URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:
July 4 - Egypt Facing Civil War? - PRAY for the nation of Egypt, as it faces a crucial moment, that the recent events would result in its becoming a true democracy and NOT an Islamic state. PRAY esp. that the peoples' freedoms, in particular the religious freedom of its minorities (specifically its oppressed Christians) would be protected.
July 4 - Texas To Vote On Major Pro-Life Bill Next Week - PRAY that the Texas House will finally vote to approve a bill (which the Governor is ready to sign) that will, among other things, make illegal abortions before the 20th week (when babies are discovered to first feel pain) and which will regulate abortion clinics just as any other medical facilities are. PRAY that the passage of this law will spur other such laws throughout the country and eventually be made into a federal law.
American Pastor Saeed Held Prisoner in Iran - June 5th Update - "Saeed's Wife Uses UN Speech to 'Plant Gospel'," by George Thomas, CBN News Sr. Reporter, June 05, 2013, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Saeeds-Wife-Uses-UN-Speech-to-Plant-Gospel/?cpid=EU_CBNNEWSPM_2013_156"Prayers from Prison: American Pastor Held in Iran Releases Letter," May 22, 2013; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=1458"...Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates. For months, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys."(Sources: Fox News, Assemblies of God website) Please PRAY:1) For the imprisoned Pastor Abedini, and for those Iranians who tend to his needs in prison to treat him more humanely. 2) For his family in Boise, Idaho. and their efforts to involve the U.S. State Department in securing Pastor Abedini’s release. And 3) For the impact of his witness upon believers and non-believers, in America and across the world. And if you have not yet, join the over 600,000 worldwide who have signed the petition asking for his release at www.SaveSaeed.org
UPDATE: June 21 - "Pastor Saeed in Good Spirits as Threats Increase," CBNNews.com; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Pastor-Saeed-in-Good-Spirits-as-Threats-Increase/The family of imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini visited him in Iran's Evin Prison this week. They say he was in good spirits...According to the American Center for Law and Justice, the 33-year-old pastor told his family his health appears to have improved. The ACLJ also said that since Iran's presidential election last week, Abedini reported Iranian prison guards have threatened to move him to a more remote prison. Such a move would make it nearly impossible for his family to visit him.
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"A Constitution for the 21st Century," - By Rich Tucke, June 18, 2013
Newscom [1]
Economists often point to the “wisdom of crowds [2]”—the idea that a group of people is likely to make better decisions that an individual will. Then again, your mother probably taught you the importance of individualism when she admonished you that “if everyone else jumps off a bridge, would you do it, too?”
In this case, the Constitution favors your mother’s view.
In a recent series on PBS, Peter Sagal set out to determine [3] how the Constitution applies to modern American life. As part of the final installment, Sagal journeyed far beyond our borders to Iceland, where citizens are drafting a new, “crowd-sourced” constitution. Sagal wonders, “Is our Constitution up to the challenges of the 21st century?” After all, “national constitutions are like cars. After enough wear-and-tear they can break down.” That’s certainly true for most constitutions. Law professor Mila Versteeg has read every national constitution drafted since World War II and found they are rewritten, on average [4], every 19 years. Some cars do indeed last longer than that.
But the beauty of the American Constitution is that it predates automobiles and many other modern conveniences. Today’s governing documents read like a laundry list of “rights” the government is required to “give” to you. South Africa’s constitution [5] guarantees a “right” to “adequate housing,” “reproductive health care,” and “to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice in public educational institutions where that education is reasonably practicable.”
In contrast, our Constitution simply sets out a framework for a free people to confront the political questions of their times. As Heritage’s David Azerrad puts it [6],
"Its words and principles, anchored in the Declaration of Independence, categorically rule out certain laws—e.g., bills of attainder—and create a system of checks and balance between different levels of government. But within the confines of these restrictions and delineations, it leaves the people free to deliberate via their elected representatives on the questions and problems of the day.'' Its simplicity was a stroke of genius [7]. As Sagal later admits, it has lasted for so long because it is brief and allows for occasional “repairs” through amendments.
Of course, there are a few parting shots at the Constitution during this episode. Former Representative Barney Frank (D–MA) tells Sagal that the entire system is weighted toward inaction. But commentator P. J. O’Rourke counters that that’s a feature, not a bug: “Tyranny was more worrisome to the Framers than legislative deadlock.” They wanted it to be difficult to enact national laws, because that would leave most power in the states.
It would be impossible to write a limited constitution today. Every interest group under the sun would demand “rights” be included, and it would end up reading like a menu instead of a governing framework. All the more reason to avoid following the crowd of countries that are constantly reworking their constitutions and instead rededicate ourselves to defending the one we’re blessed enough to have.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/06/18/a-constitution-for-the-21st-century/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-flag.jpg
[2] wisdom of crowds: http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds.html?id=hHUsHOHqVzEC
[3] set out to determine: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/10/pbs-constitutional-road-trip-smooth-ride-with-a-few-bumps/
[4] on average: http://www.heritage.org/events/2012/10/other-nations
[5] South Africa’s constitution: http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/sf00000_.html
[6] As Heritage’s David Azerrad puts it: http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2011/06/constitutionalism-here-are-a-few-things-richard-stengel-doesnt-know-about
[7] was a stroke of genius: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/09/the-formation-of-the-constitution
Copyright © 2011 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
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"The Words That Started It All" - By Amy Payne, July 4, 2013 http://blog.heritage.org/2013/07/04/rereading-the-declaration-of-independence/print/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell
[Go to this link to read the actual words of the Declaration of Independence.]"Is the Supreme Court the Final Word?," - Rich TuckerJune 30, 2013 http://blog.heritage.org/2013/06/30/is-the-supreme-court-the-final-word/
"...It is the job of each branch of the federal government to determine if a law is constitutional.
“Everyone who holds an office in the United States—the President, members of Congress, federal judges—takes an oath to uphold the United States Constitution,” The Heritage Foundation explains. “As the Supreme Court must dutifully and faithfully interpret the Constitution when determining the validity of the laws in the cases before it, so too must the members of Congress when they make laws and the President when he enforces them...”
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today'sFUNNY (c/o MikeysFunnies.com):What would you get if you crossed the first signer of the Declaration of Independence with a rooster?
John Hancock-a-doodle-doo!
What protest by a group of dogs occurred in 1773?
The Boston Flea Party!
What happened as a result of the Stamp Act?
The Americans licked the British!
What would you get if you crossed a patriot with a small curly-haired dog?
Yankee Poodle!
Did you hear the one about the Liberty Bell?
Yeah, it cracked me up!
What would you get if you crossed George Washington with cattle feed?
The Fodder of Our Country!
What did one flag say to the other flag?
Nothing. It just waved!
What's red, white, blue, and gross?
Uncle Spam!
What's red, white, black and blue?
Uncle Sam falling down the steps!
Which colonists told the most jokes?
Punsylvanians!
"How was the food at the Fourth of July picnic?
"The hot dogs were bad and the brats were wurst!"
What has four legs, a shiny nose, and fought for England?
Rudolph the Redcoat Reindeer!
How is a healthy person like the United States?
They both have good constitutions!
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