I just received a link to a site made by and for Catholics.  They did a fantastic job and reminded all Americans to take part in the political process.  Their stance on family and life are unflinching in favor of life and traditional marriage.  Even as I write traditional marriage I think that’s not the right term, since it in some way acknowledges a different view.

In the eyes of God there is no definition of marriage other than the definition he provides in holy scripture.  Take a minute and watch the video they put together and read some of their research.  Get out and vote and make sure that you exercise your influence on these critical aspects of America.

http://www.catholicvote.com/

Additional resources from other religions are available.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has compiled a list of materials along these same lines.

Same Sex Marriage and Proposition 8

In fact, if you’ve been following my writing here, you’ll remember that I wrote on this subject in 2004, just before the general election where a similar ballot initiative for a constitutional amendment was on the ballot in 11 states.  Here is the newsletter that I wrote then.

Morality and Religion DO have a place in Politics and Government

and Same gender unions: an issue of moral principle

The above links both go to the same newsletter (it contains both articles).

Get out and vote and ensure that the family is preserved.

I’ve just read an article on the BBC website about an agreement reached with three principle internet backbone providers to put an end to the proliferation of child pornography.  I’m thrilled that these large companies have taken this step.  In fact I decided to do something about it. Before I tell you what I did, check out the article here:

 US firms to block child sex sites

Child pornography is a terrible evil and is representative of the moral decay in the world.  It should be clear to all Christians that there is no place for this type of filth.  So, the first thing I did when I saw this was write a letter to each of the three companies involved and praise them for taking a stand and committing to make the internet safer.  Here is what I wrote:

I Just read the BBC article referencing your company.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7446637.stm

I wanted to say THANK YOU!  I am so offended by pornography and worry about its affect on my two young daughters and I am thrilled that your company has taken the first step toward eliminating this!

THANK YOU!

Daniel Watrous

The three companies that made this committment include Sprint, Verizon and Time Warner.  Contact information is below:

Sprint: Taylor, John B <John.B.Taylor@sprint.com>

Verizon: http://www22.verizon.com/foryourhome/ContactUs/ContactUs_Email_Form.aspx

Time Warner: http://www.timewarnercable.com/Northwest/customer/contactus/default.html (click the link that says “Online Form”)

Make sure that you voice your support today for this great step forward.  Maybe if they hear enough Americans decry the terrible practice of pornography (and especially child pornography), they will finally be willing to support measures like the Child Protect Channel Initiative .

I voted last night in the Boise ID primary elections.  I really didn’t feel like I had enough information to vote in a few of the races.  It’s hard to find the time to do the research that I should and there are so few trustworthy sources.  The news paper and other media avenues that offer endorsements are very rarely objective and they can easily skew the results.  Quite often they are liberal too.

Despite all that, I was impressed again at the peace and tranquility.  I walked into the middle school and found it quiet.  One man that was leaving told me which direction to go to get to the voting booth.  It was a powerful contrast to what I’ve heard about in other parts of the world with armed men in the streets trying to intimidate anyone that would vote and coruption in the handling of the ballots.  I don’t think this peace and quiet is limited to the primary elections in Boise ID, but is the same throughout America.

A disappointing statistic for the Boise primary elections held yesterday is that around 20% of voters turned out. Here in America we enjoy safety, freedom and so much more than other parts of the world and such a small portion of the voting age population even shows up.  I really do wish that people would take more of an interest in the political process.

Some people may argue that the low voter turnout is due to the fact that it is a primary election, not a general election.  They’re right.  The turnout will be higher for the actual election, but will it be enough higher to show that we here in the most successful democracy in the world still value it and remember the price that was paid to obtain our freedom?  I sure hope so.

I just watched a trailer for a movie that I MUST see.  It is the product of Ben Stein and discusses the perplexity of the conflict between so called scientists and a belief in God and a creation.  It is really chilling

The website answers the questions why:

Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.

On the website there are resources for Teachers, Students and others that want to get involved in the movement.  Resources include posters, flyers, press kit, etc.  What a terrific message to send at a time when we seem to be completely lost as a society.

I was reminded today of testimony given to a congressional committee sometime after the Columbine High School shootings nearly ten years ago.  In light of more recent, and seemingly more frequent, shootings in our schools, it seems appropriate to reproduce some of those comments here.  This is a poem written by Darrell Scott, father of Rachel Scott, who was a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage,
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question “Why?”
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

Here is a complete copy of the e-mail that was circulating then: Link

I certainly think that the topic of prayer in school is one that should be revisited.