The Right to express Grievances, etc

The first Ammendment of the Constitution of the United States of America reads:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Our LIBERTY is at risk of being taken away, either by foolish laws or by warnings from the Government that we ought not to disagree too much. The Constitution begins:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish the Constitution for the United States of America."

Neither the Congress, nor the President, nor the Court, has the right to take away the Liberty which the Constitution protects. Those in office have the responsibility to protect the rights of the States, and therefore the rights of the citizens of the United States. Also, though we understand the Sovereignty of each state, there is on Sovereign under which all other authority in civil government is to held accountable; that is the Sovereign Creator and Lord.

There is a book which all citizens and civil authorities should read.

Dr. Archie Jones introduces this book with these words:

"...As with all authority, there are limits, including limits on civil government. It might also help to realize that we do not live under Caesar. Our civil rulers took an oath to uphold the Constitution which is the "supreme law of the land." Neither the president nor the members of Congress are Caesar. If we have a "Caesar," it is the United States Constitution. But even the Constitution recognizes its own limits and the right of the people to (1) express their grievances, (2) vote corrupt and oath-breaking rulers out of office, and (3) change existing laws.
The Bible tells us that civil rulers are ministers of God. The Greek word translated "ministers" is the same word used to describe "ministers" in a church. There are civil ministers and church ministers. Both serve as God's ministers within their jurisdictions. It is unbiblical to assume that civil rulers are autonomous, that they can legitimately rule independent of God's limiting authority of them. It is a serious mistake to take Paul's instructions in Romans 13 and claim that civil rulers cannot be challenged by the citizenry.
Notice the use of "governing authorities" in Romans 13:1. There's not just one ruler; there are many. Even Rome had governors and other civil officials. Our own system of civil government follows the biblical model of multiple civil rulers with county, state, and national authorities. American civil government was designed to be decentralized and limited at all levels. We have a United States Constitution and 50 state constitutions. It's unfortunate that as a nation we have turned unwarranted and unconstitutional authority over to the national government to the exclusion of state and county governments.
Civil authorities are to rule in terms of "good and evil." There is no room for tyranny in these words. Those who rule are bound by the same laws as the rest of us. That's why there is no divine right of kings in the Bible. The prophet Nathan challenged King David to do right. Daniel was not a revolutionary when he opposed the king's law. John the Baptist rebuked King Herod for his sexual sins. Jesus even called him a "fox." Peter continued to preach, obeying God rather than man, even though he was commanded to stop by the authorities of his day. Paul used his Roman citizenship to challenge the Roman Empire. Paul spent a great deal of time in prison because he was seen as a threat to the Empire.
To obey Romans 13 is to call our civil officials to uphold their oath of office, an oath that nearly all of them took by repeating "So help me God!"
James Willson's study of Romans 13 is needed more than ever. What's most helpful about it is that it was written in a time that is not muddied by the politics of our day. There are no current or recently passed politicians named. He sticks to principles based on the Bible. If we are to save our Republic, then we are bound to heed his instruction and warnings. Hardback, 180 Pages."

This book can be seen and purchased from www.americanvision.com

TREADING -- There is a WAR!

The following is a test that may help us be weary of the 'treading' - taken from the thoughts of a professor.

Check all which apply.
1. Mankind is in imminent danger from
a. avian flu
b. swine flu
c. SARS
d. global cooling
e. global warming
f. climate change
g. large meteorite/astrod impact
h. intolerance of 'diversity'
i. restriction of behavior [lifestyle]/AIDS
j. over population/limited access to abortion
k. all of the above
2. The solution is:
a. mass media
b. White House
c. UN
3. The outlook is:
a. grim
b. hopeless
c. found in a rubber tree with Prince Charming

Give me liberty or give me death - DON'T TREAD ON ME!
There is a War! -there is the kingdom of the wicked which wars against the kingdom of RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, AND JUSTICE.
Gary North wrote:

"The principle of Christ's kingdom is at war with the principle of Satan's empire. The wheat and the tares compete for the field (the whole world), as we read in Christ's parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew13. The principle of God's leaven expands to overcome the principle of Satan's leaven. There is a war in progress, a spiritual war that involves every aspect of life, every nook and cranny of the human heart, every square inch of geography that is or can be put under any man's dominion. There is no neutrality. Men struggle to affirm covenantally and manifes in history either the crown rights of King Jesus or the crown rights of King Adam." [Healer of the Nations].

DON'T TREAD ON ME

This Blog still encourages Christian Statesmanship. There is no better time than at this moment when our liberties are being tread upon. They are being tread upon because our Constitution is being questioned, our Republic is in danger of being replaced by socialism, and, most important, the Law of God is being set apart.

Therefore, the above flag must again be raised as a battle cry. It was during the American Revolution that a group of local residents from the town of Culpeper and surrounding counties, organized themselves as the Culpeper Minute Men Battalion. The above flag spoke of their desire for liberty, from the words of Patrick Henry, "Liberty or Death" with the addition of "Don't Tread on Me" -rallying under the flage showing a rattlesnake with thirteen rattles. (More about that later on.)

Let us be again reminded of these closing words of Patrick Henry at the Viginia Convention 1775:

"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry peace, but there is no peace. The war is actually begun.The next gale that sweeps from the north witll bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms. Our brethren are already in the field. Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

"The convention sat in studded silence, as if they had heard the voice of heaven, "for Henry had called them to the bar of judgment." Failure to move forward in preparation would be more than cowardice. It would be treason against God Himself, the author of those liberties now under attack. Henry's opponents were confounded and a committee was established to draw up a militioa plan. By the convention's end Henry was reelected to the next Continental Congress and Virginia was preparing to arm itself for war." --David J. Vaughn, Give Me Liberty

The Stimulus Package: Without Intelligence

Darwin’s evolutionary debacles have produced the most froward of blatherskites both in education and political stimuli to save people from religious and economic woes. Having enjoyed the wisdom of Charles Krauthammer on many issues, the following quote in the New York Times of 2005 is somewhat unsettling: “The conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer wrote in Time magazine that to teach intelligent design ‘as science is to encourage supercilious caricature of America as a nation in the thrall of a religious authority.’” It is not arrogant to claim an Authority that has led nations to a high and beneficial moral mountain. A ‘supercilious caricature of America’ is, however, seen in a people enthralled, i.e. controlled, by a President and Congress in Darwinian heaven: a belief that education, politics, and even the Constitution is evolving according to man; Intelligence, truth, justice, and even mercy, put aside. Believing that only Government (once thought of as “of the people”) can solve the problems that overwhelm us today. Thus the solution, the only solution they could come up with, was to clean the pockets of the Tax Payer (once thought of as “Citizens”) with a stimulus package plus: 787 billion dollar spur (i.e. to get the economic horses to run) spelled out in 1,073 pages; plus a 410 billion dollar package containing 8,570 earmarks costing 7.7 billion dollars.

History proves that there is a different way, which includes an Authority which provides blessings, where “the Gospel is the glory of the State.” –The “following paragraphs from a work on the Institutes of International Law, by Daniel Gardner, an eminent jurist and lawyer of New York.” (The Christian Life and Character, Benjamin F. Morris). He says,
“The permanent welfare and glory of every sovereign state demand a faithful obedience to the law of nations, founded on the precepts of the gospel. Self-preservation calls for it; interest and duty require it. International and municipal law are based upon the gospel, and obedience to them is necessary to the happiness and prosperity of every state. The violation of these celestial doctrines has swept away the Assyrian, the Egyptian, the Greek, and the Roman Empires; and the ruins of Baalbe, Palmyra, and Thebes, the shattered Parthenon, and the remains of the Roman grandeur, all attest the suicidal effect on empires of disobedience to God’s law of nations. Spain, once great and powerful, has fallen by her atrocious national offences from her vast power in the reigns of Charles V. and Philip II. History teaches that national sins, by a fixed moral law, punish the states that commit them. Self-preservation, as well as the obligation of the Divine law, demands a voluntary obedience to the precepts of the gospel in all international transactions.
“The sanctions of that law cannot be disregarded, or its sure penalties avoided, as the King of kings enacted it. All nations before him are as the small dust of the balance; they are counted to him as less than nothing and vanity. He holdeth the seas in the hollow of his hands; he weigheth the mountains in scales; he sitteth on the circle of the earth; he ruleth the hosts of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth; he ruleth the hosts of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. His title is Jehovah in the highest.
“May our republic and all nations obey that law and enjoy its promised blessings.
“The precepts of the gospel are the basis of all law. It is a moral code of general principles, which, intelligently and honestly applied, will solve every question of international right and duty. In this age of civilization and improvement, a liberal code of public law, based upon the golden rule of the gospel, and assented to by the leading nations of Europe and America, is a great desideratum.
“Our American public and private international law is composed in part of a written code, enacted in the form of a nation Constitution and State Constitutions and State laws, and in part of the law of national comity.
“This law seems to rest on the golden rule of the gospel, and as the fruits of Christian civilization, to belong of necessity to American jurisprudence, as God’s appointed regulator of the rights and duties of all national and State sovereignties. Treaties, constitutions, and laws merely recognize and regulate it in certain respects, but its true basis is in the command of Jehovah to nations and states, as well as to individuals, ‘Do unto others as you would they should do unto you.’ The observance of the principles of the gospel will insure the prosperity of every State and nation.”

Our elected leaders take an oath to be obedient to the Constitution of the United States of America that has been established upon the rock of God’s Law. The strength and hopes of America has rested upon the truth that we are a Republic where each State is sovereign and the president and congress and court are to protect and sustain this strength. The so-called ‘Stimulus’ is nothing more than the desire to control, and in so doing to put aside the intelligence and wisdom that the Almighty God alone gives, revealed to the magistrates through His Word.
Robert L. La May

President-Elect: A New Executive Office

A New Office (with a background of American Flags, a podium, and a seal) has been added to our “Republic.” Though an interim one, the Office of President-Elect challenges the “balance of powers” which our forefathers planted in the Constitution of the United States of America. This balance should not be uprooted, but should be observed, because “We the People of the United States … do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Interestingly, our Constitution’s three blossoms of the “balance of powers” begins, not with the President, but with the Legislature (Article I): “All legislature Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” These are deliberating bodies and should have ample time for discussion, etc., before passing any laws or bills on to President; i.e., “All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives” (see Section 7).
Article II addresses the President: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Before he can execute his Office he is to take the following oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” (Section 1). Besides being “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy” (Section 2), he shall “give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient” (Section 3). There is no such power given to the “Office of President-Elect.”
Article III reads, “The Judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court … shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States,” etc.

Therefore a “President Elect” must curb his desire for power, which disturbs the balance of power to the detriment of the “We the People” and the use of money that is hard-made by them. There is another problem that has been with us, but is raising its head, as well as its arms and feet. That is a welfare system, by which the Government interferes with the homes and businesses of the people. It is called laissez-faire! The dictionary defines ‘laissez-faire’ as “the principle that business, industry, trade, etc. should operate with a minimum of regulation and interference by government. “Balance of Power” is redefining ‘laissez-faire” as “the principle that Government should regulate business, industry, trade, etc, with a minimum of interference.” This seems to have been the operative principle of the new office of a President-Elect, as billions of dollars are to change hands, with the justification that Government alone is the answer.

Power also comes from promises made. Take the promise, “The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.” This “Act” is a sweeping bill that would abolish all pro-life regulations across the nation, from parental notification laws to bans on federal funding of abortions … FOCA shows no such restraints; it nails shut the coffin on pro-life choices and safeguards” (C. Norris). Abortion is nothing more than the taking of a life that is being nourished within the womb of a woman. The horror and stupidity of such a killing is illustrated in the following story:
An editorial by James Delingpole, Human Events, “Even a Cockroach Has Rights,” tells us, “Yes, it really is now a criminal offense in Britain to abuse an ant, a worm, a slug, a cockroach, a scorpion, a stick insect or what ever creature you care to name. The moment you decide to keep it as a pet you are obliged by our Animal Welfare Act to take full account of its welfare needs – or face a $30,000 fine or a twelve-month prison sentence.”
The DEFRA’s (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; you can look up similar departments in the USA), “new guidelines has the British public fully aware of its manifest absurdities.” Whether it is a mouse or a cat, once it is taken in as a pet, the care of each must be in agreement with the guidelines. Mr. Delingpole then asks this question: “How low in the biological chain do you have to go before an animal becomes ineligible for protection? Suppose I kept a pet amoeba: could I be imprisoned for being cruel to one of those? Sadly, the law does not specify.”
However, in the USA we have the multi-million dollar Planned Parenthood and its ‘Abortion’ clinics that tell us that there is, in the biological chain, the lowest of beings, which can be killed within the womb or on the way out. The amoeba has more protection than the baby in the womb; or even the poor women who has to be put under the knife to protect the so-called freedom of choice.

It is Liberty which is at stake, whether it is for the Citizen (now called tax-payer) or the baby in the womb. We turn again to the Constitution: “But if reason is the foundation of the Founder’s vision—the method by which we justify our political order—liberty is its aim. Thus, the cardinal moral truths are these: that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—that to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed” (Cato).
Liberty speaks also to those in slavery as well as to those in the womb. These words from Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, speak of these liberties for all: “Is it not amazing, when the rights of humanity are defined with precious liberties, in a country above all others fond of liberty, that in such an age and in such a country we find men professing a religion the most humane and gentle, adopting a principle as repugnant to humanity s it is inconsistent with the Bible and destructive to liberty? Believe me, I honor the Quakers for their noble efforts to abolish slavery. It is a debt we owe the purity of our religion, to show that it is at variance with that law which warrants slavery.” (The Christian Life and Character).
If we cannot apply Abigail’s thoughts to the slavery of Abortion, we cannot claim liberty in the sight of our Creator and Lord. However the enemy is active, watch for their desire to keep Pro-Life advocates out of the Washington Inauguration.

Robert L. LaMay,
Asst. Editor, the Christian Observer

ATHEIST SCROOGES

“Atheist Scrooges” (with apology to Ebenezer who became a second father to Tiny Tim) have run rampant in ’08 and will do so in ’09 if not checked by those who love truth and practice righteousness. History is not a hindrance to these practitioners of lies and hopelessness. Christmas ’08 has passed and will be in ’09. The story of the birth of a Savior by the name of Joshua (whom we call Jesus) is an historical fact that cannot be erased. He was born in Bethlehem at the time of Augustus Caesar. However, facts do not hinder the Scrooges who need to deny the God of History, to carry on their Godless agendas.
The schemas of these Scrooges hate the colors of red and green and the displays of reindeers and, of course, the Manger scene. Chuck Norris recently wrote in his article “Jacking Jesus” – “This year just over the past week, dozens of mini-messiahs have been nabbed from Nativities across the country. Residences, churches and even civic displays in New York, Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois and Texas have been exploited by these Christmas scrooges.” These Scrooges seek to destroy the Christian by using the claim of “separation of Church and State” (which is not, in any way, taught in our Constitution), thus calling what they wish to destroy, “religious” (of which they themselves are, as the Humanist Manifesto clearly affirms “Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created”).
Let us also call upon those who despise the Christian faith, those ‘politically correct scrooges’ or ‘statesmen scrooges’ or ‘atheist scrooges.’ Of course, we must not sell the atheist short; they are consistently, ‘ATHEIST SCROOGES’ throughout the year. They have truly shown their colors. There are no green or red, or bright colors of any kind, just grays and blacks. In other words, there is a lack of color. The atheist has shown their true ‘no color’ (i.e. no hope) testimony. CNN reported that an atheist sign was erected alongside a Nativity scene outside the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington; and that it was stolen and then found. Fox News reported of another scene at the same place: “The 25-foot noble spruce, officially called the ‘Capitol Holiday Kids Tree,’ is sponsored by the Association of Washington Business and tied to a charity drive for needy families. It’s been a Capitol fixture for nearly 20 years. Although nominally secular, the tree is clearly recognizable as a sign of Christmas: it’s strung with lights, topped by a large golden star and usually surrounded by faux wrapped presents.”
The placement of such a sign should be seen as an eye-opener for all people with minds able to reason. The Atheist’s sign begins with this hope: “At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail.” (Solstice meaning the shortest day of the year.) Therefore, let us reason together. What hope does the Atheist give us? Listen: “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” In other words, while the two displays, which they wanted their display to stand, were positive in hope of love and charity, their display is one of hatred and despair.
However, this Christmas cheerlessness has not ended with a new year, the “Atheist Scrooge” continues to spread his misery. It is brought to our attention in a local paper whose heading is, “Lawsuit would challenge inaugural oath, invocation” (Washington AP), which reads, “A California physician and attorney whose legal fight against the words, ‘under God’ in the pledge of allegiance has drawn national attention now says he will join a lawsuit seeking the removal of all references to God and religion from President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony. Michael Newdow believes references to God or religion are unconstitutional. He wants to remove the phrase ‘so help me God’ from the oath of office and block the invocation prayer from Pastor Rick Warren. Newdow says the suit will be filed Tuesday in D.C. District Court. The plaintiffs include 17 other people and atheist and humanist organizations.”
The ‘Scrooges’ keep marching on. However, to give just an apology to the ‘Scrooge” of Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol, would not be enough. Mr. Dickens’ begins with a depiction of Scrooge may fit the “fool who says in his heart there is no God,” –“Oh! But he was a tight fisted hand at the grindstone. Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” May the truth of God pierce the hearts of these “fools” as was the heart of Scrooge, who “lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”
Robert L. LaMay,
Asst. Editor, http://www.christianobserver.org/

CHRISTIANS BE INFORMED

Christians must keep themselves informed as to the changes some statesmen desire to expedite in the months to come. Alan Sears of Alliance Defense Fund (.org) wrote on November 18, 2008:
Whatever else lies in store for the United States in the months and years ahead, statements and promises made on the campaign trail give clear indication that the new president and many congressional leaders plan sweeping changes that could soon seriously impact our First Liberty – particularly religious freedom – for all Americans and will create many legal challenges.
Among the policies that pose the greatest threat:
1. Enactment of the Freedom of Choice Act, which could remove nearly every existing restriction to abortion on demand across the country – and compel health professionals and hospital workers to assist in abortion procedures, even if doing so violated the deepest beliefs of their conscience.
2. Repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and nationalization of such pseudo-marriage arrangements as "domestic partnerships" and "civil unions." In short order, some same-sex "marriages" could be recognized by the federal government for many things – including Social Security and tax purposes – and openly homosexual behavior could be permitted in the military.
3. Enactment of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which could force employers – including religious and non-profit organizations – to accept openly homosexual behavior when hiring for available positions. In other words, if an individual practicing homosexual behavior applies for a job as a counselor for a non-profit ministry to small children, the ministry cannot take that behavior into consideration when reviewing the application.
4. Enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act and other laws that would effectively empower government officials to act as "thought police," punishing anyone who – in their estimation – communicated "hate speech" or committed "hate crimes." This would almost certainly include any pastor or Bible teacher who presented a biblical view of homosexual behavior.
5. Enactment of the "Fairness Doctrine" – which could, for all practical purposes, eliminate Christian and conservative free speech on the nation's airwaves. (One congressional leader has already likened such speech to "pornography.")The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) will, of course, be prepared for a legal response to such violations of our First Freedoms and the U.S. Constitution.

The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) will, of course, be prepared for a legal response to such violations of our First Freedoms and the U.S. Constitution.