Friday, March 21, 2014

Friday, March 21, 2014

Putin On The Prowl 

Over these last few weeks, while Russia was violating international law, the leader of the free world did everything he could not to be "provocative." Obama responded to the invasion of a sovereign country with which we have treaty obligations by slapping sanctions on a list of Russian citizens. Obama's response amounted to: "You invade Crimea and we are going to make it impossible for Ivan Pavlov to come to Disney World!" I doubt Putin was impressed. 

While the Obama Administration was telling us how important it was to avoid being provocative, Barack Obama was in possession of information regarding additional provocative actions by Putin. Fasten your seatbelts, folks. America's weakness is becoming so evident to our enemies that they are jockeying for position not just in their backyards, but in ours as well! 

Consider this excerpt from The Hill: 
 

"Away from the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is quietly seeking a foothold in Latin America, military officials warn. To the alarm of lawmakers and Pentagon officials, Putin has begun sending navy ships and long-range bombers [to Latin America] for the first time in years. Russia's defense minister says the country is planning bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaraguaů 

"Gen. James Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command said there has been a 'noticeable uptick in Russian power projection and security force personnel' in Latin America. 'It has been over three decades since we last saw this type of high-profile Russian military presence,' Kelly saidů"

But that's not all. The Hill adds, "Iran has opened up 11 additional embassies and 33 cultural centers in Latin Americaů" Why would Iran want "cultural centers" throughout Latin America? To bolster what may be one of the most overlooked terrorist threats to America -- Hezbollah's growing influence in the region. 

Court Upholds Voter ID 

The Justice Department might want to reconsider its lawsuits against voter ID laws in Texas and North Carolina. Advocates of more stringent voter ID requirements won a big victory this week when a federal judge upheld proof of citizenship requirements in Arizona and Kansas. 

In most states when someone registers to vote, they merely have to check a box attesting that they are a citizen. Arizona and Kansas passed laws that take it a step further -- requiring individuals registering to vote to present documentary proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. 

Liberals challenged the Arizona law, and, in a decision issued last year, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively suspended the requirement. But the high court's ruling was more about process than substance. 

The court did not declare the proof of citizenship requirement to be unconstitutional; instead it ruled that the state of Arizona could not add a requirement to the federal forms. Arizona could, however, ask the federal Election Assistance Commission to add the requirement to forms used in Arizona. 

Kansas had a similar requirement and both states asked the EAC to adjust the forms for each state. But in January the commission refused and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach sued. On Wednesday, federal District Judge Eric Melgren ordered the administration to immediately comply with Kobach's request. 

If the Obama Administration appeals the decision, Kobach said, "We'll certainly fight it all the way." 

In The Privacy Of Taxpayer-Funded Classrooms? 

I know you don't need another example of the moral decline being pushed on society by the culture warriors of the left. But wait until you read this. 

Two lesbian teachers at a Brooklyn high school were fired after they snuck out of an after-hours musical presentation and were caught having sex in an empty classroom. They sued the school district claiming their dismissal was excessive punishment. Yesterday a five judge appeals court agreed with the teachers and ordered them to be reinstated. 

The judges declared that firing the teachers for "consensual sexual conduct with an adult colleague" was "shockingly disproportionate." But we're not talking about what two adults did in the privacy of their own bedroom. This took place in a taxpayer-funded public school. Homosexuality is out of the closet and perfectly legal in the classroom! 

Here's what I believe: If a school official walked into a classroom and teachers were holding hands praying with students, their firing probably would have been upheld. Lesbians can play but children can't pray. 

I'll go even further given the atmosphere we're in. If the teachers involved had been a man and a woman, I think the firing would have been upheld. These women are part of the "in" class with the left and seemingly can do no wrong. 

I know all of you routinely ask in your prayers and often hear politicians say, "God bless America." I'm afraid it is becoming a harder request of God if there is not a moral and cultural revival soon. 

There Is Hope: Summit Ministries 

After that last item, you may feel America's future is hopeless. Watch this video now. 

I'm proud to be a member of the board of reference for Summit Ministries. Summit has a long track record of preparing young adults to stand strong against hostile worldviews and become courageous leaders at a time when our nation needs them desperately. 

If you want the young adults you know and love to go against the flow and live boldly, with purpose and conviction, I urge you to check out Summit Ministries. More than 35,000 families to date have enrolled their 16-to-21-year-old sons and daughters in a Summit Ministries program. During the 12-day experience, they are mentored by Christian leaders in academia, public policy, and business, and prepared to be godly courageous leaders. 

Summit's highly-respected program has won the endorsement of Christian leaders such as James Dobson, Eric Metaxas and Josh McDowell. The late Charles Colson called Summit the "gold standard" for training students in the Christian worldview. 

These sessions are extremely popular and fill up rapidly. If you sign up before April 1st, you can save $200. Go to summit.org for more information.