Los Angeles County Edition Vol. 23, No. 7 July 2012 www.christianexaminer.com Education Cal Thomas Community Christian home-education The media’s Promise Keepers FREE association equips families religion defi cit coming to San Diego page 2 page 5 page 11 Bah, humbug Six-decade Santa Monica Christmas tradition nixed by City Council By Lori Arnold era when I was a boy. We had our Christmas program in the public SANTA MONICA — The days school with readings from the New are long gone when grade-school- Testament and Christmas carols. ers celebrated Christmas with Nobody seemed to think anything construction paper garlands and about it. That was just the accepted colorful pageants in their school way, and now the pendulum has auditoriums. That’s why Hunter swung in a very bad direction.” Jameson so enjoyed the annual Na- This Christmas, for the fi rst tivity display bordering Palisades time since 1953, there will be no Park on a bluff above the ocean. Nativity in Palisades Park after the “The Nativity scenes date from the ’50s,” he said. “That was the See NATIVITY, page 13 PHOTO BY ANTHONY AMORTEGUY NFL quarterback Tim Tebow throws a toy football into the stands before taking the stage to talk about faith, football and fatherhood during a Father’s Day church service at Qualcomm Stadium sponsored by Shadow Mountain Community Church. Gridiron Glory Tebow draws thousands to the Q for Sunday church service SAN DIEGO — Tim Tebow drew a crowd of more than 26,000 people to hear him speak about The manger scene, one of 14 featured in the annual Nativity display in Santa his faith and father-son relation- Monica, has seen its fi nal days. The City Council has voted to ban the winter displays ships at a June 17 Father’s Day beginning this year. event. Tebow was speaking at San Di- ego’s Qualcomm Stadium where last fall he led the Denver Bron- cos, his former team, to an over- Living proof time win against the San Diego Chargers. As he spoke, a plane fl ew above the stadium pulling PHOTO BY ANTHONY AMORTEGUY a banner that read, “Happy Fa- On the stage Tebow was fl anked by Shadow Mountain Community Church pastor Former gay challenges David Jeremiah, right, and recording artist Charles Billingsley, left. ther’s Day—John 3:16.” Tebow encouraged fathers to set an “How he acted, how he was, how he Tebow said that winning isn’t proposal to ban reparative example in their homes and inspire treated my mom, how he treated my always about having the most talent. their families. He stressed the need four siblings.” “Hard work will beat talent, when for role models and spoke how his “And that’s how I learned the most talent doesn’t work hard,” the former therapy for minors dad was his example. from my dad, Because it wasn’t about Heisman Trophy winner said. “For me it was about watching what he said, it was about what he Tebow told the crowd to “get in By Lori Arnold my dad. He could say whatever he did in front of me and my siblings the game” by being active Christians. wanted, but I watched him,” Tebow, my whole life.” “I encourage you men to get in the GLENDALE — David Pickup has the youngest of fi ve children, said. Tebow referenced how his father game and fi nish strong, fi nish strong spent the greater part of the past used the life of Jesus as an example for your family, your wife and your 15 years either being treated with to teach him about love, passion sons and daughters,” he said. reparative techniques to diminish and sacrifi ce. He said that while the world looks his own gay attractions or establish- David Jeremiah, pastor of Shadow at him as a football player who’s a ing a successful therapy practice to Mountain Community Church in Christian, “I look at the world and help others enjoy the same free- El Cajon, asked the quarterback, say, ‘I’m a Christian who happens to dom that “saved his life.” now with the New York Jets, what he play football.’” “It helped to dissipate my depres- thought of the notion that, “If you Shadow Mountain Community sion and the anxiety,” the Glendale are a Christian and you are a man, Church hosted the free Sunday therapist said. “My self-esteem rose. you can’t really be a man.” Tebow morning event called “Father’s Day My gender identity and inferior- replied, saying he started believing 2012: Encouraging Men to Live, Love ity— which was traumatic for me in Jesus while he was a young boy and and Lead.” as a child—was greatly resolved, so PHOTO BY ANTHONY AMORTEGUY was competitive from an early age. Besides pastoring a megachurch, my male self-esteem really rose. My Kids and adults alike donned eye- shame for having, simply feeling David Pickup, an ex-gay who uses black tattoos sporting the John 3:16 He recalled how he was disappointed Jeremiah hosts a Bible teaching homosexual feelings doesn’t exist reparative therapy in his private scripture verse, a practice made when, at just 4 years of age, a coach program on Turning Point, heard practice, is hoping to derail a state law famous by Tebow while playing college told him winning wasn’t everything. on more than 2000 radio stations any more. I had quite a wonderful that would prohibit such treatment for football at the University of Florida. He told his dad, “But I want to win.” around the world. minors. Pickup said the treatment saved See SB 1172, page 6 his life. For information about advertising, subscriptions, or bulk delivery, please call 1-800-326-0795 2 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • July 2012 LA www.christianexaminer.com Christian home-education association equips families By Lori Arnold operated independently from public schools. PASADENA — Susan Beatty has Even with the expanded choices spent 30 years of her life helping beyond the more traditional parents to educate their children private schools, Beatty said she through private Christian home believes home schooling offers schooling. These days, as co- Christian parents an invaluable founder and general manager of opportunity to teach their children the Christian Home Educators As- from a biblical worldview. sociation, she’s spending almost as “It’s vital that we disciple and much time trying to educate Chris- train up our Christian children, tian parents about potential threats and I think that’s best done in a to the movement as lawmakers and home-school situation,” the educa- educators are increasingly seeking tor said. “Because our freedoms are ways to tamper with parental rights. eroding these children need to be “I believe that one of the reasons taught what does the Constitution that (home schooling is) still grow- say? What does the Bill of Rights ing is because people are waking up say? How does that affect our ev- to the fact that there is a concerted eryday life? And they need to know effort against freedoms these days, that because the general public freedoms across the board,” Beatty does not know that information. said. “There are so many things We need to have Christian young going on in the federal govern- people growing up to defend those ment that may not be obvious to rights and to work for those rights.” everyone, but they are there if you At the center of those rights, are keeping an eye out.” Beatty said, are parental rights, One such threat played out in the including home-based education. Home schooling provides unparalleled opportunities for developing solid parent-child relationships. THINKSTOCK IMAGE courts in 2008, when a California “We want to keep that viable appellate court ruled in Rachel L. and safe for generations to come ganization, Beatty said it’s diffi cult lure is there.” help parents with their own learn- v. Superior Court of Los Angeles because we feel that there is a to get accurate numbers about how As technology becomes more ing curves. Resources include re- County that all parents had to have huge difference between home many children are being home- accessible and more support pro- search on the advantages of home a teaching credential to in order schooling privately and doing schooled. Some estimates place grams such as extra-curricular co- schooling, legal guidance on teach- to teach their children from home. school at home through a public it as high as 200,000 in California ops emerge, parents are discover- ing at home, tips for home-school- The ruling prompted widespread school system,” she said. “It’s still alone. ing that some of the traditional ers, a home-school consultant, and criticism. Six months later the same the public school system, and you “Home-schoolers jump in and barriers to home schooling are less the California Parent Educator court reversed itself. are still responsible for all the rules out of home schooling frequent- intimidating than in previous years. magazine. The organization has In more recent years, as the in a public school.” ly,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just “There are tons of things to get also teamed up to co-host “Take popularity of home schooling has out of California. They will move children, young people, particular- Back the Land” seminars with Rick grown, the state of California has Ebb and fl ow to another state and home-school ly high school students, involved,” Boyer, an early advocate for home implemented an Independent By nature, the home school is a somewhere else.