OUR COLUMNISTS (Click on photos for archives) The Church and Culture: Never Give Up Commentary by Matt Friedeman When it comes to the culture war, you can either concern yourselves with individuals or concern yourself with the broader culture. Or both. The latter is the only real option for the Christian. Fighting for That City on a Hill Commentary by Joe Murray Does a Christian's responsibility in creating a government that reflects natural and biblical law stop at prayer? Is it enough for a Christian to pray for a Godly government and then go about their business? Not a chance. Poisoning Childhood Commentary by Jane Jimenez It's the lead in an Internet article from England about "the escalating incidence of childhood depression and chldren's behavioural and developmental conditions." We are ... poisoning childhood. Unfulfilled Commentary by Brad Locke We keep searching and striving for worldly things that we hope will fulfill us, because that gives us an excuse not to turn to God. Real Hope for Stem-Cell Research Commentary by Mark Creech It seems that the direction of stem-cell research has turned a corner. Recent research indicates a growing interest in a more ethical approach -- perhaps even discomfort with destroying human embryos for stem cells.

...With the mid-term elections drawing closer, the House chief deputy majority whip says there's one issue that will be on the front burner for several weeks. "First and foremost," says Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor, "we need to make sure that our borders are secure and that we can be the ones deciding who comes into this country. It is only then that we can deal with any other issue attending to illegal immigration. First and foremost, border security." After that, the Republican lawmaker says the House will be concentrating on providing U.S. troops everything they need to face the enemy in the war on terror, and looking at ways to deal with nations that continue to support terrorism. "We are in a war for the free world," Cantor states, "and we've got to do all we can to provide our troops with the necessary resources they need and also hold accountable the rogue regimes out there, such as Iran, Syria, and others, that continue to provide support and assistance to the terrorist organizations who are aiming to kill us." This week's attempted attack on the U.S. embassy in Syria has many lawmakers anxious to take some kind of action to prevent similar attacks in other nations. [Bill Fancher]

...Georgia's Cobb County commissioners can pray in the name of Jesus Christ at their meetings under a new federal court ruling. Judge Richard Story has ruled that clergy who say an invocation at the meetings can "identify the deity to whom they direct their prayer." But Story criticized the way commissioners chose the clergy who appear at their meetings because he said some faiths "were categorically excluded." Sam Olens, chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, says he is "thrilled" that the judge found "our policy of engaging all religious faiths is constitutional." The American Civil Liberties Union has not decided whether to appeal the ruling. [AP]

...A Presbyterian minister says she's been charged with breaking church law for performing a marriage for two women last year. The constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) reserves marriage for a man and a woman, although ministers may bless other types of what are called "holy unions." Janet Edwards, an associate minister at Pittsburgh's Community of Reconciliation church, says what mattered for her was "the love and commitment between the partners" and not their gender. Edwards also is charged with irregularities contrary to the church's constitution because the marriage was interfaith. One of the two women involved was Buddhist. Meanwhile, Episcopal bishops have failed to agree on how to handle dioceses that reject the authority of the church's incoming national leader, who supports homosexual relationships. But after a private meeting, the bishops said they recognize the need to accommodate seven dioceses that have asked to be under an Anglican leader who shares their traditional views. The Episcopal Church, which is the U.S. branch of the world Anglican Communion, caused an uproar in 2003 when it consecrated its first openly homosexual bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. This past June, the divisions intensified when the Episcopal General Convention elected a new presiding bishop who approves of ordaining partnered homosexuals. Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to lead the church, will be installed on November 4. [AP]

...Same-sex "marriage" is controversial among adults in the U.S., but for children -- and especially Christian children -- the subject is sure to be confusing, too. A new book from Apologetics Press helps parents address with their children the matter of homosexual marriage. Does God Love Michael's Two Daddies? focuses on Seth and Sarah, twins who meet a new friend named Michael on the first day of a new school year. When Michael announces that his two daddies are thinking about getting married, the twins get confused. They ask their parents about it that night at dinner. "For the last 15 years, the homosexual community has been publishing children's books promoting homosexuality, starting with the book Heather Has Two Mommies. Other books such as Daddy's Roommate and My Two Uncles have followed suit," the organization says on its website. "To our knowledge, no comparable children's book designed to combat the promotion of homosexuality is available on the market -- until now." Does God Love Michael's Two Daddies? is beautifully illustrated and well written, and the subject matter is handled sensitively. Moreover, the presentation of the biblical message is done in a manner that would teach children to have compassion for those in the homosexual lifestyle. Copies can be purchased through the Apologetics Press website. [AFA Journal]

...Has America lost its moral compass? Based on the ethical struggles facing the nation, many religious leaders feel it has. Stem-cell research, abortion, homosexual "marriage," and efforts to redefine the family reveal deep moral struggles in the U.S. Ben Mitchell of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity feels America has lost its moral bearings. "There is no moral compass anymore," Mitchell asserts. "The needle fell off years ago, and it seems to me that we're now, as a culture, adrift without that moral compass." Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council is a bit more optimistic. "I'm not sure we've lost it yet. We're on the verge of losing it, but I don't believe all is lost yet," he says. "But it is broken, badly broken. It needs serious fixing." And if it is not fixed, says Schenck, it may be lost forever. "And once having lost it ... there may be no reclaiming it -- just take a look at Europe," he says. Other religious leaders believe the nation has already reached the point of no return; some are concerned that God's judgment is imminent unless America's basic biblical morality is revived. [Bill Fancher]

...A conservative policy group in Washington, DC, is taking issue with a recently released report on religion in the U.S. The survey, conducted by Baylor University -- which is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas -- reflects a bias that reinforces negative stereotypes and does not reflect the strength of true Christians, says Concerned Women for America (CWA). Titled "American Piety in the 21st Century," the 76-page report says one-third of Americans (33.6 percent) -- roughly 100 million people -- are "evangelical Protestants by affiliation." But as CWA's Dr. Janice Crouse points out, less than half of those in that category (15 percent) use that label to describe themselves. "They lack the self-confidence to boldly challenge the negative bias; they don't want to be called 'evangelical' or 'religious right,'" Crouse contends. In addition, she says other "labels" for which respondents showed a preference, such as "born-again" (28.5 percent) and "theologically conservative" (17.5 percent), dilute the findings. "With so many different categories, the numbers don't reflect the strength of true believers," she says. Crouse also comments on a Washington Post story about the study, which observed that those who view God as "engaged and punishing" are more likely to "have lower incomes and less education, to come from the South, and to be white evangelicals or black Protestants." The implication that Southerners, white evangelicals, and black Protestants are poor and uneducated, says Crouse, only "reinforce[s] old prejudices and continue[s] the negative stereotypes about true believers." [Jody Brown]

...The makers and distributors of a popular series of sexually explicit videos has been fined $2.1 million after pleading guilty to violating a federal statute designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. The sales of "Girls Gone Wild" videos reportedly top $40 annually. But Mantra Films and MRA Holdings LLC, both owned by Joseph Francis, failed to do things required under federal law: (1) create and maintain age and identity documents for performers, and (2) label its DVDs and videotapes indicating where those records may be found. According to the Department of Justice, which prosecuted the case, it is believed to be the first to be filed under the child sexual exploitation law. An attorney for Francis seems to share the blame for the federal infraction with those who appear in the videos. "This case does not involve the intentional exploitation of minors, but rather the lack of safeguards to protect against participants who misrepresent their age in order to be filmed," Aaron Dyer tells the Los Angeles Times. However Dyer does say "state-of-the-art compliance and procedures" have been implemented to avoid similar problems in the future. According to the Times report, the content of the video series includes young women exposing themselves during Spring Break festivities, as well as binge drinking, "hookups, and frantic exhibitionism." [Jody Brown]

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