While I was in the line at the grocery store recently, I happened to glance over at the magazine rack when I noticed the recent copy of Cosmopolitan Magazine.  The model on the cover looked young, and in fact, she did not look old enough to be on the cover.  It was Dakota Fanning, who is only 17 years of age, and the headings around the cover provided the usual standard of sex advice.

I was disgusted by this display.   I turned around only to see a little girl pick up a copy of the magazine only to run back to her mother and say how pretty the model was.  The mother of the girl also looked disgusted by the magazine and told the little girl to put back the magazine.

Fox News has focused on this recently, and they were shocked by this recent image as well.  In fact, Rachelle Friberg, a media expert who was interviewed by Fox, said:

Cosmopolitan is going overboard by putting an underage girl on its cover surrounded by such article titles. It is one thing to educate young women about sex and their bodies, but putting a young, underage girl on the cover of a magazine that had long been known to push the limits is sending the wrong message.

Cosmopolitan, of course, defended its decision to have Fanning as the magazine’s cover model.  Of course, their decision generated controversy, and there is no doubt that teenagers, who are fans of Fanning are lining up to buy the issue and being exposed to Cosmopolitan’s agenda of promoting immodest behaviors and promiscuity.

Today, I was glad to read that a former model is calling out Cosmopolitan for its practices and is calling for the magazine to be marketed as an adult-only publication, which would require the magazine to be sold in packaging that would not show the cover.  Nicole Weider is leading this effort and has a petition urging the FTC to help protect our youth from vulgarity.  The petition has almost 21,000 signatures, and there is no doubt that will garner more signatures from those who agree the magazine has gone too far.

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It’s World Aids Day—a time to unite in the fight against HIV and commemorate those who have died of the disease.

Political parties will vehemently disagree on the precise tactics and funding levels required to address this horrific disease. But in a refreshingly bipartisan event this morning, President Barack Obama made the following comment:

As we go forward, we need to keep refining our strategy so that we’re saving as many lives as possible. We need to listen when the scientific community focuses on prevention.

My good friend Suzanne Taylor just released a film that tells the moving story of the treacherous AIDS epidemic in the African country of Botswana. The Road We Know documents what a small group of college students are doing to encourage prevention.

In Botswana, 1 in 4 people adults has HIV/AIDS. But while the government has done everything the Western world has encouraged—like handing out condoms and offering free testing—the formula has clearly failed.

Desperate for a solution, the government invited a small group of college students to help save their generation with a message of hope and behavior change.

In the film’s trailer, the student leaders share an upbeat message across the country–a message that sex is good and that abstinence isn’t only possible, it’s life-saving. As President George W. Bush remarked in his 2004 State of the Union Address, “Abstinence … is the only certain way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.”

In a 2010 report, UNAIDS could point to a 25 percent drop or more in new infections for young adults ages 15 to 24 in 15 of the most infected nations–primarily due to sexual behavior change. This confirmed that story documented in Botswana was not an isolated trend.

Now that’s a message of hope and change. The kind we should all believe in.

To watch the film or host a screening, visit www.theroadweknow.com.

To connect with Evangelical or Catholic AIDS ministries, check out FRC’s Real Compassion website at www.realcompassion.org.

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A recent Relevant magazine piece entitled “(Almost) Everyone’s Doing it” reveals that young adults ages 18-29 are having pre-marital sex more often than not. According to a 2009 survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 88% of all young adults have had sex before marriage. What should be shocking is that 80% of all self-identified Evangelical young adults have done the same.

Don’t Christians understand the Bible on this issue? According to a Gallup poll quoted by Relevant, 76% of Evangelicals have a clear Biblical understanding on this issue. Or, to reverse the data, 24% of Evangelicals are alright with premarital sex.

Is the data really shocking though? In a world where nothing is sacred, and where what used to be considered sacred is now fodder for ridicule via every form of entertainment and media, why should the sanctity of marriage be considered any different? Young adults have grown up in an “MTV” world, where sexuality is glorified in television shows like “Skins” and where one cannot buy groceries without being confronted by magazine covers taunting chastity.

One professor quoted by Relevant says that a major sociological difference that contributes to (but does not excuse) the growing statistic of pre-marital sex is the average age of marriage. He compares Biblical arranged marriages of early adolescents to the current average ages of 28.1 for men and 26.1 for women. I posit that this temptation is not a modern one: Paul addresses it in 1 Cor. 7:8-9. Instead, it can be argued that adults ages 18-29 have grown up in an “instant gratification” society, where patience is no longer a virtue. This is even understood and glorified by secular society, as exemplified by the Black Eyed Peas song “Now Generation” with lyrics like “I just can’t wait, I need it immediately.”

Merge the two contributing factors of an over-sexualized society, along with a generation craving instant gratification, and it is no surprise that young adults are engaging in pre-marital sex more than ever. What we need is an Evangelical culture that not only volitionally is against pre-marital sex, but practices what is preached. The church needs to restore that which is sacred, encourage young adults to stay pure, and exemplify purity to the secular world. Eighty percent of young Evangelicals is eighty percent too much.

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* Note: Alexandria City Schools School Board Meeting tonight!

As a taxpaying citizen of Alexandria, VA, a former educator, and a person who values our young people and wants them to have the best options available, I am outraged that the public school system in Alexandria is funding a local “teen health center,” with a primary focus on family planning. Moreover, I strongly disagree with the planned move of the center from its current location in a trailer outside a nearby shopping center, directly into T.C. Williams High School so that center workers will have unlimited access to students.

Not only do I not want my hard-earned tax dollars supporting this endeavor, but more importantly, I am convinced that this move undermines parental authority, is costly to our city, and most importantly does a huge disservice to young people.

The center provides services for youth aged 12-19 years old, dispenses contraception and refers for abortion without parental permission. The teen center also provides other services, interestingly, all which require parental permission, such as routine physical exams, vaccinations, treatment of minor illnesses. However the primary focus of the center is family planning, STD treatment and abortion referral.

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Here’s some articles of interest for this afternoon.

• “Most Americans Against Abortion Coverage in Health Care Bill,” Nathan Black, The Christian Post
• “Church, state and gay marriage,” Editorial, The Los Angeles Times
• “Iowa conservatives still focused on gay marriage,” Mike Glover, Associated Press
• “NJ teen barred from abortion protest sues school,” Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press
• “Sex ed. vs. abstinence,” Charlie Butts, OneNewsNow
• “Pew: Faith-based initiative still popular,” Matthew Hay Brown, The Baltimore Sun
• “Abortion clinic ‘bubble’ law met by protests,” Dan Simmons, Chicago Tribune

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Here’s some articles of interest.

• “Judge blocks key parts of new Arizona abortion law,” Paul Davenport, Associated Press
• “Pentagon airs criticism of ‘don’t ask’,” Bryan Bender, The Boston Globe
• “Should Government Have E-Record of Every Woman Who’s Had an Abortion?,” Terence P. Jeffrey, CNSNews.com
• “Parents’ Rights Amendment Reaches 120 Co-Sponsors,” Christian Newswire
• “Panel votes to restore abstinence education money,” Associated Press
• “Why are fewer Americans identifying with a religion?,” Wayne Slater, The Dallas Morning News
• “Worker misconduct cases rise at science foundation,” Associated Press

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Here’s some news articles of interest for your afternoon.

• “Dallas leads nation in repeat teen births, study finds,” Robert T. Garrett, Dallas Morning News (September 1, 2009)
• “A push for abstinence over abortion availability,” Charlie Butts, OneNewsNow (September 1, 2009)
• “‘Condom Olympics’ producer says abstinence not ‘right message’ for trafficked or drugged women,” Catholic News Agency (August 30, 2009)
• “Same-sex marriages begin in Vermont,” John Curran, Associated Press (September 1, 2009)
• “Ballot Initiative Requested on Same-Sex Marriage,” Tim Craig, The Washington Post (September 1, 2009)
• “Montana Supreme Court Will Take Up Case Wednesday to Allow Assisted Suicide,” Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com (September 1, 2009)
• “Iowa School District Plans to Revise Religious Liberty Policy,” Nathan Black, The Christian Post (August 28, 2009)

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Here’s some news buzz to keep you informed on all of the happenings both here in D.C. and around the country.

• “Group that opposes gay marriage now targeting Iowa,” Michael J. Crumb, Associated Press (August 27, 2009)

“The National Organization for Marriage has launched the Reclaim Iowa Project, targeting legislative races in the state in an effort to elect candidates who support putting the issue of gay marriage before voters.

“Iowa is important because the Supreme Court decision was so against the will of the people of Iowa and the Legislature and Gov. (Chet) Culver showed absolutely no backbone in giving the people the right to have their voices heard,” said Brian Brown, the organization’s executive director.”

• “NJ Catholic bishops campaign against gay marriage,” Associated Press (August 26, 2009)

“Roman Catholic bishops in New Jersey have begun a new campaign opposing same-sex marriage.

The push comes in anticipation of a possible vote on the issue by state lawmakers after the November election.”

• “Kansas abortion fight spills into Nebraska,” Associated Press (August 26, 2009)
• “Debate continues over Utah sex ed changes,” Lisa Schencker, The Salt Lake Tribune (August 26, 2009)

” Educators, students and parents continued to debate Wednesday whether youth should learn more about contraception in school, at the latest meeting exploring a proposed change to Utah’s sex education law.

Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake City, presented a draft of his bill, which would require school districts to offer two tracks of sex education: one that would teach abstinence only and another where teachers would still promote abstinence but also include information on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and contraceptives. Parental permission would be required for students to take the second track.”

• “‘Condom Olympics’ at Miss Universe Pageant Blasted by Women’s Groups,” Adam Brickley, CNSNews.com (August 27, 2009)

“The Miss Universe pageant and an AIDS prevention group are under fire for staging a “Condom Olympics” for contestants just three days prior to last Sunday’s competition in the Bahamas.”

• “Christian Doctors Raise Flags Over New Pro-Suicide Bias in U.S. Law, Policy,” Aaron J. Leichman, The Christian Post (August 27, 2009)

“As physicians, we recognize the value of advance planning and counseling and appointing a personal healthcare proxy,” commented Dr. Gene Rudd, senior vice president of the 16,000-member CMA. “The VA manual goes a step further, however, subtly raising with vulnerable patients the possibility that physical impairments might make their lives, in the words of the manual, ‘not worth living.’

The 52-page manual, entitled, “Your Life, Your Choices: Planning for Future Medical Decisions,” lists scenarios such as being in a wheelchair, needing kidney dialysis, or requiring a feeding tube and then asks the patient to consider whether those situations might make his or her life “not worth living.”

• “Human Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Stopped Due to Animal Problems,” Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com (August 27, 2009)

“When used in animal research, injections of embryonic stem cells formed tumors afterwards and also prompted the immune system of the intended recipients to reject the cells.

The FDA delayed the trials to review studies of the therapy, called GRNOPC1, in its use with animals.

Now, new reports indicate problems associated with the animals in Geron’s studies prompted the FDA to halt the human trials. Specifically, the animals developed cysts at the injury sites after the injections.”

• “New Hampshire Court orders Christian homeschooled girl to attend public school,” Pete Chagnon, OneNewsNow (August 26, 2009)

“A Christian homeschool girl in New Hampshire has been ordered into government-run public school for having “sincerely held” religious beliefs — and the Alliance Defense Fund is troubled by the ruling.”

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Here’s some news articles of particular interest.

• According to the New York Times, former President Bill Clinton defends end-of-life counseling that is included in the health care reform plan.
• Steven Ertelt of LifeNews.com has a great article about a CDC study that shows teen abortion rates are lower in states that accept abstinence funding.
• Cleveland is becoming a leader in adult stem cell research. Continue reading the article from The Plain Dealer.
• David French of Phi Beta Cons reported Tuesday that the EEOC went after Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina for refusing to cover oral contraceptives in its employer provided health insurance.
• Prisoners in the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Virginia will now be allowed to receive religious mail, after the ACLU sent a letter to officials demanding that these letters containing biblical passages be distributed, as The Christian Post reports.

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After a long hiatus, the Daily Buzz is back. Here are some news articles that I found particularly interesting today.

• The Obama Administration has been fairly silent about the provisions for abortion in the health care bill. The Baptist Press has a great article about the Administration’s silence on the provisions.
• Kansas is back in the news again. This time, The Wichita Eagle reports that the Governor and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has stripped funding from a program that gives state money to groups who provide alternatives to abortion.
• This morning, I came across an interesting article by Eric Gorski of the Associated Press that discussed the conflict of young Evangelical Christians torn between premarital sex and waiting for marriage. Continue reading…
• The controversial health care bill that will be debated in Congress will provide doctors incentive to push euthanasia. Read more about this on LifeNews.com.
• The Christian Post reports that homeschoolers are scoring well above those attending public schools in reading, math, social studies, and language.
• If you haven’t already done so, read Nonie Darwish’s article in FrontPage Magazine about Islam.

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “NIH received varied responses, some poignant, on stem-cell draft,” Nancy Frazier O’Brien, Catholic News Service (July 10, 2009)

“Although many of the more than 49,000 comments received by the National Institutes of Health on their draft guidelines for embryonic stem-cell research are repetitive, some offer a poignant glimpse into the lives of Americans who don’t want to see embryos destroyed in an effort to cure diseases.

• “Clarence Thomas: The courage of his convictions,” Michael Barone, The Washington Examiner (July 12, 2009)
• “Spain liberalizing, but teen abortion hits a nerve,” Daniel Woolls, Associated Press (July 12, 2009)

“Spain’s Socialist prime minister has irked his natural enemies on the right and in the Catholic church by legalizing gay marriage and instituting fast-track divorce. Now he has hit a raw nerve even among his supporters with a proposal to let 16-year-olds get abortions without parental consent.

The debate is harsh and emotional, showing that for all the changes Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has introduced with his trailblazing social agenda since taking power in 2004, abortion remains sensitive in a country where most people call themselves Catholic, even if few churches are full on Sundays.

• “One child rule,” Alisa Harris, WORLD Magazine (July 13, 2009)

“The Chinese government’s population policy requires delayed marriages and delayed births, meaning citizens have to wait for government permission to reproduce. It also advocates “fewer births”—one child in most cases, but two if the first is a girl. The final plank—”healthier” births—covers a policy that Mosher said leads to sterilization and killing visibly disabled babies at birth.

• “House Strips Funding for Abstinence Education,” Christian News Wire (July 12, 2009)

“Federal funding for abstinence until marriage education was stripped from the budget today in the House subcommittee, led by Rep. David Obey (D-WI). The budget now goes to the full committee and to the full House of Representatives.”

• “Korean bishops reject measure that would allow euthanasia,” Catholic News Agency (July 13, 2009)

“The Bishops of South Korea have rejected a measure that would legalize euthanasia in the country. Supporters of the measure are euphemistically labeling the proposal “death with dignity.”

• “Religion and spirituality: Can faith help you heal?,” Eve Glicksman, KTNV (July 13, 2009)

“Research suggests there is a link between religion and better mental health and well-being. Some spiritual practices may reduce stress. This may also ease symptoms and help offset the harmful effects of stress on the immune, endocrine and cardiovascular systems. Some studies have shown that people of faith recover faster from depression, grief and anxiety disorders.”

• “Oak Park man has own stem cells implanted in heart,” Kim Lamb Gregory, Ventura County Star (July 13, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Family Says Doctors Tried to ‘Euthanize’ Stroke Victim,” Fox News (June 23, 2009)
• “Sex education goes full circle,” Cheryl Wetzstein, The Washington Times (June 23, 2009)
• “La. Senate OKs bill to allow health care refusal,” Associated Press (June 23, 2009)
• “SKorea hospital enforces ‘right to die’ ruling,” Agence France Presse (June 23, 2009)
• “Atheist group blasts ‘prayer station’ in city building,” Doug Stanglin, USA Today (June 22, 2009)
• “Worship legal if library OKs religious meeting,” Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle (June 22, 2009)
• “Can Science and Religion Co-Exist in Harmony?,” Pew Research Center (June 22, 2009)
• “Destroying life for science,” Margaret Somerville, The Ottawa Citizen (June 22, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Stem Cells and Torture,” Gilbert Meilaender, The Weekly Standard (June 8, 2009)
• “Child welfare 2: the welfare of an unborn child is nonsense,” BioEdge (June 6, 2009)
• “Stem cells offer hope for muscle repair,” Megan Ogilvie, The Toronto Star (June 8, 2009)
• “Year of the Bible,” Marv Knox, The Baptist Standard (June 8, 2009)
• “Evangelical Group Banned From Tulsa Housing Projects, Chapter Leader Says,” James Osbourne, Fox News (June 8, 2009)
• “Dutch euthanasia requests on the rise,” Townhall.com (June 5, 2009)
• “Campaign spurs parents to talk about sex,” United Press International (June 8, 2009)
• “UCLA Allows Student to Thank Jesus at Graduation,” Katherine T. Phan, The Christian Post (June 6, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Pro-Life Leaders Denounce Murder of Abortion Doctor George Tiller,” FOXNews.com (June 1, 2009)
• “NY exhibit on gay rights hits amid marriage debate,” Daniel Trotta, Reuters (June 1, 2009)
• “Maryland AG Considers Recognizing Gay Marriages,” WBAL-TV (June 1, 2009)
• “Adult Bone Marrow Stem Cells Injected Into Skeletal Muscle Can Repair Heart Tissue,” Science Daily (May 28, 2009)
• “Spaniards against free abortion for 16-yr-olds – poll,” Raquel Castillo, Reuters (June 1, 2009)
• “The Debate Over Sex Ed.: Fight is on in legislature over what class includes,” James Romoser, Winston-Salem Journal (May 31, 2009)
• “Local pastor prepares to take teen abstinence class to masses,” Harriet Vaughan, The Tennessean (May 29, 2009)
• “Ticket to learn,” Alisa Harris, WORLD Magazine (June 6, 2009)
• “Adult stem cell research moving forward, but still slow,” Brandi Powell, News 24 Austin (May 31, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “Polls show Pa. resisting tide favoring gay marriage,” Will Bunch, The Philadelphia Inquirer (May 19, 2009)
• “Survey: Protestant clergy support gay rights, not marriage,” Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today (May 19, 2009)
• “Inquiries about adoption, abortion on rise,” United Press International (May 20, 2009)
• “The ‘big bucks’ of abstinence,” Cheryl Wetzstein, The Washington Times (May 19, 2009)
• “La. House OKs bill allowing refusal of health care,” Associated Press (May 20, 2009)
• “A Clash of Rights? Gay Marriage and the Free Exercise of Religion,” The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (May 20, 2009)
• “Budget negotiators remove stem cell research ban,” Associated Press (May 19, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “On the Street, Selling Hope,” Keith Alexander, The Washington Post (May 11, 2009)
• “Obama budget cuts funds for abstinence-only sex education,” Sharon Jayson, USA Today (May 11, 2009)
• “ACLU pushes for gay marriage nationwide,” United Press International (May 11, 2009)
• “Faking Left,” Ross Douthat, The New York Times (May 12, 2009)
• “Tenn. abortion amendment expected to pass House,” Lucas L. Johnson II, The Tennessean (May 11, 2009)
• “Dividing the unity,” Richard N. Ostling, WORLD Magazine (May 23, 2009)
• “Illegal procedures,” Lynn Vincent, WORLD Magazine (May 23, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “N.E.’s identity bolsters gay marriage tolerance,” Jenna Russell, The Boston Globe (May 11, 2009)
• “Choosing not to abort babies with disabilities,” Julia Duin, The Washington Times (May 10, 2009)
• “Character Assassins Gunning for Miss California, Supporters Say,” Joshua Rhett Miller, FOX News (May 11, 2009)
• “Gay marriage effort stalls in heavily Catholic RI,” Ray Henry, Associated Press (May 8, 2009)
• “District Attorney Reviewing Video of Tennessee Abortion Biz Hiding Sexual Abuse,” Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com (May 11, 2009)
• “No Other Issues Can Justify Voting for Pro-Abortion, Pro-Euthanasia, or Pro-Same-Sex Marriage Politicians, Says Vatican’s Top Judicial Official,” Terrence P. Jeffrey, CNSNews.com (May 11, 2009)
• “CNSNews.com
  Conservatives Angered Over Obama’s Plan to Eliminate Abstinence-based Sex Education,” Pete Winn, CNSNews.com (May 11, 2009)
• “Bishops launch new campaign against embryonic stem-cell research,” Nancy Frazier O’Brien, Catholic News Service (May 11, 2009)

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Here’s what we are reading today.

• “New Jersey Church Replaces Pro-Life Signs Defaced in Pro-Abortion Vandalism,” Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com (May 5, 2009)
• “Catholic USF Faculty Union Demands Abortion Coverage,” Kathleen Gilbert, LifeSiteNews (May 6, 2009)
• “Barry Warns of “Civil War” Over Gay Marriage,” Tim Craig, The Washington Post (May 5, 2009)
• “Gallup: Obama strong, but gay marriage, big gov’t could be tricky,” Dave Cook, Christian Science Monitor (May 5, 2009)
• “State’s teen pregnancies decrease,” Stephen Largen, The News Star (May 6, 2009)
• “Abstinence Education Backers Present Evidence of Success to Congress,” Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com (May 5, 2009)
• “Young Americans Losing Their Religion,” Dan Harris, ABCNews (May 6, 2009)

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