The damning euphemism called “selective reduction” | Denny Burk

The video above features a woman named Amy Richards telling her story about “selective reduction” (HT: @drmoore). If you are unfamiliar with the term, it’s a euphemism for killing one or more unborn babies when there are multiples in a womb. In Richards’ case, she found out that she was pregnant with triplets. In the video above, she describes her fateful decision to have two of her triplets killed. In a 2004 Op-Ed for The New York Times, she describes why she refused to allow all of her children to live: MORE: The damning euphemism called “selective reduction” | Denny Burk

The Main Ingredient in Effective Prayer - Desiring God

It’s tragic how easily we can miss the main ingredient in effective prayer.
In our sin, we’ve been rewired to focus on us — on the steps we should take for our prayers to be heard. We have this bent toward believing that every result is born from method. If something works for somebody we want to know what that somebody is doing. MORE: The Main Ingredient in Effective Prayer - Desiring God

4 Goals to Pursue in Parenting by William Boekestein | Ligonier Ministries Blog

Near the end of Colossians 3 God speaks his will to people who play a role in six different relationships; Wives, husbands, children, fathers, bondservants, and masters. Only to fathers does God NOT speak a positive command. He simply says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Col. 3:21). Perhaps by doing so, God is accentuating the uniquely devastating problem of parental provocation. Still, Ephesians 6:4 teaches us that there is a clear alternative to provocative parenting. MORE: 4 Goals to Pursue in Parenting by William Boekestein | Ligonier Ministries Blog

SBTS Resources » The Challenge of Islam—A Christian Perspective

The issue of Islam is never far from our headlines. Early in his administration, President Barack Obama put the issue of Islam front and center on the international stage. His visits to Islamic-dominated lands and his public statements to the Muslim world have raised a host of questions at home and abroad.


In a speech to the Turkish parliament, President Obama declared: “The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.” He went on to say that “our partnership with the Muslim world is critical not just in rolling back the violent ideologies that people of all faiths reject, but also to strengthen opportunity for all its people.”

But the President also spoke of his “deep appreciation for the Islamic faith.” Here is the statement in context:
(MORE): SBTS Resources » The Challenge of Islam—A Christian Perspective

Baptist Press - Washington now leads in assisted suicides - News with a Christian Perspective

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Washington has become the No. 1 state for physician-assisted suicide.
Physician-assisted suicide represents doctors' failure "to exercise their professional responsibility never to harm patients." –- C. Ben Mitchell
At least 83 people in Washington died in 2012 after taking lethal doses of drugs prescribed by doctors, the State Department of Health reported June 20. That total pushed Washington beyond Oregon, which has had legalized assisted suicide 12 years longer and has always held the annual record for such deaths. Earlier this year, Oregon reported 77 assisted suicide deaths in 2012 for its highest total ever.
The increase in assisted suicides annually from 36 to 83 since 2009 prompted Southern Baptist bioethicist C. Ben Mitchell to say Washington's "numbers are chilling."
Washington, which legalized assisted suicide in 2009, has reported 240 such deaths in less than four years. Oregon has reported 673 deaths by assisted suicide since its Death With Dignity Act went into effect in 1997, according to the state's Public Health Division.
MORE: Baptist Press - Washington now leads in assisted suicides - News with a Christian Perspective