CBN Blogs

The CPAC Results: What Lurks Beneath

David Brody — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:58:22 GMT

Mitt Romney won the much anticipated CPAC Straw Poll Saturday afternoon but after attending CPAC this weekend you get the distinct sense that there is something else brewing among conservatives.

While Romney can breathe a sigh of relief because of his big straw poll win Rick Santorum is right on his heels and that’s not a good thing for the Romney campaign. Here’s why: Romney’s message is beginning to seem flat and repetitive. It’s jobs and the economy, jobs and the economy, jobs and the economy. I’m Mr. Fix it. I’m Mr. Fix it. I’m Mr. Fix it. I can beat Obama. I can beat Obama. I can beat Obama. Romney has so much more to offer but playing it too close to the vest (not sweater vest) is dangerous politically.

Santorum’s message has taken longer to resonate but it has a greater potential for a wider bandwidth. His lunch bucket message to the heartland of the country is that we're fighting for the soul of America and that the United States is a “moral enterprise.” In other words, while Romney’s message comes across as something important (jobs) Santorum’s goal comes across as something loftier, more sweeping. That’s not to say that Romney doesn’t believe in the same America Santorum believes in but Santorum’s ability to capture the essence of America has the real potential to really catch fire with conservatives while Romney’s message has probably reached a plateau.

The point here is that while Romney’s CPAC win is good news for him, Santorum lurks beneath with a higher ceiling than Romney. That’s the danger. The minute voters start REALLY buying the fact that Santorum is actually electable then that will change everything. Santorum’s second place finish shows that it’s starting to happen but will he run out of time and will he run into too much of the Romney machine?

Syrian Christians Under Seige?

Gary Lane — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:29 GMT

CBN News is has received several reports that Christians are among the dead in the Syrian city of Homs.

Homs is now a war zone, with many people reportedly killed and homes and businesses destroyed during the Syrian Army's onslaught against opposition fighters and others there.

One Christian sent us an unconfirmed report that 200 Christians have been murdered in Homs, including women and children.

Here's some more of the email we received:

"These Islamic gangs also kidnapped Chirstians demanding high ransoms. In two cases, after the ransoms were paid, the men's bodies were found. Christians are being forced to flee the city to the safety of government controlled areas. Muslim rebel fighters and their families are taking over their homes. We need prayers and we need them urgently. Please pass on this urgent plea to other churches and believers for their prayers."

A Voiceof the Martyrs contact in Homs said the email is not accurate. Another contact from Homs said he hadn't heard about this.

So, again--we cannot confirm this email report.

What we can confirm is that Homs is a war zone. Many people in the city are dead because of heavy fighting between government troops and rebels.

VOM has received a story about a Christian family that was driving in their car when Muslims shot at them. The car crashed and the mother of the family was killed. The rest of the family has been hospitalized.

According to VOM, an evangelist from Homs has recently started a new house church because "people want to know about Jesus." Apparently evangelists are requesting help to provide New Testaments and MP3 players which are in short supply in Syria.

VOM country contacts say residents of Homs are starting to fight each other for food and fuel because the city is running out of both.

Please keep praying for our Syrian brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those in Homs. They are in great need of material and spiritual provision and protection during this civil war crisis.

Like most people in the midst of a crisis, many Syrians are now seeking God. Let's pray they find Him.

Obama's Birth Control Rule

CBN News — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:40:11 GMT

After growing pressure from both sides of the political aisle and religious leaders across the country, President Obama announced what he calls a solution to constitutional concerns surrounding his birth control mandate.

The controversy ignited on Jan. 20. That's when Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a new regulatory rule that requires religious institutions like Catholic hospitals, charities, and univeristies to provide insurance coverage of contraceptives despite church teachings against the use of contraceptives.

President Obama said that often non-Catholics work at Catholic institutions. These are employees who have no moral objection to the use of contraceptives - employees who would appreciate insurance coverage of birth control pills. Those people, he said, deserve access to free contraceptives.

However, the president said he also wanted to find a way around concerns about religious liberty.

He announced his solution Friday morning. It allows religious institutions to sign contracts with insurance providers that explicitly state contraceptives aren't covered. However, men and women who work for those institutions can go directly to their insurance company to receive free contraceptives.

Since preventing unplanned pregnancies saves insurance companies money, senior White House officials say free contraception is cost neutral.

Here are the president's full remarks followed by some reaction. This controversy is far from over.Equitable solution that protects religious liberty and ensures that every woman has access to the care that she needs.

President Barack Obama

Hello, everybody. (Laughter.) I was actually going to say good morning. But I guess it's afternoon by now.

As part of the health care reform law that I signed last year, all insurance plans are required to cover preventive care at no cost. That means free check-ups, free mammograms, immunizations and other basic services. We fought for this because it saves lives and it saves money -- for families, for businesses, for government, for everybody. That's because it's a lot cheaper to prevent an illness than to treat one.

We also accepted a recommendation from the experts at the Institute of Medicine that when it comes to women, preventive care should include coverage of contraceptive services such as birth control. In addition to family planning, doctors often prescribe contraception as a way to reduce the risks of ovarian and other cancers, and treat a variety of different ailments. And we know that the overall cost of health care is lower when women have access to contraceptive services.

Nearly 99 percent of all women have relied on contraception at some point in their lives -- 99 percent. And yet, more than half of all women between the ages of 18 and 34 have struggled to afford it. So for all these reasons, we decided to follow the judgment of the nation's leading medical experts and make sure that free preventive care includes access to free contraceptive care.

Whether you're a teacher, or a small businesswoman, or a nurse, or a janitor, no woman's health should depend on who she is or where she works or how much money she makes. Every woman should be in control of the decisions that affect her own health. Period. This basic principle is already the law in 28 states across the country.

Now, as we move to implement this rule, however, we've been mindful that there's another principle at stake here -- and that's the principle of religious liberty, an inalienable right that is enshrined in our Constitution. As a citizen and as a Christian, I cherish this right.

In fact, my first job in Chicago was working with Catholic parishes in poor neighborhoods, and my salary was funded by a grant from an arm of the Catholic Church. And I saw that local churches often did more good for a community than a government program ever could, so I know how important the work that faith-based organizations do and how much impact they can have in their communities.

I also know that some religious institutions -- particularly those affiliated with the Catholic Church -- have a religious objection to directly providing insurance that covers contraceptive services for their employees. And that's why we originally exempted all churches from this requirement -- an exemption, by the way, that eight states didn't already have.

And that's why, from the very beginning of this process, I spoke directly to various Catholic officials, and I promised that before finalizing the rule as it applied to them, we would spend the next year working with institutions like Catholic hospitals and Catholic universities to find an

Now, after the many genuine concerns that have been raised over the last few weeks, as well as, frankly, the more cynical desire on the part of some to make this into a political football, it became clear that spending months hammering out a solution was not going to be an option, that we needed to move this faster. So last week, I directed the Department of Health and Human Services to speed up the process that had already been envisioned. We weren't going to spend a year doing this; we're going to spend a week or two doing this.

Today, we've reached a decision on how to move forward. Under the rule, women will still have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive services -- no matter where they work. So that core principle remains. But if a woman's employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraceptive services as part of their health plan, the insurance company -- not the hospital, not the charity -- will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge, without co-pays and without hassles.

The result will be that religious organizations won't have to pay for these services, and no religious institution will have to provide these services directly. Let me repeat: These employers will not have to pay for, or provide, contraceptive services. But women who work at these institutions will have access to free contraceptive services, just like other women, and they'll no longer have to pay hundreds of dollars a year that could go towards paying the rent or buying groceries.

Now, I've been confident from the start that we could work out a sensible approach here, just as I promised. I understand some folks in Washington may want to treat this as another political wedge issue, but it shouldn't be. I certainly never saw it that way. This is an issue where people of goodwill on both sides of the debate have been sorting through some very complicated questions to find a solution that works for everyone. With today's announcement, we've done that. Religious liberty will be protected, and a law that requires free preventive care will not discriminate against women.

We live in a pluralistic society where we're not going to agree on every single issue, or share every belief. That doesn't mean that we have to choose between individual liberty and basic fairness for all Americans. We are unique among nations for having been founded upon both these principles, and our obligation as citizens is to carry them forward. I have complete faith that we can do that.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Spokesman for Spkr. John Boehner/(R) Ohio

"The Catholic Church and others in our nation's religious community are not yet convinced the President's mandate doesn't constitute an attack on religious freedom, which has been a fundamental American right for more than 200 years. It's clear that these organizations were not included in developing the so-called compromise offered today. The President should take up the Bishops' offer to find a resolution that respects all Americans' Constitutional rights. In the meantime, the House of Representatives, led by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will continue to work toward a legislative solution that achieves that same goal."

James Salt, Executive Director, Catholics United

"Catholics United has been calling on both sides of this heated debate to work towards today's win-win solution. President Obama has shown us that he is willing to rise above the partisan fray to deliver an actual policy solution that both meets the health care needs of all employees and respects the religious liberty of Catholic institutions."

Matt Smith/President, Catholic Advocate:

“Our religious liberties are an inalienable right not a privilege that can be changed on a whim. Our faith-based institutions should not be forced by this administration or any in the future to violate their beliefs."

E.J. Dionne Jr./Opinion Columnist

"President Obama did today what he should have done at the very beginning: He honored the fact that religious groups, including the Catholic Church, had legitimate religious liberty claims in the battle over a contraception mandate under the new health care law. And he did so while still holding to his commitment to expanding contraception coverage as broadly as possible."

Recognizing Autism

Lorie Johnson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:23:48 GMT

A report from the Centers for Disease Control suggests autism is more common than previously thought. More children were diagnosed with autism this past year than with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined. It affects boys significantly more than girls, about three to four times more. Parents are sometimes confused about what autism is, and how to recognize it.

Autism is a brain dysfunction that appears in the first few years of life. It's a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. But how these abnormalities surface in young minds remains a mystery. A great deal of public and private resources are currently devoted to finding a cause to this terrible disease, as well as an effective treatment.

Many children who develop autism have no symptoms whatsoever until age 2 or 3. In fact, some children develop normally and actually regress in their behavior and language. If you notice your child has lost any language skills at any age, have him or her examined by a doctor who specializes in diagnosing autism.

Parents should be aware of certain milestones that their child should be marking, and if are not doing so, should be seen by a doctor who specializes in diagnosing autism. These milestones are:

• Babbling by 12 months
• Gesturing (pointing, waving bye-bye) by 12 months
• Saying single words by 16 months
• Saying two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months (not just echoing)

Parents with children who are, or might be, autistic suffer greatly and need all the help they can get. Thank God there are a number of wonderful resources where parents can get all the information and emotional support they need.

One of those resources is the website, Autisable.com which is part of the Xanga.com Network of blogging community sites. The Xanga Network reaches over 4 million people globally each month. Autisable's Twitter account is ranked 7th on Klout in terms of influence about the topic of Autism and ranks even higher for those with Aspergers.

Autisable.com connects to at least 20 other resources. This website gives families facing autism strength by reinforcing the fact that they are not alone. There are millions of families dealing with Autism and the bond they form with one another through sharing is truly an answered prayer.

Currently there is no known cause of autism. Researchers now say it is probably the result of a combination of factors. Genetic factors seem to be important, but those are not specific enough to predict autism at this point.

Muslim Brotherhood's Spiritual Leader Tells Hamas: "Victory is Near"

Erick Stakelbeck — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:37:37 GMT

Regular readers of this blog know all too well the Islamist exploits of Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the international Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader and top strategist. As I reported recently on CBN News (click on the viewer below to watch), Qaradawi believes the day of a new Islamic Caliphate is dawning, thanks to the so-called Arab Spring. He made this view abundantly clear recently in a meeting with leaders of the Brotherhood's Palestinian branch, Hamas. here's more, from IPT News:

A Hamas delegation headed by the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Gaza met Yusuf al Qaradawi, the highly influential Muslim Brotherhood theologian, in Qatar Saturday. In the love fest which followed, as reported on Qaradawi's website, "His Eminence also gave the people of Gaza and Palestine the good news that victory is near and at the door."

Along with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the delegation included Yehya Al-Sinwar, a top security strategist, and his deputy Rawhi Mushtaha, recently released from long terms in Israeli prison as part of the prisoner swap. They invited Qaradawi to visit Gaza, where he could broadcast over Hamas's media outlet, al Aqsa TV. They also prayed that God would extend the Sheikh's life to allow him to pray alongside them in Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque.

Read it all. And click on the viewer below to watch my report about Qaradawi: a man the Obama administration is reportedly using to "mediate" in secret U.S. negotiations with the Taliban.

Give Jesus Some Elbow Room

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:29:22 GMT

I had just finished my Soul Shepherding meetings with pastors and ministry leaders and I had a few hours before the "Thirst!" seminar I was leading that night. As I sat down at my desk I thought to myself, "I have too much to do: multiple talks to prepare, articles to write, ministry reports to complete, and an inbox full of e-mails to respond to."

Out of the blue a God-inspired thought came to me: "Step away. Take a walk -- a slow prayer walk with Jesus. Don't rush. Listen."

I remembered my morning devotional by Oswald Chambers (January 25th) and the question that God had impressed upon my heart, "Are you leaving elbow room for Jesus? Are you making space for the hand of God to move in your midst? Or are you just making your own plans and working hard to get your work done?"

I remembered how often Jesus left the crowds of people and set aside his work to pray. He delighted in his Abba. He listened. Then he ministered to the people in the Spirit.

No More Circles of Frenzy!

By this time I was walking toward the lake near our home... It was a sunny, breezy winter day and I was smiling as I held Jesus' hand. Suddenly, a gust of wind lifted some dried up leaves and blew them in circles of frenzy till they were scattered everywhere. Then I noticed a sea gull flying gracefully, carried by a gentle breeze and landing on the glass-like surface of the lake. I understood the Lord's message immediately.

When I dive into my work to get through my "To Do" list I am like those dead leaves blown anxiously in all sorts of directions by the wrong spirit. But when I give Jesus some elbow room next to me and I wait upon his leading and strength for my work then like the seagull I am lifted by his Spirit and set gently on the still waters.

I prayed over the people and projects related to my list. I submitted them to the Lord Jesus, accepting my limitations and rejoicing in his capacities. I knew what to work on first. More importantly, I was in the right Spirit to do the work.

You might like it if I told you that empowered by God I accomplished everything on my list. Actually, my story has a happier ending than that! God's peace came over me and I did an afternoon's work in the easy yoke of Jesus. The rest of my work could wait for another day.

Try an Experiment

Your "To Do" list may look quite different than mine, but I'm sure you have one and that sometimes it's a source of pressure or discouragement to you. Sometime, try an experiment. Give Jesus some extra elbow room; resist the impulse to get to work on your list and instead pause to pray. Then when he releases you to work look for His hand of grace to move as He assists you in the work.

More Soul Shepherding

“Six Unhurried Words.” Pray these words from the Bible to experience more of God’s peace.

You Can Live in Jesus' Easy Yoke is my book with inspiring stories, practical examples, and guided experiences to help you overcome stress by living for Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Soul Shepherding is for you and your ministry. SoulShepherding.org

You can sign up to receive our free Soul Shepherding Devotionals by e-mail.

Are you on Facebook? I invite you to be my friend and seek Christ’s face with me there and on Twitter .

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org

When You First Discover Infidelity

Beth Livingston — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:14:33 GMT

by Amy Allen
Guest Blogger
from "A Redeemed Marriage"
http://www.aredeemedmarriage.com/

When my husband's internet pornography addiction led to an affair, then acting out with prostitutes, I filed for divorce. But God used what seemed hopeless to bring us both into a real relationship with Jesus. He also redeemed our marriage. These are just some of the things I wish I had known or done when I first found out my husband was being unfaithful.

1. You didn’t cause your husband to act out in this way. There may be some things lacking on your part, there’s no such thing as the perfect wife, but at the end of the day – he chose to sin against God. (James 1:13-15)

2. Don’t take it personally. He didn’t do this just to hurt you or make you suffer or punish you for something you’re not doing – he’s just being selfish and seeking to please himself. Depending on how ensnared he is in the addiction, he may think he needs the pornography or the other woman or the prostitutes, but he doesn’t. He may tell you it’s your fault or take the blame upon himself. But either way, you have to get beyond your feelings and try not to wallow in self-pity – it only makes it harder to get to the root issue. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

3. You must hold him responsible for his own actions. Denial is huge – it seems like the easier way out, but relief is only temporary. Do not allow the behavior to continue, but seek to find out why it started in the first place. If necessary, separate from him physically for while, until he takes ownership of his actions. (Ephesians 4:15)

4. Affirm your love for him. Make sure he knows you love him and that you want to work through this together. Don’t threaten to leave or divorce him – that only makes him want to hide the whole truth from you. (Romans 12:9-12)

5. Don’t shame him. We all have secret sins that need to be dealt with. Thank God that He brought this into the light so you can work on it together. Let your husband confess his sins to you, take ownership of them and repent. (1 John 1:8-9)

6. Do not become bitter with unforgiveness. If your husband has asked for forgiveness, you must forgive him. This may not come immediately, but it must be dealt with quickly before bitterness, hatred or rage overtake you. Remember everything that God through Christ has forgiven you of. (Matthew 18:21-35)

7. Don’t try to retaliate or have an affair yourself to get him back. That will only make matters worse and give him a reason in his own mind to keep doing what he is doing. (Romans 12:17-21)

8. Get plugged into a women’s Bible study where you can study the truth of God’s word in-depth and apply it to your life. This is where you will gain your strength and the wisdom to move forward one step at a time. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

9. Pray for your husband. A great book to help you pray specifically for him is, “The Power of a Praying Wife” by Stormie O’Martian. This is one of the greatest things you can do to promote healing in your marriage. (James 5:16)

10. Ask God if you have been disrespecting your husband in any way. Ask your husband as well. His greatest need is to feel respected by his wife and if he doesn’t, he may start to act in ways that make him feel respected or in control. A great book that explains the different needs of men and women is “Love and Respect” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. (Ephesians 5:33)

Remember: you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength! ~ Philippians 4:13

Father, I pray for the person reading this, whether a wife or a husband who may have been betrayed by their spouse. Lord, only You know their individual circumstances. Please help them to know where to go from here, who to ask for Biblical counsel and how to find strength in Your Word. I pray, Lord, that You will give them Your eyes to see their spouse the way You do, that You will enable them to love with Your agape love and that there can be true forgiveness as You have called them to. For the spouse who was caught with this sin I pray for true repentance; that You will bring them to the end of themselves, and they will realize that only in You can they find true forgiveness and restoration. Help them to take responsibility for their own actions and to be able to see the hurt they have caused their spouse. Help them to not make excuses for their behavior, but instead use this to show them their need to depend on You for everything. I pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

About Author, Amy Allen: When my husband's internet pornography addiction led to an affair, then acting out with prostitutes, I filed for divorce. But God used what seemed hopeless to bring us both into a real relationship with Jesus. He also redeemed our marriage. You can watch our testimony on The 700 Club (www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx) or visit our website at http://www.aredeemedmarriage.com/. There truly is hope and healing for your marriage when you allow Jesus to redeem it! Tim and Amy Allen

Obama's Birth Control Battle

CBN News — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:34:11 GMT

***UPDATE: President Obama will make an announcement regarding the HHS rule today at 12:15pm. Stay tuned to CBNNews.com for the latest.***

The Obama Administration has stepped right into the middle of a political and moral mess it doesn't want or need right now. While President Obama is talking about helping responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages, his staff is answering questions about religious freedom.

It started when the administration, via the Department of Health, ruled that the part of the president's health care law that deals with preventative services should be interpreted to mean virtually all working women should have access to free birth control, the morning after pill, and sterilization (that includes men, too).

The department ruled all employers that offer health insurance plans, except churches and houses of worship, must cover the services. That includes Catholic hospitals, universities, and charities.

Certainly many Catholics break with church teachings and use birth control. That's not the point.& The point can be demonstrated using scene that plays out on playgrounds across America every day:

Big sister yells at little brother for doing something that irritated her.

Her friends join in.

Big sister immediately takes up for little brother because while she can yell at him - no one else can.

The "big sister" is Catholics, the "little brother" is the Catholic Church and the "friends" represent the Obama Adminstration. Catholics are saying, 'We can argue and debate church teachings, but don't tell us what to do Big Brother.'

Certainly some Americans are thrilled by the rule and are coming to the president's defense. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said:

"I am dumbfounded that in the year 2012 we still have to fight over birth control. The power to decide whether or not each individual woman uses contraception should be with that woman -- not her boss. We will not stand for these attempts to undermine the ability of women to make their own decisions."

But a growing coalition of unlikely allies is speaking out against the rule. That includes Democratic Sen. John Kerry, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Catholic Bishops along with conservative and liberal Catholics and Protestants.

The rule was a calculated political risk for the president. It has energized female activists who are instrumental to his fundraising and campaign work. However, he's unified Catholics against him and that's dangerous because Catholic voting patterns are unpredictable.

The administration has given religious organizations until August of 2013 to comply with the rule. Until then the Obama administration says it will work with concerned parties to impliment the rule.

Take the Date Night Challenge

Dr. Linda Mintle — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:25:44 GMT

For the past few weeks, several cities have been challenging their residents to take what is nationally known as the Date Night Challenge. The Date Night Challenge is a not-for-profit venture involving businesses, churches and individuals in a community who come together to encourage married couples to date. The goal is to use date night to strengthen marriages.

I love the idea because when couples were asked what would improve their marriages, 62 percent said they needed to spend more time together. Scheduling a date night does just that, allowing for time together away from the kids and the office. Years ago, marital researchers Gottman & Silver (1999) found that couples who spent five hours a week together maintained successful relationships. Imagine if two of those hours happened during a date night!

Now, I know most of you will go out for a Valentine’s celebration, but let’s consider keeping this idea alive past the “day of love”. Purpose to make date night a part of your schedule. It will help build martial friendship, a foundational part of a sound relationship.

Going on a date is the first step, but what you do on those dates is very important. Dinner and a movie can really get old. So consider these guidelines:

1) Ask your partner about his or her thoughts, feelings, dreams, likes, dislikes, etc.

Think Newlywed game; how well do we know each other? This helps you build a “love map” with your spouse. Love maps build marital friendship.

2) Tell your partner what you appreciate about him or her.

Expressing affection, fondness and admiration also contributes to marital friendship.

3) Turn towards your partner when he or she emotionally needs you.

Be there emotionally and listen to what he or she is saying and be understanding. This is another building block of marital friendship.

4) Do something novel in order to re-ignite romance.

Take a dance class, a walk on the beach, redo your very first date, picnic at the park, or cook together. Novelty gets the brain chemistry kicking in to romance gear.

5) Share intimate details for half an hour and stare deeply into each other’s eyes without talking for four minutes.

When Dr. Arun studied people who fall in love, he had complete strangers do these two things. Many of the couples felt deeply attracted to each other after the experiment ended and two subjects later married!

OK, you know what to do. Get our there and enjoy dating your spouse. It may just be what you need to strengthen your marriage.

Dr. Linda Mintle is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the author of I Married You, Not Your Family. For more articles on couple and family relationships, visit her website, www.drlindahelps.com.

American Religious Freedom Under Fire

Craig von Buseck — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:16:08 GMT

It was a watershed moment that I never thought I would see in my lifetime -- the President of the United States recently signed off on a Health and Human Services ruling that says that under ObamaCare, religious institutions that run charities, hospitals, and schools will be required by law to provide and pay for insurance coverage that includes contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs, and sterilization procedures. If they refuse, they will be hit with fines in the millions of dollars, which would force many to close their doors forever.

In other words, the United States government just trampled on our First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

As Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal wrote, "...the Catholic Church was told this week that its institutions can't be Catholic anymore."

Catholic bishops across America responded quickly. Priests in approximately 70% of U.S. parishes came forward to read strongly worded protests from the church's bishops.

"We evangelicals must stand with them," declared Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship. He spoke of the impact that this dictate will have on not only their ministry, but all ministries. "...all true Christians believe that the taking of human life in utero, whether surgically or by abortifacient drugs, violates the basic human right to life. ... Many bishops have already declared that they will not obey this unjust law."

"The penalty for such a move would be severe. Catholic hospitals, universities, and other organizations would be forced to pay punitive fines ($2,000 per employee) for refusing to purchase insurance that violates the teachings of their church."

But Catholic institutions won't be the only ones affected by this mandate. According to Colson, "...Prison Fellowship, which employs 180 people, could not morally purchase insurance for its employees that covers abortifacients. Nor could we afford the fines we would incur."

For some faith-based institutions such a law would drive them out of existence.

Voices from across the political spectrum have begun rising to call for a reversal of the decision. Tim Kaine, the former Democratic Party chairman and governor of Virginia said, “I think the White House made a good decision in including a mandate for contraception coverage in the Affordable Care Act insurance policy, but I think they made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious employer exemption.”

Senator Bob Casey, a Catholic Democrat from Pennsylvania, has written to President Obama asking for a reversal. “It’s a question of whether or not we’re going to allow — as we should — an institution that has a religious mission to make decisions that are consistent with their faith tradition,” Casey said. “Unfortunately what this does is impose upon them rules that I don’t think we should impose upon an institution that has a faith mission.”

Senator Joseph Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew who is an independent from Connecticut, tweeted Wednesday that he also opposed the administration’s mandate.

Michael Gerson of the Washington Post explained the social ramifications of such a mandate that go beyond the constitutional questions. "If federal policies make it impossible for religious nonprofits and hospitals to work in conjunction with federal, state and local agencies in providing social services, millions of poor and vulnerable Americans — Catholic and non-Catholic, religious and nonreligious — would suffer. The task of building alternatives would cost hundreds of billions of dollars — and then lack the distinctive human touch provided by religious groups."

Noonan believes that there was no reason for the President to make this ruling -- except ideology.

"The conscience clause, which keeps the church itself from having to bow to such decisions, has always been assumed to cover the church's institutions."

"The ruling asks the church to abandon Catholic principles and beliefs; it is an abridgment of the First Amendment; it is not acceptable. [Catholic Bishops] say they will not bow to it. They should never bow to it, not only because they are Catholic and cannot be told to take actions that deny their faith, but because they are citizens of the United States.

Colson agrees that this is a line crossed that must be challenged.

"Folks, we have reached the point where Christians may be called to actively defy the government of the United States. This is a shocking and sobering statement, but I’m sorry to say it’s true."

Stay tuned. This issue will not go away. It speaks to who we are, and who we will be as a nation. If not reversed, and soon, it will be a central message of this year's presidential election.

More ChurchWatch

More Church and Ministry

Jerusalem Dateline Show: Radical Islam and Egypt's Future

Chris Mitchell — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:41:13 GMT

Watch this week's Jerusalem Dateline show below.

CBN News holds a roundtable discussion about the so-called Arab Spring and developments in Egypt one year after Hosni Mubarak was forced from power.

Follow Jerusalem Dateline and Inside Israel on Twitter.

See a list of previous Jerusalem Dateline episodes here.

Brody File TV Analysis of Presidential Race

David Brody — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:30:54 GMT

Watch my presidential race analysis on CBN’s Newswatch show today

The Return of The Sweater Vest Man

David Brody — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:53:26 GMT

The sweater vest man has returned and right now he might want to wear a spiffy three-piece suit because he’s back in the center ring.

Rick Santorum’s three state sweep Tuesday night has nothing at all to do with collecting delegates. It has everything to do with grabbing the spotlight and showing America that he’s the guy to take on and beat Obama.

If we’ve learned anything from this crazy GOP primary race it’s that voters are looking to choose a candidate who can beat the president. Let’s not complicate it and get into all of the crosstab polling data. That’s it plain and simple. Who can beat Obama?

Santorum’s speech was a two-pronged hit. He was able to draw clear distinctions between him and Mitt Romney but he also pivoted to Obama and made the case why he’s the best candidate to beat him. Santorum may lack Mitt Romney’s money and vast organizational infrastructure but if his message (or Gingrich’s message) begins to truly resonate in the hearts and minds of voters, then Romney is in a world of trouble.

When I say message I don’t necessarily mean Santorum’s vision for America. Obviously that’s important but the message that really needs to stick with voters is one where GOP primary voters begin to think to themselves, “Hey, you know what? I think Santorum really can beat Obama.”

Santorum’s victories on Tuesday will be a seed in a plant that could begin to grow wildly.

The Brody File loves food analogies so let me put it this way: Mitt Romney is beginning to turn into Mr. Peanut Butter and Jelly. In other words, voters are looking for a nice cold cut sandwich with all the toppings but haven’t been able to find that person yet.

So what do you do when you can’t get a fantastic sandwich? You go in the cupboard and get the old standby: Peanut Butter and Jelly. Santorum (and Gingrich) are trying to be that amazing cold cut sandwich, and Tuesday evening Santorum added a few more toppings.

Stakelbeck on Terror Show: Iran's War on America

Erick Stakelbeck — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:40:19 GMT

Watch this week's Stakelbeck on Terror show below.

On this episode, we analyze the Iranian regime's ongoing 32-year war against America, and how Iran's nuclear weapons program is not just a threat to the Middle East, but to the world--contrary to some dangerous misperceptions that have been gaining traction in some places (like Ron Paul's campaign headquarters).

We also examine the Iranian regime's apocalyptic beliefs and how they motivate its jihad against the nation it calls "The Great Satan" -- America. That includes an in-depth look at how Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, are establishing a network throughout Latin America--at the very doorstep of the United States.

Former Israeli Ambassador Yoram Ettinger, an expert on U.S.-Israeli relations, also joins us to discuss Iran, the so-called "Arab Spring," the folly of a Palestinian state and whether war is in on the horizon in the Middle East.

Plus: don't miss this week's "Sharia Flaw" segment, where we take aim at the Iranian regime's recent jihad against...Barbie. Yes, the doll.

Follow Stakelbeck on Terror on Twitter. Click play to watch this week's edition of Stakelbeck on Terror. See a list of previous episodes here.

Londonistan Lives: Brits Release Terror Cleric Abu Qatada on Bail

Erick Stakelbeck — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:08:39 GMT

For years, I've documented Great Britain's descent into PC-addled, post-Christian, Islamist madness. In 2010, I received a first-hand taste of it during a week-long stay in London in which I interviewed Anjem Choudary and other notorious Islamists, some Al Qaeda-linked (see the video I've embedded below), who are walking the streets of the British capital as free men--and in many cases, collecting generous welfare benefits from the state.

I actually dedicated an entire chapter of my book, The Terrorist Next Door, to my personal experiences in Britain and the general overall decline of that once proud nation. If there is a living, breathing symbol of that decline and weakness, other than Choudary, it has to be Abu Qatada.

Acknowledged as Al Qaeda's spiritual leader in Europe and a former confidante of Osama bin Laden, Qatada has been in and out of British custody for years, as leftist British judges refuse to deport him back to his native Jordan for fears he'll be tortured. Poor guy.

In the past, when he's been free, Qatada and his family have collected the obligatory (for jihadists) welfare benefits from the British government. Incredibly, it looks like Qatada and his brood may now be living on the government dole once again: and just in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

Or maybe it's really not so incredible--after all, this is Londonistan. Here's more, from The Telegraph:

It is simply not acceptable that Britain is unable to deport radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada who "poses a serious risk to our national security", Home Secretary Theresa May said today.

Mrs May said she disagreed with a senior immigration judge's decision to bail Abu Qatada yesterday, which means he will be free and walking his child to school within a week.

"The right place for a terrorist is a prison cell; the right place for a foreign terrorist is a foreign prison cell far away from Britain," Mrs May said.

The radical Islamic preacher will be back on the streets within days after he was granted bail, despite even his own defence team suggesting he posed a “grave risk”.

Mr Justice Mitting granted Qatada bail after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he could not be deported to his native Jordan.

Downing Street said it did not regard the ruling as “the end of the road”, warning that the man once described as Osama bin Laden’s “right hand man in Europe” remained “dangerous” to Britain.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said the Home Secretary, Theresa May, was considering how to respond to the judgment.

“We are absolutely committed to protecting national security and we are going to take the necessary measures to do so,” the Downing Street spokeswoman said.

“We are in no doubt that this is a dangerous man and he poses a real threat to our security. He has not changed his views or attitude to this country.

“It is not the end of the road. We are considering our legal options.”

Good luck with that. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Winston Churchill is turning in his grave. Click on the viewer below to watch my 2010 interviews with wanted terrorists walking free in London.

Valentine’s Day: A Parenting Moment

Erin James — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:47:25 GMT

Valentine’s Day is the ultimate holiday to celebrate the loves in your life. What better time to teach your children about the unconditional and everlasting love of our Savior?

My own children are always excited about holidays, so I try to point the focus in a way that teaches them about Jesus’ grace and compassion. Each day we are gifted with the opportunity to teach our children more about Christ and His will for us. Let’s especially take advantage of this on Valentine’s Day.

My seven year old asked me the other day, why God loves us? This was a question I remember asking my mom as a child. I explained to her just as my mom did to me, that God loves us so much because He created us. He molded us with love.

He loves us even more than we love our own children. He wants the best for us. His love is ever-forgiving and knows no bounds.

I also explained that God’s love is so amazing that we truly cannot even comprehend the vastness of it in our lives. In our humanity, we often put conditions on love. If someone wrongs us, we may withhold love and have trouble letting it go. We do not have the complete forgiveness God offers. We live with a “forgive, but don’t forget” mentality. Because of our mindset, it takes time to truly understand that when God forgives and He no longer sees our wrongs or mistakes.

God loves us so much that He sacrificed Jesus so that we can be forgiven. I want my children to understand this love so for Valentine’s Day we have a few projects lined up to do together.

The first project is called Hanging Hearts. First, you decorate construction paper hearts with scripture verses. Then, have each of the children hang their artwork around your house. God’s Word is the best resource to learn about God’s love and grace, so find ways to associate the Bible with the holiday.

Some of our favorite verses:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 KJV)

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV)

But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7 KJV)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16 KJV)

Our next project will be a self portrait. I will have each of my kids draw or paint how they see themselves. Then, they can write down the positive attributes they see in themselves. This will teach them that God loves them just the way they are. This will especially be helpful to my middle daughter, who is always saying that she is not tall enough or that her hair is not the right color. I want her to see herself the way that God sees her, beautiful and just the way she should be. Just let you kids know that it’s not dependent on looks or talents. He created us all equally with love.

The final project is to make Valentine’s Day cards thanking Jesus for His love. Inside the cards they can write down all of the wonderful gifts He has given to them. This will teach them to be grateful.

Valentine’s Day is marketed as a day to celebrate romance. To me, the greatest love should be honored. While celebrating the loved ones God has placed in your life, do not forget about the ultimate love we are given each and every day by our Savior.

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day plans with your children? I’d love to hear about them.

Fmr. Russian General Says Strike Against Iran, Syria is 'Indirect Strike Against Russia'

Erick Stakelbeck — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:51:13 GMT

In recent weeks, I've been documenting (see here and here) the increasingly hostile rhetoric coming out of Moscow regarding a potential American or Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, not to mention the Kremlin's shameless backing of the blood-soaked Assad regime in Syria.

Now a former Russian colonel-general is getting in on the act with perhaps the most heated--and stunning--statements yet. Below is a partial transcript, from MEMRI (See video here):

Following are excerpts from an interview with Colonel-General [ret.] Leonid Ivashov, former member of the Russian Joint Chiefs of Staff, which aired on Russia Today TV on February 1, 2012:

Interviewer: Dr. Leonid, do you think that these preparations and very large maneuvers, which will soon be conducted by Russia, are meant as preparation for war, or rather, a military strike against Iran?

[…]

Leonid Ivashov: These maneuvers and training will demonstrate Russia's readiness to use military power to defend its national interests and to bolster its political position. The maneuvers will show that Russia does not want any military operations to be waged against Iran or Syria. I assume that the people in the West and in Israel who design the schemes for a large geopolitical operation in the greater Middle East region draw a direct connection between the situation in Syria and in Iran. Indeed, these two countries are allies, and both are considered guaranteed partners of Russia. The only question, therefore, is who they will try to destroy first as a stable country: Syria or Iran.

[…]

A strike against Syria or Iran is an indirect strike against Russia and its interests. Russia would lose important positions and allies in the Arab world. Therefore, by defending Syria, Russia is defending its own interests.

In addition, Russia is thus defending the entire world from Fascism. Everybody should acknowledge that Fascism is making strides on our planet. What they did in Libya is nearly identical to what Hitler and his armies did against Poland and then Russia. Today, therefore, Russia is defending the entire world from Fascism.

Russian leaders' increasingly bellicose stance on Middle East affairs could wind up earning them more than they bargained for--and then some.

Click on the viewer below to watch a recent episode of the Stakelbeck on Terror show in which I analyzed Russia's likely role in the so-called War of Gog and Magog described in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and and 39.

Winning Your Wife Back

Dr. David Hawkins — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:18:02 GMT

The call came in like so many others.

“I’m so tired of holding our marriage together,” Karla said. She made her intentions clear. Her voice was tired and thin.

“I don’t hold out much hope,” Karla continued. “I’m mostly calling because Brad wanted me to. He found your program and wants to come out to save our marriage. But, I don’t think I’m really interested.”

“Tell me more about what’s going on,” I pressed.

“Twenty years of feeling like I’m just an appendage to him,” she complained. “He’s controlling, angry, even conniving,” Karla said. “I can’t honestly tell you that I like him anymore.”

“How many years have you been married?” I asked.

“Twenty!” she said. “He says they’ve been mostly good, but he doesn’t get it that I’ve been coasting for the last 10, and I can’t coast anymore.”

I couldn’t help but reflect on the hundreds of calls I receive like Karla’s from women who hang in there, hold the family and marriage together, only to run out of steam. They fight and struggle, read the books, drag their men to the marriage conferences, only to eventually drop from carrying so much in their packs.

“Will he talk to me?” I asked.

“Oh, he’ll talk to you,” she said. “Now that I’ve told him I’m leaving. He’ll even come for one of your Personal Intensives. He is ready to look at what makes him tick. But, I’ve got to be really honest with you. It might be too late.”

“Understood,” I said. “Let’s get him to The Marriage Recovery Center and take an emotional X-ray. We’ll find out why and where he’s been burying his pain. We’ll examine why he cannot make a healthy connection to you.”

“Sounds like a start,” Karla said, still sounding fatigued.

“Would you be willing to join him?” I asked, anticipating her answer.

“Not now,” she said. “If he comes, and that has yet to be seen, and he shows me that I’m more important than his work, sports and alcohol, then we’ll see. I want him to be healthy.”

“Can’t ask for more than that, Karla,” I said.

“We’ll see if he calls,” she said. “If he does, and if he comes and works with you, then we’ll see.”

We talked for another half an hour. Her story was painfully familiar. Over their 20 years of marriage there had been good times and bad. Incidents of infidelity had marred their marriage, episodes of alcohol by both had added turmoil and yet they had held their marriage together by sheer tenacity. The prospect of their youngest daughter leaving home, and Brad getting a DUI, pushed Karla over the edge.

Brad did call. He was edgy, irritated at his life circumstances, and not entirely happy about coming for a Personal Intensive. In a phone call with me, he complained about the travel, the price and of course, that the problem wasn’t all him. I reassured him that indeed the problem was not all him, but that he had to “clean up his side of the street” to get a better sense about what was happening in their marriage.

Several weeks later, together with my colleague Chuck, we met Brad and began our work. Here, in short, is how we spent the next two and a half days.

First, we set the stage for our work.

Brad was used to being ‘large and in charge.’ This would no longer work for him and he had to give up some of the control of his life to Chuck and myself. He had to assume that what he was doing would no longer work for him. He had to develop an attitude of being honest, open and willing.

Second, he had to trust that there was a better way.

For as much as he had become a self-made man, this attitude had worked in business but not in marriage. He had to believe that there were answers outside of him. Attitudes of grandiosity don’t work in relationships, which require give and take, reciprocity and mutuality.

Third, he had to understand how his personality had developed.

Many men have had profound rejection and ‘father hunger’, leaving them painfully alone and fending for themselves. They don’t ask for help and rarely reach out to truly accept it. Isolated and lonely, they develop a critical and controlling attitude. They are unable to share their pain and speak from a voice of power and control.

Fourth, he had to develop his softer, more vulnerable side.

Karla knew there was “a good man in there somewhere”, and we had to find him and give him a voice. What was the pain that Brad buried beneath his quest for power and prestige? We needed to create a Healing Container where he felt safe to share his fears of failure. We needed to help him voice his desire for connection and appreciation he wanted from Karla.

Finally, he needed to grieve his losses and set out for a new quest.

This new quest needed to be to win back the heart of his wife. Having proved himself in business and work, it was time to renew an old quest: the heart of his wife. Though she was leaving him, there was a glimmer of hope that if he could find his soft voice, speak from a place of vulnerability, she would want contact with him again. Hidden beneath years of sadness was a woman who truly believed in her man.

Brad came for his Personal Intensive. For three days we drilled into him, searching for his pain. We called him out when he shifted into his macho, “I don’t need you” attitude. We cried together, laughed together and set out on a new mission together—to win the heart of his wife, even in the face of her leaving him. Tired, frightened but connected to Chuck and myself, we shared the Scripture:

“Those that wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Karla left Brad. He is focused, clear and hopeful about winning her heart back. He understands that he is doing all he can do—staying away from his provocative, angry self and working a program that includes abstinence from alcohol, attending Celebrate Recovery and chaining together one positive interaction with Karla after another.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Share your feedback or send a confidential note to me at therelationshipdoctor@gmail.com and read more about The Marriage Recovery Center on my website www.marriagerecoverycenter.com and yourrelationshipdoctor.com. You’ll find videos and podcasts on saving a troubled marriage, codependency and affair-proofing your marriage.

General Censorship

Chuck Holton — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:46:15 GMT

Let me rant for a minute.

In 2003 I went to hear a speech given by then-Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin. It was given as the evening service in a large evangelical church in Derwood, Md., and in it the general spoke while in uniform. It wasn't uncommon at that time for military officers, especially general officers, to give speeches while in uniform, since by Army regulation an officer is authorized to wear his dress uniform for any "special occasion."

You can listen to a recording I made of the general's speech that night, here.

Not long after that, the L.A. Times ran a hit piece against the general, taking much of what he said out of context and painting him as rabidly anti-Muslim and about as dangerous as the Islamic jihadists who had killed nearly 3,000 of our countrymen only two years before.

In response, Gen. Boykin called for an investigation into his own activities to determine whether he'd violated army regulations. The media dutifully reported that Gen. Boykin was "under investigation" but neglected to disclose that he'd called for the investigation himself.

Fast forward to 2012. Gen. Boykin is now retired after 36 years of service to our nation. In that time he was wounded several times and literally shed his blood defending the freedoms we hold dear, among them the right to free speech.

Today, Gen. Boykin is as busy as ever, and makes his living on the speaking circuit, speaking in churches around the country. Unfortunately, 2003 continues to haunt him, and the lies originally posited by the L.A. times have been repeated so often that they are now routinely quoted as fact by journalists who think a quick Google search constitutes good journalism.

The upshot is that Gen. Boykin is literally being followed around the country by Muslim activists and liberal atheists who are actively trying to get him fired or un-invited for every speaking engagement he's given. Most recently he was asked to speak at the annual prayer breakfast at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

The CAIR activists went into full-on screech mode, saying it would somehow harm any Muslim students at USMA to have Gen. Boykin speak at a Christian prayer service. Not sure how that works.

Anyway, since Boykin's intent was never to cause embarassment for his friends at USMA, he quietly decided not to accept the speaking request.

That Gen. Boykin is now being refused the very rights he fought and bled to defend is beyond despicable. Boykin is a Christian. His views are unabashedly so. He has every right to speak his mind, no matter how politically incorrect his opinions may be.

CAIR and their ilk have the same freedom. It is a bitter irony that they enjoy it because of men like William G. Boykin.

Brody File Show: Road Ahead for the Final Four

David Brody — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:00:07 GMT

Watch this week's Brody File show below.

We take a close look at how evangelicals voted in the first big primary month, and how Mitt Romney attempts to mix business skill with empathy.

Sen. Jim DeMint also talks about the Tea Party's influence in this year's race, and more.

Follow us on Twitter @TheBrodyFile.

Click play to watch this week's episode of The Brody File. See a list of previous episodes here.

Nigerian Archbishop and the Christian Response to Boko Haram

Gary Lane — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:39:49 GMT

I recently traveled to our Washington D.C. bureau where I met with Benjamin Kwashi, Anglican archbishop of Jos, Nigeria.

Jos is the capital of Plateau State, where Christians have suffered traumatizing raids on their villages and brutal murders at the hands of Islamic militants. Tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed or injured in Plateau State during the past decade.

Rev. Kwashi and I talked about how the country’s Christians have responded to recent church bombings committed by the terrorist group Boko Haram. A portion of my interview was broadcast last week on our international news program, Christian World News.

If you missed it, you may view it here and respond to the Bishop’s suggestion that Christians should not take up arms and retaliate when they are attacked by militant Muslims.

Let me know what you think. Is it time for Nigerian Christians to take up arms, form a militia, and defend themselves?

Also, who is Boko Haram? Bishop Kwashi says they are not just a bunch of well-armed street thugs. Watch more of my interview with the archbishop here:

Will Israel Attack Iran?

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:29:58 GMT

A flurry of articles, reports and statements in the past few days by Israeli and American officials have raised the speculation that Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facilities … soon.

Yesterday, Washington Post Reporter David Ignatius said that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Penatta:

"Believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June - before Iran enters what Israelis described as a 'zone of immunity' to commence building a nuclear bomb. Very soon, the Israelis fear, the Iranians will have stored enough enriched uranium in deep underground facilities to make a weapon - and only the United States could then stop them militarily."

This week, several Israeli leaders warned of the growing Iranian threat.

On Wednesday, Israel's Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said that most important issue and the biggest threat facing Israel was Iran.

He said, "There is no doubt that Iran is striving for a bomb. If it does so within a year or a bit more it will be able to allocate resources and we will see it happening. Iran is a problem of the whole world, of this region and of Israel."

As if to emphasize the point that Iran is a global threat, on Thursday, Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon said Iran is now developing missiles capable of hitting the U.S.

Ya'alon stated "This regime (Iran) has already built missile capability" and added that the R&D missile center where the recent explosion took place was developing a missile with a 10,000 kilometer range.

He said it was "aimed at America not us... Our claim is that the military problem in Iran needs to be stopped… Such a non-conventional regime should not have such non-conventional capabilities."

Later on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that if sanctions don't work, then Iran must face a military strike.

He said, "A nuclear Iran will be more complicated to deal with, more dangerous and mosre costly in blood than if it were stopped today. In other words, he who says in English 'later' may find that 'later is too late.'"

Finally, last week, Ronen Bergem, an Israeli investigative journalist wrote in the New York Times that, "After speaking with many senior Israeli leaders and chiefs of the military and the intelligence, I have come to believe that Israel will indeed strike Iran in 2012."

It sounds and appears that Israel and Iran are on a collision course. The stakes are enormous, the consequences unpredictable and the impact global.

Certainly a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the Middle East, and for the leaders of Israel and the U.S.

Preparing for War

Chris Mitchell — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:31 GMT

It’s an odd thing preparing for war. I was just getting ready to send an email to a friend. We haven’t been in touch for a while and he asked me if everything is okay. I was about to say, sure, I’m doing fine, just getting ready for the war … the war with Iran that is.

The reply sort of felt something like, "Oh, just getting ready for the summer” or “preparing for the new school year.” Over here, it seems a foregone conclusion that war’s coming. It feels that it’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN.

But no one is quite sure if the war will come after or before Iran gets a nuclear bomb. Of course, that makes a HUGE difference. But right now, with the rhetoric from a lot of Israeli leaders, it looks like the war might come before Iran gets the bomb.

Israel just can’t afford to allow a nuclear-tipped missile on its way from Tehran to Tel Aviv. In fact, if U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is to be believed, it might come in April, May or June.

Well, how do you prepare for a war? I’m sure it’s been different for countries and peoples throughout the ages. In World War II, the British were girding themselves for the prospect of a cross-channel invasion by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. They did suffer through the anguish of the Battle of Britain and the horrors of the bombing of London and England’s major cities.

Here no one’s anticipating an invasion force but they are expecting an onslaught of rockets and missiles. It most likely would come from Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy army in Lebanon. This Islamic group has stockpiled as many as 40 to 50,000 rockets and missiles ready to fire into Israel.

Those numbers have multiplied about three to four times since the 2006 Second Lebanon War when Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets into Israel and had an arsenal estimated at about 14,000. At that time, it paralyzed northern Israel, and sent more than a million Israelis either fleeing south or into bomb shelters for weeks.

And now Hezbollah’s rockets can hit most anywhere in Israel.

Despite the looming threat of war, life goes on here in Israel. Every day (except Shabbat) people are on their way to work, school, cafes, restaurants or shops. Since I came here in August of 2000, Israel has suffered through the Second Palestinian Intifada, the 2006 Second Lebanon War, thousands of rockets from Gaza and now the threat of nuclear war from an Iran that regularly threatens its very existence.

It's been a rough decade and promises to get even rougher but some here take comfort from the Bible and a 3,000 year promise from the pen of King David: “He that watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4

Find A Safe Refuge

Beth Livingston — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:24:59 GMT

by M. Sellers
Guest Writer

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.
~ Psalm 16:1, NLT

Not that long ago, people fleeing from the law could claim sanctuary in a Church. Now this could be for many different reasons. Sometimes it was for people that were actually criminals and were seeking sanctuary to get away from possible lynch mobs. They would claim sanctuary and the Church would help by keeping them safe until the authorities could take over and ensure that due process was taken care of. There were also people who would claim sanctuary that were being persecuted. People who were in danger either politically or from religious zealots were provided sanctuary in Churches and kept safe. It was a place they could go if they had done no wrong -- if they were just being persecuted for their beliefs or the way they lived. The Church would make sure they were safe and help them.

As I think about this road to recovery, I think of refuge. I think of sanctuary. For a long time many of us looked for refuge. What we found was life in a bottle, a life full of drugs, full of food disorders, full of depression, full of struggles. When we were left to try and figure it out on our own, it was a struggle. We faced our issues and we tried to overcome them and failed miserably.

I struggled with anger, with pride and with a lot of drinking for a long time. During all those years of struggling, I looked for refuge. When things were at their darkest for me, when I thought I couldn't go on any longer, I turned to Him. I turned to Christ and cried out for sanctuary, for safety, and for freedom. With all I had done in my life, with all the drinking, the drugs, with hurting the people I loved the most, He could have turned His back on me but instead, He opened His arms, He told me He was my refuge and He could save me and lead me on the road to recovery -- a road filled with peace, with love, with Him.

So today as we are all walking our own personal roads to recovery I ask you what are you holding on to? Have you truly turned your life, your entire life over to Christ? He is there for you, He wants to be your refuge, your sanctuary, your safety.

Turn to Him, He will wrap His arms around you and you will never be alone again.

Enter into the Supernatural Kingdom

Craig von Buseck — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:57:45 GMT

It's time to unlock your destiny.

Marguerite Evans Ministries presents the advanced "How to Enter into the Supernatural Kingdom" seminar with Ivan & Isabel Allum, March 1-3, 2012, at CBN in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Ivan and Isabel Allum have been involved in various levels of ministry and church leadership for more than 20 years. They were trained and mentored by John & Carol Arnott, who taught them to love God's people and bring healing to their lives. Their passion is to make the Father's heart and His love known to others and to release His Kingdom into their lives.

The Allums have an international prophetic ministry, ministering to people and training and equipping them in:

Hearing the voice of God;
Activating the gift of prophesy from the Father's heart;
Entering into the levels of revelations, dreams, and visions; and
Operating in prophetic worship and evangelism.

Through this seminar you will:

Hear dynamic, Biblically-sound teaching;
Receive prophetic impartation; and
Activate God’s supernatural giftings in you.

Schedule

Thursday, March 1st: 7 p.m. (6 p.m. registration)

Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

CBN/Regent Campus
Corporate Support Building Chapel
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463

Seminar Registration

$70 per person for all 5 sessions
Early bird rate (until Feb 27) $50 per person
Students $50 at the door
Early bird student rate (until Feb 27) $35 per person
$30 single day or $20 per session

Send check or money order along with your name, address, and phone number to:

Marguerite Evans Ministries
Re: Advanced Prophetic Seminar
P.O. Box 65521, Virginia Beach, VA 23467

Limited space available

For more information call 757-512-8488

Or e-mail: m@margueriteevans.com

More on Ivan and Isabel Allum

Through their ministry, Ivan and Isabel also help pastors and leaders receive vision, direction, and strategy for their ministry, their church, and for the destiny of the people under their care. As a result, many churches have been transformed and are fulfilling their destiny. They also act as apostolic and prophetic advisors to a number of churches and ministries around the world.

Their heart is to impart what they have to others and raise them up in ministry. Their prophetic ministry, which is characterized by the Father's love, brings healing, restoration, vision, and direction to the lives of people, churches, and ministries as it reveals the destiny God has planned for them (Jeremiah 29:11).

Through the years they have been involved in several church plants. They co-founded Highlands Christian Ministries, where they pastored for ten years. Currently they are the senior pastors and founders of Forest City Destiny Church in London, Ontario Canada. Both Ivan and Isabel are ordained through Anchor Ministerial Fellowship. Ivan is originally from England and Isabel is from Costa Rica.

Ivan and Isabel are the authors of the book Your Destiny ... Unlocking the Impossible Promises of God.

Recommendations

As a pastor I can scarcely recall any visiting ministry affecting a church like the Allum's affected ours. If you are looking for a prophetic ministry that will equip you and your church for the days ahead, this is it.
—PJ Hanley, Banner of Love Christian Fellowship, Port Ewen, NY USA

Ivan & Isabel have a unique prophetic ministry. Their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is precious. Their love for every member of the body of Christ was a privilege to witness, as they came amongst us and modeled the servant ministry of Jesus. Their visit to our church gave us a wonderful revelation of the Father Heart of God.
—Andy & Sharon Britton, Kingsway Church, Manchester, England

Learn more about the ministry of Ivan and Isabel Allum at http://www.ivan-isabel.com/

More from Marguerite Evans at http://www.margueriteevans.com/

More ChurchWatch

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Catholics Campaign to Protect Conscience

CBN News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:16:38 GMT

Under a new rule recently announced by the Obama Administration, all organizations offering health insurance plans to their employees, including religious organizations, must cover contraceptives including birth control and the controversial morning after pill.

The decision has outraged many Christians who say the rule violates their conscience. Some Catholic leaders are now mobilizing to fight back. Catholic Advocate, a grassroots organization run by former Bush administration officials, calls the rule an "overt attack on the Catholic Church" and is calling on Catholics and all Americans who feel their religious beliefs are being trampled to take action.

The organization has created a website called, Protect Our Conscience, to arm concerned Christians with information. They're also urging folks to flood Congress with letters, calls, and emails of support for several bills aimed at overturning the rule.

Catholic Advocate President Matt Smith said, “There are 17,782 parishes in the United States. If faithful Catholics were able to average 115 letters per parish to their representative and each senator, Capitol Hill would receive over six million contacts on this issue. We would send a powerful message that cannot be ignored.”

Beltway Buzz talked to Smith about Catholic Advocate's campaign. He said the Obama Administration's decision is inspiring people who've never been activists to take action.

Smith says he was hopeful religious organizations would always enjoy conscience protections, but isn't surprised they've been stripped.

Outrage: American Victims of Palestinian Terrorism Still Seeking Justice

Erick Stakelbeck — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:17:38 GMT

My latest report is one that will make your blood boil. Over the years, Palestinian terror groups have slaughtered countless Israeli civilians. What many people may not know is that in the process, Palestinian terrorists have also killed and injured dozens of American citizens.

Now there is a movement to have those Palestinians face justice here in the United States. But the hardest part may be getting the U.S. government to take action.

Click on the viewer below to watch. And prepare to be outraged.

The Culturally Acceptable Sin

Dr. Linda Mintle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:53:48 GMT

The sermon last Sunday was on the 7th chapter of Joshua, a sobering chapter that deals with sin in the Israelite camp. It begins with a sin committed by Achan, one member of the tribe of Judah.

When the Israelites took the city of Jericho as recorded in chapter 6, God tells them not to take anything from the siege. But, Achan disobeys and takes some of the “accursed” things and then lies about it. Not only does he lie, but his entire family goes along with the lie. When Achan is confronted, he continues to lie, then eventually confesses. The cover up was because of clothing and money he coveted.

Coveting is covered in the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses. Achan’s sin was coveting, but that also lead to deception. Achan saw, coveted and took. Then he lied. As a consequence, Achan and his entire family were stoned to death, burned and made into a rock memorial to remind people to obey God’s commandments.

In Joshua 7, the nature of sin is clearly spelled out. Sin is deceptive, it hurts others whether we think it does or not, it stirs God’s anger and it weakens us in battle.

Achan’s punishment is harsh, but it speaks to a healthy fear of the Lord. Sin is nothing to fool with in terms of its consequences.

According to Webster, coveting is an inordinate desire for what belongs to another. Think about that. Most advertising is built on this premise. We want what others have and are reinforced to be dissatisfied with the status quo.

During the Sunday service, we were all given time to examine our hearts. Is discontentment related to coveting what others have? If so, rather than hide that sin, we need to confess it, the sooner the better. While we thankfully live under the grace of God now, unconfessed sin blocks our relationships and impacts our families.

Ask yourself, are you engaging in secret sin? Are you coveting your neighbor’s house, car, wife or even lifestyle? Perhaps coveting is so common in our culture today that we don’t even recognize it. In many ways, it has become a culturally acceptable sin.

The good news is that the power of sin is completely broken by the righteousness of Christ. When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive us and cleanse us (John 1:9).

Achan’s life is a reminder that if we live with hidden sin, it not only has repercussions for us, but also for those we love. Achan's entire family paid for his sin with their lives. So, obey God, resist the temptation to covet and confess secret sins.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Check out Dr. Linda Mintle's website at www.drlindahelps.com. Become Dr. Linda's friend on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Mitt Romney's Oy-Gevalt Line

David Brody — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:34:56 GMT

The oy-gevalt line of the campaign spoken by Mitt Romney:

"I'm not concerned about the very poor, we have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it."

Brody File Analysis on The 700 Club

David Brody — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:43:35 GMT

Watch my analysis of the Florida Primary on "The 700 Club" this morning.

Update: Texas Trip and Appearing on GBTV Special Tonight

Erick Stakelbeck — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:13:17 GMT

I've spent my entire life living in the liberal bastions of Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C., so visiting Texas--where God and country still matter--is always a thrill. I've been in the Lone Star State all this week for some very important engagements.

It all kicked off Monday night in San Antonio, where I delivered a keynote address at the annual Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Leadership Summit. The event was part of a live webcast and took place in front of CUFI's national leadership. I discussed the gathering threats of Iran, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood as well as the possibility of a Middle East war in 2012. I also shared some of my personal story about how God led me into this line of work.

But the highlight of the evening for me, undoubtedly, was being introduced by a man I admire tremendously, CUFI's founder, Pastor John Hagee.

On Tuesday night, I spoke again, this time at the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) as part of a CUFI on Campus event. The response was great but the night was not without its drama. Four or five members of UTSA's Muslim Students Association (MSA)--a Muslim Brotherhood-linked group--showed up at the event, a few of them clad in Palestinian keffiyehs, and attempted to ask confrontational questions during the Q and A session after my talk.

One of their arguments, laughably, was that the Brotherhood was "founded as a charitable organization." Unfortunately for them, they didn't get very far with that line of (un) reasoning, and after I hit them with some harsh facts, they simply got up, frustrated, and walked out of the room.

Today, I'm in Dallas for the final leg of my Texas trip, taping a two-hour special for the Glenn Beck Program on GBTV about the one year anniversary of the so-called Arab Spring and what comes next. I'll be joined on the panel with Glenn by two good friends and watchmen on the wall, retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin and Frank Gaffney.

Be sure to tune in to GBTV.com tonight at 5-7 p.m. EST to watch.

Florida Primary Analysis

David Brody — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:08:11 GMT

In the end it wasn’t even close. Mitt Romney’s decisive win in Florida made the following clear:

• Organization and money count. Romney and his Super PAC outspent Gingrich 4 to 1 and they also were better able to organize an early get out the vote operation. You can have a good message but if you don’t have cash and the people to execute it, then you’re in trouble. Romney has plenty of cash and plenty of people to help him.

• Negative advertising works. Voters complain about it but most of them are influenced by it.

• Romney can get feisty if he needs to. Nearly 10 days ago Romney was behind here in Florida because of Gingrich’s momentum coming out of South Carolina. The campaign saw the potential for his campaign to begin unraveling fast. Yet Romney came out swinging at the two Florida debates. We saw a very different Romney. He was very aggressive as he hit Newt repeatedly. Quite frankly, a little more of that would serve him well throughout the campaign

As far as the evangelical vote, Gingrich barely won it over Romney (38 percent to 36 percent). What we’re seeing is that even though evangelicals seem to prefer Gingrich and Santorum over Romney, they also want to beat Obama just like every other Republican. Therefore electability and competency matter to evangelicals, too.

Plus, there are plenty of evangelicals who will vote for Romney based on what they believe is his ability to turn the economy around. Also, don’t forget Romney comes across as wholesome with his “Leave it to Beaver” family, so that plays well with evangelicals, too.

So far in this primary season, what we’ve seen is that the evangelical vote has been a little all over the place depending on the state. There really hasn’t been one candidate who has been able to lock down a strong majority of evangelical support. Look at the numbers below:

Evangelical Numbers:

Iowa:
• Santorum 33%
• Paul 19%
• Gingrich 14%
• Perry 14%
• Romney 14%
• Bachmann 5%

New Hampshire:
• Romney 31%
• Santorum 23%
• Paul 21%
• Gingrich 13%
• Huntsman 9%
• Perry 1%

South Carolina:
• Gingrich 44%
• Santorum 22%
• Romney 21%
• Paul 13%

Florida:
• Gingrich 38%
• Romney 36%
• Santorum: 19%
• Paul 5%

These numbers suggest that evangelicals are sophisticated voters who look at a variety of factors when going to the polls. Each of these remaining candidates has strengths but they also have flaws when seen through an evangelical prism.

For example, if evangelicals saw Santorum as a guy who could really beat Obama, then his numbers would be way higher. If Gingrich had less baggage, his numbers would be even bigger. And if Romney would engage the evangelical community more rather than tepidly dance around them like they have cooties (he’s hardly done any evangelical type events), then he would have a lot more evangelical support than he does now.

So where does this race go from? This will be a good month for Romney (read: Michigan and Nevada) and also for Ron Paul (read: Nevada, Colorado). Both of these candidates did well in those states in 2008 and should do so again.

Romney’s challenge will be to ride that fine line between driving an optimistic message that focuses on the future and not letting up on Gingrich. Romney would love to pivot to a General Election strategy, but Gingrich has come back from the dead twice and Romney doesn’t want to see it again a third time.

As for Gingrich, his path is long and arduous but there is at least a path. He needs to somehow convince Santorum to get out by March 6 (good luck with that) and hope and pray that Sheldon Adelson (Gingrich’s Super PAC money friend) comes up with even more series dough.

With some southern states voting as part of the March 6 Super Tuesday, there is some hope for Gingrich. But he has to somehow make sure that the “Romney is inevitable” drumbeat doesn’t get too loud in this month of February. If it does, the money will dry up quickly.

For Rick Santorum, the strategy is simple. Hope Newt implodes and then be ready to catch the falling debris as the Romney alternative.

Tributes to Ken Crowell

Chris Mitchell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:34:37 GMT

On Monday, hundreds of people gathered just outside Tiberius overlooking the Sea of Galilee to honor Ken Crowell.

Crowell, 79, passed away last week. Many testified that his life and work made a tremendous impact on Tiberius, the Galilee region, the Body of Messiah within Israel and the individual lives of thousands if not millions. He founded many companies in Israel, including Galtronics, a company that has employed thousands of Israelis since its founding.

After Ken's funeral, we talked with several people about his life and what a profound impact he had on them. Here's excerpts from those interviews.

They include Pastor David Davis, founder of Kehilat HaCarmel; Eitan Oved, a city councilman from Tiberius; Michael Elliot, general manager of Galtronics; Rachel Leonard, Crowell's secretary for nine years; and Pastor Brian Blank from Redding, Calif.

All paid tribute to a Godly man and a life well lived. Watch below.

Invigorating a Dull Marriage

Dr. David Hawkins — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:41:29 GMT

I received a call yesterday from a 29 year-old woman who was in obvious distress. Married for seven years, she was inquiring about marriage counseling.

“What is the problem?” I asked.

“It’s hard to say exactly,” she said. “It’s just not what I want in a marriage.”

Paula seemed unusually vague with her concerns.

“How would you rate your marriage?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she said slowly. “It seems like things have been mediocre for so long, I don’t know if I am expecting too much.”

“Let me ask you a few simple questions,” I said.

“OK,” she replied.

“Can you say you are happy in your marriage?”

“Oh no,” she said quickly. “I don’t know that I’m unhappy, but I sure wouldn’t say I’m happy.”

“Are you excited to be with your husband?” I continued.

“Well, I’m want to be with him, but I’m not sure he wants to be with me. So, we don’t spend that much time together. When he comes home, he’s often tired from work and heads for his computer. He does his thing and I’ve learned to do mine.”

“And so do you enjoy your time with him?” I persisted.

“Not the way it is right now,” she said. “He doesn’t seem excited to be with me, so I’m not very excited to be with him. I spend more of my time with our kids than I do with him.”

“Last question,” I said, “and then we’ll do some brainstorming.”

“What do you want to be different?”

“Lots,” she said quickly. “I want to enjoy each other’s company. I want us to do the things we did when we were dating. I want to take trips with him, have friends over and go on vacations. But he tells me that I’m expecting a ‘television romance’, and that’s not going to happen.”

“I told you that was the last question,” I said. “But, I do have one more.”

“What?” she said.

“Do you believe that about the ‘television romance’?”

“No,” she said. “I’m calling because I’d like to see if you can help us. I want more from my marriage, but I do wonder if I want too much. I feel like I have this low-grade headache all the time. Our dull marriage really makes me sick sometimes.”

Paula and I continued to talk for a few more minutes before determining she and her husband definitely needed help if they were not going to slip into more serious trouble. I encouraged her to set an appointment where we could explore their marriage, hopefully with her husband, though she indicated he had no interest in marriage counseling.

Paula represents a growing number of women and men calling because they are drifting apart. Television, computers, cell phones, children, work and any number of distractions come between them. Busyness, preoccupations and addictions all play havoc in the connection we’re all desperate for in our marriage.

Paula was doing the right thing by making the phone call. Her next step is to come in for a counseling session where we could lay out the problems, become clear about what she expected and develop a game plan for getting what she needed. If she didn’t take action her marriage would continue to disintegrate, leading to more serious problems. She was, thankfully, catching things before more serious problems developed. She already had her work cut out for her.

Here are some thoughts I gave to her briefly over the phone:

1. Rarely are we asking too much from our marriage.

If anything, I believe we don’t ask enough of our mate and our marriage. Our marriage should be a rich relationship where we give precious nurturance and joy to each other. The relationship should be alive and vital, dynamic and robust.

2. We are called to mutually give to one another.

The Apostle Paul says we are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). He further elaborates his message in the “love” chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians 13, where he says we are to sacrificially give to our mate. We are called to not focus on wrongs done by our mate, but to delight in each other.

3. Love requires giving.

We are to be undistracted when it comes to our marriage. Other than serving God, we have no higher calling than to serve our mate. Our mission field must begin with making sure our marriage is the relationship God intended. Our best energies must be given to him/her.

4. We are to delight in each other.

The Apostle Paul again says, “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 10:10). Notice the action steps involved in this verse: loving each other with genuine affection and delighting in honoring each other. There is nothing “low-grade” about the Apostle Paul’s picture of marriage.

5. We must be held accountable for these changes.

Since these action steps won’t come naturally, we must be held accountable for making these changes. This can involve an accountability group at church, a friend, counselor or pastor. We must agree to upgrade our marriage and create a vital, dynamic and loving relationship. Anything less will inevitably bring on a “low-grade headache” and possibly worse.

Share your feedback or send a confidential note to me at therelationshipdoctor@gmail.com and read more about The Marriage Recovery Center on my website marriagerecoverycenter.com and yourrelationshipdoctor.com. You’ll find videos and podcasts on saving a troubled marriage, codependency and affair-proofing your marriage.

Gingrich's Long Haul

David Brody — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:26:35 GMT

So if you were Newt Gingrich why wouldn’t you stay in the race? What’s your incentive to get out?

Party unity? The GOP establishment hates him. A position in the Romney administration? Right. He’ll be standing by the phone. Unite so the GOP can defeat Barack Obama? That doesn’t make sense to do so at this point since Romney still needs another thousand delegates or so. Plus if Gingrich can somehow stay focused and relevant through March 6 (Super Tuesday), he has a decent shot at winning a bunch of delegates.

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Also, don’t forget if he can convince Santorum to get out, the complexion of the race changes, as will the sheer numbers of the political GOP pie.

A couple other factors to consider: Gingrich is 68 years old and has already been Speaker of the House. What does he have to lose? Absolutely nothing.

Lastly, if Gingrich really does feel that Romney is a “Massachusetts moderate,” then just based on principle alone it makes sense to stay in the race because he truly believes he is the conservative alternative. Why concede that principled stance with such a long way to go?