Still Reading (After All These Years?)

 Alas, the Notting Hill Napoleons, our unique and highly esteemed book club which enjoyed 30 years of reading classic works of fiction is no more. With changes in schedules, priorities, energy levels, and resident locations -- one of our founding members lives in Florida now with two others living in heaven -- we disbanded the Napoleons two years ago. But Claire and I miss those monthly book fellowships very much as well as the autumn weekend retreat we enjoyed together when we “took over” a bed and breakfast inn to discuss our annual Charles Dickens novel and to enjoy each other's company amid very pleasant surroundings.

The Napoleons provided several important blessings for us: extremely valuable stimulation and accountability to read quality literature, an improvement in our literary criticism skills, the special inspiration that comes from reading and discussing books with ministry colleagues, and an increased understanding of the world and our principled response to it.

We remain close friends, of course, with all the former Napoleons. And we still deeply appreciate the “ripple effects” of those 30 years. However, we are all dealing with what is almost inevitable when a book club ends; that is, a serious decline not only in the number of books a person reads, but also in the quality of the books which do get read. And the absence of our monthly discussions means that those stretching, sharpening conversations over books are not happening.

So, what to do? If we believe that reading noble literature remains of great relevance to our intellectual and spiritual growth, how are we pursuing that goal in the post-Napoleon era? Here are the things Claire and I are doing.

1) We remind each other of how easily it is to pass by the bookshelves on our way to social media, You Tube surfing, or streaming television. Just as one knows that a green salad topped with salmon is a healthier choice than biscuits and gravy, one knows that reading Robert Louis Stevenson or William Shakespeare or a commentary on John’s gospel are healthier choices than scrolling through Facebook for humorous memes or playing solitaire on your smartphone. But, let’s face it; despite our knowing what's best for us, the lure of the easier, more comfortable, lazier options is often oh-so-strong. An effort is required to make the best choices…and helping each other to exercise discernment and diligence is invaluable.

2) In order to keep the “need to read” before us, Claire and I have for many, many years included Reading among our categories of New Year Resolutions. That also means not only the initial resolve, but purposeful prayer, mutual encouragement and accountability, and making quarterly evaluations of how well (or weak) we are doing. 

3) We find it is helpful to keep lists of what we read. And in my case, I also assign ratings to those books. This is especially helpful in considering future reading choices because the lion’s share of my reading is re-reading. We also bring planning to our reading discipline. For instance, I try to keep some degree of a balance regarding reading genres -- so much classic literature, so much theology and Christian living, so much politics and culture, and so much recreational reading. There are also several favorites that I make sure I read every other year (or every 3rd or 7th year or whatever.) 

And finally, 4) It is probable that Claire and I will never again find a book club of any comparison to the Notting Hill Napoleons. (Though, I admit to still cherishing hopes!) But that doesn’t mean that we stop trying to utilize whatever “book partnerships” we can come up with to help keep us reading “good stuff” and being able to interact with friends about what we’re reading. Claire sometimes persuades friends to join her in reading Jan Karon novels;  I occasionally have close friends agree to reading the same books with a view to exchanging views; and there remains the quarterly Book Brunch discussions that Vital Signs Ministries offers. Indeed, we have one coming up on ---- dealing with a provocative treatment of spiritual warfare as we talk about our responses to Randy Alcorn’s classic Lord Foulgrin’s Letters. (Details on that are right here.)

In summary, reading quality literature is very important to us. Therefore, whatever help we can get in our pursuit of this intention is very important to us also. And so, if you perhaps feel the same, consider checking in with us (or with other friends of yours) and see if we can’t make a better job of staying with it.

The Top 5 (February 22)

* "Congressional Republicans Must Codify Trump’s Executive Orders To Make Them Permanent." (Logan Washburn, Federalist)

From the article -- Executive orders can simply be reversed — which can be good, since this is what allowed Trump to undo former President Joe Biden’s executive orders like the one that turned federal agencies into Democrat get-out-the-vote machines. But many of Trump’s most vital executive orders — like “Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” — have already drawn lawfare attacks from deep blue states like Washington. 

Through executive orders, Trump has brought the censorship-industrial complex to the brink of death. He has taken steps to protect children from genital mutilation in the form of “transgender” surgeries. He has sent DEI to die. Through the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump is dismantling the bloated bureaucracy that has been using billions of taxpayer dollars in a massive leftist-funding scam. Republicans have only dreamed of such progress since before President Ronald Reagan. But without further action, this progress could disappear in just four years.

* "The Civil Service’s Partisanship Problem" (Daniel McCarthy, Chronicles)

From the article -- Here’s a dirty secret about the federal government many Americans are just learning: It’s run by Democrats, even when voters elect Republicans. Presidents come and go, but the permanent federal bureaucracy remains the same, and it has a distinct partisan tilt. When Americans send a Republican to the Oval Office, they get a government still administered mostly by the other party. Yes, that makes a sham of democracy. But no president before Donald Trump was prepared to confront the problem.

* "Oh, horrors! Trump pursues peace and tells the truth about Zelenskyy" (Victoria White Berger, American Thinker)

From the article -- From the reignition of the Ukraine war, the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress (in the main) has presented as routinely hostile to and dismissive of any diplomatic engagement to stop this bloody, terrible conflict. Ditto and more so, Zelenskyy himself. Biden stoked the war by allowing unregulated, unreported, and unchallenged billions in cash and munitions to flow to Mr. Zelenskyy, who repeatedly engaged in blatant grifting while circumventing a change in leadership. While Ukraine is at war elections are suspended and Zelenskyy can, “constitutionally,” stay put.

Was no one in U.S. Bidenland remotely interested in why the Biden administration neglected (a) any war costs accountability and (b) any diplomatic initiatives for peace…for three years? Did no one tire of Zelenskyy’s obvious pandering and self-promotion in America, as the cash kept going from us to him? Did anyone notice that, despite the political theatrics from Britain, the EU, the UN, Germany, and France, it was and is the U.S., not Europe, primarily carrying the cash can for this war on another continent?

Why did no one in the moribund Biden media think to ask about the historic domestic corruption shared between political actors in the U.S. and Ukraine, corruption largely related to the Biden family and, quite possibly, many other American officials and legislators?

And if you're interested in a much different take than what you'll get from most of the media about the profane former comedian/zealous Harris supporter/begging powerlord Zelenskyy, Ukrainian corruption, and that country's persecution of religious believers, check out this 20-minute video clip from The Stream..."What’s Really Happening in Ukraine? Religious Repression and the Prospects for Peace" (In this 22-minute interview, L. Todd Wood of Creative Destruction Media sits down with Bob Amsterdam, a human rights lawyer who specializes in religious freedom, to talk about how the Ukrainian government represses the historic Orthodox Church of that country, but favors a split-off Orthodox church that was set up by the U.S. State Department to help the war effort in that country. Amsterdam also assesses the prospects for peace, as President Donald Trump prepares for direct talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over that grinding, futile conflict.)

* "Green Energy’s Dark Side: Bird Deaths, Graveyards of Broken Blades, and Other Ecological Harms" (Lance D. Johnson, Natural News)

From the article -- Federal wildlife officials described Ivanpah as a “mega-trap” for birds, with its intense light rays attracting insects and, in turn, birds that were incinerated mid-flight. Workers dubbed these tragic incidents “streamers,” referring to the smoke plumes left behind. At its peak, the plant was estimated to kill one bird every two minutes, totaling over 130,000 avian deaths annually.

Despite its ecological toll, Ivanpah struggled to meet energy production targets. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), one of its primary customers, announced in 2025 that it would no longer purchase power from the plant. Two of its three towers will shut down next year, with the third likely to follow.

“It might have functioned merely as the world’s most expensive backyard bug zapper,” quipped the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

* "As Trump Signs EO to Expand IVF, Worries Remain over Destruction of Embryos" (Dan Hart, Washington Stand)

From the article -- Trump’s executive order, entitled “Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization,” argues that “Americans need reliable access to IVF and more affordable treatment options, as the cost per cycle can range from $12,000 to $25,000. Providing support, awareness, and access to affordable fertility treatments can help [infertile] families navigate their path to parenthood with hope and confidence.” The order goes on to instruct the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to “submit to the President a list of policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment” within 90 days.

Numerous pro-life organizations and advocates quickly issued warnings about ethical concerns over IVF in response to Trump’s EO.

“Only 7% of human embryos created via IVF will result in a live birth,” Live Action President Lila Rose posted on X. “93% of these lives are frozen indefinitely, miscarried, or aborted. Over 1,000,000 embryos are frozen in the U.S. IVF is NOT pro-life.”

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America also voiced caution over IVF procedures. “SBA Pro-Life America does not object to ethical fertility treatments paired with strong medical safety standards that help couples struggling with infertility,” they wrote on X. “We also believe human embryos should not be destroyed. Rogue practitioners who switch human embryos, fail to follow basic safety standards, or negligently destroy human embryos desired by infertile couples must be held to account under any federal role in fertility treatment.”

Pro-life advocate and commentator Allie Beth Stuckey additionally expressed several concerns over IVF. “We don’t need to incentivize IVF, which kills more innocent humans tha[n] abortion each year,” she posted. “America is already the wild, Wild West of reproductive technology. Europe & Canada have much better protections for the little lives created through in vitro. Here, eugenics and embryonic destruction & cryopreservation is rampant. No one is entitled to a baby. How we create new life matters.”

Grace Is the Message of God's Creation (Psalm 19)

Psalm 19 is one of the most well-known and well-loved psalms because of the
poetic declaration which introduces it. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3, NKJV) However, as lovely and profound as the opening verses are, they are but an introduction to two other sections of the psalm which emphasize the proper response to nature’s glorious revelations of God’s power, beauty, wisdom, and goodness.

The first response to the order and beauty of nature should be praise and thanksgiving to the God Who made it and Who reveals truths about Himself through it.  We are to humbly worship the Lord Whose voice is communicated so universally, so constantly, and so majestically.  And the second section of the psalm teaches something even more important; namely, that we should recognize that God has mercifully extended and clarified His revelation to man by means of the written Word.  Indeed, it is in the law given through Moses and the prophets (and eventually through the divinely inspired writers of the New Testament) that the Lord reveals much, much more of Himself, His purposes, and the requirements He lays down for men and women live by.

It is in verse 7 that the psalmist begins this second section. “The law of the law is perfect, restoring the soul.” David goes on in the next verses to describe God’s law as sure, right, pure, clean, enduring, true, righteous, desirable, and everlasting.  And those who appreciate and carefully follow God’s laws, David explains, will be made wise, will rejoice, will be enlightened, will be protected, and will receive great rewards.

So is it a noble and responsible thing to appreciate the power of God in the thunderstorm and earthquake, to rejoice at the beauty of God in the sunrise and the waterfall, to be amazed to the point of worship at the intricacy and orderliness of the stars and seas and human DNA?  Of course.  God is greatly pleased with such responses to His voice speaking through His creation.  Yet more relevant, more important still are our responses of awe, thanksgiving, and loyalty to the moral law of God that is expressed directly and perfectly in His written Word.

This thought is then expanded in the third and concluding section of Psalm 19 as David addresses the ongoing sanctification of God's children; that is, our day-to-day gratitude for and obedience to the spiritual sharpening His written Word provides.

David begins this third section with the provocative question of verse 12: “Who can discern his errors?”  Note that the possessive used here (“his”) applies to man, not to God, as the Hebrew word translated here as “error” is used elsewhere to describe going astray, wandering, misleading, engaging in sin and folly. David is thus asking (of himself as well as others), “Who can fully understand one’s moral failure? Who can figure out why men act against their own self-interest by rebelling against God? Who can comprehend the huge distance between God’s holiness and man’s shallow and self-centered choices?”

In the next verses, David underscores the deliberate nature of sin. For instance, the Hebrew adjective which describes sins in verse 13 (translated in most versions as  “presumptuous”) describes an insolent, defiant attitude towards God. We do not merely stumble into sin. We all too often look, evaluate, and then willfully jump headlong into it!  This willful disobedience must be contritely admitted to God before we can move towards forgiveness and a fresh start. And that’s just where King David, long acquainted with God’s tender mercies towards the penitent, goes next. “Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins. Let them not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and I shall be acquitted of great transgression.”

David lifts up his prayer to a gracious God.  For though he has known God’s voice in creation and he has known God’s voice even more particularly pronounced in His law (including its warning against sin), yet he has turned aside from God.  He has failed to consistently heed those warnings. He has sinned, even defiantly so. Therefore, David takes responsibility as he calls sin and transgression by their right names.  

Yet, even at this, all is not lost.  For God’s holiness can be satisfied through the mercies He offers to honest, humble worshippers. And it is on the basis of God’s grace (demonstrated in the symbolic sacrifices of the Temple which look forward to the complete atonement provided by the death of the Messiah to pay our penalty) that David depends upon for acquittal of sin and restoration of fellowship with God.

Thus the suggestion that there is no or little grace expressed in the Old Testament is a most ignorant one and Psalm 19 is but one example of hundreds that show the real story.  And Psalm 19 emphasizes the provision of God’s grace in several ways. First, David praises the awesome power of God’s revelation in nature. That God thus reveals himself is a grand expression of His grace to mankind. Second, there is what’s often termed as “common grace” that God’s creation provides for all men. By His orderly creation, all mankind lives on a planet that makes sense, that allows for family and food production and navigation and thousands upon thousands of other blessings. That too is grace. 

Third, Psalm 19 acknowledges God’s grace in the revelation of His character, will, and wisdom through the written law.  In particular, David is grateful that God’s law is liberating and enlightening and empowering.  That’s sanctifying grace. Fourth, God’s Word extols His grace in purchasing man's salvation through the blood of Jesus…and even eternal rewards for faithfulness in walking according to His Word.

As I said at the beginning, Psalm 19 certainly deserves to be appreciated for the moving testimony about God’s created order with which it opens.  But there’s much more truth to embrace there. Psalm 19 is a glorious song about the profound voice of God – a voice which continually expresses God’s amazing mercy to mankind. Through creation…through the Word…through the existential power of the Holy Spirit -- God lovingly uses all three to express His character, His offer of atonement for sin, and His provision for strength to walk closely beside Him towards the life to come.

Behind the Scenes with Demons?

For the next Vital Signs Book Brunch (April 12, 10 AM, at the Hartford home in northwest Omaha), we have selected a classic, Lord Foulgrins’s Letters by one of our favorite contemporary authors, Randy Alcorn from Eternal Perspective Ministries. The book has been one of our favorite Alcorn titles ever since it was published in 2000. In fact, I remember a lively discussion of the book with Randy on one of the “Weekend Vital Signs” radio interviews back in the day. But we will expect no less of a delightful, meaningful conversation with all of you on the 12th.

The book can be obtained for less than $10 at the EPM site itself. That’s a terrific price. And though you might find a used copy a couple of dollars cheaper somewhere else, when you purchase it through EPM, 10% goes to maintain their excellent work with the other 90% going to a variety of other Christ-centered ministries around the world. The link that you’ll need is right here.

But don’t just take my word for it regarding the excellence and provocative nature of the book. Listen in on these testimonies:

“Lord Foulgrins’s Letters is a welcome addition to the world of Christian fiction. Randy Alcorn provides a needed reminder of just what it means for Christians to be engaged in battle with principalities and powers not of this world.” (Chuck Colson) 

“If you are interested in gaining a better understanding of Satan’s schemes, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters is a must read.” (Tim and Beverly LaHaye)

“One of the most unusual and important inquiries into the demon mind since The Screwtape Letters, Alcorn rivets our attention. This book will disturb, stimulate, and enlighten.” (D. James Kennedy)

Of course, RSVPs are of very important help to us as we plan for the Book Brunch, so if you plan on joining in the fun, please let us know as soon as you can. Thank you!

Let’s Give the President a Hand

There are exciting, hopeful, and dare I say, fun days ahead for those desiring not only to applaud the good (and desperately needed) work of President Trump of “draining the swamp” and restoring the historic moral ideals of our Republic, but also to do what we can to help him in this noble adventure.

And that’s why I believe these next Vital Signs letter-writing parties are going to be particularly important. Who will our letters and cards be going to? Let me give you just a few possibilities: the President and Vice-President...the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts...Nebraska state senators...Christianity Today...Cabinet Secretaries Rubio, Gabbard, Kennedy, and others...Nebraska Family Alliance and Nebraska Right to Life...Samaritan’s Purse..the Democrats in Washington who despicably voted  (en masse) against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act...Costco...the NFL...Nebraska Governor Pillen...and more.

Letters of thanks. Letters of enlightenment. Letters of encouragement. Letters of principled protest. We are going to have a good and important ministry together, so please plan on joining us at either the letter-writing brunch on Tuesday, March 4th at 10:00 AM or the evening letter-writing party (also on the 4th) beginning at 7. Issue sheets, addresses, various helps (including bullet points and sample letters), stationary, stamps, refreshments, and great fellowship awaits you. So please let us know if you’re on board.

The Top 5 (February 15)

1) "Trump’s New White House Faith Office Should Fight to Repeal the Johnson Amendment" (John Amanchukwu, Washington Stand)

From the article -- The dishonor that was shown to President Donald J. Trump at his second inaugural prayer service was a disgrace. Much has been written about this. The Episcopalian priestess and radical leftist, Mariann Edgar Budde, should never have been allowed to politically chastise the president in front of the whole world and express her radical liberal grievances against his plans to protect children from the transgender agenda and stop unvetted foreigners from illegally pouring across America’s border.

And while MAGA supporters were rightfully stirred-up that an anti-Trumper was able to hijack an esteemed ceremonial event, traditionally held at the beginning of each presidency meant to honor our nation’s commitment to its biblical founding values, the wrong knee-jerk response from MAGA is to parrot the secular Left’s talking point that the church should have no role in politics.

It is the Democrats’ dream to keep pastors — who preach biblical truths (unlike Ms. Budde) — muzzled by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forever; something they have been able to do since 1954.

2) "I Was Wrong About Trump" (David Strom, Hot Air) 

From the article -- No, I am not in love with Trump. He still makes me cringe sometimes, and I still don't understand the Canada/51st state thing at all, and want nothing to do with Gaza if he is serious about that. But there are two vital things about him which I got completely, totally, and without question wrong.

3) "Who Judges The Judges? Dealing with judicial activism is an urgent requirement of restoring sane and accountable governance." (Daniel Jupp, Jupplandia)

From the article -- Separation of powers is designed to prevent a Presidential tyranny. But it’s also designed to prevent a judicial tyranny, or an administrative or a bureaucratic tyranny. It exists so that nobody can be in the position of making up the rules as they go along and that nobody is drafting the law, enforcing the law, judging the law all at the same time...

4) "Federal law prohibits sending abortion drugs by US mail...so why isn’t it being enforced?" (Carole Novielli, Live Action)

From the article -- One of the jobs of the United States Postal Service (USPS) is to “prevent the flow of illicit drugs and contraband through the mail stream” and to “eliminate the mailing of opioids and other illicit drugs and it works closely with other law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to share intelligence, coordinate cases and conduct joint enforcement operations” according to its website (emphasis added).

Since that website also clearly states, “The Postal Inspection Service enforces over 200 federal statutes related to crimes that involve the postal system, its employees, and its customers” (emphasis added), then it stands to reason that the USPS should enforce the Federal Comstock Act — which is also a federal statute. A report published by Americans United for Life (AUL) and Live Action explains, “A key focus of the Act was a national prohibition on the sale and shipment of abortion drugs and devices through the U.S. Mail.”

The abortion pill (Mifeprex or mifepristone 200 mg) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the “termination of pregnancy” in 2000, while Roe v. Wade was still the law of the land, as decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973. But in June of 2022, Roe was overturned by the United States Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.

This set the stage for enforcing the federal law, known as The Comstock Act (18 U.S.C. § 1461), a law rarely used in modern times because of Roe. Comstock prohibits the mailing of “any article, instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing [that] may, or can, be used or applied for producing abortion[.]”

5) "10 Bills That Would Codify Trump’s Executive Orders into Law" (Ben Johnson, Washington Stand)

From the article -- President Donald Trump wasted no time enacting the agenda that won him the White House in the 2024 election, signing a series of executive orders and regulatory actions nearly every day of his second administration. Yet executive orders last only as long as a friendly president holds office. There is now a movement afoot to codify President Trump’s executive orders into statutory law. Here are 10 bills members of Congress have introduced to make the 47th president’s executive actions permanent...

EPS Event Inspires 800, John & Mary Ann Kellogg Honored

 Claire and I were honored to be the guests of Dr. Ed and Sandy DeSimone at the Glow fundraising banquet for Essential Pregnancy Services last night. It was a great evening and among the special highlights were the conversations around the table, the unique and inspirational address by keynote speaker Steventhen Holland, and the excellent news that the EPS Board had confirmed interim Director Dennis Waggoner to be the new Executive Director. 

 But we were also delighted that The Spirit of EPS Award for 2025 was given to pro-life heroes (and our dear friends of longstanding) John and Mary Ann Kellogg. In fact, you can watch right here the brief but very moving testimonial video EPS presented to the 800 or so assembled at the CHI Center last night.

 

What a Week!

As I reviewed my journal entries from last Friday evening through last night, I realized how very special a week it had been for Claire and me, one that was chock full of special blessings for us. Thank you, Lord!

Friday night (Jan. 31) was the Nebraska Right to Life Gala -- a fantastic banquet/fundraising banquet that featured an enlightening and stirring talk by acclaimed actor and Christian spokesman Jim Caviezel. Terrific. The program also included brief presentations by Governor Jim Pillen, NRL Director Sandy Danek, N.U. volleyball star Rebekah Allick, and an excellent promotional video for NRL with Sandy, State Senator Tanya Storer (District 43), State Auditor Mike Foley, and me. (You can watch that 3 minute video, by the way, at this link.) I was also honored to share a couple of items with the 1200 in attendance and then lead them in prayer. And yes, the inspiration of the night was increased all the more for Claire and me by the pro-life heroes we had with us at the Vital Signs table: Dr. Ralph Kramper, Mary Roberts, Dave & Chris Schlesiger, Jay & Amy VanKat, and Keith & Barb Huizenga from Fremont.

Yet as wonderful as the Gala was, the NRL-sponsored Walk for Life the following morning was also intensely important for moving the pro-life cause forward in our state. The crowd at the capitol was very large; the collection of political representatives addressing the crowd was very impressive and motivational; and the dramatic witness of thousands of peaceful, prayerful pro-lifers walking through the streets of Lincoln was a powerful witness indeed. And, as always, we very much enjoyed the conversations with pro-life Nebraskans as we passed out free literature from the Vital Signs table.

And then there was last night! (Friday, Feb. 7) Claire and I were thrilled to again serve at the Night To Shine, the Tim Tebow Foundation's unique and beautiful ministry that gives an extravagant “prom night” to special needs people. What a super cool event this is! We worked the Parent and Caregiver room last night -- greeting, directing, visiting, serving food and drinks, busing tables, and then cleaning up after our guests had enjoyed the meal, music bingo, raffle prizes, and big screen views of the Red Carpet greeting and Dance Party. There was no doubt; people were absolutely over-the-moon with the success of the Night To Shine! So, way to go Tim Tebow, King of Kings Church, and all the volunteers.

Okay, but what of the week in-between those two Friday night highs? Well, there was a great church service at Aksarben Village Senior Living where a group of junior high students joined us for fellowship with the residents after church...bundling up for a very cold morning of pro-life witness outside the Planned Parenthood abortion business... several excellent fellowship opportunities over meals and coffee this week with Gary and Dean, Larry and Deb, Ralph, Jim and Jean...an interview for a testimonial video honoring John and Mary Ann Kellogg's long and invaluable pro-life service over the years...a lot of correspondence and social media action, including the weekend’s Top Five...preparing the February “When Swing Was King” show... and doing quite a bit of research for an article I'm writing about the recent troubles being caused for the pro-life community by people calling themselves “abortion abolitionists.” That piece, by the way, will appear on Vital Signs Blog early next week. 

Anyhow, like I said, what a week! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for each and every person who blessed us, for each opportunity to serve, and for all the ways You continue, in Your abounding mercy, to bless and empower us.

The Top 5 (February 8)

1) "Shut Down the Department of Education" (Betsy DeVoss, Free Press)

From the article -- I served as the 11th U.S. secretary of education. That’s how I know it’s beyond repair...

Since its creation in 1979, the Department of Education has sent well more than $1 trillion to schools with the express purpose of closing the gaps between the highest and lowest performers. Today, those gaps are as wide as they have ever been, and by many measures, even wider.

Last week, the latest Nation’s Report Card came out, giving us a clear assessment of where student achievement stands. The report, published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), tells us that in reading and math, most students were even further behind than they were in 2022. Which was worse than where they were in 2019. Which was worse than 2013.

How bad is it? Seven in 10 American fourth graders are not proficient readers, meaning they struggle with reading grade-level literature and comprehending informational texts. Forty percent graded out at “below basic,” meaning they struggle with basic comprehension. In math, the picture is similar: six in 10 fourth graders are behind in math.

Also on this topic, check out "First Get Rid of DEI, Then Make Students Read" by Walker Larson over at American Spectator.

2) "The Real Constitutional Crisis" (John Hinderaker, Power Line)

From the article -- In my view, we are indeed experiencing a constitutional crisis. But it is not the one the Democrats have in mind. For President Trump to assert control over the executive branch is not only proper, it is long overdue. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President doesn’t just run the executive branch. He is the executive branch. All employees of federal agencies are members of the executive branch, and as such, ultimately report to the president. Their job is to carry out his policies.

The fact that this, to many, is not self-evident illustrates the real constitutional crisis that we face–the slow-moving crisis that has been underway now for close to a century. That crisis is the growth of the administrative state, the fourth branch of government that is mentioned nowhere in the Constitution. There is a strong argument that the administrative state is unconstitutional. What is incontrovertibly unconstitutional is the concept of an executive branch that is independent of the president.

3) "Why Is Silicon Valley Feverishly Working Towards The Creation Of An Artificial god?" (Dean Dwyer, Harbinger's Daily)

From the article --   In fact, it was reported in September 2024 that Melvin Vopson, an associate professor in physics at the University of Portsmouth, claimed that our whole universe is nothing more than an advanced computer simulation and that AI (artificial intelligence) is the god of this whole drama.  Vopson was quoted as saying, “The Bible itself tells us that we are in a simulation and it also tells us who is doing it. It is done by an AI – an artificial intelligence.” 

How does he come to this conclusion?  Well, according to him, evidence of this AI simulation is found in the Gospel of John, specifically the very first verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Vopson argues that “the Word” actually refers to a computer code that controls the simulation.  He went on to say: “The code running the simulation is not separate from the divine, but rather an integral part of it, perhaps an AI.”

To further support his theory, Vopson adopts John 1:3: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  Of this he claims: “It implies a Creator who brought the simulated universe into existence through the Word (i.e. the code).  It suggests that the act of creation, as described in the Bible, could be analogous to a divine act of programming and simulation.”

4) "Wait, You Mean There’s Corruption In Washington?" (Editors, Issues & Insights)

From the article -- How many Americans had even heard of the U.S. Agency for International Development just a month ago? Now in the third week of the second Trump administration, the country is learning that USAID apparently has been running a racket that has propped up the Democratic political machine, which includes the usual big-media players, with tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. As political scandals go, this one could be the grubbiest of all.

Democrats are already reeling. Polls show they have become as popular as a pineapple on a pizza. This country would be well served if the party collapsed and the remaining reasonable and sane voters Democratic formed a new group. The Democratic Party of the 21st century has revealed itself through its radical, nonsensical positions to be a party that no longer can be stomached by most of America.

5) "Making America Great Again Requires More Babies" (Victor Joecks, Hot Air)

From the article --  But making America -- and Mars -- great again requires something else. More babies.

Last April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that America's fertility rate had dropped to a "historic low." The total fertility rate was 1,616.5 births per 1,000 women. The country needs 2,100 births per 1,000 women to maintain its population. America's fertility rate "has generally been below replacement since 1971 and consistently below replacement since 2007," a CDC report stated.

A shrinking population presents major challenges. Even with technological advantages, the country needs young adults to serve in the military. Some of tomorrow's greatest innovators aren't being born. As people age, they become more dependent on others and less economically productive. The country's massive national debt and unfunded pension obligations will exacerbate this demographic problem.

How Can I Serve Seniors?

It’s simpler than you might think. Here are 4 general areas to consider.

1) Visitation and friendship development.

One of the best ways to begin this kind of ministry is to start with a relative, or maybe someone from your church who resides in a nursing home or senior living facility. Just go visit. Talk. Share. Pray together. Listen to the stories of their lives. Read the Bible or the newspaper to them, maybe poetry. You can then naturally branch out to that resident’s roommate and other friends.

Another option is to contact the pastor of your church and ask him if he would like some company when he visits the senior care facility. (Alas, few pastors bother with this kind of ministry nowadays.) Simply getting in the door of the facility allows for opportunities for smiles, handshakes, and conversations. And you can always contact the activities director of the facility and ask about residents who most need a little diversion, a little encouragement, a little friendship.

2) Helping out

Just about any nursing home or other senior facility can use help in carrying out various programs. So, volunteers willing to help are a great treasure. Examples? Transporting wheelchair-bound residents to events. Providing company while the resident goes through therapy. Helping with parties, meals, bingo games, playing cards or checkers, conducting Bible studies or worship services, special holiday events, shopping excursions, and so on.

3) Entertainment

Singing or merely helping with sing-along events. Playing an instrument. Dancing. Short skits. Sharing hobbies. Coming along with Claire and I to visit residents when we present “When Swing Was King” shows or conduct our Sunday afternoon church services at Aksarben Village Senior Living. All kinds of things. Talk to family, friends, church colleagues and pray about what you’d most like to do. Then make sure you contact the activities director of the facility for permission and guidance.

4) Seniors outside of “the system.”

Be careful to not overlook the possibility of making friends and helping out with the elderly (or others with special needs like the physically or mentally challenged) who still live on their own. There’s probably a lot of grandparents among your circle of friends who would love to have a visit and make some young friends. The same is true with other seniors from your church congregation or neighborhood.

The Top 5 (February 1)

This weekend's Top 5...with a bonus.

* "Top Ten Hints for a Successful Marriage" (Denny Hartford, Vital Signs Blog)

* "Girling the Boy Scouts" (An outstanding, disturbing 6-minute video by Heather MacDonald for Prager U)

* "Test Scores Take Another Dive As Schools Pocket $ Billions" (Editorial Board, Issues & Insights)

From the article -- Another year, another disastrous National School Report card, the annual checkup on American students’ test scores. Yes, it’s bad. After predictably plunging during the COVID school-shutdown years, scores show no signs of snapping back. This is child abuse on a national level...And the test scores remain abysmal, with no improvement. Average reading scores for 8th graders (America’s future workforce, mind you) have fallen from 263 in 2019 to 258 in 2024, erasing 33 years of slow improvement in reading. Math is just as bad, if not worse. True, the 274 level is the same as in 2022, but it’s way below the level five years ago.

Despite the massive, unprecedented infusion of $190 billion in federal funds into schools under the guise of COVID recovery, outcomes have worsened – but the spending has enriched and empowered teachers unions while also giving inept school administrators greater power over students’ learning.

Parents are fleeing the system (but still pay taxes for it), while the teacher-administrative complex wants even more. Not surprisingly, since 2019, the National Center for Education Statistics shows, the number of children attending U.S. schools has dropped by 1.3 million, while the number of teachers and administrators has surged 351,000. That’s doubling down on failure.

* "It’s Time to Repeal the FACE Act: The law rests on shaky constitutional ground and has been unevenly applied." (Erik Baptist, Alliance Defending Freedom)

From the article -- As a devout Catholic, Mark Houck believes every human life is precious, created by God, and worthy of protection. It was this belief that led him to often pray with his 12-year-old son outside a Philadelphia abortion facility.

In October 2021, a Planned Parenthood escort repeatedly got in the face of Houck and his son while making vulgar comments toward them, witnesses said. Houck allegedly responded by pushing the abortion escort in an effort to protect his son. While state and local authorities found no cause to prosecute Houck over the incident, the Biden Department of Justice felt differently.

When Houck learned that he may be prosecuted, he offered to turn himself in if he were indicted for any crimes. Instead, his attorney said, the FBI sent “twenty heavily armed federal agents” to Houck’s house in the early morning hours, pointed at least five guns at him, his wife, and his children, and then arrested him. The FBI later attempted to quell concerns about the report by claiming it was an “overstatement” and that the tactics used were “in line with standard practices.”

A federal jury took less than three hours to find Houck not guilty of the charges brought against him. Unfortunately, many pro-life advocates prosecuted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act haven’t received such good news.

* "The Democrats’ Governance Problem: They’re bad at it and getting worse." (Ruy Teixeira, The Liberal Patriot)

From the article -- Think about it. If you wanted safe streets and public order would your first impulse be to turn to…a Democrat? Or if you wanted a secure, actually-enforced border? How about efficient, effective delivery of public services? Or rapid completion of public projects and infrastructure? Or non-ideological public administration?

I don’t think on any of these fronts the reaction of a typical voter would be: “Democrats! Of course, I need Democrats to do all these things because they’re so good at them!” On the contrary, it seems like over time Democrats—both nationally and in many localities where they dominate—have become worse and worse at delivering in these areas. That’s a huge problem because why should voters take Democratic plans to improve their lives seriously if Democrats persist in running government so poorly? Democratic governance is their advertising and the advertising makes the Democratic “product” look pretty bad. So voters don’t want to buy it.

* "Sooner or later, babies will be too precious to abort" (Michael Cook, Mercator)

From the article -- The latest year for which data is reasonably complete is 2021. That year there were about 68 million deaths in the world, according to WHO... Also in that year there were about 73 million induced abortions worldwide according to the WHO. So not only is abortion the leading cessator of human life globally, it accounts for more than all other cessators of human life combined – about 52 percent of all cessations of human life every year. Is this just a debating point? A moment for pro-lifers to gasp with horror? No, it’s the reason why abortion will eventually be banned everywhere in the world. Look at it this way. Around the world, most countries in the West and East Asia are being depopulated. Sooner or later, people will compare the decline in population to the number of abortions and conclude that this makes no sense at all. In a world where every baby is a precious asset, abortion will be taboo. It will be stark, raving mad.

(Denny notes -- "I wonder. When mankind's collective mind is darkened by sin and reckless self-will, will even the truths of this article matter?") Related to this article is "You can’t stare down reality: population collapse has begun" by Louis T. March, also published in Mercator.)