The 3 - January 27, 2012

This latest edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", includes an update on the plight of an American pastor born in Iran, who continued to do ministry in his home country - until he was arrested about 4 months ago...his trial was held this week.   Also, news from the nation's capital is atop the list of stories affecting the Christian community - Christian involvement in the Inauguration at the beginning of the week, and, at week's end, the March for Life, upholding a view of life in the womb consistent with a Biblical perspective.

3 - Iranian pastor's plight continues to confound

Last week, I reported to you about the plight of an American pastor who was born in Iran and had been doing some ministry work in the country.   On his most recent visit, in September, he was arrested on a bus and taken to prison.  The trial for pastor Saaed Abedini began this past Monday, and after two days, the judge in the trial said that he had moved the pastor, presumably for medical reasons.

According to Religion Today, Abedini was sentenced Sunday morning to eight years in prison, citing a Fox News report.  The American Center for Law and Justice said that Abedini was verbally sentenced in Tehran by Iran's infamous "hanging judge" to eight years in prison for threatening the national security of Iran through his leadership in house churches.   He will serve the time in Iran's notorious Evin Prison, known as one of the most brutal.

Saeed's wife, Naghmeh said: "With today's development I am devastated for my husband and my family." "We must now pursue every effort, turn every rock, and not stop until Saeed is safely on American soil."

ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow said: "Here's the troubling reality: we have a U.S. citizen, who has been beaten and tortured since his imprisonment last fall, now facing eight years in Evin Prison, one of the must brutal prisons in Iran. A harsh sentence in a notorious prison -- likely facing life-threatening torture and abuse at the hands of the Iranian regime. Simply because of his Christian faith."

According to The Christian Post, it had been unclear about the pastor's whereabouts - the judge in the case had said that he was undergoing medical treatment.  Yesterday, a family friend, who was earlier threatened by officials because he was assisting in obtaining bail for the pastor, went to court to retrieve some documents, a court administrator asked him to tell Saeed's lawyer that he needed to come to court because Saeed would be released soon.

Sekulow has said that Iranian officials cannot be trusted:  "The Iranian government repeatedly has lied about the case...A government that has engaged in physical and emotional torture in Pastor Saeed's case means every comment by the Iranian government must be taken as a grain of salt."

Saeed had told his wife in a letter last month that prison authorities were giving him mixed responses. "This is the process in my life today: one day I am told I will be freed and allowed to see my kids on Christmas (which was a lie) and the next day I am told I will hang for my faith in Jesus," Saeed wrote. "One day there are intense pains after beatings in interrogations, the next day they are nice to you and offer you candy."

On Friday, the U.S. State Department and the White House condemned the imprisonment of Saeed, calling on Iran to release him.

Pastor Saeed had appeared in the courtroom on the first day of his trial on Monday. Prosecutors alleged he has a politically subversive influence on young people and therefore poses a threat to national security.  The pastor and his attorney were barred from the court during a hearing on Tuesday, when lay church leaders were reportedly forced to testify against Saeed. 

2 - Inauguration presents opportunities for evangelical involvement

Even though the President highlighted initiatives not broadly supported by evangelical Christians in his Inaugural Address, which a number of experts have termed as unusually partisan in nature, and despite the withdrawal of Passion founder Louie Giglio from the actual Inauguration ceremony on Monday, there was still a significant evangelical presence in Inaugural events.

For instance, North Point Community Church pastor Andy Stanley was one of the speakers featured in a pre-Inaugural service at St. John's Episcopal Church.  Pastor Joel Hunter of Orlando, who has been one of the President's spiritual advisers, was also included.  Hunter had publicly declared his disagreement with the President on the topic of same-sex marriage.  And, in the National Prayer Service the following day at Washington's National Cathedral, the pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in America, Adam Hamilton of Kansas City's Church of the Resurrection, was the featured speaker.  

In the actual inauguration ceremony, a choir from Lee University in Tennessee, as well as the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir from New York City, provided special music.

Apparently, Andy Stanley's comments about Obama being the "Pastor-in-Chief" received quite a bit of reaction, and Mark Galli of Christianity Today spoke with pastor Stanley.   He explained the phrase this way, as he talked about the moment that he saw Obama reaching out to the people of Newtown:

I'm sitting there on my couch watching this, thinking, How is he doing this?  I would be exhausted after a single interaction with a family. All these classrooms. And he sits through all that, and then he gives his speech. I turned to Sandra, and said, "Tonight he is the Pastor in Chief, isn't he?"

[At the pre-inaugural service,] I knew that I didn't want to get up and just launch into a sermon. When you're in an environment where you have no personal connection with anyone in the room—and I certainly didn't—as a speaker, you want to find a personal connection. I thought, Well, here is something that I felt deeply and here we have all these clergy on this stage.

And, regarding the controversy surrounding his good friend Louie Giglio:

Anyone who has respect for our nation or the presidency would have done what Louie did, because at the end of the day, it was the inauguration of the President of the United States. Why would anyone want to do anything to detract from that? That was the honorable thing to do. The group that called Louie out on the message did the very opposite. Whatever you feel about their views, they leveraged their views to detract from the inauguration. They're saying, "Mr. President, how could you invite someone who doesn't believe like we do?" So I just have the utmost respect for Louie's decision. I just hate that it happened the way that it did.

Other church leaders were not especially complimentary toward the President.  Christianity Today, in taking a panoramic look at Christian involvement in the inauguration, said:

Mark Driscoll acknowledged the inauguration with this tweet: “Praying for our President, who today will place his hand on a Bible he does not believe to take an oath to a God he likely does not know...”

On Facebook, Driscoll’s remark—which is received quite a bit of media attention - had nearly 10,000 "likes" a day later.  CT also said:

John Piper, too, tweeted an Obama critique: “President Obama ‘spiritually blind’ or ‘evil hypocrite’ in claiming MLK and disregarding the weakest,” linking to a Washington Times editorial on the president's stance on abortion.

President Obama, while holding to a worldview that is different than that held by many Christians and advocating policies that many regard as unbiblical, has still chosen to reach out to the religious community.   I would hope that the evangelicals with whom he has made contact will speak the truth and have a profound influence on the President.  And, it's critical - and obedient to Scripture - to be in prayer for our President.

1 - March for Life in DC turns out hundreds of thousands to National Mall 

The week in Washington began with hundreds of thousands of people turning out to the nation's capital to view the Inauguration of President Obama.   The week concluded with hundreds of thousands of people in the same city to stand for life.   While the National Park Service does not estimate crowd size, there are some that have said that the March for Life could have drawn over a half-million people to the National Mall, in less-than-comfortable temperatures.


Dave Andrusko, writing for the National Right to Life website, stated:

...Watching the day’s glorious events, there were two more important conclusions that were as inescapable to me as they were welcomed.

First, we have written dozens and dozens of stories about the influx of massive numbers of young people into the Movement as a whole, and to the March for Life, in particular. As you listened to speakers from the podium, including one 19-year-old, you couldn’t help but smile. It was clear that they saw themselves not as part of the Movement but as the Movement!...

Second, all pro-lifers are aware of (and make use of ) modern technology to spread the gospel of the common humanity of the unborn. It was deeply symbolic at many levels that Pope Benedict XVI, tweeting in nine languages, wrote, “I join all those marching for life from afar, and pray that political leaders will protect the unborn and promote a culture of life.”

Finally, I would like to join all those hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers in attendance in praising the memory of Nellie Gray. In a Movement filled with unique and strong personalities, she was one of a kind.

We miss her.

Jeanne Monahan, who replaced Nellie Gray as the head of the march, now serving as President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, addressed the crowd, saying, according to a report on the Townhall.com website:  "We are winning with young people. I see it right in front of me today."

Monahan later spoke about her activism in the pro-life movement: “One thing that has continued to resonate with me is that I have people who are close to me and have made an abortion decision and have regretted it profoundly,” she said. “I watch my friends suffer which led me to take the stand that abortion hurts the life of the child but hurts the mom as well.”


At this point, there is terrific passion for the lives of the unborn:  a new generation is embracing the cause, polling data is continuing to show strong pro-life sentiment, the number of abortion clinics in America has declined significantly over the past two decades, and the last 2 years have been significant in the number of pro-life bills that have passed state legislatures.  And, we each have opportunities in our communities to speak out for life, to share the truth about God as the creator of life.

The 3 - January 20, 2013

This week in "The 3", a notable sales record was set by a familiar Christian music artist and worship leader.  And, an American pastor who was born in Iran is set to face trial before a particular strict judge in that country - U.S. officials are demanding his release.   Religious freedom was the theme of an observance across America this past week, and that constitutes the #1 story for the week.

3 - New Chris Tomlin album tops Billboard album sales chart

For the second time in less than a year, a Christian music artist has topped the Billboard 200 album sales chart.   This past week, it was announced that singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin's latest release, Burning Lights, had sold 72,000 copies during its first week, enough to place it in the #1 position.   In September, tobyMac's Eye On It, was atop the weekly chart.
 
This is only the fourth time a Christian CD has ever reached that milestone.  The first, Bob Carlisle's "Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)" was the first Christian music album to hit #1, back in 1997.

According to a piece on the WORLDmag.com website, Burning Lights is the second-highest selling Christian album after Casting Crowns’ Come to the Well sold 99,000 during its first week release in 2011.  Billboard said Tomlin’s first-week sales were helped by this month’s Passion conference in Atlanta, where Tomlin has performed since 1997. Sales from Passion-related purchases and church sales made up 40 percent of the album’s numbers.

2 - Iranian pastor faces trial, U.S. government demands release

Saeed Abedini, a native of Iran and a naturalized American citizen, is expected to enter one of Iran's revolutionary courts Monday to face accusations that he is a threat to national security.  His attorneys say he faces a lengthy prison term and even the death penalty at the hands of one of Iran's most notoriously severe judges.   Saeed was arrested in September by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.


Abedini had moved to the United States in 2005, but continued to visit Iran, under a 2009 agreement with Iran's intelligence police, according to the Christian Examiner, quoting Tiffany Barrans, international legal director for the American Center for Law and Justice, who said that Abedini was allowed to come and go from Iran to build an orphanage, but only if he stayed out of church planting.  By last July, he had visited Iran eight times.
 On Sept. 26, Abedini was arrested by Revolutionary Guard soldiers, and has been kept at Evin prison, where many political prisoners are held.   The Guard soldiers snatched him off a bus, confiscated his passports, and threw him in prison. Since then, supporters say, the pastor has been subjected to solitary confinement and beatings.

Sometime between that eighth and ninth visit, Barrans said, police jurisdiction over Iranian Christian life shifted from the politically controlled intelligence police to the religiously controlled Revolutionary Guard, which answers directly to Iran's grand ayatollah. 

The U.S. government has become involved now, and the White House on Friday called on Iran to release Abedini.  On Friday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor issued a statement demanding Abedini's release.
 
“We remain troubled by the case of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini, who was arrested by Iranian officials more than three months ago on charges relating to his religious beliefs," Vietor said in the statement. "We call upon Iranian authorities to release him immediately.”

Earlier in the week, On Tuesday, 11 members of the U.S. Senate and 37 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the U.S. to bring whatever diplomatic pressure it can to persuade Iran to release Abedini. The United States and Iran do not have diplomatic ties, so any pressure would have to be applied indirectly.

Also,the Commission on International Religious Freedom, comprised of presidential and congressional appointees, demanded Abedini's release in a statement issued Wednesday:
“The national security charges leveled against Mr. Abedini are bogus and are a typical tactic by the Iranian government to masquerade the real reason for the charges: to suppress religious belief and activity of which the Iranian government does not approve,” Commission Chairwoman Katrina Lantos Swett said.


1 - Religious Freedom Day brings acknowledgement of heritage

This past Wednesday, January 16th, was "Religious Freedom Day", marking the passage of the 1786 Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. The statute, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, formed the basis for the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom.   According to the website, www.religiousfreedomday.com, quoted by CitizenLink, the day is a call for Americans to participate in events and activities in their homes, schools and places of worship.

“Religious Freedom Day is particularly poignant this year — it’s very timely,” said Eric Buehrer, president of Gateways to Better Education, a national organization promoting greater awareness of the day.   Buehrer added, “Wednesday will be a perfect time to give students a civics lesson about their religious freedom at school.”

Candi Cushman, education analyst for CitizenLink, was quoted as saying: “It is ironic that even as the president is expected to make this religious freedom proclamation when there are more than 40 cases involving lawsuits from schools, business and organizations battling with the government over their religious freedoms...They are fighting not to have to implement health care policies in a way that violates their deeply held religious beliefs.”   Indeed, the President did make a Religious Freedom day proclamation, and he was taken to task for making it while the Administration is being sued by more than 110 plaintiffs in 44 cases. 

And, the World Changers organization in Florida observed the day by distributing Bibles in two counties in the state - a court ruling in favor of the ministry paved the way for World Changers to make Bibles available in Collier County, which had attempted to halt the distribution, as well as Orange County, which had allowed the Bibles to be passively distributed in the past.   Not unexpectedly, in response, an assortment of secularist/atheist groups demanded that their materials be made available, as well, which is apparently a provision of the court decree.

The 3 - January 13, 2013

This week's edition of "The 3" includes a response, issued this week, to a secularist group's attempt to have prayer removed from certain occasions at West Point.   Also, a Christian pastor who was invited to pray at the inauguration ceremony for President Obama has stepped aside.   And, the top story - an advocacy group that spotlights persecution of Christians has released its annual list of the top countries where Christians are at risk.

3 - Prayer debate underway at West Point

A prayer controversy involving one of the military's premier academies took another step this week, when the Alliance Defending Freedom sent a letter this past Wednesday on behalf of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty to the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Americans United for the Separation of Church and State had sent a letter to the school, claiming that invocations at West Point events, including Plebe Parent Weekend, Ring Weekend, Thanksgiving Dinner, the Martin Luther King Award Dinner, and graduation, were unconstitutional and coerce cadets to participate in and endorse religion.

According to an Alliance Defending Freedom website, the letter sent to the Academy stated, “The historical practice of offering prayer, especially at military and university functions at West Point, does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”  ADF mentioned a ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stating that invocations such as the ones offered by West Point chaplains and cadets, “solemnize public occasions, express confidence in the future, and encourage the recognition of what is worthy of appreciation in society.”

The letter also explains that, contrary to AU's accusations, “West Point does not require cadets to participate in the invocations or even listen to them” and “two federal courts of appeals rejected the notion that prayers at significant public university events coerce attendees to participate in religion.”

This is another case of a traditional practice that has religious significance that has been challenged by a secularist group.   The Chaplain Alliance has wisely and assertively enlisted the efforts of ADF in order to remind officials that the free expression of religion should not be impeded.

2 - "Giglio Imbroglio" raises questions about role of Christians in the public square

Louie Giglio and the work of the Passion conferences to end modern-day slavery in the form of human trafficking caught the attention of President Obama, and Giglio, pastor of the Passion City Church in the Atlanta area was asked to preside over the Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House last April.  According to a story on The Christian Post website, at the recently concluded conference in Atlanta, Giglio recently inspired students to raise $3.5 million to support more than 20 global projects that focus on prevention, rescue, and restoration for the 27 million men, women, and children who are victims of slavery.

So, it was not surprising the Giglio was invited to give the benediction at the President's Inauguration Ceremony on January 21st.   After the announcement, it was discovered that in the mid 90's, he had delivered a sermon enunciating orthodox Christian teaching on the topic of homosexuality.  Sensing that this would be potentially be a controversy that would create a distraction and possibly serve to divert attention from the incredible work of Passion, Giglio agreed to step away from the ceremony.

"Though the President and I do not agree on every issue, we have fashioned a friendship around common goals and ideals, most notably, ending slavery in all its forms," Giglio remarked in a letter sent to the White House earlier this week.   There is speculation that there was some pressure from the inauguration committee for Giglio to step down.

Christian leaders stood with Giglio, such as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, who said:

"Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, and Orthodox churches all actively proclaim that sexual intimacy within the marriage of one man and one woman is the only biblically-sanctioned human sexual behavior.  Are the scores of millions of Americans who affirm these teachings no longer welcome at the inauguration of our president?

"What is shocking is the intolerance of the Obama team that put such a high priority on forced acceptance of homosexuality that they totally disregard Pastor Giglio's life work combating human trafficking. What we are seeing is the inauguration of a new era of religious intolerance in America.

So, a litmus test has been established - any member of the clergy who is invited to a government-sanctioned event must apparently have a history of not speaking against homosexual behavior.  Honestly, it should not be surprising that an evangelical pastor would hold these views.  Apparently, the President's words about disagreeing agreeably, which he spoke 4 years ago to defend Rick Warren's participation in the inauguration ceremony after Warren faced similar opposition, have vaporized in the wake of his "evolution" on the topic of gay marriage.

1 - Open Doors announces latest list of leading persecutors of Christians

This week, the dynamics of Christian persecution around the world were highlighted as Open Doors released its 2013 World Watch List, which ranks the top 50 countries in terms of their treatment of Christians.   Even though North Korea remained as the country that is the #1 persecutor of Christians, there was significant upward movement by African nations.  According to the Open Doors website, one nation on the continent, Mali, is a newcomer on the list and holds the No. 7 position.  Tanzania (No. 24), Kenya (No. 40), Uganda (47) and Niger (No. 50) also moved onto the World Watch List.  Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers on the list, moving from No. 38 to No. 15.  In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at No. 10.   Libya climbed from No. 26 to No. 17.

Fundamentalist variations of Islam have rapidly gained influence on the continent. On the one hand, this was due to focused attacks, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria (No. 13). On the other, the influence of Islam increased through infiltration in different social and economic areas. Open Doors saw a similar pattern in several African countries. 

The top 10 countries on the World Watch List were:
1) North Korea
2) Saudi Arabia
3) Afghanistan
4) Iraq
5) Somalia
6) Maldives
7) Mali
8) Iran
9) Yemen
10) Eritrea.

Syria was just outside the top 10, at #11.

Mali has just undergone a coup, and there is continued unrest in the nation.   Mali was once a French colony, and French troops have moved into the country to try to ease the violence perpetrated by Islamic terrorists.
According to CNN, a new round of French military raids targeted Islamist rebels in Mali on Sunday, and both sides of the battle said they were determined to win.   Islamists control large areas of land and have implemented Sharia law.

The French Defense Ministry said in a statement that, "France's goal is to lead a relentless struggle against terrorist groups...preventing any new offensive of these groups to the south of Mali."

Christians are persecuted in at least 60 countries for their faith. They suffer interrogation, arrest and even death in some of the most dangerous and restrictive countries in the world. For 58 years, Open Doors has supported and strengthened believers worldwide through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development and prayer and presence ministry. 

The 3 - January 6, 2013

The first edition of  "The 3" for 2013 features another call to stand with a Christian family-owned company, one that is being required by the government to violate its core beliefs.   Also, the topic of adoption has been elevated, in light of a new Russian policy against American adoptions, as well as a permanent extension of tax relief for adoptive families.  The top story is the annual gathering of young adults in Atlanta which drew a very large crowd this year, challenging those attending to make Jesus famous.

3 - Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day shows support for company's stand for religious freedom

Tens of thousands were expected at Hobby Lobby craft stores across America this past Saturday, standing in solidarity with a company whose leadership has decided they will not violate their consciences in the face of a government mandate to provide free contraception and abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plan.

The mandate came down last year, and while religious non-profit organizations were given an exemption from the law going into effect for them, for-profit companies had no such luxury - they would have to provide these drugs or face fines beginning January 1, 2013.   Hobby Lobby, which is owned by the Green family, who are devout Christians, was one of the over 100 organizations filing lawsuits against the Department of Health and Human Services, claiming the mandate violates their religious freedom.   So far, according to the Becket Fund, out of 13 for-profit companies that have filed lawsuits, 10 have received a temporary exemption from having to comply, pending the outcome of their case.

Unfortunately, Hobby Lobby was not one of those, and as of last Tuesday, they were accruing $1.3 million in fines per day, after their appeal of a lower court decision for a temporary injunction was rejected and Supreme Court justice Sotomayor turned back their request to grant relief.  According to the Christian Post, the Hobby Lobby Appreciation Day campaign is being organized by Joe Grabowski, who hopes "the numbers of support on Saturday will at least send a message to the Obama administration and our other elected officials – as well as, hopefully, to the justices on the bench waiting to hear this case..."  By Saturday, some 60,000 people had signed up to be a part of the show of support.   Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who had championed the Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day in August, also encouraged people to visit Hobby Lobby on Saturday.

2 - Congress passes adoption tax credit in fiscal cliff deal, U.S. families respond to Russian adoption ban

Prospective parents who were in the process of adopting children from Russia were dealt a severe blow the Friday after Christmas when President Vladimir Putin signed a law that banned American families from adopting Russian children.  This is believed to be retaliatory action against criticism by the U.S. of Russia's record on human rights.   Writing for Baptist Press, pastor Tony Merida stated in these excerpts:

-- "In 2011, about 1,000 Russian children were adopted by Americans, more than any other foreign country, but still a tiny number given that nearly 120,000 children in Russia are eligible for adoption."

-- "According to David Satter of the Hudson Institute, 'Russia has more orphans per capita than any nation in the world. Of the estimated 650,000 orphans, an estimated 95 percent are 'social orphans' who have been abandoned by their parents or taken away from them.'"

-- "Americans adopt more children than every other country in the world combined, notes Adam Pertman, executive director of the New York-based Donaldson Adoption Institute."

-- "Americans have adopted over 60,000 Russian children since the fall of the Soviet Union."

He writes that, "Sadly, many families are already in the adoption process and have already spent a significant amount of money, time and energy only to now be shut down by the Russian government."

Citing the New York Times, he writes that adoption agency officials in the United States who work regularly with Russian orphanages said there were about 200 to 250 sets of parents who had already identified children they planned to adopt and would be affected.

Against this backdrop, there was some encouraging news for parents who wish to adopt children.   According to CitizenLink, in the fiscal cliff deal that was passed by Congress and signed by the President this past week, there was a provision that extends the adoption tax credit, set at $10,000 per year. The provision also makes the tax credit permanent.

“In years past, the adoption tax credit was extended on a yearly or semi-annual basis, making a less secure benefit for adopting families,” said Carrie Gordon Earll, senior director of Issues Analysis for CitizenLink. “The change to permanent status is key for making adoption possible for the more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care, and the millions of children worldwide who need a family of their own.”

Many Christian families are responding to God's call to minister to orphans by getting involved in adoption.  This financial relief can be a useful provision for families who desire to open their hearts and homes to these children.   Also, pray for the situation in Russia to be reversed so that thousands of orphan children will be able to find permanent homes in America.


1 - Passion Conference in Atlanta draws in and sends out thousands of college students and young adults

Last year, some 43,000 college students and young adults attended the first Passion conference to be held in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.  It was announced at that time that the seating arrangement at the Dome would be reconfigured and the seating capacity would be increased.   This year, some 60,000 students from over  2000 colleges and universities from all 50 states and 55 countries came to worship together, to hear from high-profile speakers who would challenge them in their Christian walk, and to give toward the cause of reducing human trafficking - modern-day slavery.   And, indeed, over $3 million were given by this large group to that particular cause.

Some highlights of the conference included messages from these speakers (quoted in The Christian Post):
Francis Chan - "I want the joy of knowing that I am doing something with my life, the joy of battle...It has been a rough year for me and I'm actually grateful for that. I come out of it and say it was a great year. It was difficult, but God has done amazing things, and man, was it good."  Chan said that "If you really want to experience God, go and make disciples..."

Louie Giglio - "The wonderful living Word of God is more precious than anything else that we have...We are praying that at the end of these days you will be astounded by God; that it will not be about Passion or anyone that has been at Passion, but that it will be about the Lord and the fact that He has done something in our lives that no one else can do."

Beth Moore - "Not only is the Gospel good news, it is glad news...Until you receive it, you don't really realize what God has done for you. Today I'm not asking you 'Is it good news?' I'm asking, 'Is anybody glad?'"   She also said, "What Jesus did is enough. And because it is enough, I am glad. God's mercies are new every morning, Christ will come back and He will claim his kingdom, and there is a world coming where there will be no more bad news. As Psalm 126:3 says, 'The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.'"

And, a couple of quotes from John Piper's Twitter feed:

"Our worship is the subjective echo of Jesus' objective worth. The intensity of our gladness echoes the immensity of his glory."   And, "The universe exists for the glorification of Jesus in the admiration of his people"

Christianity Today's website reported that Passion Conference attendees gathered in Atlanta's International Plaza Thursday night for a candlelight vigil honoring the victims of human trafficking worldwide. Nearly 60,000 students surrounded a digital projection promoting the "End It Movement," featuring a spotlight "reaching up to the heavens to proclaim the glory of God."

The beam reached approximately three miles into the sky, and the illumination required Federal Aviation Administration clearance.

In his closing message, based on Ezekiel 37 and the image of the valley of dry bones, Giglio challenged those gathered:  "The issue in the world today is not about you and me waiting on the Lord—it's a lot more about the Lord waiting on you...God is waiting on you right now to get up and stand on your feet—your freedom is for freedom."

Passion 2014 is scheduled to meet again in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta during a weekend in late January or early February 2014.

The 3 - December 30, 2012

This week's edition of my week-in-review feature, "The 3", includes a reminder that believers in Christ are being persecuted all over the world, and Iran is one of those countries that has been particularly noteworthy in its treatment of Christian pastors.   Also, a large student missions conference has taken place this week in St. Louis, drawing thousands to come together and to be strengthened in their faith.   And, the top story - Christmas, which provides a time of celebration for many, but sorrow for some, and this Christmas Day and the preceding days offered great ministry opportunities.

3 - Iranian pastors face more persecution

It's only a few days before the advocacy group Open Doors will release its 2013 World Watch List that ranks countries in the world according to the degree of their persecution of Christians.   Last year, North Korea was #1...again.   And, Iran was #5.  

The way that Iran treats Christians, especially Christian pastors and those who sympathize with them, has been in the news this year primarily because of the plight of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was released from prison just a few weeks ago - he is now back in prison, due to apparently what officials are describing as some sort of technicality.  According to Religion Today, citing ASSIST News Service, sources at Christian Solidarity Worldwide report that Nadarkhani has been returned to jail on the orders of the directors of Lakan Prison, who claimed he had been released several days too early due to the insistence of his lawyer, Mohammed Ali Dadkhah. "We are disappointed to hear Pastor Nadarkhani has been returned to prison in such an irregular manner," said Mervyn Thomas of CSW. "The timing is insensitive and especially sad for his wife and sons, who must have been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with him for the first time in three years."  Dadkhah, by the way, has been sentenced to nine years in prison, reportedly due to his attempts to free the pastor.  

Religion Today also reports that a 32-year-old Iranian who is a U.S. citizen and a Christian convert has been imprisoned without notice of any formal charges while visiting his family in Iran, according to Fox News.  In July, the Rev. Saeed Abedini, who lives in the U.S. with his wife and two young children, was making one of his frequent trips to visit his parents and relatives in Iran when he was pulled off a bus by Iranian authorities, who confiscated his passports and subjected him to intense interrogation, saying he must face a penalty for his previous work as a Christian leader in Iran.  He is currently in prison awaiting trial.  His family members, who are also Christian converts from Islam, are under house arrest.

And the website reports on an Iranian pastor who wrote a letter from prison, ministering to Christians and displaying a positive attitude despite his suffering.  Pastor Benham Irani was leading the Church of Iran in the city of Karaj before his arrest in 2011 for "acting against the interests of national security".  He has reportedly been tortured in prison and was denied hospitalization for a bleeding ulcer.  Several times he was found unconscious in his prison cell, raising fears for his well-being.  His wife and two children have said they are afraid that unless the beatings stop and he is offered proper medical care, he could die in prison soon.


The nation of Iran, which operates under strict Islamic law, is a place that is become quite well-known for its persecution of Christians.   Pray for these and other church leaders who are facing stiff difficulties as a result of their faith in Christ.

2 - Urbana student missions conference brings together a multitude of young adults 

Every three years, thousands of colleges students gather to be encouraged and equipped in their walk with Christ and in sharing the gospel at the Urbana student missions conference.  The Christian Post reports that this year, an estimated 16,000 Christian youth attended opening night of Urbana 2012 at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis Thursday.   InterVarsity Christian Fellowship organizers, who are hosting the event, hope that students will come to a decision about serving God locally or globally.

Tom Lin, who serves as InterVarsity's Vice-President and the conference director, is quoted as saying to the students, "Surrender your plans and allow God to surprise you. God's invitation may be unexpected...You and I are called to share God's Kingdom news not just for our campuses, not just for our cities, but also for the ends of the earth – the unfamiliar places, the unfamiliar cultures, and for unfamiliar friends."

The Post reports that David Platt, senior pastor at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, said to the young people at the conference:  "Jesus is the very word of God made flesh … Jesus is all of these things and [yet] we have reduced Him to a poor, puny savior who is just begging for us to accept Him into our hearts."

The first Urbana conference was held in 1946, before it went by that name, which was adopted after moving to the University of Illinois campus at Urbana-Champaign in 1948.   More than 250,000 have been challenged in their participation in global missions since that first conference, which was held in Toronto. 
This is a critical gathering that God has used to stir that hearts of young people to be involved in kingdom work.

1 - Christmas brings celebration, sorrow, and wacky weather 

Christmas Day brings believers in Jesus Christ an opportunity to reflect, to worship, and to spend time with not only family, but fellow church members, as well.    Churches sponsored special musical and dramatic performances during the period leading up to Christmas Day, and there were candlelight services and other special events observed during a unique 3-day period from Sunday through Tuesday.

While it was a time of celebration for many, it was also a time of sorrow for some, including the families of the victims of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, less than 2 weeks removed from the deadly shooting of 26 people, including 20 children. 

And, it was a wacky and deadly weather day, as a massive storm system brought snow and ice to the nation's midsection and severe storms and tornadoes to the Southeastern United States.  There were several deaths reported from the dangerous weather, but not in Mobile, AL, where an EF-2 tornado rumbled through the center of the city, resulting in considerable property damage, but thankfully, no loss of life or life-threatening injuries.  And, the reminder of treacherous weather continues to be felt in the New York City area, where the cleanup from Hurricane Sandy continues, along with the ministry opportunities accompanying it.

And, charitable opportunities abounded during the season, giving Christians and Christian ministries the ability to shine the light of Christ to people in need.    Earlier in the month, a large Miami area church had raised over $600,000 over a 48-hour period to reach out to people in their community.   This is indicative of how we can intentionally give of ourselves in honor of the One who gave it all for us.

The 3 - December 23, 2012

In this week's edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, we see the huge box office results for a film based on a book by a Christian author who integrates a faith perspective into his writings.   There was also more court action concerning that divisive mandate that free contraception and abortion drugs be provided in health insurance plans, despite the objections of religious organizations and companies.   And, the top story involves a new study that illustrates the prevalence of Christianity in the world today, and as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, reflecting on these results could propel us to confidently share our faith.


3 - Movie based on Christian author's book sets December box office record

The new movie based on the writings of Christian author J.R.R. Tolkien has set an all-time December record for an opening weekend, with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  Tolkien integrated a faith element into his works, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as The Hobbit, and it is said that through Tolkien's influence, his friend C.S. Lewis came to Christ.

Hannah Goodwyn of CBN.com writes: 

J.R.R. Tolkien's faith permeated his work, starting with The Hobbit.  Bilbo's adventure is more than just a fictional children's story about hobbits, wizards, trolls and goblins. This fantasy shines a light on the evil and good in human nature – greed, suspicion, bravery and loyalty.  Thankfully, that's not at all lost on the cast personifying Tolkien's beloved Middle Earth characters.

She quotes poet W.H. Auden as saying:

If one is to take a tale of this kind seriously, one must feel that, however superficially unlike the world we live in its characters and events may be, it nevertheless holds up the mirror to the only nature we know, our own; in this, too, Mr. Tolkien has succeeded superbly, and what happened in the year of the Shire 1418 in the Third Age of Middle Earth is not only fascinating in A. D. 1954 but also a warning and an inspiration.

The Christian Post reports that the first movie in what will be a trilogy of films based on Tolkien's beloved children's book earned an estimated $84.78 million over Friday, Saturday and Sunday last weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.  This is higher than the previous December record of 2007's "I Am Legend", starring Will Smith.  The premiere also exceeded the $73.3 million debut of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" in 2003.  (It should be noted that theaters offering 3D/IMAX viewing options might have inflated "The Hobbit's" numbers.)

The movie made another $138 million internationally, bringing up its worldwide total to $222 million after only three days – already making well over its estimated $180 million production budget.

For a "FilmTalk Small Group Bible Study" based on The Hobbit, go to www.movieministry.com or www.moviebiblestudy.com.   And, watch those sites for material on the forthcoming film, Les Miserables, which is said to possess a strong redemptive element.

2 - More activity regarding the HHS contraception mandate: new lawsuit, court victory for 2 schools and 1 company, defeat for another

This week was a very active week concerning the Obama Administration's mandate that employers, including religious employers, provide for free contraception and abortion-inducing drugs in their health care insurance plans.   The week began with the news of Domino's Pizza founder Tom Monaghan filing suit on behalf of his company, Domino's Farms (the pizza chain is now a public corporation).  The following day, there was news out of the D.C. Circuit that a federal appeals court handed Wheaton College and Belmont Abbey College a major victory in their challenges to the HHS mandate.  According to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who argued the case on behalf of the plaintiffs:  Last summer, two lower courts had dismissed the Colleges’ cases as premature.  On Tuesday, the appellate court reinstated those cases, and ordered the Obama Administration to report back every 60 days—starting in mid-February—until the Administration makes good on its promise to issue a new rule that protects the Colleges’ religious freedom.  The new rule must be issued by March 31, 2013.


According to the Becket fund, the court based its decision on two concessions that government lawyers made in open court.  First, the government promised “it would never enforce [the mandate] in its current form” against Wheaton, Belmont Abbey, or other similarly situated religious groups.  Second, the government promised it would publish a proposed new rule “in the first quarter of 2013” and would finalize it by next August. The administration made both concessions under intense questioning by the appellate judges.  The court deemed the concessions a “binding commitment” and has retained jurisdiction over the case to ensure the government follows through.

There were also conflicting decisions in separate circuits concerning for-profit companies' suits against the mandate.   These companies face stiff penalties if they do not comply with the mandate by January 1, 2013.
According to the Gleanings blog at ChristianityToday.com: 

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to grant Christian-owned Hobby Lobby an injunction against the mandate, ruling that the craft chain "has not demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on the merits" of the case.  This is the second loss for Hobby Lobby, which was appealing a lower court decision to the appeals court.   It now plans to take its case to the U.S. Supreme Court for temporary relief prior to the mandate, and the fines for non-compliance, take effect.   Hobby Lobby could pay some $1.3 million per day in fines.

However, a Missouri federal district court granted a preliminary injunction to a small metal-recycling business, American Pulveriser Company, owned by two evangelicals, ruling that they do have a "substantial likelihood" of winning their case.

The D.C. case has great significance because the court is requiring the government to report its admitted attempts to exempt religious entities from having to violate their consciences and provide these drugs or face stiff penalties.  For-profit companies, on the other hand, will begin paying penalties beginning January 1st for non-compliance, which will result in a significant financial burden and likely increases in the cost of their products.
 
1 - New study shows Christianity tops global religious landscape

This week, the results of a new study by the Pew Forum on Religion in Public Life were released, and the data indicates that almost one-third of the people on the globe claim to be - Christian.   The study, entitled, "The Global Religious Landscape: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Major Religious Groups as of 2010" shows that of the world's 6.9 billion people, 2.2 billion or 32 percent are Christians.

According to a report on the survey at ChristianExaminer.com, only 12 percent of Christians live in North America, and the vast majority of Christians, 99 percent, live outside the Middle East-North Africa region where Christianity began.

Apart from North America, Christians are geographically dispersed, with 26 percent in Europe, 24 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 24 percent in sub-Saharan Africa and 13 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, the study found, based on 2010 data.

Pew reported that the world's population includes 1.6 billion Muslims, 1 billion Hindus, nearly 500 million Buddhists, 400 million adherents of various folk and traditional religions, 58 million adherents the study confined to the category of "other," comprised of many religions including Baha'i faith, Jainism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism and Wicca.

Also, the study states that most of the world's population, 5.8 billion or 84 percent, affiliates with a particular religion, leaving 1.6 billion, or 16 percent, with no religious affiliation.   But many with no religious affiliation hold religious or spiritual beliefs, such as a belief in God or a universal spirit, while not identifying with a particular religion. 

Regarding the United States, the study found that 78 percent, or 243,060,000 of the country's 310,390,000 people are Christian.
 
There is much to be learned from these survey results - for one thing, we can be encouraged at the significant number of people worldwide and in America who claim to be Christians.   This can give us confidence that Christianity is and can be a powerful force in the world today.   But, even at that, Christians only make up one-third of the religious population worldwide...this tells us there is quite a mission field.   And, as we continue to track, there are many - generally between 15 and 20 percent - that say they do not follow any particular religion, although many claim to be spiritual.   There is a great affinity for the divine in the world today, and as we follow the truth of the Bible, then we can help point people who are searching to a knowledge of our Savior.

The 3 - December 16, 2012

This week, our nation's collective consciousness has been damaged by the horrific events in Connecticut on Friday - that story and the Christian response to it comprise the overall top story this week in this edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature.   Also, this week, a Michigan college student who was ejected from a counseling program because she referred, to another counselor, a potential client who was having some issues concerning homosexuality, settled with her university.  And, pro-life license plates are available or will be available in over 25 states, but now one state will have to remove them, based on a court action, and another state is the site for further court action to make them available there.

3 - Michigan college student settles with university in court case involving the referral of a gay student to another counselor

Julea Ward and Eastern Michigan University have reached a settlement in a case involving Julea's attempt to avoid violating her religious beliefs by referring a potential client to another counselor.

According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, Julea enrolled in a counseling course at EMU in January 2009 and was assigned a potential client seeking assistance regarding a sexual relationship that was contrary to Ward’s religious convictions.  She recognized the potential conscience issue with the client and asked a supervisor how to handle the matter.  The supervisor advised Ward to reassign the potential client to a different counselor.  EMU then informed Ward that she could only stay in the counseling program if she agreed to undergo a “remediation” program.  Its purpose was to help her “see the error of her ways” and change her “belief system” as it relates to counseling about homosexual relationships.  Julea filed suit against the university, and a lower court ruled in favor of EMU.

In a strongly worded opinion, the 6th Circuit reversed that lower court decision in favor of the university and sent the case back for trial, saying, “a reasonable jury could conclude that Ward’s professors ejected her from the counseling program because of hostility toward her speech and faith….” Moreover, the decision notes, “A university cannot compel a student to alter or violate her belief systems based on a phantom policy as the price for obtaining a degree.”   This week it was announced that Julea had reached a settlement with the University.

As part of the settlement, EMU agreed to pay Ward a sum of money to settle her claims and to remove the expulsion from her record.
   
ADF Senior Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco is quoted as saying, “When Julea sought to refer a potential client to another qualified counselor--a common, professional practice that is endorsed by her profession’s code of ethics--EMU denied the referral. Then it attacked and questioned her religious beliefs, ultimately expelling her from the program. We are pleased that Julea and her constitutionally protected rights have been vindicated.”
 
2 - Pro-life license plates ruled unconstitutional in North Carolina, issue returns to court in New York 

Late last week in North Carolina, a federal judge ruled that the "Choose Life" license plates in that state are unconstitutional because there is not a pro-abortion plate.  The legislature had approved the plates in 2011, and the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation filed suit in U.S. District Court.

According to LifeNews.com, U.S. District Court Judge James C. Fox ruled Friday that North Carolina can’t sell the pro-life license plates, saying, “The State’s offering of a Choose Life license plate in the absence of a pro-choice plate constitutes viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.”  He had already issued a temporary injunction and his decision on Friday, December 7th makes that decision permanent.

Bobbie Meyer, the state director of Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship, told LifeNews: “North Carolina is the only state in the southeast that refuses to let its citizens purchase the choose life license plate. For eight years the legislation for the choose life plate has been denied a vote even though more than 130 other plates have been approved.”

She went on to say that, “Here in NC there are 85 pregnancy care centers who last year saw over 46,000 women and children.”  An extra fee is charged for the plates, and the proceeds are distributed to pregnancy care centers across North Carolina.

Ultimately, the Choose Life plates across the nation have raised over $8.7 million and over 400,000 plates have been sold or renewed in the 17 states that currently have the plate available.  Reportedly, almost a dozen other states have approved the sale of such a plate.   

New York is not one of them.   The issue was first introduced some 8 years ago, and despite a favorable court action on the constitutionality of the plate, the state continues to block the sale of "Choose Life" plates.   Proponents and opponents were back in court this week.  According to CitizenLink, the Children First Foundation, a pro-adoption organization in New York, is suing the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for rejecting the nonprofit’s application to sponsor a “Choose Life” specialty plate.

The first lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in 2004 on behalf of The Children First Foundation (TCFF), dedicated to helping women with unexpected pregnancies choose adoption.

In 2011, a district court found the state guilty of viewpoint discrimination when it refused the Foundations request for the pro-life plates. The court issued an order for the state to approve the application, but placed the order on hold until the completion of any appeals in the case.

“Pro-adoption organizations have the right to a specialty license plate on the same terms as any other organization, and the district court affirmed that,” ADF Senior Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco said. 

1 - Christian leaders, organizations respond to Newtown tragedy

It is truly the unthinkable, an unimaginable expression of evil.    And, within minutes of a gunman entering the premises of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, 20 children and 6 adults were dead in one of the worst school shootings in the U.S. history.

As California pastor Greg Laurie described it, according to the Christian Post: 

"It's Christmas time...Parents bundle up their children another day for school before Christmas vacation starts in the small town of Newtown, Connecticut. There's shopping to do, errands to run before they pick them up.

"Then the worst imaginable scenario takes place. A young man walks into Sandy Hook Elementary School and begins shooting. When the horror finally stops 20 children and 6 adults have been shot and killed. This is just heartbreaking."

Laurie, who lost his 33-year-old son, Christopher, as the result of a deadly car accident in 2008, said he knows the excruciating pain of losing a child.

"The experts will opine on why this happened. All I can say is this was pure evil. The heartlessness and wickedness of this man that did the shooting is really unimaginable," he wrote. "I know from personal experience that the pain of losing a child is a fate worse than death for a parent.

Christian leaders and organizations have responded to the tragedy.   Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team were diverted from their activity ministering to the Hurricane Sandy victims to come to Connecticut.   Franklin Graham spoke out, saying:  "Senseless killings like the one we've seen today in Newtown, Conn., leave us stunned and looking for answers...The Bible tells us the human heart is 'wicked' and 'who can know it?'  My heart aches for the victims, their families and the entire community."

"One thing we can be absolutely sure of is that God loves each one of the victims and all those who are suffering right now as a result of this vicious act..."

Christian author and speaker Max Lucado crafted a special prayer as his response:
"Dear Jesus,
It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off…"
He continued, "Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy.  Dark with Roman oppression.  Dark with poverty.  Dark with violence…"
He concluded, "This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children"


In times of tragedy, people so often turn to faith, and President Obama was scheduled to be part of an interfaith service Sunday night in Newtown.    There have been special services and prayer vigils throughout the area since the tragedy occurred. 

And, according to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, it is the lack of faith being taught in schools that has contributed to an atmosphere conducive to violence.   He is quoted by the Post as saying that:
"Should we be so surprised that schools have become such a place of carnage? Because we've made it a place where we don't want to talk about eternity, life, what responsibility means, accountability..."

"That we're not just gonna have to be accountable to the police if they catch us but one day we stand before a holy God in judgment. If we don't believe that, then we don't fear that," Huckabee added. "People are going to want to pass new laws... [but] This is a heart issue ... laws don't change this kind of thing."

It is true - we have to acknowledge that evil is present in the world, and no amount of legislation can change the propensity of the human heart to do harm to others and ourselves - it is only through the risen Lord, born into the earth at Christmas, that gives us the power to change, and can give the residents of Newtown the power to be healed.

The 3 - December 9, 2012

This week's edition of "The 3" includes another flashpoint regarding the observance of Christmas, this time involving a school and church in Arkansas.  Also, there is a great report from a leading Bible translating ministry this week.  And, the top story involves the nation's top court and one of our leading institutions - traditional marriage.

3 - Charlie Brown Christmas play cancelled after controversy

It seemed like a harmless holiday season field trip - a group of elementary school students in Little Rock, Arkansas, going to see a play called, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown".   Even though it was not mandatory, a parent reportedly was upset with the school for taking students to a local church, Agape Church.  The mother than contacted the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers (ASF), and the organization complained to the Little Rock School District on her behalf.


According to the Christian Post, the principal of Terry Elementary School, Sandra Register decided not to cancel the field trip, and school board attorneys had determined that the trip was acceptable.  However, the church announced this week that the special presentation for school students has been cancelled.

Happy Caldwell, pastor of Agape Church, issued a statement on the church's website on Wednesday, stating that while he believes the school was within its constitutional rights to bring students to the production, the church has nevertheless decided to cancel it special showing for students.

"It is not our desire to put hard working, sacrificial teachers and cast members in harm's way," wrote Caldwell. "What we want said is that we love our city, our schools, parents and families. People are at the heart of the matter to us."   Pastor Caldwell invited the students to performances at the church later this month, but not part of a field trip.

Liberty Counsel has stepped forward to offer free legal counsel and, if needed, legal defense to the Little Rock Superintendent of Schools and Agape Church to defend the right of students to attend the “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” play at the church. 

As Liberty states on its website, "The advent of the Christmas season predictably sees atheists making outrageous assertions regarding the proper role of schools and the recognition of Christmas. The United States Supreme Court has held that the Constitution requires accommodation, not merely tolerance, of all religions and forbids hostility toward any religion. In the Christmas context, the Court upheld the constitutionality of a publicly sponsored Christmas display."

This is yet another instance in which a celebration consistent with the nature and background of the Christmas holiday, a Federally-recognized holiday has been challenged by those who want to prohibit the free exercise of religion embraced by a large majority of Americans.

2 - Number of Bible translations increasing around the world, according to Wycliffe

Wycliffe Bible Translators has set an ambitious goal of translating the Bible into every language by the year 2025, and this week, the organization released a progress report indicating that they are on track to reach that goal, as the number of Bible translations continues to be on the rise.

A report on The Christian Post website indicates that Wycliffe, along with affiliated organizations like The Seed Company and SIL International, has managed to translate the Bible into 2,075 different languages around the world.  That still leaves another 1,967 others to be translated, but the vast majority of the human population now has access to the Scriptures in their own languages.

"These statistics are very important in showing progress toward our goal of seeing a Bible translation in progress in every language community needing it by 2025," said Bob Creson, president of Wycliffe USA, in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "They demonstrate...that what we are doing is making a difference in the pursuit of our God-given mission."

For the first time ever, the number of languages with a Bible translation outnumber those without. This accounts for an estimated 5.4 billion around the world, while the remaining 1,967 languages, many of them dialects with minor variations from larger groups, are spoken by an estimated 209 million people.


New technologies and strategies have been critical in bringing God's Word to various communities.  Wycliffe and its partners are major players in reaching out to help facilitate the gospel being shared in every nation in every language.


1 - U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear cases on the definition of marriage

Currently, there are Federal appeals court decisions that have invalidated a state Constitutional amendment approved by the people of California and a Congressional act that affirmed traditional marriage - defined as one man for one woman.   And, the U.S. Supreme Court has stepped in and agreed to hear the appeals of lower court decisions.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had sided with those who had filed suit to overturn Proposition 8, approved by the voters of California, defining marriage as one-man, one-woman in the state's constitution.  There have also been a number of challenges to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, and the high court will be evaluating one particular case - Windsor v. United States, involving a New York woman who was obligated to pay more than $363,000 in taxes on the property her late partner left her in 2007 because their Canadian marriage, while recognized by the State of New York where they lived, is not recognized under DOMA.  CitizenLink has the story on Friday's high court, high-stakes activity.

The two cases accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court will be argued sometime in March or April, with a decision expected by late June.

John Eastman, Chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, stated:  "We believe that it is significant that the Supreme Court has taken the Prop 8 case...We believe it is a strong signal that the Court will reverse the lower courts and uphold Proposition 8. That is the right outcome based on the law and based on the principle that voters hold the ultimate power over basic policy judgments and their decisions are entitled to respect."  

The defense of DOMA has fallen to the U.S. House of Representatives after the Obama Administration said that it did not support the Defense of Marriage Act.

The 3 - December 2, 2012

This week's edition of "The 3" includes a story that has emerged from a college campus in the Carolinas, where trees known as Christmas trees were on sale, then they were renamed, and renamed again - back to the original.   Also, more instances of court rulings involving the Obama Administration's contraception mandate.   Finally, the response is strong regarding new statistics on a significant decline in the abortion rate.

3 - NC College reverses Christmas tree sale ban, so-called "war on Christmas" returns


I'll be right up front - I don't like the term, "War on Christmas" - I don't think that the celebration of our Savior's birth constitutes any sort of war, and if there was a war, it was settled through the cross.   The war is over, and Jesus Christ is Lord.

But, I've had a hard time coming up with another term to describe this give-and-take that comes about this time of year involving the expression of Christmas.   So, when we refer to this "war", if refers to two fronts:  the retail side of things, which involves how stores and companies refer to this holiday season in their advertising - some, who desire to somehow be politically correct and risk offending the sizable portion of the population claiming to be Christians, will use terms other than Christmas to position the season that wouldn't even be taking place if it weren't for the celebration of Christ's birth - I believe that would be "Christmas".

And, the other front includes public, or governmental institutions, who have over-responded to fears that by acknowledging Christmas, that they are somehow violating the law of the land, the Constitution of the United States.   One of the initial volleys on this front this season involves a college in North Carolina, according to WorldOnCampus.com:

Administrators at Western Piedmont Community College had told members of a club called the BEST Society in November they could not use the word "Christmas" in their announcement about a Christmas tree sale, the proceeds of which will be used to support Angel Tree, which provides Christmas gifts for children who have an incarcerated parent.

On Tuesday, lawyers with legal coalition Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) sent a letter to the school, warning administrators they had violated the students' First Amendment rights by censoring the content of their message. On Wednesday morning, the school re-posted a press release announcing the sale on its website, with a headline that reads "WPCC Club Sells Christmas Trees!!" 

"It's ridiculous that anyone would have to think twice about using the word 'Christmas' as part of a Christmas tree sale," said Matt Sharp, one of the ADF lawyers representing the group. "Not only is it perfectly constitutional to use the word 'Christmas,' it is unconstitutional to prohibit use of it. This is another perfect example of the immense misunderstanding that far too many college officials have about what the First Amendment truly requires." 

So, the Christmas tree sale will go on as planned at WPCC, but this is just one of what I will imagine will be a host of skirmishes across America concerning the expression of the celebration this time of year as actually Christmas.   But, this is indicative of the misunderstanding that is prevalent concerning our Judeo-Christian religious traditions that are part of the fiber of American life.

2 - 2 courts rule against plaintiffs in lawsuits on the contraception mandate

We're continuing to keep score regarding lawsuits involving the mandate from the Obama Administration under the new health care law, requiring employers, even religious organizations, to provide free contraception and abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plans.   Religious entities had received a temporary reprieve from having to comply, but a number are continuing to object.   Other companies, who object on religious grounds, will have to pay fines beginning on January 1, 2013 - less than a month away.

One of those companies, Hobby Lobby, lost their bid in court for a temporary halt to the mandate going into effect for them last week.  Tyndale House Publishers received short-term relief until their case can go to trial.   Hobby Lobby was not deemed "religious" enough, apparently, while Tyndale, in another court, won a temporary order from having to pay the fines.

And, 2 religious organizations who had filed suit had court decisions last week go against them.  According to CitizenLink, this week, U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry said in an opinion that the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has not yet suffered harm from the mandate, since most of the mandate’s regulations do not take effect until Jan. 1, 2014.   Also on Tuesday, a Tennessee district court dismissed the Catholic Diocese of Nashville’s lawsuit challenging the HHS mandate for similar reasons, ruling that the diocese has not yet suffered any injuries related the mandate.

Also, in a case regarding the health care law as a whole, this past Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition for rehearing filed by Liberty Counsel in the ObamaCare case of Liberty University v. Geithner. Liberty Counsel filed the petition for rehearing on behalf of Liberty University and two private individuals. The Court directed that the case be reheard at the federal court of appeals in Richmond. This may pave the way for the case to return to the High Court in 2013. At issue is the constitutionality of the employer mandate and also whether ObamaCare’s forced funding of abortion is unconstitutional under the First Amendment Free Exercise of Religion Clause and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

The entire health care law was opposed by Christian groups because of its provision for taxpayer funding of abortion, as well as other concerns, including possible rationing of care that would endanger the lives of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and the disabled.   The HHS contraception mandate is yet another provision of the new law that has been found to be objectionable on religious grounds, and dozens of lawsuits continue to move forward.    Some plaintiffs have received temporary relief, others have not, but a number of these cases will be going to court, where these religious entities and companies founded on religious principles will get the opportunity to give the reasoning for their opposition.

1 - CDC reports decline in abortion rate for 2009, credit to pro-life activity

Some good news that I believe can be attributable to the effectiveness of the pro-life movement has recently been released.    It actually came out just before Thanksgiving, but there has been extensive response by the Chrisitan, pro-life community over the past few days.  According to LifeNews.com,  abortion fell 5 percent nationwide in 2009, according to new information from the Centers for Disease Control, which tracks abortion figures nationwide.   Now, one child losing his or her life from the womb is too many, but there is reason to be encouraged.


Since 1969, CDC has conducted abortion surveillance to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions in the United States.  However, because the data doesn’t include numbers from all 50 states, most pro-life groups consider the data incomplete.

LifeNews.com says that "the numbers are a good reference for understanding trends and the trend is that abortions are on the decline thanks to pro-life laws, the work of pregnancy centers and shutting down abortion clinics and practitioners who run afoul of the law."  

Also, the CDC confirms abortions continue to hurt women, noting that “In 2008, the most recent year for which data were available, 12 women were reported to have died as a result of complications from known legal induced abortions.”

And, while some n the mainstream media attribute the decline to various forms of contraception, I believe the pro-life narrative is much stronger - poll after poll are showing opposition to abortion, incremental pro-life laws are restricting access to the termination of pregnancies, pregnancy resource centers are effectively sharing the redeeming message of God's grace, combined with ultrasound technology that shows the development of the pre-born child.  Plus, the number of abortion clinics has dramatically declined in America over the past 2 decades.   And, as I believe you'll see next month, with the 40th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, there is an unprecedented passion, especially among young people, millennials who are cause-driven and have been turning out to advocate for life.   We have much about which to be encouraged as we continue to stand on God's view on the sanctity of human life.

The 3 - November 25, 2012

The Thanksgiving week edition of "The 3", my week-in-review feature, includes a court ruling on an almost 60-year tradition involving multiple Nativity scenes in Santa Monica, CA.    Also, just before the start of the week, the National Bible Bee crowned champions in three divisions.  And, the top story, the celebration of Thanksgiving, which provides Christians with opportunities to serve, as we thank the One who gave Himself for us.

3 - Court rules against Santa Monica Nativity scenes

A Christmas tradition in a California city has been drastically altered, to the extent that it no longer is a reverent or meaningful celebration of the birth of Christ.  According to CitizenLink, the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes annual event dates back to 1953, in which booths with life-sized figures depicting the events surrounding the birth of Christ have been displayed in Palisades Park from the second Sunday in December through the end of the year.

Three years ago, a man named Damon Vix applied for and received permission for a booth in the park, according to Fox News.  Vix hung a sign quoting Thomas Jefferson that read: “Religions are all alike — founded on fables and mythologies.” Another one of his signs read: “Happy Solstice.”

Last year, he encouraged others to apply for a booth in the Nativity Scenes event, resulting in 18 of the 21 booths being represented by a secular person or group, according to Fox News.  One of the secular displays included a tribute to the “pastafarian religion,” which showcased an artistic depiction of “the great flying spaghetti monster,” a mockery of Christianity.   There was a display of pictures of Poseidon, Jesus, Santa, and the devil, which read: “37 million Americans know myths when they see them. What myths do you see?"  The remaining three booths were Christmas and Hanukkah displays.

On October 9th of this year, the Nativity Scene Committee (NSC), comprised of 13 Santa Monica churches and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association, filed a lawsuit in Federal court against the city, seeking to restore the nearly 60-year-old Nativity Scenes display in Palisades Park.

In a hearing this past Monday, the committee asked the court for a temporary reprieve from the ban while the case proceeds. The court ruled against the NSC, meaning there will be no Nativity Scene event until a final ruling is issued in the case.

“The city of Santa Monica decided that they didn’t want to have anything to do with it anymore — it was creating more work for their staff and they made up some additional excuses,” said William Becker, attorney for NSC.

The next step: a hearing on a motion by the city to dismiss the case.

No doubt, this Christmas season will give rise to more court action concerning the celebration of Christmas.   Municipalities are confused regarding what constitutes acceptable religious expression, and some have taken measures to eliminate Nativity scenes and other Christian expressions of our Savior's birth.   Some have even removed references to Christmas in deference to a non-specified holiday.  But, in a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles, it is somewhat odd that Christians are being restricted from expressing the age-old traditions of Christmas. 

2 - National Bible Bee winners celebrate achievement

I am taking just a bit of latitude on the timing of this story, which involves young people across America participating in a competition based on their knowledge of the Bible.  The announcement of the winner of the National Bible Bee occurred on Saturday, November 17th in Sevierville, Tennessee.  According to a report in The Christian Post, the top three Senior division students in the National Bible Bee finals took turns quoting passages of Scripture from memory for over an hour without making a single error, causing the contest – and the winner of the $100,000 grand prize – to be determined by a tiebreaker.

Officials of the fourth annual event, turned to the students' preliminary challenge scores, including their written tests, to determine the winner after a deadlock in the final round.  Sophie Haire of Havre de Grace, MD was eventually declared to be the winner in the division, which includes 15- to 18-year olds.

Around 7,000 young people nationwide participated in the Bible Bee program in 2012 – a 20 percent increase from last year.  Tom Widdoes, vice president of operations for the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, the organization behind the Bible Bee, expects participation numbers to continue to climb, he says, due in part to the competition's new format.

In years past, Bible Bee organizers provided students with hundreds of memory verses at the beginning of the summer. The contest was meant to be a family discipleship program, but it became intellectually intimidating.

This year, organizers cut back on the amount of information students were required to study in preparation for local competitions. With the help of special guidebooks, parents can now effectively lead their children in their Bible Bee studies in about 20 minutes per day.

Those who qualify for nationals, however, are eventually faced with much greater intellectual challenges, including the memorization of several hundred verses of Scripture.

Other winners included:  Rionna Flynn of Cupertino, CA in the Junior division (11-14 years old) and Olivia Davis of Salem, OR in the Primary division (7-10 years of age).   This was Olivia's third consecutive year as top Primary, and she will move to Junior in 2013.

And, while on the topic of Bible-related competitions, auditions are now being held for the second season of the American Bible Challenge, where teams of 3 people test their Bible knowledge and play for money to be donated to their favorite charities.  According to GSN.com, tryouts are ongoing in Los Angeles, and next weekend, casting directors will be visiting Atlanta and Dallas.  The Atlanta auditions this Saturday, December 1st will be taking place from 10am-4pm Eastern at The Spring4th Complex, 714 Spring Street Northwest, in the main building.  Click here for more information. 

1 - Christians give thanks, give of themselves on Thanksgiving Day 2012

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving Day, and while many regard it as a day to be thankful for our families, maybe our nation, or on the more insignificant side, football, or even shopping, we as Christians recognize it is a day set aside to give thanks to God, the One Whose hand was involved, I believe, in the establishment of our nation, the furtherance of the freedoms that we enjoy, including freedom to practice our faith, and Who daily calls us to walk in a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

And, as we fall deeper in love with Him, He provides opportunities for us to share that love.   Thanksgiving Day has become a time, part of a season, when we can display the love of God in our hearts to people in need.  The churches of the greater New York City area, as well as national ministries, are still on the job in reaching out to those victimized by Superstorm Sandy.   And, ministries across our area and our nation have been involved in reaching out.

The Christian Post featured a number of those ministries in a recent story.   For instance, twice during the week before Thanksgiving Day, a church in Los Angeles, One Church International, held an outreach to the people of Skid Row that includes providing food, clothing, and prayer at a comedy club in a North Hollywood location.

At Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, Pastor Steven Furtick's wife, Holly, met with 40 women on Monday to pack 200 grocery bags with meals for families in need near the church's Matthews location. The meals went to serve 561 people in the community by way of outreach partner Matthews Help Center.   That was just one of many outreaches to serve a combined over 1,000 people in the Charlotte area.

On Thanksgiving Day, in addition to several other projects, more than 200 volunteers led by a motel (families in transition) ministry from Saddleback Church in California were planning to serve 700 meals at nine locations throughout Orange County.

More than 1,500 shopping bags were filled with items from a Thanksgiving "grocery list" by members of Longhollow Baptist Church in the Nashville area.  The bags were reportedly filled with holiday dinner ingredients and cash for turkeys.

And, in the Auburn/Opelika area of East Alabama, as perhaps you heard on Faith Radio, Harvest Evangelism had plans to serve 1,200 meals on Thanksgiving Day.   The Opelika/Auburn News estimated that meals were served to around 1,500 people.

Because we are thankful for what Christ has done for us, we reach out to people in need with the love of Jesus, recognizing that just as He came to serve and give His life to set us free, He calls us to be involved in works of service, as we are directed by the Holy Spirit.   As an act of worship, an act of thanks, we get involved in ministering to others.