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


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