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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - NOVEMBER 8, 2023
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Ohio Passes Amendment to Enshrine Abortion Rights in State Constitution
Ohio voters added reproductive rights to the state constitution Tuesday by passing Issue 1, as the pro-choice movement continued its post-Dobbs winning streak. The initiative, labeled the Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative, led by 59% to 41%. Major news organizations called the race around 9 p.m. The measure says the state ‘shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against’ individuals seeking abortions, contraception, and other reproductive-related medical services.” read more at The Washington Times
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- Exit polls showed strong support for the measure across the board with a prevailing sentiment of anger that Roe v. Wade was overturned. Ohio is the seventh state to vote on an abortion-related measure since the Supreme Court decision. Abortion has been on the ballot in seven states since June 2022 and in each case, voters overwhelmingly chose to advance abortion. Ohio voters also approved legalizing recreational marijuana.
- In other critical elections, Democrats won control of the Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates. In Kentucky, Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear won re-election while Republicans won the Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, and State Treasurer positions. Mississippi incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves defeated Democrat Brandon Presley. And in Pennsylvania’s important Supreme Court seat race, Democrat Daniel McCaffery was leading over Republican Carolyn Carluccio.
- The results in Ohio break my heart. We are a nation that not only votes to advance abortion but proudly celebrates death in the guise of protecting “freedom.” The judgment of God is Romans 1:23-25 which says, “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!” Voters in Ohio have chosen death and we as the church are complicit in allowing it to happen. We are responsible for the moral character of our government, which is a reflection of the people. We are responsible for allowing bad policies to be passed into law in our states. We must stand for righteousness and oppose sin.
PRAY.
Pray for these newly elected leaders — regardless of if they were the ones you voted for or not. They will be on your school board, in your state legislature, your courts, and representing you. Pray for them right now, even before they take their oath of office. Be reminded of 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which says, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior...”
ACT.
Read this statement from our CEO, Jason Yates, about Ohio’s election results. May it be a battle cry for future elections. “The Ohio election results are an indictment on the church. Either Christians have set aside their biblical values and voted in favor of Issue 1, or they simply did not show up to vote no. Abortion activists knew that the only thing that could stop their push for unlimited abortion and the removal of parental rights was the church, so they pooled their money and targeted people of faith with deceptive messages and outright lies - and their despicable tactics worked. I am sending out a clarion call to Christians across the nation...we must rise and stand united against the cancer that is spreading like wildfire across America. To stop the decay of our nation, Christians need to get educated and understand the issues and the dire consequences they bring - and then stand and vote in every election.”
Thousands of Anti-Israel Protesters Descend on White House Praising Hamas, Slamming 'Genocide Joe'
“Tens of thousands of anti-Israel protesters descended on the White House over the weekend, demanding a cease-fire amid the war against Hamas as they refused to denounce the terrorist organization for its civilian-targeted brutality. Correspondent Griff Jenkins reported that ANSWER Coalition, an anti-war and anti-racism organization, bussed thousands of people into Washington, D.C., to participate in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations from cities like New York, Tampa, Boston and Cleveland.” read more at Fox News
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- It’s hard to even imagine an estimated crowd of over 100,000 people supporting terrorism in our nation's capital. Protesters could be heard chanting, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," a Palestinian slogan that supports the destruction of the Jewish state (The Jordan river and Mediterranean Sea are Israel’s east and west boundaries).
- The Israel-Hamas war has exposed an pro-terrorist arm of the Democratic Party. But they are angry with President Biden because of his statements of support for Israel. However, last week, Biden called for a "pause" to Israel’s attacks against Hamas. On November 1, the administration announced the "First-Ever National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia."
- These actions reveal a lack of moral clarity under political pressure. Many, including our friend Jim Denison, have pointed out that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire, or “pause,” sound moral, but would empower Hamas to inflict more violence on innocent people. Likewise, the timing of the White House’s call to combat Islamophobia makes no sense in the face of a nearly 400% increase in Antisemitic incidents across the nation.
- Let’s pray for our leaders to remember their call to be God’s servants for the good of their citizens, to punish those who do evil, and to praise those who do good. (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:14) We can also find moral clarity in God’s commands to us as Christians: “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good…Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:9,12)
PRAY.
Romans 12:15 also tells us to “weep with those who weep.” On Monday, Jews and Christians around the world came together for a Day of Prayer for Israel to mark 30 days since the horrific massacre on October 7. As you continue praying for Israel, pray that many will seek the Lord, and that Christians ministering to Israelis will be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks the reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15).
ACT.
To keep Israel top of mind, download our Prayer Points for Israel prayer guide to help you continue to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6).
Florida Severs Ties with the American Library Association
“The state of Florida joined a growing number of states that have cut ties with the American Library Association (ALA) over its promotion of Marxism and sexually explicit reading materials to children. Florida’s Division of Library and Information Services, a division of the Florida Department of State, issued a new rule stipulating that it would “not allow grant project activities associated” with the American Library Association or its affiliates.” read more at The Washington Stand
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- Founded in 1876, the ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. As a nonprofit, the ALA denies having a political agenda, saying it has always been nonpartisan. Even if the ALA claims to be nonpartisan, it definitely promotes certain ideologies. Each year they release their “Rainbow List” aimed at children from birth to 18, categorized as “the best queer books” written for children. Apart from allegations that the organization also works to expose children to pornography, some take issue with political views advanced by the association’s leaders.
- This year, the election of Emily Drabinski (a self-identified Marxist lesbian) as president of the ALA led nine states to join a movement to cut ties with the ALA. In Idaho, a group of legislators released a statement saying, “Her election raises issues about libraries’ involvement in exposing children to explicit materials and injecting hard-left politics and sexuality into publicly funded libraries.” The Montana State Library Commission also removed itself from the ALA, stating that the ALA “has turned its back on America itself.”
- If your state’s library association–funded by taxpayers–partners with the ALA, that means your local public libraries will be advised by the ALA. With public libraries controlling not just what books are on your local library’s shelves but what resources are included in the public servers used by schools across the state, this could be very problematic.
PRAY.
As Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Lord, You have given parents the tremendous honor, blessing and responsibility to raise children. The battle for our children’s hearts and minds is waged on our knees. When we don’t pray, it’s like sitting on the sidelines watching our children in a war zone getting shot at from every angle. When we do pray, we’re in the battle alongside them. Help us to be fully in the battle, praying Your Word over our children unceasingly.
ACT.
Using this link, find your state’s library association and contact them to let them know that you want them to join with other state’s and disassociate with the ALA because you cannot support the ideologies it espouses.
Only MLB Team Not to Bend Knee to ‘Pride’ Pressure Just Won World Series
“The Texas Rangers, who won their first World Series in 63 seasons Wednesday night, is also the only team in Major League Baseball not to hold a “Pride Night”-style event celebrating LGBTQ individuals. The Rangers bested the Arizona Diamondbacks in four out of five games to take the series.” read more at The Daily Signal
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- A total of 29 out of 30 MLB teams hosted a “Pride Night”, but the Rangers’ refusal to give in to the pressure is a “courageous stand against the tsunami of corporate wokeness,” Joshua Arnold wrote. Fans have criticized “Pride Nights” for funding and promoting woke or anti-Christian groups as well as those focused on sexual or gender identity. We reported on the LA Dodgers last June when they hosted the horrific drag nun group that openly mocks Catholicism. It’s worth noting that 18 of MLB’s 30 franchises hosted “faith nights” during the 2023 season, a tradition started in the 1950’s.
- The Texas Rangers won their first World Series championship with the help of rookies Evan Carter and Josh Jung. Both Carter and Jung are Christians, often talking about their faith and how they plan to use their influence as athletes to spread God’s word. Carter and his wife, Kaylen, partnered with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to create a “Jesus Won” t-shirt fans could purchase. Images of Carter wearing the shirt have gone viral.
- With so much bad news about people in this world, it brings hope to see good news stories like this. It reminds me of a quote by Dwight Moody that says, “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining — they just shine.”
PRAY.
Lord, thank You for those who are unashamed to proclaim Your name in public. As Your followers, we pray as Paul did (Ephesians 6:19) that You give us boldness to speak and live as You would have us do. In this culture of deception and resistance to truth, we need to hold firm to Your truth more than ever.
ACT.
Evan Carter started a conversation with his shirt. You can start a conversation of your own with one of our My Faith Votes t-shirts! Every time I wear my “Pray for America” shirt, I always get comments. Every shirt purchased funds our mission to equip and motivate Christians to vote in every election.
My Faith Votes—is a nonpartisan movement that motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. By partnering with national faith leaders, My Faith Votes provides resources to help Christians Pray, Think, and Act to create an America where God is honored in the public square.
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