Christian Examiner Blog

Tebowing: The new internet phenomenon

2011-10-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

It’s no secret that Denver Bronco’s quarterback Tim Tebowhas used football as his platform for his faith, and now his sideline prayers aregoing viral in a new phenomenon.

Tebowing — which is described on the official website as,“To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you isdoing something completely different.”

The kneeling craze was named after Tebow, who often drops tohis knee after a touchdown in an acknowledgement to God.

After defeating the Miami Dolphins October 23 in his firststart this season, Tebow was seen dropping to one knee to thank God while therest of his teammates ran around him in excitement, according to AP.

The origination of tebowing was to poke fun at Tebow butfans and foes are both getting in on the act.

Maybe it’s not such a bad idea to stop, drop and pray…justbe careful of doing it in traffic or your prayers could expedite you out ofthis world.

It is amazing that one deeply religious football player cancause such a ruckus. From painting Bible verses on his eyeblack, being outspoken in his faith, to kneeling on the football field, Tebowhas made people aware of his faith.

"Tebowing in Tebowland" posted on tebowing.com

'180' documentary

2011-10-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

Pro-life ‘180’ documentary gaining national attention

DALLAS, Texas — Thedramatic new documentary “180” is gaining national attention.

Read full article

'180' Movie

This video contains graphiccontent.

Steve Jobs: An unintended instrument of God

2011-10-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs is being eulogized as the technological, marketing genius of our age.

He was a creative genius, the co-founder of Apple Inc., and the man behind the first personal computer, the iPod, iPhone, iPad and other innovations.

We do know that Jobs embraced Buddhism and New Age thinking in his lifetime and, with a net worth of at least $7 billion, he became one of the richest persons in the world.

It is just such a profile of which Jesus said: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Our hearts are sad to think that perhaps Jobs did gain the world and lose his soul, but we do not know what his heart was in his final days. We know that God’s redeeming grace transforms us and make us righteous before God. And that can happen at any time to any one who trusts Jesus Christ as Savior.

Therefore, unlike the folks from Westboro Baptist Church, we do not make judgments on this man’s soul. His eternal destiny is now between him and his creator.

Margie Phelps has taken to Twitter — ironically, using an iPhone — condemning Jobs and Westboro’s blog is rejoicing that he is dead and they will picket his funeral for teaching sin and serving himself.

Well Westboro and Margie, in God’s plan and in His grace He used Steve Jobs’ creativity, innovation and inventions to give us a new road to reach the world with the gospel.

iTunes has given Christians a platform to share the gospel through music, sermons, blogs, complete bibles, church services, teaching and so much more.

The iPhone puts this technology in the hands of people everywhere in which they can access the gospel. It also allowed Margie to Twit her disdain for Steve Jobs and his life.

The first Apple computer we used was the Apple III in a church plant in Seattle, Washington. In 1988 we purchased a Macintosh 512e (second generation of the original Mac) and began publishing the Christian Examiner newspapers (then called the Christian Times). Now you can read the Christian Examiner in print, on a computer (Mac or PC), an iPhone (other Smart phones) and on an iPad — anywhere, anytime.

We can instantly tell you the stories of faith and hope from around the world to encourage and challenge you in your life. Readers can learn about an Iranian pastor sentenced to be executed for his faith and how they can voice their concerns and pray for him.

Steve Jobs changed the course of our daily lives through his creativity and, likely unintentional by him, he gave us a new way to disseminate Christ's message of hope and freedom to the ends of the world.

I will always be grateful for the inspiration of a man who used his failures as the turning points in his life. May we all have that perspective and remember that in our lives as believers, God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses and failures.

Thank you Steve Jobs for developing and creating the road, for us as believers, to impart the gospel to the world.

Steve Jobs speech at Stanford

Iranian government changes charges against Christian pastor facing execution

2011-10-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Iranian state news has issued false reports concerning the charges and conviction for which Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faces execution.

On Oct. 1 Farsnews. com reported that Pastor Youcef was not convicted for his faith or converting others to Christianity but for “illegal acts” and a threat to public safety, click here for document.

In addition, Fars news agency reported that Pastor Youcef had not been convicted of apostasy but instead is a “Zionist and has committed security crimes,” here for English Translation.

For the past two years since Pastor Youcef’s arrest, the only charged leveled against Pastor Youcef in court has been apostasy. This is the charge on which the Iranian Supreme Court ruled.

The original Iranian Supreme Court verdict, translated from its original Farsi by the Confederation of Iranian Students in Washington, provides that Youcef Nadarkhani was “convicted of turning his back on Islam.”

"We're trying to determine if this is the state-controlled media throwing it out there," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice told Fox News.

FoxNews.com and CNN both obtained a copy of the ruling and there is not a single mention of rape or extortion allegations.

The Christian Examiner staff is asking people to contact the Iranian Embassy on behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani and his family. Please keep them in your prayers.

CNN report

Fox News report

For news stories from Christian Examiner and for information on voicing your concerns to the Iranian Embassy click here.

New proposed California babysitting bill takes a swipe at families

2011-09-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Families, small business and, well just about everyone, are trying to survive in this downward economy and now California wants to add another back-breaking law.

If the legislature has their way, California parents will be expected to provide paid vacation, workers’ compensation, meal breaks and higher wages for babysitters.

California Assembly Bill 889, authored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, will require these protections for all “domestic employees,” including nannies, housekeepers and caregivers. The bill has already passed the Assembly and is quickly moving through the Senate with blanket support from the Democrat members that control both houses of the Legislature – and without the support of a single Republican member.

If the bill clears the Senate, AB 889 will soon be on its way to the Governor Brown's desk.

According to Senator Doug LaMalfa (R), under AB 889, household “employers” (aka “parents”) who hire a babysitter on a Friday night will be legally obligated to pay at least minimum wage to any sitter over the age of 18 (unless it is a family member), provide a substitute caregiver every two hours to cover rest and meal breaks, in addition to workers' compensation coverage, overtime pay, and a meticulously calculated timecard/paycheck.

Failure to abide by any of these provisions may result in a legal cause of action against the employer ("parents") including cumulative penalties, attorneys' fees, legal costs and expenses associated with hiring expert witnesses, an unprecedented measure of legal recourse provided no other class of workers – from agricultural laborers to garment manufacturers."

The bills supporters — including the bill’s authors — claim that this does not cover babysitters however, when you look at the wording in the bill it would indeed cover “babysitters” who are not related.

AB 889 states:
(b) (1) "Domestic work employee" means an individual who performs domestic work and includes live-in domestic work employees and personal attendants.

"Personal attendant" means a person who performs domestic work related to the supervision, feeding, or dressing of a child or other person who, by reason of advanced age, physical disability, or mental deficiency, needs supervision. Personal attendant includes
babysitters. The status of "personal attendant" applies if no significant amount of work other than the foregoing is required.

(2) "Domestic work employee" does not include any of the
following:
(C) Any person under 18 years of age who is employed as a
babysitter for a minor child of the domestic work employer."

The proposed bill would also affect live-in caregivers for the elderly and disabled. Families who hire caregivers through companies will get slapped with an increase and those who depend on volunteers or adult babysitters will lose those options.

The bill is just another example of excessive regulations coming from legislators who have too much time on their hands and do not spend time with the people they are supposed to represent.

This law is to appease the California unions and not the taxpayers and is another blow to families struggling to survive.

NASCAR’s opening prayer gets the crowds attention

2011-07-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

GLADEVILLE, Tenn. — The cars weren’t the only highlight at the NASCAR race July 23, in Gladeville, Tenn. The opening invocation before the Nationwide Federated Auto Parts 300 race has drawn nationwide attention for its unusual content.

Joe Nelms, pastor of Family Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., delivered the prayer and expressed thankfulness for a lot of unusual things.

According to The Tennessean, Nelms expressed his gratitude for “Sunoco racing fuel and Goodyear tires that bring performance and power to the track,” and “Most of all, thank you for Roush and Yates partnering to give us the power that we see before us tonight.”

He also had high praise for his family, saying, “I want to thank you for my smokin’ hot wife tonight, Lisa, and my two children, Eli and Emma, or as we like to call the, 'The Little E’s.’ ”

Nelms closed his prayer using part of Darrell Waltrip’s signature call with his own twist.

Assisted-suicide crusader Kevorkian dies

2011-06-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

Jack Kevorkian, who became the face of the assisted-suicide movement while helping a self-estimated 130 people kill themselves in the 1990s, died June 3.

Kevorkian, 83, passed away in a Royal Oak, Mich., hospital, where he was being treated for heart and kidney problems, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"Dr. Death," as Kevorkian was known, became famous as an assisted-suicide advocate and practitioner. A pathologist, Kevorkian flaunted Michigan law but managed to escape murder convictions in four trials, the Free Press reported. He was convicted of second-degree murder for his part in a 1998 euthanasia death and served eight years and a month before being paroled in 2007.

In a 2006 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kevorkian said he still supported assisted suicide but thought he should have tried to change the law rather than assist illegally in people's deaths.

"Many of the victims on whom Jack Kevorkian preyed were people with disabilities who had no terminal illness; one was simply old. In at least five cases autopsies were unable to confirm any disease at all," observed Burke J. Balch, J.D., director of National Right to Life's Robert Powell Center for Medical Ethics.

While Kevorkian gained widespread media attention and a number of supporters as an advocate for so-called "death with dignity," about 70 percent of those he helped die were not terminally ill, said pro-life, bioethics specialist Wesley Smith in a 2006 article for The Weekly Standard. "Most were disabled and depressed," Smith wrote. "At least five had no discernible illnesses upon autopsy."

“His tragic legacy illustrates the dangers to the most vulnerable when compassionate, humane responses to depression or disability are replaced with death as an acceptable final solution," Balch added.

It is hypocritical that Kevorkian did not end his life in the same way he advocated and helped others to end theirs. He died a natural death while listening to soothing music in a hospital according to news reports. The individuals that had come to him in desperation seeking “end-of-life” help ended up taking a killer drug cocktail and dying in vans and motels rooms — alone.

BP and Christian Examiner staff contributed to this blog.

CBS Survivors live out their faith on ‘Redemption Island’

2011-05-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Faith was a recurring issue on CBS’ Survivor: Redemption Island. The series puts together people from every walk of life together for 39 days of competition and it ends up bringing out the worst and best in people.

For ten years Survivor producers have never seemed to portray faith in an authentic way. It could have been that the contestants did not carry their faith in a way that would increase ratings or it may have been edited out.

Season 22 of Survivor’s “Redemption Island” put faith out front.

Matt Elrod, pre-med student from Nashville, lived his faith out in a very authentic way. He states that it was his relationship with God that sustained him during his time on Survivor.

This season’s Survivor had a new twist called Redemption Island, which was a place where people who were voted out were sent. They them would battle other castaways to try and get back into the game.

Voted out of his tribe early in the game, Elrod often sat in isolation during an unprecedented 29 days on Redemption Island. Each week Elrod would compete against a new castaway with the loser going home and the winner staying in the game. Elrod won eleven straight duels to keep this hopes alive of winning the game.

In a very moving moment, Krista Klumpp left Elrod her one “luxury item”— her Bible—before she left Redemption Island and the game for good. Elrod said that he could hardly put it down.

“It brought so much peace and joy and comfort. So I read the Bible often,” said Elrod, according to CBN.

At one point Elrod tells God that he doesn’t want to be there anymore. In finding peace, Elrod said that he did not know why he was still in the game, but that if God wanted him there he would continue to draw from his faith and do his best.

Two of the other Survivors who spent time on Redemption Island with Matt were Mike Chiesl and Julie Wolfe.

“There’s a lot of soul searching that went on with me,” said Chiesl. “Survivor transformed me as a human being, as a man, as an American. It helped me understand my purpose. I got closer to God. It was great to have talks with Matt.”

Wolfe, a Southern California firefighter said her experience on Redemption Island was spiritually transforming for her. When she lost the duel that sent her out of the game for good, she said with a big smile that she had renewed her relationship with God and would be looking for a church when she returned home. In fact, it was Chiesl who later invited her to his church where she is now involved.

Survivor host Jeff Probst, who likened Elrod’s experience to 40 days in the wilderness, gave Elrod’s commitment to “his God” some jabs, but in the end Probst admitted that he had the utmost respect for the way Matt held to his faith.

“Everyone says their hearts were breaking for me but at the same time they were like, wow, the way you got to talk about your faith and talk about what God was doing for you was so incredible,” Elrod told Probst. “The people who know me really well thought that was the best thing for me since I like to be alone so much.”

“Survivor was the most difficult/rewarding thing I have ever done,” Elrod told CBN. “I learned an invaluable lesson in trusting God. I still struggle daily as I try to be more like Jesus to everyone around me, but I know God is good. If I put my trust in Him, He is able to do so much more with my life than I would ever come close to accomplishing.”

Matt, Julie and Mike gave us the visual picture of how God’s grace can be sufficient and that if our lives reflect what we believe, we can make a difference.

Watch videos on www.christianexaminer.com

Viewpoint: Reacting to Osama Bin Laden

2011-05-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

by Gunnar Hanson

Gunnar Hanson is the pastor of Valley Baptist Church in Valley Center, CA. Prior to the ministry, he served as a US Navy SEAL for twelve years.

Ten years ago today I was an active duty Navy SEAL deployed to the Middle East, today I am the Senior Pastor of Valley Baptist Church [in California] contemplating the death of Osama Bin Laden. Every now and again I have these moments where my two worlds sort of collide. Today is one of them. The internet is a furry with news, Facebook status updates, and blogs all reporting on this historical event. The chatter has inspired me to blog on a topic that is near and dear to my heart — The Christian and Combat.

First, let me begin by stating that I am writing this on my own behalf. My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect any group that I represent. These are my thoughts in progress and I do not claim to be an expert...although, I probably could.

Second, I have had many discussions with Christian pacifists over the years. I love the majority of them dearly. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ and we just don't agree on this one issue. Some have accused me of not being able to see the Scriptures clearly because my background distorts my ability to listen to the Bible's teaching. I admit that this really bothers me. They are simply wrong and assume my inclination is to hold a "pro war/violence position" because of my military background. In all honesty, the opposite is true. I have had to draw my gun on people (although I have never actually had to kill someone) and I have lost a number of very close friends in battle and have seen the after affects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to take a pacifist position on this subject, but the Scriptures will not allow me to do that (in my humble opinion). Violence of any sort is horrible and I long for the day when God scraps this world and starts a new, but for now I am here living in a sinful fallen world faced with horrible things where there is no simple answer.

"The Christian and Combat" was the title of my Master of Divinity thesis. As a former Navy SEAL who is now a pastor and law enforcement chaplain, I feel I need to get to work and convert it into a user friendly format for publication as I am often asked for my thoughts on this subject. One of these days, one of these days...

My first combat mission was on September 9, 1999 — my 25th birthday. At this point in my life, I had spent the last seven years preparing for this moment and had been a Christian for about 3 years. It was dark, pitch black dark, in the Northern Arabian Gulf off the coast of Iraq, my adrenaline was flowing, and I distinctly remember thinking, "Gunnar, how did you get yourself into this one?" I know the feeling that many soldiers and cops experience...my prayer is that I can help those who protect us answer these deep theological questions prior to finding themselves in combat.

There is no way for me to blog about this in its entirety — I need to write that book. But I will attempt to answer a couple of questions: 1) the need for warriors, 2) the authority of the warrior, and 3) the Christians response to violence.

The need for warriors

There is a story in the Old Testament that inspired the writing of my thesis and it is found in 1 Samuel 23:1-5. David and his mighty men are on the run from Saul when David gets word that the Philistines are plundering the people of Keilah. My first point against the pacifist argument is evil is happening all around us. You can be a totally passive person (which I feel like I am) and find yourself witnessing one person or group that is violently attacking another. I love what Dietrich Bonhoeffer says about this reality, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." David and his men were exposed to an evil situation, their initial reaction was not to respond because they weren't in the best position to help. David asked God a second time if this is what he was to do. God's desire was for David to proceed onward using violence to stop this evil that was already in progress. Today is no different. Evil is everywhere. Men and women everywhere are doing evil to all sorts of people. Are Christians simply not to intervene? I don't think so.

The authority of the warrior — military, cop, or individual

The clearest teaching anywhere in the Bible on this subject is found in Romans 12:9-13:4. This passage is pretty intriguing to me this week as it is very similar the Sermon on the Mount which I am preaching on through the month of May. Romans 12:9-17 has all of the verses that pacifists love to quote like: "Bless those who persecute you", "Never pay back evil for evil", etc, etc. Yes, I believe this all applies to the Christian and I take these verses literally, but a literal interpretation forces one to look at the whole context--one cannot study Scripture in isolation of the whole.

Romans 12:18-19 Romans 12:19 down to Romans 13:4 where the thought carries through. Here the Bible essentially says that "it" (i.e. the authorities or government) "does not bear the sword for nothing" and that it is a "minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil."

I have met a number of pacifists that I respect. Concerning these verses in Romans 13 they would agree that the government is responsible to bear the sword, but would say based on Romans 12 that there is no place for the follower of Christ to function in this capacity of authority as the one bearing the sword. Biblically speaking, the wrath of the government is the wrath of God (for the record, I am not defending all government actions, time does not allow me to unpack this, but I do think God judges nations Isaiah 34-35 this will be in the book). So to say that the Christian cannot function in this capacity is in essence to say that they Christian is holier than God and this responsibility should be left the the unregenerate.

Every soldier and cop must understand the concept of being under authority. There was one such soldier who encountered Jesus in Capernaum who understood this concept and expressed it to Jesus (Luke 7:1-10). Jesus' response to this man was, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." This is a pretty incredible statement if you stop and consider it for a moment. The point is that when life is taken it must be under the proper authority of God and the government and right circumstances--whether you are a soldier, cop, or individual defending yourself or others.

The Christian's response to violence

Yesterday I started preaching through Luke's account of the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). One verse stuck out to me (v.21), "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." Am I happy that Osama Bin Laden is dead? Yes and no. Yes because a man who promotes evil and destruction to many people is gone. "Relief" is probably a better word than "happy." Many of us in the West are not fully aware of the evil this man inflicted in the world. He killed many innocent people brutally. I am sad for what he represented because another will arise in due time...there are many already doing evil to the innocent even as you read this. He is dead, but many died along the way. One peer of mine calculated that some 40 SEALs have died fighting the war against terrorism. I know a few widows and children who are left behind...Osama Bin Laden's death doesn't undo this or the attacks that have been committed during his lifetime. But there is pleasure in knowing that the government is following through with God's command to bring "wrath on the one who practices evil" (Rom. 13:4).

There is so much more I could write on regarding this subject, but I am running out of steam and I would like to post this tonight. Regardless of your theological bent regarding pacifism, I think we all agree on Paul's instructions to Timothy, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

We should be on our knees this day praying as Paul tells us to above. I am thankful for the sacrifice of soldiers, cops, and good Samaritans who put their lives at risk in the calling of restraining evil

The Way I See It blog by Gunnar Hanson

Sunday — Resurrection Morning

2011-04-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Garden tomb is empty, He is risen.

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.  

Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" He said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now go quickly and tell His disciples he has been raised from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."  

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message. And as they went, Jesus met them. "Greetings!" He said. And they ran to Him, Held his feet, and worshiped Him. The Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there." — Mark 16:1-11

When the women came back from the tomb they told the eleven disciples what they seen. Peter and John rush to the tomb and saw it empty with the strips of linen lying across stones. — Luke 24:9-12

That afternoon Jesus appears to Cleopas and a friend on the road to Emmaus, which is about seven miles from Jerusalem. Jesus went into their house and when He sat at their table He took the bread and blessed it. “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight.” — Luke 24:13-35

In the evening Jesus appears to the disciples who were meeting behind locked doors in fear of the religious leaders who had crucified Jesus. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw Jesus. — John 20:19-23

On Easter morning, believers do not mourn a martyr, but celebrate a risen Savior. Christ’s victory over death gives us the promise of eternity in Heaven. When the trials and tribulations around us seem insurmountable, we need to remember that the ultimate battle is over; Christ said on the cross, “It is finished.” And someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that, He is Lord.

  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Saturday — The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Jesus was buried in a tomb in the Garden of Joseph of Arimathea.

The chief priests and Pharisees go before Pilate and remind him that Jesus said in three days He would rise. They think that the disciples or followers of Jesus want to steal Jesus’ body so they tell Pilate to seal the tomb. Pilate orders that the tomb be sealed and placed a guard to stand watch.

Matthew 27:61-66

Friday — The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Golgotha, outside Jerusalem, meaning "the place of the Skull."

Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the authorities we believe sometime after Thursday midnight, so on in the early hours of Friday morning the first trial of Jesus is set in motion.

Jesus is before the former high priest Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the one who had told the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. Annas had Jesus bound and sent Him to Caiaphas.

The second trial is before high priest Caiaphas and the scribes and elders. Caiaphas claims Jesus has committed blasphemy. They spit and strike Him and ask Him, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

The religious leaders then lead Jesus into the courtyard asking others to testify against Jesus, for they were seeking to put Him to death.

Just as the sun was about to rise Peter is confronted as being seen with Jesus. He denies his relationship with Jesus three times. Immediately the rooster crows and Peter breaks down and weeps bitterly.

The chief priest and elders had heard enough and decided to condemn Jesus. They bind Him and deliver Him to Pilate.

When Judas learned that they had condemned Jesus, he brought back the silver they had given him. Judas told them that Jesus was innocent. After throwing down the money, he ran out and hung himself.

Pilate listens to the complaints about Jesus and questions Him. He asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus replies, “You have said so.” Pilate is amazed that Jesus makes no other responses to the questions and charges. Finally Pilate tells the religious leaders that he finds no grounds for the charges against Jesus.

The religious leaders are relentless and continue to make their case against Jesus, but in their arguments they reveal that Jesus is from Galilee. Pilate, discovering that Jesus is a Galilean, sends Him to King Herod.

Herod was in Jerusalem at this time and was anxious to see Jesus. He was hoping to see some kind of miracle but Jesus remained quiet. Herod also finds Jesus innocent. The soldiers and Herod mock Jesus, dress Him in a robe and send Him back to Pilate.

Pilate again sees no basis for the charges against Jesus and believes He should be released. The pressure from the religious leaders and the crowd overwhelms Pilate. In an effort to appease the crowd, and perhaps to suppress an upraising, Pilate releases the prisoner Barabbas and sends Jesus to be beaten and crucified.

The soldiers take Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). Sometime around noon the sky becomes dark, which is symbolic of the Father turning His back on Jesus as He carries the weight of our sins on the cross. Jesus cries out with a loud voice and suddenly the curtain of the Temple was torn in two. In this selfless act He, the spotless Son of God became sin for us, as He died on the cross.

Jesus was on the cross for approximately six hours.

Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Jesus’ body was taken down, wrapped in linen and they laid Him in Joseph's tomb, which was cut out of rock, before the Sabbath began at sunset.

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. — Is. 53:5

Matthew 26:57-75
Matthew 27:1-61
Mark 15:1-47
Luke 22:54-71; Luke 23

Seven sayings from the cross…
• "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"
• "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise"
• "Woman, behold thy son..." [darkness: noon – 3 pm]
• "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
• "I thirst"
• "It is finished"
• "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"

Note: The scripture tells us that Jesus, carrying his own cross, went out to Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). Here they crucified Him. There are no details as to the exact location of Golgotha but some believe it was possibly at the location pictured above. You can see the image of a skull on the mountain.

Thursday — The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Garden of Gethsemane's olive trees rise from new flower beds.

Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare for the Passover meal. Jesus instructs them to follow a man and ask him about his guest room. They head towards Jerusalem and locate the man who shows them a large upper room in his house and they begin the preparations.

The Passover meal was to be eaten at night and to be completed before midnight.

Peter and John probably go back to Bethany to get Jesus and the other 10 disciples and bring them to the upper room where they have the prepared meal. The Passover meal begins with the blessing of the wine.

Sometime during the meal Jesus tells the disciples that one of them would betray Him. Judas was probably sitting close to Jesus, and since there were likely several dishes around the table, they would have dipped in the same bowl together.

Jesus looks at Judas and tells him to do what he is going to do quickly. Judas leaves.

At some point after this Jesus transforms the Passover into a new feast that symbolizes God’s deliverance to us from our sins.

Jesus picks up the bread and after blessing it, He breaks it and gives it to the disciples telling them, “Take; this is my body.” Jesus then takes a cup, and when He had given thanks they drank it and He said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out you.”

Perhaps it was after this that Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. The disciples were disputing who among them was the greatest and Jesus tells them that no servant is greater than his master.

Jesus and the disciples sing a hymn together, possibly Psalm 118, and depart towards the Mount of Olives.

Jesus tells them on the way that He will be with them only a little longer and Peter wants to know where He is going. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times.

You can only imagine what Peter’s mind is going through at this time. He probably can’t imagine ever denying Jesus.

The disciples and Jesus go to the Garden of Gethsemane, outside the eastern wall of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. He asks the disciples to watch and pray with Him.

It is in the garden that we see a picture of Jesus in anguish as He prays to His Father asking God to take away the suffering that He was about to experience. He ends His prayer with‚ “Not my will, but yours, be done.”

While Jesus is talking to His disciples a crowd appears with Judas leading them. He draws near to kiss Him and Jesus rebukes him.

Jesus is arrested and taken away to appear before the chief priests and the whole council.

Matthew 26:1-75
Mark 14:1-72
Luke 22:1-62
John 13:1-17:26

Note: The Garden of Gethsemane was chosen by Jesus as His last place of prayer during His final hours, and it was chosen by Judas as the place where he would betray Jesus.

The Garden of Gethsemane now has 2000-year-old gnarled olive trees that may have been young saplings when Jesus came here with the disciples to pray. The garden in Jesus’ time would have been an olive grove where an olive-oil press – gethsemane in Greek – was located.

Wednesday — The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Most likely Jesus walked these very steps to enter the Temple.

The scriptures don't give us specific events that happened today, but we do know that with Passover approaching the chief priests and scribes are plotting ways to put Jesus to death.

Satan enters Judas Iscariot, who agrees to hand over Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. Judas now begins watching for an opportunity to betray His Lord.

Jesus continues to teach in the Temple and to spend the night in Bethany. Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It was here that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Luke 21:37-38
Matthew 26:3-5
Mark 14:1-2
Luke 22:1-6

The photo above shows the 2000-year-old Southern Steps to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Tuesday — The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

A view of the Mount of Olives.

Jesus leaves Bethany early in the morning and on the way to Jerusalem the disciples see the fig tree that He had cursed. The tree had withered down to its roots and the disciples wonder how this could happen all at once. Jesus then talks to the disciples about faith.

This is a day full of contention as the chief priests challenge Jesus’ authority.

Upon entering the Temple the chief priests approach Jesus and ask Him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" He astounds the leaders and His disciples with His answers.

On His way back to Bethany, Jesus stops on the Mount of Olives and talks about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. It is called the Olivet Discourse in which He instructs them to be prepared for His return.

Some theologians believe that this could have been the night that Judas began his bargaining with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus.

Jesus again spends the night in Bethany. Bethany is about two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 21:20-26; 46
Mark 11:20-13:37
Luke 20:1-21; 36
Luke 21:5-36
John 12:20-38

Monday... The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Fig tree in Jerusalem.

On Monday morning Jesus and the twelve disciples leave Bethany to return to Jerusalem. Along the way, Jesus looks up at a fig tree and sees it is barren and curses the fig tree.

The fig trees of Israel are fruit bearing. Usually the fig tree blooms in the spring and normally produces two crops of figs each year. The tree should have had “taksh” (small edible growths) on it that fall off the tree when the figs ripen. Without the taksh the tree will not produce figs.

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, go, throw yourself into the sea and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” – Matt. 21:21-22

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and cleanses it. He overturned the tables of the money changers and those who were selling doves.

He leaves the city and heads back to Bethany.

Matthew 21:12–22

Mark 11:22–26

Luke 19:45,46

Mark 11:19

Palm Sunday...The Journey to the Cross

2011-04-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

The city of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. Photo by T. Keener.

This year we encourage our readers to stop and reflect on the events of Easter week so that we are able to remember all the Christ did for us.

Palm Sunday began Jesus’ journey to the cross. In Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He told the disciples to get Him a donkey in which He would ride into the city of Jerusalem. When the crowds saw Jesus they covered His path the palm branches and cried, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

As Jesus drew near to the city of Jerusalem, the Bible says He wept. His tears were for the people who failed to recognize He was their Messiah. “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it…” Luke 19:41-42

Matthew 21:17
Mark 11:1-10
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-15

Planned profiteering

2011-02-18T17:58:00.001-08:00

A crucial step in defunding Planned Parenthood took place after nearly three hours of intense debate when the House voted 240-185 to cut off federal funds to the abortion provider.

The Continuing Resolution also contains a number of pro-life improvements including reinstating the ban on all taxpayer funding for elective abortion in the District of Columbia, reinstating the Mexico City Policy and eliminating funding for the United Nations Population Fund.

The intense debate lasted for nearly three hours and centered on the integrity of Planned Parenthood and the funding of abortion with federal funds and not abortion itself.

For nearly 41 years, Planned Parenthood has siphoned billions of dollars from taxpayers through the federal budget to fund the abortion business.

"...[T]his is not about Planned Parenthood's right to be in the abortion business,” said Congressman Pence. “This debate is about who [funds] it... Nobody is saying that Planned Parenthood can't be the leading advocate of abortion on demand in America ... but why do I have to pay for it?"

PP is the nation's largest abortion provider reported 324,008 abortions in 2008 and has recently mandated that all of its regional affiliates must provide abortions by the end of 2013.

In the debate Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) said, “Not only does Planned Parenthood vigorously lobby and litigate against parental notification and parental consent laws, thus enabling secret abortions for very, very young girls to be procured in their clinics, but now we've learned from recent undercover taped investigations at several of its clinics that Planned Parenthood employees were found to be more than eager to assist people posing as sex traffickers to procure abortions for underaged girls.”

In opposition to the amendment, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) stood on the House floor and argued that abortion was better for unplanned babies than a life “eating Ramen noodles” or “mayonnaise sandwiches.” She probably meant that growing up poor is so bad that woman should have the ability to “opt out” of motherhood and have that choice paid for by the taxpayers.

For years Planned Parenthood has been under-regulated and has promoted abortion as a form of birth control.

Planned Parenthood has help promote stringent regulations for crisis pregnancy centers, lobbied against parental notification and parental consent laws while they themselves have been exploiting minors and much more.

The ending of taxpayer funding of abortion is necessary. There is no sound fiscal or moral reason that the government should fund Planned Parenthood with our tax dollars.

There are thousands of not-for-profit organizations that provide services to the community by securing financial donors. It’s time for Planned Parenthood to stop taking our money and using it to kill innocent life.

Want your sins forgiven and have a clear conscience? There’s an app for that!

2011-02-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

A new app for the iPad and iPhone is designed to help Catholics keep track of their sins and last date of confession, and it guides them through the penance process.

The “Confession: A Roman Catholic App” designed by Little I Apps takes the user through a list of questions which they then check boxes for the sins they committed.

The description says that the app cannot take the place of actual confessing before a priest, but from $1.99 it is supposed to begin to absolve the user of their sins.

Not being Catholic, I confess, it seems that the act of a digital confession removes the user from the personal connection with the priest. Although the app states it does not substitute for a confession, users in this “quick fix” age are surely going to see it as a shortcut to a clear conscience.

Student Sues Teacher - Goes to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

2011-02-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

by Advocates for Faith & Freedom

On February 11, Advocates for Faith & Freedom will bring a case of student vs. teacher to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, CA. Chad Farnan, a student at Capistrano High School, claimed that his Advanced Placement European History teacher, Dr. Corbett, spent a significant amount of class time attacking Christianity. In May 2009, a federal court judge found partly in the student’s favor, saying the teacher violated the student’s First Amendment rights when he stated "an unequivocal belief that creationism is 'superstitious nonsense.'”

Both sides in this case will present an appeal; Advocates for Faith & Freedom will be asking the panel of judges to broaden the lower court ruling and find more of Dr. Corbett’s statements unconstitutional. Dr. Corbett has retained Erwin Chemerinsky, constitutional scholar and dean of UC Irvine’s law school, to lead his appeal.

WHAT: Case involving Student vs. Teacher and the First Amendment rights of students to not have their faith attacked in the classroom.

WHO: Chad Farnan, student – represented by Advocates for Faith & Freedom. Dr. James Corbett, European History teacher – represented by Erwin Chemerinsky.

WHEN: Friday, February 11, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, CA

C.F. v Capistrano Unified School District

Case Numbers: 0956689, 0956690

The chicken is being roasted unfairly

2011-01-31T15:08:00.000-08:00

Chick-fil-A has come under attack from homosexual groups — not for bad cooking — but for supplying its famous chicken sandwich at a seminar aimed at strengthening marriages.

The dispute revolves around Chick-fil-A’s donation of sandwiches to "The Act of Marriage" seminar produced by Family Life and sponsored by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, which homosexual bloggers are faulting for supporting traditional marriage.

Criticism against the company intensified recently as bloggers continued their attacks stating that Chick-fil-A was “homophobic” for its donations. One blogger’s criticism was that Chick-fil-A’s WinShape Foundation does not admit gay couples to marriage counseling.

Gay activists are furious and are boycotting the chicken fast food chain. The anger is evident when you spend time reading blogs and responses on the Chick-fil-A Facebook page.

"Chick-fil-A can sponsor who they want. It's a free country," said Will Kohler, administrator of a gay activist blog called back2stonewall. "But they shouldn't get upset when they get found out supporting issues and ideas that discriminate against a section of their customers."

Responding to the criticism, Chick-fil-A’s president posted a video on the fast food chain’s Facebook account.

“Operators simply agreed to provide sandwiches and brownies for the events as many Chick-fil-A franchisees have done over the years for community events, businesses and civic groups,” said Chick-fil-A president and COO Dan Cathy.

Cathy also issued a statement earlier that stated, “While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage, we love and respect anyone who disagrees."

But isn’t that the rub in this whole issue? It appears that gay activists can’t be respectful towards a group of people who don’t share the same personal views and do not endorse their lifestyle.

Talk about intolerance.

The Human Rights Campaign has been publishing a Buying for Equality Guide. The guide rates businesses on how well they treat homosexual people. For instance, if a company engages in marketing or sponsoring LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transsexual) community events or organizations, it is awarded an extra 15 points.

They give Chili's, Maggiano's Little Italy, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, Pick Up Stix, T.G.I. Friday's, and Starbucks a 100 percent rating.

One Facebook contributor states that they want Chick-fil-A to, “…publicly apologize and make an equal and opposite donation to the Human Rights Campaign or other civil rights group.”

A petition against Chick-fil-A was posted on an activist website Change, claiming that the restaurant chain should be held “accountable for working with some of the fiercest anti-gay organizations in the United States.”

Those fierce organizations are Focus on the Family, National Organization for Marriage, Exodus International and more than likely anyone who is opposed to gay marriage.

So the issue is not that Chick-fil-A is contributing to a community event, but that it happens to be one the gays do not like. Do people supporting traditional marriage need to make the corporations supporting gay rights make equal donations to traditional family groups?

It’s time for this nonsense to stop. The intolerance is coming from homosexual activists who cannot accept that there are individuals who believe in traditional marriage and do not want to condone their lifestyle.

Heroes of Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

by Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell was pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., and chancellor of Liberty University before his death in 2007.

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Throughout our nation's history there have been champions of freedom who bore a dramatic influence in the rise of freedom in America. I wish to honor these Christian leaders with this column.

William Bradford.
Gov. Bradford came to America on the Mayflower with his wife, Dorothy, who drowned on Dec. 7, 1620, when the ship was anchored in Provincetown Harbor. Despite the anguish of losing his wife, Gov. Bradford wrote "Of Plymouth Plantation," which gave account of the Plymouth Colony.

In 1623, the notion of Thanksgiving was born as Gov. William Bradford declared: "Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience ...."

This man of faith proclaimed that Nov. 29, 1623 (their third year on the new continent) serve as a day for "render[ing] thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings." The colonists had actually celebrated with a feast in 1621, as Indian chiefs Massassoit, Squanto and Samoset and many of their men joined with the Pilgrims for a three-day event.

George Washington.
Throughout the 1700s, individual colonies initiated individual days of thanksgiving each year. Informal Thanksgiving festivities were held in 1777 throughout the colonies as a form of celebrating the surrender of the British.

But in 1789, military hero George Washington, who was serving as America's first president, declared that America should officially honor God with a National Day of Thanksgiving. Recalling the many blessings on the young nation, President Washington wrote a proclamation setting aside Thursday, Nov. 26 as "A Day of Publick Thanksgiving an[d] Prayer."

Signed on Oct. 3, 1789, the decree designated the day "to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." It was an important declaration that reminded all Americans throughout the young nation that God had indeed blessed them with the gift of freedom.

Abraham Lincoln.
On Oct. 3, 1863, with our nation embroiled in a bitter conflict that set brother against brother, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a national Thanksgiving holiday to take place on the fourth Tuesday of November. This great man, noting the "severity" of the war, said the nation needed to turn its collective hearts heavenward in the time of national struggle.

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things," President Lincoln wrote. "They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

He noted that the way to bring the nation back to unity was by imploring "the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."

Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday of November (to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the economy). After a storm of protest, Roosevelt changed the holiday again in 1941 to the fourth Thursday in November, where it stands today.

On Thanksgiving Day 1943, with the world at war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued this proclamation: "God's help to us has been great in this year of march towards world-wide liberty. In brotherhood with warriors of other United Nations our gallant men have won victories, have freed our homes from fear, have made tyranny tremble, and have laid the foundation for freedom of life in a world which will be free."

Several other presidents issued Thanksgiving proclamations. In 1898, President William McKinley said the blessings on the nation should "inspire us with gratitude and praise to the Lord of Hosts. ..." In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson described the annual tradition of giving "in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His many blessings and mercies to us as a nation."

And in 2001, President George W. Bush issued his proclamation, saying: "In thankfulness and humility, we acknowledge, especially now, our dependence on One greater than ourselves.... May Almighty God, who is our refuge and our strength in this time of trouble, watch over our homeland, protect us, and grant us patience, resolve, and wisdom in all that is to come."

This year, as we celebrate Thanksgiving 387 years after Gov. Bradford's first official proclamation, we continue to see an aggressive assault on the Judeo-Christian values that served as a foundation for the young nation. As we can see from the writings of great men of the past, these values have sustained and strengthened our nation at critical times.

It is imperative that those who understand the Christian heritage of this nation ensure that future generations have the ability to defend Thanksgiving and other God-inspired celebrations and observances that define our nation against those forces that wish to drive us into secular oblivion.

BP news.

Parents of a sixteen-year-old agree not to force abortion on their daughter

2010-10-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

AUSTIN, Texas — The parents of a 16-year-old in Texas have agreed to a court order not to force their daughter to have an abortion against her will.

A Travis County District Court judge authorized the order Oct. 28, one day after the parents agreed in writing no longer to coerce their daughter to abort her child, who is at 14 weeks gestation, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) reported. 

The teen's mother took her on two different occasions to Austin abortion clinics, demanding that her daughter terminate the life of her unborn child. Neither the girl, who was not identified, nor the baby's father wanted an abortion, but her parents had continued to say they would force her to have one, according to ADF.

The judge in the case had issued a temporary restraining order Oct. 18 to block the parents' effort before validating the court order that is in force throughout the remainder of the pregnancy.

“No one should be allowed to decide that an innocent life--especially one that belongs to someone else--is worthless,” said Stephen Casey, an ADF affilate attorney.

The girl became even more convinced she did not want an abortion after she received information from a pro-life advocate who was praying outside one of the clinics, ADF reported.

“The right not to have an abortion is protected by law, and this right isn’t relinquished just because someone else considers the child to be an unwanted burden,” said ADF Legal Counsel Matt Bowman. “This situation illustrates what a difference it can make when a woman is more fully informed about the true nature of abortion.”

"The parents made the right decision, one which they, their daughter, the baby's father, and especially their grandchild, will appreciate," Gregory R. Terra, ADF affilate attorney, said of their decision to sign the court order.

The court's actions came in response to the efforts of the two ADF-affiliated lawyers and Allan Parker, president of The Justice Foundation in San Antonio.

BP news

Pakistan crisis grows, straining disaster relief funds

2010-08-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Pakistan crisis grows, straining disaster relief funds

Doug Oldham passes away; Singer left his touch on my life

2010-07-21T12:16:00.001-07:00

by Theresa Keener

Doug Oldham, a legendary gospel singer, went to be with the Lord July 21. Oldham’s booming voice ministered to millions around the world and his imprint will be forever on our hearts.

I can remember the first time I met Doug was at Calvary Temple in Denver, Colorado. My friends had decided that they wanted to hear this man sing and somehow got me to go along. As a 16-year-old, I had made up my mind that I would go with them but try to leave as soon as I could.

God had other plans for me.

I can still see this very large man pick up the mic and begin belting out “The King is Coming.” I sat amazed at how the words came alive to me and captured my heart. Needless to say I sat through the entire concert.

Afterwards my friends wanted to have him sign their records (yes, records or 8-track tapes were the music medium of the early ‘70s) so I went to the back of the auditorium and sat down to wait.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to find this larger-than-life singer behind me. He asked me my name and then somehow the conversation turned to him asking me about my future plans.

A somewhat rebellious sixteen-year-old does not have future plans but I just mumbled the “not sure” answer.

Doug began telling me about a school called Lynchburg Baptist College (now Liberty University) in Virginia. The excitement he had for this college unfolded as he shared his heart and vision. He said if you go there, it will change your life.

I had never heard of Lynchburg Baptist College or Jerry Falwell, but Doug’s conversation with this young teenager had a lasting impact.

Several months later, a co-worker told me that she and her husband had prayed and decided that if I went to a school called Lynchburg Baptist College they would give me $1,000 toward my tuition. They had been watching a program called the “Old Time Gospel Hour” and learned about this great school.

I was floored. No one I worked with knew anything about my encounter with Doug Oldham or what he said to me.

In the fall of 1974, I headed for Lynchburg, Virginia to a school that was planted in my heart and mind by singer Doug Oldham, and he was right, it changed my life.

I lived in Lynchburg for nine years. It is where I also met my husband and we started our family. We were privileged to hear his music nearly every Sunday.

Doug will be missed, but we know that this morning there was a grand reunion heaven as he began singing…

Going home, I’m going home
There is nothing to hold me here
I’ve caught a glimpse of that Heavenly land
Praise God, I’m going home

Now my heart gets so heavy and I'm longing to see
All my loved ones and friends I have known;
Every step draws me nearer to that land of my dreams
Praise God I am going home.

Christian Examiner Article — Gospel music legend Doug Oldham dies

Obama blames his name for low approval ratings in Israel

2010-07-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

In Israel, President Barack Obama has the lowest approval rating of any U.S. president since Jimmy Carter.

In an interview July 8 with Channel 2 Israel, Obama was asked why he thinks so many Israelis doubt his support. He says, “…some of it may just be the fact that my middle name is Hussein, and that creates suspicion.”

"Ironically, I've got a Chief of Staff named Rahm Israel Emmanuel,” Obama added.

I am not sure that he gets it. Israelis doubt his support because of his policies, not Obama’s middle name.

According to Gary Bauer, the Israeli people have watched him bow to Saudi rulers, appease Middle Eastern despots, rail against Israel building homes in Jerusalem, give hundreds of millions to Palestinian extremists and try to undermine Israel’s elected government.

After trying to appear empathetic to Israel, Obama added that the Israeli people might be wary of him because of his outreach to the Muslim world. He then added that the cliché, “the friend of my enemy must be my enemy” should not be applied. "...the truth of the matter is, is that my outreach to the Muslim community is designed precisely to reduce the antagonism,” Obama said.

The president is living in a dream world if he believes that there will be peace in the Middle East if Israel puts down its weapons while Iran insists that its nuclear program will not be negotiated. The only thing that will create is genocide for God’s chosen people.

Raising taxes on the middle class

2010-06-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

President Obama’s pledge not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000, however here’s what some senators are saying now…

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “You could go lower, too — why not $200,000? With the debt and deficit we have, you can’t make promises to people. This is a very serious situation. We have to be very careful what we do to further reduce tax revenues.”

 Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND): “I don’t think there’s any magic in the number, whether it’s $250,000, $200,000 or $225,000. The larger question is whether we’ll be able to extend the tax cuts for middle-income folks.”

 Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): “I’m not hard and fast on $250,000. Quite frankly, it could be somewhat lower than that.”

Health care change is coming

2010-06-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

According to Gary Bauer, president of American Values, over 100 million Americans are currently insured through their employer are at risk in losing their insurance.

The Wall Street Journal reports, “The law could leave more than half of employers without a grandfathered plan in 2013, the draft estimated. Its worst-case assumption is that 80% of small-employers will lose grandfathered rights by 2013.”

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) says the rules are “more proof that you actually can’t keep what you like. Change is coming for a lot of people, whether they want it or not.”

U.S. complaining about over weight children; Coke creates new high-tech soda machine

2010-05-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, 104 flavor possibilities. Imagine your children standing at the high-tech soda fountain creating a raspberry Diet Dr. Pepper or whatever concoctions they want.

Coke has been testing the Freestyle machines and is getting ready to ramp it up. Sam’s Club in Southern California removed the machines according to the Wall Street Journal. However, Coke plans to place 500 new machines in outlets in Southern California, Atlanta, Dallas and Salt Lake City.

Let’s hope that next to the Freestyle computer screen there is a button to monitor your blood sugar level.

WSJ article

Obama keeps signing of executive order behind closed doors

2010-03-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

After a ceremonial celebration March 23 on health care reform, President Obama tried to keep the signing of the executive order created to prevent the federal funding of abortions low key.

The signing took place behind closed doors and no media were allowed into the Oval Office. The White House released its own photo showing Obama at his desk, pen in hand after the signing took place.

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council said that the White House was right to keep the event low-key because the signing doesn't change anything.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards pointed out that the order is 'a symbolic gesture' that has absolutely no bearing on what the legislation does and does not fund. She also said that the legislation will “significantly increase access to reproductive health care.”

The executive order was crucial to secure the votes in favor of the health-care plan from at least 10 pro-life Democrats led by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

Pro-life groups say that the executive order is worthless since acts of Congress supercede any executive order and can be repealed at any time by the President.

Prayer held before health-care vote

2010-03-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hours before the health-care vote on Sunday, March 21, the Congressional Prayer Caucus gathered in Statuary Hall to pray for the nation and God’s guidance. The service was organized by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.).

In 1800, Congress approved the Capitol as a place of worship and it was the largest church in Washington in 1867, with 2,000 weekly attendees for Sunday services.

At the service, a prayer was once again read that was read on the floor of the Senate on March 21, 1947, 63 years ago to the day:
 O Lord our God, in the midst of the troubles that surround us, when compromises come home to roost and expediencies return to plague us, keep us from adding to the mistakes of the past. Save us from accepting a little of what we know to be wrong in order to get a little of what we imagine to be right. Help us to stand up for the inalienable rights of mankind and the principles of democratic government consistently and with courage, knowing that Thy power and Thy blessing will be upon us only when we are in the right. May we so speak, and vote, and live, as to merit Thy blessing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Perhaps it's what this country needs a lot more of...prayer.

Final health-care push is on

2010-03-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The controversy over the passage of Obama’s health-care plan is coming to a head with the vote just 48 hours away.

Demonstrations in Washington, D.C. will continue as the vote becomes closer.

There are fiscal challenges that the proposed health-care bill brings to an already gloomy economy. The Senate bill plus the “reconciliation” bill would add a combined cost of $940 billion over 10 years.

Jeffrey H. Anderson, writer for the Weekly Standard, says the estimate doesn’t remotely reflect the bill’s real ten-year costs. Anderson places the figure over $2.0 trillion in Obamacare health-care costs.

Pro-life leaders intensified their message this past week that the nation's abortion rate could go up if the House passes the health care bill.

It figures to be a tight vote. It takes 216 votes in the current House of 431 representatives to pass or defeat a bill, assuming everyone is present. All 178 Republicans are expected to vote against it, which means Democratic leaders must find all 216 votes within their 253-member caucus. Various tallies Friday had Democrats as close as two votes or as far away as a couple dozen in reaching 216.  "The bottom line is current legislation will result in government funding of elective abortion, which will lead, as some experts project, to a 30 percent increase in abortions in America," Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told Baptist Press. "This legislation, if passed, will be the largest expansion of abortion since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973."

The health care bill, pro-lifers say, appropriates $7 billion to the nation's 1,200-plus community health centers without stipulating that the money cannot be used for abortions. The bill also changes longstanding federal policy by allowing tax dollars to go toward paying for insurance plans that cover elective abortions. Congress' own insurance plans, for example, cannot cover abortions. The bill requires that anyone who has a plan that covers abortion -- even men and elderly women -- must pay a separate fee to cover abortion, in addition to their premium.   The Hyde Amendment will not apply to the proposed health-care bill — which prevents Medicaid from covering abortion.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said roughly 1 million Americans are "alive today because of the Hyde Amendment." In other words, they weren't aborted. He said the figure is calculated by using data from the pro-choice Guttmacher Institute, which reported last year that about 25 percent of the women who would have had Medicaid-funded abortions chose instead to give birth when they were barred from using public money.  "We regard that as one of the great successes of the pro-life movement at the federal level," he said of the one million figure.

There is still time to get your voice in to your elected officials.

To contact your representative and senator, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators' and/or representative's office. Or find your representative's contact information on the links below.

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

BP news was used in this report.

House Democrats ready to use a controversial political move in order to pass the health-care bill without actually voting on it

2010-03-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

House panel defeats pro-life amendment

The White House is scrambling to find the 216 votes they need in the House to pass Obama’s health care reform bill. But if they don’t have the votes, they may rely on a controversial legislative maneuver that will allow the health-care reform bill to pass without ever officially voting on it.

The maneuver would rely on the so-called Slaughter Rule.

The Slaughter Rule is named after Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Rules Committee. The Rules Committee is so named because it sets the rules of debate for all legislation that reaches the House floor. Speaker Nancy Pelosi knows that many House members do not want to go on the record in support of the Senate bill.

So Rep. Louise Slaughter has proposed a rule that would allow the House to vote on just the reconciliation bill (the House’s proposed “fixes” to the Senate bill). When the reconciliation bill passes, the Senate health-care bill will be “deemed to have passed” the House without an actual vote on the Senate bill itself.

The president who campaigned for open debate on health-care seems intent on passing his version by any means necessary by now ignoring debate and the opinions of the general public.

John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced today that Republicans are planning to force an up-or-down vote on the Senate health care bill through a resolution. “It shows you just how controversial this government takeover of healthcare has become that it takes a controversial maneuver just to vote on it,” he said in a statement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that the language of the bill is now frozen.

Pro-life amendment fails
The House panel voted 19-17 against an amendment to instruct that the pro-life language be included in a reconciliation bill the full House may consider in the next few days. The amendment called for inclusion of what is known as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which would prohibit federal funds from paying for abortions or subsidizing plans that cover abortions.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, offered the amendment, telling the committee the language in the health-care bill approved by the Senate "represents the largest threat to innocent human life since Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Court" in 1973.”  Jordan's amendment duplicated the language crafted by Reps. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and Joe Pitts, R-Pa., and approved by the House before passage of the overall bill in November. The Stupak-Pitts Amendment maintains the current policy preventing federal funds from funding insurance plans that cover abortion.   Senators, however, refused to approve pro-life language like that of Stupak-Pitts. Stupak, Pitts and most other pro-lifers contend the Senate version, which was passed in December, would involve the government in the funding of abortion in a number of ways. They say, for instance, that federal funds would subsidize abortions and provide $7 billion to community health centers without any provision restricting the money from being used for abortions.

If the Obama’s proposed health-care passes without the Jordan or Sutpak amendment, it will remove the protections of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortions. It will make abortion a health-care “right” subsidized with tax dollars.

The proposed health-care bill will classify abortion as an “essential benefit” and not an elective. But we believe health-care for all Americans should encompass a culture of life and the values that will sustain it.

It appears that when elected officials can’t get socialized healthcare through they decide to change the rules. We need to call and remind our elected officials that bills become law only after both houses of Congress have approved the exact text.

Congressman Stupak stands strong for life

2010-03-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

The Democrats are still divided on the current version of President Obama’s health care reform bill and one Michigan pro-life Democrat refuses to back down on abortion subsidies.

"You fight for a principle you've believed in your whole life," Rep. Stupak says. "[You don't] fold up the tent."

House speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that health care reform is not about abortion. "This is a bill about providing quality, affordable health care for all Americans,” said Pelosi.

Stupak spoke on ABC's "Good Morning America,” March 5 explaining why Pelosi is wrong.

Rep. Stupak: [T]he bill that they are using, as a vehicle is the Senate bill, if you go to page 2069 through page 2078, you would find in there the federal government would directly subsidize abortions ... [W]e're not going to vote for this bill with that kind of language in there. The president says no federal funding for abortion. I have eight pieces of legislation we currently have in federal law that say no public funding for abortion. [He can] take any one of these eight, insert the language, and we'll be happy... If there's a will, there's a way. [Saying you can't do it under reconciliation rules] is just an excuse they're giving. Look, give us our language. Let's keep current law: no public funding for abortion...

Stephanopoulos: Let me be clear here. If the president doesn't change the language, if your language is not accepted, you and your 11 colleagues who voted 'yes' the last time will vote 'no' this time. Does that mean you're prepared to take responsibility for bringing down this whole bill?

Rep. Stupak: Yes, we're prepared to take responsibility... I want to see health care. But we're not going to bypass some principles and beliefs that we feel strongly about.

Stupak told CBN that tax breaks offered in the Senate bill to subsidize insurance polices could be used to cover abortions. He also noted that $1 per month collected by Americans enrolled in health insurance exchanges will go towards reproductive health, which includes abortion.

It’s refreshing to see a Democrat take the lead in fighting against taxpayer-funded abortions in the Obama health care bill.

Email Congressman Stupak and let him know you appreciate his efforts on life.

Contact Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi and let her know that we can read proposed health care plan and that we want the abortion funding taken out.

Wildmon resigns as American Family Association head

2010-03-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

After thirty years of leading the American Family Association (AFA), Donald E. Wildmon, has resigned.

According to AFA, the resignation comes following an extended illness causing several months of hospitalization.

Wildmon spent 121 days in the hospital and rehab from a mosquito carrying the St. Louis encephalitis virus. In addition to the encephalitis, he underwent surgery for cancer on his left eye.

The retired United Methodist minister began AFA in 1977. The organization now operates on a $20 million annual budget with 175 employees. The ministry owns and operates 180 radio stations, a monthly magazine.

Wildmon said he will continue to work at the ministry but will not have a leadership role. His son Tim is expected to take his place.

Using Haiti’s disaster to raise funds for family planning

2010-01-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

Planned Parenthood is taking advantage of the devastation in Haiti to raise funds to deliver their “family planning services in the various tent cities.”

At a time when the people of Haiti’s basic needs are overwhelming, the International Planned Parenthood responds by soliciting donations to restore their sexual and reproductive health services for the nation.

PP’s generosity in times of disaster has always been suspect.

When Romania's brutal dictator was ousted in 1989, Planned Parenthood donated $22,000 to buy abortion equipment and arranged for an airlift of 40,000 condoms.

Planned Parenthood offered a week of free "reproductive health care" after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; of course taxpayers paid for it.

Following the devastation by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Planned Parenthood raised money to provide "essential medication" and "bare necessities." The necessities were a month's supply of birth control pills or emergency birth control.

The people of Haiti need search and rescue teams, trauma teams, food and water.

May this serve as a reminder that we should support organizations that are truly offering real help to Haiti. Here is a list of some of those organizations.

Obama exempts Interpol from Fourth Amendment, which "protects against unreasonable search and seizure”

2010-01-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

Critics of the president’s executive order, signed quietly before Christmas, say that it puts international law agencies’ officers above the Constitution and elevates them beyond U.S. law.

Former President Ronald Reagan gave Interpol, as an international organization, certain privileges and immunities afforded to foreign diplomats. However, Reagan established limits to the executive order to ensure that Interpol was accountable to the rule of law which Obama has now removed.

"Now Interpol can operate within the U.S. without regard to potential public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act, or just general public observation of its activities," said Colby May at the American Center for Law and Justice.

“It's hard to know exactly what the fallout from this executive order will be, but the ramifications for the American people could be ominous,” wrote John Whitehead, the Rutherford Institute.

Perhaps the crux of what worries conservatives is that this particular order could pave the way for a global police state. We now have an international police force authorized to act within the U.S. and it is no longer subject to the 4^th amendment.

When President Obama ran for office he touted the need for greater transparency in government, yet he has ignored that promise by issuing this act that will result in more government secrecy.

Parents: Politics and Education are set to collide in your child’s classroom

2009-09-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

On September 8, President Obama will be broadcasting into public schools across the nation. So instead of learning math, U.S. history or the parts of speech, children will be seated in front of computer screens or televisions watching Obama explain his political agenda.

No one really knows what the content of the speech will specifically be, but the U.S. Department of Education has developed "a menu of classroom activities" on its Web site to help the students to know what to listen to and think about the President’s speech.

This gives us a glimpse of what the content might be.

• What is the president trying to tell me?
• What is the president asking me to do?
• What new ideas and actions is the president challenging me to think about?

Other questions also emphasize the importance of listening to the president and elected officials.

After the speech, teachers are to ask students:
• What do you think the president wants us to do?
• Does the speech make you want to do anything?
• Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?

Parents should be cautious of the mixing of political indoctrination and education. School is a place to learn about multiplication, the states that make up the U.S., nouns and verbs and basic skills.

Some parents are considering pulling their children out of school the day of the speech. Are they being reactionary? No. They are being cautious.

Schools are leaving the basics of “Reading, Writing and Arithmetic” for a more radical agenda. For example, Eagle Bay Elementary School in Farmington, Utah showed the “I Pledge” video that features more than 50 Hollywood celebrities offering their support for President Obama's policies to the students at a school assembly on Aug. 28.

The video is about pledging to "to be of service to Barack Obama," "to never give anyone the finger when I'm driving again," "to sell my obnoxious car and buy a hybrid” and “to advance stem-cell research.” The film was played for Obama during his inaugural celebration.

Can we really trust this administration not to use this tax-funded speech to promote its policies?

White House to "harvest" personal data from social networks

2009-09-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

Are you on Twitter or Facebook? Do you put videos on YouTube? If so, Obama’s got your personal data.

The Obama administration is hiring a technology contractor to harvest personal information on millions of Americans using publicly accessible sites. According to the solicitation for bids posted by the White House New Media Office, “publicly-accessible sites may include, but are not limited to, social networking sites.”

According to the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) that uncovered the plan, the information that will be captured includes comments, emails, tag lines, audio and video. The sites that will be targeted include MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and more — any space where the White House “maintains a presence,” NLPC states.

The Obama administration has continued to makes efforts to collect information about citizens. In early August, the White House asked people to send them emails about anything they see "about health insurance reform that seems fishy." Outrage from citizens caused the administration to pull back on that effort.

According to World Net Daily, a ban on tracking by the federal government on Internet users has been in place since 2000, however this White House wants to lift the ban.

It appears that the Obama administration may be set to violate civil liberties and freedom of speech for political gain.

President Obama to heart patient — take a pill

2009-07-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Obama sees the need to get rid of the “waste” in our medical system, which seems to mean those who require more medical care.

When Obama is asked by Jane, if her 100-year-old mother (now 105), would have gotten a pacemaker under his plan: “Well now that's a tough one ... that costs a lot and maybe we will have to say, just take ...a pill.”

In the Health Care reform bill (H.R. 3200) Section 123, it states that a government health benefits advisory committee will be established whose duties will determine “covered treatments, items and services within benefit classes.”

Your doctor will then refer to the health benefit rationing chart to determine if you get treatment to extend your life — or “the pill.”

Health treatment options should be determined by the patient, their families and doctors — not a government committee. I wonder if Senator Kennedy would have been told that surgery was not an option at his age and he just needed to take a pain pill.

The video below is President Obama responding to Jane

HR 3200 text

Healthcare or euthanasia?

2009-07-21T20:09:00.001-07:00

According to Betsy McCaughey, former Lt. Gov. of New York and Health policy expert, ObamaCare would be hazardous to your health, especially if you are a senior.

After reading the 1,018 pages of the proposed Health bill, which most members of Congress have not done, McCaughey said in the New York Post:

“One troubling provision of the House bill compels seniors to submit to a counseling session every five years (and more often if they become sick or go into a nursing home) about alternatives for end-of-life care (House bill, p. 425-430). The sessions cover highly sensitive matters such as whether to receive antibiotics and ‘the use of artificially administered nutrition and hydration.’ This mandate invites abuse, and seniors could easily be pushed to refuse care.”

The push for this end-of-life focus in President Obama’s more than $1 trillion proposal is probably related to the health care costs because we are living long lives and therefore have more health issues. Obama’s administration sees that ending a life is less costly than preserving it.

Perhaps that is also why this proposal also presents the greatest threat to unborn children since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Both versions of the health-care proposals expand abortion through mandated abortion coverage in all health plans, mandated recruitment of abortionists and increased federal funding.

Health care reform may turn into health care rationing for the unborn and seniors who are seen as a “burden” on society.

Ginsburg: Abortion used for reducing certain populations?

2009-07-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is raising bloggerbrows with her comments in the New York Times magazine about Roe v. Wade, which some describe as having racist overtones.

The interview that appears in this weekend’s edition featured her thoughts on numerous topics, including her reluctance of restricting access to abortions through waiting periods and other means. When asked to elaborate about her thoughts on the landmark Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortions, Ginsburg responded:

“Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of,” the justice said.

How much is too many?
Which populations would that entail?
Who determines who is eliminated?
Do taxpayers get to fund this targeted extinction plan?

Critics of the comment say it smacks of eugenics, the same philosophy often attributed to Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, which has grown into the nation’s large abortion provider.

Massachusetts files federal suit over the definition of marriage

2009-07-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a federal suit July 8, on behalf of eight homosexual couples, over a federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was enacted to protect states rights to define marriage as they see fit so that no state can force the redefinition of marriage on another state.

It appears that Coakley wants taxpayers from every state to fund gay marriage benefits in Massachusetts.

The Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, was passed by an overwhelming majority in the House and Senate in 1996 and signed by President Bill Clinton.

This is the first time a state has challenged the Defense of Marriage Act — a foreshadow of the legal battles yet to come.

Planned Parenthood seeking $36 million from financially strapped California

2009-06-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

The California state budget is estimated to have a $24 billion deficit. This is resulting in teacher layoffs, library closures and reductions in prescription drug coverage for senior citizens — but Planned Parenthood is calling on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to restore $36 million in proposed cuts to family planning funds.

While most companies struggle to survive in the current economy, recent annual reports show that business has never been better for Planned Parenthood and profits have never been so high.

Planned Parenthood claims that no taxpayer funds actually pay for abortions. Pro-life advocates dispute that claim saying that government grants for family planning free up other funds for Planned Parenthood to use for abortion services.

It is obvious that Planned Parenthood, which netted more than one billion dollars in profits last year and which is now having a 21 percent jump in the number of women they perform abortions on in a weekly basis, does not need any help from taxpayers.

More than $349 million of Planned Parenthood’s revenues came in government grants and contracts.

Defunding Planned Parenthood not only helps with the budget deficit, but can also allow more state money for education, Alzheimer’s patients, state parks and economic support for families hit hard by the economy.

Lawyers challenge Prop. 8 in federal court

2009-05-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two-high profile attorneys who represented George W. Bush and Al Gore during the contested 2000 election have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Proposition 8, California’s constitutional protection of traditional marriage.

The suit was filed May 22, several days before the California’s State Supreme Court, upheld the amendment by affirming its constitutionality. The case, filed by former Bush Solicitor General Ted Olson and David Boies, a former lawyer for Gore, alleges the state constitution’s ban of same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution.

Andy Pugno, general counsel for the Protect Marriage coalition that supported Proposition 8, said the new federal suit is based on “highly questionable grounds” since there is no federal right to same-sex marriage under the U.S. Constitution.

“We are treating this case seriously,” Pugno said, adding that he is filing a motion to intervene in the case, a similar step he took with the California high court.

“Without our intervention, the entire legal defense of Prop. 8 in the federal court will fall upon the California Attorney General, a troubling prospect since he has stated firmly that he believes that Prop. 8 is unconstitutional and should be invalidated,” Pugno said. “We are optimistic that the federal court will allow us to intervene and provide a legal defense for Prop 8.”

Ironically, numerous gay rights groups are unhappy with the Olson-Boies suit, saying it could jeopardize a long-held plan to win same-sex marriage rights state by state.

“We have only one shot at the U.S. Supreme Court, and any attorneys bringing a case that will affect the freedom and legal status of an entire community bear a very heavy responsibility to be certain they have fully considered the consequences,” Shannon Minter, of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and who served as lead counsel for the Prop. 8 challenge, said in an e-mail statement.

An initial hearing in the case is expected in July.

Proposition 8 is upheld

2009-05-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — In a victory for California voters, the California Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 8, approved by ballot in November. The May 26 court ruling, posted just minutes ago, means that the state constitution legally restricts marriage as between only one man and one woman.

At the same time, however, the court also upheld the same-sex marriages conducted during a brief legal window from last June to Election Day. That window was opened last spring when the same court ruled that Proposition 22—a 2000 voter-approved initiative that changed state law to protect traditional marriage—was unconstitutional.

Three separate challenges to the amendment were heard during a March hearing in San Francisco. Even before the high court ruling, however, gay rights leaders said that if their legal challenge was thwarted by the justices, they would try to override the constitutional amendment at the ballot box as early as 2010.

Monitor our Web site for ongoing coverage of this story.

Searching for ways to cut the deficit? Defund Planned Parenthood

2009-05-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Kansas State Senator Tim Huelskamp has found a way to save money in this tenuous financial climate — defund Planned Parenthood. He stated “This year Kansas taxpayers paid out nearly $300,000 to subsidize this entity.”

The nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, recently released their annual report, this one covering the fiscal year 2007-2008.

The report reveals that taxpayer funding has increased from about $337 million to just under $350 million.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released the May 2009 budget review estimating that the federal government incurred a deficit of close to $800 billion for the first seven months of fiscal year 2009 more than four times the year-to-date gap of $153.5 billion in April 2008.

The U.S. deficit projections, which are up $89 billion from the White House's original estimates, will force the government to borrow almost half — 46 cents of every dollar it spends this year.

Among the items in the report: the number of annual abortions performed by Planned Parenthood is up over 5% to 305,310.

While Planned Parenthood’s report shows that adoption referrals are up from the previous report, they report only 4,912 referrals. In comparison to the 305,310 abortions report, that is more than 62 abortions for every one adoption referral.

Huleskamp’s amendment has passed through the Kansas House. If Governor Mark Parkinson signs the bill, Kansas will join six other states in the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

Not only does defunding Planned Parenthood help deflect budget deficits, but perhaps that money could be used for educating children or feeding families that are unemployed.

Controversy surrounds Miss USA first-runner up’s response to same-sex marriage question

2009-04-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

La Jolla resident Carrie Prejean, a junior at San Diego Christian College in El Cajon, was voted first-runner up in the annual Miss USA pageant, held April 19 in Las Vegas.

Prejean, the reigning Miss California and former Miss Greater San Diego, is taking heat for giving an honest answer when openly gay judge Perez Hilton asked the Christian contestant if she believed other states should follow Vermont’s lead in legalizing same-sex marriage.

What was it he wanted? A plug on national television to uphold gay marriage?

Prejean did not criticize homosexuality. She merely said she was brought up to believe that marriage is between and man and a woman, and that is what she believed. She only stated a personal opinion about her beliefs without judging anyone else’s. Many feel the honest statement cost her the crown.

The disparaging swipes that Hilton and the media are taking at Prejean are despicable.

Hilton, a professional blogger, called her a b---- on his web site. And he was one of the judges.

An article on NBCSan Diego.com was titled, “Miss Cali: Pretty Until She Opens Her Mouth.” The writer Laura Baron said that Carrie Prejean probably shouldn’t have been allowed to compete, much less win. Baron then states there is nothing beautiful about intolerance.

Perhaps the lesson learned is that one can only express their beliefs and opinions if it is popular. Wait… didn’t California vote in favor of marriage being defined as between a man and a woman — doesn’t that make it the popular opinion?

Check out the video of the controversial question and the Christian Examiner's story.

Easter — Resurrection Morning

2009-04-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

They took Him a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, and crucified Him.

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea, who was one of Jesus' followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching.

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you."

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message. And as they went, Jesus met them. "Greetings!" he said. And they ran to him, held his feet, and worshiped him. The Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there." — from Matthew 27:32-44 (NLT)

On Easter morning, believers do not mourn a martyr, but celebrate a risen Savior. Christ’s victory over death gives us the promise of eternity in Heaven. When the trials and tribulations around us seem insurmountable, we need to remember that the ultimate battle is over; Christ said on the cross, “It is finished.” And someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that, He is Lord.

Have a blessed resurrection morning.

Christian student booted for not embracing homosexuality

2009-04-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

DETROIT, Mich. — A graduate counseling student at Eastern Michigan University, who was expelled from the program for not affirming homosexual behavior as acceptable, has filed a federal lawsuit.
Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom said the school dismissed Julea Ward from the program because she would not agree prior to a counseling session to affirm a client’s homosexual behavior and would not retract her stance in subsequent disciplinary proceedings.

“Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for holding to their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Counsel David French. “When a public university has a prerequisite of affirming homosexual behavior as morally good in order to obtain a degree, the school is stepping over the legal line. Julea did the responsible thing and followed her supervising professor’s advice to have the client referred to a counselor who did not have a conscience issue with the very matter to be discussed in counseling.”

The university requires students in its program to affirm or validate homosexual behavior within the context of a counseling relationship and prohibits students from advising clients that they can change their homosexual behavior.

EMU, the attorneys said, threatened Ward with expulsion if she did not agreed to undergo a “remediation” so she could “see the error of her ways” and change her “belief system. When Ward did not agree with the conditions, she was given the options of either voluntarily leaving the program or asking for a formal faculty review hearing, at which she was denigrated for her Christian views. The committee dismissed her from the counseling program on March 12 and her appeal to the dean was denied.

“(Julea) acted as a professional counselor should—with great concern both for her beliefs and the client,” ADF Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco said. “The two are not incompatible, but EMU’s policies are incompatible with the Constitution.”

Following the footsteps of Jesus — Israel Day 5 and 6

2009-03-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

We began to explore Jerusalem with a drive around the Old City walls, viewing the gates.

There are eight gates into the Old City — seven are open and one is closed. This is the Zion Gate, which was probably built around the time of the Crusaders. You can see pockmarks in the walls from gun fighting between the Israelis and the Jordanians during the 1967 Six Day War. This was the gate through which the triumphant Jews entered the Old City and rushed toward the Western Wall.

We visited Mount Zion where some say is the Tomb of David and the Upper Room. We explored the Southern Wall of the Temple with its more recent excavations. Here we were able to walk on the very street and steps that Jesus and His Disciples would likely have walked on to enter the Temple.

After observing the Orthodox Jews praying at the Western “Wailing” Wall, we toured the underground tunnels along the Western Wall. It was here we had close-up views of the gigantic stone blocks used by Herod’s slaves to rebuild the wall. The largest stone weighed more than 600 tons. It was 45 feet long, 14 feet wide and 10 feet high.

We ended our tour at the new excavations believed to be the palace of King David in the City of David. Here we walked deep underground through “Warren’s Shaft,” the very tunnel used to enter the city of the Jebusites and conquer Jerusalem for the Israelites 3,000 years ago.

Our last four hours were supposed to be for resting before our return flight to the states, but we took full advantage of the opportunity for adventuring into the Jewish quarter of the Old City. We are looking for gifts for the grandchildren. Here we found a quaint restaurant for tasting the cultural cuisine with the shop next door offering Israeli wine tasting. A group of us enjoyed some discussions with the shop owner as we reflected on the privilege of being able to walk where Jesus walked.

A horrific tragedy upon the Jewish people

2009-03-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

There’s not much to say when you walk out of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. Mostly, we are silent, speechless. Words cannot express the emotion of witnessing the horrific tragedy brought on God’s Chosen People by Hitler’s murderous Nazi army. Situated on Jerusalem’s Mount of Remembrance, Yad Vashem’s 45-acre campus comprises indoor museums and outdoor monuments, memorials, gardens, sculptures and education centers. This world-class complex has all the necessary components for a meaningful and dynamic commemoration of the Holocaust and its six million victims. The largest of its kind in the world, the museum depicts the story of the Holocaust from a Jewish perspective, with individual stories highlighted in the unfolding narrative that includes 100 screens, authentic artifacts including photos, film clips, and works of art and music. While this is not a part of the traditional Holy Land experience of visiting ancient sites of 2,000 and 3,000 years ago, it is something that no one should miss. How is it humanly possible that anyone, much less an army, wreak such evil on any human being! The cattle cars. The ghettos. The humiliation. The death camps. The gas chambers. It was real. It happened. It is perhaps the darkest era in the history of mankind.

The photo is a memorial to the individuals that have been identified. The photo only shows a part of this huge memorial.

Israel's unexpected treat... the cuisine

2009-03-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

So everyone wants to go to Israel to see the historical sites from the days of the Bible. But one of the unexpected treats is the cuisine.

From St. Peter’s Fish (complete with the head staring at you) served at a Galilean kibbutz to Faloffals and Schwarmas from sidewalk vendors in the bustling Jerusalem markets, food options are many and delightful.

But it was our unique two-hour dinner at HaChatzer (the garden courtyard) that really got our attention.

Our table was filled with mezzo platters when we arrived, four sets of eleven small dishes with such spreads as cucumbers, humus, beets, olives, tuna, and tomato salsa all of which could be used with the fabulous baked bread while we waited for the appetizers.

Then came four appetizer options: “baladi” eggplant with tehina and tomato, chicken liver paté with fig jam, carpaccio of salmon, and fish balls in spicy tomato sauce. And this is just the beginning . . .

Finally the main course. No, not one, but three. Spring chicken with marinade, grilled lamb kabob and entrecote steak filet. Add to that some side dishes with tossed salad, rice and mashed potatoes.

Are we done yet? Of course not. How about some non-dairy ice cream for dessert. Yes, this is a kosher meal, so dairy products are a no-no since we had meat earlier. But one would never know. The delicious ice cream was covered in grape honey, tehina paste with halvah and pistachios. Oh, yes, there were two more dessert options — chocolate fudge with halva mousse and chocolate tart with chestnuts and scotch.

In all, 25 different items touched our palettes – one delightful dinner experience.

Following the footsteps of Jesus — Israel Day 4

2009-03-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today we walked through Jerusalem by way of the Via Dolorosa. Some streets are said to be the actual stones from the time of Jesus. Did Jesus actually walk this way to the cross? No one knows for sure, but that didn’t matter. It was so easy to visualize what it may have been like as we made our way through the narrow, crowded streets lined by shops.

Then we went to a small hill just outside the walls of Jerusalem where even today the stark cliff reveals an image of a skull. Next to it is a tranquil garden with an empty tomb, carved out of a rock.

Many believe the garden tomb is the actual burial and resurrection site of Jesus. There are several archeological discoveries that seem to substantiate the theory. The beautiful surroundings of the garden tomb cause you to want to stop and contemplate what you have seen. And the mental image that one can take with them will never go away.

What a place to stop and consider the price Jesus paid for our sins – and then to rejoice in the knowledge of his resurrection.

We walked into that cold tomb and saw that it was empty, and it was a dramatic reminder of how Jesus conquered death for us.

Our group took time for communion in the garden, and it was a very moving experience. As we took the cup we could hear another group singing, “What a day that will be when my Jesus I will see.”

Following the footsteps of Jesus — Israel Day 3

2009-03-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

We began the day with a long drive from Tiberias to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth and lies between the mountains of Israel and Jordan. In this dry and barren desert land is where David found refuge from King Saul hiding in one of the many caves near the spring of En Gedi. The rocky, dry hillsides are full of caves that could have been where David hid. In the nearby area a small settlement existed near the Dead Sea. It was here the Essenes, a small group of Jewish men, copied the Old Testament onto parchment made of sheepskins. Then they hid them in clay jars in the nearby caves of Qumran. Found two thousand years later in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have given us numerous Biblical manuscripts, dating back to the 1st century B.C. One of the very moving places in the desert is Masada—a city built upon a sheer mountaintop. It is the place where the Jews, in their final revolt against the Romans in A.D. 73, saw that all hope was lost after a seven-month siege by the Romans and decided to kill their families and then themselves rather than becoming slaves. The excavations of this incredible site reveal a remarkable way of life.

Following the footsteps of Jesus — Israel Day 2

2009-03-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

The waters of the Sea of Galilee were so smooth this morning. We set out on an enlarged replica of a 1st century fishing boat and enjoyed a quiet, peaceful boat ride, stopping for a time of prayer and then some Jewish folk dancing. What a great way to start the day in the Galilee region.

Next was a stop at Capernaum, the town Jesus called home during his three-year ministry. Set on the northern shore of the Sea, ancient ruins speak volumes of the way of life 2000 years ago. And just as Jesus prophesied, the city was never rebuilt after it was destroyed in the third century. Bethsaida, just a few miles away, is a much more recent discovery and still in the beginning stages of excavation.

We visited a Catholic church built on the “traditional” site of the Sermon on the Mount. Yet many of us questioned why this particular hill was thought to be the location of this event and not any of the neighboring hills. The entire region is filled with rolling hills and the mere thought of the walking from village to village, from hill to valley, in those days is quite intriguing.

After lunch on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee in a large kibbutz, we took a drive up through the Golan Heights where we got a clear picture of the significance of that area politically. The Golan Heights tower to the east with a westerly view of the Galilee. Prior to 1967, the Jordanians sat up there firing on the Jewish communities below them at will for many years. Now the area is a beautiful landscape of flourishing farms and thriving towns under Israeli control.

Following the footsteps of Jesus — Israel Day 1

2009-03-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

Walking in the steps of Jesus took on almost literal meaning Tuesday as our group trekked through the 1st century re-creation of the village of Nazareth. Appropriately named Nazareth Village, the 15-acre terraced hillside showcases workers in period dress as shepherds with a flock of sheep, women spinning wool into yarn, a carpenter crafting wooden tools by hand and farmers tilling the ground with those wooden tools. Primitive structures built by hand out of stone include dirt floor homes, a synagogue, and olive press.

But what caught my attention was the ancient wine press carved out of the hillside and representing an authentic view of life in this poor, rural village of 2000 years ago. Consider that historians believe less than 1,000 inhabitants lived in the Nazareth of Jesus’ time and that such a community may only have had a very few wine presses, our guide suggested that there was perhaps a 50% chance that Jesus himself used that very stone press and played on those hills as a child.

For more information on this fascinating village operated by Arab Christians and tucked away in the middle of a bustling modern Nazareth, log on to http://www.nazarethvillage.com.

Following the footsteps of Jesus — First morning

2009-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very long day. We flew from San Diego to JFK in New York. We had an 8-hour layover before our flight to Tel Aviv. This is when we were able to other members of our "media team." There are fifteen members in our group and we were all very excited to get to Israel. After a 11.5 hour flight on El Al Airlines, we checked into our hotel and freshened up for a great dinner by the Mediterranean Sea. After that we walked around Jaffa (Joppa) because our guide apparently didn't remember we just spend 24 hours either on an airplane or waiting in the airport.

This morning we started our day watching the sun rise behind us as we look out over the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv. We can see Jaffa (ancient Joppa) from our balcony. This is the city where Jonah fled from Ninevah and where Peter had his vision on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner.

We will take an early morning walk along the Mediterranean Sea this morning before breakfast. Such a beautiful way to start the day. We will be driving up to Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth and then on to Tiberias which is along the Sea of Galilee.

Obama creates council on women

2009-03-12T19:58:00.001-07:00

President Obama signed an executive order launching the White House Council on Women and Girls. He stated that the purpose of the council is to “ensure that American women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy.”

In the same breath he stated that Tina Tchen, former vice president of the National Organization of Women (NOW), would lead the Council wisely. Tchen’s leadership makes one believe that the council's biggest pursuit for women and girls will be abortion and contraception.

President Obama needs to extend the invitation of appointees to the council to women across the aisle (conservatives) that have raised families and cracked and shattered the glass ceilings.

Perhaps if abortion and contraception are his only concerns he will silence the conservative side but, if he is truly concerned about the welfare of women in the workplace, he will reach across the aisle when he considers enacting policies and programs impacting women and their families.

Validity of Proposition 8 rests in hands of state Supreme Court

2009-03-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The fate of traditional marriage in California, which was protected in the state constitution thanks to the Nov. 4 passage of Proposition 8, is now in the hands of its Supreme Court. The state’s high court has 90 days to issue a ruling.

The panel’s seven justices heard just over three hours of testimony March 5, including an hourlong presentation by Kenneth W. Starr, lead attorney for Protectmarriage.com, which sponsored Proposition 8.

“The constitution has now been amended by the sovereign people who are its creators,” Starr, former judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. and Solicitor General of the United States, said. “That is the beginning and end of this case.”

Opponents of the measure, representing a broad base of gay rights groups, argued several points in trying to sway the jurists to toss the amendment, including a procedural challenge that the amendment reflected a wholesale revision of the constitution, which must be initiated by a 2/3 vote of legislators, not voters.

“Proposition 8’s brevity is matched by its clarity,” Starr responded. “There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions, or exclusions. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

“Describing Proposition 8 as a revision to the state constitution depends on characterizing Proposition 8 as a radical departure from the fundamental principles of the California Constitution. But that portrayal is wildly wrong. Proposition 8 is limited in nature and effect. It does nothing more than restore the definition of marriage to what it was and always had been under California law before June 16, 2008—and to what the people had repeatedly willed that it be throughout California’s history. It is now part of the state constitution.”

State Attorney General Jerry Brown in his written challenge for the court argued that the amendment should be rescinded because it trumped an “inalienable right,” a claim, Starr refuted before the bench.

“The people have the inalienable right to control their constitution.” Starr said.

Coach doesn't have a prayer

2009-03-04T19:55:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Supreme Court turned down an appeal from a high school football coach who wanted to bow his head and kneel during student-led prayers from team players. The March 2 court ruling ended Marcus Borden’s efforts to overturn the East Brunswick, N.J., school district’s policy prohibiting it.

According to reports, Coach Borden did not endorse, initiate, or participate in the student-led prayers but silently knelt on one knee in the locker room before games and bowed his head before meals.

A federal district court ruled that the policy prohibiting faculty participation in student-initiated prayer is unconstitutional. The court ruled in Borden’s favor on all counts, holding that his silent prayers do not represent a government endorsement of religion. The school district appealed the decision, in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit reversed the decision and agreed that the school district policy was constitutional.

The Supreme Court has left chilling consequences for school officials, teachers and coaches in the public school systems—there are now no constitutional rights of freedom of expression, speech or liberty when it comes to there educational responsibilities. We have become so politically correct that we are practicing intolerance to Christianity or even the appearance of it.

Will Obama’s choice to rescind healthcare "conscience" regulation end healthcare workers choices?

2009-02-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

Obama administration has begun the process of rescinding a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulation protecting civil rights and the exercise of conscience in healthcare.

The regulation was a safeguard for workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways and to be able to work according to their conscience.

Infringing on their right to practice medicine according to these life-affirming ethical standards could force them to leave the profession and could risk the shutting down of hospitals and clinics.

Just as no one should be forced to have an abortion, no healthcare provider should be forced to become an abortionist. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood are seeking to compel healthcare workers to perform abortions or face consequences. So much for “choice” and moderation in the Obama administration.

Obama has already lifted restrictions on federal funding for international family planning groups that promote abortion. The next life battle ground will be to see if (when) Obama will lift federal restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research.

Obama expected to nix right-of-conscience protections

2009-02-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. — New federal “right of conscience” rules implemented by former President George W. Bush to protect the religious beliefs of medical practitioners are expected to be rescinded by the Obama administration within the next week, according to an Associated Press report.

Under the Bush rules, medical institutions receiving federal money are required to protect a medical providers’ right to refuse abortion services and other medical treatments that violate their moral beliefs.

David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical Association, said eliminating the protections will force good doctors away from medicine.

“Thousands of conscientious and compassionate physicians, nurses, hospitals and clinics currently serve poor women and those who live in medically underserved areas,” Stevens said. “Many of these professionals and institutions are motivated and guided by longstanding Hippocratic ethics and biblical principles that preclude participation in abortion and other controversial procedures. Infringing on their right to practice medicine according to these life-affirming ethical standards will force them to leave the profession and to shut down the hospitals and clinics.”

Stevens added that the decision violates President Barack Obama’s campaign pledge to decrease the amount of abortions.

“President Obama and other abortion advocates would like to maintain the myth of their moderation on abortion, talking much about 'reducing the need for abortion,'“ the doctor said. “Yet they have no tolerance for moderate abortion policies like informing parents when their children seek an abortion, banning the essentially infanticidal partial-birth abortions, or protecting the civil rights of healthcare professionals who follow the Hippocratic Oath."

U.S. pledging $900 million to rebuild Gaza

2009-02-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

Despite the current U.S. economic downspin, the Obama administration plans to offer more than $900 million in aid for rebuilding Gaza.

According to new reports, "This money is for Gaza and to help strengthen the Palestinian Authority. It is not going to go to Hamas," stated an official, who asked not to be named. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is planning to announce the funding at a March conference in Cairo, Egypt aimed at raising money to rebuild Hamas-controlled Gaza after Israel's recent military operations against Palestinian militants. This is the first time that the U.S. has willingly participated in raising money for Gaza since Hamas seized power in June 2007.

Congress still has to approve the $900 million aid package. Perhaps Congress should consider a stipulation that in order to receive the funds Hamas has to be removed from control. The U.S. economy is on the brink of disaster and we are considering funneling our tax dollars to this terrorist regime.

Are they also considering a proposal to rebuild Israeli homes, schools and towns that have been destroyed by Hamas rockets over the last 8 years?

Court: First Amendment trumps government regulation of church speech

2009-02-25T13:38:00.000-08:00

SEATTLE — U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Feb. 25 that churches have the right to participate in the political process and, one justice, launching a pointed jab at liberals, seemed to suggest that freedom of religion trumps freedom of speech.

The ruling overturns a lower court decision that upheld as constitutional a Montana commissioner’s determination that a church violated state law by not registering as an “incidental political committee.”
Alliance Defense Fund filed suit in June 2004 after the Montana commissioner of political practices began investigating the church after a homosexual activist group complained that the church spoke in support of the state’s constitutional amendment protecting marriage.

In its decision, the appeals court ruled that the political practices law is unconstitutionally vague and that its application in this case violated the church’s First Amendment rights.

“An unregulated, unregistered press is important to our democracy Judge John T. Noonan wrote in his concurring opinion. “So are unregulated, unregistered churches. Churches have played an important—no, an essential-—part in the democratic life of the United States....

“Is it necessary to evoke these historic struggles and the great constitutional benefits won for the country by its churches in order to decide this case of petty bureaucratic harassment? It is necessary. The memory of the memorable battles grows cold.

“The liberals who applaud their outcomes and live in their light forget the motivation that drove the champions of freedom. They approve religious intervention in the political process selectively: it’s great when it’s on their side. In a secular age, Freedom of Speech is more talismanic than Freedom of Religion. But the latter is the first freedom in our Bill of Rights. It is in terms of this first freedom that this case should be decided.”

To review the opinion, visit http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/CanyonFerryOpinion.pdf

Gov. Palin unfazed by Planned Parenthood tactics

2009-02-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says an abortion-rights fundraising campaign in her honor may be "great political theater" but does nothing to diminish her pro-life convictions.

After Republican Sen. John McCain named the governor as his vice presidential running mate in September, an e-mail effort seeking donations to Planned Parenthood "in honor of Sarah Palin" spread. For every donation made in her name, Planned Parenthood sends Palin a card thanking her.

"I have boxes of thank you notes from people associated with Planned Parenthood thanking me for the donations," Palin said at a Feb. 11 news conference, according to the Daily News. "It's political theater -– it's great theater I guess for some."

In a written statement released later, Palin said, “The abortion issue has been with us for decades and has pitted well-meaning people of differing ideologies against each other. Where we can find common ground is in the belief that no one wants a single abortion.

“But when there is a clash of values, I always will come down on the side of life,” continued Palin.

This effort is bought to us by the same organization that promoted abortion “gift certificates” for Christmas gifts.

Prop 8, Google maps and intimidation

2009-02-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

At the center of California’s Proposition 8 battle is Google maps. If you donated to Prop 8, a California amendment that defined marriage between a man and a woman, there is a good chance everyone knows where you live and work.

Why would opponents of Prop 8 use of this kind of information? It's intended to intimidate people into not participating in politics by donating money. There has been a systematic effort to intimidate and harass donors to the Prop 8 campaign.

The creators of the “Prop 8 hit map” are registered anonymously through GoDaddy which offers no contact information.” They are using public information to pose a public threat to private people – while hiding cowardly behind a wall of anonymity themselves.

To use Google Maps you must agree not to abuse, harass or stalk [terms of service #3a.]… unless of course you want to abuse, harass or stalk those who support traditional marriage.

Check out Chuck Colson's BreakPoint article "Chilling Free Speech".

ELCA task force recommends changes on gay clergy

2009-02-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

A task force for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA) could not reach a consensus on the role of gay clergy but has offered recommendations to the church’s current policy. The report focuses on changing the current policy that allows gays and lesbians to be ordained only if they promise to be celibate.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Rev. Peter Strommen, the chairman of the task force and pastor at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake, MN said, "We feel it is very important that we ask homosexual ministers to be publicly accountable for their relationships the same way we ask heterosexual ministers to be publicly accountable.”

The task force will present to the Churchwide Assembly in August a 4-step process to implement. The final step “makes a specific recommendation for flexibility within existing structures and practices of this church to allow for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to be approved for professional service in the ELCA,” according to the report.

Financially strapped California finds money to promote gay adoptions

2009-02-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

Financially strapped California, which is facing a $42 billion deficit and issuing I-owe-u’s for tax refunds, has found money to sponsor a statewide campaign to promote gay adoption.

The Human Rights Campaign has partnered with the California Department of Social Services and the County of Los Angeles to sponsor two billboards, one in West Hollywood, and later, another in Alameda County, that encourages homosexuals, bisexuals, and transsexuals to apply to become adoptive parents.

According to HRC’s website, the project "Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Family" is for all families; however, none of the promotional images highlight heterosexual parents.

Check out the 2001 University of Southern California "study of studies" on raising children in same-sex families titled, "(How) Does the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?"

Obama announces new plans for Faith-Based Office

2009-02-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

President Obama signed an executive order bringing changes to what was know as the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

He named Joshua DuBois to head the newly named White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships stating that this is “not only our call as people of faith, but our duty as citizens of America.” The advisory council includes Frank Page, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Obama diminished the purpose of the faith-based offices with his statement, “The goal of this office will not be to favor one religious group over another - or even religious groups over secular groups. It will simply be to work on behalf of those organizations that want to work on behalf of our communities, and to do so without blurring the line that our founders wisely drew between church and state.”

One is left wondering what some of the non-faith based groups will be.

‘Right to Life Act’ reborn

2009-02-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) introduced legislation today recognizing that life begins at conception. The Right to Life Act, which has 43 original cosponsors, acknowledges the personhood of an unborn child guaranteed by the Constitution.

Hunter’s bill is similar to the legislation offered by his father several times.

“Our children deserve the opportunity to grow and live in a society that values and respects human life. This legislation ensures that every child has the same chance to experience life and succeed by putting an end to the practice of abortion,” said Hunter.

NBC rejects pro-life Super Bowl ad featuring Obama

2009-01-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

A pro-life commercial, Sponsored by CatholicVote.org, a project of the Fidelis Center, that has aired on BET and features President Obama won't be seen during the Super Bowl because NBC rejected it, saying it involved political and issue advocacy.

CatholicVote.org
The first release of a national media campaign launched by CatholicVote.com titled "Life: Imagine the Potential"

The importance of religion in daily life: state by state

2009-01-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

The Gallup Poll released its recent data on the importance of religion in Americans’ lives.

The analysis shows that 65% of all Americans say that religion is an important part of their daily life. It also showed that in all but four states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts) at least half of the residents express the importance of religion in their lives.

The top 10 most religious states
State.....................%Yes
Mississippi..............85
Alabama.................82
South Carolina.........80
Tennessee...............79
Louisiana................78
Arkansas................78
Georgia..................76
North Carolina.........76
Oklahoma...............75
Kentucky................74
Texas.....................74

The top 10 least religious states
Vermont.................42
New Hampshire.......46
Maine.....................48
Massachusetts.........48
Alaska....................51
Washington.............52
Oregon...................53
Rhode Island...........53
Nevada...................54
Connecticut.............55

Of interest to our regular readers:
Minnesota...............64
California................57

State of the States: Importance of Religion — January 28, 2009

Palin creates new PAC

2009-01-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin believes that America’s best days are ahead and has started a new political action committee called SarahPAC to raise funds and donate to various candidates. In doing so, Palin is sending a signal that she will continue to be involved in national politics.

Palin has not expressed if she will run in 2012. Her website says that she will be "dedicated to building America's future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation."

Sen. John McCain recently commented on his choice of Palin as his running mate on Fox News when he said, “She energized Republicans and has a bright future in the party.”

Looking ahead—thankfully

2008-12-31T15:13:00.000-08:00

For the most part, 2008 was a year of the downer. From America's widening economic swoon to major losses on the cultural front, 2008 will not likely be remembered as family friendly. In a riveting election, Americans elected their first African American president, a milestone that deserves celebrating. Unfortunately, for Christian conservatives, Barack Obama's anti-family policies have mired the significance of his election.

While there were numerous defeats for conservatives, the clear exception was the remarkable passage of Proposition 8 in California. Yet, despite the will of the people, special interest lobbies from the ACLU to various gay rights groups have filed suit to block the protections to traditional marriage. Even the state's attorney general, Jerry Brown, has turned his back on his clients—the state's voters—to offer his own challenge of the amendment.

For more on the top stories of 2008,go to this link http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles Jan09/Art_Jan09_23.html

Let's pray for more victories—and diligence—in 2009.

Looking for a Christmas gift… Planned Parenthood is offering death by gift certificate

2008-12-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, Planned Parenthood in Indiana began selling gift certificates that are redeemable to any of their 35 facilities for any service provided — including abortion.

Planned Parenthood claims that it is doing this in the name of women's health. "Our patients are principally low-income women, and so, needless to say, those patients are more challenged now than ever," said Betty Cockrum, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, according to a Washington Times article. "We find that when women are [financially] strapped, they're more worried about putting food on the table and gas in their car, and their health care is often put by the wayside."

A gift certificate for health care may be an unusual and needed gift but when it is to the nation’s largest abortion provider it is offensive.

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus, who was born that night in Bethlehem. How ironic that Planned Parenthood would take a holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ and offer a gift of death.

Elementary school hosts 'Coming Out Day'

2008-10-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

HAYWARD, Calif. – A parent at a K-8 charter school in Hayward says school officials were promoting gay and lesbian ideals to her kindergarten daughter without notification, including an in-school promotion called "Coming Out Day."

Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science included the event as part of Gay and Lesbian History Month and its own Ally Week, but according to the parents, did not disclose the topics to be covered, according to the Pacific Justice Institute. The discovery was made after a child’s mom asked her 5-year old daughter what she was learning in school that week.

"We're learning to be allies," the youngster said.

On Nov. 20, the school is scheduled to host TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud, where students will hear adapted tales such as "Jane and the Beanstalk."

"Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible?” said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute. “Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools."

After brief banishment, 'bride' and 'groom' option for marriage licenses restored

2008-10-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The words bride and groom, which had been banished from California marriage licenses following the state Supreme Court’s May ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, will be added back to the documents Nov. 17 as an optional designation.

The reversal comes just weeks before California residents will be asked—by way of Proposition 8—to define traditional marriage in the state Constitution as between one man and one woman.

In late May, state officials, citing the Supreme Court ruling, removed the words bride and groom from wedding licenses, substituting them with Party A and Party B. The new policy made headlines late this summer when a California couple’s marriage license was rejected after they scratched out Party A and Party B and replaced the words with bride and groom. The new license forms have also dropped the Party A and Party B designation, replacing them instead with “First Person Data” and “Second Party Data.” Those wishing to use the bride and groom language must check a box.

Hallmark recognizes gay marriage in a new line of cards

2008-08-21T17:40:00.000-07:00

Sending the “very best?”

On the heels of California’s Supreme Court decision to allow “same-sex marriages” Hallmark cards introduced a new line of greeting cards celebrating “gay marriage.”

A family owned business since 1910, Hallmark is now the nation’s largest greeting card company. For over 50 years, families have gathered to watch the award winning Hallmark Channel for quality movies based on American values and pro-family principles.

"Hallmark is jeopardizing its brand as a family-friendly company. Customers used to be able to trust Hallmark to produce quality products that were safe for all ages,” said Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America (CWA). “Now parents will need to steer their kids from Hallmark's section of the greeting card aisle and away from its previously heartwarming movies for fear that they too will push homosexual messages."

Hallmark has stepped into the propaganda by homosexual special interest groups and is forgetting its image as a family values company that promotes those ideas in its products. It leaves one to wonder if Hallmark is trying to cash in on the rush in California before the November election?

Appeals court OKs homeschooling in California

2008-08-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- California parents do have a right to educate their children at home the state’s Second District Court of Appeal ruled Aug. 8. In its decision the court reversed a February ruling by a three-judge panel of the Second District court.

At the same time, though, the court did uphold that in rare circumstances “the state may have a compelling interest sufficient to prevent families under the jurisdiction of a dependency court through charges of abuse or neglect from homeschooling,” according to the Pacific Justice Institute.

The February Rachel L. ruling drew widespread criticism for its blanket declaration that all parents must have a valid teaching credential to teach at home. The justices made their broad ruling despite the fact they were considering the case of one Southern California family where potential abuse was suspected.

"This is a tremendous victory for thousands of homeschooling families in California,” said Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, which represented Sunland Christian School in the case. “The pall of uncertainty that has hung over so many families for the last few months is gone.”

Liberty University challenges newspaper report about Falwell Sr.

2008-08-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Officials at Liberty University are challenging a new book and subsequent news article alleging that the late Jerry Falwell Sr. “lost most of his fortune to a doomed investment, a $20 million Christian community.”

On Aug. 6, the New York Daily News published the article “Falwell Finances Far From Divine,” based on information it contained in “Falwell Inc.,” a recent book by Forbes reporter Dirk Smillie.
“Falwell Sr., in fact, had no financial interest in the community known as Liberty Village referenced by the Daily News. Jerry Falwell was not a businessman but was rather the pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church for 51 years and chancellor and founder of Liberty University,” according to a news release issued by the university. “He never invested in any real estate developments of any type.”
The university went on to say that the Liberty Village project was developed by Savoy Senior Housing of New York City.

“Jacob Frydman was the principal behind that company,” the university release continued. “Frydman's company simply bought 140 acres from one of the ministries affiliated with Thomas Road Baptist Church in 1999 and attempted to develop a retirement village on the site. Frydman signed a marketing agreement with one of Jerry Falwell's ministries to provide marketing services to Frydman for a fee. Falwell's non-profit ministry received nothing from Frydman because his company bankrupted before the project was finished.”

The university went on to say it purchased the site in 2006 and is using it for graduate and married student housing, not as a local police training facility as reported by the Daily News.

University of Florida must recognize Christian fraternity

2008-08-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ordered University of Florida (UF) officials Wednesday to stop discriminating against a Christian fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), while a lawsuit against school officials is on appeal.

The UF denied Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX or Brothers Under Christ), a Christian fraternity, recognition because its membership is limited to Christian students. The university has more than 60 official student groups that include religion as a part of their missions.

School administrators cited BYX as "discriminatory" and refused to grant access for meeting space or recruitment. Without official recognition, BYX cannot receive critical benefits given to other student groups, such as access to meeting space and the ability to advertise and recruit members on campus. A lawsuit was filed by a lawsuit filed by Christian Legal Society and Alliance Defense Fund on behalf of the BYX.

Beta Upsilon Chi, Brothers Under Christ, BYX (pronounced "bux") is the largest Christian social fraternity in the United States. Since it’s founding in 1985, BYX has spread across the country.

Mount Soledad cross wins another court victory

2008-07-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — In another victory for the Mount Soledad cross, a federal judge ruled today that the landmark symbol may remain atop of the veteran’s memorial.

In a 36-page order released July 29, U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns said the memorial is a tribute to the military, not to Christians.

“The Court finds the memorial at Mt. Soledad, including its Latin cross, communicates the primarily non-religious messages of military service, death and sacrifice,” Burns wrote. “As such, despite its location on public land, the memorial is Constitutional.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, which has challenged the constitutionality of the cross for nearly two decades, said it is considering an appeal. That appeal would have to be filed with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the last stop before the U.S Supreme Court.

State AG changes Proposition 8 language; could be detrimental to passage

2008-07-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Supporters of Proposition 8, the traditional marriage amendment on November’s ballot, are expected to file suit today against state Attorney General Jerry Brown over language changes he made to the measure’s language, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

Supporters of Proposition 8 are concerned the change, which says “Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry,” could derail the measure. The change, they argue, could turn off voters who are reticent to take away already existing rights.

The language submitted to the state and signed by 1 million voters, said simply “Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Supporters of Proposition 8 carefully chose the wording of the ballot measure because focus groups and polls showed voters would not approve a measure that stripped existing rights.

The new wording also removed a previously approved state summary that said the measure would have no fiscal implications. The new wording now reads “Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments.”

San Diego travel bureau is brimming with pride

2008-07-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau is celebrating California’s new same-sex marriage law by hosting a “Here Comes the Pride...” contest to win a free wedding in America’s finest city.

“We're celebrating the new laws allowing same-sex weddings in California by giving away a dream vacation for two …” the bureau’s Web site says.

The travel promotion agency, a private, non-profit corporation consisting of member businesses in the tourism industry, is soliciting the best essay on why a couple should win “the wedding vacation of your dreams in San Diego.”

The prize includes the marriage license, round-trip airfare, five nights at local hotel, nightly dinners, a wine, cheese and chocolate tasting, tickets to the theatre, passports to Balboa Park, a couples massage and tickets to Fashion Week San Diego.

In addition to the contest, the Web site has a gay-friendly page called “From Gay to Z,” which offers information on activities, arts, attractions, special events, accommodations and ceremony locations.

The page also includes a section on FAQs for gay and lesbian marriage and packages for getting married in San Diego.

Son of evangelist Greg Laurie killed in car crash

2008-07-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Christopher Laurie—the 33-year-old son of Harvest Crusade evangelist Greg Laurie, and his wife, Cathe—died this morning in a car crash in Riverside County in Southern California, ministry publicist Laura Swickard McGowan, said. Details of the crash were not immediately available.

The senior Laurie is the founder of the Harvest Crusade, which is scheduled for Aug. 15 and 17 in Anaheim, Calif. Laurie's church, Harvest Christian Fellowship, and the crusade headquarters are both based in Riverside. Since the inception of Harvest Crusades, more than 3.6 million people have attended the stadium and arena events in the U.S. Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the church Web site, Christopher Laurie, the oldest of two sons, worked for the church, serving as its art director for the past three years. A resident of Huntington Beach, Christopher celebrated his birthday April 1.

There is no immediate word if Christopher’s death will impact the crusade. In recent weeks, Laurie has been promoting his newest book, “Lost Boy,” which chronicles his redemption from a drug-using rebel to pastor of one of Riverside’s largest church communities.

In addition to his parents, Christopher Laurie is survived by his expectant wife, Brittany, and daughter, Stella. Brittany is due in November. Laurie is also survived by his younger brother Jonathan.

No memorial plans have been announced as of yet; more information will be posted to the Harvest website at www.harvest.org as details become available.

Mighty Clouds of Joy’s Cook dies of massive coronary

2008-07-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Michael Cook, a member of the legendary gospel group the Mighty Clouds of Joy for more than 20 years, died July 18 after suffering a massive coronary. He was 46.

“When Mike joined the group, he fit our vocal style like a glove, said founding group member Joe Ligon said in a statement released July 22. “Over the years, however, he took that style to a new level. He was my vocal backbone in the group. He was a people person. He loved everyone. He will be deeply missed by all of us."

The group, three-time Grammy award winners, formed in 1960 in Los Angeles. Cook was on the team for 24 years.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie, and 3 children, ages 8, 11 and 16.

Pastor injured in dirt bike accident during church service

2008-07-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

KOKOMO, Ind. — Pastor Jeff Harlow may want to reconsider any secret desire he may have had of joining the U.S. Olympic motocross team after an in-service illustration on unity went awry.
No word if the congregation got the visual demonstration, but Harlow will not soon forget the July 19 incident for he is now sporting a broken wrist.

According to Associated Press, Harlow, senior pastor at Crossroads Community Church, lost control of a motorcycle during the service, driving it off a 5-foot platform and into the vacant first row of seats.

“Jeff has already laughed a lot, so he's OK. I think his pride was bruised,” said his wife, Becky, adding that no one else was injured.

She told a reporter that her husband recently attended a motorcycle race and
“had this idea that he would bring this bike out onstage and show people how the rider would become one with the bike.”

Earlier demonstrations that morning and on Saturday night were conducted without incident.

McCain, Obama to share Saddleback stage

2008-07-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Presumptive presidential nominees John McCain and Barak Obama will make their first joint appearance of the 2008 campaign at Saddleback Church.
Each man has agreed to a 30-minute question session from Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback. Although both agreed to briefly share the stage together, each candidate will face Warren one-on-one.

“We're honored that the candidates chose The Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion for their first joint appearance, an unprecedented opportunity for America to hear both men back-to-back on the same platform,” Warren said. “This is a critical time for our nation and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart—without interruption—in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan 'gotcha' questions that typically produce heat instead of light.

“The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of candidates as much as they do about the issues. While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank, but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights.”

CA Supreme Court denies bid to block marriage amendment

2008-07-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court has refused to hear an Equality California lawsuit that sought to remove the Protect Marriage Amendment from the November ballot.
The group filed suit June 20 in an effort to block the measure, known as Proposition 8. The suit was filed just days after California counties began to issue same-sex marriage licenses by order of that same court.

“Equality California and its allies were desperate to evade the democratic process,” said Brian Raum, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, which represents the Protect Marriage Coalition, sponsors of the measure. “We’re pleased the court did not allow them to silence the people’s voice this November as well. The opponents of marriage have proven that they are willing to use any means necessary to impose their will.”

The Secretary of State certified on June 3 that the measure qualified to be on the ballot after more than 1.2 million signatures were gathered.

If approved by voters, Proposition 8, the California Marriage Protection Act, will add the following words to California’s constitution: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Rotunda rebels: Officials stop students' patriotic chorus

2008-07-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Forty-five students standing in the California Capitol building’s rotunda were forced to stop their spontaneous chorus of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” on July 13 when a sergeant at arms and four Highway Patrol officers informed them they would need a permit to sing.

The students were attending an annual educational conference called City on the Hill, which teaches students the fundamentals of the legislative process.

“This was a ghastly overreaction to some students expressing their patriotism in the seat of government,” said Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute, which sponsors the annual youth conference.

In a letter sent to Ronald Pane, the chief Sergeant of Arms, the Pacific Justice Institute, which represents the students, argued that the students were exercising their expressive rights under the state and federal constitutions. The legal group also warned of legal action if future attempts at “censorship” are directed toward them.

Is CA homeschooling case now moot?

2008-07-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Pacific Justice Institute, one of the attorney groups involved in the landmark California homeschooling case that initially ruled the practice illegal statewide, said a juvenile court ruling issued July 10 may render the entire matter moot.

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, said in July 11 news release that the juvenile dependency court overseeing the Southern California family has ended its monitoring of them, saying no more court oversight is needed.

Attorneys for the parents plan to immediately notify the Court of Appeal that the case is moot and should be dismissed. The court-appointed attorneys for the children, who have been pushing to have them forcibly enrolled in a non-homeschool, vowed, however, to appeal the juvenile courts decision.

“We are still digesting the full impact of this ruling, but it is a major development which should, for all practical purposes, end this case,” Dacus said. “Again and again, the court-appointed attorneys for the (Rachel L.) children have relied on the oversight of the juvenile court as the basis for seeking a ruling that this family cannot homeschool.
“By terminating its jurisdiction, the court has severely undercut this position and yanked the rug out from all who have sought to use this case to criminalize homeschooling.”

The California Court of Appeal reheard arguments in the case on June 23 after it reversed its own springtime decision by one of its three-judge panels. A ruling on that decision is expected within weeks.

U.S. Rep calls for de-funding of Planned Parenthood

2008-07-10T11:11:00.001-07:00

Federal funding of Planned Parenthood took center stage on the House floor July 9, when U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN, used post-session time to denounce the practice.

"They are big business. They are the Wal-Mart of big abortion," Bachmann said. "They are the big box retailer. It's time to end their tax-exempt status. It's a fraud. It is time to stop the public financing of Planned Parenthood—it is the right thing to do."

Planned Parenthood is the nation's number one abortion provider, providing 290,000 abortions last year.

Bachman’s comments came during a procedural practice called “special order.” The session carries no legislative authority and serves mainly as a sounding board for members of Congress. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., also participated.

According to its latest annual report, Planned Parenthood posted total revenues of just over $1 billion. Nearly one third of that— $336.7 million—came from "government grants and contracts," according to the Susan B. Anthony List, national network supporting pro-life women in politics. In 2007, the U.S. Congress under new Democratic Leadership approved a $17 million dollar increase in federal taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood through the Title X Program.

Man sues Zondervan over anti-gay reference in Bible

2008-07-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Zondervan Publishing is being sued for $60 million by a gay man who is claiming its version of the Bible refers to homosexuality as a sin, which has caused him emotional pain and mental instability. The suit was filed July 7.

A similar suit against Thomas Nelson Publishing was filed in June and seeks an additional $10 million from the Tennessee-based publisher.

According to the Grand Rapids Press the lawsuits were filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by Bradley LaShawn Fowler, 39, who is representing himself.

In his suit, Fowler alleges Zondervan's Bible references to homosexuality violated his constitutional rights and caused him to be ostracized from his family because they followed the Bible’s admonishment that such behavior is a sin.

As a result it caused "me or anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes of hate, and physical violence ... including murder," Fowler wrote.

In addition to the money, Fowler is also seeking an apology.

Gay lobby to boycott San Diego developer

2008-07-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

San Diego developer and hotel owner Doug Manchester will be the target of a boycott by a new group called Californians Against Hate, a nonprofit public benefit corporation formed to fight November’s Protect Marriage Amendment.

The boycott will officially start July 18 and will include a Manchester-specific Web site, according to a blog written by Fred Karger and posted July 9 on The Huffington Blog.

Manchester, owner of the bay-front Manchester Grand Hyatt and The Grand Del Mar Golf Resort & Spain Del Mar, angered homosexuals for contributing $125,000 to get the amendment on the ballot.

Manchester has said publicly that he and his staff openly welcome gays and lesbians into his hotels, but he firmly believes in traditional marriage.

In his online post Karger lamented funding supporting the petition drive and the ballot measure.

“We feel that if these individuals, businesses, and organizations so adamantly desire to take away our right to marry, then the LGBT community, our families and our friends should fight back against these purveyors of hate,” Karger wrote.

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest pro-gay advocacy group already announced it had donated $500,000 to the campaign to defeat the measure and was vowing more through a major gala planned July 26 in San Francisco.

“If our opponents are steadfast in their desire to take away our freedom to marry, then we will fight back,” Karger wrote. “We do not want to financially support any business owned by supporters of this hateful initiative constitutional amendment that would then be used against us.”

According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, when nine states sought amendments to protect traditional marriage in 2006, the gay lobby out spent supporters by a 3-1 ratio.

Cal-Pac UMC conference to support defiant clergy

2008-07-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is vowing “compassion and understanding” for any of its clergy who perform same-sex marriages in defiance of the national denomination’s regulations. In addition, more than 80 retired clergy have offered to perform the ceremonies to protect active pastors, The Sacramento Bee reported.

In a June 30 message posted on its Web site, the leadership response acknowledged its stand was in opposition to the General Conference position reaffirmed in April by delegates from across the country. In doing so, the California-Pacific contingent warned that clergy could face charges for violating national rules, but added that “the gospel calls us to be in pastoral care with same-gender couples who seek to marry.”

The response also calls on Methodists in California to work to defeat the Protect Marriage Amendment on the November ballot and to reject “heterosexism.”

“In adopting these resolutions, our annual conference has acted in its prophetic role to declare our conviction that the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to support and embrace men and women who love someone of the same gender and who seek to pledge their love and commitment in a public way,” the statement read.

In a related development, 82 retired clergy, who could also face charges from the national body, have agreed to perform same-sex marriages stating that their inactive statues puts them at less risk than practicing clergy.

High octane prayers

2008-07-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Rocky Twyman and a volunteer crew of intercessors have decided to take the oil price crisis to a higher level. Twyman is the founder of the Pray at the Pump Movement, which travels across the country to pray at gas stations.

At a stop in Toledo, 15 people showed up to sing “He's got the gas prices, in his hands. He's got the gas prices, in his hands. . . “ The group also prayed and offered spontaneous choruses of “Amen.”

“God is telling us to stop depending on ourselves so much and trust in him,” Twyman told the Toledo Blade newspaper. “Bush can't solve this. McCain and Obama are not going to be able to solve this.”

ADF appeals ruling against Christian photographer for refusing "same-sex" ceremony

2008-07-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has filed an appeal in district court challenging a judgment against a Christian photographer in New Mexico who refused to shoot a same-sex "commitment ceremony."

A same-sex couple asked Elaine Huguenin, co-owner with her husband of Elane Photography, to photograph a "commitment ceremony" that the two women wanted to hold. Huguenin declined because her Christian beliefs are in conflict with the message communicated by the ceremony.

Earlier this year, the New Mexico Civil Rights Commission ordered Elane Photography to pay $6,637 in attorneys' fees for "sexual-orientation bias."

Alliance Defense Fund

Court OKs informed consent for SD abortions

2008-07-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, reversing an earlier three-judge ruling from the same court, has given South Dakota the right to enforce its informed consent law for abortion.

In 2005, South Dakota passed a measure that would require all doctors performing abortions to disclose to their patients, in writing, that the procedure would "terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being." Doctors would also have to share information about the link between depression and abortion, including thoughts of suicide.

Planned Parenthood challenged the law saying it constitutes government interference, violates a doctor’s free speech rights and forces them to participate in “state-mandated ideology.”

“A woman seeking an abortion is often in a crisis situation or is under pressure from the child's father or her parents,” Linda Schauer, state director of Concerned Women for America of South Dakota, said in a news release. “She deserves to be fully informed with accurate and scientific information concerning a procedure that ends the life of her baby and is likely to have a detrimental effect on her for the rest of her life.”

Jesus image found in granite slab

2008-06-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

A Dallas stone company has donated a slab of granite to a Catholic church after some customers noticed what they believe to be an image of Jesus.

Store owner John Ganster told The Dallas Morning News that the stone was transferred from a Tulsa, Okla. store because of cosmetic flaws.

"That's kind of ironic," Ganster told the Dallas newspaper. "Christ said that he would build his church on the stone that the builders rejected."

Since word of the image became public, cars have been driving by the store to get a glimpse of the image.

"This came to us for a reason," Mr. Ganster said. "I don't know why, but it did."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/062708dnmetjesusstone.4501fbb1.html