Affinity4 Community Blog

According to a recent LifeNews.com article, National Planned Parenthood has laid off 20% of their staff as a result of the Madoff fundraising scandal. Maryana Iskander, Chief Operating Officer for Planned Parenthood was quoted in the same article as saying that Planned Parenthood has had to make staff reductions at their headquarters due to challenging economic times facing our country.

And, the point is regardless of the reason why, the nation’s largest abortion provider, which performs 25% of abortions in this country every year, is feeling the financial crunch. For those of us who are active in the pro-life movement, this is without a doubt great news! Many are calling it a victory in the war to protect the unborn!

Don’t get too excited just yet, the war isn’t over! Last Friday afternoon President Obama (as promised) signed an executive order reversing the ban known as the “Mexico City Policy” that prohibits funding to international family planning groups that provide abortions. This highly debated ban prevented the U.S. government from providing funding for family planning services to clinics or groups that offered abortion-related services overseas, even if funding for those activities came from non-government sources. It also barred recipients of U.S. foreign aid from promoting abortion as a method of family planning. Organizations who received government funding, would “agree as a condition of their receipt of federal funds that they would neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations.”
President Obama’s actions on Friday will provide over $400 million dollars in federal funding to other nations for their family planning efforts, including abortion. It is unbelievable that our country while facing our worst financial situation in years, companies going under, workers losing jobs, homes being foreclosed on, can allot $400 million dollars in foreign aid to help end the lives of unborn children in other nations. Some call it humanitarian efforts, I call it shameful! The bottom line my friends is that your tax money will now be used to assist in international abortions.
Obviously there is still much to do in the war to protect the unborn. As Christians we know we are called to protect the innocent through actions and prayer. As a nation we ought to be doing the same. Truly this is not a faith issue or even a matter of belief. It is a matter of social justice. We cannot support the destruction of human life in an effort to improve our international status! It’s never too late to take action, so much can change when we unite in prayer!

To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.
~ Billy Graham

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Did you know that on February 17th all broadcast television stations will stop broadcasting on analog waves and start broadcasting only in digital? I’m sure many of you have heard about the so-called “digital transition”, but what does it mean for you?

Well first of all it means that you want to ensure that your TV is capable of receiving a digital signal, or you won’t be able to watch your favorite TV programs. If you have a TV with “rabbit ears” or a roof-top antenna, you are most likely not capable of receiving a digital signal. In order to continue watching your favorite programs you will need to buy an analog to digital converter. Click here to download the government coupon for this converter. The converters cost between $40 and $70, and the government coupon is for $40 off. Each household may request up to 2 coupons.

If you still have questions about the digital transition, the federal government has set up a website with all the information you need-just click here.

One way to avoid worrying about the digital transition all together is to sign up for DIRECTV® through Affinity4. We’ll make the digital transition easy for you, and Affinity4 will donate $50 to your favorite charity or ministry! Click here to find out more!

This switch is important because it will free up space on the broadcast spectrum and allow space for important public safety communications. All of us will also benefit from this switch because it will improve picture and sound quality on our favorite TV programs!

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Twenty-three years ago, the Christian Action Council Education and Ministries Fund, which is now known as Care Net, approached President Ronald Reagan with a request that he create a special day to focus on the intrinsic value of human life and the fundamental right to life, as recognized by our Founding Fathers. In 1983, President Reagan issued a proclamation establishing a National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHLS). Since 1983, the SOHLS proclamation has also been issued by Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.

The National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is held on the Sunday in January that falls closest to the day on which the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973. These decisions recognized a right to a legal abortion in this country. Over the past 36 years, that right has resulted in the killing of over 50 million unborn children.

January is a very busy month for pro-life groups across this country. They are all in the midst of preparing for Sanctity of Human Life Events during the week of January 18th through 25th. Candlelight vigils, prayer meetings, and Sunday sermons will be focused on not only the children but the women and families who have been victimized by abortion for too many years.

We all know that Sanctity of Human Life decisions are made on a daily basis. This creates constant opportunities to share truth in love, to provide education, support and services, to offer hope and help, like Jesus would…leading our neighbors, friends, and family onto the path of life. To find out how you can get involved and truly make a difference, protecting and saving lives contact your local crisis pregnancy center today!

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January 16th is traditionally observed as Religious Freedom Day by proclamation of the President. The President calls on Americans to “observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship.” Why January 16th? Because it is the anniversary of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, written by Thomas Jefferson.

This day should be celebrated not only in church, but in homes and schools as well. ReligiousFreedomDay.com has created a guide that includes information on student’s religious liberties which include the right to pray and read the bible in school, the right to discuss their faith and the right to include their faith in homework assignments and class discussions. The guide also includes information for educators and explanations straight from the Department of Education. Click here to access this helpful guide!

Thomas Jefferson considered the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom one of his greatest accomplishments. This historic document provided the foundation for the religious freedoms we are guaranteed by the 1st amendment of the Constitution. So this Friday, take a minute of your day to be thankful for and to take advantage of the religious freedoms we are granted in this country.

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In the last several months, two big-name movies, Not Easily Broken and Fireproof, targeted at the faith-based audience have come out in theatres. It’s exciting to see new movies that are different from the typical blockbuster. Many Christians are critical of the mainstream media, but rather than avoiding that market completely, we are now seeing movies created by people of faith targeted at the faith-based audience entering the picture.

Not Easily Broken released in theatres on January 9th is based on Bishop T.D. Jakes’ book with the same name. The movie stars Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Maeve Quinlan, Kevin Hart, Wood Harris and Jennifer Lewis. The movie is a story about a couple’s love and journey through difficult times.  The author, Bishop T.D. Jakes, is the head of The Potter’s House Church in Dallas, TX and has written several books including Reposition Yourself and Before You Do, which have been offered in the Affinity4 book club.  For show times and more information on the new movie Not Easily Broken click here.

The other movie targeting a faith based audience is Fireproof.  Fireproof was in theatres all fall and will be coming out on DVD on 1/27. This movie is also about a married couple going through a difficult time in their marriage. Fireproof stars Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea and was produced by Sherwood Pictures, which is associated with Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia. Fireproof had an excellent response in theatres, coming in #4 at the box office during its opening weekend.  That is probably a good sign for Not Easily Broken as well! Have you seen these movies? If so, let us know what you thought!

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