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I just got home after a long night of welcoming in the Christmas season — there was the grand illumination of downtown Richmond, open houses at historic buildings, carriage rides, art gallery openings, and lots of hot apple cider and hot chocolate. So I was in no position to report this until now:

We know Governor Kaine and Virginia Democrats are still exuberant over the commonwealth voting its 13 electoral votes for Barack Obama, the first Democrat to win Virginia since 1964. A job well done on the Dems’ part, congratulations and all that.

But is that any reason for the capitol Christmas Tree to be decorated in all blue lights? Not so subliminal gloating, perhaps? This brings a whole new meaning to the expression “holiday blues,” which, no doubt, certain Republicans are still seeing themselves through.

As The Family Foundation undertook the exciting adventure of forming Pastors For Family Values, we knew that there would be differences among the pastors to whom we reached out. We had high hopes that we could bridge the theological or stylistic differences that separate our Sunday morning practices with unity on pro-family issues.   

More than a year after the formation of this group, our hopes have been greatly exceeded by a God who, as usual, has chosen to do immeasurably more than we asked or imagined. We have seen, on multiple occasions in the same room, white and black, Catholic and Protestant, Baptist and Presbyterian, rural, suburban and urban pastors come together. We have watched as relationships have formed over the common bond of the defense of the unborn and traditional marriage, and much more. We have been overwhelmed as together we have signed legislative petitions, joined in press conferences, broken bread at numerous PFFV luncheons around the commonwealth, taken trips to the nation’s capitol and, most importantly, worshipped.  

On Tuesday, December 9, at 1:30 p.m., PFFV presents a unique opportunity to sit down together and hear from Bishop Francis DiLorenzo (Catholic Diocese of Richmond), Pastor Mark Becton (pastor of a Richmond-area Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia church) and Bishop Gerald Glenn (Chief Servant for Pastors For Family Values). 

These three men may differ on serving the Lord’s Supper, lifting hands in worship or how baptism occurs, but they share a common vision that Virginia protects the family, the unborn and the marital bond. Please invite your pastor to come hear each of them speak and stay for a question and answer period. This is a free event but, due to limited seating, does require a RSVP. Please call 804-343-0010 and reserve your and your pastor’s seat. 

PFFV Pastor Roundtable

Tuesday, December 9

              1:30 – 3:00 p.m.            

The Family Foundation Offices

830 East Main Street, Richmond

  12th Floor Conference Room

This perfect story for the Christmas season comes from a friend, Michael Smith, by way of Donna Holt, of whom I am not familiar. But it’s a great tale, appropriate for the time and the times: 

A father, while trying to relax after his busy day at work, had just sat down to read his favorite travel magazine when his little girl, as was her custom, ran up and jumped in his lap. She always asked questions about one thing or another and, when she saw a picture of the world on the front cover of the magazine, she asked him what the United States looked like. He flipped through the magazine until he found a map of the U.S. and as he was about to show it to her decided to make a game out of it. So he tore the picture out of the magazine and then tore it into small pieces, gave it to her and said, “now go into the other room and see if you can figure out how to piece it back together correctly.” After only a few minutes, she returned and handed him the map, perfectly fitted and taped together. The father in his amazement asked how she had finished so quickly. “Oh,” she said, “on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got Jesus put back together in his rightful place, then the country just came together too.” 
  
 

Yesterday, Governor Tim Kaine received a report from his Commission on Climate Change, because, as you know, the world is melting (based on fabricated statistics from a NASA scientist, see the blog OhMyGov, here, and Debra Saunders of the San Francisco Chronicle, of all papers, here). Apparently, last year wasn’t exactly the warmest ever year on record.

But that’s not necessarily the purpose of this post. The purpose is to congratulate His Excellency, the guvna: As we now know, despite all the alarmists’ claims, we are not in the midst of an overheating globe; despite this, the commonwealth’s global-warming-alarmist-in-chief qualifies for the most painfully contorted spin of the year. Quote the Richmond Times-Dispatch (see article here):

The state Commission on Climate Change unanimously adopted its final report yesterday, and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine indicated he would act on it.

“In my administration, we don’t get reports and put them on shelves,” Kaine told the panel during a meeting in the General Assembly Building.

But then . . .

Outside the meeting room, Kaine declined to specify which recommendations he will move on, saying he wants to read the report first.

Soooooooo, let’s get this straight: He’s going to take action on the report, because he won’t put it on a shelf, but he can’t say what action he will take, because he doesn’t know what’s in the report — but he guarantees it won’t sit on the shelf. He will take action, though on what, no one, not even he, knows. That’s fantastic!

Still later, in a daring feat, he claimed:

But, in one example, he said he supported efforts to increase energy efficiency.

Oh really? I suppose he’ll come out for clean water and air, next, then possibly safe toys for children and expiration dates on milk cartons. Brilliant, sir! Are you sure you don’t want to be Education Secretary? How did Virginia manage without you? Never mind that the Mainstream Media doesn’t pick up on these inanities, even as you state them directly to them — because you, Excellency, have earned today’s Quote of the Day. 

Here’s a lot to chew over the weekend. Click on the editorial comics, as well, which are particularly incisive. 

News: 

Video captures abortion coaching (Washington Times) 

Va. Republicans gather today at The Homestead (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Va. GOP Leader’s Tenure at Crossroad (Washington Post)

GOP gathers to assess challenges, begin new race (Daily Press)

K-12 cuts, more layoffs ahead (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Virginia one of 13 states facing $1 billion deficit next year (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot) 

Virginia state senator will seek to rein in tax breaks (Washington Examiner)

Kaine rules out Cabinet position (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Kaine: Environment, energy are priorities (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star)

Moss rejoins Democrats, to run again for Norfolk treasurer (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot) 

DC same-sex marriage activists regroup (Washington Times) 

Editorial Comics:

“Government Stinks” (William Warren, GetLiberty.org)

“Capitol Visitor Center” (Nate Beeler, Washington Examiner)