The 3 - August 27, 2017

This week's edition of The 3 includes another flashpoint in the furtherance of the transgender agenda, this time concerning a charter school in California.  Also, a Washington state football coach who had been praying at the 50-yard line after games was dealt a blow in court.  And, a wonderful harvest of souls occurred in an evangelistic crusade originating from Southern California.

3 - Student reprimanded for referring to fellow student using incorrect pronoun

A charter school in California is struggling with transgenderism, and very young students are caught in the crossfire, according to a Washington Times report.  Recently, a first-grader was sent to the principal's office for referring to a fellow student, who has changed his gender identity, by his "former" name.

Karen England of the Capitol Resource Institute is quoted in the article:

“There was a little girl who had been in class with the little boy all last year,” Ms. England said. “They’re in different classes now, but she saw him on the playground yesterday and called him by his name. The little girl was told ‘you can’t do that, his name is this name,’ and ‘you need to call him a “her.”’ Then she was called to the principal’s office.”

Ms. England said she has been in touch with the girl’s parents and described them as “outraged.” She said they met with school officials to discuss the matter Wednesday.

The school is Rocklin Academy Gateway and, at the end of the last school year, a "a kindergarten teacher read her class a pair of books advocating transgender ideology, and a male kindergartener was reintroduced to the class as a girl."  The school apparently is standing behind the use of these books. The Times stated, "The controversy at Rocklin is just the latest example of the transgender movement’s increasing emphasis on spreading its ideology through early education."

2 - Coach who was fired for praying at 50-yard-line loses in court

Since 2008, Joe Kennedy, a coach in the Bremerton, Washington school district, including his role as assistant coach for the high school varsity team, would walk to midfield after a football game and offer a prayer to God.  In the fall of 2015, after seven years of the practice, Kennedy was told he could no longer take part in that activity.  The First Liberty website has the story.

He was later suspended, and First Liberty, on the coach's behalf, filed a lawsuit last year against the school district. Just this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled against Coach Kennedy. The First Liberty website stated, "The court argued that Coach Kennedy’s prayers were not protected by the Constitution because, according to the Ninth Circuit, Coach Kennedy was praying as a public employee rather than in his private, personal capacity."

In a press release, First Liberty President and CEO Kelly Shackelford is quoted as saying, “Banning all coaches from praying individually in public just because they can be seen is wrong,” adding, “This is not the America contemplated by our Constitution.” Deputy General Counsel Mike Berry said, “According to the Ninth Circuit, it is unconstitutional for a coach to make a sign of the cross or bow his head in prayer when a player gets hurt...” He added, “We are deeply disappointed by the decision and will consider all options available to Coach Kennedy as we continue to review the opinion.”

1 - Thousands come to Christ at Harvest Crusade, evangelist prepares for theatrical event

Greg Laurie has become one of America's most prolific evangelists.  Just a few months ago, the Harvest America event in Phoenix was simulcast nationwide, and Laurie announced his partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention.

He has been conducting Harvest Crusades in Southern California for a number of years, and according to a press release from the Harvest ministry:

During a week when the nation struggled to make sense of the hatred and violence perpetrated by white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, more than 92,000 people gathered at Angel Stadium of Anaheim this past weekend, Aug. 18 – 20, to hear a message of hope and unity in Christ presented by Pastor Greg Laurie at his annual Southern California Harvest Crusade outreach. Another 46,972 attended the Crusade via a live internet broadcast.

The article went on to say that: "By the end of the three-night outreach, 10,071 people made decisions of faith, including those in attendance at Angel Stadium and those viewing the live SoCal Harvest program online."

The release said that, "his Friday night talk titled 'A Second Chance for America' gave mention to current events."  It quoted from the Los Angeles Times, which stated, “Laurie began his evening – the highlight of the event – by addressing the racial and political division that’s troubled the nation this week."  The article also says, "He spoke about the tensions of the 1960s and his own troubled past, doing drugs and being 'filled with hate.'" Also, from the Times:

“When you become a Christian, those barriers come down,” he said. “Racial barriers come down, prejudice comes down.”

He is also quoted as saying:

“Our country is divided. For a follower of Jesus Christ, there is no place for racism, bigotry or prejudice of any kind. I see these people carrying crosses, wearing swastikas, talking about white supremacy. There is no superior race. We are all part of the human race.”

Laurie will be featured in a one-night theatrical release in September of the documentary, Steve McQueen: American Icon, based on his book about the famous actor's conversion to Christianity late in his life.

The 3 - August 20, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, the Johnson Amendment, which limits free speech rights for pastors, has become a debated issue, with thousands of clergy now exhibiting support for it staying in place.  Also, the U.S. State Department has issued its annual report on international religious freedom.  And, Iceland has eradicated the lives of almost all its babies who were discovered in prenatal screenings to have Down Syndrome, prompting strong reaction by leading evangelicals.

3 - Clergy encourage Congress to continue to keep pastors from endorsing candidates

Over the last few months, there has been enhanced emphasis on the Johnson Amendment, which limits the ability of pastors to speak politically, including the endorsement of candidates.  According to a Religion News Service article, President Trump stated in a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in February that he would “totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear.” In a Rose Garden ceremony in May, the President "signed an executive order that asked the IRS not to enforce the amendment."

And, further movement occurred last month, when the House Appropriations Committee voted to keep language in a spending bill that would defund IRS efforts to enforce the amendment.

Now, clergy in favor of keeping the Amendment in place and limiting the free exercise of religion by pastors have signed on to a petition.  The article says that over 4,000 "leaders" signed it, and states:

The letter signed by a wide range of clergy and lay members — from Methodists to Muslims to those who hold metaphysical beliefs — was spearheaded by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

Their contention is that “Changing the law would threaten the integrity and independence of houses of worship.”  To me, in an attempt to prevent what they see as partisanship, they are embracing a form of partisanship themselves, in an attempt to silence the prophetic voice of pastors declaring God's truth on policy issues.

2 - State Department issues religious freedom report

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently announced the State Department's annual report on international religious freedom, and ISIS tops the list as a key threat, according to a Christianity Today story.

The Secretary wrote: "ISIS has and continues to target members of multiple religions and ethnicities for rape, kidnapping, enslavement, and death,” adding, “The protection of these groups—and others who are targets of violent extremism—remains a human rights priority for the Trump administration."

The article states: "The annual report reviews the state of religious freedom in 199 countries. CT has highlighted six places where Christians continue to face significant barriers to worshiping freely: Iraq, Indonesia, India, Russia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia."  The article points out deadly terror in Iraq, fears of radicalization in Indonesia, Hindu nationalism in India, government restrictions in Russia, an imprisoned pastor in Turkey, and non-Muslim penalties in Saudi Arabia.


1 - Report on Down Syndrome in Iceland generates strong response in faith community

In a shocking report broadcast by CBS News, Iceland has announced that it has eliminated almost all children with Down Syndrome.  CBN News summarized the CBS report, saying that the network said that it was "due to widespread use of prenatal screening."

CBN states, "Even though most people born with Down syndrome live long, healthy lives, most pregnant women in Iceland choose to abort these babies." The website also says that, "Denmark has aborted 98 percent and the U.S. has aborted at least 67 percent" of babies with Down Syndrome.

The article quotes Joni Eareckson Tada, who said in a statement that, "Over 25 years ago when I served on the National Council on Disability, we responded vehemently against a report from the National Institutes on Health which listed abortion as a 'disability prevention strategy.' All 15 bi-partisan council members strongly advised the NIH to remove any reference which used abortion as a tactic in eliminating disability."  She issued this reminder that, "Each individual, no matter how significantly impaired, is an image-bearer of our Creator God."

Penny Young Nance of Concerned Women for America responded by saying, "This is not a medical advancement. This is eugenics and barbarianism at best."  James Dobson of Family Talk stated, "I have rarely seen a story that so closely resembles Nazi-era eugenics as a recent report about Iceland 'eradicating' nearly 100 percent of Down syndrome births through abortion."

The 3 - August 13, 2017

This week's edition of The 3, my week-in-review feature, highlights the plight of a Wyoming judge who lost her role as a magistrate due to her views on marriage; she is now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Also, a program that was supposed to cut teen pregnancy that funded some Planned Parenthood affiliates will be coming to an end sooner than expected.  And, a Canadian pastor who had been imprisoned in North Korea has been released.

3 - WY judge punished for marriage views appeals to U.S. Supreme Court

Ruth Neely is a municipal judge in Pinedale, Wyoming, and has served in that role for over 22 years. She also had been a part-time circuit court magistrate in Sublette County for approximately 15 years. She was removed from that position, because she had stated she would not "solemnize" or perform, same-sex wedding ceremonies, according to a piece on the Alliance Defending Freedom website.  In that role as a magistrate, she had the authority to solemnize marriages but, according to ADF, "had discretion to decline wedding requests for nearly any reason."

Nevertheless, in March of 2015, before the Obergefell decision, the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics "filed a complaint against Neely, alleging judicial misconduct and seeking her removal from both judicial positions simply because she voiced her religious conflict with performing same-sex weddings."  She did eventually lose her magistrate position, and this action has disturbing implications for other magistrates in the state.

The ADF release states:

In March, the Wyoming Supreme Court publicly censured Neely, forced her to stop solemnizing marriages, and drove her from her magistrate judge position for stating, in response to a reporter’s questions, that her religious beliefs about marriage do not permit her to officiate same-sex weddings. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Neely are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Wyoming Supreme Court’s decision and declare that a judge cannot be punished for expressing her beliefs about marriage.

ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman actually used language from the Obergefell decision in this quote: “No one should be punished simply for expressing a belief about marriage that is ‘based on decent and honorable religious…premises’ and is held ‘in good faith by reasonable and sincere people...’” He went on to say that the Wyoming high court's action, "unconstitutionally targets religion for disfavored treatment, and that’s why we’re asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear this case.”

2 - Government funding source for Planned Parenthood terminated

The Federal government has operated a program called the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program since 2010, which, according to a story on the LifeNews.com website, referencing a report on The Hill site, was intended to "teach vulnerable populations of students about preventing pregnancy."

The Life News article states:

Participants in the program recently learned that their grant funding will end next year, two years sooner than expected, according to the report. Trump’s administration notified the 81 grant recipients that funding for the program is being cut by about $200 million and their grants will end on June 30, 2018, the report states.

And, the piece points out that "Among the groups receiving grants to teach sex education are several Planned Parenthood affiliates."

The article also says, "Democrats and abortion activists are upset by the cuts, and are sending letters to HHS Secretary Tom Price in protest. Many speculate that the cuts could mean Trump’s administration will support abstinence-based programs instead."

There is a reference to the article at The Hill pointing out that:

Valerie Huber, a prominent national abstinence education advocate, was recently named chief of staff to the assistant secretary for health, which oversees the office that manages the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program.

That article had pointed out that it was unclear how much Huber had played a role in these funding cuts, but she had stated in an op-ed for the same website that "The healthiest message for youth is one that gives youth the skills and information to avoid the risks of teen sex, not merely reduce them..."

1 - North Korea releases Canadian pastor

In the midst of all the activity surrounding North Korea, there was some good news coming out of the so-called "Hermit Kingdom," according to ChristianNews.net.

62-year-old Hyeon Soo Lim, pastor of Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, was released from prison by North Korea.  The story states that:

According to reports, a delegation led by Canadian National Security Adviser Daniel Jean recently traveled to North Korea in an attempt to secure Lim’s release. On Wednesday, he was set free on “sick bail...” 

Pastor Hyeon had "traveled to the country two years ago to build an orphanage, nursery and nursing home. He had visited the nation over 100 times in the past 20 years."  But, as the article states...

...while carrying out his mission, he was taken into custody in February 2015 and accused of committing hostile acts against the North Korean regime. In December of that year, Lim was put on trial and sentenced to indefinite hard labor.

Suzanne Scholte, chair of North Korea Freedom Coalition, is quoted as saying: “Lim was imprisoned simply because he served the one true God and wanted Him to be known to the North Korean people.”  She related these comments to International Christian Concern. She also said:

“While Pastor Lim’s treatment is a reminder of the atrocious and evil nature of the DPRK regime, it should also be a reminder of how vigilant that regime works to keep their population literally and spiritually ‘in the dark’ as the Christian faith is seen as a direct attack on Kim Jong Un, whom they are brainwashed to worship as their god..."

The 3 - August 6, 2017

On this week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is information about a court victory for a photographer who did not wish to use her creative talents to promote activities that violate her beliefs.  Also, after some concern was expressed, Secretary of State Tillerson has reportedly called the actions of ISIS toward Christians and other religious minorities "genocide."  And, there is encouraging news about a Bible study in the White House that some Cabinet officials attend, as well as news of access to the White House for evangelical leaders.

3 - WI photographer wins accommodation in court case

There is an encouraging development out of Madison, Wisconsin, regarding a new local ordinance which, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom, combined with a state law, would "force commissioned creative professionals to promote messages that violate their beliefs."

The ADF website also says that under these laws, "...Amy Lawson and her company, Amy Lynn Photography Studio, are required to create photographs and blog posts promoting pro-abortion groups and same-sex marriages if she creates content that promotes pro-life organizations or that celebrates the marriage of one man and one woman."

This was unacceptable to Amy, and a court agreed with her contention.  Dane County Circuit Court announced at a hearing Tuesday in the case "that it will issue an order declaring that Amy Lawson and her business are not subject to city and state laws that would otherwise control her artistic freedom because she does not have a physical storefront..."

Jonathan Scruggs of ADF says, "The court’s announcement has important implications for everyone in Wisconsin who values artistic freedom. It means that government officials must allow creative professionals without storefronts anywhere in the city and state the freedom to make their own decisions about which ideas they will use their artistic expression to promote. "

2 - International religious freedom developments: new ambassador, State Department affirms genocide by ISIS

In the wake of the appointment of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, who has long been known for his commitment to uphold Christian values, to the position of Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, which is under the authority of the State Department, the department has announced its commitment to continue to label the activities of ISIS toward Christians and other persecuted groups as "genocide."

According to a CBN News report:

Late last week, reports surfaced that some lawyers at the State Department had ordered that all genocide references describing the Islamic State's mass extermination of Christians, Yazidis and other religious minorities be removed from official government documents.

That caused an uproar from human rights advocates and some Trump supporters who thought the president was a friend of persecuted Christians and Yazidis in the Middle East.

Shortly afterwards, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to maintaining the genocide determination.

1 - White House Bible study attracts attention, Administration holds "listening sessions" with evangelicals

Now, on the heels of the meeting last month featuring a number of Christian leaders who chatted with President Trump and prayed for him, there are reports of a weekly Bible study that is being held in the White House.  USA Today reported on the study:

CBN News reported that once a week, about a dozen members of the Cabinet gather to study scripture. Among those who regularly attend: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Agriculture Secretary Sunny Perdue, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

"It's the best Bible study that I've ever taught in my life," Ralph Drollinger of Capitol ministries told CBN News. "They are so teachable, they're so noble, they're so learned."According to Capitol Ministries' website, the sponsors of the White House ministry includes the regular attendees, as well as Vice President Pence, House and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

The USA Today story also mentions that, "Pence plans to join the study as his scheduled permits. Additionally, President Trump is invited to the weekly studies and receives Drollinger's teachings."

The Christian Post also reports that the White House has recently held "listening sessions" with some 100 evangelical leaders.  Johnnie Moore, who operates a public relations company, is quoted as saying that "the listening sessions included quick briefings on various issues from officials in White House's legislative and judicial affairs departments."  He said that, "It's a listening session. It's not about these leaders coming so they can be lectured to," adding, "It's about actually making an opportunity to come to the White House as citizens and faith leaders and talking about what was on their mind."