thestream--2020-06-17--How Do We Strategize Against This Lunacy?

Major American cities are thinking of de-funding their police forces .
The Supreme Court has just ruled that sex isn ’ t real in the eyes of the law .
So what do we do now ?
What we ’ re facing in both cases is lunacy , which makes it hard to know what to do .
I don ’ t mean it ’ s like lunacy , or it reminds me of lunacy , or it ’ s lunacy in some figurative sort of way .
I ’ ve already made the case for transgenderism as “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police-free cities are so obviously impossible , it ’ s madness even to try .
So if insanity means being dangerously disconnected from reality , then what we ’ re dealing with here is the real thing .
Yet both movements have influential leaders behind them .
Extremely influential , in the case of the Supreme Court .
And both movements are turning America upside down .
So what do we do ?
What ’ s our strategy now ?
Is it even possible to strategize against insanity ?
The answer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Either that or we just give up .
That , or else we flail against the madness to no effect .
I don ’ t know about you , but I ’ m not giving up , and I ’ m sure not interested in wasting energy on useless efforts .
And besides that , yes , I believe it ’ s possible to build effective strategies , even against this lunacy .
Let me draw an analogy .
Suppose the kingdom of Suarobia successfully invaded America ’ s east coast and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they planned to use that as a beachhead to conquer the whole country .
What would we do ?
We ’ d have all kinds of counter-actions we could take , from counter-invasions to surgical air strikes .
But whatever we did , we ’ d be guided by just a few timeless strategic principles : protect , contain , and defeat , using all available resources and all possible intelligence .
To flesh that out just slightly , our first priority would be to protect Americans in and around the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain the threat so it wouldn ’ t spread .
Third , we ’ d find a way to defeat and drive the Suarobians out .
That doesn ’ t mean doing one after the other ; we ’ d work all three prongs of strategy at the same time .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Throughout all this , we ’ d have intelligence agencies working at top speed to understand the Suarobians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just be the concern of specialists in the military ; the whole country would immediately go on a wartime footing .
Protect , contain , defeat , using full intelligence , on a wartime footing : That ’ s our model , too , for dealing today ’ s insanity .
But Do We Believe Real Strategy Is Possible ?
I ’ ve got future articles in the works for each of those five facets of strategy .
For today , though , I must stay focused on the question I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to strategize against this madness ?
More to the point , do we believe it ’ s possible ?
I look at today ’ s church , and what I see suggests most of us think the answer is no .
Some of us say no by capitulating .
The easiest way to stop lunatics from saying nasty things about you is by joining them in their madness .
It ’ s a literally lunatic answer , though .
Some say no by going numb .
They ’ ve lost all hope .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ too far gone , there ’ s nothing they can do about it .
So they ’ ll just do church for themselves , and let the rest of the world go to hell .
Some say no by taking a theological turn with it : “ God didn ’ t mean us to solve the world ’ s problems .
Our job is just to share the simple gospel.
” It ’ s horrible theology , though .
They should read the prophets .
Some are so focused on hoping Jesus will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they forget we ’ re His body , established here on earth to do His will .
Others may be properly alarmed , but they don ’ t have a clue what to do , so they ’ ve got nothing to show for it but worried frowns over coffee in the fellowship hall .
In other churches you can find a small group that ’ s seriously involved , possibly even with good strategy .
But they ’ ve been pushed off on the side , without support of senior leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church thought they were the ones who should be contained ; as if the rest of the church needed to be protected from them .
The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail Only in the rarest of churches do you see a broad , integrated response , keeping the gospel properly at the center while taking effective action against the darkness .
This is where every church should be .
We ’ re at war .
I ’ ve called it insanity , but let me describe it in other terms you should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and false , worldly answers .
We know where that comes from , right ?
The church ’ s chief enemy , who specializes above all in lies and confusion , sits on a dark throne behind the gates of hell .
Jesus Christ promised us that these gates would not stand against His church .
That ’ s a clear commission : He wants us to march against those gates .
And I think He wants us to do it strategically , purposefully , effectively .
The enemy only laughs when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his walls .
Let ’ s unite against the madness he ’ s sown .
Let ’ s do it thoughtfully .
Effectively .
Prayerfully .
Strategically .
Yes , it ’ s possible to strategize against the madness .
I ’ ll be back with more .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books , including the forthcoming Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

Major American cities are thinking of de-funding their police forces. The Supreme Court has just ruled that sex isn’t real in the eyes of the law.
What we’re facing in both cases is lunacy. I don’t mean it’s like lunacy, or it reminds me of lunacy, or it’s lunacy in some figurative sort of way. I’ve already made the case for transgenderism as “the fastest growing insanity the world has seen. Police-free cities are so obviously impossible, it’s madness even to try. So if insanity means being dangerously disconnected from reality, then what we’re dealing with here is the real thing.
Yet both movements have influential leaders behind them. Extremely influential, in the case of the Supreme Court. And both movements are turning America upside down.
So what do we do? What’s our strategy now? Is it even possible to strategize against insanity? The answer is clear: It has to be possible. Either that or we just give up. That, or else we flail against the madness to no effect. I don’t know about you, but I’m not giving up, and I’m sure not interested in wasting energy on useless efforts.
And besides that, yes, I believe it’s possible to build effective strategies, even against this lunacy.
Protect, Contain, Defeat
Let me draw an analogy. Suppose the kingdom of Suarobia successfully invaded America’s east coast and took over the city of Boston, and they planned to use that as a beachhead to conquer the whole country. What would we do? We’d have all kinds of counter-actions we could take, from counter-invasions to surgical air strikes. But whatever we did, we’d be guided by just a few timeless strategic principles: protect, contain, and defeat, using all available resources and all possible intelligence.
To flesh that out just slightly, our first priority would be to protect Americans in and around the city. Our second main task would be to contain the threat so it wouldn’t spread. Third, we’d find a way to defeat and drive the Suarobians out. That doesn’t mean doing one after the other; we’d work all three prongs of strategy at the same time.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Throughout all this, we’d have intelligence agencies working at top speed to understand the Suarobians and their own strategies. And it wouldn’t just be the concern of specialists in the military; the whole country would immediately go on a wartime footing.
Protect, contain, defeat, using full intelligence, on a wartime footing: That’s our model, too, for dealing today’s insanity.
But Do We Believe Real Strategy Is Possible?
I’ve got future articles in the works for each of those five facets of strategy. For today, though, I must stay focused on the question I started with: Is it even possible to strategize against this madness? More to the point, do we believe it’s possible?
I look at today’s church, and what I see suggests most of us think the answer is no.
Some of us say no by capitulating. The easiest way to stop lunatics from saying nasty things about you is by joining them in their madness. It’s a literally lunatic answer, though.
Some say no by going numb. They’ve lost all hope. They’ve decided the culture is too far gone, there’s nothing they can do about it. So they’ll just do church for themselves, and let the rest of the world go to hell.
Some say no by taking a theological turn with it: “God didn’t mean us to solve the world’s problems. Our job is just to share the simple gospel.” It’s horrible theology, though. They should read the prophets.
Some are so focused on hoping Jesus will come back and solve everything for us, they forget we’re His body, established here on earth to do His will.
Others may be properly alarmed, but they don’t have a clue what to do, so they’ve got nothing to show for it but worried frowns over coffee in the fellowship hall.
In other churches you can find a small group that’s seriously involved, possibly even with good strategy. But they’ve been pushed off on the side, without support of senior leadership. It’s as if the church thought they were the ones who should be contained; as if the rest of the church needed to be protected from them.
The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail
Only in the rarest of churches do you see a broad, integrated response, keeping the gospel properly at the center while taking effective action against the darkness.
This is where every church should be. We’re at war. I’ve called it insanity, but let me describe it in other terms you should recognize: Confusion, lies, deceit, and false, worldly answers. We know where that comes from, right?
The church’s chief enemy, who specializes above all in lies and confusion, sits on a dark throne behind the gates of hell. Jesus Christ promised us that these gates would not stand against His church. That’s a clear commission: He wants us to march against those gates.
And I think He wants us to do it strategically, purposefully, effectively. The enemy only laughs when he sees us milling around aimlessly outside his walls. Let’s unite against the madness he’s sown. Let’s do it thoughtfully. Effectively. Prayerfully. Strategically.
Yes, it’s possible to strategize against the madness. I’ll be back with more.
Part of a series on Strategy Against the Lunacy.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the forthcoming Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-06-18--Rejecting False Agendas, Christian Leaders Urge Pressing On for Justice

“ It ’ s easy to walk out right in the middle of what God is doing , ” said Carter , a 60-something grandfather .
“ If you ’ re not careful [ and ] you don ’ t humble yourself , you will.
” The elder statesman , a white man , spoke in his wood-paneled living room to his son-in-law — black minister Jonathan Tremaine ( J.T . )
Thomas , founder of Civil Righteousness .
They recounted when , 18 years ago , Thomas had first joined a family beach trip when dating Carter ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside at one point .
“ I ’ m dealing with prejudice , and it ’ s really hard , ” the father said .
“ I need you to pray for me.
” Thomas was stunned .
“ The amount of humility that takes !
” he recounted in a recent video .
“ It did so much healing in my heart.
” J.T .
and Mollie , who are now parents of their own little girl , recently celebrated their 15-year anniversary .
The grandfather almost walked out of a situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blessing , ” he said .
In the context of biblical justice and racial discrimination , such points of decision are playing out today across the U.S. and on social media .
In recent weeks , hundreds of thousands of Americans have taken to the streets in protests for racial justice .
Some have turned violent , resulting in property damage , lives lost , and fears rising in many communities .
Christian leaders committed for decades to nonviolent justice activism believe people of faith must press through fears and discomfort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really difficult to recognize the hand of God when it doesn ’ t feel good or doesn ’ t look good , ” said Thomas in a phone interview .
“ We have to be able to look and see and declare what God is doing beyond what the enemy may be doing.
” Since May 25 when George Floyd was killed in a policing incident , communities of color have especially mourned the latest loss in a tragic trend .
Yet , this time , the response has somehow not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become an inflection point , ” said Josh Clemons , an adjunct professor and co-director of reconciliation ministry OneRace based in Atlanta .
“ We all had stay-at-home orders , then these shocking cell phone videos fueled awareness of these injustices .
“ Everyone has been able to witness these evils that are happening.
” Something Is Different This Time Now believers have sought to bridge their knowledge gap on race issues .
This week , VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer released a video on “ Race in America ” that attained over one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , dozens of Christian books on race relations have sold out .
Titles include Oneness Embraced by Pastor Tony Evans , White Awake , I ’ m Still Here , and The Dream King .
On June 7 , The Color of Compromise by historian Jemar Tisby hit # 52 among all books sold by Amazon .
This week , Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison appears on the New York Times Best-Seller list at # 9 as well as on USA Today ’ s Best-Sellers list .
“ I was shocked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was speechless .
I couldn ’ t believe it .
But it ’ s bittersweet .
Knowing that my book gained popularity because of increased awareness of Black pain — that hurts.
” She sees reflections of history in these conflicting emotions .
“ I come from a people who , in the midst of our pain and anger and sadness , have had the capacity to exude joy .
That ’ s what I ’ m experiencing now , ” she said .
Many Christian leaders have compared the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lately been elevated .
“ God wants us to deal with the disease that has never been healed in American history , ” said Thomas .
“ That is our broken , sinful condition that causes racism .
Not only have we perpetuated it generationally .
But it has been built institutionally and structurally into our nation.
” Several ministries including Civil Righteousness have grown exponentially in recent weeks .
Thomas noted he has led justice trainings in 18 cities over the past two years , with three cities particularly active in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks or so , we ’ ve gone from three cities to 110 cities and growing by the day , ” said Thomas .
“ Last week alone , we had over 600,000 unique engagements on social media .
God has been preparing us to carry this message .
It feels like we ’ ve stepped into a moment that we ’ ve been created for.
” Every day since May 30 , Thomas has led daily video devotionals .
Based on their Field Action Guide , some have had tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has confronted looters on the streets of Ferguson , is well aware of malign forces present at rallies .
“ During any time of grief or mourning , there ’ s a certain vulnerability that takes place , ” said Thomas .
“ It can be an opening for the advancing of agendas that are antithetical to Christ ’ s agenda.
” His friend Clemons co-leads the OneRace coalition of over 200 churches in Atlanta .
Their event on June 2 featured rap artist Lecrae .
This Friday , thousands with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We gather in the spirit of the gospel , ” said Clemons .
“ This is the very same spirit that Dr. King led so many nonviolent marches in during the civil rights movement.
” Yet various outside factions have shown up at some protests .
In Nevada , two men affiliated with the white supremacist “ Boogaloo ” movement faced criminal charges for conspiring to incite violence .
The Justice Dept .
has brought charges against more than 50 other suspects .
Thomas notes this is nothing new .
“ Nefarious agendas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legitimate pain of the African American community , ” he said .
“ But people of good faith and discernment can not discount the reality of generational wounding and the lament that we see.
” Christians leaders long invested in racial justice contrast with those few protestors marching under the banner of “ defund the police , ” as in Seattle .
Justin Giboney serves as president of The And Campaign , deriving its name from a stand for pro-life and justice principles .
He urges leaders to speak out with compassion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Look at First John 3 , ” said Giboney .
“ If you ’ re not willing to lend a helping hand when you have something your brother doesn ’ t , the Bible says that you don ’ t love that person sincerely.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Civil Righteousness , OneRace , and The And Campaign collaborated on a newly released Statement on Righteousness and Justice .
They urge believers to sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of biblical justice and its application today .
“ The church often wants to move out into action without fully understanding the problem , ” said Clemons .
“ You have to be equipped on these topics .
There are firmly gospel-based books about the racial divide present in our country and culture.
” He recommended aforementioned titles by Tisby and Morrison .
Thomas urges a spiritual approach .
“ Engaging in justice looks different in every city , ” he said .
“ Pastors and churches should ask God for tears , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe spaces to listen and learn from others , then enter into their lament , trauma , and questions.
” With its public policy focus , The And Campaign has highlighted the recently introduced JUSTICE Act as one key legislative step .
“ Through the Holy Spirit , we have the power to make things much better than they are right now , ” said Giboney .
“ This country has Christians on both sides of the political aisle .
If we were to come together and say , ‘ We are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racialized violence , ’ then things will change.
” Watch Phil Vischer , co-creator of VeggieTales , discuss “ Race in America ” in video below .
A graduate of the University of Colorado , Josh M. Shepherd covers culture , faith , and public policy issues for media outlets including The Stream and The Federalist .
Find him on Twitter and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

“It’s easy to walk out right in the middle of what God is doing,” said Carter, a 60-something grandfather. “If you’re not careful [and] you don’t humble yourself, you will.”
The elder statesman, a white man, spoke in his wood-paneled living room to his son-in-law — black minister Jonathan Tremaine (J.T.) Thomas, founder of Civil Righteousness.
They recounted when, 18 years ago, Thomas had first joined a family beach trip when dating Carter’s daughter Mollie. Carter pulled J.T. aside at one point. “I’m dealing with prejudice, and it’s really hard,” the father said. “I need you to pray for me.”
Thomas was stunned. “The amount of humility that takes!” he recounted in a recent video. “It did so much healing in my heart.” J.T. and Mollie, who are now parents of their own little girl, recently celebrated their 15-year anniversary.
The grandfather almost walked out of a situation that made him uncomfortable and “missed a blessing,” he said. In the context of biblical justice and racial discrimination, such points of decision are playing out today across the U.S. and on social media.
Seeing God’s Hand Amidst Unrest
In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of Americans have taken to the streets in protests for racial justice. Some have turned violent, resulting in property damage, lives lost, and fears rising in many communities.
Christian leaders committed for decades to nonviolent justice activism believe people of faith must press through fears and discomfort to help create lasting change.
“It’s really difficult to recognize the hand of God when it doesn’t feel good or doesn’t look good,” said Thomas in a phone interview.
“We have to be able to look and see and declare what God is doing beyond what the enemy may be doing.”
Since May 25 when George Floyd was killed in a policing incident, communities of color have especially mourned the latest loss in a tragic trend.
Yet, this time, the response has somehow not died down.
“This really has become an inflection point,” said Josh Clemons, an adjunct professor and co-director of reconciliation ministry OneRace based in Atlanta. “We all had stay-at-home orders, then these shocking cell phone videos fueled awareness of these injustices.
“Everyone has been able to witness these evils that are happening.”
Something Is Different This Time
Now believers have sought to bridge their knowledge gap on race issues. This week, VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer released a video on “Race in America” that attained over one million views within two days.
Meanwhile, dozens of Christian books on race relations have sold out. Titles include Oneness Embraced by Pastor Tony Evans, White Awake, I’m Still Here, and The Dream King.
On June 7, The Color of Compromise by historian Jemar Tisby hit #52 among all books sold by Amazon. This week, Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison appears on the New York Times Best-Seller list at #9 as well as on USA Today’s Best-Sellers list.
“I was shocked,” Morrison told The Stream. “I was speechless. I couldn’t believe it. But it’s bittersweet. Knowing that my book gained popularity because of increased awareness of Black pain — that hurts.”
She sees reflections of history in these conflicting emotions. “I come from a people who, in the midst of our pain and anger and sadness, have had the capacity to exude joy. That’s what I’m experiencing now,” she said.
Many Christian leaders have compared the COVID-19 pandemic to often-ignored issues of race that have lately been elevated.
“God wants us to deal with the disease that has never been healed in American history,” said Thomas. “That is our broken, sinful condition that causes racism. Not only have we perpetuated it generationally. But it has been built institutionally and structurally into our nation.”
Several ministries including Civil Righteousness have grown exponentially in recent weeks.
Gospel Truth Silences ‘Nefarious Agendas’
Thomas noted he has led justice trainings in 18 cities over the past two years, with three cities particularly active in their faith-based advocacy.
“Within the past two weeks or so, we’ve gone from three cities to 110 cities and growing by the day,” said Thomas. “Last week alone, we had over 600,000 unique engagements on social media. God has been preparing us to carry this message. It feels like we’ve stepped into a moment that we’ve been created for.”
Every day since May 30, Thomas has led daily video devotionals. Based on their Field Action Guide, some have had tens of thousands of views.
The Bible teacher, who has confronted looters on the streets of Ferguson, is well aware of malign forces present at rallies. “During any time of grief or mourning, there’s a certain vulnerability that takes place,” said Thomas. “It can be an opening for the advancing of agendas that are antithetical to Christ’s agenda.”
His friend Clemons co-leads the OneRace coalition of over 200 churches in Atlanta. Their event on June 2 featured rap artist Lecrae.
This Friday, thousands with OneRace will March On Atlanta.
“We gather in the spirit of the gospel,” said Clemons. “This is the very same spirit that Dr. King led so many nonviolent marches in during the civil rights movement.”
Yet various outside factions have shown up at some protests.
In Nevada, two men affiliated with the white supremacist “Boogaloo” movement faced criminal charges for conspiring to incite violence. The Justice Dept. has brought charges against more than 50 other suspects.
Thomas notes this is nothing new. “Nefarious agendas often seek to radicalize and capitalize on the legitimate pain of the African American community,” he said.
“But people of good faith and discernment cannot discount the reality of generational wounding and the lament that we see.”
Action Steps: Learn, Lament, Love
Christians leaders long invested in racial justice contrast with those few protestors marching under the banner of “defund the police,” as in Seattle.
Justin Giboney serves as president of The And Campaign, deriving its name from a stand for pro-life and justice principles. He urges leaders to speak out with compassion, expending political and social capital.
“Look at First John 3,” said Giboney. “If you’re not willing to lend a helping hand when you have something your brother doesn’t, the Bible says that you don’t love that person sincerely.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Civil Righteousness, OneRace, and The And Campaign collaborated on a newly released Statement on Righteousness and Justice. They urge believers to sign it, then dive deeper into study of biblical justice and its application today.
“The church often wants to move out into action without fully understanding the problem,” said Clemons. “You have to be equipped on these topics. There are firmly gospel-based books about the racial divide present in our country and culture.” He recommended aforementioned titles by Tisby and Morrison.
Thomas urges a spiritual approach. “Engaging in justice looks different in every city,” he said. “Pastors and churches should ask God for tears, according to the biblical pattern. Create safe spaces to listen and learn from others, then enter into their lament, trauma, and questions.”
With its public policy focus, The And Campaign has highlighted the recently introduced JUSTICE Act as one key legislative step. “Through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to make things much better than they are right now,” said Giboney.
“This country has Christians on both sides of the political aisle. If we were to come together and say, ‘We are not going to stand for systemic racism and racialized violence,’ then things will change.”
Watch Phil Vischer, co-creator of VeggieTales, discuss “Race in America” in video below.
A graduate of the University of Colorado, Josh M. Shepherd covers culture, faith, and public policy issues for media outlets including The Stream and The Federalist. Find him on Twitter and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
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thestream--2020-06-18--Did the Federalist Society Help Launch a Legal Persecution of Christians?

Yesterday , my halfway Woke sister called me from occupied New York .
For some reason , she thought I ’ d have welcomed the Supreme Court decision on Monday .
You know , the one that pretends that the Civil Rights Act outlawed LGBT discrimination in 1964 .
Even though sodomy remained illegal in 49 states .
Even though the ( lawless ) Supreme Court decision invalidating the last of those laws never mentioned the Civil Rights Act .
Because Congress in 1964 obviously didn ’ t intend to ban LGBT discrimination .
So our Supreme Court just pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to save cowardly legislators of both parties from having to face this issue .
No , I told her , I don ’ t back this decision .
Not because I think most employers should discriminate .
But because I think we should be free as Americans to hire and fire , associate with or avoid , just about anyone for any reason at all .
I make an exception for descendants of slavery , victims of hundreds of years of U.S. government policy ( and subsequent legal segregation ) .
They ought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should American Indians , ” my sister said , and I agreed .
So , we should rewrite the Civil Rights Act to cover only Americans descended from U.S. slaves , and Native Americans .
Everyone else , red and yellow , pink or white , should stand on his own .
That would give a big advantage to black Americans , who actually deserve it .
Dismantle the vast bureaucracy that micromanages every business transaction in America , and let those millions of Karens go get real jobs .
But my real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will launch a persecution of Christians .
And that ’ s something I oppose .
I know , I know , “ the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
” But that only really works with real live deadly martyrdom .
A terrifying experience , surely , but usually over quickly , and followed by an eternity in heaven with Jesus Himself .
That ’ s pretty much guaranteed , if you ’ re a martyr , most Christians believe .
Many of us could face that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Much more problematic is the kind of slow , degrading , Jim Crow style mistreatment that Muslims imposed on Christians all through the Middle East .
The subjugation of “ dhimmitude ” doesn ’ t end in 20 or 30 painful minutes .
It lasts a lifetime .
It gets imposed on your children and grandchildren .
You ’ ll pay a heavy tax , have to step off sidewalks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to preach your faith … and in general be treated like an “ untouchable ” in India .
All of that goes away , of course , if you convert .
That method Muslims used to gradually transform the vast , fervently Christian regions of North Africa and the Middle East into solidly Muslim countries .
( Of course , genocidal massacres periodically sped things up , and finished churches off . )
Grind Them Down and Peel Them Off Is dhimmi status what we face today ?
It certainly seems so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrews draws out the implications of SCOTUS ’ latest diktat .
She points out that employers will soon embark on “ diversity training ” of all employees , to inoculate themselves from lawsuits launched by LGBT employees .
De facto hiring quotas loom on the horizon , for the same reason .
It gets even worse , folks : Title VII doesn ’ t require performance evaluations , grievance procedures , written job descriptions , speech codes , minority hiring targets , or diversity bonuses — yet all of these have been extrapolated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of discrimination are filed with the EEOC in an average year , and tens of thousands of those eventually become lawsuits or five- or six-figure settlements .
Employers have good reason to want to act defensively .
And of course the Bostock ruling won ’ t stay confined to employment law .
The majority opinion protests , disingenuously , that “ sex-segregated bathrooms , locker rooms , and dress codes ” are “ questions for future cases.
” But federal law is full of prohibitions on sex discrimination ( Justice Alito ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and every one of those will have to be reconsidered in light of today ’ s ruling .
Christian employers will face special scrutiny , of course , from an LGBT lobby which hates it .
They will have to spend tens of millions of dollars on legal fees fighting cases all the way to the Supreme Court , to try and preserve the religious free exercise rights that they had … as late as June 14 , 2020 .
We are all Christian bakers now .
Will We Even Bother to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ droves to support the president who appointed Justice Gorsuch ?
It ’ s true that even if he ’ d voted correctly , Chief Justice Roberts ’ vote would still have flipped the persecution switch .
( The votes lined up 6-3 . )
But fixing the courts was one of the main motivations that drove Christians to back Trump , warts and all .
It ’ s harder to make that case now , isn ’ t it ?
It doesn ’ t help that Trump publicly accepted this court decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigate it .
Maybe Trump didn ’ t know that Gorsuch would vote this way .
He trusted his conservative legal advisors , and turned the judge-vetting process over to the Federalist Society .
We ’ ve been told to rely on that organization , and it often does a good job .
How did it fail so spectacularly on Gorsuch ?
Why did we let ourselves be sold on a judge who attends a gay-friendly Episcopal church , even though he still claims to be Catholic ?
Because we trusted the folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federalist Society Know and When Did They Know It ?
Should we ?
I ’ ve come across some evidence that troubles me .
Gorsuch ’ s views on LGBT issues weren ’ t some nuclear secret , locked in a vault .
They were on clear display in a previous ruling he made back in 2008 .
That case , Kastl v. Maricopa County , concerned a man who claimed to be a woman , and demanded use of the ladies room .
He was later fired .
While Kastl lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirmed … exactly what the Supreme Court ruled this week .
That Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applied to “ transgender ” issues , and protects such putative “ women.
” Gorsuch signed that ruling , without dissenting from that radical claim .
So Gorsuch was already on the record as agreeing with the wildest theory advanced by the Obama administration and the LGBT lobby about the secret meaning of the Civil Rights Act .
Yet the Federalist Society approved him as a top candidate for Trump to appoint to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions .
Did the Federalist Society simply miss that case ?
That doesn ’ t say much for their research department , does it ?
Gorsuch wasn ’ t serving on some obscure family court bench in Guam , but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco .
Here was a ruling that obviously touched on an issue central to Christians ’ religious liberty , affirming a blatantly false reading of the 1964 law .
The reddest flag imaginable , apart from Gorsuch owning and operating an abortion clinic .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t . )
But a highly placed source in the Christian legal community told me that Leonard Leo , co-chairman of the Federalist Society , was fully aware of this ruling by Gorsuch .
If that were true , it would mean that religious liberty is not really that important to the Federalist Society .
So what exactly is ?
Thanks to either blatant incompetence , or a hidden agenda , the Federalist Society has helped unleash a wave of vicious litigation against millions of Christians in America .
Tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poor , saving babies , or teaching the Gospel will now go to … lawyers .
Probably to members of the Federalist Society .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

Yesterday, my halfway Woke sister called me from occupied New York. For some reason, she thought I’d have welcomed the Supreme Court decision on Monday. You know, the one that pretends that the Civil Rights Act outlawed LGBT discrimination in 1964. Even though sodomy remained illegal in 49 states. Even though the (lawless) Supreme Court decision invalidating the last of those laws never mentioned the Civil Rights Act. Because Congress in 1964 obviously didn’t intend to ban LGBT discrimination. So our Supreme Court just pulled this decision out of its orifice, to save cowardly legislators of both parties from having to face this issue.
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Contract
No, I told her, I don’t back this decision. Not because I think most employers should discriminate. But because I think we should be free as Americans to hire and fire, associate with or avoid, just about anyone for any reason at all. I make an exception for descendants of slavery, victims of hundreds of years of U.S. government policy (and subsequent legal segregation). They ought to get special protection. “So should American Indians,” my sister said, and I agreed.
So, we should rewrite the Civil Rights Act to cover only Americans descended from U.S. slaves, and Native Americans. Everyone else, red and yellow, pink or white, should stand on his own. That would give a big advantage to black Americans, who actually deserve it. Dismantle the vast bureaucracy that micromanages every business transaction in America, and let those millions of Karens go get real jobs.
Gay Sharia Is Here
But my real problem with the recent decision is that it will launch a persecution of Christians. And that’s something I oppose. I know, I know, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” But that only really works with real live deadly martyrdom. A terrifying experience, surely, but usually over quickly, and followed by an eternity in heaven with Jesus Himself. That’s pretty much guaranteed, if you’re a martyr, most Christians believe. Many of us could face that, provided the death would be quick.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Much more problematic is the kind of slow, degrading, Jim Crow style mistreatment that Muslims imposed on Christians all through the Middle East. The subjugation of “dhimmitude” doesn’t end in 20 or 30 painful minutes. It lasts a lifetime. It gets imposed on your children and grandchildren. You’ll pay a heavy tax, have to step off sidewalks to make room for Muslims, be forbidden to preach your faith … and in general be treated like an “untouchable” in India. All of that goes away, of course, if you convert.
That method Muslims used to gradually transform the vast, fervently Christian regions of North Africa and the Middle East into solidly Muslim countries. (Of course, genocidal massacres periodically sped things up, and finished churches off.)
Grind Them Down and Peel Them Off
Is dhimmi status what we face today? It certainly seems so. In a brilliant, sobering piece Helen Andrews draws out the implications of SCOTUS’ latest diktat.
Under Bostock, an LGBT employee could allege a hostile work environment if a coworker expressed the wrong opinion about Prop 8 or said he believed a person’s sex is determined at birth. Some employers are already justifying firing workers who won’t use someone’s preferred pronouns because discrimination law requires it. Misgendering, they say, is harassment.
She points out that employers will soon embark on “diversity training” of all employees, to inoculate themselves from lawsuits launched by LGBT employees. De facto hiring quotas loom on the horizon, for the same reason. It gets even worse, folks:
Title VII doesn’t require performance evaluations, grievance procedures, written job descriptions, speech codes, minority hiring targets, or diversity bonuses — yet all of these have been extrapolated from it. More than 80,000 charges of discrimination are filed with the EEOC in an average year, and tens of thousands of those eventually become lawsuits or five- or six-figure settlements. Employers have good reason to want to act defensively. And of course the Bostock ruling won’t stay confined to employment law. The majority opinion protests, disingenuously, that “sex-segregated bathrooms, locker rooms, and dress codes” are “questions for future cases.” But federal law is full of prohibitions on sex discrimination (Justice Alito’s dissent lists over 100 such statutes), and every one of those will have to be reconsidered in light of today’s ruling.
Christian employers will face special scrutiny, of course, from an LGBT lobby which hates them. They will have to spend tens of millions of dollars on legal fees fighting cases all the way to the Supreme Court, to try and preserve the religious free exercise rights that they had … as late as June 14, 2020. We are all Christian bakers now.
Will We Even Bother to Vote?
Will Christians turn out in droves to support the president who appointed Justice Gorsuch? It’s true that even if he’d voted correctly, Chief Justice Roberts’ vote would still have flipped the persecution switch. (The votes lined up 6-3.) But fixing the courts was one of the main motivations that drove Christians to back Trump, warts and all. It’s harder to make that case now, isn’t it? It doesn’t help that Trump publicly accepted this court decision, and offered no help in trying to mitigate it.
Christians will have to spend tens of millions of dollars on legal fees fighting cases all the way to the Supreme Court, to try and preserve the religious free exercise rights that they had … as late as June 14, 2020. We are all Christian bakers now.
Maybe Trump didn’t know that Gorsuch would vote this way. He trusted his conservative legal advisors, and turned the judge-vetting process over to the Federalist Society. We’ve been told to rely on that organization, and it often does a good job. How did it fail so spectacularly on Gorsuch? Why did we let ourselves be sold on a judge who attends a gay-friendly Episcopal church, even though he still claims to be Catholic? Because we trusted the folks at the Federalist Society.
What Did the Federalist Society Know and When Did They Know It?
Should we? I’ve come across some evidence that troubles me. Gorsuch’s views on LGBT issues weren’t some nuclear secret, locked in a vault. They were on clear display in a previous ruling he made back in 2008. That case, Kastl v. Maricopa County, concerned a man who claimed to be a woman, and demanded use of the ladies room. He was later fired.
While Kastl lost his case, the Ninth Circuit Court affirmed … exactly what the Supreme Court ruled this week. That Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applied to “transgender” issues, and protects such putative “women.” Gorsuch signed that ruling, without dissenting from that radical claim.
So Gorsuch was already on the record as agreeing with the wildest theory advanced by the Obama administration and the LGBT lobby about the secret meaning of the Civil Rights Act. Yet the Federalist Society approved him as a top candidate for Trump to appoint to the court.
That leaves me with some questions. Did the Federalist Society simply miss that case? That doesn’t say much for their research department, does it? Gorsuch wasn’t serving on some obscure family court bench in Guam, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Here was a ruling that obviously touched on an issue central to Christians’ religious liberty, affirming a blatantly false reading of the 1964 law. The reddest flag imaginable, apart from Gorsuch owning and operating an abortion clinic. (As far as I know, he doesn’t.)
What’s Their Real Agenda?
But a highly placed source in the Christian legal community told me that Leonard Leo, co-chairman of the Federalist Society, was fully aware of this ruling by Gorsuch. If that were true, it would mean that religious liberty is not really that important to the Federalist Society. So what exactly is?
Thanks to either blatant incompetence, or a hidden agenda, the Federalist Society has helped unleash a wave of vicious litigation against millions of Christians in America. Tens of millions that could have been spent feeding the poor, saving babies, or teaching the Gospel will now go to … lawyers. Probably to members of the Federalist Society.
Well played, Mr. Leo. Well played.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-06-18--Man Charged With Shoving 92-Year-Old Woman Has Been Arrested At Least 65 Times: NYPD

The man arrested Tuesday in connection to throwing a 92-year-old woman into a New York City fire hydrant has been arrested at least 65 times , the New York Police Department Public Information unit confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
The NYPD nabbed Rashid Brimmage , 31 , after the incident .
The elderly victim , Geraldine , who was too afraid to specify her last name , said she ’ s fearful to walk alone in the neighborhood where she ’ s spent the past 50 years in an interview with The New York Post .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state where I ’ m fearful to walk the streets alone , ” she told the New York Post .
“ So my super ’ s trying to find somebody who will walk me to a park nearby or to the supermarket , that kind of thing .
So that ’ s the problem.
” Some local outlets said he ’ s been arrested more than 100 times , citing police sources .
NYPD Public Information confirmed 65 arrests to the DCNF .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issues of Our Day .
“ He has approximately 65 prior arrests , ” according to a statement from the New York Deputy Commissioner of Public Information .
“ Some include : Assault , Criminal Possession of Controlled substance , Public Lewdness , Criminal Mischief , Resisting Arrest , Sex Abuse , OGA , Criminal Trespass , Criminal Possession of Marijuana.
” Geraldine , who was on her way to a pharmacy , was allegedly flung to the street by Brimmage on Friday .
Her head impacted a fire hydrant and she lay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
“ I thought a brick hit me or something hit me on the left side of my head , and I went right down and hit my head against the hydrant , ” she said .
“ Blood was coming out , not spurting blood , but blood was dripping.
” Brimmage has allegedly attacked three other random people since February .
He reportedly punched a man at a pizza shop and struck both a woman and a man at the same Dunkin ’ Donuts in two separate incidents , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

The man arrested Tuesday in connection to throwing a 92-year-old woman into a New York City fire hydrant has been arrested at least 65 times, the New York Police Department Public Information unit confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The NYPD nabbed Rashid Brimmage, 31, after the incident. The elderly victim, Geraldine, who was too afraid to specify her last name, said she’s fearful to walk alone in the neighborhood where she’s spent the past 50 years in an interview with The New York Post.
“This d***** guy put me in a state where I’m fearful to walk the streets alone,” she told the New York Post. “So my super’s trying to find somebody who will walk me to a park nearby or to the supermarket, that kind of thing. So that’s the problem.”
Some local outlets said he’s been arrested more than 100 times, citing police sources. NYPD Public Information confirmed 65 arrests to the DCNF.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“He has approximately 65 prior arrests,” according to a statement from the New York Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. “Some include: Assault, Criminal Possession of Controlled substance, Public Lewdness, Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest, Sex Abuse, OGA, Criminal Trespass, Criminal Possession of Marijuana.”
Geraldine, who was on her way to a pharmacy, was allegedly flung to the street by Brimmage on Friday. Her head impacted a fire hydrant and she lay on the ground until a bystander called police.
WATCH:
On June 12 at 3rd Avenue between 15th and 16th Street, this individual pushed a 92-year-old woman to the ground causing her to strike her head on a fire hydrant. pic.twitter.com/Nr2GaTiqm6 — Chief Rodney Harrison (@NYPDDetectives) June 16, 2020
“I thought a brick hit me or something hit me on the left side of my head, and I went right down and hit my head against the hydrant,” she said. “Blood was coming out, not spurting blood, but blood was dripping.”
Brimmage has allegedly attacked three other random people since February. He reportedly punched a man at a pizza shop and struck both a woman and a man at the same Dunkin’ Donuts in two separate incidents, according to NBC 4.
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--2020-06-18--This Is Why We Cannot Put Our Trust in the Supreme Court

I remember that sinking feeling as the election results were announced in November 1992 .
William Jefferson Clinton would be the next president of the United States .
George H. W. Bush was out .
Yet we were so close to having a conservative majority on the Supreme Court who would overturn Roe v. Wade !
At least that ’ s what I thought .
It was at that moment that another feeling struck me , a realization that has stayed with me over the decades .
This realization was powerfully underscored with the Supreme Court ’ s disastrous decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I was putting too much trust in our system .
That I kept thinking that the expected change was just one election away .
Or one more SCOTUS appointee away .
Yet that magical moment never happened .
Not with the Reagan presidency , and not at any time since — at least , not on the level for which I had been hoping .
In short , when it comes to changing the society , we can not put our trust in the Court .
Or in the president .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to invite disappointment .
Certainly , the actions and decisions of our government and its institutions can have massive implications for good or for bad .
But real societal change , the kind of change we must have , can not come by legislation or executive order or ruling .
It can only come through the changed hearts of the people , which then changes the will of the people , which then makes its way up to the courts and the White House and the government .
That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was written 27 years ago ) , “ For years we put our trust in the government .
We hoped that the President would hold the line , that the right appointees to the Supreme Court would help stem the flood of unrighteousness , that a politically active church would turn our nation back .
But we have been misled !
We have put our confidence in the flesh .
In our fight for religious rights we have subtly confessed , ‘ In man do we trust.
’ But government can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And He must be our message.
” I continued , “ Oh yes , we should exercise our rights and vote .
We should meet with our children ’ s educators and write to our elected officials.
” But , I explained , the key was changing the hearts and minds of the people .
Otherwise , the change we longed for would never come .
But maybe I ’ m sounding too spiritual .
Let ’ s think about this in simple , concrete terms .
Is This Too Spiritual an Idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision , redefining marriage ?
It was none other Anthony Kennedy .
And who nominated Kennedy to the Supreme Court ?
None other than Ronald Reagan .
So , one of our greatest conservative presidents nominated the man who played the pivotal role in calling same-sex unions “ marriage.
” Of course , Reagan unsuccessfully nominated Robert Bork .
And he was successful in nominating the great Antonin Scalia .
But we can not deny that Kennedy was selected by Reagan too .
So much for our man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As for George H. W. Bush , it is true that he nominated Clarence Thomas for the Court , and Thomas has remained consistent through the years .
But Bush also nominated David Souter .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Politico tells us the rest : “ While Souter voted along generally conservative lines in his first year on the bench , he soon began to drift left .
By 1992 , he was part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reaffirmed the core holding of Roe v. Wade .
On cases ranging from voluntary school prayer to affirmative action , Souter lined up with his liberal colleagues .
By 1995 , the conservative Weekly Standard labeled him the ‘ ‘ stealth justice ’ and called him ‘ one of the staunchest liberals on the court—a more reliable champion of liberal causes than Clinton appointees Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.
’ ” So much for my hope for a second term for President Bush in 1992 .
Maybe he would have appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointees of George W. Bush ?
Samuel Alito has stayed the conservative course , writing the withering dissenting opinion in Monday ’ s ruling .
But Bush also appointed Chief Justice John Roberts , the swing vote in Obamacare and one of the two key votes in Monday ’ s ruling .
Trump Appointee Gorsuch Has Disappointed Us , But God Never Will That brings us to the present .
The first of Trump ’ s two appointees , Neil Gorsuch , has stabbed conservatives in the back with his ludicrous redefining of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if his vote was not bad enough , he wrote the opinion for the majority .
What in the world happened ?
This doesn ’ t mean that he won ’ t make other solid rulings in the future .
And this doesn ’ t mean that we would have been better off with Hillary Clinton appointing justices to the Supreme Court and the federal courts .
In that respect , Trump has done much good .
( See the chapter in my new book , Evangelicals at the Crossroads , which asks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Had Been Elected ?
” ) But that ’ s where the reality check comes in .
The Supreme Court will disappoint us again , and we can only expect the president or Congress to do so much .
As for those who voted for Trump primarily with the courts in mind , the Gorsuch ruling is both a slap in the face and a stark reminder of the point I have been trying to make .
We must be careful where we put our trust .
So , while we continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple truth : we must put our trust in God and the Gospel , not government .
The Lord and His message will never fail us .
Our government and its institutions , sooner or later , most certainly will .
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 .

I remember that sinking feeling as the election results were announced in November 1992. William Jefferson Clinton would be the next president of the United States. George H. W. Bush was out. Yet we were so close to having a conservative majority on the Supreme Court who would overturn Roe v. Wade! At least that’s what I thought.
It was at that moment that another feeling struck me, a realization that has stayed with me over the decades. This realization was powerfully underscored with the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision this past Monday.
I suddenly realized that I was putting too much trust in our system. That I kept thinking that the expected change was just one election away. Or one more SCOTUS appointee away. Yet that magical moment never happened. Not with the Reagan presidency, and not at any time since — at least, not on the level for which I had been hoping.
Trusting in the Government Invites Disappointment
In short, when it comes to changing the society, we cannot put our trust in the Court. Or in the president. Or in the government. To do so is to invite disappointment.
Certainly, the actions and decisions of our government and its institutions can have massive implications for good or for bad. But real societal change, the kind of change we must have, cannot come by legislation or executive order or ruling. It can only come through the changed hearts of the people, which then changes the will of the people, which then makes its way up to the courts and the White House and the government.
Government cannot save! Only Jesus can save. And He must be our message.
That’s why I wrote in 1993 (yes, this was written 27 years ago), “For years we put our trust in the government. We hoped that the President would hold the line, that the right appointees to the Supreme Court would help stem the flood of unrighteousness, that a politically active church would turn our nation back. But we have been misled! We have put our confidence in the flesh. In our fight for religious rights we have subtly confessed, ‘In man do we trust.’ But government cannot save! Only Jesus can save. And He must be our message.”
I continued, “Oh yes, we should exercise our rights and vote. We should meet with our children’s educators and write to our elected officials.” But, I explained, the key was changing the hearts and minds of the people. Otherwise, the change we longed for would never come.
But maybe I’m sounding too spiritual. Let’s think about this in simple, concrete terms.
Is This Too Spiritual an Idea?
Who was the critical swing vote in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, redefining marriage? It was none other Anthony Kennedy. And who nominated Kennedy to the Supreme Court? None other than Ronald Reagan. So, one of our greatest conservative presidents nominated the man who played the pivotal role in calling same-sex unions “marriage.”
Of course, Reagan unsuccessfully nominated Robert Bork. And he was successful in nominating the great Antonin Scalia. But we cannot deny that Kennedy was selected by Reagan too. So much for our man in the White House changing SCOTUS.
As for George H. W. Bush, it is true that he nominated Clarence Thomas for the Court, and Thomas has remained consistent through the years. But Bush also nominated David Souter.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Politico tells us the rest: “While Souter voted along generally conservative lines in his first year on the bench, he soon began to drift left. By 1992, he was part of the majority in Planned Parenthood v. Casey that reaffirmed the core holding of Roe v. Wade. On cases ranging from voluntary school prayer to affirmative action, Souter lined up with his liberal colleagues. By 1995, the conservative Weekly Standard labeled him the ‘‘stealth justice’ and called him ‘one of the staunchest liberals on the court—a more reliable champion of liberal causes than Clinton appointees Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer.’”
So much for my hope for a second term for President Bush in 1992. Maybe he would have appointed another Souter?
And what of the appointees of George W. Bush? Samuel Alito has stayed the conservative course, writing the withering dissenting opinion in Monday’s ruling. But Bush also appointed Chief Justice John Roberts, the swing vote in Obamacare and one of the two key votes in Monday’s ruling.
Trump Appointee Gorsuch Has Disappointed Us, But God Never Will
That brings us to the present. The first of Trump’s two appointees, Neil Gorsuch, has stabbed conservatives in the back with his ludicrous redefining of the word “sex.” And as if his vote was not bad enough, he wrote the opinion for the majority. What in the world happened?
This doesn’t mean that he won’t make other solid rulings in the future. And this doesn’t mean that we would have been better off with Hillary Clinton appointing justices to the Supreme Court and the federal courts. In that respect, Trump has done much good. (See the chapter in my new book, Evangelicals at the Crossroads, which asks the question, “What if Hillary Had Been Elected?”)
While we continue to vote and lobby, we remember this simple truth: we must put our trust in God and the Gospel, not government.
But that’s where the reality check comes in. The Supreme Court will disappoint us again, and we can only expect the president or Congress to do so much. As for those who voted for Trump primarily with the courts in mind, the Gorsuch ruling is both a slap in the face and a stark reminder of the point I have been trying to make. We must be careful where we put our trust.
So, while we continue to vote and lobby, we remember this simple truth: we must put our trust in God and the Gospel, not government.
The Lord and His message will never fail us. Our government and its institutions, sooner or later, most certainly will.
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--2020-06-18--Trump Initiative Aims to Reduce High Suicide Rate Among Veterans

After fighting alongside his fellow Marines in the war in Iraq , Chad Hiser survived a battle that killed 18 other troops .
Just three days days later , a friendly-fire incident injured others .
But 15 years ago , Hiser almost didn ’ t survive his own battle that came after he was honorably discharged .
“ I returned home feeling guilty for surviving .
Shame for feeling like I hadn ’ t done enough .
The war was still in my mind .
I was detached physically , emotionally , and spiritually , ” said Hiser , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Project , said Wednesday at a White House event .
“ I was angry and isolated from the world , including my family.
” In 2005 , Hiser attempted suicide , and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder .
He spoke at the White House as part of the PREVENTS task force ’ s plan the Trump administration described as a comprehensive approach to reversing the trend of an average of 20 veterans per day committing suicide .
Veterans die by suicide at higher rates than that of the general population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives .
The task force has made 10 recommendations to ensure effective , coordinated action among federal agencies and public organizations and establishes a new public health campaign to improve veterans ’ awareness of mental health resources available around the country .
“ In 2009 , by God ’ s grace and mercy , I was saved by Jesus Christ , ” said Hiser , of Ohio .
“ After carrying these burdens I had carried so long , the newfound hope I had was my foundation now.
” He quoted Jeremiah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans I have for you , the plans to prosper you and not harm you , plans to give you hope and a future.
” Now working to help other veterans through their struggles , Hiser said , “ It ’ s important to let everyone know , let the country know , that they can be strong and ask for help if you are struggling.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
At the Wednesday event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the work of the PREVENTS commission he appointed through a March 2019 executive order .
PREVENTS is an acronym for Presidential Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide .
Trump , speaking at the East Room event , noted that veterans ’ trust in the Department of Veterans Affairs now stands at 91 % after major reforms he enacted following VA scandals in the Obama administration .
Still , the president said , ending the tragedy of veterans ’ suicides demands bold action .
“ The loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our souls , ” Trump said .
“ They come home from these active battlefields and active places , and all of a sudden , sometimes , they ’ re left somewhere alone , and they have a hard time with it , ” the president said .
“ They fought our battle overseas , and now we must join them in winning this new battle at home .
There is no single solution to this issue .
Every resource must be brought to bear.
” Karen Pence , the wife of Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerome Adams will launch a major public awareness campaign .
“ This historic campaign will mobilize every sector of American society to encourage heroes in need , empower them with the best prevention practices , and help every veteran thrive in their lives after service , ” Trump said .
The administration is expanding its partnership with military and veterans organizations , universities , faith-based leaders , businesses , and nonprofits , he said , adding that 30 large corporations will help prioritize the mental health of their employees .
“ The PREVENTS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion of federal funding committed to suicide prevention to make sure research goes where it is most needed in order to save lives and to make lives better , ” the president said .

After fighting alongside his fellow Marines in the war in Iraq, Chad Hiser survived a battle that killed 18 other troops. Just three days days later, a friendly-fire incident injured others. But 15 years ago, Hiser almost didn’t survive his own battle that came after he was honorably discharged.
“I returned home feeling guilty for surviving. Shame for feeling like I hadn’t done enough. The war was still in my mind. I was detached physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” said Hiser, who is now involved with the Wounded Warriors Project, said Wednesday at a White House event. “I was angry and isolated from the world, including my family.”
In 2005, Hiser attempted suicide, and was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He spoke at the White House as part of the PREVENTS task force’s plan the Trump administration described as a comprehensive approach to reversing the trend of an average of 20 veterans per day committing suicide.
Veterans die by suicide at higher rates than that of the general population. In 2017, about 6,000 veterans took their lives.
The task force has made 10 recommendations to ensure effective, coordinated action among federal agencies and public organizations and establishes a new public health campaign to improve veterans’ awareness of mental health resources available around the country.
“In 2009, by God’s grace and mercy, I was saved by Jesus Christ,” said Hiser, of Ohio. “After carrying these burdens I had carried so long, the newfound hope I had was my foundation now.”
He quoted Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, the plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Now working to help other veterans through their struggles, Hiser said, “It’s important to let everyone know, let the country know, that they can be strong and ask for help if you are struggling.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
At the Wednesday event, President Donald Trump announced the completion of the work of the PREVENTS commission he appointed through a March 2019 executive order.
PREVENTS is an acronym for Presidential Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide.
Trump, speaking at the East Room event, noted that veterans’ trust in the Department of Veterans Affairs now stands at 91% after major reforms he enacted following VA scandals in the Obama administration.
Still, the president said, ending the tragedy of veterans’ suicides demands bold action.
“The loss of our heroes breaks our hearts and pains our souls,” Trump said.
“They come home from these active battlefields and active places, and all of a sudden, sometimes, they’re left somewhere alone, and they have a hard time with it,” the president said. “They fought our battle overseas, and now we must join them in winning this new battle at home. There is no single solution to this issue. Every resource must be brought to bear.”
Karen Pence, the wife of Vice President Mike Pence, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams will launch a major public awareness campaign.
“This historic campaign will mobilize every sector of American society to encourage heroes in need, empower them with the best prevention practices, and help every veteran thrive in their lives after service,” Trump said.
The administration is expanding its partnership with military and veterans organizations, universities, faith-based leaders, businesses, and nonprofits, he said, adding that 30 large corporations will help prioritize the mental health of their employees.
“The PREVENTS office is currently reviewing the $1.5 billion of federal funding committed to suicide prevention to make sure research goes where it is most needed in order to save lives and to make lives better,” the president said.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


John Bolton’s Betrayals

President Harry S. Truman famously and fabulously said , “ If you want a friend in Washington , get a dog.
” However , even Truman would quail at what former National Security Advisor John Bolton just did to President Trump … in fact , the presidency itself and the nation .
Sure , we ’ ve hatched a Swamp tradition in recent years .
People leave an administration and immediately pen a book .
( His is titled The Room Where It Happened .
Subtitled “ A Hissy Fit After Being Fired ” .
Okay , I made that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton ’ s domestic policy advisor George Stephanapoulos writing a book declaring what a nightmare Hillary Clinton could be .
( Bill Clinton ’ s Press Secretary Dee Dee Meyers did the same . )
Or how about President Obama ’ s Defense Secretary Bill Gates stating in his book that Vice President Joe Biden had been “ wrong on every major foreign policy issue in 40 years ” ?
So many have traded their White House security pass for a book deal .
In the Trump era , it seems part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense , we can understand Bolton grabbing his 30 pieces of silver and 15 more minutes of fame by writing a tell-all about his time with Trump .
And it is a chuckle watching the media , which absolutely loathed Bolton , fawning all over him like Leo DiCaprio circa 1997 .
And we laugh as we imagine Bolton teaming with Omarosa in hosting an anti-Trump cruise to the Caribbean .
Or Venezuela , which becomes the model for our nation if Biden wins .
Which gets to our first point : Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the risk of wrecking his country ?
John Bolton ’ s entire career has been focused on pushing to protect the nation , and doing so with a heavy fist .
He ’ s such a hawk his portrait hangs at the Audubon Society .
He makes John Rambo look like Jane Eyre .
Bolton and his mustache were regulars on Greg Gutfeld ’ s old Red Eye program on Fox News .
In fact , he was Red Eye ’ s “ Honorary President.
” Even at 3 a.m. Eastern , Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , and lambasting those who he saw as making us weaker .
And yet today , Bolton is peddling a book that is fodder for those who ’ d do us harm .
Those he for years detested and fought against .
And I don ’ t just mean the mainstream media and liberals .
He is publishing national security secrets and inside information .
Stuff that could be used by Russia , China , Iran and other rival nations .
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the National Security Council , which has a right to review a manuscript of Bolton ’ s book , says it all .
It has “ determined that the manuscript in its present form contains certain passages — some up to several paragraphs in length — that contain classified national security information.
” The NSC argues publication of the book Bolton and his publishers are talking a lot about “ transparency.
” ( Trump is the most transparent president we ’ ve ever had .
To a fault .
Truman would write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Truman would crumple up his insults and toss them in the trash . )
Yet the adage is true , “ loose lips sink ships.
” You don ’ t want to give your enemies anything they can use against you .
You want to control what information they have about what ’ s on your mind .
Don Corleone knew it , “ Never let anyone outside the family know what you ’ re thinking.
” Bolton knew it .
And yet he writes intimate details about a sitting president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a global pandemic .
When North Korea is suddenly acting belligerent and Kim Jong Un is nowhere to be found .
When two massive nuclear powers , China and India are killing each others ’ soldiers along their disputed border .
Man , is getting on CNN and getting into Georgetown cocktail parties really worth it ?
Bolton is also betraying the Republican Party .
What is the book but an in-kind contribution to the Joe Biden campaign ?
Does he really want to see our foreign policy in the hands of Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ?
Does he want to see Adam Schiff as the head of the CIA ?
Does he want to see our borders once again in the hands of the drug cartels and human smugglers ?
Does he want to see our military back in the hands of China-doves ?
Of people happy to see that evil regime spread its power throughout the Pacific and beyond ?
And happy to leave our ambassadors dying in the streets at the hands of jihadists ?
Does he want to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Keeping Republicans off the campaign trail ?
With Congress again taking its eye off the ball ?
The last time they did , they missed the encroaching COVID-19 crisis and 117,000 Americans died as a result .
Is Bolton hoping for a summer sequel ?
As sure as Trump ’ s hair is orange , Democrats will pore over every line looking for something they can turn into another “ investigation ” that will lead to another “ impeachment.
” Bolton must .
He must know that even if he has 591 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , conservative America , even one page blasting Trump will be the only thing that will be covered .
Bolton ’ s book is a Father ’ s Day gift for the Democrats .
A boot to the stomach to the Republicans from the top of the ticket on down .
Bolton Betraying the Office of the Presidency But let ’ s forget the election for a second .
Let ’ s forget the world stage .
Let ’ s even put aside President Trump .
Every president , every leader , every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him or her .
They have to know that their doubts and desires , brainstorms and even bloviating aren ’ t going beyond the room .
Every creative mind is going to have some clunkers .
You can not safely think aloud if you have to worry your thoughts are going to land on the front page of The New York Times .
Your flashes of irritation will be on CNN .
That what you said as a joke at a midnight meeting will be taken as a serious statement on a Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Your mission is jeopardized .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
National Security Adviser for the President of the United States is one of the most solemn and serious jobs on the planet .
No conversation involving a president and his or her National Security Adviser can have strings .
The President can not be thinking , “ How is this going to look if it gets out ?
” The NSA can ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to look in my book ?
” Bolton ’ s book , if it is allowed to be published , will be here and gone .
The pre-sales are strong .
And sure , those with TDS will gobble it up like a teen boy swiping a Playboy magazine .
But is it going to be on anyone ’ s summer reading list ?
Nah .
Besides , at the end of the day , “ I heard Trump say some curious things and lots of us mocked him behind his back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( It ’ s not even unique .
Lincoln ’ s advisors had similar thoughts and experiences with their rube outsider from the backwoods .
They just had the honor to not blab about it publicly for money .
In the midst of a nation in crisis . )
And that Bolton wanting more aggressive action against our foes is like Michael Moore wanting more meats at a barbecue .
Also , as the Washington Post review of his 2008 book Surrender is Not an Option reminds us , Bolton happily admits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boss Colin Powell .
“ He knew it , ” Bolton wrote , “ and he knew I knew it.
” So undermining bosses is nothing new for Bolton .
Neither is lying , as he admitted on Fox in 2010 .
So Bolton will spend the summer as the Democrats ’ favorite pet .
To paraphrase the great Mr. Truman , “ If you want power in Washington , get a rat.
” Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

President Harry S. Truman famously and fabulously said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” However, even Truman would quail at what former National Security Advisor John Bolton just did to President Trump … in fact, the presidency itself and the nation.
Sure, we’ve hatched a Swamp tradition in recent years. People leave an administration and immediately pen a book. (His is titled The Room Where It Happened. Subtitled “A Hissy Fit After Being Fired”. Okay, I made that up.) Who can forget President Clinton’s domestic policy advisor George Stephanapoulos writing a book declaring what a nightmare Hillary Clinton could be. (Bill Clinton’s Press Secretary Dee Dee Meyers did the same.) Or how about President Obama’s Defense Secretary Bob Gates stating in his book that Vice President Joe Biden had been “wrong on every major foreign policy issue in 40 years”?
So many have traded their White House security pass for a book deal. In the Trump era, it seems part of the exit package.
Thus in one sense, we can understand Bolton grabbing his 30 pieces of silver and 15 more minutes of fame by writing a tell-all about his time with Trump. And it is a chuckle watching the media, which absolutely loathed Bolton, fawning all over him like Leo DiCaprio circa 1997. And we laugh as we imagine Bolton teaming with Omarosa in hosting an anti-Trump cruise to the Caribbean. Or Venezuela, which becomes the model for our nation if Biden wins.
Which gets to our first point: Is the payoff … or payback … worth the risk of wrecking his country?
Bolton Betraying His Own Beliefs
John Bolton’s entire career has been focused on pushing to protect the nation, and doing so with a heavy fist. He’s such a hawk his portrait hangs at the Audubon Society. He makes John Rambo look like Jane Eyre.
Bolton and his mustache were regulars on Greg Gutfeld’s old Red Eye program on Fox News. In fact, he was Red Eye’s “Honorary President.” Even at 3 a.m. Eastern, Bolton was pushing for a strong, muscular America, and lambasting those who he saw as making us weaker.
And yet today, Bolton is peddling a book that is fodder for those who’d do us harm. Those he for years detested and fought against. And I don’t just mean the mainstream media and liberals. He is publishing national security secrets and inside information. Stuff that could be used by Russia, China, Iran and other rival nations.
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block publication of the book. In the lawsuit, the National Security Council, which has a right to review a manuscript of Bolton’s book, says it all. It has “determined that the manuscript in its present form contains certain passages — some up to several paragraphs in length — that contain classified national security information.” The NSC argues publication of the book
would cause irreparable harm, because the disclosure of instances of classified information in the manuscript reasonably could be expected to cause serious damage, or exceptionally grave damage, to the national security of the United States.
Bolton and his publishers are talking a lot about “transparency.” (Trump is the most transparent president we’ve ever had. To a fault. Truman would write attacks that would make Trump blush, but Truman would crumple up his insults and toss them in the trash.)
Yet the adage is true, “loose lips sink ships.” You don’t want to give your enemies anything they can use against you. You want to control what information they have about what’s on your mind. Don Corleone knew it, “Never let anyone outside the family know what you’re thinking.” Bolton knew it. And yet he writes intimate details about a sitting president and his thoughts. In the middle of a global pandemic. When North Korea is suddenly acting belligerent and Kim Jong Un is nowhere to be found. When two massive nuclear powers, China and India are killing each others’ soldiers along their disputed border.
Man, is getting on CNN and getting into Georgetown cocktail parties really worth it?
Bolton Betraying His Party
Bolton is also betraying the Republican Party.
What is the book but an in-kind contribution to the Joe Biden campaign? Does he really want to see our foreign policy in the hands of Rep. Ilhan Omar? Our domestic policy in the hands of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? Does he want to see Adam Schiff as the head of the CIA? Does he want to see our borders once again in the hands of the drug cartels and human smugglers? Does he want to see our military back in the hands of China-doves? Of people happy to see that evil regime spread its power throughout the Pacific and beyond? And happy to leave our ambassadors dying in the streets at the hands of jihadists?
Does he want to see the nation mired in another bogus impeachment inquiry? Keeping Republicans off the campaign trail? With Congress again taking its eye off the ball? The last time they did, they missed the encroaching COVID-19 crisis and 117,000 Americans died as a result. Is Bolton hoping for a summer sequel? As sure as Trump’s hair is orange, Democrats will pore over every line looking for something they can turn into another “investigation” that will lead to another “impeachment.”
Bolton must. He must know that even if he has 591 pages touting the need for a strong, conservative America, even one page blasting Trump will be the only thing that will be covered. Bolton’s book is a Father’s Day gift for the Democrats. A boot to the stomach to the Republicans from the top of the ticket on down.
Bolton Betraying the Office of the Presidency
But let’s forget the election for a second. Let’s forget the world stage. Let’s even put aside President Trump. Every president, every leader, every boss, has to trust those advising him or her. They have to know that their doubts and desires, brainstorms and even bloviating aren’t going beyond the room. Every creative mind is going to have some clunkers. You cannot safely think aloud if you have to worry your thoughts are going to land on the front page of The New York Times. Your flashes of irritation will be on CNN. That what you said as a joke at a midnight meeting will be taken as a serious statement on a Sunday morning program.
Your effectiveness is compromised. Your mission is jeopardized.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
National Security Adviser for the President of the United States is one of the most solemn and serious jobs on the planet. No conversation involving a president and his or her National Security Adviser can have strings. The President cannot be thinking, “How is this going to look if it gets out?” The NSA can’t be thinking, “How is this conversation going to look in my book?”
National Security is jeopardized.
Not Summer Reading
Bolton’s book, if it is allowed to be published, will be here and gone. The pre-sales are strong. And sure, those with TDS will gobble it up like a teen boy swiping a Playboy magazine. But is it going to be on anyone’s summer reading list? Nah.
Besides, at the end of the day, “I heard Trump say some curious things and lots of us mocked him behind his back” isn’t exactly a revelation. (It’s not even unique. Lincoln’s advisors had similar thoughts and experiences with their rube outsider from the backwoods. They just had the honor to not blab about it publicly for money. In the midst of a nation in crisis.) And that Bolton wanting more aggressive action against our foes is like Michael Moore wanting more meats at a barbecue.
Also, as the Washington Post review of his 2008 book Surrender is Not an Option reminds us, Bolton happily admits he deliberately undermined his former State Department boss Colin Powell. “He knew it,” Bolton wrote, “and he knew I knew it.” So undermining bosses is nothing new for Bolton. Neither is lying, as he admitted on Fox in 2010.
So Bolton will spend the summer as the Democrats’ favorite pet.
To paraphrase the great Mr. Truman, “If you want power in Washington, get a rat.”
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.