Aborted Fetuses Burned to Generate Electricity in Oregon?

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Oregon officials were horrified to learn medical waste that includes aborted fetuses is possibly being burned to generate electricity. (CBN)

Oregon officials were horrified to learn medical waste that includes aborted fetuses is possibly being burned to generate electricity.

On Thursday, Marion County commissioners Sam Brentano and Janet Carlson ordered an incinerator to stop burning the medical waste that comes from a Canadian company. 

Both strongly oppose abortions.

The commissioners suspended the shipments of waste until procedures are in place to ensure no fetal tissue is burned.

"We're going to get the bottom of it," Carlson said. "I want to know who knew, when they knew, how long they had known this was going on."

Brentano said, "No rule or law has been broken, but there's an ethical standard that's been broken."

The decision comes a month after reports that officials in the United Kingdom used fetal remains to generate power at medical facilities.

Divine Sign for Israel? Hagee Explains Blood Moons

Divine Sign for Israel? Hagee Explains Blood Moons

By Erick Stakelbeck

CBN News Correspondent

SAN ANTONIO -- The Book of Genesis says God uses the sun, moon, and stars for signs and seasons. Examples can be found throughout the Bible.

Think of how a star led the wise men to Jesus or how the sun stood still as Joshua led Israel to victory over its enemies.

According to Pastor John Hagee, God is getting ready to speak this way once again.

"There's a sense in the world that things are changing and God is trying to communicate with us in a supernatural way," Hagee told CBN News.

"I believe that in these next two years, we're going to see something dramatic happen in the Middle East involving Israel that will change the course of history in the Middle East and impact the whole world," he predicted.

Four Blood Moons

In his latest book, Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change, Hagee lays out what he calls celestial signals. He describes how a series of blood moons in 2014 and 2015 will have great significance for Israel. 

Although single blood moons happen fairly regularly, four appearing so closely together is extremely rare. There have only been a series of blood moons a handful of times over the past 500 years.

So what exactly is a blood moon and what is the biblical significance?

"A blood moon is when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon," Hagee explained. "And the sun is shining through the atmosphere of the Earth and casts up on the moon a red shadow. And so the moon appears to be red."

Such moons appear several times in scripture.

In the book of Joel, God says there will be "wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire…the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord."

In Acts, the Apostle Peter repeats that verse from Joel. And the book of Revelation says that during the Great Tribulation, "the moon will become like blood."

Blood moons are set to appear in April 2014, on Passover, and then again in September 2014 during the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot.

The timing is the same for 2015 -- a total of four blood moons, all appearing on Jewish feast days.

"The sun and the moon and the Earth are controlled by God almighty," Hagee said. "He is the one that is getting them in a direct alignment on a certain day at a certain time -- but each time, it's a Passover or Sukkot.

Historic Significance

In the past, the rare appearance of four blood moons on these feast days has coincided with major events for Israel and the Jewish people.

In 1492, Spain expelled the Jews. Columbus also discovered America, which became a safe haven for the Jewish people.

"In each of these blood moons, you have something that begins in tragedy and ends in triumph," Hagee explained.

For instance, in 1948, Israel was reborn as a nation.

"After 2,000 years, God supernaturally brought them from 66 nations and a nation was born in a day," Hagee noted. "That again was a supernatural something that happened following the tragedy of the Holocaust."

In 1967, Israel won the Six-Day War and recaptured Jerusalem.

"For the first time in 2,000 years, Jerusalem and the State of Israel were together again," Hagee said.

Nuclear Threat

The blood moons of 2014 and 2015 are poised to appear as Iran works toward nuclear weapons and Israel's neighbors, Egypt and Syria, are in chaos.

"The only reason that Iran will not acquire a nuclear bomb will be that Israel chooses a military solution to that crisis," Hagee told CBN News.

"I believe that if that happens, it will start a series of events that will change the course of world history," he said. "If Israel does not, then it will still change the course of world history."

Hagee has been warning of the Iranian nuclear threat through his work with Christians United for Israel, which he founded in 2006. It is now the largest pro-Israel organization in America, with some 1.3 million members.

He holds nights to honor Israel across the country and at San Antonio's Cornerstone Church, where he serves as senior pastor. The first event, in 1981, drew bomb threats and vandalism from anti-Semites.

Yet Hagee continues his mission.

"If there was ever a time for the Christians of America to stiffen their spine and stand up and speak up, it's now," Hagee admonished. "To see evil and not call it evil is evil. Not to speak is to speak. We cannot be silent and receive God's approval at a time like this."

He said it's still unclear what the coming blood moons will bring, but he is certain of one thing.

"When all is said and done, the flag of Israel will be flying over the walls of the city of Jerusalem when Messiah comes, and it's going to be forever," he said. "And every nation that rises up in judgment against Israel God will punish and punish severely."

Even LGBT Historians Admit No One Is 'Born Gay'

Even LGBT Historians Admit No One Is 'Born Gay'

ALEX KOCMAN

Charisma News

In his article, David Benkof writes, "Sure, there’s substantial evidence of both discreet and open same-sex love and sex in pre-modern times. But no society before the 19th century had a gay minority or even discernibly gay-oriented individuals." (Original photo: Flickr/Mike Krzeszak)

Whether it's Macklemore's "Same Love" or Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," our culture is pretty convinced that homosexuality is inherent from birth.

But as it turns out, those within the LGBT movement aren't that convinced themselves.

In an article in the Daily Caller, gay writer David Benkof presents the solid case of the historians—several of whom are also LGBT—who maintain that the sexual orientation of homosexuality didn't exist until about 150 years ago.

While same-sex relationships and behavior have happened from time to time throughout history, LGBT scholarly studies show zero evidence of any culture with gay-oriented individuals at any point in history.

The mountain of scholarly research also continues to show no "gay gene" accounting for sexual orientation from birth.

The basis of these claims is that sexual orientation, as part of a person's identity, is entirely a modern invention. Even in Greek culture, where homosexual behavior is known to have occurred, the line of reasoning goes, there is nothing to show that even a minority of individuals identified as gay or homosexual in any way. Rather, homosexuality was supposedly considered a supplement to one's regular heterosexual relationships.

The reasoning of such historians also reveals that there was no heterosexual orientation in cultures past at all. Not that no one was attracted to the opposite sex—hardly—but that the idea of heterosexuality as an identifier couldn't have existed in a world were homosexualit didn't exist either. (Fish don't know they're wet.)

In other words, sexual orientation isn't a core identifier like race or gender; it's fully a social construct.

Although Benkof maintains that the LGBT cause can survive in spite of such findings, only the biblical worldview fits in with the facts. So shouldn't this lead to a victory in the so-called culture war?

The Challenge for Christians

The Bible doesn't directly mention the gay orientation because the concept of sexual orientation is a non sequitur both in Scripture and in (as we now know) most of history. The Bible clearly condemns homosexual actions and desires, along with any kind of sexual action or desire outside of marriage. Genesis 5:2, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Matthew 5:28, Romans 1:27, and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 leave no room for doubt.

But as long as the LGBT movement keeps the debate framed around sexual identity, Christians will be seen as hating people for who they are.

Christians are seen as saying, "Who you are is wrong, so here's some moral actions that will fix it." But that isn't the gospel at all. When we identify ourselves with Christ's death, we are rendered dead to our human nature and forgiven of all our sins; and through Christ's resurrection, we are both declared innocent and given the ability to live in a new nature—a righteous nature—through God's own Spirit.

On the question of "Who am I?" the New Testament really gives only two options: I am either a natural-born sinner or reborn righteous through Christ. (See Romans 5.)

Thus, who we all areis wrong because we're naturally born into a state of sinfulness. But no actions can change our nature. (No amount of time spent in airplanes will make me a bird, and no amount of time doing good deeds will make me anything other than a sinner.) We need a new nature, and only then can we exchange sinful actions and desires for righteous ones.

Evangelicals must not only 1) faithfully represent the Word's teachings on controversial issues like homosexuality, but also 2) make it known that your true identity from God's standpoint is far weightier than modern social constructs about sexuality.

If culture catches up to the fact that the gay sexual identity is a social construct, then perhaps it will understand that the Bible's condemnations of sexual immorality are directed against our sinful actions, thoughts and nature—not our basic personalities.

But until then, we in the church still have an uphill battle: to preach a gospel that doesn't just correct wrong behavior but creates rebirth.

Could 'Captain America' Spark Political Change?

Could 'Captain America' Spark Political Change?

BEN KAYSER/MOVIEGUIDE

Charisma News

Captain America (Marvel Studios)

As Captain America: The Winter Soldier storms into theaters, one can’t help but wonder what those in Washington, D.C., are thinking of the latest Marvel cinematic installment. With dialogue and themes that make it feel as if it’s been written by America’s Founding Fathers, it’s not too often we get to see a movie that so deeply exposes governmental overreach on such a large scale.

Could this movie bring a political shift or change? What kind of impact could this story have?

In the movie, a mysterious assassin called the Winter Soldier critically wounds Nick Fury, Captain America’s boss at SHIELD. Fury hands Captain America a flash drive showing SHIELD has been compromised. “Don’t trust anyone,” Fury tells Cap before lapsing into a coma.

Using the flash drive, Cap learns a secret cabal has infiltrated SHIELD. The cabal also controls the Winter Soldier. Ultimately, it plans to use newly developed SHIELD technology to rule the world. Now Captain America and the only two friends he trusts must avoid not only the Winter Soldier but all of SHIELD so they can stop this evil plot.

While the changes America needs to make are many, The Winter Soldier offers a few inspiring and crucial lessons for anyone who wants to make a difference.

Steve Rogers (Captain America) struggles with being a part of SHIELD, an agency that’s more than willing to sacrifice American liberty for power and control. More than once, he’s asked to get on board with what SHIELD is doing, but he refuses every time.

The difference between the America we have now and the America we’ve lost isn’t just one bad decision; it’s a multitude of small compromises, many of which were made with noble intentions. Cap is willing to make the hard choices, but never at the cost of compromising the very virtues he’s fighting to support. Guard your heart, guard your mind, and never compromise what is good and right.

Contrary to popular opinion, the enemy isn’t this president or the last. Neither is it your neighbor who votes differently from you. The enemy is the devil, who uses our own selfish desires to spread darkness.

Captain America and Nick Fury have very different opinions on what real freedom looks like, but neither Fury nor SHIELD is the enemy, even though their actions are horrendously misguided. The real enemy is a lie—a lie that says we needed to “take the world as it is,” rather than make it into a better one. A lie that compromises virtue and seeks power. The same lie that fed Hitler’s National Socialist hate and greed in Germany before and during World War II.

Some lies, like that of Nazi Germany, may require actual fighting to defeat them, but in most cases, the best weapon against a lie is the truth. The truth, if spoken in love, can open eyes and transform hearts.

As James writes in James 5:19-20, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (ESV).

Captain America: The Winter Soldier may not start an ideological revolution sparking instant political change, but it will create discussion and shed light on aspects of our government that some would like to ignore or hide. It doesn’t take an army for change to happen. It just takes one person who’s willing to stand for virtue and fight for liberty.

So, whether you’re a schoolteacher, a politician, a sheriff or a superhero, we each have a responsibility to speak the truth wherever we happen to be in our lives. Who knows? Maybe this movie will spawn real-life Captain Americas—young men and women who’ll break free from the lies, humbly pursue the truth without compromise, and show the world once again what true freedom really looks like.

Intolerance: Gay Rights Groups Force Mozilla CEO to Resign

Gay Rights Groups Force Mozilla CEO to Resign

Rachel Lynn Aldrich | WORLD News Service

Brendan Eich stepped down from his post as Mozilla's CEO after gay rights groups lambasted the company for promoting a leader who supports traditional marriage.

In a statement posted online, Mozilla chairwoman Mitchell Baker said Eich was stepping down for the good of the company, which he co-founded. She also apologized for promoting him from his position as chief technology officer in the first place. “We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act,” she wrote. “We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.”

The company, which created the popular web browser Firefox, promoted Brendan Eich from chief technology officer to its top leadership position on March 24. He’s certainly qualified for the job. Eich co-founded Mozilla and invented JavaScript, one of the web’s most ubiquitous programming languages.

But Eich also supports traditional marriage, and that, his detractors say, is unforgivable.

In 2008, Eich gave $1,000 to the campaign to pass Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage in California. A lower court ruling struck down the amendment, and the U.S. Supreme Court left that decision place last year. Eich’s contribution was publicly reported then and he faced some criticism for his stance. 

But his promotion to CEO last week whipped the old criticism into a firestorm. 

Half of Mozilla Foundation’s six board members quit in protest, according to The Wall Street Journal, and thousands have complained on Twitter, calling for Eich to step down.

But the real kicker came when New York-based dating service OkCupid.com replaced its usual home page for visitors using the Firefox browser. 

“Hello there, Mozilla Firefox user,” the new page read. “Pardon this interruption of your OkCupid experience.” It then explained Eich’s views, as it understood them, and asked users to access OkCupid with a different browser. It also claimed that 8 percent of OkCupid’s users are homosexual: “We’ve devoted the last 10 years to bringing people—all people—together. … Those who seek to deny love and instead enforce misery, shame, and frustration are our enemies, and we wish them nothing but failure.”

OkCupid President Christian Rudder said he and the firm’s three other co-founders decided to post the message after discussing Eich’s appointment over the weekend. 

“We don’t think this was the right thing for people to donate money to, and this is someone we do business with, so we decided to take action,” Rudder said.

So far, Mozilla is standing by its new leader. Eich acknowledged the controversy in a blog post two days after his appointment was announced. He pledged his commitment to diversity and inclusion and promised to make Mozilla a welcoming place for all employees, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. “I know some will be skeptical about this, and that words alone will not change anything,” he said. “I can only ask for your support to have the time to ‘show, not tell’; and in the meantime express my sorrow at having caused pain.”

Mozilla responded with an emailed statement saying the company supports equality for all, including marriage equality for gay couples. It remains to be seen whether that support for equality extends to people who disagree.

Photographer Punished for Refusing Gay Marriage Gig Continues Paying the 'Price of Citizenship'

Photographer Punished for Refusing Gay Marriage Gig Continues Paying the 'Price of Citizenship'

Elaine Huguenin is co-owner of Elane Photography in Albuquerque, N.M. (Bruce Ellefson, Alliance Defending Freedom)

(Charisma News). The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear Elane Photography v. Willock, the case of a photographer who was told by the New Mexico Supreme Court that she must, as “the price of citizenship,” use her creative talents to communicate a message with which she disagrees or suffer punishment.

Nonetheless, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys representing Elane Photography and its owners, Jonathan and Elaine Huguenin, point out that the central concern in the case—government punishment of Americans for declining to create or promote messages with which they disagree—is alive in other ADF cases moving forward around the country.

“Only unjust laws separate what people say from what they believe,” says ADF senior counsel Jordan Lorence. “The First Amendment protects our freedom to speak or not speak on any issue without fear of punishment. We had hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would use this case to affirm this basic constitutional principle; however, the court will likely have several more opportunities to do just that in other cases of ours that are working their way through the court system.”

“Americans oppose unjust laws that strong-arm citizens to express ideas against their will,” adds senior counsel David Cortman. “Elaine and numerous others like her around the country have been more than willing to serve any and all customers, but they are not willing to promote any and all messages. A government that forces any American to create a message contrary to her own convictions is a government every American should fear.”

A July Rasmussen poll found that 85 percent of Americans believe a Christian photographer has the right to say no if asked to create pictures at a same-sex ceremony that conflicts with the photographer’s religious beliefs. The editorial boards of both the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Times agree.

Other cases in the legal pipeline that could potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court include the following:

Ingersoll v. Arlene’s Flowers: A long-time customer and friend of florist Barronelle Stutzman sued her because she could not in good conscience use her creative skills to beautify his same-sex ceremony. Both he, through his American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorneys, and the Washington state attorney general have filed lawsuits against her in both her professional and personal capacities for unlawful discrimination, even though she has served and employed people who identify as homosexual and numerous other florists are willing to do the work.

Craig and Mullins v. Masterpiece Cakeshop: Two men filed a legal complaint against Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips after he declined to use his artistic talents to create and decorate a cake for a same-sex ceremony. Although many other cake artists are willing to do the work and Phillips told the men he would be willing to make them any other type of baked good, the men nonetheless filed discrimination complaints against him through their ACLU attorneys.

Baker v. Hands On Originals: The Gay and Lesbian Services Organization (GLSO) filed a legal complaint against a Kentucky T-shirt printer for declining to produce shirts that promote its pride festival. Managing owner Blaine Adamson of Hands On Originals told the GLSO he would gladly refer them to another shop that would do the work for the same price, and, in fact, the GLSO easily found someone to produce the shirts for free. In addition, Hands On Originals both serves and employs people who identify as homosexual. Nonetheless, the complaint alleges the printer is guilty of discrimination.

Starbucks Satanist Barista Reveals Demonic Double Standard Against Christians

Starbucks Satanist Barista Reveals Demonic Double Standard Against Christians

JENNIFER LECLAIRE, Charsma News

Megan K. Pinion, a practicing Catholic, was shocked and dismayed when she saw satanic symbols carefully crafted with caramel drizzle atop her foamy caffeinated beverage. (Facebook)

Satanists may not be getting a monument on Oklahoma state Capitol grounds, but the devil worshippers are tasting some success at Starbucks.

For years, Christians have complained about Starbucks’ so-called Jezebelic logo. But an artistic, devil-inspired barista took demonic to a whole new level with one lady’s latte.

Megan K. Pinion, a practicing Catholic, was shocked and dismayed when she saw satanic symbols carefully crafted with caramel drizzle atop her foamy caffeinated beverage. She logged on to Facebook to describe the horrifying experience of being served coffee with a pentagram and the numbers “666” confronting her faith.

“I just purchased two coffees at your Mall of Louisiana location,” she wrote on Facebook on Sunday. “This is how my coffee was served to me. ... I am a teacher in the public school system and if I were to present a child of atheist or pagan believers with a Christian art project I could be sued in a heartbeat. I am of Catholic faith and would love to share in my beliefs daily. Fortunately I have enough common sense to present myself with professionalism and follow an ethics code. Perhaps that could be suggested to that particular location.”

Starbucks has not indicated whether or not the employee will be disciplined for forcing his beliefs on a customer in such an offensive way. And there’s the double standard, which Pinion pointed out so articulately: If a Starbucks barista preached the gospel to a customer waiting in one of the coffeehouse’s notoriously long lines, I suspect that faithful servant would see himself suspended in a heartbeat.

Starbucks did apologize: “This obviously is not the type of experience we want to provide any of our customers, and is not representative of the customer service our partners provide to millions of customers every day.”

The way Starbucks is handling the satanic latte is at least somewhat representative of the direction the coffee chain is heading. Last March, at Starbucks’ annual shareholders meeting, CEO Howard Shultz blasted an investor who suggested the company’s support of gay marriage in Washington was the reason for the its less-than-stellar earnings reports. Schultz said some things are not a financial decision and then suggested Christians could take their money elsewhere.

“If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38 percent you got last year, it’s a free country," he said. "You can sell your shares of Starbucks and buy shares in another company. Thank you very much.”

Starbucks has made its commitment to diversity and clearly has no qualms about offending Christians—or losing believers’ business. I’m frankly surprised Pinion received an apology for the satanic dribbles and sincerely wonder if Starbucks would have said sorry if the foam showcased a caramelized gay pride symbol instead of a pentagram.

Based on Shultz’ March 2013 quip, it’s clear where he stands and where the line is drawn. Starbucks' apology to Pinion is somewhat hypocritical, then, considering the CEO essentially invited her last year to go drink coffee somewhere else. Maybe now she will. I hear Dunkin' Donuts has a mean latte.