The 3 - August 1, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" highlights the way that freedom of speech AND religion are being limited on certain college campuses in America. Also, new light was shed this week on taxpayer funding of abortion under the new health care reform law. Plus, our #1 story deals with disclosure - how much to disclose during the course of a political campaign - and a bill that had some Christian and pro-family groups concerned.

3 - Students' free speech rights on campus challenged

Last week, one of the "Honorable Mention" stories dealt with a graduate student in Augusta, GA at Augusta State University that claims to have been told she would have to alter her Christian beliefs in order to obtain her degree. The student, Jennifer Keeton, is being represented now by the Alliance Defense Fund, who placed this post on one of their websites.

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion, especially on university campuses, is becoming an increasing area of concern for students, as well as instructors. Recently, you may remember a professor at the University of Illinois was dismissed from teaching a class which involved Catholic theology, because when he expressed what the church teaches on matters such as homosexuality, there was at least one student who was allegedly offended. The good news is that Dr. Kenneth Howell was reinstated this week. Here's the story, again from ADF.

There is troubling news, though, from a Federal court regarding free speech and religious freedom on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. A Federal district court has sided with the university in the case of a student who claims that she was dismissed from its graduate program because she did not affirm homosexual behavior as being morally acceptable. ADF, who provided this information, will work with the student, Julea Ward, as she appeals this decision to a higher court.

University campuses so often become breeding grounds for political correctness. That is why it is important to have students in these institutions that possess a Christian worldview and are allowed to express their views in accordance with Biblical truth. Julea, Jennifer, and Dr. Howell have been limited in the expression of their rights, and they are to be commended for the strong stand they have taken.

2 - Federal organization confirms taxpayer funding of abortion in health care

Pro-life, pro-family organizations have been claiming ever since the health care reform debate in Congress that the structure of the proposals being considered allowed abortion to be funded by taxpayers. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment of the House version of the bill provided an exception, but such an amendment was not attached to the final version of the bill. Rep. Stupak voted for final passage of the bill due to an 11th-hour executive order issued by the President, which Christian, pro-family groups at the time said did not have the force of law and claimed that abortion would be paid for by public funds under the new health care bill.

Now, information is continuing to surface that these groups were in fact, accurate in their assessments. I related several weeks ago that 3 states - Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Maryland - were either inserting or considering abortion funding in some of their plans. And, just this week, an organization called the Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress, has issued a report confirming the concern about taxpayer abortion funding, according to LifeNews.com.

You mix a pro-abortion Administration with promises made to organizations such as Planned Parenthood, along with members of Congress with special ties to pro-abortion organizations, and you're bound to get that agenda driving reproductive policy. Now, Rep. Chris Smith is attempting to get a bill passed that would prevent abortion from being included in the implementation of health care reform. When you factor polling data that is showing a definite shift to the pro-life point of view, members of Congress are finding their institution is unpopular, and they themselves may be facing stiff re-election bids, and this sort of proposal makes a lot of sense. But too many lawmakers have a pro-abortion point of view, and have had their election campaigns funded by pro-abortion special interests.

One example: California's Barbara Boxer, facing a tough re-election campaign from former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. She is reportedly poised to receive some $1 million dollars from Planned Parenthood, according to LifeNews.com. And that leads into our top story...

1 - Closing the door on DISCLOSE

One way that organizations help the candidates that embrace their positions is through direct campaign funding - and as long as it's reported properly, that's perfectly legal, and can be a helpful barometer of the positions of a candidate. Another way that candidates get their message out is by way of organizations running advocacy ads.

And, the method by which that has been done was on the verge of changing this week, with the prospect of the so-called DISCLOSE (Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections) Act in the Senate, which had narrowly passed the House. This is a bill that would require certain information about the various organizations paying for these advocacy ads to be included in the ad itself. The bill failed to move forward in the Senate, and here is CitizenLink's take on the bill and the vote.

Opponents characterized the bill as an attempt to curtail free speech leading up to the election and a way for the majority party, the Democrats, to limit opponents from effectively getting their message out. While accountability and transparency are important principles in our system of government, to reveal donor information can cause those donors to think twice about their investment when their privacy is threatened. Christian and pro-family groups were concerned that it could place a damper on already limited resources to get their message out in the public square.

Honorable Mention:

Dove Awards moving to Nashville

Keith Green webcast commemorates 28th anniversary of his death

Top pastors on Twitter announced

Conference Spotlight: Gridiron Men's Conference Tuscaloosa, AL

The 3 - July 25, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" spotlights American involvement in a constitution vote in Kenya, legislation introduced into the Senate that could limit free speech of various organizations regarding political campaigns, and another step in the march toward confirmation for the President's latest Supreme Court nominee.

3 - Christian and pro-family leaders stand in opposition to new Kenyan constitution

Perhaps you're aware that on August 4, voters in the African nation of Kenya will be going to vote on a new constitution. Why is that of concern to citizens of the United States? Well, for one thing, language in the proposed constitution overturns the current law prohibiting abortion in all instances, except to save the mother's life. Pro-family leaders believe the proposed wording would allow abortion in all circumstances at any time during pregnancy.

Also, reports have surfaced that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used to support the new pro-abortion constitution. Yes, it seems that the Obama Administration has committed some $23 million of public funds to promote approval of the constitution. So, the U.S. has arranged to have a stake in the outcome, and American taxpayer funds are a mechanism being used to promote the termination of pre-born Kenyan babies.

The World Congress of Families has been collecting signatures from pro-life leaders across the globe, and over 170 such leaders in 21 countries have signed on in opposition to this new proposal. WCF issued this press release earlier this week.

This is another example of activity by U.S. governmental officials that is working to promote the destruction of lives on foreign soil.

2 - New version of DISCLOSE Act introduced into Senate, set for Tuesday vote

A few weeks ago, by a narrow margin, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a sweeping new campaign finance bill, requiring that organizations which broadcast or publish announcements regarding a candidate reveal certain donor information, including information about the person at the head of the organization. This past week, a version of this DISCLOSE Act was introduced in the Senate, designed apparently to limit political ads run by various organizations and, as it's charged, perhaps even aid the leadership party, the Democratic party, to retain seats that it may be in danger of losing.

A vote was suddenly scheduled by Majority Leader Harry Reid for this Tuesday at 2:45PM ET. It would take 60 votes in order to cut off debate on the measure and proceed for a final vote on passage. CitizenLink has a synopsis of the bill, its free speech limitations, and how you can be involved in speaking out against restrictions on political activity by various groups. This could have strong negative implications for pro-life and pro-family organizations, which routinely call attention to the positions of candidates on various issues of concern.

1 - Kagan nomination one step closer, despite reservations

This week, along party lines, with the exception of one Republican (Sen. Lindsey Graham) voting with the Democratic majority, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved sending the Supreme Court nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the entire U.S. Senate, where she would be presumably approved.

Kagan has a history, not as a judge, but in various capacities, as an activist - from her promotion of partial-birth abortion while in the Clinton administration to her limitations placed on military recruiters while dean of Harvard Law School. She has apparently played a significant role in the promotion of health care legislation, but has stated she would not step aside if the court challenge to the constitutionality of the law by a number of state attorneys general reaches the high court.

A "Memo for the Movement", released earlier this month by the Conservative Action Project, lists a number of the concerns about Kagan's nomination. Even though the confirmation of Kagan is all but certain, nevertheless the discussion of judicial philosophy and the exposure of areas of judicial activism can be helpful, for it illustrates where officials stand on these issues, for voters to keep in mind when they elect leaders.

Pro-Life Freedom Rides begin in Birmingham, on to Atlanta

Mississippi Lesbian student court settlement could set precedent

Georgia graduate student alleges graduation conditional on changing Christian beliefs

The 3 - July 16, 2010

3 - Pro-family groups respond to possible taxpayer funding of abortion in new health care law

Remember the countdown to the health care reform bill vote - would pro-life Democrats stand against the Senate version of the bill, which contained no protection against taxpayer funding of abortion? Well, an 11th-hour "executive order" by the President won Bart Stupak's and other pro-life representatives' votes. That order presumably prevent taxpayer funds being used for abortion.

Pro-family and Christian groups said that the order was not enforceable and really would not prevent public funding of abortion. Interestingly enough, this week, it was revealed that a "high risk" insurance plan in the state of Pennsylvania contains taxpayer funding. Also, according to this piece at LifeNews.com, 2 other states have planned to include abortion in certain health care insurance plans.

Unfortunately, this is an example of the manipulation of verbage that we find so often in the political sphere. Too many promises have been made to pro-abortion groups to cause us to think that abortion will not be included in health care plans. It's a reminder of the presence of an agenda that does not regard the sanctity of human life that is prevalent in our land today.

2 - Another Lutheran denomination weighs in on gay marriage

Last year, I reported the vote by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which recognized the validity of same-sex unions and authorized the ordination of gay individuals. This action on homosexuality set off a negative reaction in congregations across the U.S., and caused great concern within the denomination and within Lutheranism. This week, at its National Convention, another Lutheran denominations, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, issued a response to the actions of the ELCA. It reaffirmed that homosexual practice was contrary to Biblical teaching, and did strike a conciliatory tone with the ELCA. Here is a press release from the LCMS.

The list of denominations that are wrestling with this gender issue continues. I believe that the Bible is very clear on the issue of homosexuality, but in these morally relativistic times, there are well-meaning people who are attempting to alter clear Biblical teaching in order to justify behavior that is contrary to Scripture. This type of justification can be easily applied to a number of areas of behavior, and it's important that we are sensitive to instances where we incorrectly rationalize our actions.

1 - TV obscenity policy struck down

Claiming that the FCC's policy on offensive language is vague and constitutionally unsound, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC's broadcast indecency policy, perhaps effectively paving the way for more offensive language to be used on broadcast television.

Fox had been found in violation of the FCC's policy after the 2002 and 2003 Billboard Music Awards, during which so-called "fleeting expletives" were used by participants.

Pro-family groups such as the Parents Television Council were quite alarmed by the ruling. Here is the link to a piece by Baptist Press' Michael Foust, published in the Christian Examiner.

Kagan's role in crafting medical associations' statements on partial-birth abortion examined

Helena, MT considers teaching sex ed to kindergarteners

NC pastor silenced from praying at state's House of Representatives

The 3 - July 11, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, shines the light on the struggles regarding marriage and gay ordination within another large denomination. Plus, Christian groups are speaking out and filing briefs in defense of the National Day of Prayer. And, a Massachusetts judge is flying solo in striking down at least some of the Defense of Marriage Act.

3 - Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly votes to lift gay ordination ban

Several Protestant denominations have wrestled with the issue of the ordination of homosexuals. The Episcopal Church USA stirred up its entire denomination a number of years ago by ordaining an openly gay bishop. Last year, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America opened up ordination to gays and lesbians. There are factions within other denominations, as well, that would like to see their church bodies make that move, as well. The United Methodist denomination, for example, has some within it that would like to see gays ordained into the ministry, but such moves have been turned back in the past.

So, against this backdrop, the Presbyterian Church USA, in its General Assembly in Minneapolis, made the decision, by a 373-323 vote, to remove a ban on gay ordinations. The measure must now be approved by 173 of the presbyteries across the nation. The Christian Post has this report.

There are many who are watching these moves within various denominations with a critical eye, viewing the matter of ordination of gays and lesbians as giving approval to what the Bible calls a sinful lifestyle. One organization that has been outspoken on departures from Biblical truth within church bodies is the Institute on Religion and Democracy - here is Jeff Walton's report on the PCUSA convention, and how the assembly sent what could be interpreted as a mixed message: voting to ordain gays, but leaving the traditional definition of marriage as one man for one woman intact.

The response to these actions? You will probably see some who disagree with the new action on sexuality stay with the denomination, in an attempt to speak out and hopefully change the organization from within. Others will probably leave, with congregants finding other houses of worship.

2 - Faith and family groups filed briefs in National Day of Prayer case

Shortly before this year's National Day of Prayer, a Wisconsin Federal district judge ruled that the action of Congress to designate a National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional. CitizenLink (affiliate of Focus on the Family), Liberty Institute, and others teamed up to file a brief. Here is CitizenLink's report.

Another organization that filed a brief is the Foundation for Moral Law, headed by former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. Judge Moore made this comment:

“How long will we sit quietly by while the President declares an entire month to ‘celebrate' homosexuality and a federal judge prohibits one day in the year to pray to God? From the Revolution in 1776 to the Civil War, from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 our Country has always turned to God in prayer during times of national crisis. It is absolutely absurd for a federal judge to think that she can arrogantly declare the National Day of Prayer established in 1952 unconstitutional. Such hypocrisy reflects the delusion of federal court judges across our land who place themselves above the Constitution they are sworn to uphold and above the God upon Whom they took their Oath of Office.”

Here is the press release from that organization.

Again, this is troubling development, where you have ONE Federal judge who is attempting to reverse a rich history of prayer in our nation, including a variety of Presidential proclamations throughout the year. Again, ONE unelected judge is attempting to limit the wishes of thousands and even millions of people who believe in and practice the power of prayer with respect to our national issues.

1 - Federal court finds Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional

The definition of marriage as one man for one woman, in the eyes of the Federal government, has been maintained in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), approved overwhelmingly in 1996 by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Now, the Obama administration, with a tepid defense by Solicitor General Elena Kagan, is allegedly attempting to undermine the defense of the act, and a Massachusetts Federal judge, Joseph Tauro, has ruled certain parts of DOMA to be unconstitutional. Of course, states can pass their own marriage definitions, and a number of them already have. Here is the report from Liberty Counsel, who has been quite successful in defending the traditional definition of marriage.

So, here again is ONE Federal judge attempting to undermine the definition of marriage, as affirmed by Congress, signed by the President, and supported by voters in some 30 states across America who have passed marriage amendments. This case is likely to be appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It's interesting, the Administration is attempting to say that the Arizona immigration law is unconstitutional because immigration is a Federal issue, but at the same time, DOMA is unconstitutional because marriage is not a Federal issue. Maybe it's just me, but there does seem to be a contradiction here.

Honorable mention:

Hawaii governor vetoes civil unions bill

Churches heed "Call 2 Fall" on July 4th

Concerns mount regarding President recess appointment of new health official

The 3 - July 4, 2010

On this 4th of July weekend, we can take time to reflect on the freedoms we have in our nation, including freedom of religious expression, which was a foremost principle in the hearts and minds of our Founding Fathers - a careful reading of history will illustrate that faith and dependence on Almighty God were foundational principles for our nations, and God has repeatedly and consistently blessed our nation.

Freedom of religious expression is being threatened, and 2 of the 3 stories in this week's edition of "The 3" deal with that issue. Plus, there was the matter this week of the confirmation hearings for a potential new Supreme Court justice.

3 - Texas appeals court rules against principals who attempted to stifle free speech

Some new developments in the case of a Texas school district that has been charged with preventing the free expression of religion. It's being called the "Candy Cane Case", and it experienced what some could call a negative decision on Monday, when the U.S. Supreme Court did not choose to hear the case on appeal. But, later in the week, a Federal appeals court ruled that 2 principals in the school district did in fact violate students' rights to free expression.

This case is rather complex, and involves a number of different instances, including the student who could not pass out candy canes at Chr....er, "winter" parties, along with an explanation of the significance of the canes, which is to illustrate the meaning of Jesus Christ's coming to earth. Another instance, I understand, involved the rights of students to include any sort of religious message in greetings to troops overseas.

Liberty Institute has been one of the principal organizations involved in the case, and provided this report on its website. Here is their statement on the recent ruling.

Also, the Dallas Morning News had this report on the events of this past week.

Read that article, and you see a stunning array of limitations of students' free speech rights in just one school district. Combine that with the multiple school districts in America that are involved to one degree or another with litigation on the topic of religious expression, and you see that districts have been intimidated into somehow thinking that students' rights to free expression have been compromised. But, when you see the high degree of cases being won by organizations such as the Alliance Defense Fund, Liberty Counsel, and others, you see that the freedoms provided for in the Bill of Rights still stand, and that we remember that students do not surrender those rights when the enter school property.

2 - Supreme Court rules against Christian group on California law school campus

While the Supreme Court did not hear the appeal of the "Candy Cane Case", it did deliver a decision in a case related to religious liberty that it had heard earlier this session - what is known as Christian Legal Society vs. Martinez. In this case, a Christian organization on the Hastings law school campus in California was protesting the policy of the school that required it to accept as members those who do not necessarily adhere to the Christian faith, and to even allow non-Christians to serve in a leadership capacity.

As outrageous as this may seem, nevertheless, the Court, in a 5-4 decision upheld the law school's policy. Here is a report posted on the CitizenLink web site.

Apparently, the decision applied to Hastings only...It may be hard to project what the wide-ranging implications of this decision may be, since Hastings' policy does seem to be rather unique in educational circles, so the narrow decision may not have an effect on a school with a similar point of view.

1 - Kagan confirmation hearings fly by and leave unanswered questions

In just a 2-day period of questioning for prospective Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan, Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee attempted to use their line of questions to illustrate why Kagan is or is not qualified to serve on the high court. Some senators attempted to paint Kagan as an abortion advocate because of her role in drafting the abortion policy during the Clinton administration. Another area of concern has been her ban on military recruiting while she served as Dean of the Harvard Law School. Sen. Jeff Sessions, ranking Republican on the committee, also needled Kagan for attempting to defend the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy as Solicitor General, while contending that it was the Obama Administration's intent to rescind it.

But, for some in the pro-life community, perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of Kagan's past is her attempt to actually write positions for medical organizations with respect to partial-birth abortion. This was shown in papers revealed just days before the confirmation hearings began, papers that had been slow to materialize from the Clinton Presidential Library. One such position, written presumably for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, which had struck down a ban on partial-birth abortion. LifeNews.com had this excellent analysis of Kagan's activist involvement on the abortion issue.

And, while Senators are declaring their support or opposition to Kagan, experts generally agree that she will have the votes to be confirmed and there will be no Senate filibuster to block her nomination.

Thousands of churches prepare for July 4 "Call 2 Fall"

FL school sued for banning Bible distribution

WI high court upholds gay marriage ban

Dr. Stanley calls for 140 Days of Prayer for our nation

The 3 - June 27, 2010

Well, my family and I have returned safely to Alabama from a week in the nation's capital...it's refreshing and sobering to reflect on our nation's rich history and to view these fabulous, historic landmarks - certainly God has blessed our nation, and we can give Him praise, being mindful to pray for America and its leaders.

I had intended to write a post last week, but it seems that everything in DC runs behind schedule - so time was at a premium, especially for our first 2 or 3 days...by then, it seemed a bit ludicrous to write a "week-in-review" when the next week was in full swing.

News out of Washington is the number 3 story this week, as campaign finance legislation that had been opposed by a number of Christian groups had appeared to be stalled, then the process restarted and the bill passed. Also, prayer was a topic that was highlighted by governors in the Gulf Coast region, as they called for a day of prayer related to the oil spill. And, a high-profile Christian leader who has blessed thousands of people with disabilities faces a new health challenge.

3 - House removes DISCLOSE from schedule, suddenly brings it back and passes it

Early in our week in Washington, I read that a campaign finance bill that would place restrictions on groups that advocate certain positions in elections had stalled. Just a couple of days later, I heard that the bill had narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. CitizenLink has been following this bill, and offered this report.

This has been decried as a bill that threatens the freedom of speech, and will likely face challenges on constitutional grounds. The bill would force certain advocacy groups to reveal names of their top donors and require the CEO of the organization sponsoring the ad to appear in it. Critics have charged that the Democratic leadership could be using this bill to influence the upcoming election. Over 50 pro-family groups whose views are consistent with a Christian worldview had voiced their opposition to the bill. There could be a silver lining, in that groups that do not reflect that perspective could also be forced to reveal their information, which could limit their activity and possible influence. Nevertheless, the passage of the bill in the House does have the potential to limit free speech, if the bill were to pass in the Senate, as well.

2 - Southern governors declare day of prayer regarding oil spill

The governors of 4 Southern states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico - Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas - have called for a day of prayer concerning the oil spill that is affecting their coastlines and that threatens the economic conditions of the entire region.

Certainly, the response by BP and the Federal government has not yielded a long-lasting, effective solution to preventing the flow of oil from the site of the explosion and the spread of the slick area of oil. In this potentially devastating set of circumstances, solutions outside of man's wisdom are needed, and the Biblical response when facing dilemmas, large and small, is to cry out to the source of all wisdom, our Almighty God. The Christian Post had this report.

1 - Joni to undergo breast cancer surgery

Joni Eareckson Tada, who has been a champion for many across America with disabilities, as well as their families, has lived a life that has been full of health challenges, but a life that has demonstrated the strength of the Lord working powerfully within her. It was announced this week that Joni has another health challenge - she will be undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

Here is a release from A. Larry Ross Communications, representing Joni's ministry.

Joni has always responded so gracefully in the midst of the challenges she faces. She is an example of someone that has decided to use adversity and pain to God's glory. Perhaps on the other side of this challenge, she will come forth stronger and be a glorious advocate to minister to those who have been afflicted with cancer and provide insight and inspiration to them. Please be in prayer for Joni, her husband Ken, the doctors who will treat her, and the overall ministry of Joni and Friends.

Honorable Mention:

Case Made Against Kagan

The 3 - June 13, 2010

This edition of "The 3" involves a protest that took place regarding a proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York City, a rejection of pro-life legislation by the governor of Florida, and pro-life victories for women across the country on Tuesday.

3 - Thousands protest "Ground Zero" mosque

It's a possibility that is touching emotions across America, including the Christian community...the plan to build a mosque near the site of the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, and to open it on the 10th Anniversary of the events. The Christian Post had this coverage of a protest last Sunday.

I believe that due to the fact that the 9-11 terrorists were motivated by Islamic fundamentalism, there is a sensitivity toward erecting anything associated with Islam in such close proximity to the site. Combine that with what is known about the head of the organization slated to build the mosque, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who has come under some criticism for his views of Christians and the West. In fact, in inviting people to the protest in New York on June 6, Jihad Watch's Robert Spencer gave some insight into the philosophy of the Imam.

2 - Crist vetoes strong pro-life ultrasound bill in Florida

There were some hopeful signs emerging out of the Florida Legislature recently, as lawmakers took steps to not only allow the state to opt out of taxpayer funding of abortion related to the recent health care law, but also to allow women to see ultrasound pictures of their unborn children. I believe that recent declines in the number of abortions, as well as the number of people who declare themselves to be pro-life according to surveys, are attributable to information about unborn children. The child inside the womb is more than a blob of tissue - it is actually a pre-born human being. Ultrasound technology is a contributing factor in these declines, as well as information shared during waiting periods for abortion that are provided in a number of states.

So, it's not surprising that Florida lawmakers seized the opportunity to pass solid pro-life legislation. And, perhaps, we shouldn't be surprised that Governor Charlie Crist vetoed the bill this past Friday - the Legislature is no longer in session, so it can't be overridden. Even though Crist has said he is pro-life, in the case of Terri Schiavo, he came under fire for his refusal, while attorney general, to take steps to preserve Terri's life. And, just this week, word has come that he has removed a pro-life section from his campaign website. His campaign for Senate, that is - yes, Crist is running for the U.S. Senate as an independent, rather than as a Republican, where he faced a stiff challenge by former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio. Now that Crist is running as an independent, perhaps he thinks he can attract independent voters by taking a more "choice"-oriented position. Never mind the recent surveys that show the majority of Americans describing themselves as pro-life.

LifeNews.com had this recap of the situation surrounding the veto.

1 - Election yields victories for pro-life women

An pro-family e-mail blast declared it as "ladies' night", a pro-life women's organization hailed a "resurgence of authentic, pro-life feminism". The elections on Tuesday indicated some significant victories for women who are also pro-life.

Perhaps the most notable is the contest in California, where former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina defeated several challengers in the Republican primary to earn the right to face longtime Senator and noted abortion supporter Barbara Boxer. Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is not regarded in some circles as pro-life, but certainly her views on the abortion issue would be considered more moderate than those of her Democratic opponent, former California governor Jerry Brown, who, after a stint as Attorney General (where he has been engaged in fighting against Proposition 8 and the one-man, one-woman definition of marriage), is seeking the state's highest office yet again.

Other states where pro-life women enjoyed victories include Nevada, where Sharron Angle, who was touted as a Tea Party, even an extreme candidate, easily defeated her two closest challengers. Angle, a pro-life Southern Baptist who is a former homeschool mom, won the Republican nomination and goes on now to face Harry Reid - yes, that Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader who has been slipping for months in the eyes of Nevadans, and will likely face a stiff challenge from Angle, even though the press nationwide has attempted to paint Angle as out-of-the-mainstream.

Apparently, pro-life women made a strong impact in races in New Jersey and South Dakota, as well. Plus, South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley came close to winning the Republican nomination without a runoff.

The Susan B. Anthony list had some analysis the day following the runoff.

So, the election results, I think, do demonstrate some conservative energy, and even validate the strength of candidates affiliated with the Tea Party movement (such as Angle and Haley). There is a significant segment of the population that is dissatisfied with the status quo and the inability of both parties nationally to govern effectively and cut Federal spending, and candidates who embrace fiscal (and in many case, social) conservatism are finding themselves doing quite well, in quite a few cases so far.

Honorable Mention:

Christian groups mobilize to do ministry at World Cup

Human trafficking likely to increase around World Cup

Christian family, the Sunderlands, asking for prayer for 16-year-old daughter sailing around the world

The 3 - June 5, 2010

After a week's hiatus due to travel (and a dial-up Internet connection!), "The 3" is back in business with a peek at an ongoing battle over where to hold graduation ceremonies in a city in Connecticut, the death of a basketball legend who exemplified Christian character, and another step in the furtherance of the gay agenda.

3 - CT graduation at church stymied by court

In what can be regarded as a blow for religious liberties, a Federal judge has ruled against a Connecticut school district that had planned to hold graduation for 2 of its schools in a large Bloomfield, CT church. When it was announced that 2 Enfield schools were planning to expose students involuntarily to a religious atmosphere, complete with religious symbols, the ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State cried foul and filed a lawsuit. The judge, after touring the facility, came down on the side of the ACLU. The school board narrowly decided not to appeal. The Christian Post has the story.

Interestingly enough, this had been a common practice in the school district for years. In fact, because of space considerations, school districts will turn to churches to hold major school-related events. This is another indication of the extent to which the ACLU and like-minded organizations will go in order to intimidate and thwart religious expression, as if somehow being in a church building would be coercive to students. As it has been pointed out, the building is not the church, and using a church's facility cannot be construed as forcing a person to be inappropriately exposed to religious activity.

2 - John Wooden dead at 99

He was known first as a man of great character, I believe, a leader's leader, who not only trained young men in basketball, but in life. Former UCLA head basketball coach John Wooden has died at age 99. The accolades continue to pour in for the coach, who was an active Christian, an avid Bible reader, and was outspoken about his faith. He was involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I would dare say that his many of his "maxims" were consistent with Biblical truth. I appreciated the observations of Terry Mattingly at GetReligion.org.

The Los Angeles Times, in a blog post, listed some of Wooden's maxims, or quotes:

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

"Be prepared and be honest."

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

"What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player."

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character."

Wooden is a great example of someone that made the most out of life, someone recognized for achievement off-the-court, perhaps more than the championship on it. He exemplified the importance of character, and displayed strong leadership skills, as he cultivated a host of admirers.

1 - Gay agenda continues advance; Obama expands domestic partner privileges

Just a few months ago, President Obama came under fire from one of his major constituencies, the gay and lesbian activists, who felt the he had not done enough to advance their cause. In the State of the Union message this year, he vowed to overturn the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy currently in use in the military with regard to homosexuals in the armed services. He is also on record as opposing the Defense of Marriage Act (which Solicitor General and Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan stated the Administration does not support, even in a feeble attempt to "defend" the law), which supports marriage as a man and a woman. And, last week, ignoring the statements from the leaders of the 4 branches of the Armed Forces, the U.S. House attached a repeal of this policy to a Defense Authorization Bill, presumably pending the results of a study to be completed later this year. Action is pending in the U.S. Senate on similar legislation.

And, this week, the Administration expanded another set of benefits to same-sex couples, following a granting of some benefits in action last June. CitizenLink has this report.

The President has also proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality has astutely pointed out that the 2010 proclamation (Obama also made a proclamation in 2009) calls for a repeal of DOMA. What we are watching is an attempt to redefine the institution of marriage and grant rights to individuals based on sexual orientation. Homosexual behavior is clearly characterized in Scripture as being sinful, so to give these special rights based on what many regard as a lifestyle choice is a disruptive path regarding the stability of our culture and its families. And, next up: the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which could force Christian employers to hire homosexuals.

Honorable Mention:

Wycliffe announces "Last Languages" campaign

Ted Haggard announces plans for new church

Christians take case to advertisers about Comedy Central's "JC" series

The 3 - May 22, 2010

This week on my week-in-review feature, "The 3", I focus on some good news out of Haiti, a Texas school textbook victory for religious heritage, and a checkup on the health of the Southern Baptist Convention.

3 - Leader of missionary group to Haiti finally released

Laura Silsby, the leader of that missionary group arrested in Haiti for trying to transport orphaned children across the border to the Dominican Republic, was convicted this week, but freed to return to the United States, with the judge basically saying that her time served in prison was sufficient to punish her for her "crime". The Christian Post has the story.

With over 250,000 people dead in Haiti and over a million left homeless, it does seem the nation has plenty of serious issues on its hands. This missionary group, for all intents and purposes, seems to have simply wanted to rescue orphaned children and take them to a better life; but there are those who have questioned whether or not the Haitian government wanted to make some sort of political example out of them. And, yes, it did seem that most or all of these children had at least one living parent, but this is apparently a common practice by Haitian parents to place their children in orphanages so that they can be provided for.

2 - Texas textbook committee wins Texas-sized victory for traditional values

The role of religious heritage in the establishment of our nation has been downplayed or eliminated from the national discussion and specifically the teaching of our young people. Texas parents and members of the state Board of Education there wanted to highlight our traditional values and the rich religious background that we have, and so there was a successful attempt to write into the Social Studies textbook standards assurances that some of these aspects of our history will be presented. The vote came down on Friday, and Liberty Institute was one of those organizations on the forefront. Read the "live blog" of the proceedings this week.

It has been pointed out that this vote could have implications for other states. As textbooks are revised to meet these standards, those rewritten textbooks could go into other areas, as well, putting more mentions of religious heritage and American exceptionalism into classrooms nationwide.

1 - Baptists celebrate, contemplate latest statistics

Southern Baptists are the largest Protestant denomination in America, and as the national meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention approaches in Orlando, the denomination is evaluating its impact on the world. The task force assigned to make recommendations on a document called the Great Commission Resurgence has undertaken a daunting task, attempting to poise the denomination for more effective ministry in the future. Baptist Press has a nice piece on some of the ramifications of this overall strategy and the opinions on it.

Meanwhile, new statistics provide more information to consider - while baptisms are on the rise...slightly, the membership in the overall denomination has decreased...again slightly. Christianity Today has some facts and analysis.

Meanwhile, it appears there are 4 candidates for the Presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention, replacing First Baptist/Woodstock, GA Pastor Johnny Hunt, who has served the customary 2 years in the position. According to Baptist Press, those candidates are:

Jimmy Jackson, Pastor of Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL, currently serving as President of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. He was the SBC's first vice president in 2006-07.

Ted Traylor, Pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL, a former President of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Traylor is a trustee of the North American Mission Board and chairman of NAMB's presidential search team. He is a member of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and a former SBC first vice president.

Bryant Wright, Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA, formerly President of the SBC Pastors' Conference (2006).

Leo Endel, Executive Director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention and former President of the Baptist Convention of Iowa.

The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention is coming up June 15-16.

Honorable Mention:

Mojave Desert cross replaced, replacement removed

Movie on life of Keith Green possibly in the works?

Courageous: Report from the Set

4 fathers - united in tragedy - exploring their roles as fathers and challenging each other to follow God's intention for their lives.

Such is the premise of a new film that explores the power of fatherhood and the negative consequences of the lack of strong fathers. It's called, "Courageous", and the team at Sherwood Pictures, including Pastor Michael Catt, Executive Pastor Jim McBride, and Associate Pastors Alex and Stephen Kendrick, after much prayer and reflection, has crafted a script that brings to light a number of issues related to fatherhood and attempts to address these issues Biblically.

And, from all indications, not only does it promise to be spiritually and emotionally challenging - something I picked up just from viewing some of the clips that have been shot thus far - but, as Sherwood films "Fireproof", "Facing the Giants", and "Flywheel" have demonstrated, will be characterized by a powerful story and plenty of entertaining elements.

I made the short 3-hour drive from Montgomery to Albany, Georgia recently to spend some time observing the making of "Courageous". Why Albany? Well, it's the home of Sherwood Baptist Church, a 3000-plus member congregation that is not only devoted to ministering in its local community through its ministry programs, but also has as it's God-given ambition to reach the world through film. Sherwood is taking proceeds from its previous films and investing in missions and in the development of an 82-acre sports park that is built on a foundation of ministry.

Sherwood Servanthood.

What did I find on my trip to Southwest Georgia? Well, I was drawn in my the friendliness and the hospitable nature of the people of Sherwood. The staff members and movie volunteers who I encountered demonstrated a high level of servanthood and were quite welcoming to me and the other media representatives that visited the site. This is a congregation that is obviously devoted to doing church and ministry well.

Passionate Participation.

My show, "The Meeting House", on Faith Radio, originated from the set of the film...now, this is not some big Hollywood back lot we're talking about here - it's a neighborhood where several of the houses are being used for the actual scenes of the film. I was set up, along with American Family Radio and Family Life Radio (NY, PA), in the carport of a house, where I was greeted by a steady stream of people associated with the film. Some examples: 2 people who were prominently featured in "Fireproof" - Erin Bethea (Catherine Holt) and Harris Malcom (John Holt, Caleb's father) - are behind the scenes for this new film...Erin is working in makeup and did the daily devotional the day before the radio show, Harris is involved in the prayer team. "Fireproof" actor Ken Bevel returns in "Courageous" as one of the 4 law enforcement officers depicted in the film. One of the things that struck me over and over as I interviewed people associated with the film was that they really "bought in" to the message - not only did they elaborate on their individual roles, but they reflected a love for Christ and an ability to communicate the message of the film effectively.

Glorifying God.

Time on the set illustrated to me the commitment to quality that is exhibited by the Sherwood team - with a painstaking degree of precision, shots were meticulously set up, repeated "takes" were performed, but there was a real sense of the cast and crew doing this for the glory of God. This is attributable to the amount of prayer that is going on, and the commitment to unity that is demonstrated on the set, beginning with the daily morning devotional, where participants circle up, hear a devotional, and pray together for their efforts to be unified and for God to be glorified.


The Supremacy of Story.

In attempting to "reach the world from Albany, Georgia", the Sherwood team realizes that the message is key. Not only do they desire to make inspiring, entertaining films, but foremost, their desire is to tell compelling stories that teach Biblical truth. Marriages have been saved through "Fireproof" as a result of the absorbing and the application of this truth into lives. I sense that through this film, they want to strengthen men and encourage them to fulfill their God-given role as fathers. Through reaching beyond the walls of the church and telling these stories to the culture at large, God is able to use these depictions to exalt Christ and draw people to a relationship with Him.

To download my weekly podcast featuring interviews from the set, click here.

You can download full conversations from the Meeting House website at http://www.meetinghouseonline.info/.

Thanks so much to the team from Provident Films, Sherwood Pictures, Lovell-Fairchild Communications, and Renaissance Communications for their overwhelming assistance in arranging for me to go to Albany and coordinating the various elements of my experience there.

The 3 - May 15, 2010

On this edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", I highlight recent developments concerning graduation and religion, the theft of a war memorial that just received reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court, and the announcement of a new high court nominee.

3 - "Friend or Foe" Graduation Campaign Announced, Graduation Controversies Begin

We are entering that very special season where high school seniors receive their diplomas at graduation ceremonies. There is still confusion about the rights of students to express their faith during those ceremonies, and, in a recent Connecticut lawsuit, even about the location of graduation ceremonies. Liberty Counsel has announced its 8th annual "Friend or Foe" Graduation Prayer Campaign to offer clarity, as well as legal assistance, if students feel their rights to free expression of religion are being impeded. Basically, students have the right to pray and share religious references in graduation ceremonies - where that type of expression has been judged by courts to be unconstitutional is when it is initiated by school officials.

Also, Alliance Defense Fund announced this week that an Arizona nursing school has decided not to eliminate the opening and closing prayers from its pinning ceremony, after receiving a letter from ADP.

Nevertheless, there are organizations, such as the ACLU and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, that insist on disrupting free expression, sometimes in rather unusual ways. Take, for instance, the Connecticut lawsuit, where those two organizations have attempted to keep graduation ceremonies from being held in a church building. Here is CitizenLink's report.

2 - Mojave Desert Cross Stolen

Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the war memorial in the Mojave Desert did not have to be removed, vandals took the matter into their own hands and removed the memorial, which was in the shape of a cross. Liberty Institute, which has represented caretakers of the monument, has mounted a campaign to restore a memorial at that same site, and is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. And, according to The Christian Post, atheists have offered $5,000 to erect a more "inclusive" memorial.

And, in an interesting twist, the Desert Dispatch newspaper reports receiving an anonymous letter "explaining" the theft of the cross. Not any validation there, but the rationale expressed could actually reflect the mindset of someone taking the matter into their own hands.

Meanwhile, the debate over the significance of the display of religious symbols continues. This week, a Kentucky display of the 10 Commandments received a favorable ruling from a Federal appeals court. Here's the story from CBN News.

1 - Kagan Named New Supreme Court Nominee

The reponse was swift and not unexpected to the nomination of U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, replacing retiring justice John Paul Stevens. Kagan, while lean on judicial experience, is recognized as a skilled academician, but some of her writings will probably give Senators on the Judiciary Committee some cause for close scrutiny with respect to whether or not she will assume an advocacy position on the court for such issues as abortion and gay rights. Her opposition to military recruiters being allowed on campus at Harvard because of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is one instance that opponents point to as an example of her advocate's stance. For an overview of some of the dynamics of Kagan's background, CitizenLink put together an excellent article.

The National Right to Life Committee exposed some of Kagan's writings that seem to disparage those who take a pro-life point of view. And, after the protracted hearings on the nominations of Sonia Sotomayor, perhaps Americans are scrutinizing justices more thoroughly with regard to their view of the Constitution. That might be one interpretation of a recent poll, reported on by The Christian Post, showing widespread opposition to the nomination of Kagan, even though most believe she will be confirmed. It will be interesting to see if enough opposition can be generated by Senate Republicans, 7 of whom voted to confirm her for Solicitor General, in order to derail her nomination.

The 3 - May 9, 2010

This Mother's Day edition of "The 3" finds the values that my mom taught me upheld in a variety of ways - as atheists lost another one in court, leaders learned to put others first, and people came out to pray across America.

3 - Atheists Lose Appeal of Lawsuit against "God" in Presidential Oath

Noted atheist Michael Newdow's crusade against the mention of God in certain institutions of our society, such as the Pledge of Allegiance, the motto, "In God We Trust" on our money, and the mention of God (as in, "So Help Me, God") in the Presidential oath, was dealt another blow by a three-judge panel of a Federal appeals court in Washington, DC. The Christian Post reported on Friday's development.

This ongoing battle is indicative of the mindsets of people in America that want to eradicate religious expression from the fabric of our nation's life. That's why prayer is so important, as we pray for our religious liberties to be preserved and for people to recognize that our nation was founded on unmistakably Christian principles.

2 - Thousands Inspired by Chick-Fil-A Leadercast

For years, John Maxwell has been presenting a yearly simulcast featuring well-respected business leaders. Churches nationwide have been using this opportunity to invite people into the business community into their facilities. This year, with a new corporate sponsor, the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast attracted an estimated 65,000 people or more.

I reported on the Leadercast for The Meeting House on Faith Radio, and originated my Friday afternoon program from the live location, the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The nexus of post-Leadercast coverage can be found at www.chick-fil-aleadercast.com. This site has links to a variety of blogs, as well as backstage interviews. Notable speakers included Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, Dr. Ben Carson, John Maxwell, and corporate leaders such as Ed Bastian (Delta Air Lines) and Jim Goodnight (SAS). One of the common themes that some of the speakers dealt with was the importance of putting others first, realizing we lead effectively as we seek to reach out to others with humility.

1 - 59th Annual National Day of Prayer Observed

This past Thursday, May 6th, the National Day of Prayer was marked by gatherings all across America - numerous churches, as well as municipalities, hosted events, people gathered for public observances, and the increased visibility for the day may have in fact brought more people out to participate.

That visibility came in part from a judge's ruling in Wisconsin saying that Congress did not have the constitutional right to proclaim such a day, as well as the high-profile withdrawal of Franklin Graham's invitation to speak at the Pentagon. Graham did pray there, but outside the Pentagon instead. And, in a bit of good news, President Obama did declare the day as the National Day of Prayer, following in the tradition of previous Presidents.

CitizenLink offered this coverage of the NDP. Also, some reports from across the media have been assembled at the National Day of Prayer Task Force Facebook page. This is a great American tradition, and hopefully will be a springboard for consistent prayer on a variety of issues, as we intercede for our nation and its leaders to turn to God and rely on His strength, wisdom, and protection.

Honorable Mention:

Nashville Flooding Yields Christian Response

Only 5 in 100 Oppose National Day of Prayer, According to USA Today/Gallup Poll

The 3 - May 1, 2010

Plenty to discuss this week, and a plethora of candidates for "The 3" - narrowing it down, I spotlight the beginning of filming for a Christian motion picture, dialogue about an announced find of a key Biblical artifact, and pro-life legislation passing state legislatures.

3 - "Courageous" begins filming

I would say that more than a few curious eyes are fixed toward Albany, Georgia, as Sherwood Pictures began filming this week on its next film, "Courageous", slated to be released next year. The film focuses on 4 law enforcement officers who are struggling in their role as fathers, and when tragedy strikes, they are forced to wrestle with even greater issues, including their faith.

This film, which follows their previous effort, "Fireproof", I would think would have some high expectations in the Christian community, and for good reason - Alex and Stephen Kendrick and the team at Sherwood Pictures have shown a great deal of creativity, skill, and outstanding ability to tell a story. And, most of all, the on-set demeanor is one of prayer and submission to the Holy Spirit. And, I know that they covet your prayers for "Courageous" to touch lives in a powerful way, just as their previous films have done.

I'm scheduled to be on the set of "Courageous" later this month - I am greatly looking forward to the visit, and am planning to bring some inspiring reports to you! The movie website is www.courageousthemovie.com. There you'll find video reports from the set, a listing of the principal cast members (in the blog), and plenty more!

2 - Noah's Ark declared discovery discussed

Perhaps the most elusive and anticipated artifact related to the Christian community is Noah's Ark - there have been numerous expeditions, even some announced discoveries, but so far, no one has brought back the prize...until now, perhaps?

Well, a team of evangelical explorers have announced that they have discovered the ark on Mt. Ararat in Turkey. Read the story of their discovery from Fox News.

But, it's no surprise there is skepticism. A noted archaeologist came out this week to forcefully discredit the find. Randall Price shared his perspective with AOL News. And, noted creation and science organization Answers in Genesis took a "wait and see" attitude. Dr. John Morris of the Institute for Creation Research exhibited a cautionary view, as well.

Well, as Ken Ham pointed out in a Tuesday Answers in Genesis piece, "We have no doubt, however, that there once was a massive Ark that served as a vessel of salvation during a global Flood and landed on the mountains of Ararat, as recorded in the book of Genesis. " So, of that we can be certain, and the discovery of Noah's Ark, whenever it might occur, will be further validation of the truth that is found in the Bible.

1 - Pro-life victories in State Legislatures

All across America, there is action taking place in state legislatures with regard to the broad health care legislation that was passed by Congress. Over a dozen state attorneys general have filed suit, contending the legislation violates the Constitution, and legislatures are taking up the cause to exempt their states from the numerous Federal mandates that are contained within the thousands of pages of legislation and regulation.

And, this week, Arizona became the first state to enact legislation that would exempt their state from taxpayer funding of abortion, as Gov. Brewer signed the bill. Three other states - Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida - have had their legislatures pass similar bills. CitizenLink reported on the Arizona development.

More pro-life news from Florida - the Legislature passed a bill that would offer an ultrasound to women considering abortion...this would include ultrasounds being made available in abortion clinics. The bill now goes on to Governor Crist. Here is the report from LifeNews.com.

And, some good news on the pro-life front from Oklahoma - the Legislature there overrode a gubernatorial veto on 2 pro-life bills...one is a mandatory ultrasound bill and another bill would prevent "wrongful life" lawsuits that claim a baby would have been better off being aborted and that a doctor should have suggested abortion. Here is the report from LifeNews.com.

In light of a Congress that included taxpayer funding of abortion in health care reform legislation, a Supreme Court that is not set to overturn Roe v. Wade, and an Administration that has been described as the most pro-abortion in history, it is not particularly productive to expect Federal action on the life issue. However, there is a trend by states to protect life, and that may increase as these legislatures are reacting to the new health care law.

Honorable Mention:

"Pro-Life Freedom Rides" announced by prominent pro-life leaders in Birmingham

Creation Museum greets one-millionth visitor

Congressional National Day of Prayer will allow Graham to speak despite Muslim opposition

New report chides White House response to religious freedom

The 3 - April 24, 2010

This week featured a couple of high-profile Christian conferences on opposite ends of the country, plus victories over gambling in 2 states, and more developments surrounding the May 6 National Day of Prayer.

3 - Catalyst West Conference, Exponential Conference expand horizons

This was a strategic week for strengthening Christian leaders and setting the stage for the growth of the church - 2 major conferences were held on separate ends of the nation. The Exponential conference met in Orlando, as church planters gathered to be inspired and instructed on planning for the future. You can get the flavor of the event by going to the Exponential website and reading some of the tweets and blogs.

Also, this week, the leadership-oriented event known as Catalyst West took place. Catalyst has been going strong in Atlanta for a number of years, and has expanded to include a West Coast event, as well, which took place this year in Irvine, California. You might learn quite a bit from visiting the Facebook page for the event.

2 - AL & NH victories over gambling while FL expands tribal gaming

Looking across the landscape of America, state governments are strapped for cash, and some are looking to the uncertain source of revenue known as gambling in order to fill their coffers. The gambling industry in Alabama appealed to the Legislature to legalize casino-style "electronic bingo", or slot machines, and was successful in getting a bill through the Senate, only to die in the House this week. CitizenLink offered this summary.

Unfortunately, in Florida, the lure of new revenue from gambling was appealing to Governor Crist, who negotiated a new compact with the Seminole tribe, resulting in gambling expansion. I found a website, "Casino Watch", that is designed to expose the negative effects of gambling, and it published a story on this most recent Florida development.

1 - Franklin Graham dropped from National Day of Prayer at Pentagon, Obama to appeal NDP court decision

This year, the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer is receiving quite a bit of attention, perhaps more than in past years...and the day has not been cancelled, and it is no less constitutional on a national basis than it has been, despite the ruling of a Federal judge saying that Congress did not have the constitutional right to declare such a Day.

Now, comes the news that Franklin Graham, the Honorary Chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, headed by Shirley Dobson, has been dropped from a planned prayer service at the Pentagon, as the result of the efforts of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which has a long history of challenging the expression of the Christian faith by members of the military, protested Graham's appearance because of comments he had made regarding the religion of Islam. Graham responded swiftly, eloquently, and with the grace you would expect - after all, he has a son in the military and ministers through Samaritan's Purse in a number of predominantly Muslim countries. The Christian Post has an excellent report of the latest developments.

Good news - the Obama administration announced its decision on Thursday to appeal the ruling by the Federal judge. For information on events surrounding the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 6, go to www.nationaldayofprayer.com.

Honorable Mention:

Francis Chan steps away from pastorate

Preparation underway for April 25 Internet Evangelism Day

The 3 - April 18, 2010

This week's edition of "The 3" includes a landmark bill passed by the Nebraska legislature concerning fetal pain, a nationwide effort to start conversation regarding Biblical truth on the topic of homosexuality, and a perplexing court ruling on the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer.

3 - Nebraska passes fetal pain bill

The state of Nebraska, in a bold pro-life move, has passed a bill that recognizes that babies in the womb feel pain, and abortions of pre-born children of 20 weeks or greater will be outlawed under the new law. National Right to Life has an excellent analysis on its website concerning the law and its potential implications on the Supreme Court view of abortion.

Pro-life blogger Jill Stanek gives some background on the overall atmosphere into which the legislation is introduced in a column for WorldNetDaily.

Any legislation that places limits on abortion becomes another potential court challenge, which could result in the weakening or outright overturning of the Supreme Court's decision, Roe vs. Wade, in which the high court invented a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy and therefore eliminate a human life. It is encouraging when state legislatures place well-reasoned limits on abortion, since the Federal government is too firmly entrenched in trying to find ways to allow more abortions. Perhaps the passage of this Nebraska law can be yet another step in reducing the number of babies who lose their lives in the abortion clinics of America - it's another piece of good news, combined with the continued exposure of the abortion industry, plus surveys that show the population as a whole is more pro-life. Those of us who are pro-life can still find plenty to rejoice over these days, despite the passage of health care legislation that included taxpayer funding of abortion, promoted by the most pro-abortion Administration in history.

2 - Day of Truth offered as alternative to Day of Silence

Each year, the national Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network sponsors an event called the Day of Silence, in which gay young people are encouraged to remain silent in order to, as the Day of Silence website says, "bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools." According to the Christian Post, the existence of this day has produced some challenges for Christian parents, who have to decide whether or not to send their kids to school on this day of blatant promotion of the gay agenda.

And while no student should be subject to "bullying", unfortunately GLSEN and its like-minded cohorts use this day to call attention to the gay lifestyle and it becomes a day when homosexuality gets an inordinate amount of attention.

Christian students have been encouraged to participate in the Day of Truth, which was originally started by the Alliance Defense Fund, and is now organized by Exodus International. With the purpose of building bridges, starting conversations, and engaging students in discussions around the Biblical truth about homosexuality, the Day of Truth becomes a potentially powerful tool in order to present solid, Scripturally-based information coated in the love of Christ. You can check out www.dayoftruth.org for more information.

1 - Federal judge rules National Day of Prayer unconstitutional

A Federal district judge in Wisconsin, ruling in a lawsuit filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, has found the declaration of Congress establishing a National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional. Here is the summary from Focus on the Family's CitizenLink website.

Stuart Shepard of FOF Action joined me on The Meeting House on Faith Radio and discussed the ruling:



There are several points to note about the ruling and its implications:
- The judge did not cancel the National Day of Prayer, even if she could have.
- The National Day of Prayer is established by Congress, who has directed the President to proclaim the First Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer, and the indications are that he intends to do so, just as he did last year.
- While President Obama did not hold White House services last year on the National Day of Prayer, as President Bush had done, he still made a NDP proclamation.
- Generally, all 50 governors make National Day of Prayer proclamations.
- Private NDP events would still allowed under this ruling.
- This ruling was by a Federal district judge in Wisconsin. Perhaps this does not have jurisdiction over other districts or circuits?

So, participate in and enjoy the National Day of Prayer, and check out www.nationaldayofprayer.com for information on an event in your area.

The 3 - April 10, 2010

This week's installment of "The 3", my week-in-review blog post, includes a new faith-based movie in theaters, and the promise of new public officials - the process of replacing a Representative from Michigan and a Supreme Court Justice.

3 - "Letters to God" delivered to theaters

This weekend, moviegoers are being invited to view a film that presents a message of hope in the midst of trial, a movie that has at its core a strong Christian worldview perspective. It's called "Letters to God", and it features the directorial skills of David Nixon, who was producer of "Fireproof" with Sherwood Pictures.

I had a chance to talk with producer and Co-Manager of Possibility Pictures, the movie company responsible for "Letters to God", and the balance of the conversation will air on "The Meeting House" (www.meetinghouseonline.info) the week of April 12.

Dr. Marc Newman of Movie Ministry joined me on April 9 to discuss the film and some of the messages it communicates.



The movie was anticpated to release on over 900 screens, making it the widest opening for a Christian, faith-based film since "The Passion of the Christ". To learn more about the film, go to www.letterstogodthemovie.com.

2 - Stupak's re-election campaign halted

Bart Stupak, up until the day of the U.S. House vote on health care reform legislation, was hailed as a pro-life champion, a defender of the rights of the unborn and of the rights of taxpayers who do not wish to pay for the termination of human life. But that all changed when Stupak was promised an Executive Order by President Obama, which in fact does not have the power to alter the pro-abortion language in the bill itself. Stupak came under fire from pro-life advocates as well as those in the Tea Party movement for his reversal in course.

On April 9, Stupak announced that he was heading back to the house, his home, that is, rather than face what promised to be a tough re-election fight. One of the organizations that had actually awarded Stupak for his devotion to life, the Susan B. Anthony List, withdrew the award and actively began to start campaigning against him. Here is an update from the blog on its website, www.sba-list.org.

1 - Stevens decides to retire from bench

One of the justices that is commonly associated with the liberal wing of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Paul Stevens, announced his retirement for later this year. This puts President Obama in a position of appointing another justice to the court, following his naming Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring justice David Souter. Senate confirmation is not guaranteed, now that the Democrats essentially have 59 votes, but there has been resistance by some Republicans to filibuster judicial nominations. Nevertheless, there will be close scrutiny of the nominee and his or her judicial philosophy and record.

Baptist Press has an excellent analysis of some of the 90-year-old Stevens' decisions, including those affecting the issue of abortion, where he did not side with the rights of the unborn.

Faith community responds to mine explosion

TN school board mulls removing language describing creation as "myth"

The 3 - April 3, 2010

This Easter weekend edition of "The 3" illuminates some trying times for Pope Benedict XVI in light of past controversies within the Catholic Church, recess appointments by the President of individuals who have brought concern among pro-life and pro-family leaders, and the celebration of Easter in a variety of ways by churches.

3 - Pope criticized by some, defended by noted Catholic leaders

Because of charges about his handing of child abuse allegations in the 1990's prior to his becoming pope, Pope Benedict XVI has received some strong criticism from some circles within the church, and in response, a number of church leaders are coming to the Pope's defense. In his traditional public appearances at the Vatican to commemorate Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the pontiff did not address the renewed allegations directly, but, according to The Christian Post, stressed how Jesus did not retaliate when he was reviled.

The Catholic Church has taken great steps to address the instances of sexual indiscretions within its ranks, and as recently as 2 weeks ago, the Pope was apologetic for the way the Church had handled scandals in its past. It is hoped that the moves taken to put sinful instances behind it would result in the church, Catholic, Protestant, or otherwise, being a safe place for its young people.

2 - Obama make recess appointments raising concern from pro-life, pro-family community

For months, Christian leaders have been watching the possibility of appointees by President Obama being installed into influential positions. 2 of those who have been most watched, were placed into office in so-called "recess appointments". One of those, lesbian activist Chai Feldblum, despite bi-partisan opposition resulting in her confirmation being stalled out, now moves into a high-ranking position with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She is noted as an author of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which could have harmful implications on faith-based organizations and their hiring practices.

The other controversial appointee is Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. Becker is a proponent of "card check", which would force workers to vote publicly on whether or not to join a union. It is thought that the abolition of a secret ballot in this process could result in retaliatory action against those who vote against unionizing. Some of the larger unions have embraced a liberal social agenda, and the authorization of "card check" could enlarge their influence across the workplaces of America. CitizenLink has been following these nominees closely, and this is its latest report.

1 - Christians celebrate Easter in a variety of ways

With a recent Barna survey showing that less than half of Americans associate Easter with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I believe there is a greater responsibility of churches to be intentional with respect to inviting people into their houses of worship on Easter Sunday and share a strong salvation message.

Churches across America have been looking for ways to reach out in creative ways. Saddleback Church, pastored by Rick Warren, is having special services Saturday night and Sunday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The nationally-known pastor, in fact, is inviting pastors from across Southern California to come and be prayed for during their Saturday night service. Easter services will be headlined musically by not only Christian worship leader Kari Jobe and Marcos Witt, but also a special appearance by 3 pop superstars whose father is a pastor - the Jonas Brothers.

Another large church, Mars Hill Church in Seattle, pastored by Mark Driscoll, debuted a new film called, "Good Friday", depicting the suffering of Christ. A number of communities hosted Good Friday dramatizations of the walk of Christ to Calvary. A Florida church offered to reach out to its community by paying the light bills for needy people.

Then, you have the "over the top" Easter lure - giving away prizes to people for coming to church on Easter Sunday...can you believe it? Read more from The Christian Post.

May God create in his people a sense of urgency for the hearts of people to come to know our Savior and give us opportunities during this Easter season to testify to the risen Lord!

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