1.Ten Commandments Defense Act — The vote on this controversial issue to display the Ten Commandments on property owned or administered by the state passed by a vote of 248-180. Do not look for this issue to be resolved anytime soon. If you are in agreement for the posting of the Ten Commandments in our local schools your state representatives need to hear from you.

2. Child Custody Protection Act — This bill (S.661) passed in the House by a vote of 270-159. This bill will defend the inherent rights of parents to protect and care for their children. It will make it a federal crime for anyone to transport a minor across state lines in an attempt to evade parental notification/consent requirements. This legislation does not revoke, dismiss or in any way interfere with existing state laws regarding minors’ abortions.

3. Unborn Victims of Violence Act — Passed by a vote of 254-172 on Sept. 30, this bill (H.R. 2436) will hold criminals accountable for criminal assaults that result in death or injury to an unborn child. (There is also legislation pending that will provide for enhanced punishment when the offense to a pregnant woman is committed by a vehicle. If an accident causes a pregnant woman to suffer a miscarriage or still birth, that person will be guilty of a felony.) These bills are sending a loud message to pro-choice activists that it is indeed a baby from the moment of conception. However, President Clinton will most likely veto this bill.

4. Resolution 350 — Calls for an investigation and hearings into the trafficking and wholesaling of the organs of aborted children for profit. These hearings will most likely take place next year in the House Commerce Committee. I will keep you informed on this issue in subsequent articles.

5. Marriage Tax Penalty Relief — It was not a victory because President Clinton vetoed it; the marriage tax law allows a bloated government to deplete resources from the backbone of America — married couples and families.

6. Resisted an increase in funding for the offensive National Endowment of the arts.

7. Resisted the expansion of so-called Hate Crimes to include the vague and legally challenged concept of sexual orientation.

These pro-family issues will now be submitted to the Senate.

In the next millenium my objective in writing Focus on Freedom will be to keep you informed on issues that undermine the American family. Many of you are becoming more sensitive to moral values and are realizing that our Christian rights are being denied more and more each day. Now is the time for you to let your voice be heard.

Pray and ask God where He can use you to reclaim America. You can start here in Rowan County, then Raleigh, and then Washington. Another way to is by contacting the following two companies. Both of these companies have taken a stand promoting family values that deserve our thank you. Omni Hotel Corp. will no longer provide pornographic pay-per-view movies to its guests. Contact them at 1-800-843-6664 or www.omnihotels.com. The Toys ‘R’ Us company has also demonstrated its commitment to family values by canceling a Duncan Yo-Yo Advertising campaign that included in-store appearances, because Duncan’s TV commercial contained a number of obscene and offensive gestures. This company can be reached at (201) 262-7800, or at www.toysrus.com.

These corporations are setting an example by promoting high moral standards and pro-family values even at the expense of financial loss.

My prayer for each of you as we enter into the next year and millenium is that you will be blessed with love, joy, peace and good health. I thank you for reading this column and especially appreciate those of you who have taken the time to respond with letters to the editor, and comments to me, both positive and negative.

Check it out: Revelations 21:5

Next time: Internet safety for our children.