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Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of WWI Memorial Cross on Public Land

6/20/2019

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Here is a news release from Citizens for Community Values of Ohio:

COLUMBUS – In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this morning that a Bladensburg Peace Cross World War I Memorial on public land does not violate the Constitution. The American Humanist Association sued to remove the Bladensburg Cross, claiming it violated the separation of church and state.

The following statement is from CCV President Aaron Baer:
 
“Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed our nation’s first freedom: religious liberty. In a powerful 7-2 decision, the Court upheld what most Americans know to be true: religious displays on public lands do not violate the Constitution or represent an ‘establishment of religion.’
 
“Today’s decision is especially relevant to Ohioans for two reasons. First, radical activist groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation are on a crusade to threaten state and local leaders to abandon prayer and any other religious displays on government property. Our advice to Ohio leaders is that when FFRF calls, just hang up the phone. Time and time again the courts have rejected their arguments. Their anti-religious worldview is un-American.
 
“Second, it’s a reminder that elections have consequences! America has a federal judiciary today that respects religious freedom and the Constitution because Ohio voters stood up and had their voice heard. Thanks to President Donald Trump for nominating originalist judges, and leaders like Senator Rob Portman for affirming these nominees, we are on an unprecedented winning streak for religious freedom today.
 
“Lastly, I want to thank our friends at the First Liberty Institute for defending the Bladensburg Cross so effectively at the Supreme Court. As a small token of our thanks, I want to encourage every Ohioan to make at least a $17 donation to First Liberty – to say thanks from the 17th state in the union! You can make a tax-deductible donation to First Liberty by clicking here."
 
For more information, contact Citizens for Community Values at [email protected], or 513.733.5775.
 
As Ohio’s Family Policy Council, Citizens for Community Values seeks the good of our neighbors throughout Ohio by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. We endeavor to create an Ohio where God’s blessings of life, family, and religious freedom are treasured, respected, and protected.


I appreciate the good work of CCV in Ohio and I agree with the assessment that elections have consequences.  Thankfully the more conservative mindset of our current President has resulted in a more conservative Supreme Court in regard to protecting religious freedom.  Keep praying for the Court, our President, and Congress as they will either protect religious expression or seek to suppress it.  Currently we are headed in the right direction connected to the preservation of religious freedom.


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Gun Rights Made All the Difference for These Intended Victims

6/18/2019

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The right to bear arms is a fundamental piece of our freedom in America.  We must never allow the State to disarm the American people for a number of reasons.  Among those reasons is the basic right to self-defense.

You should read the examples listed in this article from the Heritage Foundation that documents how normal citizens are able to defend themselves against criminals in real life situations.  I also found it eye-opening to see how many times in an average year such acts of self-defense occur in the nation.

The truth is guns are used in self-defense many times more than they are used to commit crimes.  The liberals just can't get anything right and they certainly are wrong when it comes to attacking the Second Amendment.
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Financial Advice to Young Graduates

6/13/2019

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Upon graduating from high school, the subject of money and how to manage financial decisions bursts into one’s life. Generally young graduates are ill prepared to make those decisions primarily because they simply have no experience to draw from.

It is one thing to learn something about personal finance in a book and quite another to start managing decisions on spending, saving, etc.  With that in mind here are several important insights to help begin making wise money decisions.
 
1.  If you have not already started, begin tithing on a weekly basis.  Honoring the Lord with the first of your income sets the most important priority when it comes to handling money—putting the Lord first.  (Cf. Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-8)

2.  Immediately plan to avoid borrowing money.  Debt is easy to accumulate and very difficult to pay back.  Debt creates stress and often contributes to missing God’s best in your life.  Instead of a debt cycle begin a savings cycle!

3.  Be very careful about borrowing money to attend college.  Student debt is out of control in America totaling an astounding 1.5 trillion dollars.  Create a path of study that limits student debt.  There are ways to do this including the option of pursing a trade that does not require a four-year degree.  Quite frankly it would be better if many students worked and earned 80 to 100,000 dollars over four years as compared to going in debt to the tune of $50,000.00 or more over four years of college.  Starting life out at age 22 or 23 with a student loan debt in excess of $50,000.00 is simply not wise for most students.

4.  Establish the discipline of saving money each week.  Without this habit your financial future is going to suffer.  The wise among us save about 20% of their income and live on 70% of their income (assuming one tithes).  Deciding to “pay yourself first” before you spend the balance of your money leads to a great measure of prosperity.  Much needs to be said about this subject, however, do not spend all you earn.  SAVING MONEY PREPARES YOU TO DEAL WITH NEEDS WITHOUT BORROWING MONEY.  SAVING MONEY GETS INTEREST WORKING FOR YOU INSTEAD OF AGAINST YOU.  SAVING MONEY IS THE WAY TO PROSPERITY.

5.  Establish a spending plan, better known as a budget.  A spending plan empowers you to reach goals as opposed to no plan that leads to out of control spending.

6.  Avoid get rich quick schemes as it is usually someone else who becomes rich at your expense!

7.  Seek godly advice when it comes to handling money and making wise decisions.  Create a “Christian cabinet” of advisors which might consist of your parents, your pastor, several older, successful believers who know how to handle money (some might be business owners), and someone in the area of your decision.  For example, before you buy a home talk to a trusted real estate professional who is not selling you the potential home.
 
I recommend any graduate visit Crown Financial Ministries website crown.org and use their resources to gain a wealth of insight into Biblical money management.  Also, their Career Direct tools can be a great help as a young graduate seeks direction for a job they love.

I conclude now with a word of encouragement to all graduates from Proverbs 3:5-6 which says: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
 
 
 

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