The Marriage Saga Continues...

I wrote this below under “Catching Up…”

Proposition 8
We are still awaiting this to be adjudicated. It’s my understanding that the California State Supreme Court will be hearing the case next month (March). The argument being made against it is that it makes such a drastic change in the California Constitution that it goes beyond an Amendment, is therefore a “Revision,” and so must originate from the Legislature rather than by petition (yeah, right)…

I just don’t see how the Court can overturn an Initiative Constitutional Amendment without also trashing the entire initiative process. The reason Prop. 8 was circulated was so that it would be stronger than the Initiative Statute that was declared unconstitutional (Prop. 22) – basically, a constitutional amendment, by its nature, is constitutional… Now the Court may tell us that we can change our Constitution through the petition/initiative process as long as we don’t change it too much? Or, really, as long as we don’t change it in a way that the liberal minority disagrees with…

Voiding Prop. 8 does nothing less than erase all value in the Initiative process all together.
Keep praying.

Today is the day the California State Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on the Proposition 8 lawsuit. I truly believe this is vitally important for the issue of marriage and the validity of our Constitutional Amendment process. I also believe the Court could go either direction on it.

I do not see how you make the argument that defining marriage as between one man and one woman is a Revision, a drastic change. This is only been the definition of marriage in every society for all time!

Which also brings up the issue of how it is reporting: Prop. 8 did not ban gay marriage. It defined marriage constitutionally as what it has always been understood to be. But Christians have been known for too long as what we are against, rather than what we are for. This issue should be our opportunity to stand for holiness in our society at the same time we reach out and share the love and grace of Jesus Christ to those with whom we disagree. We say, “Love the sinner, hate the sin” so much that it has become cliché and meaningless. Jesus loves those engaged in homosexuality just as much as everyone else. He died for all of us (God so loved the world… remember?). Yet we Christians behave as though homosexuality is somehow different – it is the unforgivable sin, and all in it must repent before they go to church or seek God… No! Homosexuality is no different a sin than the heterosexual lust so pervasive in so many Christians, no different than the host of other sins and temptations we accept in our congregations. Our churches should be havens, refuges, sanctuaries, and hospitals for sinners. Come to Jesus Christ FIRST, and let him save, sanctify, and deliver from whatever happens to be your private sin. We have a rare opportunity right now to share love and grace through a very contentious process.

Politically, this is a time for the Church, meaning all Believers, to stand up for our faith in the public square. The only reason Prop. 8 passed in California was because Barack Obama did so well in our state, and brought out the African-American voting demographic in record numbers. That sector of our society tends to hold to traditional view of the family. (I guess it’s sadly ironic that this sector of our society also suffers the worst rates of breakdown of the family, especially in out-of-wedlock births, which also deserves much prayer.) Unfortunately, the Church at large mostly stayed home on election day, not supporting McCain or Obama, especially the largely Caucasian evangelical demographic. This can be born out by looking at the success of Prop. 8 over against the failure of the Abortion Parental Notification initiative on the same ballot. If it was Christians that passed the first, why didn’t the second also pass? Answer: because Christians didn’t vote.

ALL HANDS ON DECK
It time for Christians to get off our blessed assurance and stand up for faith. The California Supreme Court will have 90 days to render their decision. There was a large group of Christians committed to prayer and fasting prior to last November’s election (I guess they were too hungry to actually vote…). NOW WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN! We have three months to pray and fast for God’s will and holiness to prevail in our culture, to pray for these judges, and to seriously act as though we really believe the love and grace of Jesus Christ covers all sin.

Pray for Rancho Cucamonga City Council & Staff

This is from the Rancho Cucamonga City Council meeting agenda for this week, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

D. CONDUCT OF CLOSED SESSION

2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING EXISTING LITIGATION PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(A) – FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION, INC V. CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, AND LINDA DANIELS – CASE NUMBER 2:08CV07833PAPJW, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CA, EASTERN DIVISION – RDA

This issue just won’t go away!

The Council and staff will be discussing this in Closed Session, so the public will not be able to participate or listen in directly.

Please pray for wisdom for the Council, City Manager, City Attorney, and City Staff, especially Redevelopment Director Linda Daniels (who appears to be taking point on this for the City).

And while you’re at it, check out http://www.pulltheplugonathiesm.com/ – they put up a billboard just like this one on the 105 Freeway…

There are others, that’s just the one I’ve seen…

Week of Prayer for Marriage - CA Supreme Court & Prop. 8

On Thursday, March 8, the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether Proposition 8 is a “constitutional” Constitutional Amendment (or is it a “Constitutional Revision,” which so fundamentally changes the Constitution that it must originate in the Legislature with a 2/3 vote, before the people get to vote on it).

The Court will then have 90 days to render an opinion.

Sunday, March 1 was to be a Day of Prayer for Marriage (who knew?), at least according to the email I received from a friend, below.

This should be a week of prayer for Marriage, followed by another three months of prayer for marriage!

February 27, 2009

Dear Friend,

Proposition 8 was put before the people of California , and by a wide margin of 600,000 votes became a part of the California Constitution (Article 1, Section 7.5). Next Thursday, March 5, the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments to determine whether the sovereign will of the people should be upheld, and whether marriage between only a man and a woman will stand.

This is the most important legal issue impacting families in a generation. The outcome of this case is “do or die” for traditional marriage. If the California Supreme Court were to overrule the vote of the people (for the second time) it would not be long before homosexual marriage is the law of the land across this country.

ProtectMarriage.com, the committee responsible for enacting Prop 8, urges you and all our supporters to take action. We are declaring this Sunday, March 1, to be a Day of Prayer for Marriage.

Proposition 8 was supported by over 7 million voters, and we call on those who support traditional marriage to pray for it to be upheld. Please ask the Lord for wisdom for the Justices of the California Supreme Court. Pray, also, for those who oppose this amendment to our Constitution, that they would understand our motivation is to affirm traditional marriage, not to offend any person or group.

Activists who oppose Prop 8 are organizing a candlelight vigil in several cities for March 4, followed by a rally on the steps of the Supreme Court building in San Francisco on March 5. Organizers against Prop 8 are calling for a march of 100,000 people to the Court building (click here to view their events list). It has come to our attention that many Prop 8 supporters are also making plans to appear at the steps of the Supreme Court building on the morning of March 5. We welcome your participation, but request that all messages on homemade signs affirm traditional marriage, avoiding offensive statements regarding alternative lifestyles. If you are in close proximity to San Francisco , plan to arrive by 8 a.m. at the court, located at 350 McAllister. We do not wish to provoke or permit any kind of confrontation with our opponents. Please avoid any such activity carefully. Our only purpose is to remind the media, Californians and Americans everywhere that support for traditional marriage is the majority position in the state. Twice now voters have supported traditional marriage and rejected gay marriage. We won the Prop 8 election. The constitution has been amended. The will of the people should now prevail.
ProtectMarriage.com is the only group that will appear before the Supreme Court to uphold the vote of the people enacting Prop 8 and affirm traditional marriage as the law of the land. The upcoming Day of Prayer will provide a vehicle for all our supporters to express their own support for traditional marriage and to call on God, the author of marriage, to bless the arguments our attorneys will present to the Court and to grant the justices wisdom as they consider the arguments.

Thank you for your support of Proposition 8. Please participate in the Day of Prayer this coming Sunday and, if you are in proximity to San Francisco , come to the steps of the Supreme Court building at 8 a.m. on March 5 to show your support for Prop 8.

To make a financial contribution to the Proposition 8 Legal Defense Fund, click here.

Thank you so much for your attention and support.Very truly yours,Ron PrenticeChairmanProtectMarriage.com,

Yes on 8
www.protectmarriage.com


© 2008 ProtectMarriage.com. All Rights Reserved. ProtectMarriage.com is a project of California

A Word for This Hour - Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

(NIV)

I was led to this verse just yesterday. I have read it many times before, and even wrote about it in seminary (which I am including in the StandUpForFaith.com Library here). It's an awesome verse and passage.

I believe this is God's word to our elected officials for this hour: Act justly (or do justice in NASB), love mercy (or kindness), walk humbly with your God.

Not to weigh in on too much political ideology here, but justice and mercy make the difference between Conservatism and Libertarianism. There are those who equate "true" Conservatism with Libertarianism, which I define as an extreme view of government uninvolvement is basically everything. This socio-economic "survival of the fittest" has no regard for people, or their inherent value as carriers of the image of God. You are literally on your own; I do not see how Christians can be political libertarians, while following Jesus' own directive to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or even heal the sick. (Likewise, I see the difference between Conservatism and Liberalism as a legitimate disagreement over the "best," most "efficient" manner in which to provide justice and mercy, and whether the Government is always the best agent to insure it.) I consider myself a Conservative, not a Libertarian - but a Christian first.

Biblically, justice is the term mispat, and mercy is the term hesed, which is why it can also be translated as kindness (NASB). Sometimes hesed is also translated as lovingkindness - and when some some say that there is no grace in the Old Testament, I point to hesed, the OT equivalent of agape love.

Mispat and hesed uphold God's will and recognize the needy; they are both to be loved and done, felt and acted upon.

Walk humbly with your God. Over the years of working in politics, I served a couple truly great men, and several real "putzes." Their humilty and arrogance almost always was in indirect proportion to their accomplishments. It was very tiring.

Humilty demands obedience to God, careful attentiveness to his will, personal modesty, and true consideration of others. There is no place for pride, self-assertion, or any other form of hubris toward God, other people, or even oneself.

Leaders, elected officials - we need you to do justice, to love mercy, adn to walk humbly with God.

We need you to heed this word, because we want you to be successful. And I can imagine no greater recipe for success.

For my part, I am praying this over the leaders of our region.

The Wrong Way to Stand Up for Faith

This has been bothering me for a couple months now. Part of our mission for StandUpForFaith.com is to encourage and even cajole Christians to be active in their faith publicly, meaning in the business arena and the public square. BUT, to stand up for faith in a wise, discerning, and grace-filled way, which is what I believe is honoring to God. Sure, confrontation happens – Jesus was no wimp or push-over. At the same time, Jesus was attractive. People, the masses, flocked to him. It was the religious establishment, and those that abused it for their own ends, that got whipped…

So, when my family went to see the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, we saw this:



Hopefully, you can see why it bothers me. Jesus caused 9-11??? Jesus kills?

Show me this in the Bible… please.

Moreover, when these people walked by, there was booing. People were booing the name of Jesus Christ.

Actually, they were booing these knuckleheads – but how many of them were thinking, “That’s how those hateful Christians are.”

I just don’t understand how you arrive at this view of God.

They probably went on their way home and congratulated themselves on taking such a strong public stand. They probably told themselves they conveyed truth, even if the truth was unpopular.

I just can’t imagine God being pleased with this. Was there one person they could point to that accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives because they saw these signs?

I want Christians to stand up for faith in the public square… but not like this.

On the Local Front

Politics in our area is getting about as dirty as it gets.

First, the Mayor of Ontario last year, was caught in an extramarital affair. That’s bad, of course, and made worse publicly by the fact that he is also a pastor.

What’s even worse than that though is the way it all came out. Someone, obviously his political opponents, knew of it and (anonymously) hired a private investigator and an attorney to document the affair and basically make it as public as possible.

Fast forward to the last couple months. Mayor Paul Leon has been humbled. He is reconciling with his wife – yes, they are still together. I don’t know if he has resumed his role as pastor of a local church or not – the last I heard he was on leave. But people are still coming forward at City Council meetings demanding his resignation for his betrayal, as well as demanding a criminal investigation as to whether it was done on “city time” or with public resources.

First, elected officials do not punch a clock – there is no such thing as his being on “city time.” As for public resources, that should be easily discerned by checking the credit card statements from last year for local hotel charges… if he even has a city credit card… I don’t know.

I do know this: I know Paul Leon, and he has changed. He is more humble, and when he said publicly, that “last year was not my best year,” that his family and many close friends have forgiven (or are forgiving) him, and further that it hurts that many friends were lost because they can’t forgive him – I believe him. I hear from Paul one who fell, and has repented. I see in him and his wife a couple with troubles publicly exposed and humiliated, yet together.
It’s another awful example of a Christian leader in public moral failure. I do not excuse it or lessen it in any way. But to see political opponents attempt to capitalize on it the way they have, frankly makes me sick.

I pray for Paul, and his wife and family, regularly, and I hope anyone who reads this does as well.

Catching Up...

It’s been some time since I blogged on anything, and yet much has happened, so I will attempt to give at least some of my (Christian) perspective on the events of the last several months… without being too wordy.

Proposition 8
We are still awaiting this to be adjudicated. It’s my understanding that the California State Supreme Court will be hearing the case next month (March). The argument being made against it is that it makes such a drastic change in the California Constitution that it goes beyond an Amendment, is therefore a “Revision,” and so must originate from the Legislature rather than by petition (yeah, right)…

I just don’t see how the Court can overturn an Initiative Constitutional Amendment without also trashing the entire initiative process. The reason Prop. 8 was circulated was so that it would be stronger than the Initiative Statute that was declared unconstitutional (Prop. 22) – basically, a constitutional amendment, by its nature, is constitutional… Now the Court may tell us that we can change our Constitution through the petition/initiative process as long as we don’t change it too much? Or, really, as long as we don’t change it in a way that the liberal minority disagrees with…

Voiding Prop. 8 does nothing less than erase all value in the Initiative process all together.
Keep praying.

President Obama
Rush Limbaugh received a lot of commentary by saying, out loud, that he does not support the new President… or in context, that he does not support the new President’s policies (different from not supporting the President himself).

I get where he is coming from. I have heard Obama speak in person at Saddleback Church with Rick Warren. Frankly, I heard in him a man of Christian faith, though from subsequent speeches, one coming from a liberal, “liberation theology” background. I disagree with him, and have my concerns.

I was amused at all the fuss over Rick Warren offering the invocation at the Inauguration. I thought Pastor Warren offered a heart-felt prayer for our nation and leader, and addressed it to our Creator and Lord, unlike many political event invocations I have heard… Was the choice of Warren to lead that prayer equally heart-felt on the part of our new President, or was it some kind of sop to conservative Christians across the country? I honestly don’t know. And as for the liberal uproar over a Pastor who disagrees with homosexual marriage… are you kidding? At that standard, I guess no Christian Pastor would be acceptable, really – it was an argument against him from extreme religious bigotry.

But what’s really getting to me are President Obama’s first acts since assuming the office. No, not the “Stimulus” package… One of Obama’s first acts was to repeal something called the “gag rule.”

It had been U.S. policy under President Bush (and my understanding is this has gone back and forth at least back to Reagan depending on who was in office), that “prohibited the U.S. Agency for International Development from granting family-planning funds to any overseas health center unless it agreed to use its own, private, non-U.S. funds for abortion services or counseling,” according to a ProChoiceAmerica press release.

In other words, no taxpayer money for abortions overseas.

It does not say money won’t go to such organizations that offer abortion services, but that they can’t use our money to provide abortions; they have to fund that from a different source.
I agree with the policy, frankly, though the press release typifies opposition as being “hostile to birth control.” A bit of an overstatement, wouldn’t you say? (This is actually my main problem with politics today – it is dominated by unthinking extremes, which demonize any reasonable disagreement as being far more/worse than what is actually said…)

Here is my main point, and it is not to argue about the gag rule, or whether these “family planning” groups should be able to support themselves with/out U.S. taxpayer funding and abortion services…

President Obama has tried to portray himself as a pragmatic, a moderate, someone who will listen to all sides. Heck, he’s even friends with Pastor Rick Warren! But all I have seen from his actions are that of someone coming from the far liberal left in everything he does, regardless of what he says.

Still, I am committed to pray for him, as my nation’s President. I pray for wisdom from above, for divine encounters with Holy Spirit, and always for grace.

Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving thanks.

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness through all generations.

Everyone can be thankful. But if you think about it, thankfulness needs an object. To be thankful for something necessitates be thankful to someone.

Thanksgiving may not commemorate a religious event, such as Christmas or Easter, but it is not a "secular" holiday. The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were are of their blessings, and that blessings, as well as rights, came from God, our Creator.

And so we pause to give him thanks.

More on the Billboard

The group that put up the "Imagine No Religion" billboard is now going to sue the city.

Artcle Here: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_11067249

First, the City of Rancho Cucamonga received a large number of calls from citizens upset over the billboard. Understandable - people don't tend to enjoy it when someone gets in their face to fight them and insult a sincerely held belief that is important to their lives...

So the city contacted the billboard company, and the company decided to remove the offending signage. This, according to City Hall, was not required of them - it was a company decision.

Now the Freedom From Religion Foundation is claiming they are being censored, and are going to sue the City.

I plan on attending the next meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council to pray for them and let them know people of faith support them as our leaders.

Please join me, Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:00 PM at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga.

You can also find the names of the City Council members on the StandUpForFaith.com web site, and send them an email to let them know we pray for them.

More To Stand Up For Than The Elections

Several weeks ago, a billboard appeared in Rancho Cucamonga that read, "Imagine No Religion."

It was purchased by an organization called the Freedom From Religion Foundation (clever, huh?) and referenced their web site, http://www.ffrf.org/.

They are a group of athiests and agnostics, and their purpose, so they say, is to protect the separation of church and state, which they do by filing law suits.

I have to ask, what does the phrase, "Imagine No Religion" have to do with the separation of church and state?

I wish they would just confess that they desire to fight and counter people of faith. To what end, I really don't know. So much for live and let live, huh?

As to their stated purpose, "the separation of church and state" comes from Thomas Jefferson's letters, not the Constitution. The First Amendment, establishing freedom of religion, restricts the government's ability to interfere with and establish a church - it does not restrict the right of people of faith (or no faith) to participate in our democracy individually or as a group. Those rights, in fact, are secured in our freedom of speech. It was not until the 1950's that that right was restricted by tying political involvement to nonprofit status.

Christians in America have the same rights as every other citizen to campaign and vote according to our values on candidates and issues. We must not allow anyone to tell us, or anyone else for that matter, to leave our faith at home before entering the public square, or that religion belongs in our hearts, and is not to be shared openly or acted upon in any visible way.

This is what is meant by spiritual warfare. There are people who want to crush religion and silence those who have the audacity to believe in God.

I will continue to pray for our nation, state, and local community, and our leaders. I will continue to love and serve my neighbors.

I will continue to Stand Up for Faith.