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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY – Dec 5, 2018
In this week's Intersect, read about:
PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH, A MAN DEVOTED TO HIS FAITH, PASSES AT 94
The final words of President George H.W. Bush, spoken just before he passed away, have been revealed by his longtime friend and former Secretary of State, James A. Baker III. Bush, 94, died late Friday, after a rapid decline in his health over recent weeks. Just hours before his death, Baker dropped by to check on him at his Houston home. According to The New York Times, Bush suddenly became highly alert and engaged in a short conversation with his loyal friend.“Where are we going, Bake?” he asked his former colleague at the White House. “We’re going to heaven,” Mr. Baker answered.“That’s where I want to go,” Bush responded. It was a powerful moment of assurance and a testament to Bush’s steadfast faith. As his body neared its end, he knew where his soul was headed. Surrounded by friends and family at his home in a gated residential community of Houston, Bush said his goodbyes to one of his sons, former President George W. Bush. “W” told him that he had been a “wonderful Dad,” and stated that he loved him very much. “I love you, too,” Bush replied. Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson Jr., the rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, was also present. “There was no question he knew where he was going and who he was going to be with,” Dr. Levenson noted of Bush’s final moments. “He was looking forward to being with Barbara and Robin again.” read more
THINK.
President Bush served as president for a short 4 years, but he served the country he loved for over 40 years.He served as the Director of the CIA after the Church Committee revelations. He restored morale in the agency and worked to engender trust outside the agency. He served as the leader of the Republican National Committee during Watergate, offering difficult advice and steady leadership during a tumultuous time. He served as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President, and he served as president. He made difficult budgetary decisions that led to his electoral demise but the country’s prosperity. He served us, but we didn’t fully understand the significance of him or his leadership. His opponents questioned his toughness, but their coldness met his warmness. He wrote to President Clinton: “Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you.” He was one of the first to reach out to Al Gore when he lost, knowing the lonely pain of defeat on a national stage. Bush was the nation’s father — believing in the American populace even when we doubted ourselves and him. He exhibited a kind conviction and gentle grit that makes him shine like a “thousand points of light” in our now highly partisan era. We didn’t see it then, but that is the hidden beauty of selfless service. President Bush selflessly served us, and now we mourn his passing. He may no longer be with us, but we are better because of him (Matthew 20:28, Ecclesiastes 7:2).
PRAY.
Pray for the Bush family as they mourn the loss of their father and grandfather and remember his incredible legacy. Also pray that in the coming days as President Bush is remembered, that it would birth in Americans a renewed commitment to follow Bush’s example to stand on our faith, value our family, and serve our nation and others well.
ACT.
The Bush family has asked people to dedicate a day of service in President Bush’s honor. By pledging your time to volunteer, you become a point of light in your community. Honor President Bush’s legacy by pledging a day of service here: beone.pointsoflife.org.
COURT BARS FATHER FROM TEACHING 6-YEAR-OLD SON THAT HE IS A BOY
A Texas court has barred a father from teaching his 6-year-old son that he is a boy or from dressing him like a boy – even though the child chooses to be a boy around the dad. The boy, named James, is stuck in a custody case between the father and the mother, who insists the boy is a transgender girl, The Federalist reported. A gender transition therapist diagnosed James with gender dysphoria, and the boy’s teachers at school treat him like a girl, calling him “Luna.” He uses the girl’s restroom. But when the child is around his father, he refuses to be acknowledged as a girl. The mother wants to terminate the father’s parental rights. “James violently refuses to wear girl’s clothes at my home,” the father told Walt Heyer, an expert on gender change who believes the boy has been misdiagnosed. It’s possible James is a confused child who is caught in society’s debate over gender, Heyer wrote. It’s also possible the mother and the therapist are pressing him to be something he is not, Heyer added. The child, at a young age, said he wanted to be a girl. But those feelings apparently are not consistent. read more
THINK.
The Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians has weighed in on this story and provides valuable insight. She said to PJ Media that this could be a case where James’s mother is suffering from a mental disorder rather than James struggling with gender dysphoria. Dr. Michelle Cretella said, "This case is consistent with a diagnosis of Munchausen by proxy. This is a disorder in which an adult feigns either physical or psychological condition in a child for their own subconscious reasons. Most often the perpetrator is the biological mother, and she often has a background in health or medicine. In the case of imposing gender dysphoria on a son, there are cases in the scientific literature of severe maternal depression triggered in a mother longing for a daughter," Cretella added. "This has been termed 'gender mourning.'" You can continue to follow updates on this story here. As Christians, our heart breaks to learn of this story because we believe it is God who determines the gender of each child - each person made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We know from Psalm 139 that God did not make a mistake with James’s gender. He created James and knew from the beginning of time who he would be.
PRAY.
Pray for James and his twin brother. Divorce is already painful for children, but this situation is extremely stressful. Pray for their emotional protection and for others to come alongside them and speak truth into their young hearts. Pray for both the father as he fights to protect his son from a changed gender and for the mother to have a change of heart.
ACT.
It’s critical that we know how to respond to Gender Dysphoria from a biblical perspective. This issue is far too complex to adequately cover in our THINK section, so we encourage you to listen to BreakPoint’s interview with Andrew Walker, author of the book, “God and the Transgender Debate: What Does the Bible Actually Say about Gender Identity?”
MIKE HUCKABEE: PRESIDENT TRUMP, ASIA BIBI IS A CHRISTIAN UNDER THREAT OF DEATH IN PAKISTAN -- PLEASE HELP HER
It’s been almost a month since Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian who spent eight years on death row after being convicted of blasphemy, had her conviction overturned by Pakistan’s Supreme Court. But her life is in just as much danger now as when she faced the death penalty because of her Christian faith. Since her acquittal on October 31, Islamic leaders within the country have loudly rejected the Court’s ruling. Enormous and angry protests have wracked the country. There have been calls for her to be assassinated, as well as her family and the three judges who ruled in her favor. In response to death threats, her lawyer fled Pakistan and is seeking asylum in the Netherlands. There are reports that Islamic hardliners are going house to house, hunting her and her family down to kill them. Asia Bibi’s husband has pleaded for asylum in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. The UK has denied his request. Canada is in talks with Pakistan regarding a potential offer of asylum, but no official agreement has been made. The United States has not yet offered asylum to Asia Bibi and her family. read more
THINK.
Joseph Nadeem has been helping Bibi’s family stay in hiding, and he recently told Aid to the Church in Need this week, “We’re afraid. In recent days, the Islamists have fired at the gate of our home. We are constantly receiving threats, and on more than one occasion we have been followed.” Nadeem has moved houses five times with Asia Bibi’s children and family. And all this time Asia has not been able to see her children for their own safety. Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Asia has stood boldly for Christ in a country where her very life is at risk because of her faith, and we know her heavenly reward will be great.
PRAY.
Please continue to pray for Asia Bibi and her family in hiding. Pray for Pakistan to allow them to leave the country and for the United States to grant them asylum.
ACT.
It’s so crucial for Christians to advocate for Asia Bibi’s asylum in the United States. Take a couple of minutes to send an email to President Trump, your representatives in Congress, and Secretary Pompeo using our simple tool and BreakPoint’s pre-written message and urge them to offer Asia Bibi and her family asylum.
DNA DISCOVERY REVEALS ALL HUMANS DESCENDED FROM AN 'ADAM AND EVE' AFTER CATACLYSM
Now you don't need a DNA kit to find out about your very long-term ancestral line. Scientists in the US and Switzerland have announced an amazing revelation – all modern humans are descended from a common father and mother who appeared on the scene 100,000 to 200,000 years ago after a cataclysmic event almost wiped out the human race. Although the researchers believe in an evolutionary explanation and are not pointing to the biblical Adam and Eve, or even to Noah and his wife, their DNA discovery has stirred a lot of debate. It may prove to be one of the most challenging studies ever undertaken, and it brings up a huge mystery. What happened to wipe out almost all life on the planet, leaving behind the people who would become the mother and father to us all? read more
THINK.
People often separate science from the Bible, but upon a closer look we continue to discover that science and the Bible are compatible and the Bible, in fact, supports science. This study examined the DNA genetic “barcodes” from five million types of animals and humans comprising some 100,000 species. And while they discovered that all humans are the descents from one man and one woman, they also discovered that 90% of all animal species come from parents who gave birth around 250,000 years ago. Notice they did not discover patterns of evolution. This is all remarkable support for Noah’s flood (Genesis 7).
PRAY.
Pray for this groundbreaking scientific discovery to open the eyes of unbelievers across the world to believe in the Word of God and come to understand its perfect accuracy of the events of the past and the hope of the Gospel for us today.
ACT.
Answers in Genesis is a great organization to help Christians better understand the biblical support for science. We encourage you to connect with them. You can read one of their recent articles, Science vs. Religion here.
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