The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will now grant up to three weeks off and pay transportation expenses for servicemembers or dependent family members who travel to obtain an abortion. The new policy is an effort by the federal government to frustrate the laws of states that have ended or restricted abortion following last June’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. This is the U.S. government being actively pro-abortion.

The DOD’s action comes in response to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s October 20, 2022, memorandum directing DOD to take steps to ensure that servicemembers and their families are able to access “non-covered reproductive health care,” which is an umbrella term that includes elective abortion.

On February 16, 2023, Under Secretary of Defense Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. issued a memorandum to senior Pentagon leadership and other commanders implementing new human resources instructions and policies, which include the following:

“Travel and transportation allowances may be authorized for Service members and dependents to travel to access non-covered reproductive health care. Travel and transportation allowances may be authorized when access to non-covered reproductive health care services is not available within the local area of the member’s permanent duty station, temporary duty location, or the last location the dependent was transported on Government orders.”

We know that there are good teachers and good schools out there. Many teachers are Christians — they go into the profession because they love God, love children, are passionate about their subject matter and have a gift for helping children learn.

Many do excellent work, and I’m thankful for the great teachers my children had and the good schools they attended.

But at the same time, I’m very aware that our education system has serious problems. The news is filled with stories about bad things happening in public schools — and some private — across the country.

It really feels overwhelming and like we’ve reached an urgent tipping point: Parents must have educational freedom — to give their children better opportunities to learn and grow, to protect them from chaotic classroom environments and underperforming schools, and to safeguard them against radical and sexual ideologies.

Here are just a few examples of problems in education that have been reported by news outlets. They illustrate why parents need school choice and educational freedom. Rod Dreher, author of Live Not by Lies, recently highlighted a story from The San Francisco Chronicle. He writes:

“A Ukrainian refugee girl fleeing the war in her homeland is so disturbed by violence and anarchy in her San Francisco school that she wants to go back home — to a war zone!”

A recent report on happiness (it’s hard to keep up with them all!) suggests there are four recurring habits of the happiest people:

First, they exercise. Whether it’s formal or informal, they get off the couch and stay on the move.

Second, they prioritize personal connections. Whether it’s family mealtime, catching up with friends over lunch or organizing a 50th high school reunion, they spend time with other people.

Third, they’re grateful. They appreciate what they have and express their thankfulness to God and to all those who make it possible.

Fourth, they tend to have pets. Whether a dog or a cat — or both — studies show that our furry friends boost our happiness.

All of these findings make sense, but once more studies sometimes only duplicate or replicate what the Bible has already been telling us for thousands of years. In truth, social science is weak tea compared to the Word of God.

In the epistle of Peter, Jesus’ apostle echoes the Psalmist (34:12-16) when he writes:

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:10-12).