The Man in the Arena

I used to think Teddy Roosevelt was a fantastic man. I have since learned he was perhaps a bit too big government for our good, but regardless, this quote by him is breath-taking and true.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

I'm praying for this generation of men! Warriors arise!! We need men - and women - who are willing to fight for truth and freedom now, before it is too late. 

The Generation Translation Series: More Insights to the Millennials

I guess now would be a good time to make sure we're all on the same page with this fundamental tactic when it comes to understanding those under 35 years old.

Those of us in the Millennial era do not want to be regarded as though we come from a uniform mold or approached as though you're using rules from a text book. We don't want a systems approach or use of generic recipes when you try to engage us. Possibly more than any generation before us, we are defined individually. This is why you cannot expect to fundamentally change us en masse. We need the personal, individual approach. Teach us the truth on a personalized level, with relationship and in genuine spirit. Help us see the truth how it applies to our individual worlds.

Building upon this basic mindset, now onto other thoughts to consider:

1. Provide Credible Sources. And when I say "credible" I mean credible to your audience (or children/grandchildren) not necessarily you. After-all, who are you trying to reach?

Sadly, to quote the Founding Fathers, God, an author in the Bible, Winston Churchill, the great George Whitefield, Russell Kirk, Glenn Beck, Mother Theresa or Rush Limbaugh, may mean very little to the young adult audience you are trying to reach. Keep in mind a) they may not recongize the names (for whatever reason)and  b) if they do recognize the names, it's highly possible they came to their awareness of them in skewed or inaccurate context.

Find out who in the current culture your young adult respects and holds in high regards. I.e. Take Hollywood. It's obvious that a Millennial generation member and younger has a passion for things on the screen. If a famous actress or song writer makes a point about something, it's highly likely your young adults listen. So find someone - even of a smaller profile actor, but from the same culture - who makes the point you're attempting to hit home and catch your young person's attention. (Try starting with Chuck Norris!)

2.  We use our senses. We've been raised in a touchy-feely generation. So ponder ways to reach our hearts and minds through our senses. Don't over-study this feature of our generation's culture. Just take it into consideration that our education isn't only through reading or hour long seminars. Sometimes we can be engaged in other ways. Here are some random ideas:

Eyes - Perhaps your daughter had a passion for art in college, take her to a special art museum that reflects paintings of America's beginnings and what made this country great. Use it to stir conversation.

Pull out photos from your great grandparents to put a face to history to bring context to what today looks like for the younger generation. Perhaps this will encourage them to consider, our ancesters made great sacrifices for the freedoms we have. Even our own blood.

Ears - If you know of a funny comedian that makes the point on the value of country and freedom and you know your teenager likes to laugh: surprise him/her with a night out. Have a nice chat on the way home.

Mouth - If you want to catch the attention of your grandson, to get him to the table to talk to him about the Presidential election, woo him with some of your favorite cookies or apple pie. Am I serious? Yes. You will have his captive attention and it will give you an opportunity to build relationship.

Nose - Take a group of young adults you work with who are looking for an avenue to give back to the community to a homeless shelter, or to clean up an abandon home. When they catch whiff of those who might be in need of a shower or homes that have collected items to be disposed for awhile, use it as a conversation starter: if it wasn't for big government... or

Skin or Touch - If you have younger ones who you can still help manage their time, join them in creating a garden, or volunteering for an older couple on a farm. Touch the dirt. The animals. The crops. And have the conversation: that work ethic matters. That the more we need from government, the more the government takes from Grandpa and Grandma.

And remember, no young adult wants to feel like the person approaching them is formally going through a routine. So don't pull out your 12 point list of things you want to convince them of while they are eating their apple pie. But use these as moments to build relationships, ask them questions about what matters to them and as they see they are valued, hopefully they will start to listen to you and thus awaken to the truth.

Some things to ponder... more in the Translation Series soon.

A Convicting Prayer to Embrace

This prayer was really spoken before legislators when Pastor Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate.

“Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your directoin and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe on those who call evil good’, but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.

We confess that:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it political savvy.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You to govern this great state. Grant them the wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will.
I ask it in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.”

How to Pray for Your Children

Pray that they would see the world through God's eyes, that they would know truth and obey God with full surrender.

Pray that they would realize their generation has been involved in group think. Pray they understand the questions in which to ask, that will break them out of this tight hold. And ask that God would give them wisdom on how to unravel the web of lies our generation has had woven about our hearts and minds.

Ask God to show you effective strategy for communicating with, relating to and reaching them. Ask God how to serve them.

Pray that God would give them a sense of destiny and purpose. That they would look to God as the Provider not government.

Pray they would discover the truth on our country's history. Pray that God would give them wisdom on how to lead others to the truth.

Ask that their own hearts would be softened to the truth, that their ears would hear and their eyes would see.

But also pray that God shows you (and me) how we need to change, where we're wrong, how we need to correct our own steps. Ask that God would show us how we need to look at the world through the eyes of the younger generation. Pray for patience, and grace and mercy. Pray for compassion of our own hearts for the next generations.

And continue to pray for mercy on our land, for protection for those responsible for protecting us and for healing to our families. Ask Him to show us how to heal the broken hearted, how He wants to redeem this land and ask Him to help us to embrace and live in forgiveness and unconditional love one to another.

Oh and may we remind one another to Listen to Him. Nothing is too great for Him. He has the strategy and the plan and the secrets... but we must listen.

Start giving God thanks: with Him is hope. And He's still busy doing miracles... 

Social vs Economic

If you've heard anything in the last couple weeks in the land of Presidential politics, you've heard electric discussions on "social issues." After the gasps, there ensues frantic scrambles to escape from the un-touchable topics that fit in this category. Or, on the other hand, if the discussion-ball is in the court of the mainstream media personality, the topics are pummeled sense-less

If you listen to the GOP's top voices you've been told economy is the only important piece to discuss in this election. Sure social plays a role, but it's too divisive and not worth talking about for prime-time. Everything that could be contentious should be left alone, unless it's winning us votes. But somehow it still gets talked about; and not always by those who identify themselves as "social conservatives" either. Yet somehow we get blamed for the discussion. 

The liberals. If they bring up the topic, than it's okay to talk about it. Since they have started the conversation, they get to frame it. And those who do believe in the importance of social issues are put in the boxing ring to fight to make their point. Sometimes they come out standing; many times the viewers who consider themselves part of their brotherhood, sigh with disappointment, because it's one more time that we look daft and therefore worthy of the mockery.

But why is it that the liberal mainstream media, busy Hollywood stars and talk show hosts, and politicians with a D behind their name, can somehow have this conversation yet demonize the rest of us? They can hash social issues all they want. Talk about them. Mock them. Parade on them and kick them. Fight against them. Scream at them. And force them away.  And yet through this all, no one seems to notice that it's the liberal mainstream media who are actually the instigators of this conversation. So perhaps it's they who want to talk about it. But why? 

To me, social issues have to do with those things of life that are fruits of our worldview and personal convictions. The personal heart and lifestyle matters. The things that have a connection to morality and virtue. Social issues are connected to our worldview. And if our values get called into question, do we hesitate then on how we see the world?

I think social issues are uncomfortable to talk about in our country for a couple reasons:
1 - they are personal; everyone is no longer operating out of the same rule book for life and thus ensues creates a passionate upheaval of defending your view.

2 - We don't understand their vital role in the economic conversation; how they are relative to the pangs of our culture.

To many people who bear the "social conservative" title, this mantle isn't a decision of belief but a lifestyle that is embraced. It's not something that has to be discussed. It's something that is fruit of who we are within and therefore foreign when someone wants to argue it. Because, after-all, it's common sense. Isn't it?

For too long we've acted as though the economy is the "only" topic to be discussed. Well, guess what. It's too late for that. If we are going to save our country, we have to start addressing the "elephant" in the room. Why? Because the economy cannot be fixed by dollars alone. If you're going to fix the out-of-whack culture and the ever talked about economic disaster, you best start with addressing the home and heart within. It's not just money that's the problem, people. It's the lives of the people behind the money that really matter. 

Just a thought ... 

Don't Look to Others

I feel like Glenn Beck as I write this entry. But the message is truth and a necessary commission for this hour of our country. On top of that I'm a huge Glenn Beck fan but regardless of who says this, it needs to be said to me, and to all of us.

We must quit relying on others to do our job.

What would happen if we all took responsibility for our own marching orders, needs and hopes?

What if each one of us got our own nails dirty and engaged our own minds to find answers and manageable solutions? Do we really need "experts" for answers or has The Expert Himself endowed us with the pathway to answers on our own? And if He has then why don't we accept the confidence He has in us - of revealing such fantastic secrets for success - and put them into action?

Do we really need conduits (pastors, teachers, priests, liaisons) to Heaven? Or can God speak to us individually? Do we think too often as a group? Do we operate in our own world with the assumption that God sees us as part of a classroom vs as His darling and favorite friend? But if we acknowledge that God sees us as individuals, with individual value, then why do we process life, as a group? We come together to hear a message. We come together to get a college degree. We come together to create a plan. We think like a group. We act like a group. We look to a group to do our job, to give us answers, to make the bad parts go away and the good parts happen. We feel out of place if we as individuals don't go agree with the group's opinion, assessment, or direction. Right?

There is a time and a place for teamwork, kindred consultation, educated instruction, accountability and partnership. I am not suggesting that groups are wrong as a whole or that God intended us to be islands with no need for giving or receiving from fellow humans!

What I am saying is that a) we are INDIVIDUALLY valuable to God b) He has ideas, revelations, solutions He wants to give to us individually and c) we have to start taking responsibility for ourselves!!!

This message is to The Millennial Generation who is somewhat familiar with living among-st generous adults who help us out - regardless of ages. But this message is also for The Baby Boomers, and members of The Greatest Generation (aka parents and grandparents): How much are you looking to others to do the job of reaching your young person? 


Why do you look to others to accomplish a task God has equipped you for? Why go to someone else for answers when God is waiting for you to ask Him questions and then listen so He can teach you? Why do we want others to handle the responsibility so we can slip away? After-all, "there is someone else" who can do the task, right? We've "paid our duty" and therefore we deserve an easy slide into home base, right? If it's someone else's fault or responsibility, even if I'm a part of the team, the results - good or bad - rest on another's shoulders, not mine. Right? Wrong.

This is part of the reason our country is GREAT. Our founders acknowledged a God Who taught them that individuals have rights and values. It's when the group becomes the norm and the default that we're in trouble. Because if we operate as a group, we rely on someone else to "hear" from God, do the civic responsibility that needs accomplishing, etc. And we all know leaving it to someone else allows the option it won't get done at all.  And when thinking as a group is the norm, we loose sight of our precious value to God.

He created us as individuals from conception. He knows the hair on each of our heads. He give us individual finger prints. He gave us individual strengths and weaknesses. He asks of us an individual confession to Him, on behalf of our individual self, for salvation, forgiveness, and surrender.

If you take an individual piece of corn and put it in a corn bin, it won't fill the bin up. But if you put thousands and thousands of individual corn kernels in a bin, you have a healthy supply of feed for your animals the coming winter.

In the same way, we cannot have a healthy country (or group) until we have healthy individuals - body, soul, mind and spirit. And until we individually surrender to and follow God and operate responsibly with the tasks He's given us we will not have a healthy nation.

Americans, we can do better than this!! We must understand how God sees us, and Who He is, then take responsibility for our own acts, conscious thoughts, heart intentions, and bearing of fruit if we are going to save our country.

And this individual believes it is definitely achievable.

Honoring My Parents... Especially Today

My parents were “older” when they married. And they eventually discovered the doctor’s verdict that they would not be able to have children. I can only imagine the agony of this discovery, when one had hoped for so long to have your own to raise.

But instead of resolving themselves to the best educated guess of the doctors, they headed over to their friends where a Bible study was being held. Their friends layed hands on them and extended faith that the doctor’s prediction would not stand.

And true to His nature, God rewarded their faith, and showed them His Favor by giving them a daughter eight years after they were married. Her name means beloved gift of God and with the natural thought that this babe would be their only child, God surprised them again with more children.

On the first few minutes of my birthday, my parents come to mind. I am so grateful for their faith, their resolve, their patience and steadfastness towards God and His ability and eagerness to delight them with the desires of their heart. I am grateful for their friends who took a step of faith with them. And I am very thankful to God for giving me life.

Never underestimate God’s willingness and ability to defeat the human experts predictions. And never underestimate the power of faith and hope for those people and situations you are hanging onto for promises fulfilled.

As part of a generation who were being eliminated under the knife, it is evident that the devil did not desire my generation to exist. But the obedience, petition and patience of a mom and dad gave this girl life. To Him be the glory. My hope is that my parents would be continually blessed for their faithfulness to God. And I’m very glad they never gave up hoping... or else I might not exist.

Do not grow weary in waiting dear friends, no matter your desire. God is working on manifesting His promise to you. Rest in Him. You have no idea what life He is breathing around you. There is no end, but only hope and optimism in Christ.

So here’s to my parents for their love of and faith regarding me even before I was born. And here’s to God … for making an "impossibility" possible and giving me life.

The Translation Series: How to Reach Us

One of the requirements for graduation from my undergraduate alma mater was taking a cross cultural trip. My trip to Jamaica for three weeks was not meant as a vacation but as an educational experience to broaden my perspective and help me understand others' reality and world. The leadership knew we could not effectively learn about another culture unless we inserted ourselves into it, experienced it for ourselves, learned their mindset, and adjusted ourselves to their culture vs expecting them to adjust to ours. They did not ask us to become Jamaicans. They expected we would hold on to our own identity as Americans. But in this experience we would learn how others lived, learn how to reach others outside our norm and appreciate what we had at home, among many other things. 

I mention the above to make this point: the Baby Boomers and Greatest Generation communities in America will benefit from seeing the “young adults” as its own culture. If one is going to make their most out of a culture and reach it so to accomplish whatever purpose, one must be strategic about their approach. To walk into China and attempt to solicit their attention for your life changing leadership idea by speaking English, is not going to work too well. And in the same way, do not assume that you will reach the young adult generation using your generational lingo and cultural innuendos. The idea that the "English" culture can effectively reach the "China" culture has gone on too long. You cannot count on those you want to reach coming to you. You have to figure out how to reach their ears, minds and hearts then go to them. 

It is imperative that we as adults change our mindset on approach if we are going to save our country. 

You will be more effective in your engagement of the younger generation by

1. Communicating in Soundbites. Do not try forwarding long emails, printing off articles, or buying us books. Instead, post a link to an article on our Facebook page; share a youtube video, no longer than 30 seconds, with us that conveys a point you’d like to make; ask us questions that are thought provoking instead of giving us long speeches.

2. Embracing that to us Images are Stronger than Words. We’ve grown up in a visual culture and that is the best initial point of communication entry into our minds. Images of a child you want us to help; short educational videos; or cartoon illustrations on how the economic process works will go much farther than all the eloquent presentations you have planned, or tried thus far.

3. Accepting how Our Minds Operate. Our attention is short. We are used to working on computers, easily flipping between several screens, juggling many responsibilities, rolling many balls down the road at once. We text a friend, listen to a conversation, and watch the news all at the same time and can actually summarize what we’ve just heard. So tell us quick.

4. Not Imitating Us. Show us you care about our world, you're interested to know what we think, feel and observe. But do not dress like us, aim to be only our friend, and try to act like our equal, because you're not.  You are a parent, or significant role model and we need you. We need someone who will hold us accountable, challenge us and give us something to aspire towards. Come into our world, but continue to hold your position for who God has made you to be to us.

5. Remember the Power of Touch. Just because the norm is to teach a student from a book, does not mean we all learn that way. Some people learn the most when they can experience something, touch it, grasp it, when it is real to them. If you have a point you want to make to your young adults, get creative and help us "touch" it on our own.

I.e. you want your kids to understand how big the government is getting, that money is disappearing from your check via taxes, when your child asks for money to go to the movies tell them: "I wish I could! Your movie money has already been spent." Then show them the check stub and how the increased taxes have influenced their life.

Or you want them to appreciate America? Arrange a casual date for coffee, perhaps over a fun project, and build a relationship with friends who have served in the military. Find a way to involve your young adult in this relationship and ask the veterans to share their story of what they did as a member of the military (or a military family) and then ask them why they did it. The story of these real soldiers will touch their own emotions and might go far in starting to awaken their awareness that this is a country worth fighting for.

... There are more points to make. But this is enough for now.

But, one of my most important points: stop looking to others to reach your members of the young adult generation. I can speak to 50 young adults, reach them in 20 minutes, they will most likely walk out and forget 99% of what I’ve said. But your genuine interest in them, your ongoing integrity and consistency in your own beliefs, and your willingness to learn from them will go farther and last longer. You know them, you love them, you live alongside them on a regular basis. YOU are the best conduit for influence to the young adults around you. 

My generation does not need more speeches, parties or rallys. We need parent and grandparent figures who will care enough to reach us and then figure out how to convey the absolute truths and values to our generational culture. Help us. We're silently waiting on you to move. Without you, we're not sure where we're headed, who we are, or what we're moving towards. Find a way to tell us the truth. And remember  this cross cultural experience begins with you (yes you) right now...  

The Translation Series: Defining Life

This will be a portion of a series I'm starting called "The Translation Series" as I think outside the box for ideas that might help you to communicate with and understand the younger generation in your life.

So you want your kids to understand the importance of abortion. You’ve tried talking to them about it and have solicited the following responses:

• “Who are we to control what a woman does to her body!”
• “If a couple can’t take care of the child they have, why have another?”
• “If you aren’t able to financially care for a child, why have one and provide a less than desirable life later?”
• “It’s not a real life yet!”
• “They weren’t ready for a child yet! They want to enjoy their life first”
• “He left her. She can’t take care of the baby on her own, all alone!”

Feel free to add to the list as I’m sure there are 

dozens of other responses when you say: 

“Abortion is never okay!” 

After soliciting a similar response as above, your next question is probably “How do I convince these younger adults that abortion is not okay? How do I get them to listen?!?!”

Start by reviewing this basic tip page on how to reach the younger generations [if you don’t see a link here, it’s still in progress]. Then consider the following suggestions.

• Make the issue personal and start by doing your research. How many abortions have taken place in your/their own community? How many abortion clinics are in your surrounding areas? Contact your local pro-life group chapter, visit a national website or start googling to find out the break down of numbers.
  
  
• Make things visual. If your child is still under your roof or you still have sway with them, have them watch a movie that demonstrates the beginning of life, facts on the stages for when a baby develops (Try googling Students for Life or Right to Life, or a TED talk shared to the right here).
  
  
• Use Numbers. How many babies have been aborted since your child was born? Spell it out for them: if x amount of children were not aborted, which of them would have been their friends? Their neighbors? How would their presence have helped the economy by being tax payers or consumers of certain items? What families would they have?
  
  
• Share the facts. When they tout the idea that abortion is valid, necessary and justified, share simple casual facts: “Did you know that the majority of women who have had abortions have emotional and physical problems later? Did you know that siblings of aborted children suffer? Did you know that a certain percentage of dads whose children have been aborted … “ and so on. Find facts via Right to Life or Students for Life websites.
  
  
• Offer alternatives. Share stories of parents who want to adopt as they have not been able to conceive their own children. Do they know of the Pregnancy Resource center in their area that has supplies read to help moms in need? Oftentimes churches might be willing to be a support. Share facts of children and how they benefit from two parent homes vs one parent homes, if a mom is considering raising her baby alone.
  

Your approach may differ based on the age of your child, their reason for justification, their culture of friends. I hope this is a help!  There is no abc steps but perhaps these give you a few launching ideas. Please start the process. The younger generations desperately need more parents and grandparents to start the conversation.

Note: If you find helpful resources you want to share with other readers of this post, please share ideas in the comments section, or post websites/tips on my facebook profile. Thanks! www.facebook.com/amyjaynehawkins

A Must Read: The Social Conservative Review: February 2, 2012

The Social Conservative Review: February 2, 2012:

Click here to subscribe to the Social Conservative Review.

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is one of America’s most respected and learned journals. It is a forum in which some of our finest minds publish articles on everything from “Evidence for the extraterrestrial origin of a natural quasicrystal” to “In-feed antibiotic effects on the swine intestinal microbiome.” To a non-scientist like me, even the titles are intimidating.

In the most recent edition of PNAS, three Stanford University scholars argue that both liberals and conservatives engage in a “dramatic projection of one’s own views onto those of Jesus.” While it is only human for us to want the Savior to confirm our own predilections, there can be no doubt that, objectively, Jesus affirmed the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, Old Testament teachings about human sexuality and personhood within the womb, or the dignity of every person such that liberty — religious, political, and economic — should be the normal state of society.

As theologian Andreas Kostenberger wrote in his recent FRC booklet, “The Bible’s Teaching on Marriage and the Family:”

Marriage and the family were God’s idea, and as divine institutions they are not open to human renegotiation or revision … the Bible clearly teaches that God instituted marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, a lifelong union of two partners created in God’s image to govern and manage the earth for him. In keeping with his wonderful design, the Creator will normally bless a married couple with children, and it is his good plan that a family made up of a father, a mother, and several children witness to his glory and goodness in a world that has rejected the Creator’s plan and has fashioned a variety of God-substitutes to fill the void that can properly be filled only by God himself.

We all like it when people agree with us. Yet it’s more important that we agree with the God of the Bible, Whose path for human relationships and sexuality is clear in His written Word and evidenced in the natural order. It’s up to each of us to choose whether or not to take it.

Sincerely, Rob Schwarzwalder Senior Vice President Family Research Council

P.S. FRC President Tony Perkins has been offering some sage counsel about the current state of American politics in a series of recent television interviews. To view Tony’s comments, click here.

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Educational Freedom and Reform Homeschooling

• “Why Urban, Educated Parents Are Turning to DIY Education,” Linda Perlstein, Newsweek
• “‘Tim Tebow homeschool law’ gains momentum in Virginia,” Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post
• “Catholic Homeschool Group’s Appeal will be Argued Before the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC),” Christian NewsWire

Legislation and Policy Proposals

• “College Debt and 2012,” Chris Gacek, Family Research Council
• “The State of Education,” Chester E. Finn, Jr., National Review Online
• “Why You Should Postpone College,” Brett Nelson, Forbes
• “Jindal’s Education Moon Shot,” The Wall Street Journal
• “Golden Missed Opportunity,” Larry Sand, City Journal
• “Redeeming Higher Education,” James R. Stoner, Jr., Claremont Review of Books
• “Our Inequality,” Peter David Gross, The Examined Life

Government Reform Regulation

• “Geithner Says ‘Basic Elements’ of Finance Reform Done This Year,” Ian Katz, Bloomberg
• “Obama Comes Around on U.N. Reform,” Brett Schaefer, National Review Online
• “Trust-Busting and Trusting in the Administrative State,” Michael Fragoso, The Public Discourse
• “It’s Working in Walker’s Wisconsin,” Christian Schneider, City Journal

Waste/Fraud/Abuse

• “Average federal pay matches Microsoft,” Andrew Biggs, The Enterprise Blog
• “The Debt Trap, Part (1),” Michael S. Greve, Library of Law and Liberty
• “Is President Obama Creating A Nation Of Dependents?,” John Merline, Investor’s Business Daily
• “Dining with Vultures: Rent-to-Own, the Feds, and the Housing Sector,” Jay Weiser, The American

Health Care Abstinence

• “Abortion-contraception arguments are really about teen sex,” Sarah S. Brown, The Washington Post
• “New sex education standards released,” Kimberly Hefling, Associated Press
• “‘Safe sex’ is a myth, & CDC stats prove it,” Kelly Boggs, Baptist Press

Conscience Protection

• “ObamaCare and Religious Freedom,” Timothy M. Dolan, The Wall Street Journal
• “Respecting religious exemptions,” Editorial, The Washington Post
• “An Unconscionable Threat to Conscience,” Donald P. Condit, The Acton Institute
• “Ruling on Contraception Draws Battle Lines at Catholic Colleges,” Denise Grady, New York Times

Health care reform: Political and Legislative efforts

• “The Wyden-Ryan proposal-a foundation for realistic Medicare reform,” Joseph Antos, The New England Journal of Medicine
• “If we knew then what we know now about healthcare reform,” Andrew Biggs, The Enterprise Blog
• “The HHS Contraception Mandate vs. the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” Ed Whelan, National Review Online
• “Free Birth Control vs. Freedom of Religion,” Wesley J. Smith, National Review Online
• “The Obama Mandate to Catholics: “To Hell With You?”,” Paul G. Kengor, The Center for Vision and Values

Homosexuality

• “Gay marriage gaining momentum in WA Legislature,” Rachel La Corte, Associated Press
• “Catholic Conference chides same-sex marriage supporters,” John Wagner, The Washington Post
• “The Same-Sex “Marriage” Proposal is Unjust Discrimination,” Patrick Lee, The Public Discourse
• “Reclaiming the Rhetoric of ‘Family’: 3 Reasons Why Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in the Military Matters,” Katie Miller, The Huffington Post
• “UN Secretary General Tells African Nations to Stop Discriminating Against Homosexuals,” Stefano Gennarini, J.D., Turtle Bay and Beyond
• “Vulgarity and Vengeance,” Anthony Esolen, The Catholic Thing

Human Life and Bioethics Abortion

• “Feathers Ruffled at Greater DC Girl Scout Council,” Cathy Ruse, Family Research Council
• “A New Study Finds Abortion Safer than Giving Birth,” Krystle Weeks, Family Research Council
• “Roe v. Wade: A Constitutional and Moral Tragedy,” Sen. Orrin Hatch
• “The mental toll of abortion,” Jeanne Monahan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• “Roe v. Wade and Equal Opportunity,” Ken Thomas, The Ashbrook Center
• “The Mounting Tragedy of Missing Baby Girls,” Matt Ridley, The Wall Street Journal
• “The Vision of a Pro-Life Generation,” Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online
• ” Pro-Life Is Prettier: Beauty in the Pro-Life Movement,” Katrina Fernandez, Patheos
• “The Unbearable Wrongness of Roe,” Michael Stokes Paulsen, The Public Discourse
• “Two Cheers for Pro-Life Europe,” Austin Ruse, The Catholic Thing
• “Focusing on the fetus changes abortion debate,” Margaret Somerville, The National Post

Bioethics and Biotechnology

• “Archbishop Chaput Blasts Growing Eugenics in Fetal Medicine,” Gerard Nadal, LifeNews.com

Euthanasia and End of Life Issues

• “Is it morally wrong to take a life? Not really, say bioethicists,” Michael Cook, BioEdge
• “‘Incompatible with Life’ is a judgment not a diagnosis,” Nancy Mayer-Whittington, LifeSiteNews.com

Stem Cell Research

To read about the latest advances in ethical adult stem cell research, keep up with leading-edge reports from FRC’s Dr. David Prentice, click here.

• “The Stem Cell Debates,” The New Atlantis
• “The End of Embryonic Stem Cell Research?,” Nathaniel Peters, First Things
• “Stacking the deck on the stem-cell program,” Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times
• “Politics obscure science of stem-cell debate,” David Baugher, The St. Louis Beacon

Human Trafficking

• “The Human Face Of Modern Slavery,” Corban Addison, The Huffington Post
• “Human trafficking: Hunting the predator,” Elizabeth Prann, Fox News
• “‘All I Was Good for Was Sex’,” Nathan Clarke, Christianity Today

Women’s Health

• “When the State Took Away My Life: North Carolina Grapples with Sterilization Practice,” Karen Swallow Prior, Christianity Today
• “How the CDC is overstating sexual violence in the US,” Christina Hoff Sommers, American Enterprise Institute
• “The Vitrification Fertility Option,” Rebecca Dana, Newsweek

Marriage and Family Adoption

• “The Joy of Pretty Things,” Nancy French, National Review Online
• “Va. legislators to consider gay adoption issue,” Zinie Chen Sampson, Associated Press
• “‘Too old to keep baby’,” Linda Fort, Get Reading
• “Utah adoption bill aims to give unwed fathers more protections,” Brooke Adams, The Salt Lake Tribune

Family Economics

• “The Keystone Pipeline, Energy, and Family Economics,” Chris Gacek, Family Research Council
• “The Tax Rate Scandal,” Mark W. Hendrickson, The Center for Vision and Values
• “Beyond Blue Part One: The Crisis of the American Dream,” Walter Russell Mead, Via Meadia
• “The “Immobile Class”: On College and Work in the New America,” Owen Strachan

Family Structure

• “The New American Divide,” Charles Murray, The Wall Street Journal
• “The Untapped Potential of the At-Home Mom,” Suanne Camfield, Christianity Today
• “Child’s Play,” Carrie Lukas, National Review Online

Media Pornography

• “House of Lies’ and Mainstream Pornography,” Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic
• “Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act: 5 Things to Know About H.R. 1981,” Connor Adams Sheets, International Business Times
• “Should I Marry a Man with Pornography Struggles? My Response,” Russell D. Moore, Moore to the Point

Internet

• “SOPA Pro and Con,” Justin Shubow, FedSoc Blog

Media

• “Nudity on the Rise in Broadcast TV,” Parents Television Council
• “Damsels in Undress,” Sean Daly, New York Post

Religion and Public Policy Religious Liberty

• “Christians Say Obama is Trampling Religious Liberty,” Todd Starnes, Fox News
• “On Religious Freedom, Years of Battles Ahead,” David Skeel, The Wall Street Journal
• “Parochial Schools And Peyote: How Illegal Drugs And Christian School Teachers Are Related,” Kevin Theriot, Alliance Defense Fund
• “Vanderbilt Univ. Christian Group Says It’s Being Forced Off Campus,” Stephanie Samuel, The Christian Post
• “Religious Liberty and Civil Society,” Yuval Levin, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Religion in America

• “John 3:16: Tim Tebow’s Verse?,” Robert Morrison, Family Research Council
• “What Will It Take To Transform The Mountains Of Culture?,” Chris Robertson, The Acton Institute
• “What the Bible Teaches About Capitalism,” Aryeh Spero, The Wall Street Journal
• “Anger, Bad-And Good?,” Austin Ruse, The Catholic Thing

Secularism

• “Stubborn Amish and Stubborn Atheists,” Peter Berger, The American Interest

International Israel

• “Column One: The Zionist imperative,” Caroline Glick, The Jerusalem Post
• “Israel’s future: Risks or opportunities?,” Uri Dromi, The Miami Herald

International Economy and Family

• “The (Almost) Triumph of Offshore Balancing,” Christopher Layne, The National Interest
• “Why Growth Matters More than Debt,” Steve Conover, The American
• “Will German Politicians Wreck Europe To Save Their Own Skins?,” Walter Russell Mead, Via Meadia

Religious Persecution

• “Responding to Islamism and Persecution of the Church,” Rob Schwarzwalder, Family Research Council
• “The Muslim-American Muddle: Where Do Muslims Fit in American Society?,” Lecture, American Enterprise Institute
• “The Church Persecuted – 2011,” George J. Marlin, The Catholic Thing

Sharia law — U.S., foreign

• “Aquinas on Islam,” Matthew Hanley, The Catholic Thing
• “Slaughterhouse Rules,” Elli Fischer, Jewish Daily Ideas
• “Opposition mounts to growing use of sharia law in Britain,” Barnabas Aid

The Courts Constitutional Issues

• “Wagner’s cautionary tale of latest example of political bias,” Chris Gacek, The Cedar Rapids Gazette
• “Liberty Forum on the Constitutional Amendment Process,” Mike Rappaport, Library of Law and Liberty
• “Beyond Originalism: Conservative Declarationism and Constitutional Redemption,” Ken I. Kersch, Maryland Law Review

Other News of Note

• “The King’s Summit,” Robert Morrison, Human Events
• “Social Justice, Institutions, and Communities,” Adam J. MacLeod, The Public Discourse
• “Patrick Henry, Patriot,” Gary S. Smith, The Center for Vision and Values

Book reviews

• “Trials and Tribulations of Girl Land,” Krystle Weeks, Family Research Council
• “Talking About REAL Marriage,” Susan Wise Bauer, Christianity Today
• “Eden’s Bridge: the Marketplace in God’s Kingdom, a Partner Spotlight,” Elise Hilton, PovertyCure
• “The Humanity of Christ Matters,” Russell D. Moore, Moore to the Point