January 2, 2009 - Washington, DC

Barack Obama, Rick Warren, Lincoln's Bible and the atheist lawsuit / Rick Warren gets criticized from both sides / Senate to reconvene, but who will sit in the chairs? / Do the HAMAS terrorists regret calling off their six month "cease fire?" / Huge number of HAMAS terrorists die / Can you help the Iraqi Christians?
Read More Below

THE PRESIDENCY

OBAMA, LINCOLN'S BIBLE AND THE ATHEISTS - Atheist Michael Newdow and 17 other individuals, and also 10 atheist groups, filed a lawsuit to block the use of the words, "so help me God" and other religious references in the president's oath of office, invocation and benediction. "There can be no purpose for placing 'so help me God' in an oath or sponsoring prayers to God, other than promoting the particular point of view that God exists," the lawsuit states. President-elect Obama has chosen to be sworn in with his hand on the Bible used for the inauguration of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. Read more.

RICK WARREN, OBAMA, GAYS AND THE RIGHT - While homosexual groups are attacking Barack Obama for picking mega church pastor Rick Warren to give the benediction at the Inauguration, right wing groups are attacking Rick Warren for accepting the invitation. Apparently , homosexual activists and conservative evangelical Christians have at least one belief in common -- that Rick Warren and Barack Obama should not be seen together on the same platform. Read more.

THE CONGRESS

HOUSE AND SENATE IN RECESS - The Senate will reconvene on January 6, 2009 and on January 8th will count the electoral ballots submitted by the states to certify the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. Two states may be missing one vote each on that day -- Illinois and Minnesota. The disgraced governor of Illinois has appointed Roland Burris as a replacement for Barack Obama, but the Illinois Attorney General refuses to certify Burris, and Democrat Senate leaders say they will reject him. The Minnesota seat is even more contentious. Because some pro-life groups refused to support Senator Norm Coleman because he was only 99% pro-life, now an absolute pro-death, pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, foul mouthed comedian may get the seat. State authorities have been recounting the ballots over and over again for weeks since the November election and the battle may now go to the courts, with no one being seated.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new January 1, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains material about the assault on "under God" in the Pledge and new details about Barack Obama. The issue also contains more on the "War on Christmas." Read more. Click here to view PDF

INTERNATIONAL

HAMAS, WHICH NEVER STOPPED FIRING, DECLARES END OF CEASE FIRE - HAMAS leader Khaled Mash'al made the following statement: "The tahdiah ['calm'] was limited to six months, ending on December 19. It should be noted that the enemy did not comply with the terms of the tahdiah, and that the siege still pressures our people. Therefore, we in Hamas, and I think most of the [other] forces, [say] loud and clear that after December 19, 2008, the tahdiah will end, and will not be renewed." After uttering these words HAMAS once again began to fire rockets at schools, hospitals and other civilian targets in Israel. Israel, fed up with the attacks, has retaliated by killing over 400 in Gaza including high ranking HAMAS terrorist commanders. The Western press has attacked Israel saying that its attack on military targets was not "proportionate" to the small number of Israeli civilians killed. Read more.

PERSECUTED IRAQI CHRISTIANS - The situation in Iraq has not improved for Christians, and your assistance is still needed. if you need a reminder of the situation please watch the testimony video of those who have lived through the persecution. Please help today.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET SUPER STORE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM A CHRISTIAN STORE How about birthday and anniversary gifts with a Christian theme? Our Internet Christian Super Store has tens of thousands of books, CD's DVD's, jewery, food and more. AND ... Our store does not sell atheist and satanist books that you will find on Amazon.com. When you buy from our store you help our work. Please take a look at our store today at www.rfcstore.com

Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.