Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.

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1. FOX NEWS: Trump’s Picks So Far: Here’s Who Will Be Advising the New President

“Since winning the election last week, President-elect Donald Trump has begun evaluating and rolling out his picks for his Cabinet and other top roles.

Here’s a roundup of whom Trump has picked to fill top jobs in his administration:”

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-picks-so-far-heres-who-advising-new-president

2. CAROLINA JOURNAL: SCOTUS Could Accept,  NC State Health Plan Transgender Treatment  Month

“The nation’s highest court is scheduled to review in December an appeal in a case involving the North Carolina State Health Plan’s coverage of medical treatments typically pursued by transgender patients. Justices will decide after that review whether to take the case.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who oversees the State Health Plan, is appealing a decision from the full 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The court split, 8-6, in a ruling favoring plaintiffs who challenged a state ban on coverage of the targeted treatments.

The US Supreme Court announced Wednesday that justices will review the case on Dec. 6. The court could decide as early as the following week whether to take the case or allow the 4th Circuit decision to stand.”

Our sister organization, the NC Values Institute filed an Amicus Curiae brief in the case to support Treasurer Folwell’s position.  Taxpayers should not be required to pay for hormone treatments and surgeries to attempt to alter a transgender person’s appearance.

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/scotus-could-accept-reject-nc-state-health-plan-transgender-treatment-case-next-month/

3. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Hudson Re-Elected as NRCC Chairman, Republicans Win House Majority

“On Wednesday evening, the GOP secured the 218 seats needed to ensure a majority in the House following a Republican win in Arizona and a win in California, according to an AP report. Republicans had already secured a majority in the Senate following last week’s election.

Hudson put out the following statement concerning the House majority win on Thursday.”

Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/hudson-re-elected-as-nrcc-chairman-republicans-win-house-majority/

4. DAILY WIRE: Founder Of Breastfeeding Support Group Quits Over Pandering To Trans-Identifying Men

“One of the founders of the world’s oldest and most respected breastfeeding support group, La Leche League (LLL), has resigned due to the organization’s stance on men being able to breastfeed.”

Read more: https://www.dailywire.com/news/founder-of-breastfeeding-support-group-quits-over-pandering-to-trans-identifying-men

5. NORTH STATE JOURNAL: Krawiec: Seeing is believing

“I had seen all the videos and looked at many photos, but all of these visuals did not prepare me for what I saw last week on a trip to the storm-ravaged areas of western North Carolina. If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I could never have imagined the complete and utter devastation that this area of our state and the residents have suffered.”

Read more: https://nsjonline.com/article/2024/11/krawiec-seeing-is-believing/

Weekly Prayer: Freedom

LORD, you have blessed us with a spiritual liberty that is so wonderful and beyond description, that it can only be understood through experiencing a life-giving relationship with Christ. However, we also recognize that in your grace, you have blessed our country with a political liberty that enables us to openly proclaim the experience of a life lived in the freedom of the Gospel.

LORD, as individuals and as a nation, may we never take the inalienable right of religious freedom for granted. Right now our country has faced a rapid increase in the number of attacks made against this cherished right. We have seen groups across our public arena increase in boldness and frequency their smears against religious liberty. They claim it is bigotry, when we know it is the security of the greatest of all possible loves.

Be with your people and our country as it continues to protect the constitutional right protected by our nation’s Founders. Be with legislators and the Supreme Court, as they determine through their actions the protection of this particular and fundamental freedom. 

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

Amen

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Sincerely,

Tami & Team

NC Values