thestream--2020-06-30--We are Being Played. Thoughts About Why We Lost June Medical Services

I worry that our friends on the national level may not appreciate what just hit pro-lifers in the Supreme Court ’ s June Medical Services ruling .
They describe Gorsuch and Kavanaugh voting against the majority as a silver lining .
If we only stay the course , one day we will reach the magic number of justices to overturn Roe v. Wade .
With and Then Against I don ’ t say this simply because Roberts voted against us in the Louisiana case .
I say it because he voted with us in the Texas case ( Hellerstedt ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against us in the Louisiana case .
You can say it ’ s the “ Greenhouse Effect , ” the cheeky way of describing how Republican-appointed justices seem to move left to please the New York Times ’ Supreme Court reporter , Linda Greenhouse .
Or that like other conservative justices , Roberts is susceptible to elite opinion .
And that he ’ s a politician , primarily concerned with protecting the Court ’ s reputation under those pressures .
Whatever the reason , Roberts ’ journey from the Texas ruling to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always going to play that role .
( By his logic in June , he will never vote to overturn Roe . )
We don ’ t need him , pro-lifers say .
If Trump replaces one of the liberal justices with a conservative — someone is always going to be the Sandra Day O ’ Connor , the Anthony Kennedy — the “ conservative ” who votes liberal when it most matters .
Someone is always going to be Lucy , yanking the football away from the pro-life movement at the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had secured that magic fifth vote to finally restore legal protection to unborn children .
Today ’ s votes by Gorsuch and Kavanaugh means we ’ re getting closer , you say .
I hope you ’ re right .
But I don ’ t think so .
I think you ’ re assuming that Gorsuch or Kavanaugh won ’ t make the same journey Roberts did from voting pro-life to voting pro-choice .
Given recent history , that ’ s a pretty big assumption .
The more likely scenario is that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Right — say , with Amy Coney Barrett replacing one of the liberals — someone else will suddenly become the new Anthony Kennedy .
Gorsuch or Kavanaugh will suddenly start voting to the left of his own previous record .
Gorsuch has already done this in Bostock .
He even wrote the opinion , ruling that the 1964 civil rights act means that “ sex ” as defined in federal law also means “ sexual orientation ” and “ gender identity ” in an employment discrimination case .
When it clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do damage to the act and the Constitution to find that it did .
In 1992 , Casey v. Planned Parenthood reaffirmed Roe v. Wade .
It was a devastating blow to pro-lifers precisely because it was authored by three Reagan-Bush appointees .
After twelve years of putting Republicans in the White House , that was all we had to show for it ?
Devastating .
In the years since , Republicans and pro-life leaders told us this would not happen again .
No more Souters .
That was what the rebellion against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The conservative judicial establishment had spent decades building a bench and Dubya tried to stick us with his personal attorney ?
No way .
No more Souters .
And yet here we are in the Summer of 2020 .
With June Medical Services .
And the Bush-appointed Chief Justice taking David Souter ’ s place .
He just told us that the last 28 years were for naught .
The Court is exactly where it was in 1992 .
Roe will not go .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Perhaps I ’ m wrong .
Perhaps Roberts , being a politician , is waiting until Barrett is on the Court , to move things back in the direction of a Roe reversal .
6-3 is an easier number to defend in controversial rulings than 5-4 ( unless you ’ re a liberal , in which case you can afford not to care ) .
If I ’ m wrong , then yes , let us stay the course .
That fifth vote is just around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m right , Amy won ’ t fix this .
As with Justice Roberts , there will always be some new Lucy on the Court , keeping the football just out of reach .
If I ’ m right , we ’ ve been played for 40 years .
After the first 12 years , after Casey , we reassessed .
We asked ourselves what went wrong .
We plugged holes , we tried to do it right this time .
After the next 28 years , after June Medical Services , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are we reassessing again ?
We should be .
Here ’ s my suggestions for this reassessment .
I ’ m saying this as a long-time pro-life and pro-family activist , as someone who ’ s been on the ground in a liberal northeastern state .
We should reassess whether the systems on which we rely need to be replaced .
Have more libertarian-oriented conservative organizations helped or hindered us ?
For example , has the Federalist Society served social conservatism well or , as John Zmirak has asked here on The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doom ?
Has their famous list of acceptable justices been as pro-life as it should have been ?
Should we put together our own list ?
After June Medical Services , is it time for an ideological civil war within the conservative movement ?
The other two stools of conservatism would not take this sort of betrayal lying down .
Heck , the foreign policy hawks defected to the other party as soon as Trump won the 2016 nomination .
We should reassess tactics .
Should we spend another forty years only working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or also go back to trying to pass a Human Life Amendment ?
Should we work harder to change state laws ?
Should we even ( gasp ) support the few pro-life Democrats left , to try to keep that party from going completely over the edge ?
Should we withdraw our support for the Republican party and vote for a third party like the American Solidarity Party ?
Or should we , at least , make the GOP work a lot harder for the pro-life vote than they do now ?
Should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We should reassess strategy .
Should we continue to focus tightly on the protection of the unborn or take up the broader range of issues suggested by the “ whole life ” movement ?
Or should we restart the movement with a full-on assault on the Sexual Revolution in toto , as Jennifer Roback Morse says ?
Two things I ’ m not angry at are President Trump and the pro-life groups in Washington .
Trump did everything we could have asked of him , more so than any previous President .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State , groups like the Federalist Society are all he has to work with .
The top pro-life groups in D.C. understand that .
If there is to be an ideological rebellion within the conservative movement on behalf of the unborn , they are the ones to lead it .
That is the reassessment that must now happen .
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action .
He lives in Waterbury , Connecticut , with his wife and their seven children .
The views expressed on The Stream are solely @ @ @

I worry that our friends on the national level may not appreciate what just hit pro-lifers in the Supreme Court’s June Medical Services ruling. They describe Gorsuch and Kavanaugh voting against the majority as a silver lining. If we only stay the course, one day we will reach the magic number of justices to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Chief Justice John Roberts proves just the opposite.
With and Then Against
I don’t say this simply because Roberts voted against us in the Louisiana case. I say it because he voted with us in the Texas case (Hellerstedt) that examined the same law and then against us in the Louisiana case.
You can say it’s the “Greenhouse Effect,” the cheeky way of describing how Republican-appointed justices seem to move left to please the New York Times’ Supreme Court reporter, Linda Greenhouse. Or that like other conservative justices, Roberts is susceptible to elite opinion. And that he’s a politician, primarily concerned with protecting the Court’s reputation under those pressures.
Whatever the reason, Roberts’ journey from the Texas ruling to the Louisiana ruling tells me that someone is always going to play that role. (By his logic in June, he will never vote to overturn Roe.)
We don’t need him, pro-lifers say. If Trump replaces one of the liberal justices with a conservative — someone is always going to be the Sandra Day O’Connor, the Anthony Kennedy — the “conservative” who votes liberal when it most matters. Someone is always going to be Lucy, yanking the football away from the pro-life movement at the last moment, just when we thought we had secured that magic fifth vote to finally restore legal protection to unborn children.
Today’s votes by Gorsuch and Kavanaugh means we’re getting closer, you say. I hope you’re right. But I don’t think so.
The Likely Future
I think you’re assuming that Gorsuch or Kavanaugh won’t make the same journey Roberts did from voting pro-life to voting pro-choice. Given recent history, that’s a pretty big assumption.
The more likely scenario is that, should the Court seem to shift further to the Right — say, with Amy Coney Barrett replacing one of the liberals — someone else will suddenly become the new Anthony Kennedy. Gorsuch or Kavanaugh will suddenly start voting to the left of his own previous record.
Gorsuch has already done this in Bostock. He even wrote the opinion, ruling that the 1964 civil rights act means that “sex” as defined in federal law also means “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in an employment discrimination case. When it clearly didn’t.” Gorsuch had to do damage to the act and the Constitution to find that it did.
Devastating Casey
In 1992, Casey v. Planned Parenthood reaffirmed Roe v. Wade. It was a devastating blow to pro-lifers precisely because it was authored by three Reagan-Bush appointees. After twelve years of putting Republicans in the White House, that was all we had to show for it? Devastating.
In the years since, Republicans and pro-life leaders told us this would not happen again. No more Souters.
That was what the rebellion against Harriet Miers was all about in 2005. The conservative judicial establishment had spent decades building a bench and Dubya tried to stick us with his personal attorney? No way. No more Souters.
And yet here we are in the Summer of 2020. With June Medical Services. And the Bush-appointed Chief Justice taking David Souter’s place. He just told us that the last 28 years were for naught. The Court is exactly where it was in 1992. Roe will not go.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Perhaps I’m wrong. Perhaps Roberts, being a politician, is waiting until Barrett is on the Court, to move things back in the direction of a Roe reversal. 6-3 is an easier number to defend in controversial rulings than 5-4 (unless you’re a liberal, in which case you can afford not to care).
If I’m Right
If I’m wrong, then yes, let us stay the course. That fifth vote is just around the corner! But if I’m right, Amy won’t fix this. As with Justice Roberts, there will always be some new Lucy on the Court, keeping the football just out of reach.
If I’m right, we’ve been played for 40 years.
After the first 12 years, after Casey, we reassessed. We asked ourselves what went wrong. We plugged holes, we tried to do it right this time.
After the next 28 years, after June Medical Services, are we asking what went wrong again? Are we reassessing again? We should be.
The Reassessment
Here’s my suggestions for this reassessment. I’m saying this as a long-time pro-life and pro-family activist, as someone who’s been on the ground in a liberal northeastern state.
We should reassess whether the systems on which we rely need to be replaced. Have more libertarian-oriented conservative organizations helped or hindered us? For example, has the Federalist Society served social conservatism well or, as John Zmirak has asked here on The Stream, did they deliver us to our doom? Has their famous list of acceptable justices been as pro-life as it should have been? Should we put together our own list?
After June Medical Services, is it time for an ideological civil war within the conservative movement? The other two stools of conservatism would not take this sort of betrayal lying down. Heck, the foreign policy hawks defected to the other party as soon as Trump won the 2016 nomination.
We should reassess tactics. Should we spend another forty years only working toward that magic fifth Supreme Court vote or also go back to trying to pass a Human Life Amendment? Should we work harder to change state laws? Should we even (gasp) support the few pro-life Democrats left, to try to keep that party from going completely over the edge?
Should we withdraw our support for the Republican party and vote for a third party like the American Solidarity Party? Or should we, at least, make the GOP work a lot harder for the pro-life vote than they do now? Should they pay a price for Roberts?
We should reassess strategy. Should we continue to focus tightly on the protection of the unborn or take up the broader range of issues suggested by the “whole life” movement? Or should we restart the movement with a full-on assault on the Sexual Revolution in toto, as Jennifer Roback Morse says?
Pro-Life Rebellion
Two things I’m not angry at are President Trump and the pro-life groups in Washington. Trump did everything we could have asked of him, more so than any previous President. But like his other fights against the Deep State, groups like the Federalist Society are all he has to work with.
The top pro-life groups in D.C. understand that. If there is to be an ideological rebellion within the conservative movement on behalf of the unborn, they are the ones to lead it. That is the reassessment that must now happen.
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-06-30--Trumplandia v. Antifistan? What If the US Breaks Up?

Earlier this month I wrote that monarchy might be coming to America .
I suggested that the only way to safeguard our rights might be to emulate the Roman Republic — to turn into an imperial state .
I also briefly touched on whether the US might also fracture politically .
Today I ’ d like to return to that latter theme and flesh out what that might mean geopolitically .
Fears of a modern civil war are growing .
A third of the electorate thinks it is likely .
And the recent riots are not the only reason .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ speculating about a second war between the states .
What if the US did split apart along the red and blue state lines according to the last presidential election ?
Let ’ s compare the 30 states Donald Trump won to the 20 that fell for Hillary Clinton .
For the sake of brevity , let ’ s call the former “ Trumplandia ” and the latter “ Antifistan.
” Much has been made of the fact that Clinton received more votes than Trump : 65.8 million to 62.9 million .
Many probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressives ” in those blue states outnumber red state Deplorables .
Not so .
Trumplandia holds 188 million people , Antifistan only 139 million .
Of course , folks clinging to their guns and Bibles are more spread out .
But overall , they substantially outnumber statue-phobes .
These numbers would place the former as the 7th largest nation , and the latter 10th .
Who Would Have More Economic Power ?
What about the Gross Domestic Products of the two realms ?
Almost exactly even .
The blue has two states with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , followed by 18 with middling to small GDPs .
The total amounts to $ 10.49 trillion .
Bitter clinger land ?
Led by Texas and Florida , its combined GDP is $ 10.36 trillion .
So major media scorn for the red states as mere “ fly over country ” with a medieval economy turns out to be yet more propaganda .
The countries with largest GDPs then would be : How would blue v. red military power stack up ?
The places where , we are told , there are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This compares to 124 bases in states where black lives that are Marxist matter .
I couldn ’ t find exact breakdowns of how many soldiers , sailors , airmen and marines are stationed at all those bases .
But Trumplandia would hold 56 % of the bases , and Antifistan 44 % .
Let ’ s apply those percentages to America ’ s total number of forces .
That would mean 1.2 million men and women fighting for the red and 950,000 for the blue .
In a post-USA world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows : Plenty of Nukes — on Both Sides Where might the no-longer United States fall on the nuclear powers scale ?
The current US has 3,800 nuclear warheads .
These are divided among our “ triad ” of submarine-launched ballistic missiles ( SLBMs ) , intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs ) and those in B-52 bombers .
All of the ICBMs are based in red states , as are the B-52s .
These total 1,880 nukes .
But the state of Washington has a naval base where 10 nuclear missile subs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nukes .
So if the US split up , the world ’ s nuclear powers would fall like this : Thus , in terms of population , economic vitality and military strength , rump American states would still be among the world ’ s top powers .
But how would that power be wielded ?
A World Without One America — China and Islam Win Back in 2009 , Niall Ferguson wrote on “ A World Without Power.
” In it he speculated on what a US loss of will on the international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should the US retreat into isolationism ?
“ Not a multilateral utopia , but the anarchic nightmare of a new Dark Age.
” He says the world might well resemble the 10th century , in which there was no dominant power .
The result ?
“ Religious revivals .
Incipient anarchy.
” Even “ retreat into fortified cities.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Let ’ s update this for 2020 and beyond .
Say Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same lines as last time .
And the US separates along red-blue lines .
In terms of international affairs , we might well expect : • China will emerge as the lone superpower , with much less opposition .
• The world system will be reshaped by China to its benefit .
So human rights , rule of law and democracy will be downgraded .
• Islamic terrorism will increase , as fundamentalists and jihadists are emboldened by the removal of the Great Satan .
• Non-terrorist Islam will also advance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 57 members find the path to their global agenda that much easier .
• If the two rump American states are not granted UN Security Council status , then that organization will be dominated by China and Russia .
This will further erode human rights , rule of law and democracy .
Probably free market capitalism , as well .
• The two new American nation-states will not go to war , since both would be nuclear-armed .
But they would perhaps largely cancel each other out on the international stage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 72 % Christian : 49 % Protestant , 23 % Catholic .
I can not find a breakdown of religion by state .
But there is data on how religious folks are in each state .
This is based on “ worship attendance , prayer frequency , belief in God and the self-described importance of religion in one ’ s life.
” Thirteen of the top 14 states are red ones .
And eight of the 10 least religious populations are in blue states .
Trumplandia would be a far more Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might prove beneficial , in that such a state would be more free to act along the lines of , say , a Hungary or a Poland .
That is , it would stand up for persecuted Christians on a world stage , and perhaps even lead the formation of an Organization of Christian Cooperation to contest the will of the Islamic one .
And that might be the only thing that could prevent global Chinese Communist hegemony .
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic , World and African history .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , later , civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command .
He ’ s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth ; a history professor ; and sometime media opiner ( as , for example , on Fox News Channel ’ s War Stories : Fighting ISIS ) .

Earlier this month I wrote that monarchy might be coming to America. I suggested that the only way to safeguard our rights might be to emulate the Roman Republic — to turn into an imperial state. I also briefly touched on whether the US might also fracture politically. Today I’d like to return to that latter theme and flesh out what that might mean geopolitically.
Fears of a modern civil war are growing. A third of the electorate thinks it is likely. And the recent riots are not the only reason. Two years ago foreign policy mavens were speculating about a second war between the states. What if the US did split apart along the red and blue state lines according to the last presidential election?
Population Comparison
Let’s compare the 30 states Donald Trump won to the 20 that fell for Hillary Clinton. For the sake of brevity, let’s call the former “Trumplandia” and the latter “Antifistan.” Much has been made of the fact that Clinton received more votes than Trump: 65.8 million to 62.9 million. Many probably assume, then, that the “progressives” in those blue states outnumber red state Deplorables. Not so. Trumplandia holds 188 million people, Antifistan only 139 million. Of course, folks clinging to their guns and Bibles are more spread out. But overall, they substantially outnumber statue-phobes. These numbers would place the former as the 7th largest nation, and the latter 10th.
Who Would Have More Economic Power?
What about the Gross Domestic Products of the two realms? Almost exactly even. The blue has two states with massive economies, California and New York, followed by 18 with middling to small GDPs. The total amounts to $10.49 trillion. Bitter clinger land? Led by Texas and Florida, its combined GDP is $10.36 trillion. So major media scorn for the red states as mere “fly over country” with a medieval economy turns out to be yet more propaganda.
The countries with largest GDPs then would be:
China: $14 trillion
Antifistan: $10 trillion+
Trumplandia: $10 trillion+
Japan: $5 trillion
Germany: $3.8 trillion
Deplorable v. Marxist Militaries
How would blue v. red military power stack up? The places where, we are told, there are no real black people hold 153 military bases. This compares to 124 bases in states where black lives that are Marxist matter. I couldn’t find exact breakdowns of how many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are stationed at all those bases. But Trumplandia would hold 56% of the bases, and Antifistan 44%. Let’s apply those percentages to America’s total number of forces. That would mean 1.2 million men and women fighting for the red and 950,000 for the blue.
In a post-USA world, that would make the largest militaries as follows:
China: 2 million
India: 1.4 million
Trumplandia: 1.2 million
North Korea: 1.2 million
Antifistan: 950,000
Russia 900,000
Plenty of Nukes — on Both Sides
Where might the no-longer United States fall on the nuclear powers scale? The current US has 3,800 nuclear warheads. These are divided among our “triad” of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and those in B-52 bombers. All of the ICBMs are based in red states, as are the B-52s. These total 1,880 nukes. But the state of Washington has a naval base where 10 nuclear missile subs are based. And those carry some 1,920 nukes.
So if the US split up, the world’s nuclear powers would fall like this:
Russia: 6,500 nuclear weapons
Antifistan: 1,920
Trumplandia: 1,880
France: 300
China: 290
UK: 180
India: 150
Pakistan: 150
Israel: 80 (at least)
North Korea: 60
Thus, in terms of population, economic vitality and military strength, rump American states would still be among the world’s top powers. But how would that power be wielded?
A World Without One America — China and Islam Win
Back in 2009, Niall Ferguson wrote on “A World Without Power.” In it he speculated on what a US loss of will on the international stage would mean. His take, should the US retreat into isolationism? “Not a multilateral utopia, but the anarchic nightmare of a new Dark Age.” He says the world might well resemble the 10th century, in which there was no dominant power. The result? “Religious revivals. Incipient anarchy.” Even “retreat into fortified cities.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Let’s update this for 2020 and beyond. Say Trump wins again this fall, roughly along the same lines as last time. And the US separates along red-blue lines.
In terms of international affairs, we might well expect:
• China will emerge as the lone superpower, with much less opposition.
• The world system will be reshaped by China to its benefit. So human rights, rule of law and democracy will be downgraded.
• Islamic terrorism will increase, as fundamentalists and jihadists are emboldened by the removal of the Great Satan.
• Non-terrorist Islam will also advance, as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and its 57 members find the path to their global agenda that much easier.
• If the two rump American states are not granted UN Security Council status, then that organization will be dominated by China and Russia. This will further erode human rights, rule of law and democracy. Probably free market capitalism, as well.
• The two new American nation-states will not go to war, since both would be nuclear-armed. But they would perhaps largely cancel each other out on the international stage.
Might Christianity Benefit?
One last observation. Currently the US is 72% Christian: 49% Protestant, 23% Catholic. I cannot find a breakdown of religion by state. But there is data on how religious folks are in each state. This is based on “worship attendance, prayer frequency, belief in God and the self-described importance of religion in one’s life.” Thirteen of the top 14 states are red ones. And eight of the 10 least religious populations are in blue states. Trumplandia would be a far more Christian polity than the current US. This might prove beneficial, in that such a state would be more free to act along the lines of, say, a Hungary or a Poland. That is, it would stand up for persecuted Christians on a world stage, and perhaps even lead the formation of an Organization of Christian Cooperation to contest the will of the Islamic one. And that might be the only thing that could prevent global Chinese Communist hegemony.
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic, World and African history. He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and, later, civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command. He’s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth; a history professor; and sometime media opiner (as, for example, on Fox News Channel’s War Stories: Fighting ISIS).


thestream--2020-06-30--A Precious, Short Gift

A Precious, Short Gift

“ Nancy , wake up !
Wake up !
” I slowly gained an unsettling awareness of laying on small rocks .
I was just outside my doctor ’ s office .
Sirens blared in the background as my doctor gently shook my arm and moved my legs .
“ You ’ ve passed out .
We ’ ve called an ambulance.
” I opened my eyes .
My six-year-old son stood to my left .
His tears ran down his cheeks and his lips trembled .
“ It ’ s okay baby , ” I tried to reassure him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure myself .
Policemen stood over me , asking me questions like , “ What day is it ?
What time is it ?
” I was keenly aware that today wasn ’ t a good day for a dress .
And the irony that I was never a good guesser on time of day .
It ’ s always been a problem for me .
A nurse dug through my purse for my phone and called my husband .
By this time , paramedics were peering down at me .
I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I get into your purse for your ID ?
” a police officer asked .
“ Can you give me your insurance card ?
” a paramedic asked .
Everything seemed so surreal .
The whole thing started when the doctor asked me to stand outside to take a COVID test .
It was just my doctor , me and my son .
As soon as she started probing my nose with the long q-tip , I knew I was in trouble .
Then she did the other side .
I told her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to sit down on a rock next to the sidewalk .
That ’ s all I remember until I awoke with her leaning over me calling my name .
I couldn ’ t believe I ’ d passed out .
But what struck me most was that it all happened so quickly and I was unaware of anything until I heard her calling me to wake up .
It was truly a wake-up call that life is so short .
I wondered if that ’ s how it is when we die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus calling our name .
How should we handle this precious , short gift ?
Understand that life is fleeting .
James 4:14 reminds us that our lives are over quickly .
“ For what is your life ?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
” ( NKJV ) Psalm 39:5 says , “ Indeed , You have made my days as handbreadths , and my age is as nothing before You ; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busyness , we are reminded to slow down and recognize the gift of life .
What we do with it counts for eternity .
Let God direct your life .
Proverbs 16:9 says , “ A man ’ s heart plans his way , but the Lord directs his steps.
” ( NKJV ) Ask the Lord for direction and wisdom .
He gives wisdom freely to all who ask .
“ If any of you lacks wisdom , let him ask of God , who gives to all liberally and without reproach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him.
” ( James 1:5 , NKJV ) Don ’ t be afraid .
“ The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear ?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid ?
” ( Ps .
27:1 , NIV ) Ask the Lord to give you His peace , because it ’ s only His peace that will calm your soul completely .
( Phil .
4:7 ) Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our Day .
Those of us who know Christ have nothing to fear in death .
2 Corinthians 5:8 says , “ We are confident , I say , and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord .
So we make it our goal to please him , whether we are at home in the body or away from it .
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ , so that each of us may receive what is due us for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether good or bad.
” Yes , life is short .
Let God direct your steps and know that you have nothing to fear .
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord .
And one day you will awake to hear Jesus calling your name .
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

“Nancy, wake up! Wake up!” I slowly gained an unsettling awareness of laying on small rocks. I was just outside my doctor’s office. Sirens blared in the background as my doctor gently shook my arm and moved my legs. “You’ve passed out. We’ve called an ambulance.” I opened my eyes. My six-year-old son stood to my left. His tears ran down his cheeks and his lips trembled. “It’s okay baby,” I tried to reassure him, even though I wasn’t sure myself.
Policemen stood over me, asking me questions like, “What day is it? What time is it?” I was keenly aware that today wasn’t a good day for a dress. And the irony that I was never a good guesser on time of day. It’s always been a problem for me.
A nurse dug through my purse for my phone and called my husband. By this time, paramedics were peering down at me. I felt like a zoo animal. “Can I get into your purse for your ID?” a police officer asked. “Can you give me your insurance card?” a paramedic asked. Everything seemed so surreal.
The whole thing started when the doctor asked me to stand outside to take a COVID test. It was just my doctor, me and my son. As soon as she started probing my nose with the long q-tip, I knew I was in trouble. Then she did the other side. I told her I didn’t feel well and started to sit down on a rock next to the sidewalk. That’s all I remember until I awoke with her leaning over me calling my name. I couldn’t believe I’d passed out.
But what struck me most was that it all happened so quickly and I was unaware of anything until I heard her calling me to wake up. It was truly a wake-up call that life is so short. I wondered if that’s how it is when we die — we lose consciousness and awake to Jesus calling our name.
A Precious, Short Gift
How should we handle this precious, short gift?
Understand that life is fleeting. James 4:14 reminds us that our lives are over quickly. “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (NKJV) Psalm 39:5 says, “Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” In the middle of all of our busyness, we are reminded to slow down and recognize the gift of life. What we do with it counts for eternity.
Let God direct your life. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (NKJV) Ask the Lord for direction and wisdom. He gives wisdom freely to all who ask. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, NKJV)
Don’t be afraid. “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1, NIV) Ask the Lord to give you His peace, because it’s only His peace that will calm your soul completely. (Phil. 4:7)
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Those of us who know Christ have nothing to fear in death. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 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.”
Yes, life is short. Let God direct your steps and know that you have nothing to fear. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
And one day you will awake to hear Jesus calling your name.
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-06-30--Good News! SCOTUS Strikes Down Ban on Taxpayers Funding Religious Schools

The Supreme Court ruled against a ban on taxpayer funding of religious schools Tuesday in a monumental win for school choice .
Chief Justice John Roberts joined conservative justices in a 5-4 ruling backing a Montana tax-credit scholarship program that gives residents credit if they donated to private scholarship organizations , according to Fox News , which would help the students pay for the private school of their choice .
The Montana revenue department had sought to prevent scholarships from going to religious schools , and the Montana Supreme Court had then struck down the whole program , the publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory for those who support school choice , which allows parents to choose the public school their child will attend , rather than having their child assigned to a school based on where the family lives .
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has focused many of her efforts on expanding school choice since she became the education secretary in 2017 .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden has come under fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Mike Pence has accused him of preventing black parents from obtaining the American dream by blocking them from picking where their kids go to school .
President Donald Trump said June 16 that school choice is the “ civil rights statement of the year.
” “ School choice is the civil rights statement of the year , of the decade and probably beyond , ” Trump said at a White House press conference .
“ Because all children have to have access to a quality education .
A child ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their future.
” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

The Supreme Court ruled against a ban on taxpayer funding of religious schools Tuesday in a monumental win for school choice.
Chief Justice John Roberts joined conservative justices in a 5-4 ruling backing a Montana tax-credit scholarship program that gives residents credit if they donated to private scholarship organizations, according to Fox News, which would help the students pay for the private school of their choice.
The Montana revenue department had sought to prevent scholarships from going to religious schools, and the Montana Supreme Court had then struck down the whole program, the publication reported.
The ruling is a significant victory for those who support school choice, which allows parents to choose the public school their child will attend, rather than having their child assigned to a school based on where the family lives. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has focused many of her efforts on expanding school choice since she became the education secretary in 2017.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden has come under fire for his opposition to school choice. Vice President Mike Pence has accused him of preventing black parents from obtaining the American dream by blocking them from picking where their kids go to school.
President Donald Trump said June 16 that school choice is the “civil rights statement of the year.”
“School choice is the civil rights statement of the year, of the decade and probably beyond,” Trump said at a White House press conference. “Because all children have to have access to a quality education. A child’s ZIP code in America should never determine their future.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-01--The Mayor of Seattle Has a Rude Awakening About CHOP

Do you remember when Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan told CNN ’ s Chris Cuomo that the takeover of a portion of her city could turn into a “ summer of love ” ?
That it was “ more like a block party atmosphere ” ?
Well , today , in the aftermath of another fatal shooting , coupled with protesters marching into Durkan ’ s own community , she has said enough is enough .
Mayor Durkan has called in the cops .
Time to clear out CHAZ/CHOP !
Of course , all this was inevitable the moment the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up .
CHOP Was Doomed From the Start There ’ s a reason that every society has laws and law enforcement .
People do not adequately police themselves .
Lawbreakers break laws .
That ’ s also why we have courts and prisons .
The fact that the courts and the prisons need fixing does not mean they are not needed .
In the same way , the fact that policing needs reform does not mean police are not needed .
In short , the whole CHAZ/CHOP thing was one big joke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiment would be like calling a diet based on milk shakes , Oreos , cheeseburgers and fries a failed weight loss experiment .
CHAZ/CHOP was dead in the water before it ever started .
In this light , it ’ s incredible to see just how naïve Mayor Durkan ’ s comments were to Chris Cuomo barely three weeks ago .
More Like a Chopping Block Than a Block Party She responded to one of his questions with this extraordinary answer , beginning with a criticism of President Trump ’ s assessment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know it will shock you that the President is perhaps not giving an accurate or truthful picture.
” To paraphrase : Yes , this is just another of Trump ’ s lies .
I ’ m here on the ground .
I can tell you the truth about this beautiful new autonomous zone .
We ’ ve got four blocks in Seattle that you just saw pictures of that is more like a block party atmosphere .
It ’ s not an armed takeover .
It ’ s not a military junta .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we can restore this .
But we have block parties and the like in this part of Seattle all the time .
It ’ s known for that .
So , I think the President — number one , there is no threat right now to the public .
And we ’ re looking — we ’ re taking that very seriously .
We ’ re meeting with businesses and residents .
But what the President threatened is illegal and unconstitutional [ meaning , making a presidential decision to restore order ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think he can just tweet that , and not have ramifications is just wrong .
Not long after this interview , the name was changed to CHOP .
And not long after that , protesters made specific reference to guillotines and the French Revolution .
This is closer to the chopping block than to a block party .
Let the truth be told .
Chris Cuomo , who began his segment as a hit piece on Trump , pushed back against Durkan ’ s claims , saying : “ Mayor , the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on the Right , will be ‘ Well of course , Durkan has a “ D ” after her name .
She ’ s going to be OK with this because these are her people .
These are these Left-wing anarchists and radicals , and they ’ re letting them run free on the streets .
You barely see any Black or African-American faces on those streets .
This is about Lefty radicalism run amok in your City , and you seem OK with it.
’ ” Exactly .
It didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
Outrage over the death of George Floyd was the pretense , not the ultimate reason , for the hostile takeover .
As for the predicted “ summer of love , ” it would be better to call it a month of hatred and blood .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
In the words of Horace Lorenzo Anderson , the father of a 19-year-old black teen shot and killed inside CHOP , “ This doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me no more .
That just looks like they just took over and said we can take over whenever we want to.
” As reported by the Daily Wire , “ Horace Lorenzo Anderson , Jr. , was the first person killed in CHOP , more than a week ago , during an outbreak of gun violence inside of the ‘ autonomous zone.
’ Anderson ’ s father , Anderson , Sr. , spoke late Monday , after another black teen , this time a 16-year old , was killed in the CHOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left wounded.
” So much for the summer of love .
So much for the block party atmosphere .
So much for having things under control .
So much for black lives .
This whole affair was a travesty that turned into a tragedy .
Good riddance to CHOP !
I imagine that businesses located there will be all too happy to see the police return .
On Sunday , the Seattle Times announced that , “ After a full month of protests , demonstrators bring march to Seattle mayor ’ s neighborhood.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ area to take over ?
And why not ?
After all , this would just extend the block party atmosphere and make the summer of love more wonderful still .
Right ?
In my previous article , I gave a stern warning to the liberal elites who thought that the mob would not soon turn on them .
That holds for Democratic mayors in Democratic cities .
To repeat my question ( which was the title of my article ) , “ What are you going to do when they come for you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we ignore pressing issues that have come to national attention .
It simply means that we separate the spirit of foolish anarchy from the cry for justice and equity .
Let ’ s turn the CHAZ/CHOP debacle into a teachable moment .
And we had better learn quickly before the same lessons are learned across America .
The hard way .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

Do you remember when Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan told CNN’s Chris Cuomo that the takeover of a portion of her city could turn into a “summer of love”? That it was “more like a block party atmosphere”? Well, today, in the aftermath of another fatal shooting, coupled with protesters marching into Durkan’s own community, she has said enough is enough. Mayor Durkan has called in the cops. Time to clear out CHAZ/CHOP!
Of course, all this was inevitable the moment the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” was first set up.
CHOP Was Doomed From the Start
There’s a reason that every society has laws and law enforcement. People do not adequately police themselves. Lawbreakers break laws. That’s also why we have courts and prisons.
The fact that the courts and the prisons need fixing does not mean they are not needed. In the same way, the fact that policing needs reform does not mean police are not needed.
In short, the whole CHAZ/CHOP thing was one big joke. To call it a failed social experiment would be like calling a diet based on milk shakes, Oreos, cheeseburgers and fries a failed weight loss experiment.
It’s incredible to see just how naïve Mayor Durkan’s comments were to Chris Cuomo barely three weeks ago.
CHAZ/CHOP was dead in the water before it ever started.
In this light, it’s incredible to see just how naïve Mayor Durkan’s comments were to Chris Cuomo barely three weeks ago.
More Like a Chopping Block Than a Block Party
She responded to one of his questions with this extraordinary answer, beginning with a criticism of President Trump’s assessment of the situation:
“So, I know it will shock you that the President is perhaps not giving an accurate or truthful picture.”
To paraphrase: Yes, this is just another of Trump’s lies. I’m here on the ground. I can tell you the truth about this beautiful new autonomous zone.
To quote Mayor Durkan directly:
We’ve got four blocks in Seattle that you just saw pictures of that is more like a block party atmosphere. It’s not an armed takeover. It’s not a military junta. We will — we will make sure that we can restore this. But we have block parties and the like in this part of Seattle all the time. It’s known for that. So, I think the President — number one, there is no threat right now to the public. And we’re looking — we’re taking that very seriously. We’re meeting with businesses and residents. But what the President threatened is illegal and unconstitutional [meaning, making a presidential decision to restore order]. And the fact that he can think he can just tweet that, and not have ramifications is just wrong.
Not long after this interview, the name was changed to CHOP. And not long after that, protesters made specific reference to guillotines and the French Revolution. This is closer to the chopping block than to a block party. Let the truth be told.
A Travesty That Turned Into a Tragedy
Chris Cuomo, who began his segment as a hit piece on Trump, pushed back against Durkan’s claims, saying: “Mayor, the other counter by the President, and many people on the Right, will be ‘Well of course, Durkan has a “D” after her name. She’s going to be OK with this because these are her people. These are these Left-wing anarchists and radicals, and they’re letting them run free on the streets. You barely see any Black or African-American faces on those streets. This is about Lefty radicalism run amok in your City, and you seem OK with it.’”
Exactly. It didn’t take a prophet to figure this out. Outrage over the death of George Floyd was the pretense, not the ultimate reason, for the hostile takeover.
As for the predicted “summer of love,” it would be better to call it a month of hatred and blood.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In the words of Horace Lorenzo Anderson, the father of a 19-year-old black teen shot and killed inside CHOP, “This doesn’t look like a protest to me no more. That just looks like they just took over and said we can take over whenever we want to.”
As reported by the Daily Wire, “Horace Lorenzo Anderson, Jr., was the first person killed in CHOP, more than a week ago, during an outbreak of gun violence inside of the ‘autonomous zone.’Anderson’s father, Anderson, Sr., spoke late Monday, after another black teen, this time a 16-year old, was killed in the CHOP over the weekend, and a 14-year-old left wounded.”
So much for the summer of love. So much for the block party atmosphere. So much for having things under control. So much for black lives.
This whole affair was a travesty that turned into a tragedy. Good riddance to CHOP! I imagine that businesses located there will be all too happy to see the police return.
A Teachable Moment: Separate Anarchy From Cries for Justice
On Sunday, the Seattle Times announced that, “After a full month of protests, demonstrators bring march to Seattle mayor’s neighborhood.”
Maybe that would be the next area to take over? And why not? After all, this would just extend the block party atmosphere and make the summer of love more wonderful still. Right?
In my previous article, I gave a stern warning to the liberal elites who thought that the mob would not soon turn on them.
That holds for Democratic mayors in Democratic cities. To repeat my question (which was the title of my article), “What are you going to do when they come for you?”
This doesn’t mean that we ignore pressing issues that have come to national attention. It simply means that we separate the spirit of foolish anarchy from the cry for justice and equity.
Let’s turn the CHAZ/CHOP debacle into a teachable moment. And we had better learn quickly before the same lessons are learned across America. The hard way.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-07-01--Five Justices vs. the People

Five Justices vs. the People

Chances are , these Supreme Court justices will never meet the parents of Jamie Lee Morales .
They ’ ll never have to look in the eyes of the little boy left behind by Tonya Reaves or console the husband of Jennifer Morbelli .
They won ’ t have to explain how Karnamaya Mongar survived war in Nepal only to die in the filthy recliner of a Philadelphia abortion center .
Because even though three of them have daughters , the five justices who struck down Louisiana ’ s abortion law don ’ t seem to care that young women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theirs .
“ Unnecessary.
” That ’ s the word the majority of justices used to describe a law that would have kept 10,000 women a year safe .
Women , who , when they walk through the doors of Louisiana ’ s abortion centers every year , are under the assumption they ’ ll be protected .
That their doctors care .
Jamie Lee would give anything to warn them — to tell them to turn back and go home — but she ’ ll never have the chance .
She bled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister ’ s car because her abortionist didn ’ t want to call an ambulance over the seven-inch gash he put in her uterus .
Today , five justices sided with him .
They said asking doctors like Robert Rho to have a relationship with a local hospital was “ a burden.
” That it didn ’ t “ further women ’ s health.
” That it was “ an obstacle to abortion access.
” By tearing down Louisiana ’ s law , the Supreme Court gave women access all right — to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that “ care ” was an inner-city torture chamber where “ semi-conscious , moaning women sat on bloodstained blankets ” in rooms that “ reeked of urine.
” In Delaware , that “ access ” looks like unsterile instruments held by abortionists who don ’ t even wear gloves .
In Baton Rouge , it ’ s a young mom sterilized for life , because workers couldn ’ t stop the bleeding fast enough to prevent a complete hysterectomy .
These are the third-world conditions the Left fought for — and won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ progress ” that government-funded groups like Planned Parenthood are high-fiving Joe Biden over .
The liberal media has screamed for the six years since it passed that Louisiana ’ s law is about shutting down clinics .
It ’ s not .
It ’ s about forcing an industry that claims to put women first to prove it .
“ This kind of routine patient abandonment is not tolerated in any other medical specialty , ” one OB/GYN wrote in disgust .
“ Why only within the specialty purportedly dedicated to women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should care if it ’ s “ inconvenient ” for these businesses to file the paperwork for admitting privileges .
They should care that that when something goes wrong ( and it does ) , women get the emergency help they need .
“ This case , ” Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-La . )
argued , “ was about whether the states have a right and responsibility to institute basic health and safety regulations to protect women — and whether the abortion industry should have the ability to strike down those commonsense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young attorney and me as a state legislator — we worked to stop these doctors from operating in filthy , disgusting conditions , only , 20 years later , to watch the Supreme Court wipe it all away .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Here we are , in a country willing to burn its cities to the ground to hold police accountable — but when it comes to ending the brutality of the abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hides behind black robes .
It refuses to hear the cry of mothers who expected doctors to do their jobs .
To keep them alive .
To call 911 when their lives were hanging by a thread .
It ’ s a surreal day in America when the Supreme Court can invent a constitutional argument for subjecting women to dirty and dangerous abortion chambers like Kermit Gosnell ’ s .
Yet that ’ s exactly what happened when five unelected justices decided to topple a law democratically enacted by the leaders of Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial ” things as seamless , emergency care .
In this day and age , our justices have no excuses .
We ’ ve all seen behind the curtain of the abortion industry .
We know the evil that lurks there — the greed , the callousness , the criminal indifference to women ’ s health .
The state did its part : it acted .
Unfortunately , five justices — including John Roberts — ripped that right out of the people ’ s hands and their elected officials , all to satisfy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patients it exploits .
“ Today , ” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in disgust , “ a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction .
… Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.
” Keeping women safe isn ’ t a question of abortion .
It ’ s a matter of humanity .
And yet , as they ’ ve done with marriage , gender , abortion , and health care , five unelected people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run their states the way voters see fit .
If any of us needed more proof about the importance of this year ’ s election , this is it .
When the next pro-life case makes its way to the high court , whose Supreme Court justices do you want deciding it ?
Tony Perkins is President of the Family Research Council .
He and his wife have been married for over 30 years and have five children .
Tony is also an ordained minister , as well as the host of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Watch with Tony Perkins .
Tony Perkins ’ s Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers .

Chances are, these Supreme Court justices will never meet the parents of Jamie Lee Morales. They’ll never have to look in the eyes of the little boy left behind by Tonya Reaves or console the husband of Jennifer Morbelli. They won’t have to explain how Karnamaya Mongar survived war in Nepal only to die in the filthy recliner of a Philadelphia abortion center. Because even though three of them have daughters, the five justices who struck down Louisiana’s abortion law don’t seem to care that young women will keep dying because of courts like theirs.
An Invitation to Torture
“Unnecessary.” That’s the word the majority of justices used to describe a law that would have kept 10,000 women a year safe. Women, who, when they walk through the doors of Louisiana’s abortion centers every year, are under the assumption they’ll be protected. That their doctors care. Jamie Lee would give anything to warn them — to tell them to turn back and go home — but she’ll never have the chance. She bled to death in the back of her sister’s car because her abortionist didn’t want to call an ambulance over the seven-inch gash he put in her uterus.
Today, five justices sided with him. They said asking doctors like Robert Rho to have a relationship with a local hospital was “a burden.” That it didn’t “further women’s health.” That it was “an obstacle to abortion access.” By tearing down Louisiana’s law, the Supreme Court gave women access all right — to shoddy, life-threatening care.
In Pennsylvania, that “care” was an inner-city torture chamber where “semi-conscious, moaning women sat on bloodstained blankets” in rooms that “reeked of urine.” In Delaware, that “access” looks like unsterile instruments held by abortionists who don’t even wear gloves. In Baton Rouge, it’s a young mom sterilized for life, because workers couldn’t stop the bleeding fast enough to prevent a complete hysterectomy.
These are the third-world conditions the Left fought for — and won — this week. This is the “progress” that government-funded groups like Planned Parenthood are high-fiving Joe Biden over. The liberal media has screamed for the six years since it passed that Louisiana’s law is about shutting down clinics. It’s not. It’s about forcing an industry that claims to put women first to prove it. “This kind of routine patient abandonment is not tolerated in any other medical specialty,” one OB/GYN wrote in disgust. “Why only within the specialty purportedly dedicated to women’s health?”
Shouldn’t Doctors Be Accountable?
No one should care if it’s “inconvenient” for these businesses to file the paperwork for admitting privileges. They should care that that when something goes wrong (and it does), women get the emergency help they need. “This case,” Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) argued, “was about whether the states have a right and responsibility to institute basic health and safety regulations to protect women — and whether the abortion industry should have the ability to strike down those commonsense health regulations.” Together — Mike as a young attorney and me as a state legislator — we worked to stop these doctors from operating in filthy, disgusting conditions, only, 20 years later, to watch the Supreme Court wipe it all away.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Here we are, in a country willing to burn its cities to the ground to hold police accountable — but when it comes to ending the brutality of the abortion industry, even our most powerful court hides behind black robes. It refuses to hear the cry of mothers who expected doctors to do their jobs. To keep them alive. To call 911 when their lives were hanging by a thread. It’s a surreal day in America when the Supreme Court can invent a constitutional argument for subjecting women to dirty and dangerous abortion chambers like Kermit Gosnell’s. Yet that’s exactly what happened when five unelected justices decided to topple a law democratically enacted by the leaders of Louisiana, which required abortionists offer such “controversial” things as seamless emergency care.
In this day and age, our justices have no excuses. We’ve all seen behind the curtain of the abortion industry. We know the evil that lurks there — the greed, the callousness, the criminal indifference to women’s health. The state did its part: it acted. Unfortunately, five justices — including John Roberts — ripped that right out of the people’s hands and their elected officials, all to satisfy an industry that doesn’t respect the patients it exploits. “Today,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in disgust, “a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction. … Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.”
Keeping women safe isn’t a question of abortion. It’s a matter of humanity. And yet, as they’ve done with marriage, gender, abortion, and health care, five unelected people are making it impossible for leaders to run their states the way voters see fit. If any of us needed more proof about the importance of this year’s election, this is it. When the next pro-life case makes its way to the high court, whose Supreme Court justices do you want deciding it?
Tony Perkins is President of the Family Research Council. He and his wife have been married for over 30 years and have five children. Tony is also an ordained minister, as well as the host of a daily, nationally syndicated radio show, Washington Watch with Tony Perkins. Tony Perkins’s Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers.
Originally published at FRC.org. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-07-01--Seattle Police Start to Clear CHOP, Make 23 Arrests Following Mayor’s Executive Order to Disperse

Seattle police arrested 23 people Wednesday morning after the mayor ordered protesters at Seattle ’ s Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone to vacate within 48 hours , according to the Seattle Police Department .
Police said they arrested the individuals for failure to disperse , obstruction , resisting arrest and assault after Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency executive order labeling CHOP as an unlawful assembly .
“ Enough is enough .
The CHOP has become lawless and brutal , ” Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said in a statement .
“ My job , and the job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and serve our community .
This is not an end to our department ’ s engagement with demonstrators.
” Durkan ’ s order cited 13 specific instances of alleged threats to public health , safety and life .
The mayor acknowledged that “ much of the expression has been peaceful and created community solidarity for Black Lives Matter , ” mentioning the garden , conversation corner and art installments created within CHOP .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ right to lawfully assemble guaranteed by the Constitution , ” but added that “ City departments have more than reasonably accommodated protesters.
” “ The City ’ s obligations under the First Amendment do not require the City to provide limitless sanctuary to occupy City property , damage City and private property , obstruct the right of way , or foster dangerous conditions , ” Durkan said .
Durkan ordered every city department to respond to her order , with the Seattle Police Department maintaining the closure of the park and carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacate the area .
The neighborhood was previously called the “ Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone ” by activists , and was renamed the “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest ” zone or “ CHOP ” mid-June , the Daily Caller reported .
The zone is comprised of nearly six residential blocks , businesses and the Seattle Police Department ’ s East Precinct headquarters .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Seattle police arrested 23 people Wednesday morning after the mayor ordered protesters at Seattle’s Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone to vacate within 48 hours, according to the Seattle Police Department.
Police said they arrested the individuals for failure to disperse, obstruction, resisting arrest and assault after Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency executive order labeling CHOP as an unlawful assembly.
As of 7:45 AM, officers have made 23 arrests in the #CHOP zone for failure to disperse, obstruction, resisting arrest, and assault. One of the arrestees, a 29-year-old man, was in possession of a large metal pipe and kitchen knife when he was taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/12qT7psBQQ — Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 1, 2020
“Enough is enough. The CHOP has become lawless and brutal,” Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said in a statement. “My job, and the job of our officers, is to protect and serve our community. This is not an end to our department’s engagement with demonstrators.”
Durkan’s order cited 13 specific instances of alleged threats to public health, safety and life.
The mayor acknowledged that “much of the expression has been peaceful and created community solidarity for Black Lives Matter,” mentioning the garden, conversation corner and art installments created within CHOP.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Durkan said she recognized the “right to lawfully assemble guaranteed by the Constitution,” but added that “City departments have more than reasonably accommodated protesters.”
“The City’s obligations under the First Amendment do not require the City to provide limitless sanctuary to occupy City property, damage City and private property, obstruct the right of way, or foster dangerous conditions,” Durkan said.
Durkan ordered every city department to respond to her order, with the Seattle Police Department maintaining the closure of the park and carrying out arrests for people who refuse to vacate the area.
The neighborhood was previously called the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” by activists, and was renamed the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” zone or “CHOP” mid-June, the Daily Caller reported. The zone is comprised of nearly six residential blocks, businesses and the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct headquarters.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-01--He Shot Up His High School and Held Teachers Hostage. Now He Knows the Answer

“ You guys just don ’ t get it !
” TJ Stevens screamed at the TV , after the Parkland killings .
Reporters asked how and why it had happened .
They asked how such shootings could be prevented .
TJ yelled , “ It ’ s Jesus , people , the answer ’ s Jesus !
” He wanted to tell them to stop playing games and turn the kids toward the Lord .
Parkland was the last straw for TJ .
He knew he couldn ’ t stay silent anymore .
He had to tell his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikolas Cruz because he , too , was once a shooter .
On November 10 , 1982 , TJ was 18 years old .
Early that morning , he decided to end it all .
He grabbed his hunting rifle and began loading it .
He put the end of the barrel in his mouth and waited to pull the trigger .
Then he heard a voice .
“ You want real peace ?
” the voice asked him .
If he killed other people , it said , “ I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll show them.
” At 10:17 a.m. , TJ walked into Lake Braddock Secondary High School in Burke , Virginia , and opened fire .
Going through the building he emptied his gun several times .
He shot over everyone ’ s head , but it was a miracle that a bullet didn ’ t bounce off the cement walls and injure or kill someone .
He then trapped nine people an office area .
The one voice became many voices .
As more time went by , the louder they told him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was breaking their deal .
“ Kill !
Kill !
Kill !
” they screamed at him .
He started arguing with them .
Finally , he couldn ’ t take it any longer .
He knelt down in front of the hostages and once again placed the barrel of the gun in his mouth .
Just as he began to apply pressure to the trigger , the school secretary began crying and begging TJ not to kill himself .
“ No , no , no !
Don ’ t do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kid !
You don ’ t know what you are doing !
” TJ turned toward her and saw a glint of gold .
It was her cross necklace .
It was then that he saw the sleeve of a robe with a hand stretched out .
First he raged at her .
He wanted to kill her .
Then he reached out to touch the hand .
The destructive torment disappeared .
He had peace .
TJ describes that day and how he was led out of darkness in his new book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ High School Gunman .
“ That hand of hope , I believe it was the hand of an angel .
In everyone ’ s life , we all have that same calling , yearning , waiting , standing at the door for us to open it.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
TJ ’ s mission now is to reach children who are not only thinking about doing something this drastic , but also those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have a heart for lost kids because I was so lost that Satan had me in his grasp .
Satan knows me by my full name , he knows exactly who I am.
” God does too , he continued .
“ He loved me more and He fought for me and He found me right at the point of putting pressure on that trigger in school .
When I was going to kill myself in front of the hostages , He found me and He gave me hope .
He gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way out and that ’ s what I want to instill in kids.
” Only Jesus Can Heal the Heart Lost kids , the kind of kid he once was , are really struggling with pain .
“ They think they ’ re not worth anything .
And the only thing they have is their mouth to scream and their fist to hit and their heart to hurt.
” Some kids are contemplating suicide at this moment .
“ As we have this conversation , these children are in their rooms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re rubbing that gun right now , or they ’ re rubbing those pills or they ’ re contemplating — they ’ re planning or scheming .
They ’ re actually giving themselves a death day .
‘ This is the day that I ’ m going to do it . '
” No psychiatrist or pill will change them , TJ argues .
“ There ’ s nothing in this world that ’ s going to heal that heart except Jesus.
” He added : The Word of Our Testimony TJ says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more we see a total moral breakdown in society .
And all the red flags are there .
“ But the Lord says we shall overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony .
I want Him to allow me to be used as His personal testimony , to reach someone somewhere , to make a difference for Him .
It may be one person or 1,000 people .
It ’ s all worth it to me .
Cause my life is no longer my own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ TJ goes into schools , churches and other settings , speaking to kids about his testimony .
He also has a business coordinating concerts of Christian artists .
For years , he ’ s questioned why God let him live when many other shooters do not .
One day , as he was watching kids respond to an invitation to accept Jesus , he found out .
“ And I heard Him speak at that one moment , when these kids were coming forward .
‘ This is why I let you live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

“You guys just don’t get it!” TJ Stevens screamed at the TV, after the Parkland killings. Reporters asked how and why it had happened. They asked how such shootings could be prevented. TJ yelled, “It’s Jesus, people, the answer’s Jesus!” He wanted to tell them to stop playing games and turn the kids toward the Lord.
Parkland was the last straw for TJ. He knew he couldn’t stay silent anymore. He had to tell his own decades-old secret: that he identified with Nikolas Cruz because he, too, was once a shooter.
A High School Shooter
On November 10, 1982, TJ was 18 years old. Early that morning, he decided to end it all. He grabbed his hunting rifle and began loading it. He put the end of the barrel in his mouth and waited to pull the trigger. Then he heard a voice.
“You want real peace?” the voice asked him. If he killed other people, it said, “I’ll give you real peace. We’ll show them.”
At 10:17 a.m., TJ walked into Lake Braddock Secondary High School in Burke, Virginia, and opened fire. Going through the building he emptied his gun several times. He shot over everyone’s head, but it was a miracle that a bullet didn’t bounce off the cement walls and injure or kill someone. He then trapped nine people an office area.
TJ Stevens is also the subject of a documentary, The Rage of Evil.
The one voice became many voices. As more time went by, the louder they told him to kill the hostages. They said he was breaking their deal. “Kill! Kill! Kill!” they screamed at him. He started arguing with them.
Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. He knelt down in front of the hostages and once again placed the barrel of the gun in his mouth. Just as he began to apply pressure to the trigger, the school secretary began crying and begging TJ not to kill himself.
“No, no, no! Don’t do this! You’re just a confused kid! You don’t know what you are doing!” TJ turned toward her and saw a glint of gold. It was her cross necklace. It was then that he saw the sleeve of a robe with a hand stretched out. First he raged at her. He wanted to kill her. Then he reached out to touch the hand.
The destructive torment disappeared. He had peace.
The Hand of Hope
TJ describes that day and how he was led out of darkness in his new book Once a Shooter: Redemption of a High School Gunman. “That hand of hope, I believe it was the hand of an angel. In everyone’s life, we all have that same calling, yearning, waiting, standing at the door for us to open it.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
TJ’s mission now is to reach children who are not only thinking about doing something this drastic, but also those who want to end their lives. “I have a heart for lost kids because I was so lost that Satan had me in his grasp. Satan knows me by my full name, he knows exactly who I am.”
God does too, he continued. “He loved me more and He fought for me and He found me right at the point of putting pressure on that trigger in school. When I was going to kill myself in front of the hostages, He found me and He gave me hope. He gave me direction. … He gave me a way out and that’s what I want to instill in kids.”
Only Jesus Can Heal the Heart
Lost kids, the kind of kid he once was, are really struggling with pain. “They think they’re not worth anything. And the only thing they have is their mouth to scream and their fist to hit and their heart to hurt.”
Some kids are contemplating suicide at this moment. “As we have this conversation, these children are in their rooms, taking their finger, and they’re rubbing that gun right now, or they’re rubbing those pills or they’re contemplating — they’re planning or scheming. They’re actually giving themselves a death day. ‘This is the day that I’m going to do it.'”
No psychiatrist or pill will change them, TJ argues. “There’s nothing in this world that’s going to heal that heart except Jesus.” He added:
The only thing that fixed me, the only thing that changed me, the only thing that healed me, the only thing that gave me hope is the God Almighty and without Him, I’m absolutely nothing, but with Him, I feel like I could change the world.
The Word of Our Testimony
TJ says the further we get from God, the more we see a total moral breakdown in society. And all the red flags are there. “But the Lord says we shall overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. I want Him to allow me to be used as His personal testimony, to reach someone somewhere, to make a difference for Him. It may be one person or 1,000 people. It’s all worth it to me. Cause my life is no longer my own. Now it is all His.”
Now TJ goes into schools, churches and other settings, speaking to kids about his testimony. He also has a business coordinating concerts of Christian artists. For years, he’s questioned why God let him live when many other shooters do not.
One day, as he was watching kids respond to an invitation to accept Jesus, he found out. “And I heard Him speak at that one moment, when these kids were coming forward. ‘This is why I let you live, TJ. This is why.'”
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-07-01--Noted Environmentalist Issues Climate Scare Apology, Forbes Removes Article

Forbes unpublished an article Monday in which an environmental activist apologized for scaring people about climate change .
Michael Shellenberger ’ s article was originally published by Forbes Sunday , but was taken down one day later .
Shellenberger , who is the founder and president of Environmental Progress , decried “ climate alarmism ” in the article , which he posted on his website after Forbes took it down .
Shellenberger added : “ Climate change is happening .
It ’ s just not the end of the world .
It ’ s not even our most serious environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been an environmental activist for 20 years , then listed several facts that he said few people know .
He said the rate of wildfires and carbon emissions were declining , and that food surpluses were increasing worldwide .
“ I know that the above facts will sound like ‘ climate denialism ’ to many people .
But that just shows the power of climate alarmism , ” Shellenberger wrote .
“ In reality , the above facts come from the best-available scientific studies.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Shellenberger presented his full argument in his book Apocalypse Never : Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All , which went on sale Tuesday .
Forbes replaced his article with an editor ’ s note that said , “ This page is no longer active .
We regret any inconvenience.
” No further explanation was given .
Forbes didn ’ t immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Shellenberger was named a Time Magazine “ Hero of the Environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve as an expert reviewer for the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change annual report .
He testified in front of the House Committee On Science , Space , and Technology in January .
“ It is a peculiar feature of climate policy that its advocates feel the need to exaggerate with so much severity and frequency , ” Shellenberger said during his testimony .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Forbes unpublished an article Monday in which an environmental activist apologized for scaring people about climate change.
Michael Shellenberger’s article was originally published by Forbes Sunday, but was taken down one day later. Shellenberger, who is the founder and president of Environmental Progress, decried “climate alarmism” in the article, which he posted on his website after Forbes took it down.
“On behalf of environmentalists everywhere, I would like to formally apologize for the climate scare we created over the last 30 years,” he wrote.
Shellenberger added: “Climate change is happening. It’s just not the end of the world. It’s not even our most serious environmental problem.”
Forbes has censored my article. I have reposted it here:https://t.co/PPcd2DrinO — Mike Shellenberger (@ShellenbergerMD) June 29, 2020
Shellenberger, who says he has been an environmental activist for 20 years, then listed several facts that he said few people know. He said the rate of wildfires and carbon emissions were declining, and that food surpluses were increasing worldwide.
“I know that the above facts will sound like ‘climate denialism’ to many people. But that just shows the power of climate alarmism,” Shellenberger wrote. “In reality, the above facts come from the best-available scientific studies.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Shellenberger presented his full argument in his book Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All, which went on sale Tuesday.
Forbes replaced his article with an editor’s note that said, “This page is no longer active. We regret any inconvenience.” No further explanation was given.
Forbes didn’t immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Shellenberger was named a Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment” in 2008, and is slated to serve as an expert reviewer for the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change annual report. He testified in front of the House Committee On Science, Space, and Technology in January.
“It is a peculiar feature of climate policy that its advocates feel the need to exaggerate with so much severity and frequency,” Shellenberger said during his testimony.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-02--Why the Supreme Court Ruling is a Legal Aberration: Two Biblical Responses

Legalized abortion has always been a medical aberration .
Now we know that it is a legal aberration as well , a fact the Supreme Court ’ s decision in June Medical Services makes clear .
Let ’ s begin with some background .
I serve as Resident Scholar for Ethics with the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas and can attest personally to the passion our physicians feel every day to save lives wherever and however possible .
“ Do no harm ” is the foundational commitment of medical care .
And yet , except in the case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , abortion clearly violates this cardinal principle for preborn children .
The fact that the Supreme Court discovered such a right to abortion in the Constitution of the United States 47 years ago makes it no less abhorrent from a medical perspective .
In Roe v. Wade , the majority ruled that the mother ’ s mental health , finances and right to control her own life superseded her preborn child ’ s right to live .
Once her child is born , however , essentially moving locations from inside her body to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm ” edict applies as fully to the child as to the mother .
By logical extension , it should apply to the preborn child as well .
In other words , for preborn children , abortion is an aberration to one of medicine ’ s most essential doctrines .
Now we are seeing the same in the legal context .
Roe v. Wade , as Justice Clarence Thomas pointed out in his June Medical Services dissent , “ created the right to abortion out of whole cloth , without a shred of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” As a result , he stated , “ Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.
” In addition to the legal status of abortion itself , the Court ’ s decision in June Medical Services is an aberration on its own merits .
When the Court struck down a similar Texas statute in 2016 , Chief Justice Roberts dissented .
However , in casting the deciding vote in June Medical Services , he voted with the four-justice liberal wing , citing Stare decisis ( “ to stand by things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2016 decision set a precedent he was forced to uphold .
This is perplexing in the extreme , since he earlier voted to overturn precedent in Janus v. AFSCME and Knick v. Township of Scott .
In total , the Supreme Court has overturned more than three hundred of its own cases through 2018 .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Legalized abortion ( except to save the life of the mother ) clearly contradicts foundational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legally only by discovering mythical constitutional rights and then by upholding them in ways that are applied to no other “ rights.
” How to be “ Pro-Life , ” Not Just “ Pro-Birth ” What does the Court ’ s decision say to those of us who believe life is sacred from conception to natural death ?
Consider two biblical principles .
First : We should not depend on secular means to advance biblical truth .
The U.S. Constitution is a secular document interpreted by secular courts .
Legislation is created by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These facts do not exempt Christians from participation in such secular processes .
To the contrary , I am convinced that God is calling more Christians into public service than are answering His call .
We are enjoined by Scripture to pray for secular leaders ( 1 Timothy 2:1–2 ) and to support their authority ( Romans 13:1–7 ) .
We should work through the political process to encourage the appointment of judges who will uphold our values .
But we should not depend on the secular culture to embrace and advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling demonstrates , even so-called conservative justices may act in ways that are inconsistent with their perceived legal and personal values .
This fact leads to a second principle : Second : We should use our personal influence to advance biblical morality in every way we can .
Applied to the issue of abortion , this means that we should support pregnant women so fully that they do not consider abortion as an option .
We should help them financially , medically and relationally .
We should encourage foster care and adoption .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just “ pro-birth.
” What God said to Jeremiah is true of every preborn person : “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ” ( Jeremiah 1:5 ) .
Let ’ s do all we can to help every mother give every child the chance to know the God who knows them .
Our country was founded on the belief that “ all men are created equal ” and the promise of “ life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
” Let ’ s keep that promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the glory of God .
Jim Denison , PhD , is the founder of Denison Forum with a reach of 1.7 million .
He also serves as Resident Scholar for Ethics with Baylor Scott & White Health .

Legalized abortion has always been a medical aberration. Now we know that it is a legal aberration as well, a fact the Supreme Court’s decision in June Medical Services makes clear. Let’s begin with some background.
Abortion and “Do No Harm”
I serve as Resident Scholar for Ethics with the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas and can attest personally to the passion our physicians feel every day to save lives wherever and however possible. “Do no harm” is the foundational commitment of medical care.
And yet, except in the case of threats to the mother’s life, abortion clearly violates this cardinal principle for preborn children. The fact that the Supreme Court discovered such a right to abortion in the Constitution of the United States 47 years ago makes it no less abhorrent from a medical perspective.
What God said to Jeremiah is true of every preborn person: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5).
In Roe v. Wade, the majority ruled that the mother’s mental health, finances and right to control her own life superseded her preborn child’s right to live. Once her child is born, however, essentially moving locations from inside her body to outside it, the “do no harm” edict applies as fully to the child as to the mother. By logical extension, it should apply to the preborn child as well. In other words, for preborn children, abortion is an aberration to one of medicine’s most essential doctrines.
The Chief Justice’s Contradictory Decision
Now we are seeing the same in the legal context. Roe v. Wade, as Justice Clarence Thomas pointed out in his June Medical Services dissent, “created the right to abortion out of whole cloth, without a shred of support from the Constitution’s text.” As a result, he stated, “Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.”
In addition to the legal status of abortion itself, the Court’s decision in June Medical Services is an aberration on its own merits.
When the Court struck down a similar Texas statute in 2016, Chief Justice Roberts dissented. However, in casting the deciding vote in June Medical Services, he voted with the four-justice liberal wing, citing Stare decisis (“to stand by things decided”) and thus claiming that the 2016 decision set a precedent he was forced to uphold.
This is perplexing in the extreme, since he earlier voted to overturn precedent in Janus v. AFSCME and Knick v. Township of Scott. In total, the Supreme Court has overturned more than three hundred of its own cases through 2018.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Legalized abortion (except to save the life of the mother) clearly contradicts foundational medical principles. It can be supported legally only by discovering mythical constitutional rights and then by upholding them in ways that are applied to no other “rights.”
How to be “Pro-Life,” Not Just “Pro-Birth”
What does the Court’s decision say to those of us who believe life is sacred from conception to natural death? Consider two biblical principles.
First: We should not depend on secular means to advance biblical truth.
The U.S. Constitution is a secular document interpreted by secular courts. Legislation is created by secular legislatures and enforced by secular authorities.
These facts do not exempt Christians from participation in such secular processes. To the contrary, I am convinced that God is calling more Christians into public service than are answering His call. We are enjoined by Scripture to pray for secular leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–2) and to support their authority (Romans 13:1–7). We should work through the political process to encourage the appointment of judges who will uphold our values.
But we should not depend on the secular culture to embrace and advance biblical morality. As the Supreme Court ruling demonstrates, even so-called conservative justices may act in ways that are inconsistent with their perceived legal and personal values. This fact leads to a second principle:
Second: We should use our personal influence to advance biblical morality in every way we can.
Applied to the issue of abortion, this means that we should support pregnant women so fully that they do not consider abortion as an option. We should help them financially, medically and relationally. We should encourage foster care and adoption. We should be “pro-life,” not just “pro-birth.”
Keeping Our Foundational Promise
What God said to Jeremiah is true of every preborn person: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Let’s do all we can to help every mother give every child the chance to know the God who knows them.
Let’s do all we can to help every mother give every child
the chance to know the God who knows them.
Our country was founded on the belief that “all men are created equal” and the promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Let’s keep that promise for “all” people, to the glory of God.
Jim Denison, PhD, is the founder of Denison Forum with a reach of 1.7 million. He also serves as Resident Scholar for Ethics with Baylor Scott & White Health.


thestream--2020-07-02--God, Heal Our Land!

God, Heal Our Land!

Please take a few minutes to hear what God put on my heart today .
James Robison is The Stream @ @ @ @ @ .
He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today .
He @ @ @ @ @ many books , including Indivisible ( with Jay Richards ) and Living Amazed .

Please take a few minutes to hear what God put on my heart today.
James Robison is The Stream’s founder and publisher. He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today. He’s the author of many books, including Indivisible (with Jay Richards) and Living Amazed.


thestream--2020-07-02--Military Photo of the Day: Returning to Pearl

The guided-missile destroyer USS Preble returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam following the ship ’ s surge deployment to the @ @ @ @ @ operations on June 25 , 2020 .
Welcome home , heroes !
Thank you for @ @ @ @ @ Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic @ @ @ @ @ Day .

The guided-missile destroyer USS Preble returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam following the ship’s surge deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations on June 25, 2020.
Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for defending our country overseas.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.