Faith and Action

SEE OUR HANUKKAH BUSH!

2008-12-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

The Schenck family Hanukkah menorah and

Christmas tree stand ready for the dual holiday!

Your missionary to Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

"At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon." (John 10:22-23)

Remember there are TWO HOLIDAYS this coming week: Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, and CHRIST-mas--or as some Christians call it, The Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Not only are both recorded in the Bible, but Jesus took part in both celebrations. (He couldn't help being at the latter!)

The Schenck House has always been a dual-holiday observer: Eight days of Hanukkah and two days of Christmas. (Christmas Eve for us is almost as full as the Day itself.) I write about the lesser known of the two Feasts at my new blog, www.revrobschenck.com. Please check it out.

Note: This is the last post I will make on this blog. With the close of 2008, I segue not just to a new year, but a new place on the web. Hope you'll visit there. (We will keep this one going for a little while with a duplicate post from other site, but be sure to point your browsers and bookmarks to the new site: www.revrobschenck.com)

The Schenck Family and our ministry team at Faith and Action wish you and yours a Happy Hanukkah, Merry CHRIST-mas and a Blessed New Year!

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

PROPHETIC CHALLENGE TO A PROPHETIC CHALLENGE

2008-12-17T04:35:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Most of my ministry work engages government officials, but occasionally I have other equally important opportunities. Washington being the city it is, a lot of people who come through here are, to use a Spanish term, influyentes, or "influencers." And many of them land at the nearby National Press Club, which is exactly that, a private club for journalists and others in the media.

My latest encounter was yesterday at a luncheon at the Press Club featuring Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the embattled Episcopal Church in the United States of America, or ECUSA. (Some still call it PECUSA, retaining the anachronistic adjective "Protestant," before the rest of it.) Anyway, Bishop Schori was in town to give a speech--or lecture--or sermon--to the members of the Fourth Estate. She emphasized the church's "prophetic" challenge to society and government.

Because I am on the opposite side to so much of what the Bishop believes, promulgates and enforces in her churches, I wasn't sure what I was in for. I was there because I was invited by a board member of the club who is a friend and Christian brother, and because I like to get my information firsthand. I'm often asked about what's happening with the Episcopal Church by, among others, the media, so, I thought I should hear it myself.

A lot of what I heard was predictable, but some of it was not. For example, the Bishop spoke of the inherent value of each and every human person, no matter their "size." That was interesting, considering it's one of the prime arguments for the sanctity of all human life and against it's willful termination through abortion. The Episcopal Church, on the other hand, is officially "pro-choice." I'd like to ask her about that.

For that moment, though, I thought it would be even more revealing to ask her if she is open to being wrong on any of her opinions, especially on moral questions. I got my opportunity immediately after she finished her speech. She was much more congenial than most Press Club "celebrities," and warmly invited my question. It was simple: "Are you open to being wrong, for example, on the morality of homosexual behavior?"

Her surprising answer, "Yes, of course, yes."

When I asked my follow-up, "Should you discover you are wrong, what might you do about it?" She answered, "I think I should reserve my answer to that for another time." (Or words to that effect.)

The implications to her uncertainty on the paramount moral issue of human sexual behavior, fidelity, standards for the church membership, clergy and leadership (remember, the Episcopal Church was the first to consecrate an openly practicing homosexual bishop), are absolutely astounding. It has huge and far reaching consequences.

If there is any doubt in Ms. Schori's mind, and or heart, over whether homosexual behavior is right or wrong; if she's the least bit open to the claim that it is, in fact, a violation of God's will and Word on human behavior; if she has any reservation at all about whether it comports with the moral model the Church is to be to the world, and especially to young people, you would think she wouldn't be willing to take such an enormous risk.

Then again, we all share the same predictable, daring and sometimes menacing sinfulness about which Bishop Schori spoke yesterday. "We are all sinners," she declared.

Indeed.

For more on my encounter with Bishop Jefferts Schori, visit www.christiannewswire.com.

Back later . . .

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

ME AND NANCY PELOSI . . .

2008-12-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I didn't blog on what happened when I attended the recent U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, but others did. It was my second interesting exchange with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The first was last year when she grabbed my hand to escort me to meet the son of Martin Luther King, Jr., who had just addressed a ceremony at the Capitol honoring his father.

This time I had simply leaned over to thank the Speaker for keeping "Christ-mas" at the Capitol. I emphasized "Christ" because I felt she really had honored the meaning of the holiday. In a city where references to any kind of religious faith are sparse, she had not only referenced Christianity, but she permitted a US Air Force band to play Christmas carols. (Among them, Joy to the World.)

At first, Speaker Pelosi simply acknowledged that I had paid her some sort of compliment. Then, she realized the significance of my pronunciation and pursued me to let me know she had paid a price for her fidelity.

"I know, I got mugged for that you know," she pleasantly told me.

The phrase, "got mugged," wasn't familiar at first. Then I remembered politicians using it to refer to being politically assailed when they never saw it coming. In other words, they didn't expect to be criticized for what they had done. Obviously, Mrs. Pelosi hadn't thought a Christmas tree and carols at the Capitol were politically risky.

When it dawned on me what her response meant, I thanked her again.

"No, you really have to know I got mugged for it," she emphasized.

Good for Nancy Pelosi for standing up to such nonsense. Merry CHRIST-mas, Madam Speaker!

Thought you'd be interested reading these related articles:

http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=30961

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/category/nancy-pelosi/

http://christiannewswire.com/news/153388916.html

Be back later with more on Christmas in Washington . . .

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

CHRISTIAN DISAPPOINTMENT WITH BUSH

2008-12-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

The news about recent media interviews with President George W. Bush have left many people feeling sad, disappointed, jaded and, perhaps, even angry. Yesterday I got an E-mail from a supporter of Faith and Action who referred to "stunning news that President Bush does NOT know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior." She referred to a comment by him indicating he, "worships the same God that those other 'faiths' worship . . ."

To begin with, for me the President's comments are not stunning. Early into his first term, I saw that Christians, particularly Evangelicals like me, had jumped to some conclusions about what Mr. Bush believed and how he lives his faith. I had E-mail corresponded with one of his pastors back in Texas, and through it learned that the Bushes lived out a fairly common Methodist, middle-of-the-road Protestant, but never-the-less meaningful Christianity.

The Bushes have never been the Sunday-morning-Wednesday-night, Gospel-tract-leaving, Praise-the-Lord-saying, Christian-radio-listening, Bible-bookstore-shopping, born-again-believers that a lot of Christians assumed them to be.

I also saw a gradual erosion of the President's faith over the time he was in office. My first alarm bells went off when he and the First Lady decided not to continue attending the Lincoln Park United Methodist Church, near our ministry center. Lincoln Park UMC is a predominantly African-American congregation pastored by the very evangelical Reverend Dr. Harold D. Lewis. Pastor Lewis has been with us for a number of ministry events, including our delegation to the White House that presented a Ten Commandments sculpture for display there. Dr. Lewis has also been associated with our good friend of many years and fellow pro-life activist, Dr. Johnny Hunter, of the Life Education and Resource Center, America's largest and fastest growing African-American pro-life and pro-family organization.

Instead of Lincoln Park UMC, President and Mrs. Bush chose the so-called "Presidents' Church," St. John's Episcopal, just a block from the White House. While the congregation there has a venerable history as one of the oldest continuous churches in Washington, and one that has well-served presidents of the past, it has lately become a theologically moderate to left-leaning liberal church, and, is, of course, affiliated with the Washington Diocese of the Episcopal Church USA. It's been known to sport a rainbow flag outside. I do know there was quite a debate within the parish on the question of same-sex "marriage." I don't know how it was resolved.

I did admonish the President about his choice of churches, respectfully calling his attention to the potentially deleterious effect that certain types of spiritual company can have on the state of one's soul. He defensively dismissed it, saying it was a Secret Service decision. Odd, because the Secret Service is obligated to protect the president wherever he may decide to go, even to places like Iraq. I would think St. John's would be an easier exercise.

All this to say that we must continue to pray for President Bush--and anyone who occupies this high office; the Bible commands it and our natural impulse should be to do it. Some have suggested Christians are to blame for the President's eroded spiritual condition because we didn't adequately pray for him. Well, I'm just Reformed enough in my theology to think that the President's spiritual state lies securely in the hands of God, not in ours.

Still, as for all of us, when we're spiritually down, we need more, not less prayer. I'll take these recent revelations, whatever their meaning, to prod me to pray just a little more for George and Laura Bush and their family. I suspect they need it more than ever and will benefit from it.

More later . . .

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Missionary to Capitol Hill

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN . . .

2008-12-08T11:40:00.001-08:00

Above: A hand-crafted Nativity Scene by artist Amy Hinman, in the garden of the Faith and Action ministry house on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Christmas is a wonderful and hopeful time of year for us at Faith and Action. Of course, that's what the season is all about:

"Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'"(Luke 2:10)

A lot of people are afraid right now. Some because of the economy, others because of terrorist incidents like the one in India, and still others because of our own political situation. There are plenty of people right here on Capitol Hill, who serve in high offices of government, who are very afraid of what may be come next.

These people are not unlike the shepherds watching their flocks on that first Christmas. They, too, were in a world that was economically troubled, dangerously insecure and politically tumultuous. Yet, the angel instructed them not to be afraid, but rather to focus on the "good tidings" or "good news."

This is our message for Capitol Hill, "Do not be afraid." Why? Read on:

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11,12)

As you can see in the photo above, throughout the Christmas season we illustrate this hopeful message by way of our Nativity Scene in the front garden of our ministry center. It's in full view of the Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol and nearby congressional office buildings. We also recently set up a temporary Nativity Scene in front of the US Supreme Court! (See video here.)

Please pray for those who pause to contemplate this reminder of the marvelously hopeful event of Bethlehem!

Your grateful missionary,

Rob

PS Another hopeful sign: This year we weren't threatened with a citation for the Nativity Scene, as we've been in times past. they could just be taking a break, or, they're just waiting until closer to Christmas!

Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

BITTER-SWEET CELEBRATION: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF GEORGE DOCHERTY

2008-12-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Today I attended the funeral of a remarkable man, the Reverend Dr. George Docherty of "Under God" fame. He was 97 years old, and, as the chaplain who ministered to him for three years said, "He lived well and he died well."

Dr. Docherty was best known for his 1954 sermon, "Under God," preached while he was pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church here in Washington. At the time, a national petition drive was already under way asking Congress to insert a reference to God in our Pledge of Allegiance.

On the morning of February 7, 1954, "Lincoln Day" at Docherty's church (Honest Abe had attended there), then President Dwight Eisenhower was scheduled to be present and sit in Lincoln's pew. The Scottish preacher seized the opportunity and reprised the sermon he had preached two years earlier. It worked--Eisenhower was moved and put on a full-court press to pass the legislation.

On Flag Day of that year, June 14, 1954, the bill was signed into law and Americans would, for the first time, begin reciting in the Pledge, "one nation, under God." It was an important confession and profession. It would remind generations upon generations of Americans that our country is great because she acknowledges an even greater God, a "Supreme Judge of the World," to quote the Declaration of Independence.

George Docherty made that happen--and he wasn't even a citizen yet. That wouldn't come for another six years.

The story goes on and on. I am blessed to know just a small part of it, but I'm even more blessed to have met the man. He was weak and confined to bed when I visited him for the one and only time earlier this year, yet, he remained a towering figure.

Amazing that one man could contribute so much to a civilization--and that through a single sermon. At his home-going, Dr. Docherty was praised by family, friends and colleagues as a man of deep Christian faith and practice, a Bible-believer who was extraordinarily good at preaching and teaching, but was even better at being a father and a husband.

Thank you Dr. Docherty for giving us those two critically important words and for reminding every president, every member of Congress, every Supreme Court justice, and every American, that we remain for all time, "under God."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2008-11-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to One and All!

Couldn't find anything on the Pilgrim experience better than this. (Though it's only the "Protestant" side of the story. Remember, there was a Catholic side of Thanksgiving going on down south in Florida and Virginia!)

Thanks for the post goes to Karen England at Capitol Resource Institute:

The Desolate Wilderness

Nathaniel Morton describes what he and other Pilgrims saw in 1620.

Here beginneth the chronicle of those memorable circumstances of the year 1620, as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of William Bradford, sometime governor thereof:

So they left that goodly and pleasant city of Leyden, which had been their resting-place for above eleven years, but they knew that they were pilgrims and strangers here below, and looked not much on these things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, where God hath prepared for them a city (Heb. XI, 16), and therein quieted their spirits.

When they came to Delfs-Haven they found the ship and all things ready, and such of their friends as could not come with them followed after them, and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipt, and to take their leaves of them. One night was spent with little sleep with the most, but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other real expressions of true Christian love.

The next day they went on board, and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to hear what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them; what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other's heart, that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the Key as spectators could not refrain from tears. But the tide (which stays for no man) calling them away, that were thus loath to depart, their Reverend Pastor, falling down on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks commended them with the most fervent prayers unto the Lord and His blessing; and then with mutual embraces and many tears they took their leaves one of another, which proved to be the last leave to many of them.

Being now passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before them in expectations, they had now no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain or refresh them, no houses, or much less towns, to repair unto to seek for succour; and for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of the country know them to be sharp and violent, subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search unknown coasts.

Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wilde beasts and wilde men? and what multitudes of them there were, they then knew not: for which way soever they turned their eyes (save upward to Heaven) they could have but little solace or content in respect of any outward object; for summer being ended, all things stand in appearance with a weatherbeaten face, and the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hew.

If they looked behind them, there was a mighty ocean which they had passed, and was now as a main bar or gulph to separate them from all the civil parts of the world.

To balance out things, here's a great Thanksgiving reflection by my friend, Deacon Keith Fournier, who's affectionately known as "The Catholic Guy" ---

REFLECTION: Becoming Prayer

By Deacon Keith Fournier

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Through prayer, daily life takes on new meaning. It becomes a classroom of communion. In that classroom we learn the truth about who we are - and who we are becoming - in Jesus.

CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thess. 5:16-19)

St. Paul wrote these words to the early Christians in Greece. They did not live lives of ease, in any sense of the word. They had families, occupations, and real struggles, beyond what many of us could imagine. They also suffered greatly for their faith in a hostile culture.

He instructed them to “Pray without ceasing”. Did he really mean it? I believe that he did. The older I get, the simpler life gets. That does not mean it is “easy”. I speak of spiritual simplicity, the kind of attitude which gets right to the root of what really matters. I believe that Paul meant what he said to the Christians at Thessalonica and that his words are important to those who bear the name Christian today.We need to pray.

Prayer is an ongoing dialogue of intimate communion with God. God fashioned men and women as the crown of His creation, creating us in “His Image”, for this loving, relational conversation of life with Him. At the heart of understanding what it means to be “in His Image” is to understand the immense gift of human freedom and what has happened to our capacity to choose. Love is never coerced.

Our relationship with God was broken, separated and wounded through the first sin, the sin of origins or “original sin”. That sin, like all sin since, is at root a misuse of freedom infected by pride and self sufficiency. Our ability to exercise our freedom rightly, to live His Image by directing our capacity for free choice always toward the good, was impeded through the fall. Freedom was fractured.

The “Good News” is that through Jesus Christ, the way has been opened for an even fuller communion with God, one that is restored through His Incarnation, Saving life, Death and Resurrection. In Jesus Christ we are being re-created, re-fashioned and redeemed. He comes to live in all who make a place for Him within the center of their lives. This “making a place” is the essence of Christian prayer. It is not about doing, but about being.

The Lord wants us to freely choose to respond to His continual invitations to love. We will only find our fulfillment as human persons by entering into that kind of relationship. This is the meaning and purpose of life itself. As we grow in faith through our participation in the life of grace, lived out in the Church, our capacity to respond to His loving invitation grows as well, through prayer.

Prayer is about falling in love with God. Isaac of Ninevah was an early eighth century monk, Bishop and theologian. For centuries he was mostly revered in the Eastern Christian Church for his writings on prayer. In the last century the beauty of his insights on prayer are being embraced once again by both lungs, East and West, of the Church. He wrote these words in one of his many treatises on Prayer:

“When the Spirit dwells in a person, from the moment in which that person has become prayer, he never leaves him. For the Spirit himself never ceases to pray in him. Whether the person is asleep or awake, prayer never from then on departs from his soul. Whether he is eating or drinking or sleeping or whatever else he is doing, even in deepest sleep, the fragrance of prayer rises without effort in hid heart. Prayer never again deserts him. At every moment of his life, even when it appears to stop, it is secretly at work in him continuously, one of the Fathers, the bearers of Christ, says that prayer is the silence of the pure. For their thoughts are divine motions. The movements of the heart and the intellect that have been purified are the voices full of sweetness with which such people never cease to sing in secret to the hidden God.”

The Christian revelation answers the existential questions that plague every human heart and trouble every generation. Through His Incarnation, Saving Life, Death, and Resurrection, Jesus opens full communion with God for all men and women. He leads us out of the emptiness and despair that is the rotted fruit of narcissism, nihilism and materialism. When we enter into the dialogue of prayer, we can experience a progressive, dynamic and intimate relationship with God and He transforms us from within. We, as Isaac said, can “become prayer” as we empty ourselves in order to be filled with Him.

Through prayer, daily life takes on new meaning. It becomes a classroom of communion. In that classroom we learn the truth about who we are - and who we are becoming - in Jesus. Through prayer we receive new glasses through which we see the true landscape of life. Through prayer darkness is dispelled and the path of progress is illuminated. Through prayer we begin to understand why this communion seems so elusive at times; as we struggle with our own ...disordered appetites, and live in a manner at odds with the beauty and order of the creation within which we dwell only to find a new beginning whenever we confess our sin and return to our first love. Prayer opens us up to Revelation, expands our capacity to comprehend truth and equips us to change.

Through prayer we are drawn by Love into a deepening relationship with Jesus whose loving embrace on the hill of Golgotha bridged heaven with earth; His relationship with His Father is opened now to us; the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead begins to give us new life as we are converted, transfigured and made new. Through prayer, heavenly wisdom is planted in the field of our hearts and we experience a deepening communion with the Trinitarian God. We become, in the words of the Apostle Peter “partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4) That participation will only be fully complete when we are with Him in the fullness of His embrace, in Resurrected Bodies in a New Heaven and a New earth, but it begins now, in the grace of this present moment.

The beloved disciple John became prayer. He writes in the letter he penned in his later years: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness” 1John 3:1-4

As we “become prayer” our daily life becomes the field of choice and we are capacitated to choose the “more excellent way” of love of which the great Apostle paul wrote. (1 Cor. 13) Pondering the implications of the exercise of our human freedom becomes a regular part of our life, as we learn to “examine our conscience”, repent of our sin and become joyful penitents. Prayer provides the environment for such recollection as it exposes the darkness and helps us surrender it to the light of Love, the Living God dwelling within us.

“Becoming prayer” is possible for all Christians, no matter their state in life or vocation, because God holds nothing back from those whom He loves. This relationship of communion is initiated by Him. Our part is to respond. That response should flow from a heart that beats in surrendered love, in the process of being freed from the entanglements that weigh us down. The God who is Love hungers for the communion of sons and daughters - and we hunger for communion with Him - because He made us this way. Nothing else will satisfy. The early Church Father Origen once wrote: “Every spiritual being is, by nature, a temple of God, created to receive into itself the glory of God.”

We were made in the “image” of God and are now being recreated into His likeness in Jesus Christ. As we “become prayer’, that likeness begins to emerge. We give ourselves fully to the One who gave Himself to us and cry out with Jesus Christ “Abba Father.” No longer alienated, we participate in the inner life of God who now dwells within us. We also dwell in Him through His Spirit. This dwelling is prayer. It is not about doing or getting but about being, becoming, receiving, giving, and loving.

We will live the way we love and we will love the way we pray.

A wonderful spiritual writer of our own time, Henri Nouwen, understood the intimacy of prayer and the call to live in God. He wrote these words in his work entitled Lifesigns:

“Jesus, in whom the fullness of God dwells, has become our home by making his home in us he allows us to make our home in him. By entering into the intimacy of our innermost self he offers us the opportunity to enter into his own intimacy with God. By choosing us as his preferred dwelling place, he invites us to choose him as our preferred dwelling place. This is the mystery of the incarnation. Here we come to see what discipline in the spiritual life means. It means a gradual process of coming home to where we belong and listening there to the voice which desires our attention. Home is the place where that first love dwells and speaks gently to us. Prayer is the most concrete way to make our home in God.”

Have a Blessed Holiday!

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

IN BEE-UU-TEE-FULL SCRANTON!

2008-11-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington,DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Quick post, as I'm sitting right now in a session of the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom sponsored by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy and being held on the campus of Marywood University.

More than 20 nations are represented here. Participants are mainly lawmakers, but there are also diplomats, other government officials, NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) executives, journalists and other observers.

I asked IRPP president and conference organizer Joe Griebowski to explain the purpose of the Conference. Watch my video here.

Fascinating dialogue, presentations, discussion and debate. I'll write more about conference content in a later post.

Be back . . .

PRO-LIFE REUNION

2008-11-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

It's been busy here. So far, it's been three days, three major events and three states!

Friday night I attended a reception at the new Capitol Hill facility for the National Center for State Courts, sandwiched right between our two buildings. In the photo above you can see the slate blue row house in the center with our Faith and Action ministry center to the right and our National Pro-Life Action Center and team offices to the left.

The mission of NCSC is to "improve the administration of justice through leadership and service to state courts, and courts around the world." According to their website, they accomplish this, "through research, consulting services, publications, and national educational programs." Included in their programs are training seminars for the judges who sit on the 50 state supreme courts around the country, as well as their top-level staff.

Among the guests at Friday night's reception were state supreme court administrators, judges and chief justices. During formalities, NCSC executive director, Mary McQueen, graciously thanked me and our operations officer, Peggy Birchfield, for helping to bring the new center to reality. (I had put Mary together with the owners of the property and we did all we could to accommodate the Center's expansive needs as they undertook considerable renovation.)

It goes without saying that having the state courts so close by is to our advantage, especially in view of how many of the very big social, moral and even religious controversies of our day are headed their way!

Saturday night I attended another kind of festivity. This one was a tribute dinner to our good friend of many years, valued colleague and extraordinary pro-life advocate Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. For the soiree, my brother, Paul and I, and Christian Defense Coalition director Pat Mahoney, traveled together to Staten Island, NY, where PFL is located.

PFL is now the largest pro-life organization of its kind in the world. The occasion Saturday night marked Fr. Frank's 15th year at the helm of PFL. (As well as the 20th anniversary of ordination.) Many of the country's top pro-life leaders attended and others sent congratulatory notes. Paul and I have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Fr. Frank since before we moved to Washington in 1994. He has Washington, DC-based staff that work out of our facilities.

The Staten Island celebration was followed Sunday morning by a breakfast conference. It was interesting to listen to and interact with these movement leaders, especially in the wake of Barack Obama's election. Please watch the videos of my conversations with Fr. Frank and others, as well as some of the presentations that were made and reporting that Paul and I did. Some will be posted here. Others can be found at www.faithandaction.org and www.nationalproliferadio.net.

Finally, Sunday night I was in Scranton, PA, for the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom sponsored by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy. (I've mentioned one too many times that I serve on the IRPP's board.)

The Trustees for Scranton-based Marywood University and the school's president, Sister Anne Munley, hosted an exquisite reception for IRPP founder Joe Griebowski, his staff and board, and, of course, for the legislators, observers and others. A news conference was also held summarizing the first day's accomplishments. (Watch for video to be posted here.) More than 20 countries are represented at the Conference, from mammoth China to tiny Moldova! (Click here to read more about the ICHRRF.) I'll report more at this blog as the days go on.

Gotta go for now. Thanks for praying and keeping in touch!

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

FAITH AND ACTION TO GET FOCUSED IN '09

2008-11-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Many of our Faith and Action friends have asked me, "What will you do come the first of the year? Is anything going to change?"

This is usually asked in the context of the new Obama administration. People wonder what sort of affect it is going to have on us. Of course, at this point, I can't really say. It remains to be seen. While the Bush Administration has been largely friendly to Christian ministries--and the Clinton Administration largely was not--we don't know what tack Obama's people will take.

Barack Obama is, of course, very different from the Clintons, especially when it comes to contact with the church world. Much of Obama's work during his Chicago community organizing days was connected to African-American churches, and that's a good thing. The vast majority of black churches and preachers are theologically orthodox, morally conservative and faith-centered in their world views. (Jeremiah Wright is an aberration.) Yes--for you die-hard Republicans--they are also overwhelmingly Democrat, but that doesn't affect my point. Obama has been church and preacher friendly, and that counts for a lot when it comes to us.

So, while I think Obama's social policies need to be a constantly challenged, I hope it will not turn personal--on either our side or his. As for me and our overall ministry, I plan to be respectful, deferential and professional in our challenge to President Obama and his people. I am thrilled we elected a person of color to the presidency. It says a lot about where we have come from and where we are headed. The historic dehumanization, abuse, murder and marginalization of blacks in this country is as hideous as our more contemporary abortion practices are and have been. I hope--and pray--that having a black man in the White House, and having more visible minorities in government--will help us to heal and overcome this sinful propensity.

Having said that, I do plan to constantly challenge the conscience of this country and of the new Administration. We will do this through personal contact, correspondence, media and by way of this website. We will also send out about 3 million pieces of information by way of US mail and 1 million messages by E-mail next year to Christian Americans who care deeply about our country.

At the same time, we must narrow our focus, concentrating most of our attention, resources and activity on the courts--both federal and state. (Which means watching Obama appointments on every level. Remember, he'll only appoint two or three to the Supreme Court, but he'll appoint hundreds to the more troublesome lower courts.) As I'm sure you've observed, the courts have become the single most important forum for the paramount moral concerns in our country. They are a huge problem and must be addressed in a huge way. Our tiny ministry can only do so much--and we've prayerfully concluded that focusing on the courts is the best way for us to make the greatest contribution to the betterment of our American civilization.

One caveat, though: We can't say a lot about it. The world of judges, justices and courts is very private and very sensitive. If we say too much about, more doors will close than open. So, we will share information with you sparingly and very discreetly. We will necessarily limit our reporting largely to our committed prayer and financial supporters. (One way to tell if someone is really in our camp--and not working for the "other side"--is if they are supporting us financially. Our opponents just won't give their money to us--so it's a good security check!)

All this to say I want you to be informed and engaged in this critically important ministry. Please consider signing on to our Family Circle of prayer and financial supporters. Whether you make a significant one-time gift this coming year, or better yet, send us your monthly financial support, you will thereby enter the inner-circle of safe communication. I'm sorry I have to limit our information flow in this way, but I trust you understand why we must do it.

Thank you for standing--and kneeling--with us. We need you now more than ever--and I'm audacious enough to say this ministry of Faith and Action is needed now more than ever!

Oh--one more thing: In order to be effective in this new and more challenging environment, we really do need more supporters. Our goal is to double our current support base over the course of 2009. If you know someone who cares deeply about the heart and soul of this country, please encourage them to sign on with Faith and Action. We can't do this alone.

Thanks again. Be back later . . .

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

2008-11-20T05:20:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Been away for a while as we’ve re-tooled our IT platform. You may have noticed we launched a new website at www.faithandaction.org. It’s not complete, but we think it will be a lot easier for you to read—and a lot easier for our team to manage. Check it out and give us your ideas.

Speaking of ideas, yesterday I participated in a brainstorming session at the headquarters of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or “USCIRF.” The agency, created by Congress in 1998, is charged with a two-fold purpose:

1) The annual and ongoing review of the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom presented in the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Annual Report, and the Executive Summary, as well as information from other sources as appropriate; and

(2) The making of policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress with respect to matters involving international religious freedom.

The Commission’s new executive director, James D. Standish, asked for leaders of various Christian groups to meet with him and Commission staff to give our input on how the Commission can better accomplish its goals. My suggestion was for Jim (as I know him), to do more with media. I told him I’d love to turn on the television, pick up a newspaper or bring up an article on the Internet and see another statement from USCIRF affirming religious freedom, exposing abuses and urging Americans to support efforts to expand religious freedom as a universal and fundamental human right. As I pointed out in the meeting, symbols are very important—especially for those of us in the world of religion. The Commission sports a magnificent seal, like so many official U.S. logos, with its rising eagle, patriotic blue background and moniker arrayed around the edges. That symbol in front of a podium alone can be used to keep religious freedom constantly in front of the American consciousness.

It was a worthwhile exercise and I look forward to more of them. As you may know, I serve on the board of a private organization doing great work in this field, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, or IRPP. The IRPP, headed by my good friend of many years, Joseph Griebowski, can do many things USCIRF cannot or will not do because of its inherent political limitations.

You’ll hear a lot more form me on this paramount concern in the days ahead. I plan to give more of my time to advocating for religious freedom—here in our own country—and around the world. All other human freedoms mater little if we are denied this, the most deeply held, most enduring and most consequential freedom.

P.S. The freedom to embrace and worship God as conscience dictates is tied inseparably to the first of the two Great Commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." (Mark 12:37)

Back later . . .

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

OBAMA'S VERY PRO-ISRAEL RIGHT-HAND MAN

2008-11-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

The election of Barack Obama caused many evangelicals and others to worry what might happen to America's support of Israel. That question remains unanswered, but there is one related development that surprised at least me.

Obama's first appointment to his White House team is Rahm Emanuel (whom I've met), a congressman from Illinois and former member of the Clinton Administration. He will be the Chief of Staff, or general manager of the White House operation. This is a very powerful, very influential role in any administration. He will be Obama's right-hand man.

Emanuel is interesting to say the least:

- The son of an Israeli immigrant father who fought with the Irgun, an underground insurgency movement that fought the English and Palestinians in the war to establish the modern state of Israel

- An Orthodox Jew who attends a synagogue (or, more correctly, a "shul") that, among other things, maintains a mikvah--or immersion tank--for ritual cleansing, i.e, "Jewish baptism"

- As a kid, Emanuel spent his summers in Tel Aviv and still vacations there

- He volunteered as a civilian with the Israeli army

- Emanuel's rabbi, Asher Lopatin, writes on the synagogue's website, "Israel, the Torah and God are all one. If one of them is disrespected, the other one suffers."

Of course, the White House chief of staff doesn't direct foreign policy, but neither does it appear Emanuel would roll over if his boss did something he didn't like. When it comes to his politics and his job, he's known to be sharp, disciplined, sometimes too serious, profane, even severe. In my one encounter with Emanuel (oddly at a prayer service), I found him, well, prickly.

Perhaps Emanuel's father, pediatrician Benjamin Emanuel, said it most clearly in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv. About his son's effect on the soon-to-be President Obama, the senior Emanuel said, "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."

A bit strong, maybe even offensive, but definitely clear.

Oh, I forgot to mention the new chief of staff's full name . . . Rahm Israel Emanuel.

Hmm . . .

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

WHAT HAPPENED ON ELECTION DAY

2008-11-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting

Some people are still in a daze about what happened yesterday. Here it is in brief:

Barack Obama took just over 63 million votes for president over John McCain’s 56 million, or roughly 52% to 46%. However, in our Electoral College system, which requires a candidate to achieve 270 electoral college votes to win, that equates to Obama, 349 and McCain, 162, as the count stands now. A few states remain undetermined because the votes were so close. (To find out more about how the Electoral College system works, visit http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepoliticalsystem/a/electcollege.htm.)

Meanwhile, in the Congress, nine Republican senators lost their seats and five new Democrats were elected. That means that the Democrat majority is stronger than it used to be, but isn’t strong enough to ward off certain blocking techniques used by minority parties.

In the House of Representatives, the Republican membership went down from199 to 172, and the Democrat count, of course, went up from 236 to 252. Again, the Democrat majority was strengthened.

On the state level, several governors were elected, but only Missouri switched parties from Republican to Democrat. There were changes in majority in some state legislatures as well.

A lot of people have called me to ask what this means fro Faith and Action. I declared today a day of personal prayer and fasting to help answer that, but my quick response is, “nothing.” In other words, our mission remains consistent. We are not lobbyists; we are evangelists. We are called to proclaim God’s truth to everyone who serves in government here, regardless of political ideology or party affiliation.

And just as the people of God have learned over and over again throughout history, human power structures are bound to disappoint and become corrupt. It happens with every party and every political system, and it will keep happening. In fact, it will happen to any human institution, including churches and religious organizations.

This has been my prayer focus today, and it really helps to recalibrate the compass after such a disorienting campaign season:

Psalm 121, verse 2, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

NEW CHALLENGES--SAME MISSION

2008-11-05T06:08:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Last night's election results have ushered in a new era in America. It was a momentous shift that will mean vastly different things to different people, but it will not change our mission in any way. I will write about this over the next few days.

Today, though, I will be in prayer and fasting for the future of our country. I will pray for our new president-elect, the new members of Congress and in other offices throughout the land, along with those currently serving.

If you don't hear from me for a little while, you'll know why. I am talking to the Lord about all of this. Thank you for your indulgence.

Your servant for our Savior's sake,

Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

HOLDING VIGIL

2008-11-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

Your missionary to Washington, Dc, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Please check out my video posted below. It's my report from 20,000 feet high between New York and Washington!

I just landed in Washington after spending much of the day in New York City where I debated on a panel for a European television network. I voted early this morning, then grabbed the flight, had a lunch meeting in downtown Manhattan, then spent the rest of the day at the studio near Rockefeller Center. The subject was religion in politics. I had a spirited exchange with an Episcopal priest who pastors a Washington, DC, congregation.

Meanwhile, the numbers began coming in on the presidential and congressional races. It will not be a good year for Republicans. Every indication is that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States and that Democrats will dominate the Congress. That presents new challenges to the people of God, but it doesn't change our mission one bit. Our highest and most important calling is to preach the Gospel. It may prove a little more difficult if this proves to be the outcome, but Jesus never promised it would be easy.

Of course, if we learned anything from the previous two elections, it's that surprises do happen. The media and pollsters were wrong before and they could be wrong again, but I'm preparing myself in prayer for the challenge of our lives. We can take heart from our forbearers--the church has faced much worse--and still does so today--and yet always triumphs.

This is a serious turn for our culture. We must meet it first in prayer, humble contrition for our own complicity with evil, and then with a forward advance. The work of God has never been dependent on political structures--and it will not need to be in the days ahead.

Let us pray, seek the face of God, hear His voice speaking to us, to our churches, to the nation and to the world. None of this surprises God Almighty. Our task is to discern His will in it and obey His mandate in it.

Your missionary team in Washington, DC, has been tried and tested. With God's help and in His mercy we will redouble our efforts to advance Biblical truth and see the nation changed one policy maker at a time.

I'll be back tomorrow with more prayerful and careful analysis.

Your servant for our Savior's sake,

Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-54-8329

STANDING IN LINE

2008-11-04T02:35:00.000-08:00

I'm standing in line thumb-typing on my Blackberry here at my polling station to vote. I arrived at 5:15 AM (opens at 6:00) and there were already 50 people ahead of me. A few more arrive every minute. Please make plans to go to your voting site earlier in the day. Consider taking the day off--or at least half of it--to go midday, as evenings will be the worst!

I hope I can vote in the first 30 minutes because I have to catch a flight to New York City to anchor a European news network. They've asked me to offer commentary on the US election from a Christian perspective. Please pray that the Lord will open (to quote St. Paul) "an effectual door of ministry" to me.

Last night I went to bed with the blarring sound of Barack Obama's final rally vibrating our home. His last stop in Manassas, Virginia was just beyond the tree line behind my house.They're saying it was the largest crowd ever on the nearby fair grounds. It reminded me just how consequential this election will be.

I hope you've read my articles on voting at our website--and before voting, try to give a listen to my 13-minute Bible study on How To Vote. I think it will help you and others.

OK, the line is starting to move. If I have time, I'll try to post a video report today. Watch for it.

Bye for now. Be back . . .

PRAYERS ANSWERED IN GERMANY!

2008-10-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

The scene from my bedroom in the home where I stayed for one night in Hassfurt, Germany.

Your (roaming) missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

This will be a quick one, since I have Internet connectivity for just a couple of minutes.

Your prayers for me and for this special mission have been answered with great favor from the Lord! I'm in the tiny hamlet of Hassfurt, 200 kilometers from Frankfurt. It's a beautiful area with lush pastoral landscape dotted here and there by villages, church steeples and, of course, a castle or two.

As you may know, our second ministry facility back home on Capitol Hill is owned by a family here in the Franconia region. They are beautiful Spirit-filled Christians who, as I've only discovered on this visit, are people of extraordinary prayer. They lead a regular prayer group in their home and periodic prayer retreats in the region.

My hosts and I have indeed prayed together often while I've been here, and talked at great length about the unfolding vision God has given to us for the work on Capitol Hill, throughout the U.S. and around the world. They are in complete harmony with us and have even pointed out how the Lord laid the foundation stones for our cooperation with them in His work almost 40 years ago. It's been exhilarating!

As a result of my visit, we have solidified the first step in the Master's Plan for the future of Faith and Action. This is not the time or place to detail it, but what I can tell you is the Lord has united our hearts and minds with these good people for a common purpose. Hallelujah!

I'll be back in Frankfurt tonight and head home tomorrow. I'll post more when I'm back on US soil. For now, thanks again and again for your prayers!

BLEARY-EYED IN AMSTERDAM

2008-10-28T00:22:00.000-07:00

Your (roaming) missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I'm a bit bleary-eyed after an all-night flight from Washington to Amsterdam, where I'm filing this report. (Haven't been here since 1985. Still one of Europe's most friendly cities!) I have a three-hour layover before heading to my ultimate destination of Frankfurt, Germany. Here's what I wrote on the plane:

It’s 8:30 PM on Monday night, October 27, and I’m high above Goose Bay on Canada’s Atlantic Coast. (According to the screen in front of me, we’re 37,000' high.) I’m en route to Amsterdam, Netherlands, then on to Frankfurt, Germany.

I’ll end up ultimately in a smallish hamlet called Hasfurt to be with important friends who play a key role in our work on Capitol Hill. Yes, it’s amazing how God weaves together seemingly disparate lives to accomplish His purposes.

I can’t tell you much about the details of this particular mission. As you know, much of our activities in Washington are sensitive and we need to be very discreet about how and when to we talk about them. Suffice it to say that this transatlantic partnership will advance our efforts exponentially. I’d appreciate your prayers for good success. Someday I’ll give you the full report.

You may know some of this story: We have two buildings now on the Hill, both immediately opposite the U.S Supreme Court, one block from the Capitol and ten minutes from the White House. In other words, we’re right in the center of the action. In a matter of days, the building sandwiched between our two facilities will open as a s new state-of-the-art training center for all newly seated State Supreme Court judges and justices, making our location an even greater asset. (In fact, our two buildings have become our greatest earthly assets.)

You may also know we own one of the buildings, the one we affectionately call “The O. House.” The other we lease. I’ll be talking—and praying—with the owners of that second building about how we can truly partner for the long-term in affecting the soul of the American judiciary. That’s all I’ll say about it at this stage, but more is to come.

In the mean time our focus needs to be on the next seven days. It’s the final stretch leading up to Election Day. If you’ve been tracking with this blog you know I think that’s pretty important. After visiting nearly 40 countries, some that have never offered their people an opportunity to craft the government that will rule them, I’ve come to cherish this extraordinary right. In many nations, citizens literally risk life and limb to even attempt to vote. In many places they know that corruption will simply nullify their vote before it’s even been cast. Still, they will stand in lines vulnerable to everything from intimidation to death. How dare we squander a right others suffer and die to exercise?

I do hope you will do everything possible to bring your faith and conscience to bear on the construction of our government by prayerfully casting your vote Tuesday, November 4. It’s a simple matter of Christian stewardship. Deitrich Bonhoeffer, the young and brilliant pastor and theologian martyred by the Nazis said it well. When his seminary colleagues in New York begged him to stay in the U.S. and protect himself from the wrath of Hitler, he explained that if he did not come to the aid of his people in their struggle, he could not share in the joy of their victory.

Though far from the danger Bonhoeffer risked, this is none-the-less a difficult time for our country, and particularly for God’s people living in it. If we don’t do our part by casting and careful, prayerful and informed vote, we will have no right to share in the joys that may follow, or to comfort those in sorrow.

Go to the polls Tuesday, November 4, and take someone along with you.

ABOUT YOUR VOTE: YIELDING TO A FRIEND

2008-10-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

My brother, Paul, and I have known fellow minister, author and conference speaker Richard Exley for nearly 20 years. Few can say it like Richard, so I'm yielding this space to him. I thought you'd find his insights on the upcoming elections helpful. I certainly did. This is from his Straight From The Heart biweekly blog. To find out more about Richard, go to his website at www.RichardExleyMinistries.org.

God and Caesar

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

Although I realize that I risk offending some of my readers, I feel I must address the upcoming election, but before I do let me say that I’ve lived long enough to have no illusions about politicians or political parties. In my lifetime I have seen a Republican President forced to resign rather than face impeachment and a Democratic President whose sexual philandering while in the White House has forever tainted his legacy. The bribes, the kickbacks and the sexual scandals on both sides of the aisle are too numerous to detail and at times the level of incompetence has simply been staggering. I mention this, not to speak disparagingly of our elected officials, but only to remind you that there are no ideal candidates and no ideal parties. Even as we fulfill our responsibilities as citizens our hope must always remain fixed on God.

Some consider this Presidential election the most critical in our nation’s history given the economic crisis, the ongoing threat of terrorism and the assault on Judeo Christian values. I don’t know if I would go that far, but I think we can all agree that these are critical times requiring our most prayerful vigilance. As Christians we have a dual citizenship. We are citizens of the Kingdom as well as citizens of the United States. While our highest allegiance belongs to God we have civic responsibilities that we owe the country of our birth. Or as Jesus said, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s’ and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21).

As a citizen of the United States we have a responsibility to vote, to participate in the democratic process. As a citizen of the Kingdom we have a responsibility to make sure our vote reflects the values of the Kingdom and the King to whom we owe our highest allegiance. While there may be any number of issues on which Christians can vote either way, there are other issues on which the Scriptures are emphatically clear and in regards to these we must never compromise. Non-negotiable issues include the sanctity of life (i.e., abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning) and the Biblical view of marriage (i.e. between a man and a woman).

When both candidates profess to be Christians we must look beyond their words to their actions. Remember Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). We must ask ourselves if the positions each candidate takes on non-negotiable issues line up with the clear teaching of Scripture. We must examine their voting records to see how they have voted on these non-negotiable issues. While a non- Christian may take a Biblical position on these issues, a Christian cannot take an unscriptural position without compromising his faith.

It’s also important to consider who a candidate’s friends and supporters are. As my Grandma Miller used to say, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Ask yourself, “Who is Planned Parenthood (the largest abortion provider in the U.S.) supporting? Who is the Gay/Lesbian coalition supporting? Who are those in favor of same sex marriage supporting?”

Remember the next President will likely appoint at least one Supreme Court Justice, perhaps two. Without a doubt the selection will be based, not only on qualifications, but on ideology as well. These selections may well be more far reaching than anything else the next President accomplishes and will shape the values of our nation for decades to come, so vote wisely.

One final thought. The level of animosity generated by this election is unlike anything I have seen in my lifetime. As Christians we must guard our hearts. Although we are called to stand for truth regardless of the cost, we must always walk humbly and in love. In the past we have spoken truth but without love and as a result we have been perceived as being harsh and judgmental. In a misguided attempt to rectify this some Christians now refuse to address the issues at all. Both extremes miss the mark. Truth without love can be harsh and judgmental even as love without truth is permissive. But when we speak the truth in love it is transformational (see Eph. 4:15).

Regardless of who wins this election our responsibilities remain the same – to pray for our elected officials (1 Tim. 2:1-2), to act justly (Micah 6:8), to look after the orphans and widows (James 1:27), to make disciples (Matt. 28:19), to love God with our whole heart and our neighbor as our self (Matt. 22:38-39) and to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world (James 1:27).

This is Richard Exley straight from the Heart

PS To further clarify the issues please visit www.catholicvote.com

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Check out the Straight from the Heart pod casts @ www.RichardExleyMinistries.org

Richard Exley Ministry

PO Box 54744

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74155

(918) 459-5434

www.RichardExleyMinistries.org

AFTERMATH OF DEBATE UNCERTAIN

2008-10-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

The air in Washington was thick with tension last night as the presidential debate approached. So much hangs in the balance for the people we minister to and interact it with here. Thousands will lose their jobs as one presidential administration ends and another begins. Tens of thousands of others are on pins and needles waiting to see the outcome for the Congress and those who deal with the legislative branch. Of course, the Republicans may slide even deeper into the minority while the Democrats find their groove and increase their power. All this charges the atmosphere with a lot of electricity—both positive and negative currents!

It appears on first blush that John McCain’s more forceful confrontation of Barack Obama didn’t change too many minds. You probably know by now that my early encounters with Senator McCain were not rosy. (Let me be quick to say that it’s been the same with Senator Obama.) Still, on at least a superficial level, it’s gotten much better with both men. My last one-on-one with Senator McCain was downright pleasant, and we’ll see about impressions after I have lunch next week with one of Senator Obama’s top advisors on faith and religion.

Poll numbers continue to favor Obama over McCain, and they appear to be tracking that direction in big ways. Of course, one lesson we all learned during the last presidential election is just how wrong polls can be. Still, McCain’s more energetic, forthright and aggressive competition with Obama may have come too late. I plan to talk about all of this and its implications in a closed-door, off-the-record dinner fellowship gathering this Monday night in beautiful Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Please try to join us. These last few days before we cast our votes are critical. Do what you can to get there and try to bring someone else who cares about his country and its future! Everything you need is at our website: www.faithandaction.org.

Back later with more on the debate and its aftermath . . .

Rob +

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

THE GREAT DIVIDE EMERGES AGAIN

2008-10-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Back in the 80's and 90's I was on the front lines of the "War of the World Views." Some of us as Christian activists literally faced-off with our opponents across police tape. It was the shifting of the tectonic cultural plates: the Christian view with God and His rule as the order for all things against the secular view that places the "me, myself and I" as the center of all things. The result was a spiritual, moral and social earthquake. The conflict sometimes physically manifested itself, most grotesquely when they dragged us into the street, spit and urinated on us and snuffed out their cigarette butts in our hair. Of course, our side lost its moral sensibilities, too, when a few so-called "Christian pro-lifers" gunned down abortionists.

Thank God those days have passed. Yet, those tectonic plates remain in place and another quake lurks just beneath the surface. Tremors have already been felt, and more will register tonight as another presidential debate is watched by a record number of viewers. To be sure, there are huge political differences in this race--and in other, lesser contests around the country. Those differences go to the economy, security, healthcare, and on and on. The real divide, though, goes back to that worldview. It's how people actually see the big--much bigger--picture: Is God's Kingdom something He maintains in His Heaven and visits on us by our recognition of His rule? Or, is the Kingdom of God something we are responsible to build and maintain ourselves here on earth?

This is a huge and all-encompassing question. It goes to the underlying question of who is in charge? Are we ultimately masters of our own destiny? Or, is it God's plan and purpose that will determine what happens to us and to our country? (For that matter, all people and all countries.)

The way I read the Scriptures, it's a little of both, but one always comes out on top. Take a guess. Yes, of course, it's God. As Jesus instructed us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven." Our part is to pray and to obey. God has already constructed His kingdom. It's our job to live in it here on earth through our obedience to His will and ways.

The question tonight as the two candidates ramble on is, Which one understands this transcendent principle? Which one gets how things really work? Which one has the right worldview, even if their actions in light of it are at best imperfect?

As I've been asked by countless people how they might chose the right candidate--not just for president, but on all levels of government, from the school board, to city and county councils, to governor and state legislators, to Congress--the best answer I can give is to go directly to the Bible. My brother, Paul, and I have crafted a guideline for picking the right kind of civil leaders taken straight from Deuteronomy 17: 14 - 20. To get your copy of it and circulate it to others, go to (link will be available soon--check back).

In fact, keep that passage open and in front of you as you watch the debate tonight. It may be the only thing that will help you to make sense of what your hear from either candidate.

Let me know what you think after it's over. Thanks.

Your grateful missionary,

Rob +

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY

2008-10-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

As we count the days to Election Day, November 4, the atmosphere here in Washington fluctuates between passion and resignation. Some consider the outcome of the presidential race as a fete-accompli. The mass media and historically liberal institutions already have Barack Obama as a the winner, while many conservatives are vexed by what they see as John McCain's lack-luster campaign and seeming lack of enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Christian organizations are frustrated because the paramount moral issues are taking second and third position to the economy. Most believe if we got those matters solved, we'd solve the economic crisis, too. Which comes first, obedience or blessing?

I'd like to know what you think. Is Barack Obama the inevitable winner? Does John McCain have what it takes? What is the real problem with America?

P.S. Watch for my upcoming article and blog posts on "How To Pick A President." After you read it, pass it along to as many others as you can!

Later . . .

Rob +

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

A HOPEFUL SIGN AMIDST DOOM

2008-10-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Here's a hopeful sign: dozens of young people gathering on the majestic West Lawn of the US Capitol to pray for our country. My long-time friend and ally, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, has for the last week been using our ministry center as a staging ground for "The Awakening." This 24/7 vigil has been underway since Sunday night.

Besides the beauty of 20-somethings on their faces beseeching heaven for mercy and grace on our Land, there is the 16-foot cross they've erected. Yes, that's a towering, gleaming cross that preaches it's own silent message, drawing hundreds of tourists to it, some from as far away as China and South Africa. (See Monday's Weekly Photo Feature at our website.)

I did a video at the site, including a conversation with Joe Butner who built the Cross--the only cross to ever be erected on the Capitol grounds!

Check out this video. I trust "The Awakening" will be as inspirational to you as it is to me:

Rob +

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

VIDEO CHAT ON ECONOMIC CRISIS AND BAIL OUT

2008-10-09T04:37:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

All the talk--all the focus--all the everything here in Washington surrounds the recent economic turmoil and controversial congressional action taken in response to it. A week ago I did a short video chat on this with my long-time friend and now the Senior Fellow for Public Policy at the National Clergy Council, Dr. Charles Nestor. Though we didn't use it at the time, it's still relevant, so I thought you'd be interested in it.

Here it is:

SAYING THANKS TO SPECIAL CHURCHES OFTEN REQUIRES A SPECIAL LANGUAGE

2008-09-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

There’s generosity, then—there’s GENEROSITY. After my annual visit to our long-time partner, Believer’s Life Family Church, in Gretna, Louisiana, I’m at a rare loss for words. I’m trying to figure out just how to say thanks to Pastors Randy and Cathy Cilluffo, their ministry team and all our extended family in this extraordinary community of believers who are just, well, EXTRAORDINARY. What they did this weekend takes the cake, but consider first their history with us:

First, it’s just how great they all are. These are some of the warmest, kindest, most hospitable people on the planet—and certainly in our universe. I’ve only ever known them as welcoming and gracious—and this is for the last 23 years! That’s right, I’ve been coming and going from Believer’s Life since 1985, and they’ve never grown tired of me!

Second, they’ve stuck with us through good times and bad—even, incredibly, in the weeks after Katrina. I went down in December of ’05 to check on everybody and to bring a special offering with me. I knew they were bearing an unbelievable burden taking care of the homeless and displaced, but they turned it around and insisted on blessing our ministry, sending me away with a $5000 gift!

Then, this weekend, after recently enduring Hurricane Gustav, they did it again—only this time it was a $14,000 offering for Faith and Action! This is why I’m struggling for words to express how deeply grateful I am to the Lord and to these EXTRAORDINARY friends.

(This happened, by the way, a week after another EXTRAORDINARY bunch of people did the same thing. The amazing Church on the North Coast in Lorain, Ohio, with Pastors Louie and Tina Kayatin, has seen its share of trials and tribulation. Lorain is a steel town and the economic downturn has devastated it. Still, the Kayatins and their dedicated family and ministry team have stayed faithful to their hurting community. They have always sown seeds of generosity out of their need. They did it again last Sunday when, after I preached for them, they took up a $15,000 offering for our ministry!)

I could go on and on listing wonderful churches that help us. We have many congregations around the country that support us financially, but these exceptional churches facing exceptional challenges deserve special mention. Believer’s Life Family Church and Church on the North Coast give added meaning to the term “selfless giving” because they do it out of their own need, rather than out of their abundance. These gifts are like the Widow’s Mite or the alabaster jar of ointment.

Many, many heart-felt thanks to you Pastors Randy and Cathy and Louie and Tina and all of our pastor friends and partners. You and the souls under your charge live out the Golden Rule and we are doubly blessed by it. We never, ever take you for granted. You are the gift of God to us and we are so much the better for it.

Grateful to God for all our generous friends,

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

FACING DOWN PHARAOH-IF EVEN FROM A SAFE DISTANCE!

2008-09-25T18:47:00.001-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I'm blurry-eyed traveling late on a train back to Washington from New York City. If you watched my video blog of this morning you know I asked you to pray about a critically important trip I might make. Well, I made it, but it didn't happen exactly as I planned. Still, it gave me an opportunity to identify in an infinitesimal way with Moses as he confronted the terrifyingly powerful Pharaoh. In my case, it wasn't a confrontation with the 15th Century B.C. potentate, but a contemporary version of him, namely Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran.

The murderously hateful Ahmadinejad was being fetted in New York at an dinner in the breathtakingly exquisite Grand Hyatt Hotel on 42nd Street in Manhattan. Oddly, the hosts were nearly all "Christian" clergy or leaders of various other religious groups. The sponsors included the World Council of Churches, known historically for their affectionate alliance with Fidel Castro and the funding of armed guerrilla revolutionaries in Angola, among other places.

Even stranger, I had received an invitation to the soiree, billed as a "dialogue." I actually accepted because I wanted to hear with my own ears Ahmadinejad's insane and vile pronouncements. What's been reported is so bad I can't process it, so I thought I'd give myself a first-hand experience. I had also planned to engage in my own "dialogue" with the dictator. Of course, I determined I just could not break bread with a man who calls for the total annihilation of a people, jails and tortures anyone that disagrees with him, and is urging passage of a death-penalty bill for anyone who chooses a religion outside of his weird interpretation of Islam. So, had I been there, I would have waived away the food.

More importantly, I planned to send him a visual message. My own dialogue was to have been silent. I had carefully rehearsed so that just as he began speaking, I would've quietly stood and quickly donned a replica of the armband Jews were forced to wear by the Nazis. I would have then remained standing in place at my table, without a word, until I was either removed or the Dictator was done.

But alas, none of this was to be. After a myriad of phone calls, it became apparent the event's organizers had no intention of admitting me. I was disappointed--until a woman I've worked with in Washington E-mailed me. She said she was helping to coordinate a huge opposition rally and news conference directly across the street from the Grand Hyatt and asked if I would speak.

It was just the outlet--and opportunity--I as looking for. Of course, I accepted. The rally was very well attended and executed. While it drew a wide spectrum of speakers and attendees, it seemed predominantly Jewish. The only Evangelicals I was aware of were myself and Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Church's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. (Of course, there were other Christian leaders there, including my friend Andrea Lafferty of Traditional values Coalition, but Evangelical clergy were scant.)

Anyway, I spoke to the very impressive crowd fanned out along 42nd Street. I began with a confession that I intended to be in the meeting they were so ardently condemning. I explained my reasoning, but expressed relief that in the end I didn't have to bear the excruciating burden of being in there and dealing with what I was sure to have heard.

Then I explained what had happened with my "disinvitation." I suggested perhaps someone had learned about my plot to stand and wear the cotton armband with its prominent yellow Star of David, an unmistakable display of solidarity with those who suffered in the Holocaust Ahmadinejad denies ever happened. Then I put it on. The crowd was deeply moved. I spoke about the need for Christians to stand with Jews in resisting the kind of evil the Iranian dictator embodies.

When I left the stage, Rabbi Aryeh Spero, the behind-the-scenes platform director, told me it would be the most memorable image of the night. Feeling that band on my arm, I felt as never before deeply connected to my Jewish roots and to the millions of victims of that terrible episode in human history.

You can read my prepared statement (which always comes out a bit different) at our website, www.faithandaction.org.

I prayed at the end of my talk, "May God help us and take this monster from us, quickly."

Amen.

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck
Faith and Action in the Nation's Capital
www.faithandaction.org
109 2nd St, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-546-8329

ROB SCHENCK TO KEYNOTE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUTREACH TO POOR

2008-09-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

This Saturday night, September 20, Faith and Action president Rev. Rob Schenck will be in the Cleveland, Ohio area as keynote speaker for the 20th anniversary celebration of BUSSES International, an organization that builds mobile medical, dental and emergency response vehicles to serve the poor around the world. The event will be held at 6:00 PM at the Hope Christian Church, 32625 Detroit Road, Avon, Ohio 44011.

Rob’s connection to BUSSES International goes back 25 years in a friendship with its founders, Norm and Nancy Beetler. Beginning in 1985, Rob had worked on several ministry projects with Norm, then the pastor of a rural Ohio congregation and president of the state chapter of the National Association of Evangelicals. Norm and Nancy would resign their post in 1988 to help Rob with his 2000-mile FAITHWALK, a trek from the border with Canada at Buffalo, New York’s Peace Bridge crossing, to the Bridge of the Nations at Laredo, Texas. Norm and Nancy scoped out the walk route that ran through nine states. They selected safe roads, set up speaking engagements and news conferences and did other vital advance work.

FAITHWALK was an enormous success in raising awareness of the suffering of Los Pepenadores, thousands of men, women and mostly children who live off the massive municipal garbage dumps in and around Mexico City. Rob’s four-month journey by foot recruited hundreds of thousands of dollars, numerous volunteers and donated supplies to help establish clinics, food and clean water programs and church-sponsored foster care for the children of this little-known population group.

FAITHWALK also became the catalyst for ongoing efforts not only in Mexico, but also in similar settings around the world. The group Rob had formed in 1983, Operation Serve (now Operation Serve International) took on the coordination of volunteer teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico and eventually other nations.

It was while working in Mexico after the conclusion of FAITHWALK that Norm and Nancy Beetler saw the need for mobile equipment to work in and around the garbage dump settlements. Norm built the first units himself. As the demand grew, Norm created a non-profit religious-charitable corporation with the acronym BUSSES for Bringing Unto the Saints Encouragement to Serve. Today BUSSES International maintains a sophisticated complex outside Loraine, Ohio, where school busses are fitted for specific applications and shipped to service providers around the world.

“Norm and Nancy Beetler and their highly skilled team are heroes to me,” said Rob Schenck. “This is really where the rubber meets the road, literally. The book of James in the New Testament reminds us it’s not good enough to simply say God bless you to someone in need. We must first meet their most basic human needs and then we gain the right to be heard on everything else. Norm and Nancy are helping missionaries in many different countries, including our own, to carry out this critically important first stage of Christian ministry. I’m delighted to still have a small part in it.”

YOU CAN GET INSIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS!

2008-09-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

If you've wanted an inside track on the presidential campaigns, we've got it for you! Just come by our Reese RoundTable event this coming Tuesday, September 23, at 12:00 noon, at the Capitol Hill Club, 300 1st St SE, Washington, DC 20003. You'll meet two of the top advisors to John McCain and Barack Obama.

The RoundTable is an annual event named in honor of our good friend and tireless Faith and Action supporter, Bernie Reese, an attorney of more than 50 years. The purpose of the two-hour panel-like program is to discuss and call for action on the critical issues of the day.

This year's forum is entitled "Candidates' Forum: How Does the Declaration of Independence Guide Your Views of Government?" We'll talk to two experts about the views of the two presidential candidates on those "unalienable rights" endowed to us by our "Creator."

Answering that question will be Robert "Bob" Heckman, long-time personal friend and now senior advisor to John McCain and Evan La Velle, senior advisor-religious affairs to Barack Obama.

If that isn't enough to entice you, try this: If you're one of the first 50 to make a reservation, you'll get a very nice complimentary lunch out of it!

To make your reservation, E-mail your name, all contact information and the number in your party to peggybirchfield@faithandaction.org, or call her at 202-546-8329, extension 103.

Hope to see you there!

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck
Faith and Action
www.faithandaction.org
109 2nd St, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-546-8329

UNEXPECTED OVERNIGHT WITH OUR AMERICAN FOUNDERS!

2008-09-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

Last night I spent an unexpected evening with our American Founders in the city that so much captures them and their vision for the future of the country--Philadelphia. The "City of Brotherly Love" is a great place to visit. Sadly, nights in "Olde City," the historic district, are plagued by petty crime and drunken college students. The City has a lot to do to make it more inviting. Still, I love to come here.

I didn't plan to stay in Philly last night, but after a full weekend of ministry, I was spent! As you know, I normally do a full week of demanding program in Washington, then head out to speak at a church most Sundays. This week it was a little more. Our wonderful friends, Pastor Kenneth Barney and his wife, Ellen, celebrated 30 years of pastoral service and 20 years at the New Antioch Baptist Church in Randallstown, Maryland. (See above photo.) Pastor Barney and I have traveled the world together and shared many meaningful experiences. Last year I taught a 10-week series at the church entitled "Thinking Biblically.) My wife, Cheryl, loves Ellen very much and appreciates their shared commitment to serious and life-changing counseling ministries.

New Antioch Baptist, the congregation that the Barneys have nurtured from literally zero members to several thousand, is one of the leading Gospel-preaching, Bible-Believing churches in the Metro Baltimore / Washington area. It is also one of the shining stars in the long history of the African-American church in the Capital Region. And when New Antioch throws a party, they really go and go . . . and go! Saturday night's bash was still going after I added my tribute to the Barneys at 11:00! (See again above.) After that I drove 2 1/2 hours to the northern Philadelphia suburb of Bensalem where I was schedule to preach twice at the Christian Life Center the next morning. The night was short, and, as my dad used to say when I was growing up, I had to "sleep fast!"

The time with Pastor Del Smith and Christian Life was so rich in God's presence and their warm hospitality that I hardly felt the five-hour night! But by the time I hit Route 95 on the way back to Washington, I was gone! I learned a while ago, it's wiser to stop than fall asleep at the wheel, so I pulled off at this Grande City and stayed the night in lovely Society Hill near Penn's Landing. (Thanks to priceline.com, it was even affordable!) Monday usually starts early with my regular breakfast group in the U.S. Capitol, but not today . . . I slept in to 6:30 and will head back to Washington this afternoon.

For now I'm getting caught up on all my E-mail and blogs. Your friendship is always on my mind and heart. Love you in the Lord!

Rob

Rev. Rob Schenck
Faith and Action
www.faithandaction.org
109 2nd St, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-546-8329

9-11, THE CHINESE AND SARAH PALIN

2008-09-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

What a week it's been! Just to give you an idea of some of what it entailed:

- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I guest hosted the 3-hour Adam McManus Show on AM 630 KSLR Radio out of San Antonio, Texas. Adam is a great friend (I presided at his wedding) and I'm a frequent guest on his program. This is the second time I've guest hosted for him. I'm not even close to the professional broadcaster he is, but it's fun and very interesting.

This week I opened the phones for listener comments on Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin (the lines lit up and wouldn't quit), talked with Dr. Charles Nestor, a longtime Assemblies of God minister, about Gov. Palin's history with that denomination, and with Fr. Giacomo Capoverde, a politically active Roman Catholic priest about the faith of Gov. Palin's complement on the Democratic ticket, Sen. Joe Biden. It all made for very insightful analysis.

I also talked on the air with Rabbi Yehuda Levin of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis in the United States about his assertion that God raised up Barack Obama to derail Hillary Clinton from taking the White House, then raised up Sarah Palin as a prophetic witness of strong, pro-life femininity and motherhood to de-rail Obama. Wow!

Finally, I reflected on my own memories of 9-11 and interviewed two friends who saw it up close: Fellow board member at the National Pro-Life Religious Council, Pastor Kirk van der Swaagh of Manhattan's Neighborhood Church located just a few blocks from Ground Zero. He and his family watched as the two planes hit the towers and later as the structures collapsed; and Denny Nissley whose Christ in Action Ministries provided food and temporary shelter for thousands of emergency workers at both the Pentagon and Ground Zero sites.

- Last night I co-hosted the first ever face-to-face meeting of its kind on religious liberty with government and "legal" religious leaders from China. The 10-member delegation was with "SARA," or the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the The People's Republic of China. This is the entity created by the communist regime to monitor and control religious groups in their country. Many religious dissidents in China consider SARA officials as collaborators in religious persecution perpetrated by the government. In my remarks to the group I reminded them that religion is the pursuit of truth and I challenged them a truly honest dialogue with us. The initiative is led by Joe Grieboski at The Institute on Religion and Public Policy for whom I serve as a board member.

- Today I attend the Values Voter Summit at the Hilton Hotel here in Washington. This annual event, sponsored by our friends at the Family Research Council, is a call to action for voter participation and a rally for the sanctity of life and marriage, religious freedom and against judicial activism. The enormously popular Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is expected to address the attendees. I heard her in Dayton when I was on the platform at John McCain's announcement of his pick of her for running mate and in St. Paul at the Republican Convention. Few people can electrify a crowd like she can.

- This weekend I'll be with two great church families: Saturday night Cheryl and I join our dear friends Pastor and Mrs. Kenneth Barney of the incomparable New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown, Maryland for their 30th Anniversary of Pastoring Celebration. On Sunday morning I'll be guest preaching for Pastor Del Smith of the large and influential Christian Life Center of Bensalem, Pennsylvania. If you're nearby, come by to join us!

As you can see, we're never bored around here!

Your grateful missionary to our nation's leaders,

Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-54608329

REMEMBERING 9/11

2008-09-11T04:18:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I took this photo of the Pentagon a few days after September 11, 2001. Bodies were still being pulled from the debris.

9-11-01 will always be seared into my memory. We hadn't yet moved our administrative offices from Virginia to the ministry center in Washington. My daughter, Anna, had recently taken a job at a pro-life organization in the city. She was living temporarily in the guest quarters of the ministry center on Capitol Hill. Her cousin, Leah, my brother's oldest, was staying there with her.

My then chief-of-staff, Linda, burst into my office with the news that a plane had hit one of the Trade Towers in New York. We brought up NBC news on one of the computers just in time to watch the second plane hit. Shortly after, a call came in reporting two other planes had been hijacked and were headed toward Washington. One may have already hit the Pentagon.

I called Anna on her cell phone. It was her day off and I caught her still sleeping.

"Honey, do you know what's happening?" I asked. She didn't.

"You and Leah get in your car and drive east out of the city right now. There's no time to waste. Take only your purses and go. There's been a terrorist attack. Now leave."

"But Dad," I remember her fussing. "But Dad . . "

In my panic I barked at her, "No, 'but Dad,' just get out of there. Get in your car and go."

"But Dad," she said again.

"Quit it!" I shouted. "Go now!"

"But Dad," she insisted, "what direction is east?"

I felt terrible, calmed down and explained how to get out of the city ahead of all the announced road closures that were moving from central city outward.

The next five days are blurry. I remember checking and re-checking on the girls who were by then in a hotel and on the rest of the family. I called around looking for others, but telephone lines and cell connections were mostly down. I toured the Pentagon site with my friend Denny Nissley, of Christ in Action Ministries, the first one at the scene to provide food and shelter for the emergency workers.

I later led a prayer procession of Christian clergy to the still-smoking cavity along the Pentagon's west wall. You could see the vague outline of a passenger jet with it's wings splayed at a 45 degree angle. Nearby lampposts lay on the ground like sticks, sheared off by the plane's underbelly. Passers-by knelt with us and openly wept.

That same day I headed for New York on the first train to run after two days of a transportation shut-down. I went looking for my pastor friend, Jan "Kirk" van der Swaagh of Greenwich Village's "Neighborhood Church." We hadn't heard from him or two other faithful Faith and Action supporters since the day of the attacks.

I found all three alive and whole but deeply shaken. One had fled as body parts rained down from the sky all around her. She kept running until she reached her apartment three miles away.

Toward evening, Kirk and I headed down to Ground Zero to see what we could do to help. As we rounded a corner into what looked like a post-apocalyptic moonscape, we saw the silhouettes of two dusty figures coming toward us. They were FBI chaplains. We identified ourselves as fellow clergy and volunteered our services. The two men said they hadn't slept in 48 hours. We more or less took their places.

For the next few hours we ministered to police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other emergency personnel working in and around Ground Zero. I was momentarily distracted when I passed the small cemetery yard outside St. Paul's Chapel - a very old, colonial-era church located directly across from the former World Trade Center site. I had toured St. Paul's only weeks before when I guest-taught a Bible study of Wall Street executives that meets nearby.

That tranquil, quaint graveyard, famous for some of its occupants, was now filled with ten inches of plaster and glass dust, office furniture, and personal effects. Littering the yard were desks, chairs, purses, brief cases and even shoes, all blown out of windows 70, 80 and 90 stories above.

The most arresting scene, though, was the giant fire pit itself, right there where the towers collapsed on themselves. It was a small volcano of debris, with a deep hole underneath still burning. The smell was ghastly. It looked like the mouth of hell. As we approached, my police officer escort pointed to my now white-dust laden shoes.

"See that dust on your shoes, parson," he said. "There's a thousand incinerated people in that dust."

The rest of my time there is dotted with memories of praying with physically and emotionally exhausted workers. It was one of the richest experiences of my life. I don't know that I'll ever be with more heroic, dedicated--or sadder--people than I was with that day.

In many religious traditions, "Remembering" is a spiritual act in itself. The word "remember" appears often in the Bible. In numerous places we are told "God remembered." In other places we are commanded "to remember."

Remembering 9/11 is a sacred act acknowledging the importance of those whose lives were lost or forever changed; the heroic acts of those who risked everything to rescue and to recover; and even the evil that is ever-present and threatens the future and the good that will always overcome it.

God help us to always remember.

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

PALIN'S DAUGHTER AND THE VP AT THE CONVENTION

2008-09-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT MY VIDEO BLOG AT THE CONVENTION! (http://gallery.me.com/robschenck/100902)

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I’m off to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. The big news there, of course, is John McCain’s running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. Sadly, most of the media has decided to approach her story in only two “tabloidish” ways: Her teen daughter’s unwed pregnancy (since when is liberal thought moralistic?) and whether or not she was properly vetted—that is investigated—before she was selected.

Here are my thoughts on what’s important about Sarah Palin:

1) She’s an accomplished woman, but in the “made her own way” genre. In other words, she wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, given an Ivy League education by wealthy parents, entitled to a dynastic political career, etc., etc. Hers was a blue-color, working class, working mom story. She began as a local community activist and advanced to the top executive of her state. (Hmm, sounds like another no-name governor of a lesser-regarded state who rose through the ranks to be become one of the most celebrated two-term presidents of his party. His name was Bill Clinton.)

2) Rising to the top state post in a place like Alaska can’t be easy. It’s pioneer country with lots of fiercely independent types who are by nature, well, let’s say, non-compliant. Alaska is also a complicated place. It’s geographically enormous. It’s a major energy corridor. Its closest neighbors are, egad, Russia and Canada. The state must maintain good international relations to survive. There are native-indigenous population issues as well with all their attendant challenges.

3) Most important: The Palins impress me as very normal people. I met both of them at the official announcement event in Dayton. They had none of the political celebrity syndrome—the brusque blow-you-off-because-I’m-the-most-important-person-in-the-room routine. Oddly, I was a VIP guest of the McCain campaign, even though I have very publicly aired my considerable differences with the Arizona senator. Still, he was very gracious to me, unlike my last couple of encounters with him and his top-level advisors. On this latest move, though, I had nothing but accolades for him.

4) The Palins are clearly sincere Christians. They talk easily of their faith and their commitment to the their home church, Wasilla Bible Church, and their visiting church when she’s doing state business in the capital. (I think it was Juneau Christian Center.) Both churches indicate a strong Evangelical faith, which is just the bridge to the religiously conservative world McCain needed.

Now, on the story of her daughter’s pregnancy my thoughts are simple: It’s none of our business. It has absolutely nothing to do with the campaign or the election. And, the fact her daughter and family will welcome this child into life is a beautiful testament to their deepest pro-life convictions. Pro-life religious conservatives go through everything every other family goes through. They just may handle it a bit differently. But the fact is this is a matter for their family, their faith and their church community. It’s not an issue the rest of us. The only appropriate response is to pray for them and leave them alone. Anyone who tries to exploit this for political or commercial gain, i.e., audience numbers, is shameful and abusive of a young and vulnerable mom.

As you can see, I’m impressed with Sarah Palin. She brings a lot to the table that her complement, Joe Biden, does not. Don’t get me wrong, he’s formidable and has his own compelling story to tell. He too came up from the working class, has been an extraordinarily devoted family man and has sacrificed much in service to his country. (The senate may look cushy, but in reality it’s a brutal over-worked, under-paid inordinately demanding job.) Biden is very smart and politically savvy, but he hasn’t been a chief executive, nor is a he a woman—a factor very important to the progress of our American civilization. (Just as Barack Obama’s African heritage is.) And one more thing, Biden unfortunately continues to practice his public office in opposition to his own church’s teaching, though I’ll give him extra points for not being a lapdog for Planned Parenthood or the National Abortion Rights Action League lobbyists.

I’ll offer more thoughts once I’m on the ground at the convention. Stand by . . .

Rob

MEETING SARAH PALIN, MCCAIN'S VP PICK

2008-08-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin, John McCain’s newly announced choice for running mate, is more than extraordinary. I met her and her husband, Todd, yesterday. They must be the most unusual couple in American politics. She is the accomplished chief executive of an expansive and complex state, but more importantly she’s a devoted wife of 22 years and a mom to five kids. (One born with special needs while she was in office.) He’s a unionized commercial fisherman by trade. They are also a thoroughly Evangelical Christian family.

Others who study political careers can comment on her performance as a politician and chief executive. I’m more interested in the foundational principles that guide people like Governor Palin. So, when I was offered a VIP seat at the big coming out event, I jumped on it. I wanted to personally engage whomever McCain selected. I knew it could prove decisive for me and for countless others. (I’ve met Joe Biden, Barack Obama’s complement, many times during my years on Capitol Hill.)

While I was en route to the event I got a call relaying a message to me from a well-known Washington, DC, columnist who said he had evidence it would be Governor Palin. She was definitely not on my short list of disirable prospects, but only because I knew so little about her. That would soon change. I called everyone I knew that might know something about her and my staff began our own in-depth research. A few things that came immediately to light were that she is completely and convincingly pro-life, she is pro-traditional marriage and she is an Evangelical Christian. And on each of these points she has long walked her talk.

Still, there are some things you can only tell by shaking someone’s hand and looking them in the eyes. I did both today with Governor Palin and her sponsor, Senator McCain. If you’ll permit me a sidebar, I’ve got to say, Man! What a bold move. There are many voters who really wanted to make history in this election. Now they can do so with either ticket. Bravo!

But back to Sarah Palin and her spirituality. After our exchange of normal niceties, the first thing I asked the Palins was about their church. My office was doing research on this while I was at the McCain event and sending it to me on my Blackberry, but they got one thing wrong when they first reported she was Catholic. Someone called to correct our early news release and said the Palins were Baptist, so I wanted to clear it up by simply asking. Gov. Palin herself. She told me they have long attended Wasilla Bible Church in their home town of Wasilla, Alaska, near Anchorage. I'll write more on this church, but take a quick look at their website and you'll see the sort of Christian community she keeps company with. I told Sen. McCain yesterday that he had just built the bridge he needed to our Evangelical world. He seemed relieved! Traditional Catholics will like Governor Palin, too. It was a stroke of genius.

RELIGION AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

2008-08-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

There’s been a lot of religious language and uncharacteristic moralizing here at the Democratic National Convention, a lot of it at that opening exercise I wrote about, the “Interfaith Gathering” on Sunday. I heard more today at the Democrats for Life of America (DFLA) Town Hall Meeting. DFLA executive director Kristen Day presided over a discussion that followed remarks by a long slate of speakers including Pennsylvania’s Senator Bob Casey, North Carolina’s Congressman Heath Shuler, controversial sociologist and Democratic Party Platform Committee member Tony Campolo and my fellow National Pro-Life Religious Council board member and African-American activist Rev. Clenard Childress.

The very fact this event happened without opposition from party leaders indicates an extraordinary shift in culture and attitude among Democrats. It was only a few years ago the late Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey, a staunchly pro-life Catholic, was banned from the podium. (His son, Senator Robert Casey, acknowledged that today from that very podium.) Many here credit this change to Barack Obama’s openness to those who disagree with him. (He is a firm supporter of Roe v. Wade and has promised Planned Parenthood that his first act in office will be to erase all state restrictions on underage and late-term abortions.)

Still, pro-lifers were at least heard this year at the convention and in the earlier platform committee meetings. At the Democrats for Life event, Tony Campolo defended his willingness to negotiate on abortion by pointing out 51% of Americans are pro-choice, a reality, he said, both parties must live with. (Rev. Childress later gently questioned that claim.) I asked Tony if numbers don’t become irrelevant when it comes to questions on the dignity and intrinsic value of the human person. Who cares, for example, what percentage of the American public is racist when it comes to shaping policy? I noted Martin Luther King’s philosophy that during his time, while the American people weren’t quite ready to end racist practices, time had run out for them. There were no more days to be counted. Injustice could not continue for a single day more than it already had.

I actually expected Tony to somehow excuse his compromise, but he didn’t. He was quite candid. He explained that politics demands compromise, but he wouldn’t attempt to morally justify it, nor would he criticize those who remain intractable on principle. (Like me!)

Perhaps it’s because my parents believed in non-negotiables that I couldn’t sit in the seat Tony occupies. Mom and Dad sided with civil rights activists who were done negotiating with politicians, police and business owners for a place at the table. Maybe that’s what made me uncomfortable—at times even distressed—listening to the presenters that Democrats for Life had assembled. They all spoke the language of negotiation, the language of compromise.

Don’t get me wrong. I support what Democrats for Life is doing in principle. (I even left a hefty financial contribution.) I like the idea they’re making sausage, even if I don’t have the stomach for how they make it. After recently reading the autobiography of the great abolitionist and former slave, Frederick Douglas, I was reinforced all the more in my conviction that one more day of human suffering, indignity and injustice can never be tolerated. Douglas and King spoke and acted with absolute urgency. Of course, the political machinery took more than a century to catch on.

I hope and pray it won’t take a century for the Democratic Party to catch up to the pro-life voices they heard during this convention. I’m sure glad they heard them, though. Prophets may be ignored, pilloried or even vanquished during their lifetimes, but inevitably the truth breaks through and they are vindicated.

Years ago I toured what’s left of the Dachau concentration camp in Germany where tens of thousands of innocent children, women and men were exterminated by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi killing machine. As I walked in silence through a hideous photo gallery of inhuman medical experiments conducted on prisoners, I heard an elderly woman weeping nearby. I asked if there was anything I could do for her. She answered in a thick German accent, “I was a little girl living near here. I knew what they were doing. I smelled the corpses, but I did nothing. I always feel so guilty.”

In each generation there has and will be human suffering. It’s only a question of how many must suffer while the rest of us work out compromises in our own hearts and minds--and with each other. Then there’s the question of the consequent scale of the burden we must bear for it in our future regret.

I do plenty of my own compromising--each time I pick and choose what mentally ill homeless person I’ll take care of outside the commuter rail station in Washington. The truth is if I stretched myself I could take care of many of them, but I usually compromise by saying I’ll do this one today and another tomorrow. Or, I’ll rationalize that others must do their part, too.

Perhaps the negotiation between the folks at Democrats for Life and their “pro-choice” party and candidates is like my moral compromise with the homeless, only writ large on the massive American political screen--then again, maybe not. If not, I’d sure like to help lead them to a better moral resolution, for the sake of those who will suffer on both ends of the negotiating table.

More to follow . . .

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

REVIVAL AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION?

2008-08-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck reporting:

Yesterday’s Democratic National Convention Committee’s “Faith in Action Interfaith Gathering” was a stunning display of religious fervor for what has been the more “secular” political party. In spite of the impressive presence of Jewish, Islamic and Hindu leaders, there were times I thought I was in an old-timey tent revival. There were plenty of shouts of “Amen!” (I delivered a few myself—tell you about that in a minute), hands were raised, and, as they say in the black church tradition, more than one soul “got the glory.”

For me this is a very welcome turn of events for the party I was raised in. I only left the Dems when I thought they had abandoned spiritual sensibilities (and the moral tenets that come with them) in exchange for a purely secular and amoral future. The result, in my estimation, was a party hostile to religious people and religious practices. I’ve been a reluctant Republican since but plan to change my registration this year to Independent.

The Dems’ “born again” faith doesn’t please everyone, though. Two groups of atheists and agnostics protested outside the service’s venue Sunday. They decried what they saw as the Party’s cynical aping of the Republicans.

Yesterday’s service sported a diverse slate of celebrants, among them two Imams, a Hindu professor and three rabbis. The assembly of several thousand appeared to me to be mostly Anglo and European American Protestant. (At least from the way they sat on their hands throughout a rousing worship set by an all-black Gospel ensemble!)

Notwithstanding the numerical advantage of the “frozen chosen,” it was the African Americans in the room—both on stage and in the hall—that dominated the atmosphere. The meeting was formally convened by the Reverend Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Convention and the pastor of House of the Lord Pentecostal Church in Washington, DC. And it was the venerable Bishop Charles E. Blake of the Church of God in Christ who thundered a prophetic sermon from the pulpit—err—podium, at one point unequivocally condemning abortion and personally challenging Barack Obama to pursue “viable alternatives”! That’s when I blew my cover and joined the Amen Corner! Complementing both preachers was Dove Award winning worship leader Richard Smallwood who managed to get a few obvious Episcopalians out of their seats and swaying to the music—or was that God’s presence?

We’ll have to see just what the effect of this injection of religion and its attendant morality will be. Courting Catholics, Evangelicals and Muslims will bring in a lot of votes, but inevitably they will also bring conflict with the Party on issues like the sanctity of life and marriage.

I for one welcome this tiny step forward out of the harsh and two-dimensional amoral world of the Democrat yesterday and into a slightly more spiritually sensitive tomorrow. One thing that struck me: I couldn’t remember anything like this—especially on this scale—being sponsored or staged by any of the Republican National Conventions. Maybe this year would be a good time to do it. For a fleeting moment during that service, even I wasthinking about being a Democrat again . . .

Rev. Rob Schenck

www.faithandaction.org

Faith and Action

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

2020-546-8329

SETTING SAIL FOR THE FUTURE--LITERALLY!

2008-08-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Your missionary from Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

I'm in beautiful San Francisco staying with a wonderful couple who are great friends of our ministry, Len and Ann. (I generally leave off last names to protect our donors' privacy.) From their home I have a spectacular view of the Bay, Alcatraz Island and the San Fran skyline.

In the course of seeking their counsel on the future direction of Faith and Action, Len offered to take me sailing aboard his 43-foot sloop. I had only been on a sailboat once before but that time I paid not attention to what was going on around me. This time Len explained the science--and art--of sailing and it was fascinating! Take a look at my video from aboard ship:

http://gallery.me.com/robschenck/100780

We finished our Utah itinerary earlier this week with a visit to tiny Pleasant Grove City, site of the Ten Commandments monument at the center of an upcoming--and potentially historic--Ten Commandments case. (Check out our Weekly Photo Feature.)

Tomorrow I head for Denver, site of the Democratic National Convention. I'll be doing some speaking in the area, media interviews and commentary, and, of course, blogging--so be sure to check in!

Rob

RICK WARREN FORUM WITH OBAMA AND MCCAIN

2008-08-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

This Saturday, August 16, Pastor Rick Warren of "Purpose Driven" fame, will host Barack Obama and John McCain for a forum at his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Yesterday the religion reporter at the Los Angeles Times called me and for more than an hour asked my opinion on Pastor Warren and his event. I tried to offer a balanced response. I suspect The Times will only use my more critical comments because I seemed to be the "yin" to their "yang." That is, the reporter already had the good, now he wanted the bad. (I've been through this kind of interview before and I can always tell when I've been tagged for the "negatory" voice.) In any case, I did offer some constructive criticism that I'll explore more fully--and in its proper context--here.

Before I get to the critical side, though, I'll offer my support for what Warren and Saddleback intend to do. The concept of an uninterrupted, civil conversation with the candidates is a very good one--especially inside a church. I understand the intention, but the critical elements in their success or failure will be the questions and the questioner.

According to the reports, Rick Warren will be the only questioner. I heard him say recently he will not ask anything directly about the sanctity of life or of marriage, nor will there be any "test" of the candidates' Christianity. Instead, Obama and McCain will be asked about how they view the job of president, their own worldviews and questions on character.

This approach works theoretically, but in the real political world, I guarantee you, Pastor Warren will not get straight answers. Candidates skillfully exploit platforms like this one. Right now coaches are working with both Obama and McCain, rehearsing the lines each will insert at just the opportune time.

Sorry if I sound cynical, I don't mean to, but I've been on Capitol Hill for almost 15 years. I've heard and seen it all. Candidates are trained not to pay attention to the particular questions that are asked, but rather to use them cleverly as segues to the messages they want to telegraph to certain constituencies. This is why I say the questions and the questioner are critical,and why the questioner needs to dig in a little, even if it irritates his guests.

Oddly, on the same day I spoke to the Los Angeles Times, I received an E-mail invitation from Rick Warren to send him ideas about questions he should ask of the candidates. Here's what I sent back:

Dear Rick: (I have met him personally, and he told me to call him "Rick.")

Here are my suggestions for your questions to the candidates. I'll be praying for you

this weekend.

1)You have said publicly you are a Christian. (Both candidates are on record.) Tell us about your understanding of God, and more particularly of Jesus Christ. How has this this understanding affected your policies and practices in public office? Give us some real examples.

2) When Jesus was asked what is the greatest of all the commandments, he said the first is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. How will the sequence of these two Great Commandments affect your priorities as president?

3) The Declaration of Independence references the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God," and states that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." Do you affirm the Declaration as part of the basis of law for the United States? Please explain your answer and how it affects your view of law.

4) How would you explain "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God?" and who is the "Creator" spoken of in the Declaration of Independence?

5) Do you agree that all human beings are endowed with the same rights, or are some excluded from those rights? Is the child in the womb a human being? How does your answer affect your public policy decisions?

6) Is the union between a man and woman, that we recognize in marriage, reflective of the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God?" How does your answer affect your public policy on marriage?

My guess is that my E-mail will never reach Rick Warren, but if it does, I doubt my questions fit the parameters he's set for this forum. This is where I'll offer more constructive criticism. Unless Pastor Warren is prepared to play a little hardball, he'll simply be used as a tool of the campaigns. Behind the scenes, campaign staffers will laugh him off as a "good sport." The candidates will be relieved they weren't button-holed and could get the job done, even if it was at the expense of candor, of the church and of the American people.

Presidential politics by its very nature is not very "civil." True, it amplifies the very best of human nature, but also the very worst. Candidates will eat each other alive--and anyone else who gets in their way!

Jesus said we must be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) From what Rick Warren has said, I think he's planning to be the latter without being the former. While I'm sure he'll be good at being "dovish," I can guarantee his two guests will be utterly serpentine.

Years ago I hosted the infamous former New York City gang leader Nicky Cruz, who was converted to Christ under the ministry of David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and the Switchblade. Nicky told me a story about how after he became a Christian, he had an encounter with a rival gang leader who attacked him. Nicky procured a reversal and pinned his attacker to the floor, putting a knife to his throat demanding the guy praise God out loud. In a panic, the challenger breathlessly shrieked, "Praise God! Praise God!"

"You better praise God," Nicky told him, "because if it weren't for God holding my hand back, this knife would be in your throat!"

It's probably an extreme illustration, but sometimes Christians need to show they have guts. Presidential politics isn't for the faint of heart. "Polite" often translates "sucker" in the world of hardball campaigns. I hope and pray the winsome Warren isn't publicly played by these two highly ambitious and powerful pols.

A pastor who takes on the world's biggest problems may appear in the Christian community to be a makher (Jewish slang for "bigwig), but not here on Capitol Hill. He's just another naive simpleton to be exploited.

Be wise, Rick--in fact, be downright snakey! We will be praying for you!

Rev. Rob Schenck

Faith and Action

www.faithandaction.org

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

CHINA GAMES WINDOW INTO SECRET WORLD

2008-08-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Your missionary to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, Rob Schenck, reporting:

You may have heard--in just a few days a special "Joshua and Caleb" mission team will leave for China where they will discretely monitor human rights abuses in view of the coming Olympic Games in Beijing. They'll also strengthen the hands and hearts of those who risk their lives and freedom to rescue tiny babies who survive forced abortions. You may be among those who are helping in this effort through your prayers and generous financial support. If so, thank you!

Some have asked why Faith and Action--a ministry to OUR nation--is undertaking this kind of international effort. The answers are simple:

Remember what Jesus said about our two top priorities. They're found in the Gospel of St. Mark, chapter 12,

"Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?"Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

This couldn't be clearer. Loving God is our first priority; Loving our neighbor is the second.

Communications technology and jet travel have shrunk the world so that China is as close by plane to me as my parents' home is by car. This makes the Chinese our neighbors, in the literal sense. It also makes Chinese Christians even more intimate neighbors because they are our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

So, the first reason Faith and Action is cooperating in this mission to China is simply because we have the liberty to do it. Proverbs 3:27 says," Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. "There are some things you don't need to pray about. Helping those who need help is one of them.

The second reason is because Jesus said caring for our neighbor is "like" the worship of God. In other words, it is the earthly equivalent. The next best thing to worship is taking care of those in distress. This theme is repeated over and over again in Scripture. There is no question our fellow Christians in China are in deep distress, need our help and that it is God's will we help them.

Third, it is the duty of a free country to help others to find freedom. It's redemptive for the American people to generously help the people of China. Proverbs 22:9 says, "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor."

Fourth, and finally, the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing afford a rare window of opportunity to insert monitors into China during a time when it is relatively safe to do so. The eyes of the world will be on China for the next several weeks, all but assuring the Chinese authorities will be hesitant to come down too hard on Westerners or their own people should anyone "stray" from their government-approved itineraries.

I think I've made my case. The United States is not only the global leader when it comes to religious freedom and fundamental human rights, but we actually have laws requiring us to aid citizens of other countries to obtain the same freedoms. (The "International Religious Freedom Act" is just one.) For these reasons (and others I can't yet tell you about) we are sending help to China.

"Joshua" and "Caleb" will soon be on the ground. I'll post their reports. Until then, please pray for them, for our Chinese brothers and sisters and for an end to religious persecution and the violation of human rights in this otherwise great land.

Your grateful missionary to our nation's leaders,

Rob Schenck

www.faithandaction.org

Faith and Action

109 2nd St, NE

Washington, DC 20002

202-546-8329

BLACK CHURCH MORES MISSED IN WRIGHT / OBAMA RIFT

2008-04-30T05:42:00.001-07:00

As a minister, I have an enormous respect for the black church. As anyone who knows me knows, I'd rather preach in an African-American pulpit than a white pulpit. The black church has always been vivaciously spiritual, often gracious to a fault, enormously appreciative of good preaching (which always prods one to be better) and overwhelming respects "the man of God."

Let's just say the black church is a great place to be a minister of the Gospel!

Like it's white counterpart, though, the black church has its faults. We may be getting a glimpse of what is, at least from a certain aspect, one of those faults in the current drama of the Barack Obama / Jeremiah Wright falling-out.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, let me say I have been a critic of both Mr. Obama and Rev. Wright. Obama for his public policies and Wright for his unorthodox theology. My observations here, though, have nothing to do with either. Instead, I think for most of the American public, a critically important component of this story is simply being missed.

Let me explain it this way: In the black church a young upstart is never to insult, disrespect or upstage his elder--especially if that elder is "the man of God." I've always appreciated this facet of black church mores. It instills respect for age, experience and position.

The trouble comes when you try to determine where the line is drawn. How old are you before you're no longer an "upstart?" When is it proper to hold a pastor accountable and when is it "dissing" him?

As I sat in the room at the Press Club and listened to Rev. Jeremiah Wright take Barack Obama to task ("Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability"), I detected a subliminal message. (One of my mentors in ministry, psychologist Doug Lui, instructed me 25 years ago, "It's not what people say that matters, it's why they say it.") The message from Rev. Wright was, "Barack, you disrespect me and I'll call you out. You're not going to dis me, boy. I will discipline you."

I was even more convinced we were looking into the woodshed when Rev. Wright pronounced, "[W]hether he gets elected or not, I'm still answerable to God November 5th and January 21st."

In church-speak, that meaneth, "You cross me, young man, and I'll keep you out of the White House. Then you'll learn what respect is all about."

I'd like to come off as the paragon of virtue and humble perfection in this, but, frankly, I'm not sure I wouldn't have done exactly the same thing to the young Mr. Obama.

Oh, how I love the Black Church and all it has to teach me.

Well, back to my by-comparison dull world of the white church . . .

Rob Schenck

RECLAIMING THIS BLOG!

2008-03-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I haven't posted to this blog in a very long time. I'm hereby reclaiming it! I haven't decided what to do with it yet. (My other blog is tencommandmentsoncapitolhill.blogspot.com.) Check back to see what I decide. Maybe this is the place to post my deepest secrets and most profound thoughts. Maybe not.

Here's an idea: What if this became the laboratory for working out messages, sermons, commentary, etc? In other words, by reading and posting here, you would be part of my soul / brain trust! If you like the idea, say so. We'd deal with some very hard issues: sexuality, political theories, theology, doctrine and dogma, etc., etc.

I'm leaving the Post Options wide open.

Great times and great people!

2006-09-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

It was a big weekend for me and Faith and Action. I visited the magnificent Christian Assembly in Columbus, Ohio. I’ve been coming and going as a speaker for this dynamic church for over 18 years, but this occasion was special. The Reverend Dr. Sam Farina and his wife, Paulette, celebrated their fortieth anniversary of ministry to the congregation. As I pointed out in my remarks at a Saturday luncheon in the Farinas honor, such a long tenure smashes the national statistics on pastoral longevity. Obviously, something is working at Christian Assembly—and their long legacy is bearing extraordinary fruit well beyond the borders of their own community.

Faith and Action depends heavily on extraordinary leaders like the Farinas. Dr. Farina (or Pastor Sam, as he is affectionately known by his flock) has been a long-time member of our National Clergy Council executive committee. The NCC is our vanguard of prophetic ministry to the Nation’s elected and appointed officials. Since our inception 25 years ago, we’ve always found government people more responsive to clergy—particularly pastors—because they know clergy make contact with hundreds (if not thousands) of ordinary Americans each week. Pastors—and church leaders in general—have more clout in Washington than they ever imagine. If you’re a member of the clergy and you’d like to be involved with us, please contact me at info@faithandaction.org. If you’re a lay person, let your pastor know we need him. And, if you know any others in Christian ministry that have a particular passion for the soul of our American culture and civilization, send them our way!

The busy weekend continued into Labor Day. While most people were enjoying backyard barbeques, an ad hoc team of advisors joined my brother, Paul, and me at our ministry center on Capitol Hill for a strategic planning summit. We prayerfully put together a plan to extend the mission of Faith and Action to every state capital. It was a very stimulating experience. At first, the task looked quite daunting. But David Hensey, a successful entrepreneur from Nevada, introduced us to something called “helloWorld!” This new Internet-based video technology will enable us to communicate by video with anyone who has access to a computer. We were up and running literally in minutes!

You’ll be reading about our “State-by-State” plan in the days ahead. Suffice it to say that what at first looked liked it would be impossibly difficult and expensive, is now very much doable. The Lord has enabled us to convert our Washington, DC, missionary objective—to challenge Capitol Hill with Biblical Truth and change the National one policymaker at a time—to each and every one of the 50 states and our US territories. (For that matter, the same technology will allow to go around the world!)

I really want you to see this technology in action. To get a beta test copy of my first video E-mail, just send me all your contact information at allysonblack@faithandaction.org.

Speaking of Internet-based technology: Just one week to go before launch of our weekly Internet Broadcast, Faith and Action Live! Be sure to tune in every Wednesday at 12 noon for this exciting one-hour report live form your Nation’s capital! I’ll give you the behind-the-scenes report on what God is doing through Faith and Action in Washington. You’ll also get my commentary on the great issues and personalities of the day. (You’ll find a link at our website: www.faithandaction.org.)

Please pass the information along: Faith and Action Live! – every Wednesday, 12 noon to 1:00. I’ll present our report in 15-minute segments in case you can’t listen in for the whole hour. Each broadcast will also be archived so you can download it later.

Before I go: I’ll be preaching this Saturday evening and Sunday morning at the exciting City View Church in York, PA, with Pastor Joe Kopp. I don’t have their exact contact information with me, but you can Google them! If you can, drop by. You’ll enjoy them as much as I do!

Be back with more. . .

Back in the saddle and hard at work!

2006-08-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

After ten glorious days of vacation, I’m back in the saddle at our ministry center here on Capitol Hill. I’ll admit, I’m a certified workaholic, so it’s always difficult to tear myself away—and it’s always great to come back. I love the work God has given our ministry team to do!

Now that I'm back, everything goes into full swing for the fall season. We have our special Labor Day planning conference coming up this weekend. I’ll first be out in Columbus, Ohio, once again enjoying preaching for the inimitable Pastor Sam Farina of the dynamic Christian Assembly on Karl Road. I’ve known Sam for almost 20 years and his church has supported our work all that time. Sam and his lovely (and gifted wife), Paulette, celebrate 40 years of pastoral service to the folks at Christian Assembly on Saturday. Not only so, but the Farinas are respected throughout the Ohio capital.

On Monday, while most will be holding wiener roasts in their backyards, a small group of us will meet behind closed doors here in Washington to prayerfully execute what I call a “tower plan” involving all 50 state capitals. You will recall Jesus’ teaching on those who set out to build a tower must first assess what they will need to complete it. That’s what we’ll be doing Monday. As most culture watchers will observe, the three big core issues—the Sanctity of Life, the Sanctity of Marriage and the Public Acknowledgment of God—are all headed back to the states. We know we must bring our mission focus now to each of those state capitals in the same way we do here in the nation’s capital. I’ll keep you posted.

Some have written to ask what our Jerusalem emphasis has to do with our official Faith and Action mission statement. Let me answer that quickly: Everything! The Bible makes it quite clear that America’s destiny is bound up with Israel’s. As goes the Holy Land, so goes EVERY other nation. God promises to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse her. That’s reason enough to urge God’s people here in the U.S. to be obedient in aiding Israel in her time of distress. But it calls for more. We are equally obligated to prophetically warn Israel of missteps that can ultimately destroy her. That’s why we’ve launched the Jerusalem Initiative. This effort seeks to gently and lovingly confront secular Israeli leaders who, like so many in this country, have bought into the so-called “gay rights” agenda.

Part of being a missionary on Capitol Hill is wearing many hats. One of those hats allows me to get to know the ambassadors representing foreign countries here. One such ambassador is David Ayalon of Israel. Ambassador Ayalon was guarded at first about engaging American Christians, but soon learned that we are among Israel’s best friends. That has allowed us unusual access. So, I’ve been quietly communicating with the Ambassador, conveying both our devotion to Israel as God’s land and to Jews as God’s people. Still, it is incumbent upon us to be forthright, honest and strong when it comes to Israel’s transgressions—just as we should with our own country and leaders.

I have warned the Ambassador that “homosexualizing” the Holy Land is most seriously an affront to the Holy God. But it is also a terrible affront to those who worship the One True God! The highest echelons of Israeli society and government are not only advocating for same-sex marriage, but using Israel's tax and international aid money to promote “gay” tourism in the Holy Land!

This is why we’ve joined our ally and friend, Rabbi Yehuda Levin of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Rabbis, in calling Israel’s leaders to account. This join project is called the “Keep the Holy Land Holy” campaign.

Ironically, this comes at the same time our outreach to the opposite part of the world is escalating. The Christian Friendship Mission to the Kingdom of Morocco has enjoyed enormous success during the two years it’s been underway. As in the Israeli effort, being here in Washington allowed me to get to know the very warm, affable and remarkably open-minded ambassador of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, His Excellency Aziz Mekouar. The result has been the first-ever top-level exchange between American leaders and Moroccan Muslim leaders. For now, it centers mainly on a little-known human tragedy being played out in this North African nation’s “southern provinces,” previously called “Western Sahara,” or, before that, “Spanish Sahara.” You can read more about this at http://www.nationalclergycouncil.org/ or http://www.speakforsahrawis.org/. While the human suffering in this mostly ignored region is enough to justify Christian involvement, there is more. Fidel Castro’s long tentacles reached into this area 30 years ago and he persists in fomenting atheist, socialist revolution in this part of the world. The result has been tens of thousands of child abductions and what amount to communist concentration camps in nearby Algeria, an ally of the former Soviet Union that, since the collapse of the latter, has yet to reform itself. I will keep you regularly informed on the progress of this unique outreach in the Arab Muslim world.

For now, back to home base: You know we had a string of victories and partial victories over the last few weeks. Beginning with our own Ten Commandments display, when the Government of the District of Columbia rescinded its order to remove it, to the more recent Idaho state supreme court ruling allowing the public (not the courts or politicians) to decide if they want the Commandments in the public square, to Congressional action protecting the San Diego Cross, to President’s Bush’s signing of congressional legislation prohibiting tax-subsidized human embryo farms, the tide seems to be turning. (See more on this at my other blog: www.tencommandmentsoncapitolhill.blogspot.com) Still, we have a very, very, very long way to go and many, many, many battles lie ahead. So, there’s no time to grow complacency! Onward ho!

A NEW VIEW OF FAITH AND ACTION

2006-08-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

With this post I inaugurate a second blog for your edification and enjoyment. (The first one is www.thetencommandmentsoncapitolhill.blogspot.com.) I reserved this space more than a year ago, but it's taken me this long to rearrange my schedule to allow more writing time.

My purpose for this site is to give you the "flip side" of Faith and Action's work as your Christian missionary outreach to elected and appointed officials on Capitol Hill. For everything you see happening at Faith and Action through our E-mail Alerts, Website (www.faithandaction.org), newsletter or even out there in the media, there's a lot more that happens behind-the-scenes. There are just too many prayers, too much hard work, and too many people to write or talk about in our conventional outlets.

So, if you like to know, as Paul Harvey says, "the rest of the story," this is the blog for you! About once a week--probably Thursdays--I'll post the details at this site. I'll tell you HOW God did what He just did. (If I know!) That may sound arrogant, but look at it another way: When Cheryl and I were raising our kids, we told them, "Never be afraid to ask how God does something. Whenever God moves, it is awesome and dedazzling. But for everything awesome God does, there is ten times as much awe in how He does it."

If you want to know HOW God did what He just did through Faith and Action, you'll likely find the answer here.

Here is where I'll tell you what went on BEFORE the big breakthrough happened. I'll tell you WHAT we prayed BEFORE we went public. And, I'll tell you WHO God used to bring something to pass. Sometimes I'll include what's happened SINCE you read about in the newspaper or saw it on the television news.

Reading the behind-the-scenes stuff will build your faith to believe God to do great things in your life and in your sphere of influence. I like to say, If God can do it here--among the most powerful people in the most powerful capital of the most powerful nation on earth--then He can do anything anywhere!

So watch this blog weekly for the "other side" of Faith and Action!

Now here's the first juicy behind-the-scenes tidbit: Cheryl and are finally going on vacation! We're headed south to a gleaming white beach on the Atlantic coast for some much needed R&R. I'll start posting when we get back!

Rob