Biblical Truth And Captives

Yesterday, Fox News carried a story that began in February and has re-surfaced about a pastor being arrested for reading the Bible in public.

The reason?

The officer who arrested Mark Mackey, pastor of Calvary Chapel Hement, CA said, "You are not allowed to preach here, because this is a captive audience."

The 15 or 20 people were "captive" because they were standing near a DMV that was not open. The pastor was reading the Bible 50 feet from the people.

In our time of great enlightened secular progressivism, I wonder who the captives really are.

Are the religious freedoms that gave birth to this great nation being so eroded that those who advocate them become the captives?

As I read the story, it occurred to me that every day we send our children and grandchildren off to public school where they are "captives" to the teaching and sometimes preaching of beliefs that are for all intents and purposes, a form of secular religion. The doctrines and dogmas are in place. Our kids are indoctrinated by the "gospel" of evolution, secularism, Planned Parenthood's version of adolescent sexuality, abortion as woman's rights and reproductive health care, a devalued view of the sanctity of life and homosexuality as normal behavior.

Does the officer in Hemet believe the teachers should also be arrested? If not, why not? The kids are captives, are they not? They've got to go to school and they've got to get a passing grade to get out.

This past week has been a kind of "coming out" for many atheists and non-believers.

There was a rally on the National Mall in Washington DC last Saturday which, according to David Silverman, president of American Atheists, was held to "Deliver a message to America."

The message?

"We are here and we will not be silent again." They have a God given right to "be here." They also have a God given right to not be silent.

Thank God for America and the God who gave us these freedoms.

However, a rally that was called a "Reason Rally," was actually an anti-Christian event. They can do that too, because of the God given rights that America has stood for and protected.

The leftist Huffington Post reported that, "Zac Stiffen and Mwenya Mwimanzi, both 23 and from religious backgrounds, attended as out-of-the-closet atheists for the first time."

Mwimanzi said, "It is really encouraging and it makes me think there is hope for a different kind of future. Religion has dominated human history, but maybe it's time for a new direction."

The indoctrination of public education seems to be working.

I wrote in a recent Blog that President Obama returned to Arnold, Missouri on his 100th day in office and declared that the work of remaking America was well underway.

Indeed it is.

The remaking seems to require not only creating "new directions" and "a different kind of future," but abolishing the old paths that led us to become the most free and prosperous nation in the history of the world.

On February 3, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution that had been passed by Congress, declaring that year to be the "Year of The Bible in America."

We have traveled some new paths and taken some new directions between 1983 and 2012.

Pennsylvania lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution the other day that declares 2012 as "The Year of The Bible" in their state.

This past Monday, Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a federal law suit.

The claim?

Content in the Bible is objectionable.

They say they find content in the Bible, including, "violent, sexist and racist models of behavior, that Freedom From Religion members find personally repugnant."

So away with it.

And that content could, they say, "encourage persons who rely on them [biblical teaching] to act in a manner harmful to them and others."

So much for the old idea that the Bible is the "Good Book."

Lace all this into a stream of recent pro-homosexual legislation regarding "hate crimes" and "bullying"and welcome yourself to a great nation that was....unless.

Reagan again:

"All are free to believe or not believe, all are free to practice a faith or not, but those who believe must be free to speak of and act on their belief, to apply moral teaching to public questions...Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we're mired in the material, that flat world tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society and without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure."

Unless there is a return, a restoration of the principles and beliefs that made this the greatest nation in the history of the world, democracy will not and can not endure.

Every day we are trying to influence, educate and persuade toward those founding biblical principles.

Thank you for your support of this ministry. Your financial support allows us to advance Godly principles that can change a culture.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed. Be Free.

R-74, I-1192. What If?

Paid For By Faith and Freedom PAC

Both Referendum 74 and Initiative 1192 are designed to protect marriage in Washington State. Both have a specific way of doing so. Both are vitally important for those who believe in and want to protect and preserve marriage.

Yet there are those in leadership of R-74, while advocating for R-74, are discouraging people and pastors from supporting I-1192---usually saying 2 measures on the ballot will confuse the voters. Or, it is said, there are limited resources, so R-74 should be the only focus.

Last fall I personally told Rep. Matt Shea, Rep. Jim McCune, Rep. Brad Klippert, Sen. Val Stevens, Sen. Dan Swecker and several other legislators, and Larry Stickney and others who have consistently carried the banner to protect and preserve marriage and in whom I personally have a great deal of confidence, that I would not take a formal leadership position in the upcoming battle to protect marriage, but that I would, as they knew, take a 100% role in supporting both a Referendum and/or an Initiative. And would support whoever led in these efforts.

My reason was two-fold. I understood some of the personal dynamics and felt I and Faith and Freedom could contribute more by eliminating some of the issues that were played out publicly against R-71, not by the press, but by an individual, 2 years ago. I knew we would fully support every effort to protect marriage regardless of who led or got the credit. And we are.

Secondly, I foresaw the possibility of 2 measures---referendum and initiative, being in play, which, as it turned out, is the case. I wanted to be fully committed to both because I am fully committed to natural marriage and its protection.

The thousands of people across the state with whom we are involved know full well our deepest commitment to both R-74 and I-1192. There is no question about our full support for both measures.

I am deeply disappointed with some of what I see and hear. Some of the same dynamics of the past seem to have resurfaced, simply pointed in different directions.

I am appealing to each of you who read this daily Blog and believe in protecting and preserving marriage, to work in support of both R-74 and I-1192, including those pastors who read this Blog.

This is the right thing to do. Please put aside egos and other agendas and work together for a cause that is worthy of our very best effort.

If there is confusion, lets be clear, it's not about citizens having the ability to vote for 2 rather than 1 measures.

Steve Pidgeon, a lawyer and sponsor of I-1192, has written an article titled, "What If?"

Please read it below. It should clarify any questions regarding the legitimacy of both R-74 and I-1192.

What if there was no Initiative I-1192?
by Steve Pidgeon

Suppose that the Referendum R-74 fails to make the ballot because the effort cannot obtain the necessary number of signatures:

IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.

Suppose that Referendum R-74 makes the ballot, but a lawsuit is brought to enjoin the Secretary of State from placing it on the ballot because it is only about depriving same-sex couples from a “civil right” that has already been approved by the legislature:

IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.

Suppose that Referendum R-74 makes it to the ballot, and makes it to the election, but because voters are confused by a ballot title that requires them to reject same-sex marriage, and to reject domestic partnerships for seniors, and to reject protections for religious liberty, the Referendum fails to obtain a majority of votes sufficient to overturn the same-sex marriage law:

IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.

Suppose that Referendum R-74 makes it to the ballot, makes it through the election, is passed by the voters, and a suit is brought to overturn in on constitutional grounds, and the Ninth Circuit sustains its unconstitutionality.

IF there was no Initiative I-1192, then same-sex marriage would be the law in Washington.

Confusion?

Initiative I-1192 asks you as a registered voter to support a new law which will declare that marriage is a civil contract between “one man and one woman” and which will prohibit marriage by persons other than “one man and one woman.” MARRIAGE = ONE MAN + ONE WOMAN.

What is confusing about this?

When approved, a two-thirds vote of the legislature will be required to overturn this new law for two years.

Compare the Initiative with the Referendum:

R-74 will ask you to accept or reject SB 6239, which allows same-sex couples to marry, preserves domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserves the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony. [Taken from the Ballot Title of R=74]

To vote to reject, you must:

· Reject same-sex marriages;

· Reject the preservation of domestic partnerships for seniors;

· Reject the preservation of the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform any marriage ceremony;

· Reject the preservation of the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to recognize any marriage ceremony;

· Reject the preservation of the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to accommodate any marriage ceremony;

We at Protect Marriage Washington are asking you to sign petitions for both the Initiative and the Referendum. Your support now is critical. We need your prayers and your commitment, your signature and your assistance in gathering signatures. Petitions are available on request, and your financial support is crucial. We are a grassroots organization, and we need the support of Washingtonians. Protect Marriage Washington was successful in 70% of Washington’s counties in the R-71 campaign three years ago, although we were outspent 25 to 1. As was the case in our last effort, we have no support from the National Organization for Marriage nor Focus on the Family; we need your support. Please donate today, and protect this effort!

Stephen Pidgeon

___________________

You may download a pdf to print I-1192 petitions here and pick up R-74 petitions at any one of these locations or sign up to be contacted by a Faith and Freedom coordinator in your area to assist you by signing up here.

This effort to protect marriage will impact the next generation and future generations. We are deciding now what social and cultural impact our children and grandchildren will experience.

And we are defining our faithfulness to a worthy, biblical cause.

Thanks to all of you who understand our times, and to those who support the ministry of Faith and Freedom.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Very Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.

Barack Obama--Finding Flexibility

Leaning close to the ear of Russian President Medvedev, asking that a message be conveyed to Putin, the President whispered, "...it's important for him to give me space." Medvedev said, "Yeah, I understand your message about space."

The President of the United States continued, "This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

Medvedev: "I understand."

McKenna Taking Stormans Back To Court

The Seattle Times editorial board and the current state administration are, as usual, regarding social issues on the same page.

Attorney General Rob McKenna is taking the Stormans family back to court and the Times editorial board and other media outlets are the cheerleader. With Governor Gregoire applauding from her box seat.

This time, the Stormans will be brought before the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Why?

Because they are pro-life and want to follow their conscience in their business practices and not sell the Plan B or abortion pill in their pharmacy.

"Wrongful Birth" Lawsuit Awarded Nearly $3,000,000

A baby that was supposed to be killed by abortion was accidentally allowed to be born, now, after 4 years, the little girl's parents have filed and won a nearly $3,000,000 lawsuit for "wrongful birth."

Behind the loving, maternal, progressive face of "women's reproductive rights," "education," "healthcare" and faux Hippocratic concern, is the steel cold, calculated---the ends justifies the means, substantially taxpayer funded, abortion industry.

Planned parenthood is the face of the industry and it is the face of evil.

And if you cross the monster, you will pay.

The long cold steel hand struck when KOMEN for the Cure decided to eliminate future funding to Planned Parenthood a few months ago. Before the sun arose again KOMEN had changed their mind and apologized.

Now we're hearing that, "At least 5 high ranking executives with KOMEN have resigned in the aftermath. Most recently Chris McDonald, executive direction and chief executive of KOMEN's Oregon and southwest Washington's affiliate. She will be gone the end of April.

If you cross PPH, you will pay.

But have you heard of a "wrongful birth"?

Ariel and Deborah Levy already had two children when Ariel became pregnant. They may have been okay with having another baby, but as it turns out, not this one.

Little baby Kalamit was born anyway. And she had some challenges.

Mom and Dad didn't want her because she was born with Downs syndrome. Mom and Dad said they would have aborted her had they known in advance. So they sued Legacy, the healthcare provider. Earlier this month, after 4 years, they won the suit.

"Wrongful birth" the jury declared.

It appears Legacy Health, who performed the CVS test, made a mistake or at least missed identifying the possibility of Downs.

Is this the latest front on the ongoing eugenic mission advanced by Margaret Sangor, the founder of Planned Parenthood? Apparently.

Selective birth and selective death. "Choice" with a mission.

Wesley Smith, co-director of the Discovery Institute's Center for Human Exceptionalism said, "The time has come to reverse course. We could begin with states prohibiting wrongful birth lawsuits as a matter of policy."

Arizona approved, on March 6, a bill that would protect health-care providers from "wrongful birth" or "wrongful life" court actions.

Could Washington State pass such a law? It's not likely with the present legislature and Governor.

What about a new governor?

Inslee and McKenna are both pro-abortion (pro-choice).

Smith says, "We may have a right to have a baby, but we don't---at least shouldn't---have a right to the baby we want. Most importantly, none of us should ever be declared by a jury to be a wrongful life."

Indeed.

Where are the outcries from the "rights" people?

The far left secularists, who have championed the cause to stop bullying, have become, it appears, the greatest bully of all.

God help us.

Your financial support allows us to continue to be a light in the darkness. And to take action on issues of greatest importance to Christians and conservatives. Thank you for your support.

Thank you to all who are circulating petitions for both R-74 and I-1192. To find a pick up center for R-74 petitions click here. To print I-1192 petitions click here. or if you want someone from Faith and Freedom to contact you in regard to circulating petitions fill out this form.

Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.