Our guest Chaplain Barry Black was appointed Chaplain to the United States Senate nearly 14 years spanning several administrations. He ministers to the 7,000 people who make up the Senate side of Capitol Hill. Chaplain Black shares what he has seen and learned during those years of service, how he supports Christians serving in the Senate, and how each of us can be ready for ministry in a threatening culture.

 

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Nothing to Fear: Principles & Prayers to Help You Thrive in a Threatening World

 

Young protesters in Anaheim, California are shutting down the city. Trump withdraws the Obama Administration’s education transgender policy. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos calls protecting trans students “moral obligation.” What does that mean?

Then, we look at the upcoming election for Chair of the Democratic National Committee. To help us work through what this means and why it matters for the country, DNC delegate and The AND Campaign Chairman Justin Giboney joins us.

 

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Trump administration withdraws federal protections for transgender students

Bernie Sanders loyalists are taking over the Democratic Party one county office at a time

theandcampaign.com

The United States has seen a rise in anti-Semitic incidents. Why is that and how does the Christian worldview influence our response? We also look at the backlash to comments made by controversial speaker, Milo Yiannopoulos.

Then, we talk with USAToday columnist and author of Confessions of a Secular Jesus-Follower Tom Krattenmaker. Tom recently wrote how the idea of moral authority is changing our country. We talk through questions about who has moral authority and who decides what is moral?

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Liberals should learn from Lady Gaga

What would our Founding Father’s say to us today? For President’s Day, we take a look back on our country’s history and what lessons we can learn for today. Dr. Peter Lillback is a distinguished historian and theologian, he is the president of the Providence Forum and a leading expert in the formation and guiding principles of the United States. He’s written several books on the subject including George Washington’s Sacred Fire. He also serves as the president of Westminster Theological Seminary.

 

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Washington’s Letter

The Providence Forum

First we look at breaking news of the day. The State Supreme Court of Washington decided against Christian florist Barronelle Stutzman who refused to provide flowers for a long-time customer’s same-sex wedding. President Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary, Andrew Pudzer, withdrew from consideration one day before scheduled confirmation hearings in the Senate. 

Warren Cole Smith, Vice President, Mission Advancement for the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, joins us in the second half to walk through the Washington Supreme Court decision and other news of the day.

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How to test a worldview

Washington Supreme Court rules against Christian florist in same-sex marriage case

 

 

Kerri Kupec, Esq., legal communications director with Alliance Defending Freedom, talks about yesterday’s decision against Christian florist Barronelle Stutzman in Washington State. She shares why every American should care about this ruling and provides insight into a potential executive action on this issue.

In the second half, we talk with Pulitzer-prize winner reporter for the Charleston Post Courier, Jennifer Berry Hawes. She covered the Emanuel AME Church massacre and heard the stories of survivors and the testimony of family members of the victims. She shares the power of their stories with us today.

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In an hour, a church changes forever

LetFreedomBloom.com

 

Congress takes us legislation to block legalization of assisted suicide in Washington, DC. Then, we explore the threat to Christian professionals, accreditation and licensing issues on the horizon related to religious conscience.

In our second half, our guest is founder of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council and Senior Fellow at Philos Project, Juliana Taimoorazy. She brings us up to date on the realities for Assyrian Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.

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House committee moves to block D.C.’s assisted-suicide law

Faith leaders urge Congress to pass bill protecting doctors who won’t perform abortions

IraqiChristianRelief.org and philosproject.org

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned just 24 days into his job. We explore what this example teaches us about being trustworthy and credible people. College campuses have historically been incubators for free speech, but now free speech is only speech the intolerant left approves. It’s not free speech at all.

In our second half, we talk Valentines Day. Ekemini Uwan is 31 and single. She shares how she had found contentment in love in a God who sees and knows her. Then, we discuss the unholiness of popular book and movie series Fifty Shades Darker.

Last night was the 59th annual Grammy awards. Of particular interest was Beyoncé’s performance, which included clear religious imagery. According to some cultural commentators, any other artist could not have gotten away with such a blatant goddess portrayal.  A new initiative called Glitter Ash Wednesday seeks to usurp the day for another purpose. In order to respond, we need to be ready to answer this question: why did Jesus have to die?

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and whether you are single, dating or married, we need a reminder of what True Love is.

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Must Read Monday: GRAMMY goddess worship

The heartbreaking misdirection of Glitter Ash Wednesday

In our first half, we run down the news of the week. The Ninth Court of Appeals refused to reinstate President Trump’s executive order blocking citizens from seven countries from entering the US. Americans are more likely to believe the President is telling the truth and the media, according to a Gallup poll.

Then, we talk with an expert in church transitions. Leadership successions are some of the most painful and difficult times for churches, and William Vanderbloemen helps churches navigate these staffing decisions. He shares some insights and advice with us about to do transition well.

 

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Fake news: An outward symptom of a much deeper systemic problem

Trump administration seen as more truthful than news media: poll

Resources on navigating a church leadership succession: https://www.vanderbloemen.com/