The RECORD

By Michael Heath

Speaking at last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference popular nationally syndicated conservative newspaper columnist Ann Coulter dismissed Democratic Presidential contender John Edwards. Coulter used a 700 year old English word to bolster her dismissal of Edwards. The word has taken on a context in our modern age that offends many people and it should. Coulter highlights a moral and political position that John Edwards takes that should offend all of us.

Newspapers are dropping Coulter's column. Presidential candidates have publicly condemned her for making the statement. Political groups are announcing shameless fund raising campaigns in response to it. Conservative groups are hinting that they will drop support for the Conservative conference that had Coulter speak. What is going on? What did she say??

More importantly, what was so bad about what she said?

Craig Anderson, the Christian writer, asked:

Where are our wounds? Is there nothing to fight for? How complacent are we about the world's causes, both great and small? Have we accepted with weak resignation that nothing can change, and that to try isn't worth the effort? Perhaps the call to comfort rings louder than the call to bear a cross. ... If the church is the body of Christ, as Paul claims, shouldn't it also have some wounds? Yet too often churches avoid controversy. A pastor at mid-life wrote, "Wherever the Apostle Paul went, there was riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea."

If Coulter had said, "I don't think John Edwards would make a good President", Ann Coulter would still be as unknown to most people as Jennifer Finney Boylan (More about him later).

She didn't, however, cast her criticism of Edwards in such benign language. What she did was suggest that the use of a certain word to describe Edwards would land her in rehab for counseling. She didn't actually call him the word. She was cleverer than that. She said that calling someone by that name would lead to her being judged mentally incompetent. The adversity that has fallen upon Ms. Coulter is unreal.

She probably feels like the paratrooper who was learning to jump.

He was given the following instructions: First, jump when you are told; second, count to 10 and pull the ripcord; third, in the unlikely event that it doesn't open, pull the second chute open; and fourth, when you get down, a truck will take you back to base.

The plane ascended up to the proper height, the men started peeling out, and the young paratrooper jumped when told. He counted to 10 and pulled the cord, but the chute failed to open. He proceeded to the backup plan. The second chute also failed to open. "Oh boy," he said. "When I get down, I suppose the truck won't be there either."

Coulter was right to say what she said. Here is why.

1. She used a provocative word in an appropriate context.
2. Her use of the word brought shame on sin.
3. The idea she conveyed was timely and important.

According to the dictionary Coulter's word could refer to:

1. A bundle of sticks for burning.
2. An old or unpleasant woman.
3. Something awkward to be carried.
4. A little bird.
5. A pork meatball covered in gravy.
6. A foolish or silly person.

And what is that word? Not just yet.

First we must turn to the scriptures.

John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

1 Co 14:9 says, "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak unto the air."

1 Co 14:19 "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."

Eph 5:6 "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

After spending Thanksgiving with family in Seattle, Washington, the Kim family began their long journey back to San Francisco on November 24, 2006. James and Kati, along with their daughters Penelope, four years of age, and Sabine who was only 7 months, traveled south on Interstate 5 until late in the evening, intending to exit onto Highway 42 and spend the night in an upscale lodge. But they missed their turn.

Instead of backtracking, the Kims decided to follow an alternate route. Using an official Oregon Department of Transportation road map, they traveled 62 miles south and drove onto Bear Camp Road, which seemed like a more direct path to the southern Oregon Coast. Tragically, both James and Kati failed to notice a small box on the map indicating that the road might be closed during winter. The Kims eventually encountered warning signs announcing that snow drifts had blocked the pass, and decided to turn off onto a spur road. According to George Arnold, an area resident, this was a tragic decision: "Once you get off that main road," he said, "you're lost."

After struggling for 15 miles along the unpaved road, their station wagon became stuck in the drifting snow. Rather than attempting to backtrack on foot, the family decided to remain with the car and hope for rescue. They remained there for a week, running the car intermittently for heat and rationing their small amount of food. Once the gas ran out, they burned magazines, wet wood, and eventually car tires in an effort to keep warm.

Finally, on Saturday, December 1, James Kim decided to leave his wife and young daughters and set off on foot in order to find help. Again looking at the map, he determined that the town of Galice was about 4 miles away. But according to state police officer Gregg Hastings, the distance was actually 15 miles. James's body was found the following Wednesday. He died of exposure and hypothermia.

After waiting two days for her husband to return, Kati gathered up her children and began her own trek to find help. Thankfully, she was spotted by rescue helicopters and saved soon after.

The Kims were not the first family to venture through Oregon's back roads in search of a shortcut to the coast. In March of 2005, Peter Stivers survived a 17-day ordeal on a similar road with his wife, two children, and mother. Stivers' family had a motor home and more abundant supplies, but he still understands the terror that the Kims must have felt. "You're all alone," he said, "and you don't know if anybody's coming for you."

Once you get off that main road, you're lost you see. Ann Coulter knows that this is true. She wants more than anything else to see our culture get back on the main road and stop wandering in a world of confusing mountain passes.

Ann Coulter was right to use a good word in a provocative context. Her intent was to help our culture get back on the main road. She doesn't want our culture to die.

The word Coulter used wasn't good simply because it has a long history. It was good because the history of that word speaks of something true. From one dictionary I checked, The word has been used since the late sixteenth century to mean "old or unpleasant woman", and this would appear the most likely derivation. Female terms, it should be noted, are often used with reference to effeminate men.

We live in difficult times for people. Decency and civility are losing their hold on people's imaginations. Teaching moments are often helped by the use of a provocative turn of the phrase, or the use of controversial slang. Coulter's point was that certain beliefs about certain practices are becoming unspeakable. In fact, she was suggesting in her comment that Christian teachings about sexual morality are morally wrong. The Bible teaches a couple things about this particular brand of sexual immorality. It says that it is an abomination. It also says that the final resting place for those who don't repent of it is hell.

Listen to C.S. Lewis:

Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature; either into a creature that is in harmony with God and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven; that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.

Ann's provocative use of a word that accurately conveys the truth about a certain behavior is correct. Agreement with her meaning will lead people toward heaven, and not toward hell.

This leads me to my second point which is that Ann brought shame on sin.

And that, my friends is why the media and politicians, who we all know are very liberal and permissive, are shouting so much. The word's meaning is negative. It is a pejorative description of a distasteful and disturbing behavior that is being popularized not just among adults, but also children.

Perhaps you haven't heard of the book King and King. This is a children's book about a prince who must marry a princess. He decides that this convention is not for him and gives into his base and carnal desires. He chooses to love another man and marry him. This children's picture book ends most distastefully with two men kissing.

This is shameful, but the book doesn't cast the belief structure that informs this kiss and marriage as shameful. That, my friends, is both despicable and evil.

What affect do you think this has on the mind of a seven or eight year old child? It is simple. It reinforces an idea about romance, affection and coupling or marriage. That idea is that same gender MARRIAGE can be normal.

Let me ask you, is that true? Is that a truthful idea? Or, is that the exact opposite of the truth?

It is an evil idea, and Ann Coulter was right to cast sexual promiscuity in a negative light by using a pejorative, slang word.

She was absolutely correct.

Lastly, Ann Coulter is saying something that is timely and important.

Listen to George Washington, the greatest President America ever had:

We should never despair, our situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.

Ideas are very important. It is important that they be conveyed forcefully. The exertion we put forth on issues should be consistent with what the times demand.

The central idea that Coulter conveyed obviously had nothing to do with whether John Edwards practices immorality or not. The central idea was that a particular form of immorality, one that used to be unspeakable not too long ago and remains so in the sacred confines of these church walls, is now being promoted in first grade!

When insanely evil ideas like this are allowed to take root in the impressionable minds of small children we know it is time to stiffen our resolve, and to consider strong actions. For, if we don't take them, I guarantee you that God will.

Allow me to read another portion of scripture to you this morning.

This is from Paul's letter to the Roman Christians.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." Romans 1:20-28

A culture that defends the practice that Ann Coulter was shaming in her remarks is no longer fit to claim the title "civilization." Civilizations don't suggest that unseemly errors are either benign or good especially to innocent little children!!!

Coulter's comments are obviously timely. They are important because they highlight a very serious divide in our culture the resolution of which is very simple. I'm going to give you that resolution this morning.

You want television to be safe to watch? Do you want to be able to send your children and grandchildren off to a school that is safe for them in the area of ideas, philosophy and morality? Do you want to see civility return to our public discourse? Would you like to be able to go back to the movies?

I want Matt Dillon back. You remember him. He was the lawman in Dodge on the popular television show Gunsmoke. I want that strong man whose relationship with the barkeeper, Kitty, was never a worry. He was always the gentleman, and she a lady (even though it was a saloon¦ we do live in a fallen world after all). At least we didn't have to worry about sitting down with the kids and the popcorn only to witness Festus discover that he was really Felicia and that Ole doc's failure to accept him/her is actually some weird sounding phobia, or hate crime.

I mentioned a name at the start of my sermon. Jennifer Ginny Boylan is a professor at Colby College right here in Maine. He -- that's right, Jennifer is a man -- was on the popular soap opera All My Children on Friday. It seems that this program, watched by millions, has taken upon itself the task of proselytizing for gender confusion. Boylan is a living example of a kind of hell. Hell is living apart from the love, peace, order and oneness of God Himself.

Boylan still lives with his wife. Only he lives with her as a woman. He is raising two sons. What do you think it would be like for your son or grandson if he were a student at Colby if he confronted Mr. Boylan for wearing a dress, and told him that his condition is pathetic, and he needs to get help. Even though he would be telling the truth it probably wouldn't go well for him. You know what is worse than that? Not confronting Boylan. And that is the path most of us are choosing. As a culture and nation we are accommodating our way into hell. That is what Paul said would happen in Romans. It is happening to us.

Well, here's my solution. It is really simple.

Any action, law, television program, movie, curriculum or idea that undermines this truth is universally recognized as wrong. That truth is that sex outside of marriage is wrong.

Is that true for everyone at all times and in every way? Yes, it is.

And helping everyone to remember that this is true is what we need to be about.

Ann was making this point in her confrontational and insulting way. Christians don't insult people personally. That wasn't Ann's intent. She probably doesn't even know Edwards. Her point was to cast sexual immorality, and re-education campaigns that are aligned with that particular immorality, in a negative light.

For that she deserves our thanks.

Ann Coulter was right because:

1. She used a provocative word in an appropriate context.
2. Her use of the word brought shame on sin.
3. The idea she conveyed was timely and important.

And what is that word?

The sin is so bad it is unspeakable for a Christian in Church. I can't say.

Let's pray.

By Rev. Dallas E. Henry

It's when you view life from the standpoint of what the Bible says about life, conducting oneself and understanding society based on those truths. You do that while living in a world that is becoming increasingly immoral. A believer's morals should be dictated by the truth found in the Word of God.

In a wealthy suburb of Indianapolis, a group of high school students were asked, "Was Adolf Hitler wrong in murdering millions of Jews?" They said "yes." The interviewer then asked them why. They did not realize how chilling their response was. "Well, you see," they said, "Hitler was defeated by the Allies. And in war, like everything else, the victor gets to define reality. The Allies determined that what Hitler had done was wrong. Therefore, he was wrong."

The real surprise to this account is that these students all came from fine Christian homes and did not realize the moral implications of their reply. One lone student differed: "I think Hitler would have been wrong, even if he had won the war and brainwashed everyone into believing he was right." Just one student was able to articulate a moral absolute.

Today, there is a battle between worldviews. Ultimately our battle is not against flesh and blood. At stake, however, are the hearts and souls of America's youth, who are leaving the faith at alarming rates. Statistics tell us that we retain only around 3-7% of young people in our churches after they graduate from high school. This was the subject of a Pastors Update several month ago. We (Christians) must understand and be able to defend a Biblical worldview in all of life. Furthermore, we must impart this Biblical worldview to the youth who will lead the next generation. Paul says, " See to it that no one takes you captive, through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world, rather than on Christ." - Colossians 2:8

In America today, there are three secular world view philosophies that are deceiving our young people as well as many adults.

Philosophy number one "No one can say what is right and wrong."

Students today say, "Maybe you think adultery, abortion or homosexuality is wrong, but who are you to decide for everyone else?" According to a Gallup Poll, 82% of college students today say they believe in no absolute truths. Morality has been reduced to "every man deciding for himself." As man evolves and becomes more enlightened, the rules change from one time period to the next.

Without a moral compass, even well-educated people are blind to rational decisions on what is right and wrong for themselves or for society. They are unable to decide if an unborn baby is a human being or a blob of tissue because they are fully immersed in the rhetoric of the "politically correct" philosophy instead of checking out the medical facts that life begins at conception - an absolute truth supported completely by the Bible. Too many Christians have let the evening news, the Hollywood elite or what is being taught in the halls of academia form their value system rather than Biblical/moral absolutes that have stood the test of time.

When he stood before Pilate for questioning recorded in John 18:37, Jesus said, " For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." And Pilate answered, " What is truth?" This is a popular question. It is still being asked by millions of people today. Followers of Jesus know where to go for the answer. Psalm 119:160 - " All your words are true (O Lord); all your righteous laws are eternal."

Philosophy number two "No one can know anything for sure."

A philosophy teacher taught the same thing on the first day of class every year. He asked, "How do you know the sky is blue? Maybe it's green, but society has conditioned you to call it blue." After several such examples, he finished by saying, "My point is that you can't know anything for sure."

The postmodern mindset has embraced this foolish philosophy with a vengeance. It has become a religion to them. To them, there is no such thing as objective reality; rather, reality is what each person creates for himself through various means.

In the last 30 years or so our society has become very confused. Amazingly, we can chart shocking increases in divorce, pre-marital sex, abortion and other negative societal shifts in America coinciding exactly with the decision to remove the Bible and prayer from our public school system. It was a time when we as a society said, "The Bible no longer is as important as it once was." Enlightened society began to follow their own moral compass rather than be held to one standard of truth based on the Word of God. The results have been devastating. We don't even know who God is anymore. But, thankfully, He still knows who He is. The most frightening aspect of this philosophy is that it has found its way into the Church.

Philosophy number three "The only meaning in life is what you create for yourself."

We now live in the most self-centered age in our nation's history. Jesus said (John 10:10), " I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full."

These 3 deceptive philosophies are taking young people and adults captive at an astonishing rate. We must reclaim this lost ground by developing a strong, effective Biblical worldview. The apostle Paul wrote, " We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And we take captive every thought, to make it obedient to Christ." [2 Corinthians 10:5] The Bible teaches that to take every thought captive, there are some things we must do.

FIRST, EMBRACE THE TRUTH FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth and the life." This is indeed a deep statement, for the great philosophers who have struggled to answer three questions:

What is good?
What is true?
And finally, what is beautiful?

Jesus actually won the right to say what He did because He was the only one of all the so-called religious leaders who ever lived who was born from a virgin, performed many miracles, died on a cross to pay for man's sin, was raised back to life on the third day, sent the Holy Spirit, ascended into Heaven, and promised to return. These actions gave Him the right to say, I am the way, the truth and the life, NO ONE CAN COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.

In Jesus day, "the way" referred to a moral course of action. By claiming to be "the way," Jesus claimed to be the standard for right and wrong. When He said He was "the truth" He said that the nature and character of God defined all reality, and that He himself was God made flesh. When He claimed to be "the life" Jesus established Himself as the standard for that which was worthwhile, that which was beautiful.

THE SECOND WAY TO TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE IS TO SEE THE CONFLICTS OF OUR AGE AS A BATTLE BETWEEN COMPETING VIEWS THAT ARE AGAINST GOD'S VIEW.

One view says that God created us, and He gives us purpose. Since we are made in His image, we ought to reflect His nature and character in every sphere of life, including politics. But today's secular elite rejects this view. They embrace the idea that human beings invented the idea of God to help them cope in a "meaningless" universe. The chasm between these two views is unbridgeable. There can be no discussion for compromise. Those who hold that belief in God is inherently irrational are deeply offended when Christians try to get involved in public policy. They scoff, "Who do these Christians think they are to impose their irrational and "holier than thou" ideas about some make-believe god on us?" They openly disdain any religious person who wants to influence government based on their beliefs. A current illustration of this is the vicious discrimination by the media against the Christian Civic League and Michael Heath.

Sadly, most Christians have been intimidated into surrendering to this secular ideology. Josh McDowell and George Barna note the 56% of evangelical Christian young people said it was possible to get to heaven without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is very common today for secular humanists to resist Christian influence in society. They do everything they can to silence any Biblical or moral influence. In essence, they want to silence the church. They want us to limit the Bible message to the inside of the church building. That goes against the Great Commission of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth. As followers of Christ, we do not respond to opposition in the same way of our secular counterparts do. Our strategy is to know what we believe, articulate it clearly, and graciously persuade those in authority to honor God in every decision and activity.

It is time to take courage and persevere!

The Christian Civic League of Maine has been fully engaged in this war of the clashing of worldviews for over a century now and has some experience at the battle. Churches, ministries and individuals who partner with the League are also engaging in this battle and helping to win it. Please consider supporting the League with regular contributions if you haven't already. Another very important blessing to the ministry of the League is prayer. Pray for Executive Director Michael Heath, the staff and Board of Directors. The League has a prayer partnership network that receives regular prayer updates. You can contact the League office to become part of the network. Thank you for your support and may God richly bless you and your ministry.

May we be found faithful and fully committed to the cause of Christ here in Maine. May we be willing to endure persecution as we stand unashamed for the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.

The League is committed to proclaim the truths of Jesus Christ. It is bringing its influence to the State House. You can log on to the Record web site at: http://www.cclmaine.org/artman/publish/index.shtml and read about the proposal to ban ministers from "Approving" marriages in Maine. By the way, we won on that one. After the response through the Citizen Action Center, one of the Judiciary committee members said "With the hundereds of emails we have received, the will of the people is abundantly clear."

Also keep your eyes open for a report in the RECORD of the hearing having to do with granting homosexual couples even more benefits. It is LD 375. You can express your opinion on this one too. It is even more important than LD 779. A church denominational representative lobbied at the hearing IN FAVOR of the bill.

If you haven't checked out our Citizen Action Center on the internet you need to do it. Go to http://www.christiancivicleague.org/ and click on the Action button at the top of the screen. This is a very easy and quick way to communicate with your legislators and others who you select. It can be done from the comfort of your home or office. To further help you, a message has been prepared for you to use or, even better, you can write your own. An initial registration is required and then you can use it on a regular basis. You will see a list of issues the League is interested in bringing a Christian/Biblical influence to. Please pass on this information to others you regularly communicate with.

And finally, if you are not aware of it, Mike Heath regularly speaks on current issues of today, from a biblical perspective. He speaks at regional conferences and radio programs, and also speaks in churches across Maine bringing an update of the work of the League.

Please consider having Mike Heath speak at your church for a "League Sunday". He teaches adult/teen Sunday School classes, using multimedia and leading a discussion. Mike also preaches on the subject of Christian Citizenship, bringing a biblical sermon in morning and evening worship services. He is glad to provide pulpit supply for pastors.

You may contact Paulie Heath to schedule an event with Mike.
Phone: 207.215.6886
Email: paulie@paulieheath.com

You can join other churches and ministries in financially supporting the League by logging on to www.cclmaine.org
Thank you for your support.

For your convenience, here is the link to the Day Of Truth Teen witnessing project for Public High Schools to counter the Homosexual project called Day of Silence. http://www.dayoftruth.org/main/default.aspx

The Maine GOP issued a press release yesterday agreeing with the League's position on LD 779. The League was one of the first group's in Maine to report on the bill. The Portland Press Herald has editorialized against it. The Maine GOP and the Portland Press Herald have strongly objected to the bill.

I spoke personally with the sponsor last week on the telephone and urged him to pull the bill. It is a waste of legislative time.

LD 779 probably never had a chance of going anywhere, yet many Christians are taking time to attend the public hearing this afternoon. In the meantime, LD 375, will definitely pass, unless there is an outcry from the public. LD 375 is much more dangerous than LD 779.

LD 375 is the highest priority of the radical pro homosexual lobby. According to press reports the leader of that lobby is planning to testify today in agreement with the League's position on the clergy marriage bill, LD 779.

Homosexual activists want LD 375 because it further solidifies their legal position. It will become the the basis of their lawsuit to force either civil unions or same sex marriage. Make no mistake, that lobby is NOT going to quit until Maine children have no protection from adults who wish to deny them a mother or a father.

Every legislator who supports LD 375 is voting to harm the innocent children of Maine. They are giving into the incremental strategy of the "gay" lobby.

The Maine GOP is silent on LD 375. The Christian Civic League of Maine is the only organization in the state with the courage to tell the truth about this bill.

If you are a Republican contact the Maine GOP and urge them to issue a press release strongly opposing LD 375, the homosexual partners bill. If you are Roman Catholic contact your Chancery. Unbelievably, they are PUBLICALLY SUPPORTING LD 375.

A group of Catholics are asking the Chancery to support an amendment to the bill. The amendment would make it clear that Maine doesn't recognize same sex couples.

TODAY'S LINK

Homosexual partnership bill still in committee

By Rev. Dallas E. Henry

Recently a poll question was offered by the RECORD regarding the League's Executive Director. Michael S. Heath has served as the League's Executive Director since January 1, 1994. A recent Maine Sunday Telegram article carried a description of Heath as a "lightning rod." Out of curiosity, the League asked the following question:

Recently, the League's Executive Director was criticized publicy for being a "lightning rod." Do you think the League's Executive Director should relax his strong stand in favor of traditional family values, moral purity and Biblical righteousness in order to be less controversial?

In reviewing all the responses, Mike got a 99% approval rating. The only one that was negative was obviously from one of those extreme left-wingers who spared no words to spew her hate-filled venom on Heath. So much for tolerance. To those in Maine who might be considered left-wing extremists, Michael Heath, Executive Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, is a man they love to hate. The remainder of the responses to the poll were very supportive of Heath.

It was interesting to find that the responses were from all over Maine. A good number were from the Greater Portland area, which many consider to be the hard-core center of liberalism in the state.

Here is a sample of the comments:

"Keep up the good fight. From a Catholic who believes in what the CCL of Maine is doing."

"No matter what Mike does the press is going to be all over him."

"I believe that Mike Heath speaks 'truth' and this is going to offend many people."

"Thank God that there are some Christian organizations that are standing on the front lines and fighting the battle for morality and ethics in our country."

"You tell Mike to stay in line with God's Word and get back to work, there is a lot to do. Never worry about what the Devil's Helpers think or say."

"Keep up the good work."

"Satan would like for you to 'roll over and play dead . . . . Go for it - you are not a quitter!"

"Every good leader is a lightning rod for those who oppose him. I honor you, Mike, for your willingness to be the target of those who do not recognize God's sovereignty. Stand firm, please. I admire your courage."

"I am grateful to have Mike Heath, Mike Hein and the Christian Civic League working hard every day for the families and children of Maine."

"It appears to me that Mike Heath and the CCL remain the only visible entity in Augusta standing on both God's Word and the values, morals and traditions handed down to us both by our own forefathers and the saints of the church down through the generations."

"We NEED more men to standup and take a stand for Biblical family values and moral views."

"Mike has been demonized. In Christianity, there is forgiveness and the Catholic Church is wrong to criticize Mike in any way."

"We appreciate what you're doing, and the stand you're taking. Thank you!!"

"Speak out against issues contrary to the Holy Bible. A strong stand must be taken, now more then ever."

There were a couple comments about making sure that information from the League be centered on the issues rather than personalities, and that our words should always be loving. This is quite a challenge when, in our society evil is called good and good is called evil.

The good news is that Michael Heath received an overwhelming vote of confidence in this poll. The League is thankful to all who took the time to respond.

Maine Teacher Makes Queer Television History

Maine's most famous transgendered man, Jennifer Finney Boylan, is set to make daytime network television history this week, and the radical homosexual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) organization praises ABC Television for making the unfamiliar [transgendered men and women] familiar.

Starring as himself in ABC's daytime soap opera, All My Children, Boylan (formerly James Boylan) and five other transgendered adults play a transgendered support group. The group coach Zoe, a young female character played by a Jeffrey Carlson. The now-female Zoe character is involved in a lesbian relationship with Bianca, another female character on the show. Boylan is the transgendered support group leader.

ABC Television reports that their All My Children soap opera will be the first daytime network television program to have a regular transgendered cast member.

The March 9 episode has already been hailed by homosexual websites including The Advocate and GLAAD as amazing and compelling. The show has previously won three GLAAD Media Awards, most recently in 2004. GLAAD's Entertainment Media Director Damon Romine said, "There will never be acceptance of [transgendering] without visibility and it's these kinds of representations of the transgender community that will ultimately make the unfamiliar familiar."

Boylan comments on his transgendering advocacy work in an interview posted on GLAAD's website. He states, "Someday, transgender characters will be as mundane as gay characters or lesbian characters or straight people, and when that day comes, I will feel extremely happy."

Boylan remains married to his wife despite having taken on a female persona in 2001 while still in his early 30s and despite having young sons. He mentions his experiences while taping the All My Children episode recently in his March 4 Kennebec Journal column There from Here. "I asked my boys and my spouse if they had any interest in coming down to the set the next day to watch me film my scenes," writes Boylan. "My son Zach wrinkled his nose."

ABC's Daytime Media Relations contact is Michael A. Cohen. He can be reached by phone at (212) 456-1429 and by email at michael.a.cohen@abc.com ABC's All My Children can be seen locally by checking their website for television station listings and times Jennifer Finney Boylan is a Professor of Creative Writing at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. His contact information is available at his website and he can be reached by email at JennyBoylan@aol.com.