Newsworthy News: 7 Important Articles

* "17,000 tweet ‘Hitler was right,’ and Big Tech barely reacts" (Bethany Mandel, New York Post)

* "Biden’s Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Far Outspends Obama" (Fred Lucas, Daily Signal)

* "What if the Pandemic Was Man-Made?" (Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review)

* "ID PLEASE? Oregon Will Require Proof of Vaccine for Maskless Entry Into Businesses, Work, Church" (Human Events Staff)

* "As Hamas attacks Israeli civilians, the 'Squad' offers an 'All Lives Matter' response to antisemitism" (Tiana Lowe, Washington Examiner)

* "Violent Attacks on American Jews Prove 'Anti-Zionism' Is Anti-Semitism" (David Harsanyi, National Review)

* "Children’s Hospital Colorado declares mental health state of emergency as suicide attempts rise" (Jennifer Brown, Colorado Sun)

Newsworthy, Indeed

* "Biden Abandons Religious Freedom as First Among Rights" (Grace Melton, Daily Signal)

* "How America turned into the EU" (Joel Kotkin, UnHerd)

* "Out of gas: what does the Colonial Pipeline shutdown say about US defence readiness?" (Karl D. Stephan, Mercator)

* "Nancy Pelosi doesn’t care about the truth" (Miranda Devine, New York Post)

* "Bill Barr on the Forces of Division in America" (Roger Kimball, American Greatness)

* "Biden's radical agenda stalled – here's how Americans responding to progressives' wish list" (Liz Peek, Fox News)

* "Consumer Prices See Largest Yearly Jump Since 2008 as Evidence of Inflation Mounts" (Isaac Schorr, National Review)

An "Around the World" Reality Check

* "Hamas’s forever war against Israel has a glitch, and it isn’t Iron Dome" (Haviv Rettig Gur, Times of Israel)

* "The Franco and American Problem" (Conrad Black, American Greatness)

* "Lisa’s career is at risk because she dared to say that all men aren’t rapists" (Ann Farmer, Mercator)

* "Belarus Forces International Flight to Land, Detains Dissident Journalist" (Zachary Evans, National Review)

* "England: An Unending Festival of Grievances" (Theodore Dalrymple, Law & Liberty)

* "Colombia Is Being Threatened by Leftist Violence. Biden’s Silence Is Deafening." (James M. Roberts, Daily Signal)

* "Meet the country with the world’s most robust pro-family agenda" (Louis T. March, Mercator)

Is There No Place for Chivalry Today?

“Chivalry is only a name for that general spirit which disposes men to heroic actions, and keeps them conversant with all that is beautiful and sublime in the intellectual and moral world.”  That’s how Anglo-Irish writer Kenelm Henry Digby described chivalry in The Broad-Stone of Honour published in 1822.

That’s a nice description. But I like even more the way Sir Walter Scott put it when he had the charming and brave knight, Ivanhoe, answer a young woman’s question in this way:  “Chivalry?  Why maiden, she is the nurse of pure and high affection, the stay of the oppressed, the redresser of grievances, the curb of the power of the tyrant.  Nobility were but an empty name without her.  And liberty finds the best protection in her lance and sword.”

Chivalry. The word itself stirs the imagination and moves the soul to embrace manly virtues: strength, courage, a willingness to fight in a noble cause. But also kindness, innocence, courtesy and grace.  And we must not forget honor, self-discipline, loyalty, and a burning love for God...

The rest of Denny's essay, “The Code of Chivalry,” can be found right here on the Vital Signs Ministries website.

The Times, They Are A' Changin' (And Not for the Good)

* "The Revolution Comes to Juilliard: Racial hysteria is consuming the school; unchecked, it will consume the arts." (Heather Mac Donald, City Journal)

* "LEGO Releases LGBT Rainbow Toy Set to Celebrate 'Pride' Month" (Thomas D. Williams, Breitbart)

* "'Drag Queens in Training': Kids Show on PBS Features 'Lil Miss Hot Mess' Reading, Dancing" (Mary Margaret Olohan, Daily Signal)

* "Would you ask for euthanasia just because you hated to mow your lawn?" (Ann Farmer, Mercator)

* "Church of Scotland may ditch 'husband' and 'wife'" (Wallace B. Henley, Christian Post)

* "Genderella: Upcoming 'Cinderella' Features LGBTQ Actorvist Billy Porter as Genderless 'Fairy Godmother'" (CBN News)

More of What the Networks, CNN, and the New York Times Hope You Won't Hear

* "What the AP’s Collaboration With the Nazis Should Teach Us About Reporting
the News" (Matti Friedman, Tablet)

* "A murderous co-operation: The public has scant idea of how it is being misled over Israel and the Palestinians" (Melanie Phillips)

* "The Realignment: In the Middle East, Biden is finishing what Obama started." (Michael Doran, Tony Badran, Tablet)

* "Biden Child Detention Facilities More Massive in Scope, Less Humane Than Administration Admits" (Rick Moran, PJ Media)

* "Biden flirting with disaster – here's where division at home, weakness abroad will lead" (Victor Davis Hanson, Fox News)

* "Diversity Over Discovery: Biden’s war on merit puts America’s scientific edge at risk." (Heather Mac Donald, City Journal)

A Reality Checklist (Complements of the Alternative Media)

* "The Biden Honeymoon is Definitely Over" (John Green, American Thinker)

* "'How Politicians' Stupid COVID Reactions Lit A Match Under Inflation" (Helen Raleigh, Federalist)

* "What Really Is Behind the Latest Burst of Hamas Terror in Israel" (Dov Fischer, American Spectator)

* "How President Biden Emboldened Hamas, Islamic Jihad" (Khaled Abu Toameh, Gatestone Institute)

* "Censorship, Masks, Vaccines, Right, and Revolution" (Angelo Codevilla, American Greatness)

* "This Article Is 'Partly False:' Supposedly engaged in a struggle against misinformation, Facebook and its fact-checking partner spread their own." (John Tierney, City Journal)

The "3 for 5" Prayer Program Against Planned Parenthood

Vital Signs Ministries wants to once again invite Christian pro-life advocates from around the country to participate in a concerted prayer initiative against Planned Parenthood, the mega-abortion corporation that is exploiting women, severely damaging the fabric of family life, and literally destroying the lives of thousands of preborn babies every week.   This prayer program is simple enough to participate in yet it is a a ministry which could have a very profound effect if it not only stimulates more people to pray but to pray in more specific, more strategic, and more unified ways.

We call this prayer program “3 for 5” and here’s how it works.

We’re asking believers to covenant together to pray at least 3 minutes a day on the 5 weekdays about specific issues related to Planned Parenthood’s ongoing assaults on the culture of life.  That could mean 3 minutes of prayer added to one’s morning meditations, a minute prayer lifted up three times a day…whatever.  And for every weekday, we’re encouraging prayers aimed at particular targets.  Again, this way we’re praying more AND praying for the very same things, agreeing with one another and the Holy Spirit to oppose the evil deeds of this mega-abortion corporation.  Below are the specific targets for each weekday, a sample prayer and a Scripture “springboard.”

1) Monday’s focus: Pray for Planned Parenthood’s scheduled victims for the week.

“This week many young women are scheduled to have their babies destroyed by Planned Parenthood abortionists.  Many more will abort children through the various chemicals that the business sells.  Father, we pray for many of these minds to be changed.  We ask that these moms will choose instead the guidance and loving assistance of pro-life family members, churches and pregnancy aid centers.  And we also pray that those who have already been exploited and victimized by Planned Parenthood find healing in the cross of Christ.”

Scripture exhortation: Deuteronomy 30:19 — “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” (NASB)

2) Tuesday’s focus: Pray for shame and scandal to be the portion of Planned Parenthood.

“Holy Lord Jesus, today I pray that the immoral and violent nature of Planned Parenthood be increasingly revealed to the public.  Raise up journalists, lawyers, politicians, educators, celebrities, business leaders and more to expose the organization’s promotion and enablement of abortion, sexual perversion, promiscuity, and misuse of government funds.  Take from Planned Parenthood their financial support, their partnerships and their false cloak of respectability.”

Scripture exhortation: Ephesians 5:11 –“And so do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.” (NASB)

3) Wednesday’s focus: Pray for spiritual conversion among Planned Parenthood employees and supporters.

“Please, Lord Jesus, reveal to those who work with, promote or otherwise support Planned Parenthood the organization’s inherent evils.  Give them a new understanding of the sanctity of life, marriage, family and purity.  And with repentance and conversion, make of these ‘born again’ people effective servants of Your grace and holiness.”

Scripture exhortation: 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come.” (NASB)

4) Thursday’s focus: Pray for those who stand against Planned Parenthood’s assaults on the culture of life.

“Dear Jesus, today we earnestly pray for all those who seek to defend the least of these and to restore a sanctity of life ethic to our nation.  We pray for those who, in various ways, prayerfully oppose the barbarism of Planned Parenthood.  We ask You to provide wisdom, protection and spiritual power in abundance for sidewalk counselors, clergy, medical professionals, pro-life educators and especially for those who serve with pro-life pregnancy aid ministries.” 

Scripture exhortation: Timothy 1:7 — “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” (NASB)

5) Friday’s focus: Pray for a dramatic reformation of sexual ethics among American youth.

“Father, today’s prayer is for fresh and compelling conviction of Your truths regarding modesty, purity, self-control, and the blessedness of sexual relations within marriage.  Reveal these precious virtues especially to youth and to those who influence American culture.  And also, Lord, please expose for all to see Planned Parenthood’s perverse and counter-productive sex-ed philosophy.”

Scripture exhortation: Philippians 4:8 — “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (NASB)

We believe that anything that can help stimulate Christians to pray more regularly, more frequently and with greater purpose is wonderfully welcome.  And if there’s anything that can get us on the same page, coming together in the powerful fellowship of prayer and lifting up to our Lord a common appeal – that’s a huge bonus.  Of course, the prayers and Scriptures we have written merely serve as samples to stimulate individual responses. What is most important is the common focus of the day. 

We hope you find this “3 for 5” approach worthwhile and, if you do, please pass it on to those in your spheres of influence.  

"The Calling of Matthew" -- The Latest Sunday Afternoon Service (With Links to the Music)

The subject under review in last Sunday afternoon's lesson at Aksarben Village Senior Living was the ironic, even audacious, calling of Matthew the tax collector to become one of Jesus' disciples...and the equally audacious response to that most gracious invitation.

In addition to the 15-minute sermon, the prayers, and a wonderful hour of visiting over coffee, lemonade, and cookies, our afternoon service also includes three terrific video clips which feature musicians presenting some of the most theologically-sound and cherished songs of Christian history. Claire edits those video clips which she then projects onto a large screen so the residents can best enjoy them. We also have handouts that provide the hymn lyrics.

Anyhow, for those of you who have been blessed by the songs we have included in the Sunday afternoon service (as well as the short sermon), we also post the three clips (straight from YouTube and thus unedited and with ads) below.

So, first the link to the sermon.

And then the respective links to the songs we used:

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" (Steve Green)

"The Holy City" (The Platin Tenors: Gary Bennett, Bela Mavrak, and Eric Reddet with André Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra)

"This Is My Father's World" (The Collingsworth Family)

Just Checking In (More of the Best Reads from the Culture Wars)

* "How Apportionment Defrauds American Citizens" (Hans von Spakovsky, Daily Signal)

* "Evangelicals & Casual Sex" (John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera, Breakpoint)

* "China’s Emissions Exceeded Those Of All Other Developed Nations Combined" (Ryan Saavedra, Daily Wire)

* "Joe Biden Cancels Declaration Trump Signed With 34 Nations Saying There’s No Right to Abortion" (Lisa Correnti, Life News)

* "Facebook’s 'oversight board' just shows how tyrannical it’s become" (Rich Lowry, New York Post)

* "NYC veterans fume over parade lockout after pot-smokers get permit to march" (Mary Kay Linge and Dean Balsamini, Fox News)

* "Here's How You Know Democrats Rigged and Stole the 2020 Election" (Wayne Allyn Root, Town Hall)

Keeping Track (The Latest "Most Important Reads")

* "Anthony Fauci Partners With Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz for Health Care Webinar" (Micaiah Bilger, Life News)

* "The Wokest Place on Earth (Disney Corporation)" (Christopher F. Rufo, City Journal)

* "GOP: Big Tech Is Playing a Losing Game of Monopoly" (Tony Perkins, Family Research Council)

* "What’s Behind Masks in Cars and Other COVID-19 Insanity" (Neil Patel, Daily Signal)

* "NYC education is now truly off the rails -- expelling Asian Americans from top schools proves it." (Bob McManus, Fox News)

* "What's Behind Vaccine Hysteria?" (Sally Zelikovsky, American Thinker)

* "Biden’s National Day Of Prayer Proclamation Forgoes 'God' For 'Climate Change' And 'Racial Justice'" (Greg Price, Daily Caller)

An Open Letter to President Biden About Attacks on Religious Freedom (and Common Sense)

Dear President Biden,

Among the many outrageously immoral and socially destructive actions taken by your administration (requiring taxpayers to pay abortionists, eliminating conscience and free speech protections, funding terror-spreading nations, encouraging lawlessness in our nation’s cities and along our southern border, and so on), the audacious insistence of your administration to force even religious schools to make dorm rooms and bathrooms “unisex” may be the most irrational, mean-spirited, and tyrannical yet.

This remarkably bad policy came straight from you, Mr. President, and with the White House announcement coming so early in your tenure (as did your abortion zealotry), reveals how perverted are your priorities and how desperately despotic are your actions against the Constitution, against religious freedom, and against the sanctity of human life and family.

May God awaken your own conscience, perhaps by recalling to your heart the teachings of the Catholic Church that you are now so callously treading underfoot. May the Lord graciously persuade you to quickly (and thoroughly) repent and begin to repair the great damage you have already wrought.

We are pleased to learn that some are not yet giving in to your unfair and foolish demands.  For instance, we stand with Dr. Jerry Davis and the College of the Ozarks in their lawsuit against the Biden H.U.D. Department’s bizarre dictum regarding shared bathrooms and dorm rooms.  As Dr. Davis has said, “Religious freedom is under attack in America, and we won’t stand on the sidelines and watch. To threaten religious freedom is to threaten America itself.  College of the Ozarks will not allow politicians to erode this essential American right or the ideals that shaped America’s founding.”

We completely agree and have promised to pray for and actively support the College of the Ozarks in their defense against the Biden administration’s draconian overreach.  We will also be passing the word to others about your administration’s many anti-Constitutional moves.  And, of course, we will keep you and your colleagues in our prayers too as we ask the Lord to deliver you from the ideological irrationality to which you are now beholden.

Sincerely,

Denny Hartford     Omaha, Nebraska

The Latest GateKeeper List

* "Biden-Harris administration 'respectfully disagrees' with Catholic Church on experimentation using aborted children" (Nancy Flanders, Live Action)

* "An Ugly but Telling Reaction to Sen. Tim Scott’s Speech" (David Harsanyi, Daily Signal)

* "Cuomo Aides Hid COVID Nursing-Home Deaths for Months" (Zachary Evans, National Review)

* "Maxine Waters' Anti-Cop Rhetoric Is Getting Black People Killed" (Larry Elder, Daily Signal)

* "Pro-Life MP Faces 6 Years in Prison Because Finland Says Her Christian Views are 'Hate Speech'" (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* "The Monster Is in the Classroom: Schools indoctrinate children as young as eight in race and gender essentialism." (Erika Sanzi, City Journal)

* "Is Christian Cohabitation the New Norm?" (John Stonestreet & Shane Morris, Breakpoint)

The Prodigal Son: The Latest in VSM's Sunday Afternoon Series

As many of you know, the newest outreach of Vital Signs Ministries is our conducting an informal church service every Sunday afternoon at Aksarben Village Assisted Living. And we are profoundly blessed that those services have gone so well.  Last Sunday's service, for instance, saw 20 residents join Claire, Patrick, and me for a time of prayer, 3 wonderful music videos (which are projected onto a large screen and played through our speaker system), a 15-minute Bible lesson, and then almost an hour of visiting over coffee and cookies afterward. 

Links to the video of last Sunday's sermon as well as links to the songs we provided are below.

The sermon: "The Prodigal Son"

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (Carrie Underwood & CeCe Winans )

"When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" (A Gaither Gathering at the Church in the Wildwood)

"Bigger Than Any Mountain" (Makhan Sunday School)

Thinking, Talking, and Living in Expectation of Heaven

It's been a busy few weeks for Vital Signs Ministries with such diverse activities as prayer and sidewalk counseling outside the Planned Parenthood abortion business; presenting live "When Swing Was King" shows; preaching the Good Friday service at Herman Community Church (as well as the 15-minute sermons every Sunday in the new church services we're conducting at Aksarben Village Senior Living); doing the monthly LifeSharer letter and the 9-page activity packets for the residents of senior centers; our daily uploads on social media; a lot of correspondence; the various discipleship and networking meetings we have during the week, and hosting a Saturday morning brunch with 15 guests to enjoy a meal and discuss Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven.

Please remember that you can track our activities (and lift up more specific prayers for us) by connecting with us on our Facebook pages. Thanks!

Another Catch-Up Compilation

 Here's a few of the latest and best from the alternative media...

* The 10 radical new rules that are changing America" (Victor Davis Hanson, Fox News)

* "I’m a Capitalist, Mr. President, but You’re Not" (Cal Thomas, Daily Signal)

* "Kerrying Favor with the Ayatollahs" (Tony Perkins, Family Research Council)

* "Cuba Remains a Threat" (Nestor T. Carbonell, National Review)

* "Joe Biden Is Using Your Tax Dollars To Make American Kids Hate Their Country" (Joy Pullmann, Federalist)

* "These 107 Corporations Signal Opposition to Election Integrity" (Jarrett Stepman, Daily Signal) 

I Heard the News Today, Oh Boy!

Okay, the title of this post may not grab anybody below the age of 60 -- it does, after all come from a "A Day in the Life," one of the tracks from the Beatles' studio album Sgt. Pepper released in 1967 -- but the sentiment is fairly accurate. That is, here's a few articles reflecting news and opinion from the alternative media that you may hear nothing about from the establishment media. Let's go...

* "Senator John Kennedy: Defund Planned Parenthood, 'Stop Bankrolling America’s Largest Abortion Mill'" (Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com)

* "I Was a Black Teen in the ’60s. Don’t Believe Left’s Lies About 'Jim Crow' Election Reforms." (Kay C. James, Daily Signal)

* "In California, Hundreds of Men Transfer to Female Prisons" (John Stonestreet & Timothy D. Padgett, Breakpoint)

* "Stanford University Scientists Caught Using Aborted Babies’ Fingers in Tax-Funded Experiments" (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* "9 of Hollywood’s Biggest Acts of Hypocrisy: China, #MeToo, Guns, Climate Change, and More" (David Ng, Breitbart)

* "Why Biden Is Breaking America" (Nick Arama, Red State)

* "Wealthiest Cities in Bluest States Reap Windfall From Democrats’ COVID-19 'Stimulus'" (Fred Lucas, Daily Signal)

Of Loaves & Little Fishes (John 6: 1-14)

Denny gives a 15-minute talk here on the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes.  The life lesson from this sermon is to bring whatever we have, no matter how small, to Jesus Who has the power to make it sufficient.  There were also 3 lovely songs about the wonderful love of God for His children.

"Crown Him with Many Crowns" sung by Mass Choir, St. George's School, Madras, India  

"I Need Thee Every Hour" sung by The Wartburg Choir from Waverly, Iowa -- performed at Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany 

"I Don't Know About Tomorrow" sung by George Younce, Larry Ford, and a Gaither Family Reunion Chorus 

Vital Signs' Sunday Afternoon Church Service Is Going Very Well

Sunday afternoon church services at Aksarben Village Assisted Living represent the newest outreach of Vital Signs Ministries and we are delighted to say that things are going very well. At yesterday's service, for instance, 24 residents joined Claire and me, Patrick, Karla, and Ruth for a time of prayer, music videos (which are projected onto a large screen and played through our speaker system), a 15-minute Bible lesson, and then almost an hour of visiting over coffee and cookies afterward. What a terrific time we had. 

To give you a clearer picture, here is yesterday's order of service:

* A distribution of handouts as congregants arrive. (Handouts include order of service and lyrics to the songs which will be played.)

* Welcome and Opening Prayer

* Music: Crown Him With Many Crowns (Mass Choir, St George’s School, Madras, India)

* Music: I Need Thee Every Hour (The Wartburg Choir from Waverly, Iowa and performed at Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, Germany)

* Today’s Lesson: “Of Loaves and Little Fishes” (John 6: 1-14)

* Music: I Don’t Know About Tomorrow (George Younce, Larry Ford, and a Gaither Family Reunion Chorus)

* Closing Prayer

* Visitation Ministry

In addition to the on-site services, we have been recording the Bible lessons and making them available to whoever might find them of value, including the residents of other senior facilities. You can, by the way, find those on the Vital Signs Ministries YouTube channel right here. 

Are You Waiting For God?

If you’re like me, wait is an rather uncomfortable word.  I mean, who likes to wait?  Think of waiting at the DMV or other government offices. Think of the boredom and tension of the waiting room at the doctor’s office.  Even a short wait like the car warming up on a winter morning, being in line at the supermarket checkout, or keeping your foot off the gas pedal for a red light can be a bother to us.

Nevertheless, waiting is presented in the Bible as a necessary duty in the lives of God's people. The prophetic chapter of Isaiah 25, for instance, describes the faithful as reveling in the lavish banquet God has prepared as they joyfully declare, “Behold, this is our God for Whom we have waited that He might save us.”

The chapter makes clear that these are men and women from all eras and all nations whose faith in God was finally receiving its rewards, including a full knowledge of God and fellowship with Him, the elimination of death, the reconciliation of all things to their Creator, the comfort from all sorrows, and the ultimate triumph of His holy power.  

But, of course, there is that word there — wait. 

These believers had to wait for that sweet and forever day of victory. It didn’t come when they wanted it; it came at God’s appointed time. They had to wait on Him: patiently, devotedly, keeping their eyes not on the temporary trials of this sin-scarred earth but on the promised prize.

There are several other Scriptures which speak to this matter and, in various ways, they illustrate that waiting on God requires existential faith in the Lord’s promises and a confident expectation that His power, His love, His righteousness, and His wise purposes are perfect…even in their timing.  As we exercise faith in a God Who loves us and Who is sovereign over all circumstances, we can certainly endure. By the Spirit's power, we can maintain joy, loyal worship, and good deeds which shine God's light even in dark and difficult times.

We can, in a word, wait.  And, as Isaiah 25 shows, with its awesome pictures of God’s (and our) ultimate triumph, we will one great day testify that His glorious, liberating victory in our behalf was well worth the wait.