Psa 139:13-15 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
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 events by avoiding scheduling conflicts.
- Dec 25 - Christmas Day & beginning of the 12 Days of Christmas
- Jan 6, 6:30pm - Zemer Levav Concert, canceled last weekend due to snow, has been rescheduled to this Saturday evening at Adat Yeshua Synagogue, please join us for messianic music and Davidic Dancing Israeli style
- Jan 7, 6:30pm - Wings for Life Meeting, Tips for Stretching a Dollar, 4000 St. Josephs Place, NW (On St. Pius High School Campus, I-40 W to N Coors, Right on St. Joseph's Place to Catholic Center)
- Jan 9, 6pm - Community Impact Meeting, EHBC, 971-2053, discuss priorities for 2007 NM legislative session
- Jan 15 - Martin Luther King Day
- Jan 16 - Religious Freedom Day
- Jan 16, 7pm - CSF Meeting
- Jan 16 - 60 Day NM Legis Session begins
- Jan 20, 4:45pm - Abq RTL Annual Luminaria Memorial for the approx 5,000 unborn killed every year in NM, Mt Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith NE, 821-9101
- Jan 21 - Annual Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
- Jan 21, 6:30pm - Wings for Life Meeting, When a Loved One is Incarcerated, 4000 St. Josephs Place, NW (On St. Pius High School Campus, I-40 W to N Coors, Right on St. Joseph's Place to Catholic Center)
- Jan 26 - BCNM Annual Legislative Breakfast, Santa Fe, RSVP 924-2300
- Feb 4-10 - 11th Annual CAPE at the Capitol
NM Home Education Week
Teenpact NM
- Feb 11 - Covenant Marriage Sunday
- Feb 11, 6:30pm - Wings for Life Meeting, Cooking to Bless Your Heart, 4000 St. Josephs Place, NW (On St. Pius High School Campus, I-40 W to N Coors, Right on St. Joseph's Place to Catholic Center)
- Feb 14 - Valentine's Day
Focus on the Family Gift Ideas
Emperor Claudius II of Rome (Claudius the Cruel) canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome to eliminate an excuse for Roman men to avoid the military. Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples. Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the Feb 14th in 270 AD.
- Feb 15 - Deadline to introduce legislation
- Feb 19 - Presidents Day, National Bestseller George Washington's Sacred Fire
- Feb 20 - CSF Meeting
- Feb 23-25 - Weekend to Remember, Hyatt Tamaya Resort, registration
- Feb 25, 6:30pm - Wings for Life Meeting, Fitness is Fun, 4000 St. Josephs Place, NW (On St. Pius High School Campus, I-40 W to N Coors, Right on St. Joseph's Place to Catholic Center)
- Mar 17 - Kay Arthur Women's Conference
- Mar 17 - 60 Day NM Legis Session ends
- Apr 27-28 - Beth Moore Living Proof Live
Ongoing:
Greenridge Ministries Gospel Concerts in NM 2007 Schedule
Weekends - Portraits in Providence, KFLQ FM 91.5
Daily - Focus on the Family Radio Broadcast
1st Wed, 7:30-9:00am - Rio Grande Pastor's Alliance, 294-0016
(Twister Grill, 2912 Juan Tabo NE, South of Candelaria)
Fridays, 9:30-11:00 am - "Praise the Lord" program airs "live" on KNAT TV 23 in Abq. Guest spots available for pastors to share the Good News! We'd love to have more local pastors preach, teach, encourage, and edify the Body of Christ." Call Cindy @ 836-6585.
Saturdays, 9a - Wings on the Air, 1150 AM Radio, Call in 888-1150
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:
Marriages are the Battleground by Pat Fort
Sanctity of Human Life
2006 - Year in Review
AFA Survey on Islam
NM Gov Sued for Withholding Abstinence Ed Info
Recycle Calendars & Greeting Cards
Adopt a Legislator
Free Subscription for Military Service Personnel
Prison Ministry in Jeopardy
Website Wonderful
Friends of the Family
-
Marriages are the Battleground by Pat Fort
Our churches and our culture cannot survive without good marriages which stabilize the present and nurture their children for the future. Good marriages are the front line in preventing poverty, delinquency, crime, selfishness, and immorality in a culture. In this battle we need to be bold in our witness and persevere in victories and defeats for the long haul. We need to be taught by the Lord to number our days so that we may enjoy the journey of His calling and present Him with a heart of wisdom, which will be pleasing to Him.
Good marriages, where the husband loves his wife and the wife respects her husband, glorify the Lord. Good marriages are witnesses to others of Jesus' sacrificial love for us and how we should respond in trust to His love. Marriage was the first institution created by God as a building block for the culture and the church. In our marriages we learn to look to the needs of our spouse and in our witness we learn to look to the needs of those around us.
I have read that about 70% of divorces are the result of financial problems. If husbands and wives can manage their finances, this would have a significant impact on keeping their marriages together and strengthening them. God's Word has much to say about how to manage what God has entrusted us with which, when done in obedience, glorifies Him as well. Crown Financial Ministry has great resources for Bible studies on managing your finances.
Having a marriage mentoring ministry coupled with a Crown Financial ministry in a church will transform its members and families who will then have a significant impact on their community and the world for Jesus Christ. When marriages are strengthened, the churches are strengthened; when churches are strengthened, missions (and the culture) are strengthened, furthering the Great Commission in our generation, all of which brings praise and glory to our Lord every step of the way.
Speaking of persevering, many of us having been voting our Christian convictions since the 1980s. Recently two conservative justices have been confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On November 8, 2006, the day after the mid-term elections, U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the federal ban on partial birth abortions. With Justice Kennedy, a swing vote who in the past voted with the minority to uphold a state ban on partial birth abortions in a Nebraska case in which the majority held the ban to be unconstitutional, there now is the real possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the federal ban on partial birth abortions. What a great day that will be!
But even if U.S. Supreme Court does not uphold this ban, our work has not been in vain and we shall continue to press on in the battle. Our votes today will impact the culture tomorrow.
-
Sanctity of Human Life
American Founders had it right when they prioritized unalienable human rights endowed by our Creator-Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. As our culture drifts from publicly recognizing any creator, these priorities have slipped into anonymity. Unwanted human life is legally discarded. America can go the way of Sodom or Nineveh. Both were given a chance-but God required the people to care and repent.
The unborn, the handicapped, and the elderly typically come to mind when thinking about human life issues. Genocide is another where thousands are slaughtered for their genetic makeup. Add your voice to the growing travesty of genocide in foreign nations. Prevent genocide, NM Save Darfur Groups
Help keep the sanctity of human life fresh in our minds at the Annual Luminaria Memorial for the approx 5,000 unborn killed every year in NM. Sat, Jan 20, 4:45pm,, Mt Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith NE, 821-9101.
-
2006 - Year in Review
Nothing God does is insignificant. Just look for His hand. How have you observed the Lord working in your life, in your community, in NM, in the nation, and around the world in 2006? Send your thoughts to principles@integrity.com. Human life, marriage, environmental stewardship, intelligent design, and religious freedom continue to be hot buttons for liberals so those are by default, frontline issues. Obviously we'll miss a lot, but here are some highlights.
* Marriage Savers training in NM, Community Marriage Policy (CMP) signed in Abq, & Las Cruces NM earned the recognition for being the 200th CMP city.
* Two school bond elections in 2006. How much is enough? School violence expands to the conservative Amish. Compelled to respond to a spike in school violence, the Bush administration is hoping that a high-profile summit will get the word out about safety. President Bush called for Tuesday's conference after three shooting rampages in two weeks unnerved the nation. Communities in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are still grieving.
* Voter registration campaign. NM Primary & General elections. Four state constitutional amendments. Very close numbers on Madrid/Wilson race - your vote counts! Look for new State Reps in Jan 07.
* Wings Prison Ministry reached out to families of incarcerated in India and NM. Received partial funding from a NM CYFD grant through NMCC. Also now a collaborator with Operation Starting Line, a division of Prison Fellowship.
* Biblical Archaeology Symposium at Trinity Southwest Univ (TSU) working to reestablish Biblical authority and reliability in the community. TSU announced discovery of Sodom. Noah's flood and Sodom are evidence of God's judgment described in the Bible giving reason to believe He will bring judgment on the earth in end times.
* NM DOH prohibited abstinence education above sixth grade in favor of "safer sex" programs.
* Wallbuilders seminar at Eastern Hills Christian Academy.
* Creation conferences held at various locations in the community in Aug with guest speaker Dr. Terry Mortenson. "Anything that we as scientists can do to weaken the hold of religion should be done and may in the end be our greatest contribution to civilization," said Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in physics, at a recent forum in California called "Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival," and ended up lambasting people of faith for what they consider the ridiculous and harmful notion of God as Creator. Rio Rancho schools held to their policy allowing discussion of alternate origin theories (the universe, life, bio-diversity, humanity). Harvard continues "origin of life" project.
* Da Vinci Code well countered by Christian resources and sermons.
* Movies with a Christian theme - One Night with the King (story of Esther), Narnia (first book by C.S. Lewis), End of the Spear (story of missionary martyr James Elliot). Take a Focus on the Family survey on Christian movies. If you were in charge of green-lighting Christian movie projects, what kind would you be most eager to get into theaters? Sylvester Stallone says the infamous movie character Rocky was meant to reflect the nature of Jesus, and the sixth film in the series, "Rocky Balboa" carries an intentionally Christian theme. 2006 was the year of 6/6/06 and a satanic movie released on that date. 2007 is the year of 7/7/07? Will something exceptionally godly be released on that date?
* Controversy at Calvary Chapel (et al) bled into the media. Trend for the future? African leaders get involved in the Episcopal split.
* War in Iraq. Good or bad exit strategy aside, is Iraq the place to fight terrorism? Saddam's Iraq and Islamic Terrorism: What We Now Know (Dec 06) by Stephen F. Hayes, Senior Writer, The Weekly Standard. Saddam Hussein executed two days before the close of 2006. Will the response be relief or revenge? Someone else will have to rebuild Babylon to its former glory (see Strategic Trends below). Are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - one of seven world wonders - soon to be restored?
* Immigration reaches crisis level. Who gets in and who doesn't? CINews 3 Apr 06.
* Countering environmental scare tactics of the media. CINews 20 Apr 06.
* VeggiTales opened on network television. Bible verses are removed but the message is still intact.
* Supreme Court addresses issues of moral principle. CINews 9 Oct 06.
* Justice for All makes another appearance at UNM delivering a strong message that yes, each abortion kills a baby and harms a woman. Scientifically it's a baby. It's a baby if the mother wants it. It's a baby if doctors try to save it.
* Christian Heritage Speech Competition - NM Proclamation & 100 participants.
* NM snow storm of the century. Hospitality of NM family makes national news. Forty-four travelers were stuck Friday afternoon on the highway less a hard stone's throw from the front door of the Glovers' 1200-square-foot home.
* Prophesy & Strategic Trends. How close are we to "end times?" Eze 38 - CINews 24 Nov 06. Strategic Trends 2006 in review. Throughout the year KHouse monitored ten specific global, social, political, and economic trends significant to our nation, as well as the Body of Christ. Each of these trends are briefly reviewed over some of 2006's major milestones. Matt 24:14 says the end will come when the Word is preached to the ends of the earth. Recordings of the Bible help bring the Word to people groups without a written language. http://www.fcbh.com/proclaimer.cfm
* CINews Archive.
-
AFA Survey on Islam
Please register your opinion in the AFA poll on Islam and America. In the last few years, America has become more aware of the Muslim religion and the growing number of Americans who are Muslims. Would you take a minute to give us your opinion of Islam and America. Results will be posted at AFA.net. The poll will close at midnight, Jan 15.
http://www.afa.net/petitions/islam/islam.asp
CINews article on Islam.
-
NM Gov Sued for Withholding Abstinence Ed Info
The head of a sexual-abstinence group is suing Gov. Bill Richardson, claiming the state is withholding information on how it spends federal money aimed at getting kids not to have sex. Earlier this year, federal officials told the state Health Department that it wasn't following federal guidelines by spending its $500,000 a year on school programs for students in sixth grade and younger.
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/53711.html
-
Recycle Calendars & Greeting Cards
Save your calendars for future years. Like the pictures on last year's calendar? Save it and use it again! Calendars from 1990 & 2001 can be used for 2007. The calendar for 2006 can be used again in 2017. You can use the 1980 calendar for 2008 ... and so on.
Calculate what calendars have the same days of week for each date.
http://www.calendarhome.com/day2day.html
Don't throw those Christmas cards away! There are so many creative ways to use your Christmas cards, many of which you can do with your kids. We have brought together some ideas below. Follow the link below for details.
Christmas jigsaw game:
Christmas tree ornaments:
Scented sachets:
Christmas mobile or "string":
Christmas card game:
Gift tags:
Gift bags:
Miniature Christmas cards:
Christmas screensaver:
Lacing card:
Christmas confetti:
http://www.christian-mommies.com/special-features/just-for-moms/12-creative-ways-to-recycle-your-christmas-cards/
-
Adopt a Legislator
With the approaching 60 day legislative session, please commit to pray for your legislators once a day (or at least once a week). You can find your State Senator and State Rep at http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legislatorsearch.asp. The bio provides contact info and the bills they are introducing. Get to know what your legislators are championing this year and pray for them. The data base will not be updated with new legislators for another week or two.
-
Free Subscription for Military Service Personnel
Active-duty servicemembers receive a one-year subscription to Sporting Classics FREE. You can also give a one-year gift subscription of Sporting Classics to someone on active-duty for only $20 (reg. $28.95). Ten percent of the proceeds will go to TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). http://www.sportingclassics.net/sc_for_soldiers.php
-
Prison Ministry in Jeopardy
Earlier this year, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative®, called IFI, the faith-based prison program in Iowa launched by Prison Fellowship, was sued by Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSOCS). A federal judge in Iowa ruled that IFI was an unconstitutional violation of the establishment clause. When the AUSOCS successfully challenges an organization in one state, it has ramifications in all others. In this legal battle, our only short term action is to support Justice Fellowship. A long term option is to vote for candidates that will appoint conservative justices.
http://www.prisonfellowship.org/generic.asp?ID=2764
http://www.justicefellowship.org/article.asp?ID=5744
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=5726
-
Website Wonderful
Check out http://www.jcsm.org/ - Jesus Christ Saves Ministries.
Some highlights are:
* JCSM Study Center
* America's Christian Foundation
* Creation Science
* Spiritual Gifts Test
If you have a favorite website you would like to share, please send the link and a description to principles@integrity.com.
-
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.
-
