Biblical marriage is under attack on both coasts of our nation.  Read about raging battles in Vermont and New Jersey as well as encouraging news from two other states.  New lawsuits challenging the phrase "One nation under God" are springing up, and do you know the latest on the federal hate crimes legislation?  Read all this and much more in this month's Prayer & Praise update. 

Protecting Traditional Marriage

Please pray for our nation as those who oppose protecting traditional marriage demand new rights for same-sex couples.  The battle is raging especially at this time in VERMONT and NEW JERSEY. 

Praise the Lord that a court in RHODE ISLAND ruled that a lesbian couple married in MASSACHUSETTS could not get a divorce in Rhode Island where they now live because Rhode Island does not recognize same-sex marriage.

It is important to remember that our Constitution did not define marriage as one man and one woman because that definition was assumed from the Bible, just as all of America's laws were based on the Bible.  The Supreme Court affirmed marriage as one man and one woman in the 1878 case of Reynolds v. United States outlawing polygamy.  The Court said polygamy had always been an offense against society as well as against the church.  In fact, when the definition of marriage was questioned in the 18^th Century, Thomas Jefferson made certain VIRGINIA law banned polygamy.  Today, the definition of marriage is being questioned again and our laws once again need to affirm traditional marriage and ban same-sex unions.

Legal Support for Homosexuality

Pray that a new law requiring equal treatment in CALIFORNIA schools for homosexuality and heterosexuality will not go into effect.  Pro-family groups are trying to stop this state indoctrination that would require teaching school children about homosexual as well as traditional families. 

Praise God that a CALIFORNIA trial court dismissed a "sexual discrimination" suit brought against a Christian school by parents of two ex-students who had engaged in lesbian behavior.

One Nation Under God-Again

Continue to pray for protection for our nation's Pledge of Allegiance as it is again coming under attack on both the EAST and WEST COASTS.  New lawsuits have been filed in both states to remove the words "under God" from the Pledge.  The last time this issue was raised, the U.S. Supreme Court chose to ignore the issue and dismissed the case on technical and procedural grounds.

All Crime Is Hate Crime

Praise the Lord that CONGRESS did not enact hate crimes legislation during its 110th session.  This legislation would have made homosexuals a specially protected class of crime victims and could have potentially limited the right of pastors to preach the Biblical concept of homosexuality as sin.  Please pray that hate crime laws will be defeated whenever they are proposed at the national, state or local level.

Land Use Issues Complicated

Pray for a small community in MARYLAND where Muslims are demanding a special exception to local zoning laws to build an Islamic center.  Muslims are becoming extremely active in purchasing large areas of land in many, primarily small communities and farmland, around America.  It is difficult for communities to deny zoning exceptions for Islamic Centers and still provide Christians with needed areas for church development.  Some of the Islamic sects seeking land have been associated with militant jihadist movements.

Pray for a church in ILLINOIS that is being denied a special use permit to build a new church in a business district that permits religious clubs and meeting halls.

No Room at the School?

Pray for churches in NEW YORK, OHIO and NEVADA that are seeking to rent space from public schools for worship services. 

Community Servants

Pray for a new Christian city council member in MINNESOTA.  A Christian already on the council was concerned about new eminent domain ("takings") laws that might put local church property at risk.  She was able to convince another Christian who understood land use law to run for a seat on the council.  Praise the Lord, he won.  Now Christians have two advocates serving their local community.

Moral Assault on Children:  

Pray that the hearts and minds of our children would be kept pure from the evil influence of on-line pornography.  The American Bar Association recently commented that the Department of Justice has basically given up on stopping online pornography as obscenity because the cases are too difficult to prove in court.  Recent statistics show that 42% of all Internet users view pornography and that the average age of the first Internet exposure to pornography is age 11.  Sadly, 90% of all children ages 9-16 have viewed on-line pornography, most while doing homework.  Pastors and parents need to be aware of this extremely damaging  influence in the lives of America's children and work to diligently guard against it.