National

How Do We Respond?

By now, countless millions of tweets, posts, blogs and articles have been written about the outcome of the George Zimmerman / Trayvon Martin case. Chances are you’ve read, and perhaps even written, more than a few yourself. Almost everyone has picked a side; some have been very outspoken about their position while others have remained more subdued. Many have cast blame in the direction they deem appropriate, and more than a few seem to have somehow miraculously passed the bar exam overnight. From the time of the incident, through every minute of the trial and continuing until today, emotions and […]

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What is Divorce Costing You?

What happens when couples have healthy marriages? They are happier and healthier, live longer, are more financially stable, have better sex and intimacy, handle stress better, and raise children who have significantly better chances for success as they grow into adulthood. On the contrary, virtually every societal ill is rooted in the breakdown of the family. Divorce rates have escalated over the past 50 years. Between 1960 and 2010, U.S. divorce rates have increased from 26% to 42%. 11 of the 50 U.S. cities with the highest divorce rates are found in Florida. This is how South Florida ranks: • […]

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The House of Horrors

You may not know what happened at 3801 Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Going unnoticed for years, under the guise of a medical practice, there was a kind of ongoing holocaust occurring. The building was given the name, “House of Horrors,” because of what the FBI and the detectives found on those premises on February 18, 2010. These despicable acts took place at an impressive three-story brick building positioned where everybody could see the stately structure dividing two well-traveled streets. In the center of the building, you can’t miss the picture image of a man and a woman holding a […]

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The Glass Ceiling Effect

If a man and a woman, both one-year post college graduation with the same degree, work the same job, for the same number of hours, they should both be earning the same salary, correct? Actually, according to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which analyzed data from a Department of Education survey of 15,000 graduates, this is not the case. The men earned an average of 7 percent more than women did. While CNN Money reported that this gender gap could be attributed to the fact that women are not likely to negotiate as much as men do, the […]

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A Prescribed Epidemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every three minutes, a woman goes to the emergency room for prescription painkiller misuse or abuse. The CDC also reports that nearly 48,000 women died of prescription medication overdoses between 1999 and 2010. This is a fast growing epidemic, especially for women. Deaths among women have increased more than 400 percent since 1999, compared to 265 percent among men. Furthermore, for every woman who dies of a prescription painkiller overdose, another 30 end up in hospital emergency rooms for prescription drug misuse or abuse. What is the problem? “Wait a […]

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Preventing Childhood Abduction

The recent rescue of three young girls who were kidnapped, raped and imprisoned for nearly a decade by Ariel Castro has shocked the nation and left parents fearful for their own children’s safety. You, like many other parents who are following this horrific story, may feel helpless, fearing that there is nothing that you can really do to protect your children. But, there are things that you can do! In fact, we can learn a lot from the emerging details of these three abductions. In each case, the kidnap victim was abducted after accepting a ride from Castro. Furthermore, evidence […]

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Go to Church, Live Longer

The quest to live longer is an old one. In two months, we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s discovery of Florida. Why is that relevant? This European explorer came to the area seeking the Fountain of Youth, which you can still visit in St. Augustine, Florida today. There you can see the stone cross de Leon and his men made to mark the year: 1513. The Fountain of Youth supposedly rejuvenated its drinkers. Fit, local Indians appeared to be its beneficiaries. It turns out it was their mating patterns and seafood diet rich in protein that […]

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Banning Healing

On September 29, 2012, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill banning “reparative” or “conversion” therapy for minors. The law will take effect on January 1, 2013 and states that “no mental health professional will be able to provide to anyone under the age of 18 therapy that seeks to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex regardless of the willingness of a patient or a patient’s parent. Mental health providers who violate the law will be subject to discipline by whatever group […]

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Are Christians Bigots?

We are fast approaching, if not already in, a time in our nation when being a Christian will be considered synonymous with being a bigot. By Christian, I am referring here to one who decides to be a true follower of the teachings of Jesus verses a nominal Christmas and Easter church attendee. Bigotry is the opposite of tolerance. Tolerance is a trait highly valued in today’s society and a prized characteristic to have attached to your name. The dictionary defines tolerance as “freedom from bigotry or prejudice regarding the beliefs or practices of others who are different from one’s […]

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Do Animals Have Rights?

Animal cruelty may not be something that you notice, or that affects your daily life; that is, until commercials for the Humane Society appear on your television screen and you click to another channel due to the graphic content. Or, when you see horrific images of abuse and neglect on the internet, you may wince, but you continue scrolling without giving the issue much thought. Why would God have commanded Noah to bring multiple kinds of animals into the ark if He didn’t care about them?  If God cares about animals, doesn’t that mean we should as well? Although most […]

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