Rise Up and PRAY!!

Activities for the National Day of Prayer — as well as the concept itself — have been under attack this year. NDP was officially created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President Harry Truman. Since 1952, every president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.

Last week, a Wisconsin federal judge, Barbara Crabb, ruled that the event was unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The case was brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group of atheists and agnostics.

In a notice just filed Thursday, however, the Obama administration said it will appeal the court decision in the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago (Ill.). The notice came after about two dozen members of Congress condemned the ruling and pressed for an appeal. The Justice Department signaled it would appeal not only Crabb's decision on the merits of the case, but also her ruling last month that the defendants had the standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place.

Evangelist Franklin Graham, Honorary Chairman this year of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, was scheduled to speak at the Pentagon next month, but his visit was opposed by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, because Graham reportedly described Islam as a "very evil and wicked religion" after the 2001 terrorists attacks on the U.S. The organization had been prepared to seek a temporary restraining order against National Prayer Day if it were "polluted by someone as hideously Islamophobic as Franklin Graham," said MRFF founder and president, Mikey Weinstein.

"I regret that the Army felt it was necessary to rescind their invitation to the National Day of Prayer Task Force to participate in the Pentagon's special prayer service," Graham said in a statement on Thursday. "I want to express my strong support for the United States military and all our troops. I will continue to pray that God will give them guidance, wisdom and protection as they serve this great country."

These news items ought to frighten all of us, as well as raise some righteous ire within us. Political correctness is now the only virtue that's worth defending for many of our nation's leaders and activist judges are imposing their will through "political" rulings that seek to drive God out of all public life. During this year's National Day of Prayer we had better beg God to change our leader's hearts or soon we will be an Islamic nation. We won't need to worry about not being a Christian or even a secular nation.

Ancient Wall Discovered

An ancient wall uncovered outside of Jerusalem's Old City matches those described in the Bible during the time of King Solomon, reports ChristianPost.com.

According to archeologist Dr. Eliat Mazar, the wall dates back some 3,000 years, and would indicate that Jerusalem had a strong central government at that time because it required organization, resources and workers to build the massive structure. "A comparison of this latest finding with city walls and gates from the period of the First Temple, as well as pottery found at the site, enable us to postulate, with a great degree of assurance, that the wall that has been revealed is that which was built by King Solomon in Jerusalem in the latter part of the tenth century BCE [Before the Christian Era]," Mazar told The Jerusalem Post.

The archeologist notes that the Old Testament passage of 1 Kings 3:1 says that King Solomon built the temple and his new palace, and surrounded them with a city that was most likely connected to the ancient wall of the City of David. "This is the first time that a structure from that time has been found that may correlate with written descriptions of Solomon's building in Jerusalem."

The section of the wall uncovered is nearly 230 feet long and 20 feet high and is located in the area known as the Ophel, between the City of David and the south wall that surrounds the Temple Mount. A 20-foot-high gatehouse has also been uncovered that is part of the wall, as well. In addition, a large watchtower exists that has yet to be fully excavated.

Pottery remnants have been found on the floor of the royal building near the gatehouse that date back to the 10th century B.C., supporting the archaeologists' claim about the age of the wall. And on jar handles are the words, "to the king," indicating its use by the monarchy.