Dr. Sheila Matthews lost her job on the adoption panel for Northamptonshire County Council when she asked to be allowed to abstain from voting in cases where homosexuals were applying to adopt. An employment tribunal has ruled that complaints of religious discrimination failed as there is "simply no factual basis for the claims."

"This is an unfettered attack on freedom of religious expression, and we shouldn't be surprised," laments Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Counsel. "Europe has been heading down this path since the inception of so-called 'hate crimes' laws. (Religious beliefs cost British doctor her job)

(Billy's Thoughts>>> If this was done to a person of any other faith there would be a big outcry from the media and others but it is always open season on us who follow a Kingdom not of this world.)

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is defaming a number of pro-family organizations by adding them to its list of "hate groups."

The left-leaning legal organization has issued a list of alleged "hate groups" that includes mainstream Christian ministries because of their opposition to the sin of homosexuality. Among the 13 groups are several prominent national groups -- American Family Association, Coral Ridge Ministries, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, Liberty Counsel, Traditional Values Coalition, and the National Organization for Marriage. The SPLC accuses the groups of propagating "known falsehoods...about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities." Among those "anti-gay myths," says the Law Center, are statements like "no one is born a homosexual" and "gay people can choose to leave homosexuality." ( 'Hate group' label applied to Christian ministries)

(Billy's Thoughts>>> This news should not be shocking God has told us in his word that we will be hated. If we stand for Bible based values. Now we should never come should people a mean spirit when talking about the issue but we should never back down from letting others know what the Bible teaches.)

As a former administrator at a California church is scheduled to serve jail time for embezzling nearly $1 million from the ministry, a lawyer says the incident should be a warning sign to other churches.

Farrukh Ahmed of Ontario pleaded no contest on November 18 at the Chino Superior Court after the former administrator at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills was caught by a staff member with cash in his hand last December. Ahmed has been free on bail since his arrest, but authorities estimate Ahmed embezzled around $750,000 from the church between 2006 and 2009.

Brad Dacus, founder of the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), believes full restitution should be made to the church.

"When individuals engage in this kind of criminal conduct, they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," he contends. "This individual should be required to repay every penny that [he has] wrongfully taken." (Former Muslim guilty in church embezzlement)

There was an astonishing report out of Jerusalem last week. Israel, it said, was growing increasingly frustrated with the US.

 (Trust in short supply at Middle East talks; Israelis increasingly frustrated with the USA )

(Billy's Thoughts>>> Israel has every right to be upset with the US. Israel gives and gives to those who want  to see every Jewish soul murdered  and the nation of Israel history. When are the leaders of the US going to give Israel the right to defend herself. How would we have liked it if some other nation had told us after 911 that we had to make deal with those who attacked us.)

The source, a non-Iranian businessman based in Central Asia and traveling often to Tehran, "has learned from one of his contacts that (former president Ali Akbar) Rafsanjani told him Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has terminal stage leukemia and could die in a few months," according to an August 2009 cable. (Iran's Supreme Leader 'has terminal cancer'... )

(Billy's Thoughts>>> Pray for this man. No matter what we think of Iran God can use an illness to change people and nations.)

Barack Obama's Kenyan grandmother has said she prayed for the US president to convert to Islam, according to reports. (Obama's grandmother 'prays he converts to Islam'...

  )

(Billy's Thoughts>>>> Lets pray that the true God Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit touches Obama and our other leaders. ) 

As millions of us gather at tables to offer thanks during this uniquely American holiday (OK, Canada has one, too, but without our Pilgrims), most will express gratitude to God for freedom and material blessings. This year, as in every year since 1989 when she escaped with other “boat people” from communist Vietnam, Kim Vu will offer thanks borne out of a deep gratitude for what America has meant to her since she and so many others risked their lives for something they regarded as even more valuable: freedom.

A generation has grown up since the boat people caught the public’s attention. To many in what has become a self-indulgent generation, it may be difficult to fathom how anyone could go to such lengths to achieve something too many of us take for granted.

Vu was 20 years old when her father urged her to follow her brother, who was the first to escape. She is now 41. Vu says she was not afraid, though the Vietnamese communists sank boats they could spot and killed many who tried to escape. Vu tried twice to escape, but pulled back when she sensed danger. On her third try, she succeeded.

Vu’s father, a retired officer in the South Vietnamese Army, gave her two gold bars to pay for the journey. She was taken in a small boat that held no more than three people to a larger boat that waited offshore in darkness. “We spent seven days on a trip to Malaysia with no food, only water and the water consisted of three bottle caps each day.”

What does freedom mean to Kim Vu? “It means a lot, because I lived with communists, who wouldn’t let me go to school. I am very appreciative to live in this country.” She became a U.S. citizen in 1995.

What would Vu say to her now fellow Americans who might take their freedom for granted and not appreciate the country as much as someone who once experienced oppression? “They need to see what other countries don’t have that we have here. Some people don’t see, so they don’t know.”

(Billy's Thoughts>>> The above is part of a Thanksgiving column that my friend Cal Thomas wrote. Those of us here in the great USA have truly been blessed in so many ways. If you like read the whole column by Cal, Still Thankful and speaking of Thanksgiving you also might want to listen to the radio commentary Thomas did today. If you desire you can listen to it here.)