The Reformed Advisor

I Don’t Think President Obama Prays Like I Pray

Posted on May 12, 2014 in Religious Freedom by

public prayerPrayer 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 public 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.” Continue reading…

8 Things I Want My Toddler to Thank His Mom For (in 20 Years)

Posted on May 11, 2014 in Family by

mothers-day-crownOriginal 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. Continue reading…

What Other States Are Doing That West Virginia is Not

Posted on May 10, 2014 in Life by

TomblinWest 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.” Continue reading…

Video: Christian Buchanan at 2 Years Old Proves Abortion is Not the Answer

Posted on May 10, 2014 in Life by

christian7 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.

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Churches Meeting in Public Schools: A Wise (and Legal) Decision

Posted on May 9, 2014 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by

church meeting in public schoolDid 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. Continue reading…

STUDY: DRUG LEGALIZATION INCREASES HOSPITAL STAYS BY 40%-100%

Posted on May 8, 2014 in Public Policy by

8674805459_c4ccb3f0ac_bOriginal 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.

While other studies have linked marijuana as a gateway drug, some are not convinced the studies are accurate.  But the London study not only places a higher rate of emergency room visits for harder drugs directly upon the shoulders of marijuana legalization, it shows that the impact is felt greatest among young men.  These studies are problematic to the pro-legalized marijuana crowd, but it doesn’t seem to be changing minds, as the mood in our country is moving towards acceptance of drugs. Continue reading…

Dr. Dobson Dares President Obama to “Come and Get Me”

Posted on May 8, 2014 in Life by

Dr. DobsonWith 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.

When Dr. Dobson filed a lawsuit against the government to stop them from forcing him to provide abortion drugs and devices to his employees as part of the HHS mandate, it was personal. This isn’t just another issue, this isn’t something he’s doing solely for others, this is a deeply personal issue that resounds inside Dr. Dobson and compels him to stand and speak boldly. Speaking on why he filed the lawsuit Dr. Dobson said: Continue reading…

Roundup: Supreme Court Upholds Public Prayer

Posted on May 7, 2014 in Religious Freedom by

Already this landmark decision is being called controversial by both opponents of public prayer and advocates. That might sound strange, but some are wondering if the fact that the court ruled on public prayer at all is a sign that our religious freedoms are being viewed as government granted rather than God-given, as our Founders believed. It is a valid thought to consider as increasing government intrusion on individual liberty and religious freedom has reached historic proportions.

But, for the moment we do need to celebrate what is potentially one of the most critical victories regarding religious freedom in our country in quite a while. Under one of the most religiously oppressive administrations in recent history we should celebrate every victory and be thankful for the freedoms that continue to shape America. Here’s a few of the articles commenting on the recent decision by the Supreme Court.

The Blaze: Supreme Court Upholds Prayer at Council Meetings in Landmark Ruling: “…the case will serve as a beacon in addressing other similar battles unfolding in localities across America, especially considering the role that prayer has traditionally played in U.S. society. Consider that the five majority justices argued that invocations are a key part of national tradition,according to the Associated Press. ‘The inclusion of a brief, ceremonial prayer as part of a larger exercise in civic recognition suggests that its purpose and effect are to acknowledge religious leaders and the institutions they represent, rather than to exclude or coerce nonbelievers,’ said Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote for the majority.”

Citizenlink: U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Prayer at Government Meetings: “After more than five years of legal battles, the nation’s high court ruled today in favor of public prayers — including those ‘in Jesus’ name’ — before government meetings. ‘The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the practice of prayer before legislative bodies is firmly embedded in the history and traditions of this nation,’ said Thomas Hungar, an allied attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represented the town. ‘Americans should be free to speak and act consistently with their own beliefs.'”

Family Research Council: Justice Kennedy’s Reminder: Some Americans Just Need to Grow Up: “…there is a particularly noteworthy thread of argument woven throughout Justice Kennedy’s opinion.  Several times, he alludes to a fact that needs to be expressed more often, both in our courts and everyday life: Mature adults should act that way. ‘Our tradition assumes that adult citizens, firm in their own beliefs, can tolerate and perhaps appreciate a ceremonial prayer delivered by a person of a different faith,’ he argues. In other words, rather than wear your religious beliefs and cultural mores like touch-sensitive antennae, act enough like an adult that you don’t take offense unnecessarily or easily.”

WND: He killed school prayer, now applauds it: “Sharply parting ways with his mother’s strident atheism, Murray has since become a Christian minister and now promotes the free exercise of religion in the public square as chairman of the Washington-based Religious Freedom Coalition. He told WND in an interview Monday that the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway is ‘a victory for the right not to be offended. Today you can’t have a cross on someone’s grave, because it might offend a non-Christian who walks through the graveyard,’ Murray said. ‘This case refutes a claim made by the political left today that a person has an inherent right in the Constitution of the United States that says nobody can say anything or write anything that offends me or my ideas,’ he said.”

 

RIP American Free Speech. Next Up Religious Freedom

Posted on May 7, 2014 in Religious Freedom by

mouth duct tapedLet’s stop pretending that America believes in free speech. I know we all want to believe we still believe in it, we want to scream desperately from the roof tops that America still practices and believes in free speech. The truth is that we don’t.

If America believed in free speech former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich would still have a job. He shared his opinion on the topic of marriage via a monetary donation, a form of speech, and was ousted. Eich “let his voice be heard” by contributing to a cause he believed in and Mozilla, along with the most intolerant and hateful gay activists demanded that he be fired.

If America believe in free speech Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, would not have been banned from the NBA and fined $2.5 million for making racists remarks. Sterling simply shared his own personal views and as a result a media firestorm and public outcry has been overwhelming against him. Some have even demanded the NBA force him to sell the Clippers. (How exactly do you ban an owner of a team? How do you force someone to sell something they own?)

Before anyone gets the impression I’m defending racist comments let me be clear: racism is an immoral sinful practice. Oh, you didn’t know it was a moral problem or sinful? Rejecting a person created in the image of God is certainly a moral issue. Open discrimination against such a person is nothing short of sinful. (By the way, why was the NAACP set to give Sterling an award, again, if he had a record of racism?) Continue reading…

MUST READ: This Is What the “World’s Best Mom” Looks Like

Posted on May 6, 2014 in Life by

randallthomas

Matt, Katie, and Randall Thomas Wessell spend a few moments together after Randall Thomas was unable to continue his fight to live.

For all the moms that have endured the loss of a child, this true story is for you. No doubt there is many “world’s best moms” out there right now. And to those ladies that will one day be wives and mothers, I hope this account inspires you to be the “world’s best mom.”

“World’s Best Mom”

by Matt Wessell
Original article posted here

That’s a lofty title, I know. And believe it or not, I know her. Even more amazing (to me) is that I’m married to her.

One might think the world’s best mom would be someone with years of motherly experience and a number of kids — someone who has been doing it for a long time. My wife, Katie, doesn’t come close to qualifying under those terms.

You see, we’re new parents. Our first son, Randol Thomas, was born on Thursday at 12:56 a.m. at the incredibly young gestational age of 25 weeks and 4 days. That happy moment had a sad ending when our baby boy lost his life later that morning at 5:20 a.m. after struggling for hours to try and breathe with what we knew were severely underdeveloped lungs — something we knew would be an issue after my wife’s water broke at just 18 weeks.

So how could she possibly be crowned ‘world’s best mom’ when she has only had one child, who only lived for a few hours? Allow me to explain… Continue reading…

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