Month: May 2014
Is Google Censoring Pro-Life Information?
Posted on May 15, 2014 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Wait a minute, I thought Google was a place to find information. I thought if I needed to know something, or was looking for some particular bit of information that I was supposed to “Google it” and I would find the answer I was looking for?
Am I wrong about that?
Why then is Google censoring ads based on ideological views simply because some activist group urges them to do so?
In case you missed it, NARAL, a pro-abortion lobby group, pressured Google to remove ads by Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) for being “predatory.” NARAL claims that the ads by CPC’s seek to prey upon misinformed women and deceive them into keeping their unborn child. Well, if deception is the criteria for the pressure on Google why hasn’t NARAL pressured Google to remove all of Planned Parenthood’s ads. By now everyone knows that Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest liar to women about abortion. I don’t see any pressure to remove their ads.
UPDATE: Benham Brothers Speak Out About Unfair Canceling of HGTV Show
Posted on May 14, 2014 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
In the wake of a home flipping show being cancelled on HGTV for its hosts having a pro-traditional marriage view, the Benham brothers have spoken about the incident.
In case you missed the absurd spectacle created by HGTV and the liberal group “rightwingwatch.org,” you can read my article about it here.
In today’s politically un-correct world where people and groups call for tolerance and diversity while shutting out people with diverse viewpoints, it’s hard to find the logic in much of what takes place. No doubt the Benham brothers were left scratching their heads when they were informed by HGTV that their anticipated show would be cancelled before a single episode aired. The reason, simply because the Benhams are Christians with a pro-traditional marriage view.
Now, here is the hard part to understand. I have no doubt that HGTV knew before they entered into contract with the Benhams that the brothers were Christians. At some point there was a discussions about their faith and how integral it is to their daily lives. Perhaps HGTV even gave some guidelines for speaking about their faith on air. One thing is for sure, HGTV knew the Benhams were committed Christians. Knowing that it is hard to imagine that HGTV didn’t know the Benhams hold to a traditional marriage viewpoint. So why did HGTV agree to the show in the first place if their traditional marriage view is so awful? Why give them a contract at all if HGTV is so opposed to this point of view?
The simple answer: fear and money.
Attention All Christians: Choose Between Your Job and Your Convictions
Posted on May 13, 2014 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Here’s a memo to all Christians: you will probably be fired from your job for your biblical convictions.
You may be thinking that being fired for your biblical convictions is discrimination, religious discrimination, and illegal and unconstitutional. But apparently it is perfectly acceptable to fire Christians for their beliefs. Let’s examine the evidence.
Yes, we can look back to the Duck Dynasty fiasco that nearly cost the network their number one show. No one seriously believed A&E would fire Phil Robertson for sharing his Christian convictions because, at this point, the show is still making A&E relevant in the cable market. Give it a couple years and it is reasonable to assume Duck Dynasty will be no more and A&E will fade back into obscurity.
Sure, we could look to the firing of Mozilla CEO Brenden Eich for donating to the Prop 8 campaign. It seems that employees can now be fired from their job for choosing to exercise their free speech as private citizens. Better be careful what you say in public, or in private. If some snooping gay activist can dig it up you can bet it will be used to oust you from your job.
The latest example is the Benham brothers.
I Don’t Think President Obama Prays Like I Pray
Posted on May 12, 2014 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Prayer has been in the news a lot lately. The recent Supreme Court ruling that public prayer before town council meetings is indeed constitutional has a lot to do with that. Opponents of pubic prayer, like American United for Separation of Church and State, American Atheists, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation, believe that any prayer offered in public is inherently a government attempt to coerce people into a specific religion. Apparently they don’t believe people are smart enough to think for themselves.
Before the Supreme Court ruled on this case prayer was in the news as a result of a tragic shooting that took place during the Easter season.
A former Klu Klux Klan member killed three people at Jewish center in Overland Park, Kansas over Easter weekend in a display of racial bigotry that shocked many. President Obama took the opportunity to encourage religious tolerance during his Easter address from the White House.
“Nobody should have to worry about their security when gathering with their fellow believers,” Obama said. “No one should ever have to fear for their safety when they go to pray.”
8 Things I Want My Toddler to Thank His Mom For (in 20 Years)
Posted on May 11, 2014 in Family by Nathan Cherry
Original post found at The Gospel Coalition
My son has just turned 2—he delegated to me the task of buying a Mother’s Day card and writing a message on it. I’m coaching him to say, “Thank you mommy” and “I love you mommy” (though it will come out, at best, as “Thar Thaw Momeeeee” and “I yubba oo Momeeeee”).
But what do I hope he will say thank you for, in 20 years, as he looks back on having grown up with a Christian mother? Here’s what I’d love him to say as a 22-year-old, as he gives his mom some Mother’s Day chocolates (chocolates, not flowers, son—chocolates tend to get shared with fathers, while flowers just get looked at on mantelpieces).
1. Thank you for putting Christ before me. You taught me from the word go that I’m not the center of your world, because I’m not the center of the world. And you told me who does have that position—the Lord Jesus. I was never allowed to rule our house, and you always made it clear that my opinions and preferences, though important, are not authoritative. Thank you for the times you were not able to spend time with me because you were ministering to someone else. Thank you for the times you were not able to spend money on me because you had given it to someone else. Thank you that in never treating me like the most important person in your life, you pointed me to the most important Person in the cosmos.
What Other States Are Doing That West Virginia is Not
Posted on May 10, 2014 in Life by Nathan Cherry
West Virginia is a great place to live, once you get used to its quirky ways. But one thing that is hard to ever get used to is how behind West Virginia is regarding many social issues and public policies. A good example of that is the 20 week abortion bill that passed our state legislature with an overwhelmingly bi-partisan support only to be vetoed by our governor. Gov. Tomblin’s reason for vetoing the bill? He said he wasn’t sure that it was constitutional.
Well, that’s just a lame excuse used to cover up some political strategy aimed at advancing Tomblin’s career. After all, Tomblin has to first take care of himself rather than the people he serves and the unborn children being killed each and every day. But just in case Tomblin is still living in denial and believing he did the right thing, let’s take a look at what some other states are doing to protect the unborn.
Mississippi governor signs 18-week abortion ban, one of nation’s most restrictive: “Mississippi has passed one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws after Governor Phil Bryant signed a bill banning most abortions at 18 weeks’ gestation, or 20 weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period. House Bill 1400, which will take effect on July 1, allows an abortion if a woman would likely die or face permanent injury as a result of the pregnancy. It also has an exception for when an unborn baby has severe abnormalities, but no rape or incest exceptions. Bryant, who has said he wants to ban all abortions in his state, signed the bill into law on Wednesday despite heavy criticism from Democrats and abortion providers.”
Video: Christian Buchanan at 2 Years Old Proves Abortion is Not the Answer
Posted on May 10, 2014 in Life by Nathan Cherry
I have been privileged to get to know Lacey Buchanan and Christian via Facebook over the last year. A number of dialogues have allowed me to see the fire that burns deeply in Lacey to show the world that she indeed did not make a mistake by refusing to abort Christian. Every picture, every story, every post about their life is another evidence that God’s grace flows freely to those who will accept it. Truly, the Buchanan family has been blessed.
Watch this short video update about Christian as a 2 year old and hear from Lacey and Chris about how God is working in their lives and the lives of millions around the world thanks to a little boy named Christian that looks a little different.
If the video doesn’t appear automatically, please refresh your browser.
Churches Meeting in Public Schools: A Wise (and Legal) Decision
Posted on May 9, 2014 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Did you know that churches and schools used to meet in the same buildings?
Today some will claim such use of “government property” as unconstitutional, citing the non-existent “separation of church and state” clause that does NOT appear anywhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights. Despite their efforts the fact remains that churches and schools have historically sought to work together to share space in a mutually beneficial way.
Erik Stanley, writing at the Speak Up Movement blog makes this point clear:
“In the pioneer era, it was commonplace for church worship services to be held in public school buildings and for public schools to be held in church buildings. Indeed, it makes a great deal of sense for churches and schools to occupy the same physical space given that churches generally operate at times when schools are not in session and vice versa.”
Yes, it does make sense for churches and schools to meet in the same location, especially when the mutual benefits are considered.
STUDY: DRUG LEGALIZATION INCREASES HOSPITAL STAYS BY 40%-100%
Posted on May 8, 2014 in Public Policy by Derick Dickens
Original article posted here.
What do you get when you legalize marijuana? More emergency room visits and an increased cost to society.
You may think this is a study from Denver Colorado, but it is not. Even though we are seeing increased emergency room visits in Denver due to drugs, this study took place in a London borough where it saw a 40% to 100% increase in the hospitalization of men due to hard drugs after marijuana was legalized. The legalization of marijuana is seeing dramatic increases in social ills, causing many to see a connection with marijuana and other drug use.
Dr. Dobson Dares President Obama to “Come and Get Me”
Posted on May 8, 2014 in Life by Nathan Cherry
With all due respect to Russell Moore and Albert Mohler, we need more leaders like James Dobson. America needs leaders that will stand up when faced with evil and say, “come and get me.” Dr. Dobson has been standing strong in the face of culture for decades and he didn’t back down when face to face with President Obama.
To be fair I am a huge fan of both Russell Moore and Albert Mohler. Their work within the Southern Baptist Convention is, in my opinion, timely and on point. The difference between them and Dr. Dobson though is with regard to personal conviction.
Let me explain. It seems that when many leaders speak on issues, whether life or marriage, or religious freedoms, they do so in an almost passive way. It’s not that they don’t care, they just seem to speak from the realm of “what if’s” more than from a personal place. I hear a lot of “Christians should not be made to,” and “It’s wrong to force Christians to,” when they speak. While I agree with those sentiments, there’s an element of personal force lacking.