The online editorial staff comprises Betsy Shirley, Jenna Barnett, Josiah R. Daniels, Mitchell Atencio, Heather Brady, Kierra Bennning, and Zachary Lee.
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BREAKING: Relief, Work Permits Offered to Certain Immigrants
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyImages
According to the Associated Press:
"The Obama administration will stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. … The policy change, described to The Associated Press by two senior administration officials, will affect as many as 800,000 immigrants who have lived in fear of deportation. It also bypasses Congress and partially achieves the goals of the so-called DREAM Act, a long-sought but never enacted plan to establish a path toward citizenship for young people who came to the United States illegally but who have attended college or served in the military."
Jim Wallis, president and CEO of Sojourners, has been at the forefront, pushing for changes to immigration policies that rip apart families. Wallis released the following statement on Friday:
“The announcement from the White House today is very good news for 1 million young people who have a dream of staying in the country where they have lived most of their lives. Instead of being placed in the deportation pipeline, they will receive work permits enabling them to contribute to the nation and help build America’s future. This is an important step but only a beginning toward comprehensive reform of an utterly broken immigration system. This week a very broad and deep table of Evangelical leaders called on the political leaders of both parties to fix that broken system and protect ‘the stranger’ whom Christ calls us to defend. As Evangelicals we love the ‘good news’ of the gospel, and today we affirm this good news that gives hope and a future for young immigrants who are an important part of both the church and this country.”
Prayer of the Day: Moment of Silence for Syria
Please take a moment of silence for the country of Syria and the estimated 10,000-plus victims of violence.
Voice of the Day: Zora Neale Hurston
"There are years that ask questions and years that answer." - Zora Neale Hurston
Verse of the Day: 'You Do Not Know the Works of God'
"Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything." - Ecclesiastes 11:5
QUIRK: New Research Finds Healthy "Miracle Molecule" in Beer
Homer Simpson knows the health benefits of beer. Image via entertainment.desktopnexus.com
Scientists recently discovered a “miracle molecule” that is found in beer could prevent obesity.
Researchers in Switzerland show in a new study that this molecule, nicotinamide riboside (NR), influences metabolic activity, which can lessen weight gain, prevent diabetes, and generally improve well-being.
The report, which was published in the journal Cell Metabolism, showed that mice who were given the NR supplement over a 10-week period, showed more endurance and energy, were in better shape, and gained significantly less weight.
Read the full report on Medical Daily HERE.
Holy Act of Congress! Batgirl Defends Equal Pay
Batgirl (Yvonne Craig) in a studio portrait from January 1967. Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images.
The video clip may be a bit grainy, but the message of a public service announcement about the federal Equal Pay law from 45 years ago feels thoroughly (and maddeningly) au courant.
Last week marked the 49th anniversary of the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963.
The vintage PSA, starring Batgirl (Yvonne Craig), Batman (Adam West), and Robin (Burt Ward) from the 1960s television series Batman, finds the "dynamic duo" in a familiar kerfuffle — tied to a chair in a "deserted warehouse on the outskirts of town" with a bomb ticking just out of reach.
BAM! Batgirl bursts through a door just in time to rescue them before the bomb goes off. But ... not so fast, fellas. First, Batgirl, resplendent in her purple body suit and mask, has a bone to pick with her male colleagues.
QUIRK: Daily Show Takes On Florida's New Voter Registration Law
Florida’s governor instituted a law requiring that new voter registration papers had to be turned in within 48 hours of being written. The reason, they say, is to cut down on the amount of voter registration fraud.
John Oliver takes an investigative look into this case, and the results end with a giant pool party.
via The Daily Show
Voice of the Day: Madeleine Bunting
“You can’t change the world, but you can change yourself. That adage suits consumer capitalism perfectly, since the illusion of changing ourselves is a successfully maintained through shopping.” - Madeleine Bunting from The End is Nigh
Verse of the Day: 'A Little Yeast'
"A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." - Galatians 5:9
Prayer of the Day: God's Faithfulness
QUIRK: Michelle Obama Joins Pinterest
Michelle Obama. K2 images / Shutterstock.com
Michelle Obama's new pinterest page gives a fun look at what life is like for the Obama's. Though some content comes from the Obama campaign, she signs many of the posts herself -- giving a personal commentary on what's there. Discover shots of Michelle in her White House garden, commentary on old family photos, and much more. It's a page you'll be coming back to for all things pinteresting.
QUIRK: It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's ... Super Saints?
The Madonna as Catwoman by Igor Scalisi Palminteri via Facebook.
Italian artist Igor Scalisi Palminteri is fascinated by religion — and superheroes, apparently. In a series of statuary called "Agiographie," Palminteri reimangines traditional images of Jesus, the Holy Family, and the saints as, variously, Superman, Captain America, Batman and Robin, and The Incredibles.
See more of Palminteri's superhero-saints inside the blog ...
Verse of the Day: The God of Peace Will Guard You
"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
Voice of the Day: Leo Tolstoy
"Though it is possible to utter words only with the intention to fulfill the will of God, it is very difficult not to think about the impression which they will produce on men and not to form them accordingly. But deeds you can do quite unknown to men, only for God. And such deeds are the greatest joy that a man can experience." - Leo Tolstoy
Prayer of the Day: Immigration Reform
God, we pray today with many Christian leaders for our country's immigration system and the millions of people who are negatively affected by the current standstill in congress. Help our leaders develop a fair and just immigration reform plan. Help us, as the church, to continuously seek ways to love our neighbors and the strangers around us. Amen.
Sister Simone Campbell Schools Colbert on the Social Gospel
"America's nuns clearly support the gay agenda, but one nun really has the Vatican's chasubles in a bunch."
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
"NETWORK's Executive Director Sister Simone Campbell responds to the Vatican's "radical feminist" charges, and Stephen learns how to get into heaven."
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
LIVE STREAM: Evangelical Leaders Unite on Principles for Immigration Reform
Evangelical leaders from across the political and religious spectrum meet today to call for immigration reform based on a set of five principles:
- Respects the God-given dignity of every person
- Protects the unity of the immediate family
- Respects the rule of law
- Guarantees secure national borders
- Ensures fairness to taxpayers
- Establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents
Watch the live stream from Capitol Hill, beginning at 11:30 EDT HERE:
Prayer of the Day: Pakistan
Loving God, we ask you to comfort the families and friends of the victims of both drone attacks and suicide bomers in Pakistan. We pray the healing of wounds caused by violence and hate, anger and betrayal. Amen.
Verse of the Day: Thoughts of God
"How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you." - Psalm 139:17-18
Voice of the Day: Marian Wright Edelman
“It's time for greatness – not for greed. It's a time for idealism – not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action.” - Marian Wright Edelman