NYC Churches allowed back in NYC Schools... for now

Huff Post has an article today stating that Churches can have access to public schools in order to hold religious services.  Churches have long rented space in public schools, just like a number of other organizations including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, music groups, civic societies, and others.  New York City has singled out religious groups, however, and tried to state that they were not allowed because it violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government to endorse a particular religion.

The Judge ruled in favor of the Churches, stating "... losing one's right to exercise freely and fully his or her religious beliefs is a greater threat to our democratic society than a misperceived violation of the Establishment Clause."  In other words, this isn't a violation of the EC, and the City instead is unlawfully restricting the free and full exercise of religious freedom.

Well said, Judge.  It's not like the Churches are getting any favoritism over other groups, and it's not like only a single denomination or a single religion are the only ones able to use the schools for their activities.  The schools are clearly not endorsing any one particular group simply by renting the space to them on the weekend.

Of course, NYC has said they will appeal the decision.

More kids being born outside of marriage

An article today in the NY Times describes the changing social norm of children being born outside of marriage.  It states that for women under 30, more than half of the births now occur outside of marriage.  This contrasts sharply with data from just two decades ago.  Yet a deeper look at the numbers shows that college graduates still overwhelmingly marry before having children.  The divide in behavior therefore is significant between those who get a college degree and those who don't.

The risks to these children are considerable.  The article goes on to state that "Researchers have consistently found that children born outside marriage face elevated risks of falling into poverty, failing in school, or suffering emotional and behavioral problems."  Children need both fathers and mothers, together.

I don't know anyone who wants their children to fall into poverty, fail at school, or suffer emotional or behavioral problems.  We all want the best for our kids.  So waiting to have children until marriage is a good way to do what's best for your kids.

The Church and society need to really take a long hard look at why marriages and even marriage as an institution is failing among those who are poor and who are poorly educated.  One doesn't have to be rich or educated to get married, so what's the cause of this, and what needs to be done to help reverse the trend?  We must care for the poor, think carefully about their personal situations and the related societal issues, and act in ways that bring benefit.

And parents, make sure your little girls get a good education.

Great concept video

I'm not terribly familiar with this artist, but I saw this video today and had to share.  Song is called "The Same Love" by Paul Baloche, who though a quick google search is a pastor & musician who has written a number of popular Christian songs.

I love the imagery of the red cups, and the people on the street walking by who's ears are covered by headphones or earmuffs.  Life is like that - we can't hear the music because we have already filled our ears with something else.  We walk right on by and miss something wonderful.

In the creation story of Narnia, right before Aslan says "Love. Think. Speak." he first says "Awake!".  The main difference between being awake and being asleep is being aware of what is going on around you.  The people in the video walk right on by the hanging red cups, unaware that something wonderful is happening right there next to them. There are a number of times in life where I'm that person.  And so everyday I have to re-examine for just a moment, and make sure I'm awake and aware that people like Paul Baloche are calling from the roof tops and singing a message of hope.



Happy Valentine's Day!

The Man Who Stayed Behind

This news is a bit old, coming from last October, but it was new to me and so impressive I had to share.  The story is of a 30-year old guy, Ryan Boyette, who has been living in Sudan and trying desperately not to get killed in doing so.  NYTimes columnist Nicholas Kristoff wrote up a piece about him, The Man Who Stayed Behind, that is a must-read.  He started out working with the international aid agency Samaritan's Purse, but when they required that he leave, he resigned.  He had, by that point, been living there 8 years and had gotten married to a local woman named Jazira.  I found another article on him, including an interview at Pantheos that is also worth reading. His life is a story that all of us need to hear, and upon hearing, act.  But what to do?  I'll be honest - I don't know.  There certainly are aid organizations where money could be sent, such as those linked to above.  But also, share his story.

Sanctity of Life Week

This week, evangelical Christians in the United States and elsewhere have been celebrating Sanctity of Life week.  It is a time spent thinking about one of the most divisive issues in the U.S., the subject of abortion.  There is no doubt that, from a Judeo-Christian viewpoint, the unborn child is of immense value.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; ..."  Jeremiah 1:5.

I can remember, when my wife was pregnant with our first child, the first time we saw an ultrasound of the baby growing inside.  My first thought, as the picture came up, was "That's a spine!", and then "That's the head!".  It was easy to see.  The little lump inside my wife was a little person.  and she was beautiful.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."  Psalm 139:13.

It is estimated that about 50 million unborn babies have been aborted in the U.S. over the past few decades.  That's an enormous number of individuals who never had a chance at life because their mothers and fathers didn't want them.  It is hard to imagine something as sad as an innocent baby who isn't wanted by his/her parents.

This morning in Church, a woman spoke about her daughter, a teen, who had become pregnant.  And she immediately thought that abortion was the answer.  But fortunately, they managed to find Living Alternatives pregnancy resource center.  There they met people who cared about them and their situation, and helped them find the love in their hearts that they needed for the child.  They ended up keeping the child, and the baby is a few months old now.  The grandmother kept saying "I can't believe I ever thought that (about abortion)".  Her heart was changed.  The mother is still an honor student!  I couldn't help but want to help them in their difficult journey that still lies ahead.  

"'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"  Jeremiah 29:11

What bothered me most was the total lack of dads - neither the dad of the baby nor the dad of the teen mother were anywhere around.  MEN, MAN UP.  On a personal note, there has been nothing better happen to me in my entire life than being a dad to little children.  Their faces, smiles, quirks, habits, mannerisms, and little minds are amazing and inspiring and frustrating on a daily basis.  But there is something about being a father that really changes a man's heart & mind to something good.

But this issue, about the sanctity of life, is not just about unborn babies and U.S. politics.  This past week, I came across a blog post in the Independent titled: "It's a girl: The three deadliest words in the world".  This is about a documentary film, "It's a girl", that discusses the practice of killing unwanted baby girls, both in the womb and born, in south Asia.  And it is soul-crushing.  The practice of killing baby girls is due to a twisted view that boys are somehow more valuable, partly brought on by cultural factors of work & provision for the family.  But it isn't just cultural, this is a spiritual blackness of seeing children as something other than valued, beloved children of God.  The second sentence of the article states "The trailer's most chilling scene is one with an Indian woman who, unable to contain her laughter, confesses to having killed eight infant daughters."  A picture of a smiling woman is also captioned "I strangled it soon after it was born."  Pretty much sucks the life right out of your soul, doesn't it?  Tough to read.

This is evil, plain & simple.  There is nothing else to call it.

It is estimated that ~200 million girls in the world are "missing", presumably killed or sold into some sort of slavery.  What an enormous number, about 2/3 the population of the entire United States.  It is a sickening travesty against women, mainly performed by women.  And it is a crime against humanity itself.

So my fellow world travelers, I want to leave you with simply this: that life is precious, especially little ones.  Somehow, there are folks in our world who's mental patterns are so far gone from that one simple truth that they are able to kill these little ones multiple times and talk about it with a smirk on their face.  How have we gotten so far gone?  Humanity has probably been this far gone for thousands of years, somewhere.  But cultural change through education, humanitarian aid, and a change of heart toward valuing all life can and will make the difference, just like it did in the life of the women at my church this morning.  I encourage folks to find an organization like Living Alternatives and help out in any way you can.  These organizations always are in need - give a little, and you'll change a life.