New blog setup

Hello everyone. I got the new blog set up. I haven't worked on a design, so it is a little plain, but we will get there. Here is the url- http://www.melissa-brandon.com/chesed/ That brings you to the main page. There will be a link at the bottom for you to log into the admin (to write a post). Click that link. Your username is your last name (capital letter) (example- Hansen) and the password is "password". Please change your password. Click on the "profile" tab at the top to view your profile. For some of you I didn't have an e-mail for you, so I put my own in. Please change that to your own e-mail. Feel free to explore the admin and get comfortable. It is pretty easy to use. Michael, could you do me a favor and make this blog public. If you do that then I can quickly port all of the data from this blog to the new blog. One last comment- There is only one user name for each family. So make sure that you let your spouse know about the password that you set. If you would prefer to each have a username/password, let me know and I will get that created for you.

Why Christians May Differ on Proposition 4

I firmly support Proposition 4, "Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy Initiative," but I do understand why some Christians do not support it. In the first place, the measure itself is abortion neutral except for its prohibition of forced abortions on teenagers. Because the measure doesn't affect the family's choice for or against abortion, some prolife Christians refuse to support the measure. As a matter of conscience, they won't support any law that tolerates abortion.

I still support the measure because in states where similar laws have been passed, teenage pregnancy rates (and abortions) have reportedly decreased. Apparently, teenagers become more responsible about avoiding pregnancy when they know they'll have to face the music with their family if they get pregnant. Thus, this law is a good deterrent to sexual irresponsibility among teenagers.

Another reason that some Christians oppose this law is that some parents may abuse their daughters if they learn that they have become pregnant. This is a real and serious risk if only for a small minority of young women in California. And those who have seen or have personal knowledge of the serious injuries brutally inflicted on some girls by irate fathers may never be willing to vote for parental notification measures.

On the other hand, voters should keep in mind that this measure contains not only a judicial bypass for girls with potentially abusive parents but also a family bypass. That is, the girl can choose another adult family member to inform, e., g., a grandparent or an adult brother or sister. And someone in the family certainly should know it if a girl has an abortion because of the danger of hemorrhage and infection afterwards.

Finally, all laws are general rules that may not apply well to the endless different situations they must cover. Therefore, we must judge a law by its probable overall effect. It seems to me that between this law's deterrent effect on promiscuous sexual activity and its encouraging parental involvement in the decision of whether to abort, the total number of abortions will be reduced. And every abortion kills a living human being.

!! Kim's Dissertation Proposal Accepted !!

She did it!! Yesterday Kim e-mailed her dissertation proposal to her adviser and this morning he e-mailed back and said, "I think it's great. Very smoothly written." She needs to add a research question, but this is a huge step. Her time line is to write the first three chapters and defend it next summer. Then she would interview students next academic year and finish the dissertation after that. Praise God! Michael

Simpson University Gay-Straight Alliance

There is a student at Simpson University who is trying to push that homosexuality is acceptable and even normal, even in Christianity. He says that anyone against homosexuality is wrong, and that the bible even supports it.

He has started a website (Site Link) for it and wants to start up a gay-straight alliance club (an official club at Simpson).

Please pray for God's will to be done, and that Melissa and I would know how to stand up.

Thanks, Brandon

Pride Goes Before a Fall

Friday, I took a great fall while cutting a big dead limb off a dead oak tree just off my property northwest of Benton Airpark. The fall was the result of my arrogance in disregarding safety rules for the use of chain saws and ladders. When the limb broke as I was cutting it about 8 feet up on a ladder, the limb kicked back a bit and I was catapaulted into the air and falling back-first into the dry depression below the tree whose waters in winter flow on down a short distance into Calaboose Creek. I was relaxed and almost enjoying the free fall for the half second I estimate that it took for me to reach the ground at the 32 ft/sec/sec acceleration rate of gravity. My buttocks and upper pelvic area took the bulk of the impact with the merest tap on the back of the head as if the Father were gently telling me, "Don't ever do something like this again." The blackberry vines were rather sparse a gave only a little cushioning and only a few scratches. That I was not seriously injured is, I believe, a miracle. On the other hand, I am in enough pain to almost immobilize me even with big doses of Ibuprofen (2000 mg/day~). God's love is much better than the much overhyped "unconditional love." He loves me enough to correct me in ways that will gentle my stubborn heart and change my behavior. Proverbs 13:13 nails it down: "He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded."

Shiao Huei's Mother

Dear Group, Right now Shiao Huei's mother is undergoing heart catheterization. Please pray for her health. I will let you know what the outcome is as soon as Shiao Huei calls.

My Prayer Requests

Dear Brothers and Sisters: I called the Executive Editor at Touchstone, who verified my expectation that they had decided not to publish my Potter piece after all. The editor who encouraged me to hold the article for publication with them has left and the editorial board now opposes it. This is a small matter really since as a Calvinist I am confident that the article will be published in the time and place of God's choosing, if at all. What concerns me more is that I still haven't got clear on how I am to proceed with my house repairs. I thought I was set to go, but unrelated things have gone wrong that make me question my direction. Please pray for clarity in my mind from God on this.--David