Good News Now for February 24 (posted by Mary Beth)

Obama assures United States: 'We will rebuild' and 'recover'

"President Barack Obama called on Congress to address energy, health care and education programs, while warning that more money might be needed to aid banks."

Read the story and access the full text of President Obama's speech and LA Gov. Jindal's response here.


Chilling Free Speech: Mapping Political Persecution

"Dotting the streets on a certain online map are hundreds of red teardrops. Click on a teardrop at a particular address, and come up with the words, 'Patricia Greenwood. Insurance agent. $100.'

Miss Greenwood had better watch her back. Angry supporters of same-sex 'marriage' are using Google Maps to tell the world exactly where she lives, and that she donated money to support Proposition 8—the California initiative banning same-sex 'marriage.' Now, I made up the name Patricia Greenwood, but the names and addresses on this map belong to real people."

Click here to read the rest of Chuck Colson's cautionary commentary.


In education, furniture matters, too

"From the hallway, Abby Brown's sixth-grade classroom in a little school here about an hour northeast of Minneapolis has the look of the usual one, with an American flag up front and children's colorful artwork decorating the walls.

But inside, an experiment is going on that makes it among the more unorthodox public school classrooms in the country, and pupils are being studied as much as they are studying."

You'll find more on this experiment in education here.


Chicago to own landmark lighthouse

"The City of Chicago is set to become the official owner of the last surviving lighthouse in the Chicago area, a landmark previously owned by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Originally built in 1893, in time for the World's Fair, the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse will be transferred to the city under the auspices of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar initiated the transfer on Tuesday."

The rest of the story awaits you here.


The Slaughter of Innocents: An Excerpt From Pastor's Blog

"The king cakes we are enjoying in this season have a hidden baby inside because Joseph and Mary hid the infant Jesus from the evil King. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod was jealous of the baby and sought to destroy him. Thus unfolds the slaughter of the innocents when King Herod murdered all baby boys in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger."

Read a pastor's perspective on Mardi Gras King Cakes here.