"ON A WEST WING AND A PRAYER" - Tony Perkins, Washington Update, April 25, 2017; http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA17D46&f=WU17D15
Since President Trump took office, he's encouraged more than a few faith-based initiatives. But this one involves his own team! On a weekly basis, members of the Trump cabinet are meeting for a time of prayer and devotions. Together with Vice President Mike Pence, the group holds the sessions under the leadership of the Capitol Ministries' Ralph Drollinger. "In terms of a country's health and direction, when its leaders are seeking God, the nation is in a position to be blessed by God in ways that are 'far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,'" Drollinger told CBN.
Throwing open the door to Capitol Ministries, which also hosts weekly Bible studies in the House and Senate, is just one of the signs that the White House is under new management. After eight years of the most hostile attacks on faith in America, the simple fact that the administration is encouraging its people to live out their beliefs is a powerful example of the change taking root. And if anyone needs spiritual encouragement, it's the men and women in the most influential seats in Washington. Although the president hasn't attended yet, he has an open invitation. "This has been a wonderful time of prayer and fellowship as I am presently teaching through the Sermon on the Mount -- as well has handing out my weekly written Bible study as a homework assignment on a particular topic," Drollinger said.
Of course, the Trump administration isn't the first to host Bible studies. George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon all took time out of their days for prayer and devotions. For so many, though, this simple show of faith is a breath of fresh air for leaders whose beliefs were suffocated under Barack Obama. Fortunately, Donald Trump and Mike Pence recognize that our government shouldn't fear faith, but welcome it. And joining in office prayer is some on-the-job training we could all use!
[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]
"Why Did the Doctors Cross the Road?" - Tony Perkins, Washington Update, April 26, 2017; http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA17D48&f=WU17D16
Liberals are happy to "March for Science" -- and use it as a weapon -- when it serves their interests. But when it conflicts with their ideology, especially on human sexuality, then science is quickly dumped. The American College of Pediatricians (ACP) -- a professional organization that is more scientifically (but not as politically) correct as the larger American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) -- exposed this tendency with a brilliant press release yesterday. They noted the publication of a recent study, out of the University of Iowa, which found, according to one report, "Crossing a busy street requires calculations too complex for kids younger than 14," because "children lack the perceptual judgment and physical skills needed to consistently get across safely." Specifically, children had difficulty calculating an adequate gap between cars and initiating movement across the street at the optimal time. As Dr. Michelle Cretella, President of the ACP, put it, "Children are not miniature adults. Everyone knows this."
Yet at the same time, the AAP and other prominent groups promote "the claim that children this age or younger are cognitively capable of deciding that they are the wrong sex." In fact, the AAP has partnered with the openly ideological and political group the Human Rights Campaign in publishing a 24-page pamphlet focused on "transgender children" -- those in "the elementary school years, ages 5 to 10." It promotes a "gender-affirming" approach, "focusing on what the child says . . . and allowing them to determine which forms of gender expression feel comfortable and authentic." Even worse, they condone the use of hormones to block a child's normal development in puberty, as a precursor to full cross-sex hormone treatments and gender reassignment surgery later. Even some adult transgender people have begun to question whether this approach may be "doing more harm than good" to children. We owe our gratitude to the American College of Pediatricians for putting children's long-term health and well-being above radical sexual ideology.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
"Trump’s Border Wall Request Equals 0.035% of Federal Spending" - By Terence P. Jeffrey | April 25, 2017 |http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/trumps-border-wall-request-equals-0035-federal-spending
(CNSNews.com) - "President Donald Trump’s request that Congress include $1.4 billion to fund the beginning of his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border equals approximately 0.035 percent of what the federal government will spend in total this year, according to the latest estimate of fiscal year 2017 federal spending made by the Congressional Budget Office. It also equals less than the Department of Health and Human Services spends in just twelve hours and less than the Treasury collects in taxes in four hours.That is assuming that HHS spends money 24 hours a day and the Treasury collects it 24 hours a day..."
"Music Superstar Katy Perry Denounces Her Devoutly Christian Upbringing" - CBN News, Lorie Johnson, 04-20-2017; http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2017/april/music-
superstar-katy-perry-denounces-her-devoutly-christian-upbringing?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM
"In a 2013 interview with Marie Claire Perry said, 'I don't believe in a heaven or a hell or an old man sitting on a throne. I believe in a higher power bigger than me because that keeps me accountable.' 'I'm not Buddhist, I'm not Hindu, I'm not Christian, but I still feel like I have a deep connection with God. I pray all the time—for self-control, for humility. There's a lot of gratitude in it. Just saying 'thank you' sometimes is better than asking for things,' she said. Christian apologist Dr. Alex McFarland tells OneNewsNow that Katy's story is an important lesson for parents. 'The saga of Katy Perry is a classic reminder to parents that we need to make sure our children don't just have a religious or an emotional experience, but that [they] do have an authentic, born-again relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, ' he says.
"U.S. Commission for Religious Freedom Reports ‘Worsening’ International Conditions" -
Throwing open the door to Capitol Ministries, which also hosts weekly Bible studies in the House and Senate, is just one of the signs that the White House is under new management. After eight years of the most hostile attacks on faith in America, the simple fact that the administration is encouraging its people to live out their beliefs is a powerful example of the change taking root. And if anyone needs spiritual encouragement, it's the men and women in the most influential seats in Washington. Although the president hasn't attended yet, he has an open invitation. "This has been a wonderful time of prayer and fellowship as I am presently teaching through the Sermon on the Mount -- as well has handing out my weekly written Bible study as a homework assignment on a particular topic," Drollinger said.
Of course, the Trump administration isn't the first to host Bible studies. George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon all took time out of their days for prayer and devotions. For so many, though, this simple show of faith is a breath of fresh air for leaders whose beliefs were suffocated under Barack Obama. Fortunately, Donald Trump and Mike Pence recognize that our government shouldn't fear faith, but welcome it. And joining in office prayer is some on-the-job training we could all use!
[bold, italics, and colored emphasis mine]
"Why Did the Doctors Cross the Road?" - Tony Perkins, Washington Update, April 26, 2017; http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WA17D48&f=WU17D16
Yet at the same time, the AAP and other prominent groups promote "the claim that children this age or younger are cognitively capable of deciding that they are the wrong sex." In fact, the AAP has partnered with the openly ideological and political group the Human Rights Campaign in publishing a 24-page pamphlet focused on "transgender children" -- those in "the elementary school years, ages 5 to 10." It promotes a "gender-affirming" approach, "focusing on what the child says . . . and allowing them to determine which forms of gender expression feel comfortable and authentic." Even worse, they condone the use of hormones to block a child's normal development in puberty, as a precursor to full cross-sex hormone treatments and gender reassignment surgery later. Even some adult transgender people have begun to question whether this approach may be "doing more harm than good" to children. We owe our gratitude to the American College of Pediatricians for putting children's long-term health and well-being above radical sexual ideology.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
"Trump’s Border Wall Request Equals 0.035% of Federal Spending" - By Terence P. Jeffrey | April 25, 2017 |http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/trumps-border-wall-request-equals-0035-federal-spending
(CNSNews.com) - "President Donald Trump’s request that Congress include $1.4 billion to fund the beginning of his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border equals approximately 0.035 percent of what the federal government will spend in total this year, according to the latest estimate of fiscal year 2017 federal spending made by the Congressional Budget Office. It also equals less than the Department of Health and Human Services spends in just twelve hours and less than the Treasury collects in taxes in four hours.That is assuming that HHS spends money 24 hours a day and the Treasury collects it 24 hours a day..."
"Music Superstar Katy Perry Denounces Her Devoutly Christian Upbringing" - CBN News, Lorie Johnson, 04-20-2017; http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2017/april/music-
superstar-katy-perry-denounces-her-devoutly-christian-upbringing?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM
"In a 2013 interview with Marie Claire Perry said, 'I don't believe in a heaven or a hell or an old man sitting on a throne. I believe in a higher power bigger than me because that keeps me accountable.' 'I'm not Buddhist, I'm not Hindu, I'm not Christian, but I still feel like I have a deep connection with God. I pray all the time—for self-control, for humility. There's a lot of gratitude in it. Just saying 'thank you' sometimes is better than asking for things,' she said. Christian apologist Dr. Alex McFarland tells OneNewsNow that Katy's story is an important lesson for parents. 'The saga of Katy Perry is a classic reminder to parents that we need to make sure our children don't just have a religious or an emotional experience, but that [they] do have an authentic, born-again relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, ' he says.
"U.S. Commission for Religious Freedom Reports ‘Worsening’ International Conditions" -
Lauretta Brown : Apr 26, 2017; https://townhall.com/tipsheet/laurettabrown/2017/04/26/us-commission-for-religious-freedom-reports-worsening-international-conditions-designates-terror-groups-as-entities-of-concern-n2318760
"Conservatives Are Flooding Town Halls, Too. I Know, I’m One of Them." - Ed Smith / February 15, 2017 / http://dailysignal.com/2017/02/15/conservatives-are-flooding-town-halls-too-i-know-im-one-of-them
"Conservatives Are Flooding Town Halls, Too. I Know, I’m One of Them." - Ed Smith / February 15, 2017 / http://dailysignal.com/2017/02/15/conservatives-are-flooding-town-halls-too-i-know-im-one-of-them
It's great that Trump is hosting Bible studies. It probably would be very awkward for the president to walk into a “normal” church congregation to be spiritually fed. (Imagine the security, the press, etc.) I wonder how long these Bible studies have been happening. Hopefully, Trump will decide to join them – it would be well worth his time.
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