Bias?

The AP is chronicling President Barack Obama's visit to Africa.
What caught my eye at first was how Obama "clashed with his African host" when he praised the Supreme Court's ruling in support of same-sex marriage.
Obama called the High Court's 5-4 ruling yesterday a "victory for American democracy."
But what surprised me, even in this day where there is little pretense of objectivity, the AP reporter, Nedra Pickler, writes that Obama's clash over gay rights was "a sign of how far the movement has to go internationally."
Isn't Pickler picking sides?
If the court, say, ruled in favor of "Separate But Equal" and Obama visited a post-Apartheid South Africa and praised the court's ruling in favor of segregation, then clashed with his hosts, would the AP write that this segregation movement still has a ways to go?
We think, as Americans, that we corner the market on wisdom and truth.
Why should I have been surprised by this?

Because a Pew Research Center recently released a study that found most coverage of same-sex marriage was in support of gay marriage.  The Huffington Post takes the "gay wedding cake," according to the study.
The New York Times, reporting on the study, wrote: "News organizations are far more likely to present a supportive view of same-sex marriage than an antagonistic view."
By a margin of 5-to-1 on stories that weren't deemed to be either balanced or expressed no views at all.

"The study lends credence to conservative charges that the nation’s news media have championed the issue of same-sex marriage at the expense of objectivity," continued the Times. "Others have argued that news organizations are right not to overly emphasize opposition to what many see as a core civil rights issue."

Thoughts?

Evolve?

President Barack Obama was brilliant when he years ago announced his "evolving" position on gay marriage.
He'd run solidly for president as opposing gay marriage.
So did Hillary Clinton. And Bill Clinton, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in the 1990s. Now he's praising the Supreme Court for overturning it. He's "evolved."  (Here's a list of other politicians that have "evolved").
But he is evolving. It's a smart turn-of-phrase that former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (now Secretary of State) could have used to describe his decision to vote for a measure before voting against it.
We called it flip-flopping then.
We call it evolving now.
We can all evolve, I guess. I once thought it was wrong to get divorced. But I've changed my mind...I mean, I've evolved.
I once thought it was wrong to take something that wasn't mine but I have' had a change of heart, I've evolved.
Evolved. It gives a sense of superiority. It signals a sense of maturity. If I still hold on to a view that something is wrong, I'm stupid, I just haven't "evolved" enough yet. We evolve to believe that a baby isn't a baby until it is practically born (and in some cases, even after he or she is born). I just can't do these mental gymnastics.
But in essence to evolve means no one holds on to any belief too strongly. If the tide changes, I can evolve with them. Look at the slideshow (linked above) of the politicians who have flip-flopped, err. evolved. Some even say, People should feel free to marry whoever they love.
So, does that mean polygamy? Does that mean couples marrying couples? Does that mean adults marrying children? If we should discriminate against no one (if discriminate is the right word, and I'm not sure it is) then we can have no laws determining who can get married. Why not two 10 year olds? You can take this to it's logical conclusion: If you can redefine marriage, what else can we redefine?  Already the gays have taken over the wonderful rainbow symbol of God's promise not to flood the earth again? But they can't take away its true message.
The pacifists took the dove, God's symbol of His peace.
But there's more to crafting your message than cheap imagery. But in essence it means no one holds on to any belief too strongly. If the tide changes, I can evolve with them.
The Bible has a verse that says,"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." [1 Corinthians 13:11.
That's not evolving. That's maturing.
Evolution is the belief that something grows out of nothing. It was once a negative word in a world or at least a country that believed in Creation by a Creator.Now it means "To develop or achieve gradually." But it does not mean to completely turn around and go in an opposite direction as one was headed. 
Oh yeah, that's called repentance. Something our country will need to do for all it's so-called evolving.
For now, Obama was able to change the definition of the word. Everyone seems to be evolving.
Or are they? 

Is it OK to be offended anymore?

QB Tim Tebow, bowing here in high school, has offended
people because of his public demonstrations of his faith.

I know that's a funny headline, like "Man, can't I be offended!? I wanna be offended! Wahhhh!"
That's not what I'm talking about, thought. I asking if Christians are even allowed to voice their concerns ... yes, on even little things ... that really don't reflect well on Christ (if we wear His name as Christians).
I don't think there's a fine line between Pharisee and a Christian truly desiring to live holy.
And yet, have you ever found that voicing your offense to something will wind up putting you in the Pharisee category? Self-righteous? Legalistic?
Didn't Christ come to give us freedom? they ask.
Yes, freedom. But not freedom to sin. Not freedom to be like the world. Freedom to serve Him recklessly.
Can a Christian be offended by a movie, a song, a post? And if those items are from Christians, then do they have an obligation to raise that concern?
Or are we to mind our own business?
Some say MYOB.
And there is a time to MYOB. When traitor Judas was falsely "offended" at the lavish love shown to Jesus by the breaking of an expensive perfume jar, Judas gave the "Sunday School" answer of wondering aloud "Why the waste," that perfume could have been sold at a high price to help the poor.
Gimme a break, Judas.
Jesus, in essence, told Jesus to mind his own business and leave the woman alone. She was praising Jesus.
But that's not the kind of offense I'm talking about. And I'm not talking about people who seem to go out looking to be offended. You know what I mean. But I'm talking about those who have an offense put in their face (a crass gesture, a profane video clip, etc.) -- by a professing Christian.
I know there's a lot of questions here. Some will say "Jesus offended people." That's true. And that kind of offense is the kind of offense we as Christians are supposed to live out. We are to offend people, I suppose, with holy living (not self-righteous, but true righteousness).
We should not be offending fellow believers with things of this world. If we're offending people because we're just a crass as the world, well, that's not the same thing as the offense Jesus caused.
It's like Jesus said in Matthew 5, blessed are those who are persecuted for My name's sake.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
BECAUSE of ME. That's the key!
In John 15 Jesus says:
   18“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.20“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also."
Again, this hatred comes from us not being of this world. If we were like the world, it would love us.
1 Peter 3 weighs in on this as well:
"13Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?"
Well, I can say firsthand there are people who proclaim to be Christians who are out there to harm you for being zealous for what is good!
Please continue, Peter:
"14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;16and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."
That's a God thing. That's not for me to do. The Holy Spirit does the convicting.
"17For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.18For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;19in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,20who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water."Of course, one key aspect to this is how do we approach the person who offended us. If we don't know them, but they're putting out a public post to a public audience that's questionable, I think we still have a right or even obligation in love to point that out -- or at least least, seek God's will for that.
Although Proverbs gives us plenty to chew on when dealing with foolish behavior.
Proverbs 29:9: "If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."
Or Proverbs 26:4-9 says it best:
"4 When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.  
  6 Trusting a fool to convey a message is as foolish as cutting off one's feet or drinking poison! 7 In the mouth of a fool, a proverb becomes as limp as a paralyzed leg. 
  8 Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot. 9 A proverb in a fool's mouth is as dangerous as a thornbush brandished by a drunkard."
Something to chew on.

Is "funny" a defense for Christians?

A Christian speaker who tours, speaks at various events and even has a book out, posts a questionable video on his Twitter account.
He labels it childish, yet funny.
So, hey, I'm all for childish and funny.
I'm not up for dirty. I'm not up for things that are unholy. I'm not up for things that displease God.
Certainly I shouldn't be directed to such things from a minister of the word.
And yet I was.
I won't be specific. But the joke is a new commercial and it's a trick that makes you hear a swear word but in essence, you're not hearing a swear word at all.
Yet what makes it "funny" is that you hear people saying this word, over and over and over again.
So, I tweet this ministry speaker whose motto is "inspiring and empowering this generation."
His response: "There's an 'unfollow' button and I encourage you to use it." Oh yeah, he ended with ;).
I think that's a wink. Not sure, does that mean, "I'm not THAT mad?"
I'm not big on these smiley faces, etc. Doesn't feel very "adult." Would the Apostle Paul have done that after a line or two with Timothy. LOL. Not sure.
[Side note: Can you imagine Paul saying to Timothy: "There's an unfollow button. I encourage you to use it"? No, Paul pressed on toward the prize and urged his followers to follow him as he followed Christ].
So, I responded. I thought we could have a dialogue. I mention this idea that because something is funny doesn't make it right. I had to stop watching Seinfeld because I didn't want to laugh at sin. I don't want to laugh that which put Christ on the Cross.
Is this too serious?
: )
Sorry, tried to be hip there.
So I unfollowed (if there is such a word) this person. But then I went to his website. Clicked the first video. It's all about accountability. The need for men to be have accountability partners. I clicked the next video. Even more on accountability. This is a talk he gave at some large gathering, behind a podium, scriptures on the podium.
Good word. Isn't this what we all need. "Hey, brother, I think that joke crossed a line." Or "I think you may have handled that wrong" or fill in the blank. It's accountability. Not punitive, Just another person who has my back, helping me be all that God has created me to be. And what He's created me to be is someone who points people to Him. Someone who puts no obstacles in someone's way. Someone who puts no stumbling blocks in another's way.
Well, I had to "follow" this person again briefly to point out his "accountability" talks.
Then I promptly unfollowed him again. It was his wish. He thanked me for watching his video.
Some people don't practice what they preach, I suppose. I know that's true sometimes with me, but Lord I pray you help me to live out what I believe, to live out what I say and to do nothing that would encourage others to laugh at sin. You paid far to high a price to ever to do that!
- Word Smith

Have you hear of National Marriage Week?

You have now. And it's the week leading up to Valentine's Day. Hundreds of events are planned across the country.

To find out how you or your church or ministry can get involved

Pro-life group targets GOP in new video

National leaders from pro-life groups across the country are in D.C. this morning to both protest Planned Parenthood and release a video that calls out Republicans for funding abortion.
One leader says Speaker Boehner can no longer call himself pro-life.
Read more

If you live in the north

You have a greater likelihood of not knowing or believing the Bible.
That's the latest from Barna.
Read the full story on Word News.

Word News' latest series ... Saturday's with Jamie Grace

In case you missed it, Word New has started another series ... and you might be surprised where the lyrics for Jamie Grace's hit song Hold Me came from.
Or You Lead.
She opens up with Word News.
Click here to read more

New legal ministry lauched to fight for 'life and liberty'

The attorney representing the parents in Terri Schiavo case has launched a legal ministry.
It's called the National Center for Life and Liberty.
To read more

When words lose their meaning, man I ‘hate’ that

So Pastor Louie Giglio decided not to deliver the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Now he’s being labeled “anti-gay” for a sermon that “surfaced” from 15 to 20 years ago.

Louie Giglio

A couple things about words here. Use of certain words give a reader a certain feeling, a sense. When something “surfaces” it gives the impression it was bad and was meant to remain hidden or buried. And through some digging, it was unearthed. Some dirty laundry in a person’s past, or some such thing.
Preachers aren’t hiding anything. They broadcast their message, they post their sermons, etc. I would expect someone could unearth a similar message or one with similar themes in Giglio’s preaching that was delivered not that long ago.
But the word I really want to focus on here is anti-gay. Anti- means again. Opposed to, etc. It has a sense of hatred. Is this an accurate description of Giglio? The Washington Post quotes Giglio’s sermon from 15 or so years ago urging Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” of some in the gay community and warns that widespread gay marriage  ”would run the risk of absolutely undermining the whole order of our society.” [The message can be found here].
This New York Times picked this section of the sermon to highlight: “That movement is not a benevolent movement. It is a movement to seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day, to the point where the homosexual lifestyle becomes accepted as a norm in our society.”
When word spread that Giglio would be delivering the inaugural benediction, author Gabe Lyons writes, “an extreme and small faction of outspoken gay activists” that helped end Giglio’s appearance.
Lyons, who is also the founder founder of Q Ideas, which is a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society, wrote that “within hours of the second inaugural committee’s announcement, blogs started firing. Someone had uncovered a mid-1990’s era sermon Giglio had given on homosexuality and mined it for their narrow agenda,” Lyons wrote. “The website Think Progress denounced Mr. Giglio as ‘vehemently anti-gay.’ A petition to the White House gleaned a meager 900 signatures demanding the committee replace the minister. Media outlets took the bait and echoed claims Mr. Giglio was anti-gay (though he holds the same historic position on sexuality as an overwhelming majority of American Christians, Jews and Muslims).”
In short, Giglio’s comments from 15 years ago proved true: Beware of a movement to "seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day." The feeling of the day, according to this just released Lifeway Research report, is fewer Americans believe homosexuality is a sin.
So Giglio is out and according to Christianity Post, a pro-homosexual pastor is in.
But now back to the word anti-gay. Here’s what Giglio said when announcing he’d not be delivering the benediction:
“The issue of homosexuality (which a particular message of mine some 20 years ago addressed) is one of the most difficult our nation will navigate. However, individuals’ rights of freedom, and the collective right to hold differing views on any subject is a critical balance we, as a people, must recover and preserve.”
Does this sound anti-gay?
He continued:
“As a pastor, my mission is to love people, and lead them well, while lifting up the name of Jesus above anything else. I’m confident that anyone who knows me or has listened to the multitude of messages I have given in the last decade would most likely conclude that I am not easily characterized as being opposed to people—any people. Rather, I am constantly seeking to understand where all people are coming from and how to best serve them as I point them to Jesus.”
Does this sound like a “hater”?
He concludes:
“In all things, the most helpful thing I can do is to invite each of us to wrestle with scripture and its implications for our lives. God’s words trump all opinions, including mine, and in the end, I believe God’s words lead to life.”
God’s words trump all opinions. Even those 43 percent of Americans who don't view homosexuality as as in.
Of course, some have called Him anti-gay too. What He actually is is anti-sin. Big difference. As Mark Twain once said: "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."

-- Word Smith

Life ...

A new poll says more than 80 percent of Americans support stricter restrictions on abortion. And nearly 60 percent say they think abortion itself is morally wrong.
You can read more on that here.
 Then you come across a video like this one, and see this love a mom has for her child. Look at how her face lights up during the happy news of having a child. She radiates. How her face grows sad when receiving troubling news or when her child becomes the object of unkind stares and comments.
Ahh, but then watch that radiance return. Her son, named Christian, is a blessing. She recognizes it, and others are too.
This is worth watching to the very end. Amazing, how the power of a story is so much more important that the glitz and glamor of some high tech production. This video is low-tech and it doesn't matter.
I promise it will be worth your time.
Life. Precious. Short. A gift.
It's much more than a cereal, board game or defunct magazine.

Billy Graham's not slowing down at 94

The world's most famous evangelist has launched a new grassroots initiative using the latest technology that will take him to every corner of the world.
It's called My Hope with Billy Graham and it runs through the year, ending in November when Graham turns 95.
Find out more here

Christians being persecuted in growing numbers

Brother Andrew

And the surprising finding of a new Open Doors report is that persecution of Christians continues to drop in China but is growing in African countries.
The Arab Spring, one Open Doors pastor told Word News, is quickly becoming the Arab Winter.
Find out what countries are on this notorious Top 10 list.

Second annual ‘Water Sunday’ initiative launched

Last year, more than 30 churches participated in Water Sunday, raising $100,000 that went to water projects worldwide.
Organizers are hoping this year, Water Sunday will draw 100 churches and raise $500,000.
Will your church participate?
To read more

What are the top religous trends to look for in 2013?

The Institute on Religion and Democracy has given this question some thought. Issues such as the continued rise of Mormonism and the sexual liberalization of Christian colleges make the list.
Take a look at the story.
How about you? What are your predictions for 2013 as it relates to church and religious news? Sign in and give us your comments.