The Blessings of "When Swing Was King" (To the Givers as well as the Receivers)

Oh, the joys of being a part of the When Swing Was King ministry! Here are a few examples from yesterday’s presentations…

* “Your program is one of the best things about living here!”

* “I know you come every month but do you think you could come more often?”

* “We so look forward to the When Swing Was King shows. The music. The photographs. And all of the interesting stories you tell. It is always the high point of our week.”

* “You two do such an excellent job with these shows. It seems every one of them is better than the last. Thank you so much for all the work you put in. We really appreciate it.”

* From a staff member – “You know you guys could make a fortune if you could somehow market When Swing Was King and get it out across the country. It’s really a fabulous show and our residents absolutely love it. I know everyone else would too.”

* And finally, the sweetest blessing of all -- As Vaughn Monroe began to sing “When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World” (a number one song from 1943), our new friend, T…., a U.S. Navy veteran who survived kamikaze attacks on his troop transport in the Pacific in the final year of WWII, stretched across to embrace his wife while they listened to this lovely, poignant song.

I looked over and saw Claire had noticed the same scene. She turned to me with tears in her eyes but a big smile on her face and I knew we were thinking the same thing; namely, “Lord, thank You for letting us bring such tender moments to these dear people -- moments that not only bring a respite to seniors dealing with loneliness, boredom, and the anxiety of aging bodies, but which also create a effective bridge to memory, beauty, love, patriotism, fun, and friendship. It is so cool to be a part of this.”

Melinda Gates a Heroine? An Open Letter to Costco

Dear Costco,

I have appreciated your general policy in keeping your company out of the intense controversies that so divide the country. Therefore, I was greatly disappointed to see you feature Melinda Gates, one of the most prominent and powerful proponents of abortion, in the cover story of the May issue of your magazine. To hail someone who has championed so ardently for surgical and chemical abortion (under such deliberately deceptive terms as “family planning” and “reproductive health care”) is to join in the sorrowful business. And that’s much different than avoiding the tensions of the culture wars.

The article does emphasize that there are grave, complicated problems that need to be addressed throughout the world. And those problems do include health care, malnutrition, housing, transportation, empowerment and responsibility. But the answers to such difficulties will never be solved by organizations that so utterly fail to appreciate the inherent right to life of all human beings...including the unborn children that are so crassly dismissed by pro-abortion organizations like the Gates Foundation.

By the way, one of the photos that accompanied that story showed Gates involved with a project organized by Marie Stopes International, one of the largest, most notorious abortion businesses in the world. Very sad.

I humbly suggest that Costco be more sensitive to the moral convictions of so many of your family and faith-oriented customers and therefore carefully avoid highlighting people, organizations, and ideologies that present such extreme and, in this case, such unjust and violent actions as destroying preborn boys and girls.

Thank you for your consideration of this very serious matter.

Rev. Dennis Hartford
Director, Vital Signs Ministries
Omaha, Nebraska

Lenin's "Grave" Mistake

On the Paradox of Christians Caring for the Sick

“Of all men, we hope most of death; yet nothing will reconcile us to — well, it’s unnaturalness. We know that we are not made for it; we know how it crept into our destiny as an intruder; and we know Who has defeated it. Because our Lord is risen we know that on one level it is an enemy already disarmed; but because we know that the natural level also is God’s creation we cannot cease to fight against the death which mars it, as against all those other blemishes upon it, against pain and poverty, barbarism and ignorance. Because we love something else more than this world we love even this world better than those who know no other.” (C.S. Lewis from the essay, Some Thoughts, written one evening in 1948 at the White Horse Inn at Drogheda, Ireland at the request of the Medical Missionaries of Mary who founded Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital there.The essay was one of many later published in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics by C.S. Lewis published in 1970.)

An Embarrassing Problem for Darwinians

Here is a slightly edited note from a Vital Signs Blog post of more than ten years ago; July 18, 2008 to be exact. But it's content is as relevant as ever and even the article I mention at the conclusion is still online. Check it out.

“When a butterfly has to look like a leaf, not only are all the details of a leaf beautifully rendered but markings mimicking grub-bored holes are generously thrown in. ‘Natural Selection,’ in the Darwinian sense, could not explain the miraculous coincidence of imitative aspect and imitative behavior, nor could one appeal to the theory of "the struggle for life" when a protective device was carried to a point of mimetic subtlety, exuberance, and luxury far in excess of a predator's power of appreciation. I discovered in nature the non-utilitarian delights that I sought in art. Both were a form of magic, both were a game of intricate enchantment and deception.”

The above paragraph was written, not by William Jennings Bryan or Billy Sunday, but by the decidedly irreligious author of Lolita and Pale Fire (and, more importantly for my money, the translator of Pushkin), Vladimir Nabokov.

It turns out that Nabokov served as the curator of lepidoptera (butterflies) at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology in the 1940s. In fact, according to his biographer, Nabokov “became the authority on the little-studied blue butterflies (polyommatini) of North and South America” and was “a pioneer in the study of butterflies' microscopic anatomy, distinguishing otherwise almost identical blues by differences in their genital parts.” And besides his novels and short stories, he published articles in such scientific journals as The Entomologist, The Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, The Lepidopterists' News, and Psyche: A Journal of Entomology.

Of course, this creates a problem of embarrassment in the secular academic circles where Nabokov's literary work has been so highly regarded. I mean, what’s with a renowned liberal humanist vigorously disputing evolution -- and doing so from the most intricate and informed scientific reasoning?

Richard Dawkins, call your office.

Here's more from the Discovery Institute.

A Few More Letters

As promised a couple of days ago, here are a few more letters written at last Saturday morning's letter-writing party.

To the CEO of Walmart regarding a homosexual dating ad recently appearing on the company’s website: Dear Mr. McMillon,

Good grief!  What is Walmart doing having a homosexual ad on your website?  You have always promoted yourselves as a family store and now you’ve decided to be unnecessarily political by using this ad.

Please get back to selling and not advocating social issues that would cause people (like me!) to stop coming to your store.

Attorney General Barr,

We are so glad to see you, at last, at the helm of this ridiculous investigation of our President and “Russian collusion”!  Finally, an adult has entered the room!

God bless you and your efforts.

Franklin Graham and all Samaritan’s Purse workers,

You are really making a difference for the flood victims in Nebraska.  My husband was blessed in working with your team who were efficient and blessed many people with spiritual as well as physical help.

Thank you.

Dear Senator LaGrone,

Thank you for opposing LB627 which is good news.  Other bills I encourage you to oppose are LB 629, 503, 423 & 167.  These bills break the moral foundation of human good will and break down the fabric for a strong state regarding sound family environment.

LB141 is a good bill and I encourage you to support.

Thank you for serving our state.

Senator Sasse,

Thank you for your work to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor for a vote. God bless you!

Joni & Ken Tada,

We are praying for your healing.  Your daily devotionals have so encouraged us and we have gotten others to sign up for them.  Now, we want to encourage you both in this journey.  Your faith and courage is a model for us all.

Blessings in bunches!

Dear Mr. President,

We are so encouraged by your leadership to correct our “ship of state.”  Please hold steady on Israel, the economy, and protection of our border!

May God bless you, your lovely wife and family.  You all are in our prayers daily.

Dear Joni,

So sad to hear of a reoccurring cancer bout.  Our hearts are in prayer for you.

God has so mightily used you for His kingdom purposes, where so many downtrodden have been lifted up and given the hope that comes from giving the gospel to desperate and needy people.

We all look to the day when the transfer of these bodies will put on the new.  In the meantime, thank you for displaying Christ before a desperate and needy world.

Dear President Trump,

Thank you for supporting family values and for defunding Planned Parenthood.  Thanks for publicly standing for life and your speech encouraging us at the March for Life. God bless you in all your ways as you seek Him.

Dear Secretary DeVos,

We are grateful to have you serving in the Education Dept.  We are concerned about the “gender identity” issue as it affects school athletics, specifically Title IX.

Trans-boys are still men in build and strength and will usually beat even strong girls.  How does this advance women’s sports?  Please apply some common sense to this issue.  Let the birth certificate be your guide.

Dear Mr. McMillon,

We are very disappointed in your caving in to immoral groups instead of standing for family interests.

I have boycotted Target for many years and have favored Walmart.  Now I feel like you have left me with no choice to shop in a family-friendly store.

Please consider your ways and return to the founding fathers of your company.  You still can do what’s right in God’s eyes.

Dear Senator Lindstrom,

There are a few bills sitting in committee that deal with supporting and encouraging abortion.  Please vote against bills LB 629, LB 503, and  LB 423.  We have made great strides in curtailing women from getting abortions.  There are wonderful pregnancy centers in Nebraska that work very hard to provide life-saving programs.  Don’t make their jobs harder by voting for these bills.

Speaking Truth to Power (Through Letters)

In this post I'm going to drop in a few of the letters I wrote at last Saturday morning's brunch version of Vital Signs Ministries' longstanding series of letter-writing parties. In the next day or two, I'll post a few samples of letters and notes written by others at the gathering. They are all posted, however, in high hopes that you will be inspired to write a few of your own.

Remember, lighting candles is always better than just cursing the darkness!

Dear President Trump,

Wow! What a remarkable job you are doing -- for the cause of freedom, for the national interest, for the hopes to rebuild in America a culture that again respects and protects life. We are profoundly grateful and we thank the Lord for blessing you with special courage, wisdom, and compassion. You are a man for our time; there’s no doubt.  

In particular, we want to again thank you for your efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and for your strategic, vocal support of the pro-life movement.   

However, if I may, I’d like to urge you to reconsider two policy courses: 

1) Could you please increase U.S. offers to legally bring in legal immigrants among those refugees who are fleeing persecution because of their Christian convictions? I agree with your desires to get tougher on illegal immigration and to allow in fewer overall numbers. But way too many persecuted Christians who could become legal and productive members of American society are being left out. Remember, they possess a faith that aligns them with American values, rather than so many of those crossing our southern border who do not share the ideals of democracy, justice, responsibility, family, and respect for law. 

 And 2) Please remove Secretary Acosta. He and his policies are not a good fit for your team and, more important, not a good fit the American economy and workplace.   

Again, we are so grateful for the way you leading the United States and, by strengthening our national defense and our moral fiber, also serving the cause of freedom throughout the world.

Dear Attorney General Barr,  

Oh my! Is it ever time to “drain the swamp” in the nation’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies! And it’s also way past time to move past the false charges, character assassination, and outright lies that were used to try smear the Trump presidency and move instead to the investigation of possible crimes perpetrated by the Clinton campaign and the Obama-era FBI and other agencies.  

Thank you so much.

Dear Senator Sasse,

A quick note of thanks for your superb work on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. No matter what happens with this bill in the U.S. Congress (and we still pray fervently it will soon pass), it has already had a huge impact in the cultural battles over the sanctity of life. Really terrific!  

Thank you also for your stirring remarks at the Assure Women’s Center banquet a couple of weeks ago and at the Walk for Life down in Lincoln last January. You are a sterling example of a politician that is pro-life in action and not just at the fish frys!

Again thanks. And please stay the course.

Dear Secretary DeVos,  

Thank you for your principled, wise, and courageous service in behalf of our nation and, specifically, to the cause of improving the education of its youth.

However, I do have some profound concerns about the state of education in the U.S. As a former teacher, for instance, I remain greatly disturbed at the crucial problems of crime, bullying, anti-Christian and anti-American propaganda, the suppression of religious freedom, and what seems to be an ever-increasing failure to teach basic skills in the schools.

And added to these grave problems nowadays are the pressures to promote “sexual nonsense” like shared bathrooms and showers, girls taking their place on boys’ wrestling squads, drag queens leading “story times” at elementary schools, Planned Parenthood’s gross and wildly counter-productive sex ed programs, and political propaganda (always from one direction only) being delivered on a daily basis.

We are praying earnestly that you and the present administration can make serious progress in meeting these problems. 

Thank you.

Keeping Up With It All?

Are you managing to keep up with the best stuff from the alternative media? Of course not. Not even the most devoted “news junkie” among us can do so nowadays. There's just too much craziness and moral ugliness to report on. Nevertheless, I try to occasionally drop in here a compilation post of some of the “best of the best” dealing with matters important to pro-life, pro-freedom activists. So, here's the latest.

* “Four Arguments for GOP Politicians Serious about Defunding Planned Parenthood” (Alexandra DeSanctis, National Review)

* “Students, alumni [of Christian college] outraged, ‘shaking’ after Vice President Pence invited to give commencement” (Caleb Parke, Fox News)

* “House Democrats Introduce Bill Forcing Schools to Allow Boys on Girls Sports Teams” (Warner Todd Huston, Breitbart)

* “Will The Democratic Party Faithful Ever Notice Their Leaders Are Crazy?” (Warren Henry, The Federalist)

* “Are There Any Limits to Illegal Immigration?” (Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness)

* “The collusion lie came at a tremendous cost” (Newt Gingrich, Fox News)

* “Seattle’s Revolt of the Elites” (Christopher F. Rufo, City Journal)

* “Google Caves to the Intolerant Left, Betraying Its Own Ideals” (Helle Dale, Daily Signal)

* “Christian athlete sacked from Australia Rugby team for quoting Bible on homosexuality” (Martin M. Barillas, LifeSiteNews)

* “Today, You Pay Your Federal Taxes. Tomorrow Is the Real Tax Freedom Day.” (Rachel Greszler, Daily Signal)

When the World Presses In, Remember Heaven

Okay, it's official. The world is in a horrific condition.

And being a Christian committed to living a godly lifestyle, spreading the gospel, building a culture of life and, yes, battling the spiritual forces who would do us in can create a little stress from time to time. Right?

The issue then becomes what to do to stay on top of our circumstances when they start pressing in.  Here's a few important answers.

1) Pray for strength and wisdom.

2) Take God seriously and yourself less so.

3) Use the vertigo caused by dizzying problems to better relish the security that is ours in heaven. As the old country hymn goes:

This world is not my home;
I’m just a passin’ through.
My treasure is laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

O Lord, You know I have no friend like You.
If heaven weren’t my home, O Lord, what would I do?
No, those angels beckon me from heaven’s open door.
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

And 4) after being renewed in spirit as you contemplate spending eternity in the serenity, beauty and glory of Christ's presence, remember to “press back” by continuing to serve the Lord.  Whether or not we feel like it, whether or not it seems convenient, whether or not there will be anybody applauding or standing alongside — we have a responsibility to keep God’s priorities in view and, as faithfully as possible, to carry them out with perseverance, principle, and even pizazz!

One more important note. If your ideas of heaven are kinda' fuzzy and they don't provide the kind of valuable consolation and excitement I refer to above, please put Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven and Joni Eareckson Tada's Heaven: Your Real Home on your immediate "to read" list!

Don't put it off. I'm telling you, these books will change your life. And yes, if you've read them before, read 'em again. The times require it.

P.S. One of the books mentioned above is the focus in our next Vital Signs book discussion series. In fact, it is so valuable a read that we are actually offering 2 different times for it. Joni Earckson Tada has recently published an updated and expanded edition of Heaven: Your Real Home and, believe me, it’s even better than the first one.  Those discussion parties will be 1) a brunch discussion on Saturday, May 11th at 10:00 AM and 2) Tuesday evening with dessert at 7:00 PM on May 14th.  RSVPs are required. 

Where the Greatest Still Play

We start this month’s “When Swing Was King” schedule of 11 senior care facilities tomorrow and, as always, we will be sharing a fresh collection of 12 original songs from the big band era, over 200 inspiring photographs from those same years, a program narration that takes an interesting look back at the featured musicians, and the opportunity for sharing with one another wonderful memories and fellowship.

We will also be handing out to our audiences this month copies of our 4-page quarterly newsletter, complete with a big band quiz and plenty of other trivia, nifty quotations, and a personal note from Claire and me. If you would like to check out that newsletter, you can do so in the collection we’ve uploaded on the Vital Signs Ministries website right here.

All in all, March would be a fantastic time for you to drop in on one of our shows. We love to have visitors and our audiences do too. The schedule and locations can be found (also at the Vital Signs Ministries website) right here.

And, by the way, here is the songlist for this month’s terrific program:

1) Glenn Miller Orchestra (with the vocals of Ray Eberle) — “When You Wish Upon a Star”

2) Nat King Cole (backed by a swinging Billy May studio band) — “Let’s Face the Music and Dance”

3) Harry James Orchestra — “Crazy Rhythm”

4) Artie Shaw Orchestra (with vocals by Helen Forrest) — “I Have Eyes”

5) The Andrews Sisters (backed by the Eddie Haywood band) — “The House of Blue Lights”

6) Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra — “Blue Room”

7) Andy Williams — “Days of Wine and Roses”

8) Tommy Dorsey Orchestra — “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”

9) Dennis Day (backed by Frank De Vol Orchestra) — “Where or When”

10) Gene Krupa Orchestra (with vocals by Carolyn Grey) — “They Didn’t Believe Me”

11) Benny Goodman Sextet — “Rose Room”

12) Frank Sinatra (backed by the Count Basie Orchestra) — “Fly Me to the Moon”

Great, great stuff! So, why don’t you make plans to come along for the happening? Again, the schedule is right here.

Monday Morning Reality Check

Here's a selection of some of the best “dispatches from the front” of the culture wars.

* “Cast Into the Outer Darkness: An Open Letter to Facebook — A Christian human rights activist and Stream contributor loses her account. Facebook rejects her appeal and walls off further communication.” (Faith McDonnell, The Stream)

* “On Christian Millennials Who Believe Evangelism is Wrong” (Chelsea Vicari, Juicy Ecumenism)

* “Kamala Harris Is Wrong. Keep the World’s Oldest Profession Illegal” (Scott Yenor, Daily Signal)

* “In Defense of Women’s Sports” (Rich Lowry, National Review)

* “Drunk Driving is a Violent Crime” (Helen Witty, President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving)

* “Boycott Girl Scout Cookies, They Partner With Groups That Promote Abortion” (Jane Chastain, LifeNews.com)

* “The Folly of Solar Energy” (John Hinderaker, Power Line)

* “Recycling Is a Waste” (Kyle Smith, National Review)

Weekend Catch Up

* “The Greatest Constitutional Crisis Since the Civil War” (Conrad Black, American Greatness)

* “Takeaways from the House Democrats’ Cohen Hearing” (Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review)

* “California’s Rendezvous With Reality” (Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness)

* “The Destruction of Venice Beach Epitomizes California’s Idiocracy” (Edward Ring, American Greatness)

* “Florida’s economy is booming while blue states like New York are mired in debt. Why is that?” (Cal Thomas, Fox News)

* “Bill Maher mocks Middle Americans as less ‘affluent and educated,’ saying ‘they want to be us.’” (Paulina Dedaj, Fox News)

* “Lying with science: a guide to myth debunking” (Matt Ridley, Spectator USA)

* “Why Social Justice Is Killing Synagogues and Churches” (Joel Kotkin, Tablet)

Outrage Alert!

Causes for outrage? You'd better believe it. However, let that anger be righteous and channeled into proper responses like intercession, advocacy of holy solutions (including letters and calls to the relevant people), spreading the word to others, and encouraging individuals who are working for God's truth in these critical culture wars.

* “Cecile Richards: Force Christian Doctors and Nurses to Perform Abortions” (Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com)

* “The U.S. Sends Millions to Countries That Persecute Their Own Citizens — for Being Christian” (Kerby Anderson, EPM Blog)

* “Christian adoption agency sues New York after state tries to shut it down” (Caleb Parke, Fox News)

* “Girl Scouts Join Planned Parenthood at Huge Pro-Abortion Conference” (Sydney Volanski, LifeNews.com)

* “CBS’ Lara Logan Just Exposed Leftist Media Bias. Again. So Why Do So Many Media Members Ignore The Criticism?” (Ben Shapiro, Daily Wire)

* “Crash that killed woman was driver's 6th DUI in 9 years, police say” (Amy Lieu, Fox News)

* “The Jussie Smollett Haox and the Media’s Tribal War on America” (Daniel Greenfield, FrontPage Mag)

* “Chicago Police Chief: Smollett Staged Hate Crime because He Was ‘Dissatisfied with His Salary’” (Jack Crowe, National Review)

The Wild Knights & That Printer of Udell's

“Many of Reagan’s accomplishments, as well as his outlook on life, can be traced back to that dog-eared copy of That Printer of Udell’s.” (John Fund, Senior Editor of the American Spectator and popular National Review columnist)

On Saturday, March 23rd at 10:00 AM, Denny & Claire Hartford will be hosting the latest discussion of the Wild Knight Book Club. This time around it’s a Saturday brunch with bagels, scones, fruit, coffee and tea.

And the book? Harold Bell Wright’s classic novel, That Printer of Udell’s.

Would you like to read (and discuss with friends) the book that made such a profound difference on Ronald Reagan? Of course! So why not plan on joining us Saturday morning, March 23 at 10. RSVPs are required but very easy to do. Call, email, or send us a private message via Facebook.

“I found a role model in that traveling printer whom Harold Bell Wright had brought to life. He set me on a course I’ve tried to follow even unto this day. I shall always be grateful.” (Ronald Reagan, in a letter to Harold B. Wright’s daughter-in-law in 1984.)

For Your Weekend Reflections

* “After Ralph Northam, The ‘Bodily Autonomy’ Argument For Abortion Is Shot” (Lauren Enriquez, The Federalist)

* “Planned Parenthood Launches New Sex Ed Videos Targeting 4 to 9-Year-Old Kids” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “Can the Democrats ever get over their anti-Israel bias?” (By Michael Goodwin, New York Post)

* “Why the left are so scared of Turning Point” (Douglas Murray, Spectator USA)

* “Political Journalists Are Trying To Gaslight America: When conventional media bias won't do the trick” (David Harsanyi, The Federalist)

* “Huh? Despite Being Shot, Dems Blocked Steve Scalise From Testifying on Gun Violence” (Katie Pavlich Katie Pavlich, Town Hall)

* “California must pay pro-life group’s legal fees following crisis pregnancy ruling” (Staff writers, LifeSite News)

* “Catholic pastor who gave pulpit to same-sex couple ‘sorry for’ those offended” (Dorothy Cummings, LifeSite News)

* “Debate judge disqualifies high school students for citing ‘racist’ Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro” (Martin M. Barillas, LifeSite News)

* “San Francisco’s Liberal Policies Have Made It a Slum” (John Stossel, Daily Signal)

Green with Envy: The Best Articles on the Democrats' "Green New Deal"

* “The 10 Most Insane Requirements Of The Green New Deal: The Green New Deal isn't just un-American, it's also completely bonkers.” (David Harsanyi, Federalist)

* “Green New Deal Backers Embrace Their Fantasies” (Jonah Goldberg, National Review via Town Hall)

* “‘New Green Deal’ = New Green Hoax” (Tammy Bruce, Washington Post via Fox News)

* “The Same Old Deal” (The Editors at National Review)

* “Green New Deal Would Barely Change Earth’s Temperature. Here Are the Facts.” (Nicolas Loris, Daily Signal)

* “The Green Raw Deal” (Erick Erickson, Town Hall)

The State of the Union...and of the Culture Wars

* “Trump's Comments About Abortion at the State of the Union Were Historic” (Michael Brown, Town Hall)

* “Life Is Under Attack” (Vice-President Mike Pence, National Review)

* “Media Misses: Bias Exposed Over Abortion Extremism” (Jarrett Stepman, Daily Signal)

* “A Defining Moment in Obama's Legacy” (Terry Jeffrey, Town Hall)

* “When Democrats Accidentally Told The Truth, America Hated It, & The Media Tried To Pretend It Never Happened.” (Kevin McCullough, Town Hall)

* “Democrats have made a sharp left turn – Here's what's behind it” (William J. Bennett, Fox News)

* “The Pope's Stubborn Silence on the Persecution of Christians” (Giulio Meotti, Gatestone Institute)

* “Ignoring Biology Doesn’t Make It Less Real” (Walter E. Williams, Daily Signal)

* “This Is What Anti-Christian Bigotry Looks Like” (David French, National Review)

The Monthly Letter: The March, the Walk, and More

“I’m actually writing this February LifeSharer letter even before January is finished.That’s unusual. But I’m doing so because I wanted to review for you (while they are still fresh in my memory) some of Claire’s and my experiences at the March for Life in Washington D.C. and the Nebraska Walk for Life in Lincoln. And I’ll also include a few photos from the Washington March. So, let’s get right to it.”

Reflections on the March for Life

Dear friends of Vital Signs Ministries, February 2019

Reading for the Weekend

From the alternative media (as opposed to the fake news created by the
authoritarian left), here are a few of the best and most important articles from recent days.

* “The Left’s Use of Intimidation to Silence Christians” (Katrina Trinko, Daily Signal)

* “Planned Parenthood’s Annual Report Is Out. Here’s What You Need to Know” (Melanie Israel, Daily Signal)

* “The Infanticide Craze” (Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review)

* “Letter to a young pro-lifer: Young activists are our new cultural heroes, but I feel a little fear for you” (Kristen Grant, Mercator)

* “Black Lives Only Matter If They Are Taken by Whites” (Armstrong Williams, Daily Signal)

* “The Demonizing of White Men” (Walter E. Williams, Daily Signal)

* “WHY ‘GREEN’ ENERGY IS FUTILE, IN ONE LESSON” (JOHN HINDERAKER, Power Line)

* “Who will look after the elderly in Germany?: The care worker industry is in trouble.” (Marcus Roberts, Mercator)

And finally, here's a hear-warming, inspirational review of the latest outreach of Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan's Purse.

What's Happening...And Why?

Here's a few important dispatches from the culture wars.

* “Today’s Left Now Openly Aims To Make Christians Second-Class Citizens” (Nathanael Blake, Federalist)

* “Newt Gingrich: Democrats and Never Trumpers will put Trump back in the White House in 2020” (Newt Gingrich, Fox News)

* “Why Are We Trying to Gain the (Moral) Approval of the Left?” (Michael Brown, The Stream)

* “‘Don’t Be Evil’ Axis: Google Blacklisting Conservative Search Results” (Jeremy Carl, Federalist)

* “A Federal Appeals Court Just Took a Big Swing at Planned Parenthood” (Kevin Daley, Daily Signal)

* “Abortion: the original sin of the UN human rights project” (Stefano Gennarini, Mercator)

* “Wheaton College Under Scrutiny Over Race, Abortion, and ‘Offensive Rhetoric’ Talks” (Chelsea Vicari, Juicy Ecumenism)

* “Urbana 18 Speaker Dismisses God’s Holiness in Sermon to Students on ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’” (Joshua Arnold, Juicy Ecumenism)

New York's Brazen Celebration of Death

Ellie Bufkin over at Bright writes about a symbol of freedom turned into a “celebration of Death” —

“On Tuesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed that One World Trade Center light its high-reaching spire in pink as a celebration of the passing of the Reproductive Health Act which made the ability to kill unborn children simpler and more accessible in New York than ever before.

Since its erection, the One World Trade Center has served as a symbol of freedom and a monument to the lives lost on 9/11. It often lights up in different colors to celebrate holidays, to recognize victims of abuse, and to remind us of nearly 3,000 people killed by terrorism. On Friday it was used as a sickening tool to promote the demented ideology of those that believe unborn babies do not have the right to their own life.”

And, on the same sad matter, here’s Marlo Safi at National Review —

“It’s not only perverse to ‘celebrate’ this inhumane legislation on the site where thousands of innocent lives were lost, including the lives of the eleven unborn children who were killed that day and whose names are engraved in the memorial. It’s a testament to the culture of death and the insidious attempts of those who flaunt abortion as anything other than the forsaking of human dignity to deceive us into believing that some humans are just not enough. It’s evidence that the most pressing social-justice issue of not only our time but possibly the next generation’s will be the mass slaughter of unborn infants and the exploitation of poor and minority women, who deserve a feminism that is nonviolent and just.”

Fake News Has a Purpose: Reviewing the Covington Students Story

* “A Fast Forward Look at the 2019 March for Life” (Students for Life)

* “Rush Limbaugh: NRO Pushed Covington Hoax to Win ‘Approval of the Mainstream Media’” (Robert Kraychik, Breitbart)

* “Call-Out Conservatives Join the Left’s Lynch Mob” (Julie Kelly, American Greatness)

* “President Trump: Covington Catholic Students ‘Treated Unfairly,’ ‘Smeared by Media’” (Kyle Morris, Breitbart)

* “Lawyer for Covington Catholic HS Families Threatens Lawsuits Against Media Unless They Retract False Stories” (Debra Heine Jane, PJ Media)

* “Sue the B*****ds: Updated” (John Hinderaker, Power Line)

* “What the right should learn from Covington Catholic flap” (Jack Cashill, American Thinker)

* “Covington Catholic diocese sticks to its calumny against its kids” (Monica Showalter, American Thinker)

Keeping Posted (Part Three)

* “Planned Parenthood Admits Its Focus Is Abortion” (Tony Perkins, Daily Signal)

* “The Racist Speech a Christian College Doesn’t Want the Public to Hear” (Ryan Bomberger, Town Hall)

* “The Frustrating Flip-Flopping of Politicians Over the Border Wall” (Cal Thomas, Daily Signal)

* “Vatican (Briefly) Commemorates Cuba's Stalinist Revolution” (Humberto Fontova, Town Hall)

* “Opposing Honors for Angela Davis Isn’t Racist” (Jonathan S. Tobin, National Review)

* “The Problem Isn’t the Poor. It’s Young Men on Welfare Who Could Be Working” (Star Parker, Daily Signal)

* “Is The Bike-Lane Fever Breaking?” (Jeff Jacoby, Town Hall)

* “As Religious Separation Increases, Religious Bigotry Will Abound” (David French, National Review)

Keeping Posted (Part Two)

* “As employees speak out, Planned Parenthood’s mask begins to crack” (Carole Novielli, Live Action)

* “Millennial Socialism 101” (Rich Lowry, National Review)

* “Millennial Christians Are Often Wrong about Patriotism” (Ben Palka, Providence)

* “Imagine Nations Were Selfless — It’s No Paradise” (Brad Littlejohn, Providence)

* “The Trump ‘Resistance’: Right-Wing Racists Bad, Left-Wing Racists Not So Much” (Larry Elder, Town Hall)

* “Heathens hold religious services rooted in Norse paganism aboard aircraft carrier” (J.D. Simkins, Navy Times)

* “You Can’t Make This Up: A Speech Code that Investigates Students for Discussing the Freedom of Speech” (Ilya Shapiro & Patrick Moran, Cato Institute)

* “Anniversary of a Fake News Classic by The New York Times” (Humberto Fontova, Town Hall)

Keeping Posted (Part One)

Well, the government may be (kinda') shut down but that doesn't mean that culture, politics, and the world of current affairs are not still dizzily spinning around. So here’s a rundown of some of the most important  articles you may have missed.

* “Faith’s Top 10 International Religious Liberty Stories of 2018” (Faith McDonnell, Juicy Ecumenism)

* “60 Million Christians Gear Up for Big Tech Censorship Battle After Facebook Franklin Graham Block” (Tyler O’Neil, PJ Media)

* “Abortion: It’s for the Children!” (John Stonestreet, BreakPoint)

* “The Most Successful Coverup” (Jed Babbin, American Spectator)

* “An Epidemic of Erasures, Redactions, Omissions, and Perjuries” (Victor Davis Hanson, American Greatness)

* “Planned Parenthood is 41 Times More Likely to Abort a Baby Than Provide Prenatal Care” (Paul Stark, LifeNews.com)

* “There’s A National Emergency On The Border, But It’s Not What You Think” (John Daniel Davidson, Federalist)

* “Man Awakens After 12 Years in a ‘Vegetative State,’ Says ‘I Was Aware of Everything’” (Sarah Zagorski, LifeNews.com)

Just One of the Reasons We Support the Tim Tebow Foundation

7 Stories for the 7th Day of Christmas

* “Abortion Activist Claims Infant Baptisms Violate a Baby’s Human Rights” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “Colorado Is Still Trying to Destroy Jack Phillips” (David Harsanyi, Daily Signal)

* “Women’s March, Sponsors Silent on Anti-Semitism Allegations” (Alexandra DeSanctis, National Review)

* “Follow the (Climate Change) Money” (Stephen Moore, Town Hall)

* “Mueller Investigation Stirring Up More Trouble Than It’s Finding” (Victor Davis Hanson, Daily Signal)

* “Fallout Continues from Azusa Pacific Sexuality Compromise” (Joshua Arnold, Juicy Ecumenism)

* “Institutional Exemptions and the Sacrifice of Principle” (Rick Plasterer, Juicy Ecumenism)

Your 3rd Day of Christmas Compilation

Okay, while you've been making merry, here's a few articles from the culture wars that you may have missed.

* “President Trump’s Decision to Defund International Planned Parenthood Cost It $100 Million” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “Planned Parenthood facing claims of bias and discrimination against mothers and women planning parenthood” (AUL)

* “Christians ‘Standing in the Way’ of China's Xi Jinping's Totalitarian Rule” (George Thomas, CBN News)

* “William Barr Knows What the Pro-Choice People Are Really Up To. That’s Why They’re Panicking” (Rob Schwarzwalder, The Stream)

* “What the Oppression of Women Actually Looks Like” (Marlo Safi, National Review)

* “California Burning: How the Greens Turned the Golden State Brown” (Edward Ring, American Greatness)

* “Is Kavanaugh Keeping a Promise to Pro-Choice Susan Collins?” (John Zmirak, The Stream)

* “Why Economic Freedom Is a Proven Antidote to the Scourge of Human Trafficking” (Anthony B. Kim, Daily Signal)

Your Pre-Christmas Compilation

Okay, while you've been out Christmas caroling through the countryside, here's a few key articles about what's been happening in the culture wars that you may have missed.

* “IRD’s Top 10 Evangelical News Stories of 2018” (Chelsea Vicari, Juicy Ecumenism)

* “No Surprise Boy Scouts Headed for the Ash Heap” (Cal Thomas, Daily Signal)

* “Former Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic Manager: ‘It’s a Demonic Organization’” (Micaiah Bilger, LifeNews.com)

* “Will We Abandon Syria's Christians?” ( Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin & Travis Weber, FRC’s Washington Update)

* “Don’t Expect New, Unbiased Social Media Anytime Soon” (Saurabh Sharma, National Review)

* “Democrats Vs. Ordinary Catholic Guys” (Rod Dreher, American Conservative)

* “The U.N. Gives Palestinian Terrorists a Free Pass” (David May, National Review)

* “Masterpiece Cakeshop Baker Jack Phillips Now Facing Lawsuit for Refusing to Make ‘Gender Transition’ Cake” (Brianna Heldt, Town Hall)

* “Texas City Featured in Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Sequel’ Lost Millions in Its Green Energy Gamble” (Michael Bastasch, Daily Signal)

Let My People Go: Advocacy Letters to Persecuting Nations

As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, the Vital Signs Ministries’ Christmas card party produced (among the 140 letters and cards we wrote) colorful cards to 14 Christians being unjustly persecuted and imprisoned in places like China and Eritrea merely because of their faith in Jesus.  We sent each prisoner 3 different Christmas cards with different greetings and Scripture verses in their own language. Thank you to Voice of the Martyrs website for that service.

Well, related directly to the cause of these brothers and sisters in Christ, we also wrote letters to the ambassadors and other diplomats representing the offending nations: China, Eritrea, Indonesia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Iran.

I print an example below as an encouragement for your prayers and perhaps, your letters also.

Dear Ambassador,

We, the undersigned, urge you to please demonstrate fresh justice and compassion in regards to the sad plight of prisoners in your country who are experiencing unfair and harsh imprisonment because of their Christian faith. We specifically intercede today for ————————————.

Please recognize that sincere Christians represent a blessing to your nation as they are morally upright, diligent workers, respectful, kindhearted, and generous. They do not seek to undermine the State but rather to enhance its strength and culture through prayers, devotion to family life, and peaceful service.

To mistreat persons merely because of religious differences (or other acts of conscience) is a tragic mistake, one that frustrates, angers, and saddens people of tolerance and goodwill throughout the world. Please act quickly to open the jail cells of those enduring undeserved punishment for their religious faith. 

“Religious freedom, an essential requirement of the dignity of every person, is a cornerstone of the structure of human rights, and for this reason, an irreplaceable factor in the good of individuals and of the whole of society as well as of the personal fulfillment of each individual.” (John Paul II)

Thank you for your consideration of this crucial human rights matter.

Respectfully,

Okay, Now Christmas Is Underway!

Well, let's see now. We have had our first Christmas party and we have had a very successful Christmas card party with 11 of us writing nearly 140 Christmas cards to political leaders, businesses, Christian heroes, and persecuted Christians in other nations. And Claire and I have attended “Christmas at the Cathedral” at St. Cecilia’s and Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Holland. We have watched Miracle on 34th Street, read a few Christmas-themed books, and started listening to Christmas music. We have even started to pass out CDs of Patrick Osborne’s latest music creation, Winter Night.

But it isn’t really Christmas until we’ve started in to the presentations of the Christmas “When Swing Was King” shows at area senior care centers! And that began (the first of 12) yesterday afternoon.

We are cordially inviting you to come along and enjoy the marvelous sights, sounds, memories, and holiday visits of these beautiful and festive events. The schedule is on the Vital Signs Ministries website and here is the songlist to help get you in the mood.

1) Benny Goodman Orchestra — “Jingle Bells”
2) Jerry Vale — “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
3) Frank Sinatra — “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
4) Mills Brothers — “O Come All Ye Faithful”
5) Gene Autry — “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
6) The Lennon Sisters — “Hark the Herald”
7) Perry Como — “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”
8) Nat King Cole — “O Holy Night”
9) Woody Herman Orchestra — “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”
10) Judy Garland — “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
11) Glenn Miller Orchestra — “Silent Night”
12) Bing Crosby — “White Christmas”

Among That Christmas Card Pile

Among the 140 cards written at Saturday morning’s Christmas card party were those sent to President Trump and many other national political leaders; Governor Ricketts and many other state political leaders; businesses including a few who have stopped supporting the violence and injustice perpetrated by Planned Parenthood (and some who still do); Christian heroes involved in gospel, relief, and pro-life ministries; and Christians languishing in prisons in persecuting countries like Eritrea and Communist China.

Here are a few of the messages contained in our cards. Perhaps they’ll encourage you to write a few of your own.

Dear Google,

In this Christmas season, why not make a New Year’s Resolution to start actually practicing what you claim to champion; namely, tolerance and open-mindness.  You can move forward in this by stopping the unfair censorship of conservative and Christian speech.  Thank you. Merry Christmas.

Dear Secretary Pompeo,

Why the delay in offering asylum to Asia Bibi?  Please, as a Christmas present to her and her family (as well as to the global cause of religious freedom), offer protected asylum to this dear woman immediately. Thank you.

Dear Justice Brett Kavanaugh,

We are gathered together with eleven pro-life friends writing Christmas cards.  We are proud to tell you that we consider you a genuine hero as you stood strongly against purveyors of hate and darkness.  Be advised, I can say that we lifted you up in prayer often, as you stood strongly against wickedness. We continue to pray for you in your Supreme Court position.  The Lord bless you and keep you (Numbers 6:24).  Blessings in this Christmas season.

Dear President Araujo,

Congratulations on your election to the presidency of Brazil.  We are going to be praying for you, your family, and your efforts to move Brazil forward.  We especially pray for your effort to defend the sanctity of human life even in its earliest stages and to extend religious freedom in your nation.

Dear Congressman Bacon,

May the Lord bless you and your family in this holy season and may He move in your efforts to protect and improve the United States as you serve in the Congress.  Thank you for your work, especially for your support of the pro-life cause and the defense of religious freedoms.  Oh yes; one more thing. In your next election campaign, please give us a bit more specifics about your record and positions…and a bit more gravitas instead of the overuse of “Bacon.”  Thanks.

Dear Netflix,

As we send along our genuine Christmas greetings, we also send a request that your company stop the over-sexed, violent, and profane programming like “Baby” and “13 Reasons Why.” Thank you for your consideration of this urgent request.

Making the Most of Christmas

Ah, Christmas!  Bing Crosby crooning carols; the Christmas tree lighting up the cold winter nights; the eggnog and cookies at holly wreaths…There is a myriad of special delights rolled into one splendid season. However, the secular traditions themselves cannot adequately create an authentic Christmas spirit. Not that those traditions are wicked as some might argue. No, not at all. They are simply inadequate. For, of course, the foundation of the holiday and its most profound purpose is to celebrate the Advent of Jesus Christ, He Who was expressly given to the world for the salvation of sinners.

Nevertheless, Christians can not only enjoy the colors, sounds, tastes, and other cultural adornments of the holiday but they should be creative and diligent to utilize every opportunity which even secular Christmas traditions provide to share the higher meaning of the holiday with others. One need not criticize the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, gift giving, and other seasonal traditions; instead use them to winsomely enlighten ones friends and neighbors to the most important truths (truths that are both historical and supernatural) of the holiday.

For more on how to accomplish this task, why not contact Vital Signs Ministries today and ask for our “Making the Most of Christmas” packet. We will be thrilled to send it out to you.