In a democratic society, all citizens are expected to play a role in the formation of public policy. While Christians are called to respect and obey the government, they may also point out areas where the government should act for the good of all. Our calling as Christian citizens obligates us to work for the good of our neighbors in the public arena as much as in our private lives.

While Christians should not expect the government to do the work of the church, Christian citizens can, and should, ask the government to promote the human right to religious freedom (as recognized in Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights), in its laws and in its dealings with other nations.

· Spontaneous constituent mail.
· Phone calls from constituents.
· Articles in majority daily papers.
· Visits from constituents.

(c)1996 Prison Fellowship
September 9, 1996 - No. 60909

                       The Church Under Siege
                          Persecution Sunday

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Not long ago in Sudan a mother sent her nine-year-old son, Peter,
to the market to buy tomatoes. 

     But Peter never made it. Police officers of the Muslim government
grabbed Peter, threw him into a truck, and drove him to a concentration
camp for children. There camp officials beat the little boy brutally until
he renounced Christ and converted to Islam.

     Peter's story is just one of millions about Christians who were
persecuted last year for their faith in Christ.

     The list of afflictions they suffer reads like an alphabet soup of
cruelty: amputation, bombing, crucifixion, displacement, flogging,
kidnapping, murder, prison, rape, slavery, and torture. The sheer
dimensions of the problem are mind-boggling.  More Christians have been
martyred for their faith in this century alone than in the previous 19
centuries combined. 

     A human rights group called Freedom House documents abuses against
believers in a white paper called "In the Lion's Den." 

     For example, in Saudi Arabia, since the Gulf War, police have
arrested and abused hundreds of Christians -- believers whose only crime
was engaging in religious activities. 

     In Pakistan, Christians have been driven from their villages by
Muslim mobs, their possessions looted, their homes and churches destroyed.
In Vietnam, Christians are subject to arrest, threats, and confiscation of
their homes. 

     In North Korea, Christians are forced to meet secretly in private
homes, and they have no access to Bibles or religious materials. In the
Sudan, Christians are bought and sold in open-air slave markets. In China,
up to 100 million Christians risk their lives daily by defying government
orders banning free worship. In Egypt, Islamic converts to Christianity
are arrested, tortured, and murdered. 

     The list goes on and on. 

     In response to this staggering increase in persecution, believers
around the world are observing the first International Day of Prayer for
the Persecuted Church on Sunday, September 29. The event is being
coordinated by World Evangelical Fellowship, and Christians in more than
95 countries will take part. 

     Dwight Gibson of World Evangelical Fellowship says the purpose of
Persecution Sunday is to set aside a day to "ask divine guidance and
request political intervention on behalf of those facing religious
persecution." 

     Christians are bought and sold in open-air slave markets. 

     Our suffering brethren in faraway lands will never forget our
prayers and our public expressions of concern for them. The Soviet
dissident and poet Irena Ratushinskaya spent seven years imprisoned in the
former Soviet Union's notorious Gulag. She told me that she endured
deprivation and all kinds of abuse because she knew that people around the
world were praying for her. 

     I wonder what God would do if all His people were on their knees
begging for mercy for their persecuted brethren on one day. And who knows
what impact we can have on our government officials, who have done so
little to help the persecuted church overseas? 

     At the very least, we'll be letting the church worldwide know that
American Christians are not a self-indulgent, uncaring people. 

     That we really do care about our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

(c)1996 Prison Fellowship
September 19, 1995 - No. 50919

                             Doubting Darwin
                             The Real Debate

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     For an eight-year-old boy, it was a startling comment: "Mama," he
said, "sometimes I wonder what we're here for."

     Does life have a purpose? Is there meaning to existence? These are
among the most significant questions human beings face over their
lifetime-questions that often drive us to God for answers.

     But today many scientists urge us to turn to science instead. Science
is not just about forecasting the weather or mapping our genes, we're
told. It's also the basis for an entire worldview -- a naturalistic 
worldview that tells us there is no ultimate purpose or meaning to life. 

     Biology professor William Provine is an evangelist for the
naturalistic worldview. Provine travels to college campuses giving a
lecture entitled "The Unfinished Darwinian Revolution." His message is
that Darwinism is not just about biology, it also entails a philosophy of
life: Darwinism implies that the appearance of life on the earth can be
explained by natural causes alone -- that the history of the universe is a
product of random events and impersonal natural laws.

     In a word, Darwinism entails the philosophy of naturalism. The upshot
is that there is no God and therefore no ultimate purpose in life. As
Provine puts it, evolution operates by mindless, mechanistic principles:
It is "a totally purposeless, uncaring process." 

     But if you ask about the evidence for the Darwinist worldview, it is
surprisingly meager. For example, in a New York Times article, Jonathan
Weiner claims he saw evolution in progress in the Galapagos Islands, home
of Darwin's famous finches. Weiner observed that the finches' beaks grew
larger in dry seasons, when the seeds they eat are tough and hard; but
after a rainy season, when tiny seeds became available once more, the
finches' beaks grew smaller again.

     I witnessed evolution in action, Weiner writes. 

     But what he really witnessed was the exact opposite of evolution. As
Phillip Johnson explains in his new book "Reason in the Balance," a change
in beak size is a minor adaptation that allows the finches to adapt and
survive: In other words, it allows them to stay finches. It does not prove
that they're capable of evolving into a different species of bird; and it
certainly does not prove that finches evolved from some other organism in
the first place.

     Darwinism is not even good science. 

     When Darwinists claim that evolution is an observed fact, invariably
they're referring to minor adaptations like the finch beaks. And on this
flimsy basis they urge us to abandon belief in a Creator and take a leap
of faith to a grand metaphysical story called naturalism. They insist that
we accept a grim vision of a universe with no ultimate meaning or purpose.

     If Darwinism were true scientifically, then we'd all have to accept
its dark implications. But Darwinism is not even good science. You and I
need to fight the hold it has on our culture, not only in the science
classroom but in every area of life. 

     Otherwise our children may come to believe their own lives are
nothing but a cosmic accident. 

From the 1/02/98, Freedom Under Fire, "Taking Another Shot at Life":

The pro-life cause is an easy target practice: President
Clinton fired off a shot when he vetoed the partial-birth
abortion ban. In 1992, the Supreme Court squeezed the
trigger with its pro-abortion ruling in Casey. And in a
recent case, the Florida Supreme Court took a shot at life.
But when a pregnant teenager joined in the shoot-out, the
fight for life dodged the bullet of a new assault on innocent
life.

A desperate 19-year-old girl was pregnant with an
unwanted child. And since Medicaid didn't pay for an
abortion, she decided to shot the baby So Kawana
Ashley placed a pillow on her stomach and fired away.
The gunshot didn't kill the baby girl, it only injured her
wrist. But the bullet wound forced a premature C-section
delivery, and the infant died two weeks later. Prosecutors
charged the mother with third-degree murder and
manslaughter. But the case never went to trial. 

Late last year, the Florida Supreme Court struck down
both charges: ruling that while a mother can be charged for
hurting someone else's baby, she can't be charged for
hurting her own fetus. Had the baby girl been allowed to
live, she would have celebrated her fourth birthday in
March.

But the point is, 25 years ago, Roe v. Wade pointed a
loaded gun at the sanctity of human life. Unfortunately,
cases like this one are inevitable in modern society that
condones abortions by the millions. Unless we become
more involved in this important issue and reach out to
pregnant girls, we can only expect more cases like this. If
you would like some free information on what you can do
to help protect the unborn, call our toll-free number
because Freedom is Under Fire. WC: 296



(1/8/98) Left for Dead at Disney World, in a case of
Freedom Under Fire.

Amusement parks are the stuff family memories are made
of. And who wants to slow their nonstop thrills as they
hurry into the rest room? But on Nov. 8, an unsuspecting
tourist found a live newborn baby floating in a women's
lavatory at Walt Disney World. Obviously left for dead,
the victim had miraculously survived its unusual birth when
an innocent pleasure-seeker arrived on the scene.

When E.M.T.'s responded from nearby Arnold Palmer
Hospital, they found the infant to be a full-term,
seven-pound girl. Within two hours, the baby's body
temperature and pulse had increased, and her vital signs
were good. A spokesperson for the hospital also said,
"She was very cute." Sadly, no one came forward to claim
the child. And within minutes of the discovery, it was
business as usual at Disney World. 

In all likelihood, the baby's birth mother probably resumed
her ride on the rollercoaster we Americans call
amusement. Apparently, having to be responsible for a
newborn baby wasn't part of her entertainment package.

The point is, whether it's the marketers at Disney World
or a scared unwed teen, our culture panders to the pursuit
of human pleasure. While many Christians are appalled at
the news of a baby born in a toilet, we rationalize that "it's
not our problem." The truth is, nine months earlier, we
should have offered trust and compassion to that child's
mother before her attempt at manslaughter in the magic
kingdom. If you and your church really want to reach out
to the lost culture, then call our toll-free number for free
Christ-like tools, because freedom is under fire. WC: 272



(1/22/98) A time to kill, in a case of Freedom Under Fire.

On January 22, 1973, our nation opened the door to
disaster. Twenty-five years ago, all unborn children lost
their humanity and became a commodity when Roe Vs.
Wade determined that a choice is more important than a
child. 

Those who valued life mourned this decision that would
change the world. They feared that this was only the
beginning of careless and casual destruction of innocent
lives. But could anyone have guessed that it would
progress this far in a country founded on Judeo-Christian
beliefs? And now the time to kill has arrived - these days
less than perfect newborns are also considered
disposable. 

Remember the story of Baby Doe, a boy born in Indiana
with Down's Syndrome? He was denied routine surgery
that would have saved his life. Why? His parents decided
a boy with a handicap did not deserve treatment. Rejected
and left to starve, Baby Doe died a week after his
birthday. 

And the inhumanity doesn't end with abortion and
infanticide. Screaming threats of euthanasia pound in our
ears and make us wonder "who will be next?" Will the
lawmakers eventually decide who can live and who
cannot?

The point is, God gives life and takes it away. All human
beings have a right to live - a right that is sacred and given
by their Creator. And God will work through you in
stopping the culture of death in the U.S. Do you want to
get more involved? Then call our toll free number for
strategies on fighting abortion, because Freedom is Under
Fire. WC: 256

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of its more than 300,000 members and adult smokers in California, the National Smokers Alliance continues to oppose the California
smoking ban and is working with California businesses and
individuals to urge repeal of the ban.
This "Prohibition Update" is part of a series, designed to
inform interested parties about the impact of and reaction to the law on a statewide basis. These news briefs are documented from published and private sources and more detail can be provided upon request.

Comedian Drew Carey Hosts Los Angeles Smoke-In West Hollywood, March 31 -- "Enjoy a little civil disobedience before lunch," read the flyers distributed to announce a smoke-in hosted by comedian Drew Carey. Carey, along with author Jacob Sullum and Reason magazine, organized a Los Angeles based smoke-in to protest California's new smoking ban in bars, taverns and gaming clubs.
According to an April 1 article in the Daily News of Los Angeles, "Carey was joined by at least a dozen other protesters smoking cigars and cigarettes," at Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood.
Carey, a nonsmoker, told the crowd why he is opposed to the
smoking ban in bars: "I don't think there should be a total ban. It should be up to each bar owner and patron to decide if they want to smoke or not."
On April 1, USA Today reported that the smoke-in was Carey's
first experience at protesting. USA Today also said that the action was prompted because Carey, a non-smoker, wanted to
"protest this insane, unreasonable law."
The smoke-in was also used to promote Jacob Sullum's book, For
Your Own Good: The Anti-Smoking Crusade and the Tyranny of Public Health, due in stores April 8.
Smoking Ban Produces Four More Casualties Simi Valley, April 6 -- Mixer's Bar in Simi Valley this week joined the growing list of businesses crippled by California's ban on smoking in bars. After enduring heavy losses for nearly three months, owner Sam Rafeh had to cut overhead by laying off four employees.
Carl Butler, one of Mixer's former employees, commented on the
effects of the ban: "We used to have over three hundred people on Friday and Saturday nights before the ban. Now we are lucky to get forty customers on those nights."
Rafeh agreed: "We have gone from $4,000 in sales to about
$1,200 a night on weekends, a 70% drop in sales. On the whole, our revenues are down 40-50% since the ban took effect."
Mystified by the conflicting intent and reality of the
no-smoking law, Rafeh stated: "They want to protect the employees but 90% of them smoke. This law is costing them their jobs. What kind of protection is that?"
A very frustrated Craig Butler proclaimed: "After all these
years as a bartender I can protect myself. I just want my job back!"
Marina Bar Employees and Patrons Hassled by Police Marina, April 6 -- The Marina Police Department went on a city wide bar raid last month, citing bar owners, bartenders and customers found in violation of the statewide smoking ban. Since the law went into effect on January 1, several law enforcement agencies have reportedly spent considerable time and taxpayer resources looking for violators of the law.
Pam Chapman, a bartender at the Gold Rush, was one of several
cited in Madera. Chapman, like most bar owners and employees, believes that it is not her job to enforce the law.
"My understanding of the law is that we are only obligated to
post signs and inform clientele that it is illegal to smoke," said Chapman. "I am not going to forcibly remove a cigarette, or anything for that  matter, from any of my customers."
Chapman, along with several other employees, owners and patrons, must appear in court on April 14 to respond to the charges. Chapman is confident that the judge will find she fulfilled her
requirements under the law.
"I've been warning customers about this crazy law since January," continued Chapman. "What really frustrates me is the fact that this whole thing is not about smoking, but about control. How far will  California government go to control the action?"
Former Bar Patrons and Employees Must Look for 'Someplace
Else' Madera, April 6 -- Former patrons and employees of Someplace Else Again bar in Madera are looking for just that, "someplace else." Since January 1, because the establishment began complying with California's statewide smoking ban, patrons have avoided the Madera establishment, opting to go where they can smoke. Owner, Mike Tabor claims he will be forced out of business by the end of the month as a direct result of the ban.
"We just can't make ends meet," explained Tabor. "Our revenues
have been devastated. We're lucky if we pull in sixty dollars a night. People don't want to come to a bar where they can't smoke."
Along with its dwindling clientele, the Someplace Else Again
will be saying good-bye to its five employees when it closes its doors for the last time.
"I think it's important that people hear stories like mine,"
continued Tabor. "This ban is killing people's livelihoods. Those who supported and implemented the ban said that wouldn't have any
serious effect on my business. My doors are closing and five
people are out of work. I'd call that a serious effect."

         Source: National Smokers Alliance
         Contact: Sharon Hawkins or Brandon Castillo for National
Smokers Alliance, 916-341-1000; or the National
         Smokers Alliance, 703-739-1324
         © 1997, PR Newswire