order your mind, and refresh your soul!

Your Daily Blessing News
The message above comes from page 4 of the “Walk Thru the Old Testament” booklet.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,14)

Have you ever heard someone deny that Jesus claimed to be God? Such a statement simply doesn’t make sense. Repeatedly, Jesus placed Himself on equal footing with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (John 10:30; 14:6-14) Scripture gives us a clear picture of His eternal, intimate relationship with the heavenly Father.

Why is it important for us to believe this? Jesus did something that had never been done before: He enabled men and women to see God in a new way. In Colossians 1:15, Paul explains that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.” No one has ever looked upon the face of the Almighty. Jesus came to bridge the gap between God’s glory and mankind’s sinful nature.

What does John 1:1,14 mean when it says that Jesus is the Word of God? The answer to this question is found by first understanding the reason why John wrote his gospel. We find his purpose clearly stated in John 20:30-31: “Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”  Once we understand that John’s purpose was to introduce the readers of his gospel to Jesus Christ, establishing Who Jesus is (God in the flesh) and what He did, all with the sole aim of leading them to embrace the saving work of Christ in faith, we are better able to understand why John introduces Jesus as “The Word” in John 1:1.

When you have your mind fully occupied by God’s Word, it’s the same as having it fully focused on Jesus. How can this be? This is because Jesus is the incarnation of God’s Word (John 1:14).

Is your mind fully occupied by God’s Word?
Are you allowing any ungodly words, thoughts or sights into your mind?

Prayer Power
Lord, I ask You to open Your word to me. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and bring the scriptures alive when I read them. Your words are spirit and life. Give me insight into Your word. Help me to understand what You are saying. Give me the wisdom to apply Your word in practical ways to my life. Help me to understand how to share Your word, especially with Jewish people who do not yet know You. Equip me to share Your word with all people I meet. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Link of the Day
Jesus Christ is God Incarnate [http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/jesusgd2.htm]

Blessings to have your eyes of understanding opened to new revelations from the scriptures!

Your Daily Blessing News
The beautiful prayer above was written by Jeff Bernstein for his daily devotional titled “Studying is Spiritual” being sent out on September 17, 2006. Jeff is the Founder of Gates of Zion. His assignment is to open the eyes of Jewish people worldwide to the light of the Messiah. He has a special focus on reaching the Jewish people in New York City, the marketplace capital of the world. The greatest concentration of Jews of any city in the world is New York City! I recommend you visit Gates of Zion [www.gatesofzion.net] and sign up for Jeff’s free daily devotional.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

When Pontius Pilate was interrogating Jesus and staring right at Him, he asked “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Why couldn’t Pilate recognize truth when he was looking right at it? The answer is he was blinded by the god of this age (Satan).

St Paul said “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

Until you know Jesus, you will never know truth. Absolute truth is true everywhere, at all times, and under all circumstances. Following the U.S. Supreme Court rulings that adversely affected Bible study and prayer in public schools, America went into moral decline. Now, according to George Barna, only __ % of Americans still believe in “absolute truth.”

Do you believe in absolute truth?
Are your eyes blinded by the god of this age (Satan)?
Do you believe the Bible is true? All of it?

Prayer Power
Thank You Jesus for being my way, my truth, and my life. Thank You for finding me when I was lost. Thank You for paying a debt I could never pay. Thank You for the setting me free. (John 8:36) Thank You for the truth of Your Word which guides me daily. Thank You for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who serves as my Counselor.

Jesus you say “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20). For people reading this message who have never invited You into their hearts, I pray that today will be the day. Thank You Jesus!

Link of the Day
More Than a Carpenter – book by Josh McDowell