Terri Shiavo Dies

The battle over Terri is complete, with evil winning...but the slippery slope of government allowing innocent civilians to be killed continues.

Terri Schiavo Dies at 41

A Vatican cardinal denounced Schiavo's death, saying that "an attack against life is an attack against God, who is the author of life."

The cause of death as stated on her death certificate can't be "Permanent Vegetative State" or "Brain Injury." It must be "starvation and dehydration." The judge who issued her death warrant, the "husband" who pursued her death at all costs, and the professionals who carried it out, all have her blood on their hands. May God have mercy on their souls.

The Bible in the jury room

Recently the Colorado Supreme Court, by a vote of 3-2, threw out a death sentence for a man convicted of rape and murder. The reason? Some jurors in the jury room read from the Bible before reaching a verdict.

Oddly enough, the judge in the case – as Colorado law requires – sent the jury off to deliberate about the death penalty with an instruction to think beyond the narrow confines of the law. Each juror, the judge told the panel, must make an "individual moral assessment," in deciding whether the defendant should live.

The jurors voted unanimously for death. But the Colorado Supreme Court changed his sentence to life in prison without parole.

"The biblical passages the jurors discussed constituted either a part of the jurors' moral and religious precepts or their general knowledge, and thus were relevant to their court-sanctioned moral assessment," the dissenting judges wrote.

Of course, the ACLU praised the ruling saying that the use of the Bible in the jury room was illegal due to the separation of church and state.

My question: isn't freedom of religion a civil liberty? So why doesn't the ACLU ever fight for people's right to it? These jurors were asked to make their own moral assessments, and so several of them turned to their own personal source for moral guidance: the Bible! Why shouldn't they be able to express their own religious views based on what the scriptures say about the death penalty? That should be their right as an American who enjoys religious liberty, right? Not in the eyes of the ACLU apparently.

Assisted Suicide Bill in California

Just as a heads-up since, like they say, what starts on the coasts moves its way inward:

Assisted Suicide Bill Coming Up in California

State Assembly Bill 654, introduced by Democrats Patty Berg and Lloyd Levine in February, is scheduled for an April 12 hearing and possible vote in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

According to its text, the bill would authorize mentally competent adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal disease to request medication for the purpose of ending their lives in a humane and dignified manner.

It would also give doctors immunity from civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action for prescribing lethal doses of drugs in good-faith compliance with the act.

One more way for the government to replace God.

Ann Coulter

We attended the Ann Coulter lecture this evening at KU and enjoyed her typical sarcastic destruction of the liberal philosophy. Of course, she was interrupted the entire evening by enlightened liberals who heckled her the entire way through. Ah, nothing like "free speech liberals" on a college campus ensuring that a conservative's message can't get through.

I was disappointed in how KU handled it. They knew she was going to be a controversial speaker and there would be protesters there, but it was up to the College Republicans to throw the bums out. And the law professor on stage who more or less served as emcee and moderator should have stepped up to the mike and told them to chill out.

During Q&A, one liberal asked her how she jived her Christianity with her social positions...like liberals have the corner on dealing with the poor? Coulter's response: I don't think Jesus would approve of sticking scissors in a partially born babies skull and sucking his brains out, and liberal policies have damaged the poor for decades and it's conservatives who truly have a plan (ie the free market system) to pull them out of poverty.

We got to meet her afterward at a reception and she was very pleasant and conversational...not rushed, though she was already wearing her coat like she was prepared to bolt at any moment.

I wouldn't have blamed her.

News for Kansas Christians - 03/28/05

Senate OKs Adding Abortion Clinic Regulations

The Senate on Friday approved a bill that would impose regulations on abortion providers in Kansas, setting up a likely battle with the governor over the bill's passage.

The bill would force abortion clinics in Kansas to obtain licenses from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Clinics would have to follow a series of health and safety standards established in statute.

Florida Case Spurs House

With Terri Schiavo's case on their minds and advocates for people with disabilities providing support, legislators have moved to make it more difficult in Kansas for court-appointed guardians to withhold food and water from people under their care.

Senate Passes Bill Allowing Sunday Liquor Sales

A bill allowing liquor stores to open on Sundays and holidays passed the Senate 25-14 Friday.

It now goes to the House, which has approved Sunday sales the past two years but has not debated the issue this session.

The Sunday sales provision would apply across the state unless city councils and county commissions block it.

From the pastor of Judge Greer's church...

Terri Schiavo ‘should matter to us,’

Excerpts:

Like evangelicals across the world we are horrified at the thought that a handicapped woman could be in effect starved to death before a watching world. Like many pastors I am not an expert in the law. I cannot debate the variances of custody rights, or even debate the medical analysis of a Persistent Vegetative State versus a Minimally Conscious State. But I know right from wrong. I know what God thinks about human life. I know there is only one way to describe the prospect of starving a woman to death because she cannot feed herself. It is wrong.

Clearly this is a tortuous case. But it is precisely such moments when morality and truth must serve as our guide. Terri Schaivo is not on life support. She is not dying. Good evidence exists to suggest that she is responsive. All she receives is food and water, the same as you and me. Are we to conclude that she is less than human because she cannot feed herself? Can a month old child feed himself? Is an elderly patient stricken with some debilitating disease and not unable to feed themself suddenly less human? Do we now use an IQ test to determine if someone possesses the right to live? Isn’t that God’s choice? Only God can give life, and only He should take it away.

Religious Freedom Bill

Sen. Santorum and Rep. Souder hope to pass the Workplace Religious Freedom Act.

A bill that would require businesses to make reasonable efforts to accommodate employees' religious beliefs has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate.

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act seeks to amend the U.S. Civil Rights Code to add the free exercise of religion in the workplace. The bill's Senate sponsor, Pennsylvania Republican Rick Santorum, said it is intended to offer faith-based protections for workers.

Who is the bill for? "Someone who feels that they want to take Rosh Hashanah off," he said. "Or if you're a Seventh Day Adventist and you want to take Saturday off, or if you're a Christian and you want to take Christmas Day off."

Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., the bill's chief sponsor in the House, said the legislation is necessary because the courts have been watering down the nation's civil rights laws.

And an added benefit:

Rob Boston of People for the American Way said the legislation could be used to justify "a health care provider refusing to assist with an abortion or some other type of legal procedure because of a religious objection."

Souder and Santorum said that's exactly how they hope the measures are applied.

"Now the ACLU is opposing the bill, because they're afraid that it could in fact expand to the conscience clause -- being able to have a Bible on your desk, being able to display a religious calendar," Souder said.

Added Santorum: "An accommodation must be made to health care professionals who do not want to participate in the taking of human life."

I typically don't like laws that force employers to do anything, but in today's PC culture, we're going to need as many protections for religious expression as we can get. And to force a healthcare provider who opposes abortion to kill a baby is a travesty. Hopefully this would fix that problem.

Headlines for Kansas Christians - 3/22

The Bible and The Law are central issues in Marriage Amendment

Campaign Confusion: many groups on both sides of Marriage Amendment issue may not have filed contribution reports

Abortion clinics may face tougher rules

Same-sex marriage donations pour in

Anti-abortion group seeks 911 tape

Culture of Life

Wall Street Journal: The Schiavo case shows that it's about more than abortion.

During the presidential campaign last year, George W. Bush talked about the need to promote a "culture of life." Anyone who dismissed such talk as just a way to spin antiabortion views without scaring pro-choice voters should pay closer attention. Today the Terri Schiavo case is revealing that protecting life is much broader than that single issue, and that it is a central component of Mr. Bush's governing philosophy.

And...

On stem cell research, cutting off federal funding of abortion clinics overseas, bringing faith-based groups into public policy and judicial nominations, President Bush has been nudging American society toward a culture of life. Now, by flying back to Washington and signing legislation well into the night, Mr. Bush is laying out a cultural marker. The president of the United States is saying, We're for life. That's not political pandering. It's the rise of a cultural movement.

It's refreshing to see that in many corners of our society, life in its many forms still has value--just as it's disheartening to see in other corners that certain forms of life are discardable.

MTV

“This study is proof positive that there is an element of Hollywood deliberately attempting to poison the minds of children. The ultimate insult is that their method has parents pay them to do it.”

Parents who attempt to positively influence their children's character by teaching them God's Word at home and in church could very well be having those teachings vilely corrupted by MTV. No shock there. Read this article: MTV keeps on rockin'

Excerpt:

In 171 hours of MTV programming, PTC analysts found 1,548 sexual scenes containing 3,056 depictions of sex or various forms of nudity and 2,881 verbal sexual references. That means that children watching MTV are viewing an average of 9 sexual scenes per hour with approximately 18 sexual depictions and 17 instances of sexual dialogue or innuendo. To put this in perspective, consider that in its last study of sex on primetime network television, the PTC found an average of only 5.8 instances of sexual content during the 10 o’clock hour -- when only adults are watching.

News for Kansas Christians

House Panel Weighs Ban on Cloning Embryos

Panel hears testimony on sexual orientation bill

Panel endorses abortion clinic regulation bill

Aghast! Christian songs in a public square!

Somebody call the Sensitivity Police! Hail the Politically Correct Rescue Squad! A musician is singing Christian songs in an open market!

I bet it's the same people who are dismayed when Christians complain about the vile lyrics of rap music being played on the radio who would complain at a busker singing about Jesus.

Ashley Smith's Testimony

If you haven't seen, heard or read Ashley Smith's testimony of her experience with Brian Nichols, the man who shot his way out of a courthouse and took her prisoner in her own home, it's worth a read. Check out Peggy Mooney's column in the WSJ.

Excerpts:

We went to my room. And I asked him if I could read.

He said, "What do you want to read?"

Well, I have a book in my room." So I went and got it. I got my Bible. And I got a book called "The Purpose-Driven Life." I turned it to the chapter that I was on that day. It was Chapter 33. And I started to read the first paragraph of it. After I read it, he said, "Stop, will you read it again?

I said, "Yeah. I'll read it again." So I read it again to him.

It mentioned something about what you thought your purpose in life was. What were you--what talents were you given? What gifts were you given to use?

And I asked him what he thought. And he said, "I think it was to talk to people and tell them about you."

And:

And I just talked with him a little more, just about--about--we pretty much talked about God . . . what his reason was, why he made it out of there.

I said, "Do you believe in miracles? Because if you don't believe in miracles--you are here for a reason. You're here in my apartment for some reason. You got out of that courthouse with police everywhere, and you don't think that's a miracle? You don't think you're supposed to be sitting here right in front of me listening to me tell you, you know, your reason here?"

I said, "You know, your miracle could be that you need to--you need to be caught for this. You need to go to prison and you need to share the word of God with them, with all the prisoners there."

And, from Peggy's comments:

On CNN on Monday afternoon Kyra Philips focused on the angle of the book, "The Purpose-Given Life," that Ms. Smith had shown Nichols. She had a local preacher on to tell us more about the book, and more about Christianity. It was informative, loving, a beautiful moment of television.

It's amazing how something so terrible was turned into an opportunity to witness.

Another judge goes astray

In Louisiana, a judge ruled against saying a prayer before school board meetings. This has led to an outcry from the public...including Democrats who have suddenly started caring about matters of faith since the election.

Complaints have been thoroughly bipartisan. In the wake of GOP gains in the last election, Democrats--not necessarily the same as liberals in Louisiana--are eager to get right with God. Democrats found religion last November, as one Alabama minister said, the way a crash dummy finds a windshield.

Curt Schilling's Testimony

Read the Bosox pitcher's moving testimony of how he came to know Christ in Marvin Olasky's latest column on Townhall.com.

Excerpt:

He never talked publicly about the changes going on inside him, which he summarized over lunch in this way: "I no longer have the desire to hate anybody. ... I'm not sinning as much. ... I realize the lessons in everything, even losing, and can take away something about better preparation or the need for humility. ... It becomes a lot easier to live with yourself. ... I know now the difference between failure and non-success. ... You work as hard as you can with what God gives you. You fail only if you quit."

I think it's great that Schilling has become so open about his faith. Hopefully a lot of the kids (and adults) who admire his athletic ability will learn a thing or two about faith as well.

Judge Says Calif. Can't Ban Gay Marriage

Read all about it folks...click here to read about the judge who rules that prohibiting gays from marrying is unconstitutional.

Excerpts:

"It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners," Kramer wrote.

The judge wrote that the state's historical definition of marriage, by itself, cannot justify the denial of equal protection for gays and lesbians.

And:

A pair of bills pending before the California Legislature would put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the November ballot. If California voters approve such an amendment, as those in 13 other states did last year, that would put the issue out of the control of lawmakers and the courts.

NO RATIONAL PURPOSE??? So everyone, in his view, since God ordained marriage in the Garden of Eden, has been irrational in limiting marriage to one man and one woman.

Rulings like this one will make it easier to get constitutional fixes in states across the country. Now everyone can see what a state judge is willing to do to trump the will of the people. Constitutional protection is the only way.

YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED RE: SB 285

This is an URGENT message that needs your immediate attention and action. Read this tonight. Tomorrow is too late!!

The radical homosexual agenda is mounting an OFFENSIVE campaign to now include "sexual orientation" as part of our state's non-discrimination policy.

They have a hearing scheduled tomorrow to consider Senate Bill 285. The hearing is before the Senate's Federal & State Affairs committee in Room 231-N at 10:30 am Tuesday, March 15th. For your review, at the bottom of this email, I have included a link that outlines SB 285.

What would inclusion of "sexual orientation" do, you ask? Here are some highlights:

It would add "sexual orientation" to prohibited discrimination practices in state law as it concerns employment, housing, and public accomodations (which is about any kind of business that provides a good or service).

If passed this bill could:
Force churches to hire homosexual pastors
Force Christian schools to hire homosexual teachers
Force Christian daycares to hire homosexual workers
Force landlords, including widows who rent out the basements of their home, to rent to cohabitating homosexuals

Force all business to hire and prove they hire homosexuals. This bill is anti-business. It would be an invitation to lawsuits because no business could "prove" that they were not discriminating in hiring.

If a business is sued for racial or gender discrimination it is easy for them to document how many employees they have of each race or gender. If they were sued for not hiring someone because of their sexual orientation how could they answer the question "How many gays to you employ?" Since employer's would not ask that of their employees, they wouldn't know of any. So then that would be used as proof of discrimination.

Another argument against this is "Where is the proof of discrimination?" Homosexuals have above average education and income. Where are they forced to the back of the bus like blacks? Where have fire hoses been aimed at them? When were the police dogs unleashed on them? Where have there been water fountains labeled "gay" and "straight"? This is an insult to the cause of racial equality to equate a LIFESTYLE CHOICE with race or gender discrimination.

Here is a link to the text of the bill (it is 18 pages long):
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/285.pdf

Read the proposed Senate Bill. It would do on a state level what the pro-homosexual radicals tried to do in the Topeka city council in September 2002 and also November 2004. This is a very dangerous and serious senate bill and it must be opposed and defeated.

Please be at tomorrow's (Tuesday, March 15th) meeting at 10:30. We need pastors who represent congregations to let the senate committee know that we oppose this non-sense. There are ample statistics on the social and economic costs to a proposal like this.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Prayerfully,

Dan Walker
Family Action Network

A motivational speech

Read Robust Faith by Doug Giles. It is a motivational speech for Christians.

Excerpts:

If Christians would toughen up a bit, get out of the religious closet, follow their faith instead of their fears, and live their beliefs in a more robust way, we would once again change the face of this nation more drastically than Michael Jackson’s plastic surgeon altered his mug.

Hey Christian, why don’t you go public with your faith? Why don’t you work what you supposedly believe into your sphere of influence, huh, PC JC man? Come on, Dinky … true faith is resilient. It can handle scrutiny. It has answers for tough questions. It has solutions for societal pollution. It wants to go play outside.

God designed Christianity to be a 4WD spiritual vehicle with mudders, a truck that brings life to the outback.

The four spiritual qualities he says we must possess to influence today's culture are:

1. Incorporate what you believe into your daily grind.
2. Bump up the quality of your spiritual experience.
3. Get a passion for effective action.
4. Labor for personal, ecclesiastical and national reform.

And, in conclusion:

...true spirituality is incredibly practical, robust and workable no matter where you dwell or what you do. If your spirituality/Christianity isn’t viable and stout in the most difficult of cultures, then it ain’t the stuff Moses and Christ sold.

Remember the old Sunday School song, "This Little Light of Mine"? Well, too often, Christians are hiding their light under a bushel (NO!) instead of letting it shine. We shelter ourselves and our faith from the world instead of going into it and being the light that Christ said we should be. Even putting our kids in private Christian schools, as tempting as that may be, results in a weakened Christian impact on our society (I'm not saying you shouldn't put your kids in private schools, but you should strongly consider WHY you are doing it). If we take ourselves out of culture, how can we influence it? If we don't share biblical answers to those we can influence, how can we expect to make an impact? Griping about how horrible things have become doesn't solve anything...sharing God's Word with the world around us...now THAT's power.

The Evolution Debate

Committee's latest draft mutes evolution language

Excerpt:

"Whether it's naturalism or creationism, it should be science, not religion," Case, also an assistant research professor at The University of Kansas, said during a telephone interview.

I have no problem with that, but scientists are often portraying their evolution theory as a fact. As long as they stick to what they can PROVE to be true and explain there are differing theories to the origins of man, such as evolution AND Intelligent Design, then our students will be well served.

Teens see God's handiwork

Read this article on a poll of teens and their views of God v. Evolution in the origins of man.

I'm glad that it has been confirmed that kids do indeed have brains that think for themselves and don't automatically overwrite the truth with the "Monkey Business" they learn in biology class.

Important Dates for the Upcoming Election

March 16th: Advance Ballots are mailed

March 21st: Last day to register to vote

April 1st: Last day of advance voting

April 5th: General Election

Be sure to get your friends and family to the polls...and convince them to vote correctly! It's just such a simple thing to do to protect marriage!

Evolution debates planned

Hearings in May will address state's science teachings

Excerpt:

The topic is whether the state's science standards meet the intent of a statement that was part of the debates when federal lawmakers crafted the No Child Left Behind Act. That statement says, in part, "Where topics are taught that may guarantee controversy (such as biological evolution) the curriculum should help students understand the full range of scientific views that exist, why such topics may generate controversy, and how scientific discoveries can profoundly affect society."

That amendment, proposed by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., was initially approved by the U.S. Senate and is part of a conference committee report. But the amendment isn't federal law.

John Calvert, managing director of the Overland Park-based Intelligent Design network, says the amendment still carries weight. As part of the conference committee report, he said, it could provide guidance to those interpreting the federal law. Plus, he said, it just makes sense.

"Is it absolutely, essentially required? I don't think so," Calvert said Monday. "But I do think what is required by No Child Left Behind and, I think, actually by the Constitution is that the science standards be secular, neutral and nonideological."

I'd agree with that. I don't want the public schools teaching religion (they'd screw it all up). That said, they need to stop eliminating all theories other than evolution. There could be no damage done by a healthy discussion and debate over the various top theories of origins.

Mel Gibson's Next "Passion"

Mel Gibson Blasts Oscars, Plans Fatima Movie

Mel Gibson is re-releasing "Passion" in time for Easter, with some of the violence taken out. Excerpt:

Essentially it’s the same film, but what I’ve done is to excise some of the aspects of it,” he explained. "The trick was to excise or imply some of the aspects of it that were pretty much in your face, without actually showing them."

Gibson said he edited the film by reducing its length by about five or six minutes.

I don't know that you can make a big impact on that film by only taking out 6 minutes. It will still probably be too gory for my wife...but I'll go see it again. I bought the DVD, but there's nothing like a big picture on a big screen.

Regarding the snub by the Oscars, and I hope you didn't watch that putrid little event, he said:

"The whole notion of these awards ceremonies is ludicrous. ... It’s really a marketing exercise."

The awards ceremonies, he added, are "a celebration of mediocrity."

"My film is not right wing or political, but they made it so," he said.

The battle before us

Capital Journal: Activists Refocus Their Sites

Excerpt:

Some gay rights activists believe by tying the marriage proposal to Phelps, they could gain ground against the measure, which would amend the Kansas Constitution and ban civil unions for gay couples.

"If there's a way to do it, we'll do it," said Steve Brown, of Prairie Village, president of the Kansas Democratic Party's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Caucus.

Let's remain ever vigilant. We, as a body of believers in Christ, do not come close to thinking the same way as Phelps. This issue should have nothing to do with him, though they will try hard to do so like they did with the city ordinance issue.

Letter from Family Action Network

Dear Friends,

I want to thank everyone who worked hard on our "Vote Yes" campaign for Topeka families. It is disappointing that we lost by a very narrow margin but I am very proud of our 47%+ vote considering we had to battle the erroneous linkage of a “Yes” vote to “hate,” and the confusion of the average voter on what a “Yes” or “No” vote actually meant.

We were also battling national pro-homosexual groups and assistance from Washington, D.C., New York, Kentucky and Tacoma, Washington. One task force based in New York and Washington, D.C. alone spent over $20,000 to fight the Topeka ordinance. The executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force was also in town. Plus, homosexuals in a multitude of states called registered voters in Topeka and encouraged them to “vote ‘no’ against hate.”

Here is my personal point of view and opinion on how we should unite in our cause to protect our community and our families in the next month.

1. Elect a Pro-Family Topeka City Council and Mayor April 5th
The Mayor's office is up for election as well as four council seats. With the right support, we can regain a majority on the city council and then we would not have to worry about future pro-homosexual ordinances being voted on during the coming two years.

We are fortunate that the two finalists for Mayor, Lisa Stubbs and Bill Bunten, are on our side and both are candidates worthy of support.

In City Council District 9, Richard Harmon supports our views and was the top vote getter in his primary. He could unseat Tiffany Muller, Topeka's radical homosexual leader. This would be a huge victory to defeat Tiffany.

In District 1, Lana Kennedy opposes advancing homosexual rights in Topeka and could unseat homosexual rights supporter Duane Pomeroy.

In District 3, Sylvia Ortiz opposes advancing homosexual rights in Topeka as does her general election opponent Randy Bailes. Ms. Ortiz was the top vote getter in her primary.

In District 7, Brett Blackburn is a strong supporter of our views and was the top vote getter in his primary.

These candidates need our help to win at the general election on April 5th. Get out your checkbooks and get out the vote for these candidates.

Also, praise God that Bill Haynes, who is a strong supporter of our views, is running unopposed in District 5 and has already won!

2. Pass the Marriage Amendment on April 5th
I am confidant that this measure will pass with over 2/3 of the vote statewide. The expected high voter turnout will help pro-family candidates at the polls.

Again, the Marriage Amendment will have no trouble passing on April 5^th…with or without our efforts. So while we should continue our support for it in Topeka, we should divert the bulk of our resources and time to electing a pro-family majority on the council.

Dan Walker

Family Action Network

Oh, woe...

I've been trying to play catch-up with my work stuff since my trip and haven't had time to blog...and RIGHT when my fellow Topekans vote to enshrine legal protections for men who have sex with men just as we do for African-Americans and minorities who can present actual cases of discrimination.

If I were a black man, geez I'd be hacked off right now.

If the Phelps clan weren't involved, I think we would have won that one and it wouldn't have even been close. Rather than voting their hearts and minds, they decided that they couldn't do anything that might just give Fred a reason to celebrate. Well, I've got news for you. He's more empowered now than he's ever been because now he's got more to complain about. And we've got a BAD law on the books folks!

Well, I'll keep my chin up. I have high hopes that the new city council will not be bringing more of that junk up for a vote anytime soon.