Sunday, June 30, 2019

Before the Fireworks, Check Out These Sparklers

Here's the latest compilation of articles from the alternative media containing news and commentary you'd do well to know.

* “Did Andy Ngo get what he deserved? — The left blames the victim” (Dominic Green, Spectator USA)

* “Murder Disguised as Care” (Obianuju Ekeocha, First Things)

* “U.K. judge who ordered forced abortion was activist lawyer for abortion industry” (Dorothy Cummings, Life Site News)

* “The Citizenship Question” (Scott Johnson, PowerLine)

* “‘From the Pit to the Pulpit’ — Darryl Strawberry cherishes identity in Christ over MLB success and personal failures” (Lee Weeks, Decision)

* “Islamists Rising…in Local U.S. Politics” (Oren Litwin, Middle East Forum)

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Life’s Beautiful Complexity: Random Chaos or Intelligent Design?

Check out this super cool video. It’s 6 1/2 minutes but well worth your time. It’s a great “pass along” clip too. A very creative, persuasive, and science-based argument.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Uh, Tell Me Again; What Is Vital Signs Ministries?


Well, since our beginning in 1982, the hallmarks of Vital Signs Ministries have been a commitment to Christian orthodoxy and a comprehensive sanctity of life ethic. But the question could probably be better answered by giving a brief recap of the things Vital Signs Ministries has been up to lately.

* The prayer meetings and the sidewalk counseling outside the abortion center.

* The “When Swing Was King” shows at area senior living facilities. We do shows at 11 different places every month. Every show is different with 12 songs from the big band era accompanied by 180-220 photos of the same years in an entertaining, memory provocative Power
Point display. In addition to the shows, we visit with residents and their families, develop relationships with staff, and pass out to residents a special 4-page newsletter every quarter. (By the way, you can read those newsletters on the Vital Signs website. And the monthly schedule of our “When Swing Was King” appearances is there also.)

* There is cyberspace activity almost daily. This involves posting articles, compilation lists of “must see” news and commentary, and original material as well on the VSM website, Vital Signs Blog, The Book Den blog, our personal Facebook pages and the Vital Signs Facebook page. We also engage in a lot of correspondence. A lot of that involves cards and letters sent the traditional way but, of course, we do utilize email an awful lot too.

* The ministries of discipleship, intercession, hospitality, and networking occur in many different forms. These include Denny’s writing, book discussions, dinner parties and lunches out, Santa runs, prayer walks, the Panera conversations with colleagues, and involvement with other pro-life ministries.  There is also the occasional speaking engagement at churches, pro-life groups, and men’s meetings. In fact, we have several such engagements coming up this summer and fall including 2 weeks of meetings in Great Britain.

* Our advocacy outreach includes quarterly letter-writing parties. In fact, the next one is coming up on July 8th. There’s a lot to be addressed there: companies, celebrities, and the Girl Scouts contributing to and telling Planned Parenthood; companies and celebrities squawking about the recent pro-life legislation; the sellout of Christian schools to the propaganda and pressure of the new left; and other bad faith moves made by the likes of Disney, Netflix, CNN, Target, Estée Lauder, the NCAA, and many more. And as always, we will also take time to write heroes of the faith who could use some encouragement and appreciation.

Friday, June 14, 2019

A Devolution Watch (Part Two)

If you missed yesterday's selection of alternative media stories dealing with crucial battles in the culture wars -- and, make no mistake about it, those battles are very much spiritual in nature -- here is the link.

And below are another set of important items to check out.

* “The Ongoing Persecution of a Christian Baker” (The Editors, National Review)

* “Girl Scouts Group Gives Top Award to Teen for Pro-Abortion Project” (CBN News, Emily Jones)

* “The Media Won’t Say It, but Christians Are the No. 1 Persecuted Group Worldwide” (Paul Coleman, Daily Signal)

* “Biological Male Wins NCAA Women’s Track Championship” (Peter Hasson, Daily Signal)

* “In Support of Abortion, Leading Cosmetic Brand Pledges $500,000 to Planned Parenthood” (The Christian Institute, Christian Woman)

* “42 prosecutors in 23 states declare they’ll refuse to enforce state pro-life laws” (Calvin Freiburger, Life Site News)

* “Texas Governor Signs Bill Defending Chick-Fil-A” (Rachel del Guidice, Daily Signal)

* “Cartoon Network blatantly promotes gay lifestyle to kids” (Martin M. Barillas, Life Site News)


A Devolution Watch (Part One)

Here’s a roundup of news articles that the mainstream media either distorts badly or, more likely, ignores altogether. But you need to know what’s going down (pun certainly intended) in order to more fervently pray, protest, and yearn for the Lord’s victorious return.

* “Pinterest bans pro-life group Live Action, blocks it as porn site; Bible verses also banned” (Leah MarieAnn Klett, Christian Post)

* “Journalist Who Exposed Planned Parenthood Ordered To Pay $195,000 To Opponents” (Amanda Prestigiacomo, Daily Wire)

* “New Texas law threatens Planned Parenthood sex-ed curriculum that normalizes child sex” (Edyta Wolk, College Fix)

* “Father Raped Teen Daughter, Took Her to Planned Parenthood for Abortion. It Did One and Sent Her Back to Him” (Lila Rose, LifeNews.com)

* “Top Execs of 180 Companies: Abortion Necessary to Be Successful in Business” (Breitbart, Dr. Susan Berry)

* “Teen Vogue Instructs Teens on How to Get Abortions Without Their Parents Knowing” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “The Planned Parenthood sex scandal you aren't reading about” (Samantha Kamman, Washington Examiner)

Sunday, June 02, 2019

A Prayer for the President

Praying for President Trump isn’t a new thing around here. I’m guessing it’s not new for a lot of you too. Indeed, I believe most of you can testify that you have also prayed quite often for previous presidents even as you’ve prayed for other government officials and judges. After all, Scripture is very clear about the believer’s obligation to do just that.

Nevertheless, there are reasons that Franklin Graham has asked Christians to lift up extra prayers today for the President, his family, and the successful administration of his duties as both head of state and Commander-in-Chief. And those reasons certainly include the unprecedented (and remarkably unfair) assaults which are being waged by the opposition party and the media upon President Trump and his agenda.

And so, as you read through the brief prayer below, will you please make it one of YOUR prayers today in behalf of the President.

Dear Father,

We are praying for President Trump today, asking You to pour out upon him all needed mercies regarding his health and safety, his complete confidence in Your revealed truth and the Spirit’s leading, and his need for Your wisdom, compassion, and commitment to justice as he seeks to carry out the awesome tasks before him. We pray that You bring wise advisors to his side, advisors who are persons of character, skill, and well-versed in their respective areas. But even so, Lord, let him pay careful attention to the priorities taught in Your Word.

We appreciate President Trump’s courage and we thank You for that but we pray that You would sharpen that courage and add to it humility and patience and prudence…plus a willingness to forgive his enemies even as he must defend himself against their all-too-often despicable attacks.

Father, we especially plead that President Trump finds Your divine power at work as he pursues policies that increase religious freedom, protect the sanctity of human life, champion traditional marriage, weaken the “deep state” and the unelected bureaucratic powers that threaten our democracy, stand in defense of Israel, and return America to its place as a beacon of justice and moral strength.

Lord, we ask that our President and his family members would fully understand the gracious offer of the gospel and would embrace it for eternal life…and that this administration would be used for Your purposes in awakening the nation to it’s dire need of Your truth, Your holiness, and Your merciful love.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.