The 3 - February 13, 2011

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes a Christian perspective on the recent developments from Egypt, a major emphasis on marriage from a large Christian ministry, and a conference in the nation's capital that included some pro-family groups, but that did not include other pro-family organizations.

3 - Egyptian President resigns, future unclear for Christians in the nation

After indicating that he would stay in power and preside over a transition to a new government, Egyptian President Hosni Muburak reversed course and resigned from the position he had held for some 30 years. There are plenty of religious implications in this overall situation, as we covered last week: there is the possibility of the Muslim Brotherhood becoming a player in the governing of Egypt, possibly resulting in a more Islamic fundamentalist-oriented structure. Also, the future of Christians there is somewhat in doubt.

Even though Mubarak was regarded as an ally to the U.S. and Israel, Egypt still had a negative record regarding persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors' World Watch List, on which it was listed at #19. Recently, in Alexandria, 21 Coptic Christians lost their lives in a New Year's Eve bombing at a church. And the situation could worsen for Christians if there were a greater Islamic fundamentalist influence. Dr. Carl Moeller, President/CEO of Open Doors USA, is quoted by Mission Network News as saying: "Given recent polling data, if an election were to be held tomorrow, it's quite likely that Islamic extremists would have a significant--if not dominant--role to play in the new government." That quote is contained in this story from the Open Doors website.

The military is in control in Egypt now, and recently granted the demands of the protesters involved in street demonstrations for the last 3 weeks by dissolving Parliament. There will likely be a new government in Egypt by this fall, and if the well-organized Brotherhood seizes seats in the new Parliament, then it could have a dramatic effect on the future of the nation and the entire region.

2 - "Art of Marriage" works to strengthen marriages

The reports are still coming in, but the indications are that FamilyLife's The Art of Marriage event was an overwhelming success, as hundreds of sites across America have signed up to host the video-based event...many held their events this weekend to correlate with Valentine's Day; still others have scheduled their events for weekends later this spring.

The Art of Marriage is a new one-and-a-half day video event built on the same content as the Weekend to Remember marriage getaway. It's designed to be used by churches, small groups or as a community wide event. The Art of Marriage features well-respected pastors and experts on marriage and family in the video presentations. For more information, you can visit http://www.theartofmarriage.com.

1 - Christians evaluate CPAC commitment

The Conservative Political Action Conference has concluded in Washington, DC, and was marked by some 11,000 conservatives from a variety of stripes gathering to hear speakers, collect information, and network with philosophically similar people and groups. The assortment of people included defense conservatives, economic conservatives, and social conservatives, encompassing 2nd Amendment advocates and Tea Party sympathizers. Ronald Reagan spoke of the "three-legged stool" of defense, the economy, and social issues - recognizing that to govern from a conservative perspective, these three threads must work together.

The conference even included, as a sponsor, the gay Republican group, GOProud, who embrace economic conservatism, but have a far different view on the sanctity of marriage than many so-called social conservatives, which includes a number of evangelical Christians.

And, while speakers like Rick Santorum attempted to underscore the importance of social conservatism, which includes (but is not limited to) life, marriage, and religious liberty, and panel members like Bishop Harry Jackson made a strong case for supporting the institution of traditional marriage, there were some in the pro-life and pro-family movement who stayed away from CPAC this year. Family Research Council is one example of a high-profile organization that decided not to sponsor CPAC because of its acceptance of GOProud as a sponsor. CitizenLink, an affiliate of Focus on the Family, decided to sponsor the event and be very visible there, devoting itself to being a voice for life and marriage. Both approaches have merit - FRC and others want to enact change from outside the event, making a statement by their conspicuous absence. CitizenLink and similar organizations, also concerned about what they see as an broadening of the basic principles of CPAC by admitting groups like GOProud, remain on the inside, attempting to change hearts and minds through engaging conversations.

CPAC is quite influential in the conservative movement, and it's vital that Christian groups are engaged in the so-called "social" issues, while also seeking to influence in the areas, such as the economy. I definitely think there is a moral component at work when a government exceeds the authority outlined in the Bible, and when it spends beyond its means. CPAC represents a segment of American society that includes Christian conservatives, and they have a distinct and critical voice in that stream of political consciousness.

The 3 - February 6, 2011

On this week's edition of "The 3", pro-life advocates stood together against some alarming business practices of Planned Parenthood, as well as its enormous amount of taxpayer funding. Also, the Super Bowl gave Christian athletes a chance to be in the spotlight and to testify to their relationship with Christ. And, finally, in our top slot, the National Prayer Breakfast featured the President and other addressing matters of faith.

3 - New undercover Planned Parenthood videos show complicity with trafficking

The hard-working young people at Live Action are at it again, revealing potentially damaging information about the nation's largest abortion provider, which receives millions of dollars per year in taxpayer dollars. In the latest undercover videos from Live Action, one clinic manager in New Jersey and one clinic employee in Virginia are shown aiding individuals involved in sex trafficking, who are attempting to arrange abortions, STD testing, and contraception for their underage clients. After initially calling the New Jersey video a "hoax", Planned Parenthood fired the New Jersey manager seen on the video. Here is the story from the Live Action website on the situation there.

Here is the story on the Virginia undercover videos.

Already, there is a campaign in Congress to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving over $350 million annually in tax dollars. Here is a story from Fox News about this effort, which is supported by a host of pro-life, pro-family organizations.

This new series of videos shows the corruption that surrounds the abortion industry. In addition to the participation in this heinous procedure of taking an unborn human life, abortion clinics operate without the type of regulation that is found in other medical facilities, and, as the Live Action videos have shown not only now, but in the past, are potentially involved in questionable, even illegal activity.

2 - Super Bowl offers opportunity to showcase faith

With the Super Bowl coming up in just a few hours as this blog is being composed, I want to highlight the opportunities that Christian players have had this week to share their stories of faith. During the media events, players are asked a variety of questions, and the faith perspective is one that frequently emerges.

Take, for instance, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Baptist Press quotes Rodgers as saying that he tries to follow the example of Jesus, "leading by example". Here is a feature story on Rodgers' faith journey. Rodgers takes his leadership role very seriously, and apparently depends on the Lord to direct his path. Other Packer players who have a strong faith story include wide receiver Donald Driver, who was a finalist for the FCA's Bart Starr Award (which was won by New Orleans QB Drew Brees), and Ryan Pickett, who was a spokesman for a noted anti-pornography campaign that is being observed in churches across America today.
Veteran coach Dom Capers, who is now a Packers assistant after serving as a head coach in the NFL, is also someone who emphasizes the importance of faith, as this Baptist Press piece points out.

On the Steelers sideline, Christian leadership can be found in the persons of Head Coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Here is a profile from Baptist Press.
Other Steelers who embrace faith in Christ include offensive lineman Tony Hills, who was baptized at the Steelers' practice facility earlier this year, and punter Daniel Sepulveda, who is featured in the high-profile "I Am Second" campaign. More on Steelers' players who embrace faith in Christ can be found in this Baptist Press article.

The Super Bowl gives an enormous platform for Christian players, who are, like their teammates, scrutinized by a host of media outlets. Fortunately, the subject of personal faith is not one that is off-limits, so inspiring quotes abound on the subject, which can be inspirational for all football fans, including young people who look up to these individuals as role models.

However, the faith message is apparently not one that is acceptable to the people at Fox Sports, who rejected an ad by the Fixed Point Foundation of Birmingham, AL, that has as its centerpiece the verse, John 3:16. Here is a New York Times report on the ad, which promotes the Foundation's "Lookup 3:16" campaign. The spot will reportedly be placed locally in some markets, including Birmingham. Check out www.lookup316.com for specifics on the campaign and to view the commercial.

1 - National Prayer Breakfast features President Obama, others

This week's National Prayer Breakfast again featured President Obama, attempting to enunciate his own personal faith amidst the national perception that he could be a Muslim, and the evaluation that his policies are not consistent with evangelical Christianity. The President encouraged attendees to use their faith as a foundation for greater civility, and talked about how his faith had been strengthened over the past 2 years. Here is a report from the Kansas City Star. Obama also mentioned the Tucson shootings and the turbulent situation in Egypt.

In fact, astronaut Mark Kelly, whose wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was critically wounded at the Tucson incident, gave the closing prayer, issuing the hope that perhaps good would come out of the tragedy. He also expressed his faith in God, the Creator, as he has had the opportunity to see Earth from aboard a spaceship on 3 occasions. Here is a story from CNN's "Belief Blog".

Also at the National Prayer Breakfast, one of the rescued Chilean miners, Jose Henriquez, talked about how faith inspired and galvanized those trapped underground, and how they were encouraged by the Bibles that were delivered through the supply tubes into the mine shaft. Again, here is some material from the CNN "Belief Blog".

These and similar events serve to remind us of the deep thread of faith that is present in our national consciousness. In these times, where some individuals and organizations are attempting to minimize or eradicate the rich faith tradition we enjoy as Americans, this was an event that reinforces the faith element that has been present and foundational since the formation of our nation.

The 3 - January 30, 2011

This week's edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", has a definitely international flavor, as we are keeping our eyes on a new government in Southern Sudan that will likely be quite friendly to Christians. Plus, we continue to focus on pro-life activity surrounding the Roe v. Wade anniversary. And, in our top story, the turmoil in Egypt has a strong religious element, and plenty of interest to Christians.

3 - Southern Sudan residents vote to form own country

Voters in the region known as Southern Sudan went to the polls a few short weeks ago to decide on whether or not they would form their own country. This region has been in turmoil for years now, and conflicts between those in the predominantly Muslim North and the area where the Christians live, in the South have been protracted.

The results that have been reported indicate that 99 percent of those voting (and the voter turnout was 99 percent) desire to form an independent state in Southern Sudan. So, very soon, perhaps this summer, the world's newest nation will be born.

The Christian relief organization, Samaritan's Purse, has been working very hard in the region of the Sudan to help fulfill the needs of those who are hurting. With the formation of this new nation, it gives an opportunity for the Samaritan's Purse ministry to bring needed hope, through the physical aid and the spiritual truth. Here is a blog post from the Samaritan's Purse website that paints a picture of the mood surrounding these elections.

2 - March for Life draws hundreds of thousands; states continue to reject taxpayer-funding of abortion

The pro-life momentum continued into the new week, as the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., drew hundreds of thousands to show solidarity with the unborn. With the number of abortions approaching 50 million, pro-life advocates continue to use the anniversary of the dreadful U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, to speak out and show their opposition to the taking of innocent, unborn life.

The March comes against the backdrop of a wave of pro-life legislation across the nation. Two bills were introduced into the U.S. House last week, and this week, another legislative body in another state passed a bill to prevent taxpayer-funded abortion in its state health care exchanges. This time, it was the Senate in Arkansas, moving that state closer to joining Arizona, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana as states that have passed so-called "opt-out" legislation. Here is the story on developments in Arkansas from LifeNews.com.

There's quite a bit of action in the states, with legislation designed to place limits on abortion finding its way to consideration. Also, Kansas, with pro-life Governor Sam Brownback championing the cause, is considering legislation that would ban late-term abortions and require consent from both parents before a minor can have an abortion.

1 - Egyptian unrest brings prayerful response

Citizens have been flooding the streets in unprecedented numbers in Egypt, to protest the regime of Hosni Mubarak and call for his resignation. Even though many of the protestors would apparently be in favor of a more moderate form of government, in contrast to the relatively hard-line approach that Mubarak has staked out for some 30 years now, nevertheless there is concern that there are elements of the Muslim Brotherhood that are involved, which would advocate for an Islamic fundamentalist state. So, while America's leaders are weighing their words and calling for Mubarak to not resort to widespread violence in order to deal with protestors and to support freedom of expression, certainly it is not in the best interest of the U.S. to see a more radical governmental structure put into place.

Certainly, there are religious elements of the recent events, and there have been recent conflicts involving the Coptic Christians in Egypt. And, from the standpoint of Biblical prophecy, Egypt is one of those nations that could be involved in last-days opposition to Israel. Here is the link to commentary by Jimmy DeYoung of Prophecy Today...commentary regarding Egypt and other Arab cities was included in the January 28 edition.

An Islamic fundamentalist government ruling Egypt will add a new dimension of turbulence to the region, and provide even more dilemmas for the nation of Israel, which within the last 2 weeks has had to deal with a new government rising in power in Lebanon, its neighbor to the north. Factor in the threat by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the continued inflammatory rhetoric and military exercises by Iran and the entire region has become a potential powderkeg - but these are steps to Bible prophecy being fulfilled.

A number of Christians in the U.K. participated in a day of prayer regarding Egypt on Saturday. Here is the story from The Christian Post. We continue to remember the Christians in the nation, who have seemingly faced increasing marginalization and persecution.

Osteen's comments on homosexuality provide teachable moments

"The Rite" brings spiritual issues to the forefront (opens #1 at box office)

The 3 - January 23, 2011

Eyes on Congress this week for the week-in-review feature I call "The 3", with 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community. The U.S. House took a high-profile vote on health care reform, the Chinese president visited his American counterpart, raising the eyes of some in Congress, and 2 pro-life bills were introduced into the House. While the new tea party-oriented lawmakers may have been characterized in the media by their stands on economic issues, the so-called social issues, such as abortion are important to many of these freshmen, too.

3 - U.S. House votes to repeal health care law

As expected, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a substantial margin, voted to repeal the health care law that was approved by Congress last year. While many rate this as a symbolic vote, nevertheless it was an opportunity for lawmakers to weigh in on legislation that has been opposed by Christian groups for a number of reasons, such as: its provision to fund abortion using tax dollars, its increase in the size and scope of government, and its structure, that could lead to rationing, potentially penalizing senior citizens and the disabled.

While the conventional wisdom is that the bill will die in the Senate or perhaps not even be brought up, there are procedures that could be utilized that could result in the bill coming up, forcing lawmakers to state their position on the legislation...again. 1/3 of the Senate will be up for re-election in 2012, so it could be a bit uncomfortable for those Senators in favor of the health care law to be made to show how they stand, realizing the widespread unpopularity of the bill. The repeal keeps the bill in the national discussion, and will continue to keep forcing lawmakers who supported it to defend their position.

In another development this week, over half of the 50 states have filed suit against the health care bill, as 6 states just this week joined the Federal lawsuit filed in Pensacola, Florida, claiming the mandatory health insurance is unconstitutional.

With a summary of these recent developments, here is a piece from CitizenLink.

2 - Chinese leader's visit leads to discussion of China's human rights record

President Obama hosted Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House this week. While there was a strong emphasis on economic issues during the series of meetings, there were many advocates who hoped that Mr. Obama would address human rights concerns, including the religious persecution that is taking place there, and indeed, Mr. Obama did make a brief mention of the topic in his press conference remarks.

A few weeks ago, the organization ChinaAid had called attention to a new policy that seems to be placing a heightened level of pressure on house churches and their leaders. In press conferences surrounding President Hu's visit, the wife of Chinese dissident and human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng spoke out about the imprisonment and alleged torture of her husband, ChinaAid President Bob Fu called for a change of course in U.S.-China relations, incorporating a human rights component, and an organization called All Girls Allowed protested China's one-child policy, which has resulted in widespread abortions throughout the country.

Meanwhile, some members of Congress decried the fact that the Chinese President was treated to a state dinner in light of the human rights record of China.

1 - 2 new pro-life bills introduced into Congress in advance of March for Life activities

This week, two bills were introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives that are intended to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion. One of the bills, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, is designed to permanently prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for abortion. The Protect Life Act would certify that the health care reform law itself does not include taxpayer funding of abortion - this is basically a re-introduction of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment that was added to the House version of the health care reform bill, but was not included in the Senate version and not part of the final version that was passed.

The Susan B. Anthony list, which was deeply involved in trying to elect more pro-life individuals to Congress and in defeating so-called "pro-life" lawmakers who supported the health care reform bill, posted this piece on its website.

This pro-life legislation was introduced just days before the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that essentially made abortion legal in America and before the annual March for Life, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pro-life attendees to the nation's capital on Monday, January 24th. Last year, the crowd was estimated at 300,000 people and more are expected this year.

Meanwhile, numerous events related to the sanctity of life are being held across the nation. The Walk for Life West Coast event, on Saturday, the 22nd, drew some 40,000 people in San Francisco.

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear case involving D.C. marriage vote

Alabama Governor apologizes for remarks about Christians being his "brothers and sisters"

The 3 - January 16, 2011

This week's edition of "The 3" includes preparation for the observance of Sanctity of Life Week, the anniversary of the Haiti earthquake, and the thread of faith woven through the aftermath of the Tucson shootings.

3 - Pro-life advocates prepare for Sanctity of Life Week activities

Next Saturday, January 22nd, is the 38th Anniversary of the dreadful decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court known as Roe vs. Wade, legalizing abortion in America. Now, after more than 53 million babies who have lost their lives, and numerous women who have experienced the pain and guilt in the aftermath of an abortion have told their stories, there are some positive and negative signs with regard to this cornerstone issue in our society.

On the positive side, there was a significant number of pro-life lawmakers who were elected to Congress in the last election. These people are now in a position to send a message in the U.S. House of Representatives with respect to life issues, as well as to attempt to halt taxpayer funding of abortion, as reflected in the health care law.

According to CitizenLink, there are 35 states that have opted out or are in the process of considering legislation to opt out of including abortion in their state-maintained health exchanges, provided for in the health care reform bill.

Also, a positive sign is that polling data shows a significant number of Americans who are pro-life. However, the decline in the abortion rate that has been observed over the past few years may have stalled a bit, according to new data released last week by the Guttmacher Institute, an arm of Planned Parenthood. But, fortunately, in looking at the big picture, there is a marked decline in abortions over the past decade. Here is some analysis from Dr. Michael New at LifeNews.com.

So, while one baby losing his or her life is too many, there is plenty of hope on the horizon for a reduction in the number of abortions in America. As thousands plan to take part in pro-life events during Sanctity of Life Week, such as the anticipated 35-50,000 in San Francisco on the 22nd or the hundreds of thousands who are expected to gather in the nation's capital on the 24th, there is a great amount of motivation to continue to speak out on behalf of the innocent children in the womb.

2 - Haiti earthquake anniversary observed

Christian organizations from across the globe have poured in people and supplies since the January 12, 201o earthquake in Haiti that resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and incredible property damage. Franklin Graham held a crusade in Haiti last weekend, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse continue to be on the leading edge of reaching out to the victims. Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll spoke to some 50,000 people in Haiti last week outside the collapsed capitol building. Driscoll and Chicago pastor James MacDonald have co-founded the Churches Helping Churches effort, which is active in the island nation.

There is much work to be done in this impoverished nation, and with the Haitian government still in a state of instability, there are many Christ-centered organizations that are stepping up to provide needed assistance and to build a sense of hope in the hearts of the people.

1 - Faith thread permeates Tucson recovery

I have often related how tragedy becomes an opportunity for the faith community. And, in the Tucson area, people experienced the pain and fear of the mass shooting that took place at a town hall meeting sponsored by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who clung to life for several days after suffering head injuries. 6 people lost their lives in the incident, including a Federal judge, John Roll, who was apparently a devout Christian who was at the shooting site to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about an issue with which he was concerned.

In the memorial service that was held at the University of Arizona this past Wednesday night, President Obama quoted from Scripture and reportedly consulted with area clergy prior to his remarks. He also indirectly addressed some of the attempts to attach blame for the tragedies on the tone of political rhetoric. These attempts, in my estimation, were inappropriate and inaccurate. Inappropriate, because the blame game takes the focus off the victims of the tragedy and their families, who need prayer and support. Inaccurate, because while we are still unsure of what would have been Jared Lee Loughner's motives for attempting to take the life of Rep. Giffords and the crowd surrounding her, there is evidence that he was not ideologically aligned with conservative talk radio or politicians and in fact, may not have even listened to talk radio. On the ideological scale, I would characterize Loughner as an extreme left-wing ideologue, placing him far to the left of moderate Democrat Giffords.

But, the focus now is for prayers for the recovery of those that were injured, comfort for the families of those who lost loved ones, and relief for the residents of Tucson and beyond who have faced emotional pain in the wake of this tragedy.

The 3 - January 9, 2011

This week, in the week-in-review feature I call "The 3", because I highlight 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community, we turn our eyes toward the California Supreme Court in the latest development in the Proposition 8 case. Also, the same court hearing the Prop 8 appeal ruled that a large cross in San Diego could no longer be displayed on Mt. Soledad there. And, Christian persecution took center stage this week with the assassination of a Pakistani governor.

I would like to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in the shooting outside a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store. U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was critically wounded and feared dead in the attack. Federal Judge John Roll lost his life, along with 5 others.

Now, this week's edition of "The 3":

3 - Proposition 8 question goes back to the California Supreme Court

This week, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals referred the issue of standing in the Proposition 8 challenge back to the California Supreme Court. Basically, the question of standing involves who is eligible, in the court's eyes to defend in court the Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as one man for one woman. Under normal circumstances, this would be under the jurisdiction of the Governor and Attorney General of California, but since neither the current Governor (former AG Jerry Brown) or current AG support Prop. 8, the defense of the amendment rests with other proponents, such as the ProtectMarriage.com group, which was assisted by the National Organization for Marriage.

Confused? Here's some clarity from the NOM website.

Now, the California Supreme Court, which had ruled prior to the passage of Proposition 8 that the state's gay residents had a right to marry, will be left to decide who, if anyone, is recognized legally to defend this amendment and represent the over 7 million voters who approved Prop. 8. But, apparently, noted liberal judge Reinhardt has voiced some concern about allowing one Federal judge to decide this critical issue.

2 - U.S. appeals court rules large cross memorial in San Diego unconstitutional

More activity from California and the 9th Circuit - the 43-foot Veterans' memorial cross on a mountain in the San Diego area has been in place for over a half century. When a legal challenge was brought, citing concerns about the establishment of religion, the city of San Diego did not think it had the resources to carry out a court challenge, so the land the memorial stands on was signed over to the Federal government, and a Foundation was charged to provide maintenance and security for the cross. A lower court judge had upheld the constitutionality of the cross on Mt. Soledad, but this week the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that this memorial did represent an establishment of religion.

Liberty Institute represents the American Legion, which is working to preserve these types of veterans memorials. Their perspective is included in this report from Baptist Press.

This deals a potentially chilling blow to such memorials nationwide, since many monuments and other structures honoring veterans incorporate religious imagery. In an effort to try to preserve an atmosphere of neutrality, there are organizations that are promoting unfortunate steps to eradicate symbols of our rich religious heritage from the American landscape. I believe this directly conflicts with the guarantees of free expression of religion in the First Amendment.

1 - Pakistani governor who supported Christian woman assassinated

I have been closely following the case of a 45-year-old Pakistani Christian women, Asia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, because she allegedly made derogatory comments about the prophet Mohammed. After the sentence was handed down, a provincial governor, from the Punjab province, showed his support for her and declared that he thought that the president of the nation would overturn her sentence. That governor was assassinated this week. Here is the story from Christianity Today.

So Governor Salman Taseer was murdered by his bodyguard, who has been hailed as a hero in some segments of Pakistani life. This is yet another indication of the type of adversity that Christians, and those who support them, face, especially in the areas where radical Islam is prevalent.

This week, Open Doors USA released its World Watch List, which shows that numerous countries with Islamic fundamental governments are leading persecutors of Christians, even though North Korea is in the #1 position again. Here is the latest list.

It's important to continue to pray for Christians who are facing the threats of persecution, even to the point of death, for their faith in Christ. And, we can hope that our State Department and other national leaders will speak out in defense of those who are persecuted, addressing human rights abuses in their dealings with these nations.

The 3 - January 2, 2011

This edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature in which I highlight 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community includes another chapter in the continuing story of the Manhattan Declaration's effort to be reinstated to the Apple iPhone, the opening of the very popular Passion conference in Atlanta, and the bright promise of a new year, as Christians turn the page on 2010.

3 - Apple rejects Manhattan Declaration app...again

One of the stories I've been following over the past few months has been the relationship of Apple, the makers of the iPhone, and the Manhattan Declaration, a strong affirmation of Biblically-based morality that upholds the sanctity of life, sanctity of marriage, and religious liberty.

This document has been signed by around half a million people, including an impressive cadre of Christian leaders. However, a group far smaller by comparison decided that the Declaration fostered an atmosphere of intolerance and was offensive to those people - subsequently, Apple pulled its Manhattan Declaration app just weeks after approving it with flying colors.

The leadership at the Declaration, including Chuck Colson and others, decided to resubmit the app, eliminating a "quiz" that they thought might be causing some of the problem. This week, it was announced that the Apple braintrust had rejected the app again.

Here is an excellent, thorough piece at Baptist Press which covers the latest rejection and the history of the controversy.

But the Declaration leaders are not sitting still, announcing plans to go before a review board and continuing to gather thousands of petition "signatures" to reinstate the app - you can go to www.manhattandeclaration.org to sign on.

2 - Passion opens in ATL

It's become a movement among college students and young adults, and has developed into a yearly gathering that represents an opportunity to reevaluate, recharge, and recommit their lives to Jesus Christ. Under the leadership of founder Louie Giglio and supported by speakers such as Andy Stanley, Beth Moore, and John Piper and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, the David Crowder Band, and others, Passion events have offered students to take another step in their walk with God.

The Christian Post offers this summary of the latest event, which opened New Year's Day in downtown Atlanta at the Philips Arena and Georgia World Congress Center and continues through Tuesday.

Through the work of Passion in America and internationally, students and young adults have been energized for the mission to which God has called them. This time of spiritual encouragement has been motivational for so many over the years since the first Passion took place in Austin, Texas in 1997.

1 - Christians prepare for new year with prayer, fasting, Bible study

The new year has begun for many Christians on their knees, as many believers are taking stock of their lives and maybe hitting a "reset" button for the year to come. The new year represents a time to put into place new initiatives and perhaps to set spiritual goals.

The Awakening America Alliance is one of those organizations calling for concentrated prayer and fasting during 21 days in January. Here is the website where you can find more information. According to The Christian Post, churches representing over a million members have committed to this effort.

Furthermore, Christians are setting Bible reading goals for the new year. I have been using The One-Year Bible and found its reading plan to be efficient in keeping me on track. There are a number of individuals and churches in my area who are using the E-100 Challenge, developed by Scripture Union in association with the American Bible Society, which involves reading the essential 100 storylines in the Old and New Testament. Both these plans have downloadable outlines available. Also, these are just 2 of a host of plans available through the app available for iPhone and Android called YouVersion - find out more by going to www.youversion.com.

Also, I have found an excellent audio version of the Bible, which just surpassed the one million download milestone - it's found at www.bible.is, and it's even available in a number of different languages!

2011 has the potential to be a dynamic year of spiritual growth. Making God's word a priority in your life is a key element in growing in Christ.

The 3 - December 27, 2010

Merry Christmas! This week's edition of "The 3" highlights one of the positives that came out of the "lame duck" session of Congress, regarding a defeat of taxpayer-funded abortion at military facilities. Also, the FCC voted this past week on regulation that would extend its reach into the Internet. Plus, a look at some different aspects of the celebration of Christmas worldwide.

3 – Lame duck Congress keeps taxpayer-funded abortion out of military hospitals

The much-maligned Defense Authorization Bill, which would fund the military for the coming year, had several objectionable attachments as it made its way into the U.S. Senate – for one thing, it contained a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which many Senators found to be unacceptable. And, it contained a provision, called the Burris Amendment, which would allow military hospitals at home and abroad to perform abortions – at taxpayer expense. The DADT repeal was stripped out of the bill and eventually became stand-alone legislation that was ultimately approved. And, in the final version of the bill, the Burris Amendment was also eliminated, guaranteeing that our tax dollars would not fund abortion.

This delighted pro-life organizations, such as the Susan B. Anthony List, which issued a press release on the victory. It was prominently mentioned in this piece from The Christian Post.

There are those in Congress that have long stood strong against preventing an increase in abortions generally and against the used of tax dollars to go to this abhorrent practice. It seems like too often that lawmakers in Washington are playing defense against legislation that would add to the number of abortions. Now, with dozens of pro-life lawmakers entering Congress who are motivated to act on behalf of the unborn, perhaps authentically pro-life legislation that could actually reduce the number of abortions in America can advance in the next session of Congress.

2 – FCC votes to attempt to regulate Internet

The Internet represents to millions of Americans a free flow of information and opinion. There have been few efforts to limit the content that is posted and available on the information superhighway – until now. This past Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission, by a 3-2 vote, under the guise of “net neutrality”, approved a sweeping new initiative that could result ultimately in the FCC regulating the use of the Internet. Rules approved this week are designed to prevent large Internet companies from controlling access, but once the Commission is allowed to extend its reach into the previously untouched world of the Internet, there are some who fear that freedom of speech could ultimately be at risk.

The activities of the FCC are governed by Congress, and activity is already underway to turn back this attempt to regulate the Internet. Sen. Jim DeMint is planning to introduce legislation that would make plain to the FCC that it does not have authority over the Internet. Here is a report from The Daily Caller. To some, this jurisdiction (or lack thereof) was defined in a court ruling issued out of D.C. And a host of lawmakers of both parties wrote a letter to FCC Chair Julius Genechowski, stating their disapproval for FCC governance of the Internet.

The implications for Christians and Christian groups are enormous – if some sort of content regulation emerges, and religious speech is somehow found to be unacceptable, then the reach of this tremendous tools could be stifled.

1 – Christmas celebrated around the world

This past Saturday was Christmas Day, and marked the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Generally, Christians regard this day not only as a time to give gifts and gather with family, but also to observe the significance of our Savior’s birth and to celebrate in a variety of ways at church – Christmas Eve services, special musical and dramatic presentations, and other Christ-centered activities. Even though, according to a recent LifeWay Research poll, many do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, nevertheless it has spiritual significance to a large number of people. And, regarding those who don’t attach meaning to Christmas that is consistent with the birth of Jesus, it gives Christians an opportunity to reach out and share the reasons why we do celebrate Jesus’ birth. Here is an interesting story from USA Today.

Our local church offered a full array of services on the day after Christmas. However, that was not true for some high-profile churches, such as North Point Community Church in Atlanta, where Andy Stanley is the pastor – North Point did not hold any activities or services the day of Christmas. Some churches offered a reduced menu of services. Here is The Christian Post’s take on the “day after Christmas” dilemma.

And, around the world, Christians were celebrating in a variety of ways. Here are 2 more items from The Christian Post. Officials in the city where Jesus was born report a noted increase in tourism during this Christmas season. In Iraq, where Christians are feeling quite threatened these days, the believers there were laying low and having quiet celebrations of our Savior’s birth.

Christmas gives us the opportunity to think on the birth of Christ and its significance. I trust that during the New Year, you will seek Him wholeheartedly and allow Him to work mightily in your life.

The 3 - December 19, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" includes a continued emphasis on Christians in Iraq, many of whom are fleeing in the face of persecution. Also, there was action on the nation's new health care reform law in the courts. And, the top story involves a Senate vote over the weekend on the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

3 - United Nations agency responds to flight of Christians from Iraq

The plight of Christians in Iraq has been a troubling development ever since the U.S.-led invasion of that nation, and now, since the attack and subsequent hostage crisis in a Baghdad church in October, when over 50 people lost their lives, Christians in that nation are deciding that perhaps they have had enough. Looking to an overtaxed Iraqi government to provide security has been an exercise in futility, and Christians continue to face harassment and violence at the hands of Muslim extremists.

Fortunately, this situation has not gone unnoticed in the international community. This past Tuesday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, in advance of the U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday, urged the U.S. to step up its efforts to protect Christians in Iraq. The situation was acknowledged by Vice President Biden as he addressed the Security Council on Wednesday. Open Doors USA, an organization that speaks out against the persecution of Christians, has joined with other faith organizations to call attention to the situation involving Iraqi Christians. Here is a recent press release from ODUSA.

The U.N. High Commission for Refugees has reported that thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled the central section of the country and are seeking refuge in other areas. Here is the story from The Christian Post.

Mindy Belz, Editor of WORLD Magazine, joined me on The Meeting House radio show recently to discuss developments regarding Christians in Iraq. She has been following the storylines closely, and filed this piece for WORLD.

Certainly, there are many areas of the world where Christians are victims of violence and harassment. What makes the conditions in Iraq particularly troubling is that the U.S. has been attempting to help establish a functioning, democratic government, which would hopefully embrace religious freedom. The protection of this group of people might be considered low on the priority list, in light of all the missions that our military is being assigned to do. Plus, the Iraqi government is continuing the struggle to establish itself and to bring order. Unfortunately, the answer for thousands is to flee their homeland, and it's important that other countries are open to accepting Iraqi Christians who fear for the lives and livelihood and desire to start a new life elsewhere.

2 - VA Judge rules health care law unconstitutional, FL judge considers same subject

Since the final passage of health care reform legislation in March 2010, Christians have been speaking out about various aspects of the new law. Some have zeroed in on taxpayer funding of abortion that is contained within the language. Others see the legislation as a step to rationing, denying medical care to those that might be the most in need of it, which has a definite moral component, especially for senior citizens and those with health challenges and special needs. Many think the law is another example of government not living within its means.

So, the law has many implications within the Christian community. And, many are watching with great anticipation as various lawsuits have been filed in courts across the land. One organization, Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal advocacy group, had filed a suit on behalf of Liberty University, protesting the mandate for employers to provide health insurance for their employees. A Federal district judge in Virginia ruled against Liberty U., and the case has been appealed to a Federal appeals court. Liberty Counsel and other Christian organizations this week lauded a ruling by another Virginia judge in another case, filed by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. That judge did declare the mandate for individuals to buy health insurance unconstitutional. Here is Liberty Counsel's press release on the case.

And, this week, in a Federal courtroom in Pensacola, Florida, another Federal judge heard a case filed by 20 state attorneys general involving the employee and individual mandates in health care reform legislation. This judge had earlier allowed the case to proceed, and heard oral arguments this week.

So, now you have 3 rulings - 2 upholding at least some aspect of health care reform as constitutional, and 1 that does not. Plus, you have the pending case in Florida. Undoubtedly, all these cases are heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the justices (or at least the majority of them - there have been calls for Elena Kagan to recuse herself, but so far has not indicated she would do so) will make the final decision on whether or not the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution allows Congress to force citizens to buy a certain product - in this case, health insurance.

1 - Congress repeals "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

As feared, the so-called "lame duck" session of Congress has allowed lawmakers, many of whom were voted out in November, to return to Washington to join with the leadership to attempt to pass legislation that will be difficult to pass once the new Congress is convened in January. One huge agenda item has been a proposed repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that has been in place since President Clinton attempted to remove a prohibition on open homosexuals serving in our military. So, after two failed attempts to attach a repeal of DADT to a Defense Authorization Bill in the Senate, the supporters drafted and introduced stand-alone legislation, that passed both the House and Senate this week, to repeal the policy. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, made these comments following the 65-31 Senate vote.

Now, the bill does have a provision that military leaders must decide that the new policy will not adversely effect military effectiveness, and there will be a 60-day waiting period to draft new rules. A number of military leaders have publicly stated that the reversal of current policy would be detrimental to cohesion and readiness, and in the study that was released by the Defense Department about a proposed repeal, combat troops especially expressed concern. Here is an excellent analysis of the survey by Carrie Gordon Earll of CitizenLink.

So, during the next couple of months, there will be much pressure brought to bear on military leaders regarding implementation of this new policy regarding gays in the armed services. Perhaps in the dialogue, common sense measures can be taken that would limit the influence of homosexuals who would want to try to push their lifestyles on others. Hopefully, precautions could be taken to address potential health risks as well as the alleviate the possibility of large numbers of soldiers leaving the military, which was indicated by the survey. And, chaplains will no doubt have to struggle with religious freedom issues, as Christian chaplains will be faced with sharing a Biblical perspective on a behavior that is a violation of Scripture, but could be sanctioned by our military leadership. You would hope that military leadership would not reflect the agenda-driven actions of the members of Congress that supported what many Christians view as an ill-advised policy shift.

Honorable Mention:

Bank told not to display religious symbols of Christmas by Fed, course then reversed

Red Cross in Britain bans references to Christmas

Some good news for faith-based organizations with new tax law (from ECFA)

The 3 - December 12, 2010

Plenty to talk about with this edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", including: the battle for tax cuts in Congress and the move to fold Internet gambling into a compromise bill, the Nobel Peace Prize award and its potential to call attention to the great human rights and religious rights struggles there, and the continued pressure in Congress to repeal the military's policy on openly gay members.

3 - Tax cut bill continues to grow; Reid attempts to attach Internet gaming language

Just after the President announced his deal with Republicans to extend tax cuts to all Americans, regardless of income, in exchange for an extension of unemployment benefits and other considerations, additions were continuing to be made in order to gain the votes necessary to prevent a filibuster and ensure final passage.

The ever-burgeoning bill has drawn fire from lawmakers on the left and the right. From the left, because it includes tax cuts for even the wealthiest of Americans, who proponents characterize as the job creators in the nation. From the right, because the price tag continues to rise as promises are made to lawmakers so that they will support the bill. In order to satisfy Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, apparently the bill must include language that authorizes gambling on the Internet. Reid, who was supported heavily in his re-election bid by the gambling industry, is now attempting to repay that support by including a rider that would essentially bring a casino into every home in America. Chad Hills is a dependable voice in pointing out the social and spiritual costs of gambling, and here is his analysis at CitizenLink.

So, what is it going to take to get this bill passed? In attempting to prevent Americans from receiving a large tax bill come January, lawmakers are throwing in the kitchen sink to make sure that those opposed to extending the current tax rates do not derail the legislation. And, that apparently could include the expansion of gambling!!

As some caution, to increase the size of the deficit by crafting what amounts to a stimulus/spending bill is not wise. Did Republican leaders have to approve extra spending in order to extend tax cuts for all? The evidence is not clear, but there are some that believe that those that ran on the premise of smaller government are now being forced to go along with an increase in the size of the operation.

2 - Nobel Peace prize awarded against backdrop of new Chinese crackdown on unregistered house churches

In Oslo on Friday, the Nobel Peace Prize was given to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, who was not present at the ceremony because he is currently jailed by the government in China as part of his long struggle in support of human rights in the country, which is known for its restrictions on a variety of freedoms, including free speech and free association.

Perhaps the awarding of this prize will help to increase awareness for the Chinese government's policies with regard to fundamental human rights. Even though the Chinese constitution apparently calls for freedom of religion, that type of freedom, with respect to Christianity, only applies to the churches that are sanctioned by the government - the registered churches. Unregistered house churches face persecution, house church leaders live under the threat of arrest, and a recent development is bringing perhaps a greater threat level to those who worship in these churches.

According to the advocacy organization China Aid, the Chinese Politburo has authorized sweeping new directives that are targeting leaders and members of house churches. Here is China Aid's press release on the subject.

China Aid head Bob Fu was on hand in Oslo for the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize, and had these comments:


So, it's important to pray for those who attend house churches in China. This new directive labels the house church movement a "cult", which, as China Aid points out, shows a lack of understanding of religious matters and characterizes as a threat the presence of a group of people that want to dialogue with the government and live in peace. An interesting dynamic is that, according to author Dr. David Aikman, a growing number of Christians are strategically placed in government, business, and other areas of Chinese life - representing a powerful force in Chinese society. Perhaps the government is miscalculating the effect of the house churches attendees in Chinese life.

1 - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" falls again in U.S. Senate vote

Another week, another vote to attempt to overturn the military's current ban on open homosexuality, called the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) Policy. A 57-40 vote earlier in the week prevented a Defense Authorization Bill from coming to the floor of the U.S. Senate.

This comes after the release of the study by the Pentagon that shows support for overturning the policy is not necessarily as pronounced as some leadership would have you believe. Edward Lee Pitts of WORLD Magazine, a recent guest on my radio show, highlighted some statistics that show that, for instance, only 9 percent of those surveyed think a ban would have a mostly positive effect on the military and that 60 percent of active combat forces in the Marines and Army believe there would be a negative effect. Here is Lee's article on the topic.

Time is running out on passing this legislation - the new makeup of Congress suggests that support would be less likely after the first of the year. Plus, Senate Republicans have said they would vote on no other legislation until after the tax cut issue is settled. Furthermore, stand-alone legislation on repealing the ban would have to pass both chambers. But, supporters of a repeal are steadfastly and passionately trying to push this bill through, to the point of concentrating on this issue at the expense of pressing economic issues.

Newsweek announces new faces of Christian activism

Voyage of the Dawn Treader opens, studio reaches out to faith community

San Diego churches gives out 10,000 toys, 60,000 pounds of food

The 3 - December 5, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes an instance of a taxpayer-funded art that was removed this week from the Smithsonian, the response to a study involving gays in the military, and an iPhone app from a Christian organization that was removed because it allegedly was offensive.

3 - Smithsonian pulls display viewed as offensive to Christians

It seems that the world of modern art needs to learn a bit about religious sensitivity. We have had a string of incidents involving taxpayer-funded art that has in fact portrayed Jesus and/or Christianity in a negative light. I think that this highlights that the gatekeepers of culture (as they are regarded in their own estimation) do not have a clue with regard to some of the sacred, traditional values that have existed in and driven our nation for hundreds of years. And, as we will see later, in the #1 story, these enlightened ones don't seem to think twice sometimes when trying to remove expressions of these principles from the public discourse.

Now, the situation at the Smithsonian is especially ingredious not only because of the objectionable content, but also because this is a public, government-funded institution. The backstory: there is an exhibit there that was apparently intended to show the blight on society that is the AIDS virus - well, in attempting to illustrate this, one of the artists displayed a video that included Jesus on a crucifix covered in ants. There were some other offensive expressions, as well, including "art" that was described as "homoerotic". The video including the disturbing images of Jesus was removed, along with a bit of a disclaimer by the museum's director.

Here's the story from CNSNews.com.

This follows on the heels of the reopened debate with regard to taxpayer funding of National Public Radio, which fired commentator Juan Williams for honest remarks that he made that were characterized as being negative toward Islam, but has turned its head the other way when some Christians or Christianity have been denigrated. Those with oversight over these taxpayer-funded organizations have to look at the fact that certain material can be offensive and therefore reserve Federal dollars from going to projects that do not represent the deeply-held values of large groups of Americans.

2 - Study on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" released, Christian and pro-family groups challenge findings

The debate regarding allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military continues to rage on Capitol Hill, as Senate leadership is attempting to bring the matter for a vote soon, and some military leaders, such as the Secretary of Defense, are pushing for a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy while others, including the the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Staff of the Army, are calling for the ban on open homosexuality in the military to remain in place. Others in military leadership might favor a repeal, but say now is not the time for a change.

A study released earlier this week shows a number of areas of concern on troop cohesion and effectiveness. Those who commissioned the study say that any negative impact of lifting the ban would be short-lived, but fail to define for how long the negative impact would last. A closer look at the statistics show that many, especially those are actively involved in combat, have seen a negative impact from having known homosexuals serving together with them already, with many believing that a reversal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would have a negative impact. There is an apparent disconnect between the raw data and the way that the data has been reported, and the negative impact is far greater than those communicating the survey results would have the public believe.

A number of Christian and pro-family organizations have spoken out on the matter and are urging Congress to leave the ban in place. CitizenLink offered this analysis based on the survey results.

The Family Research Council has been very active this week in attempting to paint a clearer, truer picture of how the repeal of DADT would affect the military, even offering the result of a survey that they commissioned. More information can be found here.

Up-to-date information on the issue of open homosexuality in the military can be found on the new website, www.missioncompromised.org.

1 - Manhattan Declaration app removed from IPhone store

The Manhattan Declaration is a document designed to represent a unified viewpoint of Christians in 3 critical areas: the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, and religious freedom. The Declaration has garnered over 480,000 signatures since it was announced late last year, and has become a valuable tool in communicating a basic Biblical worldview on these key issues. It was drafted by 3 well-respected Christian voices: Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship, Dr. Robert George of Princeton University, and Dr. Timothy George of Beeson Divinity School.

In October of this year, an app for the Apple iPhone was released for the Manhattan Declaration, enabling users to read the declaration, to take a survey, and to search for more information. Recently, it was discovered that Apple had removed the app from its store.

When asked about the removal, Apple responded by saying that it had been determined that the Manhattan Declaration was offensive to "large groups of people". Well, perhaps those large groups refer to the website change.org, which gathered just under 8,000 signatures on a petition to remove the app. Never mind that the Declaration had almost a half-million signatories. The leadership of the Manhattan Declaration has written an open letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and now is asking people to sign an online petition in support of the app - go to www.manhattandeclaration.org to learn more.

And, here's the point that the self-proclaimed, enlightened gatekeepers of the culture don't get - when you attempt to not offend a small group of people who are determined to be irritants, you may find yourselves offending an even larger group. This principle seems to occur time and again when attempting to restrict religious speech - more specifically, Christian speech - in the culture.

We see the same principle at work in the so-called "war on Christmas" - in attempting to not offend small groups who some retailers or government leaders think might be offended by religious expression (such as the greeting of "Merry Christmas"), you end up offending larger groups. That may explain why companies like Best Buy and Dick's Sporting Goods began this Christmas season without references to Christmas, but changed their tunes after realizing that offending Christians was bad for business. (Not that appeasing Christians should be seen as a business decision, but in the retail world, the bottom line rules above all.)

Unfortunately, as Christians, I believe we have lost ground in the arena of public religious expression because intimidated leadership has backed down in the face of a small, but vocal minority. Our willingness and courage to speak up in the face of hostility to our faith can hopefully lift up Jesus and make a statement to a world that needs to know Him.

A closing note: a new Rasmussen poll shows that 7 out of 10 of those surveyed prefer "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays". Here are the findings, as reported by Liberty Counsel.

Honorable Mention:

Noah's Ark replica to be built at Creation Museum in KY

Football player flagged for expressing faith

The 3 - November 28, 2010

The Thanksgiving weekend edition of "The 3" includes a rather offbeat website surrounding a purported life-or-death choice, that has created controversy around the world. Also, a Christian legal advocacy group highlights retailers and their use of "Christmas" in their ads and stores. And, Thanksgiving provides the theme for the #1 story of the week.

3 - Abortion poll site admitted to be a hoax

It really had all the makings of a hoax website - a domain called www.birthornot.com, a couple with rather sketchy biographical information posted on the site, and the disturbing premise of encourging visitors to "vote" on whether or not an unborn baby should live or die.

Even after interviews in which the couple apparently was calling out to be taken seriously, the father of the real baby "Wiggles" (named because the baby was moving around so much in utero) has basically stated that the couple never intended to abort their baby, but did want to generate some discussion over the controversial topic of abortion. The mother, Alisha Arnold, who reportedly favors legalized abortion, and her husband, Pete, generated over a million votes for this fictitious "choice" - the baby is real, the ultrasound images apparently real, too, but the cover is blown and the parents will one day face the challenge of breaking the news to their child that they actually pulled this sort of stunt. Here's the latest narrative from LifeNews.com.

I guess you could say that the silver lining is that the website actually got people talking about the subject of abortion, but I don't think the couple actually used the site to credibly make the case for life - and have made themselves to be a laughingstock in the process. Sure, this is a topic that needs to be in the national dialogue, but this is definitely not the right way to go about it.

2 - Christian legal group releases "Naughty and Nice" list

Each year, there is a dynamic of the Christmas season that deals with how retailers commemorate the holiday. Another of the prevalent dynamics is how governmental entities allow Christmas to be celebrated, and I am sure there will be some instances that I will highlight throughout the next few weeks, such as the recent occasion in the beautiful city of Maryville, Tennessee (not far from where I went to college), where last year the reading of the Christmas story was banned from the annual city-sponsored event - that reading was restored this year, thanks to the involvement of Liberty Counsel, who wrote a letter to city officials underscoring the constitutionality of the practice.

Liberty Counsel, in addition to defending free speech surrounding the expression of Christmas greetings and exercises, annually calls attention to retailers who do and don't include the word, "Christmas" in their advertising and their retail stores and even websites. As part of their "Friend or Foe" campaign, the organization has released its "Naughty and Nice" list - highlighting the "naughty" retailers who do not acknowledge Christmas and the "nice" retailers who do. In fact, two retailers have flipped this holiday season - Best Buy and Dick's Sporting Goods, who initially were not including the recognition of Christmas, but who have indicated they intend to do so. You can find Liberty Counsel's list at this link.

Also, Rising Voice, the outreach to millenials from CitizenLink, an affiliate of Focus on the Family, has suggested shopping retailers who engage in "socially responsible" activities, such as donating a portion of their profits to charity. Rising Voice is also partnering with the ministry of Children's HopeChest to help rescue Russian girls who could possibly be incorporated into human trafficking. You can find Rising Voice at www.risingvoice.com.

1 - Christians usher in holiday season with Thanksgiving, charitable giving

Thanksgiving Day is a great time for Christian families to reflect on the blessings of God and to reach out to unsaved loved ones during family gatherings with the love of Jesus Christ. And, as we have been blessed by God, we reach out to others with his love as an expression of our gratitude for giving us the greatest gift of all, making salvation possible through Christ.

Just before Thanksgiving, Christians all across the U.S. took part in Operation Christmas Child and filled shoeboxes with school supplies, games, toys, hygiene items and more, to be distributed throughout the world through Samaritan's Purse. National Collection Week ended on November 22nd.

A number of Christians have begun to shop with an eye on charity through gift catalogs published by various organizations, such as Samaritan's Purse or World Vision. The good news is that apparently there is a significant number of Christians who are planning to reach out with gifts to charity...According to a World Vision survey, more Americans (7 out of 10) indicate they'll spend less on Christmas gifts this year, but just over half said that they would consider a charitable gift as a present this year. Here is more results and analysis from World Vision.

So for that dad who doesn't need another tie or the aunt who just might not want another statuette to sit around on some shelf, a gift to charity in their honor can warm their hearts and bless people in need.

Honorable Mention:

Asia Bibi released in Pakistan?

Prayer requested in light of tensions on Korean Peninsula

The 3 - November 21, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, highlights the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, one of the countries mentioned in a new report from the State Department on religious freedom - the release of that report is this week's #2 story. And, at the top of the list, new regulations involving faith-based organizations who received Federal funds.

3 - Pakistan's blasphemy law yields woman's death sentence

In Pakistan, Christians and others who follow a religion other than Islam can face stiff punishment, including death. These so-called blasphemy laws have received international scrutiny and condemnation, nevertheless the Pakistani government continues to enforce these policies, which has resulted in unprecedented religious persecution in this predominantly Muslim country.

And now, another instance has brought even more international concern, as a woman - a wife and the mother of 3 children - has been found to be guilty of violating the law by merely speaking out against Islam in the face of those who apparently were trying to coerce her to renounce Christianity. Asia Bibi, a Christian, was accused of blaspheming Muhammed and defaming Islam and faces the death sentence. Open Doors USA has posted this story on its website.

Here again, this case is indicative of harsh punishment that awaits Christians in many countries around the world, simply because they stand for Christ in the face of intense pressure. Asia is the first woman to be sentenced to death under these laws in Pakistan. This calls our attention yet again to the plight of Christians in many countries, and can be a catalyst for us to pray and to become more aware of organizations that are intervening on behalf of Christian believers around the world.

2 - State Department releases religious freedom list

The U.S. State Department released a report earlier this week that indicates there are a number of countries in the world that are apparently not committed to ensuring religious freedom. In the International Religious Freedom Report 2010, we see that not only are there countries listed where minority religions suffer persecution while a majority or government-sanctioned religion is given preferential treatment. Plus, we see there are countries where extremist groups and intolerant groups make the practice of some religions difficult. Here is a nice summary from the Religion Clause blog.

There were 8 "Countries of Particular Concern" that were highlighted: Burma (interesting that the report should refer to this country by its more familiar name, rather than the military junta's name, Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. In these countries, citations are made regarding U.S. involvement on religious freedom issues. There were a total of 27 countries that were covered in the report - some have seen improvement, apparently, in the eyes of the State Department, while other governments are continuing to promote or allow an atmosphere of religious intolerance. Also, U.S. opposition to a proposed U.N. resolution, promoted by a number of Muslim countries on "defamation of religions", was revisited in the report. Here is the link to the State Department's Executive Summary.

1 - President's faith-based initiatives under revised rules

When he took office, President Obama continued the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, a concept basically begun by his predecessor to recognize and reward the work of faith-based organizations who are doing work deemed to be beneficial to society. While President Bush's purpose seemed to be to reinforce the work that was being done by equipping those organizations with more Federal dollars, the purpose under Obama could be interpreted as to exercise governmental control of faith-based organizations who are doing work consistent with the government's goals.

Another round of regulations of these organizations receiving taxpayer funding was released this week, and while, as some pro-family groups had feared, hiring practices were not addressed, but there were a number of issues that could be perceived as lessening or separating the "faith" out of these organization's work. Here is a report from CitizenLink, an affiliate of Focus on the Family.

A religious organization receiving Federal funds is expected to keep its "religious" and "secular" purpose separate - and presumably government oversight would be in place to guarantee this is done. The difficulty here is that many organizations do good work, recognizing and depending on the power of Christ...so how do they keep their religion out of it? Certainly, Federal grants can be helpful in carrying out ministry work, but if the government becomes increasingly burdensome, the law of diminishing returns is a factor, and the message of the life-changing power of the gospel could be diluted at the expense of the money. As we have seen in other sectors, where there is government funding, there is greater government control.

Honorable Mention:

Disturbing Online Poll: Whether or not to abort baby

New Jersey pastor tells church leaders: "No more Facebook"

Christmas Lights: Maryville, TN - City restores Bible reading!!

The 3 - November 14, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, spotlights a new sponsor and a new name for the "Day of Truth", a call to responsibility on Orphan Sunday last week, and reflections on Christian persecution in light of the President's Asian trip.

3 - Focus on the Family picks up "Day of Truth"

For a number of years, Christian students have been participating in the "Day of Truth", which is a response to the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) observance known as the "Day of Silence", where gay students and gay sympathizers are encouraged to remain silent as a reaction to what they perceive is cruel treatment. The Alliance Defense Fund initiated the "Day of Truth", encouraging Christian students to speak out, and to speak the truth about sexuality according to God's word. The responsibility for that day transferred to Exodus International, which is a Christian advocacy group that is involved in helping people who depart from homosexuality. Now, Focus on the Family has picked up the sponsorship, and has renamed it the "Day of Dialogue", emphasizing the importance of engaging in communication about the truth found in God's word regarding the freedom that Christ offers. A piece from Focus on the Family explains the new arrangement for the April 18 observance.

2 - "Orphan Sunday" encourages Christians to follow Biblical instruction

The Bible plainly tells believers in Christ to care for the widow and the orphan. There are millions of orphans around the world, and we as Christians have a distinct responsibility for getting involved in the lives of these children. In fact, indications are that there are well over 100 million orphans worldwide.

Many orphans live in substandard facilities after being either abandoned by the their parents, or perhaps becoming wards of the state because of the death of parents. And, in many areas, once those orphans become recognized as "adults", then they are turned out on the streets, and many become involved in trafficking and prostitution.

So, it is not surprising that a number of organizations have become involved in care for the orphans and promoting the adoption of children from countries around the world who face a bleak future. This past Sunday, November 7th, was designated as "Orphan Sunday", calling attention to the plight of orphans worldwide. Special events were held, and topic of care for orphans was encouraged to be addressed in churches. For more information, you can visit the website at http://www.orphansunday.org/.

1 - President's trip to Asia highlights areas of religious tensions

President Obama has completed his Asian trip, and perhaps the stop of most interest to many Christians concerned about religious persecution is the visit to the nation of Indonesia, the nation with the world's largest Muslim population, where the President spent a portion of his childhood. And, as has been the case when Obama has visited countries with Islamic governments, he went out of his way to extol the virtues of that religion and leaders who embrace it and/or govern by it. Perhaps one of the most intriguing comments that Obama made was that, referring to the situation in Indonesia, "Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths." Here is a general news story from CBN News.

But could Christianity be considered as one of those other faiths? Christians in Indonesia might not think so. While the Christian population is apparently growing, the government is not allowing very many new churches to be built. Meanwhile, a national decree which has limited the growth of house churches has stifled the Christian church population. Here is a report from CBN News on the state of Christians in Indonesia. The actions of militant Muslims have become a real threat to Christians, who worship in many cases at their own risk.
So, while the President continues his outreach to Muslim governments, it is disappointing that he is not calling for these governments to pursue a greater degree of tolerance for Christians who live within their countries.

And, a further note: the President's visit to India can serve to remind us about the persecution of Christians in that nation, especially in the Orissa province. In fact, in that location, Christians are facing fear, as well as pressure to return to Hinduism. Here is the story from Compass Direct News.

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. And, despite the knowledge of governmental officials in the United States, nations who endorse persecution of Christians, either actively (by supporting anti-Christian activity) or passively (by looking the other way) are seemingly not facing any possibility of being ostracized or sanctioned as a result of their intolerant actions. This is a matter of prayer for those Christians around the world who live under restrictions, fear of violence, and the threat of imprisonment and death.

Honorable Mention:

U.S. Supreme Court keeps lower court stay on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in place

Violence in Baghdad's Christian areas

Survivors of Iraq church attack flee

The 3 - November 7, 2010

3 - Graham radio broadcast passes milestone, Graham celebrates birthday

The ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association continues to deliver the gospel message through a variety of methods and voices. Just this weekend, people across the African nation of Malawi are participating in the "My Hope" outreach that is utilizing group leaders in homes across that nation, who invite people into their houses to view a message from the Association. The hosts also are called upon to share their own story of salvation through Christ. This has been an effective tool that has seen quite a harvest around the world. Franklin Graham also is wrapping up a crusade in Latvia. The ministry he founded, Samaritan's Purse, is preparing for its National Collection Week November 15-22 for Operation Christmas Child.

And, against the backdrop of Dr. Graham's 92nd Birthday today (November 7th), the ministry is celebrating a notable milestone. 60 years ago this week, the flagship radio broadcast, The Hour of Decision, which is heard on almost 600 radio outlets across America, made its debut on ABC Radio. This became the foundational program for the broadcast ministry of BGEA. Here is Assist News Service's profile of the program.

There are quite a number of Christian radio broadcasts aired in America and around the world, and so many owe a debt of gratitude to that pioneering broadcast of The Hour of Decision, as the gospel message was made available to a growing audience through the medium of radio. The Association has greatly expanded its ministry, from radio to TV to Decision magazine to the Internet, and to a wide variety of platforms, with the purpose of sharing God's truth with a world that so desperately needs to hear the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

2 - Dozens die in hostage crisis at a church in Iraq

At least 58 people lost their lives, and perhaps as many as 75 were injured, as a group of terrorists entered a Catholic church in Baghdad and took hostages. Iraqi security forces stormed the building and ended the hostage situation, but there was a terrible loss of life. Open Doors USA has this report.

The state of the Christian church in Iraq continues to be a declining situation. The Christian population there in the years since the U.S.-led invasion has reportedly been reduced by half. Iraq has been a nation that has been on Open Doors' World Watch list because of the persecution of Christians there. Christians sense very little protection or sympathy from the government, and have become the subjects of persecution by Muslim groups.

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is coming up next Sunday, November 14th, and it gives Christians around the world the opportunity to stand with those who face persecution and even death as a result of their faith in Christ. More information can be found at www.idop.org.

1 - Evangelical turnout rises, pro-life candidates win

The voters spoke out in the most recent election, this past Tuesday, and the U.S. House of Representatives will now have a Republican majority. The Senate will have a more balanced makeup as a result of the vote. A number of governor's races went to Republicans, as well, plus state legislatures are seeing an increase in Republican representation.

But is this a Republican resurgence? Not necessarily. One can interpret that the election represented a repudiation of the current course of our government. There was a definite anti-incumbency and anti-establishment feel in the results. Polling data showed that voters were distressed with Democrats, but not necessarily enamored with Republicans, either. The clear signal was that voters wanted a change, and definitely not the type of "change" that had been the mantra of the campaign in 2008.

The attitude of change and a call to governmental responsibility in the face of seemingly uncontrolled, or at least excessive, spending has been personified in the "Tea Party" movement, which is generally thought of to be an economically-based thread of our nation's populace. But many of the "members" of the grassroots movement also possess strong evangelical credentials. In fact, a poll released by the Faith and Freedom Coalition shows that 52% of self-identified Tea Party members are also evangelicals.

The influence of "values voting", and more specifically, faith-based voting, was greater in this year's election that in 2008. According to that survey, the largest single constituency in the electorate in the 2010 midterm elections was self-identified evangelicals, who comprised 29% of the vote and cast 78% of their ballots for Republican candidates.

And while much of the general news coverage focused on how economic factors would affect the 2010 vote, the life issue definitely played a significant role. The Susan B. Anthony List proclaimed this year "The Year of the Pro-Life Woman", and a number of the female candidates it supported were successful in their election bids. The List also sponsored its "Votes Have Consequences" project, in which it was active in races in districts where so-called "pro-life" Democrats who supported the health care reform legislation, which contained taxpayer funding of abortion, were running for re-election. The results are impressive: 15 of 20 of those Democrats proclaiming themselves as pro-life while supporting health care reform lost their elections. LifeNews.com has this guest column. You can also visit www.sba-list.org/scorecard to learn how SBA List-supported candidates fared on Election Day. And, here's a summary of the election of pro-life women from LifeNews.com.

I made the point in a recent interview with former U.S. House member Marilyn Musgrave, who headed up the "Votes Have Consequences" project, that candidates that have a foundation of being pro-life tend to hold a Biblical view on other issues, such as marriage and even the economy. A number of the Tea Party candidates, who spoke forcefully on economic issues and governmental restraint and stewardship, were at their core socially conservative, as well. Pastor Jim Garlow spoke with me and discussed that he believes that Christians, especially Christian pastors, will be speaking out increasingly on economic issues, including the concept of government within its means. Perhaps this election can send the message that a Christian view of government and public policy can yield effective solutions to the daunting issues that we face as a country.