Breaking Christian News on The Gospel Herald

After scanning a fashion magazine for a mere three minutes, 80 percent of women immediately experience a smothering attack of insecurity; after three images, their perception of self-worth is distorted by only a few images.

"Life is winning in America," says Vice President Mike Pence. Indeed, with abortion rates at an all-time low since 1974, it is a day worthy of a special commemoration and, well, a march. Pence did just that today in participating at and speaking on behalf of the unborn at the 2017 March for Life in Washington. Beaming with unswerving conviction, Vice-President Pence added: "Be assured: Along with you we will not grow weary, we will not rest, until we restore a culture of life in America for ourselves and our posterity." These actions designated him the first, highest official ranking to address the Washington March.

The power of executive order is, I have noted, often regarded with a suspicious eye---almost as though, it somehow originated from some great transgression or horrendous governmental conspiracy. Despite the sense of notoriety, however, some will be surprised to learn that the executive order is actually backed both by the Constitution as well as by history. Beginning, in fact, with our country's first president, founding father, and general.

A live-action version of the 1991 animated film "Beauty and the Beast" will be released by Disney in March. Doubtless, both fans of the original and newcomers alike are fidgeting with anticipation as the company continues to release tidbits in the form of clips, teaser trailers, merchandise and, most recently, an ornate poster which features many of the original, central figures---easily recognized by their enchanted traits---as well as a few new faces. Deviating from the original animated adaptation, this new reprise appears that it will follow more closely with Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont's version of the fairy tale, while still in keeping with the core message of the true beauty within.

"Banning all Madonna songs at HITS 105 is not a matter of politics, it's a matter of patriotism," Terry told Billboard, "It just feels wrong to us to be playing Madonna songs and paying her royalties when the artist has shown un-American sentiments. If all stations playing Madonna took their lead from us, that would send a powerful economic message to Madonna."

The truth is as I'm sure some of you have surmised by now, this isn't your great-great-great grandmother's suffrage. While it is tempting and even seemingly noble to empower women---and, don't get me wrong, there is an appropriate time and place for it---the very women cited for their movement of suffrage would cringe at the subjects deemed "rights" now.

I sat among a rough estimate of 700 people in the World's Fair Park Amphitheater; praise to Jesus, there were definitely increased numbers since the last few years before. In fact, while I couldn't quite put a finger on it, there seemed to be a different spirit in the air altogether. A kind of sense of hope and motivation, as though we had all passed through an invisible storm and passed into the eye, with a sudden recognition of safety and a grasp of something tangible. There was nothing particularly different about the program departing from the usual schedule, and yet the mass seemed unusually strengthened, a marked excitement in the air evidenced by the loud, collective responses and filed seats.

As Trump's chosen ambassador, Haley's desire to limit abortion-accessibility on an international level is inflaming concern among those who perceive abortive services to be an entitlement. Haley, however, contends for alternative options: "I am strongly pro-life, so anything we can do to keep from having abortions, or to keep them from not knowing what is available, I will support."

As people are preparing for Inauguration Day---some with rejoicing, others in seeming sackcloth and ashes---one fact becomes clear: amid all of the performance rejections and media criticism abounding, this is a controversial and exciting time, to be sure. And perhaps that's an understatement. To the Christian, however, there is never a time devoid of comfort. For those whose eyes are fixed pessimistically, I hope to avert your focus just a bit more.

Founder of both Homeschool Legal Defense Association and Patrick Henry College, Michael Farris is stepping down from his position as HSLDA chairman after 33 years to assume the role of CEO and president of Alliance Defending Freedom in order to "help protect religious freedom in particular, but human life, marriage, and the family in general" in a "wider sphere."

Unfortunately with all of the hazed frenzy surrounding her controversial husband, Melania seems at times relatively lost in the shadow of her husband's reputation. It would seem, however, that in just briefly reviewing her background and history, Mrs. Trump has plenty of interest---and warmth---of her own.

Popular ITV series Victoria, starring Doctor Who's Jenna Coleman, to be released for American DVD sales January 31, 2017.

"When you sing, you put on a persona. I hide behind that person on stage. You can feel like death, but you have to put it on. The audience wants to see someone smiley. There are no firm dates for another tour. I'm taking baby steps. I've decided to record and see how it does first."

Carrie Fisher, still known to her many Star Wars fans as "Princess Leia," is dead following a heart attack which occurred last Friday, December 23.

The juveniles were taken into custody Wednesday. Because the suspects were not from Sevier County, more personal information is yet to be disclosed. It is also undecided whether they will be charged as juveniles or adults---or even whether there remain "more arrests." At this time, it would appear that the prosecutor expresses slant towards trying them as adults.

Whatever your view on the subject, it would seem clear that the benefits are of a national caliber. According to Dakota Access Pipeline Facts, the controversial construction "...will enable domestically produced light sweet crude oil from North Dakota to reach major refining markets in a more direct, cost-effective, safer and environmentally responsible manner."

"To You, O Lord, I cry; for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness and the flame has burned up all the trees of the field. Even the beasts of the field pant for You; for the water brooks are dried up and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness."

"Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lacto-fermentation in which natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food creating lactic acid. This process preserves the food, and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics. Natural fermentation of foods has also been shown to preserve nutrients in food and break the food down to a more digestible form. This, along with the bevy of probiotics created during the fermentation process, could explain the link between consumption of fermented foods and improved digestion."

Frankincense, of course, is the gift brought to the Christ-Child by the magi; it was also brought to His burial, and is featured in the Bible a total of seventeen times. From the Boswellia genus, like its related substance, myrrh, frankincense is DERIVED from sap while it is hardened, and steamed into an oil. Called the "king of oils" for good reason, the oil is highly prized for its treatment of arthritis, blood clotting properties, and even as a hair stimulant in re-growing hair. Like all essential oils, frankincense if antiseptic, so it is ideal for oral health; in fact, it can be used in homemade toothpastes and powders.

"The uterus needs a lot of vitamins and minerals to function properly and red raspberry leaf tea has almost all of them. Red raspberry leaf is high in Vitamins C, E, A, B and has significant amounts of major minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. It also contains essential trace minerals such as zinc, iron, chromium and manganese. "

The Roe vs. Wade case posed perhaps the most controversial handling of Constitutional material in history. The argument defended—the national legalization of abortion—stirred claim to liberties stated within the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified over a century earlier. The premise for this preference of action was established upon the Article’s general references to “equal protection” and individual recognition regardless of race or cultural distinctions. Those representing defense for the recent lawsuit contended the right to private expression of choice; those countering the 1973 historical landmark, however, refuted their opponents’ rationalization. In convictions involving morality and governmental capacity, many questioned whether or not such a case faithfully typified the intentions of the article’s original authors. Although the Supreme Court, in the end, consented to all in behalf of Jane Roe’s cause, a nagging speculation continued to haunt the minds of the American people following: was the Roe event sufficiently and rightly justified? A brief overview of the significance asserted by the Fourteenth Amendment and the historical understanding of liberty and government supports the fact that in light of such knowledge, the Roe. vs. Wade case would have earned the forefathers’ disapproval.

An actuality that most people are increasingly (and, often willfully) ignorant of today is the fact that America began with the collective ambition of effectuating a "city upon a hill" vision. This goal was the dream of our Puritan founders; the proclamation of the Gospel and the freedom to interpret it privately as common citizens was the primary motivation for our establishment. Ensuing liberty was consequently inevitable as responsible men and women recognized that freedom was not an absence of laws, but rather an upholding of God's Law. One such, namely: the sanctity of the marriage covenant.

"America, it is said, is suffering from intolerance — it is not. It is suffering from tolerance. Tolerance of right and wrong, truth and error, virtue and evil, Christ and chaos. Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded.”― Fulton J. Sheen. It was once accurately stated that to believe everything is to believe nothing. Though unrestricted acceptance may appear at first thought superiorly loving, it is in factuality lethal and self-destructive.

"If Gone With the Wind has a theme it is that of survival. What makes some people come through catastrophes and others, apparently just as able, strong, and brave, go under? It happens in every upheaval. Some people survive; others don't. What qualities are in those who fight their way through triumphantly that are lacking in those that go under? I only know that survivors used to call that quality 'gumption.' So I wrote about people who had gumption and people who didn't."

In a statistical study, Above Rubies' Nancy Campbell noted that for every child a woman bears, her risk for ovarian cancer decreases by 10%. Research further reveals the safeguarding nature of pregnancy and lactation; whereas women today experience four hundred menstrual cycles in their child-bearing years---a contributing factor to the rise of Endometriosis and other reproductive-related problems---women who experienced around only 100 cycles about a century ago lived virtually free of the diseases now feared. Why? Because the God-given gifts of pregnancy and lactation naturally allow rest for the body in ways that intervening methods (such as birth control) in reality prevent.