GOD'S WORD GOES PUBLIC FOR 90 STRAIGHT HOURS ; 5 DAY BIBLE READING MARATHON TRUMPETS EVERY VERSE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

STUART, – "In the beginning was the Word."
And beginning tonight in this small city on Florida's Treasure Coast, those who love the Word of God commenced a nonstop, Bible-reading marathon that will take them from the first verse in Genesis to the last line of Revelation, lasting some 90 hours and finishing up Sunday afternoon.
The outdoor event features people of all ages and beliefs reading the King James Version of the Good Book at a public park owned by the city of Stuart which, for the first time this year, is joining Martin County in endorsing the project.
"Here we are on government property, and we have the Ten Commandments right there in front of the pulpit," said Donna Healton, a pastor with Spirit of Prophecy Ministries who organized the event along with her husband and fellow pastor, Gene Healton. "Our vision is that every county in Florida will be doing a Bible marathon."
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The Christian couple began their first marathon in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
They said God had prompted them to start the event as a "protection of our nation against terrorism." They originally thought it was just going to be a one-year project, but the reading has blossomed over the past years, popular with not only ministers, but just ordinary folk who wish to read Scripture publicly.
Bible-reader-wannabes either sign up in advance for a 15-minute time slot of their choosing, or just show up off the street to jump in whenever there's an availability.

A handful of volunteers actually camp through the night at the park, ready to take over the duties if someone from the public is not at the podium.
At times, reading the Bible can be difficult when it comes to mouthing some of the names found in the Old Testament. For instance, Genesis 10:26 states, "And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah."
When one woman had trouble making it through that list, she ad-libbed a bit, saying, "Lord, you know who they are!"
And why do people come from all over the Sunshine State just to read the Bible out loud?
"We're here basically to pronounce the Word of God," said Father John Bower of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Stuart. "The Word of God is to be pronounced at all times and in all places for the salvation of mankind."
"We're not the minority," stressed Michele Mazone of Jensen Beach, Fla. "We are the majority and we have to put a voice to that majority. We have to let people know that we're not going to go away, we're not going to go away quietly, that we're still going to come out and voice our opinions about the Lord and our commitment to Him and that we commit our lives to him. He is with us and He will always be with us to the end."
In years past, unseasonably cold weather made it uncomfortable for some readers and listeners, as they wore parkas, hats and gloves to stay warm through the overnight hours. This year's forecast has low temperatures expected to remain in the upper 60s.
Gene Healton was sporting a T-shirt with a Christian cross and a message stating, "This shirt is illegal in 52 countries," which he says is a reference to Islamic nations that have little or no tolerance when it comes to promoting Jesus Christ. He says it's important to be public in proclaiming God's truth, and feels there's a growing threat in America that's diminishing freedoms of speech and religion.
"That's for sure," he said. "They're trying to pass the hate bill and taking God out of more and more things all the time. We have to stand in that place and continue to pray. The Bible says there's always going to be a remnant [of those faithful to God], and a remnant is going to do a great work."

POLICE ARREST WOMAN FOR WEARING PRAYER SHAWL AT WESTERN WALL, JERUSALEM

Police on Wednesday arrested a woman who was praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, due to the fact that she was wrapped in a prayer shawl (tallit).

The woman was visiting the site with the religious women's group "Women of the Wall" to take part in the monthly Rosh Hodesh prayer. Police were called to the area after the group asked to read aloud from a Torah scroll.
Police said they arrested the women in the wake of a High Court ruling, which states that the public visiting the Western Wall is obligated to dress in accordance with the site's dress code. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz said the act was a provocation meant to turn the wall into a fighting ground.

"We must distance politics and disagreement from this sacred place," Rabinowitz said. Chairman of the women's group, Anat Hoffman, said that this is the first time in the history of Israel that a woman has been arrested because she wrapped herself in a tallit and read from the Torah. Rabbi Gilad Kariv, associate director of Israel's reform movement, said that all over the world women are entitled to wear the tallit, and only in the land of the Jews are they excluded from the social custom and even arrested for praying.

"Israeli police should be ashamed of themselves," Kariv said. Last week Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the Shas party's spiritual leader, said during his weekly sermon that the women in the feminist movement are "stupid" and act the way they do out of a selfish desire for equality, not "for heavens' sake." Rabbi Ovadia also said about the groups' custom to pray at the Western Wall that "there are stupid women who come to the Western Wall, put on a tallit (prayer shawl), and pray," and added that they should be condemned.

REPUBLIC AIR CEO BRYAN BEDFORD PUTS HIS FAITH TO WORK

Nine years ago, Bryan Bedford decided to bring God to work with him.
"We've been building a business together ever since," said Bedford, chief executive of Republic Airways, which recently acquired Frontier Airlines.
Bedford has infused his Christian faith into Republic's vision statement and believes it has made the company stronger.
Republic employees may be used to Bedford's tack, but as new members of the Republic family, a number of Frontier workers find it jarring — as do some outsiders.
"It worries me that the environment created by the boss feels like: If you're not with Jesus, you're not on board with Republic," said Buie Seawell, an ethics and legal-studies professor at the University of Denver and a Presbyterian minister.
Bedford says he doesn't try to convert anyone or require faith as an employment litmus test.
But he also says he isn't shy about sharing his religious faith along with his faith in Republic's business plan in company newsletters — signing them: "I pray for God's continued blessings on our families and our airline."
"This tells you where I come from, what makes me tick, and this is what I believe and what the company value system is," Bedford said.
Republic's vision statement says, in part, "every employee, regardless of personal beliefs or world view, has been created in the image and likeness of God."
Some might reel at the mention, but others say it doesn't cross the line.
As the statement doesn't mention Christianity, "there is no reason why that couldn't have been written by someone who is Jewish," said Mark Silverstein, legal director of the Denver office of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Silverstein said Bedford has a right to express his values to company employees as long as he complies with statutes protecting religious freedom.
A devout Catholic, Bedford said he decided nine years ago to avoid compartmentalizing his life by being one person at work, another at home and another on Sundays.
"I needed to be a whole person in all facets of my life each day," he said.
There is a big trend globally to build businesses on religious foundations of integrity, character and trust, said Steve Stanley, chief executive of Christian Business Leaders.
The Texas-based organization helps develop "spiritual business statesmen out of business leaders," Stanley said, "where their public and private conduct is guided by the same principles and values."
DU's Seawell said he's uncomfortable with mixing business and religion, that principles such as respecting co-workers are "universal values."
"God would be pleased if we did that without doing it in his name," Seawell said.
Bedford said in a recent newsletter that he was sure the vision statement reference to God was getting a "fair amount of debate."
"Gasp . . . He talks about God in public and to his employees," mused Bedford, 48.
Some Frontier workers who want to remain anonymous out of concern for their jobs said they have been stunned by Bedford's writings. "Very bizarre!!" one wrote to The Denver Post.
There have been a few complaints, Bedford said, but he also has heard from 300 Frontier employees whom he described as grateful for his words.
Bedford doesn't limit himself to religious views. He also writes on issues that don't directly affect the airline.
Several years ago, Bedford created what he calls a "community dialog" in Republic's home base of Indianapolis when he wrote about abortion.
"This is more than words on a sheet of paper," Bedford said. "God is an important contributor to our business, and there is more going on here than flying airplanes."
On Internet pilot forums, where Bedford is referred to as "Rev. BB," some pilots question how Bedford's "cutthroat" business practices jibe with his expressions of religious faith.
Bedford shrugged off the comments.
"Business is competitive," he said. "I think Scripture quoters — and I'm not — would refer to parables about using your talents, that we each have gifts and are called on to use these gifts to our fullest potential."

CHINESE GOVERNMENT TRAMPLES ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BEFORE OBAMA VISIT

BEIJING -- Beaten, banned, and berated, house church Christians have endured increased religious persecution over the last two months in China. The Chinese government has stepped up its central government-led campaign repressing all religious activities, targeting registered and unregistered churches alike.

Read the most recent stories of persecution:
11/13/2009 - Linfen Fushan Church Leaders Rushed to Trial without Notice.
11/13/2009 - 2,000 Wanbang Church Members Hunted, Interrogated and Threatened after Stand-off with Shanghai PSB.
11/12/2009 - Beijing Continues Relentless Crackdown on Shouwang Church.
11/11/2009 - Wuhan Religious Spies Infiltrate Enguang Church and Officials Takeover with Three-Self Leaders.
11/04/2009 - Shanghai Wanbang Church Banned by State Agencies.
11/03/2009 - Prominent Chinese Legal Researcher Abruptly Dismissed for "Political Reasons."
11/02/2009 - Shouwang Church Members Forced to Sing in the Snow.
ChinaAid President Bob Fu expressed deep concern over the lack of accountability of Western powers to uphold human rights: "The Obama Administration's total silence on this issue has been seen as a green light and certainly emboldens the Chinese government's resolve to carry out this sweep, without worrying about international consequence.
"From the violence against the 50,000 members Linfen Fushan Church in Shanxi on Sept. 13 (with five church leaders facing trial among 9 still arrested), to the repression of Shouwang and Wanbang Churches on Nov. 1-2, as well as the forced dismissal of prominent moderate legal scholar and church leader Dr. Fan Yafeng; and from beating up human rights lawyers Zhang Kai and Li Chunfu in May in Chongqing to disbarring at least 18 human rights lawyers so far, neither the White House nor the U.S. Department of State has issued any public statement to show its concern on the deteriorating situation."
As President Obama travels to China on Sunday, November 15, a great opportunity arises for the United States to reclaim a strong stance on human rights, and specifically reassert the vital importance of religious freedom. Each time a key Western leader remains silent on these issues, the Chinese government is empowered to suppress even more freedoms. The cycle must be broken.
ChinaAid calls on the international community and President Barack Obama to bring these cases to light, and to take a strong stance in favor of religious freedom for all.

MAX LUCADO'S " FEARLESS " MAKES ALL TIME BEST LIST

The well-established magazine “Guideposts” has included Max Lucado’s latest book “Fearless” among the Top 10 among reader-selected life changing books.
This may seem surprising since the book was just released in September and shares company in the Top 10 with familiar reads such as Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life,” Joseph P. Young’s “The Shack” and “Tuesdays With Morrie” by veteran sports columnist Mitch Albom.
I’ve read the book and found it filled with helpful and practical advice for Christians to live confidently despite any number of concerns which gum up our lives. Lucado is also a polished storyteller who does a good job of weaving personal anecdotes throughout.
A chapter excerpt discussing the fear the God doesn’t exist.