Good Morning!
Justice for pre-born babies has been fifty-years in the making.
“Patience is waiting,” wrote Leo Tolstoy. “Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience. The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
Focus on the Family has been patiently, but actively working toward the overturning of Roe since the ministry’s inception in 1977. We begin this morning with an invitation to help join in this ongoing effort this coming Tuesday, June 14th:
- Life Hangs in the Balance at the Supreme Court
Focus on the Family president Jim Daly writes:
Ominous signs of the pending Supreme Court decision on the Dobbs’ Mississippi abortion case are everywhere.
Earlier today, a man was arrested in Maryland near the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He was carrying a gun and proclaimed his desire/intent to kill the jurist.
I was in Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago, and increased police presence, along with eight-foot metal fencing around the High Court, make clear that officials are bracing for the potential of a violent reaction to the decision.
But on a much happier and upbeat note, placards and banners are rising here on the Focus on the Family campus just ahead of See Life ’22 – our annual celebration of life scheduled for this coming Tuesday, June 14th at 7 P.M. Mountain time.
This year’s festivities will feature a keynote address from The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, along with a special video interview with pro-life stalwart Candace Owens. I’ll be interviewing the Honorable Daniel Lipinski, former Congressman from Illinois. We’ll be joined that evening by March for Life president Jeanne Mancini. Phil Wickham will be providing inspirational music.
The leaked opinion and subsequent media reports regarding the Dobbs’ case suggest we’re on the verge of a watershed moment for the sanctity of life. A reversal of Roe would throw the issue back to the states, opening up a whole new chapter in our quest to preserve and protect every innocent life.
As we wait for the decision, the very best thing we can do is pray for a favorable outcome – and for justice, mercy and peace. The nine justices are under extreme pressure – and, it seems, vulnerable to violent extremists who want to thwart and upend the judicial process.
Another thing you can do is join us on June 14th for the live simulcast of this special event. It promises to be educational, inspirational and encouraging. It’s time for us to seize this pro-life moment – and we’d be honored if you joined us. Please click here to register. There is no cost. And thank you for praying for our team and for the event!
RELATED:
Armed Man Arrested Outside Justice Kavanaugh’s Home. Pray for the Justices’ Safety
From The Daily Citizen:
A man armed with a gun and burglary tools who made threats against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has been arrested near the justice’s home.
As reported by The Associated Press, the man (whose identity has yet to be released) was arrested in the early hours of the morning on June 8, at 1:50 a.m. One law enforcement official disclosed the man was from California, in his 20s, and arrived near the justice’s house via taxi, armed with a gun and a knife.
The official allegedly said the man “told law enforcement officers he wanted to kill Kavanaugh.”
AP notes, “He told police he was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the court is about to overrule Roe v. Wade, the court’s landmark abortion case … He was also said to be upset over recent mass shootings, according to the newspaper.”
RELATED:
Sasse calls on Schumer to retract ‘lunatic threats’ against Kavanaugh
From the Washington Examiner:
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) called for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to take to the Senate floor to recant past comments about Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after a man was charged with attempting to assassinate the judge.
“We have a Senate right now that has a majority leader who stood on the steps of the Supreme Court two years ago shrieking like a lunatic threats at Justice Kavanaugh,” Sasse angrily told the Washington Examiner in an interview Wednesday.
Speaking on the eve of a prime-time hearing on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Sasse said political leaders across the aisle have an obligation to renounce political violence, regardless of whether it comes in the form of “a deranged mob chanting ‘Hang [former Vice President] Mike Pence’” or someone seeking to assassinate a justice who may vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You will not know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions,” Schumer said during a 2020 rally at the Supreme Court, naming Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch, then the two appointees of former President Donald Trump to the court, as a previous high-profile abortion case was being considered.
RELATED:
Why Is the Media Silent as Leftist Groups Firebomb More Pro-Life Clinics?
From RedState:
Unless you’re hyper-focused on pro-life issues, you may not be aware of the recent spate of leftwing terror at pro-life abortion clinics, churches, and billboards across the country. Overnight, the pro-life CompasCare office, which offers services to women and children, was firebombed by a pro-abortion group that is responsible for at least one other firebombing in the country.
Graffiti on the building left by the arsonists refers to the abortion terrorist group Jane’s Revenge reading, “Jane Was Here.” The group took responsibility for a firebombing of a pro-life organization in Madison, Wisconsin in May, and it could have been responsible for bombing the offices of Oregon Right to Life during the same month. It has also vandalized and destroyed multiple churches and pregnancy centers.
RedState has covered one of the previous firebombings, with my colleague Bonchie noting that the violence is escalating in a major way.
The responses to this disgusting incident devolved into open calls for more violence. Pro-abortion zealots in the replies began to celebrate the news, urging further attacks on those who seek to protect the unborn from being killed.
- Faith Leaders Are Told: Supporting ‘Roe v. Wade’ Does Not Mean Giving Up Your Beliefs. Oh Yes, It Does.
From The Daily Citizen:
Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a roundtable discussion on June 6 with a group of faith leaders and local politicians in Los Angeles on the subject of so-called “reproductive rights.” Although she raised the topics of hate and gun violence in her brief remarks at the beginning of the roundtable, the primary purpose, according to a White House press release on the meeting, was to build coalitions with faith groups to support abortion.
“We need faith,” Harris began. But only abortion-affirming faith.
But the vice president didn’t mention God in her remarks. “We need faith in each other, in our nation, and in our future,” she explained.
She touched on the subjects of hate and violence in our communities before turning to the subject of abortion.
3.Wisconsin Governor Calls Special Session To Repeal State’s Abortion Ban Ahead Of SCOTUS Decision
From the Daily Wire:
Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers announced Wednesday that he was calling a special session of the Wisconsin legislature to repeal the state’s criminal ban on abortion.
Evers made the announcement ahead of the release of a Supreme Court decision that might overturn Roe v. Wade. If Roe is overturned, almost all abortions would be illegal in Wisconsin under current state law.
“I’m calling the Legislature into special session on June 22 to repeal Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban. With [SCOTUS] poised to overturn [Roe v. Wade], failing to protect reproductive rights will have real consequences for each of us and the people who matter most to us,” Evers tweeted.
Since both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature are controlled by Republicans, Evers’ special session will likely fall flat.
- Wisconsin school district drops sexual harassment probe into 3 students accused of using the wrong pronouns
From Fox News:
A Wisconsin school district is closing a Title IX inquiry into three middle school students accused of sexual harassment for using improper pronouns.
“We have issued clear directives and expectations to all students involved in this matter for the purpose of preventing bullying and harassment and ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all of our students,” Kiel School District said. “Based on these actions, and pursuant to District policies and procedures, the School District considers this matter closed.”
The students subject to the Title IX inquiry were represented by a conservative legal group called the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty.
“We are pleased that the Kiel Area School District has finally ended its misguided Title IX investigation,” the group said. “While the District’s statement attempts to reframe the investigation, it was always primarily about ‘mispronouning.’”
5. So Which Is True: The LGBT Community is Under Siege, Or Powerful Enough to Coerce Corporate America?
From The Daily Citizen:
Two opinion pieces in the gay news outlet The Advocate demonstrate the contradictory, oxymoronic viewpoints presented by LGBT activists.
The first op-ed, “This Pride, the LGBTQ+ Community Is in Crisis,” was written by Joni Madison at the opening of “pride month,” when seemingly all of America is wrapped in the ever-expanding colors of the homosexual and transgender movement.
But no, not for Madison, the interim president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT activist organization in the U.S., with total 2021 revenue of $71 million.
For her, LGBT-folks are a perpetually victimized class. She writes about “millions of LGBTQ+ people whose rights and lives – right now – are under attack.”
She cites legislation that shields children and teens from being irrevocably damaged by drugs, hormones and surgeries – what she calls “medically necessary care” – and says, “These attacks are horrific.”
Efforts to protect privacy and safety in showers, restrooms and locker rooms mean, for Madison, “Our LGBTQ+ community is in crisis. We are living in a state of emergency.”
6. House passes sweeping gun package in largely party-line vote
From The Hill:
The House passed a sweeping gun package on Wednesday in response to last month’s mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas, that killed more than 30 people and reignited the push for firearm legislation on Capitol Hill.
The package, dubbed the Protecting Our Kids Act, passed in a 223-204 vote. One Republican did not vote.
Two Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Kurt Schrader (Ore.) — bucked the party in opposing the measure. Five Republicans — Reps. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.) and Fred Upton (Mich.) — supported it.
The legislation consists of seven separate provisions aimed at addressing gun violence in America. The House voted separately on the individual provisions, all of which cleared the chamber in mainly party-line votes. The overall package, however, is the only legislation that will be sent for consideration to the Senate, where it faces GOP opposition.
7. Schools stock up on overdose antidote
From World Magazine:
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 16,849 people in the U.S. died of a drug overdose in 1999. Two decades later, that number had grown to 70,630. A 2018 study reported that opioid-related deaths among children and teenagers nearly tripled from 1999 to 2016.
Naloxone, often referred to by the brand name Narcan, is an opioid antagonist that can reverse the respiratory symptoms of opioid overdoses. The treatment only works temporarily but can buy valuable time before more medical help is available—and if a person is not overdosing but is given Narcan anyway, there are no harmful side effects. Narcan can be administered with a nasal spray or by injection.
“That’s one of the things that school nurses do as part of their public health expertise and preparedness is to be ready for any emergency,” said Linda Mendonca, president of the National Association of School Nurses. “It’s one of the emergency drugs that’s kept on hand at school … [for] anybody that might be within that school building. … It’s like having the AED or having an EpiPen.”
- 8. From Politics to Pizza, Excesses Are Always Their Own Undoing
From The Daily Citizen:
Frustrated citizens are becoming irritated voters. Weary and alarmed by the consequences of radical policies, they’re voicing their objections by voting, saying, in effect, “Enough is enough!”
The years roll on, but some things never change.
It was Plato who once observed, “Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction, whether it be in the seasons, or in individuals, or in governments.”
The Scriptures repeatedly warn about the dangers of having too much or going too far. Even too much of a good thing quickly makes the good thing bad.
“If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,” we read in Proverbs, “lest you have your fill of it and vomit it” (Proverbs 25:16).
When the apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth and warns of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, drunkenness and swindling – he’s acknowledging the human tendency to go too far and want too much (1 Cor. 5:11).
We need water to live, or we’ll die of dehydration. But if we drink too much, our brains will literally drown, and we’ll die. When it’s cold, a fire can keep us warm – but get too close and we’ll burn.
Political swings are the norm, of course. The public gets weary of people and parties, often because the parties and people grow too comfortable – and go too far.
Moderation is often lampooned and mocked in politics, sometimes because a politician seems to want to walk the middle of the road, refusing to take a definite position on key, controversial issues. The criticism can be valid. When it comes to God’s laws pertaining to life, human sexuality, marriage and abortion, there is no middle ground. Morality is not negotiable, nor is it grey.
But mature Christian believers practice a soberness of spirit when it comes to many other things. That’s because we recognize fallen man and his tendency to overcorrect, overreach and overdo it.
- Think Working from Home Won’t Hurt Your Career? Don’t Be So Sure.
From the Wall Street Journal:
“If you want to be a managing partner, you’re probably not going to do that working one day a week in the office, and I think people get that,” says Mr. Snow, who is now Forvis’s chairman. Employees still can work from home much of the time, he notes, but there may be trade-offs.
Hybrid workers, beware: There can be a gap—sometimes a wide one—between what’s required and what it really takes to succeed.
Office hard-liners like Tesla CEO Elon Musk have made clear that “a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week” is the only way to thrive, or even survive, at his company. The leaders of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase also don’t hide their disdain for remote work.
While telecommuting may be fine in certain roles, people in the upper ranks “cannot lead from behind a desk or in front of a screen,” JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon wrote in his annual shareholder letter this spring.
It’s a dream for many workers, but it could be pure fantasy unless companies are vigilant, according to career coaches and researchers who say people in the office are more likely to get noticed and rewarded. A 2020 study of more than 400 tech workers by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern University found that while remote and non-remote workers won roughly the same number of promotions, the salaries of remote workers grew more slowly. At companies where remote work was less common, telecommuters won fewer promotions.
- The Eating Habit the World’s Oldest Couple Followed Every Day
From ETNT:
Ecuadorian couple, Julio Cesar Mora Tapia and Waldramina Maclovia Quinteros Reyes, were declared by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest married couple in 2020. With Mora Tapia being 110 and Quinteros Reyes at 104, they had a combined age of 214 years. The happy couple was married for 79 years until Tapia passed away at home from dementia.
Couples who have been together for years know how to make their love blossom time after time. Along with this couple’s “secret formula” of love, maturity, and mutual respect, they shared one particular eating habit that played a big role in their marriage. According to Guinness World Records, the couple had big family and friend dinners that brought all of their loved ones together.
Although sharing family moments was of big importance in the couple’s life, it was not that way at first. The couple’s families originally did not get along, leaving them to marry in secrecy.
“It was not easy because our relatives did not have a good relationship, but with time and patience we were able to unite them and we became an example and the best reference for the younger generations,” the couple told Guinness.
However, it was the couple’s strong love that conquered all conflict. They’ve carried their love with them in 79 years of marriage. This included 5 children, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. According to Guinness, they believed that life was better when the foundations of the family were built on love and respect. They also believed family unity was everything.
