Pray for Afghani Christians

Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount— “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)

As inspiring as those words may be on paper, they may seem a hollow comfort in the face of human brutality.

Frontier Alliance International, an organization dedicated to reaching unreached people groups with the message of Christ recently released a statement confirming the worst fears of many: In addition to the atrocities committed against women, the Taliban are systematically hunting and killing Christians:

“The Taliban has a hit list of known Christians they are targeting to pursue and kill.  The US Embassy is defunct and there is no longer a safe place for believers to take refuge.  All borders to neighboring countries are closed and all flights to and from have been halted, with the exception of private planes.”

As the situation became more desperate, the United States government activated the so-called “Civil Reserve Air Fleet” (CRF)— a cadre of private airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Atlas Air and Omni Air, to transport Americans and Afghan allies out of Afghanistan.  Although this CRF may have been a source of salvation for some, the United States’ role in this evacuation effort has also been contradictory and unreliable.

Humanitarian workers on the ground reported that, for unknown reasons, the U.S. State Department appeared to be blocking private planes from carrying civilians to nations who were willing to accept Afghan refugees.  Worse, as chaos at the airport increased, thousands were turned away and most recent reports are that there are no more flights for any refugees trying to flee the country.  To the grief of all, it appears that no rescue is coming for many Christian families.

In the wake of this kind of persecution, Christians around the world have an obligation to help their brothers and sisters in the faith by whatever means are possible.  Sadly, it seems that we have very few ways to give immediate help.  However, we can still pray and that is a powerful tool God has given to us.

As it says in Ephesians 6:18 “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

As many Afghani Christians wait in fear of the Taliban, they have reached out to international hotlines for comfort and to share their story.  They are no longer safe from even keeping Bibles downloaded on their phones due to Taliban fighters searching them for evidence of conversion.

We have a duty to pray for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan and to help those who have managed to flee persecution.  If it is at all possible, we can also support those in need with donations to responsibly managed funds.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 reflects this very sentiment of generosity: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Let us not become so absorbed with our comfortable lives across the sea that we cannot recognize or care for our brethren who are in pain and need. 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

SCOTUS Must Rule in Favor of Homeless

A ministry that helps Seattle’s homeless is asking the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to protect its freedom to hire and employ those who share its Biblical beliefs reports Chris Woodward of OneNewsNow.com.

Union Gospel Mission (UGM) helps the homeless by providing food and shelter, addiction recovery, job help, and even legal services.  That last ministry effort (legal services) is what got UGM in trouble.

An attorney applied for the legal services position in 2017 but was turned away over his beliefs and then sued the ministry.

“Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission,” says Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Jake Warner, “is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide a simple question: Can the government force a religious organization to hire someone who does not share its beliefs or mission.  And we believe the answer to that question is no.”

If the SCOTUS refuses to hear the case, Warner says it will be the end of UGM.  “They would be put to the choice: Either shut down and stop serving the homeless,” he warns, “or give up its Biblical beliefs.  And that’s not an acceptable choice for a religious organization that has served the city of Seattle for nearly 80 years.”

The State of Washington Supreme Court has held that the government can interfere with the decisions of a church or religious organization over whether they can hire those who share their beliefs.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Biden Mandates Doctors to Perform Trans Surgeries

A second federal court has moved to block a Biden Administration mandate that would require doctors to perform gender reassignment surgery against their consciences reports Sophie Mann of Just the News.

Reed O’Connor, a Judge for the U.S. District Court of Northern Texas, granted a permanent injunction to the Christian plaintiffs in the suit “to be exempt from the government’s requirements to perform abortions and gender-transition procedures.”  The ruling permanently enjoins HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra from “interpreting or enforcing” the mandate “in a manner that would require them to perform or provide insurance coverage for gender-transition procedures or abortions, including by denying Federal financial assistance because of their failure to perform or provide insurance coverage for such procedures or by otherwise pursuing, charging, or assessing any penalties, fines, assessments, investigations, or other enforcement actions.”

In this case, the plaintiffs are a religious hospital and a group of more than 20,000 healthcare professionals.

Judge O’Connor first struck down the mandate two years ago, ruling that the government “cannot force religious doctors and hospitals to perform gender transition procedures in violation of their conscience and professional medical judgment.”

The mandate was initially issued during the final year of Barack Obama’s presidency as an interpretation of part of the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination clause.  The mandate notably failed to include exemptions for reasons of conscience or religion.

Earlier this year, a judge in a North Dakota Eastern Division court struck down the mandate, a decision which the Biden Administration has since appealed.

The legal challenge positions Xavier Becerra in opposition to the U.S. Constitution (1st Amendment) and the Christians’ right of conscience.

Par for the course, Demon-rats!

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Cuomo: Justice Here or Hereafter

When former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned, many people were surprised by the move.  The embattled politician was one of the most well-known public figures who rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.  First, because of his unapologetic lockdown measures, which were specifically targeted toward the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community; and second, for the scandals surrounding his policies which saw residents infected with COVID-19 returned to nursing homes.

Surprisingly, neither of these events was enough to sink the governor’s political ship. Instead, it was a series of allegations from 11-women who stated that Cuomo had sexually harassed them.  After a state investigation concluded that the governor appeared guilty of the accusations, Cuomo stepped down and issued a half-hearted apology.  This set off a media firestorm due to the sense that the resignation was merely a way for him to avoid the humiliation of impeachment.

Although God made Jesus Christ “to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21), everyone will someday receive their just comeuppance if they reject salvation and lead lives that dishonor God.  

Prior to these words recorded by the Apostle Paul, he said to the church at Corinth, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) 

Nonetheless, the promise in this verse does not make it any easier to watch people whom we believe to have done wrong escape “justice” in this life.

This exact feeling was at work when one commentator wrote that Cuomo was making excuses in his farewell speech by saying that he was attempting to provide support and that his actions had been misinterpreted because “[Cuomo’s] own family member is a survivor of sexual assault.”

While Cuomo may avoid the shame of impeachment, he is still subject to possible criminal charges for at least one woman’s claim that he sexually assaulted her.

Though it may seem like a hollow victory for the women who came forward to speak out against the powerful governor, God promises humanity that we will one day receive perfect justice.  In the words of Psalm 147:3 “[God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

The outcome, in this case, may be imperfect but as Allison Hope wrote:

“Let us take new poignant lessons learned from those 11 women, the state attorney general’s investigation, and Cuomo’s resignation— that parties and people of all stripes can band together to stand up for women; that a man in power can and should fall from grace when he has committed acts of abuse.”

The wicked will not prosper forever; one day, they will be held accountable— whether in this life or the next.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Winning the Race of Life

If winning isn’t everything, then what is?  Can super athletes perform at their highest level without the mindset of winning?  Watching the Olympics may have brought this question to mind.  What does it take to be a true winner and is it measured by a medal? What is the race to which God calls us and what is that prize?

A highlight of the Olympics is always the track and field events.  Americans love to watch these human athletes reaching seemingly inhuman speeds.  Running evokes images of the very first athletic games in ancient coliseums.  

Gold medal athletes often attain great fame and sometimes great wealth.  Gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps’ worth is estimated to be at least $55 million dollars.  Athletes who receive medals are sometimes paid by the country they represent for medaling.  The United States pays $37,500 for Gold, $22,500 for Silver and $5,000 for Bronze.  There are definite advantages to winning.

When an athlete exemplifies real sportsmanship it is also an act of winning.  The medal is not the prize.  The prize is winning through character.  A prime example of this was when runner Isaiah Jewett was unintentionally tripped during his men’s 800-meter semi-final heat, he displayed unprecedented character by helping his fellow runner to his feet and finishing the race together.

“I always have to finish a race.  I got Nigel (Amos) up as well.  I could see that he was devastated,” Jewett said following the race.  “He apologized to me. I told him, ‘Let’s just finish the race man.’”  Nigel chose to allow Jewett to finish the race before him, displaying his apology for causing the fall of both athletes.  The world watched the encounter, and the two athletes will be long remembered for their “win” by character.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul uses running a race as an analogy of every Christian’s true ministry in life.  All runners run, but not all win the prize (vs. 24).  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training and they do it to get the prize (vs. 25).  In 2 Timothy 4:8 Paul calls the prize a crown of righteousness.

As Christians we are encouraged to set our mark and run with purpose and determination.  What do you do to train?  Do you meditate on God’s Word and pray consistently?  Do you set goals for yourself that builds character, serves others, and shows Christ to the world?

That is winning the race of life.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Why They Are Not Coming Back

There are two groups of Americans who are not returning to their workplaces:

1) those who have reasons to continue working from home and

2) those who have chosen not to work at all.  

Employers are scratching their heads to find answers as they seek to ramp up production once more.

Of those still employed, as many as 40% will probably not return to a physical workplace. Employees’ reasons for not returning include fear of the virus; limited access to fellow employees caused by distancing and CDC regulations.  Additionally, many believe they are more productive at home.  “Offering employees flexibility is key to earning their trust and should be at the top of business leaders’ priority lists,” according to Dennis Baltzley, Korn Ferry’s global head of leadership development. 

Are we making a permanent shift in where and how we work?  What will happen to empty office spaces?  Will person to person communication and social aspects of working together effect business?

Why are stores, restaurants, and laborers not returning?  New Mexico has quite a contradiction on its hands.  It has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country with 1 in 12 out of work, and, at the same time, a worker shortage. 

Restaurants struggle to fully open after being cleared to do so because of staffing shortages.  This industry was hit hard during the pandemic.  Restaurants that survived during 2020 may now go out of business purely because of the lack of staff.

The farm industry has also struggled.  Unpicked crops are rotting in the fields.  One farmer reported his unpicked chilis to cost him $300,000.  With laborers collecting unemployment and the work search waiver still in effect for some states, they can make more money staying at home.  Someone making minimum wage takes in around $420 in a 40-hour week.  They get $225 a week in benefits from the state, but it’s the federal contribution of $300 weekly that changes the game ... that means the person is receiving $525 a week total— significantly higher than what they were making while working.  The addition of stimulus checks only multiplies the problem.

Peter Demos is the owner of several restaurants and a Christian.  He has been attempting to carry his Christian values and ethics into the struggles of the Pandemic. He assessed layoffs based on the need of individuals in crisis medically and had a three-tier layoff plan based on skill, attitude, and need.  Now, he faces scheduling interviews with candidates who simply do not show up.  Another issue he faces is among the employees who did return, several were battling drug and alcohol problems.

The consequences of the pandemic are complex, causing all of us to reevaluate much of what we do and why we do it.  It has revolutionized the work environment in many ways, bringing trials and opportunities.

In these turbulent times scriptural principles can be a strong guiding light for believers. Colossians 3:23 counsels employer and employees alike: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Critical Problem with CRT

Proverbs 22:6 offered wisdom that taught ancient Jews that if they were to “start children off on the way they should go … even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Ever since then, everyone has disagreed as to which way those children should go. These disagreements have recently come to a head over the push to implement critical race theory (CRT) in school curriculums across the United States.

The National Education Association (NEA) recently announced that they are in firm support of implementing CRT in school curriculums across the nation.  Even as leading educators, like the Superintendent of the Greenwich Public School District in Connecticut, attempted to deny that CRT was being taught.

One teacher, named Brandon Morrison, who favors teaching about “systemic racism” had this to say: “many of [my students], as fifth graders, already have the knowledge and understanding of social justice and how society works … I don’t think we give them enough credit.”

To break down Mr. Morrison’s argument by taking it at its best, let’s start with the fact that one part of what he said is correct: We don’t give children credit … because we shouldn’t.  As much as he may genuinely believe that children understand social justice and society, he might change his mind if he asked them to explain how the government that we have works. They would be clueless.

That may seem like an unrelated question, but the truth is that children cannot even begin to contextualize how justice or society work without knowing the basics of its governmental structure.

Teaching CRT to children between first and twelfth grade assumes that children are wise enough to understand that the takeaway message from even a well-meaning dive into CRT is not “I am bad/good based on my skin color.”

This becomes especially eye-brow-raising since it is a widely accepted fact that things like “implicit bias” training for adults have largely backfired.  How will a curriculum with children who are not yet fully rational adults produce any better results?

Lack of wisdom and experience are the reasons that children, especially young children, have trouble following seemingly simple things like directions.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Mr. Morrison and everyone else knows that children are not as wise.  If they were, we would not have increasingly stringent laws surrounding their use of products like tobacco and alcohol.  Children are either intellectually developed enough to grasp the nuances of the harm caused by tobacco and alcohol use, or they are not.

Consequently, it is entirely reasonable for parents of all races, who are fulfilling their God-given role to “bring [children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), to be wary and angry when confronted with the prospect of CRT pushing out more balanced curriculums.  Many are simply protecting their vulnerable children from being taught ideas that are likely to produce more racism than they’ll erase.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

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

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Christian Web Designer Loses in Court re Same-Sex Wedding Website

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has ruled that a Christian web designer must create websites that conflict with her religious views.  

In a 2-1 decision released July 26th, the circuit panel ruled against Lorie Smith and her web design company, 303 Creative, stating that they must provide services for same-sex marriages if they offer said services for traditional weddings.

Smith filed a pre-enforcement legal challenge in 2016 to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), arguing that the law would compel her to provide services that go against her religious beliefs and is unconstitutional.  At issue was a plan to start building websites for weddings— but with the desire to not provide those services for same-sex weddings due to religious objections to the unions.

In 2017, a district court ruled that Smith couldn’t challenge the law and upheld that decision in a subsequent ruling.  

Circuit Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, a Clinton appointee, authored the majority opinion. The appeals court acknowledged that 303 Creative could face prosecution under CADA if they refused to build websites celebrating same-sex weddings while offering such services for opposite-sex weddings.  Nevertheless, Briscoe concluded in part that “CADA is a neutral law of general applicability, and that it is not unconstitutionally vague or overbroad.”  “Colorado has a compelling interest in protecting both the dignity interests of members of marginalized groups and their material interests in accessing the commercial marketplace,” wrote Briscoe.  “When regulating commercial entities, like Appellants, public accommodations laws help ensure a free and open economy.  Thus, although the commercial nature of Appellants’ business does not diminish their speech interest, it does provide Colorado with a state interest absent when regulating noncommercial activity.”

Regarding the intentions of 303 Creative to put a statement on its website explaining its refusal to create websites for same-sex weddings, the majority opinion concluded that “Colorado may prohibit speech that promotes unlawful activity, including unlawful discrimination.”

Lawyers for Smith say that the state has placed a “gag” rule that prohibits designers and artists from expressing religious views in the online marketplace about marriage that indicate someone is “unwelcome, objectionable, unacceptable, or undesirable.”  

“Having concluded that the 1st Amendment does not protect Appellants’ proposed denial of services, we also conclude that the 1st Amendment does not protect the Proposed Statement,” continued the majority opinion.  “Parts of the Proposed Statement might not violate the Accommodation Clause, such as those parts expressing Appellants’ commitment to their clients or Ms. Smith’s religious convictions.  Yet, the Proposed Statement also expresses an intent to deny service based on sexual orientation — an activity that the Accommodation Clause forbids and that the 1st Amendment does not protect.”

Tenth Circuit Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, a George W. Bush appointee, authored a dissenting opinion.  He argued that “the Constitution protects Ms. Smith from the government telling her what to say or do.”  “But the majority takes the remarkable — and novel — stance that the government may force Ms. Smith to produce messages that violate her conscience,” wrote Tymkovich.  “In doing so, the majority concludes not only that Colorado has a compelling interest in forcing Ms. Smith to speak a government-approved message against her religious beliefs, but also that its public accommodation law is the least restrictive means of accomplishing this goal.  No case has ever gone so far.”  Tymkovich contends that while “Colorado is rightfully interested in protecting certain classes of persons from arbitrary and discriminatory treatment,” the state should not “turn the tables on Ms. Smith and single out her speech and religious beliefs for discriminatory treatment under the aegis of anti-discrimination laws.”  “CADA forces Ms. Smith to violate her faith on pain of sanction both by prohibiting religious-based business practices and by penalizing her if she does speak out on these matters in ways Colorado finds ‘unwelcome’ or ‘undesirable,’” he continued.

Attorney John Bursch of the nonprofit legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, representing Smith, denounced the panel decision and declared plans to appeal the ruling.  “The government should never force creative professionals to promote a message or cause with which they disagree.  That is quintessential free speech and artistic freedom,” Bursch said in a statement.  “Lorie is happy to design websites for all people; she simply objects to being forced to pour her heart, imagination, and talents into messages that violate her conscience.”

Critics of 303 Creative’s efforts include Americans United for Separation of Church & State (AUSCS).  The progressive advocacy group joined several other groups in filing amicus briefs in 2020.  “The sweeping exemption for religiously motivated discrimination that 303 seeks so that it may deny equal service to same-sex couples would necessarily also permit businesses to deny service to people of the ‘wrong’ religion (or race, or sex, or any other characteristic protected by the Act),” the AUSCS brief argues.  “A ruling in 303’s favor would therefore undermine, not strengthen, religious freedom by impairing the ability of the people of Colorado to live as equal members of the community regardless of faith or belief.”

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled against Colorado’s treatment of a Christian baker punished for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding in defiance of the state’s discrimination laws.  However, the SCOTUS last month refused to hear the case of a Washington florist who was punished for refusing to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Don’t Demand Charity

Isaiah 58:10 teaches— “… if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

The idea of charity is critical to a Christian life, but as Jesus pointed out about the pharisees, merely doing the religiously commanded rituals without having the right intentions behind them is useless.  For instance, while prayer is clearly commanded in the Pentateuch, Jesus said in Matthew 6:5: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.”

Similarly, forcing people to perform acts of charity does not actually result in the change of heart that the Bible teaches us to prize.  This is precisely what was at issue in the recent case of U.S. District Court Eastern District of WI case of Equal Emp’t Opportunity Comm’n v. Wal-Mart Stores E. LP.

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” to those with disabilities, they are not required to change “core job requirements” to enable a disabled employee to perform the job.

The question at the heart of this case was whether a disabled woman’s ability to show up at work and stay at work for the entirety of the time that she was scheduled was a “core job requirement.”

Historically, as in the 8th Circuit Court case of Rehrs v. lams Co., scheduling requirements were protected as “core job requirements” and employers were not required to hire employees who could not show up on time.

Although a jury trial of the case resulted in Walmart being convicted of having discriminated against a disabled woman, that does not mean Walmart did anything that ought to be punishable.

First, although the data is limited in its applicability, juries often reach the incorrect verdict in criminal cases.  One study from 2007 suggested that the rate of incorrect verdicts could be as high as 23%.  The jury’s competence in this particular case is especially questionable because they awarded $125,000,000 in damages, even though the maximum amount of money they are allowed to award by law is $300,000.

Second, even the judge who denied Walmart’s motion to have the case decided before the trial had this to say:

“The court is concerned about how this case and similar cases may impact persons with Down Syndrome in the future … the ADA does not mandate that employers act as charitable institutions providing employment opportunities for less qualified applicants. Employers often employ persons with developmental disabilities as a goodwill gesture or out of a sense of compassion.  The court’s concern is that because of cases like this, employers will be less likely to employ such persons in the future.”

The judge’s concerns are correct.  While it is obviously a good thing to hire the disabled, expanding the interpretation of the ADA and using it to demand that private corporations act as charitable institutions will not make them more charitable.

In the words of the Emory Economics Review:

“When it comes to the subject of whether the ADA has managed to accomplish its purpose, the data seem to suggest that it has had almost no positive impacts on workers with disabilities.  Some even suggest that the ADA has inadvertently hurt the probabilities of disabled workers obtaining employment by making employers weary of the costs behind reasonable accommodations.”

If we want people to be charitable, Christians and others should start by modeling charity, as we are taught in Isaiah 58:10.  The law will not make people more virtuous, that will only be achieved by changing their hearts.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Beware of the Influencer

Remember watching Saturday morning cartoons when Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger announced “It’s Grrrrreat” ... in reference to Frosted Flakes?  Perhaps your folks told you they would not purchase that sweet cereal— and you did not understand why.

Imagine (today) that you are viewing, as a child, YouTube videos, and a vlogger child is showing you the latest and greatest toys or food items.  You know him, you watch him every day and often engage in similar activities he is recording on his videos.  This is the world of digital marketing.

YouTube Kids is a kid-targeted version of YouTube that features curated, ad-supported TV shows, music, educational videos, and user-created content.  It’s designed for kids from preschool age to age 12.  Young children are very responsive to the quickly changing features, animation, sounds, that are produced to engage their attention and market products. The act of viewing and swiping and tapping in the video may cause rapid shifts in attention and may have long-term effects on attention span and information processing.

The best marketing videos for young children also target adults.  An adult watching the content with their child is exposed to clever products being demonstrated by the vlogger within the video and may see themselves playing with their child using the products.

Grin, a digital marketing “how-to” company instructs, “Working with kid influencers and their parents can be really helpful for your marketing campaigns.”

The influencer market works.  The practice of “influencer marketing” refers to advertisers closing deals with influencers, which entail promotion in exchange for payment, free products, or invitations to exclusive events.  Ryan’s Toy Review has 6-million subscribers watching him demonstrate all types of toys for young children.  Ryan is 7-years old. Evan Tube HD has billions of views and makes millions of dollars each year.

The time is overdue for monitoring the influencers.  What may appear benign content is most likely curated to convince.  Satan can take hold of thoughts so quickly.  He is a clever influencer, and he surely uses all the tools he can to turn our thoughts to the enticements of the world.  Ask yourself if that cute child vlogger has become an idol to your child.  Is the influence of media that your child views stronger than the influence of loving parents and the Christian lifestyle?  Is your child bored with normal life and excited by what he views on YouTube?  Is your child addicted to one or more television programs, YouTube videos, or games?  If your answer to any of these questions is “yes” changes may need to be considered.

The wisdom of Proverbs 22:6 is so relevant today.  It is a measuring tool for parenting. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Is your child training up in the way of the child influencer he watches or the loving parents he lives with? Parents need to help their children guard themselves from idols (1 John 5:21).  Be diligent— be wise parents.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

The Persecution of Chinese Christians— Perhaps a Glimpse of What’s Coming to America

Police officers and Chinese Communist Party officials raided a church in Guangdong Province— which advocates for justice in China— while its pastor and elder were leading an online worship service on Zoom— forcing the two to stop preaching.

Security agents, police officers and other officials surrounded the Shenzhen Trinity Gospel Harvest Church in Shenzhen city and forced Pastor Mao Zhibin and Elder Chu Yanqing to stop preaching, the U.S.-based group China Aid reported.

The incident took place earlier on July 11th, about three months after a church member, Shi Minglei, also known as Hope, fled to the United States.  Hope was also attending the online service that was raided.

Pastor Mao and elder Shen Ling also recently signed “A Joint Statement by Pastors: A Declaration for the Sake of the Christian Faith,” led by Pastor Wang Yi of the heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC).

In April, several members of Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested for participating in an Easter worship service on Zoom and ordered to cease all religious activity.

Persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern reported at the time that the Christians were participating in a Zoom worship service from their homes on Easter Sunday when six leaders were arrested and detained by the Public Security Bureau.

The 5,000-member Sichuan house church has not been able to gather in person since the communist regime shut down the church in 2018 and arrested their pastor and other leaders. Since then, it has opted to gather online.

“At that time, I was also in the Zoom call, but there was a long period of time where I did not hear a thing,” a member of ERCC was quoted as saying.  “I thought it’s the network connection issue at first, but I soon heard a quarrel erupt.  Our co-worker Wang Jun was questioning some people, [saying], ‘Who are you to do this [to us]?’”

Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, estimates that there are about 97-million Christians in China— a large percentage of whom worship in what China considers to be “illegal” and unregistered underground house churches.

Authorities in China are also continuing their crackdown on Christianity by removing Bible Apps and Christian WeChat public accounts as new highly restrictive administrative measures on religious staff went into effect this year.

China is ranked on Open Doors USA’s World Watch List as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians.

The country has also been labeled by the U.S. State Department as a “country of particular concern” for “continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

I’m not surprised this is happening in China— but I don’t think the U.S. is far behind— as I see religious freedom being challenged in the nation whose motto is— “In God We Trust” and whose pledge to the Flag states— “One Nation Under God.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Effect of COVID – A Surge in Homeschooling

Although the pandemic disrupted family life across the U.S. since taking hold in spring 2020, some parents are grateful for one consequence: They’re now opting to homeschool their children— even as schools plan to resume in-person classes.

The specific reasons vary widely.  Some families who spoke with The Associated Press have children with special educational needs; others seek a faith-based curriculum or say their local schools are flawed.  The common denominator: They tried homeschooling on what they thought was a temporary basis and found it beneficial to their children.

“That’s one of the silver linings of the pandemic — I don’t think we would have chosen to homeschool otherwise,” said Danielle King of Randolph, VT, whose 7-year-old daughter Zoë thrived with the flexible, one-on-one instruction.  Her curriculum has included literature, anatomy, even archaeology— enlivened by outdoor excursions to search for fossils.

The surge has been confirmed by the U.S. Census Bureau, which reported in March that the rate of households homeschooling their children rose to 11% by September 2020— more than doubling from 5.4% just six months earlier.

Black households saw the largest jump; their homeschooling rate rose from 3.3% in the spring of 2020 to 16.1% in the fall.

The parents in one of those households, Arlena and Robert Brown of Austin, TX, had three children in elementary school when the pandemic took hold.  After experimenting with virtual learning, the couple opted to try homeschooling with a Catholic-oriented curriculum provided by Seton Home Study School, which serves about 16,000 students nationwide.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Ignoring the Science in Dysphoria

A socially conservative healthcare professional says the facts do not agree with activists who argue that transgendered individuals who do not receive total affirmation for their gender identity are at greater risk for suicide.

As states are making moves to protect women’s sports from men who claim to be transgender, the Biden Administration continue to side with activists in pressuring parents and politicians with the threat of suicide— should young people who claim to be transgender not receive total affirmation of their identity.

According to Breitbart News, extensive research has found that those undergoing puberty blockers and mutilating surgeries are no less likely to commit suicide than young people without gender dysphoria.  [“gender dysphoria”— is defined as an experience of clinically significant distress due to a “marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, of at least six months duration.”]

“The people that are making statements and doing affidavits and suing any state that has a law that prevents minors from being mutilated chemically and surgically, the things that they say are based on their own personal opinions,” asserts American College of Pediatricians President Quentin Van Meter, MD.

Dr. Van Meter says the mainstream media outlets are ignoring the research that shows transgender medical intervention does not reduce suicide rates.  “It doesn’t get advertised or published except in places like Breitbart, but that’s the atmosphere right now,” he laments.  “It’s sort of a terroristic atmosphere.”

The research cited by Breitbart shows that the suicide rate among transgender students undergoing medical procedures is much higher than that of the general population.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel