Greetings!
Here’s another edition of Doyle’s Half Dozen. Let’s get to it!
- Grieving Las Vegas
It’s been five days since the mass shooting late Sunday night in Las Vegas. Here’s what I have to offer: God is faithful.
I’ve been going through the Minor Prophets in my daily Bible readings, which, in my weak flesh, can be difficult at times to find God’s application for my life. God does not deliver a lot of encouraging messages through these prophets. They are usually messages of destruction and turmoil, of other countries taking over Israel and Judah or of heavy famine and death.
But in amongst these turbulent prophecies, there are messages of hope.
“The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).
God never said His followers won’t experience trouble, but He will reveal Himself in troubled times. Pastors and churches have responded in Las Vegas, offering hope to those who are hurting.
- Clamping Cam
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton got himself in trouble at a press conference again. He tried to be funny, but his response to a woman reporter backfired on him.
He said “it’s funny to hear a female talk about routes.” Now we won’t hear Cam talk about yogurt, as Dannon announced the yogurt company dropped Newton as a spokesperson.
I know quite a few women who could talk about routes, formations, blitzes and blocking schemes, and as socially relevant the NFL tries to be, especially with the help of ESPN’s non-stop political propaganda, Cam’s response shocked me.
The court of public opinion is powerful today, and Cam will have to live out its ruling.
- House bill bans late-term abortions
Great news this week, as the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill, 237-189, that bans abortion on unborn babies in the womb 20 weeks. The bill’s strongest provision was scientific evidence of the child experiencing pain at that stage.
This is an encouraging action, but the Senate will need to approve, which did not occur when a similar House bill was passed in 2015.
Hopefully Senator James Lankford and his cohorts can be successful as they introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act this week. Check out Lankford, who begins speaking at 5:58 in the following video.
- More former PP workers come forward
The number is growing. Ex-employees of Planned Parenthood are making it known what happens at the facilities of the largest abortion provider in the world.
A story reported this week of a video of new former Planned Parenthood employees revealing inside information. They mention abortion quotas, bypassing adoption and discouraging parental involvement. One former employee said Planned Parenthood boasts of an “in-house” abortion fund.
Abby Johnson has been a pro-life advocate after leaving her post at a Planned Parenthood facility in Texas. She founded And Then There Were None, a pro-life organization specializing in helping former workers of abortion facilities find other employment.
“Most people who go into the abortion industry want to do so in order to help women, yet once they see what really goes on, many are horrified,” Johnson urged. “We need to tell their stories and unmask the abortion industry for what it really is: a predatory, calculated, money-making machine that pounces on women in their most vulnerable times.”
- ACLU fights faith-based adoption agencies
Baptist Press reported this week of a lawsuit in Michigan filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against faith-based adoption agencies. The ACLU insists the agencies go against its practices based on biblical convictions.
The problem the ACLU has is more faith-based adoption agencies are forming and have been effective in the increase of foster families. This is an action of which many adoption advocates should be aware.
- Thunder update
It seems like when I report on the Oklahoma City Thunder, my information is old news once it becomes live. Last week’s DHD mentioned the addition of Carmelo Anthony to the Thunder squad, but only a few hours after it was posted, the news came out of Russell Westbrook finally signing the five-year, $200-plus million contract extension.
The Thunder have its second preseason game tonight, hosting the New Orleans Pelicans. As of this moment, Westbrook is reported not to play in the game, as he is recovering from an enhancement injection in his knee. Maybe if I report it this way, news will break that he IS playing tonight.
We shall see!