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Confirmed reports from media outlets say a mass shooting at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas has caused an emergency lockdown, at least 7 have been murdered and over 20 have been wounded.

The shootings happened in the Soldier Readiness Center. And although the gunmen were said to be dressed in Army fatigues, it was not known whether or not they were actually soldiers.

There is reportedly one suspected shooter in custody and another on the loose, possibly a third.

The FBI reports that the shooting is not linked to terrorism. President Obama has been notified.

Study: Muslims = Quarter of World Population
A new study reveals nearly one in four people in the world practice Islam.

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life says the total global population is estimated to be 6.8 billion. Of this number, Muslims of all ages living in more than 200 countries in the world today total 1.57 billion or 23 percent.

When compared to Christianity, there are an estimated 2.1 billion Christians of all ages living in the world today.

The report gives precise numbers on a religious population whose size has long been debated.

The study also maps out where the world’s Muslim population lives in a very comprehensive fashion. It also contradicts the idea that Muslims are Arabs and Arabs are Muslims.

Here are some of the key findings of the Pew Forum’s study Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population.

60 percent of all practicing Muslims in the world live in Asia.
20 percent live in the Middle East and North Africa.
15 percent live in sub-Saharan Africa.
2.4 percent live in Europe and less than 1 percent in the Americas.
The world’s largest Muslim population can be found in Indonesia. There are more than 200 million Muslims living there.
The report finds that India, which is majority Hindu, has the third largest Muslim population of any nation with more than 161 million Muslims. Germany has four million Muslims and that’s more than the entire country of Lebanon.

There are concerns about the growth of Islam, because in Muslim countries ruled by Islamic law, religious liberty is rare or nonexistent.

“Look at how Christians today are treated in countries where Islam is dominant,” said Geert Wilders, Dutch politician and filmmaker. “Try buying a bible in Saudi Arabia. Try to visit a church in Iran. Try to do anything Christian in an Islamic country. There is no room for it. They are intolerant.”

But this week, he found himself in the uncomfortable position of trying to convince an Indonesian police chief to loan him a helicopter.

“I was filming at an Operation Blessing medical outreach when an earthquake survivor told me there was a village close to the epicenter that had not yet been reached by aid workers,” Sitorus said.

The location was remote and all the roads leading to the village had been destroyed in the quake.

“I went to the local police chief and asked if we could use his helicopter to go to this village and check for survivors,” Sitorus added. “He looked at me as if I was crazy and said it was not possible.”

But Sitorus would not take no for an answer. Finally, the police chief agreed, but reluctantly.

Uncovering Remote Village

So on Thursday morning, Sitorus, several Operation Blessing doctors, and a couple of Indonesian police officers, set out for the village of Ambacang Gadang. What they saw as they approached the village was shocking: several massive landslides had engulfed the village.

“I didn’t think anyone could have survived this kind of devastation,” he said

Miraculously, dozens of people had survived and Sitorus began to document what he saw and heard.

“We’ve had no water, no rice, nothing to eat,” one earthquake survivor said. “We’ve been living on coconut juice for the last five days.”

Everywhere Sitorus pointed the camera, there was devastation. Homes were completely flattened, and roads were split in half.

Seventeen-year-old Zaino Abiu was caught in one of the landslides.

“I was hit by a huge wall of mud,” Abiu said. “I was tumbling down this mountain completely buried. I could not breath. I thought I was going to die.”

Incredibly he survived, but two of his friends who were standing next to him are still missing.

Sitorus met another survivor, 49-year-old Emira. She too had an amazing story.

“In seconds (my home) was all gone,” she said. “Flattened by the earthquake.”

The police officer asked the villagers what they needed.

“We need blankets, we need rice, tents, food, water, clothes,” one survivor said. “Some of our people are also sick with fever, cough and pains.”

Operation Blessing Steps In

That’s when the Indonesian police chief, who had been so reluctant to help, turned to Sitorus and the Operation Blessing team and smiled.

Minutes later the helicopter was making the return flight to base. An hour later it was back in the village with boxes of relief supplies from Operation Blessing.

“Today is the first time that I will have a meal because of you,” Emira told Operation Blessing workers.

The Operation Blessing doctors immediately setup camp and began to examine each villager.

For the man behind the camera documenting the moment, there was a sense of personal satisfaction. But he refused to take credit.

“The real heroes are the men and women who volunteer for Operation Blessing and those who make it possible to help my people who are suffering,” Sitorus said.

Operation Blessing had favor, not just with villagers, but also with the Indonesian police force.

“The police chief told me that whenever we need to ferry supplies we can count on them and they will let us use the helicopter for free,” Sitorus said.

*Originally published October 9, 2009

JERUSALEM — The sudden downturn in Israeli-Turkish relations is a sign that Turkey is moving closer to the Islamic world, an Israeli expert said here on Thursday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman summoned the Turkish Ambassador to a meeting on Thursday to protest the broadcasting of a television series which incites against Israel on Turkish state television.

In the first episode which aired on Tuesday the television program portrayed Israeli soldiers killing a baby and a young girl and lining up Palestinians to shoot them in a firing squad, reports said.

“This series, which has absolutely no connection to reality, and which presents IDF soldiers as murderers of innocent children, is not fit to be broadcast even in the most hostile countries, and certainly not in a country that has full diplomatic relations with Israel,” Lieberman said in a statement.

The airing of the program followed several recent unsettling incidents: earlier this week Turkey’s refusal to allow Israel to participate in a military excercise, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s accusations of the Israeli killing of children in Gaza, and Ankara’s announcement of joint military maneuvers with Syria.

Turkey, which has a long history of secularism, has for the last few years been ruled by an Islamic-oriented government.

Prof. Efraim Inbar, from the BESA Center for Strategic Studies near Tel Aviv, told CBN News that all these moves indicate that Turkey is moving closer to the Islamic world and distancing itself from the West.

Israel has had strong strategic ties with Turkey for years but that may now be ending, said Inbar. Israel has upgraded airplanes and tanks for the Turks and sold them missiles and other military equipment, he said.

Relations with Israel are the “litmus test” of secularism, said Inbar. Turkey is going in the Muslim direction and their foreign policy has a “greater Muslim coloration”, he said.

They have deviated from the West. They accepted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Sudanese leadership and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, he said.

They seem to prefer the Syrian and Iranian dictatorships to Israel’s democracy, he added.

(Jakarta, Indonesia)—United Nations Humanitarian Chief, John Holmes told reporters on Thursday that at least 1,100 people have died in the two major earthquakes that struck Indonesia in the past couple days.

“These numbers, I fear, will rise as more information becomes available,” added Holmes. “It’s still feared that thousands of people are trapped under damaged houses and many buildings.”

According to the CNN report: The 6.6 magnitude quake Thursday hit South Sumatra (9:52 p.m. Wednesday ET), about 100 miles (160 km) from Bengkulu, the U.S. Geological Survey said. An earlier quake Wednesday had a magnitude of 7.6.

A devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines recently, has left massive flooding, and is being compared to America’s Hurricane Katrina.

Reports say at least 140 have been killed, while 100,000 survivors await help from international relief groups. (Photo: AP)

And relief is on the way, as an undertaking to bring aid has already begun. Christian organizations, such as World Vision and Catholic Relief Services are at the forefront of the effort.

Boy Bersales, World Vision Philippines Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director said, “Thousands of people have lost all they owned—their food, their clothing, bedding, school items, and kitchen equipment. But their immediate needs are for food and water. Many have gone without either for hours and hours and the children are especially vulnerable having been trapped in flooded conditions for several days. The city is only now waking up to the massive extent of the devastation.”

Source: Aaron J. Leichman – Christian Post

This morning I awoke hearing the voice of God speak to me concerning our spiritual eyesight. He said very plainly that we cannot see properly in this season unless we allow Him to empower us with His eyesight. Actually, the Lord spoke to me concerning the eyesight of Holy Spirit and how we are to properly position ourselves to spend time with Him each day to strengthen our sight. I was reminded of the Word of the Lord I received for the Body of Christ in December 2005 that would span unto the year 2010. From 2006 until 2010, God is desiring that we “see” as He Himself sees our future.

God is back from the future! He has already seen your destiny and His Spirit desires to empower us to see ourselves fulfilling divine destiny. We must remain stable and determined to not be double-minded in this season. I’m sure you are like me, wondering how to develop supernatural eyesight. I have pressed and sought some revelation concerning this.

Spending time each day with Holy Spirit is similar to taking Vitamin A for the natural eyesight. According to the many health professionals, Vitamin A is needed for several metabolic functions, especially for vision. Interestingly, Vitamin A is very effective for “night blindness.” So, when we are facing spiritual seasons of great darkness and it is difficult to “see,” we need our daily recommended dose of Holy Spirit, right?

Believers, I realize I am being a bit humorous, but I need to make a point. We are living in critical times and we need to see in the spirit in order to make needed shifts that affect our destiny. Consider this example from one of God’s creations—the gazelle. You need to understand that God gave the gazelle a tremendous advantage over its predators. A gazelle is quick to move and dart away from any danger. In other words, it is hard to catch! Yet, even more amazing is its eyesight. The gazelle has one eye on each side of its head and can see nearly 360 degrees at once! This means that it is virtually impossible for a predator to sneak up to devour it.

The Devourer

We are at war with the devourer and the Lord does not desire that this predator sneak up on us and steal our future. We are also at the threshing floor, when God separates but also desires to bless us. We must be on guard not to hold back in our giving at this time as it will affect reaping in our next season. Though when I first began to write this article I had no intent on discussing giving, it actually cannot be separated from the devourer who steals if we do not trust God with our finances and the giving of what He is requiring.

Scripture reveals the devourer in Malachi 3:10-11 (AMP):

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field,” says the Lord of hosts.

Most of us are cognizant of the scriptural basis for tithing and sowing offerings to God. Without desiring to become legalistic, I believe we must give attention to the need to “not forget” God and His house during such despairing economic times. Mammon and the Antichrist spirit are rising up during this season and attempt to cause us to doubt God’s ability to supernaturally move mountains for us. (I have just written an entire book on the Antichrist Spirit called Conquering the Antichrist Spirit, which you can order on the ElijahList. I encourage you to read it so that you can develop supernatural eyesight for victory in this season.)

We are warring against mountains of doubt and unbelief concerning the economy, provision and God’s ability to cycle us out of the wilderness. Our only hope for the future is to fully trust God. Though we may not be able to “see” where the Lord may be leading, we must know in our hearts that He is able to make a way where there seems to be no way. We must remember the One who created the universe is the One who is really in control. God will always honor our seasons of sowing into His purposes. However, the enemy twists truth and speaks lies concerning our provision—especially in such uncertain times.

The devourer is connected to the words “locusts” and “caterpillar” which are the two most devastating threats to a harvest. Yet, God says in Joel 2:21-26 (AMP) that we are not to fear because He will restore what the devourer has destroyed!

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Be not afraid, you wild beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness have sprung up and are green; the tree bears its fruit, and the fig tree and the vine yield their (full) strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.

And the (threshing) floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with juice (of the grape) and oil. And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame.

Dear ones, when you sow seed into God’s purposes, you need supernatural eyesight to see God plans to provide for us—even in difficult seasons. We are instructed to not allow fear to control our obedience to God. Fear links us to our past and blocks our future. The Lord has plans to multiply our harvest—even though we can’t “see” it in the natural! This is why we must see with the eyesight of Holy Spirit.

Again, I do not desire to focus solely on sowing and reaping with this article. I simply desire that you develop supernatural eyesight so that you can be blessed in your future. Letting go now releases what God desires for the future. And we cannot ignore the fact that the devourer is linked to tithing and giving to God all which belongs to Him. In fact, we ourselves belong to God and we have been set apart unto Him. Therefore, in a way, we sow ourselves into God’s Kingdom purposes. All of us experience dark seasons whenever we do not understand the plans and purposes of God. However, since the Lord does not desire that we be caught off guard by any plan of satan, we need the eyes of Holy Spirit.

How to Develop Spiritual Eyesight

Okay, now, here is another “key”—we need the Key of David. We’ve heard a lot of teachings on David’s keys and I am not negating what has been previously taught. I am a prophet and simply want to convey what I am hearing. What I heard the Lord say was that David had the ability to see on the other side of closed doors. In other words, his prophetic gifting and insight empowered him to see the future even though doors were closed before him. Therefore, his ability to see supernaturally was his key to unlock closed doors!

On the other hand, we need our discernment sharpened so that we can properly discern which doors need to be opened. We can speak to mountains until the cows come home (I live on a ranch and believe me it takes them a while…they’re slow!), but if God isn’t ready to move that mountain, it won’t move. We must understand our times and seasons. Some of us are waiting on God for the go-ahead to pray certain directives. To wait means to wait with great faith and expectation. If you have seen your victory and it is not time, trust God and wait in peace while expecting the breakthrough. Look at what Scripture says about the Key of David in the two references of Revelation 3:7 and Isaiah 22:22.

And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (Church) in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open…—Revelation 3:7 (AMP)

Notice that Christ is the One addressing the Church in Philadelphia and He is the One who has the Key of David. The Key which Christ holds is a key that opens and no one can shut and also shuts a door and uses the key to lock it so no one can open. The Lord desires to give us the same key which David had. The Lord desires us to see with supernatural insight what is promised beyond a door that appears shut. Using our key of faith and supernatural ability to see with the eyesight of Holy Spirit, we can open closed doors to our future and then, with faith, lock the door shut to lock out the devourer. We must rise up in faith and declare that the devourer cannot enter into our future!

The key is a representation of a key given to one who occupies a royal palace and can admit or exclude anyone from entrance. I believe God is opening the Heavens to us as a royal priesthood and is releasing keys of entrance into areas concerning the supernatural. Use your key of faith to unlock the heavenlies and begin to see with the eyesight of Holy Spirit!

Isaiah 22:22 refers to the “key of the house of David” which is laid upon the shoulder of Christ. (”Shoulder” in this passage represents divine government and authority.) Christ is represented as not only the One possessing the royal house, but also the one who watches over the entrance of others. The key of David’s house is symbolic of the key which Christ has. David had his own palace as well as a fortress in Zion. Why did Christ give David a key with so much power? Because David was a man after God’s heart! Because David’s passion was bent on worshiping the Lord, He was given grace, favor and supernatural insight.

When David saw Goliath, he saw victory and not defeat. How could he do this when others remained fearful? It is because David saw beyond a closed door. He had spent hours alone with sheep and chose his time with his harp to worship and praise God. David knew God and therefore could see God. Spending time with God will empower you with supernatural eyesight!

Noah was one who walked with God (Genesis 6:9). To walk with God does not mean spending countless hours in prayer attempting to look religious and be legalistic. No! To walk with God means that we include Him in our lives and decisions on a daily basis. Spending time with God means that He is always in our thoughts and we have completely surrendered our lives to Him. When we walk with Him our supernatural eyesight is sharpened and we are empowered to see with eyes of His Spirit, and therefore are not afraid of our natural circumstances.

Moving Past Legalism and Religious Mindsets

In order to fully see with supernatural vision, we must move beyond our religious mindsets which link us to the past. Legalism will always attempt to have a seated position in our lives whenever we are afraid of our future. We are easily tempted to go back to a formula or an old pattern when we are faced with challenges.

There is a Gideon’s army arising, and therefore there is a testing at the waters. I’m sure that you remember the story, but let’s take a quick look at the method of testing:

…And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. Then the LORD said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand…”—Judges 7:5-7

I have always wondered about God’s methods as He weeded Gideon’s army. After much study and asking God concerning this, I have realized that the men who did not pass the testing at the waters knelt down, and also looked down at the waters. They were concerned as to what was immediately before their eyes and were somewhat self-centered and self-absorbed. Remaining concerned with our immediate and present situations with no concern for the future will link us to our past. We have to remain positioned properly and develop supernatural vision which is linked to a hope for our future.

Those who cupped their hands and lapped the water were able to see the enemy from afar. The cupping of hands is symbolic of being able to hold onto the Word of God which is the Living Water. There needs to be a daily washing of His Word in order to fully see in this season. Gideon’s chosen army was not concerned with just their personal provision, but they were also alert and on guard, watching out for the others. Their vision was larger; they saw into possibilities concerning their future. This is a perfect example of being empowered with a new level of supernatural vision and always being positioned to give assistance to others when needed.

I am also reminded of David who used His keys to unlock a particular door. The door he opened was a door which blocked intimacy with God because of legalism. Do you remember the story of when David forbade the law concerning eating the showbread? Well, the law stated that only the priests could partake of the “holy bread.” Yet David knew through his intimacy with God that he was sanctified and could partake of it. David understood that the law was made for man; man was not made for the law! This is another use of the key. We are not to be bound up with an old legalistic system.

When Jesus was addressing the spirit of legalism, He commended David for his actions (see Matthew 12:3-5). Jesus is commending those of us who know who we are in God and are not afraid of seeing through seemingly closed doors and using our keys of faith to go through the narrow places which are attempting to block our future!

The Woman With the Issue of Blood

Let me remind you again that I am attempting to guide you into developing supernatural vision. Remember the woman with the issue of blood? The reason she pressed to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment was out of her desperation for healing and knowing that God would heal her; thus, she was able to supernaturally see her victory. Sometimes God will allow desperation to empower us to press further than ever before. If you are in a desperate situation, it is a perfect opportunity to develop supernatural vision.

I believe that our greatest victories lie ahead of us. It is a season when we can press into God on a daily basis, hear His voice, and see with the eyes of Holy Spirit. Every day deserves a fresh start with the Lord. Don’t you agree? Be encouraged. God is always faithful—no matter what it looks like in the natural.

My prayer for you: Father, I pray that Your children begin to develop supernatural eyesight that comes from walking daily with You. I pray that Holy Spirit manifests in a tangible way to each person and that He guides Your precious ones into all truth. Father, just as Saul had the scales of his eyes removed so that he could see, I pray that the scales of our eyes are also removed. As Elisha prayed for his servant to see that there were more that were for them than were against them, I pray for each person to see with that same supernatural vision. I ask that You empower us for our future and great victory. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

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by Teresa Neumann : Sep 23, 2009 : Staff – WorldNetDaily

Event organizers from Time Square Church had expected about 15,000 to attend but their expectations “were far exceeded at the third event of its kind in the last three years.”

(New York, N.Y.)—You may not have heard about this on CNN or MSNBC, but you’ll “hear” it here on BCN: On Sunday, September 20, 60,000 people gathered in Times Square to pray for one hour at a Christian rally dubbed “Prayer in the Square.” (Photo: NYCprayer.org)

According to a WorldNetDaily report, event organizers from Time Square Church had expected about 15,000 to attend but their expectations “were far exceeded at the third event of its kind in the last three years.”

Said Carter Conlon, pastor of the Times Square Church: “The Lord called us to host, fund and organize this event for the last three years. He told us that the first year would establish credibility with the city, and we have received positive feedback from various city agencies, including the office of the Mayor himself, commending us for honesty, order, and keeping our word. The second year confirmed to local churches that this was not the beginning of some new ministry but rather a gathering for the sole purpose of one hour of prayer, in humility, with all denominations represented and no personalities or ministry showcased. Those who have attended can attest to the fact that this has been so. Everything has unfolded exactly as the Lord impressed upon our hearts it would.”

Mrs. Shirley Dobson, Lou Engle, & Tony Perkins

Hello All—update to earlier invitation—please note phone number changes to accommodate more participants; Please forward to those who will pray in this hour…

Convergence

It is critical that the church in America understands the times and what needs to be done now. The natural things speak of the invisible. Natural happenings on the earth are revealing something that is going on in the spiritual realm. There is a great spiritual conflict with a rising tide of Islamic boldness being manifested. Several happenings are converging this week. First of all, our President has recently proclaimed, honored, encouraged the Muslim holy days of prayer and fasting called Ramadan. He was very silent on the National Day of Prayer but very vocal on the support of Ramadan. Interestingly at the same time a major Christian leader of the Emergent Church called for forty days of fasting and prayer in the same Ramadan period with the goal that the church will better understand our Muslim friends. We are all for understanding but we must have spiritual discernment as to the spiritual dark powers that are being invoked into our nation.

Cause for Concern

At the same time, on the 25th of September, Muslims are calling for a Muslim Day of Prayer in Washington DC (http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/). They are calling for 50,000 Muslims to gather and pray on the DC Mall. This is the exact word of one of the Sheikhs who is leading this historic gathering, “Muslims should march on the White House. We are going to the White House so that Islam will be victorious, Allah willing, and the White House will become into a Muslim house.” These are not empty words. They speak of a dark spiritual intent and a coming day of great trouble to America.

A Divine Moment

Now these events are enough to awaken us to this significant throbbing moment, but when they all converge it becomes a massive spiritual alarm that must be responded to by the praying Church. This convergence, I believe, is urgently summoning us in the midst of the rising tide of Islamic influence in America to recognize that our God is above every god and that if we return to Him with all of our hearts and call upon Him with fasting and prayer then God could use what the enemy meant for evil to bring about a great day of salvation for Muslims in America.

Here is the Vision

First of all, we cannot be passive as a Church to let these kinds of developments go on without being challenged in the spirit. Our fight is not against Muslims, it is against principalities, powers, and forces of darkness. We are calling the Church of America at the end of Ramadan, from September 21st through 25th, to five days of concerted prayer. On Friday, September 25th, the Muslim Day of Prayer, we are calling the Church of America to fast and pray that Muslims would be moved by the Holy Spirit, convicted by the testimony of Christ, and even be visited by Jesus in dreams. We must pray that God would restrain the spiritual powers behind Islam and grant us the great awakening that we desperately need for America.

Calling Christians

Therefore we are calling Christians all over America to join Lou Engle, Mrs. Shirley Dobson, Tony Perkins, and many other major leaders in America to a national conference call to pray for America. Please join us on Thursday, September 24th from 7:30PM to 9:00PM Eastern in what we believe is a critical moment in American History.

712-338-8100
Alternate Dial in Numbers: 218-486-1400, 507-726-3200
Participant Passcode: 637#
Live Audio Feed: www.nationaldayofprayer.org or www.thecall.com
Time Zones:
7:30 – 9 pm EASTERN
6:30 – 8 pm CENTRAL
5:30 – 7 pm MOUNTAIN
4:30 – 6 pm PACIFIC

For America,

Lou Engle, NDP Task Force, Tony Perkins

“The tradition of offering prayer in America has become so interwoven into our nation’s spiritual heritage, that to charge someone criminally for engaging in such an innocent practice would astonish the men who founded this country on religious freedom.”

(Santa Rosa County, Florida)—On September 17, Liberty Counsel successfully cleared Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman of criminal contempt charges that arose out of a simple blessing of a meal. The criminal contempt hearing began when the ACLU asked that Lay and Freeman be held in contempt for offering a prayer over a meal at a luncheon where they honored donors to the athletic Field House project.

The federal courtroom in Pensacola, Florida, was packed with people supporting Lay and Freeman. The Pace High School students made T-shirts with the image of a potato chip that read: “Lay’s Supportive Patriots.” Busloads of people jammed the steps of the courthouse to cheer and show their support.

Members of Congress made speeches on the House floor in support of Lay and Freeman, including Cong. Randy Forbes, the Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Prayer Caucus. In his speech Forbes warned that this case represents what might be coming as a result of the ACLU’s agenda: “Make no mistake, there will come a day when the speaker of this house will be hauled into federal court and threatened with jail because she dares to stand at that podium where you stand tonight and ask the chaplain to start our day with the prayer.” (transcript)

Other members, including Cong. Mike McIntyre, Co-Chair, and Cong. Jeff Miller, whose district includes Santa Rosa County, along with more than 61 members of Congress, sent a letter of support to Lay, Freeman and Michele Winkler, whom Liberty Counsel successfully defended two weeks ago on civil contempt charges. The letter concludes: “The tradition of offering prayer in America has become so interwoven into our nation’s spiritual heritage, that to charge someone criminally for engaging in such an innocent practice would astonish the men who founded this country on religious freedom.”

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “It is ridiculous that these men even had to think twice about blessing a meal. To criminalize the prayer conflicts with our Nation’s founding and guiding principles and goes directly against our constitutionally protected rights. It is fitting that on National Constitution Day, our religious freedoms are preserved so that people—regardless of their employment—are free to say a meal blessing. The Constitution was birthed in the bosom of prayer. When the Constitutional Convention had fractured and the dream of the United States began to fade, Benjamin Franklin delivered his famous speech where he called his colleagues to prayer. After recessing for a three-day prayer meeting, they convened and the Constitution was born. Prayer remains alive and well in America, but we cannot take it for granted.”

Source: Christian Newswire/Liberty Counsel