The 3 - August 28, 2011

As we reflect on this last full week of August, "The 3" is back to look at an ministry opportunity for Christians reaching out with the love of Christ to help the victims of Hurricane Irene. Also, a Florida teacher who came under fire for a politically incorrect Facebook post was allowed to go back in the classroom. And, our top story involves a decision announced this week that directly affects the freedom of speech for Christian broadcasters.

3 - Christian relief agencies prepare to respond to Irene destruction

As Hurricane Irene made its slow trek up the East Coast of the United States, bringing high winds and widespread flooding, Christian relief agencies were prepared to swing into action. With damage, especially from flooding, expected to reach a large area, many will need that helping hand and word of encouragement.

Operation Blessing is headquartered in Virginia Beach, which is in an area that received a direct hit from the storm, and it pre-staged staff and equipment, according to this piece in Charisma News.

And, Southern Baptist disaster relief teams were planning to move into the affected areas, partnering with churches and ministry organizations throughout the entire coastal region, according to this report from Baptist Press.

We remember, as tomorrow is the 6th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, that one of the storylines of that disaster was the role that the church played in helping the region get back on its feet. And, no doubt, there will be many from North Carolina to Maine that will receive necessary assistance as the church reaches out with physical and spiritual support.

2 - Florida teacher reinstated after suspension resulting from Facebook post

I would imagine that the veteran teacher saw it as an opportunity to share his personal opinion and perhaps engage some of his students. Afterward, the words became grounds for his suspension and subsequent reinstatement.

His name is Jerry Buell, last year's "Teacher of the Year" at Mount Dora High School in Lake County, Florida. As he viewed news coverage of the state of New York's legalization of gay marriage, he was disappointed that the state had engaged in this affront to the traditional, Biblical definition of marriage. He also was repulsed by the sight of two "grooms" kissing. He posted his opinion on his personal Facebook page. A graduate of the school almost a decade ago reported the comments to school board officials, and Jerry Buell, an exemplary teacher, became another example of the way that some people in authority these days are intimidated by the gay agenda to the extent that they would punish someone, anyone, who dares to criticize the homosexual lifestyle.

Harry Mihet, Senior Litigation Counsel of legal advocacy organization Liberty Counsel, who agreed to represent Mr. Buell, shared some of the details and free speech issues of the situation in an interview on The Meeting House last week.



It was announced on Wednesday that Jerry Buell had been reinstated to his position effective immediately, for which there was celebration. But, another issue has emerged - according to Mihet, a "written directive" was placed in Buell's personnel folder, and some statements of his faith that Buell had placed on the school website and in his syllabus have allegedly been questioned - in fact, on the website, where Buell had written that he tries to "teach and lead my students as if Lake Co. Schools had hired Jesus Christ himself" have been removed. Here's a report from the Orlando Sentinel. So, while Jerry Buell has been allowed to go back into the classroom, there may be an issue concerning his freedom of expression that will be explored.

1 - Fairness Doctrine removed from FCC's regulations

At one time, the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates broadcast programming in America, had instituted what is known as the "Fairness Doctrine", requiring broadcasters to provide commentary presenting both sides of a controversial issue. Until this week, that provision had been part of the FCC's book of regulations. However, the Doctrine had been rescinded during the Reagan administration, in 1987.

The reversal of the Fairness Doctrine that year marks a significant event in broadcast content - after that point, you saw the rise of talk radio, with hosts that presented one particular viewpoint of the issues of the day. Conservative talk radio is believed to have grown because it reflected the perspective of a sizable portion of the population, and the genre was quite popular, driving listeners to the AM band and generating revenue - many broadcast outlets were able to sell commercial time during these programs as they became more popular. Christian radio also showed growth in its dedication to dealing with the issues of the day with a Biblical perspective. Broadcasters were no longer burdened with having to present multiple sides of an issue. And, as the Internet became more popular and there were an increasing number of cable television outlets, there was no shortage of variety regarding views on significant issues.

Following the election of President Obama, who was not particularly popular with a number of these types of outlets because of his policies (not his personality), there were some who were calling for the Fairness Doctrine to be reinstated. However, with the free speech concerns of many across the political spectrum, there was never enough traction in Congress for it to be reinstituted.

And, this week - it was officially removed from the FCC's regulatory book. Dr. Frank Wright, President of National Religious Broadcasters applauded the ruling, saying that:

We are delighted that FCC Chairman Genachowski has followed-through on his promise to fully eliminate this pernicious rule, which enabled the FCC to compel broadcasters to air opposing viewpoints on controversial issues that the government decided to be of public importance.

Here is the complete statement from NRB.

Now, it's important that broadcast free speech advocates are vigilant regarding attempts to implement the spirit of the Fairness Doctrine, under the guise of a concept called "localism", where advocacy groups could organize to intimidate stations to broadcast certain types of programming on a local level. These groups could also threaten protests over an outlet's license renewal if these "local" matters are not reflected in the programming. This would be an affront to nationally-syndicated programs that broadcast a conservative and/or Christian perspective. As Dr. Wright said,

There are many voices calling for increased scrutiny of broadcast programming under the guise of ‘localism,’ and we see such proposals as a Fairness Doctrine in different garb.

Stuart Shepard of CitizenLink and Family News in Focus joined me to discuss free speech issues, including the removal of the Fairness Doctrine from the official annals of the FCC.

The 3 - August 20, 2011

Welcome to this week's edition of "The 3" - featuring 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community. The role of faith in Presidential politics is a topic that will likely not go away over the next 15 months, and the spiritual dynamics have changed just a bit even over the past week. Also, another attempt to drive a wedge between corporate America and charitable organizations is underway. And, the top story involves one of those consequences of a state moving away from traditional marriage.

3 - Faith becomes subject of scrutiny in 2012 Presidential race

The trajectory that has been set in this Presidential campaign is that candidates, especially on the Republican side, will be challenged with respect to their faith. In 2008, Barack Obama's faith was scrutinized, especially with respect to his membership in Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years, but as Obama distanced himself from the pastor, I don't recall that Obama's religious faith was that major of an issue. Now, there are many Americans that believe the President to be a Muslim, but again, he has made enough statements about his Christian faith, plus there are so many critical issues that have been facing the country over the past few months, that who Obama follows or prays to seems to be of little consequence overall.

That may or may not change in the 2012 campaign, but depending on who the Republican nominee becomes, faith may be a decisive issue with some Americans, especially with regard to how that faith perspective affects policy decisions. Already, we're getting a sense of how the media will spin the candidates' faith with respect to Michele Bachmann and new entry Rick Perry. I would imagine that Mitt Romney's Mormon beliefs will become a more prevalent topic of discussion, especially among evangelicals. (And, Romney apparently puts his money where his faith is, according to a new piece on the WORLD magazine website.)

Rick Perry's entry into the race does introduce a new spiritual dynamic - a member of an Austin Methodist church who attends a megachurch there, Perry made headlines by his involvement with a large prayer rally in Houston recently that drew some 30,000 people. There were attempts to paint Perry as some sort of religious extremist because of some of the views that are held by members of the speaker team, but his record and rhetoric show that his personal theology and policy positions might be in line with a majority of evangelicals. The spiritual balance of the race changed last weekend when former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a professed evangelical, bowed out following his third-place finish in the Iowa straw poll.

But, the majority of the spiritual scrutiny recently has been focused on U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann. From earlier associations with a church denomination that has allegedly held some pointed negative positions on Catholicism (she has since withdrawn from that demonination) to questions about her views on submission in marriage, her husband's views on whether or not homosexuals can change to the recent "Meet the Press" salvo from David Gregory about whether or not she communicates with God, Bachmann is attempting to navigate the potential spiritual minefields while trying not to detract from her political capital. As the race continues, the religious beliefs of the 3 "top-tier" candidates - Bachmann, Perry, and Romney - will be a consistent storyline of the 2012 campaign. While Obama's faith is seen and portrayed in the media as virtually non-threatening, based on past history, the beliefs of the Republican trio may be characterized as toxic, which will be an unfortunate occurrence.

2 - Change.org strikes again - gay activists and charities in tug-of-war with corporations in the middle

Over the past few months, a small but potent group of activists has formed, who are intent on portraying in a negative light Christian and charitable organizations that do not share their views on homosexuality or traditional marriage. We have seen Apple pull two apps from its app store - one was the app for the Manhattan Declaration, affirming life, religious liberty, and...the big one for the strident activists - traditional marriage! The other app pulled was the one belonging to Exodus International, which has a strong track record of helping those who wish to exit the homosexual lifestyle to actually do so. Last week, through a petition posted on the website, Change.org, a small group of activists stirred up enough rancor to force Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to withdraw from the speaker lineup for a satellite conference at Willow Creek Church, attempting to paint the church as intolerant.

This week, the public knowledge increased about another effort by activists to infect the business community against faith-based organizations. Another petition at Change.org claimed that corporations participating in the Charity Give Back Group supported charities that were so-called "hate groups" simply because they did not embrace the homosexual lifestyle and supported the Biblical view of marriage. This tug-of-war was highlighted in a piece in the Denver Post. Through the CGBG, shoppers designate a percentage of their purchases through the retailers who participate to go to their choice of charities.

Representatives of the CGBG have gone on the offensive, meeting with corporate leaders and highlighting the work of the charities that are being supported with donations that shoppers make. They also stress that groups such as Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council are not "hate groups", and instead of trying to engage in rhetorical conflict, they are attempting to demonstrate the love of Christ and relate the stories of how people are being helped through these charities.

Kevin McCullough, radio, TV, and Internet journalist, came on The Meeting House recently to discuss this overall story and how the CGBG has made a quality decision to push back against those who would engage in mischaracterization:



What a refreshing response - instead of responding in kind, the CGBG leadership has chosen to emphasize love and charitable effectiveness. Simarlily, Bill Hybels did not take the conventional or expected path, responding with grace to Howard Schultz and his withdrawal from the Willow Creek Summit. So often, we as Christians are rightly or wrongly portrayed as being reactionary, but if we respond in love, with grace, communicating positively, creatively, and constructively, we demonstrate to the world the character of Christ.

1 - Judge says Illinois can ban adoptions through organization that refuses same-sex adoptions

How might the authorization of same-sex marriage or civil unions in states that have voted to legalize them affect the ability of gay couples to adopt children? Well, recent action in the state of Illinois might give some unfortunate clues - a state circuit court judge has said that the state had the right to discontinue its contract with Catholic Charities, which had provided a significant percentage of the state's adoption and foster care cases. The ACLU had claimed that Catholic Charities discriminated against same-sex couples.

But, attorneys for Catholic Charities claim they are the ones being discriminated against, and that the religious freedom components of the new civil unions law are not being upheld. Here's the story from The Christian Post.

CitizenLink published an excellent analysis of how statistics show that children thrive best in an environment where there is one mother and one father in a marriage relationship. However, those that promote the so-called gay agenda are attempting to reinvent the family structure - in so doing, there is a tendency to create less-than-optimal situations that can be detrimental to the child, according to decades of research.

The 3 - August 13, 2011

It has been quite a newsworthy week - so many are grappling with the ups and downs of the stock market and perhaps making some financial adjustments, the identity of the new "supercommittee" to come up with ideas to reduce the national debt has been revealed, and Presidential politics is moving more into national awareness, with a debate in Iowa and the announcement of another Republican candidate. These all affect the Christian community, no doubt, and all could have been included in "The 3" this week. 2 of the stories I selected this week have their foundation in the church, such as the move of God through the notable Harvest Crusade in Southern California and the thought-provoking series of events at the Willow Creek summit. I also thought it would be important to highlight the latest developments in the implementation of the health care reform law, which has been a major discussion topic for many months now, and in some respects, has contributed, I believe, to some of the economic woes the nation has been experiencing. So, here goes...

3 - Harvest Crusade touching thousands in-person, online

For 22 years, Orange County, California pastor Greg Laurie has hosted the annual Harvest Crusade, and thousands flocked again this year to Angel Stadium outside Los Angeles, many of them standing in line to get a choice seat for the event, which opened up with music from the David*Crowder Band (which has announced its retirement at the end of this year) and Kutless. Opening night also included a testimony from Bethany Hamilton, upon whose story of courage and determination the movie, "Soul Surfer", was based.

These Harvest Crusades are an excellent depiction of passion for Christ, as well as compassion for the lost. On the first night, Pastor Laurie encouraged those attending to bring someone to the Crusade who does not know Christ.

Here's the treatment that one of the local media outlets, The Orange County Register, gave to the event.

This is one example of a long-standing evangelistic event that the Lord has used to bring scores of people to Himself. Now, with the online element, the Crusade has another effective avenue through which to communicate the message of Christ.

2 - Starbucks CEO rejects Willow Creek invitation

Each year, Willow Creek Church outside Chicago hosts its Leadership Summit, which is designed to teach leadership principles to Christians and non-Christians throughout the U.S. via satellite, as well as around the world. Not all speakers are professing Christians, but it is hoped that the information that is shared can be used by Christians in their respective spheres of influence. And, it does give an opportunity for those who don't know Christ to come into a church setting and gain valuable information.

This year, Pastor Bill Hybels and the leadership team of the conference invited the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, to address the event. Just days before he was scheduled to appear, it was announced that he would not be speaking. The reason was not immediately clear, but the information emerged that the reason Schultz would not speak was the direct result of a petition posted on Change.org, charging that Willow Creek practiced intolerance toward gay people. Between 700 and 800 people had signed the online petition, quite a stark contrast to the some 150,000 people who viewed the summit at the various host satellite sites. Nevertheless, Schultz withdrew, and was allowed to do so without penalty.

Now, Willow Creek was charged with intolerance due to its relationship with Exodus International, a Christian ministry that has an impressive success rate in helping people overcome unwanted same-sex attractions and to reject homosexuality. However, for whatever reason, Willow Creek had ceased its association with Exodus in 2009 - so the small group of protestors didn't have their facts straight in the first place.

And, Pastor Hybels encouraged those attending to show goodwill, continuing to support Starbucks and to write a kind note to the company letting them know that Schultz is welcome to attend and speak at the Summit at any time. Here, Hybels is showing the leadership of Starbucks that Willow and the Summit are not being closed-minded and intolerant, after all. Now, Pastor Hybels did include in his statement some brief insight into how the church stands on the issue - that Willow supports marriage as one man for one women, and encourages abstinence and purity for those outside of the marriage relationship. The church apparently offers programs for helping those struggling with same-sex attraction and homosexuality.

Here is just one of the multiple articles on the controversy, as reported by Christianity Today.

Apparently, Hybels and his team plan to confront those who started the petition. I do think it was notable that the Pastor lamented the tendency in society to throw stones first and ask questions later. With the abundance of means to share opinion and to incite action, its more important than ever that we as Christians are communicating truth in a manner that engages without provoking. We can be firm in our convictions without driving people away from the heart of the gospel message.

1 - Appeals court rules health care mandate unconstitutional

Opposition to and concern about the new national health care law, also known as ObamaCare, is building in a number of ways. Some states have passed legislation that would exempt them from implementation of the law, others have sought to prevent tax dollars from funding abortion in the new state health exchanges which are established by the law. Corporations, fearing the financial ramifications of providing health insurance for employees (including those who supported Obama in the 2008 campaign) have requested exemptions from some of the aspects of the new plan. And, 26 state attorneys general filed suit in Federal court, contending that the law is unconstitutional because it forces citizens to purchase health insurance.

A number of Christians and Christian groups have spoken out against the health care law for various reasons, including its provision for tax dollars to be used for abortion in the plan, the lack of conscience protection for health care professionals, the framework for rationing that would hurt senior citizens and people with special needs, as well as the law's provisions for growing the size of government.

On Friday, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the individual mandate was, in fact, unconstitutional. The ruling was 2-1. This was in response to an appeal of a lower court ruling finding that because the individual mandate was not severable from the remainder of the plan, the entire health care law was unconstitutional. The 6th Circuit had ruled that ObamaCare was constitutional, and we are still awaiting word from the 4th Circuit in two cases. Nevertheless, the health care law is headed for the U.S. Supreme Court, where it is unclear what the outcome may be.

Here is the report from CitizenLink.

This ruling is significant in that the case was originally filed by over half the states' attorneys general. There is a sense that the Federal government is intent on overreach, as seen in the passage of the health care law, the massive spending that the government continues to engage in, and the overabundance of regulations to which some attribute, at least in part, the chill on the growth of small businesses. I believe that when a governmental entity exceeds the provisions of Romans 13 regarding God's purpose for government, there are some serious implications, and we are seeing those manifest. It's so important that we are praying for our leaders!

The 3 - August 6, 2011

This week on "The 3", a new survey was released on how homosexuality is portrayed on TV, even as 2 large corporations team up to present family-friendly programming. Also, the courts continue to be a battleground for the lives of the unborn, with some developments this week on new state pro-life laws. And, as the response to "The Response" in Houston continues to be generated, the meeting attracted thousands and prayers for America were offered.

3 - New survey tabs "gay-friendly" programming, another Family Movie Night offered by corporations

I know it's frustrating for Christians who are searching for family-friendly entertainment, perhaps even television program to watch as an entire family, or who are attempting to monitor current TV programs with respect to their appropriateness for their young children or teens to watch. Fortunately, Walmart and Proctor & Gamble recently offered another of their "Family Movie Nights" to provide an entertaining alternative to abundance of prime-time television programming that runs contrary to our deeply-held values. "Who is Simon Miller?" was a compelling, well-written spy drama that could appeal to people of all ages (with the exception of the very young, due to some of the small number of violent implications contained within it).

A number of Christian organizations have championed these Family Movie Nights, believing that in some small way the concept can a positive step to showing the television industry that there is a market for family-friendly prime-time programming. (I think it's ironic that Proctor and Gamble is receiving acclaim from Christian organizations, especially after so many, including no doubt a number of Christian people bought into the false notion that the former P&G logo was rooted in Satanic symbolism and the false rumor that P&G's president went on the Phil Donahue Show and said that a portion of the corporation's proceeds went to the Church of Satan.) For more information, visit www.familymovienight.com.

By the way, a good resource concerning the suitability of television programming for the family is the Parents Television Council website at www.parentstv.org. In fact, prime-time network programming is rated according to its family-friendliness. Interestingly enough, very few network shows listed there get a "green light", indicating the program is suitable for families.

It should come as no surprise that the organization, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has found a number of broadcast and/or cable networks to be "excellent" or "good" regarding their inclusion of and treatment of gay characters. ABC Family, with 55 percent of its hours including gay characters or discussions about homosexuality, received an "excellent" rating in its Network Responsiblity Index, released this week. Other network ratings included:
Showtime - 37 percent
CW - 33*
TNT - 33
HBO - 31
Fox - 29*
AMC - 29
ABC - 23*
SyFy - 22
These all placed in the "good" category (* - denotes broadcast network). So, with the desensitization toward the gay lifestyle depicted in broadcast and cable television, it presents a challenge for Christian parents who do not wish for their children or themselves to be exposed to this material. For the Baptist Press report on this survey, click here.

2 - Pro-life legislation passed in record numbers in states, some face court challenges

State legislatures who passed pro-life legislation this year designed to reduce the number of abortions in their states are increasingly finding themselves in court. The good news is that, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which has been an arm of Planned Parenthood, some 80 laws restricting abortion have been passed in statehouses across America in 2011, up from the previous high of 34 back in 2005. However, some of these laws are being challenged in court, and that trend was highlighted in several states just this week:

Texas: a law allowing a woman to see an ultrasound image of her baby 24 hours prior to an abortion has been challenged, and Texas-based Liberty Institute filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of 2 Texas lawmakers who sponsored the legislation to defend the law against a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

North Carolina: Planned Parenthood this week filed a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina, whose legislature recently overrode a gubernatorial veto of a bill that includes a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion in the state and the opportunity for a women to see an ultrasound image of her unborn child.

Kansas: This week, the Attorney General of Kansas indicated he would appeal a Federal court ruling blocking the state's new law to prevent tax dollars from funding the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. A Federal judge on Monday said that Planned Parenthood operating in the state would suffer irreparable harm if the law were allowed to take effect. The law's supporters say that numerous organizations can provide the non-abortion women's services that are funded under Title X Federal grants to the state.

Indiana: this week, the Thomas More Law Society filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the state of Indiana, which was taken to court as a result of a new law preventing taxpayer funds from being used for abortion. The state has filed an appeal of a Federal judge's decision preventing the law from taking effect.

These are just 4 instances where pro-abortion organizations are attempting to block action taken by state legislatures, who have offered common-sense, pro-life bills. Ultrasound bills become problematic for Planned Parenthood and their ilk, because they are powerful tools in order to show abortion-minded women the truth about the life that is growing within them. Bills to prevent tax dollars from going to abortion providers are indicative of the pro-life sentiment that has been apparent in polling data and in activity in statehouses across America.
1 - "The Response" calls Christians to pray for the nation

There were 8000 people who pre-registered for it, and there were those who wanted to see 1 of the people attending "The Response" stay home. But, a Federal lawsuit could not keep Texas Governor Rick Perry away from Reliant Stadium in Houston, where he had been chief organizer, along with local and national leaders, of the prayer meeting that was called in order to pray to God on behalf of our nation. That lawsuit was thrown out of court.

The Christian Post had this early report on "The Response". Some media outlets are now saying that some 30,000 people attended the gathering. One estimate I saw puts the crowd as high as 50,000.

Dr. James and Shirley Dobson were the first speakers for the gathering, and notables such as Dr. Richard Land, Dr. Tony Evans, Jim Garlow, John Hagee, and others were at the podium throughout the day. The Governor spoke during the gathering's second hour, reading Scripture and praying for our nation, including President Obama, its challenges, and for our troops.

Here are some of Gov. Perry's comments:


Here is the link to the New York Times video of Governor Perry, including his prayer.

Does Governor Perry have the right to express his faith perspective in a public setting? Of course he does. Were his comments extremist or theocratic? Of course not. So, was "The Response" worth the media getting all worked up about? Well, I hope that media outlets in the days to come will have plenty of material about God's answers to the prayers offered at "The Response" and by his people throughout our troubled nation who truly desire to make Him famous.

Well, I will say this, God has promised to hear the prayers of His people who come before Him with humility and repentance - our nation is facing problems that the mind of man cannot solve; it will require Godly wisdom, and I believe it will require the people of God submitting ourselves before Him, so that His Spirit might move in a profound and powerful way - for the glory of God and God alone.

The 3 - July 31, 2011

This week in "The 3", my week-in-review feature, a look at the passage of pro-life legislation in North Carolina, where members of the Legislature had to overcome the governor's veto pen, plus a governor won a court challenge regarding his participation in and promotion of a large prayer gathering, and a key symbol of hope in the aftermath of 9-11 is the subject of a lawsuit filed by an atheist group.

3 - North Carolina lawmakers thump governor's veto of pro-life legislation...again

Since the 2010 election, there has been a heightened level of interest in bills in various statehouses that protect the unborn. North Carolina is one of those states where the Legislature has passed numerous pro-life bills - last month, it was a bill to defund Planned Parenthood; following passage in the Legislature, Governor Beverly Perdue vetoed the bill, and the Legislature overrode her veto.

To a certain extent, history repeated itself this week. The Legislature passed a bill that would provide for a 24-hour waiting period prior to an abortion, including a provision for the women to see an ultrasound of her unborn child, as well as other information about her baby. That bill was vetoed by Governor Perdue, but the House and Senate overrode the veto, so it now becomes law in the state.

Here is a report from LifeNews.com.

Some 34 other states have some form of waiting period legislation on the books, and one of the North Carolina lawmakers said that statistically, the "women's right-to-know" legislation could reduce abortions in the state by as much as 10 percent. This dedication to transparency, using the technology of an ultrasound, is helpful to women facing the pressure of an unexpected or perhaps even unwanted pregnancy, giving them the opportunity to thoughtfully consider the humanity of their child and the consider more thoroughly other options, including adoption, involving their child.

2 - Perry wins court challenge

Momentum is building for The Response, a prayer gathering scheduled for this coming Saturday, August 6th, at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Texas Governor Rick Perry has been instrumental in bringing this event to pass, but the Freedom from Religion Foundation had filed a lawsuit, essentially attempting to ban the governor from participating...keep in mind, this is the same bunch that tried to have the Congressional declaration of a National Day of Prayer eliminated, too - an effort that failed at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, a decision cited by a Federal judge this week. That judge, Judge Grey Miller of the U.S. District Court, said that FFRF had no standing in the case, i.e., it had not been injured by Perry's proposed participation.

Here is CitizenLink's coverage of this latest judge's decision.

Governor Perry now moves forward to exercise his free speech rights and his religious freedom by being involved in The Response. He has not stated what his exact role will be in the 7-hour program that day, but he has been a public face and voice for not only this event, but generally the importance of prayer by public officials.

1 - World Trade Center cross source of debate, mayor's defense

Last Saturday, the cross-shaped steel beams that formed on the site of the World Trade Center were moved to the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. An atheist group, American Atheists, filed suit this past Monday, saying that the display violates that mythical concept of "separation of church and state". The 20-foot cross was found by a construction worker 2 days after the tragedy, and it has served as an inspirational reminder of the presence of God, even in the midst of such an unspeakable event.

Here is a report from the Christian Examiner.

The American Center for Law and Justice has pledged to vigorously defend the inclusion of the steel cross in the museum, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has actually defended the presence of the cross, as well. The Christian Post reported on the Mayor's comments. Bloomberg basically said that other religious symbols would be on display, and that people looked to religion for strength in the aftermath of the attack. He is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The documentary, "The Cross and the Towers", produced by the Erwin Brothers of Birmingham, tells the story of this symbol of hope...


More information can be found at www.thecrossandthetowers.com. With the 10th Anniversary of 9-11 coming soon, it gives us as Christians an opportunity to not only reflect on the devastation that day, but on the hope that was shared by so many Christians with people who were looking for some peace and comfort in those days of uncertainty and grief.

The 3 - July 23, 2011

On this edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, I begin by highlighting the preponderance of cultural messages emerging out of a large pop culture convention, whic includes some Christian messages. Plus, one dominant cultural message: the acceptance of so-called same-sex marriages, takes root in New York this weekend. And, the top story involves the rejection of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, now allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces.

3 - Pop culture gathering in San Diego contains faith thread

It might not be an event that is on the radar of a vast number of Americans, and it's newsworthiness might be overshadowed by the debt ceiling debate or the hot summer temperatures, but the wealth of messages being launched into the cultural discussion from Comic-Con International in San Diego is significant. The estimated attendance of some 125,000 people are enthusiasts of comic books, graphic novels, film, animation, and other forms of communication. Christians can be highly effective in using these forms of media to explore spiritual truth.

In fact, the Christian Comic Arts Society had representation on several panel discussions, and was involved in distributing copies of a book called, "Marvelous Myths: Marvel Superheroes and Everyday Faith", taking Marvel heroes and examining the faith aspects of their respective stories. According to The Christian Post, the producers of the cable TV hit, "Dexter", were discussing how their character, a serial killer, will be grappling with some issues of faith in the upcoming season.

Some of the ways Christian communicators used this gathering to explore ways to inject the Christian message into these popular forms of media are found in this report from Frontgate Media.

One last thought: the idea of the comic book or movie superhero gives us opportunities to examine and discuss matters of faith. We can ask ourselves about what makes up the character of a hero, or even use these classic encounters as illustrations of the triumph of good over evil, which in many cases can cause us to think about triumph of Christ, through the cross, over the power of Satan, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The world is looking for heroes, and ultimately, we serve the most glorious hero of all, the classic victor, whose sacrifice and courage made it possible for us to triumph over sin and death. The heroes we revere so often demonstrate the character qualities that can bring hope in a world that can be full of disappointment, qualities we can emulate in our own lives as we seek to radiate the character of Christ.

2 - New York gay marriage law takes effect

The law authorizing same-sex marriages to be performed in the state of New York took effect this weekend, and hundreds of such unions have apparently been performed in the state, or will be performed by the end of the day on Sunday.

Here is The Christian Post's report on the events in the Empire State.

The National Organization for Marriage scheduled events across the state, basically claiming that the politicians responsible for the new law ignored the will of the people. There is even talk of a possible referendum vote in the state on the issue. New York became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage, the fifth to do so by an act of the state legislature; the other was Iowa, where the courts recognized this so-called "right" to same-sex marriage. Some 31 states have a constitutional amendment against gay marriage, all decided by a statewide vote.

And, despite the religious exemptions granted by Governor Cuomo in order to seize votes for the measure, conscience protection for clerks who would be called on to issue the marriage licenses was apparently not part of the bargain. 2 clerks refusing to certify these unions have resigned, and a special fund, the Courage Fund, has been set up to aid clerks who exercise their consciences.

1 - Administration, military certify end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The newest member of President Obama's Cabinet, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, joined with the President to declare that the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding homosexuals serving openly in the military is certified. The policy will become fully implemented in 60 days.

Here is the report from CitizenLink.

The repeal of the policy has been implemented, despite the cries of retired chaplains who feel that current military chaplains will have to provide counsel and affirm behavior that they believe violates Scripture, and the advice of members of Congress and some military leaders, including the 3 out of 4 service chiefs, who are not convinced that the repeal will not affect the moral and effectiveness of our troops. There was a survey taken of some 400,000 military members last year, the Pentagon issued a conclusion that “the risk of repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to overall military effectiveness is low.” However, among those who responded, 70 percent of personnel deployed and in combat since Sept. 11, 2001, said having an openly gay or lesbian unit member would have a negative, very negative or mixed impact on the unit’s effectiveness to complete its mission.

The whole repeal process has been rather dubious - some areas of concern that were documented in the survey were apparently ignored, and the bill itself was passed in a lame-duck session of Congress. No doubt, the current Congress, especially considering the makeup of the House, would not have voted for repeal. So now, with the implementation process in full operation, the consequences will become clearer, and some chaplains and military members will be making some critical career decisions, as the use of the U.S. military for the purpose of social experimentation and the advancement of a political agenda passes a critical milestone.

The 3 - July 16, 2011

This week's edition of "The 3" includes a judge's ruling in New York City protecting the free speech rights of pro-life pregnancy resource centers, a governor's determination to call people to prayer amidst opposition, and the participation of Christian organizations in calling for solutions to the enormous debt problem the U.S. is facing.

3 - Federal judge upholds free speech rights of pregnancy centers

In March of this year, the New York City Council approved an ordinance requiring pregnancy resource centers to post signs that tell clients what services they do not provide - specifically abortion and contraception. The American Center for Law and Justice and the Alliance Defense Fund had filed suit against the law, claiming that it restricted the free speech rights of the centers.

Even though New York City is regarded as the abortion capital of the nation, where some 41% of all pregnancies end in abortion, Federal Judge William Pauley injected some sanity in response to this restrictive law that punishes pro-life advocates. Noting the ordinance's "over-expansiveness", the judge issued a temporary injunction, releasing the centers, albeit temporarily, from having to comply.

Here is CitizenLink's report on the latest developments.

Pro-abortion advocates have long attempted to use the force of law to direct pregnancy resource centers to point ladies to places where they can have an abortion. The centers' mission, in attempting to prevent abortion, is to invite clients to their location to receive counseling, information about their unborn child, and even ultrasound images of their baby. Pregnancy resource centers are highly effective in presenting truth, based on God's Word, not only about the children in the ladies' womb, but also about their heart - and many abortion-minded women, experiencing the power of this truth and the love of the staff and volunteers, have dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ. And, as children are moved from the lists of casualties through abortion to the lists of lives to be lived, it takes "business" away from the big-money abortion industry - no wonder these pregnancy resource centers are being challenged!

2 - Gov. Perry continues to face flak over prayer event

Texas Governor Rick Perry has been outspoken with regard to his Christian faith, and as a governmental official, there is nothing in the Constitution that would prevent him from expressing his faith. In fact, in times past, Presidents and Governors have participated in religious events and even called for days of prayer and/or thanksgiving.

The governor has called for a prayer rally, "The Response", to take place at Reliant Stadium in Houston on August 6th, and attorneys for the governor have underscored the fact that it is a private event, with private sponsors such as the American Family Association. But, not unexpectedly, it's drawn fire from the notorious Freedom from Religion Foundation, which has used hyperbole-filled language to describe what they see as a violation of the mythical "separation of church and state". The FFRF, which had filed a lawsuit against the observance of the National Day of Prayer, now has sued the Governor in Federal court for initiating the event.

One News Now had this report.

Learn more at www.theresponseusa.com.

Here's the invitation from the Governor:

In his invitation, Governor Perry says:

Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy.

Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response. Therefore, on August 6, thousands will gather to pray for a historic breakthrough for our country and a renewed sense of moral purpose.

We need Godly wisdom in these turbulent and challenging times - as God's people pray and humble ourselves before Him, we can acknowledge our dependence on Him and express our trust in the One who has the power to change hearts.

1 - Christian organizations part of coalition to cut and cap spending, balance budget

This week, against the backdrop of the ongoing debt ceiling debate in the nation's capital, members of the House of Representatives will be voting on the "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act", which would provide for spending cuts for the Federal government, caps on Federal spending, and a Balanced Budget Amendment. The President, as well as Democrats and Republicans in Congress, are locked in talks that would allow for an increase in the debt ceiling, in exchange for actions that would address the burgeoning Federal deficit - Mr. Obama wants to raise revenue by increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans, while Republicans want the government to tighten its belt and enact dramatic spending cuts, including perhaps restructuring entitlement programs.

Just a few weeks ago, a coalition of conservative, Tea Party, and Christian organizations introduced a "Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge", and invited lawmakers and citizens to sign on. There are now over 150 organizations involved, including FRC (Family Research Council) Action, Concerned Women for America, Liberty Counsel, and other familiar names. The website address is www.cutcapbalancepledge.com. The full text of the bill can be found here.

I have commented frequently on the Biblical model for the size and scope of government, as well as the Biblical principle of any entity - an individual, a family, or a government - living within its means. When a government continues to take debt upon itself without any plan to pay the money back, then it is living outside of its Biblical role. Our leaders need to exhibit wisdom and determination, and it's important that we pray and are engaged with them as they seek to solve these enormous issues.

The 3 - July 8, 2011

This week, on "The 3", my week-in-review feature, with 3 stories of relevance to the Christian community, along with information and commentary, we find a dangerous piece of legislation recently passed in California. Also, we celebrate a new nation that has been the site of some powerful work by a Christian organization. And, we discover how atheists were restricted in their attempt to share airborne messages over the Fourth.

3 - California lawmakers pass new law to teach "gay history"

A bill that would mandate the teaching of homosexuality in a positive light, as well as of the contributions of gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals, has passed both chambers of the California Legislature. This has enormous implications on the curriculum in the state and those that are charged with teaching it. Plus, because California has such a large population, textbooks that are written to conform to the new standards could be made available and passed on to other states.

CitizenLink had this report.

We keep our eyes on events in California because of the implications that activity there has on the rest of the nation. This bill is a prime example of how an agenda that stands contrary to our deeply-held Christian principles makes its way through the channels of government, and reminds us how that agenda could be propagated throughout the nation.

Randy Thomasson, President of SaveCalifornia.com said, "This sexual brainwashing bill would mandate that children as young as 6 years old be told falsehoods -- that homosexuality is biological, when it isn't, or healthy, when it's not...There's already a raft of school sexual indoctrination laws on the books. Impressionable children are already being sexual indoctrinated, but SB 48 would be the most in-your-face brainwashing yet."

This is yet another instance of the attempted normalization of the gay lifestyle, and an example of educators being mandated to go out of their way to teach historical events, not because of their overall significance to our nation, but because of sexual orientation.

2 - World's newest nation begins on Saturday, Christian ministry actively involved

For years, Franklin Graham and the ministry of Samaritan's Purse have been working diligently to bring not only relief, but peace, to the nation of Sudan. Now, the ministry joins with the residents of southern Sudan to celebrate a new nation, which will actually come into existence this weekend. South Sudan has emerged out of a tragic legacy of religious persecution, which has resulted in a huge refugee crisis. Samaritan's Purse has been in the process of bringing relief, including reconstructing churches, in the southern region of Sudan, as well as providing hundreds of thousands of Bible and training Bible study leaders.

Graham will be meeting this weekend with President Mayardit, the new President of South Sudan, as well as President al-Bashir of Sudan, with whom the Christian leader has met on previous occasions.

Samaritan's Purse had this press release.

It's gratifying to see when a Christian organization has been given a key and unique place in inter-governmental relations. Franklin Graham has gone above and beyond just addressing the humanitarian situation in Sudan, which of course has been dire, to actually work to bring peace between opposing factions. As Christians, we can be challenged to look for opportunities to be peacemakers, in the spirit of the Prince of Peace.

1 - Pilots refuse to fly "God-Less America" banners

As Christians united within and outside of their houses of worship over the Fourth of July weekend, a group called American Atheists planned to purchase ads that would be flown behind planes in some 27 high-profile areas across the U.S., with messages such as, "God-LESS America" and "Atheism is Patriotic". The display of these banners, of course, depends on the pilots actually flying the planes - and, according to the Christian Post, some 80 percent of pilots said they would NOT fly the inflammatory ads.

Red Calvert, a pilot and president of Pro-Air Enterprises in Indianapolis, told Belief Blog in
USA Today: "I respect our country and I respect our churches and we've got enough problems in our country without stirring up some more. If those people want to do something they believe in, fine, just don't include me."

I challenged my radio listeners to reflect on the Godly heritage of our nation during the week leading up to Independence Day. While there are those that would want to deny our rich religious heritage, which provides a foundation for our laws and principles of governing, the evidence speaks overwhelmingly that this is a nation that was established to glorify God. Sure, atheists have the right to practice their "faith", or more accurately, lack of religion, but it's important that they do not do so at the expense of people of faith and attempt to deny us our freedom of religious expression. And, it's important that Christians are well-versed and well-spoken as we discuss the Judeo-Christian heritage of America.

The 3 - July 3, 2011

Just prior to this Independence Day weekend, an announcement of a restoration of religious liberty came from Santa Rosa County, Florida. And, as we recognize the right to life espoused by our Declaration of Independence, we saw the nation's largest abortion provider encountering more tough times. And, we acknowledge our Creator by responding in prayer to the challenges of our nation in light of its rich history of faith - today, July 3rd, over a million Christians pledge to pray for America.

3 - Religious freedoms restored to FL school district

For 2 years now, administrators and teachers in the Santa Rosa County, Florida, school district have been walking on eggshells regarding their ability to express their religious faith. You see, the school district had entered into a consent decree with the ACLU, which resulted in the ban of numerous forms of religious expression in the system, causing some school employees to be placed in a position of perhaps being thrown into prison as a result of what many would regard as harmless activities related to their faith.

On Friday morning, a settlement was announced between Liberty Counsel, which had been defending 24 school district employees, and the ACLU. It still has to be approved by a Federal court, which had authorized the consent decree, as well as the school board. Here is Liberty Counsel's press release announcing the settlement.

According to Liberty Counsel, teachers "will now be able to pray at school during their break times, pray during school events in a nonofficial capacity, attend and fully participate in baccalaureate services, have a Bible on their desk, wear religious jewelry, and assign readings from the Bible to students when relevant to nonreligious academic assignments. Students will be allowed to voluntarily pray, submit religious answers in homework, and freely participate in private, after-school religious programs."

This situation apparently is symptomatic of the prevailing sense of indirect or direct intimidation that school officials face because of their misunderstanding of such terms as "separation of church and state" or "the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment". Thinking that students and employees are not allowed to show various forms of religious expression, districts l clamp down on them in an apparent overreaction to the efforts that would unconstitutionally limit or eliminate the vestiges of religion in the school setting.

2 - The plight of Planned Parenthood continues

It was not a good week for Planned Parenthood, but that does seem to be a pretty consistent occurrence, doesn't it? It started out promising enough for them, as an Federal judge said that Indiana's new law prohibiting taxpayer funding of organizations that provide abortion (of which Planned Parenthood is the largest) could not go into effect - just yet. But, it went downhill throughout the week, as Texas became the latest state to ban taxpayer funding of providers of abortion. And, by week's end, Governor Christie of New Jersey had also vetoed an effort in his state that would have restored public funding of Planned Parenthood.

And, pro-life advocacy organization Live Action released more undercover footage this week - one contention that Planned Parenthood has made in this instance of its loss of funding in Indiana is that the "women's services" (exclusive of abortion) that PP offers cannot be found elsewhere. In a number of audio clips, Planned Parenthood employees actually state other locations where these services can be obtained. PP has been exposed to be aiding and abetting human trafficking and attempting to arrange abortions for underage girls without parental consent. Now, its national leaders have been found to be misrepresenting its claims of exclusivity of women's services in the state of Indiana.

1 - "Call 2 Fall" participants number over 1 million

When we realize the hand of God in the foundation and the sustenance of America, it can reinforce our desire to see the presence of God and practice of His principles to continue to be evident in our land. Therefore, it is critical that we as Christians are praying for our nation, in accordance with 2nd Chronicles 7:14:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

An annual event, "Call 2 Fall", has emerged over the past few years. The Family Research Council has partnered with scores of churches in an effort to call God's people to pray for America on the Sunday prior to the Fourth of July. And, the participation is impressive - this year, a number of over 1.06 million people had indicated their plans to be part of "Call 2 Fall". Believers were encouraged to take 3-5 minutes today to pray for America.

Even though we have seen a departure from the Judeo-Christian principles on which America was founded, believers who are dedicated to prayer can be hopeful that God will hear our prayers and move upon our nation...but, it starts with Christians falling our our knees with repentant hearts with a spirit of revival.

The 3 - June 26, 2011

Some potent subjects this week on this edition of "The 3" - my week-in-review feature. Included are: NBC's goof-up during its U.S. Open coverage, eliminating the words, "under God", during what was intended to be a heartwarming video vignette. Also, Franklin Graham has undertaken a major outreach to Hispanics in California. And, a closely-watched vote in New York state has legalized so-called "same-sex" marriage.

3 - NBC passes on full Pledge - twice...

So, NBC thought that they could pay tribute to American students, brave military members and the significance of a major golf tournament in the nation's capital during some emotional montages during their Sunday coverage of the U.S. Open...but, unfortunately, they left something out of their presentation, which was built around the Pledge of Allegiance: the words, "under God". After the feature aired Sunday afternoon, the Internet blew up with words of disdain for this omission. Anchor Dan Hicks shared an apology: "It was not done to upset anyone, and we’d like to apologize to those of you who were offended by it.” NBC issued another apology the next day, as Chris McCloskey, NBC Vice-President of Communications said, "a decision was made by a small group of people to edit portions of the Pledge of Allegiance. This was a bad decision." And he again apologized if the deliberate omission upset anyone.

WORLD Magazine had this report on the controversy.

A number of Christian leaders and groups spoke out. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council called for the network to air a Public Service Announcement that includes the entire pledge. There have been calls for the person or persons responsible to be fired.

Here is that video, along with Hicks' apology:


It is no secret that there are many in America that would like to erase the role of Christian faith in the heritage of our nation. But, that aspect of our history cannot be severed. Perhaps during this week leading up to the 4th of July, we can reflect on our nation's history and the role of God's unmistakable hand in the founding of America. For starters, consider this speech before Congress by Rep. Randy Forbes:


Oh, and as I heard Rep. Forbes speak about the Declaration of Independence, which references our Creator, who has endowed us with inalienable rights, I thought back to the comments of our President this past week, who, once again, in a reference to the Declaration, made no mention of "our Creator". This time he was making a statement in response to a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) resolution from the United Nations, recognizing the "rights" of that community.

There are those who would want to rewrite American history, even rewrite the Constitution, if they could, or at least ignore its principles. But, the fact remains that this nation has a rich Judeo-Christian heritage, with a government founded on Biblical principles, and there is plenty of evidence available that can help to reinforce our contention that this nation was established by the hand of God.

2 - Graham conducts first Hispanic Festival

In 1949, Evangelist Billy Graham conducted an 8-week crusade in Los Angeles and spoke to an estimated 350,000 people. This was an incredible milestone in church history and in the ministry of Dr. Graham. This weekend, over 60 years later, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association marked another milestone, as Dr. Graham's son, Franklin, spoke at the Association's first-ever Hispanic crusade, Festival de Esperanza, held at a 27,000-seat indoor soccer stadium in Carson, California.

Hispanics make up some 47 percent of the population in Los Angeles County, and the Association worked through the Hispanic churches of the Los Angeles area. The services of the Festival were also made available via a webcast.

As the Association moves into the next era of its ministry, this shows that it is seeking out ways to broaden its reach for the cause of Christ. We recognize, with the enormous influx of Hispanic people who are coming to America, that there is an unprecedented opportunity for the gospel. Churches have been seizing these opportunities for years, ranging from offering English classes to perhaps even establishing full-fledged Hispanic ministries. God is not only sending Christians to the world, but the world is being brought to America, as well.

1 - Gay marriage legalized in state of New York

Throughout the day on Friday, I traced the progress (or as some reported, the lack thereof) through the New York State Senate of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. In fact, it had been stalled for over a week following its passage in the other chamber (the Assembly) of the state legislature. Over the previous week, there had been little change in the number of Senators who had pledge to support the bill, and the head-counters had said the bill was still one vote short of passage on Friday afternoon. After a lengthy meeting on Friday afternoon involving Republican lawmakers, the fate of the legislation was still seriously in doubt. Then came the word that Governor Cuomo, who had made same-sex marriage a top-drawer legislative priority, had negotiated language that would protect religious organizations who do not support gay marriage from facing any penalty or retaliation. This apparently produced the requisite number of votes needed for passage, and the bill cleared the Senate on Friday night.

New York becomes the sixth state to legalize gay marriage - but, interestingly enough, the sixth state to do so without a vote of the people. In fact, in some 30 states where the issue has been placed on the ballot, the traditional definition of marriage as one man for one woman has been upheld. This includes California, where 52% of the voters in a heated contest approved the definition, but there is a protracted court challenge regarding that amendment to the state's constitution.

One of the legal issues regarding the institution of marriage involves the government's interest to preserve marriage - does the government indeed have a compelling interest? Marriage, because it is ordained by God, is right, for one thing. For another thing, the principle of cause and effect is at play - because you follow God's principles, the outcome is positive. This was underscored in a recent study, by MARRI - the Marriage and Religion Research Insititute - which found that stable, traditional marriages yield healthy economic results.

A Family Research Council study released last month also found that marriage produces economic stability - stability produces security, and shouldn't the government be interested in protecting marriage, which is a huge contributing factor to that stability?

The 3 - June 18, 2011

This week on "The 3", a major denominational organization held its annual meeting, and the news is quite encouraging. Also, 2 more states added their names to the list of those states whose taxpayers will not be funding organizations that perform abortions. And, eyes are on the state of New York regarding the fate of gay marriage there, while the California gay marriage battle faced another key challenge this week.

3 - North Carolina, Wisconsin join trend to defund Planned Parenthood

This year has seen momentum building on the Federal and state levels to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to finance the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. The U.S. House has taken 2 votes so far during this session of Congress on the matter, and a measure to disallow government funding of Planned Parenthood has passed both times. Even the Senate took a vote on the matter - it failed, but the fact that a vote was allowed at all is encouraging; plus, the discussion about this organization in the public square against the backdrop of concern over government spending levels sends a strong message that there is a problem with voters' dollars being used to fund organizations whose practices are offensive to a large number of people.

Pro-life bills are passing left and right in states all across America, including my home state of Alabama, where the Governor this week signed a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation, based on research showing that is the time of development where unborn children are capable of feeling pain. Some states are getting involved in the move to prevent tax dollars from funding Planned Parenthood. This week, North Carolina legislators overrode the governor's veto there of a bill calling for public funds to no longer be used for organizations that perform abortions. The Tarheel State follows in the steps of Indiana, which is facing threats from the Federal government to punish the state's Medicaid program as a result of that state's legislative vote to pull the plug on Planned Parenthood funding. Kansas was the first state to pull funding of the abortion provider. And, late Thursday night, Wisconsin's Senate gave its approval to a state budget that did not include Planned Parenthood funding.

Not only are these measures consistent with the significant trend in state legislatures to pass pro-life legislation, but they are indicative of a seemingly growing pro-life sentiment in the country, especially among younger people. The more pro-life legislation that can be brought the floors of the legislative bodies, the higher the level of discussion about the sanctity of preborn children and, most importantly, the greater the numbers of babies whose lives can be saved.

2 - Fight against gay marriage mobilizes from coast to coast

The eyes of Christians and pro-family leaders, as well as gay activists across America, are on the state of New York, where the state Senate is reportedly one vote away from passing legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. The legislation has already passed the other chamber of the state legislature.

Thursday, Hispanic ministers representing some 150 churches rallied against same-sex marriage, standing with Senator Ruben Diaz from the Bronx. Diaz is reportedly the only Democrat who plans to vote against the legislation. There are 32 Republicans in the Senate and 30 Democrats.

A grassroots campaign is attempting to mobilize evangelicals, as well as Jews and Catholics, and members of those constituencies are being urged to contact their Senators.

Reportedly, Governor Andrew Cuomo has offered to strengthen "religious" exemptions in the bill, which is believed to be a sticking point for some Republicans. The current bill says that clergy cannot be forced to perform gay marriages, and there are some lawmakers that want the languagestrengthened to prevent any retaliation against religious organizations who do not support same-sex marriage.

Former New York Giants receiver David Tyree, who is a Christian, has entered the fray, saying that gay marriage is dangerous to society and unbiblical.

So, lawmakers left the state capital in Albany for the weekend, with one more week left in the legislative session, and the fate of the bill was certainly unclear. There are 4 Republicans who are believed to be undecided as to how they will vote.

Meanwhile, a challenge to the Federal judge's decision in the Proposition 8 case in California was turned back by the judge that replaced him. Attorneys that are defending the amendment affirming traditional marriage had said the Judge Vaughn Walker should have disclosed that he was in a same-sex relationship. They contend that Walker would benefit from his ruling if he were to marry his partner, therefore constituting a conflict of interest. The succeeding judge, Judge James Ware (who had disclosed that he had performed a same-sex ceremony during that brief period during which such actions were legal in California), disagreed, so that challenge to the case, which is currently before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was thwarted.

1 - Southern Baptist Convention renews support for fulfilling Great Commission in North America and worldwide

The most recent meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention was held this week in Phoenix, Arizona, and while it was the smallest such gathering in 67 years, with some 4800 people in attendance, Convention President Bryant Wright of Atlanta told Baptist Press, "I do believe it could prove to be the most spiritually significant convention over the last 50 years."

Perhaps the most notable development over the 2-day meeting was the recommitment of the Convention to evangelism, both in North America, with messengers declaring that they wanted to be part of a church-planting effort, and around the world, as a closing service featured hundreds of messengers who had signed pledge cards for their churches to adopt one of 3800 unreached people groups. With the Convention faced with a membership level that has plateaued, combined with a slight decline in the number of baptisms, those who gathered in Phoenix demonstrated a strong motivation to work together with greater passion and effectiveness to reach people for Christ.

Another theme of the convention was diversity. Not only did the SBC elect its first-ever African-American First Vice-President in New Orleans pastor Fred Luter, but a report issued by the Executive Committee was devoted to placing a priority on ethnic diversity, reflected in the appointments and programs of the Convention.

As you would expect, there were a number of resolutions that were brought to the floor of the convention. The Convention attempted to deal with the immigration issue in the very state where that topic has been a major point of discussion and division. When it was all said and done, the Convention, by an estimated 70 to 80 percent of messengers, according to Baptist Press, ratified a resolution that emphasized ministry to potentially illegal immigrants, as well as secure borders, and a possible path to citizenship. But, leaders stressed they were not encouraging amnesty for illegals, but were not advocating sending illegal immigrants back to their home countries.

A clarifying quote was made by Dr. Richard Land of the Ethics and Public Policy Commission:
"This resolution upholds the rule of law...This resolution upholds the sovereignty of the United States, and this resolution seeks to deal compassionately and fairly and justly with those who are here in an undocumented status, and calls upon us to act as if this is a Gospel issue, which it is."
Here is a report from Baptist Press about the immigration resolution and others that were taken up at the Convention, including a denunciation of the new NIV translation of the Bible because of gender language and a reaffirmation of the traditional Biblical view of hell, in contrast to the view that was put forward in the Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins".

Here is Baptist Press's wrap-up of the convention. Whenever you hear of a large and influential body that announces its intent and strategy to reach the lost, you can be confident that the Holy Spirit will honor that commitment and work through His people to touch hearts and lives.

The 3 - June 11, 2011

Two of the three stories in this week's edition of "The 3" deal with health care, including the skirmish between the Federal & state government in Indiana, which has recently voted to ban taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, as well as the hearing in Atlanta at the 11th Circuit on the Federal health care law - 26 state attorneys general are filing suit. The other story deals with some issues receiving publicity this week on a decline in the number of baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention, as it prepares for its annual convention in Phoenix this week.

3 - Group of Senators stands with Indiana on Planned Parenthood law

Recently, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed into a law passed by the state's legislature that would prohibit state tax dollars from being used to fund Planned Parenthood, which is the nation's largest abortion provider. The latest development is that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick stated that Medicaid regulations prohibit the denial of funding to providers, such as Planned Parenthood, based on the services they provide, therefore the state cannot implement its law. Planned Parenthood had immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the law, but a Federal judge had declined to issue any sort of injunction that would prevent the law from being implemented.

LifeNews.com had this story about the Obama Administration's attempt to supersede a state law.

State officials have indicated they would defy the Administration and move to implement the law. And, this week, 28 U.S. Senators have written a letter to the Administration in support of the law.

Here is a story written for the Christian Post, published on the Susan B. Anthony List website.

The Donald Berwick involved here is the same individual who was placed in his position in a recess appointment, since his confirmation in the Senate was not a foregone conclusion. He had made favorable comments about the British health care system, which has a strong rationing component, and has been quoted as favoring redistributing wealth as a way to effectively fund health care. He, along with Health and Human Services Director Jean Sibelius, are carrying the water for the Obama Administration pertaining to its pro-abortion agenda and the implementation of the health care law, which not only funds abortion, but offers a structure that dramatically increases the size and scope of government, and could deny health care to those who most need it, such as the elderly and those with special needs.

2 - Southern Baptists process new statistics, prepare for Phoenix convention

The Southern Baptist Convention will meet in Phoenix this year, and one of the topics that messengers who will be attending may be talking about is a set of headline-grabbing statistics released this week, citing a small but significant decline in the number of baptisms.

LifeWay Christian Resources, in its Annual Church Profile (ACP), has stated that the number of baptisms in 2010 showed a 5 percent decline. Total membership, at just over 16 million, showed a decline for the fourth consecutive year, with the 2010 decline being .15 percent. Worship attendance also decreased slightly.

LifeWay head Thom Ranier said, “We must make the Great Commission the heart of all we do and say. These latest numbers should be received with a broken spirit and a God-given determination to reach people for Christ.” Here is LifeWay's report on the survey.

While there may have been a decline in these key areas, nevertheless, with over 16 million Southern Baptists, the denomination is nowhere near life support. And, with an increase in the number of churches and a renewed commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission, the Convention is poised to be used of God to dramatically impact our world for Christ. So, it's important that Southern Baptists don't over-analyze or over-dramatize the statistics, but use them as motivational tools for reaching people.

1 - 11th Circuit hears health care challenge

The national health care law has been under challenge almost since its passage by Congress last year. Recently, oral arguments were held in Richmond, Virginia before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involving two cases challenging the mandate for individuals to buy health insurance, and this week, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit held oral arguments in an appeal of a district judge's ruling that the law was unconstitutional. Federal District Judge Roger Vinson's ruling had found the law's individual mandate to be unconstitutional, and since it could not be severed from the rest of the law, then he found the entire law to be unconstitutional.

CitizenLink offered this synopsis.

Here we have another instance of the Federal government attempting to impose its will on states, and states are pushing back. 27 states are involved in litigation seeking to have the law struck down. A number of state legislatures have passed "opt out" legislation from the health care law. Some states are seeking waivers from the mandates. And, states are declaring that the state insurance exchanges provided for in the law will not fund abortion.

For Christians, the Federal health care law is a pro-abortion law that increases the reach of government, funds abortion, and could result in the rationing of health care, affecting those that stand in need of health care being denied that care.

The 3 - June 6, 2011

On the latest edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", some important court cases are slotted in 2 of the 3 positions, including a graduation controversy in Texas that resulted in prayer being allowed, and a facilities controversy in New York that kept a church out of a public school building. And, Presidential candidates are attempting to seize on the evangelical vote.

3 - Texas graduation becomes time of celebration

A swirling storm of controversy centered around the Medina Valley High School in Castroville, Texas, where an agnostic student had filed suit against the school district to prevent any prayer in the school's graduation ceremony. A Federal district judge had ordered the school district to actively prevent any prayers (or even the word, "Amen") in the ceremony, even threatening incarceration for school officials who did not take part in this blatant restriction of religious liberties. The order, oddly enough, specifically allows a student to face Mecca or wear ceremonial Muslim clothing, but prevents prayer in the name of Jesus or any other name.

After the judge issued the order, an emergency appeal was filed by the valedictorian, Angela Hildenbrand, as well as the school district and the state Attorney General's office. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency order that basically allowed prayer to proceed at the ceremony.

And, according to The Christian Post, the event was likened to a revival meeting.

This is yet another instance where free expression of religious faith is being restricted because of a misinterpretation of the Constitution. There are those that would characterize any mention of religion or God as being an "establishment" of religion, but that is a definite overreach. When free speech is limited so as not to offend a person or group of people, it ends up offending the group or individual against whom the action is taken. This happens concerning Christians with too great of a rate of regularity, and it is important that judges and governmental officials take a sober view of the Bill of Rights so that the free exercise of religion is not denied.

2 - New York church cannot rent public school building, appeals court says

A 16-year-old court battle reached another milestone, as the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the school system in New York City could prohibit churches from renting its facilities for worship services. The Bronx Household of Faith had sought to rent a public school building for its weekend worship services - after all, the school district had rented its facilities to other groups. The Court said that the district could effectively refuse to rent to a church.

CitizenLink had this report.

Jordan Lorence of the Alliance Defense Fund indicated that the ruling would be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here is another instance of a church being singled out for unequal treatment. The school district was apparently making its facilities available for a wide array of other groups, but because of the fear factor involving the uses of public facilities for church meetings, the district kept the churches out, and amazingly, the 2nd Circuit agreed - a ruling which could affect churches who want to use school facilities for their worship activities, which is a fairly common practice. Again, to keep from offending one group (or in this case, some unnamed group), the school district chose to offend Christians.

1 - Presidential hopefuls eye evangelical vote

The annual Faith and Freedom Coalition conference was held at the end of the week in the nation's capital, and the majority of Republican Presidential hopefuls addressed the gathering. Some of the candidates have already announced their intentions to seek the nation's highest office, others are in the process of establishing their candidacies.

Candidates who attempted to underscore their evangelical appeal included former Massachusetts governor and 2008 candidate Mitt Romney, considered by many to be a front-runner. While Romney attracted a significant amount of Christian support in his previous campaign, there are concerns over his Mormonism, which some view as a liability, as well as his high-profile perceived reversals on universal health care and abortion. Another Mormon candidate, who is seemingly the focus of attention in the mainstream media, is former Utah governor and Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, who declared his pro-life views at the conference. His support of civil unions, however, will no doubt be a liability for him. Apparently, Romney and Huntsman may bypass the evangelical-rich Iowa caucuses, which were won last year by former Arkansas governor and talk-show host Mike Huckabee, who is not seeking the Republican nomination this year.

Representative Michele Bachmann and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain apparently played well to the "values voters" who were represented in Washington, but their single-digit performances in polls may be obstacles too great to overcome. Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania Senator, is in the process of getting into the race, and has also been a favorite of evangelicals, even though he might also be considered a second-tier candidate, who didn't win his latest bid for re-election to the Senate.

A couple of examples of coverage of the conference include this Huntsman-heavy piece in the Los Angeles Times. The Christian Post skewed toward Herman Cain in this article.

Others who spoke at the conference include former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is attempting to gain traction, and Representative Ron Paul, whose fiery brand of libertarianism has typically played well to this type of gathering - Paul, in fact, has performed well in the straw poll at the annual Values Voter Summit, held each fall.

Those not appearing include Sarah Palin, whose bus tour became a dominant news item, even though she intentionally did not attempt to accommodate much of the mainstream media. Also, Newt Gingrich, who has attempted to reach out to the faith community, did not appear, citing a scheduling conflict. While there will probably not be a candidate who will galvanize the evangelical vote, it is important for Christians to examine the candidates' stated views and (wherever possible) their voting records in order to ascertain how their principles coincide with our own.