Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five
articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your
friends and church families.
We
would be very grateful if you could make a donation of $100, $50, $25,
or $10 today towards our work producing these Friday Fives and
fighting for your values on the public square!
1. NC VALUES: 👨👩👧👦 Thank your
NC Senator for passing Parents’ Bill of Rights.
On Wednesday, a couple days after
Senator Berger held a press event announcing their intent to pass the
Parents' Bill of Rights ( HB 775), the Senate did just that and passed
it. The bill now goes to the House for
consideration.
Essentially, the bill protects a parent's right
to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare— mental and
physical—of their own children. With the pandemic, parents had the
opportunity to see what was actually being taught and have voiced
their desire for continued access to classroom curriculum and
materials. This bill strengthens the relationship between schools and
parents so both can have improved communication, and can work together
for the students’ best interest.
Just because a parent sends
their child to public school doesn’t mean they lose their fundamental
right to know and have a say in what their child is being taught. If
you appreciate the stance taken by NC Senators who voted for the
Parents’ Bill of Rights (HB 775), would you consider taking a minute
to use this easy click-to-contact tool to tell them thank you?
2. NC VALUES: Their pro-abortion
bad bill.
We have seen some pretty bad bills during our time advocating
for your values in the legislature. However, the recently filed
pro-abortion bill known as HB1126 seems to be in a league of its own.
It is a bill that is so bad, it makes you want to both cry and
laugh.
3. FOX NEWS: North Carolina
preschool uses LGBT flash cards depicting a pregnant man to teach kids
colors
"A North Carolina preschool used flash cards featuring LGBTQ
themes to teach kids colors, including one card depicting a pregnant
man.
’Schools should only be using age-appropriate
materials, and these flashcards clearly do not meet that standard for a pre-school classroom,’ Republican
State Rep. Erin Paré said in a statement after being alerted to the
cards by a constituent, according to North Carolina Speaker of the
House Tim Moore.
Paré said a concerned constituent emailed her about the cards that
were being used to teach preschoolers colors at Ballentine Elementary School in Wake County, NC. Paré then
contacted the principal of the elementary school in an attempt to
verify the use of the cards in class, with the principal taking "swift
action" to investigate the constituents claims.”
4. TENNESSEE STAR: Biden Admin
ties federal funds for school lunches to gender identity
”The Biden Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced
that all state and local agencies that receive federal funding for
meals, a category that includes schools, must not discriminate based
on sexual orientation and gender identity. In a press release dated
May 5, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced it would
now interpret the ban on discrimination based on sex included in Title
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and food-related legislation
and programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp program, to include sexual orientation
and gender identity.”
5. NC DPI: Opportunity to
participate in NC DPI’s Healthful Living standards revision
process
The Department of Public Instruction was given permission at
the May 5th State Board of Education meeting to begin revising the
Healthful Living standards for all public schools.
The
Healthful Living standards include sex education and health education,
and in other states, a fight has ensued to promote early discussions
on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. DPI is seeking
applicants for the Data Review Committee
and the Standards Writing Team,
and we wanted to encourage those of you interested in sharing your
voice to apply before the deadline of June 9th.
WEEKLY PRAYER: LIFE
LORD, we recognize that you are
Sovereign over all creation. We recognize you made man from the dust,
and in your mercy, you crowned creation with man and woman made in
your image. What a wonder it is that you would bestow upon us this
blessing and responsibility! LORD, may we not take this blessing for
granted. We pray that this great responsibility and dignity may
motivate us to love You, our neighbors, and our families
more.
LORD, may we as a culture truly see
and believe that children are a blessing from the LORD—born or unborn;
able or disabled. All children should have an opportunity to
experience the liberty of life. LORD, make us your vehicle to change
our culture into one that cherishes and protects life. Keep at the
forefront of our minds our responsibilities to respect, cherish, and
serve the youngest and oldest in our society.
Finally, LORD, we pray even further
for our children. Across our state, country, and world, an entire
generation of youth have seen their lives and education ruptured by
the pandemic and its closing of schools. Father, as a result so many
of these children are not only wounded by the quality of their
education, but by a likely onslaught of mental illness brought about
by social isolation. LORD, bring them hope and healing as only You
can.
"At that time the disciples came to
Jesus and asked, 'Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven?' He called a little child to him, and placed the child among
them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become
like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child
in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little
ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them
to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in
the depths of the sea.'" (Matthew 18:1-6)
Amen
Will you chip in $100, $50, $25, or even $10 to help
the NC Values Coalition continue to fight for your rights? You can
donate by clicking here.
Sincerely,
North Carolina Values Coalition
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