Podcast appearances and mentions of melissa klein

A God Story, with Melissa Klein, May 12, 2024 by Keller, Texas

Dr. Melissa Klein interviews Doctors Sarah Lynn Hilgenberg and Su-Ting Li on the use of qualitative methods in educational research. This discussion is based on a recent publication by Goldstein et al “A Qualitative Exploration of Pediatric Resident Perceptions of Autonomy in the Era of Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship.”  Read the article here: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1876-2859(23)00332-7   Methods references:  Hanson JL, Balmer DF, Giardino AP. Qualitative research methods for medical educators. Acad Pediatr. 2011 Sep-Oct;11(5):375-86.  O'Brien BC, Harris IB, Beckman TJ, Reed DA, Cook DA. Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations. Acad Med. 2014 Sep;89(9):1245-51. Frambach JM, van der Vleuten CP, Durning SJ. AM last page. Quality criteria in qualitative and quantitative research. Acad Med. 2013 Apr;88(4):552. Frambach JM, van der Vleuten CP, Durning SJ. AM last page. Quality criteria in qualitative and quantitative research. Acad Med. 2013 Apr;88(4):552.

Melissa reads the chapter "Imperfect Hearts and Roses for Valentine's Day" from her memoire, Match-Liss Tales of Online Dating by Melissa Klein

For this episode, we interviewed Melissa Klein, who has recently written a memoire about online dating. Melissa is a commercial artist, muralist, illustrator, logo designer, author, and standup comedian who works in a wide range of styles and mediums to reflect her client's vision. And she's our sister!! Our recipe for this episode is a family favorite: French Silk Chocolate Pie, perfect for Valentine's Day. Show notes can be found at www.bootieandbossy.com

David Hacker, Vice President of Litigation and Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute, brought an update on the case involving the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Aaron and Melissa Klein, who have been through a series of court decisions, including courts in Oregon and twice at the U.S. Supreme Court. The case involves the Kleins declining to provide a cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony based on their Christian faith. You can learn more at firstliberty.org. 

David Hacker, Vice President of Litigation and Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute, brought an update on the case involving the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Aaron and Melissa Klein, who have been through a series of court decisions, including courts in Oregon and twice at the U.S. Supreme Court. The case involves the Kleins declining to provide a cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony based on their Christian faith. You can learn more at firstliberty.org. 

This week on First Liberty Live! you'll get to go inside the courtroom for Aaron and Melissa Klein's argument at the Oregon Court of Appeals. The Kleins, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, are seeking justice after the government effectively forced them to close their business for running it according to their faith. We're asking the Oregon Court to right their wrong and recognize Aaron and Melissa's constitutional rights.

It's Monday, July 3rd, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus.  (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Afghanistan instability caused 3,700 civilian casualties Ongoing instability in Afghanistan led to 1,095 civilians killed and 2,679 wounded between August 2021 and May 2023, according to a report from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. More than 700 of the civilian deaths were caused by improvised explosive devices occurring in public places such as mosques, education centers, and commercial markets.  The Islamic State was responsible for over 1,700 of these civilians being killed or injured. Despite the total collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government to Taliban forces and an attack perpetrated by ISIS-Khorasn Province that killed 13 U.S. military personnel, President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. forces to completely withdraw from Afghanistan in August 2021. France deploys 'armored military vehicles' to combat nationwide riots (Sound of machine gun fire) That's the sound of machine gun fire shot by roving immigrant gangs in France which threatens the largely unarmed French citizenry. ZeroHedge.com reports that France has deployed “Armored Military Vehicles” to combat nationwide riots. President Emmanuel Macron's government struggles to contain social unrest across the country.  French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said overnight chaos has resulted in 2,000 cars burned, 500 buildings damaged, hundreds of businesses looted, and violent clashes with police. He said over 800 people were arrested, with nearly 250 officers injured.  A conservative Twitter account, named Amuse, tweeted, “France opened its borders to culturally diverse immigrants who have largely failed to assimilate. Frustrated, they are going to war against French society.” 17% more abortions in England and Wales According to the new official statistics by the UK Department of Health & Social Care, there were 123,219 abortions  of residents in England and Wales between January and June 2022, reports Evangelical Focus. This was a 17% increase from the same period in 2021 (105,488), and equates to over 680 abortions every day. Proverbs 31:8 reminds us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” American intelligence reveals more pro-abortion violence expected Rev. Jim Harden is the founder of a New York crisis pregnancy center, CompassCare, which was firebombed by pro-abortion terrorists last year when the Dobbs Supreme Court decision was leaked. His pro-life center was one of 90 similar centers which were targeted.  In light of the recent first anniversary on June 24th of the Supreme Court decision to overturned Roe v. Wade, Harden talked to The Worldview about American intelligence about future violence expected from the pro-aborts. HARDEN:  “We know there's going to be more violence ahead targeting pro-life pregnancy centers because on May 24 the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin from the National Terrorism Advisory System warning of more violence one year after the pro-abortion Kristallnacht was sparked by the illegal leak of the Supreme Court decision Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health. “The bulletin that the [Department of Homeland Security] sent out reads, ‘Factors that could mobilize individuals to commit violence include judicial decisions pertaining to socio-political issues. Likely targets of potential violence, include faith-based institutions.' So, the translation here is that judicial decisions pertaining to socio-political issues refers to the Dobbs anniversary, which is June 24th, and the Fifth Circuit's potential overturning of the FDA's illegal approval of the dangerous chemical abortion drug, mifepristone. Those two things are animating left-wing, pro-abortion extremists.” Supreme Court blocks Biden's $430 billion student loan forgiveness In a 6-3 decision, the U.S Supreme Court handed President Joe Biden a painful defeat on Friday, blocking his plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt -- a move that had been intended to benefit up to 43 million Americans, reports Reuters. The court sided with six conservative-leaning states - Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina - that objected to Biden's student loan forgiveness. Its ruling dealt a blow to the 26 million borrowers who simply did not want to repay the student loans that they themselves initiated after Biden announced the plan in August 2022. Chief Justice John Roberts said that such broad action would require clear congressional approval. Under Biden's plan, the U.S. government was going to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student debt for Americans making under $125,000 who obtained loans to pay for college and other post-secondary education. And Uncle Sam was going to forgive $20,000 of student debt for Pell grants to students from lower-income families. Supreme Court vacates $135,000 fine against Christian bakers And finally, the United States Supreme Court vacated a lower court decision against a Christian couple in Oregon who were punished for not making a cake for a lesbian wedding, reports The Christian Post. In 2013, the owners of Sweetcakes by Melissa, Aaron and Melissa Klein cited their Christian belief that marriage is between one man and one woman. In response, the lesbians filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, in which the government entity concluded that the Kleins had violated the state's accommodations law.  That led to a whopping $135,000 fine against the Kleins, forcing them to close their bakery. In 2016, the Kleins appealed the ruling, but the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the order in 2018.  That's when the Christian couple first appealed to the Supreme Court. In the Supreme Court's recent decision handed down Friday, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that “the opportunity to think for ourselves and to express those thoughts freely is among our most cherished liberties and part of what keeps our Republic strong.” First Liberty President Kelley Shackleford, who represented the Kleins said, “It's a win when the Supreme Court vacates a bad lower court decision like it did for Aaron and Melissa today, but the case is not over. The Kleins have been fighting for the First Amendment for over a decade and we will stand with them no matter how long it takes to get the victory they deserve.” When Jesus was questioned about marriage by the Pharisees, He asked, “Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,' and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'” (Matthew 19:4-5) Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, July 3rd in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Suzanne Straebler, Ph.D., PMH-BC and Melissa Klein, Ph.D. discuss what patients should know about eating disorders. They highlight the common types of disordered eating, including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, and how they can impact any one of different backgrounds. They also share how the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased social media usage have led to lower self esteem and perception issues that can impact eating disorders. They also discuss how the Eating Disorders Service at WCM helps parents and children work through Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

- GARY THOMAS: "Sacred Pathways: 9 Ways to Connect with the Heart of God" - ROBERT J MORGAN: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness: 52 Reasons to Trust God When Hope Feels Lost" - "Aaron and Melissa Klein are Close to REOPENING SWEET CAKES BY MELISSA after Wrongfully Being Prosecuted for Refusing to Make a Cake for a Same-Sex 'Wedding' Reception!" - "The Retirement Age in America has Gone UP Over the Past 30 Years. Why Does Roger Believe this is Actually GOOD NEWS?"

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” ~Ephesians 6:12 Episode 8 of Self Evident continues our conversation regarding the prominence and propaganda of the LGBTQ agenda. Read the “Parental Rights in Education” bill for yourself here. Learn more about Jack Phillips and how you can help here. Learn more about Aaron and Melissa Klein here.… Continue Reading

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” ~Ephesians 6:12 Episode 8 of Self Evident continues our conversation regarding the prominence and propaganda of the LGBTQ agenda. Read the “Parental Rights in Education” bill for yourself here. Learn more about Jack Phillips and how you can help here. Learn more about Aaron and Melissa Klein here.… Continue Reading

As we await our two Supreme Court case decisions to be released, and finish our fiscal year, it's worth reflecting on where we've been since last fall. Our Director of Litigation, David Hacker, joins First Liberty Live! to review our numerous victories this year and to look ahead at our major cases for the rest of 2022. Plus, hear a special update on our clients Aaron and Melissa Klein in our Sweet Cakes by Melissa case.

After sitting on the case for over two years, the Oregon Court of Appeals finally released a decision for Aaron and Melissa Klein, founder and owner of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. Stephanie Taub joins First Liberty Live! to unpack exactly what this means for the Kleins and what First Liberty will do for the case going forward.

Melissa Klein has already released 'Crystalline Charm' and is gearing up to release her next EP 'Home'. Melissa takes us on her journey to Home and lets us know what to expect. Home is an EP that she describes as all about self-worth and heartbreak. www.Melissagailklein.com

I am so excited to finally share the first episode in a new series called The Real New Mom Stories! Today's guest is Melissa Klein, a friend of mine, living in L.A. with her husband and 6-month old son, Jackson. Our discussion focuses on how she personally prepared for the birth of her son, the tools she utilized, the ups and downs of breastfeeding, and even the unexpected realities of “sex after baby”. I know her story will resonate with you, so give it a listen! Show Notes Link: https://www.newmomboss.com/56

Don Jans All Terrorists desire to destroy our country. Whether Jihadi's or Communists Lathan Watts First Liberty Navy keeps Chaplain Program for CAtholic Enlisted, Kentucky Court ruling could help Melissa Klein case. Private School in Santa Cruz CA has its Christian Rights attacked. Tim Constantine Capitol Watch Hypocrisy of the left and the radical difference. Michelle Obama Racist claims are just efforts to divide us and destroy our nation. George Barna ACU CRC Where is the church? Lack of leadership and the lack of the five fold ministry. America needs a strong church.

#DemsTreason Don Jans joins Pastor Greg to discuss how the behavior of Democrats "In law, treason is criminal disloyalty, typically to the state. It is a crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's nation or sovereign. This usually includes things such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state" Democrats passing information to Iranians about American strategies. #RaligiousLiberty Lathan Watts First Liberty Director Legal Communications discuses the Sweets by Melissa case Aaron and Melissa Klein had their discussed in an Oregon court yesterday in response to the SCOTUS sending it back to them. #FreeFlynn #PresidentTrump Daphne Barak To Plea or Not to Plea the Rick Gates Story why it should concern all Americans. Daphne has a unique perspective on the President and she can share who the man is and why we can have confidence in him. #Betrayal Gavin Clarkson Candidate for Senator in New Mexico discusses Impeachment, Iran, Border Security and the War Powers Resolution and Matt Gaetz vote for it.

Cases have recently reached the U.S. Supreme Court hinging on the court’s definition of “sex” in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The justices’ potential altering of this definition would greatly injure the democratic process as well as the state of religious liberty in America. Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing. The day after the Supreme Court of the United States opened the 2019-2020 term of the court, the Justices heard argument in three cases over what is meant by a single word in a federal statute. The cases involve two homosexual men and one transgendered woman terminated from their jobs because of their sexual orientation.  The federal statute, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of, among other things, a person’s sex. That’s the word up for debate.  Activists have labored since at least 1974 to update Title VII’s definition of sex to include any number of gender identities and sexual orientations, but Congress has declined to act. Part of the reason for that has to do with the very real fear expressed by religious conservatives at the potential loss of key religious liberty protections.  They fear becoming the next Aaron and Melissa Klein.  Cutting off that democratic debate—one that allows concerns for the protection of religious liberty to be accounted for—is unwise.  The question everyone should be asking is what does yet another decision on a significant cultural question by judges mean for our democratic republic?  Equality and nondiscrimination means very little in the hands of a democracy that can be altered by the stroke of the judicial pen. To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.

Supreme Court of the United States sends Aaron and Melissa Klein’s case back to Oregon Courts to ensure the Klein’s had a fair trial and address the $135,000 state sanction that was put on them for discrimination. Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing. The Supreme Court of the United States recently sent our case involving Aaron and Melissa Klein back to Oregon.  You may be wondering: why didn’t the Justices just decide the issue once and for all?  It’s a fair question, and only 9 Americans really know the answer, but perhaps part of the reason is that state-sanctioned hostility to religion keeps getting in the way.  By remanding the case for review in consideration of the Masterpiece Cakeshopdecision, it seems the Justices are asking the lower court to ensure, first, that the Kleins had a fair trial. That could be difficult.  Oregon’s administrator evaluating the charges suggested that the Kleins needed to be “rehabilitated.”  But, only the guilty are in need of rehabilitation. Prejudging the case seems unfair. But, the Justices seem even more concerned with ensuring state officials respect the religious beliefs of those accused of discrimination.  Issuing a $135,000 penalty for “emotional damages” and imposing a gag order barring any public speech discussing their beliefs on the situation, suggests that the State of Oregon was less than respectful toward Aaron and Melissa’s religious beliefs. In other words, it seems that the Justices are trying to stop the bleeding, stemming from an unfair process and state-sanctioned contempt for religious beliefs in public.  Once that bleeding stops, perhaps the court can diagnose and treat the actual problem.  To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.

In today’s News: Lawyers for Aaron and Melissa Klein file with the Oregon court of appeals A court rules a cross in a county seal is Constitutional The Department of Education investigates if women athletes face discrimination Questions arise about AmeriCorps possibly using tax dollars to promote abortion

07/15/2019 The Constitutional Threat of The(Sexual Orientation) Equality Act and The Looming Debt Crisis And Coming Debt Foregiveness(Jubilee) John Adams Quotes. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. https://decisionmagazine.com/equality-act-clear-present-danger/ In July 2015, when the Supreme Court announced its ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized gay marriage nationwide, then-Senior Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion that the ruling posed no threat to constitutional religious freedoms. Kennedy even posited that gay marriages “involve only the rights of two consenting adults whose marriages would pose no risk of harm to themselves or third parties.” His colleague Samuel Alito, joined by justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, begged to differ—sharply. Alito wrote in a dissent that traditionalists would presumably be allowed to “whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes,” but if they uttered their beliefs publicly, they would be labeled “bigots and treated as such by governments, employers and schools.” Alito’s retort has proven to be prophetic. In the four years since, the list of wedding vendors, business leaders, government leaders, students, campus ministries, judges, military personnel and counselors punished, silenced, sued or fined for Christian convictions concerning marriage and human sexuality has ensued just as Alito predicted, or worse. If that wasn’t enough, LGBTQ activists have relentlessly pushed for normalization of transgenderism, gaining footholds in psychiatry, medicine, news media, entertainment, education, government and social services, while demonizing any who question the new sexual dogma and labeling them haters or bigots. That momentum has carried over into national politics, with prominent progressive politicians embracing the LGBTQ movement’s playbook with unadulterated enthusiasm.   The Equality Act of 2019 is the latest, and arguably the most dangerous, example of this. After the House passed it this spring, Speaker Nancy Pelosi boasted to reporters: “I say tolerant … is a condescending word. This is not about tolerance. This is about respect of the LGBTQ community. This is about taking pride.” Tolerance is no longer enough. What Obergefell didn’t accomplish, the misnamed Equality Act of 2019 attempts to complete with the full crushing force of the federal government behind it.  Former Vice President Joe Biden, thought by some as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president, announced on June 5 that the Equality Act would top his list of priorities. “It will be the first thing I ask to be done,” Biden told an Ohio audience at a dinner sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, the powerful LGBTQ lobbying group.  The Equality Act has come up before, but it prevailed in the House for the first time this spring, by a comfortable 236-173 margin. It is now with the Senate, which is unlikely to pass it. However, one election could change that. If the Equality Act becomes law, it would remake the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act—which aimed to correct systemic and institutional racial discrimination—by establishing new federally protected categories of sexual orientation and gender identity in every sphere of society, including religious institutions. Alliance Defending Freedom, an organization that has argued notable cases for businesses that have been in the crosshairs of LGBTQ activists and progressive bureaucrats, explained in an email to Decision: “SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) laws like the Equality Act coerce obedience to one view of marriage, sexual morality, and what it means to be male and female. If it became law, the Equality Act would forbid churches, religious schools and other religious nonprofits from drawing their workforces from among those who are willing to abide by organizational standards on these subjects.” Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of the First Liberty law firm, which helped argue in favor of religious freedom and free speech in the Obergefell case, agrees. “The Equality Act attempts to make sure that in all cases LGBT rights trump religious freedom—in every situation. It makes religious freedom a secondary freedom or right.”  Shackelford says the bill would have broad implications for people of faith; churches; faith-based institutions, including foster and adoption care entities, parents, students, medical workers and public employees; as well as private sector businesses and employees.  “The Equality Act attempts to make sure that in all cases LGBT rights trump religious freedom—in every situation. It makes religious freedom a secondary freedom or right.” —Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of First Liberty The Equality Act explicitly states that the provisions in the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)—which aimed to ensure that “interests in religious freedom are protected”—cannot be used as a defense in cases in which sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination is in question. Additionally, it would override religious freedom restoration laws in the states, as well as application of the federal RFRA as it pertains to conscience protections for federal employees.  “They want to make sure there’s no religious freedom defense,” Shackelford says. “People can’t have a different belief and expect to live in peace. They can’t even make the argument for their beliefs, which is why this is so extreme. Even if you’re a nonprofit religious group, you can get sued for discrimination if you’re not following the new orthodoxy on LGBT rights, gender transition and gender identity, and everything else. And you have to open your showers, your bathrooms, etc., to the opposite sex. “In every scenario, whether you’re a parent, you’re a woman or a girl, you’re a nonprofit religious group, you’re an employer or you’re a medical professional—you name it—in all scenarios, religious freedom is now subsidiary and LGBT and gender-identity rights trump, in all cases, religious freedom and people’s right to conscience.” Even a liberal scholar like Douglas Laycock of the University of Virginia law school, a same-sex marriage supporter, has argued against the Equality Act, telling National Review that the bill “is not a good-faith attempt to reconcile competing interests. It is an attempt by one side to grab all the disputed territory and to crush the other side.” Some on the left have claimed religious conservatives are using scare tactics to drum up opposition to the Equality Act. Todd Chasteen, vice president of public policy at Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, North Carolina, says they are either disingenuous or woefully misinformed. “It’s not theory. This is reality. These things are happening,” he says.   The case of fired Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran is a prominent example of where the Equality Act would take the nation, Chasteen says. Cochran, who has since won a lawsuit in federal court and received damages from the City of Atlanta, was fired in early 2015 for writing a Bible study for a men’s group he taught at his church. It briefly covered Biblical sexuality and God’s plan for marriage. “His book disagreed with the sexual orthodoxy of the left, and they went after him,” Chasteen says.  Chasteen also noted the $135,000 fine levied by the state of Oregon on Aaron and Melissa Klein, who operated a bakery that refused to design a cake for a lesbian wedding. The Kleins eventually had to close their storefront shop. In another case, an Ohio judge terminated the parental rights of a couple who had refused to support their daughter’s transgender hormone treatments. And in Anchorage, Alaska, a faith-based shelter is fighting for the right to prevent biological males from sleeping in a room reserved for women who have been victims of sexual assault or physical abuse. “None of this is theory,” Chasteen reiterated. “This is reality.” “The Equality Act is a federal act, which would mean that we would have to walk around hiding what our belief systems are in all 50 states if this thing ends up being approved.” Even some in the liberal feminist movement are concerned that the Equality Act could erode gains made for women over decades by making one’s biological sex meaningless in multiple arenas, and by creating an uneven playing field in women’s athletics. In Connecticut, for example, two biological males who are reportedly taking female hormones finished first and second in the high school girls state indoor 55-meter sprint, with the winner setting a state record. As Rep. Vicki Hartzler (R-Missouri) wrote in an opinion piece for The Hill: “Congress enacted Title IX for a reason—to provide an equal playing field for men and women. But by requiring that all federally funded programs ignore the biological differences between the sexes, the Equality Act dissolves decades of women’s achievements overnight.” “The Equality Act is a federal act, which would mean that we would have to walk around hiding what our belief systems are in all 50 states if this thing ends up being approved.” —Todd Chasteen, vice president of public policy at Samaritan’s Purse Medical entities and workers, from doctors to nurses to technicians, would be required under the Equality Act to provide, perform or participate in sex- or gender-related treatments, even if they claimed a sincerely held religious or professional objection, ADF says. And insurance plans would be forced to cover such treatments with no exemptions.  As already is the case in many educational settings, teachers and professors would be required by federal civil rights law to respect a person’s gender identity by using preferred pronouns, regardless of given names or biological reality. That would even extend to private institutions, where a statement of faith or belief would be subordinate to federal statutes.   Groups such as the Human Rights Campaign and individuals such as Denver software entrepreneur Tim Gill, who has reportedly spent $400 million pushing LGBTQ issues to politicians and influencers, wield enormous power in government, in corporate boardrooms, and in media and academia. “A pastor of a large church in Atlanta told me that many of his members work for significant global companies in that city,” Chasteen says, “and they walk around petrified by the thought that someone might find out what their beliefs are about marriage. Silencing speech and suppressing thought is un-American.” Andrew Walker, professor of Christian ethics and apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says any legislator with an appreciation for the importance of religious liberty must oppose the Equality Act.  “Or else,” Walker wrote in a post on the Gospel Coalition website, “with the stroke of a pen, pillars of human history—the ideas that marriage is a complementary union of a man and a woman, and that male and female are immutable, biological realities—would be thrown into the dustbin of history.”

Jack Phillips’ case may be over but the Supreme Court has the opportunity to make a lasting impact through the case of ‘Sweetcakes by Melissa.” Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing. Jack Phillips’ long ordeal appears to be over.  But, as Justice Kennedy wrote for the majority in Jack’s case, “The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts.”  That includes First Liberty’s clients, Aaron and Melissa Klein. The State of Oregon shut down Aaron and Melissa Klein’s “Sweetcakes by Melissa,” penalizing them $135,000 for the simple act of declining to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony. Oregon rests all of its actions on a law that theoretically applies generally to everyone and, on its face, treats religious exercise neutrally.  That position is grounded in the 1990 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court called Employment Division v. Smith.  The product of the late-Justice Antonin Scalia, the majority opinion in Employment Division has been roundly criticized through the years.  The danger of Employment Divisionis that it allows laws that doburden one of the key provisions of the First Amendment—namely, the free exercise of religion—to escape meaningful judicial review. Aaron and Melissa’s case provides the Court an opportunity to correct that. Jack Phillips’ case left American business owners wondering whether the government can prescribe what they believe and force them to confess accordingly.  The Constitution prohibits government officials, high or petty, from compelling small business owners to create a message contrary to their religious beliefs.  To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.

First Liberty has petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case of Aaron and Melissa Klein, an Oregon family who was forced to shut down their business and fined $135,000 for not baking a same-sex wedding cake. The question now is, will the Court side with Gobitis or Barnette? Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing. The right to differ with popular beliefs and opinions has long been an American principle. Back in the late 1930’s, the Gobitis children had a religious objection to saluting the flag.  The Supreme Court upheld their expulsion in Minersville School District v. Gobitis and that’s when the harassment of America’s Jehovah’s Witnesses took off. Just a few short years later, the Supreme Court revisited its decision in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. Justice Jackson’s majority opinion explained that if the Bill of Rights allows the state to compel one to salute the flag, it also permits “public authorities to compel him to utter what is not in his mind.” So it is with First Liberty clients, Aaron and Melissa Klein. Can the state compel small business owners to speak a message contrary to their religious beliefs?  That’s a question we hope the Supreme Court might soon answer. And, we hope that answer is consistent with Justice Jackson’s in Barnette when he wrote, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.” Let’s hope the Supreme Court protects America’s small business owners and their First Amendment right to differ. To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.

Many know about Aaron and Melissa Klein, the bakers in Oregon who lost their bakery and were fined $135,000 because they politely refused to bake a cake that conflicted with their religious convictions. But the media doesn’t show the attacks the Kleins have faced from those in their community. Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing. You probably know the story of Aaron and Melissa Klein, the bakers in Oregon forced out of business and fined $135,000 by the state when they politely declined business that would have forced them to violate their religious convictions. What you may not know is that, after the State of Oregon pronounced them guilty of discrimination, private citizens were eager to show their contempt for the Kleins. Many of the comments they received are so vulgar that I cannot repeat them here.  But, here is a tame sampling.  One person, writing on Facebook said to the Kleins, “I hope your shop burns.”  Another chimed in, noting that she hoped Aaron and Melissa would “burn in Hell.” One man sent a message that said, “I hope you lose your house and have to live on the streets.” One woman even said, “We hope your children get cancer and die.” When the government declares that citizens like Aaron and Melissa are not entitled to the Constitution’s promises of religious liberty and free speech, its people push aside any goodwill that allows people to coexist peacefully with beliefs with which they may disagree.  Aaron and Melissa have asked the Oregon Supreme Court to review their case.  We hope the court will accept the appeal, if only to remind everyone that it is possible to live peacefully as neighbors even when we disagree. To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.

In episode 19 of the Get Published Podcast, Host and 13-Time Bestselling Author Paul G. Brodie interviews Melissa Klein about her author journey. Find out more about our Publishing Services at www.GetPublishedPodcast.com

Jeremy Dys, Esq., Deputy General Counsel for First Liberty Institute and host of the First Liberty Briefing, discusses the case of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. As with Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Sweet Cakes owners, Aaron and Melissa Klein, balked at creating a special wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Because of their stand, the state of Oregon put them out of business and fined them $135,000. The case has been appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court, and Dys says if necessary, the case will go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Learn more about First Liberty at firstliberty.org.

Guest Stephanie Taub of First Liberty Institute discusses the Oregon court ruling against Aaron and Melissa Klein of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, who were fined $135,000 and put out of business for refusing to make a special cake for a lesbian marriage. Stephanie and host Kip Allen talk about the ruling, the constitutional issues involved, and where the case goes from here. Read more about the case at firstliberty.org/cases/kleins.

MONDAY - April 3, 2017 The Impact Radio Show w/Timothy Moore 4PM on KKPZ 1330 AM & KKPZ.com LIVE INTERNET FEED Religious Freedom - The Story of Sweet Cakes by Mellisa. Guest: Lawyer Micheal Berry with First Liberty Institute. First Liberty is representing Melissa and Aaron Klein former owners of Sweet Cakes by Mellisa. In 2013 Sweet Cakes by Mellisa was asked by a woman to make a cake for her same sex wedding. As devout Christians the Klein's felt that helping celebrate the wedding would violate their faith. This prompted the state of Oregon to punish the Klein's with a $135,000 penalty and issuing a gag order against them. The Klein's, forced to close Sweet Cakes by Mellisa, have appealed the ruling to the Oregon Court of Appeals. http://firstliberty.org/cases/kleins/ #theimpactradioshow theimpactradioshow.com

Sweet Cakes by Melissa finally got their day in court. The Oregon bakery was owned by Aaron and Melissa Klein, a devout Christian couple. Their problems began about four years ago, when a woman asked the Kleins to create a special wedding cake for her daughter, who was planning to marry her lesbian partner. The Kleins declined, saying that as Christians, they could not prepare a special cake celebrating gay marriage. The lesbian couple then filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. Administrative hearings were held, and they went against the Kleins. They were forced to pay a $135,000 fine that resulted in them closing their shop. They were also given a gag order, preventing them from discussing certain aspects of the case, including their religious opposition to gay marriage. But the Kleins refused to stop fighting even though they lost their business. With the help of the First Liberty Institute, the largest legal organization in the country dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom, they were able to move their case away from an administrative organization and into the court system. Their case was finally heard before a judicial body, the Oregon Court of Appeals, earlier this month. Guest Jeremy Dys, senior attorney with the First Liberty Institute, discusses this case.

Tim talks about The Case of Sweet Cakes by Melissa whose owners Aaron and Melissa Klein refused to bake a cake for the ceremony of a gay couple - a case that came to national attention nearly 3 years ago. The Rose City Forum with Timothy Moore weekdays at Noon on KKPZ 1330 the Truth

FREEFALL Q&A: Jeremy Dys, Aaron & Melissa Klein --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thechurchboys/message

The story of Aaron and Melissa Klein of Sweet Cakes has taken the country by storm. They've lost their business and are being fined $135,000 by the state of Oregon for choosing not to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. Aaron reached out to The Church Boys this week about a very specific and scary threat his family just received from the crowd of the "tolerance brigade" and detailed some of the many other threats and crimes that have been committed against his family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thechurchboys/message

Aaron and Melissa Klein discuss standing by their faith. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thechurchboys/message

This episode is by far our longest episode ever! It also features genuinely thrilling moments are more! FEATURING (in order of appearance): Achilles Stamatelaky, Austin Rodrigues, Morgan Hill, Maritza Montanez, Eli James, Matt Dennie, Alan Starzinski, Brady O'Callahan, Andrew Warner, David Hensley, Jonathan Murray, Matthew Santiago Torres, Kaitlyn Jeffers, Line Guy Alex, Lane Kwederis, Matthew Alston, Mark Hudson, Johnny Harkins, Tony Cohen, Sarah Spear, Nikki Verdi, Manolo Moreno, Jeremy Wein, Jon Lunger, The Team Bear Golf, John St. Denis, Melissa Klein, Kyle Ewert, Jake Hyland, Martin Ryder, Jon Hess, Carlin Adelson, Harry Wood, Ben Gauthier, Jeremy Chao, Alex Song, Rachel Pegram, Timmy Wood, Julie Gomez, Tessa Greenberg, Dan Glaser, Dylan Donahue, TJ Del Reno, Jessica McKenna, Ken McGraw, Darrel Haynes, Stefan Schuette, Eddie Dougrou, Dan Black, Jon Henry, Stephanie Streisand, Zak Sommerfield, Melanie Owens, Matt Little, Max Cardilla, Calan Lambert, Jessica Morgan, John Swan, Hal Phillips, Jon Bershad, Hallie Haas, Andrew Bisdale, and Molly Gaebe

In the tradition of National Lampoon, Monty Python, Firesign Theatre, Cheech and Chong, Nichols and May and other greats, Blasto Podcast Network presents Soft Spots and Bald Spots: A DAMSEL Sketch Comedy Album. DAMSEL brings the best of sketch comedy in New York City today and puts it in a classic format: the comedy album. Soft Spots and Bald Spots: A DAMSEL Sketch Comedy Album features Jon Bershad, Becky Chicoine, David Guzman, Melissa Klein, David Meyers, Dave Murray, John Zachary Townsend and Marika Zappas, with sketches written by Trumane Alston, Madalyn Baldanzi, Jon Bershad, Zach Goldbaum, David Guzman, Emily Hoffman, Matt Jordan, Alex Starbuck and John Zachary Townsend.

Melissa Klein (Florence) is one awesome lady. We discuss theatre, comedy, and being unusual characters.