A dip in COVID optimism
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“Confidence that the pandemic was getting better plummeted in July, as more Americans now say the situation is getting worse (45%) than better (40%), according to Gallup.” - Lifeway
What Christian Aid Workers Want You to Know About Afghanistan
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“US forces are withdrawing after 20 years, but the story of Christian aid work goes far beyond military conflict.” - CToday
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America’s incarceration rate falls to lowest level since 1995
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“The U.S. incarceration rate fell in 2019 to its lowest level since 1995, according to recently published data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the statistical arm of the Department of Justice.” - Pew
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Texas CPS declares trans surgeries for minors 'child abuse' after governor's request
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“In a letter published Wednesday, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters asserted that ‘genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse, subject to all rules and procedures pertaining to child abuse.’” - C.Post
Discussion
Is the U.S. right to leave Afghanistan?
Note to our overseas participants: “We” below is a first person plural referring to your truly, fellow Americans, and military allies.
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We fought a war in Vietnam, pulled out, and left our allies there in the lurch, it seemed.
It seems like we entered Afghanistan uninvited to eliminate its use as a terrorist base, supported a non-Taliban government, and now are seeing slaughters and the return of leaders who will nurture terrorists.
Am I missing something?
Discussion
Barna Research: How Practicing Christians View Race’s Impact on Their Lives
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“This article features recent data from Beyond Diversity, a study conducted in partnership with Dr. Michael O. Emerson and the Racial Justice and Unity Center, exploring whether or not practicing Christians from various racial backgrounds think their race offers them an advantage in life, as well as how they feel when the term “white privilege” is mentioned.” - Barna
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Lankford saves Hyde amendment with late-night move
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“During consideration of a budget resolution, senators approved in a 50-49 vote an amendment by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., that bars federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. The amendment also blocks funding for government programs that discriminate against individual health care professionals or institutions that object to abortion.” - BPNews
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American Muslims Are 2 Times More Likely to Have Attempted Suicide Than Other Groups
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“…according to a study published last month in JAMA Psychiatry. Nearly 8% of Muslims in the survey reported a suicide attempt in their lifetime compared with 6% of Catholics, 5% of Protestants and 3.6% of Jewish respondents.” - NPR
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$2.7M government grant goes toward fetal tissue harvesting, report says
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“According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, at least $2.7 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has gone to support a project at the University of Pittsburgh that includes the possible removal of organs and tissue from pre-born babies who are still alive.” - BPNews
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