Author: Fr. John Chagnon

Privilege, Choice, and the Modern World…

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To what extent is society required to help facilitate the choices of radically autonomous individuals? Based on what I am seeing, it seems clear that identity, health, and lifestyle choices may soon trump all—particularly when these desires conflict with traditional values and norms. For example, in Colorado, the parents of a first grade boy are suing his elementary school for discrimination because their son, who identifies as a girl, is not allowed to use the girls’ restroom. Similarly, a bill has been filed in the California legislature that would require schools to permit transsexual boys and girls to use opposite-sex bathrooms. That boys and girls might not want to share toilet facilities with girls and boys is of no consequence.

Read more here…

Why We Need…

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to reach out to our culture, plant churches, and serve our neighbors. America is a mission field, in fact it may be one of the largest mission fields in the world.

God and Depression…

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A strong faith in a higher power has been shown to improve mental health. Belief in God may improve treatment for those suffering with depression, says a new study.

Faith in a higher being has been found to significantly improve treatment for people suffering with a psychiatric illness, according to research carried out by McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2314781/Believing-God-help-treat-depression.html#ixzz2RWjVaZfk

Hmmm…

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“Christians divorce at roughly the same rate as the world!”

It’s one of the most quoted stats by Christian leaders today. And it’s perhaps one of the most inaccurate.

At bottom, it is used to explain that Christians are not doing well in living out their faith. But it could also be taken as a statement that redemption by and real discipleship under Jesus makes no real difference when it comes to marriage.  But mainstream sociologists would tell us that taking one’s faith very seriously—in word and deed—does indeed make a marked positive difference in the health and longevity of marriage. Based on the best data available, the divorce rate among Christians is significantly lower than the general population.

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Please Pray…

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2013-0422-paul-aleppo

Metropolitan PAUL of Aleppo, Syria has been abducted. Abducted with him was the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo. The Deacon who was their driver was shot and killed in the attack. While often being pictured in the Western media as “freedom fighters” or “resistance groups” the various groups of people currently in conflict with the Syrian regime, some of which are getting US taxpayer money in support, have been involved in persecuting Syria’s indigenous Christian populations.