Exposing SPLC by Coalition of Christians & Conservatives

A coalition of Christians and conservatives is continuing its efforts to expose the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

The campaign is a collaborative effort by many Christian and conservative groups that have united to defeat what they call a common enemy.  The website is https://exposesplc.com/, which features an eight-minute video about the SPLC.

“It’s about their money, where they park their money [and] about the injustices that they commit,” explained organizer and attorney Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute.  Dacus contends that was once a valued organization fighting for the civil rights of minorities has become a group of political activists driven by money.  As a result, the legal expert maintains the SPLC has worked hard to create “new hate groups” in order to create new hatred, isolation and vilification.  “You can’t really raise money to fight a dragon that’s already been slain,” Dacus asserted.  “There has never been – in my recollection – ever such a great threat to our First Amendment and our constitutional freedoms by any other third-party organization than the Southern Poverty Law Center.”

People appearing in the video include: Alliance Defending Freedom’s (ADF) Michael Farris; Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver and Carol Swain – a political scientist and former professor who has been targeted by the SPLC; and American Family Association President Tim Wildmon.

“At the end of the video, there is a petition that allows people to sign that and to weigh in against the SPLC – and specifically to inform the media that we object to their usage of the SPLC as some kind of impartial, credible third-party civil rights organization,” Dacus continued.  “They are not.  They are the farthest thing from that.”  The petition also requests companies donating to SPLC to stop.

My friends: You must view this video and come to realize the battle that is being waged, and the tremendous loss in religious liberty … if SPLC continues to spew its lies.  The time is long since passed to shut down SPLC.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Prevailing Translation of the Lord’s Prayer is Not Arbitrary

Pope Francis recently shared his thoughts (not decree) that the translation of the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer should be revised.  R. Scott Clark, an American Reformed pastor and seminary professor, rendered these thoughts addressing the underlying problem:

“Francis’ suggestion, already adopted by French Romanists and mainline Protestants, that the translation of the Lord’s Prayer be revised to say, ‘Let us not fall into temptation’ gives the impression that the relation between the text of Holy Scripture and translation is more or less arbitrary.  This implication fuels what I perceive to be a widespread view, particularly among unbelievers and perhaps also among believers, translations of Scripture or other authoritative statements are essentially arbitrary and may be changed at will.  This suspicion, which is part of the spirit of the Late-Modern age, assumes a sort of nominalism that is simply untrue.  The nominalists argued (and their late-modern successors continue to argue) that the relation between the sign (e.g., a word) and the thing it represents, the reality, is arbitrary, a convention, an agreement, and sometimes even the product of a conspiracy.  This is why people accept the claims of writers like Dan Brown.  They suspect that someone, somewhere is just making up things and imposing their will on the rest of us.  These are all symptoms of a profound loss of confidence in the existence of objective reality.  In earlier phases of the Modernity, the essence of which has always been the assumption of human autonomy relative to all other authorities, there was a shared agreement that there is such a thing as objective reality or truth.  The debate concerned which account of reality is of correct.  One of the defining characteristics of late-modernity is the loss of confidence that there is any such thing as objective reality.  Of course, the same people who deny that there is any such thing, who assert that all claims to truth and reality are nothing but a will to power also stop at stop signs.”

The standard, prevailing translation of the Lord’s Prayer, is not arbitrary.  The relation between the original text and the traditional English translation is not merely nominal.  The translation says what it says because the original text says what it says.  The Greek text of Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4 translates most direct as, “And bring us not into temptation.”  Out of the dozens of English translations only a few (e.g., the New Living Translation) adopts a rendering approaching that suggested by Pope Francis.  The two most important terms for this discussion are “bring” and “temptation.”  This verb occurs 8 times in the New Testament.  This is the verb our Lord used when He said, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities” (Luke 12:11).  

The translation “to lead” or “to bring” in the first clause of the sixth petition is not arbitrary. This is what this word means.  It is true that the petition may be troubling.  That is often the nature of Jesus’ teaching.  He said deliberately difficult things.  Anyone who thinks Jesus’ teaching is simple has not considered it very deeply.  

As to the intent of the petition, the Heidelberg Catechism 127 is right:

127. What is the sixth petition?

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” that is: Since we are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand a moment, and besides, our deadly enemies, the devil, the world and our own flesh, assail us without ceasing, be pleased to preserve and strengthen us by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may make firm stand against them and not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, until finally complete victory is ours.”

The urge to revise the Lord’s Prayer rests partly in a misunderstanding of it.  We are sinful.  We, not God, are the source of the problem.  In large measure the prayer is to be delivered from ourselves.  Of course, we confess the reality of the spiritual struggle against spiritual principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12).  The Evil One does go about as a lion (1 Peter 5:8).  The complete victory to which the catechism refers is the final, eschatological victory.  We are engaged in a spiritual struggle with ourselves and our own corruption of heart, mind, and will.  We are also engaged in a struggle with spiritual realities outside of us.  [read James 1:12-18]

God tempts no one and our Lord taught us to pray, “bring us not into temptation.”  James 1 is a Holy Spirit inspired commentary on the first clause of the sixth petition.  We are utterly dependent upon the Lord’s preserving grace, on which we dare not presume and, at the same time, we are the source of the corruption against which we struggle.  The Lord is not corrupt.  He neither tempts nor sins.

While the sixth petition is challenging, it is God’s Word and the traditional translation faithfully communicates the language and intent of the text and of our Lord’s own words. There is real truth in the world and the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer is part of that truth.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Perfect Gift

As we celebrate Christmas, the perfect gift that has been given to us is not wrapped in shiny paper.  We do not have to try to figure out what the gift is by shaking it upside down.  For the perfect gift we have been given does not lie under a Christmas tree, but was born under the stars of Bethlehem in a stable.

My friend: If God can reach all the way down from the throne of Heaven to the body of a teenage virgin; if He can enter time from eternity; if the infinite can become an infant … think about what He can do in your life. 

The One who created all things emptied Himself into a human being so that we could have everlasting life.  How did He do it?  I have no clue.  Mary didn’t know; Gabriel didn’t know; and you can’t know things like that.  You just have to leave them up to God.  And, as Gabriel says, “nothing is impossible with God.”  [read Luke 1:26-38]

May you have a very, merry Christmas … remembering always the reason for the season.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Christmas Caroling for Life

Throughout December, Christmas carolers have gathered outside abortion facilities across America, to draw attention to the unborn children at risk of abortion.

The Pro-Life Action League’s (PLAL) nationwide caroling event – ‘Peace in the Womb’ – brings the Christmas message of peace and joy to the darkness of abortion clinics at over 80 locations in 30 states.  [https://prolifeaction.org/event/caroling2017]  “It’s particularly sad to think of someone getting an abortion during the Christmas season, when we celebrate a new dawn of hope and joy coming into the world with the birth of a child,” explained Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of the PLAL.  “With our Christmas carols, we seek to remind those entering abortion facilities, and the entire community, that the Christmas message of salvation came through an unplanned pregnancy.”

The PLAL ‘Peace in the Womb’ Christmas caroling events have taken place nationwide, with multiple events and locations in metro areas, including Chicago, Omaha and Philadelphia.  December 2017 marks the 50th year that the PLAL has coordinated caroling outside of abortion clinics.  Scheidler remarked, “The message of the Christmas angels is, ‘Be not afraid.’  This is the same message our carolers are sharing with abortion-minded mothers.  Whatever fear might be bringing them to the abortion clinic, we want to help, in any way that we can.”

Scheidler noted that pro-life carolers throughout the country are prepared to refer women to pregnancy assistance centers that offer a wide range of assistance to help women choose life for their babies.  Over the years, many women have decided against abortion after hearing the pro-life carolers.  At least 9 babies were saved from abortion during the 2016 nationwide caroling event, including one in Wood Dale, Illinois: “The couple came out of the abortion clinic with huge smiles on their faces,” Scheidler reported.  “The mother declared, ‘We’re having a baby!  We changed our minds!” … while the father thanked the carolers, saying, ‘Good job!’  All they’d done was sing Christmas carols, and a life was saved.”

Surely the heavenly host joined in sing – “Glory to God in the highest!”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Should a Judicial Commander-in-Chief Rule on the Military?

A federal court has ruled that the Trump Administration must comply by January 1, 2018 with the Obama Administration’s 2016 policy of allowing transgender recruits into the military.

District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling denies White House attempts to prevent self-identifying transgender individuals from entering military service dating back to the summer of 2017.  At the time, President Trump tweeted, “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military.” The President (POTUS) added, “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.  Thank you.”

The Trump Administration had sought to delay a June 2016 policy change by the Obama Administration that allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military.  The Obama policy had set a one-year deadline for the military to begin accepting new transgender recruits.  But legal battles that ensued eventually pushed the deadline to January 1, 2018.  Kollar-Kotelly ruled that she was not convinced that the deadlined need to be pushed forward again.  “With only a brief hiatus, [the Trump Administration] have had the opportunity to prepare for the accession of transgender individuals into the military for nearly one and a half years,” when the policy was initially issued by the Obama Administration in June 2016, she wrote.  “Especially in light of the record evidence showing, with specifics, that considerable work has already been done, the Court is not convinced by the vague claims in [the Trump Administration’s] declaration that a stay is needed.”

But Justice Department (DOJ) spokeswoman Lauren Ehrsam said she disagreed with the judge’s ruling.  “We disagree with the Court’s ruling and are currently evaluating the next steps,” she said.  “Plaintiffs’ lawsuit challenging military service requirements is premature for many reasons, including that the Defense Department (DOD) is actively reviewing such service requirements, as the President ordered, and because none of the Plaintiffs have established that they will be impacted by current policies on military service.”

According to a report in the Washington Post, government lawyers said “Forcing the military to accept transgender applicants and implement such a significant change in policy may ‘negatively impact military readiness.’”

A military watchdog says the DOJ should head to court – quickly – to fight a pro-transgender court order.  Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, says it’s an outrage that a federal court has ruled Obama’s policy can’t be overturned by the country’s new commander-in-chief.  “It is blatant bias,” she says.  “The Washington, D.C. district judge seems to think that she is supreme judicial commander of the military.”  Trump has announced he will end the policy and has “every right and power” to do so, Donnelly adds.

The Trump Administration should respond like it did with the POTUS’s travel restriction, which also ended up in a federal courtroom, but the DOJ went to work to defend it in court.  “An immediate stay was sought,” Donnelly recalls, “and finally the Supreme Court on December 3, just a few days ago, ruled in favor of the president 7-to-2.”

Just as the President’s travel restriction was considered a national security issue, certainly a Pentagon policy restricting who can wear a military uniform is one, too.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Closing Planned ‘Murderhood’ Facilities Will Save at Least 50K Babies in 2018

“Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a rapidly shrinking organization,” according to a pro-life group.

In its annual study of Planned Parenthood (PP) facilities, American Life League (ALL) has found the abortion giant closed 32 locations over the course of 2017.  According to the study, only 597 PP facilities remain open across the country.  In perspective, 1995 saw the highest number of PP facilities with 938.

ALL’s STOPP (STOP Planned Parenthood) campaign was launched in 1985 to halt the spread of PP’s abortion business.  In 1993, PP announced an initiative to open 2,000 facilities by the year 2000.  However, thanks to ALL and the pro-life movement’s work, the abortionist never eclipsed 1,000; and 2017’s 597 represents the lowest number of PP facilities since the campaign began.

ALL’s Executive Director, Jim Sedlak, writes:

“The dwindling facilities and customer numbers have also had an effect on Planned Parenthood’s single most profitable activity—abortions.  Despite its ever-increasing emphasis on abortion, it has struggled to even maintain its abortion business numbers. Over the last eight years, PP has averaged 328,302 abortions a year—with very little year-to-year fluctuation.  Now 328,000 is a lot of dead innocent human beings (even one is too many), but, as the report shows, it is estimated that at least 50,000 babies will be saved in 2018 because these PP centers are no longer around.”

Eliminating corporate support for PP’s abortion business is another way to force the closure of PP facilities.  Five major corporations (AT&T, Coca-Cola, Ford, Macy’s, and Xerox) have all publicly stated they no longer support PP.  Who will be the next?

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Life & Death Cost of Illegal Immigration

The acquittal of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate in the 2015 San Francisco shooting death of Kate Steinle has sparked a new national debate about sanctuary city policy.  The Trump Administration has tried to tackle this matter … even threatening to cut off Department of Justice (DOJ) grants to cities who continue the policy of offering a shield to illegal aliens and an obstacle to enforcing federal immigration laws.  The courts have so far blocked such attempts.

So, what are the costs of illegal immigration?  Paul Bedard at The Washington Examiner had a breakdown: It costs the U.S. taxpayers in all 50-states a total of $89 billion; and California, where an illegal was just cleared of murdering Kate Steinle (despite admitting to the shooting), pays the most at $23 billion.  The costs cover added expenditures for education, welfare, law enforcement, and medical care.  When federal costs are included, the price tag (nationally) soars to $135 billion a year. 

Donald Trump made immigration a GOP primaries issue … that proved critical to him winning the 2016 election as U.S. President.  With these numbers and the outcome of the Steinle trial, you can see why we’ve got to address the matter of illegal immigrants.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Holy Donuts Apologize to Local LGBT for Helping a Needy Family with Assistance from Salvation Army

A popular donut shop in Portland, Maine was forced to apologize to the community after they offended customers by working with the Salvation Army (SA) to provide Christmas to a needy family.

The Holy Donut (HD) had asked customers to help them with a gift drive for a local family with 5-children.  Those customers who participated received free donuts.

The HD reached out to the SA to find the family in need, the Press-Herald reports.  But instead of saluting HD for doing a good deed, an online mob stormed their Facebook (FB) page.  Many accused the SA of being anti-gay and discriminating against the LGBT community.  Though it was untrue, the truth doesn’t seem to really matter these days.

“They [SA] proselytize to the people in their programs, they reject LGBT people from their shelters,” one outraged customer wrote.  “They have tried to scrub their image, but still discriminate.”

Let’s be clear: The SA is a well-respected Christian ministry that provides shelter for the homeless, addiction programs and of course the iconic red kettles at Christmas time.

The Press Herald reports that the online mob was unrelenting … going so far as to threaten boycotts unless HD renounced its association with SA.  “In case you forgot, a solid 70 percent of your clientele is part of the LGBTQ community,” one rabble-rouser wrote.  “You’re making a silent statement that you’re completely fine with their choices.”

The HD owner wrote on FB, “We do not support the Salvation Army or consider them our ‘partner’ for this project, they simply linked us to a needy family.  We have nothing to gain here; we just wanted to help a family in need.”

To quell the growing controversy, HD threw themselves at the mercy of the surging mob.  “We take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone that we have offended,” the store owners wrote on FB.  “We are an organization which prides itself on our track record of kindness and acceptance of everyone.”

While HD should be commended for helping a family in need and spreading a bit of Christmas cheer, shame on those who harassed these good folks and spread out-right lies about SA!

In the name of HD, drop a few bucks in your nearest SA red kettle. 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

SCOTUS is Baking the Cake that Could End All Cakes

Question:

Should a gay baker be legally required to design a cake with the message, “God hates fags”?

Should an African American t-shirt maker be required by law to design a t-shirt saying, “Long live the KKK?”

Should a Muslim caterer be required by law to provide pork for a secular event?

Should a Jewish photographer be required to shoot a wedding on the Sabbath?

The answer to all these questions is: Of course not.

Why, then, should a Christian baker be required by law to design a cake celebrating the “wedding” of a same-sex couple?

That is the big question the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) will be answering in the weeks ahead when it hears the Masterpiece Cakes case involving Christian baker Jack Phillips.  [read my previous blog posting on September 20, 2017]

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is defending Phillips, has pointed out that:

1) “Jack does not discriminate,” and he was perfectly happy to sell the gay couple cookies and brownies and anything else pre-made off of his shelves; but subsequently they took him to court.

2) “Jack has turned down other cakes in the past,” including Halloween cakes and lewd cakes.

3) “Jack has faced anti-religious bigotry as well as threats and intimidation simply because he declined to promote an event,” so he is the one being singled out for unfair treatment.

4) “Jack owns a private family business, and he doesn’t give up his rights when he sells his art,” and by calling his business “Masterpiece Cakes,” he is making clear that for him, they are works of art.

5) Accordingly, “Jack’s shop has been called an ‘art gallery of cakes.’”

6) “Wedding cakes made up about 40 percent of Jack’s business,” and these are all custom designed.  But due to Colorado’s laws and legal rulings to date, he has had to drop this part of his business entirely.

Now, common sense would say that this case should be a no-brainer, a slam-dunk win for Jack Phillips and his ADF attorneys.  The problem, however, is that “gay rights” have been exalted to such a degree that these “rights” outdo all other rights and freedoms … including our freedoms of conscience, speech, and religion.

In the case at hand, because Phillips is a committed Christian, he doesn’t make cakes mixed with alcohol (nor can he be required to), he doesn’t make cakes for lewd bachelor parties (nor can he be required to), and he doesn’t make cakes for horror-themed events (nor can he be required to).  But when he cannot, in good conscience, use his artistic skills to make a cake for a same-sex “wedding,” he can be charged with violating the state’s anti-discrimination laws to the point that the state can now discriminate against him as a Christian.  In other words, you can freely exercise your Christian beliefs unless those beliefs offend gays.  In that case, you’re breaking the law.

If a Hindu came in and wanted a, “Krishna is Lord” cake, Phillips could politely decline, without legal penalty or pressure.  The same would apply to a Muslim baker declining to bake a cake for a Christian with the words, “Jesus is Lord.”  But wouldn’t that offend the Hindu and the Christian wanting to buy the cakes?  Perhaps so, but the bakers are rightly protected by the law and cannot be penalized for refusing the business.

Why, then, are gays and lesbians treated differently?  Why are they put in a special category?  The sympathetic answer would be that society has over-compensated for perceived past injustices.  And so, the pendulum has swung from one side (mistreatment of gays and lesbians) to the other side (overprotection of gays and lesbians).

Listen: The real agenda is that some gay activists have always had as their ultimate goal the silencing of those who resist their cause. 

Many on the Left will argue that Phillips was guilty of discriminating against gay customers, but that is a complete misrepresentation of the facts; and if the SCOTUS finds him guilty, the implications for America will be massive.  It will mean that the highest court in the land has ruled that, in virtually all conceivable cases, gay rights go one better than religious rights.  And it will mean that Christians in particular can be forced to violate their consciences and their deeply held, historic beliefs under penalty of law, with the real potential of losing their very livelihoods.  And should they still refuse to comply, it could mean a jail sentence too.

If the first generation of Christians were martyred for not denying the faith, what’s the imprisonment of today’s Christians … in comparison? 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

RIP Due Process in America

Whether Alabama senatorial candidate Roy Moore sexually harassed anybody 40-years ago or not, the bigger issue is – the end of due process.  This media feeding frenzy on Moore (and others) is serving to undermine the rule of law in America.

As the mainstream media has reported for decades: There should be a presumption of guilt … based on any accusation of sexual misconduct … whether it is a candidate for political office or an unlucky college kid accused of rape.  But mind you: The media has the prerogative of controlling the narrative… picking and choosing who’s guilty (i.e., Bill Clinton, Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, etc.).

Trying to discern what is real from what is fake is a tall order in today’s media world, unless you’ve worked hard to cultivate a sense of discernment.  Navigating the “news” is like taking a walk through a complex hall of smoke and mirrors.

The question is: Will due process live or die?  Will we be able to revive its true meaning (i.e., the basic principle that people should be judged fairly on the basis of evidence)?  Or will we succumb to raw emotion and all of the bias lynching that goes with it?  

Some folks would say that the concept of due process only applies in a court of law, and has nothing to do with the variations of public opinion.  That may have been the case in the past, but not in our day of a propaganda media.  If society loses its comprehension of the idea of equal treatment under the law, based on a moral code that should apply equally to all, it really doesn’t matter that we aren’t in a court of law.

Let’s not forget that public opinion has always been used as a mechanism to change public policy.  This is why media corruption, opinion polling, and political correctness are such big deals.  They create illusions of opinion, which in turn strongly suggest which views will be socially acceptable to adopt. Then, politicians pass laws based on their perceptions of public opinion; and the courts soon follow.  So due process dies in the court of public opinion.

When we deceive ourselves into believing that moral standards are a pick-and-choose proposition, we end up in an imaginary place where everything is as bad as it possibly can be where soon there will be no due process or rule of law for anyone.

If perchance the double standard of morality were to unravel, then our society would actually have a shot at renewing our understanding of what due process, fairness, and justice really mean … that they must be built upon a moral code that applies equally to all.  But if not, we can expect a continued narrative that conditions the public to misconstrue and reject the concept of due process.  

Our media and power elites decided quite some time ago that some folks get the benefit of the doubt and others certainly do not.  MA Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy, for example, left MaryJo Kopechne to drown while he first called his lawyer then took a nap after extricating himself from the car he drove off a bridge, with her in it, at Chappaquiddick.  He went on to win numerous reelections, honored by his colleagues as the “Lion of the Senate.”

Only a free people who understand and appreciate the meaning of freedom can call out such cynical posturing.

Listen: Either moral standards exist or they do not exist.  If there are no standards, then there is no way to measure or achieve fairness, justice, or equality.  The concepts of due process and rule of law absolutely depend upon a society both recognizing and maintaining moral standards as equally applicable to everybody.

To understand what a moral standard is, let’s try to understand what any standard is.  A standard is just an unchanging basis that we use for comparison, measurement, and discernment.  Moral standards are critical to the functioning of any society.  Without them, there is no self-regulation, no balance in relationships.  The Ten Commandments, for example, provide moral standards by telling us not to kill, lie, cheat, or steal.  Whether or not a person believes such standards come from God, any sane individual can see how dangerous it is for functioning societies to reject such standards.  So without a rule of law based upon those principles, everybody becomes vulnerable to being violated.  If we exempt ourselves — or any hand-picked person who may serve our purposes — we end up in the chaotic territory expressed in the scripture of Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” 

There can be no room for even the pretense of due process if we allow our social discourse to be selective in morality.  If we are going to automatically adopt a lynch mob mentality whenever someone is accused of a crime, then we are paving a path into darkness where anyone and everyone can be presumed guilty and lynched.  Once our public discourse habitually trashes the concepts of presumption of innocence or due process, then we open the door for kangaroo courts, and due process enters the death chamber.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Is Your Public Library Pushing an Agenda Contrary to the Local Citizen’s Convictions?

Residents of a Texas city are waiting to see if the local public library truly listened to their concerns regarding the promotion of the homosexual agenda.

After parents discovered that the public library in Temple, TX had set up a pro-LGBTQ lifestyle display in the children’s section, local resident – Joe Goodson of Concerned Christian Citizens (CCC) – met with library officials.  He posed that if they were going to promote that lifestyle, then they should also have a display of books that might help individuals leave that lifestyle behind.

At the quarterly board meeting of CCC, 40-50 residents showed up, and 80% of them delivered a message: “That is a political agenda that doesn’t apply to our town, and we really don’t want you to do this again,” Goodson reports.

Library officials say the program is one promoted by the American Library Association (ALA), which is known to be extremely liberal and fails to consider the beliefs of people whom the libraries serve.

So CCC is asking for the local public library to reconsider.  “They are rewriting their policy, or perhaps even just writing their policy now, and we really believe that could go either way,” Goodson told OneNewsNow.  “What we want when it comes to books in a library – that’s one thing.  But when it comes to taking a non-neutral advocacy position … they need to stand back from our children.”

Concerned residents of Temple, TX appear to have the library officials’ attention and have made it clear that they will not tolerate the promotion of an immoral lifestyle that does not reflect the view of most of the town’s residents.

In light of this evidence of the ALA influence on local public libraries, perhaps you ought to visit your own community library and see what (if any) non-biblical worldview is being promoted in recommended reading or display.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

A Court Ruling Clears the Way for AR to Cut PP Funding Due to CMP Videos

The state of Arkansas (AR) has again cut off all Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood (PP), reports the state’s Department of Human Services (AR-DHS).  The action followed a recent court ruling approving the state’s decision to withhold funding from PP after videos secretly recorded by the pro-life Center for Medical Progress (CMP) were examined by state officials.

AR-DHS spokeswoman Amy Webb told the Associated Press the state terminated the PP’s status as a Medicaid provider after the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision formally took effect.  “It is important for the state to have the clear authority to terminate Medicaid providers who act in unethical ways and in violation of state policy,” AR Republican Governor William Asa Hutchinson said in a statement.  “The decision early on to terminate Planned Parenthood as a provider was the right decision, and I am delighted with the decision of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in affirming the right of the State to take this action.”

Judd Deere, a spokesman for AR State Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, pointed out the importance of states being allowed to cut off tax dollars to groups engaging in unethical practices.  “... (the ruling) reaffirms that Planned Parenthood and the three patients it recruited could not contest in federal court Arkansas’ determination that a medical provider has engaged in misconduct that merits disqualification from the Medicaid program,” Deere said in an email to the to the Democrat-Gazette.

Gov. Hutchinson first canceled the state’s Medicaid contract with PP in 2015.  A lawsuit followed and a federal judge told the state it couldn’t cancel the payments.  AR appealed the ruling to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in August 2017.  It ruled the federal judge couldn’t stop them due to the misconduct cited.  Their ruling was handed down in August, but is just now going into effect.

PP said it had not decided whether to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

AR has said PP received $51,000 in Medicaid funds during the fiscal year of 2014 before Hutchinson’s decision to terminate the contract.  None of the money paid for abortions directly.  PP operates health centers in Fayetteville and Little Rock.

Republican lawmakers and governors around the country focused on PP and its methods after the release of several videos by CMP.  CMP said the videos showed that PP illegally sells fetal tissue for profit.

Now let’s see some more states follow AR’s lead and cut-off Medicare funds to ‘Planned Murderhood.’

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

LSP Back to Court as CA & PA AGs Sue to Force Contraceptive Mandate

The Little Sisters of the Poor (LSP), represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty (BFRL), asked the 19th  Circuit Court of Appeals last week to prevent California (CA) and Pennsylvania (PA) in their attempt to roll-back President Trump’s October 6th broadening of religious exemptions for groups (like LSP) with religious and moral objections to covering contraception.

CA Democratic Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, sued the Trump Administration immediately following the new religious exemptions to the Obamacare contraceptive mandate.  The lawsuit claimed the rule change was unconstitutional because it targets and harms women by denying their 5th Amendment rights to equal protection under the law and that it allows employers to use their religious beliefs to discriminate against employees.

PA sued the Trump Administration over the change shortly after.  “Millions of women could be denied needed contraceptive care against the advice of science, public health and medical professionals,” PA Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a press conference he held at a Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania (PPSP) clinic in Philadelphia to announce the lawsuit.

“Sadly Josh Shapiro and Xavier Becerra think attacking nuns is a way to score political points,” BFRL’s Senior Counsel Mark Rienzi commented on the lawsuits.  “These men may think their campaign donors want them to sue nuns, but our guess is most taxpayers disagree.  No one needs nuns in order to get contraceptives, and no one needs these guys reigniting the last administration’s divisive and unnecessary culture war.”

“These States are specifically targeting religious groups.  Pennsylvania has never required anyone to provide contraceptives,” Rienzi told reporters on a press call last Tuesday. “Now, Pennsylvania is claiming religious groups have to provide these services.”  He added, “Legally there is no good argument for what these states are doing.”

“We just want to be able to continue our religious mission of caring for the elderly poor as we have over 175-years,” Mother Loraine Marie Maguire with the LSP commented last Tuesday.  “We pray that these state governments will leave us alone and let us do our work in peace.”

The nuns, who care for the elderly poor in the U.S., finally began to see some relief along with other nonprofit religious organizations that had been involved in a 5-year long lawsuit against the Obama Administration over the contraceptive mandate.

Paying for or supporting the use of contraception is contrary to fundamental Catholic moral teaching.  The Obama Administration offered the groups an accommodation that would delegate the contraception coverage to a third party, but they objected that the process still left them complicit in the coverage.

Their case was remanded to appeals courts with direction from the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) that the Obama Administration and the organizations work out a compromise.

Attorney Rienzi told reporters on the press call that that original lawsuit is still ongoing with the next update expected in mid-December.  He added that the SCOTUS’s injunction in that case still applies … which making it less likely that the states’ new lawsuits will succeed.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Election Have Consequences, and Bad Elections Persecute Pro-Lifers

A pro-life group in North Carolina is expecting a hard battle as it seeks to continue its work outside a local abortion clinic.

In the November 7th mayoral election, voters in Charlotte, NC replaced Jennifer Roberts with another liberal mayor – Vi Lyles.  Lyles may be just as committed to abortion as the former mayor was.  [Roberts never approved of pro-life volunteers at abortion clinics.]

As part of its local efforts, Cities4Life in Charlotte parks a mobile ultrasound unit in front of an abortion clinic to offer pregnant women free services.  But ministry leaders fully expect Mayor-elect Lyles to press the city council to restrict their access.  Daniel Parks, who heads Cities4Life, said the unit is parked on a wide city street, and it creates no traffic problems; yet, he is prepared to fight a legal battle related to parking of the ultrasound unit, as well as their freedom of speech.

Parks says, “The liberal agenda [is] not really concerned about the women, and [it] most certainly [is] not concerned about the babies.  But the liberal agenda is concerned about itself.  And the radical pro-abortion agenda in Charlotte doesn’t want to lose any of those potential clients that we’re actually taking from them, by God’s grace.”

According to Parks, their measure of success is approximately 3,700 babies saved in Charlotte.  At an estimated $300-$1,700 for each first-trimester abortion, that success has been costly for local abortion clinics.

How sad that money talks at the price of silencing the unborn.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Christians in U.S. Armed Forces Moving From Previous Persecution to Presidential Permission to ‘Live Their Faith’

Retired Lt. General Jerry Boykin, one of the founding members of the elite military division Delta Force, recently told CBN News the best way to honor servicemen and women is through prayer.  “Every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, coast guardsman needs our prayers,” he said, “So the best we can do for them is pray an earnest, sincere prayer for God’s protection over them as they go about doing their job.”

Boykin said, “Find a veteran and thank them.  You can never overdo that.  You don’t know how much it means to them.  Even though they may have heard it a thousand times, for somebody to say, ‘thank you for your service’ means a great deal to them, because America’s been through a period where people wanted to hide the fact that they were veterans of the armed forces, particularly during the Vietnam era.”

Boykin said Christians in the military play a huge role.  He referenced a Barna poll showing about eight-out-of-ten people in the military say they know faithful Christians in the service and have a favorable opinion of them.  “Quite frequently, Christians that are walking their faith, that are living their faith, that are open about their faith, are often the ones that are sought out to help comfort their comrades, particularly in times of great stress and great danger,” he said.

Boykin said in his 36-years in the U.S. Army he experienced persecution from non-believers, some of whom later came to him for advice or prayer in times of trouble.

Now he says the armed services is reeling from Christian persecution from the Obama Administration.  “You can take, for example, chaplains that were being disciplined for giving Biblical answers to questions that they were asked, particularly as it relates to marriage and human sexuality,” Boykin said.

However, Boykin said he has personally met with President Trump and reports the current Commander-in-Chief is committed to reversing course.  “Trump told me his intentions that military men and women will be able to live their faith,” he said, adding, “It’s a slow change.”

Boykin recalled a pivotal moment in America’s history when he led a team of warriors in prayer before embarking on the mission to rescue 52-American hostages being held in Iran in 1980.  “I was praying for God’s protection and that God would return us to our families safely,” he said, “And every man that was standing there that morning, in that audience, returned home to their families basically unharmed.  So we gave God the credit for that.”

Thank God for blessing this nation with a Commander-in-Chief (President Trump) who is taking actions that permit Christian armed forces service members to freely exercise their religious convictions.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Those Occupying Pulpits & Pews Need to Politically Engage

It’s no longer enough for Conservatives and Christians to just do their civic duty by voting on Election Day.  In the words of veteran culture warrior, Maggie Gallagher, they “need to get more explicitly political.”

While the 2016 general election was good for Republicans, there was one notable exception: Democrat Roy Cooper beat out Republican incumbent Pat McCrory in the governor’s race in North Carolina – primarily due to HB2 – the state’s bathroom bill which allowed men into women’s restrooms.

The Human Rights Campaign spent tens of thousands of dollars on Cooper and ran ads like this: “More than 200 businesses have come out in opposition to HB2.  The NBA is moving next year’s All-Star game.  And some film producers have said they’ll stop shooting here.”

Gallagher, a senior fellow with American Principles Project, says all it would have taken for McCrory to be re-elected was one or two pro-family groups giving similar amounts of money.  “There was no organization that values life, marriage, or religious liberty that went in there to defend him,” she explains – adding that that’s the result of conservatives not using the political tools at hand.  “The left is politically organized and social conservatives are not really ...,” she continues.  “So we should stop talking like we’re in politics if we’re not going to actually build political institutions.”

In a very real sense, says Gallagher, culture follows politics.  “Politics is how we decide what’s important, it’s how we decide what’s in or outside the mainstream, and it’s how a lot of people in the middle hear messages other than those crafted by the mainstream media and Hollywood,” she says.

Gallagher is calling on conservatives to step up their game – and the sooner the better.  “It’s really urgent – and yes, it might be too late.  The Republican Party shut down [and] the left is mopping up on the idea that they can shut down the Republican Party on any issue they choose,” Gallagher tells OneNewsNow.  “And once they’re convinced of that, you’re going to see things that make your head spin.”  America, she adds, is well on its way to being a country where it’s unacceptable to be a traditional Christian.

I, unashamedly, am a traditional, conservative Christian; and I’ve long since stepped up my game in my role as a called minister of the Gospel.  But I must confess, it feels pretty lonely (at times) where I stand.  I welcome more of you to join me!

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel