Updates on senate races in Colorado and New Mexico

Colorado-07/22/2008 Rasmussen Poll-Schaffer gains ground but still behind 47% to 43%.
07/31/2008 Zogby Poll-Schaffer and Udall are even at 40%.

New Mexico-07/25/2008 Rasmussen poll update-Pearce gains 3 percentage points from June poll but still well behind Udall. 59% to 34%. 07/31/2008 Zogby poll-"According to Zogby, Udall leads Pearce just 49% to 41%."- This is within the margin of error being 4.6%

No new updates to Arizona but remember the Marriage Amendment will be on this November's ballot.

I have yet to get to Texas.

Update on death of 5 year old daughter and another recent tragedy

Update to email concerning Steven Curtis Chapman's 5 year old daughter's death. (See In Memory of Maria and The most-linked-to news story for yesterday 05-22-2008)

If you have friends or family going thru a tragic situation like these then these links may be a source of some comfort for them.....

Chapmans Speak of Daughter's Death-"The entire Chapman family spoke with CNN host Larry King about the moments right after the accident, the questions that are still unresolved, and how their faith in God is helping them through, minute by minute. Watch more of that interview here.....Wednesday, Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to speak about their family's devastating loss....Many supportive fans also left comments about the GMA interview and their prayers for the Chapmans and their children. Watch GMA Interview"-Also included on the Good Morning America is another great interview with Kirk Cameron as a related story.

WITH CONTINUED GRATITUDE, FROM SHAOHANNAH'S HOPE Over $500,000 Is Donated To Maria's Miracle Fund-"It was recently announced that over $310,000 had been donated in two weeks to Shaohannah’s Hope’s Maria’s Miracle Fund. This fund was set up in honor of Maria Sue Chapman, the 5-year old daughter of Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, who lost her life from a tragic accident at their home on May 21, 2008. As of this week, over $500,000 has been donated to Maria’s Miracle Fund. There are not enough words to be able to express the deepest gratitude from the Chapman family and the Shaohannah's Hope ministry for these donations....Shaohannah’s Hope, the adoption and orphan care ministry founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, would like to extend their deepest gratitude for the generosity of prayers as well as donations offered upon the memory of Maria Sue Chapman. The enormous response has been truly overwhelming, it has not gone unnoticed, and is so graciously appreciated."

Shaohannah's Hope-"Our Mission: To care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial barrier to adoption." See this video concerning this ministry at http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/PageServer?pagename=abt_video. Is this not amazing that thru the death of this child money is being raised to help others adopt more children which means that more unwanted children from China will be raised in good homes because of this tragedy??!! To God be the Glory and I am sure Maria in heaven is praising the Lord over this and when eternity with Christ comes for the rest of the family what a day that will be cause it will include much more then their own family but rather many others!!!

People Magazine Issue featuring Chapmans Bumped Slightly-"We've now confirmed that the Chapmans will appear in a feature in People Magazine..on August 13th"

For those of you in Texas Steven Curtis Chapmen is coming in concert

Greg Laurie son dies in car accident.

Here is memorial service in its entirety

Evangelist Offers Salvation at Son's Memorial

Car Crash Kills Pastor Greg Laurie's Son

First ever Sophmore to win Heisman Trophy Winner Gives Glory to Christ

Tim Tebow and God's Providence-"Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the University of Florida have decided he won't be a part of Playboy magazine's annual All-American college football team....'Because of her strong Christian faith, she chose life.' If doctors had had their way, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow wouldn't be here today....Is it not providential of God that the first sophmore to win the Heisman trophy is this man? What a testimony to Christ!!!"-Watch video footage of Tim giving glory to Christ as he receives the Heisman Trophy award!!!

Hollywood actor Voight vs Obama and Hollywood

Voight ignites a blog storm in Hollywood-"Jon Voight intended to turn heads with the “very strong points” in his Washington Times op-ed last week. But he probably didn’t expect so many of them to reside in Hollywood....Voight’s piece slammed Democratic candidate Barack Obama, praised GOP contender John McCain and even repudiated his own Vietnam War protests as the naive flailings of a deluded youth. It was a stunning bit of self-revelatory memoir from the now-conservative “Coming Home” star....Jeffrey Wells, who runs the movie and pop culture site Hollywood-Elsewhere.com, took Voight to task for his right turn and wrote that, if he were a studio executive, he might think twice before hiring Voight for any future film work...Voight seemed particularly taken aback by Wells’ blog postings, which many have interpreted as a call for blacklisting the actor. “It’s out of line to insinuate that we should blacklist people for speaking their minds,” Voight told Politico. “It’s a strange thing when people in this country can’t express their opinions without being attacked.” He added that Hollywood liberals frequently discuss topical issues, and “it’s an important time for people on the conservative side to speak out.”....plans to launch a new group blog called BigHollywood, as part of his Breitbart.com news service, to appeal to the opposite end of the spectrum from Wells’ musings.“The site will offer a daily repository for those interested and involved in the perspective of a growing community of Hollywood conservatives, Republicans and libertarians,” Breitbart told me via instant message over the weekend, calling his upcoming project “a safe haven for those out of the lefty mainstream.”...To run his new effort, Breitbart tapped aspiring filmmaker and blogger John Nolte, who recently launched his own politically oriented movie fan site called DirtyHarrysPlace.com...Nolte claimed more than 400,000 page views a month for Dirty Harry’s Place...“We’re coming into the serious/silly awards season in which the Hollywood narcissists end up spending a billion dollars to make movies for their friends,” he said. “Last year, that resulted in all those awful anti-war films. Who knows what they’re going to come up with this year?”-See Daughter of Alice Walker (The Color Purple), Actor Voight vs Obama and "Ten Persuasive Answers to the Question: Why Not Gay ‘Marriage?’”-Part 5 for Voight's original comments that ignited the discussion.

African Americans speak out in opposition to Obama and something you probabily don't know about Big Oil

Obama’s Views Not Consistent With Christianity, Conservative Says-"Parker, who is president of CURE, a think-tank that focuses on issues of race and poverty in America, said in addition to abortion, she is concerned about America’s dependence on welfare and the consequences that Obama’s support for such policies will have in the U.S. “There’s a problem in this hardcore, left philosophy of Barack Obama that people keep dismissing,” said Parker. “I think [Obama’s social policies] will destroy what’s left of the black family. Socialism doesn’t work. It doesn’t work for individuals, it doesn’t work for families and it doesn’t work for our society. Our society cannot coexist with socialism.” Parker, a one-time single mother on welfare who worked to become one of the nation’s top conservative speakers, said she hopes that the race of the expected Democratic nominee will not be a factor when other black conservatives decide who to support in the presidential election."

Obama Hood and Obamanomics-"Obamanomics has been described as Robin Hood economics, taking from the rich to give to the poor. Actually, Robin Hood took back from the king (and in some traditions of the story from corrupt clergymen) what had been taken from the people by the government. In terms of popular culture’s understanding of Robin Hood, mostly through the Robin Hood movies and TV series (too many to list here but see the 1938 Adventures of Robin Hood starring Earl Flynn, Claude Rains, and Basil Rathbone; also see here and order here), the archer in green tights was against the political tyrants of his day, most notably Prince John, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, and the sheriffs who extracted taxes from the common people to pay the king so they could retain their political positions. If a Robin Hood movie were being cast today, Barak Obama would be cast as Prince John."

Oil War: The Media Crusade-"Felmy defended the industry that employs 1.9 million people and benefits the retirement accounts of millions more, He told “Nightly News,” “There’s no way you can characterize them [profits] that they are out of line. In fact, they’re less than the average.” According to API, the oil industry has lower profit margins than many other industries including pharmaceuticals, computer equipment and appliances. People from all walks of life benefit from the oil industry’s profits because 98.5 percent of its public companies’ shares are held by outsiders through mutual funds, pensions and other asset management groups, said API. Only 1.5 percent of those shares are held by board members and officers of the companies. Oil and natural gas companies made about 7.4 cents on the dollar in the first quarter of 2008, according to API. According to MarketWatch, CBS’s margin is higher – at 8.9 percent. In contrast to many other news reports, CNN’s John Roberts mentioned that point on August 1 following Allan Chernoff’s slanted segment. “That’s only a 7-percent profit margin. If you were talking about that sort of volume in financial services industry or retail or something like that – profits would be much, much higher,” Roberts said."

Obama's 'Rock Star' Status Not Enough for Conservative Voters-"During Wednesday’s webcast, guest Bishop Harry Jackson, an African-American church leader and chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, urged voters to look carefully at each candidate’s stance on energy, state marriage amendment, hate crimes legislation, fairness doctrine, and abortion before making their presidential pick. The pro-life leader advised values voters to look beyond appealing rhetoric and at candidates’ stance on issues. Jackson, who is a registered Democrat, says he hopes to present to his Obama-leaning black congregation in the Washington, D.C.-area the issue of life in an upcoming event and urge them to carefully consider where the candidates stand on this moral matter. “[T]here are certain policies that will attract the blessing of God on the nation and you don’t have to be a genius to understand that the nation is not blessed now and we’re under pressure,” Jackson said to the FOTF Action host. “[W]hat has to happen is we have to align ourselves with the Word of God,” he prescribed."

Obama still having difficulty with the faithful values voter despite all the effort and reports of a newly discussed strategy for fall.-See The "Goose Bump" and "Race" trap.

Obama's New Muslim Adviser Resigns-"Sen. Barack Obama's director of Muslim outreach has resigned amid controversy, just a few weeks after joining Obama's presidential campaign. Attorney Mazen Asbahi started working as the campaign's outreach coordinator on July 26, and he resigned on Monday. In a letter, he said he was stepping down "to avoid distracting from Barack Obama's message of change," the Associated Press reported. The A.P. said Asbahi resigned amid questions about his connection to an imam linked to people who allegedly raised funds for Hamas."

Americans Trust John McCain More Than Barack Obama on Abortion-"A new poll shows Americans now trust John McCain more to handle abortion issues than Barack Obama. Obama had been slightly in the lead in the national daily presidential tracking survey the polling firm Rasmussen Reports conducts but that has changed. As more Americans learn about John McCain's pro-life position on abortion and Barack Obama's support for unlimited abortions financed with taxpayer dollars, Americans appear to be moving in McCain's direction. Prior polls found Obama leading on the abortion question and an August poll had McCain leading 39 to 36 percent, a three point difference. Now, McCain holds a lead of six percent, with 40 percent of Americans saying they trust him more to handle the issue and only 34 percent saying Obama. Another 26 percent aren't sure and that number appears likely to go down as more people realize the stark abortion contrast that exists in this election. The poll results come on the heels of new national surveys showing McCain faring much better and even taking a lead among likely voters..."-See previous email at Media's no emphasis of abortion as an issue hurting McCain and helping Obama/Obama on Fatherhood/The Physiology of Motherhood/Bush vs Clinton on more importance of this issue and complete lack of media coverage from ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS which will obviously favour one candidate over the other.

Marcia Walden

Christian Counselor Fired for Denying Advice-"The battle for gay rights may have cost one Christian counselor her job. Marcia Walden used to work as a workplace counselor for the Centers for Disease Control. She says she was fired after referring a lesbian worker at the CDC to another counselor. The woman wanted relationship advice."

Lillian Ladele

Also, see Religious rights trump gay rights vs Gay rights should not be used to harass people of Religious beliefs? which has links and video to a similar situation in the UK where a Christian Registrar won a unanimously decided case against Islington Counsel because of something similar to above. It is interesting to note that in the UK it appears that this made alot of news even on their BBC public TV whereas our PBS, NBC, CBS and ABC public TV never pick up stories at all like this with happenings in America. It is greatly dissappointing that in a more liberal England that these stories get more air time then in our more conservative America. Just goes to show that maybe in some areas like partial birth abortion and public TV we are more liberal then Europe.

Also, in that blog there is a must read article of a lawsuite pending right now against the city of San Francisco's resolution condemning the catholic church over similar issue and an update on McDonalds boycott where McDonalds spokesperson accuses those boycotting McDonalds as haters when the boycott has made it clear that it has nothing to do with hiring homosexuals in the workplace or anything like it but rather McDonald's support of an organization that is political active and one sided toward this issue in political matters. If McD's wants to be inclusive of all members of their society they need to not call some members of their society haters just because they disagree on a lifestyle choice on religious grounds. What about those being fired in the work place because of their religious beliefs??? What about ex homosexuals and their stories???!!! What about religious rights and discrimination???!!! I do hope that one day McD's will give a certain amount of money and support toward those who are on the religious side of this issue. That would indeed be being inclusive of all members of society!!!! Until then all that McD's will be getting from my pocket book is a Big Mac Supersized email/blogs of hypocrisy!!!

Crystal Dixon (Update to previous emails I sent out to you all on Crystal on 05/13/2008)

http://www.crystaldixon.com/-"I am also a Black woman and a devout Christian...For more than 25 years, I have been a Human Resources professional and leader, providing excellent service to all people regardless of their sexual orientation. I have hired and recommended the hiring of both homosexuals and heterosexuals based upon their qualifications, skills and abilities. My performance evaluations with the University of Toledo are excellent...In my opinion, based upon Scripture, homosexuality is a practice of choice and cannot be equated to the color of one’s skin with which one is born....Let me be clear. I did not gay-bash nor do I hate homosexuals...It is ironic that at least two other colleagues at the University have publicly written articles in newspapers, in their official University capacities, in which they opposed or harshly (and unprofessionally) criticized the University's administration and/or Toledo citizens on other issues and no discipline or termination has occurred for them...My case may become a landmark case on multiple fronts."

Obama

"the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution"-Obama's comments concerning the amendment to define marriage between a man and a women that will be on the ballot this Novemeber in California. If this is how Obama views those who view marriage as Crystal, Lillian and Marcia do then will Obama help end religious discrimination or continue to promote? I believe there may be a healthier balance/compromise for both religious individuals like the above and the gay activist in an email I sent to you all at What can our presidential/senate candidates and voters learn from NPR, The Christian Institute, BBC and the UK when it comes to "Hate Crimes"?. I have argued this position on discussion forums and have yet to get really any decent discussion over it but rather just heated passion about how necessary hate crimes laws are. That is find and dandy and to some degree I am willing to explore that possibility, however, they seem to completely bypass the concerns of the religious so far as if we hate them or something. I believe that many in the gay community have characterized the religious so falsely that they are lead to believe we are indeed haters of them. This is really sad. It seems no compromise can be made until this false notion is handled and companies like McD's stop encouraging the hate painting at a SuperSized level. Why not real discussion??? I am so looking forward to discussing these issues with a homosexual that can agree that disagreement does not equal hate nor discrimination and that maybe protection could be provided for homosexuals even by those who disagree with them if only we can do what has been done in the UK (UK: House of Lords recognizes dangers of hate laws to free speech and religious liberty) as the UK has been dealing with this for sometime and is continually dealing with it.

Conservative Christians Debate Same-Sex Marriage Ruling-But also includes a panel of differing views. This is a quick news report of of this about hour and a half panel discussion. If you would like to listen to the whole panel discussion go here. I have yet to hear it.

I have also been very impressed with the balance of coverage from this conservative news medium at http://www.cnsnews.com/. I have found they do alot of stories and usually have both sides presented in the stories and yet cover issues like McD's accused of calling some members of our society as haters. Here is an example of just one of many balanced story on this issue with McD's at McDonald’s Accused of Equating Defense of Marriage with ‘Hatred’. They do not just do stories on moral issues either but you will see they are quite diverse in subject like most news mediums. You can sign up for E-mail daily News Briefs also, somewhere on that site and they just did a overhaul of their web site.

Other News of Possible Interest

Media is not giving you the whole Mortgage Crisis story: Fannie and Freddie is Enron x 19/Microsoft Sized Monopoly/Leading Compaign Giver and Lobbyist-"The Federal Reserve (another government factor)"..."Three weeks ago when a Newsweek poll put Democrat Barack Obama 15 points ahead of Republican John McCain...Newsweek survey released Friday placed Obama a mere three points in front of McCain"

Obama vs McCain on changes on Obam's web site concerning Iraq -How many days a year are we working to pay for the cost of Government earmarks and all? And check out the highest tax increase in American History around the corner in 2010.

Yanking Back the Balance/Filling in the Gaps/Emphasizing the Missing Headlines

- http://www.valuesvoternews.com/

Breaking Good News

Blacks and Whites reconciling in Jena, Louisiana. One of the infamous "Jena 6" becomes saved and family members of Jena 6. Close relative of one of the "Jena 6" reconciling with DA involved in the Jena 6. 7th week of revival this week being currently held at the very site of the protest of the infamous Jena 6 lead by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Keep this in prayer, it is going on this week.

Other Good News throw ins:

Alveda King Video 8 minute video interview. (Dr Martin Luther King Jr's Neice) excellent interview yesterday. Click on link and then click on AFN News Extra. She answers a question of what would Dr Martin Luther King do if he were hear today?? Find out the answer!!!! For a more in depth radio interview click here that goes into more detail of her difficult upbringing/having an abortion and giving/receiving forgiveness in/thru Christ.

EW Jackson interview today. Concerning recent concerns brought up by Jeremiah Wright (Obamas' Pastor). Controversial but informative.

Update from prior email (Darfur, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and Namibia: Americas' Approval Ratings Soaring in Africa):

Renewal of PEPFAR- Renewal report from AP google here. "The House voted Wednesday...expanding a program credited with saving more than 1 million lives in Africa alone in the largest U.S. investment ever against a single disease....To advance the legislation, conservatives had to give up a provision in the 2003 act requiring that one-third of all HIV prevention funds be spent on abstinence programs. Instead it directs the administration to promote "balanced funding for prevention activities" in target countries. Liberals, in turn, had to accept some restrictions on family planning groups participating in AIDS programs. Conservatives, concerned that money might be diverted to abortion promotion, pushed for a provision that allows the use of funds for HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services in those family planning programs supported by the U.S. government. A measure in the 2003 act requiring groups receiving funds to have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking, opposed by some health groups as impeding efforts among sex workers, was also left intact...It expands the program, originally focused on 15 mainly sub-Saharan African countries, to include Caribbean nations as well as Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho in Africa."

"This will be remembered as the single most significant achievement of President Bush's two terms in office," said Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., chairman of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa.

Now it's off to the Senate!!!

Yanking back the balance and filling in the gaps

February is Black History Month from what I understand and I found all these interesting articles that may or may not be interesting.

"Malcolm Kelly" "top NFL draftee went teary-eyed Tuesday" "the first professional athlete to endorse Mercy Ships." "Being good at football, people think the only words that come out of my mouth is 'touchdown, touchdown!'" Kelly noted. But he hopes that when people hear him instead speak about Africa they will be curious, start researching, and then help."

African American Lives. Vena and I were watching a most interesting documentary on PBS. I normally don't like PBS cause of alot of its other documentaries that are more opposing to most of my views but this one was great. Got to give credit where its due. Highlights that may draw interest: Don Cheadle - Actor who starred as leading role in "Hotel Rwanda" (Great movie by the way) lineage is traced back to slaves of a sovereign native american nation within the US the Chickasaw Nation. Tina Turner - Most all know who she is I am sure. Great, great grandfather becomes a minister of the gospel after the abolition of slavery marrying over 50 African American couples. Chris Rock - brought to tears after finding out about his genealogical roots. Morgan Freeman - finds out that somebody in his line was possibly in love with a white man and finds tombstones with the one in his line and the white man next to each other and a very interesting story there. I also found it interesting that these individuals have also a great black christian history in there genealogies which is sad that christian white men were treating there brothers in christ this way. Now I understand not all were for there were many whites that were against this and that it is a completely different context of time but I am glad that the one side has prevailed by God's providence and I hope we can continually reconcile our racial divides thru Christ not only amongst blacks and whites but all cultures. "thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation"-Revelation 5:9 compare to "Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen"-Jesus and speaking of the church those who agree with these teachings of Christ above, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."-Galatians 3:28,29. And for how long??????!!!!!!!!!!! "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."-Ephesians 3:21. So those who agree with Christs' teachings should be of many different types of people for a very long time!!!! Though not perfect as in the days of the New Testament you had issues between Jews and Gentiles and thruout history there have been other issues and in the American church Blacks and Whites so I guess we will be having to continually work at what we should be just as in our own personal lives. But one thing seems to be for sure. God is at work thru His church (though not perfect) in all areas of life as Christ was in the New Testament days and predicted He would be from then on out thus giving great evidence to Christ as being who He claims to be though there is a lot of work to do, none the less there is evidence of work that has been done to build upon starting from the Rock (Peter, Matthew 16:18) in which He said He would build his church till now 2 thousand years later. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." and "And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."-Jesus. One thing I noticed Christ never said is that men will not be perfect neither His church. Perfection seems to be only promised to us that otherside of heaven if we trust Jesus so we can't expect perfection here on earth of ourselves or others but we are to be encouraged to follow the good examples and learn from the bad and move on in His truth, love and forgiveness and spread it around to others by standing for His truth and lovingly doing so and in forgiveness toward one another. So God's work in history past, present and future should be encouraging/evidential in that what He said would become of His church has become and is continually and also we can learn from the schisms in history past as recorded in the New Testament and thruout the churchs history of our mistakes as a church to humble us and to not repeat (even though we stupidly do) and of our strengths to be encouraged realizing that any goodness we have is of Him and anything bad is of our sinful hearts. Sorry to soap boax for so long. I will shut up now. :)

Black History Month - I have yet to check this out fully but should be good.

Very interesting story line. First Article titled "Pastor from Nigeria Who Built Megachurch in Ukraine Expanding Reach into U.S.". "megachurch founded 13 years ago by an African immigrant in the predominantly Orthodox Christian country where racism is pervasive"....now a "30,000 member church" in the UKRAINE!!! " "Its pastor, believes God's Embassy can be a model worldwide." and then says "His next stop in his bid for global reach is the United States. He says "America is fast becoming a mission ground again."!!!! Watch how this church began founded by a Nigerian in the UKRAINE of all places and how this church played a key role in the political revolution in the Ukraine.

You may find Rufus Morris Jr.s' (an ex rapper under the name of "Skratch" during the Run DMC and Fat Boys era turn christian and now raps under the name "Godchild") testimony to be encouraging. And check out his upcoming projects from Kingdom Entertainment and The School of heARTS he has founded for middle and high schoolers performing arts and multimedia scool in Syracuse.

I listened to a story on Ken Hutcherson and found this man to be a man I really like not only because he was the first black Dallas Cowboy linebacker but much more. Here is a quick testimony. And here are some very recent articles of his activity elsewhere entitled "Washington state pastor calls upon Christians to take on Microsoft" and "Teachers boo pro-family pastor at MLK Day school assembly"

Oh my goodness this was the longest email I have sent yet. I hope to never send this much you alls way again. So sorry about the last 2 lengthy emails and for the bad grammar!!!