Monday, December 18, A.D. 2017
By Adam McManus
Conservative and Evangelical Leaders Weigh in On Doug Jones’ Victory
Following Democrat Doug Jones’ win over Republican candidate Roy Moore in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race, a number of conservative and evangelical leaders took to social media to weigh in on the surprise 49.9%-to-48.4% victory.
Kay Warren, wife of Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, tweeted: “We live in desperately dark times when our choice is between a man accused of pedophilia and a man who supports abortion of near full-term babies.”
Al Mohler, American historical theologian and the ninth president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, said, that “on the question of abortion, Alabama has now elected a senator who is not only pro-abortion, but radically so.” However, electing Roy Moore would have been a “moral disaster” for Alabama.
Former governor of Arkansas and Christian minister Mike Huckabee, who initially endorsed Moore, encouraged the former judge to “exit with class,” noting that “it wasn’t close enough for recount. In elections everyone does NOT get a trophy.”
Steve Bannon Blames Senator Mitch McConnell for Doug Jones’ Win
In a related story, former White House strategist Steve Bannon contended that he was playing a longer game to reshape the Republican Party around President Trump’s agenda of reduced immigration, protectionist trade policy and military de-escalation. That effort, he said, would not be undone by a single defeat like the one in Alabama, reports The New York Times.
The Republican Establishment, represented by Scott Reed, chief political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the strategy is two-fold. “First is to dry up [Bannon’s] money … and second to try and drive a wedge between him and Trump to the point where Trump is questioning him and his judgment.”
Bannon points his finger at Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, who encouraged Republicans not to vote for Moore.
Little Boy Who Lost His Family in Texas Church Shooting Asks for Christmas Cards
A 5-year-old boy who lost his stepmother and two sisters in the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas has asked for Christmas cards as he spends the holidays in the hospital recovering from his five gunshot wounds, reports the Gospel Herald.
Ryland Ward’s grandmother, Sandy Ward, has asked supporters to send her grandson Christmas cards to keep his spirits lifted as he continues to receive medical treatments after he was shot once in the elbow, twice in the stomach and twice in the leg.
She came up with the idea after witnessing the little boy’s face light up after receiving a surprise holiday delivery. Mail cards to: Ryland Ward, P.O. Box 174, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 78161.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the heartbroken.”
Paul Ryan Encourages Families to Have More Children
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan is taking some heat for encouraging families to have more children last Thursday, reports Life News.
Last Thursday, Ryan said, “We have something like a 90 percent increase in the retirement population in America, but only a 19 percent increase in the working population.”
California Department of Public Health Warns of Cell Phone Radiation
The California Department of Public Health has released guidelines about harmful cell phone radiation and how you can avoid it, reports KPIX.
The research suggests cell phones could increase our risk for brain cancer and tumors, low sperm count, headaches, as well as impaired memory, hearing, and sleep.
Dr. Karen Smith with the California Department of Public Health said, “When you sleep, keep the cellphone at least arm’s length away from your body. And also, don’t carry your cellphone in your pocket.” Keep it in a purse or bag.
Pastors Honor the Legacy of Dr. R.C. Sproul
After Ligonier Ministries founder Dr. R.C. Sproul died at 78 due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease last Thursday, Pastor John MacArthur tweeted: “Today my friend, co-defender of the truth and theological giant, is standing in the presence of our Lord whom he loved and served faithfully. R.C. Sproul has stood with me for decades in every major theological controversy and I will dearly miss him. There is no one like him.”
John Piper, founder of DesiringGod.org, wrote, “My reverence for the holiness of God and the truth of His word would not be the same without [Sproul’s] influence. I will miss him (for a short while).”
Ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), Sproul hosted the popular radio show Renewing Your Mind, oversaw the ministry’s Tabletalk magazine, and penned over 300 lecture series, 90 books, and dozens of articles.
Ligonier Ministries wrote, “Through R.C. Sproul’s teaching ministry, many of us learned that God is bigger than we knew, our sin is more deeply rooted than we imagined, and the grace of God in Jesus Christ is overwhelming.”
Listen to this compelling excerpt from Dr. Sproul’s teaching about the holiness of God.
“When we want to call attention to something that’s particularly important, to give it emphasis, there are different ways that we can do that in print. We can underline words or italicize them. Well, the Jews did the same thing. They did all of that. But they had another technique to call attention to something’s particular importance. And it was a simple technique of verbal repetition.
Ladies and gentlemen, there is only one attribute of God that is ever raised to the third degree of repetition in Scripture. There is only one characteristic of Almighty God that is communicated in the superlative degree from the mouths of angels where the Bible doesn’t simply say that God is holy or even that He is holy, holy. But that He is ‘holy, holy, holy!’ Bible doesn’t say that God is ‘mercy, mercy, mercy’ or ‘love, love, love’ or ‘justice, justice, justice’ or ‘wrath, wrath, wrath.’ But that He is ‘holy, holy, holy.’ This is a dimension of God that consumes His very essence. How can we, made in His image, be indifferent or apathetic to His majesty. God alone is holy!”
Dr. Sproul is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of fifty-seven years, Vesta Ann.
You can share with the Ligonier Ministry what the teaching of R.C. Sproul meant to you.
Episcopalian Pastor Tells Armed Robber to Leave in Jesus’ Name
And finally, Dr. Julius Zant, a Maryland pastor, has shared how he deflected a robbery attempt by invoking the name of Jesus, reports ABC 47.
While he was conducting a Bible study at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, an armed man entered the church, gestured as if he had a gun, and demanded everyone’s wallets and phones.
Zant said, “I stood up and said, ‘No, we’re not having this. We’re not doing this.’ And I walked up to him and said, ‘Leave in Jesus’ name.’
“When I told him we were worshipping God, he changed. His demeanor changed, and it was as if an awareness came to him that perhaps this wasn’t the right thing for him to do.”
Zant said the robber pointed the weapon at his neck, but kept insisting he didn’t want to shoot. The pastor, a retired medical doctor, told the man he didn’t have to do anything and that the armed man eventually left without incident.
The pastor said, “The power of God is real. You know, the Lord is my Shepherd. He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemy. It is real. The power of God is real. The protection of God is real.”
Psalm 78:4 and 7 reminds us of the importance of telling the generation to come about “the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His great might and power … that the children still to be born … should place their confidence in God and not forget the works of God.”
Please Prayerfully Consider Supporting The World View
As you know, The World View and Generations ministries are committed to bringing a Biblical worldview back to the news, to family life, and to the education of our children. We are grateful for your trust in the work we do. As the Lord has blessed you this year, please consider blessing this ministry with a much-needed, year-end donation right now as we continue to declare Jesus as Lord over all. Go to www.TheWorldView.com/give. That’s www.TheWorldView.com/give.
Closing Line
And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Monday, December 18th in the year of our Lord 2017. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Adam McManus. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
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Evangelical Leaders Applaud Moving US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
After U.S. President Donald Trump announced that America recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and declared his intention to move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv, a number of evangelical leaders took to social media to praise the move, reports The Christian Post.
Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, said, “America’s foreign policy, as it pertains to Israel, is coming into alignment with this biblical truth: Jerusalem is the eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish state.”
Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California, said, “Jerusalem is the nerve center of the world geographically and the salvation center of the world spiritually. … This city was the capital of Israel under King David. … God even uses Jerusalem as a picture of what we will see in Heaven in the ‘New Jerusalem.’”
And Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas said, “It took courage for President Harry S Truman to recognize Israel as a nation in 1948, and it took courage for President Donald J. Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel today.”
Immigrants Crowd U.S. Borders as “Trump Effect” Wears Off
The so-called “Trump effect” at the U.S. southern border is becoming a bygone memory as border agents are again being overwhelmed by foreign nationals of all stripes seeking asylum, reports WorldNetDaily.com.
But in May the number of illegal crossings started rising again, after the initial fear about Trump’s tough talk about the border subsided.
An increasing number of Asians, mostly from India and Pakistan, are also arriving at the border seeking asylum.
Pakistan is one of the world’s most populous Muslim countries and a hotbed of jihadism. Parts of India also contain pockets of active al-Qaida fighters.
California Lawyer Offers to Sell Stories of President Trump’s Sexual Harassment to TV Outlets
California lawyer Lisa Bloom offered to sell the stories of President Trump’s alleged sexual harassment victims to TV outlets in return for a commission for herself. Plus, she arranged for a donor to pay off one Trump accuser’s mortgage and attempted to secure a six-figure payment for another woman who ultimately declined to come forward after being offered as much as $750,000, reports TheHill.com.
The women’s accounts were chronicled in contemporaneous contractual documents, emails and text messages reviewed by The Hill, including an exchange of texts between one woman and Bloom that suggested political action committees supporting Hillary Clinton were contacted during the effort.
Tucker Carlson Says Effort to Expose Sexual Harassment Has Become a Witch Hunt
The noble effort to eliminate sexual harassment has turned into “something dark and menacing,” Tucker Carlson warned Thursday, commenting on PBS host Tavis Smiley’s firing, reports CNS News.
“Innocent people fear persecution and that’s always the hallmark of a witch hunt. Others use allegation to settle scores or gain power and that’s the opposite of justice.”
“Imagine if you were accused by someone whose name you didn’t know, of a misdeed you couldn’t remember or didn’t commit. How would you respond to that?”
Republicans Prepare to Remove ObamaCare Penalty
The GOP will finally scrap the ObamaCare tax penalty if you don’t have health insurance this coming Tuesday, reports CNBC.
The bill would drop the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from the current 35 percent, would double the child tax credit to $2,000 per child from $1,000, and double the standard deduction to $12,000 for an individual or $24,000 for a family.
Two things will be unchanged. Tax breaks for charitable contributions and retirement savings plans as well as the mortgage interest deduction for existing homeowners.
Democratic Congressional Candidate in Kansas Drops Out Due to Sexual Harassment Accusations
Andrea Ramsey, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Kansas’ 3rd District, will drop out of the race after the Kansas City Star asked her about accusations in a 2005 lawsuit that she sexually harassed and retaliated against Gary Funkhouser, a male subordinate, who said he had rejected her advances.
Family on Cruise Ship Finds Hidden Video Camera Pointed at the Bed
Video voyeurism has now been unmasked on a cruise ship, reports the Miami Herald.
One Pensacola, Florida family claims it found a video camera hidden in their cabin — #160 — aboard a three-night Carnival Cruise Line voyage from Mobile, Alabama to Mexico. Behind their TV, they uncovered a small camera hidden in the cables, with the lens was poking out, pointing at the bed.
Worse still, the device was “warm to the touch,” and appeared to have an antenna, indicating it might be transmitting information.
Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Set to Replace Retiring CA Governor Jerry Brown
Gavin Newsom, the 50-year-old lieutenant governor of California is a front-runner to replace retiring Governor Jerry Brown, reports Bloomberg.
As the former San Francisco mayor, Newsom is proud that he became the first mayor to authorize his city hall to grant marriage licenses to sodomite couples.
Apotex Founder and His Wife Found Dead in Their Home
On Friday Barry Sherman, the billionaire founder of pharmaceutical giant Apotex, and his wife, Honey, were reportedly found dead in their Toronto, Canada home. Police are investigating their “suspicious” deaths, reports The Daily Beast.
Sherman had actively engaged in fundraising for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party, and was a major donor to the United Jewish Appeal.
Pennsylvania Police Officer Suspended for Attending Church While on Duty
Mark Hovan, a Pennsylvania police officer, has been suspended for 20 days for attending church services during his shift several months ago, reports The Christian Post.
Hovan, who has been with the Middletown Police Force for 20 years, says previous police chiefs have allowed him to occasionally attend church while on duty, due to changing shifts and his devout faith. Hovan also said that his church attendance never caused him to neglect his work or miss a call.
51-Year-Old Daughter of WWII Veteran Chases Down Burglar Who Broke into Their Home
An alleged burglar got more than he bargained for when he entered the Wisconsin home of a 95-year-old former Marine and his daughter.
Fred, a World War II veteran, says his dog started barking and alerted him to someone breaking in through a back door of the West Allis house on Dec. 4, reports the Journal Sentinel.
He said, “I was almost standing nose to nose with him. That was a shocker.” When the robber threatened to kill him and his dog if he didn’t hand over his wallet, Fred said, “I wasn’t scared. I was so … mad.”
Fred’s 51-year-old daughter Mary then chased the burglar for six blocks before catching and holding him for police. “I was mad about what he did to my dad. … We jumped over two fences and ran through 12 yards.” The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Newly-Engaged Couple Help Put Out Fire on the Night of the Proposal
Lucas Mayne and his fiancée are no doubt busy planning their wedding – and they are going to have a great story to tell about the night they got engaged, reports the Good News Network.
It began on an evening when Mayne surprised his then-girlfriend with an engagement ring over a romantic dinner. Afterward, the newly-engaged couple was driving home when the fiancée spotted a fire inside a liquor store. The volunteer firefighter went to a nearby fire station, got a truck, and went back to the liquor store to put the blaze out while his fiancée handled crowd control.
The other firemen arrived shortly afterward and put out the blaze together. Thanks to Mayne, they were able to extinguish the fire fast enough so that it didn’t overtake the whole building.