Senator Chuck Schumer’s threats against Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are not only outrageous and dangerous. They could well be a precursor of what we can expect should the Supreme Court advance the pro-life cause. There will be rage. There will be intimidation. There will be threats. And there will be violence.

The same people who were scratching and pounding the Supreme Court doors during the Kavanaugh hearings will not sit quietly should Roe v. Wade be overturned.

The same people who violently attack peaceful pro-life protesters will turn all the more violent should pro-life legislation be passed.

In terms of physical attacks and verbal attacks, it could get very ugly very quickly.

Let’s remember that Senator Schumer delivered his remarks at a pro-abortion rally in front of the Supreme Court. He was preaching to an already-angry choir for whom Roe v. Wade is a sacred right (or should I say rite?).

And he singled out the two SCOTUS appointees of President Trump, getting more animated with each line: “From Louisiana to Missouri to Texas, Republican legislatures are waging a war on women, all women, and they’re taking away fundamental rights. I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”

It’s true that the lines following referred explicitly to the November elections.

And it’s true that, having been rebuked by none other than Chief Justice John Roberts, along with political leaders and media pundits, Schumer has apologized in part for his remarks. “I should not have used the words I used yesterday,” he said. “They didn’t come out the way I intended…In no way was I making a threat.”

But the facts remain that: 1) he called out two Supreme Court justices by name; 2) he threatened them with consequences should they rule against abortion; and 3) he said they will “have released the whirlwind.” And the pro-abortion crowd ate up every word. (For the record, it’s also worth asking how would a Democratic wave of victories in the November elections cause Gorsuch and Kavanaugh to “pay the price”? How would election results “hit” them?)

SOURCE: Charisma News

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On February 27, 2020, I attended a White House Roundtable discussion that included other black influencers and leaders.  The meeting concluded in prayer, which I was honored to lead.

Following this rare opportunity came the black leftists’ ad hominem attacks to bully or dictate black thought in America and dampen support for the president.  This is a hard task on both scores and they now know it.  This president has demonstrably changed the lives of all Americans with record low unemployment created by 6.7 million new jobs so far. President Trump resuscitated our HBCUs by approving multi-year funding of $250 million per year.  Prior presidents made our black college presidents grovel for funding each year. Under the First Step Act’s prison reform, more than 3,000 prisoners were released; 91% were black. The act reduces recidivism and gives judges more discretion in mandatory minimum sentencing, among other things.

President Trump also established Opportunity Zones “designed to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities throughout the country.” Black communities are being revitalized. He deserves our thanks and our prayers.

Our prayers seemed to have an effect on black leftists who, with the sycophantic media, used a photo of the faithful attendees praying for President Trump along with such words and phrases as “White House negroes“ (Chris Redd), “Uncle Toms” (Keith Boykin), “Massa, We Gonna Pray Fo’ You Massa” (Spike Lee), and unqualified (Leo Terrell).  These attacks will no longer go unanswered. This racist and bigoted ridicule has no place in the mainstream media.  Moreover, this episode is a direct attack on Christians who would dare pray for the president. Why else would the media pair the photo of the faithful in prayer with such terms as “White House Negro”? Are there no decency standards anymore?

Seventy-nine percent of blacks in America are Christians. Black Christians understand the importance of prayer. The Bible exhorts [that] supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made…for all who are in authority. (1 Tim. 2:1-4). Prayer is a key element in black life.

SNL’s Chris Redd in his attempt at humor said, “Look at these White House negroes.  Who are you all praying to?  The ghost of blackface past?”  This is a mockery and attacks all Christians.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Marc T. Little

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Question: Should our elected political leaders pray, and call for the nation to pray, or is that a violation of “separation of church and state?”

This seemingly endless debate in modern America has erupted once again as Vice President Mike Pence, in his capacity as leader of the federal government’s Coronavirus Task Force, called the nation to pray for wisdom for the task force and for the task force to be enabled to protect the U.S. from grievous harm from a potential pandemic.

At first I had decided to just ignore the snickering and mockery with which he was immediately bombarded, and instead to pray for his critics.

However, I was moved to respond as I continued to read eruptions of ignorance and bias scattered across the “twitter-sphere.” The final straw was when I read a tweet attached to a picture of Vice President Pence and the assembled task force’s scientists with their heads bowed in prayer. The tweet dripped with sarcasm, mockery, and anti-religious prejudice. The general twitter theme seemed to be that scientists praying mean they really weren’t being “scientific” and that the Vice President, a devoutly religious man, was somehow therefore disqualified to lead the task force. Sadly, “scientism” is still flourishing in America.

America’s political leaders have a long tradition of praying and calling the nation to pray in times of crisis and national peril. Our Puritan forefathers did both with eloquence and regularity throughout the colonial era.

When our forefathers led the American Revolution in the 18th century, they sought divine guidance and called upon the people to ask God to provide wisdom and deliverance from British oppression.  Most Americans have historically believed that God answered their prayers and gave them the incomparable United States Constitution, the greatest self-governing document yet produced on this planet, protecting both the divinely endowed right to “life” and “liberty” (as the Declaration put it).

Furthermore, American history since the founding of the Republic has been replete with stirring and inspiring examples of American political leaders calling for divine guidance and the blessings of Providence on our nation.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Richard Land

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After the U.S. Supreme Court sent his case back to a lower court last year, a federal judge ruled this week that a school district in Washington state was within its right to prohibit high school football coach Joe Kennedy from kneeling in prayer on the 50-yard-line after games.

Federal Judge Ronald Leighton granted Bremerton School District’s motion for summary judgment in Kennedy’s case on Thursday.

Kennedy was suspended from his role as head coach of the Bremerton High School football team in 2015 after he refused to stop praying on the field after games, something he had done since 2008.

Kennedy sued in 2016 on grounds that his right to religious expression as a school employee had been violated by the school district.

However, his request for an injunction was denied by Leighton in 2016. Kennedy also suffered defeat when his case was heard by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2017.

Last January, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Even though conservative justices led by Samuel Alito thought there could be serious constitutional issues in Kennedy’s free speech claim, they concurred with the refusal because there were unanswered factual questions surrounding the school district’s reasoning for banning the prayer.

According to the Kitsap Sun, Leighton argued this week that the school district has a right to restrict religious expression if it feels the expression creates an illusion of government endorsing religion.

Under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, governments are prohibited from establishing an official religion.

“Although the court is sympathetic to Kennedy’s desire to follow his beliefs, the former right must give way to the latter in this case,” Leighton wrote.

The nonprofit legal group representing Kennedy, the First Liberty Institute, vowed to again appeal to Leighton’s ruling to the Ninth Circuit.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Samuel Smith

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The Palestinian Authority announced Thursday that the Church of the Nativity, a site revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, as well as all other tourism and archaeological sites in the West Bank, have been closed after at least seven hotel workers in Bethlehem were infected with the coronavirus by a group of Greek tourists.

Hours after the announcement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also declared a 30-day state of emergency.

“We have decided to declare a state of emergency in all Palestinian areas to confront the danger of the coronavirus and prevent it from spreading,” Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said, reading from a decree from the president, Reuters reported.

Shtayyeh said he was given full authority to oversee implementation of the PA’s coronavirus response and that a decision was also made to close all schools, colleges, and kindergartens as well as cancel foreign tourist reservations.

According to The Times of Israel, the tourists who are from Greece were diagnosed with the virus on their return home. Israel’s Health Ministry said the tourists visited Israel and the West Bank between Feb. 19 and Feb. 27.

At least 40 people, including 14 American citizens, as well as about 25 Palestinian guests and employees, are currently quarantined at The Angel Hotel, in mostly Christian Beit Jala, The Jerusalem Post reported. The seven infected people are the first known cases of coronavirus in the Palestinian Authority.

“The Americans left the hotel this morning, but the Palestinian Tourism Police brought them back because they could not secure [another lodging] place” in the Bethlehem area, Maryana al-Arja, the manager of the hotel, noted in the report. “The seven people who are infected or suspected of being infected are inside the hotel.”

SOURCE: Christian Post, Leonardo Blair

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Welcome to the Ordained Chaplains podcast. My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society University, and this is “The Work of the Chaplain” Lesson 69. The simple purpose of this podcast is to help those who are interested in serving others through chaplaincy, pastoring, coaching, and counseling to learn the basics of this profession.

Our Work of the Chaplain Passage for this episode is Galatians 6:2 which says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Our Work of the Chaplain quote for this episode is from C.J. Mahaney. He said, “Sports are a gift from God. But as soon as you introduce the human heart, things get complicated.”

In this podcast, we are going through the fine book: “The Work of the Chaplain” by Naomi K. Paget and Janet R. McCormack.

Our topic today is: Chapter 9 – Other Chaplain Specialties (Part 4)

— Sports & Recreation Chaplains

The very nature of chaplaincy itself, which takes ministry to the people of a target population, lends itself to a creative and entrepreneurial approach to ministry. Some of these creative chaplains provide spiritual care in resort and leisure settings, to amateur and professional sports teams, and in all types of recreational and sports venues. Chaplains minister to professional and amateur athletes, spectators, and those involved in the sporting industry. Many become chaplains because they love a particular sport, they have “insider status” as an athlete, or they are workers in a sport or recreational arena.

Education & Training

The majority of these chaplains are volunteers who raise their own support in the pattern of sponsored missionaries, and most are willing to pay for their personal uniforms, licenses, et cetera, for the privilege of ministering within a particular sport or leisure setting. Depending on the requirements of the sporting organization, chaplains may be professional endorsed chaplains, ordained clergy, or laity. They may report to a professional sporting organization, a chaplaincy organization specializing in a particular sport, the administrators of a sporting or leisure venue, or a denominational body.

Specific Duties

Chaplains in sports and recreation venues believe that God created humans with the capacity and desire for pleasure and the ability to get pleasure from the use of our bodies in physical activity. Athletic abilities, like all abilities, are a gift from God (Psalm 139:13-16) to be used wisely. Athletes gain fame and wealth, often at a very young age when they may not have the experience or wisdom to handle such notoriety. Chaplains have often found that athletes need and welcome spiritual care, support, and intervention—especially since a large public is in awe of them. Chaplains who have gained credibility by their actions are often invited into the lives of their constituents in a way that others would never be welcome.

It was the day after the big game, and he was angry at the world. Those closest to him were on the receiving end of feelings he couldn’t express. When you are responsible for the play that cost your team the championship, what’s left for a fired, 28-year-old, washed-up athlete? Where were the fans now? When the chaplain came over, he just sat in silence until the athlete began to talk about his embarrassment, anger, depression, and fears for his future. There was no resolution or future plan that day, but a door was cracked open, a suicide was averted, and a young man knew he wouldn’t have to be alone in his pain.

————

— PRAYER —

***

Now, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, here’s how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

God bless.

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I am Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, and this is the “Strategic Christian Leadership” Podcast, Episode 63. The simple purpose of this podcast is to help Christian leaders understand how planning and strategizing is important to carrying out the Great Commission.

Our Bible verse for this episode is John 10:11 which says, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

Our quote for this episode is from Rosa Parks. She said, “Knowing what must be done does away with fear.””

In this podcast, we are going through the fine books: “Advanced Strategic Planning: A New Model for Church and Ministry Leaders” by Aubrey Malphurs, “Deliberate Simplicity: How the Church Does More by Doing Less” by Dave Browning, and “Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership” by John Dickson. If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to purchase a copy of these books from our website podcastpulpit.com.

Our topic today is part 4 of “The Textbook on Persuasion” from “Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership” by John Dickson. He continues as follows:

I was interested to note the title of the first chapter in the classic book Harvard Business Review on Effective Communication. It is called “Listening to People”, written by Ralph Nichols of the University of Minnesota and former president of the National Society for the Study of Communication.

The chapter opens this way: “Business is tied together by its systems of communication. This communication … depends more on the spoken word than it does on the written word; and the effectiveness of the spoken word hinges not so much on how people talk as on how they listen.” A similar theme continues in the second chapter, “How to Run a Meeting”. There Antony Jay, former BBC executive, offers this sage advice about the effective chairperson:

It is the chairman’s self-indulgence that is the greatest single barrier to the success of a meeting. His first duty, then, is to be aware of the temptation and of the dangers of yielding to it. The clearest of the danger signals is hearing himself talking a lot during a discussion … If the chairman is to make sure that the meeting achieves valuable objectives, he will be more effective seeing himself as the servant of the group rather than as its master … His true source of authority with the members is the strength of his perceived commitment to their combined objective.

————

— PRAYER —

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, here’s how.

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

God bless.

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