Working under the assumption that a movie ought to be shown before the event it is meant to commemorate, I wondered this weekend if the folks at ABC mistimed their showing of a classic film.  But then again – maybe not. 

This past Saturday, Easter Eve (4/11/2009), ABC broadcast the much-beloved film by Cecil B. DeMille, The Ten Commandments.  The film is a classic.  Here is an excerpt from ABC’s press release:

Starring Charlton Heston as Moses, this dramatic Biblical epic is presented with an all-star cast, including Yul Brynner as Pharaoh, Anne Baxter as Queen Nefretiri, Edward G. Robinson as the overseer of the slaves and Yvonne DeCarlo as Moses’ wife.
 
The Ten Commandments won the 1956 Academy Award for Best Special Effects and received nominations for Best Picture, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing and Best Sound.

Unfortunately, the movie was trounced at the Oscars by Around the Word in 80 Days (Best Picture) and The King and I ‘s Yul Brynner (Best Actor).  Heston was not even nominated for an Academy Award.

Since the weeklong celebration of Passover began last Wednesday night (4/8/2009), I probably would have shown The Ten Commandments before the beginning of Passover on the previous Saturday.  In that way, the events of the Jewish captivity in Egypt and the Israelite’s deliverance from bondage would have been retold before the entirety of the holiday.

That said, ABC may have had the far better approach – whether by accident or design.

From a Christian perspective, there is a beautiful Old Testament-New Testament flow in showing a film about Moses and the giving of the Law at Sinai on the eve of the Resurrection Sunday.  Jesus observed in Matt 5:17 (ESV):  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”  A central promise made by the Lord and delivered through one those prophets is found in Jeremiah 31:33 (RSV):

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah’s declaration and its fulfillment seems to be echoed in this writing by Paul to the church in Galatia, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”  (Gal. 4:6 ESV).

All praise and glory to you, Lord.

Comments: - |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Iowa mulls form changes after gay marriage ruling,” Associated Press (April 13, 2009)
• “Vermont Considers Legalizing Teen ‘Sexting’,” Associated Press (April 13, 2009)
• “Obama boosts anti-abortion recruitment,” Carrie Budoff Brown, The Politico (April 13, 2009)
• “Planned Parenthood’s Annual Report Shows Record Net Assets, Increased Abortions,” Penny Starr, CNSNews (April 13, 2009)
• “A religion of peace?,” Jeffrey Kuhner, The Washington Times (April 13, 2009)
• “Stem cell breakthrough could help infertile women,” Richard Alleyne, The Daily Telegraph (April 12, 2009)
• “Twilight in Vermont,” W. James Antle, III, The American Spectator (April 10, 2009)
• “Selective sex abortion causes 32 million excess males in China,” PhysOrg.com (April 10, 2009)

Comments: - |

Yesterday was a rainy day, but a very productive day! We received a warm reception from the local officials in Tela this morning as we inquired into the local government process that we would have to go through in order to construct an orphanage. I’ll be honest; I was prepared for a more “involved” process that might require campaign contributions – but that didn’t happen. They seemed to be genuinely appreciative of our humanitarian efforts to address what they recognize as a very serious problem – children with no parents.

While officials in Tela have certain jurisdiction over Tornabe, the Garifuna who live in the village operate with a lot of autonomy. In fact, from what we gathered the Garifuna refused to recognize the outside government, at least when it comes to paying taxes.

Ray, a friend in a local church that my home church helped establish here, also operates a taxi, so he drove us around. While it is not more than seven or eight miles to Tornabe (on the Caribbean), the condition of the roads and paths-along with the stray animals-make the trip somewhat of an adventure. In fact, at one point near the village, the taxi got stuck in the sand on the road and we had get out and push.

When we arrived, Pastor Marvin, the pastor of the local evangelical church was out picking up food for the orphanage. We had not spoken to him since we were in the village last summer and he was not expecting us. We had not been able to communicate with him regarding our desire to work in his local community until today. When we shared with him what we would like to do his eyes began to tear up and he said “glory.” He then told us they had taken the first steps toward establishing an orphanage but did not have the resources and had been praying that God would some how intervene on behalf of these children give them the ability to feed them three meals a day and provide a safe place for them to live.

After looking at what they have already started the process will go much quicker than we had originally thought. In July we planned to return to complete a kitchen, dining area, and a small sleeping area. Plans will then be made for a much larger dormitory divided into two areas: one for boys and one for girls.

It is certainly rewarding to serve the “least of these” who have been orphaned by parents who died of AIDS, but as we walked and drove through the village, seeing the children run in the midst of the trash that was strewn throughout, I was reminded of why we do what we do at FRC. Deny as we might, there are consequences for a community or a country that rejects the proper nature of human sexuality within the context of marriage. Unfortunately, far too often it is children who pay the price for the “sexual liberties” of adults.

Comments: - |

An unnamed White House aide has tried to stifle criticism of the President for his deep and low bow before Saudi King Abdullah at the recently concluded G-20 summit in London. That anonymous fellow seems to giving us Groucho Marx’s line: “Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” The aide claims that the tall President was merely taking both hands of the diminutive desert monarch in his and had to bend down.

That set off another round of Internet speculation. Queen Elizabeth II is also much shorter than the President, and you can see him giving a short, sharp bow of the head to her. The point of our previous criticism is not that Barack Obama showed greater deference to the king of a despotic regime that persecutes Christians while slighting the Head of State of our leading ally, Britain. The point was simple: Americans do not bow to anyone.

Continue reading »

Comments: - |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Carcieri denounces gay marriage,” NECN (April 8, 2009)
• “Student-Hosted Porn Screening Threatens College Funding,” FOXNews.com (April 8, 2009)
• “Medical Providers Urge Obama to Save ‘Conscience’ Rule,” Shannon Bream, FOXNews.com (April 8, 2009)
• “Abortion measure sent back to finance committees,” Associated Press (April 9, 2009)
• ” Poll: Most Americans Still Christian; Half See Religion as Solution,” Audrey Barrick, The Christian Post (April 8, 2009)
• “Gay Marriage and the Future of Religious Liberty,” Maggie Gallagher, Townhall (April 7, 2009)
• “Stem cell success could help more than cornea,” David Templeton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (April 9, 2009)
• “Population debate,” WORLD Magazine (April 4, 2009)
• “First look at faith council,” Julia Duin, The Washington Times (April 9, 2009)

Comments: - |

We arrived in Honduras last night on our trip to make preparations to build an orphanage for children whose parents have died from AIDS.  On our medical mission trip this past summer we went to a village outside of Tela, called Tornabe, and discovered homeless children everywhere. The reason, we found out, was that Tornabe has the highest rate of AIDS infection in the Western Hemisphere.  These children sleep on the beach, the streets, or — if they are lucky — the house of a friend where they are safe.  We are working with a church in the village to host the facility.

Our arrival last night was delayed a few hours after a passenger in Miami made a threat and was removed from the plane — along with his luggage and mine! I am told it will be here this afternoon.

This morning our plan is to meet with local governmental officials to make sure there are no unforeseen obstacles that could pop up in the process of building the orphanage.

Comments: - |

In the latest Mapping America, the National Survey of Children’s Health shows that children who attend religious services at least weekly are more likely to have a high-quality relationship with their parents than those who attend religious services less frequently.

Comments: - |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Bone-repairing stem cell jab hope,” Michelle Roberts, BBC News (April 6, 2009)
• “Stem cell therapy grows new blood vessels,” Physorg.org (April 6, 2009)
• “New technique invented to reveal pancreatic stem cells,” EurekAlert (April 6, 2009)
• “Bush AIDS fight saved 1.1M, study says,” Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times (April 7, 2009)
• “Groups lobby for, against MA transgender bathrooms,” Associated Press (April 7, 2009)
• “New abortion law Tuesday,” Jon Craig, The Cincinnati Enquirer (April 6, 2009)
• “Vermont Gov. Douglas Vetoes Gay Marriage Bill,” Associated Press (April 7, 2009)
• “Iowa Senate leader rules out gay marriage debate,” Mike Glover, Chicago Tribune (April 7, 2009)
• “Invitation to Obama Stirs Up Notre Dame,” Dirk Johnson, The New York Times (April 5, 2009)
• “Hundreds of babies saved from abortion in recent pro-life campaign,” Catholic News Agency (April 7, 2009)
• “God Is Back,” John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, FOXNews (April 6, 2009)

Comments: - |

Comments: - |

Talk show host and author Tavis Smiley has written a new book called Accountable, which attempts to navigate the difficult waters swirling around the success or failure of Obama’s presidency. Smiley, who is African American, is quoted in the Washington Post today as saying that if Obama fails, “it may be another 400 years before we get another African-American president.” Smiley is at the center of a raging debate among African-American leaders about the limits of tough questioning of the new president and his policies, a debate in which Smiley has been in the minority as an advocate for treating Obama as a man and not merely a milestone. Smiley is on the right side of this debate, in my view, but his apocalyptic opinion that Obama holds the fortunes of African-American politicians in his hands only feeds into the mantra of those who regard Obama as an untouchable symbol. A failure of Obama’s policies would and should damage only those policies – massive expansion of government, nationalization of various parts of the U.S. industrial sector, international naiveté, and radical social liberalism – but that failure should merely pave the way for the election of someone of opposing views. There are a number of conservative African Americans of stature who have that resume, and the country could well elect one of them president before 4 — and not 400 — years have passed.

Comments: - |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Pitt researcher again pursues cloning patent,” Walter F. Roche, Jr., Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (April 4, 2009)
• “Limb-saving trial shows promise,” Jill Coley, The Post and Courier (April 5, 2009)
• “Pregnant (Again) and Poor,” Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times (April 4, 2009)
• “Gay marriage issue returns – to a changed America,” Dante Chinni, Christian Science Monitor (April 6, 2009)
• “Governor’s Veto and Over-Ride Vote Looms,” WCAX-TV (April 5, 2009)
• “UM students to screen porn film,” Stephen Kiehl, The Baltimore Sun (April 4, 2009)
• “Bone-repairing stem cell jab hope,” Michelle Roberts, BBC News (April 6, 2009)
• “Obama’s stem-cell decision opens door to immorality,” Patrick Moynihan, Rockford Register-Star (April 4, 2009)

Comments: - |

From a Catholic physician and Notre Dame alumnus:

Dear Father Jenkins,

What a shocking abdication of moral principles you and the university have displayed by honoring Barack Obama. How can such an enemy of life be given a platform at Notre Dame? This is a man whose avowed mission is to force abortion and contraception services on Catholic hospitals. He has unwaveringly supported late term abortions, for any reason, as well as the disgusting partial birth abortion procedure. He repeatedly voted against resuscitation efforts for babies who survived botched abortions. As a Catholic physician, I am appalled at the life destroying policies he has already enabled with the stroke of his pen.

No amount of sophistry or spin can justify his evil actions nor the actions of a Catholic school which gives tacit approval and support to such scandalous behavior. What a propaganda coup for the anti-life forces of evil! This is a scandal that gives cover and rationalization to Planned Parenthood, the Nancy Pelosi types, and to organizations like the anti-life Catholics for Choice. Do you not realize that you are being used, that Obama has suckered you into tacit approval of his virulent anti-life message?

When grave moral error has been committed, as in this situation, you must do everything you can to correct it and prevent the evil consequences of such an act. I urge you to cancel this invitation and rectify this ill-conceived travesty.

Sadly,

Joseph Leaser, M.D. ’54

Comments: 1 |

The internet is alive with stories about President Barack Obama bowing low before Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah. It was bad enough when George W. Bush invited this odious tyrant to Crawford and was pictured walking hand-in-hand with him. The White House defensively claimed then that it was a Saudi custom for men to express their friendship by holding hands. Had they never heard: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”? That was bad enough. This Obama obeisance was horrible.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was accused of wanting to be a king. But he knew a lot more about how to behave around monarchs than his present-day successors do. When King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth (parents of Elizabeth II) came to the Roosevelt home at Hyde Park in 1939, Franklin and Eleanor gave them a picnic. They served the first British monarchs ever to set foot on U.S. soil hot dogs and beans! How thoroughly American.

Continue reading »

Comments: 1 |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Iowa awaits court ruling on gay marriage,” Grant Schulte, USA Today (April 2, 2009)
• “Senate threat kills UM plan for porn film,” Gadi Dechter, Laura Smitherman and Stephen Kiehl, The Baltimore Sun (April 3, 2009)
• “Late-term abortion bill gets first OK in House,” Jeannine Koranda, The Wichita Eagle (April 3, 2009)
• “Teen abortions at five-year high,” BBC News (April 3, 2009)
• “Meltdown impact extends to abortion, birth control,” David Crary and Melanie S. Welte, Associated Press (April 3, 2009)
• “The great euthanasia debate,” Charlemagne, The Economist (April 2, 2009)
• “An uneasy mix of religion and politics,” William M. Daley, Chicago Tribune (April 3, 2009)
• “Human Heart Can Make New Cells,” Forbes (April 1, 2009)
• “Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman,” Staff Reports, The Des Moines Register (April 3, 2009)

Comments: - |

For weeks the FRC Blog has been commenting on the growing prominence of CNBC as a national news outlet.  We have also commented on the liberal counter-reaction against the network.  Our point has been that even though the Left dominates the mainstream media (MSM), in a time of financial and economic crisis the MSM news organs are structurally ill-equipped to deal with stories of such complexity.  CNBC has on-air staff with the smarts and the career training to discuss these matters at a sophisticated level.  The MSM does not have people like this on their programs with a few exceptions (e.g., Lou Dobbs at CNN (who is not MSM)).   Consequently, there has been a tremendous power shift toward CNBC. 

CNBC is more conservative than the MSM, but it might be fairer to say CNBC is more libertarian and market-oriented.  That being said there has always been a good mixture of liberals and conservatives on CNBC, and many Wall Street players were Obama supporters. 

Well, the Left noticed the increasing prominence of CNBC and a campaign of mau mauing began quickly once Barack Obama became president.  First, Rick Santelli was attacked; this effort was assisted by NBC’s Today Show.  Jim Cramer was next, and his assault by Jon Stewart soon followed.  However, it appears that a larger effort to compromise CNBC is underway, and it may be working.  There is now an entire Leftist-”progressive” website devoted to serving up ideological attacks on CNBC: it is called “Fix CNBC.”  (Go to the website and look at the long list of liberal big-wigs who have signed on.  Amazing.  This is quite an effort.  I wonder who is paying for it?)  Interestingly, Media Matters also  presents an online petition at “Change CNBC,” and the language looks pretty similar to Fix CNBC’s petition.

Continue reading »

Comments: - |

Here’s some of the buzz from the blogosphere.

• “Anatomy of a Demonstration,” Cal Skinner, McHenry County Blog
• “A Conservative Rorschach Test?,” Philip Klein, AmSpecBlog
• “When Serving Makes You Sick,” Katelyn Beaty, Her.meneutics
• “What? No Prince or Sex Pistols?,” Tom McClusky, The Cloakroom
• “One Bonus Rep. Barney Frank Won’t Be Going After,” Tom McClusky, The Cloakroom

Comments: - |

Last November, eHarmony capitulated to the New Jersey Attorney General who demanded that eHarmony cater to homosexuals.  Despite an outcry from eHarmony success couples from across the country, eHarmony followed through this week on its promise to launch a same-sex matching service.

My wife and I met on eHarmony almost three years ago, and we quickly began recommending the service to our single friends who were also drawn to the company’s good reputation.  Last year, I told The Wall Street Journal, eHarmony’s success didn’t come from its slick advertising campaigns.  It was their high moral standards, because they rose above the ‘hook-up’ mentality of their competitors, and because they were openly helping people find marriage partners.  

eHarmony always asks new customers how they “heard” about the service.  At the top of the list is “word of mouth.”  Since the same-sex matching decision was announced, we have heard from a steady stream of other eHarmony couples who are closing their mouths shut.    Without this word-of-mouth campaign, fewer values-driven customers will pay for this service, resulting in a new eHarmony that bears little resemblance to the classic values matching service it once provided. 

It’s disappointing to watch eHarmony take this road because I believe there is a vital need for a values matching service.  With eHarmony getting out of this business, will we see another service step up to fill the void?  I know there are many Christian dating sites. I won’t need to use a values matching service again, but I know single friends who do.  For their sake, I will be looking out for an eHarmony “Classic” to rise again. 

Comments: 2 |

Recently, I had the pleasure to meet Peter and Helen Evans, authors of the book, Get Serious: The Church’s Stand on Contemporary Culture. The book’s subtitle asks, “Who ever said Christianity was nice?” Last Saturday, I read their book to really find out how the church views issues, such as euthanasia, animal rights, welfare, and genetic engineering. This book provided no sugar-coated response, rather, a thought-provoking and insightful look into these issues with various representatives from the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. The book is written in an interview style format and answers the questions one may have about the Christian perspective on these issues.

For example, on the topic of euthanasia, Mr. and Mrs. Evans ask an Eastern Orthodox priest, Jonathan Tobias about euthanasia and focus on recent events, like Terri Schiavo’s case, how the church views life support measures and suicide. Fr. Tobias provides detailed answers to the questions from a religious perspective.

Overall, the book is well written, and it offers a perspective that provokes serious conversation with a pastor or a small group.

Comments: - |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Sweden passes same-sex marriage law,” Per Nyberg, CNN (April 1, 2009)
• “State Senate OKs two-year budget,” Peggy Fikac, The Houston Chronicle (April 1, 2009)
• “NU won’t act yet on stem cell research,” Rick Ruggles, Omaha World-Herald (April 2, 2009)
• “Bill to Ban Human Cloning Signed by Governor,” KFBB (April 1, 2009)
• “Catholics’ abortion, stem cell attitudes,” Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (April 1, 2009)
• “Right to Life group claims abortions are beginning at Storm Lake site,” Dana Larsen, Storm Lake Pilot Tribune (April 2, 2009)
• “Bills in Texas Legislature would create ‘abstinence-plus’ sex education,” Anna M. Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (March 31, 2009)
• “Our Problem is Immorality,” Walter E. Williams, Townhall (April 1, 2009)

Comments: - |

Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Facing Tough Washington Climate, Abortion Foes Move Debate Online,” Stephanie Simon, The Wall Street Journal (April 1, 2009)
• “Stem Cells Used to Successfully Treat Stroke Patient,” Globe Newswire (March 31, 2009)
• “Bill Expands Volunteer Opportunities,” Anne Marie Chaker, The Wall Street Journal (March 31, 2009)
• “On divisive issue of gay clergy, two churches weigh softer stance,” Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor (March 31, 2009)
• “Holland tulip fest bans anti-abortion group float,” Associated Press (April 1, 2009)
• “Religious head asks president to rethink abortion,” Tom Coyne, Associated Press (March 31, 2009)
• “The Doctor Will Kill You Now,” Daniel Allott, The American Spectator (April 1, 2009)
• “Patient’s Own Stem Cells Might Treat Heart Attack,” U.S. News & World Report (March 31, 2009)

Comments: - |