URGENT CALL FOR CONTINUED PRAYER (from the American Center for Law and Justice, - 2/6 ; "American Pastor Saeed (who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) continues to undergo mental torment – fed lies by Iranian prison guards. He's been cut off from speaking to his wife and children, and when his Iranian family visited him, he questioned if anyone was still working for his freedom. His wife, Naghmeh, shared, "When I heard this from my husband, I cried. It broke my heart. Behind those walls he feels helpless and relies on us to be his voice. . . . Please help me make sure he is never forgotten." With your CONTINUED PRAYERS, if you have not already, please join over 130,000 who have SIGNed THE PETITION for Pastor Saeed's release at http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence
PRAY FOR THE GAP: This pro-life group of college students goes around the country displaying panels showing pictures of aborted babies on college campus free speech areas in order to bring awareness of the evil of abortion, stir discussion, and seek opportunities to share with others about Christ. They will be at Univ. of Cen. FLA 2/11-12 and Univ. of South FLA 2/13-14. You can find more information about them at CBRinfo.org and AbortionNO.org) Please pray for their efforts during this week.
DECLARE YOUR SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE. Please SIGN THE PETITION BELOW to declare your support for the traditional definition of marriage and in support of an amicus brief to go to the Supreme Court as it considers the redefinition of marriage on March 26th. Their decision on whether to uphold the Definition of Marriage Act passed by Congress in 1996 could be as piviotal to marriage in America as Roe v. Wade was to the definition of the sancity of human life in America. MOST IMPORTANTLY, please keep the upcoming Supreme Court review of this case and their final decision in your PRAYERS.
https://www.truthinaction.org/index.php/the-affirmation-of-marriage/?utm_source=Truth+In+Action+News+List&utm_campaign=9d8fb2dcc6-DOMA+%231+AB+TEST+Length&utm_medium=email
"Getting a Meddling Government Out of Our Lives," Matthew Spalding, Ph.D. Feb. 8, 2013 http://blog.heritage.org/2013/02/08/morning-bell-getting-a-meddling-government-out-of-our-lives/
Abbie Schoenwetter’s business, health, and family life (he has a wife and three kids) were wiped out because unreasonable federal prosecutors used an unjust law to target Abbie and a Honduran fisherman from whom Abbie purchased his seafood. He’s finally free now. But he notes that “The worst thing anybody can do to you is take away your freedom.”
Indeed, the purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to secure the rights and liberties promised in the Declaration of Independence. Today, though, the federal government has acquired a nearly unquestioned dominance over virtually every area of American life. The scope and depth of its rules means that the national government increasingly regulates more and more of our most basic activities, from how much water is in our toilets to what kind of light bulbs we can buy. This is a government that is increasingly unlimited, undemocratic, and damaging to popular self-government.
Conservatives want to restore real limits on a government that is out of control. This will not occur all at once or across the board. Nor will it result from one judicial decision, presidential order, or comprehensive piece of legislation. We will be strategic, defining and pursuing a realistic path that measurably reintroduces constitutional limits—by focusing government on its primary obligations, restoring its responsibility and democratic accountability, and correcting its worst excesses.
America’s Opportunity for All, Heritage’s new plan that we have been highlighting all week, includes rebuilding constitutional self-government. Some sensible steps include:
- Policymakers should execute the law, not simply make it up. The President, judges, and Members of Congress all take oaths to uphold the Constitution in carrying out the responsibilities of their offices. That means the President should appoint, and the Senate should use its advice and consent role to confirm, only constitutionally faithful judges. Also, judges increasingly seek to impose their own policy preferences on the nation. Candidates and officeholders should promote robust debate regarding the importance of approving constitutionalist judges.
- Reverse the explosion of federal criminal law. Congress must halt the overcriminalization rampage and begin to eliminate vague, overbroad criminal offenses that punish individuals who, without criminal intent, violate one of these innumerable federal statutes.
- Dismantle the administrative state. Administrative agencies and vast bureaucracies operate as an unelected fourth branch of government. Congress should reassert its authority by taking responsibility for all laws and regulations that govern us.
- Build support for limited government. For too long, Congress has passed massive laws written behind closed doors, filled with arcane cross-references that most Members of Congress neither read nor understand. Our leaders should legislate clearly and openly. Each House of Congress should adopt a rule requiring the public posting of the text of each bill and major amendment not less than 72 hours before floor debate on that bill or amendment.
- Encourage federalism. Work with state legislatures and governors, especially to slow the implementation of Obamacare and instead develop real health care solutions that work.
- [bold AND italicized portions MY emhasis]
