Today there was a Press Release about the Values Voter Presidential Debate – I have been invited and will be doing some reporting from the event. Right now the “top 3″ candidates the liberal media is pushing, have not yet confirmed that they will be at the debate – Rudy, Mitt Romney, John McCain. Their campaigns are citing scheduling conflicts and raising money.

Values Voter Presidential Debate — September 17, 2007 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Contact: Karen Golembe, Values Voter Presidential Debate, 954-263-9633, valuesvoterdebatemedia@comcast.net

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 29 /Christian Newswire/ — A Values Voter Presidential debate will be held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, September 17th at 7:30 p.m. The majority of the Republican candidates have confirmed their attendance at the event.

30 of the nation’s most influential groups will asking the questions of the presidential candidates that matter most to the Values Voters – the largest voting block in America.

Also participating will be key pro-family leaders including:

Phyllis Schlafly, President of Eagle Forum,
Don Wildmon, Chairman of the American Family Association,
Paul Weyrich, President of the Free Congress Foundation,
Judge Roy Moore, Chairman of the Foundation for Moral Law,
Janet Folger, President of Faith2Action,
Rick Scarborough, President of Vision America,
Mat Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel,
Star Parker, President of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education,
Bobby Schindler of Terri’s Fight, and
Stephen Bennett of Stephen Bennett Ministries.

The event will be broadcast live on Sky Angel and streamed live on pro-family websites including: www.ValuesVoterDebate.com and www.AFA.net, and heard live on the VCY and AFA radio networks. It will also be televised Saturday night, September 22nd on the INSP Network and aired on the DayStar Television Network and seen around the world on God TV.

“Even with two-thirds (19 million) of the evangelical Christian eligible voters sitting on the bench in the last presidential election, we, values voters, still made up the largest voting block in the country,” said Janet Folger, President of Faith2Action, and member of the Values Voter Debate Committee.

According to the National Election Pool exit poll, in 2004 the evangelical vote constituted 36 percent (over a third) of Bush’s voters – up 10 percent from 2000. “All of the candidates who place our values (and our votes) as a priority will be at this historic event,” added Folger.

Every Democratic Candidate declined the invitation for a similar debate the following week.

More information is available on www.ValuesVoterDebate.com.

One of the reasons I love the medium of blogging is because it’s totally interactive, and I have to tell you that even before I got out of bed this morning, I received a few emails telling me that the Korean hostages may be freed by the terrorist Taliban. What a great way to begin the day!

According to BBC News website the Taliban has agreed to free the Korean hostages.

But you may be wondering why or what the “catch” is. Afterall, terrorists aren’t going to free their hostages and expect nothing in return, and especially after murdering two of the missionaries in cold blood.

Here’s what part of the BBC article is reporting:

Seoul said the agreement was reached on condition its troops were withdrawn as scheduled by the year’s end.

South Korea also agreed to end all missionary work in Afghanistan and stop its citizens from travelling there.

. . .
The BBC’s Alastair Leithead, in Kabul, says no exact release date has been given, but the Taleban have said they will start working straight away to free them.

There has been no mention of money being paid, our correspondent adds, but it is thought that a ransom may have been part of the deal.

I have two comments about this. First, we do not know the date, and I’m not quick to jump up and down and rejoice because of that one simple point. The reason is because we are dealing with terrorists, and well, terrorists don’t fight fair. And well, they aren’t always honest. So, at least for me, I’ll rejoice once the hostages are set free.

My second comment concerns the ransom part of this. I’m not an expert on South Korean relations and their policies on paying ransom, but I know the USA has a policy not to pay ransom. So I’m skeptical about ransom being involved.

And while I do rejoice that the hostages may be freed by the Taliban, I’m going to hold my excitement and joy until I see it.

Which brings me to a new prayer request – pray that the hostages would be freed and that the Taliban keep their word. And let’s even step out and pray that missionaries would continue to enter Afghanistan and minister even though the South Koreans are agreeing to stop sending missionaries there.

We must remember that God told us to GO into ALL the world, not just the countries who want us there. And like it or not, the Taliban cannot and will not stop God from spreading His word. So we need to be praying that the Lord would raise up more bold and courageous saints who would dare to enter a country where militant terrorists want to rule the day.

Here are a few other places covering the story. Most have the same information.

Reuters Story

Cheers & Apology Greet S. Korea Hostage Release

Washington Post

Radio Free Europe

Have you seen the news that everyone seems to be talking about? No, I’m not talking about another sexual pervert in government being busted. I’m also not talking about Michael Vick and his confession, and I’m definitely not talking about the resignation of Alberto Gonzales.

No, what I’m talking about is that all of the above is just a reminder that we need Christ so badly in our lives. We live in such a sin-sick and fallen world, and so many people are brokenhearted, lonely, grieving the loss of a loved one, struggling with disease and heartache, and hopeless.

And the good news that those of us who have received it is that Jesus died to take away all of our sin and to offer us forgiveness if we could all just humble ourselves and receive it.

Ya know, one thing that I’ve learned in my brief life of 38 years, is that receiving love is often harder than giving it. The reason why is because when we receive love, we have to trust the one who is giving it to us. And we have to risk our hearts and feelings and all that come with it.

Yet so many people live their lives lost and searching for that real love they are missing and desiring to experience. The examples above illustrate that to a degree. So today, I just want you to think about the good news that I know Christians are willing to die for, because our Lord Jesus died as our example.

Jesus died for ALL sinners and He now lives and sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, as He intercedes for us. He really does love you…won’t you receive Him and trust Him today. If you do, that will be the best news I’ve heard all day.

This video is for anyone online that does not know Jesus, and for those of you who appear to hate me because I follow Him. I’m willing to take your abuse and the way you malign my name, if you understand it’s because I do not want you to go to hell, and write a letter like this to me. (Not that I think you could do that, but you get the point.)

This is a powerful video that asks the questions Are you really a Christian, and if so, are you ready to die for your faith?