Occupy: conduct business God's way

I am taking a class at my church called "Doing Business God's Way" based on the book of the same name. The following is a quote from Doing Business God's Way, by Dennis Peacocke, published by REBUILD, 1995, page 8.

Earth is our workshop assigned by God, and we are not here simply to keep ourselves from sin. We are also here to drive sin away and nullify its effect in the created order.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church. Most Christians line as if our job were to keep the gates of Hell from swallowing us up until, at the last minute, Jesus rescues us. That is not Christ's point.

Jesus calls us the "ekklesia." The ekklesia was an institution familiar for centuries throughout the Hellenic world. It was the representative assembly that ruled over civic affairs. It was not a ragtag guerrilla army or a cowering, persecuted minority; it was the duly constituted authority. By calling His people the ekklesia (which we translate "church"), Christ implicitly gives us authority in world affairs. That is part of why the Roman Empire considered the Church such a challenge and was so threatened by it.

Christ's intent is not that we should bar the gates and somehow weather Hell's fury; it is that we, acting under His authority a His ekklesia, should storm the gates of Hell and crush them, radically reducing Hell's influence in the world and so expressing the truth that Christ is all in all.

Peacocke eloquently states the reason and the basis of our political activism. I may ask permission to use this as a quote on our Occupy Page. We have a duty to occupy or 'do business God's way' until Jesus returns. I suggest this book to everyone. So let's do it. Below are some urgent issues that need our attention.

• Christian Chaplains are being forbidden to pray "in Jesus' Name". How absurd!!! We have protected freedom of religion. The American Center for Law and Justice has a petition for you to sign which asks President Bush to execute an Executive Order giving the Christian Chaplains the right to pray in accordance with the spiritual practice of their denomination. Please use this link to sign the petition. http://www.aclj.org/
• The American Family Association has issued an alert: the House of Representatives is very close to voting on a "hate crimes" bill which would give homosexuals special rights and make it against the law to preach the Word of God about the sin of homosexuality. Ministers have be thrown in jail in Sweden and prosecuted in Canada where such legislation exists. Click on http://www.afa.net/ to get the entire story, to see the actual bill, and most importantly to send an email to your Representative.

We must pray for our President as never before. Ask God to make him receptive to the Holy Spirit. Ask God to lead him by the Holy Spirit to make a stand for righteousness. To speak out on the issues in our nation. Our President is a professing Christian. Pray that his religion becomes public and not just personal. Pray that he will execute an Executive Order so that the chaplains can pray in Jesus' Name. Pray that the prophecy you can find on nationalgpa.org (click on prayer alerts then look under prophecy) that President Bush would become a burning bush for God's kingdom, if we pray, will come into being. Pray that our President will make his faith effectual. If our President does make his faith effectual in the political arena in the next two years, we will have a spiritual revolution in America. Please Pray!!!

My husband and I will be enjoying much needed R and R during the next two weeks. The Blog will resume on March 8th or 9th.

In Jesus love,
Ellen~

More Planned Parenthood

There is a website devoted to stopping all Planned Parenthood tax funding. It is:

www.stopplannedparenthoodtaxfunding.com
Click and sign.

Christian Patriots for Life posted the following information about Planned Parenthood on their website on March 23, 2006:

Our tax dollars are paying for the following:

• Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion chain in America and has killed more that 3 million innocent children at its facilities.
• Planned Parenthood's top goal for the next 25 years is to push its agenda of promiscuous sex everywhere in our society.
• Planned Parenthood puts minors on birth control without parents' knowledge or involvement.
• Planned Parenthood has demonstrated a willingness to cover up for rapists and child predators.
• Planned Parenthood pushes pornography onto children with shocking and offensive websites, books and literature.
• Planned parenthood is openly hostile to Christianity, and regularly mocks people of faith.
• Planned Parenthood hurts women with misleading and dishonest medical information.
• Planned Parenthood does all of this with over $265 million dollars a year of your tax money.

Take a stand and tell your elected officials that

ENOUGH IS TOO MUCH ! ! !

Steve Kidder and Petitions

Our past Executive Director, Steve Kidder, had heart surgery on February 1st in Florida. Steve has had some complications but is home convalescing. Please pray for a total and complete recovery for Steve. Declare that he is healed by the stripes of Jesus. Declare that no weapon formed against Steve can prosper. Cover Steve with the Blood of Jesus and His stripes. Agree with another believer for a fully perfused heart and a regular heartbeat. Virelle says that they feel enfolded by God's love and presence. Our prayers will add and continue God's healing and comfort in their lives.

The Liberty Council has a petition to promote a Constitutional Amendment on marriage. Visit the site to sign the petition. www.lc.org

The Liberty Council also has a petition to promote values of life, liberty and family addressed to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. To sign visit: http://www.libertyaction.org/284/petition.asp?RID=12018785


Citizen Link has a petition against HR 252 which would grant special rights to homosexuals. To register your opinion on HR 252 go to: http://www.citizenlink.com

New Yorkers' for Constitutional Freedoms is hosting a Legislative Day 2007 on March 20th in Albany, New York in the Convention Center. Dr. Jerry Falwell is the Keynote Speaker. Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. will also be speaking. Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. Bio:

• Senior Pastor of Hope Christian Church, Washington, DC
• Regional Bishop, Fellowship of International Churches
• Masters of Business Administration, Harvard
• Bachelor of Arts in English, Williams College
• Host of daily radio commentary, "The Truth in Black and White" on 400+ stations
• Held positions in several Fortune 500 companies.
• Founder and Chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition.
• Author of several books, including "The Black Contract with America on Moral Values"

This is an event not to be missed. For more information and to register visit: http://www.nycf.info

Many blessings,

Ellen Kolb

Do you speak English?

Is everyone enjoying the snow? We had 24 inches yesterday. That's not much compared to Mexico, NY. They have had so much snow that they have no way of humanly measuring it.

My lap top had permanent melt down about three months ago. I had already spent over $200.00 "fixing" it so now I don't have a computer at home. It is quite an inconvenience. I can't do a blog unless I'm at the office and I couldn't make it in yesterday.

I found another site to sign another petition to defund Planned Parenthood. Just click on this link and sign the petition. www.stopplannedparenthoodtaxfunding.com/

With so many really important issues, CEDAW treaty, Planned Parenthood, Gay Marriage, Abortion, One World Government, the erosion of Christian influence and presence in our society and government, the topic of U. S. English might seem rather insignificant. Alex Baldwin made fun of the issue during a tirade mocking Conservative issues. I also thought that it wasn't all that important. However, it is just one more attack on American unity and sovereignty. It fits into the One Worlder's plan to weaken, splinter, demoralize and ultimately destroy our country.

A common language is one of the most unifying forces in any society. Without a common language, we will cease to be a melting pot and become a tossed salad with every ethnic group maintaining their own language, customs and values. Far fetched?

Representative Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) introduced a bill in January 2007 that would make it illegal for English to be America's official language.

His bill, (H.Con.Res. 11), which is called the "English Plus Resolution," seeks to BAN making English our official language and instead, establish MULTILINGUALISM as the official policy of the United States.

This legislation would require the U. S. government to provide services in languages other than English -- and promote policies which encourage all residents of this country to learn or maintain skills in languages other than English. In short, make America officially multilingual.

This bill is an outrage. The 'English Plus' bill must be defeated. English is the most internationally recognized language in the world. It is ridiculous to think that it would not be used by all American Citizens. Grade school children in Hong Kong are required to learn English. Can we require less of our school children?

Background Info:

• President Clinton's Executive Order 13166 requires federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funds to provide government services in any language -- on demand. This costs taxpayers around $46 billion a year.
• The U. S. Department of Justice requires states and countries to print election ballots in foreign languages at over 1,000 polling locations. This costs taxpayers around $27 million a year.
• Last year the Senate passed a bill to make English our official national language. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives did not have enough time to act on this bill and allow it to reach the President's desk.
• Arizona voted to make English their official language last November, bringing the total number of Official English states to twenty-eight. There have been court battles to repeal these Official English state laws. So far Official English has stood up under court scrutiny.

Go to our Contact Our Govt Page (on our Home Page) www.nyfamilyinfo.net and call and email your NYS Representative. Ask them to vote against H. Con Res. 11. We can stop this bill from becoming law if we act and pray. For more information on U. S. English go to www.usenglish.org.

Tomorrow is Friday. I stay at home and babysit for my grandson on Friday. On Friday, Intercessors for America publishes a Friday "Watch Fires" report that summarizes important issues to be aware of and to pray about. www.ifapray.org/ It's right above the National Debt Clock.

Blessings to all~

Defund Planned Parenthood

When our webmaster, Christa Parrish-Patterson, told me I needed a blog to keep current issues in the forefront and to keep people using our site, I was a little worried that I wouldn't have anything to write about. I'm happy to report that I only have to open my daily mail or to look at our home page and I can find at least ten things to write about.

Schenectady County Right to Life's Jan.-Apr., 2007 News-Briefs, has a very informative article about Planned Parenthood. The article is used with permission.

"Planned Parenthood of America, in their annual report for their fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 reported that business was good and profitable! The parent organization for 120 affiliates operating 860 'health centers' located throughout the U.S., operating under the twin euphemisms of 'Women's Health', and 'Family Planning', reported their clinics had performed 255,015 abortions, an increase of 9,923 over the previous year. Incidentally, they also made 1,414 referrals to other agencies for adoption, a decrease of 360 from the previous year. Of their total revenue of $882 million, 39% was clinic income, 31% was government grants and contracts and 25% was private contributions. Excess of revenue over expenses was $63 million even though expenses include $97 million for management and $42 million for fundraising.

Among their Vision for 2025 Goals, they list such objectives as:

• Become an authoritative voice on bioethical standards.
• Build the largest donor and citizen activist base of any social movement in this country.
• Be more politically active.
• Expand globally.

In October of 2006, Planned Parenthood of America acquired a new President, Cecile Richards. Mrs. Richards has very good political connections, having been the former Deputy Chief of Staff for the new Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and is credited by some as being vital to Pelosi's ascension as the first woman Democratic leader of the House of Representatives.

During a June address to the progressive group, Take Back America, Richards said: "We have the potential to swing the vote in 2006, 2008 and 2010, and that's a lot of power. The question is, 'What are we going to do with it?' And the answer is, 'We're going to use it. We're going to marry our current reality as the largest reproductive healthcare provider in this country with our opportunity to be the largest kickass advocacy organization in the country . . . . . We're taking on the opponents of choice in the states and the districts where they live. Planned Parenthood is going to become more political so that healthcare can become less politicized' ".

Public funding of Planned Parenthood in 2005 equaled 273.42 million dollars of tax payer's money. The loss of innocent human life is appalling. I'm happy to say that through prayer and political activism on our side their plan will totally fail.

We must pray and act. Pray: Set the Blood of Jesus against the above agenda. Cast it down in Jesus' Name and render it null and void in Jesus' Name. Act: Go to the ACLJ website, http://www.aclj.org/, and click on 'Latest Video' on the top of the screen, OR 'on Television' on the middle right hand side of the screen. You will see a terrific video about Planned Parenthood and partial-birth abortion. You will be able to sign a petition to Defund Planned Parenthood. 1-877-989-2255

The numbers in the SCRTL article are a little bit different than the ones in the video but the article is based on 2005 statistics. Please visit the ACLJ site, watch the video and make the phone call.

Blessings and love~

Pray, Pray, Pray

The site http://www.waymakers.org/ is hosting a prayer campaign for individuals and/or churches called "Seek God for the City 2007". The campaign runs from February 21 to April 1, 2007 which is Palm Sunday. Please involve yourself in praying for your city, Albany, Washington DC, and others if you like. Our warfare is not carnal but mighty through the tearing down of strongholds. Prayer is one of our chief mighty weapons to use to bring about the change that we all desire. You have time to order the prayer guide which will give you a lot of great ideas of what and how to pray. The prayer guide has Scriptures to pray which is another of our mighty weapons (the Word of God). We just ordered our prayer guide five minutes ago. Please remember to put on the full armor of God and to cover yourself with the Blood of Jesus for protection before you pray. Also cover your family and everything that pertains to you and your family. Bind all spirits of retribution in Jesus' Name (another mighty weapon) and pray away. May God bless you richly as you become a prayer warrior for the Kingdom.

Coral Ridge informs us about Hate Crimes: "According to news outlets, Speaker Pelosi has signed on a co-sponsor of every homosexual rights bill introduced in the House recently. She has made it known that she intends to prioritize these bills. One such bill is the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a severe threat to religious liberty because it makes what one thinks -- not just what one does -- subject to enhanced federal prosecutorial involvement." This is almost beyond belief. Pelosi is also pushing the House to fund embryo-destructive research. Please pray for God to apprehend Nancy Pelosi, to enlighten her by the power of the Holy Spirit, to cause her to walk, stand and act in righteousness. The heart to the king is in the hands of the Lord. Pray for Nancy Pelosi's heart to be in the hands of the Lord and for Him to turn her heart to repentance and righteousness. It seems that this is a goood time to let our President know that we support the use of his veto powers to protect our religious liberty and to support life and family. Through prayer and becoming politically active we can meet the challenges that confront us.

A funny thing happened on the way to Philadelphia.

My husband and I pray together everyday. We always ask God to protect our troops. We don't know anyone who is actually fighting in the war. I thought our prayers would be more meaningful for us and more effective if we did; so I asked God to make it real for us and introduce us to a real live fighting man or woman. When my prayer wasn't answered in a week or so, I was disappointed and eventually forgot about my request. (Oh ye of little faith)

Last October I was flying home from visiting my parents in Minnesota. My flight went from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Philadelphia and from Philadelphia to Albany. I had a window seat and was hoping the empty seat next to me would remain vacant. A very large, tall man with a camouflage backpack was walking down the isle with his eyes fixed on the seat next to me. His hair was very short and my first thoughts were, 'Oh, no, Lord, what are you doing? Do I have to sit next to a skin head? Am I supposed to witness to him? He's so big, I'm going to be squished.' I decided this Neo Nazi was not going to take up all the space so I put my arm on the armrest.

The man struggled to get his knapsack in the overhead bin. When it wouldn't fit, he put it on the seat and started shaking it. While he was shaking up his bag, a thought occurred to me. "Are you in the service?" I asked. To my relief he said, "yes". The rattled bag fit in the overhead bin and the man sat down. Although I took my arm off the armrest, he never used it during the flight nor did I.

After take off we began talking. He was a Staff Sergeant going to Fort Dix to train new recruits. They would be shipping out Thanksgiving Day to Iraq. The U.S. is fast tracking new recruits. Fast Tracking means squeezing three months of training into a 30 day marathon. The first thing he teaches the new recruits is to drink water -- lots of it. He said this was his third tour of duty in Iraq; he had fought in Operation Desert Storm and in Afghanistan. He was a professional soldier. He had enlisted when he was seventeen to get out of the inner-city of Baltimore. He and his wife and two children live in Minnesota. They had just bought a camp on a lake. He told me all about building the camp, the lake, and renovating his real house. I asked him if I could pray for him, he said I could. Right there in the plane I had the privilege of praying for a real soldier. I could hardly believe it. The time just flew and before I knew it, the flight was over and he was gone. I told him my husband and I would pray for him daily by name and thanked him for serving our country. I am happy to report that we have kept my promise. It is much easier to pray knowing 'David' is out there fighting for our country.

That was the first flight since 911 on which I felt totally safe. With a strapping seasoned soldier in the seat next to me, all apprehension was gone.

I hope you are praying for our troops and for their families. Intercessors for America has pages with prayers for our troops and for the Middle East and the war. To find them on our website, click on prayer, click on Intercessors for America, click on Middle East Prayer. There are daily topics to pray about. Intercessors for America is a wonderful site. Please check it out and use it. For your convenience you can click right here: http://www.ifapray.org/

Blessings to all.