Thanksgiving Proclamation

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

IS THERE A “CIVIL RIGHT” TO GAY “MARRIAGE”?

IS THERE A “CIVIL RIGHT” TO GAY “MARRIAGE”? 
By
Michael L. Brown, Ph.D.,
Director,Coalition of Conscience, www.coalitionofconscience.org
November 15, 2008

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As gay protests to the passage of Proposition 8 take place in cities across the nation today, it is important that we know the facts. How do we respond truthfully to the statements that are being made?

"I have the right to marry the one I love!"

If that is the case, then shouldn’t Patrick and Susan S. be allowed to marry in Germany? He was adopted as a child and didn’t know he had a sister until she was 16 and he was 23. He has served a prison sentence because of his love for his sister. They have had four children together and do not want to be separated. Why should the government intervene? Patrick says, “We are like normal lovers. We want to have a family.” Susan states, “I just want to live with my family, and be left alone by the authorities and by the courts.” Their attorney argues that the law against a brother and sister marrying “is out of date and it breaches the couple’s civil rights.” Does this sound familiar? If gays should have the “civil right” to marry the ones they love, why not a blood brother and sister, separated as children and reunited later in life?

"It is an outright lie to claim that legalizing same-sex marriages will affect what children are taught in the schools."

U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf ruled against the Parkers and Wirthlins who had requested that their children be removed from elementary school classes when homosexuality and transgenderism were being promoted. Judge Wolf argued that teaching diversity in sexual orientation was "reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy" and trumped both parental rights and their sincerely held religious beliefs. And, since same-sex marriage was legal in Massachusetts, where the Parkers and Wirthlins reside, on what basis could they ask for their children to be removed from class? Based on this ruling, the superintendent of schools in Lexington, MA, recently explained to a concerned parent that, "The court decided we are not required to inform parents in advance of teaching units that include same gender parents or required to release students when such topics are discussed."

"This is a civil rights issue no different than segregation. We are born this way and we cannot change."

Many black Americans are offended by this analogy and do not feel it is fair to compare the color of one’s skin with the sexual relations one chooses in private. Also, there is no such thing as “ex-black” whereas many people claim to be “ex-gay,” and recent scientific studies have confirmed that some homosexuals can, in fact, change, while other studies point to a large degree of sexual fluidity, especially among women. Even if you reject the possibility of change, however, and claim that homosexuality is inborn and immutable, how does that relate to civil rights? All of us reject pedophilia for many reasons, yet pedophiles claim that they were born that way, that they would never choose such a sexual orientation, and that they cannot change. Do we then grant them the “civil right” to their behavior because it is inborn and immutable? Or do we lower the age of consent to accommodate ephebophiles who are attracted only to young teenagers (and who also claim their orientation is inborn and immutable)? Why discriminate against them if our behavior and orientation can be justified based on being inborn and immutable?

"Children raised in same-sex households are no different than children raised in heterosexual households."

A meta-analytical study by pro-gay researchers Stacy and Biblarz indicated that children raised in same-sex households were more prone to promiscuity, crossing gender lines, and same-sex attraction. To cite one example, they found that lesbian mothers had a feminizing effect on their sons and a masculinizing effect on their daughters. They also reported that “the adolescent and young adult girls raised by lesbian mothers appear to have been more sexually adventurous and less chaste . . . in other words, once again, children (especially girls) raised by lesbians appear to depart from traditional gender-based norms, while children raised by heterosexual mothers appear to conform to them.” On a more personal note, Dawn Stefanowicz, raised by a gay father, wrote, “What makes it so hard for a girl to grow up with a gay father is that she never gets to see him loving, honoring, or protecting the women in his life.” Children do best with a mom and dad, but same-sex marriages guarantee that this possibility will never exist for children they raise.

"In the past, the Bible was used in America to promote slavery, segregation, and the suppression of women, just as it is now being used to suppress gays and lesbians."

It is true that the Bible was misused to promote slavery, segregation, and the suppression of women, but it was actually the proper use of the Scriptures that fueled the anti-slavery and anti-segregation movements, while there are numerous verses in the Bible that speak in glowing terms of the importance of women. In fact, anthropologist Rodney Stark pointed out that one reason that Christianity spread so rapidly in the ancient world was because it was so egalitarian and so liberating for women. In contrast, there is not a single verse in the Bible that extols homosexual behavior, to the point that even the gay-affirming biblical scholar Walter Wink noted that, “The Bible is negative toward same-sex behavior, and there is no getting around it. “ He also stated that "Paul wouldn’t accept [a nonexploitative homosexual] relationship for a minute."

"Giving us the right to marry would not affect the rights of those who differ with us, especially the rights of people of faith."

The Washington Blade (May 30, 2008) asked, “Apart from state- or federally funded religious programs, could the legalization of same-sex marriage in California prevent priests and ministers from preaching that homosexuality is biblically forbidden? Could churches in time risk their tax- exempt status by refusing to marry gays? That remains to be seen and will likely result in a steady stream of court battles” (my emphasis). Catholic Charities in Boston dropped out of the adoption business because they were required by the state to place children in same-sex households; Elaine Photography in New Mexico was found guilty of discrimination for refusing to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony because of religious convictions; and a doctor in California was found guilty of refusing to artificially inseminate a lesbian woman so she and her partner could have a baby, again because of religious convictions, and despite the fact that this doctor personally referred the patient to another doctor. As predicted by lesbian legal scholar Chai Feldblum, when religious liberty and sexual liberty conflict, “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.” A just-released study by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has also found that over 350 separate state anti-discrimination laws would likely be affected by the legal recognition of same-sex "marriage."

"It is a lie of the religious right that legalizing same-sex marriage will open the door to legalizing polygamy and incestuous relationships."

Actually, polygamy involves a far less radical redefinition of marriage than does same-sex marriage, since marriage is fundamentally the union of a man and a woman more than it is the union of two people. Polygamy is also legal in much of the world and has been the accepted norm in many cultures throughout history, whereas same-sex marriage has never been the norm in any nation at any time in the past. Because same-sex marriage so radically redefines the nature of marriage, marriage certificates were changed in California after the Supreme Court’s decision in May to refer to “Partner A” and “Partner B” rather than bride and groom, while birth certificates in Spain now refer to “Progenitor A” and “Progenitor B” as opposed to Mother and Father. It should also be noted that pro-incest and pro-polygamy cases currently before courts in the USA and abroad are pointing to same-sex marriage rulings for support.

"There is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage."

The California Supreme Court, by a four-three vote, recently claimed to discover such a constitutional argument, claiming that everyone has a basic right “to establish a legally recognized family with the person of one’s choice,” yet there is not a single sentence in the Constitution that can be fairly construed to support this “right” for same-sex couples. Moreover, following the Court’s logic, there is no basis for refusing the “right” of two gay brothers to marry and “establish a legally recognized family,” and it is with good reason that justice Marvin Baxter wrote in his dissenting opinion, "I cannot join this exercise in legal jujitsu, by which the Legislature’s own weight is used against it to create a constitutional right from whole cloth, defeat the People’s will, and invalidate a statute otherwise immune from legislative interference."

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The bottom line is that this is not an issue of civil rights or constitutional rights; rather, it is an issue of right and wrong, and it is dangerously wrong to tamper with the historic and sacred institution of marriage, one that exists for the benefit of the family and the state, and one that forms the bedrock of human society. We do well not to tamper with our foundations! It is also a well-known fact that many gay activists have promoted same-sex marriage for years, knowing that it would be a major stepping stone for the complete normalization of homosexuality in society. The implications of this are enormous, and while we should have compassion for those who sincerely desire the “right” to same-sex marriage, we dare not alter the foundations of human society.

Finally, it is utterly hypocritical for gays and lesbians to call for tolerance, diversity, and inclusion and then to label as “hate-filled bigots” all sincere people of faith (or non-faith) who oppose same-sex marriage on religious or moral grounds. Where is the tolerance, diversity, and inclusion? Why is the democratic process not enough? Could it be that those who espouse “tolerance” have the potential of being the most intolerant? Could it be that those speaking against “hate” are actually engaging in it?

It is no surprise, then, that today, as I write these words, protesters at a rally in Sacramento, California are holding up signs with slogans such as: Prop 8=American Taliban; Ban Bigots; Majority Vote Doesn’t Matter; We Won’t Go Away; 52%=Nazi; Don’t Silence the Christians, Feed Them 2 the Lions, and lastly, Your Rights are Next. We have been forewarned!

Those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus should adhere to the biblical injunction to overcome hatred with love and to conquer evil with good, reaching out to those who oppose us, sharing with them the message of forgiveness and transformation through the gospel, and standing firmly on our convictions, knowing that God’s ways are best.

We shall not be moved!

Michael L. Brown, Ph.D. is the Director of the Coalition of Conscience, a network of Christian leaders and believers in the greater Charlotte area who are working together for moral and cultural change through the gospel.

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Dr. Michael L. Brown
ICN Ministries
PO Box 1446
Harrisburg, NC 28075
704-782-3760
e-mail: ministry@icnministries.org

A 9-Day Prayer Focus

Chuck D. Pierce
www.GloryofZion.org
Friday, October 31, 2008

Dear Friends:

With all the waters rising and rivers flowing, and societal structures changing, we must have revelation on how to interpret the times. The level of contention that is brewing in this land is overwhelming. You hear the concept of revolution and revolutionaries being discussed daily. This nation was birthed on revolution and will see revolution again. This political election seems like the two women in the Bible arguing over the one live baby (I Kings 3). There are some that have a righteous heart for the Lord. There are others who are motivated by political ambition, a Judas spirit. May the “one” who has the true heart of God for this nation be exalted by God and come into a new place of nurturing and leadership for our nation.

How we vote is how we will be visited. I do know the people of this nation will be allowed by a Holy God to choose their future. We could make a choice that would be detrimental in days ahead. As the word of God says in I Samuel 8, the nation of Israel chose a king. In Samuel 8:18 the Lord warns the people that if they choose a King that is not His choice, the following would happen: “And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” We are now determining our future. The real danger is the Lord turning His ear away from us in days ahead because we make a choice that is against His will. Kingdom people must do the will of God. We are a nation above other nations. Concerning this nation, the picture below is a great reflection of what I see ahead of us.

Notice in the picture the river and the rift or schism. I recently met Pam and some of my children at the Grand Canyon. I had been ministering in Las Vegas and then drove to meet them for one day before we proceeded on to Phoenix. When I was viewing this magnificent display of God’s power and creation, I saw something. What I saw quickened in me and reminded me of what I saw in August 2007. It was then that the Lord began to show me a nation divided. He has continued to deal with me from an intercessory standpoint to get prepared for a great schism that is coming to this nation. On May 31, 2008, I was ministering at the major gate of this nation in Liberty Park, New Jersey, and as the Spirit of prophecy began to fall I exclaimed what our nation would look like in the future. I have not yet had the liberty to discuss all that I saw. As my family and I looked at one of the incredible viewpoints on the rim of the Grand Canyon, the Lord spoke to me and said, “A new type of river is now rising in this land. This River will create a schism unlike anything this nation has ever known before.” Be prepared - this nation as we know it will no longer be the same. In the Hebraic Year 5769, the Year of the New Wineskin, we must be prepared for the structure of this nation to change.

A schism is a division or disunion of mutually opposed parties. In Ecclesiastical understanding, a schism occurs when a formal division or separation occurs where some doctrinal or administrative difference in one sect of the Body creates an offense resulting in division. Division is the opposite of multiplication. I Corinthians 12:20-26 states, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”( NKJV). A rift is means to burst open or split. A rift is an opening made by splitting. This can be like the picture you see above or can occur from a break in friendly relations or difference of opinion. We can agree to disagree without condemning each other. I see the River of God that has been released from the heavenly realm creating a new place for us to stand and cry forth for His power and glory to come into the earth.

"Rivers" and "waters" are frequently used in Scripture to symbolize abundance, as of the grace of God (Ps 36:8; 46:4; Isa 32:2; 41:18; John 7:38), of peace (Isa 66:12), of good things of life (Job 20:17; 29:6), and of God's providence (Isa 43:19-20). The fruitfulness of trees planted by rivers is figurative of the permanent prosperity of the righteous (Ps 1:3; Jer 17:8). However, rivers can also be related to affliction (Ps. 69:2; Is. 43:2). The drying up of rivers represents God's judgments (Isa 19:1-8; Jer 51:36; Nah 1:4; Zech 10:11), as can their overflowing (Is. 8:7-8; 28:2,17; Jer. 47:2) and moving outside of its originally intended boundaries. How the water gushes or flows indicates a message from the heavenly realm by the Father-God of creation to His people. How to enter the “Harvest Waters” is of utmost importance to understand at this time in history. This is a time of violent praise. This River must rise! We are nation that has many factions within it. I share much about the blood war in God’s Unfolding Battle Plan.

Watch this winter! Winter torrents sometimes come down with great suddenness and with desolating force. Get ready for accelerated changes that will begin this winter. What we see in the natural will become spiritual. That river will become torrential and devastating to some and refreshing and moving to others - bringing us to a new place of harvest. The river of God is stirring the fish. They are coming to the surface. The Lord will fill our nets if we will creatively stand in the rising river and not fear being swept away.

God’s river is life. His life always overcomes death. There must be a fresh release of His Kingdom River in America. Ezekiel 47:9 says, "Everything will live where the river goes." This river even has power to heal nations (see Ezekiel 47:12 and Revelation 22:1-2). Saying we need a release of the river of God is another way of saying we need a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. Nothing else will break this spirit of death and political schism that is rising in this land. We must return to the Lord. This means to repent, which means to change our minds. We must repent for having divisive political leanings that cause us not to represent the God of Righteousness in our choices we make. We are a nation above all nations and must always represent His Kingdom in our actions in the earth.

I love reading about Elijah. James said that we have an emotional make up like him. I have been studying the end of 1 Kings 18 and the beginning of 1 Kings 19, and asking the Lord for revelation over the “Baal” structures that would oppose our nation. Elijah faithfully carried the word of the Lord in his heart until the time came to intercede, bring God’s word into the atmosphere, and produce change. After the birth of the next season, he established himself in the gate of the nation. However, the strongman, Jezebel, made a decree that opened his eyes to the demon rule in the nation. I Kings 19:2, says, that he “SAW” her threat. That means that the demonic forces behind her threat could be seen in the atmosphere. He “saw” the demonic forces empowering her threat and could not stand before them. This caused him to vacate his position of victory and flee. He needed new strength from a new word of revelation that would produce a new faith so he could continue to stand.

Stand firm, do not run! Wait for the next word, and we will see a generation arise that will overthrow the Jezebel structure in the land. Babylonian spirits have brought great confusion into this land. There is coming of God something that will look confusing but will produce a new order in this land. We must not compromise or rearrange our support for God’s covenant land. Babylon is shaking. We must stand in our relation with Israel and watch God produce a people in this land who will stand for our future. Stand and command these spirits that would negatively direct our government to be blown from their position of influence.

9 Days for you to Make the Shift that God is Requiring NOW in our Lives at the Crossroads of History and the Blending of the Generations:

Day 1: Develop His MIND! Read Philippians 2 and Romans 8. Don’t lean on your own understanding. You will never make the right choice with your limited knowledge. Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… who made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant … He humbled Himself and became obedient.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Don’t let Satan’s scheme fashion you into one who thinks like the world. Don’t let outward appearances deceive you, causing you to miss what God is doing. We must prove the voice of God, and practice in everyday life what God’s will from heaven is declaring to us. Romans 8:7 says, “The carnal mind is in enmity with God”. Declare that the Lord will put His finger on every area of carnality in your thinking.

Day 2: Learn to express His heart! Memorize and Mediate on Proverbs 29:18 and 2 Chronicles 20:20. Prophecy is expressing the mind and heart of God. Let the Lord deal with your emotions. Invite the Spirit of God to subdue your emotions so His heartbeat can be heard. Declare that all self pity and hope deferred is being removed from you. Command bitterness and unforgiveness to leave your soul. Express the heart of God in your thinking. Don’t let inordinate affections cause inappropriate alignments in your life. The heart can have weights or attachments. I declare a “free” heart over you. Without correct prophetic revelation we perish.

Day 3: Change your atmosphere! Read Matthew 13. Speak faith!! Jesus could do very little in Nazareth because the atmosphere was so filled with unbelief. Jesus was the all-powerful God walking the earth, capable of signs and wonders, yet the atmosphere in Nazareth created a barrier for His intervention. Break the negative atmospheric presence around you by prophetic declarations of victory!

Day 4: Do exploits! Optimize resources! Memorize Daniel 11:32 which says “the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and do exploits for God!” Remember to “optimize.” That means to see things from a positive standpoint. To do exploits means to take the resources you have and create new resources or bring them into a new level of fullness. This is one of the things that God means when He says to optimize resources. Read Psalm 30 and Genesis 1 and 2. In a Mudslinging Year (9, the Hebraic character Tet, means Mud and Mire), take all the mud that is being slung and be creative. The Lord was creative with mud. He made us from it!

Day 5: Watch for the “suddenlies!” Read 2 Chronicles 29:20-36. We’ve heard about the suddenlies happening, but now they manifest. If hope deferred and weariness is ruling you, you will miss the time when our Lord moves on your behalf. If fear is influencing you, you won’t understand when God starts breaking through on your behalf. The process that you’ve been going through is moving toward a SUDDENLY!

Day 6: Learn the process of going “OVER”! Read Isaiah 54 and memorize verse 17. We must have an “over” mentality. Overtake or be overtaken. Overthrow or be overthrown. Overturn or be overturned. Overcome or be overcome. Be sure you are being overseen. Also, define the sphere that you are overseeing!

Day 7: Develop a Kingdom mentality! Read Mathew 11, 13 and Luke 9, 13. The Kingdom of God is within you. We build the Church, but we get keys to the Kingdom. Study the Kingdom. Matthew 11:12 says, “.. now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” The Kingdom advances in victory. This occurs through violent spiritual conflict and warfare. Fear not! The Church is God’s warring agent. Worship and war! The Kingdom increases. Understand the sword and the fire because they are both important in the battle ahead.

Day 8: Find your new river of JOY! Psalm 30, Psalm 46 and John 11-12. Do not let the RIFT ahead stop you from standing. Praise causes Him to enthrone Himself in our midst. Jesus’ display of glory to raise Lazarus from the dead created a rift. Do not let upcoming manifestations create a rift that keeps you from experiencing God’s Kingdom plan.

Day 9: Experience a SHIFT in the Rift! Read Genesis 13 and 14. For God’s covenant plan to make the next shift, there came a rift between Abraham and Lot. This was really over provision and worldly choice. A “shift” is a change of place, position or direction. A shift also includes an exchange or replacement of one thing for another. A shift is a change of gear so you can accelerate. A shift can also be an underhanded or deceitful scheme. Therefore, in our shift we must recognize that the enemy is plotting to stop it. A shift also entails a scheduled time. Shaking occurs during a shift. Think of a fault line. A rift is the place of dividing. God has a time where division is necessary for His covenant to come forth in a new way. Jesus said it this way: “I didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword!” Let’s just be sure that we, in God’s Kingdom, don’t use the sword on each other.