Virtually Saturated

A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation reveals that children 8 to 18 years of age spend an average of at least 7-1/2 hours per day using some form of electronic media. That calculates to some 53 hours per week - more than the average full-time job. Furthermore, the study shows that due to multi-tasking, these kids are able to cram a total of 10 hours and 45 minutes into that 7-1/2 hours!!

This is an increase of 1 hour and 17 minutes over the past 5 years. Remarkable!!

To read a summary of the findings, you can click here.

This increase is driven by a dramatic increase in cell phone and iPod (mobile listening devices) usage. Only about 1/3 of children in that age group have parental rules regarding usage of TV, video games, or overall computer usage. TV usage has developed to the point where 2/3 of families actually watch TV during meals.

According to the summary, “The amount of time young people spend with media has grown to where it’s even more than a full-time work week,” said Drew Altman, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “When children are spending this much time doing anything, we need to understand how it’s affecting them – for good and bad.”

Media can be a tremendous source of information and direction. For the Christian families, we can be inspired by music, teaching, daily Bible reading, and devotions that we can pick up via the Internet. My own radio network is streamed live 24/7, and my radio show encompasses .mp3 downloads, podcasts, social networking, and this very blog. Computer technology can be especially helpful as students research projects and use it to assist in their studies. The Internet and cell phones can also be a powerful and enjoyable social tool. We have access to more forms of entertainment than ever before – and that’s great – in moderation!

But, the biggest concern I have about the rise in media is the lack of that moderation, and how people, especially young people, become disconnected from reality. Before the advent of so many types of communication media, face-to-face communication was the standard. Before the invention of the telephone, individuals and families gathered together and engaged in extensive visits. The phone enabled us to spend time in conversation without the inconvenience of travel – we could stay connected and build valued relationships.

The cell phone gave us the ability to connect without having to be in a stationery location. At least for me, while this can be rewarding, it can also be distracting. Now, we have transitioned from face-to-face interaction, to an electronic form of vocal communication, to…text communication.

That’s right – now we have learned to e-mail one another (and I have to admit, I would rather exchange e-mails than play phone tag in my occupation). Many have become proficient in text messaging. The Kaiser study didn’t even include the amount of time text messaging in its media usage calculations, but stated that 7th-12th graders report spending an average of 1:35 a day sending or receiving texts. Almost 75% of that age group has a social networking profile, and spend over 20 minutes a day on sites such as Facebook. I fear that we have moved from a society where we enjoyed the interaction with real people in real time in real ways to a society where we have virtual relationships with words on a screen. I think of the image of students in the same room that would rather text one another than interact in person. We have become accustomed to that, and I believe the virtual world could diminish our capability for real, nurturing relationships. I think children who spend too much time playing video games have to constantly transition themselves into the real world, and have to adjust from the passive world of video entertainment into the active world of human interaction.

Plus, in the student world, about half of those surveyed who considered themselves “heavy” media users reported making grades of “C” or lower, as compared with just under ¼ of “light” users.

So, while media presents a world of opportunity, these forms of media also provide a challenge for parents. We must be aware of what our kids are interacting with, and I believe that setting parameters is especially helpful, lest they become addicted to these various forms of media and disconnected from the world around them. And, as adults, we must be mindful of the potential harmful effects, as well…

Tumult Around Tebow

College seniors who have excelled on the gridiron are gathering this week in Mobile, Alabama to show their stuff to NFL scouts and play in the Senior Bowl game. One of the areas of speculation for the past few months has been the ability of Florida standout and former Heisman winner Tim Tebow to fit into a pro-style offense, which is quite different than what he was accustomed to while the Gator QB. Well, an even bigger area of speculation surrounding this outstanding Christian young man has been the content of an ad, called, "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life", scheduled to run during the Super Bowl, featuring Tebow and his mother in what is projected to be a life-affirming ad.

The backstory here is enthralling - Pam Tebow, pregnant with Tim, was advised by doctors to have an abortion, due to the fear that an illness she had contracted would result in Tim being born with some sort of special need or needs. Nevertheless, the Tebows chose life, -and look at how Tim Tebow has excelled not only on the football field, but at life. This story is expected to be a key element of the 30-second Super Bowl presentation, the script of which has been approved by CBS. However, so-called "women's groups" have protested the airing of the ad, and you can read the report from the New York Daily News here.

In response to that torrent of communication, CBS has announced that it stands by its decision to air the ad.

What is notable about some of the rhetoric is the hypocrisy that is present. Here are the words of Jehmu Greene, president of the New York-based Women’s Media Center, quoted in the article above:

An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year - an event designed to bring Americans together..."

That same group made a statement blasting Focus on the Family, which is paying for the ad using designated funds from private donors:

By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will damage its reputation, alienate viewers, and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers..."

Those words are quite "unifying", aren't they? Apparently these groups don't want the American public to be exposed to opinions with which they disagree.

Ponder this: In sports, and in broadcasting in general, we are exposed to products and practices that violate our values…for instance, how many beer ads will air during the Super Bowl? What about those historically offensive ads for a certain internet service provider? I would prefer that the networks don’t air the ads, but they are a free market enterprise, and as long as the ads don’t violate FCC decency standards, they are free to air those ads. So, if these passionate pro-choice, er...pro-abortion advocates don’t like the message, they can change the channel or go get a snack when the ad comes on.

If they were really as they say, "pro-choice", wouldn’t they applaud Pam Tebow’s decision to save the life of her son, Tim? After all, Pam exercised her "right to choose". And, furthermore, wouldn’t they applaud their own mother’s choice to give birth to…them?

And for another thing, I think I’m glad that CBS has the game this year – if NBC was broadcasting the Super Bowl, you can be assured that ultra-liberal commentator Keith Olbermann, who co-hosts that network's football studio show, would be jumping up and down with unabashed vitriol. ABC and ESPN might be less prone to show the ad, either.

So, I hope CBS will continue hold the line – and not bow into pressure. Tim Tebow certainly doesn't mind the pressure - he has continued to winsomely justify his views, as recently as this week, when he was quoted in USA Today as saying:

"I know some people won't agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe ... I've always been very convicted of it (his views on abortion) because that's the reason I'm here, because my mom was a very courageous woman. So any way that I could help, I would do it."

Tim Tebow's first endorsement - LIFE! What an inspiring choice.

The 3 - January 23, 2010

Some major news stories this week definitely had ramifications for the Christian community, including the Scott Brown election in Massachusetts, the relief efforts for Haiti, and the observance of pro-life activities during Sanctity of Life Week.

3 - Brown victory in Massachusetts has opponents seeing red

Scott Brown, up until just a few weeks ago a little-known state senator from Massachusetts, took on the odds-on favorite to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy in the state, Attorney General Martha Coakley. Brown received support from many conservatives across America, while Coakley attempted to leverage of Presidential visit in the campaign's final days to propel her across the finish line.

The significance of the victory for people of faith was that it changed the direction of the health care reform debate. Now the Republicans can block passage of the anticipated conference bill, which many had speculated would include taxpayer funding of abortion, which is a key issue for many Christians. The size of government, the potential for rationing, and conscience protection were just some of the many issues causing concern. In fact, conscience protection became an issue late in the campaign, when Coakley said that people that object to certain procedures due to conscience concerns might not have a place in the emergency room.

CitizenLink, from Focus on the Family Action, had coverage of the special election.

2 - Haiti relief efforts continue amidst aftershocks

While news of aftershocks continued to emerge from the nation of Haiti, relief continued to pour into the areas inside and around the capital of Port-au-Prince. The opening of air accessibility helped in getting needed supplies into the country, and a host of missions organizations continued to minister inside the nation.

And, this past Sunday, people sought solace in the power of faith. I thought this was an interesting report from the New York Times.

The Meeting House featured numerous reports about the crisis, including my first report from inside Haiti, from where Brett Bundy, Field Director for Haiti for One Mission Society (formerly OMS International) joined me.



For additional information, you can visit www.onemissionsociety.org.

Also, Randy Strash from World Vision updated listeners on the relief efforts for that organization.



Learn more by visiting www.worldvision.org.

1 - Pro-life activities commemorate Sanctity of Life Week

The week of the landmark Supreme Court ruling, Roe vs. Wade, leading to legalized abortion in America, is set aside for special observances of the importance of life and the rights of unborn children. Hundreds of thousands took part in the annual March for Life in Washington on the annual anniversary date, and over 75,000 people, including former governors Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, as well as members of Congress and Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, signed up for Americans United for Life's virtual march. Pro-life individuals and organizations, energized by the current Administration's effort to expand the availability of abortion at home and abroad, including taxpayer funding, expressed their solidarity with the pre-born and compassion for women and families affected by abortion by taking part in the DC event, as well as events in communities across the nation. Here is The Christian Post's account.

The "March for Life" is one of many opportunities that pro-life people had to get involved in speaking out. There are so many ways to be used of God to stand up for the lives of the unborn, including praying diligently for the protection of unborn children, for abortion-minded women to change their hearts toward aborting their children, for the work of pro-life ministries to go forward, and for the Church as a whole to repent from its complacency on the topic and become more passionately involved. You can take action, such as attending gatherings and special events that affirm life, volunteering with a local pregnancy resource center, contacting legislators about bills that protect life, or even showing up at local abortion clinics to share Biblical truth with the women who are entering there.

Honorable Mention:

Tebow family to present life-affirming message in Super Bowl ad

"To Save a Life" energizes moviegoers nationwide

Proposition 8 trial continues in California

Rifqa Bary does not have to return to parents' home

Hollywood - By the Book

A Southern socialite, presumably motivated by Christian love and mercy, reaches out to an impoverished teenager to try to make a difference in his life...

A man is given a mission from the Almighty to preserve a holy book during a journey through a post-apocolyptic world...

A teenager is rocked by the suicide of a friend and challenges his fellow students to intervene in the lives of people with whom they might not normally associate...

These are the brief summaries of films that are either currently or soon to be in theaters: "The Blind Side", "The Book of Eli", and "To Save a Life". The films, while rather diverse in their approach to the selected subject matter, have a strong moral and faith element, and while TSAL is not in theaters yet, the early response from Christian leaders seems to be that the film has the potential to move teens to look beyond themselves, and hopefully, to look to Christ as the answer and the alternative to the immoral, non-redemptive practices in which they are engaging. I spoke with screenwriter Jim Britts on The Meeting House recently, who shared some of the background and motivation for the film.



This film, which is scheduled to debut on probably 400-500 theaters January 22nd, joins 2 other top 10 films that present a strong faith message. "The Blind Side" continues its remarkable run in theaters, placing at #7 at the box office for Monday, the 18th - the MLK holiday. Furthermore, Sandra Bullock won a Golden Globe award for her role as Lee Anne Tuohy, the wealthy lady from Memphis who basically took in the homeless teen, now-NFL rookie Michael Oher, and made a positive impact on his life. In real life, the Tuohys are evangelical Christians, active in their local church, and exemplified the unconditional love of Christ by reaching out beyond themselves and seeking to make a lasting deposit in a young man's life, which led to some rather difficult situations that are depicted in the film.
The film has been lauded for a number of elements. Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Ministry was struck by the way John Lee Hancock portrayed a Christian family in an authentic manner. Included in this conversation are some of his thoughts about the film:



Media organization Positive Media conducted an online call-in show with Hancock, and you can listen to it here:



Finally, someone who has been recognized as one of the most influential Christians in Hollywood, Denzel Washington, is the star of the new movie, "The Book of Eli", which placed 2 at the box office during its opening weekend. This film, about a spiritual journey that the main character takes in order to preserve a holy book, presumably the Bible, could be considered a symbolic depiction of the type of spiritual warfare that we as believes face on a consistent basis. With blatant faith elements, this is a movie that does not shy away from dealing with not only spiritual themes, but themes consistent with a Judeo-Christian worldview.
Again, here's Marc Newman of Movie Ministry:



Perhaps these events signal that there is certainly a market for films that present a Christian worldview perspective and deal with spiritual truth in an even-handed manner. It could be a good sign to the movie industry that it can make films that are honest in their dealing with religious matters and resonate with an audience that is seeking for spiritual truth and hope.

Was Robertson Right?

The media and blogosphere have been awash lately with comments about Pat Robertson’s comments on the “700 Club” television program regarding the nation of Haiti, which is continuing to recover from the January 12th earthquake, which has killed thousands and left multiple thousands homeless. He mentioned that the nation is “cursed” and that in 1791 leaders of a rebellion against French rule “swore a pact with the devil”.



Pat’s history is fairly on target – the slaves who led the rebellion in Haiti in 1791 were led by a man who believed in voodoo, and a ceremony was held that swore allegiance to some being or force other than Almighty God, so you could say that over the years, Haitian so-called “religious” leaders have been practicing a form of religion that is clearly anti-Biblical, and of the enemy.
Haiti is permeated in witch doctors and voodoo, and while there is a religious element in the form of the Catholic Church, nevertheless the practice of voodoo is the predominant spiritual practice it the land.

There are a number of principles that we can take away from a careful analysis of Robertson’s comments.

I believe there is historical evidence and geographical evidence that Haiti could be considered a “cursed” land. Just look at the difference between Haiti and the relatively prosperous Dominican Republic on the same island. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and while some would attribute that to poor leadership, that leadership has accepted and even actively pursued the voodoo practices that have enslaved so many people on that half of the island.
Because of the abject poverty that is so prevalent in Haiti, the nation was ill-equipped to deal with the severity of the earthquake.

What about God’s judgment? Well, if God was using catastrophe to judge sin, then America and each of us individually are getting off light. There is plenty of sin to go around, and it is going unjudged, at least from a catastrophic sense. However, we do live in a fallen world, and natural disasters are going to occur with some regularity. And, I believe we are living in a time when these types of calamities are going to increase – in Matthew 24, Jesus paints a picture of a fallen world racing toward judgment and His return that is being beset with all sorts of natural signs. So, while there is an element of judgment, I cannot say (nor can anyone else) that this earthquake was God’s selective punishment on the practitioners of voodoo – in fact, there has been a massive prayer effort for the nation of Haiti to break the curse on the country.
Did God allow this? Of course.

Can God use this? Imagine the possibilities. The land is now infiltrated with more Christians than ever before, who are sharing the love of Jesus, the hope of the gospel, and the truth of God’s word. This is a unique missionary opportunity, and perhaps it took this adversity to bring salvation for a huge amount of people. And Pat is definitely a player – CBN’s Operation Blessing will be used greatly of God to touch literally thousands of lives in the name of Jesus.

Was Pat Robertson right? While the tragedy did not necessarily come because of the sin or the curse on the land or the practices of the people, it does remain that Haiti has for years been a cursed nation. It now stands at the precipice of being a blessed nation, full of new believers in Jesus Christ. I believe that adversity brings opportunity, and our role is not to necessarily question why something occurred, but how God could use these circumstances for His glory. Pat’s timing was not good, but I don’t interpret his comments as saying the people brought this tragedy upon themselves, and I believe what he said was motivated by compassion for the people there.

And, one further thing - how do people get off on criticizing Pat for a statement they do not understand, calling him “stupid”, for instance, when misstatements are commonplace in public life? We are all flawed individuals – and I’m thankful we don’t get what we deserve – in the form of God’s judgment for sin. So, before we judge Pat Robertson, or the people of Haiti, may we take to heart the words of the apostle Paul, who encourages us to examine ourselves…and as we look within, perhaps we can dig deep and be involved in helping the people of Haiti.

The 3 - January 16, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" shines the spotlight on Christian organizations who are involved in the Haitian relief efforts, underscores the importance of the Proposition 8 trial in California, and highlights the struggle in Texas to recognize religious heritage in school curriculum.

3 - Texas School Board debates religious references in curriculum

This week, members of the Texas Board of Education debated the social studies curriculum that will be used in the state's public schools in years to come. A principal issue that has emerged is the religious heritage of our nation, and the degree to which students will be taught about the role of religion in our history.

There are no doubt forces at work that want to remove all references to religion, especially the Judeo-Christian principles that were so prevalent in the establishment of our nation, and remain as foundational for our country. This is a contest that is influencing the development of educational policy in one of our nation's largest states. The Texas school board, while voting to keep references to Christmas and certain references to religion this week (see CitizenLink report), delayed an overall vote until next month, according to The Christian Post. The school board is under no doubt enormous pressure to support what we call "revisionist" history, and it's important that members stand strong in order to present an accurate view of our nation's history and its rich faith heritage.

2 - Proposition 8 trial attempts to determine constitutionality of vote

In November of 2008, voters in California went to the polls and affirmed that marriage in that state is defined as one man for one woman. But, instead of being the end of the conflict, it turned out to be just the beginning of another round of controversy regarding gay marriage and the threat to the homosexual agenda that vote represented. Supporters of the amendment, known as Proposition 8, were chastised by the opponents of it, and a round of legal skirmishes has now opened up.

The latest is a challenge to the very constitutionality of this measure, which was approved by a significant margin by a vote of the people. The case is now in court in San Francisco, and some legal experts believe it could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Alliance Defense Fund is involved in the defense of the case, standing for the protection of traditional marriage in the state and our nation, and has a daily update on its website.

1 - Christian organizations step up to aid Haiti

In the midst of the turmoil following the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti this past Tuesday, Christian organizations are a significant part of the fabric of the relief efforts. Despite the enormous challenges, with access to many areas severely impeded or outright blocked, so many organizations are working diligently to provide needed supplies and services to the victims of the earthquake. You can check out my Thursday blog post for information on contacting various Christian relief organizations.

Honorable Mention:

Religious Freedom Day commemorated on Jan. 16th

Prayers and Support for Haiti

No doubt our hearts have been touched by the tragic and disturbing images that have been emerging out of Haiti. Based on my own personal experience, communication with this island nation is difficult on a day-by-day basis, and we are only beginning to get a grasp (if that is even possible!) on the magnitude of this disaster. Hundreds of thousands are feared dead, buildings throughout the Port-au-Prince area have been reduced to rubble, and there is an overwhelming need for humanitarian aid.

This is a great opportunity for Christian organizations to step up and attempt to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the Haitian people. I spoke Wednesday with a representative of the OMS International organization, which has 2 facilities in the capital and bases its operation in Cap-Haitien, which experience a minimal amount of damage - this is where 4VEH Radio is located - pray they would be a light in communicating the gospel during this dark time. The website for the ministry is http://www.omsinternational.org/.

As you may be aware, a number of Christian groups are involved in the nation, and there has been concern about the safety and even whereabouts of various missionaries within the nation. Groups that are on the ground in Haiti are potentially equipped to partner with other organizations to provide needed assistance. For instance, Baptist Haiti Mission is partnering with Samaritan's Purse to identify and address areas of need. You can find out more by going to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/.

We have long spotlighted the work of World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org/) and Compassion International (http://www.compassion.com/), two organizations who have been driven by Christ's love and equipped to reach out in disasterous times.

Here is an .mp3 audio file from an interview with a representative of Compassion:

Numerous organizations are making special requests for assistance. Through its ServantMatch program, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is providing a list of its member organizations who are offering ways for people to get involved in meeting the tremendous needs in Haiti. Their website is http://www.ecfa.org/, and I trust you will find the list helpful.

Continue to be in prayer for the people of Haiti, and even in this time of unspeakable destruction, that the gospel would be shared effectively and people would be reached in a powerful way with the love of Christ.

The 3 - January 9, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" involves danger to churches in a Southeast Asian nation, Christians speaking out on national TV, and thousands of young adults rekindling their passion for God.

3 - Church bombings intensify in Malaysia

Churches in Malaysia are facing increasing danger in the wake of a court ruling allowing non-Muslim publications to use the word, "Allah". The 3-year ban on the use of the word was struck down by the Kuala Lumpur court, and the government has apparently offered tepid condemnation of the violence. The electorate is 60% Muslim, so the leaders are in a difficult position.

But not nearly as difficult as Christian churches. A Lutheran church is the most recent. Here is a report, published in the Sydney Morning Herald. BBC News had this excellent background story of the violence.

Only about 10 percent of Malaysians are Christians, primarily Catholics.

2 - Brit reaches out, Colt stands firm

People use the media every day to state their opinions and express their worldviews. That's freedom of the press, freedom of expression, right. That's a basic First Amendment right in America. However, as we've seen in the controversy over the so-called Fairness Doctrine, there are those that do not want a broad spectrum of views to be allowed. And, when a Christian shares his strong belief on a Fox News show, it gives those who disagree, in their minds, a reason to go ballistic.

And, that's what has happened in the case of Fox commentator and former anchor Brit Hume. You see, Christ has made a real difference in his life since his salvation experience shortly after the suicide of his son. As he was asked to comment on the Tiger Woods situation, Brit Hume made a statement:
"My message to Tiger would be, 'Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.'" Here is the CitizenLink story.

Here is the piece from Fox News Sunday:

Here is a respected journalist using the platform that God has given him to express his personal faith, offering sound Biblical advice based on the work the Lord has done in his life. And amidst cries of proselytizing and charges that he was denigrating Buddhism (which, in fact, does not offer the type of redemption that Christianity offers), Brit Hume affirmed his comments on The O'Reilly Factor:

Brit has received words of affirmation from Christians and Christian leaders, and indeed he should be commended for using this platform to bring honor to God.

Now, when an athlete mentions God or his faith, the contrarian chant does not seem to be as great, and I thought Colt McCoy's declaration in a postgame interview on ABC the other night was not your average faith-speak in a postgame moment. Here's the story from The Bleacher Report.

Here is a young man whose Christian faith is fairly well-known. He was injured during arguably the biggest game of his entire life, the national championship. The depth of this young man's comments, in the heat of the moment, offer some great life principles for us. Check out the video:




Indeed, Colt McCoy, while finishing in the Top 5 for the Heisman Trophy 3 consecutive years and narrowly missing last year's national championship game, missed out on leading his team to a possible victory in the game Thursday night, but he certainly has his head and heart in the right place. When told he could not play the second half, he became the Longhorns' biggest cheerleader, providing encouragement and enthusiasm. God always has His purposes, and I believe he will continue to use Colt McCoy, as well as Brit Hume, in the days to come. I am grateful that they were willing to share their faith on national television.

1 - Thousands gather to ignite "Passion"

The Georgia Dome and Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta were centers of contagious Christianity earlier this week during the Passion 2010 Conference. Founded by Louie Giglio, the Passion movement has not only given us some great worship music, but is intended to encourage college students and young adults to pursue a deeper walk with Christ.

This year, speakers included Giglio, as well as John Piper, Andy Stanley, and Beth Moore, as well as worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Hillsong United and more.

On the final day, it was notable that a special offering was taken to fund initiatives in the "Do Something Now" campaign, representing taking responsible social action in the name of Christ in response to what He did in their hearts. An amazing amount was raised, which was matched by one particular couple. Here is The Christian Post account.

As the passion ignited in the hearts of these students motivates them to share what God has done in their lives, the impact of this gathering can be strong. Over 20 thousand young people were in attendance for the 4-day event.

Honorable Mention:

Open Doors' "World Watch List" released, no change at the top

The 3 - January 3, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" includes a new chapter in the highly effective ministry of Dr. James Dobson, the motivation and mobilization of Christian students to fulfill the Great Commission, and a year-end call to be involved financially in the work of the Kingdom of God.

3 - Dobson to begin new radio program with son

I could hardly believe it when I found out - just a few weeks after Dr. James Dobson announced he was stepping away from the "Focus on the Family" radio program, the word came that Dr. Dobson was starting a new program with his son, Ryan. Here is a letter from the Focus founder and former chairman that details the new effort.

So far, the response from the Focus camp has been positive. Here is the word from the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Certainly, Dr. Dobson has made a tremendous impact not only regarding issues of concern to the family, but also in his attempts to apply a Christian worldview in issues of public policy. And, he has turned the reins of Focus on the Family to qualified people such as new President Jim Daly. Now, we in Christian radio await the new format for the Focus radio program, as well as the release of the new Dobson program. Some stations could perhaps clear air time for both stations, while others may have to make a choice...it will be interesting to see what develops in the next few months.

2 - Thousands commit to missions at large Urbana conference

This past week, thousands of young people renewed their commitment to spreading the gospel by attending InterVarsity's student conference, called Urbana '09. The conference was started in Urbana, Illinois, and meets every 3 years - this year's event was held in St. Louis. Here is The Christian Post's report.

The holiday season has definitely become a great time for student conferences - in addition to InterVarsity's event, the annual student conference in Pigeon Forge, TN, attracts a significant number of young people, and college students and young adults are currently gathering in Atlanta for the Passion conference.

1 - Churches close out year with focus on funds, face new year with fresh outlook

It has been a challenging year for many ministries, and churches, as well as other ministry organizations, customarily look to year's end to raise a notable amount of funds. Former guest on The Meeting House, Dr. Wes Willmer of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability offered some year-end thoughts in a recent column for Charisma magazine. As I have mentioned on my radio show, in times of economic crisis, that is not the time to reduce giving - as needs increase due to financial difficulties, there are more opportunities for Christians to be involved in meeting the needs of people.

Rick Warren received some attention recently as he announced a massive 2-day year-end giving emphasis for Saddleback Church, which he pastors. The campaign was apparently a success, according to this report in The Christian Post. So often, I have found that God's people will respond to needs as they are made aware of what is needed. Giving is an activity that Christians are called to participate in, and in addition to tithes to the local church, offerings to ministries and special projects help further the work of the Kingdom and give us a sense of partnering with God in what He desires to do.

Missionary believed to be held in North Korea

Former lesbian fails to show for transfer of custody of daughter

"The Blind Side" continues to challenge moviegoers to reach out

Tebow closes out college career on high note

The 3 - December 26, 2009

In this edition of "The 3", the powerful top story is the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Also, a Christmas Eve observance had an unnerving incident, and the march of health care reform

3 - Health care reform package passes Senate, goes to conference committee

On Christmas Eve morning, the U.S. Senate gave what has been termed a "Christmas present", although it has been pointed out that the taxpayers are actually paying for it...and critics say that the high cost of health reform, as well as other spending measures passed by the current session of Congress, will saddle this generation, as well as generations to come, with an enormous tax burden. Christian groups had criticized the Senate plan for the size and scope of government control, as well as its provision for taxpayer funding of abortion. Here is the Christian Post overview in the aftermath of the vote.
Also, Liberty Counsel issued this release on behalf of the Freedom Federation prior to the vote.
And, Focus on the Family Action and its CitizenLink website had this call to action.

2 - Woman physically attacks Pope

For the second consecutive year, the same woman has attempted to physically attack Pope Benedict XVI in advance of the traditional Christmas Eve mass. Her attempt last year was apparently thwarted before she could reach the pontiff. This year, she was able to knock the Pope to the ground. The Pope, uninjured but reportedly shaken, celebrated the Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. Here is the BBC's report.

This incident, especially in light of the fact that the same woman was able to get near the pontiff for the second straight year, does call into question the security for the Pope, as well as other high-profile religious leaders. Certainly, the Pope would like to be as accessible as possible, but there is a calculated risk that goes with that. Those who protect religious leaders have a high degree of responsibility and must realize that there are unstable people that could pose a threat to the leaders in their care.

Church security has become an increasingly high priority, especially in light of attacks at churches such as New Life in Colorado Springs, where 2 people lost their lives, as well as the church where Pastor Fred Winters was shot and killed in Maryville, Illinois. The enemy is certainly attempting to steal, kill, and destroy, and it is incumbent upon churches to recognize this and have strategies to protect churchgoers and leaders. I had the opportunity to talk with the founder of the Christian Security Network, that offers resources for churches - its website is www.christiansecuritynetwork.org.

1 - Christians seek to capture true meaning of Christmas

In the midst of a troubled world, where government seems to be exceeding its authority, as hostility toward religious groups seems to be increasing, where crowded conditions cause situations that appear less-than-optimal, and people are seeking answers while God appears to be silent, Christ comes.

Now, you might think I'm describing our current situation, but actually the times in which Jesus was born had their own unique set of concerning circumstances - the fiercely oppressive Roman government had called for the census, forcing citizens to return to their birthplaces, which was no small maneuver. The Romans were trying to keep the Jews in check, and the relationship between the Empire and the Jewish leaders was uncomfortable, at best. The crowds in Joseph's hometown, Bethlehem, resulted in his pregnant bride and himself spending the night in a lowly stable, and the prophets had not had a word from God in some 400 years. Into this seeming chaos and confusion, the Savior came, as a baby, without pomp and circumstance, identifying with mankind so that men and women could come to God the Father.

And, you know, God is speaking to us today, if we will only listen! That's a powerful thread of Christmas - Jesus has come, He desires a relationship with us, and even in the midst of adversity, He calls us to be of good cheer.

Honorable mention:

Jesus-era house found in Nazareth

Rifqa Bary does not have to meet with parents

Christmas (Twi-) Light Zone: "Silent Night" not silent

Finding a Happy State

A new study, published in Science magazine, ranked the states in the U.S. according to objective standards, such as daylight hours, traffic congestion, air quality, and other factors, plus subjective factors, as respondents evaluated their own level of satisfaction. My home state of Alabama was in the top 10, along with 5 other Southern states, and Connecticut and New York were the bottom 2.

WebMD had this report on its website:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20091217/southern-states-are-the-happiest

This study was notable in that it combined people's own self-evaluation with some of the objective factors that we might expect, and there was definitely a correlation.

For the Christian, we can ask what factors in our lives satisfy us. The apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he faced. He also wrote that godliness and contentment were great gain. While happiness is commonly thought to be dependent on external circumstances, true joy in Christ comes as a result of the presence of the indwelling Christ. So, we have the challenge to display a great level of satisfaction, evident in our actions, attitudes, and words - and that satisfaction can be experienced regardless of our outward circumstances. While researchers attempt to define what makes us happy, we can be the most joyful people on earth!! Merry Christmas!

The 3 - December 19, 2009

This week's edition of "The 3" has another development in the ongoing debate on health care, the seemingly never-ending saga of Christmas controversies, and the passing of a well-known Christian leader.

3 - Nelson signs on to health care - key issue: abortion

Late Friday night, apparently satisfied by the U.S. Senate leadership's attempts to prevent or at least limit taxpayer funding of abortion, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson agreed to vote for cloture in order to cut off debate and bring the massive health care legislation to the floor of the Senate. Nelson had used his leverage to get concessions on the abortion issue and was one of the Senators opposing the so-called public option. Here is a report from the Wall Street Journal on Friday night's developments.

2 - News from the Christmas (Twi-) Light Zone

News affecting the celebration of Christmas continues to emerge across America. Good news this week includes a victory from an elementary school in Oregon, where the principal, fearing parent backlash, had removed a giving tree from the school lobby and replaced it with some snowmen. The principal recanted this week. Liberty Counsel had sent a letter to the administrator, attempting to educate her with respect to the constitutionality of the original display. Here is their report.

Meanwhile, it could be a dark, wintry night in Homewood, Alabama (outside Birmingham) this Christmas Eve, as the fire chief is attempting to enforce a law that requires 4 firefighters be on duty at each candlelight service in the city. You can read my blog post from this past Thursday for additional information.

1 - Oral Roberts dead at 91

This week, well-known evangelist Oral Roberts died at the age of 91, the result of complications from pneumonia. Here is the press release. As I see it, 2 of the most noted contributions of Oral Roberts to the spiritual fabric of our nation were:

1) his use of the media. Rev. Roberts was perhaps the first televangelist in the modern sense. He allowed cameras in his crusades and used television to communicate his message on a widespread basis.

2) vaulting Pentecostal/charismatic thought into greater visibility. He was best known, doctrinally speaking, for his teaching and preaching on miracles, especially divine healing. While critics would say that he concentrated more on the healing than the Healer and that his crusades called too much attention to his own role in what became a healing spectacle, nevertheless he brought the knowledge of the charismatic experience into not only the crusade events, but in the homes of thousands of people.

In addition, Roberts founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and established the City of Faith hospital.

Texas pastor's brain tumor not completely removed

Third-grader told not to read Bible during class

New "sexting" survey brings concern

Christmas (Twi-) Light Zone - Ashland, OR

The Pacific Northwest has long been known for its political correctness, and a principal in Ashland, Oregon recently embraced some of those PC principles at her school. Michelle Zundel, the Principal at Bellview Elementary School, removed a holiday giving tree, which displayed tags containing the names of gifts for needy children. Fearing that this ventured way too much into celebrating "Christmas", the principal removed the tree during Thanksgiving break and replaced it with, alas, two snowmen. So, in a misguided attempt to be legal and perhaps not offend someone, she ended up offending a whole bunch of parents. Of course, there was justification, according to Ms. Zundel:

"The Christmas tree, while a secular symbol according to the Supreme Court, does symbolize Christmas, and if you are entering a public school and your family does not celebrate Christmas, then it feels like a religious symbol."

Christian legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel got involved and sent a letter to Zundel, to further educate her about the law.

The good news here is that the principal reversed her earlier decision. In an e-mail to a Liberty Counsel supporter, she wrote:

"I am pleased to report that as a result of our community meeting last week, a Giving Tree once again decorates the halls of Bellview Elementary School. It is a Southern Oregon Peco Pine. Fortunately, this incident never interfered with the project. The 25 families will receive gifts and food for the holidays. Ironically, the reason I removed the tree was to create a greater
sense of inclusion in our school. That decision had exactly the opposite effect. As a leader, I have an ongoing responsibility to reflect on the results of my actions, consider diverse feedback and occasionally, change course."

There are several takeaways from this incident. For one thing, it shows that leaders can be wrong in their actions, and sometimes we just have to admit that we made a mistake. The principal recogized the error of her actions, and corrected them. Also, it is another signal to
people in authority that attempting to placate one or a select few individuals could result in offending a much larger number. This is the case so often with the celebration of Christmas. In addition to the constitutional issues, to remove expressions of the holiday could bring a
far greater outcry from people who do celebrate it (and studies show that 9 out
of 10 Americans do!!).

And, isn't it interesting that this year we are hearing about secular symbols, such as Christmas trees and Santa Claus, being limited. This is a result of clear misunderstanding about the law, mixed with officials being intimidated by the fear of either a lawsuit or the complaints of a select few parents. Thankfully, education about these issues regarding Christmas can help to empower officials.

We now look forward to my children enthusiastically celebrating "Christmas" holidays!!

From the Christmas (Twi-) Light Zone - Homewood, AL

Ah, yes, I wrote in Journey magazine recently about some of the ways that public officials have become intimidated with respect to the celebration of Christmas. Well, the hits just keep on coming, as attempts to overregulate the expression of the season continue to proliferate.

And, one of the latest comes from the state of Alabama, where a Birmingham suburb passed a law over a decade ago that requires off-duty firefighters to be present when a church conducts a Christmas candlelight service. Not just the presence of a fire extinguisher, or one or two firefighters, but 4 of them! At every service.

Read the story here from the Birmingham News.

OK, I don't know how many candlelight services are being held on Christmas Eve in the lovely little burg of Homewood, but let's say there are 25. That means 100 firefighters would have to be dispatched to various parts of the city. At $100 a piece!! I can understand the public safety issue here, but realistically, how many times have candlelight services resulted in a hazardous situation? And, where does it end?

I don't know how this regulation was passed, but perhaps a more practical means could be developed, if there's such a concern about a fire breaking out at a candlelight service. And, as the lady from Samford said in the Birmingham News article, the "least restrictive" means was not taken here, with regard to free expression. So, what's the endgame - will a church either knowingly or unknowingly break the law and have a firefighter-less service, be forced to pay a fine, and then file a lawsuit, claiming it is unconstitutional because of free expression concerns? Does the City of Homewood have enforcement personnel that would be dispatched on Christmas Eve to arrest church leaders and snuff out the candles?

I don't perceive any malicious intent here, but this does seem all a bit of an overextension of governmental regulation. Perhaps some inspired wisdom can bring light into this potentially dark situation.

Further reading: Frank James' piece on the NPR "Two-Way" blog.

Christmas Craziness (from River Region's Journey - December 2009)

Here is my latest column from River Region's Journey magazine, dealing with some of the rather perplexing rules and rulings that surround the Christmas season. This was during the first part of November, and there are plenty more stories from the Christmas (Twi-) Light Zone.

It’s a bit of an early Christmas present each year, as the runup to Christmas Day yields its share of skirmishes involving how best to observe the holiday. Even with polls showing that 90 or more percent of Americans celebrate a holiday on December 25th called, “Christmas”, we see that many government entities have become increasingly cool to the idea of actually observing that day in step with the overwhelming majority of Americans. So we have this so-called “War on Christmas” that has erupted, and each year, I cite my share of public leaders who try to derail the celebration and “Christmas lights”, as I call them, who stand strong on the Constitution and attempt to prevent the denial of the free expression of religion this time of year.

Well, the Christmas craziness began early this year, as the great state of Arizona was chosen as the site from which to harvest the “Capitol Christmas Tree”. Arizona schoolchildren were asked to do their part by designing ornaments for the tree that honors their state. There, of course, were certain regulations that were given to the children, including the outlawing of religious themes in the ornament designs. Say what? On the Capitol Christmas! Tree?! This didn’t last long – the Alliance Defense Fund got involved, and almost faster than you can say, “Feliz Navidad”, the restrictions vanished! Chalk one up for seasonal sanity.

Meanwhile, in the state of Kentucky, another Christmas controversy was stewing like a pot of cider. Before it was November in the Bluegrass State, Governor Steve Beshear was attempting to be “inclusive”, as he announced that the traditional state Christmas tree would be a “holiday” tree. The Governor mentioned that the state was using terminology applicable to Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and the New Year. Pardon me, but when is the last time you saw a Thanksgiving tree? And those who celebrate Hanukkah will be sure to tell you that a menorah is the predominant symbol of that holiday. A New Year’s Tree? OK, you see where I’m going here. Good news alert… Apparently, the Governor has reversed his course and will be referring to the Christmas tree as…a “Christmas Tree”. Seasonal sanity wins again!!

And, already, there is action in Washington state, where last year, a dueling holiday contest took place, as an atheist group wished to display a placard mocking religion alongside a Nativity scene. Governor Chris Gregoire allowed this, and a flurry of permit requests resulted. Because of the supposed “tolerance” shown to the atheist group, the whole scene moved into the realm of the ridiculous. This year in the Capitol? No religious displays inside the building. But outside? Well, let’s just say it could get a bit crowded on the lawn. A setback here! This comes from the state that brought you the great Christmas tree disappearing act 3 years ago, where the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport actually removed 17 trees for fear of displaying a symbol of Christmas, dreading a lawsuit from a rabbi who wanted to display a menorah in the airport. The rabbi said he never intended for the trees to be removed, and the trees re-appeared in the airport, not to return the following year, when they were replaced by foam migrating birds and birch trees covered by falling snow at the sound of wind chimes.

But, these sorts of skirmishes are nothing new. At the risk of offending a small, select group of people, governmental bodies are enacting or considering new policies that restrict the expression of those who would want to observe Christmas, which, last time I looked, is a Federal holiday!! This has gone to such extreme lengths that you find proposals such as the one from Fort Collins, Colorado, where two years ago, a task force recommended to the mayor and council that in order to keep from appearing to endorse Christmas, a long-recognized traditional holiday, that red and green lights should not be used in its Christmas light décor.

It’s all about intimidation. Those in leadership in some of our cities, counties, and states are seeing religious displays being challenged in various locales, and, strapped for cash, do not want to risk a lawsuit. As evidenced by efforts to remove “In God We Trust” from our money and “Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, there is a definite trend involving attempts to scrap reminders of our religious heritage from the tableaux of our society. And, while it is discouraging to see the overreaction of some public officials, there are Christian legal organizations that provide sound resources that can aid them in making correct decisions in some of these matters, as ADF showed in the Capitol Christmas Tree controversy. It’s very important that Christians are knowledgeable about our religious roots and continue to speak that knowledge into our culture.

The 3 - December 12, 2009

Some high-profile public policy issues of interest to Christians included in this week's edition of "The 3", as a worldwide climate change summit has brought concerns of evangelicals to the forefront. Also, the health care reform debate continues, as a key pro-life amendment was tabled (essentially defeated). Plus, efforts in 2 states to change the definition of marriage to allow same-sex marriage were brought to a halt this week.

3 - Evangelicals voice caution regarding climate change

As world leaders met in Copenhagen beginning this week to discuss some sort of agreement on reducing so-called "global warming", a term which has been swapped out with the term, "climate change", this has given evangelical leaders and organizations the opportunity to develop a perspective on the topic from a Biblical worldview. The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation issued a declaration last week in association with a new report on the topic of climate change, and this week, many added their signatures to it. Essentially, the Alliance extols the stability of the earth, as it was created, and warns against the rising costs of trying to combat a concept that has some shaky scientific foundations, stating that it could adversely affect the poor. You can check out the work of the Alliance by going to www.cornwallalliance.org.

On The Meeting House this week, I discussed this study and declaration with Dr. Calvin Beisner, National Spokesman for the Cornwall Alliance. It's available at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.

2 - Pro-life provision turned back in health care legislation

This week, in order to make a health care reform measure more palatable to some moderate Democratic senators, there was an attempt to attach an amendment to eliminates one of the objectionable aspects of the plan, which would keep taxpayer funds for being used for abortion. This is a measure that increases costs, dramatically expands the size of government, and gives government greater control in health care decisions which could lead to rationing and the denial of life-saving care to society's most vulnerable. The Nelson-Hatch Amendment was tabled by a 54-45 vote, and would have provided some political cover to Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who apparently supports the overall concepts that are being forwarded, with the exception of Federal abortion funding and the so-called public option.

While those that supported that amendment are being applauded, rightly so, by a number of pro-life groups, nevertheless we must now watch to see if those Senators throw their support behind the overall bill, even without this provision. In an interesting twist, the defeat of this Amendment may reduce the likelihood of health care reform being passed, which, to me, is a good thing, in light of some of the objectionable aspects of the big-government legislation.

Read some of the details on the tabling of the amendment from CitizenLink.

1 - Gay marriage provisions in 2 states halted

Going into this week, analysts could surmise that the Legislatures of New York and New Jersey stood a pretty good chance of moving closer to allowing same-sex marriages in their states. After all, the governors of both states support it, and there is a significant number of lawmakers in both states that also advocate this redefinition of marriage. However, by week's end, both states are actually further away from this recrafting of the Biblical definition.

In New York, the Senate there defeated, by a significant margin, a bill that would have allowed gay marriage there. Read The Christian Post's report.

In New Jersey, a Senate committee narrowly approved a bill supporting gay marriage there, but stunningly, before a Thursday vote in the full Senate on the legislation, it was suddenly pulled by it sponsors, perhaps fearing the political fallout of pushing such a measure through with such narrow support. From the state, here's the report from nj.com.

Now, with 31 states possessing constitutional amendments defining marriage as one man and one women, as well as these 2 setbacks, perhaps it appears that support of same-sex marriage might be waning. However, with the traction that the gay agenda continues to build throughout our nation, vigilance is very important as we seek to affirm the values of traditional marriage.

You can affirm traditional marriage, as well as the sanctity of life and religious freedom, by being one of the thousands signing the Manhattan Declaration - go to www.manhattandeclaration.org to learn more.

Supreme Court to hear case of Christian student group's ability to choose Christian leaders for one of its chapters

Anti-gay measure in Uganda stirs up evangelical opposition

Mt. Soledad cross case goes to 9th Circuit

The 3 - December 6, 2009

This week's edition of "The 3" highlights another flashpoint in the battle over theological issues within the Anglican Communion, more instances of controversy about the expression of Christmas, and religious references in big college football games over the weekend.

3 - L.A. Episcopals name openly gay bishop

As gender issues have continued to be a divisive point with the U.S. Episcopal Church, the Los Angeles Diocese has elected not only its first female bishop, but the church's second gay bishop, following the 2003 election of Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, which became a key issue in the continued strained relationship between the U.S. Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Christian Post has the information.

Many Anglicans within the U.S. are troubled, regarding that homosexuality is incompatible with Scripture, and are attempting to find a home outside of the U.S. Episcopal Church. This action by the L.A. diocese is yet another instance that illustrates the chasm that has developed between the U.S. body and the worldwide Communion.

2 - Concerns about Christmas

This time of year, our attention turns to ways that religious expression, specifically the celebration of Christmas, is allowed or disallowed in the public square, including municipalities and in schools. Recently, the Alliance Defense Fund turned its attention to the city of Merced, California, where the traditional "Christmas" parade had been changed to a mere "holiday" parade. The good news is that before an ADF letter was received, the city had decided to hold its parade, with the name, Christmas, attached, this past Saturday. Here is the local newspaper story on the controversy.

And, in the Washington, D.C. area, the Loudoun County, Virginia Board of Supervisors reversed a decision not to allow public displays on the grounds of its courthouse. This apparently would include Nativity scenes and Christmas trees. Here is the Washington Post report.

Meanwhile, a Federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling from Texas in a 2005 case involving the rights of students to distribute candy canes with attached cards describing their religious origin, as well other religiously-themed materials. The court ruled in favor of restrictions on the ability of students to pass out these materials. Here is the Associated Press story from the Houston Chronicle.

Governmental entities are no doubt struggling regarding public displays at Christmas. A number of Christian organizations have resources available that state what is and isn't constitutional pertaining to the topic. Rutherford Institute, Alliance Defense Fund, Liberty Counsel, and others have information on their websites that give constitutional guides on the expression of Christmas.

1 - Christian overtones in big games

It could be characterized at Championship Saturday, as college football teams engaged in their conference championships for the right to possibly play in the national collegiate championship game. Tim Tebow of the University of Florida has gained quite a lot of attention recently for the use of Scripture references written in the black eye paint that players use on their faces. On Saturday, he chose John 16:33, which refers to being of good cheer even when facing tribulation. And indeed, it was a tough day for Tebow, whose team suffered a stunning 32-13 defeat at the hands of Alabama, which no doubt wore on his emotionally. These Scripture references have become a point of curiosity - for instance, when he had "John 3:16" written in the paint, that reference became the number one search term on Google.

The use of Scripture also became a focal point as Texas needed a field goal as time expired to seal a berth in the national championship game. The Dallas Morning News reports the story of how Jordan Shipley, the holder for place kicker Hunter Lawrence, reminded him of the Bible verse, Jeremiah 17:7, to help calm his nerves. Lawrence made the game-winning field goal.

Now, I realize that God doesn't play favorites - He is more concerned with how we apply His principles than with the outcome of a football game. In this case, the reminder of God's Word helped Lawrence to do his best and use his God-given skill for His glory. The ultimate outcome is the glory of God!!

Honorable Mention:

Effects of pornography highlighted in new study

New York Senate rejects same-sex marriage

Texas megachurch pastor recovering from brain tumor surgery

The 3 - November 28, 2009

This week's edition of "The 3" has a definite Christmas flair, as retailers who acknowledge Christmas (and those who don't) gain attention from a number of Christian, pro-family groups, plus the annual effort of Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child, is gearing up for another banner year of collecting shoebox gifts for needy children. Also, a follow-up to last week's story on the Manhattan Declaration demonstrates the power of these challenging words.

3 - Thousands sign "Manhattan Declaration"

Last week, I highlighted the announcement of the "Manhattan Declaration", designed to be a united proclamation by Christians, a belief statement on cultural issues. Since the original release of the Declaration last week, over 180,000 people have "signed" it online through the website, http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/, and the numbers continue to grow rather quickly.

Dr. Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama was one of the three lead authors of the document, and visited with me on The Meeting House radio show about what led to the release of it. You can download the audio file at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.

2 - Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect over 8 million shoeboxes

Operation Christmas Child is the effort sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, in which shoeboxes full of toys, school supplies, hygiene items, candy, and more, are sent to needy children around the world. The national collection dates concluded this past Monday, but shoeboxes can still be sent to Samaritan's Purse. The Christian Post had an informative piece about the effort, which aims to send some 8 million shoeboxes in the name of Christ to children around the world. For more information, you can go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/.

1 - Christian groups identify retailers who acknowledge Christmas

As shoppers flooded the malls and shopping centers on Black Friday, already the cultural discussion about which retailers do and don't acknowledge Christmas in their marketing was well underway. Focus on the Family Action, with regular Meeting House guest Stuart Shepard as the face of the campaign, has announced its new Stand for Christmas website at http://www.standforchristmas.com/, and late last week and continuing this week, customers have begun to "rate" retailers regarding their Christmas-friendliness, or lack thereof. A conversation with Stuart about the overall topic can be found by clicking here and scrolling down to Friday's listings. Also, Christian legal organization Liberty Counsel has announced its annual "Friend or Foe" Christmas campaign, and this week released its "Naughty and Nice" list for this year - find out more at http://www.lc.org/.

A new effort has arisen this year involved the distribution of buttons and even car magnets, proclaiming a belief in using the word, "Christmas". Declaring, "It's OK, wish me a Merry Christmas", this campaign reaffirms the spirit of the season and the importance of using the name of Christ in association with this traditional holiday. For more information, you can go to http://www.wmamc.com/.

Honorable mention:

"The Blind Side" attracts theatergoers, portrays authentic Christianity
Check out interview with Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Ministry at www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.

Planned Parenthood drops lawsuit against former employee

Biological mom ordered to give up custody of daughter, transfer custody to former lesbian partner

The 3 - November 21, 2009

On this week's edition of "The 3", here just hours before health care reform legislation takes another lurch forward, I look back at this week and see the march to this moment as it unfolded, plus the debate over the confirmation of Judge David Hamilton in the U.S. Senate, and a major declaration by Christian leaders of a variety of stripes.

3 - Senate confirms judge who banned Christian prayers in Indiana House

Judge David Hamilton was confirmed by the U.S. Senate this week to a seat on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. I first became aware of Hamilton as he made a ruling against Christian clergy praying according to the dictates of their conscience, in Jesus' name, on the floor of the Indiana House of Representatives. He later ruled that public prayers to Allah were permissible. Hamilton has made other rulings that are opposed to the beliefs of many people of faith, and Concerned Women for America has an informative press release on the issue.

Wendy Wright, President of CWA, came on my radio show, "The Meeting House", this week and discussed Judge Hamilton, along with the health care debate, and the attempt to keep District of Columbia residents from voting on a definition of marriage. You can download it from www.meetinghouseonline.info/download.

2 - Democrats expected to vote to move health care reform forward

Earlier, Senators Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas became the anticipated 60th U.S. Senator to declare her support for a procedural motion to bring the health care reform bill proposed by Majority Leader Harry Reid to the floor of the Senate. Now, the bill will no doubt face some amendments as the floor debate unfolds during the next few days and weeks, but the passage of this procedural vote still clears the way for massive government intervention into the U.S. health care system. This type of reform has been opposed by a number of Christian and pro-family organizations, and the fact that prohibition of taxpayer funding of abortion has been stripped from this Senate version of the bill has brought plenty of concerned comments this week.

There are Senators, such as Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who voiced concern about some of the details of the bill, including the lack of pro-life language, nevertheless stated he would vote for the cloture motion to continue debate. So, Nelson, and other so-called moderate Democrats, can vote for the motion, then oppose the bill on its final vote and say to their constituents that they opposed this unpopular concept. However, they had a chance to stop it before it got to floor debate, and chose not to. Here is Jill Stanek's excellent analysis of that point.

Here is an overall report on the proceedings from the Wall Street Journal.

1 - Christian leaders announce "Manhattan Declaration"

On Friday of this week, a group of Christian leaders from a variety of backgrounds joined together to announce the "Manhattan Declaration", a document designed to define some of the convictions that we possess with regard to issues and philosophies in the culture. LifeSiteNews.com had this report.

It is important from time to time that like-minded people unite around common goals and beliefs. The Declaration gives the opportunity to speak words of Biblically-centered truth to the culture at large and its institutions, declaring what we as Christians believe about fundamental truths regarding the sanctity of human life, the definition of marriage as one man for one woman, and religious freedom. The website, http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/, gives more information, including an opportunity for you to sign the declaration yourself and send a strong message about how you wish to influence the culture for good, upholding the principles of Christ.

D.C. officials say no vote on marriage definition

Ministry distributes Darwin book with new foreward debunking theory of evolution

Sherwood Pictures announces next movie

Christian leaders express concern over new hate crimes law

Rally for Rifqa in Ohio
video with Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch

The 3 - November 15, 2009

This week's edition of "The 3" highlights a follow-up story to a recent vote in Maine regarding marriage, some good news out of Iran, and a significant court ruling in South Carolina with respect to a license plate carrying a religious message.

3 - Iranian Christians set to be released from prison

According to Voice of the Martyrs' partner ministry, Elam, 2 Iranian Christians, Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh, have been told they will be released from prison tomorrow, after an almost 8-month stay. They were charged with various activities that violate the state's laws, including apostasy. In fact, a judge had told the 2 young ladies to renounce their Christian faith, which they refused to do.

While this is good news on the surface, their journey may not yet be over. They may still have to attend court hearings following their release. Faith Telegraph has a report.

2 - South Carolina "I Believe" license plates ruled unconstitutional

In the state of South Carolina, the "I Believe" specialty license plates were ruled to be unconstitutional, with the judge saying the tags demonstrate an endorsement of religion by the government. The plates featured a graphic of a cross superimposed on a stained-glass window. Associated Baptist Press had this report. This were available on a completely optional basis.

So far, the track record seems to have been positive for pro-life license plates, as well as tags offering messages such as "In God We Trust" and "God Bless America". The Lt. Governor of the state cited this as a case of judicial activism. The ruling could be characterized as a broad interpretation of the Establishment Clause.

1 - Churches under scrutiny after Maine marriage vote

On November 3, the voters of Maine reversed what the Legislature had done in allowing same-sex marriage in the state by voting to officially define marriage as one man for one woman. Now, in the aftermath of the vote making Maine the 31st state to pass such an measure, those who support same-sex marriage in the state are mobilizing - against churches. They are instructing people to report churches who spoke in favor of the Question 1 to the Internal Revenue Service. Churches and non-profit organizations are authorized under IRS regulations to take a position on ballot measures, but not candidates, as long as the advocacy of the position represents an "insubstantial" portion of its overall work. The Alliance Defense Fund has stepped in to help defend churches who are facing this type of harassment. Here is ADF's report on the overall situation.

Honorable mention:
Alabama Supreme Court upholds actions of the Governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling

"Bible Across America" (in which I participate) up for bids on eBay

The 3 - November 8, 2009

It's been an active week on the public policy front, highlighting the influence of faith on politics - this week's edition of "The 3" highlights Election Day news and trends, as well as the vote on health care reform in the U.S. House. Plus, learn about a dramatic change-of-heart by a former Planned Parenthood director.

3 - Planned Parenthood director in Texas declares she is pro-life

Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood director in Bryan-College Station, Texas has declared that she is now pro-life, a development that reportedly came about after she viewed an abortion through ultrasound. She has been embraced by a pro-life group in the area, the Coalition for Life. The Christian Post has the story.

This is a great testimony to how the Lord is using ultrasound technology in pregnancy resource centers and clinics all across America to point out the fact that a pre-born child is indeed a person, a life to be protected. The truth is being communicated in powerful ways and women, through the personal touch and through the technology, are making decisions to preserve the lives of their children.

2 - Pro-family victories in off-year elections

A pro-life graduate of Regent University is the newly elected governor of Virginia, topping a ticket of pro-family, pro-life conservatives who were spurred to victory by the voters on Election Day. Bob McDonnell held a double-digit lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the state, recapturing a state that went for Obama in 2008 and has been led by Democrat Tim Kaine. Also, in New Jersey, incumbent liberal Democrat Jon Corzine was turned out of office by Republican Chris Christie. Meanwhile in Maine, voters rescinded the Legislature's acceptance of same-sex marriage and affirmed at the ballot box the definition of marriage as one man for one woman.

In a tightly contested race, a conservative, Doug Hoffman, bucked the Republican party leadership and ran as a Conservative Party nominee against both the Democrat and Republican candidates in the race. The weekend before the election, the Republican pulled out and threw her support to...the Democrat! Hoffman lost narrowly, but many pro-family conservatives celebrated his rise from obscurity to finish a close second as a testimony to the strength of pro-family values.

Here is Liberty Counsel's election overview.

1 - Health care passes House minus taxpayer abortion funding

In an incredibly narrow vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday night approved a sweeping health care reform bill. The vote of 220-215 illustrates the strength of the opposition to essentially a government-managed health care system, and signals that similar legislation in the Senate could be in for a tough road. President Obama hailed the passage and stated his expectation for health care reform to pass by the end of the year. This week, Sen. Harry Reid had been less optimistic, signaling that it could be 2010 before his chamber passes a bill.

Much of the drama on Saturday was over the taxpayer funding of abortion. Without an amendment to plainly state that abortions would not be funding by the reform proposals, Rep. Bart Stupak had said that some 40 pro-life Democrats would not vote for the bill. After initially refusing to allow a vote on such an amendment, instead endorsing a watered-down version that would not accomplish the objective, Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally allowed a vote, and the House finally enacted an amendment by a vote of 240-192. This provided some cover for moderate Democrats who were leaning toward supporting the legislation. Concerned Women for America had some excellent analysis of the health care reform vote.

The Christian Medical Association has published some helpful links on the overall subject of health care reform. Although taxpayer funding has been removed for abortion, with the exceptions of rape, incest, and danger to the mother's life, the basic structure of the health care reform legislation remains, with increased government intervention, employer mandates, the possibility of rationing, and more. We will have to be vigilant in the coming days to monitor our lawmakers, especially as the attention turns to the Senate.

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