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posted by Donald on 05/3/12

We prayed for you and your family today!

4 Comments » | posted in Politics, Tidbits

posted by Michael on 04/21/12

Gus Douglas, the long standing Commissioner of Agriculture in West Virginia reported some good news in his April 2012 update.

“In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court last month settled the dispute over ownership of streambeds and stream banks, ruling that landowners, not government, are the rightful owners. President Bob Stallman said farmers and ranchers prevailed with the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of landowner property rights in the case PPL v. Montana. …It was further noted that this decision helps ensure farmers and ranchers will not have to pay the government for use of land or water from streambeds that run alongside or through their property. This ruling is for farmers and ranchers nationwide and all private property owners.”

Secondly, “The  court recognized that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was arbitrary in assuming that any increase above pristine nutrient levels is harmful. …To further reinforce landowner rights a U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, has ruled that the EPA-imposed numeric nutrient criteria for Florida streams and unimpaired lakes are unlawful because they are arbitrary and have no scientific basis. This good news was reported in the FBNews, March 5, 2012.”

With all freedom comes responsibility. It is farmers’ and ranchers’ job to go to any length necessary protect the quality of the water that so much depends on, both on the farm and beyond.

Leave a Comment » | posted in Politics, Possessing the Land

posted by Michael on 01/16/12

9-0 the US Supreme Court rules that the federal government (including agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) has no business interfering with a religious institution’s decisions on what ministers to hire and fire. It would simply be unconstitutional.

The Court’s Ruling

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” (Article 1 of the Bill of Rights)

“[For the government to] pick and choose who can be a minister, the court ruled, is not only to prevent the free exercise of religion, it inevitably involves the government in the establishment of religion.” (Full article)

“…the first time the high court has acknowledged a ‘ministerial exception’ to anti-discrimination laws… Notre Dame law professor Rick Garnett called the ruling "one of the court’s most important church-state decisions in decades." It "protects religious liberty by forbidding governments from second-guessing religious communities’ decisions about who should be their teachers, leaders and ministers," he said. (Full article)

“Roberts… unified the court around history, principle and the Constitution’s text to remind the nation of the special constitutional status afforded religion.” (Full article)

So, are ministers in danger of discrimination from church authorities because the federal government cannot intervene to protect them? The apostle Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 6 that there should never be any need for anyone in the Church to take such a case to the civil government. If any organization should know how to use freedom rightly, it should be the Church.

Another question comes to mind: To what extent did the founders of our country intend to allow the free exercise of religion? For instance, if Islam qualifies as a constitutional religion, and if Islam calls for the death penalty of a teacher who converts to another religion, is the government prohibited from interfering to protect the life of that citizen? The Bill of Rights does guarantee due process of law to all persons before they can be deprived of life, liberty, or property. (Article 5)

2 Comments » | posted in Politics

posted by Michael on 01/7/12

I had decided to vote for Rick Santorum in the Republican primaries. I didn’t care that he didn’t seem to have as much support as the others at first. The primaries are not a time to vote for the one you think everyone will vote for, but a time for Americans to show their honest opinion. He has been one to stand rock solid on what is right. The left has tried to smear his name with their own muck. But he’s a real American, a real conservative, a real family guy. A lot of people seem to be recognizing this now. I could hardly believe that he took 2nd place in Iowa! This unexpected, exciting turn of events puts Santorum in a very good spot. Let’s continue to pray that God would bless him with wisdom and favor and strength and peace. He was unable to get on the Virginia primary ballot (it’s unreasonably difficult) – but I don’t see why every Virginian wouldn’t write him in!

“Nothing about Rick Santorum’s rise to date has been expected or predictable”

“But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Psalm 75:7

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Jeremiah 17:7

10 Comments » | posted in Politics

posted by Michael on 12/9/11

States can easily stop Obamacare dead in its tracks with the law itself on their side, not to mention the Constitution. Sweet!

Listen to this short word by expert Michael Cannon, the Director of Health Policy Studies at the CATO Institute.

http://www.cato.org/multimedia/daily-podcast/how-states-can-shut-down-obamacare

Here is a thorough article on the unconstitutionality of Obamacare, the constitutionality of Virginia’s Health Care Freedom Act, and the related court cases

http://www.calldrmatt.com/Health_Care_Law_Unconstitutional.htm

4 Comments » | posted in Politics