Two Can Play This Game

On this day after the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments for/against redefining marriage in America, I think conservation Christians need to give the gay activists a little of their own medicine.  The tactic expressed in this blog posting is worthy of your reading and reaction.

Radical activists in the gay community have certainly forced gay acceptance from Christians – making not only their position, but also their tactics, anti-Christian.  They are deliberately targeting the Christian wedding industry – from cake-makers, to caterers, to photographers, to the bed-and-breakfast owners.  Christians who refuse to provide services to gay couples on moral grounds are being sued for anti-discrimination violations, experiencing unwanted publicity, and in many cases going out of business.  [This is classic Fascists strategy.]  I’ve written (in the past) on any number of these attacks by gay activists toward Christian business people.  The days to come will most certainly have many more.

So, what are Christians to do?

Father John Zuhlsdorf, a priest and blogger in Madison, Wisconsin has arrived at a solution for all these lawsuits that could turn the issue completely on its head.  He counsels a big ‘Yes’ for any gay-wedding requests, with a few promises written into the contract.  He says to tell them that the food and services will be just fine.  “And then inform them that all of the money that they pay for the services will be donated to a traditional pro-family lobby.  If it is something like catering, where your employees have to be there to provide services, tell them that all your people will smile, be professional, and every one of them will be wearing crucifixes and have the Holy Family embroidered on their uniforms.  Then show them pictures of your uniforms. When the truck pulls up, speakers will be playing ‘Immaculate Mary.’  Show them the truck and play the music.”

Father Zuhlsdorf goes on to say, “If they’re appalled, then say, ‘Oh, you would be offended by that? I’m so sorry.  You approached us because we are Christians.  Right?  We are happy to provide services for you and we are grateful that you chose to come to our Christian catering business.  We just want to be of help.’  Then tell them that you will take out an ad in the paper to let everyone know what you did with their money, thanking them by name for their business so that you could make the contribution.”

Brent Bozell, founder and president of the Media Research Center, says in this way, no one is refused service or suffers ‘discrimination’ in this scenario; and the caterer’s conscience is intact.  Leftist lawyers and judges don’t get to levy fines.  But if gay couples want to force their lifestyle on others, it naturally follows that religious believers should push their beliefs more elaborately as well.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Calling All Prayer Warriors! (Prayer 3)

On April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will hear oral arguments for and against redefining marriage in America.  The very institution of God’s design for marriage … as only between one man and one woman … is on trial.

As Christians, we know that prayer has changed the hearts of leaders and the course of nations.  Never before has the need to pray been so critical to the future of our country.  The Bible says – “If My people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Will you sincerely and fervently pray that God will move in the hearts of the members of SCOTUS?  If so, join me in this prayer:

Heavenly Father, we freely confess as the people of the United States that we are a sinful people.  We confess our many sexual sins: the sins of lust and pornography; of sexual immorality; of adultery; of unbiblical divorce; and of homosexuality.  We confess that our sexual sins have led to the death of 56-million innocent babies while still in the womb.

We know these sins merit Your wrath and Your judgment.  We tremble for our country when we reflect that You are a just God and Your justice cannot sleep forever.  We beg You to forgive us of our many sins, and cause a spirit of repentance and spiritual renewal to sweep across this land.

We plead with You not to hold our sins against us as the Supreme Court deliberates over the institution of marriage.  We acknowledge that if sexual behavior which is an abomination in Your sight is not just protected but celebrated by the highest court in our land it will inevitably bring Your judgment upon our land.

We beg You on bended knee to forgive us and protect us from our own sinful folly. Please turn the hearts of the Supreme Court to You and Your truth.  This we pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Calling All Prayer Warriors! (Prayer 2)

On April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will hear oral arguments for and against redefining marriage in America.  The very institution of God’s design for marriage … as only between one man and one woman … is on trial.

As Christians, we know that prayer has changed the hearts of leaders and the course of nations.  Never before has the need to pray been so critical to the future of our country.  The Bible says – “If My people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Will you sincerely and fervently pray that God will move in the hearts of the members of SCOTUS?  If so, join me in this prayer:

Heavenly Father, we are reminded of what Your Son taught us about marriage, when He said, “He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’”

We pray together that as the justices of the Supreme Court consider the issue of marriage, Your Spirit will be at work to cause the words of Your Son to penetrate deeply into their hearts and minds, so that their deliberations will be guided not just by the Constitution and the law, but by Your abiding standards of right and wrong.  Grant them a deep awareness that You and You alone are God.

Our Founders sought to conform our public policy as a nation to the “laws of nature and nature’s God.”  We know, Father, that man-woman marriage is prescribed by the laws of nature and even more importantly is prescribed by Your eternal law.

Please guide the deliberations of our Supreme Court so that they will be prompted by Your Spirit to conform the law of our land to Your law as our God.  This we pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Calling All Prayer Warriors!

On April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will hear oral arguments for and against redefining marriage in America.  The very institution of God’s design for marriage … as only between one man and one woman … is on trial.

As hard as it is to believe, nine people will decide if our nation will honor God and obey Him, or turn its back on the most fundamental building block of society … and on God Himself.  This will be the most important decision in the history of America!  The consequences this decision could have a staggering effect on people of faith.  Private business owners have already come under great pressure to surrender their religious liberty and provide services to same-sex ‘marriages.’  It will only be a matter of time before pastors and churches would be coerced to do the same.

As Christians, we know that prayer has changed the hearts of leaders and the course of nations.  Never before has the need to pray been so critical to the future of our country.  The Bible says – “If My people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Will you sincerely and fervently pray that God will move in the hearts of the members of SCOTUS?  If so, join me in this prayer:

Heavenly Father, we know that You designed marriage.  You created it and You defined it as the union of one man and one woman.  You are the One who said, “Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

As our Supreme Court deliberates over the issue of marriage, we pray that You will cause Your truth about marriage to resonate in their hearts and minds.  We pray that You, by Your Spirit, will remind them of Your truth, guide them in their thinking, and warn them of the danger of turning their backs on Your eternal Word.

We pray that You, by Your Spirit, will remind every elected official and every man, woman and child in our land of Your standard for marriage.  Cause us all to tremble at the thought that we might reject You and Your Word to our own harm.

Please prompt the justices of our Supreme Court to reflect on Your Word and to align their ruling with Your abiding truth.  This we pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Gay Woman Defends Religious Freedom and Apologies for Gay Intolerance

Last month, the signing into law by Gov. Mike Pence the religious freedom bill in Indiana (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) drove some people insane.  The O’Connor family, who owns Memories Pizza in Walkerton, IN, soon found itself in the crosshairs after telling a local reporter that they wouldn’t cater a gay wedding, but said that they would happily serve gay customers in their establishment.  Yes, the hypothetical was absurd, but the damage was done.  Death threats, including arson, were levied upon the family. They closed their doors due to security concerns.

The Blaze’s Dana Loesch and her crew started a GoFundMe page to help the embattled family by raising nearly $850,000 in donations.  To no one’s surprise, some on the left thought this act of charity was a conspiracy from the beginning – that the O’Connor family purposefully conducted themselves in this manner to collect those donations.

The O’Connor’s horrific moment in the spotlight caught the eye of Courtney Hoffman, a business owner, who donated $20 to the family with this message:

“As a member of the gay community, I would like to apologize for the mean spirited attacks on you and your business.  I know many gay individuals who fully support your right to stand up for your beliefs and run your business according to those beliefs.  We are outraged at the level of hate and intolerance that has been directed at you and I sincerely hope that you are able to rebuild.”

Hoffman owns a kettle corn business with her partner.  In an interview on The Jeff Adams Show, she urged tolerance (via CBS San Francisco):

“We know so many gay individuals that fully support the freedom of living your life according to your beliefs and feel that freedom extends to everyone, even the people that we don’t agree with. … If we can remember that differences don’t equal maliciousness, and try to find what we have in common … maybe we can move beyond threats of violence and have open discussions of the things that we don’t agree on.”

Hoffman noted that her partner is in total agreement with her, and that the response to her donation has been very positive.

Needless to say, not everyone supported Hoffman’s actions; but since her donation, more gays have given money to the pizzeria, and she has earned the praise of many of the conservative talk shows.

Hoffman also cut through the false narrative that Memories Pizza wouldn’t serve gay customers, only that they wouldn’t cater to a private event that went against their beliefs.  “Though I may not endorse that view, I feel like we all have to respect their freedom and their right to make that choice,” Hoffman said.  “It’s just wrong to not extend freedoms that we expect to other people.”

Despite that 40% of U.S. states have their own versions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (which was signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1993) in their laws, some on the progressive left still saw this bill as a license for businesses to discriminate against gay and lesbian customers.  Truth be told, if that were the case (which it is not), then it would’ve already happened.  Only 21-states have public accommodation laws that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation at private and government venues that provide a public service.

BTW: Memories Pizza did re-open to full tables, lines, and no protesters.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Oklahoma Unborn Are Singing – ‘Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’ ’

I wrote about it in my previously posted blog.  Oklahoma has joined Kansas in passing the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act.  HB 1721 was overwhelmingly passed by the OK legislature.  On April 15, it was signed into law by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin.

OK has become the second state in the nation to protect unborn children from dismemberment abortions that tear them apart.  The model legislation was provided by National Right to Life.  It is currently under consideration in Missouri and South Carolina.

“We applaud the Oklahoma legislature for standing up for unborn children by passing the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act,” said National Right to Life President Carol Tobias.  “This is a transformative law that has the power to change how the public views the gruesome reality of abortion in the United States.”

“The Oklahoma legislature is to be commended for protecting unborn children and prohibiting this barbaric inhumanity,” said Oklahomans For Life State Chairman Tony Lauinger.

“Dismemberment abortion kills a baby by tearing her apart limb from limb,” said National Right to Life Director of State Legislation Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D.  “Before the first trimester ends, the unborn child has a beating heart, brain waves, and every organ system in place.  Dismemberment abortions occur after the baby has reached these milestones.”

Yet, pro-abortion DNC Chair – Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-D) – says she is okay with murdering a 7-lb baby that is not yet born; no restrictions; period!  The predominate Democrat New York State Assembly just voted a resounding 94-49 to approve a bill that would allow third trimester abortions using procedures such as a shot of poison to the baby’s heart by medical professionals who don’t have to be doctors.

Clearly the matter of LIFE is the great divide between the Republicans and Democrats.  This growing attention on the graphic dismemberment of human beings in third trimester abortions is beyond the matter of a women’s choice – it is the taking of life; period!  

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Kansas Unborn Are Saying – ‘There’s No Place Like Home’

Gov. Sam Brownback (Kansas) signed into law the historic Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act (SB 95).  It will go into effect July 1.  Gov. Brownback commented, “This is a horrific procedure and we are pleased to ban it in Kansas and we hope it will be banned nationally.”

To commemorate this ground-breaking and first-in-the-nation measure, Gov. Brownback will travel across Kansas for ceremonial signings of the bill on April 28.

The Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act generated immediate grassroots support after introduction in January by lead sponsor, Sen. Garrett Love (R-Montezuma), who remarked, “In visiting with my constituents, many have been stunned that this practice (dismemberment) is going on in Kansas and have demanded that it be stopped.”

Records released on April 1 by the Kansas Health & Environment Department show that in 2014 this dilation & evacuation (D&E) method was used in 637-abortions, or 8.8% of the total 7,263 Kansas abortions reported.

SB 95 bans a particularly gruesome abortion method in which a living unborn child in her mother’s womb is ripped apart into pieces by an abortionist using sharp metal tools.

Abortionist LeRoy Carhart testified under oath that the unborn child is alive because he is watching him/her on ultrasound during the procedure.

In the words of U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Justice Anthony Kennedy, the unborn child in a D&E/Dismemberment abortion, “dies just as a human adult or child would: It bleeds to death as it is torn limb from limb.”

Testimony provided by Kansans for Life emphasized that the SCOTUS upheld a ban on the partial-birth method of abortion in 2007 after two cases, Stenberg v Carhart and Gonzales v Carhart.  In both cases, the SCOTUS closely examined both the partial-birth and D&E/ Dismemberment abortion methods and found them to be “brutal.”  The Court noted: “[It’s] necessary at the outset to set forth what may happen during an abortion.” ...and, “States also have an interest in forbidding medical procedures which, in the State’s reasonable determination, might cause the medical profession or society as a whole to become insensitive, even disdainful, to life, including life in the human fetus.” (Stenberg, 958 & 961)

On March 25, the House overwhelmingly passed SB 95 by 98-26 after the Senate had easily passed the measure, 31-9, on Feb 20.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The War Against Christianity is Global

Columnist George Will points out that Apple’s openly gay CEO, Tim Cook, “… thinks Indiana is a terrible place.  (But) He opened marketing and retail operations in Saudi Arabia two months before a man was sentenced to 450-lashes for being gay.”  Will was commenting on Cook’s recent Washington Post op-ed protesting Indiana’s new, now amended, Religious Freedom Restoration Act and similar initiatives around the country.  World Magazine reports that Cook has recently been in the United Arab Emirates negotiating on behalf of Apple, where homosexuality is against the law and the penalty is death.

Cook’s dishonesty is not just in deeds, but also in words.  The Indiana law was passed to protect religious freedom … mirroring existing federal law and law in 31-states around the nation.

Our Declaration of Independence notes our inalienable rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  But for Cook, who purports in his op-ed to care about freedom, protection of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for a Christian is an act of aggression against gays.  He renders religious freedom meaningless by accusing those … who exercise their right of protection … of discrimination against those who wish to violate their rights.  “This isn’t a political issue.  It isn’t a religious issue.  This is about how we treat each other as human beings,” he writes.

You would think that Cook, CEO of the most valuable company in the world, with a reported personal net worth of $400-million, could perceive his transparent double standard.  Apparently, that is not the case.  For him and other homosexual activists, Christians cannot observe their religion and live by the Bible’s words they hold sacred without discriminating against gays.  If this is about “how we treat each other as human beings,” as Cook writes, then how can he justify a same-sex couple going to a baker or photographer they well know is Christian, for whom homosexuality is a sin, and demand a cake or photography for a gay wedding?  Can Tim Cook really believe that this is decent, tolerant, freedom loving human behavior?

The truth is: The objective of the homosexual campaign is not about American freedom.  The objective is the de-legitimization and annihilation of Christianity in America.

As founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal & Education, Star Parker, has said, this did not begin yesterday.  It is now well over a half century that the words of our Constitution are being distorted so that the very protections guaranteed for Christians are used as weapons against them.  From the prohibition of prayer in school, to exclusions of public displays of the Ten Commandments and Christian symbols, to lawsuits against Christian photographers for refusing to provide the photography for gay weddings, the war against Christian presence in America becomes increasingly open and aggressive.  And what has happened over the last half century while this has been going on?  The institutions and behavior that provide the glue holding together a faithful, civil, and virtuous society have collapsed.  The traditional American family is in shambles.  43% of babies are now born to unwed mothers … compared to 5% a half century ago. Additionally, we have aborted over 56-million unborn children.

It was not coincidental (but prophetic) that America’s first president George Washington warned the young nation, in his farewell address, that religion and morality are “indispensable” to “political prosperity;” and he cautioned against “the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”

Meanwhile, as legal violence is used in the war on Christianity at home, physical violence is used in the same war in Muslim countries abroad.  The Wall Street Journal reports that Christians today make up 5% of the population in the Middle East … compared to 20% a 100-years ago.

As many political and business leaders cowardly enable this global war on Christianity, Christians must stand in defense of themselves and their religion and convictions.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

U.S. Minorities Make Known Their Position on Same-Sex ‘Marriage’

While we await the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding same-sex ‘marriages,’ months earlier several Native American nations have taken steps to defend traditional marriage.  Eleven tribal nations … with a total membership approaching a million people … will not recognize same-sex ‘marriages.’  Just weeks after North Carolina began issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples, the state’s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians updated its law to prevent homosexual couples from having marriage ceremonies on tribal land.  Other tribal nations that don’t recognize same-sex ‘marriage’ include the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma and the Navajo Nation.

Week before last, the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), which represents 34,000-churches from 15-denominations, has declared it has severed ties with Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) after it amended its constitution changing their definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.  “NBCI and its membership base are simply standing on the Word of God within the mind of Christ.  We urge our brothers and sisters of the PCUSA to repent and be restored to fellowship,” said NBCI President Rev. Anthony Evans, according to Charisma News.  “PCUSA’s manipulation represents a universal sin against the entire church and its members.  With this action, PCUSA can no longer base its teachings on 2,000 years of Christian scripture and tradition, and call itself a Christian entity in the body of Christ.  It has forsaken its right by this single wrong act,” added the head of the coalition, which represents 15.7-million African-Americans.  “Apostle Paul warns us about this when he declared in Galatians 1:8 that there are those who will preach another gospel,” Evans said.  “No church has the right to change the Word of God. By voting to redefine marriage PCUSA automatically forfeits Christ’s saving grace,” he added.  “There is always redemption in the body of Christ through confession of faith and adhering to Holy Scripture.”

Incidentally, don’t be too quick to judge Christianity; because the Jewish and Islamic sacred texts equally condemn the acts of homosexuality.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The 2nd Amendment Protects Our God-Given Right

The degree of ignorance exhibited by some of our elected representatives can be truly appalling, particularly when it comes to U.S. history.  Case in point: Politicians restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens to own guns, in violation of the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Twisting and fabricating interpretations never meant by the Founding Fathers is a necessity for the success of those who would take away Americans’ right to bear arms.  There are politicians who would declare unconstitutional federal gun laws null and void.  They thoughtlessly argue the 2nd Amendment was established in order to allow citizens to fight their government; to arm itself against the federal government … thus referencing the “militia.”

Let’s be clear: The bedrock principle of America has always been that rights come from God: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights …”

The anti-gun politicians think: Rights may well be granted by God to individuals; but collective individuals grant authority to their government.  It’s the government’s job to preserve rights; and that (in turn) the citizenry must obey the government … thus putting God-given individual rights in the back seat.

The problem is: If rights are not understood to come from God, then they are not “rights” … rather they are “political favors” which are forecast according to the political climate of the day.

As for the assertion that the 2nd Amendment was only put in the Constitution to allow citizens to take up arms against their federal government, such politicians should acquaint themselves with the Federalist Papers, No. 29, which addresses the idea of a “militia,” composed of all capable citizens, as called for in the 2nd Amendment … each being allowed to keep and bear arms at all times.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Planned Parenthood Receives Your Tax Dollars to Provide Abortions

A recent report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, received at least $1.5-billion in state and federal funding in a 3-year span from 2010-2012.  The investigation additionally found that the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and five other pro-abortion advocacy companies — Advocates for Youth, Guttmacher Institute, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Population Council, and the Sexuality Information & Education Council of the United States – spent a combined total of nearly $482-million in direct federal funding received from Health and Human Services and U.S. Agency of International Development during that time.

The report, which was compiled after a group of over 60 pro-life Congress members … led by U.S. Reps. Diane Black (R-TN), Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Pete Olson (R-TX) … sent a letter to GAO in February of 2013 asking for data on the how much federal funding was expended by six major organizations who advocate and or perform elective abortion-on-demand from 2010-2012.

Planned Parenthood spent most of the $482-million provided by HHS and USAID to the six groups, spending over $344-million of it.  Additionally, Planned Parenthood received over $1.2-billion from combined state and federal funds from State Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare and Medicaid.

“The Obama Administration is committed to advancing a pro-abortion agenda and continually has placed the demands of abortion advocates and providers at the top of its public health agenda for 6-years [and] all the expenses [are] the taxpayers,” said the director of Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity, Arina Grossu, in a press release.

Although Planned Parenthood gets about $500-million in taxpayer dollars every year and offers other services, abortions accounted for 94% of their pregnancy services in 2013.

Although the Hyde Amendment, which was made law in 1976, prohibits the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, elective abortion providers and supporters are able to secure federal funding because of the other services they offer, says Cheryl Sullenger senior policy advisor for the Christian pro-life activist organization Operation Rescue.

Under the frequently-asked-questions section on the Planned Parenthood website, they explain that they provide contraception, cancer screenings, breast exams, treatments for sexually transmitted infections and HIV tests with the tax dollars it receives.  “The effort to bar Planned Parenthood health centers from receiving any federal funds would shatter the country’s public health safety net and jeopardize women’s health,” the website claims. “Without Planned Parenthood’s 800-plus health centers, millions of women will have no place to go for basic, preventive health care.”

In her statement, Rep. Black said that the government’s trend of providing funding to companies like Planned Parenthood is “shameful” and there is a responsibility for Congress to end the trend.  “This report confirms what we suspected all along: hard-earned taxpayer dollars continue to be used to promote abortions,” Black explained.  “That is shameful and we have a responsibility to stop it.  As a nurse for more than 40-years, I know that abortion is not health care.”

Rep. Olson said it is appalling that Congress members have to get involved in order for the U.S. citizens to know how much of their money is actually being given to elective abortion-advocating companies.  “It shouldn’t take a GAO request from Congress for the American public to know where their tax dollars are being spent.  Yet, since I have been in Congress, this is the only way we can get answers,” Olson said in a press release.  “That’s why I continue to demand transparency and fight to stop organizations like Planned Parenthood from receiving a single tax dollar.  I will continue to do all I can to prevent taxpayers from being forced to support organizations that promote or perform abortions.”

Rep. Black’s statement added that Congress should further act on the findings of the report and pass the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, which would further prevent federal funding from being given to organizations that “promote the destruction of unborn life.”  “It’s sad irony that this study would be released at a time when Senate Democrats are working against human trafficking and Medicare bills that continue the longstanding Hyde Amendment aimed at prohibiting federal funding of abortions,” Black said.  “As the GAO report clearly shows, this amendment alone does not fully prevent the federal funding of abortion providers and promoters.  And let’s not forget, this information the Obama Administration never wanted us to have.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Why ‘No Murder Charges’ for Women Who Cuts Baby From Womb

The Colorado woman accused of attacking a pregnant mother and cutting her unborn child out of her womb will not face murder charges for the death of the baby, says the Boulder County district attorney.  District Attorney Stan Garrett confirmed last week that Dynel Lane will face other charges but she will not be charged with murder.

Lane, 34, is suspected of luring Michelle Wilkins, 26, with a Craigslist ad for baby items, then beating her, stabbing her with a knife and jagged glass, and removing her child from her belly.

Lane was initially charged with 1st-degree attempted murder, 1st-degree assault, and child abuse … knowingly and recklessly resulting in death … and held on $2 million bond.

With Wilkins’ baby at 7-months of age, a viable age outside the womb, the case has brought the personhood debate further to the forefront.  Colorado law does not recognize murder of the unborn as the same as a child outside the womb.

The Boulder County DA stated last week that, “the issues involving an unborn child are complicated under Colorado law.  In most circumstances, if a child was not actually born alive, then homicide charges are not possible.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Why Americans Say ‘Whatever’ About ISIS

Lately, I’ve been questioning why America seems so apathetic about ISIS. Why don’t my fellow Americans realize how serious Islamic terrorism has become?  Surely I’m not the only one to recognize that ISIS has expanded under Obama’s watch.

We see the horrifying images of prisoners in orange jumpsuits about to be beheaded, but not much seems to happen in response.  These images have worsened into chilling photos of Christians burned alive, yet nothing changes.  Ancient relics are being destroyed by these barbarians, erasing centuries-old treasured records of Biblical days.  Thousands are slaughtered every month by the 30,000-50,000 jihadists now fighting with ISIS, and young boys are recruited into the army and girls kidnapped and sold into sex slavery.

Meanwhile, Americans continue to go about their daily lives as if there is no war going on, focused on their electronic devises and specialized coffee, mostly oblivious to the increase in the most depraved mass murders taking place during most of our lifetimes.

We have a president who deliberately confuses people over 1.5-billion Muslims in the world with that of Islamic terrorism so that Americans are afraid to criticize the jihadists … for fear of offending all Muslims or being called Islamophobic.  Obama also has everyone believing if they criticize the terrorists, the terrorists will react and execute more Westerners.  The reality is, the terrorists are going to continue to execute more Westerners as long as they are allowed to thrive.  They are evil and cannot be negotiated with … as history has taught us time and time again about barbarians.

Israel is the number one target of these savages, geographically located where it could be a real asset for taking them on.  Yet Obama blew off Prime Minister Netanyahu’s re-election, hoping he would lose to an opponent who would conduct peace talks with Hamas as Obama had urged.

Willingly or naively choosing to ignore the growing threat of ISIS, Obama’s foreign policy is all over the map, guided by Vice President Biden, who former Defense Secretary Robert Gates described as “wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”  Obama’s handling of ISIS entails reacting to a few incidents a little too late and a little too weak.  The Arab Spring uprisings, which began in 2010, have not led to democracies, but to more violence and the annihilation of Christians.  Roughly 90% of Iraq’s Christians have disappeared since the first Gulf War in 1990-91.

Rachel Alexander of Townhall.com says “Americans’ apathy is akin to a frog in a pot of water that is slowly heating up, not realizing what is happening until it is too late.  ISIS’s jihadist violence is increasing.  But the more it increases, the more Americans seem to tune it out.  The terrifying part about this apathy is ultimately it will lead to ISIS on our doorsteps.  The terrorists leading the jihads come from wealthy, connected backgrounds, and as we saw in the past on 9-11-01, have the means to attack us undetected if we are not actively rooting them out.”

There will be no rallying of Americans against ISIS until we have a leader in the White House.  As long as Obama jokes about ISIS as “junior varsity,” and believes that addressing climate change is more important than combating terrorism, Americans will continue to naively think we are safe.

The WW2 German pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous quote is eerily coming true again: “First they came for the Jews….”  Well, now they’re coming for the Christians, other Islamic sects, and members of the media.  The rest of us Americans are next, and we’re like sheep for the slaughter under this president.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel