Pray Connecticut Website Launched With New Features!

We're happy to announce that we've launched the new and improved Pray Connecticut website! The time required to work on that explains my absence from blogging for several weeks.

Please stop by and check out these features:

• The beginnings of a true Christian portal for the State of Connecticut, including links to all Connecticut municipal websites and nearly all online Connecticut news sources

• Our ever-growing Connecticut Church Google Map

• Brand-new Connecticut Christian Events Calendar

• Articles on a variety of prayer and discipleship topics (just starting)

• Loads of Christian links and Bible study resources (coming soon)

• Online Christian bookstore (coming soon)
  

We hope you'll stop in and watch us grow over the next few weeks and months. Please help us build the site by sending us info on your church event or suggesting a church for the map.

And now, we resume blogging...

Nature and Nature's God - how did they vote on Civil Unions?

Today's the day...

Here's my question: does a State Legislature even have the power to invent "civil unions?" Professor Bradley Watson writes:

"Henry Herbert, the second Earl of Pembroke, said that Parliament can do anything but make a man into a woman. In this remark, he was pointing to the idea that some things exist in nature, and Parliament, while supreme over human affairs, was not omnipotent. Parliament is, ultimately, a human institution that lacks power when it comes to controlling the articulations of nature and nature's God— the most fundamental and self-evident of which is the man-woman distinction and the natural consequences of it. It is also worth noting that Pembroke was speaking only of Parliament, not of the far more hubristic, nominally common-law courts of America, which have come much closer to toying with the order of nature than Parliament ever dreamed possible. We can now foresee the day when, in effect, courts will routinely declare men to be women, and vice versa, according to the political pressures of the age."

The phrase "nature and nature's God" also appears in an ancient document which is no longer read by our citizenry and which, if it were proposed to day, would be shot down as unconstitutional because of its religious references. I'm speaking, of course, of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration not only speaks of Divine Providence (the active working of the God of the Bible in history) and the Creator (referring to the active working of the God of the Bible as He makes all human beings in His image, thereby giving them inalienable rights and dignity), it also speaks of the laws of nature and Nature's God.

Thus, our founders understood that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government were fenced in by natural law as well as the Christian consensus of society as revealed in the primary Judeo-Christian text, the Bible. There were certain things which could not be legislated (to say nothing of their being imposed by judicial power) even if a large segment of society agitated for them because society as a whole understood that they were contrary to the way human society was designed to function. We would say nowadays that they had no paradigm that would enable them to conceive of legislating such a thing.

Reason and experience, in addition to Scripture, taught our ancestors that the legislature has no power to destroy and, indeed, should only proceed very carefully to regulate, the relations between parents and children, or spouses. Thus there could be no government-sanctioned abortion, nor easy divorce, nor sodomy, nor civil union, nor tolerance of sharia law in Western nations - whether they were Protestant or Catholic nations.

Who or what gave our legislators and our governor the authority to obliterate the very definition of civil society as we know it has existed across the entire world for literally millenia?

Maybe it's time we started asking our legislators harder questions.

Connecticut Church Google Map being built

The busy folks over at the Pray Connecticut website (umm... that would be me) are in the process of constructing a Google map of evangelical, charismatic and what I suppose I would call "orthodox mainline" churches in Connecticut.
Jump over to check it out.

Please do not be offended if you are not on the map yet - I need you to help me build it! Spread the word around and together we can create a wonderful resource for believers and the unchurched in our State.



Each "pin" on the map is clickable and will show the location of the church, contact information, including a link to the church's website if there is one.

Check out this photo for an idea of what it looks like. Shown in this screen are the church I serve, and the pin at the lower right is our good friends at Presbyterian Church of Old Greenwich.

Hope to hear from lots of you on this one!

Final preparations for civil unions

Justices of the Peace are receiving their final training to get ready for civil unions on October 1st. After all, as one justice was quoted, "The last thing Connecticut needs are incompetent justices of the peace." Justices, at least so far, are able to refuse to civil-unionize same-sex partners based upon their convictions. We'll see how long that lasts...

And, Atty. General Blumenthal says Connecticut will recognize civil unions performed in other states.

Keep praying!

We're back...

Hope you like the new look of the blog. Some day I may tweak the colors to make it more like our state colors, but since it is fall it's OK for now. Not all our fans can be happy, few though they may be.

I've been swamped with a couple of projects and so have not been able to post. We should be more regular now - thanks for coming by!

Back to school...back to God

Years of concerted prayer for college campuses are bearing fruit as this story in Christianity Today attests. Faithful intercessors, including some tenacious student leasers, are redigging wells of revival originally dug centuries ago by men of faith who founded many of the Ivy League schools.

Remember to pray for Yale this fall, and all the college campuses in our area.

Civil Union getting ready to roll out

While Gov. Schwarzenegger gets ready to veto gay marriage, Connecticut is getting ready to launch its slightly watered-down version, the so-called "civil unions," on October 1st.

Here's a summary of what to look for from the Courant. However, we need to stay on guard in prayer that the courts do not expand this legislation beyond its parameters.

Praying for rain...

Praying for rain may strike you as an odd or antiquated notion, but it's actually a sign of a healthy spirit - one that can acknowledge its dependence on God and what He supplies.

The famous Bible passage which encourages us to pray for revival says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) But what was the healing the land needed? Sometimes it was lack of rain.

In the verse before the famous one, God tells the nation of Israel, "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people..." (2 Chron. 7:13) This provides a little context. God has the ability, should He choose, to turn off the spigot.

The people of that day lived and died (literally) with the weather and the rain cycle that gave them their harvest. So God found it easier perhaps to get their attention than He does ours. Has anyone noticed the drought or near-drought conditions in our neck of the woods of late? Read this to see how some wells are drying up and just how little rain we are getting. Not only wells but also agriculture is being affected. (You can track drought conditions all over by going here.)

Take some time in your prayer closet this week to thank God for the provision which we so often take for granted. Then, and at the risk of sounding odd, or even antiquated, ask Him for rain in our region.

President declares a National Day of Prayer for Sept. 16

The President has declared a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the victims of the hurricane. In it he quotes the words of Jesus, "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in."

Read the full text of the declaration here.

(One warning, the White House's website is a .gov, not a .com. The domain whitehouse, followed by the ".com" is something unsafe for children (and others) to view. Unfortunately, such is the state of society. Many people have mad the mistake of going to the wrong address and had their eyeballs assaulted.)

Give thanks for this declaration and let's pray earnestly for all those dislocated.

Connecticut will take some 1500 Katrina evacuees

Governor Rell announces the State will take in 1,500 evacuees.

Please continue to pray for the displaced. This is a time to show the compassion of Christ!

New website coming

I've decided I need to switch over to a new host. My old host has no record of me and none of my files. (Yes, I paid the bill!) Stay tuned.

The new site will be this, which is easier to spell and remember perhaps: www.prayct.org.

New e-mail should be up soon as well, which is info@prayct.org.

Website down

Our website at www.prayconnecticut.org has been pulled for some reason unbeknownst to me. The hosting company does not even show me in their records at the moment. I am at a loss to explain this but I am less than thrilled. Sorry for any unconvenience.

Waterbury area readers: Katrina relief efforts

First Assembly of God in Waterbury is providing relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Especially needed are water and diapers.

For details, call the church at (203) 753-8023.

Federal Judge grants Injunction to save air base

Governor Rell has been arguing that the Pentagon cannot realign the Bradley Air Guard base without her consent. A Federal Judge has agreed, at least temporarily.

Pray Connecticut Website launches!

I'm happy to announce that we have officially launched the new Pray Connecticut website. It's a work in progress, but functional enough at this point to help you find some news or some information about your hometown.

We will continue to add to it with the goal of making it a full-blown Christian portal for Connecticut!

Current pages include:

• a complete list of Connecticut newspapers on the web
• links to all municipal websites

Coming soon: an events calendar for Christian events in our State, church listings, teaching articles and other great features!

Stop by!

How can we pray for Connecticut? (Part 3)

In the previous posts in this series (see links below), we talked about how God has given "redemptive gifts" to different places and regions. These are gifts and abilities he has given to advance his cause and make us a blessing. We talked about how Connecticut has a call to be "The Arsenal of the Nation." In the natural, this reflects our traditional connection to the military. In the spirit, it speaks of how we have advanced the Kingdom through intercession. We also talked about how Connecticut has a call to model and Godly leadership and government, reflected in our nickname, "The Constitution State."

Connecticut also has a calling to meet the needs of others.

An early nickname for Connecticut was “The Provision State,” a name we received in part by being a major supplier of provisions for the Continental Army, supposedly saving the troops at Valley Forge. Some say we provided nearly half of Washington’s supplies.

This was also reflected in our State and Hartford in particular becoming the “Insurance Capital of the World,” inventing modern insurance and the modern insurance company.

We have also accumulated enormous personal and corporate wealth and influence out of all proportion to our size.

However, our wealth has not gone to advance the Kingdom of God but selfishness, creating gross inequities. Thus Greenwich, the richest town east of the Mississippi, exists in the same State as a Hartford, the # 2 city in the entire United States for child poverty. And we now boast two enormous casinos, one of which is the largest resort casino in the world, breeding gambling.

PRAY for Connecticut to become the Provision State once again and that her great wealth will be released for the advancement of the Gospel!

Click to read Part 1

Click to read Part 2

The $100 fill-up... and how much warning of Katrina?

Governor Rell is considering options to help with the soaring cost of gas... including suspending the state gas tax.

Pray for the economy!

Here's an eerie story about a worst-case hurricane scenario in New Orleans, published in 2004 by National Geographic... read it.

Katrina and Connecticut

Some Connnecticut universities are going to accept Katrina storm refugees.

The Connecticut Sun are donating proceeds from their Friday playoff game to the relief efforts. This is expected to bring in $50,000. Bravo!

The AP is throwing around a nice story about the rough-and-ready Connecticut Red Cross volunteers. Thank God. Read this one.

No surprise, we are also ever ready to provide National Guardsmen and utility workers.

Lots more of this going on, too!

Keep praying.

Was New Orleans disaster prophesied? Let's seek God's Voice!

Continue to pray earnestly for our entire nation as we witness the aftermath of Katrina. Let us be attuned to the Voice of the Spirit and hear what He is saying to our nation.

Prophetic minister Chuck Pierce prophesied in 2004 winds and waters coming to New Orleans, and refugees heading north. Although I try to avoid lengthy quotes, read these excerpts from the End Time Prophecy and Vision site:

"After Chuck discussed traveling from Wisconsin directly to Louisiana, he prophesied:

"From the North to the South I am ready to awaken two winds that will awake the nation. There are resisting forces in both states that will cause our nation to not move forward. Go up and down and decree the wind of God will awaken in both places. The states will shift in a new way or the nation will not shift and will go backwards."

Later when addressing the Saul structure in Baton Rouge, Chuck prophesied:

…. The WIND and WATER will rise in the midst of New Orleans. Many from the south will come north for refuge. Prepare. Prepare now for winds and water that will surprise you. I will renew the pattern not fully seen before. Worship will be here, and birthed in a new way from here. Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! Shift! Saul will be no more. David will arise from this day forward. The wind from the south will begin to blow. Watch for the effects. This will purify the land and bring great change."

Then in Alexandria that night Chuck shared from Song of Solomon 4:16 (Awake the north wind; come, o south wind. Blow upon the garden of this nation). He led the people to pray for the south wind to come. This south wind would be a purifying wind, cause corruption to be blown on and cause corruption to shake and initiate a righteous move starting with the children, then moving to the youth. We were to watch the government and the Catholic Church shake, and watch New Orleans change.

Then Chuck prophesied, 'I will put a mantle on African Americans in this land. That which was brought in through parts of this state and held people captive will let go. I will send the wind up the Mississippi River and this wind will shake Missouri. You will see the land shake in Missouri because of the wind from Louisiana. Get ready. Don't brace yourself. Throw yourself up. Get ready for the new is coming. Every place I blow on will shake. The wind is coming on Louisiana and it will shake the entire state. I will fill churches. The south purifying wind of My holiness will sweep across Louisiana. People will be on their faces in malls and shopping centers. Boldness will come upon My people in Louisiana. There is a worship call. Get ready - the wind is about to blow. The river is changing courses. You will be one of the first that changes.'"

Let’s endeavor to hear His Voice and respond. Pray for His Purposes to be accomplished more than concentrating on what the Devil seems to be doing.

(A note about sources: You may verify that this was predictive prophecy by going here for Google’s cached version of this report, dated February, 2005.)

Connecticut Red Cross info

This is the address of the Connecticut Red Cross. You can donate on line or call using the phone numbers provided, etc.

Governor sues to prevent loss of Air Guard planes; wrap-up of other stories

There is a little bit of news in the Constitution State, even while we are all looking towards New Orleans. Lost in the hurricane watch is the news that Governor Rell has sued to stop the BRAC from closing out the Air Guard base. This afternoon, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the recommendation. A hearing will take place on September 7.

Former Governor Rowland may be arrested for illegally doing business with the state after leaving office.

The business community is twisted about the problems and costs of doing business in Connecticut.

Hedge funds have been popping up like mushrooms in Connecticut, particularly in lower Fairfield County, but apparently there is a dark side.

Connecticut comes in second in per capita income according to census data released today.

Barna Group research shows Connecticut has nation's lowest incidence of Evangelicals

What do we have lots of in Connecticut? Well, we have lots of corporations, nice town greens, lots of cars, still quite a few cows, and apparently we're still going to have submarines for a while. But do we have lots of Evangelical Christians? Well...

If you're not familiar with them, the Barna Group is a Christian research organization devoted to checking the nation's spiritual barometer and regularly provides polling and other data on spiritual trends of all kinds. Their most recent report indicates that Connecticut has the lowest incidence of Evangelicals of any State in the nation. By Barna's defintion, Evangelicals are a subset of born-again Christians holding to certain doctrinal positions. While such criteria can be somewhat subjective, these factoids should give you pause:


"Of the 86 largest metropolitan areas in the nation, those with the lowest proportion of evangelicals were Salt Lake City, Utah; Hartford, Connecticut; and Providence, Rhode Island."

"The report also explores the faith of residents in the 27 most populous states. The state with the highest percentage of adults who are evangelical is Alabama (at 13%, nearly double the national average). Its polar opposite – i.e., the state with the lowest incidence of evangelicals – is Connecticut."

"Connecticut retains the bragging rights to having the fewest adults who are evangelical, with just 26,000 of them in a state of more than two and a half million adults."

"One out of every six residents of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington are atheist or agnostic – nearly double the national average."


The full report is actually $3500.00 so you won't be seeing it posted here in the near future, but go here to read the abstract at the Barna site. It is very informative and, I hope, sobering to Bible-believing Christians in Connecticut.

Keep praying!

Air Guard Base to empty out...

After dodging the big bullet, Connecticut has lost a component of its Air National Guard, as the Base Realignment and Closing Commission voted 9-0 to move 17 A-10 attack planes out of Bradley International Airport.

On Wednesday, the Commission voted to close three Army Reserve centers in the State, costing us over 50 jobs.

Episcopal clergy and lay leaders take action against Connecticut's Episcopal Bishop

Ready for some news that does not involve submarines?

Nineteen Connecticut Episcopal leaders have filed formal charges against Bishop Andrew Smith, claiming a variety of violations of canon law, including violating the due process rights of the so-called "Connecticut Six."

As usual, you will find the fullest reporting and blogging from a traditional prespective about this and other Anglican and Episcopal issues at the Virtue Online website, which is run by Orthodox Anglicans. The site is a great resource for articles and trends.

Virtue Online has more on the Connecticut story here, including the text of the filing against Bishop Smith.

Wrap-Up of Sub Stories

Here are a few stories to check out on this. We'll move on and leave the analysis to others after this.

Church in Groton has been busy praying over the decision. We know this pastor and he's a great guy.

Here's the Courant/AP report. Did Sen. Lieberman really say, "Yahoo!" Well, I guess he did.

Robert Ballard opines on the link between the Navy and New England oceanographers here. Very interesting stuff.

Sub Base Dodges Bullet!

Just happened. Final vote was 7-1-1 in favor of keeping the Groton base. The Commission Chairman had a lovely tirade in favor of the base.

Thank the Lord for His mercies to our State. Clearly not deserved, but that's why they call it mercy.

BRAC Commission meeting at this moment

Listen live at WTIC.

So far it sounds good for the Sub Base.

How Can We Pray for Connecticut? (Part 2)

In the first part of this series, we talked about how God has given "redemptive gifts" to different places and regions. These are gifts and abilities he has given to advance his cause and make us a blessing. We talked about how Connecticut has a call to be "The Arsenal of the Nation." In the natural, this reflects our traditional connection to the military. In the spirit, it speaks of how we have advanced the Kingdom through intercession.

Connecticut also has a calling to leadership and demonstration of godly government ("The Constitution State.")

• In 1639, Connecticut's English settlers, recognizing their need for a form of government, wrote the world's first modern constitution, the Fundamental Orders. This was the first written document in history to create a government of limited powers, but its primary goal was the preservation of "the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus...." Thus Connecticut became known as the Constitution State.

• Numerous first in American law and government came out of Connecticut or were proposed by its citizens, such as the first law school, and the idea for the structure of the U. S. House and Senate, known as the Connecticut Compromise. It has been speculated that the Constitutional Convention would have failed without this concept, offered by Connecticut's Roger Sherman. Connecticut was also the first State to provide a full public defender system.
  

• In recent decades, however, our State and local governments have been plagued by extreme corruption and other, even viler criminal activity which has resulted in the jailing of high public officials.

Let's pray for:

• the restoration of good government to our State

• Connecticut to again be a model and forerunner of good leadership practices

• good leadership in churches and society at large

Weird Connecticut This Week (Vol. 6)

In part, this week's post is another "stupid criminals" edition. A man who claimed to be have been carjacked as part of the recent bank robbery in Waterbury was actually in on it according to the police. He even let himself be interviewed on TV about having been carjacked - but the police say he was actually the getaway driver all along.

And, in another highly unnecessary event, some older gentlemen are posing in the buff to sell a calendar to raise money for affordable housing in Lyme. Apparently, one of the men posing nude is 70 years old and was a state legislator for 30 years. We'll pass on the calendar. Lyme is a beautiful town (see photo!) and it sure would be great if anyone who really wanted to live there could afford to do so. But what happened to the Land of Steady Habits anyway?

You probably can guess that I don't approve of this but I'm only making light of it because it's unlikely to be inimical to morals...

(Photo courtesy State of Connecticut.)

Is Connecticut percolating?

Those of us who are looking for reformation and transformation in our State would be lying if we said Connecticut was boiling over spiritually. But maybe we are starting to percolate a bit. Our friends at the Family Institute of Connecticut have been blogging this week about how frequently religion and culture have been popping up in the Connecticut newspapers. Check out the August 18th entry in their Connecticut in the Crosshairs blog. (You can also find them at any time in our new blogroll on the right-hand side of this page.)

And while I'm at it, rather than railing against mainstream media columnists, wouldn't it be a great idea (and more Christlike) to have some organized prayer for them?

Over fifty years ago, the ministry of Billy Graham was heavily promoted by publisher William Randolph Hearst - most likely not out of any desire to see people come to Christ, but for reasons of his own. But how many souls came to know the Lord because of the increased visibility Dr. Graham got from Time magazine? Don't get me wrong - the Lord doesn't need the Hartford Courant or Channel 8 to get His message out. But what if more members of the press knew that we actually cared about them as individuals? Would a Christlike spirit affect how Christians and other pro-family activists are viewed and reported upon?

That's just something to think about . . .

Update on New London Sub Base

Please continue to pray for the Base Realignment and Closure Commission which is reviewing possible closure of military bases. Some decisions are expected very soon. (Earlier post with more complete info here.)

Today we received some support at very high levels, as Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert wrote to the Commission and expresssed his belief that closing the base would be wasteful and also harmful to national security. He urged the Commission to remove New London from the list of bases to be closed.

Let's give thanks for this support and continue to ask the Lord to safeguard our economy as well as our security.

More unwelcome news on the economic front...

International Paper announces it will leave Stamford, taking numerous good-paying jobs with them down to Memphis. The linked article gives some interesting details about what was done to try to keep them in state, and comments on our economic woes such as job stagnation and the threatened loss of the sub base and its associated jobs.

The AP business writer of that story also notes that we are ranked the 5th most expensive State in which to do business. The Milken Institute, an economic think tank, puts out an annual ranking of such things, and among its 2005 findings is the revelation that Connecticut has the highest wages in the nation. This is good for those of us who are here already and can keep our jobs, but not so good for attracting new business. (And of course our high cost of living can soak up those high wages pretty quickly, too...)

It's way past time to begin to pray for the health of our State economy and go to the Lord in repentance for excluding Him and His ways from more and more areas of our everyday life.

How can we pray for Connecticut? (Part 1)

Is there a way to pray specifically for a State or region rather than just praying about events as they happen? A better question is, "Can we actually know and then pray God's purposes for a certain place?"

It seems God has given certain "redemptive gifts" to peoples, nations, and states - gifts and abilities which he desires to have us use to bless others and advance His Kingdom. However, the enemy of our souls perverts and twists these gifts. For example, in Connecticut, our call to be a provider and a storehouse has been perverted such that we are now known nationwide for casino gambling, greed, and economic inequality.

I believe our gifts and callings as a State can be perceived through the lens of history and the aptitudes of our people. Over several posts, I want to share three particular callings or gifts that we possess as a State. We can then pray more targeted prayers and, as we do, we will see God using our State for His Glory!

First, Connecticut has a Calling to Prayer (“The Arsenal of the Nation”).

• In the natural, Connecticut has long been known as "The Arsenal of the Nation." Since Colonial times we have been a center for firearms and military production. Even today, despite our small size, we are a leader in the production of firearms, military engines, submarines, and helicopters. In the spiritual realm, it has been prophesied that Connecticut will again be an arsenal for war, but in the realm of prayer.

• Indeed, we do seem to have a call to be a praying State. Connecticut ministers such as David Brainerd were at the forefront of the work of prayer and evangelism during the Great Awakening of the 1740's.

• Our governors once proclaimed annual days of fasting as well as days of thanksgiving. In March, 1775, Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. proclaimed a statewide fast for April 19, 1775. Providentially, that ended up being the date of the Battle of Lexington and Concord! Thus, on the very day that the American Revolution was born, the Church in Connecticut was actually in church, help to birth our national freedom through prayer.

With this in mind, let's pray:

• for the churches of our State to rise up in unified prayer once again
  

• for God to raise up an army of intercessors throughout the State

• for people to take to heart a burden for State issues as well as National and local ones

Two Connecticut cities among the most "liberal"

The Gospel is not about "right" or "left," and neither is this blog. However, I found it interesting that two Connecticut cities are among the 15 most liberal in the country, according to The Bay Area Center for Voting Research.

According to their reports, derived from voting patterns, Hartford is # 12 and New Haven is # 15. A full listing of the most liberal cities can be found here. Or, if you want to know where the most conservative places are, go here instead.

The New Britain Herald has more info on this here.

Photo courtesy State of Connecticut.

Weird Connecticut This Week (Vol. 5)

I've been away on vacation this week, so blogging has been at a minimum. Thanks for visiting!

This edition of WCTW is not actually an example of homegrown Connecticut weirdness per se, but is about what may be the most offensive thing that has happened in Connecticut this summer. About some people who came into Connecticut and acted, well, weirdly.

Whatever you think about animal rights, PETA's summertime trip to New Haven firmly established them as being inhumane. On August 8, PETA displayed photos of dead animals in New Haven together with photos of dead people such as lynched African-Americans, in a misguided effort to equate slavery with the use of animals, or something. Fortunately, New Haven residents let them have it. So much so that PETA is now rethinking its campaign.

According to the New Haven Register, PETA banners compared African-Americans' sufferings to those of cattle, sheep, a seal, an elephant, and a rooster.

(In other PETA highlights: PETA protested the eating of fish, with one protestor actually dressing as a fish. Fox News reporting on PETA also noted that they were protesting the eating of sushi at an aquarium fundraiser - saying it would be like eating poodleburgers at a dog show.)

Anyway, well done, New Haven. For all their high-mindedness, PETA's grandstanding only serves to devalue human life. Our culture needs to value life and uphold the dignity of all persons.

SOS: Save Our Subs!

The Danbury News-Times editorial board (no right-wingers, they) expressed concern in their lead editorial Sunday over the rise of Chinese naval power and the seeming rush to gut our own submarine force, which only includes 55 attack boats. There is also alarm about unprecedented joint Russian-Chinese war games involving some 100,000 troops.

Of course, this also has much to do with trying to prevent the powers that be from torpedoing our own state's economy by closing the New London sub base. The Norwich Bulletin reports there are hopeful signs in the last few days that the Commission reviewing base closures may give us a last-minute reprieve.

Let's pray that our officials will make wise decisions as they review our bases and that God will bless our economy. Pray for the Commission, known as the BRAC.

Praying for prayer

What does it mean to "pray for prayer?"

Some people use prayer lists, some don't. Some like to "pray the news." Others just pray for whatever or whoever comes into their head, as the Spirit leads them. Some are "governmental intercessors" who feel called to pray for those in leadership. But with all the praying we do for different things, I think it's also important that we pray for God to make us a praying people and raise up more works of prayer in our State. We can pray for prayer!

Remember that a prayerless people seems to be the only thing in Scripture that can actually astonish God.

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. (Isa. 59:15-16)

Let's pray for prayer this coming week by asking God for the "spirit of grace and intercession" to fall upon Connecticut. I believe that God can cause us to be a praying people once again. Let faith arise in your heart that God can make a change - not just in your family, but in your town and your State!

A simple thought on prayer and consistency from Corrie ten Boom:

"Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees."

Another reminder it's not too early to pray...

Yes, there are elections for Governor in 2006 - and by the way, 2006 is coming up fast. New Haven's Mayor DeStefano , a candidate for the Democratic nomination, has already released a DVD linking Gov. Jodi Rell to the corruption of the Rowland Administration.

This week, a New Haven Advocate writer poked Mr. DeStefano about his fundraising, and named some names. I don't know that the Advocate would come out for Mrs. Rell, but it doesn't look like this will be a very genteel contest for Governor.

Let's begin to pray now for the elections of 2006 and ask God for leaders after his own heart!

Weird Connecticut This Week (Vol. 4)

Usually the easiest post of the week to create, here's this week's edition. Maybe there really is something in the water.

• Connecticut may have a new entry in the annals of stupid criminals on account of this man's alleged actions. Must be read to be believed. Bonus - check out the very funny response by the men in blue.

• I thought this story about guys in Greenwich and elsewhere getting manicures was just more fluff about the rise of metrosexuals; however, the guy did say it was nice to "have a pretty girl take care of him."
  

• It looks like a Connecticut soldier has ended up with Saddam Hussein's bulletproof Mercedes. We didn't think Fairfield County was getting that tough, but who knows?

• Apparently the Sony Corp. invented a fake movie critic, supposedly based in Ridgefield, and used his bogus quotes to puff movies. Honest.

• A woman allegedly parks in a handicapped spot, even though she is not handicapped. This does not qualify you for this post, unless you also have stolen plates, no driver's license, and are driving an unregistered car.
  

• And finally, it's been so hot this week, we should all cool off with a refreshing beverage.

Enjoy!

Episcopal Priest Formally Denies Charges

The Rev. Mark Hansen of St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol, who was prohibited by the Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut from performing his duties, has formally denied any wrongdoing. Rev. Hansen is one of six Episcopal priests disagreeing with their bishop over the ordination of an openly homosexual man as Bishop of New Hampshire. No action has been taken thus far against any of the other five priests.

Activists continue to push for same-sex marriage in Connecticut

The group GLAD ("Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders") has already sued in New Haven Superior Court on behalf of some same-sex couples who are seeking the imposition of full-fledged gay marriage in Connecticut. Click here to read their brief, filed last week, seeking summary judgment in their favor. [A summary judgment motion seeks judgment without the necessity of a trial on the merits of the case.] (Hat tip to Brian Brown et al at the Family Institute of Connecticut.)

In general, you can track the progress of any family or civil court case in Connecticut through our States' excellent Judicial Department website. If you are into safeguarding privacy, this site may scare you a little bit. Track the case here. You will need to scroll down a bit to get through the names of the parties and their attorneys. At the bottom you will see the motions and what action was taken upon them. The Connecticut court system does not yet provide digital copies of the actual motions themselves, so there is no way to read them without going to the courthouse. Pray for all involved.

Apparent Rituals Arouse Curiosity in Danbury Area

As I mentioned in last week's Weird Connecticut post, someone left an offering of a pig's head, together with vegetables and wine, in a Bethel cemetery. This week, the top headline on the Danbury News-Times shouted out that the leaver-behind of the pig had struck again. This time, police found a pig's head in a Danbury cemetery. They explained it as possibly an Asian custom to honor deceased ancestors. This makes sense on some level, as Danbury does have a somewhat large Cambodian population.

However, a third pig's head has now turned up, this time in a park. This story contains some background. Looks like the reporter called some West Coast contacts to find out more about Asian customs of honoring the dead. The quoted expert thinks this is the work of Tongans or Samoans. Without wanting to talk about this in any depth, lots of cultures perform these kinds of sacrifices. (Don't Google it, it's gross.) Anyway, it will not hurt us to pray against anything that was designed to be released if indeed this was a sacrifice. It may also be bored teenagers trying to raise a scare.

Earthquakes Aplenty

This takes us beyond the realm of Connecticut obviously, but I couldn't help but notice the large amount of strong earthquakes around the world in the last couple of weeks. This is not just anecdotal evidence on my part, as I do track them with a nifty RSS feed from the U. S. Geological Survey.

(There are several different RSS feeds available for quakes depending on the size, but the only one I was able to make work was the feed listing all quakes size 2.5 or above. This gives perhaps too many results, but is very interesting. Anyway, I was alarmed to see how many quakes there have been size 5.0 and above lately, including a 5.6 in Montana that I did not hear about elsewhere in the press. If you are new to the world of RSS feeds, my own personal recommendation is RSS Reader, which still a free download. It does not integrate into Outlook or Internet Explorer but I think it's a great program.)

Please, let's pray for God's mercies on our State. Earthquakes are not unknown here, just not prevalent or powerful.

Weird Connecticut This Week (Vol. 3)

Been too busy to post too much over the past week or so and it will be spotty for the next couple of weeks. Hey, it's summer - but just because I go on a slowdown doesn't mean that Connecticut will cease to be odd on my account.

Stories of occult activity in the dead of night are seldom reported on. So it was unusual to see on the news a story of a pig's head, found cooked, in a cemetery in Bethel. Complete with the veggies and a little wine.

Great places to live!

You already knew this, but Connecticut has lots of nice places to live. (Some expensive places, too!) So, few were very surprised to see a number of Connecticut towns hit Money magazine's list of the top 100 places to live in the USA.

Topping the list of Connecticut towns was Greenwich, at #12. (They must not have checked the gas prices!) Also on the Money list were Tolland (#29), Colchester (#57), New Milford (#67), and Guilford (#78). We also have three of the top five towns in highest median income (Darien, New Canaan, and Wilton). We'll take all these feathers in our cap, but please also pray for the many struggling communities in our State.

The allure of Scientology

Can't turn around without hearing about Scientology. This is one of several times I can recall across the decades when they have gotten a lot of buzz. This time it's because of Tom Cruise and other Hollywood devotees. Any pro-Scientology flare-up also draws out its many detractors, including this piece by Michael Crowley, an editor at the New Republic. Crowley brings out the details of founder L. Ron Hubbard's life, details which are usually glossed over by Scientologists or else completely unknown to them. These allegedly include black magic rituals designed to produce the Antichrist. (No, I'm not kidding.)

In any event, as you pray for the spread of the Gospel, please remember to pray about cultic groups, especially those which seem appealing when famous people promote them.

Rick Santorum on Courts on National Review Online

National Review has published a very important excerpt from Senator Rick Santorum's new book, It Takes A Family. Obviously the title is meant to stand in contradistinction to Senator Clinton's book, It Takes A Village.

Rick Santorum on Courts on National Review Online

Weird Connecticut This Week (Vol. 2)

This past week there were, as always, some unusual things happening in the Land of Steady Habits.

• One man allegedly mowed down some geese with his car. A police officer said, in words I could not have invented, "This here was a wanton act." No argument there.
  

• Hundreds of state workers in a office building on Sigourney Street in Hartford claim that mold is making them sick. Union officials are giving out protective gear. Video available if you follow that link. Big budget surpluses but mold everywhere...
  

• Health advocates and free speech advocates alike are happy that Dr. Mark Breiner, a dentist, will now be allowed by the State Department of Public Health to advise his patients about what he claims are the dangers of dental fillings which utilize mercury.
  

• And finally, as if we didn't have enough drugs, let it come as a sad revelation to you that it is popular in some circles to use animal tranquilizers to get high. A Pennsylvania man was arrested in our cute little state for allegedly possessing dozens of bags of ketamine, called "Special K" on the street.

Animal tranquilizers?

AAA Link fixed

Thanks to relolp who pointed out that the AA link was broken. It is a tricky link, if that makes sense. This I got from the AAA's site and it should work.

To read their press release about it, go here.

AAA Price Finder: a nice resource

With gas prices being what they are, we thought it might be helpful to make you aware of the AAA's fuel price finder. Let's pray for the continued health of the economy. I find it interesting that a number of prophetic voices have mentioned an upcoming discovery of additional resources or new resources that will reduce or even eliminate our dependence on imported energy. This is certainly something to pray for as well. But in the meantime, should God not bless us in this way, there is much we can do as good stewards. (End of sermon!)

Episcopalians React to Inhibition of Bristol Priest

Connecticut's Episcopal Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, "inhibited" the Rev. Mark Hansen of St. John's Episcopal Church in Bristol over a dispute stemming from Bishop Smith's approval of the consecration of an openly homosexual man as a bishop. The inhibition has the effect of barring Rev. Hansen from performing the duties of a priest for six months. The Courant reports that locks have been changed and another priest, the Rev. Susan J. McCone, has been appointed to perform pastoral duties. Parishioners are also none-too-pleased and weighing their options.

Rep. Shays will face rematch from Diane Farrell

U. S. Rep. Christopher Shays will be facing a rematch from Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell. The Courant/AP has story here.

Just a reminder that it's never too early to pray for the upcoming 2006 elections. The news cycle being what it is, it always seems that we just finish an election and here it comes again. The demands of publicity, not to mention the financial demands of campaigns, compel candidates to get out there before we're really ready to go through it all again.

Intercessors for Connecticut, July 2005

The July edition of the Intercessors for Connecticut newsletter from Connecticut House of Prayer is now available at CHOP's InJesus site. There are several prayer points of note there, including Governor Rell's decision to OK stem cell research, and more on eminent domain.

More fallout from New London Supreme Court Case

Will Ridgefield now take some support from the recent Kelo v. New London case and take some land for development? That town is looking to put up 600,000 square feet of corporate office space. The developer-owner has been resisting Ridgefield's efforts in Federal court, but in light of the U. S. Supreme Court decision making it easier for towns to glomm your property, the battle may be over.

Meanwhile, New London officials received some death threats, proving that Americans still know how to overreact! Others came to New London itself from all over to protest and state legislators are buzzing about trying to avoid what a Florida legislator called a "Connecticut situation." Great! One more thing to be known for.

With that thought in mind, here's next year's license plate, just maybe. Don't sue me, the actual plate is onsale at EBay. (If you want, you can sue me for the bad photo edit!) On a more serious note, this is not what Thomas Jefferson envisioned. And, we are called the Constitution State for a reason. I'd prefer not to be known as the State that helped wreck it...

Weird Connecticut This Week

Maybe this will be a regular feature, maybe not, but there are oodles of weird news stories in our cute little State lately. Is there a full moon?

• A man was arrested in Litchfield for strolling around town naked - nine miles from home, no less! Although Blogger now has a new photo feature, I'm not using it yet. At least not in this post.

• And, it's Little League season again. That means, as always, beware of parents running amok.

• People are robbing banks because - 9/11 traumatized them!

You can't make this up.

Thoughts about the Kelo v. New London case...

The Kelo decision hit us like a meteor, and once again Connecticut finds itself on Page One. If you don't know, this decision of the U. S. Supreme Court allows governments to take private property for public purposes, not merely for public uses, as spelled out in the 5th Amendment to the Constitution. The City of New London condemned the homes of the plaintiff Susette Kelo and some of her neighbors (one of whom had lived in her home since 1918) for the purpose of private development such as offices and a marina which would, of course, beef up the tax rolls. It would also make a few bucks for the developer, most likely.

Justice Sandra O'Connor, no right-wing ideologue, said in her dissent that, "Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result. '[T]hat alone is a just government,” wrote James Madison, “which impartially secures to every man, whatever is his own.'” Eloquent.

Now everyone is in a scramble to prevent these takings, and we wish them success. In Connecticut, where the offense occurred, Republican senators are proposing to limit takings of residential properties . One man, with the suspiciously satirical-sounding name of Logan Darrow Clements, is taking a more pointed approach, writing to the Town of Weare, New Hampshire and offering to develop the property of Supreme Court Justice Souter.

It's only fair, after all.

Connecticut Now Has Worst Job Growth in Country

The FDIC is reporting that Connecticut has the worst job growth in the country. We've lost more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs in the past 15 years and, of course, still face the prospect of losing as many as 15,000 with the threatened closure of the sub base.

In the grim language of the report, "Through first quarter 2005, manufacturing employment rose slightly, construction employment was steady, and service employment was narrowly mixed. This lack of growth during a national economic upswing is a concern as employment now is only slightly higher than at the beginning of the 1990s. No other state in the country has had such stagnation in employment."

This is another superlative we could have done without. Our pockets of high income and stratospheric home prices are masking the struggles of many. Let's pray that God will be merciful to us.

Tribe soldiers on...

An interesting and comprehensive article about the plight of the Schaghticokes and their chief, Richard Velky, in today's Courant. It does not give one a warm fuzzy about our State officials. If our own state statutes recognize the legitimacy of this tribe, why are we contesting their legitmacy before the federal government?

This is part two in a four-part series on key players in this drama.

State Capitol Prayerwalkers Meeing

There will be a State Capitol Prayerwalkers Meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2005 at 7:00pm at Shiloh Christian Church, 870 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, CT.

Do you want to do something that will make a difference in our state government? Do you want to do something that will actively influence government policy in a Christlike way? If you’re interested, the CT House of Prayer-Hartford sends teams of Christians into the State Capitol Building to pray for the legislators every day, Monday through Friday while legislature is in session. If you’re interested in finding out more about this, come to this meeting.

The Legislature is in session only half a year, usually from January through June. It will require a commitment of only 1-2 hours one day every other week Monday through Friday sometime between the hours of 8:00-5:00pm.

Last winter there were 10 teams of prayerwalkers prayerwalking the State Capitol Building. They will be there to share their experiences with us. Come and find out more about this exciting prayer ministry!

DIRECTIONS:
From the east: Take the Sisson Avenue exit off Interstate 84, Hartford. Go straight onto Prospect Avenue. Take a right and Shiloh Christian Church is approximately 1-2 miles on the right, just before Elizabeth Park.
From the west: Take the Prospect Avenue exit. Take a left onto Prospect Avenue and Shiloh Christian Church is approximately 2-3 miles on your right.

For more information, call: Audrey Church McIntyre, CT House of Prayer, Inc. - Hartford, P.O. Box 4042, Hartford CT 06147-4042, (860) 716-0247.

Jesusfest Returns this July

JESUSFEST is a local one-day Christian festival / "country fair" that Drew Crandall from Keep in Touch has facilitated. Every year this festival has doubled in size - last year there were some 7,000 to 8,000 people in attendance! It is held at the Tolland Agricultural Grounds in Vernon. This year the festival will be held Saturday, July 9 from 10am-9pm.

The objective of this festival is to reach out to the lost in our community and promote unity among the churches crossing denominational lines by reaching out to the community together - showing that Christians can have fun! Approximately 10 churches from a wide variety of fellowships & denominations are involved in putting this festival together. The festival is free to the public.

This year there will be two 2 prayer tents set up: one will be an intercessory tent where there will be 14 hours of straight worship and intercession for the State of Connecticut; the second will be a place where people at the festival can come to receive prayer. Audrey McIntyre, the prayer coordinator for the event, is seeking prayer leaders and ministers who have active prayer groups to come with their groups and pray for 2 hours on-site at the festival. Would you like to come to the festival with your fellow intercessors and spend at least 2 hours in worship and intercession for the State of Connecticut? If so, contact Audrey via e-mail.

For more information, check www.jesusfest.org. (Site may still be under construction.)

MSNBC Interview with Rep. Rob Simmons on base closure

Congressman Simmons can be seen here getting as agitated as a polite Connecticut congressman can possibly get in response to the news about the sub base.

You may need to endure a 30-second NBC commercial for Pampers or something.

First Execution in New England in 45 Years

Another big story: Michael Ross was finally executed... the Courant has a comprehensive piece here.

Federal Agency Overturns Recognition of Two Tribes

Another big story: the Interior Board of Indian Appeals has overturned the federal recognition of the Schagticoke Tribe, which is based in Kent, as well as the Eastern Pequot tribe which is located in southeastern Connecticut.

Published reports indicate that the matters will go back to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for reconsideration.

This is a major victory for those fighting the spread of casinos in Connecticut. It was widely feared that the Schagticoke Tribe would seek to operate a casino in the Danbury area.

Groton Base Threatened With Closure

One of an incredible series of large stories hitting the State today...what is going on in the heavenlies?

The biggest story is that the submarine base is slated to be closed. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission has spoken, and under its plans, Connecticut would take the biggest hit in the country: we will lose 7,096 military jobs and 952 civilian jobs. This does not even take into account the domino effect to businesses all over the southeastern part of the State. Connectciut officials are vowing to fight the recommendation.

The full BRAC report can be seen here (PDF document).

Continue to pray for God's mercies on our State and its economy.

Fear and trembling in Groton as Report comes out tomorrow

News will likely be released from the Department of Defense tomorrow as to the future of the U. S Naval Submarine Base in Groton. At this juncture, all we can do is pray that this linchpin of the Southeastern economy (31,000 jobs) will "stay afloat." Keep praying.

Solemn Assembly this Sunday, May 15th!

To all our praying friends:

The Spirit of the Lord has prompted apostolic prayer leaders around the world to call for a Global Day of Prayer on Pentecost Sunday, which falls this year on May 15.

Here in Connecticut we are in a season of great cultural upheaval and redefinition of society’s foundation. It is rightly fitting for the Body of Christ in Connecticut to join together to seek the face of God in repentance and prayer. The prophet Joel enjoins us at such times to “blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a fast and call a solemn assembly.”

A representative group of ministers is echoing the Spirit’s call for God’s people to meet in such assembly here in Connecticut, on May 15 at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, Connecticut beginning at 7:00 PM. (Click here for directions to First Cathedral.)

Scripture bears witness that revival comes only as God's people humble themselves before Jesus Christ in corporate confession, united in a passionate plea for a movement of His Spirit. The Connecticut Solemn Assembly will be a time for the church in Connecticut to cross the lines of geography, race, denomination, and tradition to seek God's face, to ask Him to restrain His judgment and, in mercy, pour out his reviving Spirit upon our land.

If you are unable to attend, it remains vital that you spend some time in prayer for the State of Connecticut this coming Sunday evening.

Drop the shaver and step away from the vehicle!

Having resolved weightier matters, the Legislature is taking up the issue of distracted drivers. The bill is being assailed by some who believe it gives too much discretion to the courts and the policeman. We'll be interested to see what is considered "arrestable" behavior. Personally, I've seen people on the highway reading a book. But isn't there already a reckless driving statute?

National Day of Prayer Observances in Connecticut

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and rather than fret over the inevitable attacks on the day's observances (most typically, that they're not sufficiently diverse) you may want to just pray! Here is a list of Connecticut events that have been posted on the National Day of Prayer's website.

To read the Presidential Proclamation, go here.

The big rally...

The Connecticut press was willing to concede that 3,000 people came out on a Sunday afternoon to voice their displeasure at the thought of civil unions legislation. That's somewhat impressive when you consider that the thing had already passed...

Also of note: there were only 80 counter-demonstrators. Still, it's hard to tell from watching TV that such a disparity exists. WTNH (Channel 8) described the pro-family contingent as "over a thousand." I suppose the gay-rights activists could be excused from coming to the Capitol as they got what they were after!

Lots of promises from the pro-family voices to remember this in 2006. If so, much more prayer and hard work is required. The Senate was ready to vote for this by about a 3/4 margin if you recall... Even if the Act were repealed, there would be a flurry of court challenges. What would be the status of people who were "civil-unionized" during the life of the Act?

Danbury on the frontlines of immigration clashes: sparks fly and neighbors seethe.

The AP picks up the scene in booming Danbury, where some residents feel overwhelmed. Mayor Mark Boughton asks that State police be deputized to act as immigration officers. Story is running all over the country...

Professor removed from teaching class on Islamic Fundamentalism

A Manchester Community College professor teaching a class on "Understanding Militant Islamic Fundamentalism" was removed after teaching only one class. Michael Abdelmessih, a Coptic Christian, claims he was told by MCC officials that he was being suspended because he was teaching that Islam teaches revenge. Abdelmessih was quoted in the Journal Inquirer as saying, "This is a very serious situation and everyone in America, everyone in the world, needs to know about the terrorist movement." He is now receiving help from the ACLU.

Another thing we don't make in Connecticut any more ...

We note that Connecticut, which has already lost one seat in Congress in recent years, is in danger of losing another in the not-too-distant future. That would pull us down from six House seats to four, and reduce our electoral votes in Presidential ballots to 6 from 8. This all lessens our influence in the nation. By 2030, our slow population growth rate will produce a situation in which there are as many people over 65 as people under 18. In 2000, there were twice as many people under 18 as there were over 65.

Do you suppose that the incidence of abortion and homosexuality could create a declining birthrate? Many people are finally realizing that there is a "Roe effect," meaning a set of demographic consequences which flow from the Roe v. Wade decision which allowed Americans to abort about one-third of all persons conceived since 1973. Our friends of a more liberal persuasion have indeed noticed that the "red states" are getting redder and also exploding in population because people in those states make more babies - or, at least they abort a lesser percentage of those they do conceive. Conservative writers such as James Taranto at the Wall Street Journal have explored it with humor and a lot of jabs at their liberal opponents.

I realize this is anecdotal evidence, but perhaps you have wondered why so many school buildings have been converted to another use or just go unused, or maybe you have asked why streets and parks just seem emptier of kids than they did 35 years ago...

In the Bible, God tells us that having babies is a good thing. God tells us to choose life, and we pray that Connecticut residents will continue to do so.

Rally at State Capitol on Sunday, April 24

Although the Governor signed the amended Civil Unions Bill into law yesterday, the Rally for marriage and family will still take place at the State Capitol on Sunday, April 24 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. This will be your opportunity to show the Legislators the strength of opposition to civil unions and same-sex marriage!

The rally will take place on the steps of the State Capitol. Parking is available in the Legislative Office Building Parking Garage. Bus parking is available on Trinity and Elm Streets.

Stay tuned for more developments, and keep praying!

House Approves Civil Unions by 85-63 Margin

It's an event of such great significance that I can't describe it properly. Here we live in a State which so proudly trumpets itself the Constitution State, having given to the world its first written Constitution, the Fundamental Orders. One of the avowed purposes of that document was to maintain the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All the more ironic then to be the first State to enact "civil unions" through the will of the Legislature. From auspicious beginnings we can trace peaks and valleys of democracy in Connecticut across 365 years leading to yesterday's ultimate valley.

Despite all protestations to the contrary, we are just a banana peel away from same-sex marriage.

The openly homosexual State Senator Andrew McDonald crowed about the "588 rights and privileges" that will be conferred on parties to these unions.

There were also stalwarts for whom we can give thanks, such as T. R. Rowe of Trumbull, who was quoted as saying "This is really a radical redefinition of what marriage is...we’re going to open up marriage to homosexuals, but we’ll give political cover to lawmakers."

Absent divine intervention, Governor Rell will take advantage of this cover and sign the bill. The House version of the bill will go back to the Senate for action in the coming week. Keep praying and even fasting for God to undertake on behalf of those who wish to see our State enshrine godly principles.

For more of the flavor, see the Register article below.

New Haven Register - News - 04/14/2005 - House OKs civil union measure

Connecticut House Amends Civil Union Bill

By an 80-67 vote, the State House of Representatives a short while ago amended the pending Civil Unions Bill to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.

This would mean that the bill, if passed, would have top return to the State Senate, where it passed easily last week.

You can follow the follow the story up to the minute on the Associated Press State of Connecticut wire or watch live debate at www.ctn.state.ct.us. It's been instructive to watch our legislators go at it, from the merely nervous, to the brave , to the openly homosexual.

Solemn Assembly Called for May 15th! Prayer Vigils will precede it

In America a call has been sounded for ten days of prayer and fasting from the National Day of Prayer on May 5th to Pentecost Sunday, May 15th.

And here in Connecticut we are in a season of great cultural upheaval and redefinition of society’s foundation. It is rightly fitting for the Body of Christ in Connecticut to join together to seek the face of God in repentance and prayer. The prophet Joel enjoins us at such times to”blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a fast and call a solemn assembly.”

A representative group of ministers is echoing the Spirit’s call for God’s people to meet in such assembly here in Connecticut, on May 15 at First Cathedral in Bloomfield beginning at 4:00 PM. (Click here for directions to First Cathedral.)

Please forward and publicize this call to your own church leadership and your personal e-mail lists. We also encourage you to enlist prayer for Connecticut around the world through your various contacts and networks, especially in view of the current, dire situation in our Legislature.

Leading up to the Solemn Assembly will be a number of 24-Hour Prayer Vigils for our State, beginning on Friday, April 22nd at 6:30 p.m. and running until 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 23rd. Find the host location nearest you, and make plans to attend. (For the benefit of hosting churches, please advise them if you are coming.) Come and be prepared to pray concerning important issues facing us such as marriage,corruption in government, murder and violence, apostasy, problems in our schools and seminaries, racism, division, and the unity of Churches.

HOSTING CHURCHES FOR THE 24-HOUR PRAYER VIGILS

Greenwich / Lower Fairfield County Area:
Harvest Time Church, 1338 King Street, Greenwich, CT
Contact: Nick Uva (203) 531-7778

Meriden: New Life Church, 92 Main Street, Meriden, CT
Contact: Gunter Ohler (203) 630-3012

Middletown: Bible Rock Ministries, P.O. Box 106, Higganum, CT
Contact: Catherine Yaghsizian (203) 269-1868

Montville: Fruitful Harvest, 505 Old Colchester Rd., Montville, CT
Contact: Pastor Sharon Biltcliff (860) 848-3277
(Note: this meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will take place on Friday evening only.)

New Britain Area: Wellspring Church, 222 Lincoln Street, Kensington, CT
Contact: Ali Johnson (860) 348-0459

New Haven Area: Gateway Christian Fellowship, 129 Bull Hill Avenue, West Haven, CT
Contact: Scott Tavolacci (203) 934-0880

Waterbury: First Assembly of God, 1245 Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury, CT
Contact: Ida DuPaul (203) 753-8023

Willimantic: Harvest Light Christian Fellowship, P. O. Box 153, North Windham, CT
Contact: Ingrid Matell (860) 450-1117

Winsted: Beautiful Gates Christian Ministries, 508 Main Street, Winsted, CT
Contact: Linda Care (860) 738-4887

Six Episcopal Priests in Connecticut Face Action

Six Episcopal Priests are facing church discipline on charges they have abandoned the communion of the church. The dispute stems from the six priests' disagreement over the consecration of a practicing homosexual as an Episcopal bishop. Among the affected parishes are churches in Bristol, Darien, East Haven, and Groton.

Read more at VirtueOnline, a website devoted to orthodox Anglicanism.

State Senate Passes Civil Unions Bill Easily: The Blue State Blues

To the surprise of no one, our State Senate approved legislation which would make Connecticut the first state to pass civil unions for same-sex couples without court action. The vote was 27-9.

The most comprehensive report is probably the Courant's, found here.

A vote is expected in the House perhaps as early as next week. Action as well as prayer is required. More on this later...

You may call this just another case of the "blue state blues," but we can't help noticing that on the day before this vote, Kansas voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to their state constitution which would ban same-sex marriage and "civil unions." Some 18 states have passed similar measures. Still, wire reports would rather focus on Federal court action which gay rights activists hope will nullify the vote. Is there any life left in the concept of government "by the people?"