The RECORD

1. What are "domestic partnerships?"

The more accurate phrase is homosexual partnerships. The phrase "domestic partner" is a legal fiction created by homosexuals and non-married people who think they are entitled to the same benefits and recognition from society that marriage receives.

2. Are the ten weeks of leave provided in LD 375 paid or unpaid?

While the ten weeks of leave are unpaid, it is forced on the employer by the government as an unfunded mandate. The employer must provide the ten weeks, and the employer must hire the employee back after the leave.

Maine's economic system is built on FREE enterprise. We honor our businesses here by not babysitting them. Justice does not require government's intervention in this matter. While the leave is unpaid, it is not without cost. The employer has to do something during those ten weeks. While it MAY BE legitimate for government and business to honor an employee's spouse and children with this benefit, it is not right for our institutions to honor sodomy in this way. The practice of unhealthy lifestyles should not qualify anyone for societal benefits.

3. How are these special rights instead of equal rights?

Anytime a law like this fails to distinguish between civilization-forming sexual practices and civilization-destroying sexual perversions, then "special rights" are being created. Aristotle said, "Injustice arises when equals are treated unequally, and when unequals are treated equally." There is nothing "equal" about pretending that something evil is good, or vice versa. There is, however, something very "special" (in the negative sense of that word) about these particular "rights."

4. What is the real reason for this bill?

It is designed to create a successful court case in the future for homosexuality. Same-sex marriage is the pot full of gold at the end of their rainbow. This bill will continue to lay the foundation for equality of sexual practices if it becomes law. Moral sex must be equal to immoral sex for the public to accept same-sex marriage. That is what this bill is about: giving immoral sex the same support as moral sex in the law. If this were not the case, then a prohibition of immoral sexual practices would be included in the definition of "domestic partner." It is not. Therefore, this bill is unjust ... and certainly not Christian.

5. Does the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland (ME) support "domestic partnerships"?

Yes.

6. This bill allows elderly sisters to get benefits, therefore it will be a proper law if passed, correct?

A square stop sign painted pink instead of red is still a stop sign. It is not, however, a lawful stop sign simply because the sign features the word "Stop." A lawful stop sign is a red hexagon, by law. If businesses and the state want to honor elderly celibate sisters with 10 weeks of unpaid leave then they should say that this is what they want to do. That isn't what they are saying. They are saying that immoral and unhealthy sexual practices are irrelevant to the definition of "partner" and couple.

The goal here is same-sex marriage. Make no mistake. This is like the state saying that the color and shape of a stop sign are irrelevant to the effectiveness of a stop sign. It is like allowing the road department to put up square pink stop signs as well as normal stop signs. This is redefining and making a wreck out of family and marriage in Maine.

7. Why didn't the League testify at the Legislative public hearing?

There is no law compelling the League to appear at any committee's public hearing. Mainers know that these hearings, especially on matters related to common sense sexual matters, are a waste of time. The forces of our culture that wish to paganize our laws control the process. People have figured that out. That is why only one person submitted testimony in opposition to this bill at the hearing.

Is it possible for any sane person to believe that this bill would be a good law simply because the homosexuals organized an impressive sounding 90 minutes of testimony in front of a closed-minded legislative committee? This is the same committee and legislature (mostly) that endorsed a completely unqualified lobbyist to serve as Labor Commissioner. Laura Fortman's only qualification was years of lobbying for abortion rights as head of the ultra-leftist Maine Women's Lobby.

The League is smart enough to know that the only hope of change rests with the people of Maine. If they choose to remain silent, no amount of back-slapping and testifying under the Capitol Dome is going to bring about a course correction.

8. Why does this bill sound so good in my local newspaper and on the television news?

Because the media is liberal. In Maine, it is ultra-liberal. The media is no different than any other group: like begets like. For decades the media has been populating itself with people who are politically liberal. New England is the most liberal region in the nation. This is not a conspiracy, it is human nature.

The media is no more about balance and objectivity than the idea of same-sex marriage is about marriage. The herd instinct is powerful. Maine's media is herding anyone who listens to it toward a hellish oblivion where marriage means men who have sex with each other can raise children to never know a mother. If that makes sense to you, then you need to become a journalist, or a politician.

9. I thought I elected a representative who would think for himself. Why is the media so powerful?

Many politicians often think about the next election. Many are hoping to be elected to higher office. As America has moved away from common sense on matters related to family, marriage and human sexuality -- and as we have decided to create a much more permissive culture -- those among us who wish to be powerful learn quickly that they must accept drinking, drugging, gambling and pansexuality.

It is not necessary for a culture to be permissive and promiscuous in order to be free. Politicians need the media (and vice versa) in order to hold onto their power. Those who are involved tend to be less interested in positive change than they are interested in power. This is human nature. We are all fallen creatures. We long for the peace of Eden, but we aren't going to have it in this world -- especially if we take a public stand against sin.

The Christian who can accept political martyrdom is the Christian who will help bring about change for the better in Maine. There weren't a whole lot of Davids when Goliath was taunting Saul's army. There was only one. And he didn't cut a deal, remain silent, or form a private club.

10. What about the Christian Church? Shouldn't the Church be helping people?

The Church has been sent to the back of the bus by science. Consequently, it has developed a slave mentality in this culture. In some ways, it has lost its capacity to stand up as an institution and declare the righteousness of God. This prophetic role falls all too often to individual Christians who care for their neighbor. They don't care only about their neighbor's salvation, they also care about their welfare. This elite group wants to speak publicly on issues in the name of Jesus, and in reference to the Bible. They understand that God's laws will not be mocked, and that God is the Ultimate Lawgiver and Judge. These are likely the truly artistic, scientific, political and decent among us. They are everywhere, but perhaps in fewer numbers where power and money matter.

It should also be noted that the Church IS helping people. The idea that conservative Christians are not helping people is another fiction created by hostile forces within the Church and the culture. The League's own Executive Director devoted the first four years of his career to living without pay among mentally ill and recovering people. He has said many times that he would welcome the opportunity to do so again, should God create the opportunity. Liberals tend, in our experience, to be the one's who are most vocal about getting the big paychecks (especially so they can help poor people), and avoiding what they call unfair sacrifices.

By Michael Heath

One year before the League was formed Charles Sheldon wrote a book. "In His Steps" was written in 1896. The book inspired a popular personal motto in the 1990s, WWJD, "What Would Jesus Do."

If confronted with the question of whether to affirm homosexual partnerships in law I wonder, "What WOULD Jesus Do?" Social forces that wish to redefine familiar words like "family" and "marriage" often suggest that Jesus, and Christianity, support their vision for western man.

This belief is false. Jesus does not support the redefinition of words. Jesus, Christianity and the Bible are clear about family and marriage. This legal definition of something called "domestic partners" is not consistent with Christianity.

Is it truly compassionate and loving to affirm them, even in a secular society?

It is not either compassionate or loving to do so. If the state wanted to be truly compassionate and loving toward everyone involved in this matter then it would defeat this bill and go on to repeal the recently passed "sexual orientation" law. The government and media would uphold marriage and family, instead of allowing extreme ideas to dominate our conversation.

Successful societies define a family as a social unit that honors the place of a married mother and father as the centerpiece.

Just as we don't put a bouquet of flowers on the counter and call it the dinner table's centerpiece, civilizations don't put a "domestic partnership" in a law about families and call the partnership a family. The flowers on the counter may be pretty and smell pleasant. These pleasing qualities don't, however, make them the centerpiece.

Some people are arguing that their partnerships are decent and honorable. They suggest that their partnership should qualify them for the same rights that society has created to honor marriage and family.

While these relationships may be pretty and certainly seem to emit a sweet aroma they do not constitute a family, and they "by definition under this law" -- have nothing to do with marriage.

Betsy Smith, the leader of Maine's most radical homosexual group, told the Kennebec Journal that this law is designed by them to be same sex marriage-lite. She admitted regarding transgendered people achieving full legal rights under their definition of civilization, "The system to use is marriage." She allowed that her group's support for this law is a good substitute since, "That's not going to happen right now in Maine."

I propose a simple truth that once informed our thinking most powerfully. That idea is this: Sex outside of marriage is wrong. We should make this truth into a test and pose it as a question with respect to all our laws, practices, entertainment and policies. The question could be asked, "Does this law (program, practice, policy) encourage or discourage sex outside of marriage?" If the proposal doesn't discourage the practice, then the bill should be defeated.

Maine's legislature has the power to pass LD 375, and it probably will. It is likely that we will continue to hollow out America's culture by attempting to redefine words. Setting religion aside, this is not what Jesus would do. Jesus knows that this is nonsense.

Abraham Lincoln once famously asked, "How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?" We could ask as we ponder this proposed law, "How many definitions of family are there if the state calls some of them a domestic partnership?"

While it may be many things, a domestic partnership is no more a family than a dog's tail is a leg.

Inviting couples into the practical institution of marriage is not hate. It is, in fact, loving to acknowledge the truth about the word marriage. Marriage is about a man and woman falling in love and building a family. Society has an appropriate interest in providing extraordinary support for it. Society has a duty to discourage other arrangements.

By Pastor Mark Hartley

Is it time to declare a state of emergency concerning courage or the lack thereof? Where has the courage of our founding fathers gone? How does this affect America? How does this affect our leaders? Not just our leaders in government, but those who are to represent God.

In 1978 Alexander Solzhenitsyn spoke at Harvard's commencement exercise. At the time, he was exiled in the US from Russia. In his speech A World Split Apart, he dealt with the problems of the West. Solzhenitsyn said:

The Western world has lost its civil courage, both as a whole and separately, . . Such a decline in courage is particularly noticeable among the ruling groups and the intellectual elite, causing an impression of loss of courage by the entire society. . . And decline in courage is ironically emphasized by occasional explosions of anger and inflexibility on the part of the same bureaucrats when dealing with weak governments and weak countries, not supported by anyone, or with currents which cannot offer any resistance. But they get tongue-tied and paralyzed when they deal with powerful governments and threatening forces, with aggressors and international terrorists ( Sounds like Iraq).

From this Solzhenitsyn moves on to talk about the weakness of politicians and the power of the media. He asks, ". . .by what law has it (the media) been elected and to whom is it responsible"? He points out a loss of courage when it comes to battle in Vietnam.

But members of the U.S. anti-war movement wound up being involved in the betrayal of Far Eastern nations, in a genocide and in the suffering today imposed on 30 million people there. Do those convinced pacifists hear the moans coming from there? Do they understand their responsibility today? Or do they prefer not to hear? The American Intelligentsia lost its [nerve] and as a consequence thereof danger has come much closer to the United States. But there is no awareness of this. Your shortsighted politicians who signed the hasty Vietnam capitulation seemingly gave America a carefree breathing pause; however, a hundredfold Vietnams now loom over you. That small Vietnam had been a warning and an occasion to mobilize the nation's courage. If a full-fledged America suffered a real defeat from a small communist half-country, how can the West hope to stand firm in the future?

Alexander Solzhenitsyn adds that 20th century democracy has never won a war without the help of an ally whose philosophy and ideology it did not question. He goes on to say that in case of a future aggression, the shield of help he believed would be China.

It is not that we do not have the abilities, but we do not have the courage for battle anymore. In closing, he said the hope is to look upward. He was booed for this speech.

I agree the only hope is to look upward, but how? The Bible is full of the Lord telling His children to be strong and courageous or take courage. The way it is mentioned in Scripture courage is a commodity. It has to be replenished day by day, but there is an endless supply.

There are many places we could turn but Joshua 1 answers the question of how succinctly. Joshua is the new leader of Israel. He has been the number two man behind Moses, but Moses is dead. Joshua is no longer number two, but is now number one. His knees are knocking just contemplating the responsibility of leading a group of people that God Himself has called "stubborn and stiff necked." Joshua needs a major dose of courage. His position is not for the weak of heart. The Lord knows where Joshua is and what he needs. Therefore, three times in four verses the Lord tells Joshua to "be strong and courageous" with a different emphasis each time. In Joshua 1:6 he is to "be strong and courageous" because of the Lord's Promises. What God Promises He fulfills. In 1:8 he is told to "be strong and courageous" because of the Lord's Principles. God's Principles keep us from making a misstep. They hem us in on the right and the left for our good and God's glory. In 1:9 Joshua is told to "be strong and courageous" because of the Lord's Presence. There is no giant or fortress bigger than our God. His Presence means that He is going before us preparing the way because the battle belongs to Him.

In order for Joshua to be courageous, he had to stay in an intimate relationship with the Lord. The same is true in our day. Our courage is in direct proportion to our intimacy with the Lord. When our intimacy begins to wane, our courage leaves and we become fearful of the giant and his fortress. When our intimacy is strong, our courage rises to new heights. If you lack courage, how is your intimacy with the Lord?

A few quick examples: King Saul contrasted with King David, Daniel, three Hebrew young men, Paul, John Hus, John Calvin and many more. Each one's courage came from their intimate relationship with the Lord. Courage is a commodity that comes from the Lord not ourselves.

Who or what is the giant or fortress you face today?

Got Courage?

P.S.

(1) Webster's Dictionary defines courage as "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty¡the courage to support unpopular causes."

(2) Dec. 10, 2003 Harvard had China's Premier give a speech on the greatness of socialism entitled "Turning Your Eyes Toward China."

Catholic Diocese spokesman Marc Mutty told Maine Public Broadcasting that homosexuals are "incidental" to a bill that is the top priority of Maine's most radical homosexual rights group. " Equality Maine " spokesperson, Betsy Smith , told the Kennebec Journal that an expansion of "domestic partner" rights is needed because Maine still forbids "same sex marriage."

The bill, LD 375, "An act to Amend the Family Medical Leave Laws" is before the Labor Committee. A public hearing was held on Wednesday afternoon, February 28. Only one citizen submitted testimony in opposition to the bill. James Cyr, a social worker, did not make the drive to Augusta from his home in Caribou to personally testify before the committee. He was interviewed by Christian Civic League of Maine Executive Director, Mike Heath.

Many groups testified in support of the expansion of domestic partnership benefits. While the press reported that the Diocese favors the law, no written testimony from the Chancery was provided to the League by the clerk of the committee. The League did not attend the hearing.

"These dog and pony shows are no-win situations for the League," said the Executive Director, Michael S. Heath. "Going to the Maine Legislature is casting pearls before swine for us, especially on sexual morality issues. It is astounding, but true. I'm praying for some kind of awakening out there among the people. If they don't start expressing outrage then the battle is lost. I am very sad for future generations of Mainers."

Heath believes the only hope for Maine to turn back the so-called "gay" agenda is for members of the public to contact institution leaders and politicians. That is why the League has created the online Citizen Action Center . Click on the link to take action on this bill.

Joining the Roman Catholic Church in support of the bill was the Maine Chamber of Commerce .

The bill expands on a law enacted a few years ago that created a " domestic partnership registry ." The number of people signing up for the registry is declining each year. The high point was the first year of 2004. Approximately 200 "partners" registered last year.

The purpose of the registry is to make it possible for couples to receive the societal and legal benefits of marriage, without the solemn commitment traditionally associated with the institution.

The Corporate Resource Council (CRC) issued a white paper in 2002 entitled, " Do Domestic Partner Benefits Make Good Business Sense." The Maine Chamber of Commerce, a group that is supposed to represent the best interests of businesses and corporations in Maine supports "domestic partnership" benefits notwithstanding the assertions of the Corporate Resource Council. The CRC reports:

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Few employees actually want, need, or -- when given opportunity -- choose benefits for their live-in partners;
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Few employers appear to have provided domestic partner benefits simply because of employee needs;
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Studies have shown that employers receive a benefit from a corporate culture that values stable marriages, primarily because employees in lasting marriage are generally more dependable and motivated;
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Treating cohabitation as equal to marriage negatively affects corporate culture;
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No state or federal law requires that employers treat cohabitation as equal to marriage

The CRC website quotes Aristotle, "Injustice arises when equals are treated unequally, and when unequals are treated equally." The CRC asks, "Are domestic partnerships just as good as marriage, in the sense of providing the same benefits to adults, children and society? The scientific evidence to date strongly indicates the answer is, no."

The Bible speaks clearly about family. The beginning of the Bible says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Early twentieth century Christian apologist C.S. Lewis adds, "The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union."

While the Catholic Church in Maine favors this expansion of homosexual-based rights, James Cyr from Caribou, does not. Cyr wrote a strong letter to the Labor Committee in which he wrote, "LD 375 is a sham; plain and simple."

Cyr indicated the bill is part of a strategy of "incrementalism" used by homosexual activists to advance their political agenda. He holds legislators who are pretending that isn't the case in low regard. He writes, "It's not a very well-kept secret, after all." Cyr is a Licensed Master Social Worker who lives in Caribou.

The most earnest packet of testimony submitted to the committee was submitted in a green folder. Green has been the color of the "gay" rights movement since 1998 when they campaigned against marriage and family during the people's veto.

The packet contains seventeen pages of testimony brought together by the group that wants school children exposed to "transgendering." They call themselves "Equality Maine." They want sodomy to be treated the same as marriage.

All of the testimony in favor of the bill is detached from reality and rooted in a socialistic and post modern -- perhaps even Marxist/communist -- sensibility. The common good of the community, and especially children, is ignored in favor of individual pleasure and "rights."

The groups and politicians testifying in favor of the bill were:

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Equality Maine
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Bureau of Labor Standards, Maine Department of Labor
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Representative Hannah Pingree
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Maine Municipal Association
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Legal Services for the Elderly, Inc.
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Maine Civil Liberties Union
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Time Warner Cable
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Maine Womens Lobby

All of these groups should be contacted by citizens who care about the future of Maine.

Post your comments on this article.

Historians tell us that Patrick was born sometime around 380 in Scotland or Wales. His real name was believed to be Maewyn Succat as he took the name Patrick (or Patricus) after he became a priest.

As a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, he was captured during a raiding party. He was taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep for an Irish chieftain. Patrick's captivity lasted six years. He escaped after he had a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. After a journey of 200 miles, he found a ship which took him back to Britain, where he was reunited with his family.

After his return to Britain, he had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." He left the comfort of his family for France where he began his studies for the priesthood in continental monasteries. He was first ordained Priest and later, Patrick was ordained a bishop.

Despite constant threats to his life, Patrick traveled widely through Ireland, baptizing, confirming, and preaching. He converted thousands and began building churches, monasteries, and schools all over the country. Through the power of Patrick's message, Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity. It is said that he and his disciples converted almost all the population of Ireland. He eventually made his headquarters in Armagh.

After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church and is reputedly buried at nearby Downpatrick. Below is a list of 16 confessions of St. Patrick.

THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK

1. I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a priest, of the settlement [vicus] of Bannavem Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our priests who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners.

2. And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance. And he watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son.

3. Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.

4. For there is no other God, nor ever was before, nor shall be hereafter, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, in whom all things began, whose are all things, as we have been taught; and his son Jesus Christ, who manifestly always existed with the Father, before the beginning of time in the spirit with the Father, indescribably begotten before all things, and all things visible and invisible were made by him. He was made man, conquered death and was received into Heaven, to the Father who gave him all power over every name in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look to his imminent coming again, the judge of the living and the dead, who will render to each according to his deeds. And he poured out his Holy Spirit on us in abundance, the gift and pledge of immortality, which makes the believers and the obedient into sons of God and co-heirs of Christ who is revealed, and we worship one God in the Trinity of holy name.

5. He himself said through the prophet: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." And again: "It is right to reveal and publish abroad the works of God."

6. I am imperfect in many things, nevertheless I want my brethren and kinsfolk to know my nature so that they may be able to perceive my soul's desire.

7. I am not ignorant of what is said of my Lord in the Psalm: "You destroy those who speak a lie." And again: "A lying mouth deals death to the soul." And likewise the Lord says in the Gospel: "On the day of judgment men shall render account for every idle word they utter."

8. So it is that I should mightily fear, with terror and trembling, this judgment on the day when no one shall be able to steal away or hide, but each and all shall render account for even our smallest sins before the judgment seat of Christ the Lord.

9. And therefore for some time I have thought of writing, but I have hesitated until now, for truly, I feared to expose myself to the criticism of men, because I have not studied like others, who have assimilated both Law and the Holy Scriptures equally and have never changed their idiom since their infancy, but instead were always learning it increasingly, to perfection, while my idiom and language have been translated into a foreign tongue. So it is easy to prove from a sample of my writing, my ability in rhetoric and the extent of my preparation and knowledge, for as it is said, "wisdom shall be recognized in speech, and in understanding, and in knowledge and in the learning of truth."

10. But why make excuses close to the truth, especially when now I am presuming to try to grasp in my old age what I did not gain in my youth because my sins prevented me from making what I had read my own? But who will believe me, even though I should say it again? A young man, almost a beardless boy, I was taken captive before I knew what I should desire and what I should shun. So, consequently, today I feel ashamed and I am mightily afraid to expose my ignorance, because, [not] eloquent, with a small vocabulary, I am unable to explain as the spirit is eager to do and as the soul and the mind indicate.

11. But had it been given to me as to others, in gratitude I should not have kept silent, and if it should appear that I put myself before others, with my ignorance and my slower speech, in truth, it is written: "The tongue of the stammerers shall speak rapidly and distinctly." How much harder must we try to attain it, we of whom it is said: "You are an epistle of Christ in greeting to the ends of the earth ... written on your hearts, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God." And again, the Spirit witnessed that the rustic life was created by the Most High.

12. I am, then, first of all, countryfied, an exile, evidently unlearned, one who is not able to see into the future, but I know for certain, that before I was humbled I was like a stone lying in deep mire, and he that is mighty came and in his mercy raised me up and, indeed, lifted me high up and placed me on top of the wall. And from there I ought to shout out in gratitude to the Lord for his great favours in this world and for ever, that the mind of man cannot measure.

13. Therefore be amazed, you great and small who fear God, and you men of God, eloquent speakers, listen and contemplate. Who was it summoned me, a fool, from the midst of those who appear wise and learned in the law and powerful in rhetoric and in all things? Me, truly wretched in this world, he inspired before others that I could be if I would such a one who, with fear and reverence, and faithfully, without complaint, would come to the people to whom the love of Christ brought me and gave me in my lifetime, if I should be worthy, to serve them truly and with humility.

14. According, therefore, to the measure of one's faith in the Trinity, one should proceed without holding back from danger to make known the gift of God and everlasting consolation, to spread God's name everywhere with confidence and without fear, in order to leave behind, after my death, foundations for my brethren and sons whom I baptized in the Lord in so many thousands.

15. And I was not worthy, nor was I such that the Lord should grant his humble servant this, that after hardships and such great trials, after captivity, after many years, he should give me so much favour in these people, a thing which in the time of my youth I neither hoped for nor imagined.

16. But after I reached Ireland I used to pasture the flock each day and I used to pray many times a day. More and more did the love of God, and my fear of him and faith increase, and my spirit was moved so that in a day [I said] from one up to a hundred prayers, and in the night a like number; besides I used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time.

A PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.

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 fully committed to proclaim the truths of Jesus Christ. Your partnering support is very important and much appreciated at this time. The League 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. Also keep your eyes open for a report in the RECORD of the hearing this week having to do with granting homosexual couples even more benefits. A church denominational representative lobbied at the hearing IN FAVOR of the bill.

Because of the League hundreds of emails have already been received by key leaders. 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 you can put in 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
Thank you for your support.