OUR COLUMNISTS For Whom the (Liberty) Bell Tolls Guest Commentary by Joe Murray 'Get your history straight and your nightlife gay,' is the new tale of tolerance emanating from the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia, best known for being the cradle of liberty and the birthplace of democracy, is striving to become the new city that lies somewhere over the rainbow. Racing Toward Heaven Commentary by Brad Locke There are innumerable sports metaphors that relate directly to everyday living, usually dealing with the pursuit of lofty goals. These metaphors can naturally extend beyond routine, worldly life and into the spiritual realm. There is precedent, and a guide, for such analogous rumination. Just look in the Bible. The Darkness Before the Dawn Commentary by David Sisler There are times when we feel darkness all around us and we feel that we are alone. We have not sinned, we have done nothing to drive the Lord away. But in that moment, there is darkness, and nothing more. What to Do With Santa Claus Commentary by Mark Creech How should Christians deal with the Santa Claus phenomena? Is Santa harmless or hell spawn? Is the jolly old elf in the red suit pure paganism foisted on an unsuspecting populace? Or does he have Christian roots?

...President Bush was on hand in Washington Thursday night for the ceremonial lighting of the National Christmas Tree. But as even Associated Press notes, the name of Jesus was not heard throughout the event. The president told the crowd that Christmas celebrates the humble birth of the man whose message has changed the world. But during the ceremony, neither Bush nor anyone else mentioned Jesus by name -- even in the opening prayer and scattered hymns. In his remarks, Bush did talk about the impact of the one who was born that night. "Across the generations, the poor have heard words of hope, the proud have heard words of challenge, and the weak and the dying have heard words of assurance -- and mankind has been given a message first delivered by angels on a shepherd's field: 'Fear not.'" The president concluded by saying, "We don't know all of God's ways, yet the Christmas story promises that God's purpose if justice, and His plan is peace." [AP]

...A report says Canada's increasing leftward drift on social issues is resulting in a growing rift with the United States. According to the New York Times, a more distinctive Canadian identity -- one far more in line with European sensibilities -- is emerging and generating new frictions with the U.S. Some say the latest round in philosophical differences came in the lead-up to the Iraqi war when Canada, like most of Europe, opposed the U.S. decision to go to battle. The divide grew even deeper this summer when both the Canadian courts and the federal government opened the door to the legalization of homosexual "marriage." Canada has also moved this year toward legalizing marijuana use. In fact, the Times reports that retiring Prime Minister Jean Chretien recently joked about kicking back and smoking some pot. One other point of significance: the Times story notes that weekly church attendance among Canadians has plummeted since the 1950s, while American church attendance has remained virtually constant. [Fred Jackson]

...The Roman Catholic bishop of La Crosse has reportedly warned three Wisconsin lawmakers to change their pattern of voting on issues like abortion and assisted suicide. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Bishop Raymond Burke wrote letters to a congressman and two state legislators, declaring that as practicing Catholics they cannot support legislation that is "anti-life." If they continue to do so, Burke says he will "ask them not to present themselves to receive the sacraments because they would not be Catholics in good standing." The recipient of one of the letters, Wisconsin state Senator Julie Lassa, was told that she had "failed to restrict the evil of abortion when the opportunity presented itself." Burke wrote, "I call upon you to consider the consequences for your own spiritual well-being, as well as the scandal you risk by leading others into serious sin." Lassa responded, "I can't let my religion take precedence over my duties as a legislator." Burke was appointed Tuesday to serve as the next archbishop of St. Louis. [AP]

...A Christian pastor with a ministry geared toward winning Mormons to Christ says he expects the LDS Church could reinstate polygamy if a convicted polygamist is successful in getting his case thrown out. In 1890, the Mormon Church officially renounced polygamy. But may followers did not go along with the change and continued the practice. Some 30,000 polygamists remain in the West, including Tom Green, who was convicted of four counts of bigamy in 2001. But now his attorney contends that conviction needs to be thrown out, based on this summer's Supreme Court decision striking down the Texas sodomy law. Joel Kramer with Living Hope Ministries believes that if Green is successful in legitimizing polygamy, the LDS Church would bring it back. "It would seem that if it became legal in the country that the LDS Church, as it does so often, would get a revelation from God all of a sudden that would say that now it's legal again within the context of Mormonism," he says. "I would expect that." Kramer says polygamy is part of Mormon history -- both in its past, and perhaps in its future. Kramer's ministry has recently produced a video about new DNA research that could spell disaster for the Mormon Church. [Chad Groening]

...An all-liberal radio network appears to be one step closer to reality. Backers say they are about to finalize the purchase of five key radio stations. The stations are reportedly in five of the top ten radio markets. The company, backed by liberal dollars to bring the network to life, is called "Progress Media." Dick Bott with the Bott Radio Network tells Family News In Focus that in America, they are free to speak out -- but no one is guaranteed an audience. "When it comes to really setting forth their ideas and then having to justify those ideas in the court of public opinion, liberals usually lose," Bott says. Backers of the liberal network hope to flip the switch early next year. [FNIF]

...One of the nation's leading constitutional scholars says a majority of Americans are ignorant when it comes to understanding the basis of their freedoms. Howard Phillips of The Conservative Caucus believes the problems Americans are facing -- specifically, an activist judiciary and its efforts to stifle religious freedom -- are a direct result of the failure of the public education system to teach the basis of American freedoms: the Constitution. "We have generations of young people and now middle-aged people -- and law school graduates -- who have not studied the Constitution, who don't recognize its importance, don't recognize that it is the anchor of our liberty, and don't recognize that the Supreme Court and all the federal courts are under the Constitution -- not over it," the conservative icon says. Several members of Congress want to craft a thorough bill that would mandate the teaching of the U.S. Constitution and its principles to all American students. Phillips says that would ensure the survival the nation and its freedoms. [Bill Fancher]

...More than 100,000 shoe boxes filled with toys and gospel literature are headed for children in war-torn Sudan. Transport planes filled with the boxes collected by Operation Christmas Child leave this weekend for Sudan. Rev. Franklin Graham will fly to that country to help hand out the shoe boxes to children. Graham, who has been highly critical of the religion of Islam since 9-11, says he was invited to Sudan -- a Muslim nation -- by the African nation's foreign minister to meet that nation's president. After clarifying that it was indeed him they wanted to invite, Franklin was told the Sudan government desired him to bring his Christmas program there because they wanted him to "part of the peace process." Operation Christmas Child is planning to deliver seven million shoe boxes individually packed by American donors to 95 countries around the globe. [Allie Martin]

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