President Says He Will NOT Secure U.S. Border

Barack Obama recently told a sitting United States Senator that he would NOT work to secure the US border unless he gets what he wants.

A few days ago, Arizona Senator John Kyl addressed a group of voters in Arizona and told them that in a recent one-on-one meeting with Obama in the White House, Obama told him that, “If we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support comprehensive immigration reform.”

Simply put, the President wants to leverage the public’s desire for border security in order to get a “comprehensive” bill that would fast-track illegals to citizenship. In a word, AMNESTY.

Given that we have an estimated 20 MILLION illegal aliens, it would be the single biggest Democrat voter registration drive in history. And that’s why Obama won’t enforce the law until he gets what he wants.

To make matters worse, Obama is planning to have the federal government SUE ARIZONA for enforcing our nation's immigration laws.

And now Mexico is joining in. Mexico is suing Arizona in our own federal courts for enforcing our own laws.

Please Pray That Chaplains Be Allowed to Pray

Americans United, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, and others are pushing to ban prayers in Jesus' name by our military chaplains.

It is an outrage - and if we don't stop it, it will affect all of us.

Support H.R. 268, sponsored by Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), specifying chaplains' right to pray according to their faith.

Call on President Obama to issue an Executive Order locking in our military chaplains' right to pray as they see fit.

We must preserve the right to pray in the military. Our own future freedom may depend on it.

Talent Is Never Enough

We are highly recommending John Maxwell's book, Talent Is Never Enough.

"One of the paradoxes of life is that the things that initially make you successful are rarely the things that keep you successful."

John Maxwell has a message for you, and for today's corporate culture fixated on talent above all else: TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH.

People everywhere are proving him right. Read the headlines, watch the highlights, or just step out your front door: Some talented people reach their full potential, while others self-destruct or remain trapped in mediocrity. What makes the difference? Maxwell insists that the choices people make - not merely the skills they inherit-propel them onto greatness. Among other truths, successful people know that:

• Belief lifts your talent.
• Initiative activates your talent.
• Focus directs your talent.
• Preparation positions your talent.
• Practice sharpens your talent.
• Perseverance sustains your talent.
• Character protects your talent.

It's what you add to your talent that makes the greatest difference. With authentic examples and time-tested wisdom, Maxwell shares thirteen attributes you need to maximize your potential and live the life of your dreams.

Get Your Copy Today!

Father's Day

As a father, can you honestly say the following?

• I often discuss things with my child.
• I praise my children for things they do well.
• I know what encourages my child.
• I am a good example to my children.
• I try not to vary much in the way I deal with my children.
• I read the scriptures with my children often.
• I express affection to my children.
• My child and I often do things together.
• I know what motivates my child.
• My children know what to expect from me.
• I pray with my children.
• I tell my children they are special to me.
• We have a family worship time in the home.
• I teach my children skills.
• I talk about spiritual things with my children.
• My child and I have fun together.
• I tell my children I am proud of them.

[National Center for Fathering]

10 Hard Questions

Too many times we believe that being busy is equal to being godly … when the Bible says quite the opposite.

Psalm 46:10 SLAYS me every time I read it … CONVICTED!

David said in Psalm 23 that the Lord makes him lie down in green pastures and leads him beside still waters.

The LONGEST, most detailed command in the 10 commandments is the one on rest.

Yet, all of us … especially those in the ministry … wrestle with this. One of our MAIN temptations is being busy … here are a few questions we can wrestle through to see how busy those of us in ministry are …

#1 – How many times a day do you check your email? Is there really any reason to check it as often as we do?

#2 – How many times a day do you check twitter?

#3 – How many times a day do you check your facebook page?

#4 – When you go home to do spend time with your family … or merely “tweet” about how you are spending time with your family?

#5 – Do you tell your kids you are too busy to go to their game … but then go to the game of the church members kid so you don’t get into hot water with them? (BTW … good luck explaining that one to your kids in 20 years!)

#6 – Do you have a time during the day when you turn off your cell phone so that you can uninterrupted study time, prayer time and time with your spouse?

#7 – Do you always have to have noise around you … such as do you always have to have the radio on in the car OR the TV on at home, even if you are not listening to/watching it?

#8 – How much time do you spend commenting on blogs and social media sites? (honestly, don’t know too many certified blog commenters that are actually changing the world!)

#9 – Are you accessible at any time of the day by anyone who needs you? (LOTS of pastors LOVE to make this claim … usually at the expense of their family and their own walk with God. If you want to walk with Jesus you can’t do it by always having a crowd around … you’ve got to have some time set aside.)

#10 – Are you willing to make the adjustments that you need to make based on the nine questions above? If not then you are most likely addicted to noise and being busy … which looks good to others but absolutely destroys our walk with God.

PSALM 46:10!

[Perry Noble]

Leadership To Go

The Leadership App from GiANT Impact allows you to have on-demand access to the latest and best leadership content directly from your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch!

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MAXIMUM IMPACT CLUB MEMBERS:
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.:: Download Today & Receive a Free John Maxwell Gift!

To celebrate the launch of The Leadership App, we're giving away the brand new Lunch & Learn based on John Maxwell's book "Today Matters." ($19 value). Download the app by Sunday, June 20, 2010, and use the code provided in the app to download your free copy!

Reports say Obama admitted he's a Muslim

Two media reports are serving to fuel speculation about Barack Obama's religious beliefs.

Since before he was elected, controversy has stirred over the extent of President Obama's ties to Islam. During the campaign, he spoke openly of both his Muslim upbringing and his adult conversion to Christianity. But now two major Middle East media outlets -- Nile TV International and Israel Today Magazine -- are reporting that the president has admitted in recent months that he is a Muslim.

Those outlets say that Obama, in a one-on-one meeting earlier this year with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, told Gheit that he was still a Muslim, the son of a Muslim father, and the step-son of a Muslim step-father; that his half brothers in Kenya are Muslims; and that he was sympathetic towards the Muslim agenda.

Pamela Geller, publisher of AtlasShrugs.com and author of the new book, The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America, says this most recent comment by Obama has been ignored by the mainstream media and should be of great concern to U.S. citizens.

"[In] this latest report ... Foreign Prime Minister Gheit on Nile Television ... said that, in confidence, Obama told him that he was a Muslim," says Geller, "and that after he straightened out domestic issues would show the Muslim world how to handle Israel."

Geller also says that while this topic is nothing new, it is further evidence of Obama's sympathetic tendencies towards those who mean harm to the U.S. and his intent to reshape America's religious foundation.

"If you look at the man's record, it's shocking," she laments. "[Especially] when you review how he declared an end to the -- quote, unquote -- 'war on terror' ... how he floated the idea that he would talk to the violent, genocidal Hamas, that he insisted and recruited for Muslims in his administration and created an actual new department that reported to Hillary Clinton for the Muslim 'ummah' [the whole Arab world]."

Geller goes on to say that Obama's embrace of Islam shows his hatred toward Israel and effectively abandons the Holy Land, surrounded by its enemies, to fight its own battles.

[Russ Jones - OneNewsNow]

Bryant Wright Named New SBC President

Atlanta-area pastor Bryant Wright was elected Tuesday to serve as the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country.

Pastor of Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Wright has a strong missions emphasis. His church has sponsored seven mission churches in Cobb County and north Atlanta and co-sponsored five church plants over the past few years.

Also, more than 1,500 members from his congregation went on 70 mission trips to 27 nations last year.

After his election, he said he wants to see every Southern Baptist pastor and church take at least one mission trip and experience what it's like to be in another culture, sharing the Gospel, according to Florida Baptist Witness.

Wright supported adopting recommendations brought by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force to move the denomination toward fulfilling the Great Commission more faithfully and more effectively. The task force report, which was approved Tuesday, enhances and shifts more funding toward reaching the lost in North America and around the world where some 6 billion of the 6.8 billion people in the world are without Christ.

"The task force leadership has led the convention in taking a very courageous step, but it is really just a beginning," he commented after his election, as reported by Florida Baptist Witness.

Wright succeeds Georgia pastor Johnny Hunt, who served two one-year terms.

[By Audrey Barrick|Christian Post Reporter]

Lee University Acquires Baptist Property

Lee University has announced the acquisition of the adjacent First Baptist Church of Cleveland, TN property.

First Baptist, one of the largest and most historic congregations in Cleveland, Tennessee, is in the latter stages of Phase One of a multi-million dollar property relocation approximately five miles to the north on Stuart Road in Cleveland.

In an e-mail to the faculty and staff on Sunday, Lee president Dr. Paul Conn said the university has, “purchased all the downtown Cleveland property of First Baptist Church. The purchase was approved by our Board of Directors in a unanimous vote on Friday (June 11), and announced to the First Baptist congregation by Pastor Allan Lockerman in this morning’s worship services.”

Conn went on to say that two years ago, First Baptist began construction of a new facility and during that process the two parties have engaged in conversations which culminated in this weekend’s final outcome. The church is scheduled to move from its downtown location to its new building in September.

The property purchased includes the main sanctuary, which seats approximately 1,000, and a large education building which together total more than 95,000 square feet. The purchase also includes parking lots, a one story 35,000 square foot block of former commercial property on Ocoee Street which years ago housed a JC Penney store, and 13 parcels in the neighborhood between the church and the Lee campus. As part of the agreement, First Baptist will maintain its offices in the commercial building during the next two years while the Stuart Road facilities are expanded.

“Our decision to buy the First Baptist property is an expression of our confidence in the Lord’s plans for our future,” Conn said. “The opportunities which it will create are exciting to consider.”

The relationship between Lee University and First Baptist was characterized by Conn as one of “wonderful neighbors for many years ... we will miss their presence on our southern border, as they move from the downtown community. We have enjoyed sharing the neighborhood with them. But as the Lord leads them to their new home, we believe it is natural and fitting that we should utilize this key piece of property in ways that continue to serve the Kingdom of God.”

[Faith News Network]

Church Microphones Prohibited

Under a new FCC rule, anyone who uses a wireless microphone (or similar device) that operates in the 700 MHz Band must stop operating their wireless microphone (or similar device) no later than June 12, 2010.

All users of 700 MHz Band wireless microphones (and similar devices) - including theaters, churches, schools, conference centers, theme parks, and musicians - will need to retune or replace, if necessary, their equipment no later than June 12, 2010. Wireless Microphones that operate outside of the 700 MHz Band are not affected.

For more information, CLICK HERE for the FCC web site.

Church of God of Prophecy Reopens Communications Department

The Church of God of Prophecy International Offices announced the reopening of its Communications Department, a move intended to streamline and unite all divisions of its communications (print, media and online) into one centralized department.

As part of the restructuring, Shaun McKinley, was named director of communications, a position he will assume while continuing to serve as administrative liaison to the general overseer.

McKinley, a communications graduate of Montana State University, brings over a decade of experience to the department having worked in both the religious and nonprofit sectors in the areas of marketing and development.

DeWayne Hamby was also named publications coordinator and in August will assume the position of managing editor for the White Wing Messenger, the denomination’s magazine now in its 86th year of printing.

Hamby, a graduate of Lee University, recently returned to the International Offices after serving as assistant editor of Christian Retailing magazine for Strang Communications in Lake Mary, Fla.

As publications coordinator, Hamby will supervise the production and editing of the multiple versions of the denominations magazines, as well as the International Offices Art Department.

Kirk Rising was named media coordinator, overseeing the video production needs of the International Offices and providing assistance with the web design needs of the organization and its various ministries.

“We are excited to finally bring all of our communications efforts under one umbrella,” said McKinley. “In doing so, we are presented with greater opportunities for collaboration among our most creative minds and believe this will add greater impact to all of our communications efforts.

“This move will streamline all of our communications channels, from our printed magazine to our website, to our connections through social networking and blogging, so that what’s being communicated is consistent to our various audiences. It’s an exciting time in our world and we intend to use every resource available to communicate our message to the members and friends of the Church of God of Prophecy.”

[The Cleveland Daily Banner]

Salem Web Network Acquires GodTube.com, Tangle.com

The Salem Web Network has completed its acquisition of Christian video-sharing website GodTube.com and social networking site Tangle.com, according to a representative for the network.

The two new additions will add more weight to Salem’s already lengthy portfolio of faith and family-themed content sites, including Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, OnePlace.com and CrossDaily.com, among others.

“Both of these brands have pioneered new content and community interaction in the faith-based market and give Salem a strong presence in the rapidly growing web 2.0 video and social networking space,” commented Salem Web Network Senior Vice President Tom Perrault. “We are excited about adding these sites and combined audience to our network, and we have plans to aggressively grow both over the next several years.”

Salem’s announcement comes less than two months after GodTube.com officially reopened, having been gone since turning over to a new name and URL, Tangle.com, about a year ago.

With Tangle.com having developed into a social networking site over the past year, GodTube was able to be reborn – a move that makes sense considering the site’s fast growth in the first two years after its initial launch in 2007. GodTube.com reportedly reached 2.7 million users monthly before turning over to its new URL.

"There is a great amount of brand loyalty to GodTube.com from the visitors to the site,” said Trey Bowles, CEO of Big Jump Media, parent company of both GodTube.com and Tangle.com.

“And we plan to grow the site offering and continue to provide a place online for Christians to come find, view and share encouraging and inspirational content across the Internet," he added after GodTube.com’s resurrection.

Regarding Salem’s recent purchase of GodTube and Tangle, Rick Killingsworth, the network’s Executive Vice President of New Media, said the sites would fill a significant gap in the network’s content offerings – that is, professionally produce and user-generated videos.

“This acquisition gives us the leadership position overnight, while also opening up significant new multi-media advertising opportunities,” he commented.

Presently, GodTube.com and Tangle.com reach over 2 million visitors a month, with millions of page views, and maintains over 800,000 registered users. The sites provide a place for Christians to connect, watch and share videos, access the top singers in Christian music, read the Bible online through the Online Bible, and upload prayers to the Prayer Wall and network with friends.

[By Kevin P. Donovan|Christian Post Reporter]

Defending Christianity's Place in U.S. Against "Anti-Faith" Attacks

With America seeing huge attacks against the Christian faith, one congressman is not sitting idly by and allowing Christianity to be pushed out of the public square.

"Over the last several decades we have seen this constant erosion of just an access to the marketplace of ideas," Virginia Congressman Randy Forbes said on Friday's Family Talk radio broadcast.

"We don't want to dominate the marketplace," he noted. "We don't want to control it. We just want to have faith and religion having a seat at the table."

Forbes is the founder and chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and active in defending the place of faith in American society.

Recently in May, Forbes and some 30 other congressmen defended a National Day of Prayer event held at the Cannon House building when protesters tried to block it from taking place.

Last month, he also introduced a bipartisan resolution reaffirming "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States.

"I think overwhelmingly people across America would say 'in God we still trust,'" he told Dr. James Dobson on the conservative radio show. "I think it's the time for us to have that kind of legislation."

Before Forbes was featured on Friday's broadcast, Dobson noted to listeners that the newly launched Family Talk is not being turned into a ministry that has "a political or public policy bent." But he stressed the significance of still addressing such issues and was unapologetic about doing so with passion.

"That's who we are and might as well state that up front," said Dobson, who started Family Talk with his son after leaving the prominent Focus on the Family ministry in February.

"This is the one reason that I didn't want to retire when I left Focus on the Family," the 74-year-old conservative evangelical leader stated. "The country is in a great deal of trouble and I just felt like we needed to do something about it."

Like many like-minded Christians, Dobson feels there is a growing attack against Christianity and efforts to eliminate all references to the Christian faith.

Expressing the same level of concern, Forbes said "anti-faith" groups around the country are amassing huge sums of money and focusing their resources on one particular situation or lawsuit so that they can get a precedent.

But through the Congressional Prayer Caucus, Forbes and his fellow congressmen have had some success in dealing with the attacks.

After some 60 congressmen wrote a letter last year to a judge who initiated criminal contempt proceedings against two high school officials in Florida's Santa Rosa County School District for praying during a luncheon, the case was dismissed.

"We have to make sure that these individuals who are making these decisions know that it's not just the anti-faith groups that are looking at what they're doing, but it's people of faith as well," Forbes said.

A number of states have begun to form prayer caucuses, including Mississippi and Virginia. Part of the purpose of prayer caucuses is to monitor legislation, agency rulings and court opinions that deny religious freedoms and access to the marketplace of ideas for people of faith, he said.

Forbes hopes to see prayer caucuses in every state "because it would be the first time that we have been able to integrate all of these policymakers across the country so that they can know what's going on and we can have policies that effectively deal with some of these attacks before it's too late."

While "anti-faith" groups are becoming increasingly vocal, Forbes encouraged Christians to be courageous and let decision makers and others know that "there is not just a single voice – that being the anti-faith voice – but there are people of faith that are standing up as well."

[from The Christian Post RSS Feed by Nathan Black]

The Four Most Difficult Decisions for a Rural Pastor

In his new book, Transforming Church in Rural America, Shannon O'Dell share his heart and passion for small-town America's thousands of churches, and the pastors who lead them. Shannon shares a powerful vision of relevance, possibility, and excellence for small churches across the country, and it's a great read if you find yourself pastoring a small church in a tiny community.In the book, Shannon lists what he thinks are the Four Most Difficult Decisions for a Rural Pastor:

1. To Pastor in Rural America... with low incomes, low resources, and low expectations.

2. To reach the lost and unchurched. Most people say they want to reach the lost... until they do and then the church starts changing.

3. To equip the church with accurate and healthy structure... change bylaws, constitutions, and church policy as necessary.

4. To remove "Holy Cows" to be more effective... such as pews, property, and people.

I've served in my share of small, rural churches. I think Shannon is right on. Many small churches are stuck. Many are stuck in a structure that is literally a hundred years old. Many small churches say they want to reach the lost, but when people start coming to Christ and the status quo of the church changes, all of a sudden they're not quite as excited about it.

If you serve in a rural church, I really think this book will help you. And, New Leaf Press has agreed to give one in every ten people who comment on this post a FREE copy of Shannon's book. All you need to do is go here!

If you're the pastor of a rural church, what do you think is the HARDEST part of the job?

[from MMI Weblog]

Eight Qualities of a Minister

1. Able to teach systematically
2. Eloquence
3. A good voice
4. A good memory
5. Knows how to make an end
6. Sure of his doctrine
7. Willing to venture body and blood, wealth and honor in the work
8. Suffers himself to be mocked and jeered by everyone

[Martin Luther]

Things I Would Do Different as a Pastor

(Thom Rainer is the President of Lifeway Christian Resources, and was a pastor for many years. In a recent article, he shared the seven things he wished he would have done differently in ministry. Wise words:)

1. I would spend more time in the Word and in prayer. I would follow the biblical pattern of the church leaders in Acts 6:4: "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry."

2. I would give my family more time. No one remembers the church committee meetings I missed. My family still remembers those times I was too busy for them.

3. I would spend more time sharing my faith. Paul told the young pastor Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5). Those words apply to all pastors today.

4. I would love the community where I lived more. I would try to live more incarnationally. I would prayerfully seek to see how I could serve the community rather than see it as a population pool of prospects for my church.

5. I would lead the church to focus more on the nations. I would lead in helping our church grasp that missions is more than just an annual offering.

6. I would focus on critics less. Most church members have no idea how many criticisms and "suggestions" a pastor gets each week. It can be overwhelming and distracting. Though I would be willing to listen, I would not obsess about every negative comment that was made about me.

7. I would accept the reality that I can't be omnipresent. So many people and groups want the presence of the pastor. Saying "no" can be difficult, but it can free the pastor to focus on some of the priorities noted above.

[from MMI Weblog]

Have You Earned the Right to Lead?

What gives a man or woman the right to lead? It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either.

No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.

The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go.

As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:

Let go of your ego. The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."

Become a good follower first. Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.

Build positive relationships. Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.

Work with excellence. No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.

Rely on discipline, not emotion. Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.

Make adding value your goal. When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.

Give your power away. One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.

[from "The Right to Lead," by John Maxwell]