Psa 65:11
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
PRAYER -
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and
for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge of the truth. I Tim 2:1-4
ENCOUNTER -
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luk 19:13
Community Calendar (check for updates, links, future events, and regular meetings) We want to be a blessing to our community and support each event by avoiding scheduling conflicts.
- Jan 6-7 - Journal to Financial Freedom Seminar, Hoffmantown Church, Ray or Rose McKillip (293-7247 or 844-8472, email: rmckillip@comcast.net) for info, childcare will be provided
- Jan 8, 8p - Wings for Life Seminar, 291-6412, 831-8117, 321-4086
- Jan 10, 7p - NM IDNet science meeting, UNM Law School
- Jan 16 - Religious Freedom Day
- Jan 20-21 - Marriage Savers Training with Mike and Harriet McManus, www.marriagesavers.org
- Jan 21 - Journal to Financial Freedom Seminar - Las Cruces
- Jan 22 - Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
- Jan 27-29 - Reinventing Evangelism with Alan Shlemon and Steve Wagner from Stand to Reason at The Foothills, 12504 Candelaria NE, 294-0016, evangelism in a post-modern context, helping you chart a fresh course for sharing your faith in the real world
- Jan 28, 8:30-4p - Rick Green from Wallbuilders at Eastern Hills Christian Academy 3100 Morris NE Abq, hosted by the Association of Christian Schools and the Tijeras Foundation, (720) 842-0170, Our Heritage: Education, Government & Law (PDF)
- Jan 29 - Preachers & Sneakers Basketball Game, 265-3865
- Feb 7 - School Bonds Election
- Feb 11 - Journal to Financial Freedom Seminar - Alamogordo
- Feb 18-19 - Youth Leadership School, 888-1910, bobc32@hotmail.com
- Feb 24-26 - Family Life Weekend-To-Remember Marriage Conference, Tamaya Resort in Bernalillo, On-line registration isn't available yet, however, additional information about the Weekend-To-Remember conference is available at www.familylife.com/conferences/marriage.asp. If anyone has questions, they can contact me or my wife directly at 604-5688 (cell) or 792-0573 (home). - Bill Sturgill
UNDERSTANDING
- And of the children of Issachar, which were men
that had understanding of the time, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads
of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
I Chron 12:32
Contents:
Year in Review
Youth Leadership School
Recycle Calendars & Greeting Cards
Wings for Life Seminar
UNM Intelligent Design Meeting
Marriage Savers Training
Feb 7 Election - School Tax Increase
Nazi Holocaust a Myth?
Starbucks Propaganda
TV Guardian
Petitions
Friends of the Family & Christmas Gifts
Resources
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Year in Review
What has God done in 2005? As we reflect on the year past, it only has true meaning in the context of God has done. A business measures accomplishments against a mission statement. What was God's mission statement for your life in 2005? There are many problems in the world due to sin and the influence of satan. But God isn't finished yet.
Psa 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered. KJV
Each church and Christian organization has made significant contributions during 2005. Yet there are certain noteworthy events that mark the clash of worldviews in our culture. Look for Christian influence that is suppressed in the media, in education, in public and you will identify the major issues of spiritual battles - marriage, education, human life, science, Scripture, prayer, judicial activism, immigration, healthcare, welfare.
- KNME scheduled to air Unlocking the Mystery of Life and later canceled it. Recognizing our Creator in science continues to be a national conflict with NM at the forefront. Our founding principles in the Declaration of Independence had no reservation about acknowledging our Creator - "... all men are created equal ... endowed by their Creator." Other PBS stations (e.g., Portales) air this program and Privileged Planet.
- Rio Rancho School Board passes measure allowing students to discuss alternatives to the theory of evolution. Federal judge bans Intelligent Design in PA public schools.
- 5th Annual International Symposium on Archaeology & the Bible. The Bible is often relegated to myth and superstition yet its principles formed the foundation of our laws and form of government. Proof of Biblical accuracy contributes to acceptance of Biblical authority. We do not have an empty, blind faith.
- Legislative Session 2005. NM expands control of education to pre-K. Offering "free" govt education draws families away from Christian businesses. More tax dollars spent to teach Godless philosophies at a younger age. Opposition continues against education vouchers for school choice. Many pro-life and pro-family bills were introduced. Domestic Partners, SB 576, was killed in committee. It would have elevated domestic partners to the full status of marriage.
- Teen Pact conducts another session in Santa Fe during the legislative session. Youth are trained to get involved and apply Biblical principles.
- Major assault on abstinence education. NM DOH terminated funding for abstinence programs above sixth grade in favor of "safe sex" programs. Abstinence education continues in various parts of the state funded by national grants. Heather Wilson takes on the charge of misuse of federal abstinence education funding in the NM DOH. Focus on the Family interviewed Laurel Edenburn, President of NM Abstinence Education Coalition and broadcasted special radio programs featuring the recent challenges to federally funded abstinence education in New Mexico.
- Principles CINews introduced the issue of "common law." Many were confused, some were offended, others were concerned. No major Christian organization had any information or position on the subject. As more information was discovered, severe consequences of participating with "common law" groups were revealed such as expatriation, tax fraud, and in some cases, violence. Finally found a good summary article on the Anti Defamation League (ADL) website. A common law group continues to operate in Albuquerque (www.newmexicocommonlawvenue.org) and other states around the nation.
- Scopes Trial reenactment plays in Albuquerque. References to the 1925 trial grow as intelligent design challenges evolution across the nation.
- National attention on the judicial filibuster. Liberals made unprecedented use of the filibuster to block conservative judicial candidates. Conservatives responded with national broadcasts and calls to action.
- Nude painting above body piercing shop challenged on Central Ave. Much discussion generated but no resolution. Issue dropped due to lack of support. Absurd four-point local test for public obscenity discovered during the process.
- NM Bike Ride for the Family toured central NM contacting pastors and churches with info on Marriage Covenant, Christian Education, and Intelligent Design.
- Voter information provided for Abq City Council election.
- Hurricanes flood New Orleans. A great debate of national principles ensued. Churches across the nation organized relief efforts including temporary housing for refugees. Waters were pumped out and the decision was made to rebuild. National readiness (FEMA) was called into question but also the lack of city planning and state response. How much should a city depend on federal taxes while squandering their own local taxes? What is to be done about the poverty uncovered and the worldviews that led to looting and violence?
- Heather Wilson recognizes New Mexican Ben Rosecrans in her "Honor, Respect, and Sacrifice" postcard (11/10/05). Ben suffered near fatal second and third degree burns and a dislocated and broken arm while serving in Iraq. Thirteen New Mexicans have died in the Iraq war, Mark Ortega reported in his article 2000 and Counting. What better evidence of terrorism than a country that uses terrorism to oppose democracy? We fight terrorism at the source, or on our own soil. The war on terrorism is not like a war where we can easily identify and eliminate the enemy.
- NM Family Council makes a reappearance in the community with their Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage conference.
- Christian Heritage. Ruth Smith from Pilgrim Inst teaches a week long course in Abq on Rudiments of America's Christian History. 15th Annual Christian Heritage Speech Competition held in Los Lunas. About 100 students participated. Results at www.rges.cc/chsc.htm.
- Constitution written and approved by voters in Iraq. Election of leaders demonstrates the universal desire for liberty. More than 1000 Sunni clerics issued a religious decree instructing their followers to vote (Abq Journal, 14 Dec 05). Can you imagine if American churches promoted civic responsibility like this? Candidates and voters in America are not threatened and killed, yet typically only about 25% vote. Will democracy survive in a Muslim country? Can the American system of government founded on Christian principles also work with Muslim principles? Can there be freedom of religion while many Muslim teachings and attitudes are hostile to other religions? An interesting report on the night before the election - By PATRICK QUINN, AP, 14 Dec 05. BAGHDAD, Iraq - Campaigning halted Wednesday across Iraq to give its 15 million voters an opportunity to reflect before deciding who will govern the country for the next four years. Streets in Baghdad were eerily quiet on the eve of Thursday's parliamentary election, with police strictly enforcing a traffic ban. Only an occasional police siren, a sporadic gunshot, a U.S. helicopter or shouts from boys playing soccer could be heard. Borders and airports also have been closed, and the nighttime curfew has been extended. Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/fc/world/iraq
- The US Supreme Court issued two rulings on the public display of the Ten Commandments. But like with the ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance, the decisions were opposite and ambiguous. Unusually high incidence of anti-Christmas sentiment - "holiday" instead of "Christmas," Santa instead of Nativity, secular songs versus Christmas carols. Why the great hostility toward Christianity? We wrestle not against flesh and blood .... Family Research Council publishes a report titled "Overcoming the War Against Christmas."
What are your New Year's resolutions for God to work His will in your life for 2006? Principles Community Impact News (CINews) will continue to report events and issues impacting the community in 2006 and provide a forum for the understanding and application of Biblical principles. There are many opportunities for evangelism in 2006 with the release of The Da Vinci Code and The Beast (to be released on 6/6/06). Some of the nation's foremost biblical scholars will converge at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Feb 3-4 to lead the second annual 20/20 Collegiate Conference including a panel discussion on The Da Vinci Code. The theme for the conference will be "The Gods of This Age."
If you would like to highlight an event or issue of 2005, please contact principles@integrity.com. Happy New Year!
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Youth Leadership School
I am the State Chairman of the Reagan Freedom Society, a conservative college statewide student organization here in NM. We are joining together with the Leadership Institute to in February to host a Youth Leadership School www.leadershipinstitute.org on the UNM campus. I was wondering and hoping that you could help us promote the event through your newsletter.
Our goal is to promote conservatism among the youth here in NM. If there is not an attempt by like-minded individuals such as ourselves, the outlook for NM is not a very pretty picture. We need to take steps to promote the conservative movement and I feel you can be a part of that effort. Below, I have put together a little blurb about the Youth Leadership School that you might use in your letter. I appreciate your time and consideration!
Thanks and God Bless,
Bob Cornelius
Chairman Reagan Freedom Society
Youth Leadership School
Wanted: Conservative High School Seniors and College-Aged Students
Hosted by: Reagan Freedom Society & The Leadership Institute
When: February 18-19, 2006
Where: UNM Campus
For More Info: Contact Bob Cornelius at 888-1910 or at bobc32@hotmail.com
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Recycle Calendars & Greeting Cards
Save your calendars for future years. Like the pictures on last year's calendar? Save it and use it again! The calendar for 1995 can be used for 2006. The calendar for 2006 can be used again in 2017. You can use the 2001 calendar for 2007 ... and so on.
Calculate what calendars have the same days of week for each date.
http://www.calendarhome.com/day2day.html
Cut the picture off your greeting cards and make new ones of your own. St Jude's Ranch has been recycling greeting cards but recently got overwhelmed so is no longer accepting used greeting cards. They do have recycled cards for sale though.
http://stjudesranch.org/content/recycled_card_info.asp
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Wings for Life Seminar
FREE Seminar - New Beginnings
Sunday - January 8, 6:30 - 8:00 PM - Catholic Center
This is the start of a new year. What plans do you have? What do you want to accomplish in 2006? Join us to explore and learn together about reaching and establishing goals and making every day count.
- Wings for L.I.F.E. meetings for 2006
- Life-skills for Inmate Families & Education/Mentoring
Catholic Center, Sandia Room - 6:30-8:00 PM Sunday Nights
4000 St. Josephs Place, NW (By St. Pius High School)
I-40 W to N Coors, Right on St. Joseph's Place to Catholic Center
Contact: Ann Edenfield Sweet 291-6412, Heddy Long 831-8117 or 321-4086
Wings for L.I.F.E., Life-skills for Inmate Families Education/Mentoring, is a FUN bi-monthly empowerment / support group for the entire family. Volunteers of all ages are needed!
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UNM Intelligent Design Meeting
This is a reminder that we will have an Intelligent Design scientific issues meeting on January 10 at the UNM Law School. The Intelligent Design Network of New Mexico (IDnet-NM) will hold its fifth scientific issues meeting on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:00 PM in room 2405 of the UNM Law School. The Law School is west of Stanford between Constitution and Mountain. Room 2405 is located off the Law School lobby. It is easiest to enter at the Law School and not the Law Clinic.
While we normally address technical subjects in these meetings, in the January 2005 meeting, Joe Renick, Executive Director of IDnet-NM, will address the broader issues of the religious, legal, educational and scientific aspects of the controversy in his presentation on "Current Issues in the Teaching of Biological Origins in Public Education."
Intelligent design and the teaching of biological origins in public education is one of the most important controversies of our time. Several legal challenges across the U.S. related to intelligent design and public education are being passionately debated. Both the President of the U.S. and the Pope have recently expressed their views on this subject. Local and national media have attacked intelligent design as being unscientific and religious creationism in disguise while at the same time public opinion polls show favorable attitudes toward intelligent design by a majority of Americans.
What is the truth about intelligent design? What should its role be, if any, in public education? Can evolution and design concepts coexist in the science classroom? Why is this controversy so heated and why is a solution so elusive? What guiding principles can public education administrators apply in resolving this conflict that will give proper consideration to the concerns of parents while upholding the highest standards of empirical science? These and other relevant questions will be addressed in pursuit of answers that hopefully will ultimately lead to resolution of this dilemma in public education, not fan the flames of controversy. Come and hear a side of the story that you will never read about in the print [liberal] media.
Comments and discussion from the audience will be welcome throughout this presentation. We encourage you to bring friends who may have a personal or professional interest in this important subject. These meetings are held quarterly at the UNM Law School on the second Tuesdays of January, April, July, and October. Please make a note on your calendar.
Mike Edenburn
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Marriage Savers Training
We are pleased to announce that Michael and Harriet McManus, Founders of the national organization "Marriage Savers" will be flying to Albuquerque, New Mexico 19-21 January to personally train and help kick-off our city-wide Community Marriage Policy (CMP). The Albuquerque Community Marriage Initiative will be the 200th in the country and will be a part of the national celebration in Washington DC in February. Our short time goal of 30% reduction in divorce will make a big change for the good in our city. Ultimately, we would like to cut divorce in half in our city and make it almost non existent in churches who participate in the CMP and train staff and mentor couples this month.
The following will be a schedule of events when the McManus's are here.
Thursday January 19 7-8PM Reception at the New Mexico Family Council Headquarters for Pastors, spouses and staff. Light snacks served. 1207 Golf Course Rd Suite E, Rio Rancho
Friday January 20 8-9AM Presentation and Speech at the Capitol Rotunda on the "Importance of Marriage"
1PM Albuquerque Plaza "Official Signing of the Albuquerque Area Community Marriage Policy" and interviews with media. Albuquerque Downtown Plaza
6:30-10PM Marriage Savers Training for pastors, spouses and lay mentor couples at Grace Church, 5901 San Antonio Drive NE Albuquerque, NM
Saturday, January 21 8:30AM - 4PM Marriage Savers Training, Grace Church
The New Mexico Family Council has already paid for their honorarium fee and will be paying for travel expenses. The cost for each church is minimal for training for up to 4 couples and complete instructional and church reference materials. See attached brochure for fees. In the event that your church cannot afford the complete fee, please contact me and pay what you can and we will scholarship you the rest. It is critical that we get registrations and payments as soon as possible to ship the materials. It is fine to register now and then send the final names of participants later. You can make checks payable to either "Marriage Savers" or the "NM Family Council" for the amount based on church size called out in attached materials.
In addition, we will be also highlighting and encouraging churches to become involved with abstinence until marriage programs that can help delay sexual activity in our youth. We will have free materials and can schedule free training for youth and parent presentations at later times convenient to you individually. Imagine what a spark this program can have for our community. Reducing divorce and strengthening marriages is a win- win for all. Police, the courts, banks, schools, children, the local economy all benefit when marriages stay together. By joining us now, you will become part of a continuing effort to grow and stress the importance of marriage. We have become officially franchised with "Marriage Savers" so the good work will continue locally with a website area, an annual schedule of marriage related events, and free marriage materials, etc. made available through the New Mexico Family Council website in the future at www.nmfamilycouncil.org
Please join us and be part of changing our culture back to strong marriages.
Sincerely,
Kevin Jackson
President
Please see www.marriagesavers.org for additional information.
[One of the two greatest social problems in the first century Roman empire was the high rate of divorce. The other was infanticide. Gerald Cowen, Who Rules the Church, 2003, p62]
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Feb 7 Election - School Tax Increase
The Abq Journal reported there will be a vote on increasing property taxes for a budget increase of $196M (14 Dec 05). There is never any accounting of what has been done with previous tax increases. There was a NM Constitutional Amendment in Sep 2003 providing an additional $78M per year from the NM Land Grant Fund. Where is the money going? How much gets to teachers and students? Vote "no" on school bonds, Tue, Feb 7.
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Nazi Holocaust a Myth?
By Christian Oliver, 14 Dec 05, Yahoo News
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the Holocaust was a myth, ramping up his rhetoric and triggering a fresh wave of international condemnation. Last week Ahmadinejad first aired his doubts on the veracity of the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed by the Nazis. His comments drew a rebuke from the U.N. Security Council.
How long will it be before someone claims that Pearl Harbor or 911 is a myth? American Christian Heritage is already considered a myth by some. It will be forgotten if we do not take steps to remember.
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Starbucks Propaganda
Local Starbucks outlets are giving their customers opportunities to respond to quotes by filling out "The Way I See It" response forms. The forms can be mailed at no cost to the company's national office in Seattle. Mike Haley said, "This is a great opportunity for Christians to let Starbucks know that, if they really care about their bottom line, they should represent the views of all their customers." Mike directs Focus on the Family's homosexuality and gender department and was formerly involved in homosexual behavior. Forms should be returned to the store manager because it's more effective if local managers put pressure on national headquarters by relaying the preferences and complaints of their particular customers. Mostly liberal celebrities are quoted on Starbucks coffee cups. The most controversial quote is #43, from Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin - "My only regret about being gay is that I repressed it for so long. Don't make that mistake yourself." Unfortunately, what the quote doesn't tell us is that one third of males 20 and younger who engage in homosexual behavior will be HIV positive or dead by age 30. The 1996 average life span for males residing in the United States was 73 years.
Adapted from Focus on the Family Citizen Magazine Dec 2005, p 7
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TV Guardian offers "foul language filter" for TV, video, and DVD.
www.tvguardian.com
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Petitions
Marriage Protection Amendment
Eliminate no-fault divorce
Stop National ID Database
Ten Commandments in Public Places
Prayer in Public Schools
Hoax - Dr James Dobson is not involved with any petition against the FCC for prohibiting Bible reading on the air.
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Friends of the Family is a group of key supporters who invest monthly in family ministry. Their commitment is key to the ongoing effectiveness of Focus on the Family and enables us to extend the ministry to many who cannot afford the resources and services they need. They also enable our radio programs, our efforts to defend family values, and our outreaches to special groups like teens, unwed mothers, and non-Christians. For more information, call 1-800-A-FAMILY.
Christmas gifts from World Vision.
Christmas gifts from Focus on the Family.
You can send tax-deductible donations to Foothills Fellowship for direct support of the Principles Community Impact Ministry in NM.
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RESOURCES
This section has been updated with a link to resource organizations. Anyone finding these organizations helpful, please consider mentioning the Principles Newsletter when contacting them. Thank you.
Principles Newsletter Archives
Roster of NM Govt Officials
Resource Organizations
Principles Community Impact News (CINews) is edited by:
Mark Burton,
Foothills Fellowship, 294-0016, Pager 971-2053
Many thanks to contributing authors and businesses.
Please forward events/articles/resources to principles@integrity.com.
Current distribution is about 2300 email addresses throughout NM.
If anyone you know would like to receive this newsletter directly
please have them send an email to principles@integrity.com. Many
links in the text are not reproduced when making paper copies.
It is also available on the web at www.rges.cc/news.htm and can
be accessed free of charge from any library internet service.
If you are reading this from outside NM, please locate and support
a Family Policy Council in your area.