Veritas Rex

No Friend of Freedom - Part II

 The Best Wishes Series

Guest Blogger:  Peter Heck, peterheck.com 

Best Wishes:    Marrying a girl with Kokomo roots is a risky move...but through Christ all things are possible!  God bless you guys!  -Peter Heck

With all due respect, when the President of France is quicker to defend the cause of freedom than the President of the United States, it’s a sad day.  Welcome to the pitiful reality of Obama’s brave new world.
 
In last week’s column, I focused on President Obama’s domestic agenda in illustrating the fundamental disagreements our 44th president has with our Founding Fathers and their faith in the unrelenting power of human liberty. 
 
But if there is any area where Obama’s frightening disregard for the virtues of freedom becomes even more glaring, it is in his disastrous foreign policy.  In his inaugural address, the new president tipped his hand when he declared to the mad regimes of the world, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
 
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No Friend of Freedom

 The Best Wishes Series

Guest Blogger:  Peter Heck, peterheck.com

Best Wishes:  Marrying a girl with Kokomo roots is a risky move...but through Christ all things are possible!  God bless you guys!  -Peter Heck

2009 June 28:  No Friend of Freedom - Part I

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 233rd year of independence, we are forced to take note of this dismaying reality: our new president is no friend of freedom.  This isn't intended to be unfair, unproductive Barack-bashing.  Instead, it is simply the culminating, irrefutable conclusion any observer comes to after evaluating his first six months in office.  Allow me to explain.
 
American greatness was achieved through the unrelenting power of a free people pursuing their dreams.  Whether it was Pilgrims in a hostile new world, teachers and farmers armed with muskets, pioneers facing a treacherous wilderness, inventors enduring setbacks, volunteers storming beaches, or citizens rushing into smoldering towers to save their fellow countrymen, the glory of America has never been defined by its government, but rather its people.
 
The American people have cured diseases, constructed skyscrapers, explored the ocean depths, and walked on the moon.  And we did these things because we were free - free to create, free to innovate, and free to pursue goals once thought unimaginable by man.  That is what has set this civilization apart.
 
Read more...

IFI Banquet June 11th!

 

REGISTER NOW!

When:  Thursday, June 11
Where:  The Fountains, 502 East Carmel Drive, Carmel 
What time:  6:30pm doors open, 7pm dinner 
How much:  $50 per person

Moody Radio is like family to its loyal listeners—it’s more than just a  radio station!  Help us honor Moody Radio with our “Friend of the Family Award” this year. WGNR 97.9 is where we turn for life—for teaching, music and most of all hope!

Meet Moody Radio WGNR station manager Ray Hashley, on-air personalities
Kelli Thompson, Linda Yeager, Kirk Hayman and Tom Winn and enjoy our live auction with auctioneer and State Senator Dennis Kruse!  

We’ll also tell you more about the many pro-family, pro-life, pro-faith activities of the Indiana Family Institute. 

FOR RESERVATIONS:
Visit www.hoosierfamily.org or call (317) 423-9178 or 1-800-269-2959

 

 

Politics too messy for Christians?...San Diego Pastor might have a different opinion.

Fox News is reporting that San Diego, California Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.  According to the report:

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

If spiritually mature Believers were on that San Diego County Council would this even be an issue?  Of course not.  The problem is that too many of us believe that politics is too divisive for us.  We have been tricked into believing that if we really want to serve God we need only involve ourselves with certain "sacred" things like serving our local church, taking a mission trip or working at a soup kitchen.  Those outlets for service are great, but we must not limit the body of Christ to those alone. 

The institutions that are the darkest need Believers to shine the Light of Christ all the more.  Christ did not come for the healthy.  He came to redeem the sick...including sick institutions.  The more spiritually mature Believers take on the call to public service the more citizens will be able to enjoy a quite and peaceable life. 

President Obama Attempts to Move Supreme Court to the Left

Karl Rove had some very interesting comments about Sonia Sotomayor as soon as it was announced that Justice Souter was retiring.  It looks like President Obama has stepped over the "dividing line" that Rove mentions into the land of the ulta-liberal.  Many will try and sell this nomination as the status quo...replacing a "moderate" with a "moderate."  However, this pick is actually replacing a liberal with an ultra-liberal.  If Judge Sotomayor is approved by the Senate, there should be no doubt that she will move the Supreme Court to the left.

It is dangerous to appoint judges who will hold their personal feelings about a case before them in higher esteem than the original intent of the Constitution.  President Obama has made public statements indicating that he is comfortable with this concept and nominating Sotomayor is living proof.

David Barton Event Tonight!

David Barton is a fantastic historian.  He is also one of my favorite speakers.  Join me at the event up in Cicero this evening and support IFI's pro-family brothers and sisters at AFA of IN. 

From AFA of IN website:

Come Hear David Barton, of Wallbuilders in Person

"Historical Lessons for Winning the Culture War"
 
When:   Monday, April 20th  6 PM

Where:  Harbour Shores Church - 8011 East 216th Street   Cicero, Indiana

Price:      Free    - (an offering will be taken to help AFA of Indiana cover the expenses of this family event)

Great event for families with Jr. High and High School students.

Learn more about David Barton and Wallbuilders at http://www.wallbuilders.com

More on the TEA Parties

Kurt vs. Ryan on Notre Dame Obama Invite

A recent article in the Indy Star calls attention to a group of priests who are upset with Notre Dame over inviting President Obama to give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree at graduation.  IFI author Kurt Luidhardt posted an alternative view a while back, arguing that protesting Notre Dame's decision is not the right way to address the problem. 

I won't be driving up to South Bend to protest, but support those who do, and believe it is problematic that a prestigious Catholic university like Notre Dame would honor someone with an honorary degree (yes, even the President) who so clearly opposes their values and has demonstrated that on numerous occasions in his short tenure.  Inviting President Obama was a mistake.  Notre Dame should listen to the priests and reconsider.     

Vermont homosexual activists prove civil unions not enough

Some of my moderate friends have argued in the past that something like Vermont civil unions would be a good compromise for Indiana.  We don't redefine marriage, yet we give proponents of alternative sexual lifestyles additional benefits.  Homosexual activists in Vermont prove this proposed "compromise" to be naive.  What started out as a compromise of civil unions has become a stepping stone to same-sex marriage.

What my moderate friends do not fully appreciate is that the fight over marriage is not really a fight over legal rights, its a fight over self esteem.  If God is either nonexistent, irrelevant or a figurehead made of our own preferences, then who do we turn to for ultimate approval?  Big Brother. It is incredibly naive to believe that these radicals will stop until they have forced their view of sexuality upon every last citizen.  Allowing civil unions is not compromise, it's surrender.

This Just In...Indiana Inequality Poll Shows 80% of Hoosiers Believe Grass Is Green

It's quite appropriate that Indiana Inequality would release their poll on April Fool's Day.  I found out about it yesterday while being interviewed by Indiana Public Broadcasting (contrary to the report, IFI still supports the Marriage Amendment).  After reviewing the details, I'm surprised Indiana Inequality hasn't released a statement revealing that the poll was actually a joke.

Their respondents were 64.9% Democrats and Independents (a.k.a. I'm too cool to be labeled but I usually vote Democrat) and a measly 28% of Republicans, but that's not even the worst of it.  They asked them if "Gay and lesbian Hoosiers should have the same civil rights protections as all other Hoosiers."  They might as well have asked them if they believe grass is green. 

Of course, 80.4% agreed.  Even I would agree!  The argument is not about who should have equal rights.  All Hoosiers already have equal rights, regardless of who they have sex with.  The argument is about whether our State Senators and Representatives should create special rights for the members of a special interest group (Indiana Inequality) and create inequality within the law. 

The government should protect people from crime equally.  Indiana Inequality promotes less justice for victims who aren't in their club.  For example, if their hate crimes bill would pass, someone who assaults and robs a victim because that victim is obese would receive a lighter sentence than a criminal who assaults and robs someone because of who the victim prefers to have sex with.  Of course they don't mention that in their poll questions.

The government should distribute marriage licenses equally to those who qualify under Indiana law...in other words, all Hoosiers can marry one human being of the opposite sex that is unmarried and not a close relative.  That's equality under the law.  Indiana Inequality opposes it.

To keep this sort of Mr. Obvious momentum they have going, I suppose Indiana Inequality will come out with a poll over the 4th of July weekend asking Hoosiers if they believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to purchase fireworks.  I can hardly wait.