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An Optimistic Pro-Life Panel at CPAC

Opinion

Michael J. New is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.

Organizers of last year’s Conservative Political Action Conference faced criticism due to the fact that last year’s conference placed little emphasis on social issues. In fact, last year’s conference failed to include any panels that specifically dealt with abortion. However, this year’s CPAC included a good breakout session on sanctity of life issues entitled “Baby Steps: The Pro-Life Success Story.” The panelists featured some heavy hitters from the pro-life movement including Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List, Charmaine Yoest, the President of Americans United for Life, and Darla St. Martin, Co-Executive Director of the National Right to Life Committee.

Christian Post Report – Yoest thanked everyone for “voting with their feet” and attending. The abortion issue was certainly of interest to many CPAC attendees. Over 100 people were in attendance and the meeting room was filled beyond capacity. The entire panel had a very optimistic tone to it. Dannenfelser began her remarks by stating that “Abortion Centered Feminism is Dead” citing the success that pro-life candidates had during the 2014 election cycle. She also stated that her group’s strategy of targeting pro-life voters by going door to door proved effective.

However, the positive results from the 2014 election were due to more than effective grassroots mobilization. She stated that when it comes to elections “do not just go with your gut, do due diligence.” Through focus groups and polling, the Susan B. Anthony List found that both the 20-week abortion ban and cutting off taxpayer funding for abortion were winning issues for pro-life candidates. She also said that it was important that pro-life candidates went on the offensive in 2014. Furthermore, the Susan B. Anthony List did everything it could to make sure candidates knew how to articulate the abortion issue well.

In her remarks Yoest talked about the progress that the pro-life movement was making on a variety of fronts. She cited Guttmacher Institute statistics that show record numbers of state level pro-life laws being passed every year. She was pleased that a number of abortion facilities are closing. However, she was most optimistic about the fact that the current generation of young people is more pro-life than their parents. She also said that the Kermit Gosnell trial was spurring other states to pass clinic regulations and requirements that abortion doctors have admitting privileges. Overall, she stated that more Americans are realizing that “abortion hurts women.”

Yoest went on to say that future progress hinges upon the ability of pro-lifers to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. She noted that 90 percent of Planned Parenthood’s pregnancy services involve abortion – while at the same time they cut cancer screenings by 50 percent. As a breast cancer survivor, Yoest took particular offense to this. Furthermore, she said that Planned Parenthood gets 1.26 million dollars in taxpayer funding every day and 40 percent of their budget comes from taxpayers. “We need to cut off the spigot. We will beat them when we cut off the money.”

Here Darla St. Martin of National Right to Life sounded a cautionary note. A recent poll showed that 63 percent of Americans had either a “strongly favorable” or a “favorable” view of Planned Parenthood — while only 27 percent had an unfavorable view. People may not like many of the activities Planned Parenthood engages. However, they have a positive view of Planned Parenthood. As such, pro-lifers have more work to do.

There was also a good discussion about the future. All the panelists were confident that pro-lifers would continue to make incremental progress. Yoest remarked that if Hillary Clinton runs for President, it will be an important election for a variety of reasons – including it will spur discussion about the role of abortion – and abortion advocacy — in what it means to be a powerful woman. Dannenfelser encouraged the attendees to get involved in the 2016 Primaries. We need a both a “top down” and a “bottom up” approach. We need person to person contacts among voters and we need to make sure that we nominate candidates who are pro-life and can articulate the issue well. Darla St. Martin encouraged everyone to get involved with local pro-life groups in their hometown and said that pro-life groups are “a great investment in life.”

Michael J. New is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Michigan—Dearborn and an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. He will be one of the guys with a pro-life sign at Thursday’s March for Life. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_J_New

Source : Christian Post

Standing for Israel

Opinion

Susan Stamper Brown Susan Stamper Brown is an Alaskan resident and recovering political pundit who does her best to make sense of current day events using her faith. She tries to read every email sent to her at [email protected] or join her Facebook page

Truth can be an exasperating thing, especially when we come upon it unintentionally. However, for those who have the courage to pursue it in its purest form, truth becomes the indelible essence of their being and the lifeblood of existence as they journey ever forward into that to which they are destined.

Christian Post Report – As I write, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s powerfully effective speech to the U.S. Congress weighs heavy on my mind. I am reminded of another time and another place when the mighty Israeli army stood against what many saw as a formidable foe. It took a young shepherd boy, David, to see the truth through all the drama.

Standing eyeballs-to-bellybutton against the gargantuan man-slayer, Goliath, this boy who would one day be king boldly defied the Philistine giant before him. Standing alone in that moment, David knew in his heart he was not alone. “You come against me with a sword, and a spear,” David said, “but I come to you in the name of…the God of the armies of Israel.” David threw a stone, the giant fell, and Israel’s foe lay defeated.

The scapegoat for all that is wrong in the world, Israel, faces a similar giant today. Imagine for a moment yourself as a citizen of a country about the same size as Houston, Texas. Now consider that as an inhabitant of this tiny speck on the globe, you must spend every waking (and sleeping) moment wondering if today will be your last. Will the enemies surrounding you fulfill their unified promise to wipe you off the map — simply because you exist?

This is the state of the state of Israel in 2015. Prime Minister Netanyahu effectively brought his case to Congress and regrettably, nearly 60 congressional Democrats, along with President Obama and Vice President Biden boycotted. Their inexcusable action speaks for itself but I momentarily opine to say their pandering to the enemy of our friend who is also the enemy of our times is tiring. And dangerous. One who did attend, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, later said she was “near tears” throughout the speech. She blamed her exasperated state on what she described as the speech’s condescending tone. I believe she was experiencing shame…embarrassment…conviction.

Publicly, Netanyahu thanked President Obama for supporting Israel. He had to…the world, the enemy was watching. Time and again, though, the administrations’ words and actions or silence and inaction have fallen short on the side of Israel. It is fair to say that Obama is the least pro-Israel president to date. And the most pro-Iranian it seems.

In his speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu made a clear-cut case why the Obama administration’s prospective deal with Iran is imprudent on many levels. In essence, Obama’s answer to this modern day giant known as the Islamic Republic of Iran, is to cut a nuclear deal with a terrorist state whose founding document pledges “death, tyranny, and the pursuit of jihad,” as Netanyahu said.

If we take Iran at its word that they will not acquire nuclear weapons then we must also take them at their word for everything else. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has publicly communicated Israel must be annihilated. Iran’s minions regularly squawk “Death to America.”

Unlike President Obama, and much like King David, Prime Minister Netanyahu looks the enemy in the eye, sees its true colors, and stands against it willingly. Standing up alongside allies is difficult; standing alone seems impossible.

“Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand,” said Netanyahu. But they will never be alone. Psalms 121:4 tells us, “Indeed, he [God] who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” and Isaiah 54:17 promises that no weapon or words formed against Israel will prevail long term. Meanwhile, we can do our part to stand for what is right by electing leaders who support the truth of God’s unchanging Word in this ever-changing world.

Susan Stamper Brown Susan Stamper Brown is an Alaskan resident and recovering political pundit who does her best to make sense of current day events using her faith. She tries to read every email sent to her at [email protected] or join her Facebook page

Source : Christian Post

American Citizen Dies Fighting for ISIS in Suicide Bomb Attack, Claims Terror Group

World News

(Photo: Reuters/Stringer)
Civilian children stand next to a burnt vehicle during clashes between Iraqi security forces and al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in the northern Iraq city of Mosul, June 10, 2014. Radical Sunni Muslim insurgents seized control of most of Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul early on Tuesday, overrunning a military base and freeing hundreds of prisoners in a spectacular strike against the Shi’ite-led Iraqi government.

Christian Post Report – ISIS has claimed that a U.S. citizen carried out a suicide bomb attack with a truck in Iraq earlier this week that killed “dozens of security forces. While the terror group’s claim has not yet been verified, if true it would be the first report of an American who has died fighting for ISIS.

“The brother Abu Dawud al-Amriki (may Allah accept him) launched himself with his explosives-laden truck,” an ISIS bulletin read, according to AFP news agency. It added that “dozens” of Iraqi soldiers were killed in the attack in Samarra.

CNN, which also reported on the news, said that U.S. government officials haven’t been able to confirm the identity of the attacker. Two senior Iraqi security officials confirmed that such an attack took place, but also did not know the identity of the suicide bomber.

In February, U.S. intelligence officials said that at least 150 American citizens are among 20,000 foreign fighters who’ve attempted or were still trying to join ISIS.

The terror group, which has captured significant territory across Iraq and Syria, has been attracting an unprecedented number of foreign fighters and aligning other radical Islamic terror groups to fight for its mission of establishing a caliphate over the region.

Local ground troops have been attempting to retake some of the captured cities, and have been supported by airstrikes carried out by the U.S. and a broad coalition of allies.

Nick Rasmussen, chief of the National Counterterrorism Center, confirmed that 150 or so American citizens are known to have made an attempt to join ISIS.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said that Syria has seen “the largest convergence of Islamist terrorists in world history.”

“I am worried about our ability to combat this threat abroad, but also here at home. I wrote to the president recently as part of my ongoing investigation and raised concerns that we have no lead agency in charge of countering domestic radicalization and no line item for it in the budgets of key departments and agencies,” McCaul, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said at the time.

“I am also concerned that the few programs we do have in place are far too small to confront a challenge that has grown so quickly.”

On Thursday, CNN provided a report on some of the Americans who are believed to have joined ISIS, with the profiles being mostly of young people in their late teens or early 20s.

Former jihadist Mubin Shaikh suggested that many of these young people are struggling to combine their Muslim and Western identities, which can explain their attraction to joining ISIS.

“When you’re dealing with first-, second-, even third-generation individuals from various ethnic backgrounds, there are still problems of acculturation and integration,” he said. They ask: “Who am I supposed to be? “

Source : Christian Post

A Pastor’s Open Letter to Hozier and His ‘Take Me to Church’ Song

Opinion

Dear Andrew,

Christian Post Report – I have been meaning to write this for some time but when I saw your performance at The Grammy’s it finally moved me to action. When I first heard about your song “Take Me To Church” I was intrigued. I thought it was good someone would write a song about going to church. I listened to the song, I liked your voice, I liked the arrangement and I liked the song. But then I listened again, I read the lyrics and my thoughts drastically changed. The song sounded good until the words began to sink in.

“I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies, I’ll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife.”

“Every Sunday’s getting more bleak, a fresh poison each week.”

“That’s a fine looking high horse, what you got in the stable? We’ve a lot of starving faithful.”

Why so much hate? Lies, poison, knife. Every Sunday’s getting more bleak for the starving faithful. Really.

(Courtesy of Richmond Community Church)
Pastor Rick McDaniel

I had to find out more about you to understand why someone would write such lyrics. According to interviews you seem to have animus toward the Catholic Church and definitely an issue with Russia’s laws against homosexuals. Still to indict all of Christianity seems quite harsh. It is worth noting you wrote this song when you were only 22-years-old. Your fellow Irish rocker Bono has arrived at a very different view of the Church and Christianity with a few more years of life experience. Maybe given some time and a few more interactions with Christ followers you might have a change of heart.

The line, “I was born sick but I love it, command me to be well,” paraphrases the 17th century British poet Baron Brooke Fulke Greville’s Chorus Sacerdotum. You said you heard that quoted by atheist Christopher Hitchens during a debate. I wonder whom he was debating and who won? Was it a true heavyweight Christian apologist like William Lane Craig? Or did Hitchens further your disenchantment.

I should probably just let this go and trust you will get wiser with time but the popularity of your song makes that impossible. Even you admit the way the song has taken off is totally unexpected. Do people really share your sentiments or do they just like your voice and the song’s arrangement? I don’t know the answer but since the song’s message is so wrong it needs to be addressed. I feel like Julia Kadison, the CEO of the Milk Processor Education Program. After the British Medical Journal published a study suggesting drinking lots of milk could lead to earlier deaths she drew a line. She said, “That’s enough. We can’t have these headlines that ‘Milk Can Kill You’ and not stand up for the truth.”

It may just be a song, you may or may not be a one hit wonder but I can’t let it stand without a response. Your anger with Russia’s anti-homosexuality laws should have nothing to do with the Church. Catholics, evangelicals and other Christians are not supporting Russia’s discrimination against homosexuals. If you are upset with Russia write a song about them.

Your frustration with the Church or Christianity seems to center on sexual morality. The “stay out of the bedroom” line appears to be one of your favorites. Things don’t just stay in the bedroom. Lives get shattered because of adultery, unplanned pregnancy and disease. The Church believes sex is a gift from God. We believe you need to understand human sexuality through the lens of God’s morality.

Christians believe sex is designed for married couples, for a husband and wife to enjoy. Whenever sexual relationships take place outside of marriage there is hurt of some kind. If you don’t agree with this teaching that is your prerogative but to call it poison is absurd. The poison is the damaged relationships, the poison is the divorce, the poison is the porn addiction. The knife you speak of is not one bringing hurt or death it would be a scalpel doing surgery to bring healing and life. There may be initial pain but ultimately the life is saved. The real lies are sex requires no commitment, sex is just the act and relationship is not necessary for true intimacy.

Your high horse line would indicate you think the Church is being judgmental. But expressing the truth about sexuality is necessary. The Bible teaches right and wrong, good and evil, truth and lies. There is a place for appropriate judging since moral direction is the role of the Church. Christians should not be intimidated, marginalized or silenced from speaking the truth. You are free to write and sing your music and I am free to challenge your thinking and lyrics. I hope as time goes by you will be open to learning more about the Church and Christianity. I trust you will come to see the value of Christian morality.

Rick McDaniel is the senior pastor of Richmond Community Church in Richmond, Va., and highimpactchurch.tv. He is the author of Comeback: Overcoming The Setbacks In Your Life.
Twitter: @rickmcdaniel

Source : Christian Post

The Tears of Jihadi John’s Father

Entertainment

The father of Mohammed Emwazi, the former British citizen alleged to be the infamous masked executioner in the Islamic State’s publicized beheading videos known as “Jihadi John,” has labeled his own son as a “terrorist” and hopes that he dies and goes straight “to hell”

Christian Post Report – The Telegraph reports that since Emwazi was identified as “Jihadi John” last week, his 51-year-old father, Jassem Emwazi, has been so ashamed of his son that he’s largely remained out of the public eye and has even failed to return to work at a supermarket 12 miles near the Iraqi border in Kuwait.

Abu Meshaal, a 40-year-old colleague of Jassem Emwazi, told The Telegraph about a recent conversation that he had with Emwazi, where Emwazi described the emotional distress he’s had since his son first informed him that he was going to join the jihadi movement in 2013.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/to-hell-with-my-son-father-disowns-jihadi-john-and-calls-him-dog-terrorist-135112/

Source : Christian Post

‘Avengers Age of Ultron’ Cast News, Latest Rumors: Chris Evans Talks Captain America

Entertainment

FACEBOOK/ Avengers
Chris Evans as Captain America in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”

Christian Post Report – “Avengers: Age of Ultron” cast member Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the Marvel superhero film, shared some insights about the development of his patriotic superhero character in the upcoming installment.

When asked about suiting up as Captain America, Evans said he was “very comfortable” after playing the role several times.

“You know, the first movie you’re terrified,” he told IGN. “The second one you’re just intimidated because there’s so many great people, but by Captain America 2 you really start hitting your stride and feeling like you’re making some core progress with the character. And you get a little more comfortable speaking up when you have opinions.”

“It’s hard to give too much individual attention to your own plotline in a movie like this. They still give good hurdles to jump, but it’s almost … I’m very excited for Cap 3,” the 33-year-old actor admitted.

The actor meanwhile teased Joss Whedon’s plan on stepping up the character in terms of fighting abilities.

“The first Captain America, he’s just strong. In Avengers it was still, in my opinion, a little bit ‘punch, punch, kick, kick.’ It’s fine but, you know, you can’t just be Jason Bourne,” he said. “I don’t wanna take a step back, so we gotta make sure that he’s continuing training. His fight style needs to advance a little bit. I don’t wanna go full Bruce Lee but there needs to be more than just haymakers and fun kicks.”

After “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” which is slated to open in theaters May 1, 2015, Chris Evan’s Captain America is set to appear in “Captain America: Civil War” with Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, among others.

Source : Christian Post

LA Kings vs Montreal Canadiens Live Stream Free: Watch NHL Hockey Online as Kings Push for Playoff Spot

Entertainment

The defending NHL Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles Kings will welcome the Montreal Canadiens as they meet at Staples Center.

Christian Post Report – Coming off a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings are looking to put together another win streak following three consecutive losses.

REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger
Montreal Canadiens’ P.K. Subban (L) congratulates his teammate Carey Price after their win against the Tampa Bay Lightning during their NHL pre-season game at the Colisee in Quebec City, October 1, 2011.

Before dropping three straight games against the Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks and Winnipeg Jets, the Kings were on a roll and had an eight-match winning run.

They are trying to crawl their way back to playoff contention as they are currently ninth in the Western Conference and fourth in the Pacific Division.

Jeff Carter leads the team with 49 points behind 21 goals and 28 assists, while Anze Kopitar has been a steady force with a team-high 35 assists so far.

The Canadiens were on a four-game win streak before facing the San Jose Sharks earlier in the week.

In those wins, they scored a total of 17 goals, averaging 4.25 per contest. However, that seemed to elude them as they faced the Sharks, losing 4-0 as they were only allowed 20 shots on goal, while their defense fell through by allowing at least one goal each period.

Hosting the Ducks the next game, much of the same happened. They allowed the lead to balloon to 3-0 before scoring a consolation goal in the 59th minute of the contest.

They have already met once this season, with the Canadiens dominating the champions 6-2.

Dictating the pace early on, the Canadiens wowed their home crowd by going up 3-0 after the first two periods.

The Kings tried to hustle their way back as Jake Muzzin narrowed the gap to two-goals inside the first four minutes of the third period, but Montreal had too much fire power on that night.

Carey Price was impressive in that contest, saving 44 out of a possible 46 attempts on goal, while his counterpart only had a 70 percent save rate after going 14-of-20.

The match will start 10:30 p.m. ET, and for live scores and play-by-play visit NHL.com. A live stream of the game can be watched online by clicking here.

Source : Christian Post

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Chicago Bulls Live Stream: Watch NBA Basketball Online as Both Teams Fight for a Playoff Spot

Entertainment

Reuters/File
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook

Christian Post Report – The Oklahoma City Thunder will travel to the United Center to face the Chicago Bulls as the NBA regular season continues to roll.

Both teams are struggling with injuries, with the Bulls missing guards Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, while the Thunder are without reigning MVP Kevin Durant.

And without their stars, both teams need wins each time they can get it to stay relevant in the playoff race.

As of the moment, the Bulls are in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race, while the Thunder are trying to secure their eight seed as they fend off rivals New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns.

Tom Thibodeau’s men have alternated wins and losses in their last five games. They recently beat the Washington Wizards 97-92 behind impressive performances from Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol.

Mirotic scored 23 points on the night, shooting 3-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc. He also pulled down eight rebounds.

The veteran Gasol had 20 points to help the team, shooting 8-of-11 for the night. He also had a double-double as he grabbed 10 rebounds.

As for the Thunder, they are on a two-game win streak. Russell Westbrook missed out on their 108-101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers but returned to face the Philadelphia 76ers.

The star guard notched his fourth consecutive triple double in the 123-118 overtime victory, scoring a career-high 49 points, while grabbing 16 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists.

Dion Waiters provided some help on the offensive end, with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting.

This will be the first meeting between the Bulls and Thunder; with the latter winning their last two contests during the previous season.

After this meeting in Illinois, both teams are set to clash again in 10 days at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

For a play-by-play of this contest, visit NBA.com, and for a live stream, click here.

Source : Christian Post

LA Kings vs Montreal Canadiens Live Stream Free: Watch NHL Hockey Online as Kings Push for Playoff Spot

Entertainment