Thread: Stand up and be counted!

http://www.standupandbecounted.org/more_info.html
A link from the Joyce Meyers siteWow I didn't know the facts about gambling stats in biloxi,sad that the suicide rate has increased there I do gamble and now don't know how I feel about going back,I have saw people crying and very upset there in casinos and you know what they did...lost money they couldn't afford to.I only play slots for fun,and only x amount and thats it.But I do see its a bad problem for some people.I don't feel its a sin for me,BUT now I wonder if I am helping a bad cause...I have to research the word on this...ANYWAYS this is a good article and a chance to do something too
We live in a society that was built on the foundation of God's Word. Now that the "building" is finished, many have tried to remove that foundation—gradually rejecting God and banning His presence from public places and public affairs. The result has been a moral catastrophe:

PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME BATTLEFIELDS
1962—Prayer was removed.
1963—The Bible was removed.
1980—The Ten Commandments were removed.

The Results...
Education funding has tripled.
Standardized test scores have plummeted.
Problems have skyrocketed.
In 1940, teachers reported that the top seven problems were talking out of turn, chewing gum, making noise, running in the halls, cutting in line, dress-code violations, and littering.
In 1990, teachers reported that the top seven problems were drug abuse, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, suicide, rape, robbery, and assault.
THE POLLUTION OF PORNOGRAPHY INCREASES
Estimated annual worth of the pornography industry in the U.S. equals $2.6-$3.9 billion.
In 1990, there were 1,275 hard-core pornographic movies that hit the market; in 2000, there were 11,041.
20.7 million Web surfers visited porn sites from their homes in October 2000—roughly 23% of the Web-surfing population in the U.S.
Minors, 17 and under, spend more time surfing porn sites than any other entertainment sites. In September 2000, 27.5% of minors online visited an adult site, representing more than 3 million unique visitors.
21.1% of minors visiting pornographic sites are age 14 or younger.
STANDARDS IN TV PROGRAMMING HAVE PLUMMETED

The standards among the major networks have gradually decreased over the past few decades. Producers and network officials have pushed the envelope so far that now the prime time television slots are filled with explicit sexual content, graphic violence, and every four-letter word and obscenity imaginable.
According to the American Psychological Association's Task Force on Television and Society, the average preschooler and school-age child who watches two to four hours of non-educational TV a day will have witnessed the following by the time they graduate from elementary school:
8,000 or more murders.
100,000 or more other acts of violence.
FCC'S HANDS ARE TIED

According to a recent article in the New York Times, the FCC says: "the number of indecency complaints involving television remained negligible," and without complaints, the FCC's hands are tied. By law, they cannot take action unless content is patently offensive by contemporary community standards. Without viewer input, they have nothing to guide their definition of "community standards."

THE GROWTH OF GAMBLING GRIPS THE NATION


In 1975, gambling was legal in only one state—Nevada. Today, almost every state has some form of legalized gambling.
Nearly 6% of American kids under the age of eighteen have a serious gambling problem.
According to a study conducted in 1997, Las Vegas displays the highest levels of suicide in the nation—both for residents and visitors.
In Gulfport, Mississippi, suicides increased by 213% in the first two years and 1,000% in neighboring Biloxi in the first year after casinos arrived.
A U.S. News & World Report analysis found crime rates in casino communities to be 84% higher than the national average.

WE CAN PRAY AND TAKE ACTION

To be successful at standing up for what is right, the first thing you and I need to do is pray. Prayer is the foundation; prayer brings God's power: ...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16).

We Can Pray:
For godly wisdom, protection, and direction for our president
For godly politicians who have a reverential fear of the Lord
For a great spiritual awakening in the pulpits, pews, and among politicians
Against the gambling and pornography industries—asking God to dry up their financial resources and their base of support and establish good, clean entertainment and amusement.
Against immorality in the media—television, radio, Internet, movies, music, magazines, books, etc. When we see or hear of something bad, we can ask God to remove it—praying that no one buys the products being advertised and that sponsors will stop supporting it.

We Can Take Action:

Along with prayer, there also comes a time for action. James 2:20 says, ...faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless.

STAND AGAINST IMMORALITY

Express your disapproval of ungodliness in a loving way, registering your complaint with the person who has the power to bring about change. This doesn't mean that we need to be confrontational or begin a demonstration everywhere we go. We just need to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and pick and choose our battles carefully.
If the people we're doing business with—restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, and other companies—continue to promote immorality after we've expressed our complaint, we need to take our business somewhere else. Without our dollars, they can't make a profit, and eventually they'll get the message. Likewise, if our elected officials continue to support and promote ungodly bills, they should no longer get our vote.

STAND FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Communicate your approval and support of godly policies and decisions—contact people who take a stand for what's right, thanking and encouraging them to continue to do the same.

We can communicate with the following groups by writing a letter, making a phone call, sending an e-mail, or confronting an issue face to face.
Advertisers.
Businesses.
Local and National TV and Radio Management.
School Officials.
Newspaper Editors.
Politicians: Senators, Representatives, Governors, Mayors, Judges, etc.

To become a part of the Stand Up and Be Counted Action Team, please click on the "Stand Up" button.

GET UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF LEGISLATION

Log on to www.joycemeyer.org and find out what is currently being proposed in Congress, legislative alerts and updates, as well as basic information on how to communicate with those on Capitol Hill. Use the complete list of contact information to call, write, or e-mail your senators and representatives, encouraging them to vote for godly legislation and against ungodly legislation.

Thanks...very good and eye opening.