The big question in Washington, DC, remains:  Will healthcare legislation pass in the Senate before lawmakers head home for Christmas?

A week before Christmas, Senate Democrats are still struggling to find 60 votes for their massive healthcare reform bill.

Brian Darling, director of Senate relations for The Heritage Foundation, says although the situation is still in flux, he believes there will be a vote in the Senate on the healthcare bill before Christmas. ( Healthcare bill 'may not make it' )

 
"It seems like moment to moment the landscape changes," Darling notes.  "You had [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid announcing a big deal late last week, and so it appeared that the bill was going to pass.  
 
The Heritage spokesman says the only way the Democrats can get the bill passed is if they make all of their caucus happy -- which to date has been an elusive goal.

(Watch for Sen. Reid, President Obama, and other  leaders from the Democrats to try give the farm   to people like Sen. Nelson to get his support. Let us pray whatever it takes may Obamacare not become the law of the land.) 

A decision concerning a lawsuit filed against San Francisco for bashing Catholics will be reached within the next few months.

The case challenges a resolution given by the Board of Supervisors of the city and county which essentially condemns the Catholic Church for its moral beliefs, especially those in relation to homosexuality and adoption of children by homosexuals. (San Francisco challenged on 'Catholic bashing' )

Robert Muise of the Thomas More Law Center argued the case on the basis of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids Congress from establishing a state religion and prevents hostility toward religion.

(Today no group can be bashed but those of us of faith. Jesus did tell us  people would hate us because we know him at the same time government will not  take part in perception on anyone or any group unless it is a person of faith.) 

 A moderate Democrat whose vote could be crucial said Thursday an attempted Senate compromise on abortion is unsatisfactory, raising doubts about whether the chamber can pass President Barack Obama's health care overhaul by Christmas.

"As it is, without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient," Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a key holdout on the health care bill, said in a statement after first making his concerns known to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Nelson said there were positive improvements dealing with teen pregnancy and adoption, and that he was open to further negotiations. But in a radio interview earlier in the day with KLIN in Lincoln, Nebraska, Nelson also said that abortion wasn't his only concern and he didn't see how the Christmas deadline was achievable.

The development came with Senate leaders working round the clock trying to finalize their 10-year, nearly $1 trillion bill in time for a final vote on Christmas Eve. Nelson is emerging as a major obstacle - perhaps the only remaining one - since Democrats need his vote to have the 60 necessary to overcome Republican stalling tactics.

(This is an outrage. At a time of the year when people are thinking about when the Lord came and how he brings peace into the hearts and souls of his followers, the Senate is going to vote on health care. My guess is this is a political move. Sen. Reid and the Democrats are thinking if they change the best health care system in the world on Christmas Eve no one be watching. Sen. Reid and others in his party including the President have the attitude that a bad bill is better than no bill. This vote and the debate should not be rushed or cut short. Shame on the Democrats!) Lets hope that they fail. Read more on this story DEMS PLANS CHRISTMAS EVE VOTE ON HEALTH!)

Dr. David Stevens is the CEO of the CMA, which is the largest faith-based medical association, and he tells OneNewsNow that he is dropping his membership with the American Medical Association because its members are controlled by special interests.
 
"We've seen this in the healthcare reform debate as AMA went to meet secretly with Senate leaders to bargain for higher physician Medicare reimbursement in exchange for support of healthcare reform legislation," he explains. "The purpose of doctors is to have a covenant relationship with their patients. You do what's best for the patient, not what's best for your pocketbook. (CEO of Christian doctors' group quits AMA  )

(Good for this doctor. Based on what I know and have heard the AMA doesn't speak for most doctors. )

A messianic Jewish leader is pleased that evangelist Franklin Graham continues to tell the truth about Islam and won't buckle to the demands of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Recently Graham was interviewed by CNN's Campbell Brown who asked the evangelist about comments he made in 2001 when he referred to Islam as "a very evil and wicked religion."
 
Graham did not back down from that assessment. Instead he replied that "true Islam cannot be practiced in this country. You can't beat your wife. You cannot murder your children if you think they've committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries," he explained. "I don't agree with the teachings of Islam, and I find it to be a very violent religion."

Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, argues that Franklin simply spoke the truth as "there are very few people who are willing.

(Good for Graham. We do need more leaders including spiritual ones who are willing to speak the truth about Islam. We are  told again and again Islam is a peaceful faith. If it is so peaceful explain to me why do we have followers of Islam committing the acts that Graham listed. Read more on this issue Graham speaks truth about Islam.)

Evangelist Oral Roberts, who rose from tent revivals to found a multimillion-dollar organization and an Oklahoma university bearing his name, has died. He was 91.

His spokesman A. Larry Ross said by phone from Carrollton, Texas, that Roberts died Tuesday of complications from pneumonia in Newport Beach, Calif. 

By the 1960s and '70s, the Oklahoma-born Roberts was reaching millions around the world.

Evangelist Billy Graham, who just turned 91 himself in early November, describes Roberts as "a man of God and a great friend in ministry."  During a telephone conversation a few weeks ago Roberts told Graham  "he was near the end of his life's journey." The respected evangelist says he looks forward to the day he will see Roberts again in heaven. (Evangelist Oral Roberts dies in Calif. at age 91 )

(I didn't always agree with how Roberts did things and thought his focus was too much on healing but he was a man of God who was used by the holy spirit. May God's grace and knowing  Roberts is truly home now give his love ones  peace.)