Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Pro-Lifer's Murder is Ignored by Mainstream Media

The murder of pro-life sign carrier Jim Pouillon in early September has still gone largely unnoticed by what we call “mainstream” media (big stations like NBC, CBS, ABC). All have been silent, in stark contrast to their immediate and nearly never-ending coverage of abortion provider George Tiller’s murder some months ago.

Dr. Tiller’s murder is no less heinous and should not be minimized. It was tragic, and the Christian pro-life community has been sincere in refuting the murderer's actions. However, Pouillon’s death is no less important.

Pouillon, a disabled activist, was involved in a peaceful pro-life protest across the street from Owosso High School in Owosso, Michigan when he was shot four times and killed this past 9/11. There is a suspect now in custody, Harlan Drake, whose license plate number was reported by several witnesses to the crime.

Outside of conservative news outlets, CNN did provide some "mainstream" coverage. However, CNN kept calling Pouillon anti-abortion rather than pro-life. In nearly every sentence where victim Pouillon’s name is mentioned, the words anti-abortion preceed or follow. Question to “pro-choicers” – if choice is a good thing, then why not say Pouillon CHOSE to be pro-life? Why must the term anti-abortion always be used to sound more hateful and intolerant?

The media’s avoidance of the latest murder was originally chalked up to this being some “random” incident. However, according to the CNN report, authorities feel the shootings were not random. Drake admitted being offended by Pouillon’s anti-abortion sign. And Drake has apparently admitted to another murder that day, the murder of business owner Michael Fuoss, to whom he had ties.

President Obama’s statement had been immediate on the day of Tiller’s murder. He waited until two days after Pouillon’s murder to speak up. However, he did state that violence over our differences is never the answer. This writer agrees.

This writer's original, extended report with more details can be found here at The Underground Online Magazine.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

What's Your Bathsheba? (Taking Temptation Seriously)

How Can We Take Temptation Seriously?
My good friend and workmate, Jim, was a handsome married Christian man. We lived near each other, often car-pooled to work, and eventually became co-leaders of a lunchtime Bible study.

One day, Jim began coming up with excuses not to attend Bible study or ride to work together. At first I thought, is it my imagination, or is he avoiding me? But my fears were confirmed when
I saw him turn corners to keep from meeting me in the hallways.

After several weeks, I confronted Jim at his desk.

“You’ve been trying hard to stay away from me. Have I done something wrong?”

Jim took a deep breath. “No, it’s what I haven’t wanted you to do,” he said. What he told me next was pretty surprising.

“I’ve been seeing someone. Someone from here in the office. She started paying a lot of attention to me and, well, I let something happen. I…I didn’t want you to know because I knew you’d try to stop me from doing it.”

“Well, you’re right there,” I said, knowing that Jim was aware of my own similar situation some years prior, which would have ruined my marriage if someone hadn’t helped me recognize the danger signs in time. Had Jim told me about his attraction to this woman, I would have done everything possible to convince him not to give in to temptation.

Jim and I prayed for him to avoid further encounters with the woman, but it was too late. He was deep into feelings which had become irresistible. Soon, he left his wife, their beautiful new house and all their future plans, and moved in with the other woman. It lasted only a few months. He ended up living in a one-bedroom apartment with his personal life in shambles.

Jim’s situation reminded me of 2 Samuel 11 and 12, the story of King David and Bathsheba. First, David sees Bathsheba, a married woman. Then, being accountable to no one, he makes the conquest. From there he wants more; it leads to many kinds of sin—even murder— and he pays for it.

How can we take temptation seriously before it’s too late? Not just sexual temptation but every sort? If sinning was hard, nobody would do it! One of my favorite Bible teachers often says we must “frisk our thoughts” – take every thought captive, like in 2 Corinthians 10:5:
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"
(NIV).

Jim had gotten to the point where he didn’t want to read what the Bible had to say about temptation, or to be held accountable by going to a friend. He let the first glance get past the thought and into action.

Of course, as with King David, God eventually restored Jim. But one of the best ways to avoid falling into temptation is to tell someone— a friend or counselor perhaps. Make yourself accountable. Then, stay in God’s word and pray. These things combined will take away the devil’s opportunity to step in, and can suck the temptation right out of you like a vacuum. Take it from Jim and me…it will feel much better than the possible end result of your uncaptivated thoughts.

This devotion first appeared here at The Underground Online Christian Magazine. Check out the Underground at www.theundergroundsite.com.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Gold Jewelry Recycling – Trend, or Cash for a Good Cause?

Everyone's selling their gold jewelry to companies offering cash. It's a trend in today's economy. But would you like to get cash for your jewelry while giving to a good cause? Are you strapped for cash and frustrated that you can’t help your place of faith, or a friend in need? Have you maxed out credit cards buying everything the kids required for going back to school?

Think of that old, out-of-style and unused gold jewelry in the bottom of your jewelry box. But don’t run to the nearest pawn shop just yet. Remember, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure...or perhaps it’s his next meal.

The Women of Faith Conference Group has recently partnered with a gold jewelry exchange company called Red Swan, and is currently passing out Red Swan Starter Kits at their conferences. According to the kit’s enclosed letter from Mary A. Graham, President of Women of Faith, Inc.:

Red Swan helps women make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others through the re-purposing of unwanted jewelry.

Women of Faith is a trustworthy non-denominational Christian organization which works to empower women to be the best they can be with God’s help. A recommendation from them is a very rare and good referral for a commercial company. Here’s how it works:

Red Swan will accept and assess your gold jewelry and either send you a check, or they will send the money directly to a charity of your choice. You can track what is happening with your jewelry distribution or funds at any time.

If you are not planning to attend a Women of Faith Conference any time soon, just go to the Red Swan website or call 1-888-309-7926 to order a Starter Kit. All the directions will be given to you.

With a little foresight, you could have a better Christmas, or make it better for someone else.

This writer is not receiving remuneration or recognition of any kind from the organizations mentioned in this article. She just thought it was a good idea.
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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Teen Girls' 4Real Weekend - Music and Fun, Sex vs. Modesty

The Revolve Tour, a relatively new offshoot of the popular Women of Faith Conferences, is presenting the "4Real for Teen Girls" Weekend. It’s a time of encouragement to refresh teen girls with a sense of self-worth and fun without giving in to sex and immodesty. By gathering teen girls together in great numbers, it will also let them know: “I’m not the only one told ‘No’ to certain things by my parents!”

And just in time. Representatives from Women of Faith announced the following statistics at a recent Conference in Tampa, Florida:

-500,000 teen girls have had plastic surgery or something like liposuction in the past year. This can include anything from chemical peels to ear reductions to breast implants. Although teen girls are not yet fully developed, they’re often unhappy with their bodies according to two standards: (1) desiring the voluptuousness of oversized breasts on actresses, porn stars and major league sports team cheerleaders, or (2) wanting to appear thinner and prettier in order to match the air-brushed photos of reef-thin supermodels.

-25% of teen girls have an eating disorder due to reasons as stated above.

-79% of teen girls have had “some form” of sex. Our culture today says that nothing is “sex” unless it is penetration of the vagina. This is untrue. Acts of sex can be petting, oral sex, mutual masturbation and any other acts of arousal that may lead to actual intercourse.

-39% of teens have sent nude or semi-nude photos over their cell phones. “Reality TV shows” has made girls feel this is a normal way to show themselves to others. It may be “the norm” in our society today, but it’s not healthy, and in the end girls can lose their self-respect and pride.

-“Hooking Up” – sometimes called “Friends with Benefits” has never been more popular from middle school through college. These are casual sexual relationships taking place amongst circles of friends with no further relational commitment. In time, young people who indulge in this practice end up heartbroken and unable to form future loving intimate relationships. See more about "Hooking Up" and other dangerous teen trends here.

-Suicide is the second highest cause of death among teens, right behind traffic accidents.

At the 4Real Teen Girls Weekend, there will be contemporary Christian music, drama, and real-life stories starring real teens with insight through faith – guys too! The Tour is hitting cities all over the country from Baltimore, MD on Sept. 25-26, to Norman, OK on Dec. 11-12 (This article will probably be published too late to register for Sept. 11-12 in Columbus, OH). See all Calendar Dates and Cities, Ticket Details, or call 1-877-9-REVOLVE .

That’s Not All! Visit the Revolve Tour Website for articles like “What’s it Like to be a Teen Girl in 2009?” And “Tweet.Tweet. Do you Twitter?” or the “Ask Chad” Q&A column, giving girls advice from a responsible guy’s perspective. And girls can also see the smokin’ hot Entertainment line-up. There’s a section for Youth Leaders and Parents, too.

Hurry – Check out 4Real for Teen Girls today!

The original version of this article was published on 9/8/09 at The Underground Online Christian Magazine (www.theundergroundsite.com).
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Monday, September 7, 2009

Learn about the Jewish Holidays starting with the Jewish New Year

How much do you know about the Jewish Holidays? Would you like to know more about this part of the Jewish faith and culture?

This month (September 2009) will actually begin the year 5770 on the Jewish calendar. The celebration of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) starts at sundown on September 18th and runs for ten days known as "The Ten Days of Awe" until the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) at sundown on the 27th. Yom Kippur is a twenty-four hour day each year when Jewish people ask God and each other for forgiveness of any wrongdoing. They must fast and give up all work-type activities for that period.

Close on its heels will come Sukkot (The Festival of Booths) in early October. Hanukkah (The Festival of Lights) is in December. That finishes off this year's most important Jewish Holidays on the American calendar.

If you would like to know more about these Jewish Holidays, or the holidays that come in the spring like Passover and Purim, you may like Sheryl's book, "What Every Christian Should Know about the Jewish People: Improving the Church's Relationship with God's Original Chosen Nation". You can order this book by clicking on its cover in the column to the right, or read Excerpts of the Book and order it here.
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Does Obamacare Cover Abortion? Who's Telling the Truth?

Would abortion be covered with taxpayer money by "Obamacare" - Obama’s health care plan? President Obama and liberals say no. Conservatives say yes. Who's telling the truth?

Get the whole truth here at factcheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. If we want to mince words, the plan doesn’t require public funding, but allows the public insurance option to cover all abortions with public funds.

Why do I say “all abortions” when some of the bills’ wording says only in the case of “rape, incest and health of the mother?” Because rape and incest, year after year, only account for approximately 1.5% of all abortions; and “health of the mother” is the pro-choice phrase meaning anything the pregnant woman and her doctor decide it can cover. From hangnails to the woman’s outlook on life and the inconvenience of having a child... 98.5% of all abortions.

Abortion for “health of the mother,” once a baby is in the third trimester, would require something like Partial Birth Abortion (PBA), an extremely heinous form of abortion which was banned in 2003, but pro-choice groups have had courts all over the country put a stay on that ban. With Obama’s wish to enact the Freedom of Choice Act, all types of abortion would become legal again, up until the day of delivery.

President Obama is also considering removing the freedom of conscientious objection from doctors and nurses who don’t want to be involved in performing abortions.

In 1996, several physicians representing PHACT (Physicians' Ad Hoc Coalition for Truth, a non-religious organization of over 500 doctors including former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop) wrote a Wall Street Journal article: “Partial Birth Abortion is Bad Medicine.” The paper was included in 2003 testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives. They wrote (bolding is mine):

“We are the physicians who, on a daily basis, treat pregnant women and their babies…
We can no longer remain silent while abortion activists, the media and even the President continue to repeat false medical claims…partial-birth abortion is never medically indicated to protect a woman's health or her fertility. In fact, the opposite is true: The procedure can pose a significant and immediate threat to both the pregnant woman's health and fertility.”

Koop repeatedly remarks that abortion is never necessary to save the life of the mother, and Caesarean section is always the preferable method. Feminists for Life, a feminist organization not religiously affiliated and otherwise "liberal" in many philosophies, is also against abortion and especially PBA (see their website).

The American government should not be demanding American people to pay for abortions if it is against their religious, moral, or educational convictions.

See a full examination of factual objections to legal abortion including PBA in my Associated Content series, “Abortion: Challenged to Speak Pro-Life Without the Bible” Part 1 and Part 2.
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