First, we'll need a quick review of our history:Following the 1860 election of President Abraham Lincoln the Confederate States of America (Confederacy) was formed when, because of Lincoln’s opposition to the expansion of slavery, 11 slave-holding states seceded from the United States of America. The Civil War started in 1861 when the U.S. Government (Union) rejected the Confederacy and their secession from the United States.
After winning the war, in the interest of healing our embattled nation, the Union reasonably thought it would be impractical to arrest and try thousands of Confederate soldiers and generals for treason or sedition. Some say this historical act of prosecutorial clemency erroneously led future generations of Americans, particularly in the South, to regard the Confederacy as patriotic, and its leaders as American heroes.
There is no dispute that this weekend’s protest in Charlottesville was led by a hateful fringe group of helmet-clad, white- supremacists whose goal was to preserve the statue of a general who led the battle against the U.S. Army in order to defend slavery. It is also pretty clear that they had an expectation and possible intent of violence. Yet blame for the escalation of violence can be assigned to all sides.
So, what should our response be as a nation and as Christians?
First, as a nation of laws, while we recognize everyone's Constitutional right to assemble in protest, we must insist that our local government and police departments prepare and pre-empt to ensure the order and safety of its citizens in these predictably volatile situations.Second, as voters and consumers, we can influence our political leaders and the media into embracing a spirit of statesmanship and patriotism by refraining from the damaging and divisive use of political identity labels, which only serve to separate good Americans into racial factions and ideological enemies.
Third, our church leaders should show the moral authority to call out and reject these labels which spur hatred and encourage such emotional and violent reactions.
And last but not least, as Christians, we can pray for compassion and understanding and acknowledge that for many African-Americans, especially in the South, the leaders of the Confederacy are directly tied to the rationalization of slavery and racism, and the Confederate flag has always represented depravity, prejudice, and violence.
This acknowledgment in no way translates into opening the door to erasing America’s Civil War history.
However, as a nation, we need to decide if erecting Confederate monuments that commemorate historical figures and events that clearly divide many Americans along racial and moral lines is 
worth this amount of national anguish?
Perhaps, as compassionate Christians and united Americans, instead of memorializing America's history of slavery in honored and prominent places in the public square, we should remember the great suffering and loss the Civil War brought upon our young country by teaching future generations the facts about these historical figures in school and place their stories, statues, and monuments in books, libraries and museums, where they belong.
As we face today's difficult moral, social and cultural issues, Advocates for Faith & Freedom asks that you join us in prayer for the healing of our divided nation, our people, and our leaders.
in The Springs church parking lot and invited the congregation to tour the facilities. What an impact it had on all who experienced this life affirming ministry, especially Pastor Bob!
ak for him.
As with Nehemiah, forging this new ground for something bigger than ourselves is difficult. But, this is how God has chosen to get his purpose advanced: through people like you and me, who at one point did not have a voice, and then, did! Nehemiah cared, prayed, went for the ask, and followed through. He went back to Jerusalem, rebuilt the walls, united his people, and worked as God’s change agent. 
lives of women.”
Thank you and God bless.
Under the U.K.'s government run health care system, Charlie’s parents have been fighting for permission to send their son to the U.S. to undergo pioneering treatment lead by Dr. Michio Hirano, a professor of neurology at Columbia University in New York.
world’s attention, including Pope Francis who tweeted, “To defend human life, above all when it is wounded by illness, is a duty of love that God entrusts to all.” President Trump even offered his support by tweeting, “If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.”
experimental treatment could not be justified. Clearly, financial consideration may be playing a part in the decisions made regarding baby Charlie’s life.
Over 150 pastors and influential church leaders from across the state came together in May to accept the challenge to pray for our politicians, pray for revival and to respond to the spiritual issues that threaten our communities. At least 28 of these pastors are affiliated with Advocates for Faith & Freedom’s ministry!
I was blessed to have had the opportunity to share with these pastors about Advocates for Faith & Freedom’s ministry. Simply put, we exist to defend their First Amendment right to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now, inspired by the hope of revival and the unity they shared, here is what these pastors had to say…
Ms. Nada Higuera, our staff attorney who argued the case, said that “Judge Trask explains that because free speech is involved under the State Constitution, the Court must strictly scrutinize whether the legislation is lawful. After scrutinizing the law, the judge agreed with our analysis that the law is an unconstitutional violation of free speech.”
Our next hearing is set for July 21, 2017, where the court will give direction on how our case should proceed - whether the case will actually have a trial or whether it should be simply decided by briefing.
Christian businesses, students, pastors and citizens owe these rock-stars a big “thank you” for their courage to stand up for our uniquely American right to freedom of speech, even if another person – or the government – says they disagree.
However, the modern progressive movement in our government has produced legislation that creates confusion between “free exercise of religion” and “freedom of worship.” Adoption agencies, bakers, florists, and schools that maintain what Americans have always believed about human sexuality, marriage and gender, now find themselves in danger of being in conflict with the law.
3. As you know, last month, Advocates for Faith & Freedom had the privilege of supporting and joining