A couple of months back I wrote about the issues of school-based violence and how it is killing our school system and our students. I noted that over 857 students drop out of school each hour of the school day and that some 4,500 commit suicide each year as a result of this violence.

To combat this, I proposed the use of Collaborative Justice principles that marry Conflict Resolution and Restorative Justice practices so that victims are given an actual voice and that offenders atone for their offenses through the use of Reintegrative Shaming techniques among others. Finally, I suggested the use of my own Shalom-centric Holistic Intersocial Forgiveness Transformation (S.H.I.F.T.) Theory. Specifically, S.H.I.F.T. is a three-fold understanding of forgiveness based on three distinct definitions of forgiveness as it relates to the three parties to an offense: the victim, the offender and the community. In regards to S.H.I.F.T., I contended that all parties had to forgive in order for them transcend past the conflict.

Since that time, it would appear that I have struck a chord with multiple groups. Non-Christians want to ignorantly throw Deuteronomy in as an alleged "Christian" way of handling conflict and therefore claim that my position is "un-Christian" – which is both absurd and laughable. Some Christians disagree with my stance only because I suggested treating others more as Christ would rather than converting them to Christianity – a difference in theology where I contend that people must see Christ in you so that they can see a compelling justification to turn to Christ as their one and only Savior. Finally, actual professionals in the field of Peace and Forgiveness Studies took exception to by my S.H.I.F.T. Theory because they felt that the use of "must" can easily be translated to mean "forced" in regards to forgiveness – which is a valid point but any forced forgiveness is truly no forgiveness at all if it does not come from the heart. more >>

Editor's Note: Warning, graphic material in the following article.

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell, 72, could receive the death penalty or life in prison if jurors find him guilty of any one of the four counts of first-degree murder for killing four babies born alive in his West Philadelphia abortion clinic. He also faces charges for one count of third-degree murder in the death of patient Karnamaya Mongar who died at his clinic in 2009.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Tuesday. more >>

An American man, identified as a tour guide and a Christian, will be put on trial in North Korea for alleged crimes against the state, revealed the Korean Central News Agency in a report that comes six months after Kenneth Bae's initial detention.

Although his charges were not made completely clear, the KCNA (North Korea's official news agency) reported Saturday that Bae, a 44-year-old of Korean descent, had undergone a "preliminary inquiry" that revealed he had confessed guilt.

"In the process of investigation he admitted that he committed crimes aimed to topple the DPRK with hostility toward it. His crimes were proved by evidence," states the KCNA report. more >>

Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), and 70 other House members sent three separate letters to ABC, NBC and CBS news executives asking them to end their media blackout of the Kermit Gosnell trial, and to start covering "high-profile abortion controversies" that are of interest to the public.

Blackburn told The Christian Post on Friday that she has yet to hear from ABC or NBC, both of which haven't covered the Gosnell trial at all. But she did receive a phone call from the president of CBS, who noted their coverage in January 2011 of the grand jury's report that was mentioned on the evening news and their national morning program. He also said their local affiliate in Philadelphia, Pa., broke the story in 2010, but admitted to not covering the six-week trial for their national evening news program.

In the letter to network news executives Ben Sherwood, David Rhodes and Patricia Fili-Krushel, Blackburn said she and other House members are asking the executives for "clarification as to their choices to not cover the Gosnell trial." more >>

[Editor's Note: Saturday, April 27, 2013:

Relevé Entertainment responded to accusations by Juanita Bynum. "I am deeply saddened by Ms. Bynum's baseless accusations, which are not only false but also slanderous. I will continue to keep her in prayer," Holly Carter told The Christian Post. Carter is president and CEO of Relevé Entertainment, a faith-based management and production company.]

Christian evangelist and self-proclaimed prophetess Juanita Bynum says her arrest last week over a debt owed to a promoter was an "unfortunate event" stemming from fraud perpetrated by another party. more >>

A prominent American cardinal will soon be honored by an evangelical Christian organization for his leadership on efforts pertaining to social issues and the HHS "preventive services" mandate.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York will be given the William Wilberforce Award at a conference in Arlington, Va. The honor will be bestowed by the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview as part of a weekend of events that will be part of an annual event known as the "Wilberforce Weekend Conference."

Dr. Timothy George, chairman of the Chuck Colson Center, provided in a statement an explanation as to why Cardinal Dolan was receiving the honor. more >>