Time for a Religious Freedom Tea Party?

Almost every day I receive something in my inbox from someone regarding attacks on religious freedom in the United States. I hate to say it, but I generally glance and discard most of them as I get thousands of emails a day and just don't have time to read them all.

However, the increasing numbers and the similarity in tone and topic have finally saturated into the brain matter. Now I'm starting to pay attention.

This morning I saw this column by Chuck Norris and it greatly concerned me. His column (below) focuses on an incident in California where a Bible Study group is being told to "cease and desist" the "religious gathering". If they are to continue they must get a "major use permit" of some sort.

Living in Fayette County, Georgia, it seems rather far-fetched that there might be a problem with gathering in a home for a Bible study. At least on the surface almost everyone in this community respects the Church and religious freedoms. After all, we're in the so-called "Bible Belt".

Gathering in homes for Bible Study occurs every day across the nation and probably (hopefully) across the world. Almost all, if not all, churches have groups that meet in homes for prayer and study. Youth groups meet at church member homes. Women's groups meet at church member homes. Prayer groups meet at church member homes.

Now, to be fair, I can understand a neighbors concern if once a week 30, 50, 100 cars park on the street for a Bible study. It could get pretty aggravating week after week. However, if you read the article, this appears to step way over a parking concern line... and around 15 people were meeting.

In the California incident, the "law" asked the home owners if they said "amen", if they said "Praise the Lord" to determine whether to force them to stop or get a permit. They got a lawyer.

So tell me, how many of you have regular swimming parties at your house for your kids sports team? How 'bout those of you who meet in homes for Bunco or cards regularly? What about all the candle, makeup and kitchen container sales that sell via home parties? Why were they trying to stop a Bible study?

It's not just religion that's under assault these days. It's capitalism. It's our legal system. It's the election integrity (did you read where the Department of Justice has said that Georgia can't stop illegal aliens from voting????). It seems that ever value and every aspect of the Constitution and the foundation our country was built upon is being nipped at and in some cases, shredded.

The Tea Party "movement" shows that there are those who are making a stand. The growing number of blogs and emails protesting various attacks shows that more and more are waking up to what's going on in our country. However, it seems we may be in the midst of the "perfect storm" when it comes to American values and freedoms.

It's not just a matter of awareness now, we need action. We need more voices. We need to be working together. We need to do it quickly, loudly but peacefully.

Here in Fayette County, where we're in a nice warm cocoon, it's especially important for us to pay attention. The attacks may not be happening in our back yard, but there is a big "YET" that should be added to the end of that statement. We can't afford to be complacent.

We need to put feet to our prayers. We need to watch the news, watch those emails and get involved. Churches across the spectrum of denominations need to reach across those technical divides and hold hands to fight any attack on religious freedom. Maybe we need to start considering having a different kind of tea party, one that openly, prayerfully, protests the erosion of religious freedoms.

Got Your Permit To Study the Bible?
By Chuck Norris

Recently a California pastor and his wife were required by San Diego County officials to obtain a permit to hold a Bible study in their home.

"What?! Is this a joke?" I wondered as I heard the news for the first time. It was no joke. Rather, it's a First Amendment nightmare and possibly a foreshadowing of what's to come.

Are you prepared for a future in which you hear, "Got your permit to study the Bible?"

On April 10 (Good Friday), a county code enforcement officer visited the home of David and Mary Jones after receiving a complaint about their Christian gatherings. The Jones' attorney, Dean Broyles, president of The Western Center for Law & Policy, conveyed in disbelief, "The county asked (Mrs. Jones), 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?' She said, 'Yes.' 'Do you say "amen"?' 'Yes.' 'Do you pray?' 'Yes.' 'Do you say "praise the Lord"?' 'Yes.'"

The officer then warned the family to "cease and desist" the "religious gathering" or they would face weekly fines. A few days later, the county delivered a citation claiming that the Joneses were guilty of "unlawful use of land" and mandating them to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit."

Click here to continue reading Chuck Norris' column

Homeless voters

I'm sure most of you have heard that a judge in Ohio has said that the homeless can vote by listing a parch bench or similar as their place of residence.

For those who are strong believers that anyone can vote and should vote, I'm sure this is a much celebrated ruling. I would imagine that many homeless advocates are also happy about this ruling.

It won't come as a surprise to my readers that I am strongly opposed to this ruling.

Why?

What's to stop busloads of partisan voters from New York claiming residence on a bench in downtown Dayton, Ohio so they can vote? Then they can travel home and vote again. How do you stop voter fraud?

We've been inundated with stories about the fraud that is occurring across the country in this election. ACORN, Project Vote, convicted felons, and other stories make any results in this election suspect.

For many years I regularly traveled downtown to help feed the homeless. After we made breakfast each week, we dolled out the food, then made our own plates and sat with those eating. Sometimes I couldn't bring a fork to my mouth because of the odors that surrounded me. However, I had some very interesting conversations and learned some valuable lessons.

We didn't talk politics. I seriously doubt most of the people I met knew who their congressman was or when the next election would happen. Many of the conversations were one-sided, me talking with someone staring at me, or someone talking non-stop at me!

Much as I wanted to help I felt helpless. Not one of the people I ever talked to was the least bit interested in moving into a home or being a part of "our" society again. I know there are many levels of homeless and many reasons for homelessness. I dealt with those who'd been there for so long it was a way of life. Many were mentally hurting and would probably have been better served in a psychiatric ward where maybe they would have gotten some help. Of course, who knows which is better? Institutionalization or free to roam?

Homelessness is a huge issue, bigger than a year of blogging. I don't have the answers to homelessness, and I can't begin to claim I'm wise enough to decide who should and who shouldn't vote. However, I do know the Ohio ruling opens the door to rampant voter fraud. It's wrong.

Our vote is precious. Our democracy is precious. Our freedom is precious.

We should protect all and be wise in how we protect these privileges.

The future of our country?

Joe the Plumber asks a simple question and his background is investigated, he is attacked, maligned and trashed. His records are hacked into and everything about him is parsed and twisted into a negative.

Barbara West, the Orlando reporter who recently interviewed Joe Biden, asks a question and is trashed, hacked and maligned. Lies are told regarding her husbands background and the station she works for is banned from future interviews.

I could continue the list of people who have had their character assassinated, but these two are current and in the news. Rather than answer questions the messenger is attacked.

What will an Obama presidency be like if this is how things are done on the campaign trail?

To my way of thinking, a Presidential candidate should open all reasonable records and be open about every aspect of their public life. Instead we have a candidate who won't share his thesis from college and, from what I've read, his college records.

There are questions about his birth records and background that could be cleared up by producing a document or records that any of us could easily produce with minimal effort. Why not just show the records and be done with it? Why fight the lawsuit that would be shut down by simply producing a birth certificate? What's the big deal? (One lawsuit by Berg was dismissed because the court said Berg lacked standing, only the government could bring suit to prove citizenship... which seems rather strange to me since the government has access to the documents needed so why would they ever sue?). I've read both sides of this one and it's bigger than just a birth certificate, also brings into question the time Obama spent in Indonesia and more. You'll have to do your own Google search to find out more, it's interesting and who knows way down the pipeline where I sit whether there's merit.

If he's hiding things now and the press is letting him get away with it, what will the future with a President Obama be like?

There are changing answers to the questions about Obama's associations with domestic terrorists, Israel hating groups, reverse racists and others. There's the question of his twenty years sitting in the pew of a church that spewed vitriol and views that are definitely not mainstream.

If we can't get a straight answer from him now, can we expect better if he's elected?

There's the question about his experience.

How will he handle the promised international threat his running mate Joe Biden has promised? Why should we elect someone who will bring about an incident?

There's his statement that one of the first things he'd do is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). H.R. 1964 and S.1173. This would basically strike down any limits by any state on abortion. It's a broad bill that does a lot to promote abortion. Again, I'll let you do the research and come to your own conclusions.

What will our future look like?

We'll have a Democratic President, a Democratic House and Senate, the Supreme Court and many lesser courts will become more liberal as appointments are made and there won't be any stopping the rolling tide.

Barney Franks said cut military spending 25% and yes, there would be tax increases.

Barack Obama has confirmed that he believes in spreading the wealth.

Small business would be a thing of the past in no time.

The "Fairness" Doctrine would be enacted.

We as Americans need to stop our hero worship, wash away the glitter and look at the bare facts. Go read Obama's books and read his words. We're teetering on the brink of losing America as we know it and Obama isn't glossing over the facts. He's promising Change and I guarantee you it's not the change we're going to want when the dust clears and we see the results.

Some of my friends believe that if he wins there will be a very good chance in 2 years that America will see the results and vote in a Republican Congress to counter his actions. I don't believe that will happen. I'll save my thoughts on the next election for another day.

On a side note, I'm not sure if I've mentioned this in a blog yet: Go check out http://www.wam08.org/. Democrats, Independents and Republicans working together for a common goal. I hope you'll check it out, sign up and get involved.

Argentina Nationalizes Pensions

Argentina's pension takeover plan scares global markets
By Fiona Ortiz
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's surprise plan to
nationalize its private pension system caused chaos in local markets and spread
gloom to other emerging markets on Wednesday as investors read it as a desperate
government move to stave off default...
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSTRE49L5ZX20081022

My husband is retired military. We've discussed the future on many occasions but have felt fairly secure given the decisions he's made regarding the future. We've felt somewhat "safe" in this volatile market knowing at a minimum we had his pension.

The news this morning that Argentina was planning to grab $30 billion in pension funds sent chills down my spine. When times get tough, our governments "use" the situation to justify actions and the people are helpless to stop it in most cases.

I don't think at this point that our pensions are truly at risk, at least those of the military and of companies who've made wise decisions and funded those plans. However, it's not an impossible scenario, and it's not one I'd have ever considered until now when we're going through this economic crisis.

I am concerned about what will happen if Barack Obama is elected. We will have a majority Democratic House and Senate, a Democrat in the White House who has already told us what his criteria is for Supreme Court picks. It's not only the Supreme Court that is affected by this clean sweep at the top of our government, it's the lesser courts also.

While I consider myself a conservative and will be voting for McCain-Palin, I will admit I would be just as concerned if we were getting ready to put in a Republican President with a full Republican House and Senate.

Our country is one that works because of the checks and balances we set in place many long years ago. Having one Party in complete control is a recipe for disaster.

If you think what is happening in the third world countries and elsewhere around the world can't happen here in our wonderful country, think again. It's a slippery slope and many are making their choice for President based on the sense of false security that our country will remain a free democracy. Many are basing their vote on who is going to give them the most.

Your vote is a very precious gift and I hope that things like race, rhetoric and the current temporary economic situation doesn't cause you to punch a button that leads our country in the wrong direction.