Christmas Week, 2009

Christmas Week, 2009 - Washington, DC

The staff of the Religious Freedom Coalition wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

The real Christmas story / House and Senate adjourned / Senator's message to our troops / Congressman says America is Judeo-Christian nation / Christmas with a Capital C / Teen convert allowed Christmas cards / More Christians killed by Islamists in Iraq this week / Christmas for Iraqi refugees / RFC gift to Christians in Israel

THE KING

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:1-20 (King James Version)

THE HOUSE AND SENATE

HOUSE AND SENATE ADJOURNED The House adjourned on Wednesday, December 16th. In the 24 hours before adjourning, the House authorized hundreds of billions of dollars in several spending bills, most of them unread by the members. The Senate was still in session on Christmas Eve, as Democrats worked to reduce Medicare benefits and effectively take over the operation of medical insurance companies. The House and Senate are set to reconvene on January 6, 2010.

SENATOR'S CHRISTMAS THANK YOU TO TROOPS - Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) sent a video Christmas message to our troops overseas just before Christmas. View his message here.

A JUDEO-CHRISTIAN NATION - As a part of your Christmas celebration you may want to watch and listen to Congressman Randy Forbes as he describes the Judeo-Christian heritage of our nation. See Video

RELIGION AND CULTURE

TEEN CONVERT ALLOWED CHRISTMAS CARDS - Despite a legal filing by her Muslim parents a court has allowed a teenage girl who converted to Islam to receive Christmas cards. The fact that Rifqa Bary's parents have tried to stop her from having contact with Christians shows they lied in a Florida court as they sought to have her returned to Ohio. Currently under supervision by an Ohio Court, she may soon be declared independent and allowed to move back to Florida. Read more

CHRISTMAS WITH CAPITOL C - Comedian Brad Stine and the music group Go Fish have had over fifteen million views of their "Christmas with a Capitol C" video that takes on political correctness. Great to watch with the kids and grand-kids. View at Youtube.

NEW DECEMBER CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new December 9, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue centers on the Jihad attack at Ft. Hood and the political correctness in the Army that caused it. New material on our Congress and the White House plus attacks on religious freedom in the Middle East. Click here to review.

INTERNATIONAL

CHRISTMAS IN IRAQ? - As the remaining Christian population of Iraq prepares to celebrate the Lord's birth, radical Islamists have threatened to bomb several churches on Christmas Day. A New York Times article this week tells how Christians in Iraq are preparing to celebrate quietly. Police guards have been stationed at many churches that have received threats, or that have been bombed in the past. Christians have for the most part canceled the kind of public displays and celebrations they would have had in the past. Even simple things like attending a church service, or putting up a Christmas tree and decorations, are acts that require real courage. NEW: More Christians killed on Wednesday.

IRAQI CHRISTIAN REFUGEE VIDEO- Thousands of people have viewed the video on the persecution of Iraqi Christians that is streaming from the Religious Freedom Coalition Internet site. Click here to view the 20 minute video prepared by the Chaldean Church. More information is available at www.christianrefugees.blogspot.com

IRAQI REFUGEE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM - Our outreach to Iraqi Christian refugees in Jordan continues. This year the Religious Freedom Coalition was able to transfer tens of thousands of dollars of medical supplies to Jordan, as well as to buy food and clothing for Iraqi Christian refugees. Christian families in need.

SPECIAL REQUEST: Please ask your Sunday School class to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer as refugees from Islamic terror in the Middle East.

CHRISTMAS IN ISRAEL - Nearly two years ago the home of the Ortiz family was bombed in Ariel, Israel and their teenage son Ami was severely injured and hospitalized for months. An arrest was finally made last month. There is a recent video of the case at CBN. The Religious Freedom Coalition has been raising funds for the Ortiz family who are Messianic Jews. Read more on the bombing.

VISIT OUR INTERNET STORE

OUR INTERNET STORE - We have lots of great Christian themed products at our Internet store. Not only are there books and CD's, but everything from candy to jewelry. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. Please take a look. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com.
Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.

email: support@rfcnet.org

phone: 202.742.8990

web: http://www.rfcnet.org

William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition, PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 742.8990 This publication is a service of the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC). Links to political and other sites are for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement. No statement is intended to assist or defeat any candidate running for public office. Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2007