Abortion
We Can’t Look the Other Way on Sex-Selection Abortions
Miracle Baby Jaxon continues to be a living testimony of the value of life by Josh Denton
End-of-Life
On a River in the Dark – “In ‘A river of lost souls runs through western Colorado’ Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Amy Ellis Nutt of the Washington Post tells the tragic tales of suicide out West”
Family Living
I’m Afraid of Losing My Health by Pastor Mark Jeske
No, We Can’t ‘Agree to Disagree’ on Marriage – And Here’s Why by John Stonestreet – “Can Christians agree to disagree on our culture’s most controversial topics? Well, when it comes to certain issues, the answer is no.”
U.S. divorce rate at 35 year low and more births within marriage by Shannon Roberts – “The latest positive U.S. family statistics.”
Movies – Television – Video
Not Even A Comedy Like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” Can Make Abortion Seem Normal by Nicole Russell – “Terminating a baby so mom can pursue a career is traumatic for both mother and child.”
Political
Last Night’s “Hamilton” Performance Showed Us How Far We Have To Go by Gracy Olmstead – “When Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended the hit musical last night, audience members—and the cast itself—refused to show any respect or empathy.”
Worldview and Culture
Is “sanctity of life” a useful concept? by Michael Cook
The bedrock difference: Pro-lifers believe you matter … just because you are by Dave Andrusko
In Conversations On Cultural Issues, Get to the Root of the Worldview by Amy K. Hall
John Newton on Speaking the Truth for the Sake of Others by Amy K. Hal
The seven deadly sins of social media by Heather Zeiger – “Tinder is lust. Netflix is sloth … and it all adds up to idolatry.”
Teacher Impregnated by 13-Year-Old She Had Sex with “on almost daily basis” Takes Plea Deal
Churches Should Welcome Sinners, Not Affirm Their Sins by Glenn T. Stanton – “Even though conservative churches are largely assumed to be unwelcoming, even hostile, toward gay-identified people, even the most traditional typically welcome outsiders with open arms.”
Relatives of holocaust Christian heroine gather to view will
What Will Happen to Me If I Don’t Attend Church? by Rev, James Albrecht
**********
Thanksgiving
by R. J. Rushdoony
“We can all provide a catalogue of things wrong with our lives and the world. Thanksgiving is a time when we must forget these things to remember God’s mercies.”
The origin of Thanksgiving is in the harvest festival of the Old Testament. The early American celebration was a self-conscious adoption of the Old Testament observance together with many other things. Throughout the year, the Hebrews constantly were summoned to thank God for His mercies and blessings. Many Psalms resound with thankful praise, especially Psalm 136: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.”
Today our tendency is to thank God only for His blessings. Our attitude too often is, no blessings, no thanks. In effect, we say, “What have you done for us lately, God?” In Scripture, the central aspect of thanksgiving is gratitude for God’s mercy. Every verse of Psalm 136 concludes with the words “for his mercy endureth for ever”; twenty-six times this refrain is sounded.
“Mercy” was once a popular name for girls; the Puritans delighted in God’s merciful nature and celebrated it. We speak little of God’s mercy now. Apparently we feel that we deserve everything He gives and more.
But Scripture tells us that we are the objects of God’s mercy in Jesus Christ. Mercy is so important that it is stressed in the Beatitudes: ”Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7).
Psalm 85:10 tells us, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Mercy is linked to truth, righteousness (or, justice) and peace. Obviously, mercy is very important in our sight. We neglect it at our peril.
We all have our problems; certain things oppress and trouble us. We can all provide a catalogue of things wrong with our lives and the world. Thanksgiving is a time when we must forget these things to remember God’s mercies.
Taken from A Word in Season: Daily Messages on the Faith for All of Life, Vol. 5 p. 136f.