FREEDOM: February 2015

WATCH THIS: RARE FOOTAGE OF ILLEGAL CHINESE HOUSE CHURCHES; LARGEST CHRISTIAN NATION BY 2030

by christianvideotv.com
Rare video footage of Chinese Christians meeting in caves, houses, farms, and secret locations in order to worship Jesus.

CHINA PREDICTED TO BE LARGEST

CHRISTIAN NATION BY 2030

By BSU
Scholars say there are close to 80 million Christians in China today, which is very close to the total number of Chinese Communist Party members in the country. Sociologist Dr. Yang Fenggang predicts there will be nearly 245 million Chinese Christians by 2030. If he’s correct, China will become the largest Christian nation in the world.

It’s encouraging that the church is growing so rapidly in a country known for persecuting its Christian citizens. According to China Aid Vice President Kody Kness, new converts are drawn to a community that values human dignity and justice in their search for an alternative to the government’s official propagation of atheism. That’s what accounts for the growing presence of Christian communities that worship in house churches or the government-sanctioned “Three Self” church.

Kness believes the Chinese government is cracking down on the Christian church now because of its rapid growth. Historically, the government has suppressed groups that outnumber the Communist Party because they fear these groups threaten its power and control over society.

As a result of the persecution, the church is growing stronger. Kness says, “The persecution of Christians has also emboldened a new generation of believers who seek a higher authority and are willing to sacrifice their own safety and welfare for the right to worship freely.” Throughout history, the Christian church has thrived under heightened persecution. China is no exception. The church has tripled in size since China’s Cultural Revolution.

Why It Matters
As the Christian church grows in China, President Xi’s administration continues to suppress both religious freedom and the freedom of speech. Mention of Western values is now forbidden in Chinese universities and the government is sponsoring campaigns against Western traditions, such as Christmas. Both bans are related to the threat Christianity poses to the Chinese government.

Take Action
Visit China Aid online to learn about the ways the Communist Party persecutes Chinese Christians or to get involved in China Aid’s letter writing and fundraising campaigns.

WAS THE JEWISH EXODUS FROM EGYPT REAL? WATCH THIS

By IsraelVideoNetwork

The exodus is a powerful and inspirational story of uprising against oppression and of divine intervention. But did it really happen? Can any of the story be substantiated by empirical evidence? Are chariot wheels found on the floor of the red sea that date back to 1400 BCE enough to prove that the red sea actually split and the Israelites and the Egyptians actually passed through on dry land as the bible relates?

The question here, is a question of faith as opposed to empirical proof. The Jewish People have lived and died based on their faith throughout the centuries. It is exciting to discover evidence that the splitting of the red sea took place, yet, it doesn’t necessarily mean that faith becomes a thing of the past. On the contrary, in this modern age, faith is something that is near extinction. If you can’t prove it, capture it on film, show the mathematical or physical basis for it, then, it’s not likely that it’s real. Someone who lives with faith, lives in a different realm. Thus, for a religious person, proof of the bible isn’t necessarily an earth shattering revelation but more of a point of interest. In Jewish tradition, the creation of the world shows that there is a Creator and the exodus demonstrates divine intervention, that G-d actually gets involved in what happens in His world. Where does science and archaeology fit in? It is in essence the backdrop for what a person with faith has always believed.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS’ HIRING POLICIES UPHELD IN COURT

by bsu.com

A huge victory for religious liberties was realized when the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a religious organization’s First Amendment right to hire and fire ministers and spiritual leaders free from governmental influence. In effect, the Sixth Circuit upheld “the ministerial exception,” which states that the government cannot contradict a church’s determination of who can act as its ministers. This case is particularly significant in that it extends the ministerial exception to groups beyond those run directly by churches and denominations.

The case in question involved a suit filed against InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), a non-denominational organization that plants and nurtures campus ministries and communities at the college and university level. A former spiritual director claimed IVCF violated her First Amendment rights to free exercise when they terminated her employment based on religious beliefs. The case was dismissed and later appealed by the former employee on the basis that IVCF waived their ministerial exception by stating they were an equal opportunity employer on their website. The Sixth Circuit Court upheld the original dismissal of the case.

“Because IVCF is a religious organization and [the plaintiff] was a ministerial employee, IVCF’s decision to terminate her employment cannot be challenged under federal or state employment discrimination laws. The Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses do not permit federal or state courts to adjudicate such matters when the defendant properly asserts the ministerial exception as an affirmative defense.”

Why It Matters
This ruling is a huge win for ministries and Christian organizations that don’t fall under the traditional classification of a church. It gives them the right to assign leaders who uphold and live out the biblical standards they represent as well as remove those who don’t.

OBAMA TO BAN BULLETS. THREATENS TOP SELLING AR-15 RIFLE

BY PAUL BEDARD

It’s starting.

As promised, President Obama is using executive actions to impose gun control on the nation, targeting the top-selling rifle in the country, the AR-15 style semi-automatic, with a ban on one of the most-used AR bullets by sportsmen and target shooters.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives this month revealed that it is proposing to put the ban on 5.56 mm ammo on a fast track, immediately driving up the price of the bullets and prompting retailers, including the huge outdoors company Cabela’s, to urge sportsmen to urge Congress to stop the president.

Wednesday night, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, stepped in with a critical letter to the bureau demanding it explain the surprise and abrupt bullet ban. The letter is shown below.

The National Rifle Association, which is working with Goodlatte to gather co-signers, told Secrets that 30 House members have already co-signed the letter and Goodlatte and the NRA are hoping to get a total of 100 fast.

"The Obama administration was unable to ban America's most popular sporting rifle through the legislative process, so now it's trying to ban commonly owned and used ammunition through regulation," said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA-ILA, the group's policy and lobby shop. "The NRA and our tens of millions of supporters across the country will fight to stop President Obama's latest attack on our Second Amendment freedoms."

At issue is so-called “armor-piercing” ammunition, an exemption for those bullets mostly used for sport by AR-15 owners, and the recent popularity of pistol-style ARs that use the ammo.

The inexpensive 5.56 M885 ammo, commonly called green tips, have been exempt for years, as have higher-caliber ammunition that also easily pierces the type of soft armor worn by police, because it’s mostly used by target shooters, not criminals. The agency proposes to reclassify it as armor-piercing and not exempt.

But now BATFE says that since the bullets can be used in semi-automatic handguns they pose a threat to police and must be banned from production, sale and use. But, as Goodlatte noted, the agency offered no proof. Federal agencies will still be allowed to buy the ammo.

“This round is amongst the most commonly used in the most popular rifle design in America, the AR-15. Millions upon millions of M855 rounds have been sold and used in the U.S., yet ATF has not even alleged — much less offered evidence — that even one such round has ever been fired from a handgun at a police officer,” said Goodlatte’s letter.

Even some police don’t buy the administration’s claim. “Criminals aren't going to go out and buy a $1,000 AR pistol,” Brent Ball, owner of 417 Guns in Springfield, Mo., and a 17-year veteran police officer told the Springfield News-Leader. “As a police officer I'm not worried about AR pistols because you can see them. It's the small gun in a guy's hand you can't see that kills you.”

Many see the bullet ban as an assault on the AR-15 and Obama’s back-door bid to end production and sale.

“We are concerned,” said Justin Anderson with Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte, N.C., one of the nation’s top sellers of AR-15 style rifles. “Frankly, we're always concerned when the government uses back-door methods to impose quasi-gun control.”

Groups like the National Shooting Sports Foundation suggest that under BATFE’s new rule, other calibers like popular deer hunting .308 bullets could be banned because they also are used in AR-15s, some of which can be turned into pistol-style guns. “This will have a detrimental effect on hunting nationwide,” said the group.

PENTECOSTAL LEADERS CALL FOR PRAYER ON BEHALF OF PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

By Dan Wooding
Thirty-five leaders from six U.S. Pentecostal denominations met in Southern California [recently] for a historical three-day summit designed to bring unity to the Body of Christ.

According to John W. Kennedy, writing in PE News, all six executive leadership team members of the U.S. attended the Monday through Wednesday gathering in Marina del Rey: General Superintendent George O. Wood, Assistant General Superintendent Alton Garrison, General Secretary James T. Bradford, General Treasurer Doug Clay, AG World Missions Executive Director Greg Mundis, and AG U.S. Missions Executive Director Zollie Smith. Richard Hammar, general counsel for the Fellowship, also attended.

Among the top officials of other Pentecostal denominations represented were International Pentecostal Holiness Church Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham; International Church of the Foursquare Gospel President Glenn C. Burris Jr.; Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr.; Open Bible Churches President Randall A. Bach; and Church of God General Overseer Mark Williams.

Kennedy's story went on to say that through times of prayer, worship, devotional study, and discussion, the agenda included hot-button issues affecting all groups, including same-sex marriage, the Church's role in racial harmony, the impact of terrorism, social media and technology, Biblical training and higher education, cooperative efforts in evangelism and missions, and future ongoing relationships.

"Whatever steps we take are important for us, for our country, and for revival," Beacham said.

The group also focused on the mass executions of Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya last week by ISIS militants. The Pentecostal leaders agreed to jointly ask those who attend their representative churches to pray for the persecuted Church.

Wood urges Christians to lift up in urgent prayer those who face suffering to the point of death.

"The recent beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians is a reminder to the Body of Christ that even in the 21st century Christians are being martyred," Wood says. "Please set aside time this Sunday and/or subsequent Sundays to pray for Believers all over the world who are facing persecution, discrimination, marginalization, and even death."

The story states that in a separate statement, Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, called upon all Christians on Sunday to allocate a minute of silence followed by a reflective prayer for the murdered Christians and their families.

"Recognizing that today's complacency is tomorrow's captivity, as followers of Christ we recognize that silence is not an option," says Rodriguez, leader of the largest Christian Hispanic organization in the U.S. and an ordained AG minister.

"Despite the troubling times, both Wood and Rodriguez encourage followers of Christ to remain hopeful and courageous," wrote Kennedy.

"May we not fail to remember our eternal hope in Christ, which no one can take away," Wood says. "Those who risk greatly for the cause of Christ never lose, even when it appears they may."

"Terror and intolerance cannot, and will not, extinguish the light of God's grace, truth, and love," Rodriguez says.

WHY IS THE WEST SILENT?

by Gary Lane
The Islamic State suffered two major setbacks on the battlefield this week – one in Iraq and another in Syria.

The Iraqi military routed ISIS forces from al-Baghdadi, a city west of Baghdad that they've held since last June.

Meanwhile, Peshmerga troops in northeastern Syria, known as the YPG, drove Islamic State terrorists from the Kurdish city of Tal Tamr.

But as they retreated, the ISIS jihadists kidnapped at least 90 Assyrian Christians. The men were taken to an undisclosed location, and the women to a nearby mountain.

Based on their past actions, ISIS may behead the abducted men and use the women as sex slaves.

Juliana Taimoorazy, with the Assyrian Philos Project, described the situation.

"These women were sobbing, saying, 'What is our fault? Why is the West silent? Why is the Church not talking about our persecution?'" Taimoorazy said.

"And they're asking, they're questioning the foreign policy of America and also other world powers and Europe, saying, 'Why is it that there's nothing; there's no agenda.' There's really nothing being done to help the persecuted in the Middle East," she continued.

On Tuesday, a group of Egyptian-American Coptics gathered near the White House, demanding the Obama administration do more to protect Egyptian, Syrian, and Iraqi Christians.

"Obama, Obama, did you see? Christian blood in the sea," they chanted.

And Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is calling for a United Arab military force to combat ISIS. He said Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have already offered to help Egypt on the battlefield.

THE #1 REASON BARACK OBAMA IS NOT A CHRISTIAN

By STEVEN ERTELT
Whether President Barack Obama is truly a Christian has been a hot topic for debate recently, especially after the mainstream media attempted to trip up pro-life Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on the question.

The question of whether anyone is truly a Christian person has more to do with faith than anything else. Does the person in question truly have an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and acknowledged the fact that he died on the cross to save humanity from our sins and bridge the gap sin caused between ourselves and God.

While that question has more to do with worldview than someone’s actions, pro-life blogger Matt Walsh argues that Obama’s actions speak louder than words and, despite the president’s own words declaring himself a question, makes people question the veracity of his claim to faith. And nowhere does Obama’s actions stand more starkly at odds with a supposed Christian faith, Walsh contends, than on abortion.

Here’s what Walsh has to say:

Many left wingers and Barack Obama sycophants are fainting over Gov. Scott Walker’s recent comments where he said doesn’t know if Obama is a Christian.

I disagree with Walker. I think we all know for sure Obama isn’t a Christian.

I don’t blame Walker for punting, but it’s rather sad that “questioning the president’s faith” (even though he didn’t) is somehow considered out of bounds. Why shouldn’t we question it? The president deserves to have his faith questioned. Walker was generous, really. I think we do know a thing or two about his religion, and we know that whatever it is, it isn’t Christianity.

Scripture tells us that we shall know a man by his fruits (Matthew 7:16), and that many who speak His name in public will be told to depart from Him in the end (Matthew 7:23). It’s clear that being a Christian, therefore, is about more than simply declaring it verbally. That faith in Christ, if it is real, must manifest itself like fruit from a tree, and become something tangible and experienceable.

Now I don’t mean to turn this into a homily, but it is interesting to note that Jesus said “by their fruits you will know them.” So far all this talk about how we shouldn’t “judge” others, it seems that Christ is specifically telling us to make judgments about a person based on what they do. How else could we come to know a man by his actions?

If you declare verbally that you are Christian but then insist that Christ has called you to do any number of atrocious things, it is obvious that you are either lying, or you are adhering to some version of the faith that bears not even the vaguest similarity to anything that might be considered Biblical Christianity.

There has never been a mainstream politician, much less a president, as vociferous about infanticide as this man. While a state senator, he supported every single piece of pro-abortion legislation he came across, earning a 100 percent grade from Planned Parenthood and NARAL. In his crowning “pro-choice” moment, he opposed a bill to protect infants born alive during an abortion. To be clear: he was, and by all accounts still is, in favor of executing infant children by decapitation or lethal injection if they manage to survive an abortion attempt. Any thought that he might have softened that position vanished during the Kermit Gosnell trial, when he refused to categorically condemn and denounce what Gosnell did.

Walsh go on to describe Obama’s pr-abortion record at length but says the kicker is when the president had to audacity to ask that God bless the nation’s biggest abortion business. That, for Walsh, was beyond the pale.

And, possibly most damning of all, in what I believe is the quintessential and, though this is saying a lot, the most despicable moment of his horrible, deadly reign, he attended a Planned Parenthood fundraiser (first president to do that) where he wished for God to bless the abortionists in attendance (not bless them that they may repent, but bless them that they may continue their genocidal mission).

In the end, Walsh says he gives Obama the benefit of the doubt because he’s operating on evidence and isn’t God.

But what do you think? Does Obama’s actions betray his supposed Christian faith? Is his massive support for and promotion of abortion evidence that he is truly not a Christian or is he, like so many of us on other religious or spiritual issues, simply wrongheaded and, in good faith, missing it on a Biblical principle while still adhering to a Christian faith?

WATCH THIS: OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Source: B. Christopher Agee

The Knights of Columbus pointed out the unique relationship between God and many of America’s past commanders in chief in a television commercial which aired throughout the Presidents Day weekend,

The 60-second spot has run in previous years; however, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson explained why his organization believes the message this ad contains is still relevant.

“The idea that our rights come from God and that religion has a role to play in our nation’s public life is not partisan or sectarian,” he said, “it is quintessentially American. Presidents Day is an excellent opportunity to remind Americans that God is — and has always been — foundational to this country and to our system of ordered liberty.”

Using their own quotes, the Catholic-rooted civic group demonstrates how several past presidents relied on God’s hand to lead theirs.

The commercial goes as far back as America’s founding with quotes by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

In his farewell address, the nation’s first president stated: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

“Can the liberties of a nation be secure,” Jefferson wondered, “when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of the gift of God?”

Among the more modern presidents quoted is Ronald Reagan, who said in 1983: “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.”

The bipartisan ad also includes the words of Democrat icons like Franklin D. Roosevelt, who declared America has “placed its destiny in the hands” of its citizens and “its faith in freedom under the guidance of God.”

HOW THOMAS JEFFERSON RESPONDED TO ISLAM PUTS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO SHAME

By Proclaim Justice To The Nations

The radical Islamic jihadists that make up the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria are engaged in a war to reestablish the former Islamic Caliphate and spread their version of fundamentalist Islam around the world.

This is really nothing new, as radical Islamists have been waging jihad against “infidel” unbelievers since their inception in 800 AD.

As our current Islamist-sympathizer president, Barack Obama, wages a “phony war” against the Islamic State and apologizes to Muslims around the world on behalf of so-called American imperialism, he has done little more than encourage the Islamists by allowing them to set the Middle East on fire.

Obama should really pick up a history book sometime, and read about how one of his predecessors, and one of our nation’s Founding Fathers, handled the threat posed by radical Islamic jihadists, way back in 1801.

The Young Cons recently shared a short history lesson about how Thomas Jefferson responded to radical Islamic kidnappings, beheadings, and extortion, long before oil or American imperialism were concerns for our fledgling country that was just trying to survive.

The threat that Jefferson was compelled to face off against originated from what was called the Berber states, or Barbary Coast, a collection of semi-autonomous Islamic states in North Africa that were part of the greater Ottoman Empire, including Algiers, Morocco, Tripoli, and Tunis.

The Barbary states had a habit of sending out pirate ships to attack and capture merchant ships passing through the Mediterranean Sea. They would kidnap the crews of the ship and either hold them for high ransoms from their home countries, or force them to convert to Islam, or simply kill them.

In 1786, while serving as an Ambassador for the new United States, Jefferson asked Tripoli’s Ambassador to Great Britain what right the Barbary states had that allowed them to kidnap and slaughter the innocent crews of passing merchant ships.

According to Jefferson, Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja replied that Islam “was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Qur’an, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman [Muslim] who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.”

In essence, the Ambassador from Tripoli stated that their religion, Islam, gave them the right to kidnap and murder and enslave those who held different beliefs. Jefferson took this information to heart and remembered it well. He also spent time studying the Koran himself, to gain a better understanding of the enemy his young nation was facing.

In 1801, when Jefferson was president, the Pasha of Tripoli suddenly demanded a massive payment from the United States, along with an increased annual tribute, in order to secure safe passage for American ships through the Mediterranean.

Jefferson refused the demands of the Pasha, and instead of sending more money and acquiescing to the angry and demanding Muslims, he sent naval warships bearing the newly created U.S. Marine Corps.

This was the first war by the American nation on foreign soil, and is where the line “to the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine Corps hymn comes from. It is also believed that the term “Leathernecks,” which refers to Marines, comes from the thick leather neck coverings that the Marines wore to protect themselves from being beheaded by the giant swords wielded by the Barbary pirates.

Thomas Jefferson showed how a U.S. president should respond to threats from radical Islamists, and that is by confronting and defeating them. Our Administration could certainly stand to learn a lesson from Jefferson.

OBAMA: INSISTS WAR WITH ISLAM AN UGLY LIE

by John Waage

President Barack Obama insisted Thursday that Islamist terrorist groups committing atrocities from the Middle East to Africa to Europe do not represent Islam, calling the idea that the West is at war with Islam "an ugly lie."

The president addressed delegates from more than 60 countries at the closing session of a summit on "Countering Violent Extremism," hosted by the U.S. State Department in Washington.

Obama said the nations gathered "must remain unwavering in our fight against terrorist organizations."

In one part of the address, the president appeared to be responding to administration critics, who have pointed out that the White House refuses to use the term "Islamic" when referring to terrorist groups such as al Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram, who are committing atrocities against Jews, Christians, and other non-Muslims.

"Obviously, there is a complicated history between the Middle East and the West, and none of us, I think, should be immune from criticism in terms of specific policies. But the notion that the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie -- and all of us, regardless of our faith, have a responsibility to reject it," he cautioned.

On Wednesday, the president explained he doesn't want to mention Islam when talking about terrorism because it would give Islamic radicals a tool they can use to recruit new fighters.

"We must acknowledge that groups like al Qaeda and (ISIS) are deliberately targeting their propaganda to Muslim communities, particularly Muslim youth," he said.

What can be done to be more effective in the fight against Islamic terrorism? Cliff May, president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, offers more insight to the president’s summit speech

But even the president refused to admit any connection between the Islamic State terrorists and Islam, he said we need to "tackle" the issue head on.

"We can't shy away from these discussions. And too often folks are understandably sensitive about addressing some of these root issues, but we have to talk about them, honestly and clearly," Obama said.

But critics are mocking the president and his administration for not using phrases like "Islamic terrorism." Thursday's New York Post shows a picture of the president blindfolded with the caption "Islamic Terror? I Just Don't See It."

FOUND! LARGEST EVER CACHE OF GOLD COINS DISCOVERED IN ISRAEL

by breakingchristiannews.com

A group of divers came across the largest treasure trove of gold coins ever discovered in Israel.

Nearly 2,000 gold coins dating to the 11th century were recovered in an Israel Antiquities Authority salvage mission led by the IAA's Marine Archaeology Unit.

Members of a diving club in the ancient harbor in Caesarea National Park discovered the coins. At first they thought the coin they saw was a toy, but soon realized it was genuine.

They returned to shore and reported the find to the diving club director. He contacted the marine unit, which sent IAA divers to accompany them to the site of the discovery.

Using a metal detector, the divers found nearly 2,000 different-sized coins.

IAA Marine Archaeology Unit director Kobi Sharvit said the recent winter storm exposed the coin cache.

Sharvit said the discovery raised several possible scenarios.

"The discovery of such a large hoard of coins -- that had such tremendous economic power in antiquity -- raises several possibilities regarding its presence in the seabed," Sharvit said.

The director said the coins could have been anything from tax payments to salaries for the military garrison stationed in Caesarea.

Another possibility is that the coins belonged to a large merchant ship that traded with the cities along the coast.

Meanwhile, IAA numismatist Robert Cole said the coins are in "excellent" condition overall.

"The coins are in an excellent state of preservation, and despite the fact they were at the bottom of the sea for about a thousand years, they did not require any cleaning or conservation intervention from the metallurgical laboratory," Cole said in an IAA press release.

"This is because gold is a noble metal and is not affected by air or water. The coins that were exposed also remained in the monetary circulation after the Crusader conquest, particularly in the port cities through which international commerce was conducted," he explained.

Israeli law stipulates that all antiquities belong to the state. Not reporting or removing finds is punishable by up to five years in jail.

Sharvit said the discovery of the coins underscored the need to "combine the development of the place as a tourism and diving site with restrictions that will allow the public to dive there only when accompanied by inspectors or instructors from the diving club."

OREILLY'S CHALLENGE FOR OUR NATION'S RELIGIOUS LEADERS

by Aimee Herd

"I think all Christians, Jews and secularists who love their country and want to protect humanity, should email and call the White House, and say, 'Enough.'" –Bill O'Reilly

During an interview with Pastor Robert Jeffress and Father Gerald Murray, Fox News' Opinion-Host, Bill O'Reilly issued a direct challenge for all religious leaders in America, to "address [the problem of ISIS] with their congregations next Friday, Saturday and Sunday."

"They have to say that 'we people of good faith must tell our leaders to get in gear,'" said O'Reilly.

Pastor Robert Jeffress, of the Dallas First Baptist Church stated, "I believe… that things are going to get worse before the Lord comes back, but that is no excuse for 'fatalism.' I believe that Christians should be on the forefront of fighting this evil."

Pastor Jeffress added, "I am calling on Christians everywhere—Catholics and Protestants together—to join with our Jewish friends, and demand that this president do whatever is necessary… to eradicate this cancer of ISIS… before it destroys us."

"I think that's a good idea," O'Reilly said. "I think all Christians, Jews and secularists who love their country and want to protect humanity, should email and call the White House, and say, 'Enough.'"

He went on, "And I'd like every pastor, priest, every rabbi and every imam, to email me personally and tell me you're going to do that, and I'll read as many on the air as I can."

Watch Video Here

HUCKABEE SURGING IN POLLS, BUSH STALLING

By David McCabe
Support for a Mike Huckabee 2016 presidential run is surging, according to a new poll.

The former Arkansas governor leads the field of possible GOP candidates for the next presidential election in a new CNN/ORC poll.

He garnered 16 percent support from Republican adults, a double-digit rise in support. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker also saw a jump in support, with 11 percent saying they would support him, up from 4 percent.

Other potential candidates seemed to be stalling as the race for the nomination heats up. Fourteen percent said they supported former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, down 9 percentage points from a previous poll. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie garnered only 7 percent, a 6-percentage point drop.

Bush has been open in recent months about his interest in a presidential campaign, traveling around the country to raise his profile. He will speak Wednesday on foreign policy at an event in Chicago.

Huckabee has been a regular in the media as well, as he tours the country to promote his new book.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to dominate the field, according to the poll. Sixty-one percent said that they would support her for president, with Vice President Biden coming in second with 14 percent. Ten percent said they would support Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

While Clinton is preparing to launch a presidential campaign, neither Biden nor Warren is seen as making active preparations for a run. Warren has said outright that she is not running for president.

The poll had a total sample of 1,027 adults, with 436 Republicans and 475 Democrats, and was conducted Feb. 12-15. Its margin of error for the subsets of Republicans and Democrats was 4.5 percentage points.

REVIVAL AT EAGLE MOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL CHURCH WITH JERRY SAVELLE

One of Our Prophetic Words for 2015:

We are going through the open door. Are we hearing God say that 2015 is “The Year of the Open Door”? Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and I knock. Any man that will hear My voice [that means any man can hear His voice] and will open I will come in and sup with Him.” That’s a covenant statement. “I will come in and I will take over the house.” Glory to God. Amen.

—Kenneth Copeland

TX LAWMAKER SAYS BABIES IN WOMB DESERVE LEGAL PROTECTION

by Charlie Butts

A Texas lawmaker is developing legislation to provide legal rights for a preborn child in certain circumstances.

What prompted the idea is a case in 2013 in which a pregnant, 33-year-old Fort Worth woman was found unconscious by her husband. The baby was 23 weeks old but doctors diagnosed the mother as brain dead.

The husband demanded pulling the plug on mother and baby. A court fight ensued, resulting in a court ruling to halt life support and she died.

Rep. Matt Krause is drawing up a bill that would provide legal representation for the baby in such cases.

The state representative's chief of staff, Clayton Knippa, says they are already hearing from pro-abortion forces.

"We see life starting at conception, as something that should be respected, whereas for them it's just a question of cells," Knippa tells OneNewsNow. "It's easy just to push it off to the side, and then not care about it, but for us we think there's an interest in protecting such a life."

According to the bill, an attorney would develop information and present it to the court on the child's behalf.

Knippa describe the court decision: "This is just simply making sure that the judge, when he's going to be making his decision on if they should pull the plug on life support or not, what the condition of the child is. And they're going to come out healthy, and they're going to be a very viable human being, but let's make sure we're not overlooking that fact."

Two Texas pro-life organizations support the concept behind the proposal.

MSNBC BREAKS WITH OBAMA ON ISIS: ‘RELIGIOUS WAR,’ ‘AMERICA MORALLY HUMILIATED

by JOHN NOLTE
Throughout all of Monday and into this morning, MSNBC had done what the Obama White House has refused: correctly identify the 21 men beheaded at the hands of ISIS as Christians. During Monday’s primetime hours, anchors Ed Schultz and Chris Matthews would reveal an even wider (and completely unexpected) break with Obama.

It is not difficult to imagine the self-righteous frenzy that would be taking place across the left-wing MSNBC and the even more left-wing CNN had Bill O’Reilly, Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, or anyone who ever admitted to enjoying an episode of “Duck Dynasty” declared that the war with ISIS is a “religious war.” Lucky for MSNBC’s Ed Schultz he is MSNBC’s Ed Schultz, because that is exactly what he said Monday.

The weekend beheading of 21 innocent Egyptian Coptic Christians at the hands of ISIS, and the White House’s utter military and rhetorical fecklessness in the face of this atrocity, appears to be too much water for even Ed Schultz to carry. Schultz not only broke with the White House by correctly identifying the war with ISIS as a “religious war,” he criticized the White House’s latest war plan, which foolishly assures ISIS we won’t use ground troops.

Good for Ed Schultz. If there was ever a time for moral clarity, this is it. And he showed some:

Transcript via NewsBusters:

ED SCHULTZ: It was a weekend of terror around the globe. In Libya, ISIS released a video showing more bloodshed. The video released on Sunday claims to show the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians. The brutal act of violence is clearly a gross display of what ISIS is capable of, what they’re motivated about, and what they are really all about. And I think this act of mass murder amounts to a religious war. Now we all have our own interpretations at this point. This continues to go on. At this point these people were targeted, as I see it, and murdered because of their faith . . . As I see it, the United States is going to have to have continual reviewal [sic] of its strategy. We can’t sit back here and watch hordes of people get their heads cut off. And why would we tell ISIS there’s no way we would ever put ground troops in combat situations? I think it has reached a point where we really have to have a very strong debate in this country. As I see it, it’s a religious war. What is going to turn back ISIS?

Later that same evening, Chris Matthews could barely contain his disgust during an interview with State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf. All Matthews wanted to hear from his government was how we are going to stop these barbarians. Harf’s response, that we need to find ISIS jobs instead of killing them, was as frightening as it was surreal:

Transcript via The Right Scoop:

MATTHEWS: Are we killing enough of them?

HARF: We’re killing a lot of them and we’re going to keep killing more of them. So are the Egyptians, so are the Jordanians. They’re in this fight with us. But we cannot win this war by killing them. We cannot kill our way out of this war. We need in the medium to longer term to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups, whether it’s lack of opportunity for jobs, whether —

MATTHEWS: We’re not going to be able to stop that in our lifetime or fifty lifetimes. There’s always going to be poor people. There’s always going to be poor Muslims, and as long as there are poor Muslims, the trumpet’s blowing and they’ll join. We can’t stop that, can we?

HARF: We can work with countries around the world to help improve their governance. We can help them build their economies so they can have job opportunities for these people…

In his closing editorial, Let Me Finish, Matthews called for action against ISIS and said that “America, our country, is being morally humiliated.” Sounding like an interventionist Neocon, Matthews said that America has a moral duty to protect these innocents from ISIS:

“Some of these [ISIS victims] must have, in their last moments, been wondering if there’s any chance the people of the United States might be coming to their rescue,” Matthews said. “Because that was how we were taught we conduct ourselves. We don’t leave people behind.”

NOT BY CHANCE: HOW CHRISTIANITY KEPT AMERICA FROM DESPOTISM

by believersstandunited.com
Americans are in the season of celebrating the birthdays of two of our nation’s greatest leaders. As we do so, it is worth noting that it is not by accident they both viewed their spiritual lives as core of who they were, and their purpose in life.

George Washington strongly refused consideration of the offered title of king. He wanted his newly-birthed homeland to enjoy the fruits of a new concept of government, based on the God-given rights of the individual, not the supposed divine rights of royalty. Abraham Lincoln saw his divinely-driven role as protecting that revolutionary form of governance.

While intellectuals and self-seeking revisionists wish they could rewrite the role of Christianity in both the founding and growing of our nation, they might pause to read a recent article by Bill Federer. The discussion he presents centers on the seminal works of Montesquieu. He was a political philosopher in France who greatly influenced leaders of the 18th century, including our founding fathers.

Of particular interest today, Montesquieu surveyed the history of governments, and sought to categorize those in existence in his time. He described three basic types:

Republics
Monarchs
Despots

The real genius of this philosopher’s analysis lies in his understanding of the nature of man. He clearly believed each of us is inherently selfish, and given the opportunity, anyone would be likely to seek power and despotic rule. With a detailed rationale, he explains why nations operating under Christian principles would remain free and enlightened. At the same time, he points to how the teachings of Muhammad would lead his followers to be despotic in their form of governance.

Ironically, as we see today, 300 years after his insights, the less America shows its Christian roots, the more we see encroaching immorality and big government, nanny-like regulation. Likewise, nearly a third of the countries of the world living under despotic rulers are Muslim-majority in population. Moreover, 8 of the 10 most dangerous countries globally are under Islamic law.

Why It Matters
As our leaders and secular humanists ignore facts and place hope in man’s ability to find good solutions to the problems of life, it is worth looking at history. Although there have been rare times of peace, there are always nations led by despots that seek to exert control over others. Likewise, our best bet to remain a country of individual rights and freedoms is ensuring that Christian principles are at the root of our worldview.

No, this is not an argument for theistic government controlled by religion. Rather, it is a reminder of the value of a government being run by men and women who are, themselves, committed to the teachings of service, and humility demonstrated by our Savior.

Take Action
Elections have consequences, and the coming elections are an opportunity to show those who seek to assume the mantle of leadership that we do, indeed, desire for them to continue in the style and substance of our Founding Fathers. As politicians and leaders are increasingly emboldened to distance themselves from Christian teachings, we must seek out and support those who are uncompromising in this area.

Egypt Unleashes Airstrikes on ISIS after 21 Coptic Christians Beheaded

By Lea Speyer
“Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.” (Isaiah 3:11)

Egyptian warplanes struck ISIS targets in Libya early Monday morning following the release of a video showing the mass killing of Coptic Christians in Tripoli.

A spokesman for Egypt’s Armed Forces General Command announced the airstrikes on state radio. According to the statement, warplanes targeted high level ISIS sites, such as weapons caches and training camps, before returning safely to Egypt.

The strikes were “to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers.” Egyptian state-run television aired footage of Egyptian fighter jets taking off to carry out the strikes.

“Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield that protects them,” the statement said.

The statement marks the first time Cairo has publicly acknowledged any military action in Libya, where radical Islamic terror groups have flourished over the last several years.

The strikes came hours after ISIS jihadists posted footage online of the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians. The hostages were all laborers who were working in the city of Sirte. They were taken captive in December and January.

The 21 hostages are shown wearing orange jumpsuits that have become typical in videos of ISIS hostages. The Christians are seen kneeling on a beach in the Libyan province of Tripoli. Behind them, black-suited captors wait.

A man, dressed differently than the other jihadists, address the camera with a North-American accent in English.

“All crusaders: safety for you will be only wishes, especially if you are fighting us all together. Therefore we will fight you all together,” he said. “The sea you have hidden Sheikh Osama Bin Laden’s body in, we swear to Allah we will mix it with your blood.”

The Christians are then laid face-down on the sand and simultaneously beheaded. Pointing to the red-stained water, the speaker says, “We will conquer Rome, by Allah’s permission.”

As the men are being beheaded, a subtitle on the video declares: “This filthy blood is just some of what awaits you, in revenge for Camilia and her sisters.”

Camilia Shehata and Wafa Constantine were wives of Coptic priests whose conversion to Islam sparked a sectarian dispute in Egypt in 2010.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed to punish the “murderers” responsible for the beheadings and declared seven days of mourning in Egypt.

In an address to the nation, the Egyptian president pledged greater resilience in the fight against terrorism and radical Islam.

“These cowardly actions will not undermine our determination. Egypt and the whole world are in a fierce battle with extremist groups carrying extremist ideology and sharing the same goals,” he stated.

The Coptic Church issued a statement and called on its followers to have “confidence that their great nation won’t rest without retribution for the evil criminals.”

The White House condemned the beheadings, calling them “despicable” and “cowardly.” Press Secretary Josh Earnest added in a statement that the barbarity of ISIS “knows no bounds.”

In Libya, the country’s air force announced it had launched airstrikes in the eastern city of Darna, which was overrun last year by ISIS affiliates. The Egyptian airstrikes come closely on the heels of Jordanian led strikes on ISIS targets in Syria following a video showing a captured Jordanian pilot being burned to death.

ISIS has made it a point to persecute Christians in the Middle East. In areas conquered by the jihadist group, Christians are forced to pay, convert or die. Thousands of Christians have been expelled from their homes and countless others killed at the hands of ISIS.

NJ STUDENT WINS BATTLE TO KEEP GOD IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

By believersstandunited.com
Samantha Jones, a senior at Highland Regional High School in New Jersey, is celebrating after a state judge agreedwith her that keeping the phrase “one nation under God” in the pledge does not violate the constitutional rights of atheists.

The case was filed in February of 2014 against the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District by the American Humanist Association. The AHA acted on behalf of two anonymous parents who claimed that forcing their child to recite the phrase was a violation of Article 1 of the New Jersey constitution. Jones decided to fight back, so she and her family filed a new suit with the help of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. The Knights of Columbus and the American Legion also offered their support during the suit. Eric Rassbach, Deputy General Counsel for the Becket Fund, said the judge’s ruling reiterated that “The Pledge of Allegiance isn’t a prayer, and reciting it doesn’t magically create an official state religion.”

In his ruling, State Superior Court Judge David Bauman said there is an exemption for students who don’t wish to say the pledge. He said there is no evidence the child in question has been forced to say the pledge or has been bullied into saying it. He further noted that parents must supply a written reason why their child does not want to say the pledge and questioned whether that has been done.

Why It Matters
Samantha Jones’ statement is true: “The phrase ‘under God’ protects all Americans-including atheists-because it reminds the government that it can’t take away basic human rights because it didn’t create them.” Judge David Bauman should be commended for showing sound reasoning in his decision that the desires of the majority should not be overruled by the desires of a few when there are accommodations in place for those who are offended by the words “under God.” No one is forced to recite the pledge, but that doesn’t mean those who want to should be silenced.

Take Action
To show appreciation to Judge Bauman for correctly interpreting the law instead of bowing to the demands of liberals, contact Judge Bauman at the following address: Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Park, PO Box 1266, 3rd Floor, Freehold, NJ 07728.

CNN’S CUOMO: ‘OUR RIGHTS DO NOT COME FROM GOD’

by JEFFREY POOR
In a contentious 25-minute interview with Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore on Thursday, CNN “New Day” co-host Chris Cuomo discussed Moore’s refusal to adhere to a federal judge’s ruling on same-sex marriages.

Cuomo and Moore disagreed on whether or not the federal court decision was binding to the point that it required the state of Alabama to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But they also continued the argument to the point of where certain rights originate, to which Cuomo argued they came from man and law, and not from God.

Exchange as follow:

MOORE: I believe that’s a matter of law because our rights contained in the Bill of Rights do not come from the Constitution, they come from God. It’s clearly stated –

CUOMO: Our laws do not come from God, your honor, and you know that. They come from man.

MOORE: Let me ask you one question. Let me ask you one question, Chris. Is the Declaration of Independence law?

CUOMO: You would call it organic law as a basis for future laws off of it?

MOORE: I would call it the organic law because the United States code calls it organic law. It is organic law because the law of this country calls it the organic law of the country means where our rights come from. And if they come from there, men can’t take it away.

CUOMO: Our rights do not come from God. That’s your faith. That’s my faith, but not our country. Our laws come from the collective agreement and compromise.

MOORE: It’s not a matter of faith, sir. It’s a matter of organic law, which states, ‘We hold these truths to be held equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’ And the only role of government is stated in the next sentence is to secure those rights for us. The government starts taking those rights away from us, then it’s not securing and it is defiling the whole purpose of government.

VIDEO: This Is Not A Tease! This Is Real! Islam Attempting To Take Over US Universities

By Bill Chandler
Some of the most savage terrorist leaders in the world started at US universities.

The Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is Hamas on Campus. An organization dedicated to wiping Israel off the map. Watch and learn how the SJP was created to be Hamas on Campus and work in tandem with the Muslim Brotherhood proxy, the Muslim Students Association.

Help protect Jewish students on American campuses.

To all Christians, Jews, and Americans. Watch this and then ask yourself if it’s acceptable to remain silent any longer?

Mike Huckabee: Obama Shows 'Unfailing Support' for Muslims, But Constantly Opposes Christians, Jews

By LEAH MARIEANN KLETT
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee recently criticized implications U.S. President Barack Obama made regarding Christianity at last week's National Prayer Breakfast, arguing that the President shows unwavering sympathy toward Islam but seems to "go against" Christianity and Judaism at every opportunity.

"Everything he does is against what Christians stand for, and he's against the Jews in Israel. The one group of people that can know they have his undying, unfailing support would be the Muslim community. It doesn't matter whether it's the radical Muslim community or the more moderate Muslim community," the former Baptist minister said on "Fox and Friends" on Monday.

Huckabee's comments were made in regard to President Obama's controversial comments last Thursday morning that violence rooted in religion isn't exclusive to Islam, but has been carried out by Christians as well.

"We see [the Islamic State terrorist group,] a brutal vicious death cult that in the name of religion carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism," the President said, criticizing the group for "claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions."

He added, "Unless we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ."

Huckabee also took issue with the president's depiction of how Christianity had been used in the debate over civil rights.

"It was the pulpits of America - yeah, some of them were wrong - but many of them were the ones who brought the conscious of the nation to get them right," Huckabee said, adding that many Christian pastors were key leaders in the civil rights movement.

Other Christian leaders have criticized the President's comments as well, including Samaritan's Purse CEO and President Franklin Graham.

"Mr. President--Many people in history have used the name of Jesus Christ to accomplish evil things for their own desires," Rev. Graham wrote on his Facebook page. "But Jesus taught peace, love and forgiveness. He came to give His life for the sins of mankind, not to take life. Mohammad on the contrary was a warrior and killed many innocent people. True followers of Christ emulate Christ -- true followers of Mohammed emulate Mohammed."

Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas megachurch in Texas, argued that Jesus would be greatly angered by Obama's comparison of Christianity and Islam.

"I would imagine that Jesus would be outraged that the president would willfully mischaracterize a movement like Christianity that bears Christ's name," Jeffress said during a segment of The O'Reilly Factor. "I believe that Jesus, who said that it would be better to be cast into the sea than to harm a child, would be incensed that Obama would dare link Christianity to ISIS, an organization that tortures children, buries them alive and crucifies them. I think he'd be outraged by it."

Florida High School Disciplines Student for Saying 'God Bless America' after Atheists’ Complaint

By ISAIAH NARCISO
A prominent national atheist organization sent a letter to a Florida high school complaining about a student ending the morning announcements by saying "God bless America," resulting in disciplinary action.

According to a report from WFOX-TV, Monica Miller of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, an atheist group from Washington, wrote a letter to the Nassau County school superintendent and Yulee High School principal Natasha Drake. The American Humanist Organization has also criticized the high school's action.

"It is inappropriate and unlawful for a public school to start the school day with an official statement over the intercom stating 'God Bless America,' for such a statement affirms God-belief, validates a theistic worldview, and is invidious toward atheists and other nonbelievers," Miller wrote. "The students in question are atheists and do not believe in any god."

In Miller's letter, she described the action by the student as a "constitutional violation," given that a school official selects a student to read the morning announcements on a pre-approved script over a PA system. She then reminded Yulee High School that based on the Supreme Court ruling in regards to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, the "religious messages" violated the law.

"School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible," Miller wrote. "The delivery of such a message - over the school's public address system, by a speaker representing the student body, under the supervision of school faculty [violates the Establishment Clause]."

After detailing her legal argument, Miller ended the letter by writing that the school district could be sued "for damages, an injunction, and attorneys' fees."

Drake promptly responded to the atheist organization's letter, which was published by Nicholas Kurch of Independent Journal Review.

"I want to point out that the statement 'God Bless America, keep us safe' that was made last week on the morning announcements was not approved by school Administration nor was it in the scripted announcements," Drake wrote. "The student on his own accord made the statement."

Drake added that the student "would no longer have the privilege of making the morning announcements" if he did that again in the morning announcements. However, she expressed disappoint that the students who complained didn't go to her first.

"I am disappointed that the students who filed the complaint did not do so with me first, as I would have addressed it immediately," Drake said.

The principal then thanked the atheist organization for bringing up the issue, adding that it was "our desire and intention to respect the beliefs and constitutional freedoms of all our students at Yulee High School."

This controversy in Florida reached the attention of Todd Starnes. In an opinion article he wrote for Fox News, he asked district spokesperson Sharyl Wood why the high school had a problem with the phrase "God Bless America."

"As an official representative of a governmental agency, schools aren't allowed to promote or inhibit religion," Wood said to Starnes. "Individual students are certainly permitted to express their religious beliefs but not on behalf of the governmental body."

Wood explained to Starnes that students who delivered the morning announcements became a representative of the government, which meant they cannot invoke God.

"We can't say God bless America or hail to Muslims - nobody can get up there and say there is no God," Wood explained. "We have respect for all people's faiths and religions."

Jeremy Dys, an attorney with Liberty Institute, decided to weigh in on the matter. According to Starnes, Dys argued that the atheists were wrong.

"Whether a student is being patriotic or engaging in religious speech, there is no law in this country forbidding a student from telling his or her classmates, 'God bless America' and it is illegal for a school to censor a student for doing so," Dys said.

Dys then wondered why the atheist students engaged in what Starnes thought was censorship of "patriotic speech."

"Regardless of this attempt by secularists to white wash over this demonstration of patriotism by a teenager, America's students do not give up their right to free speech and the expression of their religious beliefs when they go to school," Dys said.

Starnes then tried to ask the district spokesperson how the student was disciplined by the school. He was unable to obtain an answer from them.

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One of Our Prophetic Words for 2015: