The 3 - August 4, 2013

This week on "The 3", my week-in-review feature, I take a look at a conference held in Dallas this week that brought in church leaders, missionaries, and church planters to be motivated and mobilized in the work of evangelism.  Also, a well-known pastor returned to the pulpit for the first time in almost 4 months after his son's death.   And, the top story involves ongoing violence in the African nation of Nigeria, where churches were the targets in multiple bombings on Monday.

3 - SEND Conference motivates leaders to display Christ's love and truth

This past week, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas became a nexus of activity in the areas of evangelism and church planting as the 2nd Send North America Conference, sponsored by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, was held there.  According to the NAMB website, more than 4,200 church planters, pastors and church leaders attended.

The gathering was marked by masses of participants praying in response to speakers, hundreds of connections between churches and church planters, and individuals seizing their moments to penetrate lostness in North America. Many attendees expressed the belief they were witnessing momentum building toward a movement to reach the continent.

Speakers included Prestonwood Pastor Jack Graham, Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City, Daniel Akin, the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and evangelist Luis Palau.   Musical artists included Lecrae, Christy Nockels, and Brett Younker.

At the closing session, Aaron Coe, NAMB's Vice-President of Mobilization and Marketing, asked the question, ""How do we go from this moment to a movement?" He went on to say that, "It takes people. There are entire communities in the United States and Canada that have no churches. We've got a lot of work to do. As we leave this Send North America Conference, I hope you leave encouraged that Jesus is for you."

"Let's agree together as the people of God not to leave complacent or go back to the status quo, but to leave this place to make a difference in the world for the glory of God. Join me in not letting this be a forgotten moment."

NAMB President Kevin Ezell said he was "ecstatic about the turnout" for the event. "Not only the energy and electricity among the participants, but the passion and heart of pastors and planters -- it all exceeds our expectations. The ethnic diversity is fantastic. Obviously this confirms the launch of a new day. It is a new day and a new NAMB."


2 - Rick Warren returns to pulpit for the first time after son's death

Last weekend, Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the best-selling book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” delivered his first sermon since the April 5 passing of his son Matthew, who struggled with mental illness. Pastor Warren’s wife Kay joined him in sharing a message titled “How to Get Through What You’re Going Through.” He had been away from the pulpit for 16 weeks, the longest absence he has experienced.

According to a press release, Warren shared the three things that gave he and Kay stability during their grief. First, life doesn’t make sense, but we can have peace because God is with us and loves us. Secondly, everything on earth is broken, but we can have joy because we know God has a greater plan. And third, we know that life is a battle, but we can have hope because we know there is more to the story.

Pastor Rick said that, “For 27 years I prayed every day of my life for God to heal my son’s mental illness…it didn’t make sense why this prayer wasn’t being answered...When you go through a difficult time, you automatically start to try and find an answer. But explanations never comfort. You don’t need explanations; you need the presence of God.”

Kay Warren also shared about her struggle with continuing to choose joy even in grief, a topic of which she wrote about in her book, “Choose Joy,” released in 2012. “What do you do when hope doesn’t turn out the way you think it will? You rebuild your hope,” she said.

Warren also pledged to remove the stigma of mental illness.  Over the next six weeks, Pastor Warren will continue the “How to Get Through What You’re Going Through” sermon series by focusing on the six stages of grief – shock, sorrow, struggle, surrender, sanctification and service.

1 - Violence continues to occur in Nigeria

The stories emerging out of the African nation of Nigeria continue to be heart-wrenching, as Christians and others are being victimized by Muslim extremists, including those who are associated with the militant group Boko Haram.  

As reported on ReligionToday.com, Jerry Dysktra, media relations director for Open Doors USA, reports that recent violence took place on Monday..."in a Christian area of Kano city in Kano state. Among the bombing sites was the Christ Salvation Pentecostal Church where at least 12 people died, according to World Watch Monitor. The total could reach 50 victims. Please pray for an end to violence and that the Nigerian government will restore security.”

According to the Associated Press, since 2010 the Boko Haram network is responsible for the killings of more than 1,600 people, many of them Christians. Nigeria is ranked No. 13 on the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians.

Morning Star News reports that 45 people are dead so far in the multiple bombings in Kano.  The Rev. Ramsey Noah, chairman of the Kano state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) reported that the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were planted near three churches, blasting two of them as well as nearby Christian-owned businesses on Monday night. The four devices were detonated minutes apart between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Sabon Gari area of the city, sources said.

Christians were meeting at Christ Salvation Pentecostal Church when one explosion hit, and 39 bodies were recovered in the area, Christian leaders said. Christians were also meeting at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church as another bomb went off, and an explosion apparently targeting Peniel Baptist Church did not affect the structure, Noah said.

A spokesman for the military’s Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kano, Capt. Ikedichi Iweh, said Boko Haram was suspected.

And, this week, according to the Washington Post, Islamic extremists killed eight people in an attack targeting teachers and Muslim clerics in northeast Nigeria, witnesses and the military said Thursday.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa also warned that the Boko Haram terrorist network plans more such killings and “massive attacks” aimed at the northeastern city where their extremist movement was born -Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.   A statement says that, “The Joint Task Force wishes to alert citizens ... of the impending plans by Boko Haram terrorists to carry out massive attacks and bombings in Maiduguri metropolis and other parts of Borno State any moment from now and during the Eid al-Fitr.” That celebration on Aug. 8 marks the end of the Ramadan fasting period.

The 3 - July 28, 2013

In this week's edition of my week-in-review blog post, "The 3", there is some important court action to report to you in 2 of the top 3 stories.  A Federal appeals court has upheld the right of a Tennessee county's commission to begin its meetings with prayer.   Elsewhere, singular Federal judges have attempted to block current laws - a pro-life bill that was passed in North Dakota recently, as well as a marriage amendment that was passed by the voters of Ohio a number of years ago.  And, the top story involves the huge gathering in Rio that featured young people congregating to learn and grow, and to hear from the head of the Catholic Church.

3 - Appeals court rules in favor of legislative prayers


As the issue of prayer before public governmental meetings awaits a hearing and decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of prayers offered before a council meeting in Greece, New York, a Federal appeals court has said that the practice of opening meetings in prayer in Hamilton County, Tennessee can continue.

Here's the backstory, according to the Christian Post:
Last year, county residents Brandon Jones and Thomas Coleman contested the voluntary, citizen-led prayers held before commission meetings and filed a lawsuit against Hamilton County, alleging that the tradition of having prayers said before commission meetings violated the Constitution's Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because the majority of prayers referenced Jesus, and therefore were predominately Christian.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation also chimed in with one of their now-famous letters in opposition to the prayer policy.  The County Commission then sought to alter its policy regarding prayer in an attempt to be more inclusive of other faiths and to assert that the commission in no way endorsed religion. The new policy said that, "Any invocation that may be offered before the official start of the Commission meeting shall be the voluntary offering of a private citizen, to and for the benefit of the Commission."

It went on to say that, "The views or beliefs expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Commission and do not necessarily represent the religious beliefs or views of the Commission in part or as a whole. No member of the community is required to attend or participate in the invocation and such decision will have no impact on their right to actively participate in the business of the Commission."

U.S. District Court Judge Harry Mattice ruled that the county's prayer policy did not violate the Constitution's Establishment clause, writing in his ruling that the prayer policy was "all-inclusive" in that it contemplates invocations from all religions.  On Friday, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 21-page ruling, which stated, in part, "Here, the Policy is facially constitutional. The Policy aims to respect the diversity of all religious groups, and it does not seek to advance one faith or belief over another. The Policy is similar to other policies that have been recognized as facially neutral by our sister circuits."

This is an ongoing struggle between those who would remove prayer and other vestiges of religious thought from the public square, and those who would want the freedom to express their faith and to acknowledge God.   The issue will go before the high court, and people of faith will no doubt be looking to the Supreme Court to uphold a tradition that is consistent with religious freedom.

2 - Federal judges put legislation regarding life on hold, judge rules in OH same-sex marriage case

How frustrating it can be when good, solid legislation is passed consistent with Biblical principles, and one judge is able to put that law on hold.  That has been the case in several states regarding pro-life legislation, and history has repeated itself in North Dakota, where, according to CitizenLink, a Federal judge on Monday temporarily halted a new North Dakota law that helps protect the lives of preborn babies. Signed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple earlier this year, the law prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.  It was set to take effect Aug. 1.

The judge wrote that,“Although the likelihood of this measure surviving a court challenge remains in question, this bill is nevertheless a legitimate attempt by a state Legislature to discover the boundaries of Roe v. Wade."  

And, in Ohio, which has a constitutional amendment in place that defines marriage as one-man and one-woman, a Federal judge has made an exception for one same-sex couple that got "married" in Maryland and wanted the state of Ohio to recognize that union.

Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values in Ohio, told CitizenLink, “Attorney General Mike DeWine assured me today that it will be appealed...The law is the law. The state Constitution says marriage is between one man and one woman.”

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last month. Without that section - section 3 - the government must accept whatever states decide about same-sex marriage. The high court ruling does not affect section 2, which says that no state is required to recognize another state’s redefinition.

Bruce Hausknecht, CitizenLink Judicial Analyst, points out that, "Under the U.S. Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause, there is a strong historical and legal reservation to the states of the right not to recognize the effect of out-of-state laws or legal proceedings...This includes same-sex marriage, where such laws or legal statuses violate the strong public policy of the state where recognition is sought.”
So, the law appears to be on the side of the state of Ohio in this case, but, just as in the California marriage case, one Federal judge has attempted to strike down the wishes of the people of a state.  This is not unexpected, in light of the high court's ruling striking down that part of DOMA.

1 - World Youth Day attracts massive crowd, papal appearance

When you have an estimated one million people gathered in one place in a religious gathering, it has enormous significance. This year, World Youth Day took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the first-ever Pope from the Americas, who ministered in Argentina before becoming the pontiff, Pope Francis, spoke to the large group assembled there.

According to Catholic World News, the Pope told the young people gathered at Copacabana beach: “Today Christ asks each of us again: Do you want to be my disciple? Do you want to be my friend? Do you want to be a witness to my Gospel?”

The motto for this year’s World Youth Day was “Put on faith.” The Pope remarked: “Put on faith, and your life will take on a new flavor.” Exploring the theme further, he said that the motto really meant: “Put on Christ.”

“Today, it benefits all of us to ask sincerely: in whom do we place our trust?” the Pope said. “In ourselves, in material things, or in Jesus?” Material goods and earthly power provide temporary gratification, he said, but the love of Christ is the only lasting good. “Put on Christ in your life, place your trust in Him, and you will never be disappointed.”

The Vatican Information Service reports that while in Rio, the Pope asked to meet with the Argentine delegation, and he told them in an impromptu speech, “I want the Church to go out into the streets, I want us to defend ourselves against all worldliness, opposition to progress, from that which is comfortable, from that which is clericalism, from all that which means being closed up in ourselves. Parishes, schools, institutions are made in order to come out … if they do not do this, they become a non-governmental organisation, and the Church must not be an NGO”.

These are principles that can be applied to the lives of all believers in Christ.   When the leader of a major denomination is speaking before roughly a million people, mainly of the next generation, it is helpful for us to take notice, and recognize that the spiritual awareness that is taken from the locale in South America into the world could have a dramatic impact.

The 3 - July 21, 2013

In this week's edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", I highlight news out of the United Kingdom involving a new law allowing same-sex marriage.  And, I'm continuing to follow news out of Texas, where the Governor has signed new pro-life legislation and Planned Parenthood has announced the closing of some centers there.  The top headline involves the church's role in the aftermath of the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, acquitted of all charges in the death of Trayvon Martin.

3 - Queen Elizabeth approves same-sex marriage bill

As the result of action taken by Queen Elizabeth II this week, there are now 17 countries in the world that allow same-sex marriage - add England and Wales to the list.  According to Religion News Service, the Queen gave what is called, "royal assent" to a bill that would allow gay men and women to be joined together in civil ceremonies or in church services — although no religious denomination will be forced to carry out such services.

The bill had the support of Prime Minister David Cameron, even though some in his own party, the Conservative Party, opposed it.  Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told supporters the new law would ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people felt “recognized and valued and no longer excluded.”

The Roman Catholic Church fought the bill and the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales swiftly issued a statement of its displeasure:

“With this new legislation, marriage has now become an institution in which openness to children, and with it the responsibility on fathers and mothers to remain together to care for children born into their family unit, are no longer central. That is why we were opposed to this legislation on principle.”

The Church of England does not allow same-sex marriages.

Separate legislation has reportedly been presented to the Scottish government to make same-sex marriage legal. Debates are expected to begin in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, in October or November.

2 - TX Governor signs pro-life law, Planned Parenthood announces clinic closures

This week, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law a bill containing restrictions on abortion, including banning the practice past the 20th week of pregnancy.  The bill also establishes new standards for clinics throughout the state.  

And, a report in WORLD states that this week, on the same day Gov. Perry signed the bill into law, Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast announced that it will be closing three of its centers in East Texas.  That announcement, on Thursday, reportedly came as a result of pro-life legislation passed two years ago.     Budget cuts from the 2011 legislative session finally trickled down to the centers, forcing Planned Parenthood to close those locations, the organization said in a press release.

Two of the centers in rural East Texas - in Huntsville and Lufkin - do not provide abortions and aren’t affected by the new restrictions. But the abortion center in Bryan does conduct abortions. It’s the center where former abortion supporter Abby Johnson worked as director before an ultrasound-guided abortion changed her views. Planned Parenthood said it will close the Bryan center in anticipation of the new law.

And, it is anticipated that more abortion centers will close in the months to come.  WORLD reports that only five of the 42 abortion centers in Texas currently meet the new requirements, so some estimate as many as 37 abortion centers will close because of the law. Centers will have one year to either upgrade their facilities or shut down after the law takes effect in October. The law restricts abortions to surgical centers and requires abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges.

1 - Christians, churches grapple with Zimmerman verdict; FL Governor calls for day of prayer

The nation is continuing to discuss the verdict handed down in Florida last week in the trial of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin.  And, as I pointed out on my radio show, The Meeting House, we as Christians should have a leading voice in these cultural dialogues on such issues as race and justice. We have the open doors to lead the way in prayer in a divisive situation, to keep the peace, and to think and speak more deeply on issues of race and injustice in America. As the body of Christ, we can also demonstrate to the world how we relate to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of the color of our skin and the cultural background in which we were raised.

Sunday, July 21, was designated as a "Day of Prayer for Unity" in the state of Florida, proclaimed by Governor Rick Scott.  According to Baptist Press, he had met with student protesters who had occupied his office during the day and slept in the hallways of the statehouse by night since July 17.  Protesters told Scott they wanted a special legislative session to address Florida's "stand your ground law." Scott responded by issuing the proclamation acknowledging Martin's death "is a tragedy; and the Martin family, the family of George Zimmerman, and all those affected by Trayvon's death remain in our thoughts and prayers.

After issuing the proclamation, Scott held a telephone conference call with faith leaders from throughout Florida to promote the Day of Prayer for Unity.

Craig Culbreth, lead strategist for the Florida Baptist Convention's missional support group, joined in the call with more than 50 other participants. He is quoted as saying, "I commend our governor for considering prayer as one of the options to help our state. Of course, as church leaders, we should make it a first option...I encourage our churches to have a time of prayer for unity in the state of Florida -- obviously, it’s a very divisive time. Prayer for unity is a good thing."

Pastor Bill Shiell of First Baptist Church of Tallahassee said that as a pastor and parent, he would join with people of faith across the state Sunday to pray that the vision of Isaiah 58 will be fulfilled in Tallahassee.

"My prayer is that we will 'loose the chains of injustice, set the oppressed free, and break every yoke.' That we will call, and the Lord will answer. That our light will break forth like the dawn, and our healing will quickly appear and that we 'will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings' (Isaiah 58:6-12)."

In response to the governor's declaration, Cocoa-area pastor Errol Beckford is quoted by Florida Today as saying: “Listen, I’m totally calling for reconciliation. It’s a time for reconciliation and Sunday is a good starting time...If every pastor would spend five minutes to pray and unite around the theme of love, then I believe healing will take place in our cities and nation. The church is a light to the community,” said Beckford, one of the organizers of last week’s prayer vigil in Cocoa that drew several pastors and dozens of participants.
Ed Stetzer put together an insightful assortment of panelists for a piece on ChristianityToday.com.  Here are some brief excerpts...

From Dr. Christena Cleveland, a social psychologist:

As America grows increasingly diverse, the realities of America are becoming more diverse. No longer can pastors and leaders assume that the people in their communities share their unique cultural experiences. In order to minister effectively, in order to be neighborly, in order to love across differences well, privileged Christians need to practice standing in solidarity with diverse people.

Pastor Victor Montalvo is the lead pastor at Reality Community Church in Sanford, the closest church to the site where Trayvon Martin was killed. He writes on how everyone from the families, to the police, to the media was looking for someone to blame. He says:

It's only when our brothers and sisters of differing races sense true love and acceptance that we begin to truly trust one another. The distrust we experience is because of fear and ignorance. We immediately look to blame others for the pain in this world. So we must also pray for ourselves, that we would recognize the cause of the pain of this world and deal with the sin of our hearts that so deeply distorts everything it encounters.

Stetzer also quoted from the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, Gregory Brewer, who is described by Stetzer as an evangelical with a passion for justice. He had marched in Sanford as part of a crowd that was demanding justice. And, this quote reminds us that we as Christians should be the leading purveyors of justice in our society:

The issue is justice, not merely race . . . Christians should see what can be gleaned from tragedies such as this, particularly when issues like justice and fairness are concerned. While the incident was horrible, there is much we can learn from it.

As followers of Christ, we need a deep understanding that in God's eyes everybody matters—regardless of race, age, education or economics. The compassion that God has for the whole world should be extended through Christians to people around us, not just those we like, or who are like us.

This past Monday, the first of a series of weekly prayer meeting was held in Sanford at New Life Word Church.   This week, the mayor, city manager, and police chief all attended.   The meetings are being sponsored by Sanford Pastors Connecting, which was formed prior to the start of the trial.

There are some big issues that have been raised here, and because the narrative has emerged in that way that it has, then we recognize that we have a chance to respond, with compassion and truth, to people who are uncertain today about the state of race relations in America and the importance of justice. 

The 3 - July 14, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes some coverage of the announcement of a new character-based, outdoor-oriented boys' organization, formed in response to the recent Boy Scouts' vote on admitting openly gay members.   Also, a popular Bible app has reached another milestone.  And, the top story - news out of Texas, where pro-life legislation has passed, banning late-term abortions and enacting new standards for abortion clinics.

3 - New boys' organization launches

In the aftermath of a meeting that took place in late June in Louisville to discuss the formation of a new organization for boys similar to the Boy Scouts, whose leadership had voted to allow openly gay members within its ranks, it was announced this week that an organization had in fact been established.  While it is yet unnamed, it has appointed an interim executive director, 20-year Scouting leadership veteran Rob Green.

According to Religion News Service, Green stated, “It’s our vision to be the premiere national character development organization for young men which produces godly and responsible husbands, fathers and citizens...The organization’s membership policy will focus on sexual purity rather than sexual orientation."

John Stemberger, founder of OnMyHonor.net, which opposed the BSA policy change, differentiated between the inclusiveness of the BSA and the new organization.

“The issue with Scouting is just that when you’re going to allow a young man to be in the program to be openly flaunting sexuality, that’s just inappropriate and parents do not think that’s a clean and safe environment for their kids,” he said.

A group of around 50 people reportedly met in Louisville to lay the foundation for the new organization. There will be a convention in Nashville within the next few months.  The OnMyHonor.net website has more information.

2 - Bible app goes over 100 million downloads

It was just 5 years ago when the Apple App Store launched and one of the early products available was YouVersion, developed by LifeChurch.tv.   And, on Sunday, July 7th, the Bible app rolled over 100 million downloads.

It actually started as a website, and then became one of just 200 free apps in the App Store.  After being launched solely for iPhone, the team at YouVersion made the app for other platforms, such as Android, BlackBerry, and more.  According to their blog, as word spread about what God was up to, Bible publishers and societies, churches, and other partners joined in, generously sharing resources. As those collaborations began to bear fruit, the YouVersion community became a worldwide movement.

YouVersion now offers the Bible in more than 500 versions in more than 300 languages. There have been over 345 million verses highlighted and over 212 million bookmarks created. YouVersion offers the ability to share verses over different social media sites, and as of June of this year, there are over 200,000 verses shared daily, with over 31 million shared last year alone.   Every second, some 66,000 people worldwide are accessing the YouVersion Bible app.

And, the team is continuing to develop new features and uses.  Just this week, a new Android tablet version of YouVersion was announced.   Bible reading plans and access to streaming video are just some of the ways that the app can help increase Bible engagement.   For more information or to download the app, go to www.bible.com.

1 - Texas Legislature passes new pro-life measure

It wasn't unexpected, but there was probably a rockier road to passage of strong pro-life legislation in Texas than I would imagine the sponsors had originally envisioned.   After enduring a filibuster during the closing moments of the 2013 regular Legislative session in Austin and the bill passing 3 minutes after the official close of the session, Governor Perry called lawmakers back into session to try to craft legislation that would bar abortions in the state after 20 weeks, the point at which research shows that an unborn child feels pain, as well as to provide that abortion clinics meet certain health and safety standards, including having a physician with hospital admitting privileges within a reasonable distance from the clinic.

LifeNews.com has this comprehensive report.

It was a tough week for pro-life people who came to the Capitol to show their support for this commonsense legislation.   While some of them sang "Amazing Grace", those on the other side chanted, "Hail Satan".  Pro-lifers were treated to expletives being hurled at them.   Some reportedly sought out a safe place in the capitol building.  And, some protesters showed up with jars of feces and urine.   There were reports of other activities that were planned by those on the pro-abortion side.  How sad!  Why are there people that hold to certain points of view that feel they have to insult, demean, and ridicule those with whom they disagree?  

So, Texas is now the latest state to enact solid, commonsense pro-life legislation.   Opponents have already threatened court action.

The 3 - July 7, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review features, has some international concentration, including recent developments concerning attempts to spread the message of acceptance of homosexual behavior being rebuffed by African leaders.  The top story is from the northern African nation of Egypt, where regime change is underway, and Christians have played an influential role.  Also, in the U.S., a number of states recently have passed pro-life legislation designed to preserve the lives of pre-born babies and protect women, and one large state is in the midst of a high-profile battle to pass pro-life legislation.

3 - Countries reject views of homosexuality as promoted by U.S

As the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act and issued no decision regarding California's Proposition 8, defining marriage as one-man and one-woman, it is generally thought that those decisions, combined with Justice Anthony Kennedy's refusal to intervene to stop California from issuing gay marriage licenses, will lead to a greater level of acceptance for same-sex marriage.   Even though there are still over 3 dozen states that bar same-sex marriage, we as Christians have to be prepared for the reality of gay marriage and how we can respond Biblically to it.

In some foreign countries, officials are responding in a less-than-approving manner toward same-sex marriage.  Even though, according to Reuters, same-sex marriage is legal in 15 countries, including seven in Western Europe, there are countries who are attempting to turn back an international tide turning toward gay marriage.

Just over 2 weeks ago, the Russian Duma voted unanimously, 444-0, to support legislation that bars same-sex foreign couples from adopting Russian children.  Reuters reports that the same-sex adoption ban was rushed through parliament after Putin said in late April that a new French law allowing same-sex marriage went against traditional Russian values.   It also bars adoptions by unmarried foreigners from countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

The same-sex adoption ban, according to Reuters, fits into a Kremlin campaign to restrict foreign adoptions. In December, President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning all adoptions by Americans, a move motivated by disputes with Washington over human rights and what Russia says is the insufficient prosecution of adoptive U.S. parents suspected of abuse.

And, African leaders are responding negatively toward comments by President Obama about gay marriage.  Visiting a number of nations last week, the President drew comments by the President of Senegal and the Deputy President of Kenya. According to the Christian Post, the President, while speaking in Senegal, commended the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, and encouraged African governments to reconsider their policies toward homosexuality.

Senegalese President Macky Sall responded to Obama by contending that Senegal is not "homophobic," and added that the country is "not ready to decriminalize homosexuality."

Last Sunday, while speaking at a Catholic church, Kenya Deputy President William Ruto urged Obama to "respect Kenyans" and their belief that homosexuality is a sin. He is quoted as saying that, "No one should have any worry about Kenya's stand as a God-fearing nation. President Obama is a powerful man but we trust in God as it is written in the Bible that cursed is the man who puts trust in another man."  Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also dismissed Obama's comments on same-sex marriage at a separate religious event on Sunday.   Homosexuality is against the law in those countries.

For years, we have had to be concerned about American officials who have attempted to export abortion and homosexuality by promoting them in other countries.   And, we have lawmakers, including judges that want to import international law in order to render their decisions.   Certainly, there has been a concerning philosophical reversal, as there are those representing America who are interested in influencing foreign nations, but not according to the values to which we have held for hundreds of years.

2 - Abortion restrictions across America: TX legislature reconvenes, Wisconsin approves ultrasound bill, OH budget contains pro-life provisions, NC Senate passes new regulations

While the eyes of many across America were on the state of Texas, a number of states within the past week have moved to enact restrictions on abortion.    In Texas, after a confusing close to the regular session of the Legislature resulted in the passage of a bill that would put an abortion ban into effect after 20 weeks, but the clock had run out due to the delaying tactics of pro-abortion proponents in the Senate chamber.  Governor Perry vowed to call a special session to get the bill passed, and this week, the Legislature returned to Austin and enabled the Governor to make good on that promise. The bill also requires abortion clinics to meet basic health and safety standards.
The contentious atmosphere remained in and around the state capitol, and a disturbing scene ensued on Tuesday, as pro-abortion activists chanted "Hail Satan" as pro-life residents began singing the hymn Amazing Grace outside the state capitol building.

ChristianNews.net reports that blogger Adam Cahm captured the chanting on video, and a number of pro-life residents present posted about the matter on Twitter and Facebook.

“It’s been a very interesting day at the Texas State Capitol,” Cahm wrote. “LetTexasSpeak has been doing a live broadcast from the rotunda where women have been sharing their abortion related testimonies. The pro-abortion crowd has responded with repeated chants of ‘Hail Satan.’”

“Crowd of anti-abortion activists giving speeches while a group of people chant ‘Hail Satan’ in the background,” also Tweeted Josh Rubin of CNN.

The Texas bill is likely to pass, as it is working its way through the Legislature. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker signed Sonya's Law this week. The new law requires that women seeking abortions in Wisconsin be given the opportunity to see their unborn children through ultrasound. It also provides that abortion doctors have hospital admitting privileges. LifeNews.com has this coverage.

In Ohio, Governor John Kasich has signed a budget that contains several pro-life provisions, according to LifeNews.com. The budget includes 5 provisions endorsed by Ohio Right to Life: 1) Reprioritization of family planning funds away from Planned Parenthood, 2) A heartbeat informed consent requirement, 3) Establishment of new funding for pregnancy centers, 4) A ban on public hospitals from entering into transfer agreements with abortion clinics, and 5) Strengthening of abortion clinic regulation.  The Senate in North Carolina this week, despite the presence of protesters, passed a bill that would require a set of basic standards for abortion clinics, forcing them to meet the same criteria required of ambulatory care centers.

These are just a few states that are enacting common-sense legislation that is designed to protect the lives of unborn children and provide for the safety of women.   Even though it is a long and unlikely road to pass Federal legislation placing restrictions on abortion, states are recognizing the importance of such legislation and stepping up to pass these bills.

1 - Change in leadership in Egypt; Coptic Christians in the mix

It was a remarkable week in Egypt, as the Egyptian military deposed former President Mohammed Morsi and named new leadership in the wake of large protests in the heart of Cairo and the signatures of some 22 million people demanding his removal from office. This occurred 48 hours after the Egyptian military issued an ultimatum to Morsi to broker a new agreement with his political opponents or be removed from power. The military suspended the Constitution and installed an interim government.  New elections are expected later this year.

The Pope of the Coptic Christian Church was apparently an active player in the most recent turn of events in Egypt. According to ChristianityToday.com, he tweeted out on Tuesday:

"It's wonderful to see the Egyptian people—through the idea of Tamarod and its youth—taking back their stolen revolution in a peaceful way."

Tamarod is the name of the grassroots rebel movement that organized the petition.

Pope Tawadros II of Egypt was on hand on Wednesday at a press conference announcing the formation of the new interim government.  A Christian Post report highlights how Egyptian Christians were instrumental in what took place.

Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, author of A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Patriot's Fight to Save His Faith and president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy said that Coptic Christians and "the other Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox communities, they'll tell you their status was more beleaguered and more fearful than it ever had been."  He said that, "They played a significant role in raising the masses."   He also predicted that Egypt's historic Coptic community and "some of the women's groups" will "play a huge role" in the political movements going forward.

Unfortunately, there are already reports of Coptic Christians being targeted by radical elements aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Christian Post reports that masked men shot and killed a Coptic priest on Saturday, and other attacks on the minority group were reported in Egypt.  On Friday, unidentified gunmen also attacked security personnel at checkpoints in North Sinai, killing five police officers and a soldier, according to Reuters.  Also on Friday, a Coptic Christian was injured and houses and shops belonging to Christians were burned in southern Luxor Governorate.   

The road has not been easy for Christians in Egypt, and their condition apparently worsened during the Morsi regime.  Even though Coptic Christians, at some 9 million strong, have been influential in the movement to remove Morsi from power, in light of these signs of retaliation that are already being seen, they will need strength and protection in a difficult struggle.  

The 3 - June 30, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" features a positive ruling in an ongoing case of one large retailer owned by a Christian family that continues to fight for its right to conscience in the case of the government's contraception mandate.   Also, thousands of Christian retailers, communicators, and others involved in the manufacturing, marketing, and sales of Christian products gathered this week in mid-America.   And, the big news of the week came from the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued rulings in 2 high-profile cases concerning the issue of gay marriage.

3 - Hobby Lobby receives relief in appeals court

A federal court has ordered the government not to enforce the Department of Health and Human Services contraception and abortion-drug mandate against Hobby Lobby, a nationwide chain of craft stores.  According to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Hobby Lobby, the ruling comes just one day after a dramatic 168-page opinion from the "en banc" or entirety of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, recognizing that business owners have religious liberty rights.   After that ruling from the 10th Circuit, a trial court gave Hobby Lobby a temporary restraining order against the mandate, and further proceedings are scheduled for July 19 in Oklahoma City.

Kyle Duncan, General Counsel for the Becket Fund, is quoted as saying that, “Hobby Lobby and the Green family faced the terrible choice of violating their faith or paying massive fines starting this Monday morning...We are delighted that both the 10th Circuit and the district court have spared them from this unjust burden on their religious freedom.”

In its landmark opinion this week, the 10th Circuit majority found that “no one” – not even the government – “disputes the sincerity of Hobby Lobby’s religious beliefs.” The court ruled that denying them the protection of federal law just because they are a profit-making business “would conflict with the Supreme Court’s free exercise precedent.”

There are now 60 separate lawsuits challenging the HHS mandate.

2 - Christian retailers and communicators gather in nation's heartland

This past week, I had the opportunity to gather with Christian communicators and others connected with the Christian retail sector at the International Christian Retail Show at the America's Center in St. Louis.   Faith Radio and The Meeting House had a display area/communication center just outside the exhibit hall, where I recorded dozens of interviews.  Content from the show can be found on The Meeting House website at www.meetinghouseonline.info.   Click on the "Meeting House On-Demand" tab to access audio marked, ICRS.   Pictures can be located at the Meeting House Facebook page.

Publishers Weekly featured a story on the show, which reminds us that the changing face of retailing in general, and specifically Christian retailing, presents some challenges touching various parts of the industry.   Total attendance was reported at 3,700, which was down significantly from last year's almost 5,000 in Orlando, and way, way down from the 15,000 that attended the show at its peak in 1999.   Professional attendance was down 15% and international attendance was off 21%.   But, the good news going in to the
show was that total sales in the Christian sector were up 8.5% in 2012 vs. 2011.

CBA president Curtis Riskey, three years into his tenure as association head, has introduced a number of innovations in an effort to revitalize the show, and there were more this year. The new Author’s Alley provided tabletop display space for very small publishers and, primarily, self-publishers. An Author’s Bootcamp gave advice and education about marketing, promotion, distribution, and sales. And a new merchandising area, Lifestyle Stories, offered display ideas targeting three kinds of customers.  Said Riskey, “We’re working into new arenas and trying to find new markets. This show is still the apex of our industry.”

Six films were screened at ICRS, among them The Redemption of Henry Myers from Echolight Studios, which announced that former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum would assume the reins as CEO of the fledgling company.  Riskey noted that “in a video culture” sales of DVDs of family-friendly films related to Christian properties have increased 27% over the past three years.  Said CBA board president George Thomsen, “You have an improvement in production quality, and people have always liked a redemptive story.”

And, the Christian Retailing's Best awards were handed out on Tuesday of the show, following the recognition of excellence in Christian fiction at the Christy Awards on Monday night.   Also, another fiction honor, the Carol Awards, announced their 2013 nominees.   There was plenty of activity to go around, and those involved in communicating truth through Christian products had the opportunity to be informed, to network, and to strategize to help meet the challenges of a fluid retail culture.

1 - U.S. Supreme Court issues decisions on marriage-related cases

The U.S. Supreme Court issued two much-anticipated decisions on Wednesday concerning the definition of marriage.   In one case involving the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the court ruled 5-4 that same-sex partners in states where gay marriage is legal have the right to Federal benefits afforded couples in traditional marriages.   That was a fairly straightforward, not unexpected ruling that Christian leaders were disappointed by, and Federal officials began to take steps to make those benefits available.

In the other case, the Proposition 8 case involving California's marriage amendment, the justices in the majority basically attempted to erase history.  The amendment, which defines marriage as one man and one woman,  had been appealed by 2 same-sex couples in a San Francisco Federal district court.   The judge found in favor of the plaintiffs - the defendants were then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and then-Attorney General and now-Governor Jerry Brown.   They did not choose to appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, so one of the organizations instrumental in getting the amendment on the ballot, Protect Marriage, filed the appeal.   The high court found that the pro-marriage group did not have "standing", or the authority to appeal, so it did not rule on the merits of the case, threw out the 9th Circuit decision, and basically let the narrow district ruling stand, where the judge ruled in favor of the two "married" couples.   So, the high court did not find a constitutional right to gay marriage, did not rule Prop. 8 unconstitutional, and did not even negate Proposition 8.

As Stuart Shepard of CitizenLink pointed out on The Meeting House on Friday and as Ken Klukowski of the Family Research Council and Breitbart.com related, Proposition 8 is apparently still in effect, and despite the rush to judgment of California officials, is in for some litigation ahead.

You see, according to Klukowski, the California Constitution says that an administrative agency ... has no power:

(a) To declare a statute unenforceable, or refuse to enforce a statute, on the basis of it being unconstitutional unless an appellate court has made a determination that such statute is unconstitutional; (emphasis mine)

(b) To declare a statute unconstitutional;

(c) To declare a statute unenforceable, or to refuse to enforce a statute on the basis that federal law or federal regulations prohibit the enforcement of such statute unless an appellate court has made a determination that the enforcement of such statute is prohibited by federal law or federal regulations.

No such appellate court decision exists!  And, Klukowski also points out that since no one who wants to defend Prop 8 has standing to appeal rulings on it to the Ninth Circuit, there will never be such an opinion in the federal court system. So the only way to get an appellate opinion would be in the California state court system. So someone would have to file a lawsuit regarding Prop 8, and then appeal it to a California court of appeals and then maybe to the California Supreme Court. Only when one of those courts hold Prop 8 unconstitutional can the public officials in that state regard it as stricken from the books.

Now, according to another story by Klukowski at Breitbart.com, the Alliance Defending Freedom, which worked with Prop 8 proponents to defend the amendment, filed an emergency application with the justice who became the fifth vote to strike down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), this time asking for Anthony Kennedy to restore the rule of law on the California Prop 8 case.   Justice Kennedy, without comment, declined to vacate the actions of the 9th Circuit, lifting a stay on same-sex marriages in California.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling this week in Hollingsworth v. Perry that both the Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit never had jurisdiction in the case, the Ninth Circuit on Friday issued an order lifting the stay and gay marriages began within minutes.

But some experts say the Ninth Circuit does not yet have the legal power to lift the stay. A Supreme Court decision does not carry force of law until that judgment is issued in the form of a certified copy of the Court’s order and opinion to the lower court, which usually takes around 25 days.   So, apparently any same-sex marriage licenses issued in California since the Supreme Court decision are premature.

Bruce Hausknecht, Judicial Analyst for CitizenLink, the public policy affiliate of Focus on the Family, looking back on Wednesday's ruling, said that there were some positive aspects to what was handed down:

First and foremost, we can take heart in the fact that the other side didn’t get what they actually wanted most, which was a 50-state mandate imposing same-sex marriage nationwide. Despite their best arguments, the Court did not find a “right” to same sex marriage in the Constitution, nor did it find that homosexuality is entitled to the same status in our law as immutable characteristics such as race or ethnicity deserve. That in itself is a huge defeat for them. At this moment, no state’s marriage law has been changed by these decisions. Thirty-eight states still define marriage as between one man and one woman. The public policy debate will continue, and we still have the opportunity to make our case that marriage is about more than a couple’s romantic ties — it is about the institution that is the best available for raising children.

So, we continue to watch the courts, and we also seek to remain dedicated to the institution of marriage, which was established by God, who gives us the ability to live out marriages that bring honor to Him.   As same-sex marriage seemingly advances across America, we have an opportunity to demonstrate God's best and to express Christ's love through our homes and through the compelling lifestyles that we lead in front of those who do not embrace His principles.

The 3 - June 23, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" includes news regarding the closure a noted Christian organization that has been involved in helping people exit the homosexual lifestyle and overcome unwanted same-sex attractions.  There's also some encouraging news out of the U.S. House that would provide protection for a number of pre-born children.  And, developments in Iran top the news, as Christians are trying to determine what to make of the election of a new President there.

3 - Exodus International exits

It was a piece of news that came suddenly, but not unexpectedly. Exodus International, a ministry that began nearly 40 years ago to help people who struggle with same-sex attractions find freedom through Jesus Christ, announced that it would be ceasing its operation, the same day that Alan Chambers, its president, announced he would be stepping down and gave an apology to the gay community.. According to CitizenLink, some people previously affiliated with the group say its president, Alan Chambers, changed the organization’s message over the last couple of years.

For example, Andy Comiskey, founder of Desert Stream Ministries, is quoted as saying, “It has undergone significant change...(Chambers) became unusually sensitive to those critical of Exodus. He began to take up their case as more important than transformation.”

Joe Dallas, who served as president of Exodus International from 1991 to 1993 and now leads Genesis Counseling in California, was sad to hear of the organization’s closure. "When we come to Christ we can overcome these (temptations),” he said. “I do think if people repent, they have the ability to resist the temptation to homosexuality and have the capacity for heterosexual response.”

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly made a statement, which included these words: “Exodus’ closing is being hailed by some as a victory and indication that Christians are abandoning long-held convictions that living with God’s design for sexuality is possible through the power of Jesus Christ – that change is possible.

“The reality is that while Exodus will no longer exist, there are numerous Christian ministries that continue to provide excellent help to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, including the Restored Hope Network, Desert Stream Ministries, and Katharos Integrity Alliance.

“We understand God’s original intent was for marriage to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman, with children as a natural result. But we also realize that all of us sin in many ways.

“We believe there is hope for those who struggle sexually. Be it a struggle with lust, adultery, pornography addiction, pre-marital sex, same-sex attractions or issues related to identity – there is hope. The hope of a Christian is that our behavior becomes more in line with God and God’s will. He wants us to drink from His full cup of grace and truth – because it’s through Him we can overcome lifelong struggles with sin.”

Stuart Shepard's conversation with me on The Meeting House recently, which included some analysis and commentary on the Exodus situation, can be accessed here.

Baptist Press also covered the story, and quoted Chambers' apology: "I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn't change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents...I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart."

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said it became clear last year -- when Chambers suggested that people can persist in homosexual behavior and still receive the salvation that Jesus offers -- that Chambers and Exodus International were rethinking their understanding of a Christian approach to homosexuality.

"Sadly, it appears that this rethinking has resulted in something like a surrender to the cultural currents of the day," Mohler told Baptist Press.

Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, shared that, "Increasingly churches are addressing persons with same-sex attractions the same way they address everyone else: in terms of the Gospel and a lifelong call to take up one's cross and follow Christ..This means the Christian grappling with same-sex attractions needs to hear that the Gospel addresses him or her, and that this person needs the whole body of Christ, in community, not just an accountability group of those who are defined by the same temptations."

So, there are several factors at work here: We do need to show compassion to those who are trapped in a variety of areas of sin.   And, it's important to recognize that change can occur through trusting in the power of Christ.  Although Alan Chambers may have shifted his view on the possibility of gay people changing their behavior through sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories, the Bible is clear that homosexuality and the temptation of same-sex attraction are contrary to God's standards, and that there is hope to overcome any sin or temptation through the power of the cross.

2 - U.S. House approves ban on most abortions after 20 weeks

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would ban abortions from after 20-weeks of pregnancy, a point of gestation at which scientific evidence has shown that an unborn child feels pain.

According to LifeNews.com, the vote for the bill broke down on mostly partisan lines with Republicans supporting the ban on late-term abortions and Democrats opposing it. The House approved the bill on a 228-196 vote with 6 Democrats voting for the bill and 6 Republicans voting against it.

One leading expert in the field of fetal pain, Dr. Kanwaljeet S. Anand at the University of Tennessee, stated in an expert report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice, “It is my opinion that the human fetus possesses the ability to experience pain from 20 weeks of gestation, if not earlier, and the pain perceived by a fetus is possibly more intense than that perceived by term newborns or older children.”

During a Congressional hearing, a former abortion practitioner, Anthony Levatino told members about the gruesome details of his former abortion practice and how he became pro-life following the tragic automobile accident of his child.

Another bombshell dropped during the hearing came from Dr. Maureen Condic, who is Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She testified that the unborn child is capable of reacting to pain as early as 8-10 weeks. This is when most abortions in America take place.

Mat Staver of pro-family legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel responded by saying, “The blinders are being lifted, and even pro-abortion Americans want restrictions on aborting children who experience pain...The Kermit Gosnell trial and the closure of abortion clinics around the country for unsanitary, unsafe conditions have created a public awareness of the violence against women and children disguised by such names as ‘women’s health clinics,’ ‘family planning,’ and ‘reproductive healthcare.’”

The bill now goes on to the Senate, where it is predicted to be defeated, if a vote is allowed.  Majority Leader Harry Reid is being encouraged to allow the bill to be voted upon.   The President has already threatened to veto the legislation.   But, if the Senate votes, it will get lawmakers on record regarding their viewpoint on late-term abortion, just as the 196 House members that opposed this legislation now have recorded votes on the matter.

1 - Christians not comforted by election of new leader in Iran, more Iranian arrests announced

Christians in America have followed closely the plight of pastors in Iran, such as Youcef Nadarkhani and Saaed Abedini, who were placed in jail as a result of their practice of the Christian faith.  We continue to made aware of persecution of Iranian believers, especially those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.   Religion Today had a piece just this week about six Iranian converts to Christianity who were convicted of crimes related to their membership in a house church, according to World Watch Monitor.  Mohabat News, which reports on news of Christians inside Iran, published a report on June 16 claiming that four men, a woman and her teenaged son were convicted by a Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, in southwestern Iran. The four men were found guilty of attending a house church, spreading Christianity, having contact with foreign ministries, propaganda against the Iranian regime and disrupting national security, Mohabat reported.

Religion Today also relates that, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, 33-year-old Iranian-American pastor Saeed Abedini told his family his health appears to have improved. However, the ACLJ also said that since Iran's presidential election last week, prison guards had threatened to move
Abedini to a more remote prison. Such a move would make it nearly impossible for his family to visit him.

Open Doors reports that even though Hassan Rouhani won Iran’s presidential election last weekend and he is being portrayed by some as a “moderate” Iranian cleric, because of his loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Open Doors contacts from the region don’t expect positive changes.

“The Christians I recently spoke with seemed rather apathetic about the elections,” says an Open Doors fieldworker in response to the election of the new president. “They don’t seem to expect significant changes in Iran’s policies against Christians.”

This is corroborated by an Iranian believer who told Open Doors last week, “In your Western media, the candidates are divided into conservatives and reformers, as if there is a choice, but let me tell you this: there is no choice. All of the candidates are from Ayatollah Khamenei’s team.”

Christians, as well as minorities such as Baha’i and Dervishes, have seen an intensification of religious persecution in Iran since 2005, when former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected for the first time.
The fieldworker also stated that, “The question is can Rouhani make a change? At least he is an intellectual, who graduated in the United Kingdom and has called for less confrontational relations with the West. I guess we just have to see in order to know, according to Iranian standards, how moderate he is.”

So while change in leadership could provide a source of inspiration for Christians, the current climate that has been fostered by the governing religious authorities indicates that there could be little improvement concerning the religious freedom of Christian believers in Iran.   That is why prayers are very important for these persecuted believers.

The 3 - June 16, 2013

This latest edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", includes 2 stories that would fall under the heading of religious liberty, and another involves a gathering this past week of representatives from a large Christian denomination. The 2 religious liberties stories include a new bill in Texas that attempts to uphold religious freedom during holiday seasons and a statement from the Administration in opposition to an amendment to the most recent defense bill that would provide for religious freedom guarantees for those in the military.

3 - Texas Governor signs bill allowing use of traditional holiday expressions

Texas Governor Rick Perry, showing concern for the religious expression rights of students and others throughout the state, signed a bill on Thursday which has been nicknamed the "Merry Christmas" bill, providing for the rights of students to say "Merry Christmas" or other traditional holiday expressions on school grounds.

He is quoted as saying that "religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion".

Traditional holiday symbols such as a menorah or nativity scene also are protected, as long as more than one religion and a secular symbol are also reflected.

The measure's sponsor, Houston Republican Rep. Dwayne Bohac, says it will provide schools cover from what he called "ridiculous" lawsuits. The bill had passed the Texas Senate and House back in May, with the full support of every Democrat and Republican in the Senate and a large majority in the House.

A group called Texas Values provided the main legal guidance and support for the legislation.

The website, MerryChristmasBill.com, states that Texas school districts have seen long and costly court cases over Christmas expressions in Plano and Katy, and Fort Worth was recently involved in a controversy over Santa Claus at a public school.  Landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases have made it clear that such expressions and displays are permissible.

Jonathan Saenz, attorney and president of Texas Values, said, “We hope HB 308 will decrease the number of school districts being naughty and increase the ones being nice...It’s time to end the war on Christmas. This common sense legislation tracks Supreme Court precedent, providing a solid roadmap for public school officials to follow and should help school districts respect First Amendment rights and avoid costly litigation. We thank Gov. Perry for signing this bill into law,” concluded Saenz.

2 - Southern Baptist Convention meets in Houston, resolutions deal with Boy Scouts and other matters, speakers call for unity and revival

The Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting concluded on Wednesday in Houston, with over 5,000 messengers gathering to hear reports and sermons, to engage in worship, and to vote on officers and a host of resolutions.  Baptist Press provided extensive coverage.

Dr. Fred Luter, Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, was re-elected President of the SBC - the convention president is generally re-elected following his first year.  Dr. Luter spoke on Tuesday and called on Southern Baptists to put aside division and work for the fulfillment of the Great Commission:

"Could it be...that the reason that lost friend, that lost relative, that lost co-worker, that lost neighbor, that lost classmate, have not yet turned from darkness to light is because they don't see us as the body of Christ getting along? Friend, how is it that we say we love God, whom we've never seen, yet don't speak to our brother and sister that we see every day?"

In the convention sermon on Wednesday, Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, called on Baptists to seek to fulfill Christ's Great Commission. He said: 

"Southern Baptists do many good things, and we should. But we must keep our focus on the most important thing: Jesus Christ and His Gospel."

He said that Southern Baptists must be a Christ-centered people who boast only in Jesus and who see the ministry of bringing the nations to Jesus as offerings of worship to the triune God.

"Paul knew that being Christ-centered would radically impact how we think, how we speak, how we act and how we live," Akin said.

Resolutions included a variety of areas, including a response to the Boy Scout decision to accept openly homosexual members. The Convention, not unexpectedly, did not call for local churches to completely sever  ties with the Boy Scouts, while acknowledging that some would do so.  The resolution did voice opposition to the Boy Scouts of America's decision.

The lengthy resolution stated that churches that choose to sever ties should not abandon their ministry to boys, but should consider expanding their Royal Ambassadors ministry, "a distinctively Southern Baptist missions organization to develop godly young men."

It urged churches and families that remain in the Boy Scouts "to seek to impact as many boys as possible with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, to work toward the reversal of this new membership policy, and to advocate against any future change in leadership and membership policy that normalizes sexual conduct opposed to the biblical standard."

A resolution on mental health expressed support for "the wise use of medical interventions" and supported research and treatment "when undertaken in a manner consistent with a biblical worldview" and called on Southern Baptists to "look for and create opportunities to love and minister to, and develop methods and resources to care for, those who struggle with mental health concerns and their families."

1 - Amendment proposed to preserve religious freedom in military; White House states opposition

This week, another chapter was added to the continued narrative about the religious expression rights of men and women in uniform. Family Research Council reports that the Obama administration issued a statement of administration policy saying it "strongly objects" to Louisiana Republican Congressman John Fleming's religious freedom amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Fleming's amendment was approved last week by the House Armed Services Committee in response to the growing and open hostility toward religious expression by service members.

CitizenLink quotes the administration's position statement: “By limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale and mission accomplishment.”

FRC President Tony Perkins issued a statement, which included these words:

"...The administration's opposition to Rep. Fleming's religious freedom amendment reveals that this administration has gone beyond accommodating the anti-Christian activists who want to remove any vestige of Christianity from the military, to aiding them by blocking this bipartisan measure.

"This chilling suppression of religious freedom is driving faith underground in our military and will eventually drive it out. This not only deprives those who serve of the benefits that flow from religious participation, but it undermines the moral foundation of the world's most powerful military and the country they serve. This should concern everyone."

Representative Fleming told Fox News, “With its statement, the White House is now endorsing military reprimands of members who keep a Bible on their desk or express a religious belief...This administration is aggressively hostile towards religious beliefs that it deems to be politically incorrect.”

The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a organization of chaplain endorsers, quotes Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Douglas Lee, USAR:  “The president’s objections to many other provisions of the 2014 NDAA--including Purple Heart awards for Americans wounded by in-U.S. terrorists--demonstrates his utter disdain for the views of elected representatives and endangers the free exercise of religion in the Armed Services...The chilling effect of his current objections on religious conscience are chilling in and of themselves.”

This statement from the White House is a more overt expression that some would interpret as reflecting policies and activities that have served to restrict the free expression of religion by people of faith, especially Christians, within the military.  We can hope that some dialogue will take place in order to clarify and solidify the rights of our service men and women to practice their religion, even outside the walls of a base or post chapel.

The 3 - June 9, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" features some areas that are not new to readers of the blog, including graduation prayer content.   A South Carolina graduate ripped up his pre-approved speech and led the Lord's Prayer, which is shown in a now-viral video.  Also, religious expression in the military continues to be a hot topic, with a couple of instances that appear to be restrictions on that type of expression making headlines this week.   And, the top story comes from Houston, where messengers gather this week for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention - and the timing of two reports has presumably coincided with the scheduled meeting and an annual evangelistic effort was conducted yesterday.

3 - Graduation prayer controversy in S.C. as valedictorian leads Lord's Prayer

Another graduation video has gone viral, this one showing a valedictorian at a South Carolina high school who deviated from his prepared and his approved remarks to lead the crowd gathered for the ceremonies in the Lord's Prayer.

Roy Costner, who attended Liberty High School in Pickens, South Carolina, had received the requisite approval for his speech, but at a point in the message, he ripped his prepared text up and began to say the Lord's Prayer. As the crowd realized what he was doing, they began to cheer. He said, “I think most of you will understand when I say, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven..."

Apparently, throughout the state, the American Civil Liberties Union sent out letters at the beginning of the school year to warn districts about what they view as establishing religion. And, the Freedom From Religion Foundation had been challenging the specific district.    According to Todd Starnes of FoxNews.com, FFRF holds the district responsible. The co-president of the organization is quoted as saying, “The valedictorian who so insensitively inflicted Christian prayer on a captive audience at a secular graduation ceremony, is a product of a school district which itself set an unconstitutional example by hosting school board prayer."

A school district spokesperson said the valedictorian will not be penalized for what he did and Costner told Fox News that he has absolutely no regrets.

“I’m happy with what I did,” Costner said. “I want this to glorify God. I want to use this as a witnessing tool and I hope others will stand up for God in our nation.”

This comes on the heels of the Texas student body president saying a prayer in his graduation presentation, despite the alleged protests of fellow students. 

There is quite a bit of misunderstanding in school districts across America about a student's religious rights, and we see it surfacing year after year in the graduation context.  It seems to me that by forcing students to submit the text of their messages could be regarded as a form of censorship, especially when there is an emphasis on pre-clearing speech that could be considered "religious".
2 - More religious freedom issues in the military

One of the areas that seems to contain a steady stream of news stories involves the rights of military members to express their faith.  Because we live in a heavily military area, I believe that relating these types of stories can be helpful to embolden our men and women in uniform as they seek to be not only excellent members of our armed forces, but also good soldiers of the Lord and citizens of His kingdom.   These types of stories also help to let those who are not associated with military know some of the challenges people of faith within their ranks are facing.

One story that circulated last week involved an Army Master Sergeant, who held a party to celebrate his promotion last August. According to a post on the Family Research Council website, it was a private event that the soldier paid for himself.   His commanding officers seemed to take issue with the invitations, which read, "In honor of my promotion and in honor of the Defense of Marriage Act, I'm serving Chick-fil-A sandwiches at my promotion party."  Of course, as FRC points out, the DOMA reference was a hat tip to Chick-fil-A owner Dan Cathy, who became the center of a national firestorm when he refused to back down from the biblical definition of marriage.

Shortly after the Master Sergeant's party, he was shocked to receive a letter of reprimand, followed by a negative efficiency report.  The stunned soldier contacted the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty for help. Ron Crews, who heads up the organization, explained that the Army initially talked about bringing "judicial punishment" against the man but decided to investigate first to see if he had "violated any other policy." Apparently, the Sergeant was warned to stop reading conservative books, as well.

This story began to make its rounds along with another instance of religious expression that was seemingly restricted at an Air Force base in Idaho.  FRC reports on the case of a California-based artist who was shocked to discover that one of his prints, the fifth in an inspirational series entitled, "Heroes", was considered too offensive for the Mountain Home Air Force Base dining hall in Idaho.  The painting portrays a modern-day policeman with a faint picture of a white knight behind him.  Across the bottom, the word, "Integrity" and the Scripture reference, "Blessed are the Peacemakers" from Matthew 5:9 are stenciled.   Objectors found the piece to be "repugnant" to objectors, who demanded its removal.   The Military Religious Freedom Foundation contacted the base, and reportedly, within 56 minutes, the painting was removed.  

Well-known Christian artist Ron DiCianni, who painted the portrait, says he was stunned -- first to hear the print was on the installation, and then to hear that it had been torn down.  In a statement, Ron explains how "deeply saddened" they are by the military's censorship.

He said that is was regrettable, "to see the apparent hostility of Pentagon leadership to a message that is clearly in keeping with the foundation of this country and the Air Force -- and whose communication is clearly protected by the First Amendment...The military is an embodiment of the ultimate peacemaker, a pursuit blessed in Scripture. It would seem this is a message that the Air Force should be willing to foster, not censor."

You can hear my conversation with the artist here.

FRC points out that Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana has offered an amendment to the most recent Defense Authorization bill that would help to protect religious freedom in the military. Fleming is quoted as saying, "The men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms should not have their own religious freedom jeopardized during their military service...[T]roubling reports indicate that the military may be focused only on protecting beliefs of service members and not the exercise or expression of those beliefs. My amendment is necessary to ensure that men and women of faith will not be discriminated against in the Armed Forces, and will be free to exercise their religious beliefs."  By a 33-26 vote, the Committee gave the green light to Fleming's measure, which stops the Pentagon from restricting religious speech -- except in cases of "military necessity."

Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.) added another layer of protection by introducing (and later passing) language that allows chaplains to pray "in Jesus's name."

Those that want to restrict religious content in symbols or speech so often demonstrate an extreme level of religious hostility in seeking to deny the freedom of religious expression.  When words like "inflict" are used to describe prayer, as in the S.C. valedictorian instance, or a word such as "repugnant" to describe a moving tribute to those who keep the peace, it shows that they are doing exactly what they are accusing people of faith are doing - they are attempting to force their belief system, or more accurately, lack of belief, on people of religious faith.  People with a personal faith are allowed to express themselves consistent with their First Amendment rights of religious expression.

1 - Baptists prepare for convention in light of new stats, launch "Crossover" event

This week in Houston, thousands of Southern Baptists will gather for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the traditional run-up to the big event has already begun.

The Saturday before the convention, the Crossover event is conducted, consisting of block parties held throughout the area hosting the convention, an inviting opportunity to reach out to neighborhoods and to share the love of Jesus Christ.  According to the North American Mission Board website, this year, Crossover partnered with the larger initiative of the Union Baptist Association called Loving Houston, designed to be a long-term care and compassion movement.   The Launch week included fun, family friendly activities, sports events and many projects focused on serving the residents of Houston in tangible and practical ways.

There were also several important reports leading up to the convention.   According to Christianity Today, a self-assessment put together by the SBC, the "Annual Church Profile", indicated that the nearly 16-million-member denomination gained 270 churches over the past year, but lost more than 105,000 members and 188,000 Sunday worshipers, marking its sixth straight year of membership decline.

However, the SBC's 42 state conventions still claim almost 6 million Sunday worshipers at more than 46,000 churches.

Last year saw the second-lowest total of baptisms in 60 years. After a small increase last year, the new report shows a decline of 5.5 percent to just under 315,000 people. Reported baptisms have declined six of the last eight years with 2012 the lowest since 1948. The ratio of baptisms to total members increased to one baptism for every fifty members.

“While we celebrate every new baptized believer represented by these numbers, fewer reported baptisms is heartbreaking,” said Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay, an arm of the SBC. “Southern Baptists cannot rest on what God accomplished through us in prior years.”

The self-described reaction of Frank Page, president of the SBC's executive committee: "God forgive us and God help us."

However, giving to international missions was its third-highest total ever.

And, something else notable in the week leading up to the convention was the release of the much-anticipated report on Calvinism in Southern Baptist life, compiled by a 19-member advisory committee, which issued its 3,200-word report to Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Frank Page, according to Baptist Press.  The report acknowledged tension and disagreement between Calvinists and non-Calvinists within the convention and urging Southern Baptists to "grant one another liberty" on the issue and "stand together" for the Great Commission.  Calvinists and non-Calvinists from all walks of SBC life served on the committee, which was assembled by Page and was not an official committee of the convention.

There will be numerous reports to the messengers on the convention floor next week, and a variety of resolutions are anticipated - the most high-profile one will most likely deal with the Convention's response to the Boy Scouts of America lifting its ban on openly homosexual members - the Convention could encourage its churches to disassociate with Scout troops or perhaps another response or language could be approved.

The 3 - June 2, 2013

On this week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, I want to continue to look at the progressive fallout from the Boy Scouts' decision to allow openly gay members.   Also, Planned Parenthood is back in the news, including some new charges against one of its clinics in Delaware.   And, the big story from the week involved graduation prayer and the groundswell of support nationally for a young man who exercised his religious rights and said a prayer at his graduation ceremony, even though there were those who wanted to restrict him.

3 - Response grows to Boy Scouts vote: churches begin to dismiss troops; atheists want pledge to God dropped, gay rights groups want openly homosexual leaders

Not surprisingly, there has been a chain reaction to the vote taken by a national council of leaders of the Boy Scouts of America to allow open gay members in its organization.  And, while gay activist organizations have already laid down the gauntlet and said the resolution did not go far enough in that it did not allow for gay scout leaders, churches, which host and sponsor a majority of the Boy Scout troops across the nation, have begun to withdraw their support for the Scout troops that meet in their buildings.

One of the first was Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, one of the nation's top 5 largest churches.   Another was in the metro Atlanta area, Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta.   Two churches in the Birmingham, Alabama area, First Baptist of Pelham and First Baptist of Helena, have also announced that they will no longer allow Scout troops to meet on their property.   The reason is clear:  churches do not feel they can endorse an organization that no longer upholds traditional, Biblical values by embracing a lifestyle that Christians continue to see as incompatible with their beliefs.

And, atheists are not at all pleased with the current stance of the Boy Scouts to encourage devotion to God.  In an article released this week on its website, CitizenLink reports that Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said that the BSA needs to change its policy regarding “humanists and atheists.”  He accused the BSA of “bigotry.”  Some of the other groups wanting this policy change include The Freedom From Religion Foundation and American Atheists. 

With the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in several weeks in Houston, where a resolution or some action is expected that could lead to churches throughout the denomination abandoning Scouting, and with a meeting scheduled in late June for Louisville to discuss alternatives to the Boy Scouts, it appears that a mass exodus has begun.   And, it doesn't come as a surprise - it was predicted that up to 400,000 Scouts could depart the organization if the council voted to allow openly gay members.   But, in a true "what were they thinking?" moment, those 1400 or so people that cast a vote in Dallas 2 weeks ago succumbed to the pressure of political correctness and could have perhaps sounded the death knell for an organization that has been committed to building Godly character for over 100 years.

2 - Planned Parenthood back in the news:  Supreme Court turns down Indiana Planned Parenthood case; Planned Parenthood operator in Delaware cited by AG; Girl Scouts team up with PP

While concern about the direction of the Boy Scouts has been in the headlines recently, a cozy relationship with the Girl Scouts and supporters of abortion came to the forefront this week, as reports surfaced about a conference that was co-sponsored by World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, which has member organizations across the globe, the largest of which is the Girl Scouts of the USA.  GSUSA is a co-founder of WAGGGS and one of WAGGGS’ largest financial supporters, paying over $1 million each year in membership fees.

According to a report on the LifeNews.com website, WAGGGS is a global organization that is a well-known advocate for sexual and reproductive rights, including abortion, for youth, and claims to speak for all of its 10 million members.  Recently, it participated in a global conference called "Women Deliver", which had a purpose of “call[ing] for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women.”  Speakers included noted late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart, philosopher Peter Singer, who supports infanticide and euthanasia, and pro-abortion Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  Some of the breakout sessions included “Outing and Addressing Abortion Stigma” and “Why I Perform Abortions.”  Exhibitors included many abortion and population control advocates.

WAGGGS also participated, along with International Planned Parenthood Federation and Planned Parenthood Global (PPFA global), in the Youth Advisory Group for the Women Deliver Conference.  Apparently, there are other instances of ties between the Girl Scouts and abortion advocates.

Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry made the headlines in several instances this week.  
There is a report on the Christian Post website about news from Delaware, where the office of Attorney General Beau Biden, son of the Vice-President, has filed a complaint against a former Planned Parenthood abortion doctor who allegedly engaged in multiple acts of incompetence while performing abortions on five patients.

According to page two of the complaint, Dr. Timothy Liveright performed "multiple acts of incompetence and negligence," which included "over sedating patient," "failing to properly administer oxygen," and "failing to consider alternative treatments."

Now, Planned Parenthood did get some good news out the U.S. Supreme Court this week, as the high court allowed to stand a lower court ruling that negated the Indiana Legislature's law preventing the nation's largest abortion provider from receiving Medicaid funds.

Alliance Defending Freedom is attempting to shine the light on Planned Parenthood's questionable practices with its new "Pretty Ugly" campaign.  According to LifeNews.com, it is designed to reveal “Planned Parenthood’s deception of the American public", and when you visit the website. AllianceDefendingFreedom.com/ItsPrettyUgly, you can get the latest news on Planned Parenthood’s deceptions, attempted cover-ups, and the truth about the abortion giant’s real business model.
Alliance Defending Freedom has already been active in over 45 cases involving Planned Parenthood, including 10 current ones, which are being litigated over issues including abortion funding, informed consent, abortion drugs, taxpayer fraud by Planned Parenthood, and a botched and forced abortion.

1 - Graduation video reinforces students' religious expression rights

Recently, scores of graduation ceremonies have taken place, and we are reminded that students do have certain religious expression rights when they step to the platform to speak.  Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, is quoted as saying that, “The key to expressing any religious viewpoint in public school, including graduation prayer, is that the school should remain neutral - neither commanding nor prohibiting it."

In a precedent-setting case against the ACLU that went all the way to the Supreme Court, Adler v. Duval County School Board, Liberty Counsel won the right of students to pray or give religious messages at graduation. The case established the legal principle that public schools are free to adopt a policy that permits students or other speakers to present secular or religious messages, including prayer, at commencement ceremonies.

At Lincoln County High School in Stanford, Kentucky, class president Jonathan Hardwick said a prayer - and received a standing ovation for it.   Apparently, there were six students at the school that had asked Principal Tim Godbey to prevent any prayers from the graduation ceremony.   According to the Advocate-Messenger website, which covers Central Kentucky, Godbey, a self-professed Christian who says he prays for each of his students daily, said under separation of church and state laws, faculty members have never been able to pray publicly on school grounds or during school-sponsored functions. However, he noted that the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit students from doing so as long as they are not otherwise disruptive.

Apparently, there's a local atheist activist who has threatened to contact organizations such as the ACLU and Freedom from Religion Foundation about the public prayer. 

Those that would cite "religious bullying" are apparently content to deny Christian students their rights of religious expression.   And, I wouldn't be surprised if the FFRF and ACLU aren't already aware of Jonathan's prayer - it has received over 70,000 views on YouTube and is continuing to receive media attention.  

It is so important that Christian students are aware of their free speech rights and realize that those rights don't go away when they enter the school building or go on school property.