Young Ladies Christian Fellowship » Politics

Come What May DVD giveaway

Gretchen — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:53:00 +0000

We have another giveaway for ylcf.org readers…er, viewers! This time, it’s a DVD. In fact, we have three copies of “Come What May” from Advent Film Group to give away this week, in celebration of the official release of the DVD by Provident Films. You may remember my review of the movie from last October when “Come What May” was featured on GodTube.com. It was fun to get an email from actress Victoria Emmons afterward and find out that she’s not only a real life Curly Girl, but a longtime YLCF reader as well–hello, Victoria!

See official entry rules for the drawing below. Read my little sister’s synopsis of the movie. Then be sure to visit the official movie website. And if you don’t win a copy next week, order one from ChristianBook.com!

“Come What May is the story of Caleb and Rachel, who are students at Patrick Henry College. Partnered together for moot court, they find that the court case concerns Roe v. Wade. If they defend the unborn baby, the chances of winning the moot court championship are small. Ultimately the question comes—is it worth losing to do the right thing? Meanwhile, they are faced with issues regarding relationships, while striving to maintain a high standard of purity. Throughout the movie rings the truth that life is precious, and that pure love is worth waiting for.”
-Jessica Glaser, age 13

Official YLCF Giveaway Entry Rules:

To enter the drawing, please leave a comment with your email address.
Entry comments will not be published, since they contain personal email addresses. To make a comment about the film/review, etc. please leave a separate comment.
This drawing open to readers with U.S. mailing addresses only, please.
Drawing ends Friday, March 27, 2009.
Winners will be chosen randomly and notified by email.

not that political

Gretchen — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:50:00 +0000

I wasn’t going to write another post that had anything to do with politics, at least not this month. But these links were just too good to hide in the comments section of my last political post. So here’s some weekend reading for you. And these posts have a lot more to do with being a Christian than with politics, I assure you.

Joshua Harris on praying for our president-elect
“He Turneth It” — an election post by our own Ashleigh, which includes some good links as well
“Morning in America” from Scriptorium Daily (thanks to Natalie for the link)
Tim Echols (founder of TeenPact) on some lessons conservatives have to learn

an open letter to President-elect Barack Obama from the GirlTalk Blog
What is your favorite post-election article? Comment with the link!

V is for Victory

Gretchen — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:04:00 +0000

We were driving home late at night, a week before Election Day. With our baby girl asleep in the back seat, Merritt watched the roads, I watched for deer. We make a good team that way. And I managed to spot all the deer in time for my handsome chauffeur to avoid hitting them.

What with the long hours visiting family, we were a bit sleepy at that time of the night, so I brought up the question sure to keep us both awake. Our country’s upcoming election. I love to listen whenever my hubby gets on a bit of a soap box. We’re pretty good at solving the world’s problems together. (We got married in order to do it more effectively.)

It’s easy to tend towards the doom and gloom perspective, with the economy and all. Everyone you talk to has a different opinion. But most are pretty sure the world’s falling down around us. And if we look at Scripture, we know that’s true. But that doesn’t mean we have to walk around with long faces, or worse yet hide at home waiting for it to crumble down upon us.

You see, we know Who wins. No, I don’t know if it will be McCain or Obama placing their hand on the Bible come January. I’m not even sure if our state is going to get a conservative governor yet. But my Bible, and the one used for swearing in the President (we still do use a Bible for this, and that’s a good sign), is very clear about Who wins in the end: our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And whether He’s coming tomorrow, or whether He’s coming in another thousand years, we should be living our lives the same way: to honor and glorify Him.

Yes, our country may face another Great Depression. My hubby likes to point out that it might be really good for us. We just might get what we deserve as a country. But that doesn’t change the fact that God is still in control.

It’s always a good idea to have some extra food stored away in case of any sort of disaster, and to make sure you own more of your house and land than the bank does. But whether a recession takes away everything we own bit by bit, or a fire or flood wipes it all away in minutes, God is still our Provider.

And whether we hear that trump tomorrow or we hear it from our graves, we should still be raising our children to love and serve the Lord. It’s good for little ones to know what is going on in the world. It’s good for them to know that hard times may come, that we are not guaranteed to always have everything handed to us on a silver platter. It’s good for them to learn how America was founded on principles of religious freedom, but that our freedoms are slowly slipping away. It’s good for them to learn to pray for people in other countries who are suffering because they claim the name of Jesus. But we don’t want to raise our children with nothing but doom and gloom. There is joy in serving Jesus and living for Him. And there is an eternity in Heaven with Him to look forward to. That’s enough to keep us singing, even on November 5.

I know who I would like to see come out on top on Election Day. Just as I helped my mommy vote for Ronald Reagan 24 years ago, I let my little girl help fill in the box next to John McCain’s name on my ballot. No, I’m sure I don’t agree with everything the man has done or stands for. No, he probably won’t be focusing all his efforts on overturning Roe v. Wade. But neither has he promised that one of the first things he does in office will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.

I’d a whole lot rather see two mavericks in the White House than the alternative. And unfortunate as it may be, there is only one alternative in this country right now. It’s still a two-party system. I might like the politics of some third party candidates better at times. But as my hubby says, when a third party can at least get someone elected to Congress or the Senate, then we might consider voting for them in a Presidential election. If they can’t even get elected to a state-wide office, how do they expect to make it to the White House? Instead they split the vote, tipping the polls in favor of someone whose politics is incredibly opposite to theirs.

Every vote does count. Four years ago, after three re-counts, our conservative gubernatorial candidate lost by just 130 votes. (I didn’t live in this state then, but a certain boyfriend of mine told me all about it.) Of course, that third re-count was paid for by the other candidate, and since then there’s been a purge of thousands of deceased and felon voters from the voter database, but the news doesn’t usually highlight that fact.

We’re praying that God’s will be done in this election. We’re praying that God’s people will vote for life. We’re praying that God’s people will get out and vote.

But even if none of the candidates we voted for win this election, we know that we still have victory in Jesus. That’s the only sure thing in this life, my hubby and I concluded in our long drive home. And that is the only victory that really matters.

48 Million Uncounted Votes

YLCF — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:39:00 +0000

by Jessica Glaser, age 13

In the fast approaching election, the shaky state of the economy has taken precedence over another important issue: whether a mother has the right to choose an abortion, or whether an unborn baby has a right to life.

Who should decide—the government or the individual? The Declaration of Independence states that every American has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Certainly, we can and should exercise our liberty, but not in a way that infringes on the liberty of another human being.

For example, Americans have the right to keep and bear arms. However, if you shoot someone, that exercise of your liberty has violated another’s right to life. This is why there is a law against murder. The whole purpose of government is to prevent people from misusing their liberty and depriving other people of theirs.

When a woman aborts her baby, the implications are far reaching. Not only does she suffer personally, her choice affects how society views life and living things. When the government allows abortion, it is equivalent to putting a price tag on the value of human life.

Abortion is based on the claim that the mother has the right to choose because it is her body. But if an unborn baby is a human being, it is the government’s responsibility to protect him or her. Individual rights must always be subordinate to greater principles, one of which is life.

Science proves that from the moment of conception, the baby possesses his or her entire DNA. Around twenty days, the baby’s heart starts beating. By ten weeks, the fingernails have begun to form, and the baby even frowns. This tiny baby can feel pain three months into the pregnancy.

Yet since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, abortion has claimed the lives of over 48 million innocent babies in the United States alone, according to National Right to Life. To put it into perspective, that’s more than thirteen times the population of Oregon.

At a political action conference in 2008, John McCain stated, “I am pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere in the world, because to be denied liberty is an offense to nature and nature’s Creator. I will never waver in that conviction.”

During an interview with evangelist Rick Warren, Barack Obama was asked at what point a baby gets human rights. His response was: “… answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade.” At a town hall meeting in March, Obama said, “If [my daughters] make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

Obama voted three times against the Infant Born Alive Protection Act because he was concerned it would jeopardize Roe v. Wade. His support of the proposed Freedom of Choice Act would reverse almost every state and federal limitation on abortion.

In her race for governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin affirmed: “I am pro-life. . . I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending another life.”

Before you vote, consider whether the decision to protect life is a choice or a duty. If those forty-eight million babies could cast their ballots from Heaven, for whom would they be voting?

Jessica Glaser is a homeschooled thirteen-year-old. She enjoys history, playing the harp, and being an aunt. Her article was originally published in the Democrat Herald.

the issue of the day

Gretchen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:26:00 +0000

Sometimes I catch Moody’s call-in program “Chris Fabry Live” while I make my husband’s lunch. Sometimes I turn it off in frustration. Sometimes it’s not a topic that interests me so it just becomes background noise. But the other day, I turned it up, and later downloaded the podcast to hear it again.

Kimberly Cash Tate articulated the difference between the two top candidates in the upcoming election so clearly–and from the perspective of an African-American woman. It’s clear she votes according to the title of the book she’s written: More Christian Than African American.

I’m specifically talking about life because to me that is the issue of the day. Are we going to stand for life or are we going to continue to shed innocent blood and let the land be polluted with that, which the Bible speaks against? I don’t think that McCain or the Republican party is equal to God or a biblical agenda, no not at all. There are a lot of things about the Republican platform that I don’t agree with, there are a lot of things about the Democrat platform that I agree with. But this issue to me biblically is the issue of our day…

We have to go with where they are, what they have done in the past, and what they have said they are going to do. When we look at Obama’s record, he has been pro partial birth abortion, he has voted against the “Born Alive Infant Protection Act”… He has had a radical stand. He takes it all the way through the ninth month and even when you’re out of the womb not wanting to provide medical care. That’s his past record. Then he said in addition to that that he’s going to see that this “Freedom of Choice” act is enacted. He said on the Saddleback forum that when a baby gets human rights is above his pay grade. He didn’t want to talk about it before that audience. He has said before Planned Parenthood he will not yield on this issue of a woman’s right to have an abortion whenever she desires to have one.

On the other hand you have McCain who said that for 25 years he’s had a pro-life record, he’s going to be a pro-life president, he’s going to appoint pro-life justices. So we have to vote based on the record, what they have said they are going to do and what they are going to stand for. There is just too much at stake. There have been forty million babies dead. In the black community twelve hundred a day, overall almost four thousand a day. This is a huge life and death issue and if Christians don’t stand in the gap for the unborn—just like we needed people to stand in the gap for slaves—who’s going to stand in the gap? There’s just too much at stake to me to look at it any other way.

-Kimberly Cash Tate (author of More Christian Than African American), guest on Chris Fabry Live, September 4, 2008 (transcribed from podcast)

Click here to read more on one-issue politics from John Piper

Mommy and VP?

Gretchen — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:59:00 +0000

John McCain could not have picked a more pro-life running mate. A mother of five, who just gave birth to a baby with Down’s Syndrome. Sarah Palin is living the pro-life message.

From every political standpoint, I’m strongly in favor of the McCain-Palin ticket. As a mom, I had some questions.

I have nothing against women being in politics. Just as I have nothing against voting for an African-American. In fact, if it weren’t for Obama’s political stands (and lack thereof), I would be thrilled to see this nation be grown up enough to go color blind and elect him as president. As it is, if we are to vote based upon the candidate’s gender or color of skin, I’d prefer Condoleezza Rice or Alan Keyes.

No, I have nothing against women being in politics. But I did wonder how a mom has time to fulfill all her political responsibilities.

Yet it would seem that Mrs. Palin has done a superb job of governing the largest state in the Union. And she has not taken the easy way out when it comes to her family, either. She not only chose life in the face of a difficult pregnancy that could have greatly affected her career; she is standing by her daughter who is an expectant mom herself. Her daughter whose un-wed pregnancy makes the national news nearly every time her mom is mentioned.

Being a wife and mom is a full-time job. But that doesn’t mean a mom has no time for anything else. It just means she has to keep her priorities straight. And for some, that’s a more delicate balancing act than others.

I’m glad every nitty gritty detail of my family is not being played on the national news. I wouldn’t want them to peek in my house and see all the dust, either. But the dust is often there because I do work part-time. And when I’m home, cooking dinner, playing with my daughter, and resting in my husband’s arms is more important than that dust.

My vote will be cast for the McCain-Palin ticket not just because I think Mrs. Palin will keep Senator McCain on his toes. I’ll be voting for Sarah Palin because I believe she has the level head and firm convictions to be vice president without letting husband, family, or country go by the wayside.

So when I’m up in the middle of the night cuddling a sick baby, I pray for Mrs. Palin and her family. I believe the Lord may have called her “for such a time as this.” I pray He grants her wisdom and strength for the task of being wife, mommy, and vice president.

three men, two candidates, one vote

Gretchen — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:31:00 +0000

As I cooked dinner Saturday night, my ears were tuned to the voices of three different men on the radio. Political candidates. Authors. Three men who are nearly household names throughout this country.

None of their published works appear on my bookshelf. Neither of the candidates has as yet received my vote. But nonetheless, I listened carefully.

Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life was interviewing the top two presidential candidates: John McCain and Barack Obama. And as I listened to their responses (the word “answers” would be appropriate for only one of the two candidates’ responses), I became excited. To my surprise, I was listening to a man I could and would vote for–if he chooses a pro-life running mate.

McCain did not get my vote in our state’s primary election. Nor did conservative Ron Paul. I wish Dr. Dobson had gotten on the Huckabee bandwagon sooner. Maybe he could have given McCain a run for his money.

Listening to the clear, concise answers Senator McCain gave Saturday night, I realized maybe I still could get excited about the Republican ticket.

If you’ve been coming to ylcf.org since the last presidential election, you know how I feel about voting for third party candidates. I saw how close the third party vote came to tipping the scales in Kerry’s favor in too many states four years ago.

But I can not and will not vote for a ticket with a pro-choice vice-presidential candidate. And I would not expect a Mormon to do much to protect the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman, either.

It was obvious how McCain felt about marriage when he declared that his greatest moral failure in life was the failure of his first marriage. And when the question came to human life and human rights, he didn’t beg some excuse about lacking the scientific training to be able to answer. McCain instantly answered that life began at conception, and that was that. He didn’t have to continually quote Scripture to convince us he had a strong faith and firmly-held convictions. It was evident in his answers, without being “in your face” or sounding like he was begging for the religious vote. (And this homeschool grad was totally won over when he stated that homeschooling works. Not to mention his heroes including Ronald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt.)

No, I don’t begin to like everything about the idea of John McCain being the next President of the United States. But I really dislike the thought of our nation’s foremost leader having a name so eerily similar to one of our nation’s greatest enemies. And that’s just the first of many reasons I would not vote for Obama.

I hope and pray McCain chooses his running mate with wisdom from above. Otherwise you might find me voting for a third-party candidate. Or else writing in my brother’s name. Will Glaser for President. Now there’s a ticket I could stand behind one-hundred percent. But I wouldn’t wish the presidency on my brother. Besides, he’s not old enough yet.

p.s. see comments for follow-up note from Gretchen

It’s time to Vote!

Gretchen — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:33:00 +0000

When I opened my official ballot envelope for my first primary election in my new home state of Washington, I thought for a moment that I was in Florida, instead. A whole pamphlet of official “voting instructions” was included, giving me examples of just exactly how one is to fill in that little box. (On their sample ballot, I could vote for Abraham Lincoln, “Historical Party,” or Helen of Troy, “Ancient Party.”)

After I had ascertained that I was still able to fill in a box clearly, like I’d been doing ever since I took my first test (what do they think, that the voting citizens of this country never went to school?), I began marking my ballot. I voted for the state representative I talked to this summer about some bales of hay. I voted for the various candidates whose campaign signs line our alfalfa fields right next to the highway. I voted for the state supreme court justice I knew was pro-life. I left blank the un-opposed candidates from the other party (despite the temptation to put my husband’s name in the “write-in” blank). And a few I waited to talk to my husband about.

The beauty of mail-in ballots is that some of the most important decisions of this country are made around the family dinner table. Whether or not women should have ever been given the right to vote, I believe it is the role of a voting wife to vote with her husband, not against him. Like the Bible says, “two are better than one,” and that is especially true where voting is concerned.

It’s not a presidential election year, folks. But my new home state is electing justices who will decide many important cases for this state, and this country, in future years. And state Initiative 933, if the people get out and vote, will keep the government from taking our farmland without compensating us for it.

Just because the highest office in the land is not in question does not mean that we can neglect our duty and responsibility as a citizen of the United States of America. Sometimes the decisions on the local level have as much or more bearing on our future than the leaders elected nationally.

Look up your local Right to Life chapter and get their voting guide, find a local conservative Political Action Committee (PAC) and learn their endorsements. Prayerfully discuss the offices and candidates with your husband and family, so that you present a strong, unified voice when you go to the polls. Vote according to the dictates of your conscience. Then, remind your friends and family to go to the polls and make their voice heard—as long as they know how to fill in that little box clearly and completely. (If they don’t, they probably don’t know enough to be making the decisions that will impact future generations.)

TeenPact

Gretchen — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 07:11:00 +0000

An eight-year-old who has never spoken in front of anyone before. Standing at the front of a room with 50 people. Describing his bedroom in 60 seconds. Using hand motions to emphasize how huge his bed is.

A TeenPact public speaking lesson.

Government is like a baby sitter. A babysitter is instituted by Mom. Government is instituted by God.

A TeenPact civics lesson.

“For the purpose of this bill goose shall mean any bird with a long neck that goes honk and hunter shall mean any person with a long stick that goes bang.”

A TeenPact bill.

“What do you believe is the role of government?”

“What is your definition of justice?”

Questions with which TeenPact students stump State Representatives.

A circle of people in the Governor’s office. Half of whom are under 12 years old. Taking turns praying for the Governor and his family.

They move to the House of Representatives. Praying for the men and women who serve there.

A TeenPact prayer walk.

Changing lives to change America.

What TeenPact is all about.

www.teenpact.com

The 2006 Oregon TeenPact Staff
with my little brother and sister
All y’all were great. (But we missed you, Emily, Steph, and Luke.)

Proud to be an American…

Gretchen — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:02:00 +0000

I’m thankful for my president.

I’m so grateful for my country.

I’m indebted to the men and women who are fighting for my freedom.

And I love my man. But how easily I get distracted!

As I sat listening to President Bush’s State of the Union Address tonight, I realized that I’ve been taking my president and my country for granted of late. At election time, it was all I could think of. I was outspoken, involved, and praying.

But the election is past now. The man I voted for is in office. And I’ve been neglecting my duty.

Our country is at war. There are men and women putting their lives on the line for my freedom. Our president is daily making decisions that effect not only me, but my children and grandchildren as well. Am I praying like I should? Am I a citizen, or just a name on a list of registered voters?

Tonight as I listened to the President speak, I thought of Micah. He’s a friend of my man’s. And his job is to guard the president. He was probably somewhere right there, protecting the man whom God has put in place to govern our country.

Halfway around the world tonight are our cousins Casey and Mitchell. They are in Iraq. They count it an honor to be there so that the enemy will not come here.

I didn’t hear every word of President Bush’s speech tonight. I probably didn’t agree with everything he said. But he declared truth, he remembered the definition of marriage, and he took a stand for life: “Human life is a gift from our Creator–and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale.”

Speaking the truth takes courage. I am grateful for a brave president.

Watching your comrades fall at your side, standing in the face of death, takes a kind of sacrifice and commitment to duty I cannot even understand. But I am indebted to the soldiers who do so every day, have done so for hundreds of years, so that I can walk the streets in safety, singing “How Great Thou Art” without fear of imprisonment.

God has blessed us as Americans with a country founded upon principles from His Word.

Mine is not a perfect country.

Mine is not a land that will last forever.

But mine is one nation under God.

And as long as it is so, I am proud to be an American. And I will praise God for our president, our troops, and our country!

And I will praise God for my man, too!

Get money back on your taxes

Gretchen — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 17:25:00 +0000

Does your state have a political tax credit? Mine does. As a single, I can give up to $50 to a qualified political organization each year and then receive the entire amount back when I file my tax return. This is money I can’t keep or receive back otherwise, not even with a gift to a charity: it’s for political donations only. And if I don’t give it to a political action committee, the state will use it.

I usually choose my state’s Right to Life organization. They are swimming upstream in the political world. They need all the support they can get, when dealing with big-dollar organizations like Planned Parenthood and NOW. I’d rather take a moment to write out a check than to have my tax money go to funding abortions when it becomes state money.

December 31st is almost here. Do you know if your state has a political tax credit? How will you be using it?

TeenPact

Gretchen — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 19:36:00 +0000

TeenPact. It’s THE Civics Course for homeschoolers. And it’s coming to a state capitol near you.

Classes start in January, so go to www.teenpact.com now, and sign up for you and your siblings!

TeenPact
Changing Lives to Change America

TeenPact is a national organization commited to training Christian young people to positively influence our culture.

The TeenPact Leadership School brings young people to their state capitol to learn about government from a Biblical perspective. Teens participate in a four-day class, and 8-12 year olds attend a one-day class. Students learn about the political process and the basics of state government. They analyze public policy from a Biblical worldview and get a behind-the-scenes look at how their state government works.

TeenPact’s goal is to instill youth with the skills and passion necessary to impact the nation for Jesus Christ.

Once they have completed a state class, students have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of TeenPact alumni events, where they can learn more, have fun, and grow with TeenPacters from across the nation.

(compiled from a review in OCEANetwork Currents and a synopsis by Will Glaser)

“Christ to the Capitol” Class Curriculum Includes:

The Legislative Process
A Mock Legislature
“How a Bill Becomes Law”
Influence of constituents on Lawmakers
The role of Christians in politics
Being “salt and light” at the Capitol

Articles & Reviews on TeenPact

Preparing Your Teen to Impact the World (Focus on the Family website)

TeenPact Trains Youth for Godly Government (AFA Journal)

TeenPact: Changing Lives to Change America (by Gretchen Glaser)

TeenPact: Making a Difference in America (Crosswalk.com)

No Joking: Here are some young people who are all business (WORLD Magazine)

In short…

“TeenPact trains young people in leadership and citizenship in the context of a biblical worldview”
- Family.org

” an organization dedicated to inspiring love for citizenship and justice in today’s youth”
- Lewis County Homeschool Group

“TeenPact equips teens to become leaders in politics and society”
- Veritas Homeschoolers

“…an unprecedented opportunity for young people to grow in their knowledge about government and interact with lobbyists, representatives, senators and offices around a state’s capitol.”
-Kyle Williams

“…a week of TeenPact in our state capitol…was quite helpful in translating the theoretical into the practical…”
- a mother

“training is hands-on and on-site”
- Kevin Swanson

“America’s premier resource for teens with a desire to become leaders”
- CATALYST for Cleveland Public Schools

“The first thing [my 8-year-old son] said when he arrived home was, ‘Can I go next year?’”
-a mother

“…designed to help today’s youth develop a passion for citizenship and justice in government”
- AFA Journal

“The name TeenPact means ‘Teens making an impact’”
-Arizona Families for Home Education

“Teaching young people how to be effective speakers, qualified leaders and eventually role models for their younger peers”
- CATALYSTt for Cleveland Public Schools

“A comprehensive leadership experience that challenges students to grow both personally and spiritually”
- OCEANetwork Currents

“TeenPact is both fun and educational for all who attend”
- Kentucky Home Education Association Newsletter

“They took oftentimes-boring subjects and turned them into interesting dialogues, humorous skits, and mind-stirring excursions”
- THINK at Home

“If ever our nation needed an organization like TeenPact it is now, and all freedom-loving Americans would do well to offer their prayers and their support to it.”
- The Mustard Seed

Why my brother doesn’t want to be a lawyer…

Gretchen — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 20:31:00 +0000

“Inevitably, this increase in lawyers, litigation, and legal work was parasitical on the economy as a whole. One 1989 study indicated that the optimum number of lawyers needed was only 60 percent of the existing total and that each additional lawyer joining the profession above this total reduced America’s GDP [gross domestic product, the market value of all goods and services produced in the nation] by $2.5 million.”

-Paul Johnson, A History of the American People, 1998

Always learning!

Gretchen — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 19:19:00 +0000

My little brother and sister (ages 7 and 10) were thrilled to meet the Oregon State Governor yesterday, after a Flag Day ceremony at the Capitol.

Though they are anxious to campaign for his opponent next election, my siblings were still very excited when Governor Ted Kulongoski came up and shook their hands. “Hi, my name is Ted. I’m the Governor!”

He thanked them kindly for coming, then asked, “Are you out of school?”

My little sister said, “We’re homeschooled!”

The Governor replied, “Oh, so you’re always out of school then!” and quickly walked away.

Yes, this is the same Governor that vetoed a homeschool freedom bill last legislative session, despite it passing both the House and the Senate.

But no, Mr. Governor, homeschoolers are always in school. Always learning. And when someday a homeschooler has your job, maybe you’ll give us a bit more credit.

Marriage: More than just one man, one woman

Gretchen — Fri, 27 May 2005 05:54:00 +0000

My bumper sticker from the last election is still affixed to my car’s rear window:
“One Man, One Woman, Yes on 36.”

But when I saw the article “Contending for Marriage” by Roberto Riveray Carlo, I realized that, while we won the first round, our arguments in future battles will need to be based on more than just the moral principle that marriage is between one man and one woman. It’s so much more.

“While a large majority of Americans are opposed to legalizing same-sex marriage, for the most part this opposition doesn’t grow out of their convictions, explicit or implicit, about the nature and purpose of marriage. Instead, it’s the product of a moral intuition that this is a line that should not be crossed.

“While this is a laudable intuition, its long-term viability is doubtful. If polling data are to be believed, younger Americans are more likely to favor legal recognition of same-sex marriage than Americans as a whole. I think this trend can be reversed but only if we go beyond saying that ‘marriage is the union of one man and one woman’ to explaining why that’s the case and more importantly, living as if we believed it.”

-Roberto Riveray Carlo in “Contending for Marriage” on Boundless.org

Terri’s life has become politically symbolic

Gretchen — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:59:00 +0000

Working at my state capitol, I’m hearing all sides of the Schiavo case from the political perspective. Many say it is not the government’s responsibility to intervene. But if we’re going to talk politics, what about Terri’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?!

Terri’s life has become about far more than just Terri–it is about how future generations of handicapped and elderly will be treated by their husbands, children, and their government.

Listen to what Cal Thomas has to say:

“Terri Schiavo’s life matters as symbol and substance. Her case is only the latest in a long series that forces us to choose between two philosophies of life.

“One philosophy says we are mere material and energy shaped by pure chance in a random universe, evolving from slime with no Author of life, no purpose for living beyond what gives us pleasure and no destination after we die but the grave.

“The other philosophy of life says we are created by an infinite, personal God who has a plan for every life in every situation and circumstance and that no one should take a life except under the most extreme circumstances and only through due process or in self-defense.

“…how the Schiavo case is decided will determine what many of us will face in the future.”

-Cal Thomas, in his March 21 column

“The question is whether as a society we want to resolve these very difficult, doubtful cases in favor of death.” -David Limbaugh

“If the tragic case of Terri Schiavo shows nothing else, it shows how easily ‘the right to die’ can become the right to kill.”-Thomas Sowell

Fetal Pain

Natalie Nyquist — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 04:19:00 +0000

There is a bill soon to be presented to the House called the Abortion Pain Awareness Act. This law would require doctors to inform their patients of the reality that during an abortion their baby could experience significant pain. The doctor would then have to offer the mother an anesthesia for her baby.
Though this does not prevent abortions in any way, it still is being resisted by liberals. How can they call us extremists for wanting this bill to pass? A similar law is in place requiring that animals be given pain killer before being slaughtered–and yet there is no such law for babies? This is barbaric. The very thought of brutally murdering babies is horrific enough, but that they should undergo such dreadful pain cannot be tolerated.

Focus on the Family

Natalie Nyquist — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:48:00 +0000

Focus on the Family’s radio broadcast this morning was excellent. They discussed the President’s State of the Union address from last Wednesday, as well as current issues related to the courts and bills being presented that deal with abortion. To see a transcript of the broadcast or read some articles on these subjects, go to www.family.org
I really enjoyed listening because I missed the State of the Union address, being in Chicago. It made me even more thankful for our godly President!

How fast can you count?

Gretchen — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 06:19:00 +0000

When I was little, I used to count as quickly as I could. 12345678910! But the margin of error is greater the more quickly you count, ever notice that?

I just woke up, and after waking up my computer, checked all the news websites. Same thing as when I went to sleep! I’m anxiously waiting for the precincts across this nation to finish counting. But I’m glad they’re doing it slowly. Some news stations have declared President Bush winner of some states, others are too close to call. Just give us Wisconsin and Iowa, please, Lord, so he can win even without Ohio!

For current, accurate results, visit C-Span’s Election Results. If only we’d had all the third-party voters voting for Bush in each state, this election would be much closer to being decided. I keep wishing that when everything is counted in Oregon or Washington, President Bush will still win one of those states. But we just have to pray for Ohio!

Meanwhile, I’ll get some more sleep…

Gretchen — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 22:27:00 +0000

I just had to share a picture of our victorious Bush-Cheney “team.”
That’s me holding the newspaper with the headlines “Strengthened Standing.” My little sister has on a Bush-Cheney t-shirt, and my brother holds a Bush-Cheney sign he made all by himself. 3 Cheers for Victory! 3 Cheers for 4 More Years!