Monday, July 24, 2006
Letter to Congress - Interstate Taxation
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
July 24, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
This week the House will work on a bill (H.R.1956) that would bar states from taxing an out-of-state business unless that business has a physical presence in the state for more than 21 days. The bill expands the federal prohibition against state taxation of interstate commerce to: (1) include taxation of out-of-state transactions involving all forms of property, including intangible personal property and services (currently, only sales of tangible personal property are protected); and (2) prohibit state taxation of an out-of-state entity unless such entity has a physical presence in the taxing state. Sets forth criteria for determining that a person has a physical presence in a state.
As a frequent online shopper, buying goods from all over the country, I fully support this bill. I ask you to vote to pass this bill when it comes to you.
As your constituent, I would like to know your thoughts on this issue.
A proud member of National Write Your Congressman
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
July 24, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
This week the House will work on a bill (H.R.1956) that would bar states from taxing an out-of-state business unless that business has a physical presence in the state for more than 21 days. The bill expands the federal prohibition against state taxation of interstate commerce to: (1) include taxation of out-of-state transactions involving all forms of property, including intangible personal property and services (currently, only sales of tangible personal property are protected); and (2) prohibit state taxation of an out-of-state entity unless such entity has a physical presence in the taxing state. Sets forth criteria for determining that a person has a physical presence in a state.
As a frequent online shopper, buying goods from all over the country, I fully support this bill. I ask you to vote to pass this bill when it comes to you.
As your constituent, I would like to know your thoughts on this issue.
A proud member of National Write Your Congressman
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Letter to Congress - Gov't Efficiency
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
July 24, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I have serious concerns that Congress cannot control spending. It seems that the Republicans spend as much or more than the Democrats. Congressmen boast about the pork you bring home to buy votes from constituents. Because of the lack of self control shown by Congress, I support the following two pieces of legislation.
Government Efficiency Act - H.R.5766
This House bill would establish a Federal Review Commission to make recommendations on improving the efficiency of government agencies and programs.
Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act - H.R.3282
This House bill would create the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to periodically review the public need for each government agency.
Together, I believe these two seperate, but similar, bills can help eliminate vast amounts of government waste. Slow moving, ineffective, and inefficient government agencies must be improved or eliminated. Government agencies have no incentive to improve themselves. They must spend their full budget or lose financing. The many government agencies created by Congress must have fiscal accountability.
I ask you to vote for these bills when they come before you. I would also like to know your thoughts on this issue.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
July 24, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I have serious concerns that Congress cannot control spending. It seems that the Republicans spend as much or more than the Democrats. Congressmen boast about the pork you bring home to buy votes from constituents. Because of the lack of self control shown by Congress, I support the following two pieces of legislation.
Government Efficiency Act - H.R.5766
This House bill would establish a Federal Review Commission to make recommendations on improving the efficiency of government agencies and programs.
Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act - H.R.3282
This House bill would create the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to periodically review the public need for each government agency.
Together, I believe these two seperate, but similar, bills can help eliminate vast amounts of government waste. Slow moving, ineffective, and inefficient government agencies must be improved or eliminated. Government agencies have no incentive to improve themselves. They must spend their full budget or lose financing. The many government agencies created by Congress must have fiscal accountability.
I ask you to vote for these bills when they come before you. I would also like to know your thoughts on this issue.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Sunday, July 23, 2006
End Times?
Here's a great message from my friend Rusty Thomas. I strongly encourage you to study for yourself what Rusty talks about here. Steve
Dear Champion of the Lord and the Preborn,
The Lord richly bless you! Just the other day, a local reporter contacted me about the escalation taking place in the Middle East and the ramifications as it relates to the End Times. The following is my perspective. I forewarn you that it is not standard fare. It comes from a Kingdom/Covenant view of Scripture rather than a typical dispensational view. I pray you are like good Bereans that will follow up and study to see if these things be so. I'm convinced that unless the Church frees herself from the debilitating affects of dsipensational theology, the process to reform the Church, restore America, and effectively reaching the world for Christ will continue to be hampered and hindered.
IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,
Rusty
As one raised in Dispensational theology, I understand first hand the End-Time jitters and paranoia associated with that particular interpretation of Scripture. I lived through the Hal Lindsey and Mr. Whisenhunt's End-Time scares. Through the years of study in the Scriptures, however, I have rejected that view for a number of reasons.
Most rest their conjectures of the End-Times based upon Jesus' Olivet discourse found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Dispensational theology regulates these passages of Scripture to a future fulfillment, perhaps in the near future. Thus the reason for some of the hysteria over the current events taking place in the Middle East. Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, the rise of false teachers and religions, etc. In conjunction, people also read newspapers, watch the news, see some of these things happening in this generation, and are led to believe the time is at hand and the end of the world has come upon us.
There are a number of problems with this interpretation. Namely, it is never safe to interpret Scripture by reading the daily news. Scripture should interpret Scripture. The Bible is a self-authenticating book and doesn't need the opinions of men nor commentary from CNN to validate Itself. Secondly, after Jesus pronounced judgment upon Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, the Apostles were obviously alarmed and asked, "...Tell us, when shall these things be (The destruction of the Temple)? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)? Jesus answered their questions with a prophetic warning. His purpose was to make sure the Apostles and the early Church would be prepared to escape the wrath that was to come upon Israel, Jerusalem, and the Holy Temple.
Some may question the validity of this interpretation. I give three reasons to support this claim. First and most important, there is a time text quoted by Jesus Christ that one cannot escape. It inextricably places the entire context in a historical setting, rather than in a future scenario. Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Matthew 24:34)." Jesus didn't say "that generation" indicating a future generation, but "this generation" indicating His contemporaries. Besides, Jesus stated this phrase "this generation" five other times in the book of Matthew and all five times it referred to the generation under the sound of His voice. For example, right before He pronounced judgment upon Jerusalem He stated, "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Batrachians, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation."
Secondly, one cannot escape the personal pronoun Jesus used as He addressed His contemporaries. He stated continually that "you" would experience this (persecution) or when "you" see this sign (The Abomination of Desolation for instance) or "So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:33)." If words mean anything, Jesus' use of the personal pronoun "you" as opposed to the use of "they" indicates the people hearing Jesus' warning were the ones that would be affected and not some future generation.
Thirdly, Jesus stated, "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Matthew 24:15,16)." If this reference is one of the signs that the world is coming to an end, then why confine a major warning to a small locale and then tell the people of that small region to flee? If this is one of the signs that is signaling the end of the world, what is the use of fleeing? Where are you going to go? It is over; fleeing to survive is absolutely futile.
I'm sure many will struggle with this interpretation as they go through the list of signs and events declared by our Lord in Matthew 24, but I would encourage them to contact American Vision, Gary Demar, and order his end-time packet series. His website address is www.americanvision.org. The phone number is 770-222-7266. As you browse the website, you will find a section on eschatology (Bible prophecy). I would encourage anyone to purchase these materials and study them like a faithful Berean to see if these things be so (Acts 17:10,11) Some of the books, CD's, and DVD's go into great detail Biblically and shows that the entire Olivet discourse was fulfilled in 70 AD and is history, rather than a future fulfillment.
I also reject the "Last Days Madness" (to coin a phrase by Gary Demar) based upon the Biblical criteria found in God's warning in the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 18:22 states, "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou salt not be afraid of him." Clearly, many so-called "prophecy" writers and preachers that hold to the dispensational view have given many predictions about the End-Times and the Second Coming of the Lord. They all have one common denominator. They have all been one thousand percent wrong. Not one of their dates and end-time scenarios have panned out. Yet, we still continue to buy their books, listen to their tapes, and believe their interpretation of Scripture.
God says, if someone predicts something in my name and it doesn't come to pass, they were not speaking for Him. They spoke presumptuously from their own hearts. I'm not saying these brothers in Christ are not saved or are false in the sense that they are purposely trying to deceive. I just believe their interpretation of Scripture is faulty and thus their conclusions and predictions are erroneous.
It is important to note as well, though all three millennial positions (Pre, Al, and Post Millennial) have been advocated in the Church throughout most of its history, the dispensational pre-tribulation rapture theory is the theological "new kid" on the block. This novel interpretation of Scripture was first popularized in the 1850's. Slowly, but surely, however, its influence grew to the point that I dare say many Bible-believing Christians accept it as the orthodox view of the End-Times.
Ideas have consequences, however, and a belief system will lead us somewhere. Since the Church has adopted this position, what has happened to America and the world? This view has taught "why polish brass on a sinking ship and why rearrange furniture in a burning house?" As a result, the Church has for decades withdrawn into our buildings trying to save the lost and then stack them up at a spiritual bus stop so Jesus can return and rescue us from the mess on the earth. Thus in affect, the Church has acted as though it is spiritual to neglect, abandon, and retreat from the market place of ideas, the gates of our cities, the Cultural Mandate established in Genesis, and the Great Commission established by our Lord (Matthew 28:18-20). This accounts for the inactivity of the Church in America while babies are being murdered in their mother's wombs, homosexuals parade their sins like Sodom, and evil flourishes under our watch. Wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord actually believe this is God's will based upon this view of the End-Times. They fail to see the fatalism it has produced and how it has paralyzed the Church. It is this view of Scripture that I'm convinced has greatly hindered the Church's obedience to be salt and light to preserve and protect God's creation and creatures from evil.
So, maybe it is high time for the Church to rethink what is happening in the Middle East as the fulfillment of Matthew 24. Perhaps, we are long overdue in thinking are real problem is actually found in Matthew 5:13 which states, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."
My last point concerns the history of America. When you study the Colonial Fathers and the Founding Fathers, you will find this view strangely missing. They held to a Kingdom/Covenant view of Scripture that taught an eschatology of victory. They were for the most part Presbyterians and the early Methodists that believed in the Crown-Rights of King Jesus and His word as the standard by which men shall live by and will one day be judged by. In other words, they believed in time and history that the Great Commission will be fulfilled. The Mayflower Compact declares "in the name of God, for the glory of God, and for the advancement of the Christian faith." Our spiritual forefathers and foremothers came to these shores believing that America was to be a city set on a hill that was to be a light to the nations. Strange, when the Church believed this, God blessed this nation beyond any other nation in the earth. What has happened to us since we have rejected this understanding of Scripture and adopted the dispensationalist view instead? Jesus taught, "Ye shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16a)."
Finally, what one believes about the End -Times does not determine one's salvation. Men can believe the Lord is coming back tonight and I can believe that He won't be back until the Great Commission is fulfilled, either way, we will make it to heaven. Our salvation is not based upon our views of the End-Times, but based upon our common belief in Jesus Christ, His atoning work on the cruel cross ,and His subsequent resurrection from the dead. The historical creeds of the Church dealing with the topic of eschatology simply stated that Christ would return to judge the living and the dead. How it happens and when it happens remains a struggle. The only important matter about our views of the End -Times is that what one believes about the future can affect the quality of one's faith today.
IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,
Rusty
Dear Champion of the Lord and the Preborn,
The Lord richly bless you! Just the other day, a local reporter contacted me about the escalation taking place in the Middle East and the ramifications as it relates to the End Times. The following is my perspective. I forewarn you that it is not standard fare. It comes from a Kingdom/Covenant view of Scripture rather than a typical dispensational view. I pray you are like good Bereans that will follow up and study to see if these things be so. I'm convinced that unless the Church frees herself from the debilitating affects of dsipensational theology, the process to reform the Church, restore America, and effectively reaching the world for Christ will continue to be hampered and hindered.
IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,
Rusty
As one raised in Dispensational theology, I understand first hand the End-Time jitters and paranoia associated with that particular interpretation of Scripture. I lived through the Hal Lindsey and Mr. Whisenhunt's End-Time scares. Through the years of study in the Scriptures, however, I have rejected that view for a number of reasons.
Most rest their conjectures of the End-Times based upon Jesus' Olivet discourse found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Dispensational theology regulates these passages of Scripture to a future fulfillment, perhaps in the near future. Thus the reason for some of the hysteria over the current events taking place in the Middle East. Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, the rise of false teachers and religions, etc. In conjunction, people also read newspapers, watch the news, see some of these things happening in this generation, and are led to believe the time is at hand and the end of the world has come upon us.
There are a number of problems with this interpretation. Namely, it is never safe to interpret Scripture by reading the daily news. Scripture should interpret Scripture. The Bible is a self-authenticating book and doesn't need the opinions of men nor commentary from CNN to validate Itself. Secondly, after Jesus pronounced judgment upon Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, the Apostles were obviously alarmed and asked, "...Tell us, when shall these things be (The destruction of the Temple)? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)? Jesus answered their questions with a prophetic warning. His purpose was to make sure the Apostles and the early Church would be prepared to escape the wrath that was to come upon Israel, Jerusalem, and the Holy Temple.
Some may question the validity of this interpretation. I give three reasons to support this claim. First and most important, there is a time text quoted by Jesus Christ that one cannot escape. It inextricably places the entire context in a historical setting, rather than in a future scenario. Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Matthew 24:34)." Jesus didn't say "that generation" indicating a future generation, but "this generation" indicating His contemporaries. Besides, Jesus stated this phrase "this generation" five other times in the book of Matthew and all five times it referred to the generation under the sound of His voice. For example, right before He pronounced judgment upon Jerusalem He stated, "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Batrachians, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation."
Secondly, one cannot escape the personal pronoun Jesus used as He addressed His contemporaries. He stated continually that "you" would experience this (persecution) or when "you" see this sign (The Abomination of Desolation for instance) or "So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:33)." If words mean anything, Jesus' use of the personal pronoun "you" as opposed to the use of "they" indicates the people hearing Jesus' warning were the ones that would be affected and not some future generation.
Thirdly, Jesus stated, "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Matthew 24:15,16)." If this reference is one of the signs that the world is coming to an end, then why confine a major warning to a small locale and then tell the people of that small region to flee? If this is one of the signs that is signaling the end of the world, what is the use of fleeing? Where are you going to go? It is over; fleeing to survive is absolutely futile.
I'm sure many will struggle with this interpretation as they go through the list of signs and events declared by our Lord in Matthew 24, but I would encourage them to contact American Vision, Gary Demar, and order his end-time packet series. His website address is www.americanvision.org. The phone number is 770-222-7266. As you browse the website, you will find a section on eschatology (Bible prophecy). I would encourage anyone to purchase these materials and study them like a faithful Berean to see if these things be so (Acts 17:10,11) Some of the books, CD's, and DVD's go into great detail Biblically and shows that the entire Olivet discourse was fulfilled in 70 AD and is history, rather than a future fulfillment.
I also reject the "Last Days Madness" (to coin a phrase by Gary Demar) based upon the Biblical criteria found in God's warning in the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 18:22 states, "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou salt not be afraid of him." Clearly, many so-called "prophecy" writers and preachers that hold to the dispensational view have given many predictions about the End-Times and the Second Coming of the Lord. They all have one common denominator. They have all been one thousand percent wrong. Not one of their dates and end-time scenarios have panned out. Yet, we still continue to buy their books, listen to their tapes, and believe their interpretation of Scripture.
God says, if someone predicts something in my name and it doesn't come to pass, they were not speaking for Him. They spoke presumptuously from their own hearts. I'm not saying these brothers in Christ are not saved or are false in the sense that they are purposely trying to deceive. I just believe their interpretation of Scripture is faulty and thus their conclusions and predictions are erroneous.
It is important to note as well, though all three millennial positions (Pre, Al, and Post Millennial) have been advocated in the Church throughout most of its history, the dispensational pre-tribulation rapture theory is the theological "new kid" on the block. This novel interpretation of Scripture was first popularized in the 1850's. Slowly, but surely, however, its influence grew to the point that I dare say many Bible-believing Christians accept it as the orthodox view of the End-Times.
Ideas have consequences, however, and a belief system will lead us somewhere. Since the Church has adopted this position, what has happened to America and the world? This view has taught "why polish brass on a sinking ship and why rearrange furniture in a burning house?" As a result, the Church has for decades withdrawn into our buildings trying to save the lost and then stack them up at a spiritual bus stop so Jesus can return and rescue us from the mess on the earth. Thus in affect, the Church has acted as though it is spiritual to neglect, abandon, and retreat from the market place of ideas, the gates of our cities, the Cultural Mandate established in Genesis, and the Great Commission established by our Lord (Matthew 28:18-20). This accounts for the inactivity of the Church in America while babies are being murdered in their mother's wombs, homosexuals parade their sins like Sodom, and evil flourishes under our watch. Wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord actually believe this is God's will based upon this view of the End-Times. They fail to see the fatalism it has produced and how it has paralyzed the Church. It is this view of Scripture that I'm convinced has greatly hindered the Church's obedience to be salt and light to preserve and protect God's creation and creatures from evil.
So, maybe it is high time for the Church to rethink what is happening in the Middle East as the fulfillment of Matthew 24. Perhaps, we are long overdue in thinking are real problem is actually found in Matthew 5:13 which states, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."
My last point concerns the history of America. When you study the Colonial Fathers and the Founding Fathers, you will find this view strangely missing. They held to a Kingdom/Covenant view of Scripture that taught an eschatology of victory. They were for the most part Presbyterians and the early Methodists that believed in the Crown-Rights of King Jesus and His word as the standard by which men shall live by and will one day be judged by. In other words, they believed in time and history that the Great Commission will be fulfilled. The Mayflower Compact declares "in the name of God, for the glory of God, and for the advancement of the Christian faith." Our spiritual forefathers and foremothers came to these shores believing that America was to be a city set on a hill that was to be a light to the nations. Strange, when the Church believed this, God blessed this nation beyond any other nation in the earth. What has happened to us since we have rejected this understanding of Scripture and adopted the dispensationalist view instead? Jesus taught, "Ye shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16a)."
Finally, what one believes about the End -Times does not determine one's salvation. Men can believe the Lord is coming back tonight and I can believe that He won't be back until the Great Commission is fulfilled, either way, we will make it to heaven. Our salvation is not based upon our views of the End-Times, but based upon our common belief in Jesus Christ, His atoning work on the cruel cross ,and His subsequent resurrection from the dead. The historical creeds of the Church dealing with the topic of eschatology simply stated that Christ would return to judge the living and the dead. How it happens and when it happens remains a struggle. The only important matter about our views of the End -Times is that what one believes about the future can affect the quality of one's faith today.
IN KING JESUS' SERVICE,
Rusty
Friday, July 21, 2006
Fire, or Ice? from Texas Insider
By William Rusher
Published: 07-21-06
The New York Times's headline read, "America in Longest Warm Spell Since 1776; Temperature Line Records a 25-Year Rise." Well, what's so new about that? The Times has been having an historic fit about global warming for years, hasn't it?
Yes, but that particular headline ran in the good gray Times on March 27, 1933 -- 73 years ago. What's more, the Times changed its mind dramatically on the subject 42 years later, in 1975, when it startled its readers on May 21 with "Scientists Ponder Why World's Climate is Changing; A Major Cooling Widely Considered to Be Inevitable."
Nor has the Times been the only major periodical to blow hot and cold (if you will forgive me) on the subject of the global climate. On Jan. 2, 1939 Time magazine announced that "Gaffers who claim that winters were harder when they were boys are quite right ... weather men have no doubt that the world at least for the time being is growing warmer." Yet Time scooped The New York Times by nearly a year when, reversing itself, it warned readers on June 24, 1974 that, "Climatological Cassandras are becoming increasingly apprehensive, for the weather aberrations they are studying may be the harbinger of another ice age."
Today, of course, Time has changed its mind again and joined the global-warming hysteria. On April 3 this year, it announced that "By Any Measure, Earth is At ... The Tipping Point. The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame." Read more here.
Published: 07-21-06
The New York Times's headline read, "America in Longest Warm Spell Since 1776; Temperature Line Records a 25-Year Rise." Well, what's so new about that? The Times has been having an historic fit about global warming for years, hasn't it?
Yes, but that particular headline ran in the good gray Times on March 27, 1933 -- 73 years ago. What's more, the Times changed its mind dramatically on the subject 42 years later, in 1975, when it startled its readers on May 21 with "Scientists Ponder Why World's Climate is Changing; A Major Cooling Widely Considered to Be Inevitable."
Nor has the Times been the only major periodical to blow hot and cold (if you will forgive me) on the subject of the global climate. On Jan. 2, 1939 Time magazine announced that "Gaffers who claim that winters were harder when they were boys are quite right ... weather men have no doubt that the world at least for the time being is growing warmer." Yet Time scooped The New York Times by nearly a year when, reversing itself, it warned readers on June 24, 1974 that, "Climatological Cassandras are becoming increasingly apprehensive, for the weather aberrations they are studying may be the harbinger of another ice age."
Today, of course, Time has changed its mind again and joined the global-warming hysteria. On April 3 this year, it announced that "By Any Measure, Earth is At ... The Tipping Point. The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame." Read more here.
Letters From Dad
Hello All,
Here's my first official update on where we're at in bringing Letters From Dad to Waco.
I attended the leadership training in Dallas and now I'm ready to facilitate the course.
Looking at the calendar, here's what has been decided.
Tuesday, August 29 Kickoff BBQ (or Fajitas) I'll introduce Letters From Dad to the men and they will have an opportunity to sign up for the course at the end. The classes will run one night a month for 4 months - Tuesday Sept 19, Oct 17, Nov 14, and Dec 12.
I've found a great printer for the flyers and posters. I'm now looking to nail down the location and I'm looking for a caterer. Letters From Dad has a great deal of information in a media pack, which I've already started to distribute.
What do I need? Prayer support. First and foremost, I need your prayers. This is bigger than anything I've ever lead before. I believe Waco has been primed and is ready for Letter From Dad. Churches and groups like Legacy Outfitters have seen men open their hearts to the Gospel and to each other. Letters From Dad will teach them a practical way to share their hearts with their families.
Second, I need some financial support. My training in Dallas was sponsored by men at the Man in the Mirror bible study and by Central Texas Fatherhood Initiative. The catering and advertising will need to be underwritten as well. Judging from what has happened in the other cities where LFD has been launched, we can expect 200-400 men at the Kickoff event. Half of them (maybe more) will sign up for the course. A simple dinner is usually eaten before each of the 4 classes. Of course it is possible to sell tickets to the Kickoff event to help with the cost, but we can expect a bigger turn out for a free dinner.
I encourage each of you to check out the LFD website, watch some of the video clips, and pray with me about this ministry. I'll send out regular updates.
God Bless!!!
Here's my first official update on where we're at in bringing Letters From Dad to Waco.
I attended the leadership training in Dallas and now I'm ready to facilitate the course.
Looking at the calendar, here's what has been decided.
Tuesday, August 29 Kickoff BBQ (or Fajitas) I'll introduce Letters From Dad to the men and they will have an opportunity to sign up for the course at the end. The classes will run one night a month for 4 months - Tuesday Sept 19, Oct 17, Nov 14, and Dec 12.
I've found a great printer for the flyers and posters. I'm now looking to nail down the location and I'm looking for a caterer. Letters From Dad has a great deal of information in a media pack, which I've already started to distribute.
What do I need? Prayer support. First and foremost, I need your prayers. This is bigger than anything I've ever lead before. I believe Waco has been primed and is ready for Letter From Dad. Churches and groups like Legacy Outfitters have seen men open their hearts to the Gospel and to each other. Letters From Dad will teach them a practical way to share their hearts with their families.
Second, I need some financial support. My training in Dallas was sponsored by men at the Man in the Mirror bible study and by Central Texas Fatherhood Initiative. The catering and advertising will need to be underwritten as well. Judging from what has happened in the other cities where LFD has been launched, we can expect 200-400 men at the Kickoff event. Half of them (maybe more) will sign up for the course. A simple dinner is usually eaten before each of the 4 classes. Of course it is possible to sell tickets to the Kickoff event to help with the cost, but we can expect a bigger turn out for a free dinner.
I encourage each of you to check out the LFD website, watch some of the video clips, and pray with me about this ministry. I'll send out regular updates.
God Bless!!!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Tax Dollars Fund Mexican Loyalist Within The United States
'The Race' Schools: Your Tax Dollars at Work
by Michelle Malkin
12 Jul, 2006
Top White House adviser Karl Rove traveled to Los Angeles this week to pay homage to the anti-immigration enforcement lobbying group for Latinos: the National Council of La Raza. "La Raza" is Spanish for "The Race."
It's bad enough the White House lent its prestige to The Race's annual conference. But did you know the Bush administration has forked over millions of federal tax dollars directly to The Race?
Go to the full story.
by Michelle Malkin
12 Jul, 2006
Top White House adviser Karl Rove traveled to Los Angeles this week to pay homage to the anti-immigration enforcement lobbying group for Latinos: the National Council of La Raza. "La Raza" is Spanish for "The Race."
It's bad enough the White House lent its prestige to The Race's annual conference. But did you know the Bush administration has forked over millions of federal tax dollars directly to The Race?
Go to the full story.
Letter to Congress - Marriage Protection Amendment
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Hutchison
Senator John Cornyn
Representative Chet Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
July 7, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
The U. S. Constitution is a near perfect document and should not be amended regularly or easily. Amendments made in the past (i.e. alcohol prohibition, and popular elections of our senators) have been devastating to our country. However, the family unit is the most vital building block of society and must be protected from the radical changes being forced upon us today.
There is an easier way to stop the courts from changing marriage. Congress has the power to remove the definition of marriage from federal court jurisdiction. Activist federal judges have forced this debate by overturning the will of the people and the legislators in our states. I think Congress should first attempt to stop them by removing the issue from their dockets.
Regarding a constitutional amendment (H.J.Res.1) that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, I think we should reserve such a drastic measure until after we try first to stop the activist judges another way. If, however, the activist judges refuse to leave the issue alone, or we cannot find enough Congressmen with the courage to stand up to the judiciary, then we must pass the constitutional amendment.
As a constituent of yours, I would like to know your thoughts regarding this issue.
A proud member of National Write Your Congressman.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Hutchison
Senator John Cornyn
Representative Chet Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
July 7, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
The U. S. Constitution is a near perfect document and should not be amended regularly or easily. Amendments made in the past (i.e. alcohol prohibition, and popular elections of our senators) have been devastating to our country. However, the family unit is the most vital building block of society and must be protected from the radical changes being forced upon us today.
There is an easier way to stop the courts from changing marriage. Congress has the power to remove the definition of marriage from federal court jurisdiction. Activist federal judges have forced this debate by overturning the will of the people and the legislators in our states. I think Congress should first attempt to stop them by removing the issue from their dockets.
Regarding a constitutional amendment (H.J.Res.1) that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, I think we should reserve such a drastic measure until after we try first to stop the activist judges another way. If, however, the activist judges refuse to leave the issue alone, or we cannot find enough Congressmen with the courage to stand up to the judiciary, then we must pass the constitutional amendment.
As a constituent of yours, I would like to know your thoughts regarding this issue.
A proud member of National Write Your Congressman.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Letter to Congress - Public Expression of Religion Act
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
June 28, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I'm very concerned about the scare tactics used by the ACLU to intimidate communities into complying with the anti-American and very anti-Christian views held by the ACLU. Because of their abuses to business and to local and state governments, I support the Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (H.R. 2679.)
This bill (H.R. 2679) would take away from the ACLU their BIGGEST bullying tactic -- the threat that a local community would have to pay the ACLU hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. I have asked the Judicial Committee to vote quickly to move this bill to a floor vote. I also you for a "Yes" vote on this bill.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
June 28, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I'm very concerned about the scare tactics used by the ACLU to intimidate communities into complying with the anti-American and very anti-Christian views held by the ACLU. Because of their abuses to business and to local and state governments, I support the Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (H.R. 2679.)
This bill (H.R. 2679) would take away from the ACLU their BIGGEST bullying tactic -- the threat that a local community would have to pay the ACLU hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. I have asked the Judicial Committee to vote quickly to move this bill to a floor vote. I also you for a "Yes" vote on this bill.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Letter to Congress - FTC Business Opportunity Rule
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Hutchison
Representative Edwards
Mr. President
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
June 28, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
As you may already have heard through the news, on April 12, 2006, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a new Business Opportunity Rule. This Rule would apply to all business opportunities, including vending machine sales, medical billing, and direct sales opportunities, regardless of the entry fee. It would make it unlawful for any person who presents a business opportunity to do so without making specific affirmative disclosures on a federal form to every prospect seven days before the consummation of a deal. The failure to make the required disclosures would itself be a deceptive advertising practice under the proposed rule. The practice would be deceptive even if the underlying business transaction was legitimate.
I believe the FTC wants to micromanage business in America. This proposed rule will accomplish nothing but to add an obstruction to legitimate businesses that flurish in our (semi) free market. I ask you to intervene and put a stop to this proposal.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Hutchison
Representative Edwards
Mr. President
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
June 28, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
As you may already have heard through the news, on April 12, 2006, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a new Business Opportunity Rule. This Rule would apply to all business opportunities, including vending machine sales, medical billing, and direct sales opportunities, regardless of the entry fee. It would make it unlawful for any person who presents a business opportunity to do so without making specific affirmative disclosures on a federal form to every prospect seven days before the consummation of a deal. The failure to make the required disclosures would itself be a deceptive advertising practice under the proposed rule. The practice would be deceptive even if the underlying business transaction was legitimate.
I believe the FTC wants to micromanage business in America. This proposed rule will accomplish nothing but to add an obstruction to legitimate businesses that flurish in our (semi) free market. I ask you to intervene and put a stop to this proposal.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Letter to Congress - Medical Marijuana
Thank you for using National Write Your Congressman Mail System
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
June 26, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations Act.
This is not a vote on whether or not you agree that marijuana should be legalized for medical use. This is a vote about whether at a time when we confront a $371 billion budget deficit, are waging a war on terrorism, and face a "meth epidemic," limited War on Drug funds should be used to go after the most dangerous criminal offenders, or to arrest and prosecute desperately ill and dying patients who use marijuana in compliance with state law.
While the taxpayer-financed War on Drugs has been predicated on arresting high-ranking "narco-traffickers," statistic after statistic shows the government has increasingly focused its efforts on low-level marijuana offenders including medical marijuana patients. From 1990 to 2002, the number of marijuana arrests increased by a whopping 113 percent, while non-marijuana drug arrests increased by just 10 percent. And the lion's share of those marijuana arrests - some 88 percent - was for the low-level offense of "possession" rather than trafficking.
This strategy of targeting marijuana users is clogging our courts and swelling the populations of our state prisons and local jails. Worst of all, it is siphoning off scarce law enforcement resources from policing the drug kingpins, traffickers and pushers who are destroying the lives of our children and endangering our communities.
The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment would take a logical first step toward forcing the ONDCP and DEA to refocus their priorities by preventing the federal government from wasting any funds on raiding, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning medical marijuana patients in the 11 states that have enacted medical marijuana laws.
I urge you to vote in favor of this commonsense amendment today.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Edwards
Message text follows:
Steve Harris
[address omitted]
June 26, 2006
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations Act.
This is not a vote on whether or not you agree that marijuana should be legalized for medical use. This is a vote about whether at a time when we confront a $371 billion budget deficit, are waging a war on terrorism, and face a "meth epidemic," limited War on Drug funds should be used to go after the most dangerous criminal offenders, or to arrest and prosecute desperately ill and dying patients who use marijuana in compliance with state law.
While the taxpayer-financed War on Drugs has been predicated on arresting high-ranking "narco-traffickers," statistic after statistic shows the government has increasingly focused its efforts on low-level marijuana offenders including medical marijuana patients. From 1990 to 2002, the number of marijuana arrests increased by a whopping 113 percent, while non-marijuana drug arrests increased by just 10 percent. And the lion's share of those marijuana arrests - some 88 percent - was for the low-level offense of "possession" rather than trafficking.
This strategy of targeting marijuana users is clogging our courts and swelling the populations of our state prisons and local jails. Worst of all, it is siphoning off scarce law enforcement resources from policing the drug kingpins, traffickers and pushers who are destroying the lives of our children and endangering our communities.
The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment would take a logical first step toward forcing the ONDCP and DEA to refocus their priorities by preventing the federal government from wasting any funds on raiding, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning medical marijuana patients in the 11 states that have enacted medical marijuana laws.
I urge you to vote in favor of this commonsense amendment today.
Sincerely,
Steve Harris
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God, family, and country. My allegiance stands in that order. Church and State will illustrate my opinions on issues of religion and politics, along with regular thoughts on family.
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