News and Notes from the
World of Al Menconi

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS EVE  Written and Presented by Trans-Siberian Orchestra The following short story will help you understand the theme of The Story of Christmas Eve and Other Stories and when you follow the lyrics as you listen the first time, it will cement its message in your heart.   On a snow blessed Christmas Eve a young man found himself alone in the back of an old city bar in the rundown section of town. Using his solitary drink as something of a moat between himself and the rest of the world, he was surprised when an elderly gentleman asked to join him at his table. Reluctantly, he nodded his permission but within minutes he found himself engrossed in a story that the old man related to him; a story about another Christmas Eve when the Lord looked down from above at all his children. It had been nearly two thousand years since the birth of His son and turning to His youngest Angel the Lord said, “Go down to the Earth and bring back to me the one

I love American history. I fully enjoyed reading about it in school and studying it in college. But I usually don’t enjoy watching American history presented on TV. Until now! Saints and Strangers is literally the best presentation of any period of American history I have ever seen on screen. I strongly urge you to watch it with your family. No political agenda. No gratuitous sex scenes, no excessive scenes of violence, no profanity – just the true story of the first Thanksgiving based on primary sources. We have often heard that those who came over on the Mayflower endured hardships, but to most Americans “endured hardships” is an innocuous phrase that doesn’t come close to telling the whole story. This National Geographic Channel’s two-night movie event, Saint & Strangers , premiering this Nov 22-23 at 9 p.m., goes deep inside the familiar historical account of Thanksgiving, revealing the tribulations of the first settlers at Plymouth and their complex relationship with

(Pat and Daphnelynn Major, Rick and Janie Hagin, Jeff and Norine Woodcock, and Al and Jan Menconi have been friends since they they were young teachers at Christian High School in the early 1970's.  We always dreamed of taking a trip together.  This is our story.) 2015 Fall Foliage Trip by Daphnelynn Major   The idea for a Fall Foliage Road Trip began from the bucket list of one and quickly grew to include four retired couples. All of us had traveled to many parts of the world but had never witnessed the beauty of New England leaves changing color in autumn. It had been 40 years earlier and younger when we met and taught together at Christian High in San Diego. Since then God had led our paths to many different cities and jobs spread over and even out of California. None of us had traveled together previously but all felt quite sure that we were ready to commit to this adventure as reunited friends. So, the planning began. Many months before our early October “window of

After watching the faith-based film “Woodlawn,” My first response was “Wow!” I have never seen a clearer presentation of the Gospel in a film that will also appeal to nonbelievers. We often like a film, not because of its intrinsic quality but because of the message it brings to nonbelievers. That's not what you’ll see when you watch “Woodlawn.” It provides an inspiring story that will thrill your heart and challenge you AND nonbelievers at the same time. This is the true story of Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Alabama that was experiencing racial tensions in 1973 because of new integration policies that bused blacks into a formerly all- white high school. The 500 African American students didn’t want to be there, and the white students certainly didn’t want them there. As you can imagine, racial tensions invaded every facet of the campus, especially the lackluster football team. But at one point a “motivational speaker” challenged the team to let Jesus get rid

Video review by Al Menconi September 25, 2015 What if I told you that God created the Zodiac for our benefit? I haven’t gone “liberal” nor am I spiritually off base. But I have just watched Story in the Stars, a video documentary by Joe Amaral, author, speaker, and amateur astronomer. This fascinating film uses biblical, historical and scientific knowledge to reveal how each constellation of the Zodiac actually points us back to Jesus, and that the message of salvation is written in the stars for all of mankind to see. There are 48 signs, or constellations in the sky and every major civilization not only has the same figures, but the same names. At one time, each culture understood these figures to be symbolic in nature, to serve as signs, to point them to a coming Redeemer!  But over time, people began to worship the stars instead of the creator of the stars. The Bible says in Genesis 1:14: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights (sun, moon and stars) in the vault of the sky to

The following is my response to a friend who asked me why I recommended the MTV Video Music Awards for the past couple of years.  He couldn't understand why he NEEDED to watch that “trash” when all he had to do was read the information on the web?  He was also concerned about the fathers who struggle with porn subjecting their eyes to the skimpy outfits most of the performers wore.  MY RESPONSE: Thank you for your interest and for taking the time to express your concern.  Please let me try to respond. I’ve been recommending that parents watch the MTV Video Music Awards (The VMAs) since 2003, to help parents learn and experience the culture that influences their children so deeply. It’s more than just watching trash. You are right that there are many ways parents can  learn  which artist or   program their kids watch and listen to, but there is no better way to  experience  the depravity of the entertainment culture that is teaching our ch

You and I live in the United States of America, but our children are being raised in the United States of Entertainment and MTV is writing the Constitution The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) this Aug. 30 at 9:PM/8:PM central will become the topic of conversation in many of the homes in America.  A quick perusal of the VMA’s from their beginning in 1984 to today will show a gradual regression of our nation's moral values to a point where literally "anything goes." The highlights of the first VMAs in 1984 were Madonna singing "Like A Virgin" to ZZ Top singing about girls with good looking "Legs" to Michael Jackson dancing to Thriller. It all seems so innocent by today's standards. Who changed? God's values haven't. For the next twenty years or so, sex, drugs, and rebellion were the key themes of choice. Little by little we learned to accept as normal what used to be sinful. However, in 2003, the Madonna / Britney Spears kiss durin

Are we mocking God?  The Bible says God will mock the mocker when he cries out for help.  This doesn't seem to be God's character.  Why would Proverbs teach this?  This Nugget of Truth video from the Book of Proverbs may help you understand.    Let me know what you think on our ministry Facebook page

We Lost the Cultural War – Now What? by Al Menconi, with input from David Blyth The Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage last week hit me with the kind of impact that I have not experienced since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  And just as 9/11 made us understand that a group of people we didn’t know hated us and treated us as their enemy, the gay marriage decision shows that a segment of our own society hates Christian values and wants to destroy them.  Both instances unalterably changed our lives. You may think that I’m overreacting, but consider this.  Jesus in Matthew (19:4+5) gives a very clear description of marriage when He states, “ Haven’t you read that at the beginning the creator made them male and female?   And God said, ‘Because of this a man should leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife, and the two will be one flesh.’   So they are no longer two but one flesh...”   Marriage was ordained by God at the creation of Ad