Each year on July 4, we as Americans get the chance to remember and celebrate how our great country began.
America is the first nation in history formed on the idea and principles of liberty.
With just a small spark, our forefathers set ablaze the American spirit that seized independence and forged a new nation, which -- grounded in Judeo-Christian traditions -- has become a light and hope to millions around the world.
It is this rich heritage and a staunch dedication to the cause of freedom that has brought us through many fiery trials since 1776. Even our Founding Fathers, whose bravery changed the world, knew the sacrifice that they would soon pay.
We owe a great debt to them and to those who have worked to keep us free, especially those courageous citizens of our military -- many of whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.
We must never forget their sacrifice, and we must never forget to ask for God's blessings and protection.
Three years ago there was wall-to-wall coverage of an alleged rape of a stripper hired by the Duke University lacrosse team. They were condemned by eighty-eight faculty members who had signed a statement accusing the students of rape and racism. Add to that the loud outcry that came from many news and cable media pundits and, or course, by media opportunists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton who emphasised the racial aspect of the situation. While the students’ were guilty of foolishness, it was eventually revealed that they were innocent of the crime of rape -- but only after their reputations were smeared
There is a new scandal at Duke that is being ignored by the media that involves the Associate Director of Duke’s Center for Health Policy -- and homosexual -- Frank Lombard. This administrator was recently arrested by the FBI and charged with offering his adopted 5-year-old son up for sex on Internet chat rooms. Lombard allegedly logs on describing himself as “perv dad for fun.” The detective who checked out this screen name claims that Lombard admitted to molesting his own son and even drugging him for that purpose. Lombard also (allegedly) invited a male stranger from North Carolina to rape his son, whom Lombard had already violated and abused. A confidential source has also testified in an affidavit for Lombard’s arrest warrant of witnessing other deviant acts against the child.
Some are now questioning why those professors and new media who were so quick to lambaste the Lacrosse team have not reacted in similar ways to this new outrage . . . after all Lombard is white and his adopted son is black. Where are the professional protestors Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? Could the reason for thier silence be due to the fact that Lombard is also a homosexual with a live-in partner? Questions about identity politics and shielding certain facts appear justified by the way this story has been covered.
Conservative writers are now beginning to ask questions about the politics of this story and media bias in its limited coverage. We’ll have to see how it plays out in the days ahead, or if the tragic story simply disappears.
This Saturday is Independence Day, and Americans all over the nation will gather this week to continue the message broadcast on April 15th -- "NO NEW TAXES!"
Tea party events will take place all over the state, including a Will County Tea Party at which IFI's Kathy Valente will speak and encourage attendees to take their message to both Washington, D.C., and our state capital!
There's never been a more important time to speak out on how you feel about new taxes, since the U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to pass the "cap-and-trade" bill, which will increase taxes on all kinds of energy, including gas and most electricity!
In fact, if this is passed by the Senate, gas taxes are expected to rise by 77 cents on the gallon, 83 cents for jet fuel, and 88 cents for diesel fuel! Below is a roll call for how the Illinois delegation voted:
Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL-8) .... Y Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) .... N Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL-12) .... N Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL-7) .... Y Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-14) .... N Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL-4) .... Y Rep. Deborah Halvorson (D-IL-11) .... Y Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL-17) .... Y Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL-2) .... Y Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-IL-15) .... N Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL-10) .... Y Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL-3) .... Y Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL-16) .... N Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) .... Y Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL-6) .... N Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL-1) .... Y Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-9) .... Y Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) .... N Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL-19) .... N
Also, call your U.S.Senators and tell them to vote NO on cap and trade!
For the second time in a year a federal court has upheld Ohio’s Community Defense Act. On Monday Judge Soloman Oliver, Jr. of the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio rejected a constitutional challenge to a unique statewide law regulating sexually oriented businesses. The challenge to Senate Bill 16, which passed the Ohio legislature in May and went into effect in August of 2007, came from a sex-business trade association.
The Ohio Community Defense Act is the result of the hard work of our friends at Citizens for Community Values (CCV). The law requires all sexually oriented businesses to close between the hours of midnight and 6 AM when the negative impacts of such establishments often increase. It also prohibits physical contact between nude or semi-nude business employees and patrons in an effort to thwart prostitution and other sex crimes.
This federal court’s approval of these two guidelines should help promote this legislation in other state legislatures. It is our desire to see a similar law passed here in Illinois.
There is a valiant fight to protect marriage by a Hoosier congressman that has not been covered by many news sources. Last week the US House passed a spending bill with a true government name called “The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Regulated Agencies Appropriations Act.” The bill funds agencies within the federal government.
U.S. Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) authored an amendment to the provision that prohibited any funds from the bill to be used in court cases that might challenge the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA was passed with strong bi-partisan support in a Republican-controlled House and Senate, and signed by President Bill Clinton. It seeks to protect state marriage laws if other states wander off the path of common sense and devalue marriage to mean anything other than one man and one woman. Burton’s amendment would prevent the use of our tax dollars to overturn DOMA and force states to recognize homosexual "marriages" from Massachusetts and other liberal states.
Moreover, a new poll from CBS News and the liberal New York Times finds that support for homosexual "marriage" is tanking with a 9-point drop since their last poll in April. Only 33 percent of Americans now support redefining God's institution of marriage.
It seems that the more homosexual activists have pushed this issue and even made advances in a few states, the more Americans have decided that marriage is not merely the bringing together of any two or three people for their own self-interest, rather it is the bringing together of a man and a woman as the cornerstone of the family for the benefit of society.
Along with the issues that Ravi, Al, and R.C. make, at the very heart of the Church’s embrace of post-modernism is the fact that Christians in this generation do not want to carry “their cross”. The Gospel (which first calls men to repentance) and biblical Christianity is simply too offensive - it brings the promised persecution and tribulation (Matt 13:23) today in the form of ridicule, scorn, and mockery.
With the introduction of post-modernism into Christian theology, a convenient way to eliminate the offensiveness of the gospel message and biblical Christianity has been found. If you eliminate “truth” itself or make it unknowable (as Emergent folks do) than the need to stand for anything conveniently disappears. The offensiveness of biblical Christianity can be taken away and thus save Christianity and make it less offensive to today’s culture. The Emergent Church and I dare say an ever increasing element within evangelicalism today, is hell bound on “saving” Christianity - from Christianity itself.
The world is becoming increasingly hostile to traditional biblical Christianity, to those who claim they know truth, and those who use offensive biblical words like, sin, repent, wrath, wickedness, abomination and hell. The Emergent Church and this ever increasing element within evangelicalism that I speak of, is seeking to move away and to distance itself from traditional Christianity and from those who hold to it, because they are embarrassed. They are more and more embarrassed by traditional Christians who continue to call men to repent and believe the gospel. They are embarrassed by a biblical Christianity which divides the the world between the righteous and the wicked (Matt 10:34). They are embarrassed of those who who would speak authoritatively about objective truth in a world given to radical post-modern skepticism.
I recently heard one of these evangelical leaders say that they are trying to “restore the reputation of Christ” in the community. Maybe I’m wrong, but when he said it, I couldn’t help but think he was trying to “restore the reputation of Christ” among unbelievers by telling them Christianity is not what people like me (a traditional christian) say it is. He’s embarrassed of Christians like me who make (in his opinion) Christianity offensive. If I am right, than he and others like him too are trying to save Christianity - from Christianity itself.
As comfortable north American Christians we need to be reminded that Christ himself calls us to partake in his suffering. We, just as Christians of old are called to carry “our cross” - we too are called to suffer “for righteousness sake” (Matt 5:10-11). Suffering usually comes when we preach and stand for the “truth” of God and of His Christ in this wicked and perverse generation.
Let us let us not shrink from our cross but embrace it, let us remember the words of Christ: “he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt 10:38). Does the one who bore the cross on our behalf deserve any less from us?
A new book, compiled by Stanley Feldman, a professor of anesthetics at London University, and Vincent Marks, a former professor of clinical biochemistry and dean of medicine at the University of Surrey, are questioning the end of the world by global warming and "healthy" eating tips.
Global Warming...The Truth About All Those Science Scare Stories, examines the "facts" behind global warming, the future of polar bears and heart disease. The scientists conclude: Rather than man-made CO2 being responsible for global warming, they argue that there is evidence it is caused in part by the increase in the intensity of the Sun's heat. Although the level of CO2 is higher than the "pre-industrial" level -- today it is about 0.038 per cent of the atmosphere, compared to 0.02 per cent, carbon dioxide levels have often been as much as 10 times higher than they are today.
Furthermore, most populations of polar bear are doing well. Despite the melting in the Arctic ice cap, numbers have more than doubled since 1950. They are also good swimmers. Although some Antarctic penguin colonies are decreasing in size, their numbers are also steady. The Gulf Stream is as strong as ever, and getting warmer. There is no evidence to suggest the Arctic ice melting is pushing it further south.
Quinn continues continues to push for a a bigger budget
Governor Patrick Quinn joined a number of welfare reciepients in calling for an income tax increase so they can continue to recieve state funds and so the state can avoid massive budget cuts.
Quinn got so caught up in the moment he joined demonstrators -- literally jumping up and down -- at a press conference at Chicago's Humboldt Park. He was joined by a handful of Democratic lawmakers, who say their colleagues need to pass a two-year, temporary income tax increase when they return to Springfield on Tuesday.
The governor has called a special session to deal with the state's budget mess. Lawmakers are due in Springfield this afternoon to try to pass a state budget.
But so far there hasn't been enough support among lawmakers to pass a tax increase that Quinn says is needed to avoid $9.2 billion in spending cuts.
Taxpayers are not stupid -- we understand that Illinois government has continued to grow annually and that fiscal responsibility has been ignored by so-called General Assembly "leaders."
Exploiting taxpayers is not the answer! Cutting wasteful and unnecessary spending is!
Dads are important to their kids, especially in the formative years.
And as we grow older we look back more objectively at the role our dads played in our lives. Some of us feel deeply blessed and grateful, others may still have a longing over things that could have been. But who can deny that each dad is or was unique in his contribution to our lives?
One thing that many dads have in common is the use of fatherly expressions.
In honor of Father's Day, we have compiled the following list of "things you're likely to hear your dad say at some point in your life." Does any of this sound familiar?
"Don't make me pull this car over!" "Shut the door! We're not air-conditioning the neighborhood." "Because I said so." "Ask your mother." "When I was your age..." "Keep your eye on the ball." "You're not leaving this house dressed like that." "What part of 'no' don't you understand?" "Shake it off." "It doesn't get any better than this."
A new study published in the journal "Child Development" indicates the importance of involved fathers in the life of their teenage children.
Researchers found that teenagers whose fathers are more involved in their lives are less likely to engage in risky activities such as unprotected sex. The study also found that the more attentive the dad -- and the more he knows about his teenage child's friends -- the bigger the impact on the teen's sexual behavior.
The impact of fathers was especially important. Parental knowledge of a teen’s friends and activities was rated on a five point scale. When it came to the dads, each point higher in parental knowledge translated into a 7 percent lower rate of sexual activity in the teen. For the moms, one point higher in knowledge translated to a 3 percent lower rate of teen sexual activity.
Benefits for federal employee's homosexual partners -- Hate Crimes and ENDA coming soon
As I posted earlier this month, President Barack Obama designated June as Gay Pride Month, but that, evidently, is just the beginning of his support for the homosexual agenda.
Yesterday, Obama extended some benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, though the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) does not allow giving healthcare benefits to those partners. The act of giving partner benefits to homosexual partners of government employees is meant to encourage other businesses to follow suit. A few of the benefits that are expected to be given to partners includes retirement benefits and family leave.
Additionally, reports are emerging that say that openly homosexual U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) will file the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) next week, which would require all businesses to accept homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgenderism in the workplace. The danger of passing ENDA is that it would apply to all businesses, with no exemption for religious conscience and could require large religious ministries to hire homosexuals.
Call President Obama now at (202) 456-1414 and ask him to stand for traditional family values! As always, please be respectful!
According to numerous news reports, Calvin Klein has created a billboard putting models in a sexually suggestive threesome. Two men and one woman are topless showing a large amount of their skin. The one woman is kissing one man while lying on the other man.
The billboard is offensive. However, IF you want to verify the concern that Illinois Family Institute has regarding the irresponsible content of this billboard you may click HERE to see the ad content and report at Fox News.
The Calvin Klein billboard is highly inappropriate for the public square because the content is explicit and promotes irresponsible behavior.
Calvin Klein is owned by Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation.
The Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation also owns Van Heusen, Izod and G.H. Bass.
Yet another reason not to support Calvin Klein products.
Take time to call Calvin Klein at 866-513-0513 about its new sex orgy billboard and website ads. When Calvin Klein used kids is sexual poses for its ad campaign in the 1990s, the public was outraged and the company pulled the ads. Please call and let your voice be heard on this new campaign.
Tell Secretary Duncan to withdraw Jennings appointment
IFI alerted you last week to the appointment of Kevin Jennings, the founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), to a senior position in the federal Department of Education. GLSEN is, of course, one of the most notorious organizations pushing the homosexual agenda in the nation's public schools. They are behind gay-straight alliances, as well as the infamous "Day of Silence." The elevation of Jennings to the Department of Education, specifically the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, is an ominous sign of the direction the Obama Administration is going in the culture war.
CLICK HERE to send an email to Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan today telling him to withdraw the appointment of Kevin Jennings. This appointment is absolutely unacceptable and must be withdrawn.
For further reading, please check out this important message from Family Research Council President Tony PerkinsHERE.
