Staying in the Game: A Weekend Compilation (Part 2)

* “Asia Bibi and the First Freedom” (Matthew Cotinetti, National Review)

* “Report: Half a Billion Christians Facing Global Persecution” (Edwin Mora, Breitbart)

* “Allen West on Abortion: ‘We Will Not Truly be Blessed as a Nation Until We Right This Wrong’” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “Michigan Judge Strikes Down Federal Female-Genital-Mutilation Ban” (Jack Crowe, National Review)

* “School Board Says Boys and Girls Have Different Brains — Except in the Bathroom” (Cathy Ruse, The Stream)

* “Europe’s Dangerous Blasphemy Laws Are Ripe for Exploitation” (Dominic Green, Weekly Standard)

Staying in the Game: A Weekend Compilation (Part 1)

* “The Fruits of College Indoctrination” (Walter E. Williams, Daily Signal)

* “How Public Schools Indoctrinate Kids Without Almost Anyone Noticing” (Auguste Meyrat, The Federalist)

* “Evangelicals Earn ‘F’ on Beliefs about the Trinity” (Joshua Arnold, Juicy Ecumenism)

* “Rapper Nick Cannon: Abortion and Planned Parenthood Inflict ‘Genocide’ on Black Americans” (Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com)

* “Ending Election Fraud” (Daniel John Sobieski, American Thinker)

* “Transgenderism at the Evangelical Theological Society” (Colin Smothers, Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood)

* “Environmentalist Policies Are Exacerbating Wildfires. It’s Time to Rethink Forest Management” (Jarrett Stepman, Daily Signal)

Quick Answers About Vital Signs Ministries

Dear C...

Here are brief answers to the questions you sent over.  Let us know if you need anything else.  And happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

1a) Vital Signs Ministries is a Christ-centered, activist-oriented ministry that seeks to proclaim God’s truths about the sanctity of life in the public square.  We do this through public pro-life witness, speaking engagements, blogs and social media, personal discipleship, and writing projects like the novel The Christmas Room.  In addition, we created the unique “When Swing Was King” outreach which is presented in 12 senior care facilities every month.

1b) The science of embryology makes it indisputably clear that human beings are created at the moment of fertilization.  Indeed, in that very moment, the DNA construction of the boy and girl is miraculously present in full.  All that is required for growth is nutrition and a safe environment.

1c) But added to these scientific certainties is the value of that human life and that is established by Holy Scripture.  From the many individual texts (like those listed on our website) to such stunning examples of the sanctity of preborn and newborn life in Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah, and Jesus Himself, the proofs are clear and profound as to the grave evil that is abortion.  With this overwhelming case for the sanctity of life, the testimony of the Church Fathers and the reformers also stands solidly against abortion — whether it is committed by surgical means or poisonous chemicals.

2) As is well established, many women who have experienced abortion mournfully regret their decision and must deal with issues of not only guilt and sorrow but oftentimes with physical difficulties too.  Christian pregnancy centers (including Assure Women’s Center which we helped start in the mid-8os) regularly feature post-abortion counseling, medical referrals, and support groups along with a whole host of services for women who decide against abortion and who opt instead to parent their child or to relinquish the baby to a whole and loving home.  A paramount point in this discussion, however, is the liberating truth that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of all sin for those who trust in His loving sacrifice.  That means that persons who have chosen abortion (or are guilty of any other sin) can receive full forgiveness, healing, and peace when they repent and trust to Christ’s atonement.

I hope this helps, Chris.

Blessings,

Denny Hartford

Read It Again -- Lincoln's Thanksgiving Address of 1863

By the President of the United States of America. (1863)

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

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

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of 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.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

November Swings!

We are already well underway with the November "When Swing Was King" shows -- 5 so far and 7 more to go. And, because we try and create a little margin around Thanksgiving Day, that means all 7 are in the first 3 days of next week!

Busy? Sure, but we love bringing these seniors a grand entertainment program -- with the abundance of memories. emotions, and sparkling conversations it stimulates. Care to join us? The schedule is always available on the Vital Signs Ministries website.

And the song list for this month's show is superb!

1) Glenn Miller Orchestra (Vocals by the Modernaires) — “Perfidia”
2) Harry James Orchestra (Vocals by Kitty Kallen) — “I’ll Buy That Dream”
3) Andy Williams — “Autumn Leaves”
4) Benny Goodman Orchestra — “Somebody Loves Me”
5) Dean Martin — “I’ll Always Love You”
6) Artie Shaw Orchestra — “Begin the Beguine”
7) Chick Webb Orchestra (Vocals by Ella Fitzgerald) — “Love and Kisses”
8) Les Brown — “Shine On Harvest Moon”
9) Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra (Vocals by Helen O'Connell) — “All of Me”
10) Ted Weems Orchestra (Vocals by Perry Como) — “Fools Rush In”
11) Lawrence Welk Orchestra — “Champagne Time”
12) Nat King Cole — “Smile”