Top Stories
Gun Control by Presidential
Dictate?
In the continuing
controversy over gun control and second amendment freedoms, Vice President Joe
Biden revealed yesterday that President Barack Obama might use an executive
order to deal with guns. The Vice
President meets with leaders of the National Rifle Association and other 2nd
Amendment advocates today.
Abortion Restrictions Widely
Favored
Almost 40 years after the
horrible Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision it seems public opinion is more and
more favoring life! More than 80 percent of Americans favor abortion
restrictions. That’s according to a study from the Marist Institute for Public
Opinion. The poll shows almost 60 percent believe abortion is “morally wrong”.
Support for abortion restrictions has increased in the past year. Support
climbed from 79 percent to 83 percent. That’s big… it would be tough to get 83
percent of Americans to agree the sky is blue!
Focus on Human Trafficking
Human trafficking continues
to be a huge problem in America
and around the world. That’s why Regent
University in Virginia is hosting a symposium on Human
Trafficking, Child Welfare, and Juvenile Justice. The gathering begins today
and includes participants from the FBI to Focus on the Family. Yuri Mantilla,
director of International Affairs for Focus on the Family, says, "The
university is trying to mobilize Christians so that they will be involved in
the fight for true human rights.”
Oscar Nominations are out
Oscar nominations are out this morning, with Director Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln' leading the way with 12 Academy Award nominations, including best picture, Daniel Day Lewis for best actor, and Spielberg for best director. Following closely is 'Life of Pi,' which received 11 nominations.
NYC’s Very Bad Day
New York City may feel a little bit under siege these days. First
it was hurricane Sandy…, then yesterday two
incidents struck the Big Apple, as first a ferry boat slammed into a pier in
lower Manhattan,
then a little later on a high rise construction crane collapsed. The ferry
crash injured 85, while 7 workers were hurt in the crane collapse.
Nothing Left in Afghanistan?
The White House is thinking
about bringing ALL troops home from Afghanistan. The NATO combat
mission “officially” wraps up at the end of next year. As Washington
and Afghanistan
are discussing security, the Deputy National Security Advisor says their goals
are to make sure the country is not a safe haven for al-Quida and that Afghan
forces are trained to secure themselves. And that could mean pulling US forces
out entirely.
Strong Flu Outbreak
Feeling a little puny? It
might be the flu. The flu outbreak this year is the strongest its been in a few
years. In fact, so many people are being treated in Boston that health officials there have
declared a health emergency. You feeling under the weather? Doctor Cass Ingram
says use oil of wild oregano along with some other pro-active tips, such as. “…taking
deep breaths, opening up a window, sleeping on your right side, using the raw
honey, using oil of oregano and you just don’t get respiratory problems, and
reversing the conditions that you do have.” Oregano
Oil also has properties that make it a natural germ fighter. Oh, and how about
a tip from mom... wash your hands!
Church Around the World
Haiti Orphanage Opens Three
Years After Quake
Remember the Haiti
earthquake? Hard to believe, but it was almost 3 years ago that a devastating
quake killed more than 300,000 people in the impoverished nation. A couple of
days before the quake hit, 19 year old mission volunteer Britney Gengel told
her parents she wanted to move to Haiti and start an orphanage. She was killed
when the quake hit, but her memory—and her dream—live on! Funds donated in her
name have been used to open a brand new orphanage. It houses 33 boys and 33
girls and has a water purification system that serves the surrounding community.
Family & Relationships
Baby Sleeper Recall
If one of the presents your
baby got for Christmas was a rocking sleeper, check yours. The Consumer Product
Safety Commission is recalling Fisher Price’s Newborn Rock-N-Play sleeper. They
may have been exposed to mold. For more info, their website is www.CPSC.gov.
Finances & Economy
One Thing: Finances
Besides losing weight and
getting organized, for many of us, putting our financial house in order is one
of the most popular goals we set out to do every New Year. For many it’s the first time they’ve ever
tried to live on a budget, but Crystal Paine – the Money Saving Mom – says you
don’t have to be afraid of the “B” word. She says saving money by staying on a
budget not only helps you stay out of debt, but also helps you be able to give
more. And she says the desire to be able to give more can give purpose to your
efforts. That’s a New Year One Thing
that can revolutionize your life. Find out more at MoneySavingMom.com.
Health
Secret Ingredient: Oregano!
To borrow a phrase, you can “Eat Mor Chikin”. If learning
about chemicals given to chickens had you scouring the label, there are more
options. Some farms are using a natural antibiotic. It’s called Oregano Oil. Dr.
Cass Ingram says oil of wild Oregano is good for getting rid of a cold too! “The
most powerful spice of all is wild oregano, it’s the only spice mentioned in
the bible as a germ killer, to purge.”
Misc
Et Tu, Fluffy?…
A lady who runs a cat
sanctuary in Rome’s
ancient ruins is fighting to stop an eviction notice. Silvia Viviani started the Torre Argentina
Cat Sanctuary 19 years ago to help care for cats that don’t have a home. She has more than 200 of them now, but the
government has ruled that the cats are squatters and must be taken away from
the historic sections, like the place where Julius Caesar was
assassinated. They’ve told Silvia that
the cats might damage the heritage.
Silvia says she doesn’t think they’ll do any more than all of the fires,
earthquakes and foreign invaders have done.
English as a second
language.
An 81 yr old man from Bath, England
has left doctors scratching their heads after he woke up from a stroke speaking
only Welsh. Alun Morgan’s parents were
Welsh, and so he spoke the language as a young child – but had always spoken
English in public. However, when he woke
up – he couldn’t remember any English.
His wife was able to translate, and he’s now working on getting his
vocabulary back.
I can relate… my kids used
to speak English… then they went to High School!
Reverse tithing?
A church in Chicago kicked off the New
Year last Sunday by turning the tables on the collection plate, and giving away
$12,000 to its members. Pastor Jackson
Crum at Park Community Church
ended his sermon by talking about the city’s struggles, and then passed out
envelopes with anywhere from $2 to $102 in there. He then told each member to use it to engage
with people and invest in their city.
America’s Rudest Cities!
If you’re already thinking
about Spring Break or Summer Vacation plans, here are a few places you may want
to steer clear of. Readers of Travel
& Leisure Magazine have ranked what they say are America’s
Rudest Cities - and New York City
is on top this year. The rest of the Top 5 in order: Miami, Washington DC, last year’s #1 Los
Angeles is #4, and Boston is 5th.
Purina Goat Chow!
If you’re one of those that
like to hang onto that Christmas tree until the bitter end and you don’t know
what to do with it – Teresa Fletcher has a use for it. Teresa runs a ranch in Colorado, and she’s taking people’s old,
used Christmas trees and using it for goat feed this winter. She says they have the vitamins &
nutrients the goats need. I’d imagine
that’s a Vitamin C. CAPITAL C, that is!
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