Wow! This is astounding.  A new research study demonstrates that babies cry in their own languages immediately after birth!  This story may prove to be significant because of the persistent unwillingness to acknowledge the status of human babies in the womb.  If babies come out crying in different languages, then they have acquired those languages in utero.  If this is the case, then the baby is aware of such things as language while still in the womb. 

Babies learn language in the womb?

Mark Steyn, once again, has hit the nail on the head. This article is clear, to the point, and exactly what more folks ought to be saying.

No one assumes that every Muslim is violent.  Few are asserting that the religion itself is inherently violent.  Nevertheless, the appearance to those of us outside of Islam is that it breeds violence.  The founder of the religion was himself sometimes violent, and the most vocal adherents of the religion are violent.  The tragedy at Ft. Hood is simply the latest installment of such violence, but the violence is not limited to isolated attacks on innocent, unarmed victims at military bases.  There are other examples here in the U.S. and around the world.  The fellow up in Seattle comes to mind; he shot people gathered at a Jewish center.  And, sadly, there is another honor killing in the news.  This story tells the grievous tale of a father who ran over his daughter because she had become too “western.”  His daughter is dead.

All of this says that we should let Muslims know what we are thinking.  We are not off our rockers in saying that we associate terrorism with their religion.  Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists appear to be Muslim.  We point this out not to denigrate their religion or castigate them as human beings; rather, we point this out so they will know what we are actually thinking.  Muslims have a duty to speak out more forcefully for the peace of their faith than the militants do who are speaking for the violence of it.  We ought to support and encourage those Muslims who protest and oppose the violence. They have quite a difficult work to accomplish; but it is their work to do.  We are not helping them when we pretend there is no relationship between Islam and violence.  In our experience, there is a relationship.  Whether it is a necessary or essential relationship, Muslims must make clear for us.

Rolan Emmerich loves to be provocative in his movie making endeavors.  He blows up the White House and other sacred landmarks to provoke shock, fear, and emotion.  As it turns out, his willingness to provoke emotion has its limits.  This article points out Emmerich’s cowardice.  This article is almost laughable in pionting out Emmerich’s unwillingness to touch anything Muslim.  Cowardice on complete parade.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/nov/03/roland-emmerich-2012-kaaba

Congratulations for marriage and families in Maine.  Gay marriage was defeated (repealed actually) in Maine yesterday by popular vote.  As this article points out, the Maine event is significant for 2 reasons. 

First, the vote in Maine marks the first occasion on which gay marriage was being overturned after having been put in place by a legislature.  In California, for instance, the courts had imposed gay marriage.  In Maine, the law was rightfully passed by the legislature, but rejected by the people.

Second, this marks a significant statement in that every time the matter has come for a vote, gay marriage has lost.  In 31 states elections have been held, and all 31 times gay marriage has been defeated.  It seems clear that Americans do not desire to redefine marriage and family; the traditional order is preferred.

There is a big vote in Maine today concerning the nature of marriage.  If the measure fails, then Maine will have become the first state to actually vote in gay marriage.  As you know the other states had gay marriage more or less imposed on them by judicial fiat.  This story from Baptist Press offers a glimmer of hope in that a media frenzy has followed the harrassment case of a Maine social worker who spoke out in favor of traditional marriage.  The Alliance Defense Fund is taking his case, and the outcome of the vote may well be tilted by this single event.  The Maine event is one to watch today.

Organ transplantation is a wonderful thing. I know a dear man whose life was spared half a decade ago because of a liver transplant.  Transplantation can be a tool for promoting life.  However, it can also be a tool used to justify death.  In this article, you can see the scare ahead for the weak, the elderly, or the criminals.  The article in Bioethics argues, basically, that there are some folks who are “going to die anyway. So, why not harvest their organs?”

We have been talking about hate speech lately (since Obama has signed this atrocious piece of specious bile into law), and we are expecting some of it with regard to speaking the truth about homosexuality to a gender confused culture. The Discovery Institute has been in the thick of hate speech charges for years now.  They are quite accustomed to the threats and intimidation.  I have linked here an example of what we are up against.

Last week, the warning was sounded that President Obama and the Democratic House and Senate had attached the “hate crimes” legislation to a defense appropriations bill.  President Obama signed it.  Now, it is time to start considering whether we, as Christians, will be silent regarding the truth of sin and redemption.

Over the pond in the UK, the British Christians are struggling with the same problem, only they have slid a bit further down the road than we have.  We can learn from them.  I offer you this article from Right Rev. Jonathan Gledhill as a fine exhibit concerning how quickly Christians may simply drift from their identification as Christians.  At one time, Christians were wearing crosses and fish symbols; yet, when companies began discriminating against them for wearing their faith on their sleeves (or their lapels), many Christians ditched the practice (for practical reasons).  The Rt. Rev. Gledhill, in his November letter, is encouraging Christians to wear the pins and declare their faith, not being intimidated into silence.

More than this, however, the Rev. makes the point that the true mark of the Christian is not a lapel pin. Rather, the true mark is love.  On this particular point, Rev. Gledhill makes a slight mistake.  He puts the mark of love in the context of love for the world.  (One may see how a Christian ought to love the world after the manner of God Himself, Jn. 3:16).  However, Jesus Christ has spoken plainly in Jn 13:35 that the world will know we are Christ’s disciples NOT because of our love for the world, but because of our love for one another.  Church love, love for the saints, is the true mark of the true Christian.

More and more, I am starting to think the global warming crowd and the environmental crowd (mainstream version) are really interested most in propagating abortions.  This short article from Mark Steyn makes the point clearly.

By the way, global warming appears to be on its way out.  More and more people are realizing global warming was more about hype than it was about science.  See this update…