The most current edition of "The 3", delayed a bit by the Memorial Day weekend and the travels thereof, includes a moving demonstation of faith in the realm of pop culture, concern over new policies regarding gay behavior in the military, and a court case that could have serious implications for elementary school students who wish to speak openly about their faith.
3 - Scotty wins!
A teenage singer who appears to be on his way to country music superstardom was named Season 10's "American Idol" on Wednesday night. His first words following the announcement of his victory were consistent with the way that he has conducted himself this season, declaring, "I've got to thank the Lord first; he got me here..."
Scotty has worn a cross on a leather neckpiece throughout the season, as well as a black "I Am Second" wristband, showing support for the Christian movement that champions personal stories of faith. His remarkable resilience in the face of pop sensation Lady Gaga as she attempted to take their "mentoring" session into the gutter is one testimonial to his faith in Christ.
The Christian Post had this story on Scotty's triumph.
Scotty, as well as his friend and finale competitor Lauren Aliana, have a track record of displaying their Christian faith. In the midst of an "Idol" season that had its share of lewd moments, thanks to the likes of judge Steven Tyler and performers such as Gaga, these two teens exuded some profound displays of light. As they now move into the spotlight of pop and country music, they need our prayers. Scotty made a bold declaration at his homecoming concert that his faith had grown stronger during his time on the show, and we can hope that he and Lauren will continue to allow the Lord to express Himself through their lives.
2 - Groups, lawmakers call for clarity in repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
In the "lame-duck" session of Congress last year, lawmakers voted to repeal the military's ban on homosexuality in its ranks, which was diluted by the Clinton administration's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy. Now, in light of the Navy's authorization (since rescinded) for chaplains to perform same-sex marriages, in violation of Federal law (the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as one man and one woman), as well as concerns about the implementation of the new regulations dealing with the gay lifestyle, a number of groups who provide chaplains for the military, as well as concerned lawmakers, are speaking out.
Recently, 21 groups supplying chaplains to the U.S. military crafted a letter calling for strengthening of religious liberty protections in the process of implementing the repeal of DADT. The letter addresses the possibility that chaplains could face working in a hostile environment as they attempt to uphold the teachings of their denominations or organizations who believe that homosexual behavior is immoral. A letter from retired chaplains last year, sent before the vote on repealing DADT, warned about the negative impact on current chaplains.
And, legislation has been introduced to slow down the implementation of these new policies to replace DADT. Representatives Todd Akin and Valerie Hartzler introduced amendments to the latest Defense Authorization Bill that would reinforce the application of the Defense of Marriage Act in the armed forces - Akin's bill would outright ban "same-sex" marriages, Hartzler's legislation would make sure that DOMA is explicitly applied to the military. Those amendments passed their committee votes, as did an amendment by Representative Duncan Hunter, who called for the military chiefs to certify that repealing DADT will not negatively impact combat readiness.
This repeal would undoubtedly not pass Congress if it were to be introduced now. That is why there was such a rush to get the repeal passed before the adjournment in December. Now, as the potential effects are weighed, it's important that the effects on our troops, as well as those who counsel them, are given extreme consideration.
1 - Free speech under scrutiny in "Candy Cane Case", a major appeals case
The name of the case is rather innocuous - the "Candy Cane Case" - but its potential to impact the free speech rights of students is huge. The case is an amalgamation of several instances in the Plano (TX) Independent School District where students' religious expression was limited by school officials (according to Liberty Institute):
- An eight-year-old boy was banned from handing out candy canes at the school "winter" party because they contained a religious message;
- A girl was threatened for handing out tickets after school to a religious play;
- An entire class of students was forbidden from writing "Merry Christmas" on holiday cards to American troops serving overseas.
Oral arguments in the case were heard by the entire 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday. A three-judge panel of the Court had already ruled in favor of the students. However, due to an infrequent legal maneuver, the entire Court - 17-members - agreed to hear this case.
Liberty Institute, under the direction of Kelly Shackelford, is defending the students. Former U.S. Solicitors General Paul Clement and Kenneth Starr assisted in the case on behalf of the students, as well.
Some of the disturbing arguments involve the contention made by attorneys for the school district attorneys that elementary school students are too young to have constitutional rights, and declarations in court that school officials are not responsible for knowing which types of speech or activities that they can prohibit.
Liberty Institute estimates that millions of public school elementary school students could be adversely affected by this ruling. That is why prayer - that students' rights to express themselves are not curtailed - is necessary.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
The 3 - May 21, 2011
What a week! A major foreign policy address from President Obama, developments in the race to take his place, graduation location controversies grabbing headlines, and the rapture, well - NOT! But, nevertheless, we have plenty to discuss in this edition of "The 3"...so here goes:
3 (tie) - Obama delivers major speech on Middle East
This week, President Obama delivered a major speech on the Middle East. In addition to addressing the unrest present in a number of countries in the region, including Syria, where the most recent turmoil has emerged, the President stated what he claims has been U.S. policy for quite some time. He called on Israel to revert to its pre-1967 borders, which would essentially leave the regions of the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the control of someone else, presumably the Palestinians.
This suggestion was met with outright rejection by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described those borders as "indefensible". And, Christian leaders who have voiced support for the nation of Israel in the past were unified in expressing concern over the President's declaration.
A full-page ad that was run in the Jerusalem Post today featured a letter of support signed by a number of high-profile Christians, including James Dobson, Tim Wildmon, Mike Huckabee, Lou Sheldon, General Jerry Boykin, and many others. Here is a background story from World Net Daily. The corresponding website address is www.israelyourenotalone.com.
Check out analysis from Jimmy DeYoung of "Prophecy Today" at this link: http://news.prophecytoday.com.
The Bible instructs us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem", and it's an important principle of Scripture to stand with Israel and the Jewish people. Even as Palestinian groups were making a unity declaration this week that carries with it a denunciation of Israel's right to exist, Christians who recognize that God has a plan for the nation of Israel regard support for that nation an important Biblical concept.
3 (tie) - Huck & Daniels exit, Cain & Pawlenty move ahead
Recent announcements were made by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, considered a frontrunner for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, whose pro-life credentials had undergone scrutiny in light of his call for a "truce" on social issues. These two leaders made public that they would not seek the nomination this time around.
Evangelicals are continuing to search for a candidate around whom they can unite. Throw in Donald Trump, too, who announced this week he would not seek the Presidency - he had declared himself to be pro-life, sort of, since past statements did not put him in that category. Nevertheless, he had turned a few heads in the evangelical community.
Two candidates who might be considered to be attractive to evangelicals, even though polling data still puts them in the relative unknown category, include former Godfather's Pizza CEO and ordained minister Herman Cain, formerly an Atlanta talk-show host who fared rather well in a South Carolina debate that was minus a number of the frontrunners, such as Palin and Romney. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is also generating some talk as a formidable candidate who can attract evangelical support. Cain announced his intentions to seek the Presidency this week, Pawlenty is expected to declare his desire to move forward in the coming week.
Mix in another Minnesotan - Representative Michele Bachmann - along with Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich, who are attempting to appeal to religious, even evangelical voters, and you have a wide-open race with some challenging choices for Christians, who can be a powerful force at the ballot box - if they can unite behind a candidate or two.
2 - High school graduation controversies center on content, location
One of the noticeable trends regarding graduation ceremonies and religious freedom in the past years has been the emergence of restrictions that some school officials had placed on graduation speakers regarding the religious content of their messages. These attempts to limit the free speech rights of these students have led to intervention by Christian legal advocacy organizations and lawsuits in some instances.
That element of graduation controversy continues to proliferate across America, and now, a new area concerning graduation has developed - attempts to keep graduation ceremonies out of church buildings. One high-profile case gained quite a bit of coverage last year in Enfield, Connecticut, where a large church had been hosting graduations for a number of years. A Federal judge had, in fact, issued a injunction against the ceremony being held there.
Just this week, the Irving, Texas school district said that it would no longer use the facilities of The Potter's House church, pastored by Bishop T.D. Jakes, for its graduation ceremonies. In Lufkin, Texas, the practice of allowing certain school functions to take place in a church has been challenged. A Colorado Springs school that wanted to hold this past week's scheduled graduation in the large New Life Church facility had to suddenly relocate.
An Ocean City, New Jersey school planned its graduation ceremony in a church that has a 20-foot cross affixed to its exterior. The school district had come under fire there, even to the extent of the ACLU demanding that the cross on the front of the building be covered.
These and other instances are examples of a misinterpretation of the Constitutional concept of "establishment of religion". Just because an event sponsored by a governmental entity takes place in a building used for worship, that does not violate the so-called "separation of church and state". These are, unfortunately, baseless attempts to try to reduce the awareness of God from the consciousness of society.
1 - "Rapture Fail" raises questions
The better-known-than-it-should-be prediction of Harold Camping, the head of an organization of radio stations known as Family Radio, has now been proven false, and it is unknown what implications this might have for a multi-million-dollar broadcast network that has been seriously discredited by the failure of Camping's prediction of the "end of the world".
There are a few considerations that we can take away from this incident:
The willingness of media to concentrate on extreme religious views. By no means could Camping and his lot be considered to be mainstream Christians. But, because of the enormous amount of media attention, highly regarded Christian leaders were being asked to go on the record to share their views. The good news is that this coverage did give added exposure to traditional, Scriptural Christian thought. Camping had predicted the return of the Lord back in 1994, but I don't recall the amount of coverage then - but now, with the Internet and the huge variety of media sources, there was a groundswell of interest in the story, and Camping became repackaged as someone worthy of media attention. The story was met with skepticism and even mockery in some circles, but, if the broad brush is applied too broadly, the perception can be that Christians, in general, are a bit off-base, and could diminish the credibility of the true gospel message. I am thankful for the Biblical rebuttal that was reported in the midst of the proliferation of attention on the story.
The second coming of Christ became a discussion topic and could be an evangelism tool. So, as we return to our workplaces, schools, and places of influence this week, we do have an opportunity to discuss the truth of God's Word. The Rapture, Second Coming of Christ, Judgment Day, End of the World, whatever it was supposed to be - did not come, but that does not and should not divert attention from the last-days scenario that is laid out in the Scriptures. We are told that Christ will come again, and while no one knows the day or the hour, we can read the signs - and as Jesus laid out in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew chapter 24, we can see occurrences on the earth that are setting the stage for these predictions to be fulfilled. Judgment is coming, before a true and righteous Judge, and we can ask the question - when Christ returns for His own, can we stand before Him knowing that we belong to Him? The only way to know is to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.
What if we could know...how would that affect our lives? Another interesting element is the self-evaluation that can take place in our lives. If we believe that Jesus will return, and that the church will be taken up into heaven 7 years prior to that time in the rapture, then how does that affect our lives? If we think that occasion is imminent, then how should that affect us? Would we be living with a sense of urgency?
And...if we were to know the day or the hour, if we knew we only had a few days to live - how would that change the way we live our lives? And shouldn't that be the way we live all of the time?
There was no shortage of coverage and commentary about this prediction. The Christian Post, not unexpectedly, had extensive coverage, including this sampling of evangelical leaders in advance of the May 21 date.
Noted Christian author and media observer Phil Cooke had these comments.
Blogger Timothy Dalrymple has attracted quite a bit of attention with this post.
3 (tie) - Obama delivers major speech on Middle East
This week, President Obama delivered a major speech on the Middle East. In addition to addressing the unrest present in a number of countries in the region, including Syria, where the most recent turmoil has emerged, the President stated what he claims has been U.S. policy for quite some time. He called on Israel to revert to its pre-1967 borders, which would essentially leave the regions of the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the control of someone else, presumably the Palestinians.
This suggestion was met with outright rejection by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described those borders as "indefensible". And, Christian leaders who have voiced support for the nation of Israel in the past were unified in expressing concern over the President's declaration.
A full-page ad that was run in the Jerusalem Post today featured a letter of support signed by a number of high-profile Christians, including James Dobson, Tim Wildmon, Mike Huckabee, Lou Sheldon, General Jerry Boykin, and many others. Here is a background story from World Net Daily. The corresponding website address is www.israelyourenotalone.com.
Check out analysis from Jimmy DeYoung of "Prophecy Today" at this link: http://news.prophecytoday.com.
The Bible instructs us to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem", and it's an important principle of Scripture to stand with Israel and the Jewish people. Even as Palestinian groups were making a unity declaration this week that carries with it a denunciation of Israel's right to exist, Christians who recognize that God has a plan for the nation of Israel regard support for that nation an important Biblical concept.
3 (tie) - Huck & Daniels exit, Cain & Pawlenty move ahead
Recent announcements were made by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, considered a frontrunner for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination, and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, whose pro-life credentials had undergone scrutiny in light of his call for a "truce" on social issues. These two leaders made public that they would not seek the nomination this time around.
Evangelicals are continuing to search for a candidate around whom they can unite. Throw in Donald Trump, too, who announced this week he would not seek the Presidency - he had declared himself to be pro-life, sort of, since past statements did not put him in that category. Nevertheless, he had turned a few heads in the evangelical community.
Two candidates who might be considered to be attractive to evangelicals, even though polling data still puts them in the relative unknown category, include former Godfather's Pizza CEO and ordained minister Herman Cain, formerly an Atlanta talk-show host who fared rather well in a South Carolina debate that was minus a number of the frontrunners, such as Palin and Romney. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is also generating some talk as a formidable candidate who can attract evangelical support. Cain announced his intentions to seek the Presidency this week, Pawlenty is expected to declare his desire to move forward in the coming week.
Mix in another Minnesotan - Representative Michele Bachmann - along with Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, and Newt Gingrich, who are attempting to appeal to religious, even evangelical voters, and you have a wide-open race with some challenging choices for Christians, who can be a powerful force at the ballot box - if they can unite behind a candidate or two.
2 - High school graduation controversies center on content, location
One of the noticeable trends regarding graduation ceremonies and religious freedom in the past years has been the emergence of restrictions that some school officials had placed on graduation speakers regarding the religious content of their messages. These attempts to limit the free speech rights of these students have led to intervention by Christian legal advocacy organizations and lawsuits in some instances.
That element of graduation controversy continues to proliferate across America, and now, a new area concerning graduation has developed - attempts to keep graduation ceremonies out of church buildings. One high-profile case gained quite a bit of coverage last year in Enfield, Connecticut, where a large church had been hosting graduations for a number of years. A Federal judge had, in fact, issued a injunction against the ceremony being held there.
Just this week, the Irving, Texas school district said that it would no longer use the facilities of The Potter's House church, pastored by Bishop T.D. Jakes, for its graduation ceremonies. In Lufkin, Texas, the practice of allowing certain school functions to take place in a church has been challenged. A Colorado Springs school that wanted to hold this past week's scheduled graduation in the large New Life Church facility had to suddenly relocate.
An Ocean City, New Jersey school planned its graduation ceremony in a church that has a 20-foot cross affixed to its exterior. The school district had come under fire there, even to the extent of the ACLU demanding that the cross on the front of the building be covered.
These and other instances are examples of a misinterpretation of the Constitutional concept of "establishment of religion". Just because an event sponsored by a governmental entity takes place in a building used for worship, that does not violate the so-called "separation of church and state". These are, unfortunately, baseless attempts to try to reduce the awareness of God from the consciousness of society.
1 - "Rapture Fail" raises questions
The better-known-than-it-should-be prediction of Harold Camping, the head of an organization of radio stations known as Family Radio, has now been proven false, and it is unknown what implications this might have for a multi-million-dollar broadcast network that has been seriously discredited by the failure of Camping's prediction of the "end of the world".
There are a few considerations that we can take away from this incident:
The willingness of media to concentrate on extreme religious views. By no means could Camping and his lot be considered to be mainstream Christians. But, because of the enormous amount of media attention, highly regarded Christian leaders were being asked to go on the record to share their views. The good news is that this coverage did give added exposure to traditional, Scriptural Christian thought. Camping had predicted the return of the Lord back in 1994, but I don't recall the amount of coverage then - but now, with the Internet and the huge variety of media sources, there was a groundswell of interest in the story, and Camping became repackaged as someone worthy of media attention. The story was met with skepticism and even mockery in some circles, but, if the broad brush is applied too broadly, the perception can be that Christians, in general, are a bit off-base, and could diminish the credibility of the true gospel message. I am thankful for the Biblical rebuttal that was reported in the midst of the proliferation of attention on the story.
The second coming of Christ became a discussion topic and could be an evangelism tool. So, as we return to our workplaces, schools, and places of influence this week, we do have an opportunity to discuss the truth of God's Word. The Rapture, Second Coming of Christ, Judgment Day, End of the World, whatever it was supposed to be - did not come, but that does not and should not divert attention from the last-days scenario that is laid out in the Scriptures. We are told that Christ will come again, and while no one knows the day or the hour, we can read the signs - and as Jesus laid out in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew chapter 24, we can see occurrences on the earth that are setting the stage for these predictions to be fulfilled. Judgment is coming, before a true and righteous Judge, and we can ask the question - when Christ returns for His own, can we stand before Him knowing that we belong to Him? The only way to know is to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.
What if we could know...how would that affect our lives? Another interesting element is the self-evaluation that can take place in our lives. If we believe that Jesus will return, and that the church will be taken up into heaven 7 years prior to that time in the rapture, then how does that affect our lives? If we think that occasion is imminent, then how should that affect us? Would we be living with a sense of urgency?
And...if we were to know the day or the hour, if we knew we only had a few days to live - how would that change the way we live our lives? And shouldn't that be the way we live all of the time?
There was no shortage of coverage and commentary about this prediction. The Christian Post, not unexpectedly, had extensive coverage, including this sampling of evangelical leaders in advance of the May 21 date.
Noted Christian author and media observer Phil Cooke had these comments.
Blogger Timothy Dalrymple has attracted quite a bit of attention with this post.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The 3 - May 14, 2011
This week's edition of "The 3" includes a number of high-profile stories, including a tie for second place. You'll read some good news about the health of a well-known Christian leader, the future of government funding of Planned Parenthood in Indiana, court arguments regarding health care, and the ordination of gay clergy in a major denomination.
3 - Billy Graham hospitalized with pneumonia, released
On the same day that one giant of the faith was honored in a memorial service, another came home from a 5-day hospital stay. David Wilkerson's memorial service was held at the church he founded, the Times Square Church in New York City, on Sunday. Wilkerson had lost his life in an automobile accident in Texas on April 27...his wife remains in the hospital, but her condition is improving.
Meanwhile, many across America were no doubt praying for Dr. Billy Graham as he endured a 5-day hospital stay, returning home on Sunday. He was hospitalized as the result of pneumonia. The 92-year-old evangelist reportedly responded well to treatment, and carried out a fairly normal routine, meeting for prayer and Bible study with his pastor, and visiting with family members.
2 (tie) - Indiana governor signs bill to defund Planned Parenthood
Much of the debate about taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, has played out on the national level, as the U.S. House of Representatives has voted twice to not allow government subsidies for the organization. The Senate, meanwhile, in a recent vote, decided to allow taxpayer funding to stand.
But, there are state and local decisions that can be made regarding the sending of tax dollars to Planned Parenthood. The Indiana Legislature had passed a bill that would prevent the state government from funding any entity that performs abortions or allows the procedure to be performed at its facility. The bill also bans most abortions after 20 weeks and strengthens the state's informed consent law. After the Legislature passed the bill, all eyes were on Governor Mitch Daniels, who is viewed as a pro-life, pro-family Christian who had raised concern in the evangelical community over his call for a "truce" on social issues, claiming that the economic issues the nation faces should supersede such issues as life and marriage.
Daniels signed the bill, which may have raised his credibility with evangelicals who are looking for some candidate, any candidate they can support in 2012. And, with the departure of Mike Huckabee as a 2012 Presidential candidate, it's still possible that Daniels could look to evangelical Christians as a voter base. However, Daniels later this week said that he would consider Condoleezza Rice, a former Secretary of State whose position on abortion would be described as "pro-choice", a good Vice-Presidential nominee.
Will Daniels succeed in motivating evangelical voters? Who knows. And no one knows if he will run at all...
2 (tie) - Christian university appeals Federal judge's ruling in health care case
Oral arguments in the first private lawsuit filed against the Federal health care law were heard in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia this week. Liberty University had filed suit, saying that the individual and the employer mandates in the law were unconstitutional. A Federal district judge had ruled against the school, which resulted in the appeal. The same day, subsequent to the Liberty case, the Court heard arguments in a case where the Attorney General of the state of Virginia had challenged the individual mandate. The judge in that case had ruled in favor of AG Ken Cuccinelli in the state's challenge.
No matter what the Court's ruling, the cases are expected to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, along with 2 other cases, including the one filed by some 26 state attorneys general, which resulted in a Federal district judge finding the entirety of the law to be unconstitutional.
1 - Presbyterian Church USA votes to ordain homosexuals
After a lengthy process involving regional body after regional body voting to allow the ordination of gay clergy in committed relationships, the most recent of these bodies, or presbyteries, of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., voted to affirm this decision, resulting in it becoming part of the denomination's constitution.
The change to the denomination's constitution was approved by the General Assembly last summer, but 87 presbyteries had to vote to go along. The requirement for clergy to practice fidelity in a marriage relationship between a man and a woman, as well as chastity in singleness has been eliminated.
Some supporting this measure claim that society has changed, therefore the church must adapt to these cultural trends. But, the fact remains that the teaching of the Scriptures is that this behavior is sinful. Furthermore, while homosexual practice has gained greater acceptance, perhaps, a recent study shows that less than 2 percent of the adult population, or some 4 million adults, are gay. Yet, church denominations, the Federal government, state governments, and corporations are drafting policy based on a very small percentage of the population.
Gay activists, who speak with a loud voice and have drafted the mainstream media as accomplices in their exaggeration of demographic power, have sought to distort and desensitize the general population - they are not, and should not be a protected class, and their brazen attempt to legitimize unbiblical behavior has resulted in many in the church exercising excessive restraint in speaking out firmly in opposition to it. Speaking the truth - in love - is Biblical direction; it's not bullying and it's not intolerance when we point out practice that does not square with the Scriptures.
3 - Billy Graham hospitalized with pneumonia, released
On the same day that one giant of the faith was honored in a memorial service, another came home from a 5-day hospital stay. David Wilkerson's memorial service was held at the church he founded, the Times Square Church in New York City, on Sunday. Wilkerson had lost his life in an automobile accident in Texas on April 27...his wife remains in the hospital, but her condition is improving.
Meanwhile, many across America were no doubt praying for Dr. Billy Graham as he endured a 5-day hospital stay, returning home on Sunday. He was hospitalized as the result of pneumonia. The 92-year-old evangelist reportedly responded well to treatment, and carried out a fairly normal routine, meeting for prayer and Bible study with his pastor, and visiting with family members.
2 (tie) - Indiana governor signs bill to defund Planned Parenthood
Much of the debate about taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, has played out on the national level, as the U.S. House of Representatives has voted twice to not allow government subsidies for the organization. The Senate, meanwhile, in a recent vote, decided to allow taxpayer funding to stand.
But, there are state and local decisions that can be made regarding the sending of tax dollars to Planned Parenthood. The Indiana Legislature had passed a bill that would prevent the state government from funding any entity that performs abortions or allows the procedure to be performed at its facility. The bill also bans most abortions after 20 weeks and strengthens the state's informed consent law. After the Legislature passed the bill, all eyes were on Governor Mitch Daniels, who is viewed as a pro-life, pro-family Christian who had raised concern in the evangelical community over his call for a "truce" on social issues, claiming that the economic issues the nation faces should supersede such issues as life and marriage.
Daniels signed the bill, which may have raised his credibility with evangelicals who are looking for some candidate, any candidate they can support in 2012. And, with the departure of Mike Huckabee as a 2012 Presidential candidate, it's still possible that Daniels could look to evangelical Christians as a voter base. However, Daniels later this week said that he would consider Condoleezza Rice, a former Secretary of State whose position on abortion would be described as "pro-choice", a good Vice-Presidential nominee.
Will Daniels succeed in motivating evangelical voters? Who knows. And no one knows if he will run at all...
2 (tie) - Christian university appeals Federal judge's ruling in health care case
Oral arguments in the first private lawsuit filed against the Federal health care law were heard in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia this week. Liberty University had filed suit, saying that the individual and the employer mandates in the law were unconstitutional. A Federal district judge had ruled against the school, which resulted in the appeal. The same day, subsequent to the Liberty case, the Court heard arguments in a case where the Attorney General of the state of Virginia had challenged the individual mandate. The judge in that case had ruled in favor of AG Ken Cuccinelli in the state's challenge.
No matter what the Court's ruling, the cases are expected to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, along with 2 other cases, including the one filed by some 26 state attorneys general, which resulted in a Federal district judge finding the entirety of the law to be unconstitutional.
1 - Presbyterian Church USA votes to ordain homosexuals
After a lengthy process involving regional body after regional body voting to allow the ordination of gay clergy in committed relationships, the most recent of these bodies, or presbyteries, of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., voted to affirm this decision, resulting in it becoming part of the denomination's constitution.
The change to the denomination's constitution was approved by the General Assembly last summer, but 87 presbyteries had to vote to go along. The requirement for clergy to practice fidelity in a marriage relationship between a man and a woman, as well as chastity in singleness has been eliminated.
Some supporting this measure claim that society has changed, therefore the church must adapt to these cultural trends. But, the fact remains that the teaching of the Scriptures is that this behavior is sinful. Furthermore, while homosexual practice has gained greater acceptance, perhaps, a recent study shows that less than 2 percent of the adult population, or some 4 million adults, are gay. Yet, church denominations, the Federal government, state governments, and corporations are drafting policy based on a very small percentage of the population.
Gay activists, who speak with a loud voice and have drafted the mainstream media as accomplices in their exaggeration of demographic power, have sought to distort and desensitize the general population - they are not, and should not be a protected class, and their brazen attempt to legitimize unbiblical behavior has resulted in many in the church exercising excessive restraint in speaking out firmly in opposition to it. Speaking the truth - in love - is Biblical direction; it's not bullying and it's not intolerance when we point out practice that does not square with the Scriptures.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
The 3 - May 7, 2011
This week's edition of "The 3" continues to maintain awareness of a story that has brought great sadness to our region, but also a great sense of hope, as people have responded in incredible ways. Also, the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer has come and gone, with a renewed emphasis on praying for our nation, our leaders, and the substantial issues we face. And, the top story: the death of a terror mastermind and the spiritual implications.
3 - Massive number of Christian workers, as well as Christian leaders, visit tornado-ravaged area
It's been a week-and-a-half since deadly tornadoes scratched deep paths of destruction across the Deep South, with hundreds dead, thousands injured, and scores of homes and businesses left as no more than piles of rubble. Governmental agencies from the Federal and State government swung into action, as we have come to expect, and the initial reviews are that they are doing an excellent job of bringing needed assistance to the victims.
But, as we saw in Katrina and as we have seen in other disasters, the Christian community has become a potent force in bringing relief to the multiple affected areas. Churches and church organizations, some with armies of trained volunteers, have brought the requested assistance that has been so greatly needed. In fact, there are instances where some areas had an overabundance of volunteers to help clean up debris. Social media has been a powerful tool in providing information about locations in need, and people appear more than willing to provide.
Christian musicians are calling attention to the devastation and have brought hope to the affected areas. Last Sunday night in Cullman, Alabama, Casting Crowns performed before a gathering of some 15,000 people. Michael W. Smith was in Tuscaloosa on Monday to work with Samaritan's Purse, which has a strong presence in the area. And, Mac Powell of Third Day and evangelist David Nasser, who teamed up for the "Glory Revealed" project, announced that they would be involved in a Tornado Relief concert in Birmingham on May 15th. The website is www.makeyourmovebenefit.com.
2 - National Day of Prayer unites thousands of Christian believers nationwide
This year, estimated millions of Christians gathered across the nation for the observance of the National Day of Prayer. In 1952, during the Truman administration, Congress issued a directive for a National Day of Prayer to be proclaimed annually by the President, and this was done this year by President Obama. The Freedom from Religion Foundation had sued to have this directive declared unconstitutional, and a Federal court judge had actually found this Congressional action to be a violation of the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment. That ruling was overturned by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just weeks ago.
Here is a National Day of Prayer report from CitizenLink.
In 1988, the National Day of Prayer was established as the first Thursday of May, and this year, it was observed in the nation's capital in the Cannon House Office Building, with Honorary Chairperson of this year's observance, Joni Eareckson Tada, on hand, along with a number of faith leaders from the Christian community, as well as members of Congress and more. The event was broadcast live on the Internet.
Across the nation, many churches held special services, including prayer breakfasts and evening prayer gatherings. County courthouses and other municipal locations were sites for special meetings across the county, as civic leaders joined with local ministers and citizens to call upon the Lord on behalf of our nation and a variety of topic areas, including government, military, media, business, media, education, church, and family.
1 - Death of bin Laden brings evaluation of proper Christian response
Late last Sunday night, President Obama announced that al-Qaeda leader and 9-11 mastermind Osama bin Laden had been killed by a group of highly trained U.S. special forces who carried out a carefully-planned, strategic operation that had been in the works for months. Almost instantly, Americans took to the streets in celebration - at the White House, at Times Square, and there was a sense of jubilation across the land.
For Christians and Christian leaders, the death of bin Laden does arouse some questions...Should we celebrate the death of another person, even someone who had wrought so much evil, who even did it in the name of religion, exploiting the teachings of Islam to incite death and destruction? Osama bin Laden had not professed faith in Christ, so it is to be assumed that he will spend eternity in hell, apart from God. So, I don't think we, as Christians, should necessarily rejoice in his death.
But, we can be grateful that justice was done. It was pointed out by Mindy Belz, Editor of WORLD Magazine, in an interview that I recorded several days ago, that our jubilation over bin Laden's death can be compared to past celebrations such as V-E Day or V-J Day, celebrating not the death of enemies but the triumph of America and the fulfillment of justice. Mindy has written an excellent article for WORLD on the next steps in dealing with terror. The interview is scheduled to air on The Meeting House on Tuesday, May 10th.
The fact is, al-Qaeda is still alive and well, and it's important that the U.S. government recognizes the threat and the intricacies of the worldwide organization which has set itself in opposition against America. It is important that we recognize the spiritual dynamics of the struggle, and see that those involved in Islamic jihad, or holy war, against America and its allies, most notably Israel, are operating under the false belief that their treacherous actions will please Allah and result in eternal rewards. Christians recognize that Allah is not the God of the Bible, and following the teachings of the Koran can place someone in direct conflict with the principles of Scripture. To ignore or downplay the threat of Islamic fundamentalism in the name of tolerance or to not to see it as a spiritual conflict places our nation in peril - it must be recognized, confronted, and defended against.
There were plenty of comments from Christian leaders about bin Laden's death. Here is a sampling:
Michael Horton of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals from Christianity Today
Christopher Morgan had these thoughts on The Gospel Coalition blog
The Christian Post had this analysis
And, for a variety of perspectives, check out this piece from Charisma magazine
3 - Massive number of Christian workers, as well as Christian leaders, visit tornado-ravaged area
It's been a week-and-a-half since deadly tornadoes scratched deep paths of destruction across the Deep South, with hundreds dead, thousands injured, and scores of homes and businesses left as no more than piles of rubble. Governmental agencies from the Federal and State government swung into action, as we have come to expect, and the initial reviews are that they are doing an excellent job of bringing needed assistance to the victims.
But, as we saw in Katrina and as we have seen in other disasters, the Christian community has become a potent force in bringing relief to the multiple affected areas. Churches and church organizations, some with armies of trained volunteers, have brought the requested assistance that has been so greatly needed. In fact, there are instances where some areas had an overabundance of volunteers to help clean up debris. Social media has been a powerful tool in providing information about locations in need, and people appear more than willing to provide.
Christian musicians are calling attention to the devastation and have brought hope to the affected areas. Last Sunday night in Cullman, Alabama, Casting Crowns performed before a gathering of some 15,000 people. Michael W. Smith was in Tuscaloosa on Monday to work with Samaritan's Purse, which has a strong presence in the area. And, Mac Powell of Third Day and evangelist David Nasser, who teamed up for the "Glory Revealed" project, announced that they would be involved in a Tornado Relief concert in Birmingham on May 15th. The website is www.makeyourmovebenefit.com.
2 - National Day of Prayer unites thousands of Christian believers nationwide
This year, estimated millions of Christians gathered across the nation for the observance of the National Day of Prayer. In 1952, during the Truman administration, Congress issued a directive for a National Day of Prayer to be proclaimed annually by the President, and this was done this year by President Obama. The Freedom from Religion Foundation had sued to have this directive declared unconstitutional, and a Federal court judge had actually found this Congressional action to be a violation of the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment. That ruling was overturned by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just weeks ago.
Here is a National Day of Prayer report from CitizenLink.
In 1988, the National Day of Prayer was established as the first Thursday of May, and this year, it was observed in the nation's capital in the Cannon House Office Building, with Honorary Chairperson of this year's observance, Joni Eareckson Tada, on hand, along with a number of faith leaders from the Christian community, as well as members of Congress and more. The event was broadcast live on the Internet.
Across the nation, many churches held special services, including prayer breakfasts and evening prayer gatherings. County courthouses and other municipal locations were sites for special meetings across the county, as civic leaders joined with local ministers and citizens to call upon the Lord on behalf of our nation and a variety of topic areas, including government, military, media, business, media, education, church, and family.
1 - Death of bin Laden brings evaluation of proper Christian response
Late last Sunday night, President Obama announced that al-Qaeda leader and 9-11 mastermind Osama bin Laden had been killed by a group of highly trained U.S. special forces who carried out a carefully-planned, strategic operation that had been in the works for months. Almost instantly, Americans took to the streets in celebration - at the White House, at Times Square, and there was a sense of jubilation across the land.
For Christians and Christian leaders, the death of bin Laden does arouse some questions...Should we celebrate the death of another person, even someone who had wrought so much evil, who even did it in the name of religion, exploiting the teachings of Islam to incite death and destruction? Osama bin Laden had not professed faith in Christ, so it is to be assumed that he will spend eternity in hell, apart from God. So, I don't think we, as Christians, should necessarily rejoice in his death.
But, we can be grateful that justice was done. It was pointed out by Mindy Belz, Editor of WORLD Magazine, in an interview that I recorded several days ago, that our jubilation over bin Laden's death can be compared to past celebrations such as V-E Day or V-J Day, celebrating not the death of enemies but the triumph of America and the fulfillment of justice. Mindy has written an excellent article for WORLD on the next steps in dealing with terror. The interview is scheduled to air on The Meeting House on Tuesday, May 10th.
The fact is, al-Qaeda is still alive and well, and it's important that the U.S. government recognizes the threat and the intricacies of the worldwide organization which has set itself in opposition against America. It is important that we recognize the spiritual dynamics of the struggle, and see that those involved in Islamic jihad, or holy war, against America and its allies, most notably Israel, are operating under the false belief that their treacherous actions will please Allah and result in eternal rewards. Christians recognize that Allah is not the God of the Bible, and following the teachings of the Koran can place someone in direct conflict with the principles of Scripture. To ignore or downplay the threat of Islamic fundamentalism in the name of tolerance or to not to see it as a spiritual conflict places our nation in peril - it must be recognized, confronted, and defended against.
There were plenty of comments from Christian leaders about bin Laden's death. Here is a sampling:
Michael Horton of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals from Christianity Today
Christopher Morgan had these thoughts on The Gospel Coalition blog
The Christian Post had this analysis
And, for a variety of perspectives, check out this piece from Charisma magazine
Sunday, May 01, 2011
The 3 - May 1, 2011
This week, with so many in the listening area of The Meeting House and Faith Radio praying and attempting to help the victims of the storms that struck the Northern and Central sections of Alabama on Wednesday, there is no doubt that is the top story affecting the Christian community - and in times like these, yes, we can count on the Christian community reaching out with the compassion of Christ. Also, this week, the death of a iconic Christian leader, and the strong stand by an attorney for the legal definition of marriage.
3 - Times Square Church, Teen Challenge founder David Wilkerson killed in car accident
This week, Christians mourned the death of David Wilkerson, who swerved into the path of an 18-wheeler while driving in Texas. He was 79 years old. Wilkerson left a legacy of sharing the love and power of Christ with people trapped in situations threatening their very existence. In his book, "The Cross and the Switchblade", he wrote about life among gang members in New York City. The organization he founded, Teen Challenge, has a remarkable track record in reaching out to people with life-controlling addictions, including substance abuse.
Here is a synopsis of the life and ministry of Wilkerson from The Christian Post.
Wilkerson is the founder of Times Square Church in New York City, which was established in 1986 and is now housed in a theater on Broadway. He had turned over the reins of the pastorate to Carter Conlon, who had recently brought a ministry team from the church to Alabama. Wilkerson was recognized for his no-nonsense, passionate approach to sharing the gospel, and his work with the destitute was a true mark of this ministry.
2 - Defense of Marriage Act attorney leaves firm; continues defense
It was a topsy-turvy week regarding the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed overwhelmingly by Congress in 1996 and signed by then-President Bill Clinton. In light of pending court challenges to the Act, establishing marriage as one-man, one-women, effective defense counsel had to be put in place. The Obama Administration abdicated its duty to defend DOMA, and the House of Representatives had stepped in to name the law firm of King and Spalding, specifically attorney Paul Clement, a former Solicitor General (that's the lead attorney arguing cases on behalf of the U.S. Government), as the lead counsel to defend the law...
...but under pressure from the Human Rights Campaign and apparently other pro-homosexual groups, King and Spalding announced it would no longer defend DOMA. No problem - Clement resigned from the firm and has announced his intention to carry on the defense.
Here is a report from CitizenLink.
And, this move has cost King and Spalding some business - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has announced the end of his office's two-year relationship with the firm, specifically due to its action on DOMA. King and Spalding has also come under fire because of its dropping of the case after agreeing to take it, which demonstrates questionable legal ethics.
1 - Deadly tornadoes ravage South; churches and Christian organizations spring in to action
The second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history caused extensive, even catastrophic damage to sections of a number of Southern states. The death toll at this time is approaching 350 people, and many communities are still trying to address the incredible needs that have arisen from this tragedy. Over 250 are dead in Alabama, and the expectations are that the toll will continue to rise. Governor Robert Bentley declared Sunday, May 1st, as a Day of Prayer, as we remember the victims of the storms of April 27th, their families, and the overall relief efforts.
President Obama visited the state on Friday, and promised Federal aid for individuals and families in need through FEMA. State emergency officials are also working to help provide needed assistance to those experiencing loss. As we have seen in past disasters, a vast number of churches and Christian ministries are highly involved in providing not only physical assistance but also spiritual encouragement in this time of difficulty.
Churches across Alabama and throughout the nation have devoted time and effort to collecting monetary donations and supplies to send to the victims. Churches in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and other Southern cities are acting as staging areas and partnering with other churches outside the affected regions to address the needs of those who have experienced damage and displacement. Denominational organizations, such as the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, United Methodist Committe of Relief (UMCOR), and other, have been active in providing needed support.
And, national organizations such as Samaritan's Purse, working with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, as well as the Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope, and others are working with local churches and organizations to provide needed services and resources.
Governor Bentley's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives will administer the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund, which will operate on an ongoing basis to help Alabamians who have exhausted all other avenues of disaster relief. You can go to www.servealabama.gov for additional information.
And, of course, the American Red Cross and local EMA officials have been extremely involved in helping the suffering.
Faith Radio has established a link for area churches that have notified us of special opportunities. It is found at http://tornadorelief.faithradio.org.
3 - Times Square Church, Teen Challenge founder David Wilkerson killed in car accident
This week, Christians mourned the death of David Wilkerson, who swerved into the path of an 18-wheeler while driving in Texas. He was 79 years old. Wilkerson left a legacy of sharing the love and power of Christ with people trapped in situations threatening their very existence. In his book, "The Cross and the Switchblade", he wrote about life among gang members in New York City. The organization he founded, Teen Challenge, has a remarkable track record in reaching out to people with life-controlling addictions, including substance abuse.
Here is a synopsis of the life and ministry of Wilkerson from The Christian Post.
Wilkerson is the founder of Times Square Church in New York City, which was established in 1986 and is now housed in a theater on Broadway. He had turned over the reins of the pastorate to Carter Conlon, who had recently brought a ministry team from the church to Alabama. Wilkerson was recognized for his no-nonsense, passionate approach to sharing the gospel, and his work with the destitute was a true mark of this ministry.
2 - Defense of Marriage Act attorney leaves firm; continues defense
It was a topsy-turvy week regarding the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed overwhelmingly by Congress in 1996 and signed by then-President Bill Clinton. In light of pending court challenges to the Act, establishing marriage as one-man, one-women, effective defense counsel had to be put in place. The Obama Administration abdicated its duty to defend DOMA, and the House of Representatives had stepped in to name the law firm of King and Spalding, specifically attorney Paul Clement, a former Solicitor General (that's the lead attorney arguing cases on behalf of the U.S. Government), as the lead counsel to defend the law...
...but under pressure from the Human Rights Campaign and apparently other pro-homosexual groups, King and Spalding announced it would no longer defend DOMA. No problem - Clement resigned from the firm and has announced his intention to carry on the defense.
Here is a report from CitizenLink.
And, this move has cost King and Spalding some business - Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has announced the end of his office's two-year relationship with the firm, specifically due to its action on DOMA. King and Spalding has also come under fire because of its dropping of the case after agreeing to take it, which demonstrates questionable legal ethics.
1 - Deadly tornadoes ravage South; churches and Christian organizations spring in to action
The second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history caused extensive, even catastrophic damage to sections of a number of Southern states. The death toll at this time is approaching 350 people, and many communities are still trying to address the incredible needs that have arisen from this tragedy. Over 250 are dead in Alabama, and the expectations are that the toll will continue to rise. Governor Robert Bentley declared Sunday, May 1st, as a Day of Prayer, as we remember the victims of the storms of April 27th, their families, and the overall relief efforts.
President Obama visited the state on Friday, and promised Federal aid for individuals and families in need through FEMA. State emergency officials are also working to help provide needed assistance to those experiencing loss. As we have seen in past disasters, a vast number of churches and Christian ministries are highly involved in providing not only physical assistance but also spiritual encouragement in this time of difficulty.
Churches across Alabama and throughout the nation have devoted time and effort to collecting monetary donations and supplies to send to the victims. Churches in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and other Southern cities are acting as staging areas and partnering with other churches outside the affected regions to address the needs of those who have experienced damage and displacement. Denominational organizations, such as the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, United Methodist Committe of Relief (UMCOR), and other, have been active in providing needed support.
And, national organizations such as Samaritan's Purse, working with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, as well as the Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope, and others are working with local churches and organizations to provide needed services and resources.
Governor Bentley's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives will administer the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund, which will operate on an ongoing basis to help Alabamians who have exhausted all other avenues of disaster relief. You can go to www.servealabama.gov for additional information.
And, of course, the American Red Cross and local EMA officials have been extremely involved in helping the suffering.
Faith Radio has established a link for area churches that have notified us of special opportunities. It is found at http://tornadorelief.faithradio.org.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
The 3 - April 24, 2011
This Easter weekend edition of my week-in-review feature that I call "The 3" focuses on: an FBI action concerning illegal gambling, a new legal team to defend the Federal definition of marriage, and the celebration of Christ's resurrection across America and around the world.
3 - Online gambling sites shut down by FBI
The gambling issue presents a challenge for the Christian community, as we recognize that gambling is an addictive practice that promises a false hope of achievement. Money that can be used to provide for the needs of families instead goes into the pockets of gambling purveyors, who profit from the weaknesses of their customers.
In many states across America, the legalization of various forms of gambling has resulted in an attempt to provide another revenue source, even though it is unreliable. These forms include state lotteries, as well the taxation of casinos or electronic bingo halls. But, the benefits to governments are dependent on their citizens, in many cases the poorest, losing money. So, gambling is a bad bet generally, including as public policy issue - a governmental entity should not be endorsing gambling and encouraging people to participate.
The Federal government passed legislation 4 years ago that would prohibit online gambling and set criminal penalties for gambling operators whose sites are available in the U.S. That legislation only took effect last summer, and this week, under the provision of that law, the Unlawful Gambling Internet Enforcement Act, the FBI has shut down three of the largest online poker sites. Here is the story from CitizenLink.
But, there are those in Congress that want to look the other way with regard to the dangerous activity of online gambling. In fact, near the end of last year, Senator Harry Reid, in a move believed to reward casino operators who contributed to his campaign, attempted to pass legislation that would repeal the Unlawful Gambling Internet Enforcement Act. Rep. Barney Frank has re-introduced what is described as bi-partisan legislation that would establish a framework for an Internet gambling industry in the U.S. This is no doubt an effort that will legitimize a very harmful activity with, in essence, government endorsement.
Gambling is an issue about which it's important for the church to speak out. Scores of families are being adversely affected as a result of this idolatrous activity, which harms the economic well-being of individuals and those they love. In an era where governments are cash-strapped and looking for revenue sources, this is a poor suggestion as a solution. In a time when Republicans are being courted by a high-profile casino owner as a potential Presidential candidate, the gambling issue needs to become prevalent in the national dialogue.
Fortunately, in Alabama, where 11 individuals, including 2 casino owners and 4 lawmakers, were indicted on Federal charges related to buying votes for a gambling bill, the prospect of expanded gambling has waned. (Plus, factor in a sizable shift in the ideological makeup of the Legislature.) One of those involved in the case, Country Crossing owner Ronnie Gilley, pleaded guilty this week and will reportedly be cooperating with Federal officials. But this case does point to the alleged corruption that is associated with gambling.
Gambling leaves numerous victims in its wake, and one area in which churches can be involved is in the healing process from gambling addiction. Truly, it is a faith in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that offers hope to those who are in bondage to gambling.
2 - Defense of Federal Defense of Marriage Act strengthened
There was quite a bit of concern in the Christian and pro-family community when the Obama Administration announced it would no longer defend the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This was especially critical in that there were two Federal lawsuits at the time that were being litigated concerning DOMA, which provides for marriage to be defined at the Federal level as one man for one woman.
However, there were indications that since the Administration ultimately wanted to overturn the Act, that it was not vigorously defending it in court. So, if there was to be an effective defense of DOMA, it would have to be done by someone else. Enter House Speaker John Boehner, who said that Congress would assume its Constitutional responsibility to defend Federal law, and that intent was ratified by a committee that he had appointed. This week, former Solicitor General Paul Clement, who served in that role in the (George W.) Bush Administration, was appointed as the lead counsel.
Pro-family leaders were ecstatic. For instance, Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, said:
"At last we have a legal eagle on this case who actually wants to win in court! Paul Clement is a genuinely distinguished lawyer, a former Solicitor General of the United States, who we are confident will win this case. Thanks to Speaker Boehner's actions, President Obama's attempt to sabotage the legal defense of DOMA is not going to work."
Here is the text of a press release issued by NOM, who is also heavily involved in the battle over the marriage amendment, Proposition 8, in California.
There are two court cases in Massachusetts where intervention will be needed soon in order to defend the traditional definition of marriage, consistent with the definition found in the Bible - one man for one woman. Even though the momentum may have been drifting in the other direction, perhaps this can represent a turnaround in the process to preserve the definition of marriage.
1 - He is risen, indeed!!
The greatest news for the Christian is that Jesus Christ, our Savior, is risen from the dead! Easter is the date on the calendar set aside to commemorate what He has done for us. The resurrection was the culmination of the process that was essentially begun at the foundation of the world to bring redemption to humanity. Jesus was born as a man, lived a perfect, sinless life, and was qualified to be the perfect substitute for our sins. He died on a cross, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and triumphed over the power of sin and death through His resurrection. Christians uniquely celebrate this day, and many churches and organizations have used creative means to mark this joyous occasion.
For instance, some 2000 people gathered in a park in Houston, Texas to perform a dance to celebrate that Jesus is alive. The event, called, "Dance Your Shoes Off", also featured the element of participants leaving shoes for the needy after their dance. The event was filmed, and has attracted quite a bit of attention on YouTube.
For more information, visit www.second.org. The song is "Rise Up", performed by Lauren James Camey and produced by Caedmon's Call member Joshua Moore.
On Good Friday, the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham hosted another of its "Secret Church" events, conducted by Senior Pastor David Platt, a 6-hour period of Bible teaching designed to simulate the setting in which many in underground churches around the world might be worshipping. These highly popular events have been hosted by Brook Hills in the past, but this year's Good Friday event featured an estimated 1400 churches participating via simulcast, with a projected attendance of around 50,000 people. It's a solemn event marking a solemn occasion, reflecting on Jesus' suffering and how Christians are suffering around the world. For more information, here is the Secret Church simulcast website.
And, in a number of cities around the world, Christians took part in a unique walk through the city streets, with one or more people carrying a cross, representing the cross that Christ bore. For example, in Mumbai, India, some 15,000 people gathered for the annual event, which also served to protest the treatment of Christians in that country. Here's the Christian Post article about the occasion.
And, finally, on a lighter note, Community Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, decided to make a parody of Rebecca Black's "Friday" video in an effort to attract attention for its Easter services. Here's an example of a church attempting to be creative, playing off really a cultural sensation (no matter how cheesy!)...it's had over 2-1/2 million views on YouTube, if you can believe that.
He is risen!! Bless His Holy name!
3 - Online gambling sites shut down by FBI
The gambling issue presents a challenge for the Christian community, as we recognize that gambling is an addictive practice that promises a false hope of achievement. Money that can be used to provide for the needs of families instead goes into the pockets of gambling purveyors, who profit from the weaknesses of their customers.
In many states across America, the legalization of various forms of gambling has resulted in an attempt to provide another revenue source, even though it is unreliable. These forms include state lotteries, as well the taxation of casinos or electronic bingo halls. But, the benefits to governments are dependent on their citizens, in many cases the poorest, losing money. So, gambling is a bad bet generally, including as public policy issue - a governmental entity should not be endorsing gambling and encouraging people to participate.
The Federal government passed legislation 4 years ago that would prohibit online gambling and set criminal penalties for gambling operators whose sites are available in the U.S. That legislation only took effect last summer, and this week, under the provision of that law, the Unlawful Gambling Internet Enforcement Act, the FBI has shut down three of the largest online poker sites. Here is the story from CitizenLink.
But, there are those in Congress that want to look the other way with regard to the dangerous activity of online gambling. In fact, near the end of last year, Senator Harry Reid, in a move believed to reward casino operators who contributed to his campaign, attempted to pass legislation that would repeal the Unlawful Gambling Internet Enforcement Act. Rep. Barney Frank has re-introduced what is described as bi-partisan legislation that would establish a framework for an Internet gambling industry in the U.S. This is no doubt an effort that will legitimize a very harmful activity with, in essence, government endorsement.
Gambling is an issue about which it's important for the church to speak out. Scores of families are being adversely affected as a result of this idolatrous activity, which harms the economic well-being of individuals and those they love. In an era where governments are cash-strapped and looking for revenue sources, this is a poor suggestion as a solution. In a time when Republicans are being courted by a high-profile casino owner as a potential Presidential candidate, the gambling issue needs to become prevalent in the national dialogue.
Fortunately, in Alabama, where 11 individuals, including 2 casino owners and 4 lawmakers, were indicted on Federal charges related to buying votes for a gambling bill, the prospect of expanded gambling has waned. (Plus, factor in a sizable shift in the ideological makeup of the Legislature.) One of those involved in the case, Country Crossing owner Ronnie Gilley, pleaded guilty this week and will reportedly be cooperating with Federal officials. But this case does point to the alleged corruption that is associated with gambling.
Gambling leaves numerous victims in its wake, and one area in which churches can be involved is in the healing process from gambling addiction. Truly, it is a faith in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that offers hope to those who are in bondage to gambling.
2 - Defense of Federal Defense of Marriage Act strengthened
There was quite a bit of concern in the Christian and pro-family community when the Obama Administration announced it would no longer defend the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This was especially critical in that there were two Federal lawsuits at the time that were being litigated concerning DOMA, which provides for marriage to be defined at the Federal level as one man for one woman.
However, there were indications that since the Administration ultimately wanted to overturn the Act, that it was not vigorously defending it in court. So, if there was to be an effective defense of DOMA, it would have to be done by someone else. Enter House Speaker John Boehner, who said that Congress would assume its Constitutional responsibility to defend Federal law, and that intent was ratified by a committee that he had appointed. This week, former Solicitor General Paul Clement, who served in that role in the (George W.) Bush Administration, was appointed as the lead counsel.
Pro-family leaders were ecstatic. For instance, Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, said:
"At last we have a legal eagle on this case who actually wants to win in court! Paul Clement is a genuinely distinguished lawyer, a former Solicitor General of the United States, who we are confident will win this case. Thanks to Speaker Boehner's actions, President Obama's attempt to sabotage the legal defense of DOMA is not going to work."
Here is the text of a press release issued by NOM, who is also heavily involved in the battle over the marriage amendment, Proposition 8, in California.
There are two court cases in Massachusetts where intervention will be needed soon in order to defend the traditional definition of marriage, consistent with the definition found in the Bible - one man for one woman. Even though the momentum may have been drifting in the other direction, perhaps this can represent a turnaround in the process to preserve the definition of marriage.
1 - He is risen, indeed!!
The greatest news for the Christian is that Jesus Christ, our Savior, is risen from the dead! Easter is the date on the calendar set aside to commemorate what He has done for us. The resurrection was the culmination of the process that was essentially begun at the foundation of the world to bring redemption to humanity. Jesus was born as a man, lived a perfect, sinless life, and was qualified to be the perfect substitute for our sins. He died on a cross, shedding His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and triumphed over the power of sin and death through His resurrection. Christians uniquely celebrate this day, and many churches and organizations have used creative means to mark this joyous occasion.
For instance, some 2000 people gathered in a park in Houston, Texas to perform a dance to celebrate that Jesus is alive. The event, called, "Dance Your Shoes Off", also featured the element of participants leaving shoes for the needy after their dance. The event was filmed, and has attracted quite a bit of attention on YouTube.
For more information, visit www.second.org. The song is "Rise Up", performed by Lauren James Camey and produced by Caedmon's Call member Joshua Moore.
On Good Friday, the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham hosted another of its "Secret Church" events, conducted by Senior Pastor David Platt, a 6-hour period of Bible teaching designed to simulate the setting in which many in underground churches around the world might be worshipping. These highly popular events have been hosted by Brook Hills in the past, but this year's Good Friday event featured an estimated 1400 churches participating via simulcast, with a projected attendance of around 50,000 people. It's a solemn event marking a solemn occasion, reflecting on Jesus' suffering and how Christians are suffering around the world. For more information, here is the Secret Church simulcast website.
And, in a number of cities around the world, Christians took part in a unique walk through the city streets, with one or more people carrying a cross, representing the cross that Christ bore. For example, in Mumbai, India, some 15,000 people gathered for the annual event, which also served to protest the treatment of Christians in that country. Here's the Christian Post article about the occasion.
And, finally, on a lighter note, Community Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, decided to make a parody of Rebecca Black's "Friday" video in an effort to attract attention for its Easter services. Here's an example of a church attempting to be creative, playing off really a cultural sensation (no matter how cheesy!)...it's had over 2-1/2 million views on YouTube, if you can believe that.
He is risen!! Bless His Holy name!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The 3 - April 17, 2011
This week's edition of "The 3" highlights stories from literally around the world, including conflict between a significant church in Beijing and the Chinese government, good news from a Federal appeals court regarding a significant prayer occasion, and a significant vote on taxpayer funding of abortion in Congress this week.
3 - Chinese pastor, church members arrested in Beijing
The tension continues to grow between the Chinese government and members of a rather large church in Beijing. It all began, it seems, when the Shouwang Church, an unregistered church that has some 1000 members, was told that it could no longer meet in an indoor facility it had been using. It convened in an outdoor meeting last weekend, and over 150 church members were arrested. Here's the report from Baptist Press. This weekend, there were more arrests for the senior pastor and other members of the church, as the Shouwang congregation had announced plans to meet outdoors in a public plaza again.
The Christian Post had this report.
The church has maintained that its reason for holding the outdoor meetings is not political in nature. The government had apparently restricted the church from finding a permanent location. The church is facing this round of arrests because it is an unregistered church, therefore it is not viewed as "legal" by the government. Many Christians in China do not believe that they should register their churches, because they feel that Jesus, not the government, is the head of the church. There has been concern expressed by the U.S. State Department about an increased crackdown on dissidents, including those affiliated with unregistered churches. This emerging series of incidents has attracted international media attention, and has exposed at least one case of how the Chinese government, in fact, does not uphold freedom of religion, despite its claims that it does.
2 - Federal appeals court says National Day of Prayer is constitutional
Last year, a Federal district judge, Barbara Crabb, in Wisconsin had ruled that the Congressional directive to the President to declare a National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional, based on the so-called Establishment Clause found in the First Amendment. This week, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision and sent it back to the original court for dismissal.
The Christian Examiner had this report.
Historically, Presidents have declared national days of prayer. There is a rich tradition in the United States for people to come together in prayer, and the National Day of Prayer is an expression of the rich Christian heritage that is found throughout our history. The day became an annual event in 1952, and this year's event, with the theme, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", will be observed on May 5, 2011. State capitols, city halls, county courthouses, and a host of churches and civic buildings will play host to prayer gatherings, as people of faith are encouraged to call upon the Lord on behalf of our nation, our governmental officials, as well as other leaders and people of influence across our land.
1 - Congress votes on de-funding Planned Parenthood; House, Senate split
The issue of taxpayer funding of abortion had emerged to be a central issue in the debate over the Federal budget for the current fiscal year. Lawmakers, facing a government shutdown, agreed to a compromise that would cut some $39 billion in spending before the fiscal year ends in September. One of the cuts that many members of Congress had wanted to enact was the funding of the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. The House, in fact, had already passed legislation to de-fund the organization, but the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, had stated firmly that there would not be a vote on the issue in the Senate. Well, as a result of the budget compromise, there was an agreement to allow a vote in the Senate, which took place this past Thursday. Going into the vote, it was generally thought that the measure to restrict taxpayer funds from Planned Parenthood would fail, but it did serve the purpose of forcing Senators to go on record with their opposition to de-funding. The final vote: 58-42 to continue to send taxpayer dollars to this organization.
Here's the report from CitizenLink.
As surveys show that Americans are increasingly pro-life and as pro-abortion lawmakers suffered losses in the 2010 elections, nevertheless there are Senators that are committed to funding abortion through this flawed organization. Planned Parenthood has been exposed recently as not telling the truth about its providing mammograms (Pro-life organization Live Action showed it does not), as aiding and abetting those who would participate in trafficking underage girls, and as an organization that does not follow the law in reporting instances of abuse. In an era where Americans are apparently calling for reduced Federal spending, it is disturbing that you have such a large number of lawmakers who would want to spend tax dollars on an organization that participates in such abhorrent practices as abortion and these other activities that have been exposed.
3 - Chinese pastor, church members arrested in Beijing
The tension continues to grow between the Chinese government and members of a rather large church in Beijing. It all began, it seems, when the Shouwang Church, an unregistered church that has some 1000 members, was told that it could no longer meet in an indoor facility it had been using. It convened in an outdoor meeting last weekend, and over 150 church members were arrested. Here's the report from Baptist Press. This weekend, there were more arrests for the senior pastor and other members of the church, as the Shouwang congregation had announced plans to meet outdoors in a public plaza again.
The Christian Post had this report.
The church has maintained that its reason for holding the outdoor meetings is not political in nature. The government had apparently restricted the church from finding a permanent location. The church is facing this round of arrests because it is an unregistered church, therefore it is not viewed as "legal" by the government. Many Christians in China do not believe that they should register their churches, because they feel that Jesus, not the government, is the head of the church. There has been concern expressed by the U.S. State Department about an increased crackdown on dissidents, including those affiliated with unregistered churches. This emerging series of incidents has attracted international media attention, and has exposed at least one case of how the Chinese government, in fact, does not uphold freedom of religion, despite its claims that it does.
2 - Federal appeals court says National Day of Prayer is constitutional
Last year, a Federal district judge, Barbara Crabb, in Wisconsin had ruled that the Congressional directive to the President to declare a National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional, based on the so-called Establishment Clause found in the First Amendment. This week, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision and sent it back to the original court for dismissal.
The Christian Examiner had this report.
Historically, Presidents have declared national days of prayer. There is a rich tradition in the United States for people to come together in prayer, and the National Day of Prayer is an expression of the rich Christian heritage that is found throughout our history. The day became an annual event in 1952, and this year's event, with the theme, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", will be observed on May 5, 2011. State capitols, city halls, county courthouses, and a host of churches and civic buildings will play host to prayer gatherings, as people of faith are encouraged to call upon the Lord on behalf of our nation, our governmental officials, as well as other leaders and people of influence across our land.
1 - Congress votes on de-funding Planned Parenthood; House, Senate split
The issue of taxpayer funding of abortion had emerged to be a central issue in the debate over the Federal budget for the current fiscal year. Lawmakers, facing a government shutdown, agreed to a compromise that would cut some $39 billion in spending before the fiscal year ends in September. One of the cuts that many members of Congress had wanted to enact was the funding of the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. The House, in fact, had already passed legislation to de-fund the organization, but the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, had stated firmly that there would not be a vote on the issue in the Senate. Well, as a result of the budget compromise, there was an agreement to allow a vote in the Senate, which took place this past Thursday. Going into the vote, it was generally thought that the measure to restrict taxpayer funds from Planned Parenthood would fail, but it did serve the purpose of forcing Senators to go on record with their opposition to de-funding. The final vote: 58-42 to continue to send taxpayer dollars to this organization.
Here's the report from CitizenLink.
As surveys show that Americans are increasingly pro-life and as pro-abortion lawmakers suffered losses in the 2010 elections, nevertheless there are Senators that are committed to funding abortion through this flawed organization. Planned Parenthood has been exposed recently as not telling the truth about its providing mammograms (Pro-life organization Live Action showed it does not), as aiding and abetting those who would participate in trafficking underage girls, and as an organization that does not follow the law in reporting instances of abuse. In an era where Americans are apparently calling for reduced Federal spending, it is disturbing that you have such a large number of lawmakers who would want to spend tax dollars on an organization that participates in such abhorrent practices as abortion and these other activities that have been exposed.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The 3 - April 10, 2011
This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes news from the world of entertainment, as a movie that represents a strong faith story went up against several major releases, also from the world of health and sociology, as studies on the behavior patterns of teens and young adults were released, and from the political realm, the budget showdown in Congress was influenced by the life issue.
3 - Surfing story with strong faith elements places in Top 5 at box office
There has been plenty of interest within the Christian community about the new film, "Soul Surfer", which depicts the incredible comeback made by surfer Bethany Hamilton after a 2003 shark attack, resulting in the loss of her left arm. The movie, starring AnnaSophia Robb in the role of Bethany, has been screened by thousands of pastors and influential Christians nationwide, and there has been a deliberate and devoted effort to engage the faith community to encourage Christians to support the film.
Read what frequent "Meeting House" contributor Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Ministry had to say about "Soul Surfer".
So, how did we do? Some initial estimates have already been released by the studios: There were four major motion pictures debuting this weekend. Two of them, "Arthur" and "Hanna", placed higher than "Soul Surfer", but with lower per-screen averages. In fact, "Arthur" was released to almost 1000 more theaters than "Surfer". Of the top 10 films of the week, only "Hop", the #1 film, had a higher per-screen average. So, while "Soul Surfer" placed #4 this week, its modest $11 million dollars is solid during an off weekend. And, I wouldn't be surprised if the buzz at church on Sunday wasn't a significant factor to motivate moviegoers to check it out.
2 - Virginity increasing on campus, teen pregnancy on the decline
There were two studies released this past week related to the sexual practices of young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's study of teen pregnancy indicated a 37% drop in the number of teen pregnancies over that past 20 years. And while the CDC study says that contraceptive-based sex education deserves the credit, Christian and pro-family abstinence advocates say that the teaching of abstinence-only practices until marriage is the only reliable method to reduce teen pregnancy.
Here's CitizenLink's report on the CDC study, with some pertinent comments.
Meanwhile, another study was released this week from a researcher at Stanford University showing that more seniors on college campuses indicate that they are virgins. The news is mixed, however, in this study, because it also indicates that there has been an increase in the number of sexually-oriented relationships among students. So, 24% of seniors describe themselves as virgins, but the evidence may point to an increase in the amount of activity among those individuals who are sexually active. Here's another CitizenLink report.
The takeaway for Christians is that we live in a highly sexualized culture, but that it is highly possible for teens and young adults to remain sexually pure, especially as they are reliant on the power of Christ. Parents can be challenged to teach their teens that God's way is best, and following His plan prevents teen pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, and the emotional difficulties that are associated with relationships that veer out of bounds from the standards He has set.
1 - Abortion a key issue in budget showdown
As the budget battle on Capitol Hill continued to rage this past week before the compromise was reached late Friday night, it became apparent that the pro-life contingent in Congress was being heard. The House, in a continuing resolution it had passed to fund the government through September, had included eliminating the funding of Planned Parenthood. However, the House's one-week extension that it also approved did not include a de-funding of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion rovider, but did move to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion in the District of Columbia.
But, Congressional leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, did make reference to protecting women in his rhetorical posturing, a clear reference to the Republican leaders, who were attempting to protect life in the budget line items being discussed. The funding of Planned Parenthood at a rate of over $350 million annually, to many GOP lawmakers, was a clear example of the wasteful government spending that has driven the Federal government into its current deep level of debt.
The budget compromise announced Friday night does prevent taxpayer-funded abortion in D.C., but it also forces the Senate to hold a vote on de-funding Planned Parenthood, a vote that Reid had vehemently said he would never allow.
Here is LifeNews.com's report on the role of the life issue in the negotiations.
So, the leaders of both parties were heading toward an impasse and the possibility of a detrimental government shutdown, and abortion became a sticking point. But, it was a non-negotiable for many, as they abhorred an out-of-control government using taxpayer funds to help bankroll an objectionable organization. To me, this is the type of excess that has ensnared our Federal officials, and pro-life members of Congress have indicated that they are not willing to compromise on this fundamental issue.
3 - Surfing story with strong faith elements places in Top 5 at box office
There has been plenty of interest within the Christian community about the new film, "Soul Surfer", which depicts the incredible comeback made by surfer Bethany Hamilton after a 2003 shark attack, resulting in the loss of her left arm. The movie, starring AnnaSophia Robb in the role of Bethany, has been screened by thousands of pastors and influential Christians nationwide, and there has been a deliberate and devoted effort to engage the faith community to encourage Christians to support the film.
Read what frequent "Meeting House" contributor Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Ministry had to say about "Soul Surfer".
So, how did we do? Some initial estimates have already been released by the studios: There were four major motion pictures debuting this weekend. Two of them, "Arthur" and "Hanna", placed higher than "Soul Surfer", but with lower per-screen averages. In fact, "Arthur" was released to almost 1000 more theaters than "Surfer". Of the top 10 films of the week, only "Hop", the #1 film, had a higher per-screen average. So, while "Soul Surfer" placed #4 this week, its modest $11 million dollars is solid during an off weekend. And, I wouldn't be surprised if the buzz at church on Sunday wasn't a significant factor to motivate moviegoers to check it out.
2 - Virginity increasing on campus, teen pregnancy on the decline
There were two studies released this past week related to the sexual practices of young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's study of teen pregnancy indicated a 37% drop in the number of teen pregnancies over that past 20 years. And while the CDC study says that contraceptive-based sex education deserves the credit, Christian and pro-family abstinence advocates say that the teaching of abstinence-only practices until marriage is the only reliable method to reduce teen pregnancy.
Here's CitizenLink's report on the CDC study, with some pertinent comments.
Meanwhile, another study was released this week from a researcher at Stanford University showing that more seniors on college campuses indicate that they are virgins. The news is mixed, however, in this study, because it also indicates that there has been an increase in the number of sexually-oriented relationships among students. So, 24% of seniors describe themselves as virgins, but the evidence may point to an increase in the amount of activity among those individuals who are sexually active. Here's another CitizenLink report.
The takeaway for Christians is that we live in a highly sexualized culture, but that it is highly possible for teens and young adults to remain sexually pure, especially as they are reliant on the power of Christ. Parents can be challenged to teach their teens that God's way is best, and following His plan prevents teen pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, and the emotional difficulties that are associated with relationships that veer out of bounds from the standards He has set.
1 - Abortion a key issue in budget showdown
As the budget battle on Capitol Hill continued to rage this past week before the compromise was reached late Friday night, it became apparent that the pro-life contingent in Congress was being heard. The House, in a continuing resolution it had passed to fund the government through September, had included eliminating the funding of Planned Parenthood. However, the House's one-week extension that it also approved did not include a de-funding of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion rovider, but did move to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion in the District of Columbia.
But, Congressional leaders such as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, did make reference to protecting women in his rhetorical posturing, a clear reference to the Republican leaders, who were attempting to protect life in the budget line items being discussed. The funding of Planned Parenthood at a rate of over $350 million annually, to many GOP lawmakers, was a clear example of the wasteful government spending that has driven the Federal government into its current deep level of debt.
The budget compromise announced Friday night does prevent taxpayer-funded abortion in D.C., but it also forces the Senate to hold a vote on de-funding Planned Parenthood, a vote that Reid had vehemently said he would never allow.
Here is LifeNews.com's report on the role of the life issue in the negotiations.
So, the leaders of both parties were heading toward an impasse and the possibility of a detrimental government shutdown, and abortion became a sticking point. But, it was a non-negotiable for many, as they abhorred an out-of-control government using taxpayer funds to help bankroll an objectionable organization. To me, this is the type of excess that has ensnared our Federal officials, and pro-life members of Congress have indicated that they are not willing to compromise on this fundamental issue.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
The 3 - April 3, 2011
This week on "The 3", my week-in-review feature, state legislatures are again the focus, but the topic has changed - a look at 3 states where same-sex unions are being debated. Also, thousands of students came to Fort Worth this weekend to be energized in their relationship with Christ. And, at the top of the list, tragedy in Afghanistan: a Koran-burning in the U.S. has resulted in violence and death there.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, the possibility of a marriage amendment being placed on the ballot has increased, as the result of action in the Legislature there. The Senate passed the proposed amendment 40-10. The legislation must also pass in the 2013-14 session in the House and the Senate, before going to a referendum vote in 2014.
The Obama Administration, Christian leaders, and others have criticized the act of burning a Koran. Afghan leader Hamid Karzai said that those responsible for the act recently in Florida should be arrested and punished.
3 - Marriage in the states: Colorado House committee defeats civil union legislation, Indiana passes marriage protection amendment, Washington state votes to recognize same-sex marriages from other states
Last week, I concentrated on some of the actions being taken within various state Legislatures with respect to bills that are designed to reduce the number of abortions in their respective states. This week, there was a focus in several states on the issue of marriage.
The Colorado Senate recently voted to authorize civil unions in the state, which is, in essence, a form of gay marriage - extending benefits and recognition to same-sex partners without using the term, "marriage". A House version of the bill, however, failed to gain a majority in a House committee.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, the possibility of a marriage amendment being placed on the ballot has increased, as the result of action in the Legislature there. The Senate passed the proposed amendment 40-10. The legislation must also pass in the 2013-14 session in the House and the Senate, before going to a referendum vote in 2014.
Since Congress has been unable to pass a Federal marriage amendment defining marriage as one man for one woman, and with support for the Defense of Marriage Act waning in some circles and facing court challenges, state amendments can perhaps provide a line of defense against those who are trying to redefine this time-honored and stable institution, an entity that has been ordained by God, which provides a foundational structure for society. You can also see from action in Colorado, Washington, and other states that those who seek to redefine marriage are hard at work to bring erosion to the fabric of this vital institution.
2 - Students receive the challenge at Fort Worth Passion event
The Passion movement has served to challenge and encourage young adults, primarily college students, in their walk with Jesus Christ. The January Passion event in Atlanta drew some 22,000 students who were energized in their faith, and the latest Passion conference, in Fort Worth, Texas, drew almost 10,000 students from 47 states and 13 countries, hearing from noted speakers such as John Piper, Francis Chan, and Passion founder Louie Giglio.
Worship is also a key component of the conferences, as Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, the David Crowder Band, and others led worship for this conference. A live worship CD, "Here for You", was recorded at the Atlanta Passion conference earlier this year, was released last month.
Passion is also involved in giving back, as students are urged to be part of "Do Something Now", which has collected over $3,5 million for global causes since the initiative began in 2007. As we look at the popularity of the Passion movement, we can be encouraged about how God is working in the lives of young adults, who are seeking to share and apply uncompromised Biblical truth.
1 - Afghan violence linked to Koran burning in America, highlights Islamic double standard
The violence continues to build in Afghanistan in the wake of the burning of a Koran at the same Florida church that threatened to burn a Koran in association with last year's 9-11 observance. Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida said that the church had decided to put the Koran on trial, claiming that its teachings have been used to harm lives. The Koran was found "guilty" and sentence to being burned. Pastor Jones has been described as unrepentant in the face of the Afghan violence, saying that the reaction proves his point that there are radical elements of Islam.
At the time of this post, almost 2 dozen people, including 7 U.N. workers, are reported to be dead, and the violence is reportedly being exploited by the Taliban, who could be using the unrest as a tool to regain power in the affected regions.
The Obama Administration, Christian leaders, and others have criticized the act of burning a Koran. Afghan leader Hamid Karzai said that those responsible for the act recently in Florida should be arrested and punished.
Certainly, the desecration of a book that another religion deems to be sacred is an ineffective and offensive way to make a point. Christians should not burn the Koran...and Muslims should also recognize that burning a Bible is an act that is deeply troubling to many Christians. Nevertheless, Iranian officials confiscated and burned some 600 New Testaments recently in an Iranian province. Fortunately, I have not heard of any acts of violence by Christians as a reaction to this act. But, Christians should be concerned and prayerful, recognizing that in brutal regimes like Iran, where Islamic fundamentalism rules the day, believers in Christ face unprecedented persecution. Yes, those who possess the mindset of turning to violence when their holy book is damaged do not blink an eye when it comes to the Bible being desecrated. This is a clear case that a double standard exists.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The 3 - March 27, 2011
This week, in my week-in-review feature called, "The 3", there is plenty to highlight, including action on the Federal appeals court level that is a blow to gay marriage, a second Christian organization having its app removed from Apple's iPhone store, and a look at pro-life legislation that is being introduced and passed all across America.
3 - 9th Circuit holds off on allowing gay marriage ruling to take effect
The saga concerning Proposition 8, the amendment to California's Constitution that was passed in 2008 and was ruled unconstitutional by a Federal judge, registered another chapter this week, as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused a request by those who had challenged by the Amendment to lift a stay it had instituted on the original order by Judge Vaughn Walker. The 9th Circuit became involved in the appeal of the Walker ruling, and had recently sent the case back to the California Supreme Court to determine whether or not those defending the amendment in court had the "standing", or legal right, to mount the defense. California's previous Governor and current Governor, who was Attorney General when Prop. 8 was passed, have refused to defend the law of the state - it is state law because it was passed by the voters and amends the state Constitution. Here is some analysis from Jordan Lorence of the Alliance Defense Fund. Ultimately, this case will probably end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. The question of what constitutes marriage is foundational to our nation. If the definition of marriage is altered, it has some deep implications to the security of our society. The recognition of same-sex marriage undermines the basic family structure that was instituted by God and has been upheld in America, resulting in a detrimental departure from the nature of this beneficial institution.
2 - Apple removes 2nd Christian app from iPhone app store
It didn't take long, but the powers that be at Apple have succombed yet again to pressure from a pro-gay organization demanding that the company remove an app from its iPhone store - an app that promotes a message that contradicts the gay activist agenda. It's been described as a case of anti-Christian bullying - a blatant attempt to silence the voices of those that hold to a different view of homosexuality than the politically correct one. Those that are crying for "tolerance" of the homosexual lifestyle have proven themselves to be intolerant of Christian beliefs and morals, and in trying to silence the voice of the organization, Exodus International, it shows that in its universe, there is no room for reasoned discussion - whatever happened to the liberals' calls for "civility"? So, here's the deal - Exodus International is quite effective in helping those stuggling with homosexuality and gender identity to find deliverance from the gay lifestyle (which is called sinful, according to the Bible) and for those who experience same-sex attraction to find peace. The fruit of the labors of Exodus obviously does not pass muster for the Change.org crowd, and so they petitioned Apple to remove Exodus' ability to speak in the iPhone platform. Apple, as they did in the case of the pro-life, pro-marriage Manhattan Declaration, marched in lockstep with the gay agenda, saying that the Exodus app is "offensive to large groups of people". There are probably a host of apps that Christians could find offensive - Playboy comes to mind, perhaps some of the "gay" dating apps... Here's the Fox News story, linked to the Manhattan Declaration website. You can take action by contacting Apple directly - a link, along with a blog post by Exodus leader Alan Chambers, can be found here.
1 - State legislatures go on offense against abortion
While it has been virtually impossible to pass legislation placing any restrictions on abortion on a Federal level, the same cannot be said for state legislatures. And, this year, a host of states are seeking to pass bills that would attempt to reduce the number of abortions in their states and send a strong pro-life message to the rest of America. Just this week, South Dakota passed a bill that enacts that nation's largest waiting period, 72 hours, before a woman can have an abortion, and the procedure must be performed by a qualified doctor. This prevents women from making snap decisions and is designed to free them from coercion from family members, friends, and even abortion providers. This week, the Kansas legislature completed its passage of a bill that would prohibit all abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. This follows the state of Nebraska, which already has passed such a ban. Now, according to the Family Research Council, 17 states are considering a 20-week abortion ban, armed with medical research that indicates that unborn babies feel pain after the 20th or 21st week. This includes Alabama, whose House Health Committee held a hearing this week on a similar bill, a hearing that did not result in a vote, after testimony by pro-life advocates, as well as Planned Parenthood and ACLU representatives. Also, states are taking steps to prevent any tax dollars from being used for abortion under the Federal health care plan - Utah's legislature has passed such legislation. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council gave an excellent analysis of pro-life bills on the state level in this Washington Update. There is plenty of momentum to reduce the number of abortions in states across the U.S. Short of passing an outright ban on abortion (or at least a ban except in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the mother's life), which could subject states to protracted court action in budget-strapped times, states are creatively taking "incremental" steps to protect life, by banning certain abortions, strengthening parental consent, toughening standards for clinic health conditions, and providing for waiting periods - all common-sense laws that will work to reduce the number of pre-born children who are losing their lives.
3 - 9th Circuit holds off on allowing gay marriage ruling to take effect
The saga concerning Proposition 8, the amendment to California's Constitution that was passed in 2008 and was ruled unconstitutional by a Federal judge, registered another chapter this week, as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused a request by those who had challenged by the Amendment to lift a stay it had instituted on the original order by Judge Vaughn Walker. The 9th Circuit became involved in the appeal of the Walker ruling, and had recently sent the case back to the California Supreme Court to determine whether or not those defending the amendment in court had the "standing", or legal right, to mount the defense. California's previous Governor and current Governor, who was Attorney General when Prop. 8 was passed, have refused to defend the law of the state - it is state law because it was passed by the voters and amends the state Constitution. Here is some analysis from Jordan Lorence of the Alliance Defense Fund. Ultimately, this case will probably end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. The question of what constitutes marriage is foundational to our nation. If the definition of marriage is altered, it has some deep implications to the security of our society. The recognition of same-sex marriage undermines the basic family structure that was instituted by God and has been upheld in America, resulting in a detrimental departure from the nature of this beneficial institution.
2 - Apple removes 2nd Christian app from iPhone app store
It didn't take long, but the powers that be at Apple have succombed yet again to pressure from a pro-gay organization demanding that the company remove an app from its iPhone store - an app that promotes a message that contradicts the gay activist agenda. It's been described as a case of anti-Christian bullying - a blatant attempt to silence the voices of those that hold to a different view of homosexuality than the politically correct one. Those that are crying for "tolerance" of the homosexual lifestyle have proven themselves to be intolerant of Christian beliefs and morals, and in trying to silence the voice of the organization, Exodus International, it shows that in its universe, there is no room for reasoned discussion - whatever happened to the liberals' calls for "civility"? So, here's the deal - Exodus International is quite effective in helping those stuggling with homosexuality and gender identity to find deliverance from the gay lifestyle (which is called sinful, according to the Bible) and for those who experience same-sex attraction to find peace. The fruit of the labors of Exodus obviously does not pass muster for the Change.org crowd, and so they petitioned Apple to remove Exodus' ability to speak in the iPhone platform. Apple, as they did in the case of the pro-life, pro-marriage Manhattan Declaration, marched in lockstep with the gay agenda, saying that the Exodus app is "offensive to large groups of people". There are probably a host of apps that Christians could find offensive - Playboy comes to mind, perhaps some of the "gay" dating apps... Here's the Fox News story, linked to the Manhattan Declaration website. You can take action by contacting Apple directly - a link, along with a blog post by Exodus leader Alan Chambers, can be found here.
1 - State legislatures go on offense against abortion
While it has been virtually impossible to pass legislation placing any restrictions on abortion on a Federal level, the same cannot be said for state legislatures. And, this year, a host of states are seeking to pass bills that would attempt to reduce the number of abortions in their states and send a strong pro-life message to the rest of America. Just this week, South Dakota passed a bill that enacts that nation's largest waiting period, 72 hours, before a woman can have an abortion, and the procedure must be performed by a qualified doctor. This prevents women from making snap decisions and is designed to free them from coercion from family members, friends, and even abortion providers. This week, the Kansas legislature completed its passage of a bill that would prohibit all abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy. This follows the state of Nebraska, which already has passed such a ban. Now, according to the Family Research Council, 17 states are considering a 20-week abortion ban, armed with medical research that indicates that unborn babies feel pain after the 20th or 21st week. This includes Alabama, whose House Health Committee held a hearing this week on a similar bill, a hearing that did not result in a vote, after testimony by pro-life advocates, as well as Planned Parenthood and ACLU representatives. Also, states are taking steps to prevent any tax dollars from being used for abortion under the Federal health care plan - Utah's legislature has passed such legislation. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council gave an excellent analysis of pro-life bills on the state level in this Washington Update. There is plenty of momentum to reduce the number of abortions in states across the U.S. Short of passing an outright ban on abortion (or at least a ban except in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the mother's life), which could subject states to protracted court action in budget-strapped times, states are creatively taking "incremental" steps to protect life, by banning certain abortions, strengthening parental consent, toughening standards for clinic health conditions, and providing for waiting periods - all common-sense laws that will work to reduce the number of pre-born children who are losing their lives.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The 3 - March 20, 2011
This week on "The 3" - a reprisal of some topics from the past few weeks, as our hearts continue to be heavy and (hopefully) motivated by Christ's love concerning the degree of human suffering in Japan. And, it's back to Rob Bell, as his new book is now out with plenty of pomp, circumstance, and controversy. Plus, a highly-watched New Hampshire case where a pre-teen girl was directed by a judge to attend public school....what could it imply?
3 - Christian blogosphere continues to heat up on Bell controversy, MSNBC video goes viral
It's quite unusual for a Christian book that deals with theological issues to gain traction in the mainstream media, but Rob Bell's new tome, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, has certainly generated discussion not only among Christians and Christian media, but among those whom we regard as secular journalists, such as Newsweek's Lisa Miller and MSNBC's Martin Bashir. In fact, Bashir's hard-hitting interview with Bell has become the subject of much discussion. Watch it below:
On its release date on Tuesday of this past week, Rob Bell spoke at a webcast, hosted by Miller. The following Thursday, a number of evangelical leaders, including Al Mohler, Justin Taylor, and others, hosted their own online roundtable discussion on the controversy (link to Baptist Press). Detroit radio host Paul Edwards interviewed Bashir himself this week, who admitted to being a "committed Christian" who attends Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City, where Tim Keller is the pastor. Here is the Baptist Press story on that interview.
On Tuesday, Baptist Press published this overview on the book and some response to it.
In a nutshell, Bell seems to suggests that life in heaven with God may not be reserved only for those who accept Jesus as Savior, which fuels charges that Bell is a "universalist". Also, Bell reportedly suggests there is not a literal hell, and that the consequences of disobeying God in essence may place an individual in a "hell" on earth.
Because Bell is a communicator who quite commonly relies on the power of suggestion and uses challenging questions in his mode of operation, some of the reviewers whose pieces I have read have had trouble really determining what the Michigan pastor is trying to say. But, even in an atmosphere coated by suggestion, many are convinced that Bell is minimizing the cross and the nature - and exclusivity - of the gospel. If Bell is attempting to generate discussion among Christians, he has accomplished that purpose. And, maybe, just maybe, through a careful study of Scripture, we can gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the power of the cross and the rescue that God has performed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
2 - New Hampshire girl, previously homeschooled, must continue to attend public school
There were many concerns in the Christian and homeschool community when a court ruling from New Hampshire was handed down in 2009 that directed an 11-year-old girl who had been homeschooled to be placed in public school. This ruling came in a divorce case, where the wishes of the father and mother with regard to the child's education were in conflict with one another. The original court ruling was upheld on appeal by the New Hampshire Supreme Court this week.
Of great concern to many homeschool families was the suggestion to the lower court that the mother was rigid with respect to questions of faith and that the girl would be best served by being exposed to a public school setting. However, in the view of the Alliance Defense Fund, the high court decision, like the original decision, appeared to be narrow in its focus and could not be applied broadly with respect to questions of the superiority or suitability of a particular form of education. In fact, the Supreme Court made an intentional effort to restrict broad application. To learn more, go to this report from CitizenLink.
1 - Christian relief groups continue to work to provide aid to Japan
This past Friday, 90 tons of badly needed relief supplies were sent on a 747 jet from Charlotte, sponsored by the Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This is a great sign that despite barriers and the nuclear threat, the aid to the people of Japan is starting to penetrate the severely damaged areas. World Vision also announced that it was able to move supplies into some regions northeast of Tokyo that were in need of assistance.
These are among the tangible efforts that are designed to make headway in a daunting task to provide needed food, clean water, and other supplies to the people whose lives have been turned upside-down by the quake. Southern Baptists are moving forward, as well, as they partner with Baptist Global Response to provide the necessary supplies into the affected areas.
Prayer and partnership are key elements now in the second week following the earthquake, and will continue to be for weeks and months to come. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has a menu of member relief organizations on its website, www.ecfa.org.
In a time of crisis, people need hope, in addition to their physical needs being met - this tragedy, which reminds us that we live in a fallen and dangerous world, can be used by God, who did not cause the disaster, to draw people to Himself.
3 - Christian blogosphere continues to heat up on Bell controversy, MSNBC video goes viral
It's quite unusual for a Christian book that deals with theological issues to gain traction in the mainstream media, but Rob Bell's new tome, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, has certainly generated discussion not only among Christians and Christian media, but among those whom we regard as secular journalists, such as Newsweek's Lisa Miller and MSNBC's Martin Bashir. In fact, Bashir's hard-hitting interview with Bell has become the subject of much discussion. Watch it below:
On its release date on Tuesday of this past week, Rob Bell spoke at a webcast, hosted by Miller. The following Thursday, a number of evangelical leaders, including Al Mohler, Justin Taylor, and others, hosted their own online roundtable discussion on the controversy (link to Baptist Press). Detroit radio host Paul Edwards interviewed Bashir himself this week, who admitted to being a "committed Christian" who attends Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City, where Tim Keller is the pastor. Here is the Baptist Press story on that interview.
On Tuesday, Baptist Press published this overview on the book and some response to it.
In a nutshell, Bell seems to suggests that life in heaven with God may not be reserved only for those who accept Jesus as Savior, which fuels charges that Bell is a "universalist". Also, Bell reportedly suggests there is not a literal hell, and that the consequences of disobeying God in essence may place an individual in a "hell" on earth.
Because Bell is a communicator who quite commonly relies on the power of suggestion and uses challenging questions in his mode of operation, some of the reviewers whose pieces I have read have had trouble really determining what the Michigan pastor is trying to say. But, even in an atmosphere coated by suggestion, many are convinced that Bell is minimizing the cross and the nature - and exclusivity - of the gospel. If Bell is attempting to generate discussion among Christians, he has accomplished that purpose. And, maybe, just maybe, through a careful study of Scripture, we can gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the power of the cross and the rescue that God has performed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
2 - New Hampshire girl, previously homeschooled, must continue to attend public school
There were many concerns in the Christian and homeschool community when a court ruling from New Hampshire was handed down in 2009 that directed an 11-year-old girl who had been homeschooled to be placed in public school. This ruling came in a divorce case, where the wishes of the father and mother with regard to the child's education were in conflict with one another. The original court ruling was upheld on appeal by the New Hampshire Supreme Court this week.
Of great concern to many homeschool families was the suggestion to the lower court that the mother was rigid with respect to questions of faith and that the girl would be best served by being exposed to a public school setting. However, in the view of the Alliance Defense Fund, the high court decision, like the original decision, appeared to be narrow in its focus and could not be applied broadly with respect to questions of the superiority or suitability of a particular form of education. In fact, the Supreme Court made an intentional effort to restrict broad application. To learn more, go to this report from CitizenLink.
1 - Christian relief groups continue to work to provide aid to Japan
This past Friday, 90 tons of badly needed relief supplies were sent on a 747 jet from Charlotte, sponsored by the Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse, in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This is a great sign that despite barriers and the nuclear threat, the aid to the people of Japan is starting to penetrate the severely damaged areas. World Vision also announced that it was able to move supplies into some regions northeast of Tokyo that were in need of assistance.
These are among the tangible efforts that are designed to make headway in a daunting task to provide needed food, clean water, and other supplies to the people whose lives have been turned upside-down by the quake. Southern Baptists are moving forward, as well, as they partner with Baptist Global Response to provide the necessary supplies into the affected areas.
Prayer and partnership are key elements now in the second week following the earthquake, and will continue to be for weeks and months to come. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has a menu of member relief organizations on its website, www.ecfa.org.
In a time of crisis, people need hope, in addition to their physical needs being met - this tragedy, which reminds us that we live in a fallen and dangerous world, can be used by God, who did not cause the disaster, to draw people to Himself.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The 3 - March 13, 2011
This week's edition of "The 3" includes a few items on gender issues, including the House assuming the defense for the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, as well as some notable examples of gay activism. But, the overriding news story of the last few days, which has deep inroads into the Christian community, is the recovery and rescue efforts following the earthquake and tsunami affecting Japan.
3 - Gay activism moves forward: anti-bullying summit, another threat in Apple app store
I report quite often on The Meeting House radio show about attempts to legitimize and normalize homosexual behavior in our culture. The traditional, Biblical view of marriage and male-female relationships is being challenged on numerous fronts, from court challenges to the definition of marriage concerning Proposition 8 in California and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to more insidious attempts to silence those who would want to offer a differing view of same-sex marriage and homosexual behavior than these "activists" hold. Under the guise of such adjectives as "homophobic" or "intolerant", Christians who desire to share the negative view of homosexual behavior that is described by the Scriptures and who wish to have their voices heard are increasingly facing attempts to villify their viewpoints.
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth expressed this:
3 - Gay activism moves forward: anti-bullying summit, another threat in Apple app store
I report quite often on The Meeting House radio show about attempts to legitimize and normalize homosexual behavior in our culture. The traditional, Biblical view of marriage and male-female relationships is being challenged on numerous fronts, from court challenges to the definition of marriage concerning Proposition 8 in California and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to more insidious attempts to silence those who would want to offer a differing view of same-sex marriage and homosexual behavior than these "activists" hold. Under the guise of such adjectives as "homophobic" or "intolerant", Christians who desire to share the negative view of homosexual behavior that is described by the Scriptures and who wish to have their voices heard are increasingly facing attempts to villify their viewpoints.
An example of this trend is seen in the activities of those behind the website, Change.org. These are the people who approached Apple in opposition to its Manhattan Declaration app late last year - an app that had been approved by Apple in October with an excellent 4+ rating, indicating no objectionable material. Now, the "Change" people are at it again, collecting petitions on their website that call for the app for Exodus International to be removed. Exodus International is an organization devoted to helping those who wish to leave the homosexual lifestyle to do so and to minister to people who are struggling with same-sex attraction with truth and compassion. Unfortunately, in some rather high-profile circles, when a church, organization, or individual Christian attempts to point out what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and speaks out about it, that person is branded as being a proponent of "hate" or bigotry. Now, in the aftermath of the appearance of Alan Chambers, head of Exodus International, on the Lisa Ling program, "Pray the Gay Away?", the profile of Exodus has increased, and has attracted the attention of those who would wish to further a false characterization of the organization.
Again, it does seems as if those who would merely point out a viewpoint that does not embrace homosexuality as acceptable or normal behavior are being characterized in a negative light, and that is being seen in the increasing emphasis in our society on "bullying". As Christians, we do not believe that anyone should be bullied - based on appearance, class, culture, or even sexual orientation. Christians should work to decrease instances of bullying. However, when the definition of bullying is skewed toward the gay agenda and when information and attitudes related to bullying are used to silence Christians who would want to lovingly offer an alternative to those who embrace homosexuality or struggle with gender identity, then that is an area of concern.So you have Christian leaders who are expressing such concern about this week's White House Summit on Bullying, which prominiently featured LGBT leaders, students, and other individuals. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council said:
As Christians, we don't believe that a person should be harassed for their sexuality, their physical appearance, their beliefs, or any other reason. But sadly, the Left tends to spin the issue of bullying as a uniquely homosexual problem. They hold up tragic incidents like Tyler Clementi's suicide to push for school-based curriculum and other initiatives that give homosexuals a platform for normalizing their behavior.Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth expressed this:
There is a real danger that ‘anti-bullying’ policies will be used to curtail any speech in schools critical of homosexuality, and create curricula that discriminate against religious students who believe homosexual behavior is morally wrong.
You can read Peter's complete description on the furtherance of the homosexual agenda here.2 - DOMA defense moves to the U.S. House
As I reported previously, the Obama Administration and its Department of Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Eric Holder, singlehandedly decided that the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed by Congress in 1996 and signed by then-President Bill Clinton, defining marriage as one man for one woman, was unconstitutional. This was not unexpected, because some pro-family leaders and legal experts had been critical of the Administration, because its attorneys were apparently not vigorously defending the Act in court.According to the Constitution, the responsibility now shifts to Congress. And, Speaker of the House John Boehner has apparently taken up the mantle. He summoned the Bi-Partisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) to decide whether or not the House would hire its own attorneys to defend DOMA. By a 3-2 vote, the BLAG approved the House mounting the defense for DOMA in pending court cases. Here is the report from Baptist Press.
1 - Japanese earthquake provides ministry opportunitiesAs you can see from this report in The Christian Post, the death toll continues to mount in Japan, where the death toll could rise to 10,000 people, once the scores of missing people are located. The tsunami, with waves of as great as 33 feet, wiped out entire cities and communities and threatened a nuclear disaster in the wave of damage to 2 nuclear reactors. The needs for food, shelter, and fresh water are great, and it provides a tremendous opportunity for Christian relief agencies to step in.
Christians who wish to give to the Japan relief efforts can go to the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) website and choose from member organizations who have been verified to be responsibile with their financial stewardship. You can learn more by going to www.ecfa.org.
Organizations such as World Vision, Baptist Global Response, Samaritan's Purse, and many others are sending teams in to assess the damage and to carry out ministry opportunities, bringing physical supplies and spiritual hope. Prayer for the people of Japan is certainly a priority for us as we ask for God's hand to be very evident in the midst of unspeakable tragedy.Sunday, March 06, 2011
The 3 - March 5, 2011
On this week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, I unpack a recent Supreme Court decision that aims to protect free speech, even a brand that might be considered offensive. Also, Michigan pastor Rob Bell has stirred the pot with a pre-release video related to his new book on heaven, hell, and the love of God. And, Christian broadcasters assembled in Nashville recently to be motivated, instructed, and challenged.
3 - U.S. Supreme Court upholds free speech rights of Westboro Baptist Church
In a decision that had been met with quite a bit of expectation, the U.S. Supreme Court, by an 8-1 margin, ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church, which is best known for its protests at military funerals, contending that soldiers are dying for a nation that is being judged by God because of its support of homosexuality.
While a variety of groups, including evangelical Christians, find the activities of the Westboro group offensive, the issue at hand was whether or not they had the free speech rights to carry out their protests. A decision against Westboro could have had a chilling effect on the rights of other groups to demonstrate publicly in support of their beliefs. But, the one dissenter on the high court, Samuel Alito, said that the First Amendment did not permit Westboro to engage in their offensive displays, and that the Matthew Snyder, whose father was the plaintiff in the case, deserved to be buried in peace.
Christian and pro-family groups lauded the high court's latest decision. Liberty Counsel had filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of Westboro, and issued this press release. This paragraph from that press release is notable:
1 - Christian broadcasters assemble for annual convention
Recently, I had the chance to attend the annual National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a gathering of representatives of various forms of Christian media, including radio, television, Internet, and even church-based media. Various general sessions featured high-profile speakers such as Chuck Swindoll, Ravi Zacharias, Voddie Baucham, Jay Sekulow, and James MacDonald. Special workshops were tailored to the variety of forms of media that were present, with a major concentration on the use of social media to share the gospel message.
Faith Radio and The Meeting House had a booth in the exhibit hall again this year, and I was privileged to interview dozens of speakers, authors, and musicians, such as: Dr. Tony Evans, Kay Arthur, Dr. Frank Wright, Joni Eareckson Tada, Thelma Wells, Nicole C. Mullen, Phil Keaggy, and Bethany Hamilton (profiled in the forthcoming movie, "Soul Surfer"). I also had the chance to feature Thomas Nelson's 400th Anniversary Celebration of the King James Version of the Bible, which was highlighted in a special exhibit at NRB this year.
It was a pleasure to meet and interview these and many other notable guests. To gain a sense of this year's convention, you can visit www.nrbconvention.org.
Honorable Mention:
Pakistani Cabinet minister, a Christian, slain
Boehner says House will defend DOMA
3 - U.S. Supreme Court upholds free speech rights of Westboro Baptist Church
In a decision that had been met with quite a bit of expectation, the U.S. Supreme Court, by an 8-1 margin, ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church, which is best known for its protests at military funerals, contending that soldiers are dying for a nation that is being judged by God because of its support of homosexuality.
While a variety of groups, including evangelical Christians, find the activities of the Westboro group offensive, the issue at hand was whether or not they had the free speech rights to carry out their protests. A decision against Westboro could have had a chilling effect on the rights of other groups to demonstrate publicly in support of their beliefs. But, the one dissenter on the high court, Samuel Alito, said that the First Amendment did not permit Westboro to engage in their offensive displays, and that the Matthew Snyder, whose father was the plaintiff in the case, deserved to be buried in peace.
Christian and pro-family groups lauded the high court's latest decision. Liberty Counsel had filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of Westboro, and issued this press release. This paragraph from that press release is notable:
The First Amendment does not grant to anyone a veto right over another
person’s speech, simply because it might be offensive. Free speech needs
breathing room. It is better to tolerate a person’s offensive speech than be
silenced by the force of law.
person’s speech, simply because it might be offensive. Free speech needs
breathing room. It is better to tolerate a person’s offensive speech than be
silenced by the force of law.
Free speech is a cornerstone principle of the history of this country. Even when we as Christians find another person or group's words or actions to be offensive, we have to keep in mind that they have the right to speak, just as we do. A huge question would deal with who actually has the right to determine what is offensive - if Westboro's words are deemed to be offensive today, could the words of preachers proclaiming Biblical truth be considered offensive tomorrow (because we know that there are many that find the speech of Christians offensive
and would like to silence our voices!)? Wisely, in this case, the U.S. Supreme Court did not open a door that could have proven troublesome to Christians in the future.
2 - Heaven, hell, and Rob Bell
Is it a declaration of belief or a provocative marketing campaign, simply raising questions in advance of a book release? This is the heart of the controversy surrounding Michigan pastor Rob Bell, who has endeared himself to thousands through his creative NOOMA videos and books such as Velvet Elvis. Now, the online discussion is raging surrounding the video trailer for his forthcoming book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, where Rob Bell asks a series of questions related to the afterlife and the nature of God.
View it for yourself:
So, what did you think? Is he merely asking a few questions from the perspective of someone that is attempting to gain a greater understanding of God and matters of eternal judgment?
Jesus rescuing us from God? Really?
But, does Rob ever state what HE believes on these questions?
Well, the video - combined with the statement from the publisher - combined with some excerpts of the book have led some to question Bell's theology. The controversy really accelerated when blogger Justin Taylor of The Gospel Coalition and Vice-President at Crossway Books questioned whether or not Bell is a "universalist", in other words, embracing a theology that allows people other than Christians to go to heaven and avoid hell. Before you know it, leading theologians like John Piper, Albert Mohler, and to a lesser extent, Rick Warren, were chiming in. Christianity Today has a delightful recap of the way the situation has developed. Even The New York Times has covered the brouhaha.
In the meantime, the book release date has been pushed from March 29th to March 15th.
I can see where Scot McKnight is coming from when he says:
Rob is tapping into what I think is the biggest issue facing evangelicalism today, and this fury shows that it just might be that big of an issue.
As someone who believes that Jesus is the one way to heaven - the way, the truth, and the life - the only way to the Father, and therefore the way to eternal life - I have to admit, I'm a bit skeptical about where Rob Bell may be going with this new book. Perhaps we do need to reframe the argument and place it in a different context, with a less dogmatic approach, if that's possible. My understanding is that the book concentrates less on heaven and hell than on the love of God, who desires for everyone to be saved. So, I'm willing to cut Bell some slack and wait on the book to actually be released. But, one has to be very careful when you're treading on the area of theology dealing with one's personal salvation - a little latitude and you can lose the essence of the gospel. The good news is that God is not sending people to hell, but through Christ, He provides a way out of the judgment we deserve as a result of our sin.1 - Christian broadcasters assemble for annual convention
Recently, I had the chance to attend the annual National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a gathering of representatives of various forms of Christian media, including radio, television, Internet, and even church-based media. Various general sessions featured high-profile speakers such as Chuck Swindoll, Ravi Zacharias, Voddie Baucham, Jay Sekulow, and James MacDonald. Special workshops were tailored to the variety of forms of media that were present, with a major concentration on the use of social media to share the gospel message.
Faith Radio and The Meeting House had a booth in the exhibit hall again this year, and I was privileged to interview dozens of speakers, authors, and musicians, such as: Dr. Tony Evans, Kay Arthur, Dr. Frank Wright, Joni Eareckson Tada, Thelma Wells, Nicole C. Mullen, Phil Keaggy, and Bethany Hamilton (profiled in the forthcoming movie, "Soul Surfer"). I also had the chance to feature Thomas Nelson's 400th Anniversary Celebration of the King James Version of the Bible, which was highlighted in a special exhibit at NRB this year.
It was a pleasure to meet and interview these and many other notable guests. To gain a sense of this year's convention, you can visit www.nrbconvention.org.
Honorable Mention:
Pakistani Cabinet minister, a Christian, slain
Boehner says House will defend DOMA
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