Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of famed evangelist Billy Graham, suggested the new coronavirus might be a sign of the end times and stressed the importance of making “sure we are right with God so that we are ready to meet Him whenever the time comes.”

In an op-ed, Lotz, founder of AnGel Ministries, said the coronavirus has “created national fear in a way I have not witnessed in my lifetime.”

“As of this writing, ball games are being canceled; theaters are shutting down; schools are closing; travel is restricted, and the stock market is on a crazy, wild rollercoaster ride. It’s almost as though our nation is being attacked by an invisible enemy seeking to destroy us,” she wrote.

Lotz said that while she is at risk for the disease due to her age and recent struggles with cancer, she is “more concerned about the fear the coronavirus has provoked than I am of the virus itself.  We seem to be caught up in a national panic.”

The evangelist pointed out that Jesus warned that at the end of time, there would be “pestilences,” adding: In the last few years, we have endured SARS, the swine flu, ebola, avian flu, MERS, West Nile virus and now the coronavirus.”

“Could COVID-19 be one more sign that our redemption is drawing near? Is the end in sight? Is Jesus coming … soon? If so, is fear the proper response?”

Citing the example of the prophet Isaiah, Lotz said prayer should be the response in times like these.

“This is a time to pray for ourselves, our families, our nation, and all those worldwide whose lives are being devastated by the death and disruption this disease is causing,” she said. “You and I need to make sure we are right with God so that we are ready to meet Him whenever the time comes. And then join me in helping someone else get right with God.”

“Let’s pull out all the stops as we tell others that it’s possible to have peace in the midst of the storm and confident hope for tomorrow, claiming Jesus’ promise, Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” she concluded.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Leah MarieAnn Klett

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ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A strong earthquake shook Croatia and its capital on Sunday, causing panic, the evacuation of hospitals and widespread damage — including to the city’s iconic cathedral — all amid a partial coronavirus lockdown.

A 15-year-old was reported in critical condition and several others were injured, news outlets reported.

The European seismological agency, EMSC, said the earthquake measured 5.3 and struck a wide area north of the capital, Zagreb, at 6:23 a.m. (0523 GMT) Sunday. The epicenter was 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of Zagreb at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said earthquake was the biggest in Zagreb in the last 140 years.

Many buildings in the capital cracked and walls and rooftops were damaged. Downtown streets were littered with debris. Concrete slabs fell on cars and chimneys landed in front of entrances.

Footage from the scene showed mothers dressed in nightgowns hugging their newborn babies in a parking lot as they evacuated a damaged maternity hospital amid freezing temperatures. The women, newborn babies and incubators were being moved to a new location with the help of the army.

Zagreb’s iconic cathedral was also damaged, with the top of one of its two spires collapsing. The cathedral was rebuilt after it toppled in the 1880 earthquake.

Power was cut as people ran out of their homes. Several fires were also reported. At least two other tremors were recorded later. Residents shared photos of belongings falling off shelves, broken bottles and glass inside homes.

Officials first said a 15-year-old was killed, but doctors later said that she is in critical condition and that they are fighting for her life. They gave no immediate details on the extent of other injuries.

The earthquake struck amid a partial lockdown of the capital because of the spread of the coronavirus. People were told to avoid public areas, such as parks and public squares, but had little choice as they fled their residences.

Up to five people are allowed to be together while keeping distance.

The prime minister urged the citizens to remain calm and stay outside their homes in the central parts of Zagreb, which sustained the most damage.

“We have two parallel crisis that contradict each other,” Plenkovic said after an emergency meeting of Croatia’s top officials.

Croatia’s army and all emergency services will start clearing the streets as soon as possible, while assessment will start of the damage at the same time.

“We will try to clear the streets as soon as possible,” he said. “Stay outside your homes and keep distance.”

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said the situation was complicated by the restrictive virus-related measures in place.

“There are rules for when there is an earthquake, but when there is an earthquake at the same time when there is a global pandemic, then it’s a much more complex situation.” Bozinovic told the state HINA news agency.

Copyright 2020. The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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TEXT: Psalm 110

1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

——-

John MacArthur said, “Jesus must return because the promise of God demands it. The claims of Christ Himself demand it. The testimony of the Holy Spirit demands it. The future of the church demands it. The corruption of the world demands it. Jesus must come because the covenant He made with Israel demands it. The vindication of Christ Himself demands His return. The judgment of Satan demands His coming. The hope of believers demands it. The groaning of the whole creation demands it.”

The Jacobites of Scotland never met one another on the mountain paths, never sat down to a table of council and conference, without lifting a cup to pledge the return of their king and prince, Charles. At length Charles came back, but only to bring to Scotland defeat, disaster, and suffering. In every celebration of the Lord’s Supper, since that last and first night in the Upper Room, the followers of Christ have lifted the sacramental cup as a token of their faith that their King shall come. That is the meaning of those words which we hear so often that we forget their deep import: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” Till he come! And when he comes he shall come not to bring pain and suffering, as did King Charles to unhappy Scotland, but to bind up all wounds, to set at liberty all the captives of sin, to wipe away all tears from all eyes.

In our last set of messages in this series, we looked at the Messianic Psalm 72. Today we are looking at another Messianic Psalm in Psalm 110. Here are three things that we can learn about the Second Coming of Christ from this passage.

By way of introduction here is what the Bible Knowledge Commentary has to say about this passage: “The words of this psalm are addressed to the psalmist’s “Lord.” The expressions are those of a prophet who had received a revelation from God. The king was also a priest, a fact that looks beyond the order of Aaron, which was not a royal order. This is one reason the psalm has been classified as a prophetic psalm. Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 in Mark 12:36 to demonstrate that He the Messiah was to be David’s Lord, not merely David’s Descendant. By Jesus’ use of the passage one also notes that David wrote Psalm 110, that it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that it refers to the Messiah. Attempts to date Psalm 110 in the Maccabean times, when some priests held temporal power, are therefore futile. Those leaders were priests first and also had civil power but in Psalm 110 the King is a Priest. The union of the offices of priest and king in the Messiah was prophesied in other passages. If Psalm 110 related to some incident in David’s life, it is difficult to articulate. Perhaps it was written about the time David knew that the Anointed One was to have a righteous kingdom At the end of his life David knew that he was not that one, but that a greater One was coming who would have dominion, power, and glory forever. In Psalm 110, David received an oracle about the exaltation of his Lord. He then described the holy army of this King-Priest-Messiah and His defeating all nations. David heard a heavenly conversation between the Lord and David’s Lord, that is, between God the Father and the Messiah. The verb is a word often used to depict an oracle or a revelation. In this oracle Yahweh said that David’s Lord, the Messiah, is seated at Yahweh’s right hand, the place of authority, until the consummation of the ages. At that time the Lord will send David’s Lord, the Messiah, to make his enemies subject to Him. A footstool pictures complete subjugation. With His scepter the Messiah will rule over His enemies. Others will accompany the Messiah, willingly offering themselves to take part in His battle. But this will be no ordinary battle. This will be righteous judgment poured out on the wicked. Hence holiness is the required adornment. As the Israelites of old had to consecrate themselves to the Lord before going into battle, so at the consummation of the ages must believers be holy. The youthful warriors are compared to the dew of the morning. This suggests several ideas, including their freshness, their sudden appearance, their glittering numbers, and even the time of their appearance: in the early morning (the womb of the dawn). Therefore Messiah’s servants will have made freewill offerings to Him, will be adorned in holiness, and will appear suddenly with youthful vigor. The Lord has affirmed by oath that the Messiah will be a Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. The people of the Messiah will have an eternal High Priest. Melchizedek was the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God. Years after he ruled in Jerusalem, David and his descendants ruled there. That ancient unity of priest and king in one person will be reunited in the Messiah, a fact which necessitates the end of the line of Aaron’s priesthood. This is precisely the point of the writer to the Hebrews, who four times said Melchizedek is a type of Christ. As a Priest Jesus sacrificed Himself by His death on the cross. Not in Aaron’s line, He is the eternal High Priest of the New Covenant. Because He is also the promised Davidic King, both offices are united in one Person. David anticipated the glorious victory of the Messiah. David’s Lord s seated at God the Father’s right hand, the place of authority. When the Messiah-Priest comes He will defeat kings and judge nations. His refreshing Himself with a drink along the way figuratively pictures His renewed vigor, and His lifting up His head speaks of His being exalted. According to the New Testament Christ, accompanied by His saints, will return to judge the world and establish His kingdom on earth.”

—–

Now, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to trust in Him because He is coming again and you do not want to be left behind. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and the consequences of sin.

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 that 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 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

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God’s Solutions for Today’s Problems #63

Welcome to God’s Solutions for Today’s Problems podcast. This is podcast #63

My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Ordained Chaplains USA and Life coach. We don’t have to look far to see that many people in the world are dealing with a variety of problems and are in need of solutions. No matter what problem you are facing — whether it is emotional, psychological or spiritual — Jesus Christ holds the solution that you need. As we walk together in this podcast, we will address a number of topics that exist in the world and present solutions from the Bible that will help you heal and live life more abundantly. Our aim in this podcast is: (1) to introduce you to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of all healing; (2) to provide you with information that will help you to understand the problem; and (3) to help you by providing solutions to your problems.

Our passage from the Word of God today is 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. It reads, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”

Allow me to share with you some interesting points on this passage from Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

In general, he tells them that marriage, by Christ’s command, is for life; and therefore those who are married must not think of separation. The wife must not depart from the husband, nor the husband put away his wife. This I command, says the apostle; yet not I, but the Lord. Not that he commanded any thing of his own head, or upon his own authority. Whatever he commanded was the Lord’s command, dictated by His Spirit and enjoined by His authority. But his meaning is that the Lord Himself, with His own mouth, had forbidden such separations. Note, Man and wife cannot separate at pleasure, nor dissolve, when they will, their matrimonial bonds and relation. They must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. And therefore the apostle advises that if any woman had been separated, either by a voluntary act of her own or by an act of her husband, she should continue unmarried, and seek reconciliation with her husband, that they might cohabit again. Note, Husbands and wives should not quarrel at all, or should be quickly reconciled. They are bound to each other for life. The divine law allows of no separation. They cannot throw off the burden, and therefore should set their shoulders to it, and endeavour to make it as light to each other as they can.

Our quote for today is from A.W. Pink. He said, “Marriage is not a mere civil thing, but is partly spiritual and Divine, and therefore God alone has the power to appoint the beginning, the continuance, and the end thereof.”

The problem we are discussing today is “Divorce” (part 3) from the book, “The Guide to Biblical Counseling” by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Ron Hawkins.

ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW
For Couples Contemplating Divorce
When a couple comes to counseling with divorce as an option, you are usually the last stop before a lawyer.

Rule Outs
Do either of you have reason to believe that you are in physical danger from the other?
Has there been any type of abuse (physical, verbal, or sexual) to either of you or your children? (If there has been physical or sexual abuse, the first step is to get the abused spouse and children away from the abuser and to a safe place. Counseling cannot begin until this takes place. After the abused person is safe, the couple can meet for counseling with the counselor and a representative of the church, such as an elder or pastor, present. It is a good idea if both genders are represented in the core counseling times.)

General Questions
What has prompted you to come to counseling at this time?
What do you hope the outcome of counseling will be?
Tell me about your marriage. How long have you been married?
Do you have any children?
How did you meet?
What first attracted you to each other?
How did you know this was the person you wanted to marry?
What was your first fight about?
When did the problems that bring you here today first arise?
What have you tried already to solve these problems?
Do you feel there is any hope for reconciliation?
So you both want a divorce? Why or why not?
What would it take for you to want to reconcile?
Do either of you think you have biblical grounds for divorce?
What are they?
Are you both believers?
How is your walk with the Lord?
Tell me about your background, your parents, and your siblings. What was growing up like for you?
Are there any divorces in your family or among your friends?
What do you think divorce will accomplish for you?
How do you think the divorce will affect your children?
Would you like to see what the Bible says about divorce?

“God does not hate divorced people–He hates the cruelty of divorce. Divorce does not eliminate problems; it just substitutes a new set of problems.” – Author Unknown

In our next broadcast, we will continue looking at the problem of Divorce.

—–PRAYER—–

Now, if you are listening today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you 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.”

If you have other questions about life’s problems for this podcast, please email us [email protected]

Until next time, my friend remember that God has a solution to all of your problems.

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Welcome to A Christian Manifesto Today episode #41. My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Torch Leadership Foundation.

Pastor and Christian philosopher, Francis A. Schaeffer, warned us and created the war plan that we as Christians need today to deal with a society that is increasingly moving away from God, the Bible, and moral principles. He wrote “A Christian Manifesto” over 33 years ago and its words are just as relevant today as they were back then.

Our Christian Manifesto Today Passage from the Word of God today is Matthew 22:21 which reads: “Then saith he [Jesus] unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Our Christian Manifesto Today quote today is from Cal Thomas. He said: “Why do authorities exist? It is because we live in a sinful and fallen world, and without authority everyone would do “what is right in his own eyes,” resulting in chaos. Those who will not be constrained from within by the living presence of Jesus Christ, must be restrained from without by the state, acting under God’s ultimate authority, in order to “promote the general welfare,” in the words of the Constitution’s preamble.”

In this podcast, we are using as our text: “A Christian Manifesto” by Francis A. Schaeffer.

Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer writes in “The Limits of Civil Obedience” (Part 1):

The Founding Fathers and those in the thirteen states understand what they were building upon. We have reached a place today which is violently opposed to what the Founding Fathers of this country and those in the thirteen individual states had in mind when they came together and formed the union.

It is time to think to the bottom line as our forefathers did. What was the bottom line that our forefathers thought to that made it possible for them to act as they did?

First, what is the final relationship to the state on the part of anyone whose base is the existence of God? How would you answer that question?

You must understand that those in our present material-energy, chance oriented generation have no reason to obey the state except that the state has the guns and has the patronage. That is the only reason they have for obeying the state. A material-energy, chance orientation gives no base, no reason, except force and patronage, as to why citizens should obey the state.

The Christian, the God-fearing person, is not like that. The Bible tells us that God has commanded us to obey the state.

But now a second question follows very quickly. Has God set up an authority in the state that is autonomous from Himself? Are we to obey the state no matter what? Are we? In this one area is indeed Man the measure of all things? And I would answer, not at all, not at all.

When Jesus says in Matthew 22:21: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” it is not:

GOD and CAESAR (on an equal level)

It was, is, and always will be:

GOD
and
CAESAR
(over / under)

Lord willing, we will continue looking at this topic in our next episode.

Let’s Pray.

* * * * * * * *

Dear friend, if you are listening today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you 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.”

Until next time, my friend, continue to stand for the Lord and his Word. God bless you!

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Bioethicists who support the death with dignity movement argue that using treatments to extend people’s lives is less favorable for societies that would benefit from legalizing assisted suicide. 

In the current edition of Clinical Ethics, an article titled “Counting the Cost of Denying Assisted Dying” by David Shaw and Alec Morton, both of whom work at the Institute for Biomedical Ethics at the University of Basel, Switzerland, say they support the legalization of euthanasia because, in their opinion, it would increase people’s “quality-adjusted life years” by assisting them in ending their life after they’ve been diagnosed with an illness or incurable disease.

The assumption is that quality-adjusted life years are to be valued more than longevity, because generally speaking, most people are relatively healthy and able-bodied before their older years when sickness, disease, and injuries are more likely to occur. This point of view sees suffering as something that must be avoided and ended quickly by euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Morton and Shaw argue that one of the benefits of euthanasia is that medical equipment and treatments can be used on healthier patients instead of those who are terminally ill and have a shorter life expectancy. They write: “resources consumed by patients who are denied assisted dying could instead be used to provide additional (positive) quality-adjusted life years for patients elsewhere in the healthcare system who wish to continue living and to improve their quality of life.”

They added: “[O]rgan donation may be an additional potential source of quality-adjusted life years in this context. … Taken together, the cumulative avoidance of negative quality-adjusted life years and gain in positive quality-adjusted life years suggest that permitting assisted dying would substantially benefit both the small population that seeks assisted suicide or euthanasia, and the larger general population. As such, denying assisted dying is a lose–lose situation for all patients.”

The idea that euthanasia and assisted suicide are beneficial to societies has been showcased prominently in medical literature and ads directed at patients in urgent care waiting rooms. It represents a shift in medical systems that no longer prioritize the preservation of life, particularly in western countries.

Many now favor the opinion that human beings are fully autonomous individuals who have the right to die at the time of their choosing. Concurrent with prioritizing the self-will of the individual in this sphere are considerations about cost-benefit analyses in healthcare systems.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Brandon Showalter

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The Idaho Legislature has passed a bill that, if enacted, would ban most abortion procedures in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade is overturned.

The Idaho House of Representatives voted 49-18 in favor of Senate Bill 1385 on Wednesday, with the state Senate having voted 27-7 in favor of the legislation last week.

After both houses voted to approve the proposed legislation, it was sent to the desk of Gov. Brad Little on Thursday afternoon and awaits his signature.

Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Todd Lakey, SB 1385 is meant to take effect if either the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe or the U.S. Constitution is amended to give states the right to ban abortion.

“Every person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion as defined in this chapter commits the crime of criminal abortion,” reads the bill in part.

“Criminal abortion shall be a felony punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of no less than two (2) years and no more than (5) years in prison.”

The proposed ban on abortion includes exemptions for rape, incest, or if a woman is facing a medical emergency in which the baby cannot be saved.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski

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I was invited to speak at Christian Heritage’s Home Educators’ Day at the Capitol a few years ago. The following are three encouragements I passed along to homeschooling families.

Homeschooling Encouragement 1: The responsibility to teach and train children is on the parents’ shoulders.

It’s not on the shoulders of the government, public school, or even the church. Three verses to support this conclusion.

1.  Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach [the words of God] diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 

The “You” is parents, and this teaching is supposed to go on all the time, when you:

When I taught elementary school as soon as the bell rang I sent students home for the day, but as homeschooling parents, educating is never done. God wants us teaching and discipling our children around the clock, every day, all day. When I was an officer in the Army they told us, “You always have to have a hip-pocket teaching available.” Our uniforms had large pockets on our hips, and the idea is we had to have a teaching we could pull out at any moment to share with the soldiers.

The same is true with our children. We should look for teachable moments throughout the day to disciple them on forgiveness, generosity, service, joy, appreciating God’s creation, etc. As our children encounter day-to-day situations, we want to regularly say:

With our children growing up in Christian homes and churches, they learn so much Scripture, but how does this benefit them if it isn’t affecting their day-to-day lives? If it isn’t affecting their relationships and decision-making?

2.  Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Is this addressing the public school system, the government, or even churches? It’s clearly speaking to parents.

3.  Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

This verse is interesting because understandably with fathers working, mothers perform most of the teaching; therefore, how do we obey this verse? While mothers might deal with much of the day-to-day academics, it seems much of the [spiritual] training and admonition rests on the father’s shoulders. Fathers can never sit back and say:

Whether fathers have to get up earlier or clear the table as soon as dinner is over we need to make sure we gather our families around the Word of God. Consider what God said about Abraham:

Genesis 18:19 [God said], “I have chosen him, that he may [direct] his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

This is exactly what God could say to every father: He has chosen [us] as fathers. He wants us to direct our children and our households that we may keep them in the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.

SOURCE: Christian Post, Scott LaPierre

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