The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
"Military Punishes Chaplain for Referring to the Bible in Suicide-Prevention Seminar" - Kelsey Harkness / @kelseyjharkness / December 14, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/punished-referencing-bible-military-chaplain-tells-side-story/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6jOZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMZrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D [AS I SEE IT: The incident noted in this article - and the ones noted afterwards - points out the outrageous way the chaplains and those serving in our military have come to be treated for their Christian views during the past years (while we have had a "Christian" President). It gives further evidence of why those in the military are now hesitant to encourage others to consider military service. (See "Mission Derailed: Military Now Just a 'Social Experiment' " - www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/December/Mission-Derailed-Military-Now-Just-a-Social-Experiment/#.VIzs-ZRVugs.facebook) It's something that is part of my daily prayers for our military and which I hope will also spur YOU to be praying. ALSO, please note the FIRST item listed below. It provides a website where you can SIGN A PETITION (as I have) to protest the treatment of the chaplain noted in this article. - Stan]
The Army says a military chaplain stepped over a line by citing the Bible's King David in a suicide-prevention seminar. (Photo: Newscom)
The Army has disciplined a military chaplain for making references to the Bible during a suicide-prevention seminar last month.
A serviceman brought the Judeo-Christian religious content to the attention of an atheist group, which complained about it. Now, the chaplain is fighting back, maintaining he did nothing wrong.
The dispute has renewed a debate over the appropriate role of faith in the military.
The chaplain, Capt. Joe Lawhorn, conducted the training session on suicide prevention Nov. 20 at the University of North Georgia. During the session, he shared his personal struggles with depression while an Army Ranger.What upset the atheist group is that Lawhorn explained how he learned to conquer adversity by following the example of Israel’s warrior king, David, one of the great heroes of the Old Testament.
A week later, on Thanksgiving, Lawhorn received a letter of concern from Col. David Fivecoat, commander of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga. Fivecoat’s letter faulted Lawhorn for “using Christian scriptures and solutions”: "During this training, you advocated, or were perceived to advocate for Christianity and used Christian scripture and solutions. This is in direct contrast with Army Regulation 600-20 and violates the Army’s Equal Opportunity Policy."
The letter, described as “administrative in nature,” also issued a stern warning to Lawhorn to be “careful to avoid any perception you are advocating one system of beliefs over another.” It will remain in the chaplain’s file for up to three years. Still at issue is whether Lawhorn improperly inserted his evangelical Christian beliefs into the suicide-prevention training session or was simply speaking from personal experience.
Col. Ron Crews, a retired military chaplain who is now executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty [http://chaplainalliance.org] , came to Lawhorn’s defense. He urged the Army to reconsider its actions and remove the letter from Lawhorn’s file: "According to some who were present, Chaplain Lawhorn made clear on multiple occasions that he provided his personal experiences of dealing with depression merely as one example among many alternatives. At no time did he say his way was the only or even the preferred way of dealing with depression. And at no time did he deny the validity of any other methods." Crews also noted that no one at the training session filed a formal complaint.
Instead, he said, one Ranger in attendance took a photo of a handout distributed by Lawhorn and posted it on the Facebook page of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. The group bills itself as a “national non-profit building community for atheists and humanists in the military.” Crews said the organization’s president, Jason Torpy, proceeded to make an issue of it by writing a series of articles on Lawhorn’s suicide-prevention briefing.
That’s “not the point,” Torpy said in a telephone interview with The Daily Signal: "This chaplain violated the privilege and responsibility he had and he exploited that opportunity to push his personal religious beliefs on the captive audience of military personnel. So it doesn’t matter where the complaint came from."
Since no recording has surfaced, Torpy points to the handout as proof that Lawhorn replaced “sound suicide-prevention training with that chaplain’s personal, evangelical interest.” He said: "You can see clearly from the handout what people in that assembled mass saw was a chaplain promoting his personal beliefs as an integral part of the activity through a handout with Christian counseling centers, Bibles verses and the core Christian message. No amount of ‘Well, this is just my personal beliefs’ makes it OK."
On the front of the handout, Lawhorn drew from the Bible’s Book of Psalms and referenced its central Jewish figure, David, as an example of how to manage thoughts of depression and suicide.On the back, Lawhorn provided referrals for local counseling along with other crisis contacts in government.
The Daily Signal, researching the counseling centers listed by Lawhorn, discovered that only two of the four were affiliated with a particular religion. The secular referrals were North Georgia Counseling and Education Center and MAM Counseling Inc.
The Liberty Institute, a nonprofit legal group specializing in religious liberty, helped Lawhorn file an official response last Tuesday to the Army. In a press release, Mike Berry, senior counsel and director of military affairs, said: "It is outrageous that an Army chaplain would have his career threatened because he cared so much about his soldiers that he opened up to them about his personal struggles and what worked for him."
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
from Focus on the Family: Please sign our petition to the Secretary of the Army to rescind the illegal action taken upon a chaplain and to reprimand the Commander who did this.
https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=CHECKOUT&dmy=5E016509-9421-495F-0D3F893B8173E8F6&CFID=30300828&CFTOKEN=a142c5e6792952df-564BCE28-F500-A1E8-0EF1A78D6D4E766F
"Is the Navy Removing Bibles from Hotel Rooms?" - http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/14/navy-removing-bibles-hotel-rooms/
"Punished for Referencing Bible, Military Chaplain Tells His Side of the Story" - Kelsey Harkness/ December 18, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/punished-referencing-bible-military-chaplain-tells-side-story/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6jOZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMZrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D
"Religious Liberty May Be Threatened for U.S. Military" -
Andrew T. Walker/ May 24, 2013; http://dailysignal.com/2013/05/24/religious-liberty-may-be-threatened-for-u-s-military/
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER:1) Let's be praying that God showed us grace in giving us representatives who will sincerely work to DO NO HARM to us and future generations. Let's also be praying that should He have chosen to give us those who WILL do us harm, that He extends mercy to us now and for the years ahead. His will is now done as far as the results we have. Now it's up to us to be diligent to hold those elected accountable!, and 2) Let's be praying that the present lame-duck session in Congress will not be allowed to pass legislation that will do harm to our country as they can easily do. (See post #1051 - 'Return of the Zombie).
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER:1) Let's be praying that God showed us grace in giving us representatives who will sincerely work to DO NO HARM to us and future generations. Let's also be praying that should He have chosen to give us those who WILL do us harm, that He extends mercy to us now and for the years ahead. His will is now done as far as the results we have. Now it's up to us to be diligent to hold those elected accountable!, and 2) Let's be praying that the present lame-duck session in Congress will not be allowed to pass legislation that will do harm to our country as they can easily do. (See post #1051 - 'Return of the Zombie).
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Save Christian Mom Asia Bibi from Execution - A Christian mom has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for her faith. Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” – speaking against the prophet Muhammad. Now this wife and mother of five will hang for her Christian faith.She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan’s Shariah blasphemy law.This is the ultimate human rights violation. We’re mobilizing our international affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – and its partner in Pakistan to stop this atrocity. Add your name to our letter to the government of Pakistan demanding Asia Bibi’s freedom.Go to http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-christian-mom-asia-bibi-from-execution; please add your signature to mine and over 35,000 others AND pray for Asia Bibi.
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign] For comfort and .\
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "..An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukraine [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
----------------------------------------------------
"Military Punishes Chaplain for Referring to the Bible in Suicide-Prevention Seminar" - Kelsey Harkness / @kelseyjharkness / December 14, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/punished-referencing-bible-military-chaplain-tells-side-story/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6jOZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMZrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D [AS I SEE IT: The incident noted in this article - and the ones noted afterwards - points out the outrageous way the chaplains and those serving in our military have come to be treated for their Christian views during the past years (while we have had a "Christian" President). It gives further evidence of why those in the military are now hesitant to encourage others to consider military service. (See "Mission Derailed: Military Now Just a 'Social Experiment' " - www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/December/Mission-Derailed-Military-Now-Just-a-Social-Experiment/#.VIzs-ZRVugs.facebook) It's something that is part of my daily prayers for our military and which I hope will also spur YOU to be praying. ALSO, please note the FIRST item listed below. It provides a website where you can SIGN A PETITION (as I have) to protest the treatment of the chaplain noted in this article. - Stan]
The Army has disciplined a military chaplain for making references to the Bible during a suicide-prevention seminar last month.
A serviceman brought the Judeo-Christian religious content to the attention of an atheist group, which complained about it. Now, the chaplain is fighting back, maintaining he did nothing wrong.
The dispute has renewed a debate over the appropriate role of faith in the military.
The chaplain, Capt. Joe Lawhorn, conducted the training session on suicide prevention Nov. 20 at the University of North Georgia. During the session, he shared his personal struggles with depression while an Army Ranger.What upset the atheist group is that Lawhorn explained how he learned to conquer adversity by following the example of Israel’s warrior king, David, one of the great heroes of the Old Testament.
A week later, on Thanksgiving, Lawhorn received a letter of concern from Col. David Fivecoat, commander of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga. Fivecoat’s letter faulted Lawhorn for “using Christian scriptures and solutions”: "During this training, you advocated, or were perceived to advocate for Christianity and used Christian scripture and solutions. This is in direct contrast with Army Regulation 600-20 and violates the Army’s Equal Opportunity Policy."
The letter, described as “administrative in nature,” also issued a stern warning to Lawhorn to be “careful to avoid any perception you are advocating one system of beliefs over another.” It will remain in the chaplain’s file for up to three years. Still at issue is whether Lawhorn improperly inserted his evangelical Christian beliefs into the suicide-prevention training session or was simply speaking from personal experience.
Col. Ron Crews, a retired military chaplain who is now executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty [http://chaplainalliance.org] , came to Lawhorn’s defense. He urged the Army to reconsider its actions and remove the letter from Lawhorn’s file: "According to some who were present, Chaplain Lawhorn made clear on multiple occasions that he provided his personal experiences of dealing with depression merely as one example among many alternatives. At no time did he say his way was the only or even the preferred way of dealing with depression. And at no time did he deny the validity of any other methods." Crews also noted that no one at the training session filed a formal complaint.
Instead, he said, one Ranger in attendance took a photo of a handout distributed by Lawhorn and posted it on the Facebook page of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. The group bills itself as a “national non-profit building community for atheists and humanists in the military.” Crews said the organization’s president, Jason Torpy, proceeded to make an issue of it by writing a series of articles on Lawhorn’s suicide-prevention briefing.
That’s “not the point,” Torpy said in a telephone interview with The Daily Signal: "This chaplain violated the privilege and responsibility he had and he exploited that opportunity to push his personal religious beliefs on the captive audience of military personnel. So it doesn’t matter where the complaint came from."
Since no recording has surfaced, Torpy points to the handout as proof that Lawhorn replaced “sound suicide-prevention training with that chaplain’s personal, evangelical interest.” He said: "You can see clearly from the handout what people in that assembled mass saw was a chaplain promoting his personal beliefs as an integral part of the activity through a handout with Christian counseling centers, Bibles verses and the core Christian message. No amount of ‘Well, this is just my personal beliefs’ makes it OK."
On the front of the handout, Lawhorn drew from the Bible’s Book of Psalms and referenced its central Jewish figure, David, as an example of how to manage thoughts of depression and suicide.On the back, Lawhorn provided referrals for local counseling along with other crisis contacts in government.
The Daily Signal, researching the counseling centers listed by Lawhorn, discovered that only two of the four were affiliated with a particular religion. The secular referrals were North Georgia Counseling and Education Center and MAM Counseling Inc.
The Liberty Institute, a nonprofit legal group specializing in religious liberty, helped Lawhorn file an official response last Tuesday to the Army. In a press release, Mike Berry, senior counsel and director of military affairs, said: "It is outrageous that an Army chaplain would have his career threatened because he cared so much about his soldiers that he opened up to them about his personal struggles and what worked for him."
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
from Focus on the Family: Please sign our petition to the Secretary of the Army to rescind the illegal action taken upon a chaplain and to reprimand the Commander who did this.
https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=CHECKOUT&dmy=5E016509-9421-495F-0D3F893B8173E8F6&CFID=30300828&CFTOKEN=a142c5e6792952df-564BCE28-F500-A1E8-0EF1A78D6D4E766F
"Is the Navy Removing Bibles from Hotel Rooms?" - http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/14/navy-removing-bibles-hotel-rooms/
"Punished for Referencing Bible, Military Chaplain Tells His Side of the Story" - Kelsey Harkness/ December 18, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/punished-referencing-bible-military-chaplain-tells-side-story/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6jOZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMZrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D
"Religious Liberty May Be Threatened for U.S. Military" -
Andrew T. Walker/ May 24, 2013; http://dailysignal.com/2013/05/24/religious-liberty-may-be-threatened-for-u-s-military/
No comments:
Post a Comment