Top Stories

Legal Challenge to Health Care Law Allowed to Proceed

The Supreme Court yesterday gave new life to a legal challenge to President Obama’s health care overhaul, the Affordable Care Act.  This challenge comes from Liberty University and is based not only on the HHS mandate that employers provide access to contraception and abortion drugs, but also at perceived limits on religious freedom.  The high court had originally denied the appeal, saying it was filed too early.  Their decision hands the case back to the 4th Circuit to reconsider.

Today is Giving Tuesday

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are all in the rearview mirror now – but today charity takes center stage with “Giving Tuesday”, a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the Christmas season.  As of yesterday morning there were over 21-hundred partners listed on their website, some local or regional charities, and others like World Vision who reach out all over the planet.  According to a phone survey by World Vision, 83-percent of Americans said they would prefer a meaningful gift that would help someone else instead of the latest tech gadget or another tie.  All you need to know at www.GivingTuesday.org.

“Two and a Half Men” Actor Says, “Don’t Watch Our Show”

Chances are you have not watched much of the TV show “Two and a Half Men.”  I don’t recommend you start watching it, and apparently neither does one of the stars of the show.  Angus Jones has played Jake Harper on the show since it started in 2003, but the now nineteen year old in a recent video reportedly calls the show “filth” and encourages people to quit watching it.  He also says the show contradicts his Christian values and expresses guilt that his profession is inflicting damage. While having been around the things of church and a Chrsitian school for many years, Jones says he began to develop a new understanding of God’s Word when his parents were going through a divorce a couple of years ago.  He’s also under contract for one more year.

Shoppers Dig Deep Over Thanksgiving Weekend

If the first weekend of Christmas shopping is any indication, Americans will be spending more this year.  According to the National Retail Federation, the average shopper spent 423-dollars this past weekend, 25-dollars more than 2011.  This year there were 21 million more shoppers, but a lot of those were online.  And the numbers aren’t even in on Cyber Monday yet.

Growing Diversity in Congress

The upcoming 113th Congress, which kicks off in January, will be the most religiously diverse in history – but over half still consider themselves Protestant.  Pew Forum says 30-percent are Catholic, 6-percent are Jewish and 3-percent Mormon.  We will also see the first Buddhist, the first Hindu, and the first religiously unaffiliated member of Congress sworn in.

Faith

Who is Jesus?

A new study by Harris Interactive suggests that Americans don’t know the facts about Jesus, and don’t appreciate His impact on society today.  Author and pastor John Ortberg says in his book, “Who Is This Man?” that things like universal literacy, education, orphanages and hospitals all originated with followers of Jesus who remembered his teachings.

Serving Outside the Church

Do you feel like you’re using your spiritual gifts to serve God?  A new poll by Lifeway Research suggests that 60-percent of us agree with the statement “I intentionally try to serve people outside the church who have tangible needs.”  Another 17-percent strongly agree with that, while 15-percent disagree.

Family & Relationships

Almost Half Stress Over Christmastime Spending

More Americans are stressing over being able to afford Christmas.  Think Finance looks at spending practices, and says 45-percent of us plan to use alternative spending like pay day loans and direct deposit advances in order to get everything on their list.  This year’s survey also included more people in higher tax brackets, proving that just because you make more money doesn’t mean you have any less financial stress.

Work

Improving Your Earning Power

With a lot of companies putting limits on hiring and wages, your best bet for making more money may be a promotion or a new job.  So what skills do you need to help you land one?  Experts with the Wall Street Journal say there are 4 areas to concentrate on.  1) Communication – You’ve got to be able to articulate your point of view.  2) Personal Branding – Especially watching what you say on Social Media.  3) Flexibility – You have to be able to think on your feet.  4) Improving Your Productivity – Not just doing enough, but looking to get better.

Finances & Economy

Mixed Monday on Wall Street

The markets dipped yesterday after the long Thanksgiving weekend.  The Dow Jones Industrials were off by about forty, closing below 13,000.  The S-and-P lost four, but the NASDAQ gained nine.  Boeing, Caterpillar, and HP were the biggest winners.  American Express and McDonald’s the biggest losers.

Health

Diabetes Prevention With Fruit?

Could a few more fruit salads help your heart and prevent diabetes?  Researchers in England are looking into that.  A professor at Warwick Medical School wonders if the nutrients found in fruit can help trigger cell mechanisms that will keep diabetes at bay.  They are just now launching a three year study to see which fruits and veggies have the right nutrients.

Exercise for Your Body and Your Brain

So you ate a little too much over the Thanksgiving weekend and you’re having trouble finding the motivation to get back on the treadmill?  Think about your brains.  Researchers at UCLA say that people who burn off the most energy have healthier, younger brains.  They found a direct correlation between the amount of energy you burn and the amount of gray matter in your brain.  Gray matter is the stuff that helps process most of the information we use. It’s all more evidence that staying active may help fend off dementia.

An Eating Strategy for The Holidays and Beyond

Did you pack on a little weight over Thanksgiving and now you want to make sure that doesn’t happen consistently throughout the rest of the holidays.  Dr. Rita Hancock says there are a few things you can do that will help. She says, “…sometimes you think you are hungry when you are actually thirsty. So it’s always good to drink a glass of water beforehand and drink water between the bites… it’ll cleanse your palate, and that way the next bite of vegetables or whatever you are enjoying, you really taste them more, [also] eat slowly. And you don’t have to eat it all. Just because its there doesn’t mean you have to eat it all.” And she says it might help if you don’t think of this as one big season, but each holiday as an individual event.  That way you’re less likely to chalk up over-eating to the “holiday season.”

Super Storm Sandy

Help Salvation Army Relief Efforts with A Simple Text

Text the word "STORM" to 80888. Then respond with a "yes" when the text response comes to you.
 

Give Blood and Money Through Red Cross

Because many blood donation centers on the east coast are closed, it is even more important for we who are out of harm’s way to donate. www.RedCross.org has all you need to know. You may also give money via that web site, or you can give $10 via text message by texting the word “RedCross” to 90999.