Thanksgiving, November 24, 2011 - Washington, DC

In this issue: The real meaning of Thanksgiving – Read the first Thanksgiving Proclamation / Thanksgiving proclamations of Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and now Obama / Proclamation of the first Congress / Current Thanksgiving statement of the Speaker of the House
This special Thanksgiving update replaces the regular end of week Legislative Update that would have been distributed on Friday, November 25, 2011

THANKSGIVING
From the Pilgrims to Barack Obama –The documents below clearly show the meaning of Thanksgiving as intended by the nation’s Founders. Today in most public schools God is not mentioned, and Thanksgiving becomes an historical event rather than a Christian celebration of thanks to God. Please pass the document links on to others or print them out for distribution:

The First Thanksgiving Proclamation – Read here
Continental Congress 1782 Thanksgiving Proclamation – Read here
George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation – Read here
Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation – Read here

Current Presidential Proclamation – President Obama’s proclamation this year is a history lesson stating: “The feast honored the Wampanoag for generously extending their knowledge of local game and agriculture to the Pilgrims, and today we renew our gratitude to all American Indians and Alaska Natives.” Later in the proclamation he mentions that President George Washington changed the emphasis. See proclamation.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE
The Speaker’s Thanksgiving statement– Unlike President Obama’s proclamation which claimed Thanksgiving began as a politically correct diversity event, that of Speaker Boehner reflects the true nature of Thanksgiving. Referring to a painting in the Capitol Rotunda he writes: “The painting shows the Pilgrim leaders in 1620 kneeling in prayer around a Geneva Bible, appealing to God for safe travel aboard their ship Speedwell before their passage from the Old World to a new life in America. On the ship’s sail is written ‘God with us’ and a distant rainbow symbolizes the promise of a better life.” Read complete statement.

Congress in Recess – The House and Senate is in holiday recess the entire week and will reconvene on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

INTERNATIONAL
Prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ – As we thank the Lord for His blessing to us let us pause and remember the persecuted and martyred Christians in lands such Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, and Indones

A Christian store for Christmas– We have lots of great stuff for Christmas at our Internet store. Not only are there books and CD’s, but everything from candy to jewelry and all of it has a Christian theme. Unlike Amazon and other major Internet stores we do not sell porn and satanic materials right beside Christian books. Ours is a real Christian store with tens of thousands of items. Please take a look. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com
A Psalm of Thanksgiving
1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100 -NKJV

Posted by William J. Murray at 5:44 PM