The 3 - December 26, 2011

When Christmas falls during a week covered by "The 3", my week-in-review feature, with 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community, would there be any other story that would rank in the #1 position other than the celebration of Christ coming to earth? No!! But unfortunately, some worshippers in Africa experienced a violent Christmas at the hands of radicals who targeted worship services. And, Christians in North Korea faced an uncertain Christmas this year in light of the new leadership in that country.

3 - North Korean Christians face uncertainly after leader's death

Last Sunday night, it was announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il had died at the age of 69. The presumed successor is his son, Kim Jong-Un, who has already begun to put his stamp on the government, and who, interestingly enough, has already met with leaders from its adversary, South Korea. Dr. Carl Moeller, President of Open Doors USA, an organization that has rated North Korea as the #1 nation for Christian persecution on its World Watch List, had these comments:

“Today marks a significant day in North Korean history...Though this brutal dictator, who was responsible for so many atrocities, has died, the future is still unknown. Some speculate that his son Kim Jong-Un will be just as cruel to all dissenters. Others suggest that he may be more lenient. We simply do not know the future of North Korea, but God does.”

“This is why it is vital that Christians around the world pray for North Korea during this transitional time. Pray especially for the brave Christians inside North Korea. They are fearful that they might face even more suffering. There are an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians being held in North Korean prison camps where they face even more horrific treatment than other prisoners. People are starving to death. The people of North Korea are living a nightmare that never ends.”

Open Doors USA had this report.

A prominent Christian leader who has had good relations with the North Korean government is Franklin Graham, who has visited the isolated nation four times, and his father became the first foreign religious leader to preach there, in 1992. He shared these words:

"Having visited North Korea four times, most recently in May 2011, and worked in this difficult country for many years, I have maintained a special interest and concern for the people of this nation."

"The passing of the General Secretary Kim Jong Il gives the United States an opportunity as the people of the DPRK mourn the loss of their leader. We should be working to build stronger bridges of relationship and understanding with his son, Kim Jong Un."

Regarding North Korea, this period of time represents an opportunity for improved relations with the government, as well as perhaps new hope for Christians who have endured strong persecution there.

2 - Church bombing in Nigeria kills dozens, brings greater awareness of plight of believers

An Islamist group has taken responsibility for a series of bomb and gun attacks in Nigeria that has resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people, according to a report in the Christian Examiner.
Over 50 people are reported to have been wounded.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, had this statement:

"The Christmas Day bombings were appalling and cowardly attacks on innocent families who were merely expressing their faith on one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar...The bombings are a serious threat to freedom of religion in a multi-religious and multi-ethnic state where co-existence is vital. For the sake of national unity, those behind them must not be allowed to prevail."

The most severe of the attacks took place in Madalla, at St Theresa's Catholic Church, where bombers in a vehicle hurled explosives at the congregation at the end of mass. Another attack took place in Jos, where 38 lost their lives last Christmas in bombings. The same militant group, Islamic fundamentalist organization Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for that attack, as well as incidents spread throughout the African nation this year in 5 locations.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who is a professed Christian, condemned the attacks, 4 of which took aim at worship services, but critics are concerned that the government has not done enough to prevent attacks of this sort. And, with the multi-ethnic culture of the nation and the insertion of this radical Islamic group, the atmosphere is ripe for ethnic turmoil. Christians face a high degree of persecution, and there is quite a bit of fear of more attacks, as well as reports of people fleeing cities because of the threat of violence.

While the suspects have been apprehended, the radical organization has recruited effectively and apparently continues to proliferate in the nation, spreading its message of contempt for non-Muslims and its dedication to implementing Sharia law. This is certainly a matter of prayer - for protection of Christian believers, and for the government as it attempts to deal effectively with this threat to its security.

1 - Churches across America open for Sunday Christmas

While some churches had announced that they would not hold services on Christmas Day, the overwhelming majority of Protestant churches had indicated in a survey by LifeWay Research (summarized by the Alabama Baptist) that they would be open and offering opportunities for worshippers. Over 90% of churches had indicated they would be open for Christmas services, with only slightly less saying they would be holding services on New Year's Day.

The Christmas season gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our devotion to Christ in following His two great commandments: to love the Lord with our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. At Christmas, we reflect on the significance of God sending His Son into the world so that we might be saved, and we can be challenged to grow in our walk with Him. Furthermore, we can show the meaning of the love of Christ as we serve others and perhaps share with them resources that God has entrusted to us.

So, with 9 out of 10 people in America celebrating Christmas, and with people being spiritually sensitized during this time of year, we can be prepared to shine Christ's light and radiate His hope. One of the trends within Christianity over the past few years has been the redefinition of the observance of Christmas, and reallocating dollars to charitable causes during the holidays. Two articles over the weekend underscored the trend: The Christian Post highlighted one family's journey and presented some of the giving opportunities. And, a USA Today front page article portrayed people and organizations getting involved to provide fresh water to impoverished nations. Christian band Jars of Clay and the charity they founded, Blood:Water Mission, were featured prominently in the USA Today piece. I encourage you, as you prepare to pack up your Christmas decor, to evaluate your observance of Christ's birth, and ask Him to direct your steps in bringing honor to Him during the special season next year.

The 3 - December 18, 2011

This week on "The 3", we look at the responses of Christian leaders to the death of a high-profile atheist author and speaker. Also, there are some pro-family implications in the final versions of some of the spending bills going before Congress this past week. And, we commemorate what has become the "Year of the Nativity" with regard to public displays of manger scenes being challenged across America - and citizens in some instances are pushing back.

3 - Atheist's death brings response from Christian community

You would think that the death of a religious leader would bring a great wave of commentary and tribute from the Christian community, and we see that transpire quite often. But who would have thought that a well-known atheist's death would bring a significant amount of response? That is the case with Christopher Hitchens, who passed away this week at the age of 62 from complications surrounding cancer.

The Christian Post had a summary of some of the high-profile Christian leaders who made comments regarding Hitchens' death. Some of the comments included:
Rick Warren, who tweeted: "My friend Christopher Hitchens has died. I loved & prayed for him constantly & grieve his loss. He knows the Truth now."
Albert Mohler: “The point about Christopher Hitchens is not that he died of unbelief...but that his unbelief is all that matters now. Unspeakably sad.”
Lee Strobel tweeted: “I was among many who shared Christ with him; so sad he rejected Gospel..."

Hitchens dismissed any chance of a deathbed conversion as he responded to Christians who vocalized that they were praying for him. Hitchens authored the book, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, but it is striking to me that he not only debated Christians, but he was friendly with a number of Christian leaders. He was quite engaged with Christianity, it appears, even though he did not embrace it, or express a desire to.

Perhaps he was trying to change minds and building bridges with those with whom he disagreed, and perhaps he just enjoyed the company of others, regardless of their beliefs. Whatever the case, he was not necessarily viewed by a number of Christians as an enemy, even though he was an intellectual, and albeit spiritual, adversary.

What do we learn from Hitchens? Well, we can be challenged to be prepared at all times to defend our faith, and to realize that God will bring people into our lives, even those who don't know Him, in order that we might be a conduit of God's love for those people.

2 - Budget battles yield pro-family provisions

As the most recent session of Congress is winding down, the respective chambers are in the process of giving final approval to spending bills, in order to provide for the government's continued operation. While much of the attention has been centered on the extension of payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits, there were some key provisions in some of these end-of-year bills that are significant from a Christian, pro-family perspective.

First of all, the conference committee compromise of the Defense Authorization bill contained some language regarding same-sex marriage. While it would have been considered a major victory to see language saying that same-sex marriage ceremonies are banned on military facilities (which did not happen), still there was a minor victory in that chaplains received some conscience protections, as the bill basically says that chaplains do not have to perform ceremonies that violate their deeply-held religious beliefs. Also, the language affirmed that the Federal Defense of Marriage Act was in effect on military bases. And, an attempt to repeal Article 125 in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which would have made sodomy and bestiality legally protected acts, was turned back. Here is the report from the Family Research Council.

Also, in another spending bill, even though Federal funding of so-called "comprehensive" sex education has far outweighed the taxpayer dollars allotted to teach abstinence, still there was $5 million assigned to abstinence programs. Here is a report from Crosswalk.com.

Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association is quoted as saying, "this funding of five million dollars is contrasted against about 100 million dollars in the budget for contraceptive sex education...We are a long way from parity. But it's definitely a step in the right direction."

The politically-correct view, promoted by organizations such as Planned Parenthood, operates from the assumption that since promiscuity is pervasive, so contraceptive use should be taught and promoted to young people. The abstinence view reinforces the fact that abstinence is the only 100%-effective way to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases, as well as the negative emotional, psychological, and spiritual effects resulting from not engaging in abstinence.

1 - "Year of the Nativity": church, civic leaders stand against attempts to remove creches

Last week, one of the top 3 stories I identified on this week-in-review blog was the threat to a Nativity scene in Athens, Texas, about which the Freedom from Religion Foundation had complained, calling for its removal. Church and civic leaders stood against the removal, and this week, a powerful ally, the Attorney General of Texas, pledged his support for the County in its defense of what he saw as a constitutional expression. This is just one of many flash points where the display of the Nativity has faced pressure, and in many cases, the civic and church leaders have stood together to resist the attempts to have these displays removed.

Let's run through some of these instances in what I have termed the, "Year of the Nativity":

Ellwood City, PA: I mentioned this last week - residents celebrated that government leaders allowed the Nativity to be displayed, and the mayor of Ellwood City refused an atheist group's request to post a banner at the site.

Athens, TX: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said that he would file legal briefs in support of Henderson County's contention that the Nativity scene at the courthouse square in Athens is legal. And, yesterday, some 5000 people rallied downtown to show support for the Nativity scene. Here's the story from the Houston Chronicle.

Travis AFB: Another organization that is intent on removing the vestiges of Christianity in public life, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, called on the base to remove its scene. Here is the report from Family Research Council. According to FRC:

Retaining one of the most respected law firms in the country, they fired off a letter to Colonel Dwight Sones, objecting to the base's nativity. "This conspicuous display of ritual objects," they write, referring to the manger and menorah, "is a clear endorsement of religion in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and must either be removed from the premises or moved to a more appropriate location on the Air Force Base to ensure compliance with the United States Constitution."

Todd Starnes of Fox News shared a report that the base had decided not to remove the display. He received this statement:

“While we appreciate the concerns raised by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the Office of the Air Force Judge Advocate General, upon review, concluded the inclusion of a Wing Chaplain sponsored Nativity Scene and Menorah as part of a broader, secular holiday seasonal display does not violate the establishment clause of the United States Constitution."

Santa Monica, CA: In Santa Monica, there is a pavilion with 21 spaces to be used, presumably for Nativity displays. Because there were a number of groups that had requested space this year, a lottery system was implemented, and secular, or atheist, groups ended up receiving the bulk of the spaces, but have apparently only used just a few of them, to display messages such as "Happy Solstice" or a quote from Thomas Jefferson likening religion to myths or fables. Radio station KPCC had this report.

The churches are attempting to push back. They have begun a letter-writing campaign to get the city to give them more slots and held a flashlight vigil to draw attention to their cause. Hunter Jameson, chairman of the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee, said he felt the lottery rules were fair, but manipulated by atheist individuals that applied. He is quoted as saying, "Through the force of numbers, [they] were able ... to win the vast majority of the space," he said. "Our problem with that is that this attempt was transparently not a good faith effort to put up their own display, but rather to force us out of the park."

Green County, Arkansas: And, finally, a Nativity scene is back on a bulletin board in Paragould, Arkansas after it was initially ordered to be removed by the school superintendent in the Green County Tech School District. Superintendent Jerry Noble had originally removed the display because he did not want to submit the district to a legal challenge, which could be rather costly. But, a group came forward to support the school in case legal action was filed. The Arkansas ACLU has said that the school is wrong and must abide by what it sees as the Constitution.

The Nativity is a powerful representation of the Incarnation, and cities and towns across America have traditionally allowed nativities to be displayed, consistent with our strong Christian traditions. And, while we have seen skirmishes all along, it is concerning that there is seemingly a fresh wave of challenges - has the Constitution changed? NO, and certainly not our religious traditions or the deep faith that has influenced our social and governmental structure. And, acknowledgement of God or these rich traditions is not the same as establishing a government church - there is confusion, and there are secular groups that have taken advantage of it and tried to contribute to the erosion of these foundational practices - now, people are saying, "enough is enough". And, perhaps even a resulting court case before the right judges could reverse this trend of attempting to whitewash our faith tradition from the fabric of our culture.

The 3 - December 11, 2011

This week on my week-in-review feature, "The 3", with 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community, another flash point in the so-called "War on Christmas", the subject of religion shows up in the GOP Presidential race, and a decision by the Obama Administration is actually acceptable to pro-life leaders and organizations.

3 - Texas nativity scene becomes another high-profile site of conflict over Christmas

Last week on The Meeting House, I reported about a nativity display in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania which was part of a smorgasbord of holiday symbols - in addition to the manger scene, there were symbols of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, a snowman, a Christmas tree (or is that a "holiday" tree?), and, of course, the big guy - Santa Claus. The town as a whole seemed to be happy, I guess, except for the atheists that wanted to put up one of their "no god" banners, which the mayor nixed.

Now, in Henderson County, Texas, a manger scene has become not only a symbol of our Savior's birth, but of religious freedom, as local clergy are saying that they will resist the efforts of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The FFRF has said this religious display is unconstitutional, despite the fact it is surrounded by other Christmas-related symbols, such as Frosty the Snowman and some carolers. Here is the story from The Christian Examiner.

30-year-old Nathan Lorick, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Malakoff is quoted by the TEXAN as saying, "What are Christians going to do about this?...It's time for the silent majority to wake up, speak up and stand up." He is concerned at the ever-increasing secularization of America, noting that Christian symbols and speech are no longer a significant part of the fabric of the culture and often are marginalized or vilified.

A majority of Henderson County commissioners said they opposed moving the nativity scene based on the FFRF complaint, according to the Malakoff News, reporting on a perspective shared by County Judge Richard Sanders. The county does not own the nativity scene nor the secular decorations, but allows a local group known as Light Up Athens to set them out on the courthouse lawn in Athens.

Lorick also questioned how one local resident and an organization on the other side of the country can turn his county on its head — a county, Lorick said, that is predominantly evangelical. He feels a "moral, parental and spiritual responsibility" to stand against those who literally would take Christian expression out of the public square.

Indications are that church leaders and county officials will be standing strong against this attempt to remove religious expression from the public square. The celebration of Christmas is an acknowledgement of the religion upon which many of our laws and traditions have been formed, and a limitation or removal of its celebration is a denial of the importance of our heritage and of the free speech rights of Christians, who have faced repeated attempts to diminish the impact of our faith.

2 - Texas governor pledges to end what he calls President Obama's "war on religion"

While Texas Governor Rick Perry continues to languish in the polls leading up to the Iowa caucuses next month, a video his campaign has released has brought a wave of positive - and negative - response. It's called "Stand", and Perry reinforces his Christian beliefs and includes these comments:

"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian, but you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school." He goes on to say, "As President, I'll end Obama's war on religion. And I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage." Here's the story from the Family Research Council.

Well, this ad has been panned by the pundits, and affirmed by many of the faithful - millions of hits on the Internet mean the message is being seen...and evaluated. In fact, one of the evaluators is Tony Perkins, who cited a number of examples from the Obama Administration's record where religious liberties, and especially Judeo-Christian freedoms, are being challenged:

• Navy officials ban Bibles and religious materials from Walter Reed Military Medical Center as part of new patient guidelines for wounded warriors (9/2011)
• The Pentagon releases new regulations, forcing chaplains to perform same-sex "weddings" despite their religious objections (9/2011)
• Secretary Hillary Clinton demonizes other countries' religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual rights (12/2011)
• The Department of Veterans Affairs censors references to God and Jesus during prayers at Houston National Cemetery (6/2011)
• Officials at Health and Human Services denied funding for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' successful program for sex trafficking victims because of the church's teaching on human life (11/2011)
• The Marine Corps consider tearing down a Camp Pendleton cross meant to honor fallen heroes (11/2011)
• Air Force officials strip religious curriculum from a 20-year-old course on "just war theory" (9/2011)
• HHS unveils new health care rules that ignore basic conscience protections for medical workers with faith-based objections to abortion and contraception (8/2011)
• Administration officials refuse to intervene in the closing of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (12/2011)
• President Obama lobbies for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which tramples on the faith of employers in hiring, firing, and promotion decisions (10/2011)
• The Air Force Academy turns its back on needy children because a charity has religious ties (11/2011)

And, these were just in the last 6 months! Fox News analyst Todd Starnes came up with his own list of areas where faith is being challenged by the White House and/or its allies...in addition to some that were included on Perkins' list, you find:

As a candidate, he declared in an email to CBN News that “whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation.”

This is the same administration that invited Lady Gaga into the White House for an anti-bullying conference but banned Franklin Graham from the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer observances.

It was during Obama’s Administration that Christian school children were ordered to stop praying outside the Supreme Court building because they were violating the law. Instead, those American boys and girls were forced to pray for the elected officials while standing in a gutter.

It was President Obama who dropped the words “by their Creator” when reciting a key excerpt from the Declaration of Independence to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – not once, but twice.

It was the Obama Administration that opposed the commemoration of a prayer by Franklin Roosevelt at the site of the World War II Memorial on the Washington Mall, arguing that it would “dilute” the memorial’s central message.

And it was the Obama White House that asked Georgetown University to cover up all religious signs and symbols prior to a presidential address.

These incidents really do, I believe, demonstrate a pattern in which religious expression, especially that which is consistent with a Christian perspective, is being restricted or even eliminated by Federal officials aligned with the Obama Administration. There is a lack of understanding by many of those in public office about the deep spiritual foundations of our nation, and in the effort to be tolerant, politically correct, or not "establishing a religion", there are those that would choose to ignore the preponderance of evidence about the role of faith generally, and specifically the Christian faith, in America's history. It's important that people of faith continue to educate and continue to stand strong against these attempts to limit the freedom of religious expression guaranteed in our Constitution.

1 - Health Secretary trumps FDA, says minors can't buy "morning after" pill on store shelves

Pro-lifers were engaged in some muted rejoicing this week...even though the Plan B, "morning after" pill, which basically causes an abortion, is widely available, even to minors - and available without a prescription to women over the age of 17, and they were concerned that the Food and Drug Administration had approved the sale of it to young ladies under 18 over-the-counter. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the FDA's decision, noting in a letter that very young girls — 11- and 12-year-olds — are now reaching puberty, but “it is commonly understood that there are significant cognitive and behavioral differences between older adolescent girls and the youngest girls of reproductive age, which I believe are relevant.”

According to CitizenLink, former Concerned Women for American President Wendy Wright, who is now acting interim director of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute in New York City, who has debated abortion activists many times about the problem of making Plan B widely available to girls, said:

“This has got to be one of the biggest surprises of my life!...Is it political? This decision isn’t courting one side or another. It’s just reflecting the facts about this drug. (Sebelius’s) letter reflects a parent’s concern, and a very mainstream understanding that kids so young need a parent’s and doctor’s intervention. I’m extremely surprised and extremely pleased that she is showing this kind of concern for minor girls, because it reflects the view of many parents.”

Again, it is gratifying that such a decision was made, one life-affirming decision from an Administration that has been characterized as the most pro-abortion in history, with a HHS Secretary who, as governor of Kansas, was quite supportive of abortion-on-demand. But, with solid scientific evidence on her side, this moral decision protects young girls and protects unborn human life.

The 3 - December 4, 2011

This week on "The 3", my week-in-review feature, some concern about America's most high-profile Christian leader's health, more areas of conflict over what to call a Christmas tree (how about a "Christmas tree"?), and gay marriage and the military was a topic that was address in Congress this week.

3 - Graham hospitalized for pneumonia tests

Just last month, Christians across America rejoiced at the celebration of the 93rd birthday of legendary evangelist Dr. Billy Graham. And, many, no doubt, are praying for Dr. Graham, as he was hospitalized this week with some breathing difficulties. He was tested and treated for pneumonia. This marks the second time this year that Dr. Graham has been in the hospital.

Here are the chronological updates from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

The evangelist recently completed work on the book, "Nearing Home", and is said to be in the process of writing another book. Also, it's been announced that Dr. Graham, along with President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Steve Jobs, is under consideration for being honored on a "Living Legends" postage stamp.

The Postal Service waived a rule in September requiring that a stamp honoree be dead at least five years, and postal officials asked customers to use the mail or social media to nominate an “American or American-related subjects,” who “made enduring contributions to the United States of America.” According to the Washington Post, sources say the Postal Service has received at least 1,500 submissions by mail and more than 1,000 through social media.

2 - Christmas Tree or "holiday tree" - government officials make determinations

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but there is an aspect to the Christmas season that has proven to be troublesome, and in some ways a distraction to the celebration of our Savior's birth. However, the preservation of our faith traditions is an important aspect of American life, and even though over 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas (according a Rasmussen poll last year), there are those that still are intent, in the name of tolerance or out of an outright hostility toward religion, to remove the name of "Christmas" from this time-honored holiday.

One of the conversation topics that surfaces this time of year is what to call the government's official tree - now granted, you wouldn't even have a tree to commemorate this time of year outside of the traditional observation of Christmas. Nevertheless, there are those that would say that just because the government erects a tree and calls it a Christmas tree, that it is establishing a religion. But, the acknowledgement of God or a Christian holiday that many non-Christians celebrate does not make the proper naming of a Christmas tree an establishment of religion.

This year, one of the flashpoints is in the state of Rhode Island, where Governor Lincoln Chafee is doggedly holding on to his belief that the state's tree should be called a "holiday" tree. Timothy Stanley has some excellent observations in this piece from the Telegraph.

According to Politico, Representative Doreen Costa, the sponsor of a resolution that passed back in January saying that the state tree would be a "Christmas" tree, has taken the governor to task. She said Wednesday she was “disturbed” when she first heard the Statehouse tree being referred to as a holiday tree. “If it has lights and ornaments and an angel and decorations on top, it’s a Christmas tree,” the freshman legislator said on Fox. She has gone as far as to place a small tree in her office and called it a "Christmas" tree. Meanwhile, the tree farmer who has provided the state's tree for the last few years, has even told the media that he is thinking about reconsidering his donation of a state tree.

I don't like to call this the "war on Christmas", but every year there are a number of high-profile disagreements about the celebration of the holiday that 9 out of 10 people celebrate as Christmas. This year, in addition to Rhode Island, we've seen a community on Long Island - Mt. Sinai - debating whether to have a "holiday tree" or a "Christmas tree" lighting this weekend. In Wisconsin, the backyard of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Governor Scott Walker proclaimed for the first time since the '80's that the state tree was indeed a "Christmas" tree, and had legislators who backed him up.

Fortunately, Rockefeller Center in New York still has its Christmas tree, as does the national Capitol in Washington, DC, and so far, these and scores of other municipal trees on public property across America are still considered to be "Christmas" tree - and it's not against the law to say it, since it is a Federal holiday.

1 - Deliberations regarding gay marriage on Capitol Hill

Pro-family leaders said it was bound to happen - the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on homosexual behavior would lead to pressure on chaplains to act and speak in a manner inconsistent with their deeply-held beliefs. And, now we see it expressed - in the realm of same-sex marriage. Earlier this year, there was an announcement from the military that said that certain "ceremonies", interpreted to mean same-sex marriage ceremonies, were allowed on military facilities, and allowed to be performed by military chaplains. This comes even though the military is presumably under the provisions of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Now, in both houses of Congress, there are those that want to step in and protect chaplains, as well as to disallow same-sex marriage ceremonies. A House committee held a hearing this week on the matter, and according to CitizenLink, Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri said: “How in the world can you ignore federal law and have the Pentagon essentially just go off making laws on their own?...That’s what we were trying to find out. How do you come up with the justification for doing this?”

The piece goes on to say that:

Responding were lawyers from the Pentagon and the U.S. Navy, whom Akin said offered “some very hair-splitting legal logic.”

“They were saying that DOMA doesn’t really say that you can’t have homosexual marriages — just that marriage is between a man and a woman and doesn’t preclude homosexual marriages, and therefore they’re OK,” he said. “But DOMA says marriage means ‘only a legal union between one man and one woman as a husband and wife.’ That’s the only legal definition of ‘marriage.’"

There were concerns that over in the Senate, lawmakers supporting same-sex marriage would attempt to attach language to a Defense Authorization Bill that would redefine marriage, but that was apparently scrapped. According to CitizenLink:

In order to pass the defense spending bill at all, the Senate dropped 71 pending amendments at the last minute. The $117 billion senators approved, on a 93-7 vote, for war spending is $1 billion less than the Pentagon requested.

Meanwhile, the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a group representing more than 2,000 military chaplains, expressed their appreciation for a Senate vote that took place Tuesday, ensuring they will not be forced to perform same-sex ceremonies on military bases in the wake of the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell". The Senate amendment, which allows chaplains to decline performing same-sex ceremonies in states where such unions are deemed legal, differs slightly from a bill that passed the House, which is said to contain much stronger language - not only prohibiting chaplains from taking part in same-sex ceremonies, but also enacting a ban on same-sex ceremonies on any federal property. The two versions are headed to a conference committee.

The news on same-sex marriage in the military this week is encouraging, but, now that Congress has opened up the military further for social experimentation by repealing DADT, gay advocacy groups and their friends in Congress will attempt to further their agenda, bringing more acceptance of that behavior and solidifying in Federal law a so-called "right" to same-sex marriage.

The 3 - November 27, 2011

This week on "The 3", a couple of stories involve religious expression, including developments regarding freedom of religion in the context of the U.S. military. Also, Presidential politics are found in this week-in-review feature, as some candidates enunciated their positions on certain family-oriented issues. And, with Thanksgiving being celebrated around the nation, we reflect on how American Christians can use this holiday as a opportunity of expressing their faith, as leaders have done in years past.

3 - Cross removed from Army chapel in Afghanistan, Marines face cross removal at Camp Pendleton

The use of religious symbols on U.S. military bases has come under scrutiny within the past few weeks. In the aftermath of a controversy at Camp Pendleton, a Marine base near San Diego, a cross that has provided inspiration for soldiers at an NATO base in Afghanistan has been removed.

First, the Camp Pendleton situation. According to The Christian Examiner, an atheist group called the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) has asked that a cross erected by Marines at Camp Pendleton to honor fallen troops be removed, citing it constitutes an establishment of religion.

The American Center for Law and Justice has become involved, sending a letter to the Camp's commanding officer, saying: "The Constitution does not prohibit honoring fallen troops through the use of a historic symbol merely because that symbol also carries religious significance. In fact, the Constitution forbids excluding religion from every aspect of public life, precisely the goal of the MAAF and other atheist groups.” The Marine Corps is reviewing the issue.

Meanwhile, half a world away, a cross was placed in front of a chapel at Camp Marmal, a German base housing NATO troops in Afghanistan. The interfaith chapel is under the supervision of the U.S. Army. The cross was an inspiration for troops, but the Army says it violates its regulations, which state: “The chapel environment will be religiously neutral when the facility is not being used for scheduled worship. Portable religious symbols, icons, or statues may be used within a chapel during times of religious worship.”

Here is the story from The Christian Post.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council charged that the decision secularized a religious building. He said, "There’s a sole purpose of a chapel and it’s to worship."

Some service members quoted in a Politico story felt the removal of the cross was an attack on Christianity:

The two characterized the removal of the cross as an attack on their religion and noted that there had been no complaints from Muslims — there are two mosques on the base — or Jews, who had recently conducted a service in the chapel without incident.

“I really don’t understand why Christians are always attacked. If it was a crescent moon on top of a mosque, it would never be taken down,” said an Army serviceman.

“We would just like to know where the line is. The chaplains wear different religious symbols on their uniforms depending on which religion they are. Is that the next thing to be targeted?” added a second service member.

Without having a knowledge of military precedent, one has to wonder what is at play here. Certainly, as Perkins contends, if the purpose of a chapel is to worship, and Christianity is the religion that is practiced at the chapel, should there be any restrictions on the symbols? Now, if the military has a "no symbol" policy, then those in charge were following the proper regulations - but does enforcement of those regulations constitute the denial of the free exercise of religion?

When the Navy attempted to place inappropriate restrictions on prayer a few years ago, Congress stepped in an overturned the rule. One particular Navy chaplain, who had been court-martialed under the rule and removed from his duties, claims that, since the rule was rescinded, then any action taken against him should also be removed from his record. There are forces at work that would like to place undue restrictions on service men and women who wish to freely live out their faith. The area of religious liberties will probably continue to be a significant source of tension in the U.S. military in days to come, exacerbated by the removal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

2 - Presidential candidates sign pledges

Last week, I cited the Thanksgiving Family Forum as the top news story of the week. In the aftermath of that event, which featured 6 out of the 8 GOP candidates sharing their heart motivation on a variety of issues, 2 of the Presidential candidates, just this week, took steps to try to bolster their standing with regard to family issues.

CitizenLink reports that Texas Gov. Rick Perry became the latest candidate to sign a marriage pledge offered by the sponsoring organization for the Forum, The FAMiLY LEADER of Iowa, promising to stand up for the federal Defense of Marriage Act, remain faithful to his wife, appoint “faithful constitutionalists” to the bench, and reform elements in divorce, tax and welfare laws that currently don’t support marriage.

Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum have also signed the pledge, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has said he would like to sign it, but only if he can make a few modifications first.

The FAMiLY LEADER has narrowed its field of candidates that it would consider endorsing to 4: Bachmann, Gingrich, Perry, and Santorum. Cain and Ron Paul were eliminated after the Forum last week.

Speaking of Cain, after been scrutinized for not signing a pro-life pledge from the Susan B. Anthony list, he actually signed it on Tuesday. The pledge includes promises to appoint strict constructionists as judges, selecting only pro-life people for key Cabinet positions, supporting legislation to permanently end taxpayer funding of abortion through Planned Parenthood and other agencies, and signing a Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act should such a bill reach his desk as president.

Cain had made comments in June, when he declined to sign the pledge, saying that he would sign any pro-life legislation passed by Congress, but that he could not, as president, “advance” it himself. Bachmann, Gingrich, Perry, Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul have also signed the pro-life pledge; the only candidates still in the race who have not are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.

The Forum gave voters, many for the first time, the opportunity to hear from candidates regarding how their personal beliefs, including religious faith, played into their policy decisions. These are important elements as Christian voters attempt to prayerfully consider for whom they will cast a vote in the 2012 elections.

1 - Christians celebrate God's blessings on Thanksgiving Day

The Thanksgiving holiday gives Christians the distinct opportunity, in a collective sense, to give thanks to God for His blessings on us and His favor on our nation. When Presidents Washington and Lincoln issued Thanksgiving proclamations, they specifically encouraged Americans to express said thanksgiving TO GOD.

Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner, in a recent Washington Times piece, recounted that Washington, when he issued a 1789n proclamation, called on all Americans that day to observe a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer” devoted to “the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” Lincoln, on the same day, October 3rd, some 74 years later, issued a proclamation, in the middle of the Civil War, calling on Americans to reflect on their blessings AND give thanks to Almighty God. Feulner writes:

Yet President Lincoln paused at this time of unimaginable crisis not only to urge Americans to give thanks, but to note how blessed our nation is. “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies,” the first sentence reads. He lists those blessings in terms so strong and soaring one could almost forget this was one of our nation’s darkest hours.

He goes on to say that:

The second aspect of Lincoln's proclamation that is sometimes forgotten is the reason given for the holiday. To give thanks, yes, but not just in general - to give thanks to God. “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things,” Lincoln wrote. “They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

So, we have a unique opportunity as Christians to inject gratitude to God into our national consciousness. Even as the priorities seemed to skew more toward staying up really late on Thursday to partake in Black Friday shopping experiences, we must be careful to remember Whom we worship and to give honor to Him. Some honored God by observing the Thanksgiving holiday by sharing in helping the poor and needy, and to provide encouragement to those who need to experience God's joy and peace.

And, Fox News analyst Todd Starnes took our current President to task, pointing out there was no mention of God in his Thanksgiving address. Starnes wrote:

The president said his family was “reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are.”

For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are.

The president said the “most American of blessings” is the “chance to determine our own destiny.”

He called the very first Thanksgiving a “celebration of community."

Mr. Obama did make the proper mention of the contributions of our military men and women, and emphasized the shared experience of living together as Americans. But I believe that the nature of the word, "thanksgiving", implies that there is someone to whom we give thanks, and in a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles, I think it's important that we not shy away from the role of faith in the foundation and sustenance of our great nation.

The 3 - November 20, 2011

This week on "The 3", an emphasis on the Bible factors in to 2 of the 3 stories relevant to the Christian community, including the finals of the three-year-old National Bible Bee and a British observance of the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. And, the top story involves a unique display of 75% of the GOP Presidential candidates as they dealt with social issues and their process of making policy decisions in a forum in Iowa.

3 - National Bible Bee finals give young people change to demonstrate Bible knowledge

This weekend in Nashville, the finals of the third annual National Bible Bee were held, spotlighting Scripture memorization and Bible reading comprehension. Contestants had entered three categories: Senior - ages 15-18, Junior - ages 11-14, and Primary - ages 7-10. Over 5,600 students entered the competition from across the nation, and the final 300 gathered this week in Nashville.

The Bee is sponsored by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, named after a young lady who died five years ago from cancer, and loved to memorize Bible verses. The Foundation provided some $260,000 in prize money. Winners included: Kari Erickson of South Dakota in the Senior category, Bethany Xiques of Florida in the Junior category, and Olivia Davis of Oregon in the Primary category.

According to The Christian Post, the National Bible Bee seeks “to help families strengthen their personal relationships with the Lord and dynamically impact the world as ambassadors of Jesus Christ.” All of the materials and events of the ministry are designed to be “enjoyable and family-centered as they encourage, recognize, and reward diligence in Bible study, Scripture memorization and prayer.”

The National Bible Bee is yet another effort designed to reinforce memorization and study of the Scriptures, challenging young people to learn God's Word. In this age in which Bible literacy has become an area of particular emphasis, events such as this bring a greater awareness about the importance of the Bible and the truths contained within it.
2 - Queen, British leaders celebrate 400th Anniversary of King James Bible

This entire year has been devoted to celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible, commissioned by the British monarch in the early 17th Century, bringing together a group of scholars, translators, and theologians to craft a translation of God's Word that would bring a greater level of accessibility to the sacred text and become a crowning achievement of the reign of King James I.

This week at Westminster Abbey, Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family attended a special service featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury and some 2,000 worshippers. A copy of the "People's Bible", handwritten by some 22,000 people throughout the United Kingdom, was presented at the special service. Historic copies of the King James Bible were carried throughout the Abbey at the start of the service. The Christian Institute of Great Britain had this report.

According to the report, in the service the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, described the King James Bible as an “extraordinary text” which remains of “abiding importance”. The translation is notable in the way it communicated the message of the texts, as well as the ability to connect with the common people at large. It presented a mix of eloquence and ease of access, and has been established as the standard of accuracy for Bible translations. It's something worth celebrating, and gives another opportunity for an increased awareness of the power of God's Word.

1 - Thanksgiving Family Forum gives insight into faith, family issues

Numerous Republican Presidential debates, featuring the candidates in a variety of settings dealing with a wide range of issues, have given some, a rather limited, amount of insight into candidates' policy proposals. However, the fast-paced formats designed to accommodate a number of candidates leave little opportunity for someone to really see into the heart of those desiring to be elected to the nation's highest office.

So, with the Iowa caucuses approaching the first week of January, in a state where over a third of likely GOP caucus participants self-identify as born-again Christians, you would think that matters of faith would be important to the voters. A pro-family organization called The Family Leader organized a "forum" (not a debate), in order that candidates could answer questions about their belief systems, their factors in making decisions, and positions on issues important to evangelical voters. Moderated by noted focus group leader Frank Luntz, the event included discussions of a variety of what we might call, "heart", issues. 6 out of the 8 Republican candidates were present, the exceptions being Jon Huntsman, whose poll numbers did not meet the minimum threshold for an invitation, and Mitt Romney, who was campaigning in New Hampshire. Here's a report from Fox News.

CNN had this report on the forum.

Some of the conversations included Herman Cain's tearful recollection of his struggle with cancer, and his regrets about not being home more during his business career. Newt Gingrich, whose failed marriages have produced concern for some social conservatives, talked of going to God to seek reconciliation with Him in the aftermath of mistakes. Rick Santorum recounted the faith struggles he encountered after the birth of his now 3-year-old disabled daughter. Rick Perry mentioned the hole in everyone's heart that can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Michele Bachmann recalled her growing-up years and her parents' divorce. And, Ron Paul talked about his experience in "sharing new life" by delivering babies.

The plethora of Republican debates has been helpful for some, damaging for others, and has yielded plenty of sound-bite opportunities. But, if you want to know how these candidates will actually govern and their heart motivation for policy decisions, perhaps a venue like the Family Forum was satisfactory. You'll be able to watch the whole event at www.citizenlink.com.

The 3 - November 13, 2011

This week on "The 3", a 24-hour period of prayer and fasting was conducted in Detroit beginning on Friday night, voters in the state of Mississippi rejected an amendment to their Constitution which would have defined an unborn child as a person, and Christians gathered in America and other parts of the world to reflect on and pray for the plight of the persecuted church.

3 - Thousands pray and fast during TheCall in Detroit

It does seem that wherever TheCall shows up, there is a dramatic, renewed emphasis on revival and spiritual awakening. I think back on the throes of the Proposition 8 contest in California, where over 30 thousand came together in San Diego to pray in order to release God's power on that vote to confirm traditional marriage. In 1999, Lou Engle, inspired by the Promise Keepers "Stand in the Gap" event, began to develop plans to bring hundreds of thousands of young people to the National Mall in Washington, and in September of 2000, an estimated 400,000 gathered to call upon God.

In 2007, on 07.07.07, over 75,000 people gathered in Nashville to pray and fast together for God to do a profound work. On 11.11.11, TheCall came to Ford Field in Detroit for 24 hours of prayer and fasting. The event began at 6:00 on Friday night and continued through 6:00pm Saturday. The Detroit News estimated the attendance at 25 to 30 thousand at 7:00pm Friday...that publication claims its reporters were not allowed inside. But, here is their report.

Even though there were some local ministers concerned because of what some referred to as an anti-Muslim sentiment, which obviously will raise eyebrows in an area with a significant Muslim population, TheCall's focus was to proclaim Jesus and to promote an avenue of healing, based on God's Word. The Christian Post provided this story. When thousands of God's people participate in this type of effort - what some would call radical, but I believe would best be termed Biblical Christianity - it can have an incredible effect, changing the hearts of those He calls His own, and bringing a sense of His presence to a community and region.

2 - Mississippi voters reject Personhood Amendment

The results are in, and the amendment that was on the ballot in Mississippi, defining "personhood" from the moment of fertilization, failed by a 58 to 42% margin. While this is the second state where such an amendment has failed, the margin was much closer than in Colorado, where a similar measure has been defeated twice. Here is a report from LifeNews.com.
Baptist Press had this coverage.

For many, the "personhood" concept presents a strong statement about the sanctify of life, and I think the whole process helped people to consider their view of the unborn. A number of pro-life, pro-family organizations, including Family Research Council, Liberty Counsel, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and the Mississippi Baptist Convention, supported the measure. Filmmakers gave their support, such as Jon and Andy Erwin of "October Baby", which was brought into theaters by the American Family Association to support the personhood vote, and Ray Comfort, whose ministry sent out 600,000 e-mails with a link to his provocative video, "180", depicting people changing their minds on abortion. One tweet Wednesday morning basically described "personhood" as a new civil rights movement.

But, as we experienced even in Alabama when a personhood measure was being considered by the Legislature, and in Mississippi and other states, there are a significant number of pro-life individuals and some pro-life organizations that are not on board with such an amendment. National Right to Life and American Life League are two of those. There are some that would fear unintended consequences, such as the case of a pregnant mother whose life is in danger and a pregnancy is terminated...would there be legal ramifications in that situation? Some opponents believe that the amendment would be certain to be struck down as unconstitutional, and fear that if such a case were to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court that it would not be strong enough for the justices to overturn Roe v. Wade, therefore strengthening that decision. A number of pro-life advocates fear sending strong pro-life measures to the court system because of the current judicial atmosphere. And, these are valid concerns.

Many embrace the strategy of electing more pro-life lawmakers into Statehouses and Congress, and electing a pro-life president who would be certain to appoint justices to the U.S. Supreme Court who would view Roe as a dubious decision with questionable constitutionality, and would vote to overturn it. To some, "personhood" represented an "all-or-nothing" strategy, while many pro-lifers believe that "incrementalism" more effective. Yes, there are valid points on both sides.

The upside of the defeat of the Personhood Amendment in Mississippi is that the visibility of the referendum, you would hope, brought a new awareness of the issue of when life begins, as well as a fresh view of the sanctity of life. And, as of Tuesday, there were 6 other states where pro-life advocates are working to put a Personhood Amendment on their ballots - Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada and California. A bill was pre-filed for the 2012 session of the Alabama Legislature that would include similar language to the Mississippi amendment.

This is a key issue in our culture, because our view of the sanctity of life will also color our positions on other issues, as well as the way that we regard others - if we believe that every life is beautiful, every life a gift of God, then the way we behave toward others can be radically transformed.

1 - International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church commemorated worldwide

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, observed on Sunday, November 13th this year, is an opportunity to stand together in prayer for those who are facing suffering for the cause of Christ around the world. Open Doors is one of the leading sponsors, but there are many other organizations who are in partnership for this day to help bring awareness of the tremendous needs.

One of the dominant areas in which there is much concern for Christian persecution is in nations throughout the Middle East, where governments that are either fundamentally Islamic or lean that way routinely deny Christians their freedom to practice their faith. This has been seen in nations such as Iraq, where it is estimated that half of the indigenous Christians there have fled due to persecution and threats. Another nation is Eqypt, where the Coptic Christians have clashed with fundamentalist Islamic factions. And, we hear of reports out of Pakistan, where their blasphemy laws have placed some Christians under the threat of a harsh sentence for speaking out against Islam and converting to Christianity. And, in Afghanistan, even though their new constitution was framed with the assistance of the U.S. Government, there are many who embrace Sharia, or Islamic Law, which provides for a crime of apostasy, or converting from Islam to another religion.

On The Meeting House radio show this week, Mindy Belz, Editor of WORLD magazine, shared about Sayed Musa, who is now in exile in an undisclosed location, but was facing charges of apostasy. You can read the article here, and listen to the interview below.



Another high-profile area of persecution is on the continent of Africa, especially in and around the nation of Sudan. For years, the persecution of Christians has been prevalent inside Sudan, and now with the new nation of South Sudan that was established earlier this year, it was hoped that Christians could freely and safely practice their faith there. It came to our attention earlier this week from Samaritan's Purse that prayer was needed for over 20,000 refugees from Sudan that have entered the nation, and conditions are bleak due to a shortage of food and other supplies. Then, word came on Thursday that Sudanese extremists had dropped 4 bombs on the camp. Here is a report from Samaritan's Purse on this latest violence.

Open Doors has initiated the "One With Them" campaign to remind us to pray and stand with those who are facing various forms of persecution, including imprisonment and even death because they are Christians. Find out more at www.onewiththem.com. And, visit www.persecutedchurch.org for more information on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

The 3 - November 6, 2011

A wide variety of topics on this week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature. Churches across America are joining with various organizations to bring awareness to the plight of orphans and the opportunities to help meet their needs through support and even adoption. Also, as so many are gearing up for National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, beginning next Monday, November 14th, a rather disturbing series of events has emerged at the Air Force Academy. And, in the top slot, religious liberties became a topic before the U.S. Supreme Court, where the justices let stand a lower court ruling against privately-funded roadside crosses on state property.

3 - Churches commemorate "Orphan Sunday"

It was an effort that was inspired in the African nation of Zambia and has now spread to the United States and other parts of the world - an effort to increase the awareness, among Christians, of the plight of orphans. It's called "Orphan Sunday", marked by a special emphasis in churches in some 45 states and a special Sunday evening webcast.

The Christian Post shared this story.

"Orphan Sunday" was originated as the result of an American visitor's observation in a church service in Zambia, where the pastor passionately called the congregation to care for orphans in the local community, which had been ravaged by AIDS and poverty. Even though members of the church faced deep needs, they stepped forward to contribute to a special offering to care for orphans.

According to Christianity Today, "Orphan Sunday" has become a catalyst for what the publication calls a “burgeoning orphan care movement", quoting event organizers, who also cite the most recent "State of Giving Report" from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), in which three of the top four categories for increased giving over the past two years have been directly related to adoption and/or orphan care.

"Orphan Sunday" is co-sponsored by the Christian Alliance for Orphans and Cry of the Orphan. A number of Christian organizations, such as Focus on the Family and Steven Curtis Chapman's effort, Show Hope, are involved in the observance. Across the nation, Christian families are embracing the call of Scripture, according to James 1:27 to "look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (NIV)

2 - Operation Christmas Child out at Air Force Academy, turned over to chaplains

This is that wonderful time of year as churches are encouraging their members to participate in the tremendously effective effort to reach out to needy children around the world, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham. Samaritan's Purse has built a track record of being very efficient and prompt in its response to disasters all around the world.

Well, it seems that some of the leadership at the U.S. Air Force Academy, seeing the quality work that is being done through this annual shoebox effort, encouraged their students to participate, or at least made them aware of the opportunity. But, true to form, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation filed a complaint, saying that the Academy leadership crossed the line. The Academy backed down and issued an apology. The responsibility for administering Operation Christmas Child on the campus now rests with the chaplains, and in a sense, that's OK, because the amount of publicity this story is receiving may result in an even greater response that it would have been.

Todd Starnes of Fox News issued this report.

Here's how the local newspaper, The Colorado Springs Gazette, treated the story.

This year, Operation Christmas Child is expecting to reach 8 million children around the world. Apparently, the Foundation had a beef with the fact that a Christian message is included within the shoeboxes. On The Meeting House program on Friday, November 4th, Stuart Shepard of CitizenLink, an affiliate of Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, discussed the way the so-called "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment has basically been twisted to be interpreted as an "acknowledgement". In fact, check out the audio from Stuart.

Is it so outlandish for a Christian charity to presenting its Christian principles in the work that it does? The Air Force Academy was not "establishing" anything by announcing the opportunity or even encouraging this effort. But, there has become such a stigma with a government entity being associated with anything religious. So even the mere presence of a gospel message, inserted in the shoeboxes during the distribution process, not by the cadets themselves, becomes, as the head of the organization said, "arrogance"? Can people not think for themselves, or does it take an organization like the MRLF to help filter religious information that they find inappropriate or in conflict with their own religious views? And, yes, those who attempt to silence Christians in the name of religious tolerance are, in effect, establishing their own religion - the religion of secular humanism - and are denying the free exercise rights of Christians and those who choose to support them, which, you know, can include government-related organizations.

1 - Supreme Court rejects appeal, Utah roadside crosses must come down

"Today the [Supreme] Court rejects an opportunity to provide clarity to an establishment clause jurisprudence in shambles..."A sharply divided Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has declared unconstitutional a private association's efforts to memorialize slain police officers with white roadside crosses, holding that the crosses convey to a reasonable observer that the state of Utah is endorsing Christianity. The 10th Circuit's opinion is one of the latest in a long line of 'religious display' decisions that, because of this court's nebulous establishment clause analyses, turn on little more than 'judicial predilections."

Those are the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarance Thomas, calling for a review of the application of the so-called "Establishment Clause", in light of the hodgepodge of court rulings involving religious expression. The 10th Circuit decision served to prohibit the display of the Utah roadside crosses by a private organization, and the Supreme Court decided not to review it.

Here is UPI.com's analysis of Thomas' dissent and some insight into religious liberty cases.

The phenomenon of different types of rulings from different appeals courts can be seen in the issue of student-led prayer, which has flared up again in Alabama in two different school districts, where complaints have been filed seeking to eliminate prayers on the P.A. systems prior to high school football games. Appeals court decisions in the Santa Fe case out of Texas, and even the Chandler case out Alabama, indicate that prayers prior to football games, even it student-led and student-initiated are not constitutional, if the taxpayer-funded P.A. system is used. Eric Johnston of the Southeast Law Institute discussed the issue in a recent appearance on The Meeting House.

In fact, the high Court has rendered differing decisions on displays of the 10 Commandments in separate cases. You have to wonder if the application of the Utah decision regarding roadside crosses could also affect the display of crosses in cemeteries nationwide, such as the hallowed ground of Arlington outside Washington. Again, we're facing a redefinition of "establishment" to mean "acknowledgement". And this is the thinking of those who are attempting to remove the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance and to choose another national motto, rather than "In God We Trust" - that motto, by the way, was upheld this week by practically the entire U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 396-9. Because there is such as strong influence of the secular humanism agenda that has been embraced in so many corners of our government, including the courts, there has been an erosion of the religious liberties of students and others who would want to speak about their faith publicly in events that are sponsored by these entities. And, school districts, for instance, that are cash-strapped, do not have the budgets to defend themselves against the small number of complainers, so they capitulate. In order to have some definitive answers, it takes governmental officials who have the courage, the resources, and the public support, to stand up against this erosion.

The 3 - October 29, 2011

The importance of speaking Biblical truth into the culture is highlighted in the 3 stories I have selected for this edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature. A New Jersey teacher is facing disciplinary action for a personal post on Facebook regarding her school's celebration of gay history, a new movie that has gone viral online is helping to spread the truth about the sanctity of life, plus Federal law that defines marriage as one man for one woman marriage is being challenged in court and Congress.

3 - New Jersey teacher under scrutiny for personal Facebook post on homosexuality

We have been tracking this trend where people who express their honest views on homosexuality, in many instances consistent with Biblical truth, are ostracized and even face punishment. This took place recently in Florida, where teacher Jerry Buell was temporarily suspended because of personal views about the gay marriage vote in New York, which he posted on his Facebook page. In a sense, history repeated itself in New Jersey, where teacher Viki Knox is now being investigated because of personal comments she made on Facebook concerning her opposition to the commemoration of a gay and lesbian history event at her school. Sure, she expressed that the celebration glorified immoral behavior, and that's how the Bible describes it, too. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey spoke out about the incident, taking the side of the school district, and saying that Ms. Knox's views were "disturbing".

Here's a report from the Family Research Council.

But, it seems in the eyes of some, those that believe that homosexuality is an incorrect lifestyle choice and speak out about it are the immoral ones. We're continuing to follow incidents in the corporate world where those that hold to a Biblical view of homosexuality are facing repercussions, such as the situations involving 2 organizations that had their apps removed from the iPhone store and companies that were encouraged to withdraw from a Christian shopping cooperative that benefits charities because of the views of some of the charitable organizations, such as the FRC and Focus on the Family.

But, when the Christian school hosting a special event for Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) was vandalized by having 2 brick pavers with threatening message thrown through their glass doors, a prominent pro-gay organization refused to label the action a "hate crime", essentially saying that AFTAH and their friends got what they deserved. So, there are those that are begging for "tolerance" who are exhibiting extreme intolerance themselves.

2 - Provocative pro-life film goes viral on Internet, spreads to campus

Recently, Ray Comfort, founder of the ministry Living Waters and co-host (with Kirk Cameron) of the "Way of the Master" TV program, appeared on my radio show, "The Meeting House", to discuss a new video project that he has released called, "180".



In the midst of producing a documentary regarding the life and activities of Adolf Hitler, Ray began to ask a very challenging question, and the movie shows the way that young people - on-camera - changed their position on the abortion issue. During its first month of release, there have been some 1.2 million online views, qualifying for "viral" status, and this week, some 200,000 DVD copies of "180" were distributed on college campuses across the nation. Here is a report from LifeNews.com.

Ray Comfort is quoted as saying: “I am so thankful that people are open to change. While there are some who are very angry at us for making this movie, others are very thankful and write to tell us their story.”

Tony Miano, the coordinator of the massive giveaway said, “Emails have been pouring in from students around the country who not only took the DVD, but took the time to watch it.“ ‎

This is another example of how the God of creativity is using technology to communicate His truth. You can learn more by visiting www.180movie.com.

1 - DOMA under fire in U.S. Senate, Federal court

In 1996, Congress overwhelming passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. Now, 15 years later, there are attempts to negate DOMA, which defines marriage in the U.S.A. as one man for one woman. This week, we have seen two fronts on which it has been challenged - in Congress, where it was announced that next week the Senate Judiciary Committee is due to consider legislation that would repeal the long-standing law, and in the courts, where a group has filed suit on behalf of same-sex military members, who just received a victory in the finalization of the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

It really became just a matter of time before there would be an attempt to legalize same-sex marriage in the military. The suit is challenging the right of same-sex partners to extend their benefits to each other and their children, according to an article in The Christian Post. Of course, there have been other lawsuits filed challenging DOMA, including one that resulted in a Massachusetts court declaring DOMA to be unconstitutional. We recognize there is a dedicated effort to legitimize homosexuality and to institute same-sex marriage through whatever means possible, and it's important that as Christians, we are dedicated to speaking truth consistent with the Bible regarding the activity and consequences of homosexual behavior.

The 3 - October 23, 2011

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes a non-decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on a state law involving a "moment of silence". Also, a victory for religious freedom in actions concerning a Veterans' cemetery in Houston where there have been reports of religious references being suppressed. And, in the number 1 slot, Presidential politics and important issues to evangelical voters making the headlines and generating discussion this week.

3 - Illinois moment of silence in public schools upheld

While American law over the past few decades has attempted to place restrictions on the rights of religious expression by students in public schools, some states have acted to enact legislation that would allow for a so-called "moment of silence" at the beginning of the school day. While this period is not for the expressed purpose of prayer or silent reflection, it still allows for those who wish to pray to do so.

Interestingly enough, when Alabama attempted to establish a moment of silence, the law was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, in the 1985 decision known as Wallace v. Jaffree. In that case, the High Court decided that Alabama legislators did not have a secular purpose for their law, since proponents had declared that their objective was to return prayer to the public schools.

In Illinois, even though the law is called the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act, proponents wrote into the law the stipulation that the "moment of silence" would not be conducted as a religious exercise, in other words - a secular purpose. It is truly sad how far we have come when lawmakers have to write legislation that allows prayer, but then has to say that the vehicle allowing the prayer is secular.

Last year, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, when hearing the challenge of atheist Rob Sherman, defended by Michael Newdow - yes, the one who tried to take "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, decided the moment of silence in Illinois did not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The judge writing for the majority in the appeals court also stated that the law did not single out one particular religion and served that secular purpose.

According to a report by the Illinois Family Institute:
"Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, believes the federal courts have made the right call. 'A moment of silence does not endorse a religion contrary to the First Amendment. A moment of silence is just that -- a moment for a person to pray or meditate or do nothing. They are not forcing anyone to pray or not to pray. It's an accommodation of people who may choose to use this time for prayer.'"

Also, Judge Manion of the 7th Circuit "drew that distinction between the Alabama and Illinois statutes, saying that Illinois had 'offered' a secular purpose for their law, namely, 'establishing a period of silence...to calm the students and prepare them for a day of learning.' Illinois joins Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia in requiring a dedicated 'moment of silence' at the beginning of the school day."

And, while these states do offer the opportunity for prayer in a more official time that is set aside, students have broad rights to engage in religious conversation and activity on their own throughout the school day, as well as in non-instructional time, when Christian clubs can meet, with the same access as other school-sanctioned organizations.

2 - Houston veterans' cemetery case regarding religious discrimination settled

A controversy involving religious expression at the Houston National Cemetery has been simmering for months, and just this week, a proposed settlement agreement was accepted by the U.S. Veterans' Administration (VA). The Houston Chronicle had this report on the proposal.

Local groups had accused VA officials of limiting some forms of religious speech, including references to "Jesus" and "God", at special services at the cemetery. One instance involved local pastor Scott Rainey, who took the cemetery to court after he was asked to remove the name of Jesus Christ out of his planned Memorial Day speech. A Federal judge upheld his right to say the name, and he did so on that special holiday.

This case hopefully sends a strong message to Federal agencies who attempt to limit the First Amendment rights of free speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. Veterans in the Houston area were bold to speak out about instances where they saw attempts to restrict the free speech rights that so many American service men and women had paid for with their lives.

1 - Candidates' positions on life, faith come under scrutiny

The issue of abortion and its role in the contest for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination came to the forefront this week in light of comments by GOP frontrunner Herman Cain, when pressed for answers by Piers Morgan on the issue of abortion in cases of rape and incest. Apparently, what Cain had intended to say was that in those cases, families should have the right to make a decision without government interference. This is consistent with a view of many pro-lifers that abortion should be illegal, except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life. But, many interpreted the comments more broadly, and sensed that Cain might be less pro-life than some had previously thought.

Cain attempted to clarity his remarks on Piers Morgan, as well as on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, with a statement on his website. His comments centered around his perception of the role of the President, who he said does not have the authority to "order" anyone not to seek an abortion.

The discussion of Cain's pro-life credentials can also be broadened to include the other candidates. CitizenLink, in a piece on the Cain controversy, shared a brief summary of the GOP contenders' views on abortion:

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann had made statements similar to some of Cain’s in the past — that life is a fundamental right, and she is 100 percent pro-life “from conception” — without backing away. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said he supports a right-to-life amendment and making second-trimester abortions illegal. Texas Gov. Rick Perry opposes federal funding for abortion and thinks it should only be legal in the case of rape, incest or to save the mother’s life. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said the government should “stop forcing pro-choice morality on religious organizations.” Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum says no abortion should be legal, even in the case of rape or incest. Texas Rep. Ron Paul has said he supports legislation defining life as beginning at conception and that abortion is murder, but also that abortion laws should be made at the state level and that emergency contraception allows for individual moral choices to be made. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney used to support abortion and now says he believes “in the sanctity of life from the very beginning until the very end.”

According to The Christian Post, candidates who visited the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition banquet on Saturday night attempted to appeal to evangelical voters, as they highlighted their positions on abortion and gay marriage. 6 out of the 8 major candidates spoke - the exceptions were Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman.

The issue of the candidates' religious beliefs is another topic that has been generating some press coverage, and Christianity Today published an excerpt of a particular part of the Tuesday night Presidential debate, dealing with the comments of First Baptist/Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress' comments at the Values Voter Summit relative to Mitt Romney's Mormonism:

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who are both Roman Catholic, argued that faith says a lot about a candidate.

“It's a legitimate thing to look at as to what the tenets and teachings of that faith are with respect to how you live your life and how you would govern this country,” Santorum said. “With respect to what is the road to salvation, that's a whole different story. That's not applicable to what the role is of being the president or a senator or any other job.”

Gingrich offered a similar view. “None of us should rush in judgment of others in the way in which they approach God,” Gingrich said. “But I think all of us would also agree that there's a very central part of your faith in how you approach public life. And I, frankly, would be really worried if somebody assured me that nothing in their faith would affect their judgments, because then I'd wonder, where's your judgment -- how can you have judgment if you have no faith? And how can I trust you with power if you don't pray?”

Texas Gov. Rick Perry simply said his faith is ingrained. "I can no more remove my faith than I can that I'm the son of a tenant farmer," he said.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, as a Mormon, faced public resistance to his religion during his 2008 run for the nomination. The issue has only recently haunted his candidacy this cycle, highlighted again with comments made by a Southern Baptist pastor--and Perry supporter--Robert Jeffress’ that ignited a controversy at a summit hosted by the Family Research Council.

"I don't suggest you distance yourself from your faith any more than I would,” Romney told Perry. “[But] the founders of this country went to great length to make sure -- and even put it in the Constitution -- that we would not choose people who represent us in government based upon their religion, that this would be a nation that recognized and respected other faiths, where there's a plurality of faiths, where there was tolerance for other people and faiths.”

Romney took advantage of the topic to criticize “the concept that we select people based on the church or the synagogue they go to,” which he called “very dangerous and an enormous departure from the principles of our Constitution.”

Romney added, “With regards to the disparaging comments about my faith, I've heard worse, so I'm not going to lose sleep over that.”

In an op-ed for the Washington Post published Tuesday, Jeffress said critics were attempting to eliminate a discussion about religion from political discourse, arguing that “our religious beliefs define the very essence of who we are.

One anticipated topic of conversation in the weeks to come, I believe, will be the extent to which a candidate's religious faith should influence our decision about whether or not to vote for him or her. I commonly ask candidates how their religious faith affects their decisions - I want to know if a person's beliefs will guide his or her decisions on policy matters, rather than be kept separate. While the Constitution says there is no religious test for the office of the President, I still would feel more comfortable with someone who says that their decisions are guided by that faith.

Now, other factors are there, such as competency and experience - and I would rather elect a non-Christian who reflects my values and has a competent track record than a professing Christian in whom I could not place confidence that he or she could do the job. And, it is true that we are not electing a "clergy-in-chief", but isn't it contradictory to say that we would like Godly people to run for office and then turn around and state that a candidate's faith doesn't matter?