| | Wednesday, January 12, 2022 |
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| Politics | | Planned Parenthood, ACLU attempt to block Ohio law requiring burial of aborted babies' remains | | The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a new complaint against Ohio over a state law that, among other things, requires the proper cremation or burial of aborted babies’ remains. Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said in a statement released Friday that she believed the law would have “a devastating impact on the ability of patients to have autonomy over their own lives.” Meanwhile, Mark Harrington, president of the pro-life group Created Equal, said, "Laws requiring aborted babies to receive a dignified final disposition in some ways pose a bigger threat than many abortion bans do ... Because abortionists are the dregs of medicine, they will be unable to comply with these new regulations. That is why the abortion industry is fighting so hard to challenge this law.” |
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| U.S. | | Teen mom who tossed newborn in dumpster charged with attempted murder | | A New Mexico teenager who confessed to police that she was the mother of a newborn baby found discarded in a dumpster and that she was the one who left the child has been charged with attempted murder and felony child abuse. Alexis Avila, 18, said she delivered the baby at another location before leaving the child in the dumpster. |
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| Church & Ministries | | Promise Keepers leader denounces porn use | | Promise Keepers Chairman and CEO Ken Harrison took to the organization's 2022 Marriage Summit to denounce pornography, saying, "God didn’t create you to be that way." The men's ministry organization leader further explained, "The Bible says we must flee from sin. It’s an action. It’s a running in terror from it, because it will separate us from God, from our kids, from our wives.” |
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| World | | Coptic Christian released after 2 years in pretrial detention | | Religious freedom advocacy organizations are praising the Egyptian government for releasing from detention a Coptic Christian activist who has spoken out against the mistreatment faced by Coptic Christians in the country. Ramey Kamel was released from prison Saturday for what the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the advocacy group Coptic Solidarity described as “spurious” charges. Although advocacy groups praised the move, they have also stated that Egypt has a long way to go to ensure equal treatment of Coptic Christians under the law. |
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| U.S. | | Tennessee pastor, step-daughter die after domestic shooting | | Members of the Mosheim Church of God in Tennessee are mourning the loss of their pastor, Kenneth Cook, after a domestic-related shooting at a Pilot gas station in White Pine took his life. Police are still investigating the shooting, which also took the lives of Cook's 16-year-old step-daughter, Teagan Welch, and her biological father, Christopher Ray Welch. |
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| U.S. | | Sean Feucht claims he lost book deal with HarperCollins over 'political views' | | Worship leader and activist Sean Feucht took to Twitter on Monday to claim that book publisher HarperCollins dropped his book deal over his "political views." Feucht says he tried to share more information on Instagram but the platform kept removing his posts. In his latest video, which was still active as of Tuesday afternoon, he stated, "Signed an agreement with the second-largest publisher in the world, HarperCollins. We've been working on it for three months together. [I] have an agreement, had it signed, pretty far into this process, and was just notified today. They're canceling it." |
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| Voice | | Op-ed: Don’t let Biden off the hook for the disaster he left in Afghanistan | | "The media has largely moved on from the Afghanistan debacle, and many are all too eager to sweep the consequences of President Biden’s botched withdrawal under the rug. Yet, the repercussions will last lifetimes," Arielle Del Turco writes. In this op-ed, Del Turco discusses why people should not forget about what happened with Afghanistan and the travesties that continue. "Countless Afghan girls and female university students have been kept at home and out of school since the Taliban’s return. For many, their dreams were put on hold in 2021, perhaps permanently," Del Turco explains, also pointing out that many Americans remain stuck in Afghanistan, Afghan allies are not being provided the protection they were promised, and human suffering abounds. Click to keep reading. |
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Hi Friend,
As we enter the final months of 2021, we want to know: How are you doing?
In the midst of ongoing injustice, rising rates of extreme poverty, disasters and mass displacement, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You may have begun to wonder, is it even possible to create lasting change? I want to respond to Jesus’ call to love and serve the vulnerable. Does anyone else?
We understand how you feel.
And yet, in Acts chapter 17, the apostle Paul writes that God has marked out the appointed times in history and the very places where each of us exists. That’s a powerful thought! And that’s why we invite you to join us as we pause and reflect through the Advent season this year. JOURNEY WITH US THROUGH ADVENT In this four-part devotional series, we’ll journey together through the themes of HOPE, PEACE, FAITH and JOY. As we pause to connect with God and one another, we’ll be renewed and reminded that Jesus — God with us, Emmanuel — is still inviting us to be his hands and feet in the world today.
Here’s what to expect when you sign-up: A live kick-off event on December 1st to gather with others from across the World Relief community Weekly devotionals from voices across World Relief sharing prayer, scripture and reflection resourcesWeekly activities for families to participate togetherSurprise pre-Advent resources to inspire and prepare your heartCreating change that lasts isn’t easy, but it’s possible when we move together. Will you join us?
Moving Towards Change Together,
World Relief SIGN-UP FOR THE ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | |
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