Friday, January 31, 2014

The N.Y. Governor’s New Marketing Campaign

Other week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had a message for conservative Republicans — you don’t belong in New York.  Cuomo said members of the GOP with “extreme” views are creating an identity crisis for their party and represent a bigger worry than Democrats such as himself.  “Their problem isn’t me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves,” the governor said on Albany’s The Capitol Pressroom radio show.  “Who are they?  Right to life, pro-assault weapons, anti-gay — if that’s who they are, they have no place in the state of New York because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”  He added that moderate Republicans, such as those in the state Senate, “have a place in their state.”
 
Cuomo hammered Republican activists whose views he said were out of step with the majority of New Yorkers and said the party has to back moderates to have any hope of winning seats in this fall’s elections.  “You have a schism within the Republican Party,” Cuomo observed.  “They’re searching to define their soul.  That’s what’s going on … It’s a mirror of what’s going on in Washington.”
 
When liberals speak off the cuff, those moments of candor often tell us everything we need to know about them.  Gov. Cuomo just told a couple of million New Yorkers that they are unwelcome in HIS state.  Can you imagine Cuomo saying anything remotely similar to the large number of Muslim immigrants coming to New York?  Where is the governor's courage when it comes to Islamists who want women hidden under burkas?
 
Sadly, it is now widely accepted for the left to bash conservatives and Christians while attacking religious liberty.  Cuomo's comments are another reminder of just how intolerant the left has become.
 
Christians should not be surprised.  Jesus said to His followers, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12, NIV)
 
Are you rejoicing?
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

You Be the Judge

A hospital in Texas decided not to fight a judge’s orders to remove a pregnant brain dead woman from life support, removing the woman from the ventilator … and thus ending her nearly 23-week-old baby’s life.
 
“From the onset, JPS has said its role was not to make nor contest law but to follow it,” John Peter Smith Hospital representative J.R. Labbe wrote in a statement.  “ … a state district judge ordered the removal of life-sustaining treatment from Marlise Munoz.  The hospital will follow the court order.”
 
Munoz, 33, has been on a ventilator since late November when her husband Erick, 26, found her unconscious in the middle of the night. According to Mr. Munoz, the woman got up after 2 a.m. to check on their infant son, and when she did not return, he got up to check on both of them, finding his wife collapsed on the floor.  Doctors believe that Munoz suffered a blood clot in her lung, which caused her to collapse.  She has had no brain activity since being admitted to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth two months ago.  Her baby, who was fourteen weeks in gestation at the time of the incident, reportedly had a measurable heartbeat, which resulted in a disagreement between the hospital and Munoz’ family.
 
Munoz’ husband and her parents both wanted the mother removed from life support, asserting that she would not wish to be kept alive by machines.  Munoz worked as a paramedic, as does her husband. “Marlise firmly requested not to be put on life support,” her mother Lynne wrote on a local news outlet’s Facebook page.  “Her wishes are not being honored.”
 
The family filed a lawsuit against JPS Hospital after officials contended that they could not legally remove Munoz from the ventilator due to the Texas Advance Directive Act – which states that “a person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment” from a pregnant woman. Thus, Munoz must be kept on life support until the baby can be delivered at a viable stage, usually 24 to 26 weeks gestation.
 
Following a hearing, Judge R.H. Wallace sided with Munoz’s family, stating that she is deceased and that the law being cited by the hospital does not apply to the dead.  “The provisions of … the Texas Health and Safety Code do not apply to Marlise Munoz because applying the standard used in determining death … Mrs. Munoz is dead,” he wrote.
 
As the hospital had argued at trial that it had never pronounced Munoz dead, Wallace ordered that it now do so and remove her from life support.  The hospital decided to comply with the order and removed Munoz from the ventilator … and released Munoz’ body to her husband.
 
“The Munoz and Machado families will now proceed with the somber task of laying Marlise Munoz’s body to rest, and grieving over the great loss that has been suffered,” attorneys Heather L. King and Jessica H. Janicek wrote in a statement.  “May Marlise Munoz finally rest in peace, and her family find the strength to complete what has been an unbearably long and arduous journey.”
 
However, some are expressing great disapproval over the outcome of the situation, explaining that it has now resulted in two tragedies–the death of both the mother and child.  Based on the information made public, Mrs. Munoz was not experiencing multi-system organ failure or cell disintegration, and her body was supporting the growth of the child within her—all signs indicated that her brain, though impaired or quiescent, was still ordering her physiological functions at some level.
 
“The death of baby Munoz represents a colossal failure on so many levels.  Her father failed her.  The Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbot failed her.  The hospital failed her.  Finally, by usurping the will of the people of Texas, the courts failed her,” said Mark Harrington, Executive Director of the pro-life group Created Equal.”  If only one of those in position to stop this execution of baby Munoz would have stepped up to the plate and done the right thing, she would have been born alive in the next few weeks.  Baby Munoz was a human being who deserved the same legal protections of born people.  The truth is baby Munoz was executed by judicial tyranny.”
 
I appeal to my fellow followers of Jesus; it’s time for us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.  Proverbs 31:8-9 compels us to do so: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  We can’t just sit back and do nothing, my friends.  The Bible is very clear.  Proverbs 24:11 lays it out in pretty strong words: “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”  In some of Moses’ last words, he urges us to choose life in Deuteronomy 30:19: “…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”  Can Christ count on you … who were granted life … to step up, speak out and reach out to pregnant women and unborn children?  May God grant that this evil will pass from our land.
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Monday, January 27, 2014

What Happen to Global Warming? It’s Cold!

Next Sunday (2 Feb), is Groundhog Day – the day according to folklore in which the groundhog makes an appearance.  If it is cloudy when he emerges from his burrow, then Spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into his burrow, and winter weather will continue for six more weeks.  Well, if the groundhog is that smart, he’ll say – “Forget the shadow.  It’s too cold!”
 
What happen to so-called ‘global warming’ … because it is nowhere to be found. Today’s sub-zero temperature here in Minnesota has a -45 degree wind-chill.  The fact is: The mean global temperature has not risen in 17-years and has been slowly falling for approximately the past 10-years.  In 2013, there were more record-low temperatures than record-high temperatures in the United States.
 
At the end of the first week in January 2014, a brutal spell of cold weather settled over most of the country.  Multiple cold-temperature records were shattered across the nation. Some sites experienced frigid conditions not seen since the 19th century.  Chicago and New York City broke temperature records set in 1894 and 1896, respectively.  These extremes were not singular, but exemplary of conditions throughout much of the continent.  Temperatures in Chicago were so cold that a polar bear at the Lincoln Park Zoo had to be taken inside.
 
The onset of polar conditions over the United States was also a reminder that cold weather (in general) is more hostile to human welfare than warm weather.  The operation of power grids, gas pipelines and oil refineries was disrupted.  Passengers on Amtrak trains were left stranded, and thousands of flights were delayed or canceled.  By Jan. 7, the media were reporting at least 21 deaths directly related to the cold.
 
The January freeze caused $3 million in damage to vineyards in Ohio.  Citrus crops in Florida apparently escaped damage, but California growers were not so lucky.  A weeklong spell of cold weather in early December damaged up to half of the state’s $1.5 billion citrus crop.  California farmers may (or may not) take consolation in the fact that their state government is attempting to further cool the climate by mandating a reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions.
 
As frigid conditions settled over the nation, global-warming alarmists went into full denial mode.  We were emphatically lectured that singular weather events are not necessarily indicative of long-term climate trends.  True enough, but haven’t we been repeatedly told that weather events such as hurricanes Sandy and Katrina are unequivocal proof of global warming?
 
If we’re really in the middle of a ‘climate crisis,’ is it not remarkable that low-temperature records from the 19th century were shattered?
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Friday, January 24, 2014

Coram Deo

A small white cross is sparking a big battle over church-state separatism in Searcy, AK, where the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is demanding that a local police chief remove the religious symbol from public property.
 
The cross was planted in the ground outside the Searcy Police Department before Police Chief Jeremy Clark started in his current position last year.  Clark told KARK-TV that he had no idea how it got there, but that he has no plans to remove it, despite the Wisconsin-based atheist group’s prodding.  “Someone put it there.  I didn’t put it there.  I don’t know who did.  I wasn’t going to remove it just because this organization in another state told us that we should,” he said of the FFRC’s efforts.  “We’re here serving the citizens of Searcy, and I don’t feel like we’ve done anything to offend them.”
 
But the atheist organization — known for waging similar battles across the nation over perceived violations of the separation of church and state — is arguing that, by leaving the cross in place, the police department is showing government endorsement of religion.  “It’s such a simple remedy.  All they (Searcy) have to do is remove the cross; and if the police chief is partial to it, he can put it on his own lawn,” FFRC Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor told KARK-TV.
 
Former Police Chief Kyle Osborne, who retired last year, told The Daily Citizen that the cross was placed on the property in 2011 after being made by members of the St. Paul United Methodist Church.  “The St. Paul guys passed those out all over town and you still see them all the time,” he said.  “One day an officer asked me about putting it out there and I said it was OK.  If it was up to me, I’d absolutely keep that cross up.”
 
Police Chief Clark also argued that the cross is outside his private entrance and that he is the only person who sees it daily.
 
FFRC has pledged to continue pushing for the symbol’s removal.  With neither side willing to back down, it will be intriguing to see where the cross battle ends up.
 
The reformer, Martin Luther, said that “when the cross is abolished, and the rage of tyrants and heretics ceases on the one side, and all things are in peace, this is a sure token that the pure doctrine of God’s Word is taken away.”  The world’s hatred is sometimes a sign that we are being faithful to Scripture … provided the world detests us due to the message we preach, not because we are obnoxious.  If we meet no worldly opposition, it may mean we are not being true to the offense of the cross.
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

In Memoriam to the 57-Million Victims of This Day

Since the dreadful January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade 7-2 Supreme Court decision that interpreted this “right to privacy” in the U.S. Constitution and used that ‘right’ to legalize abortion-on-demand … placing this nation’s governmental approval upon the unleashed death and destruction of innocent boys and girls … 57-million babies have been murdered.  We’re not talking about ‘taking’ the lives of 57-million unborn children, but about ‘creating’ the lives of 57-million and then killing them … presumably for the ‘good’ of humanity.  It is the American Holocaust … far exceeding all of the war dead (1.3 million) of the U.S. since the American Revolution.
 
This number of babies killed will only go up as the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a., Obamacare) is implemented by the ‘so-called’ Health and Human Services (HHS) department of our federal government.  In fact, we’ll cease to truly know how many abortions are being performed because of the free access to the ‘morning after pill’ in this healthcare atrocity.  According to its website, Plan B One-Step© is marketed to prevent pregnancy “before it even happens” … “if taken within 72-hours after unprotected sex or birth control failure.”  So now, we are not measuring pregnancy from the time of conception, but 3-days after intercourse.
 
Let me point out the obvious: Instead of babies being aborted at the rate of 3,000 a day in the U.S., it’s time that this abominable Obamacare be killed!
 
Painful as it may be to imagine: Today 3,000 innocent people will be submitted to capital punishment … although they will have no trial before they are executed.  They have no attorney, and will not be granted the basic rights of even a prisoner of war.  Not only will they not be treated humanely, they will not be afforded the basic anesthetics used by every veterinarian in America.  They will die a torturous death; ripped apart by forceps or injected with toxins or partially delivered by breach birth only to have their brains sucked out to collapse the skull for passage through the exit of the pelvis.  Why we’ve even had such physicians as Dr. Kermit Gosnell of my ‘birthplace’ (Philadelphia) who was tried and found guilty for the murdering of hundreds of live-birth children.  We’re talking about babies with souls since the moment of conception; fellow human beings who can/have developed physically – with beating hearts, digesting stomachs, open eyes, and hearing ears.  Since the advent of ultrasound we have explicitly seen recoiling in pain … desperately trying to escape their killers!  Where is the logic: If the way that the physician determines a person to be completely dead is by the absence of brain waves, then shouldn’t the presence of brain waves prove life!?
 
On September 11, 2001, evil-doing terrorists killed over 3,000 people, and the outcry for justice was great; the cry of pain was heard throughout our nation.  But listen: On September 12, 2001, 3,000 more lives were extinguished … and again on the 13th and 14th and 15th … and every day hence in America.  Where’s the weeping, anger, and outcry for justice?  The Bible says that God hates the shedding of innocent blood. (read of Cain killing his brother Abel in Genesis 4:1-12)  His righteous indignation remains to this day for such injustice.  The pro-abortion crowd yells about ‘freedom of choice.’  They say, “It’s my body … and nobody is going to tell me what I can or cannot do with my body!”  Oh, really?  Think again.  God has already spoken clearly.  He looks justly and recognizes the baby’s body as well.  It’s not hard to imagine an aborted baby in heaven asking God – “How could she do that?  After all, it’s my body!”
 
Now you may thoughtlessly think that this issue of abortion should be left to the government to decide; that it is a political issue, and not to be addressed by the likes of me – an American clergy.  Listen: This is not party politics.  The sanctity of human life is the one social issue that defines the morality of this nation, and each and every candidate that seeks election or appointment for public office.  And if you are a Christian, then you must vote Pro-Life.  Why? … because God is Pro-Life, and you are privileged to bear His name as a Christian!  If you voted for a candidate that is pro-choice rather than pro-life, then you need to ask God to forgive your foolish ways; your denial of His sovereign rule in your life; your lack of conviction to stand firmly on the uncompromising Word of God.  Jesus warned us, “No servant can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both … ” (Luke 16:13)  There’s your choice: Be obedient to God or suffer the consequences of disobedience.
 
In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read – “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Do you SEEK His face? … will you TURN from your wicked ways?  If we will do as God has commanded, our God who keeps His promises, will HEAR from heaven, FORGIVE our sins and HEAL our land.
 
On this day which marks the 41st anniversary legalizing abortion-on-demand in the U.S., let’s put a stop to this American Holocaust.    
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel


 

Monday, January 20, 2014

Human Dignity for Races and Pre-Born

Americans United for Life (AUL) has released its ‘2014 Life List’ and reported the ranking of all 50-states on how well they protect life in law.  For the 5th year in a row, Louisiana tops the list; followed by Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Texas.  Also for the 5th year in a row, the state of Washington has ranked as the worst state for life … for failing to protect women from an unmonitored and under-regulated abortion industry; followed by California, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut.  This year's most improved states include: Texas, Illinois, North Carolina and Kansas.
 
According to AUL's website, “AUL also released the ‘Women's Protection Project’ All-Stars honoring states that have so far done the best in enacting protections for both mothers and unborn children, the victims of abortion industry horrors.  The All-Stars ranking is awarded to states based on the enactment of protective, common-sense legislation, specifically the legislative models highlighted in AUL's ‘Women's Protection Project,’ now being distributed nationwide.  This year's AUL All-Stars include: Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas.”
 
Said AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest, “As the legal architects who, since the days immediately following the deadly Roe decision, have championed the strategy of using expertly crafted model legislation to protect life, AUL has tracked states' progress toward achieving a nation in which every-one is welcomed in life and protected in law.  Real pro-life momentum is reshaping the country as legislators craft protections for both mother and child, the victims of an avaricious abortion industry.  Common-sense pro-life legislation saves lives and has broad public support in light of what we're learning about the health risks of abortion for women.”
 
Society’s views on abortion are changing … but it takes time.  William Wilberforce campaigned for 35-years in Parliament to get rid of slavery in Britain.  Christians are making a difference and we need to keep speaking out … offering love and compassion to pregnant women contemplating abortion.

Today we recognize the incredible impact that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had in our country in helping to establish the dignity of every person, regardless of skin color. Someday I hope that our country will gain the conviction to stand up on behalf of the pre-born.  
 
I appeal to my fellow followers of Jesus; it’s time for us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.  Proverbs 31:8-9 compels us to do so: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Friday, January 17, 2014

The Defenders Are Defended in Their Constitutional Right to Religious Freedom

It was a welcomed victory for religious freedom for our all-volunteer military.  Congress approved (and President Obama signed the day after Christmas) the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  This new law contains stronger language than ever before that assures our service members do not have to give up their own freedoms while protecting ours.  This new law contains some of Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) provisions to assure better implementation of freedom guarantees.
 
In the past, the Obama Administration has largely ignored protections for service members.  This law provides clear deadlines for the Department of Defense (DoD) to issue new regulations.  Military commanders should no longer be in doubt about America’s historic commitment to religious freedom in the ranks.
 
This underscoring of basic freedoms by the U.S. Congress should never have been necessary.
 
We have seen under this Administration an unprecedented looking away as the basic rights of service members have been infringed.  ‘Political correctness’ seems to be the ‘Order of the Day.’  This Administration has been more interested in using the military as a laboratory for radical social experimentation than as the sword and shield of the republic.
 
The need to protect such freedom goes all the way back to Gen. George Washington in the Continental Army.  When he assumed command of the Army in Massachusetts (in 1775), he soon learned there would be an anti-Catholic demonstration by some zealots among the largely Protestant force.  ‘Pope’s Day’ had been observed for more than a century among New England Puritans.  It featured sports and games, but it ended with a spectacle.  An effigy of the Pope was stuffed with straw and live cats.  Set ablaze, the screaming of the cats was said to be the screaming of the Popes in hell.  Washington put a quick end to such overt religious bigotry.  He reminded his officers that the cause of America needed help … maybe from Catholic Quebec, and surely from Catholic France.  And he sternly forbade such a “childish” and “ridiculous” display.  Washington put an end to ‘Pope’s Day’ … not only in the Army … but in the nation at large.
 
Now compare that to today:
·         When Bibles have been banned at Walter Reed military hospital near Washington, D.C., the Family Research Council (FRC) quickly sought congressional support to have those Bibles restored to our wounded warriors.
·         When a zealous atheist … like Mikey Weinstein from the so-called Military Religious Freedom Foundation … calls upon the Air Force Academy Superintendent to drop “So Help Me God” from the Cadet oath.
·         When the longstanding practice of the Gideons International … who for decades handed out pocket Bibles at the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Stations) … are denied the face-to-face distribution.
 
With the passage and signature of the 2014 NDAA, the right of each member of the military to say “So Help Me God” in enlistment, in promotion, and in taking their initial oaths, has been written (so to speak) in stone.
 
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council (himself a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps) commended on the brave stand of Coast Guard Admiral William Lee.  The admiral boldly said if he knew one of his young men had attempted suicide, he would not hesitate to offer that suffering sailor a Bible.  Tony said of Congress’ passage of the 2014 NDAA: “Defending America’s freedom shouldn’t mean surrendering theirs.”  This is especially the case when the U.S. Constitution they swear “to defend” guarantees the first freedom of all Americans – the free exercise of religion.
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Big Brother Bullies Little Sisters

Responding to the U.S. Supreme Court order blocking the implementation of President Obama's controversial Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare) for a group of Catholic nuns, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has claimed (once again) that the nuns are exempt from providing contraceptive coverage.  In its court filing, the DoJ restated its argument that the Little Sisters of the Poor (a religious order of nuns who take care of the needy and dying elderly) just needs to certify that they don't want to provide contraceptive coverage and thereby leave the decision to a third-party administrator.
 
“Applicants have no legal basis to challenge the self-certification requirement or to complain that it involves them in the process of providing contraceptive coverage,” the government's filing claimed.  Lawyers for the Catholic group (once again) contested the administration's claim … filing a 17-page brief saying Justice Sonia Sotomayor's order saved the nuns from having to choose between violating their faith and facing penalties.  Self-certification amounts to “deputizing a third party to sin on their behalf,” they argued.
 
“The government demands that the Little Sisters of the Poor sign a permission slip for abortion drugs and contraceptives, or pay millions in fines,” said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and lead counsel for the nuns.  “The Sisters believe that doing that violates their faith, and that they shouldn't be forced to divert funds from the poor elderly and dying people they've devoted their lives to serve.”
 
Justice Sotomayor, who issued a stay on the requirement at the request of the Colorado-based Catholic group, gave the administration some time to respond to the Supreme Court.  The high court order came just hours before the administration began forcing some religious-affiliated groups to provide health insurance covering birth control and abortion-inducing drugs or face heavy fines on January 1, 2014.
 
Along with the Little Sisters of the Poor, the order also affects religious health benefit providers, Christian Brothers Services and Christian Brothers Employee Benefits Trust, according to the Becket Fund.
 
Florida-based Liberty Counsel also blasted the administration.  “The Little Sisters of the Poor should be spending its time and resources helping the poor, not having to fight the Obama Administration over a clear-cut violation of its right to free exercise of religion,” said the group – an international non-profit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family.  President Obama has never told the truth about Obamacare in general or the abortion mandate in particular, the group added.  Little Sisters of the Poor cannot simply sign a form to alleviate the violation of its religious conviction.  Signing a form noting its objection is a shell game.  While the Little Sisters of the Poor may not have to directly pay for abortion, the religious group still has to indirectly pay for abortion through its insurance administrator.”
 
Becket Fund's Rienzi noted that the federal government has started the New Year of 2014 the same way that it ended the old one: “trying to bully nuns into violating their religious beliefs.”  The lawyer said the administration's argument was contradictory.  “The government now asks the Supreme Court to believe that the very thing it is forcing the nuns to do – signing the permission slip – is a meaningless act,” he said.  “But why on earth would the government be fighting the Little Sisters all the way to the Supreme Court if it did not think its own form had any effect? The government's brief offers no explanation for its surprising insistence on making the Little Sisters sign a form the government now says is meaningless.”  Rienzi said, the government's brief seeks to “keep the Court out of the issue, which would leave hundreds of religious organizations subject to massive fines for following their religion.”
 
There are currently 91 lawsuits challenging the contraception mandate.  This is clearly a constitutional contest.  The 1st amendment right to religious freedom without government interference must be upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court … not to be judged by politicians who have an agenda to have government controlling more and more of our lives and lifestyle.
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

Monday, January 13, 2014

Stricter Gun Control = More Gun Purchases & Permits to Carry // Stricter Gun Control ≠ Less Crime

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released new statistics on criminal background checks by NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) regarding 2013 gun sales.  It hit a new record high.  The total number of background checks conducted for gun sales last year added up to 21,093,273 … beating the previous 2012 record of 19,592,303 by 1,500,970.  (Texas conducted the most background checks with 1,633,278; and Kentucky came in second with 1,578,331 background checks conducted.)  These significant numbers came during a year when Democrats and the White House attempted (multiple times) to push through new gun control measures.

 
In 2013, President Obama released a number of ‘executive orders’ on gun control and wasted no time at the outset of 2014 in doing the same. States that implemented more gun control measures in 2013 saw a spike in gun sales, especially in relation to population.  Gun sales in Maryland doubled, going from 136,604 in 2012 to 231,361 in 2013.  In 2012, Colorado conducted 414,838 checks; in 2013, there were 514,658.  In Connecticut, 237,496 checks were conducted in 2012 and in 2013, 294,338 went through the system.  So who's buying these guns? According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation and NBC News, women are the fastest growing demographic of gun owners in the United States.

 
Giving credit where credit is due: President Obama is indeed the best gun salesman in U.S. history.

 
Of no surprise to those of us who have a permit to carry, there was a recent study to determine the effects of state-level assault weapons bans and concealed weapons laws on state-level murder rates.  The author of the study is Quinnipiac University economist Mark Gius.  Using data for the period 1980 to 2009 … and controlling for state and year fixed effects … the results suggested that states with restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons had higher gun-related murder rates than other states.  It was also found that assault weapons bans did not significantly affect murder rates at the state-level.  These results suggest that restrictive concealed weapons laws may cause an increase in gun-related murders at the state-level.  The results of this study are consistent with some prior research in this area, most notably Lott and Mustard (1997).  The 2001 study of Koper and Roth showed “the Federal ban had little to no effect on homicide rates associated with firearms and on gunshot wounds per victim.”

 
Clearly, ‘we the people’ believe in our constitutional right to ‘keep and bear arms.’  And the more the government seeks to limit our freedoms, the more the populace will respond in lawful gun purchases and applications to carry.  I’m one who did both in 2013 … motivated by the threat of governmental denial of my 2nd amendment right.  Apparently, I was not alone!

 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
 
 

Friday, January 10, 2014

Going About It the Wrong Way Doesn’t Justify Doing the Right Thing

As many of you know, I have had the pleasure of serving over a dozen years as the chaplain of the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel Foundation … who 46+ years ago saved this historic U.S. Army chapel from the wrecking ball.  (You can read more about it at www.fortsnellingmcf.org)  During my pastorate, we established the by-line – “Where the Veteran is Remembered” – in keeping with our purpose statement.  Shortly after America started deploying troops in response to the 9/11 attack, we put up a ‘Blue Star Flag’ in the sanctuary, adopted countless troops (sending care packages and cards throughout the year), publically recognized them upon their return, financially supporting our military veterans with thousands of dollars, and encouraged our congregation to show their individual backing with hundreds of ‘yellow ribbons’ on their property … just to name a few of our evident support for our troops.
 
Well, a church is in a clash with Nevada County, CA after being told to take down a sign with an American flag and a message to support the troops.  Simple Truth Church put up the sign to cover an old, rundown billboard.  However the “Support Our Troops” sign is becoming quite controversial.  According to CBS13, if the church doesn’t remove the sign, it could be fined.  Most drivers CBS13 spoke with did not have a problem with the sign.  “It doesn’t bother me at all,” said one person.  But for others, it’s an eyesore.  It’s for that reason someone complained to the county to have it taken down.
 
“It’s a little surprising.  All we meant to do was beautify the area, the corner, and it’s a reminder for me — for everyone that drives by — to pray for the troops,” church member Julia Stokes said.  Bill and Julia Stokes say the sign was meant to send a positive message and the church never knew it would stir up such controversy.  “Why would you knock something that has an America flag on it that says ‘Support Our Troops?’  I have no idea; I really don’t,” said Bill.
 
The banner, put up a few weeks ago, may be an upgrade from the faded realty sign that was there before.  But, according to Nevada County officials, Simple Truth Church needed to have a permit before making the change.  And, if they don’t remove it, the county may.
 
“If we don’t do anything, they may come out and cut the sign down.  And, we would have to pay for them to cut the sign down, which seems to be pretty harsh,” said Bill.  The church is holding off on taking down the sign as long as it can.  For now, church officials say it is bringing more followers to the Sunday service.  “People just drive by and love it,” said Julia.  “There have been four new people come to our church because of that sign.”
 
The church will meet with the county to determine exactly what will be done with the sign.  In the meantime, members hope they can keep it up. The previous realty sign stood for nearly 20-years without any permit issues.
 
While I greatly appreciate what this church has done in replacing a run-down realty sign, and I'm in full agreement with the message of the new signage, I must say the ‘simple truth’ to this ‘church’ – Get the permit!  It’s just too simple!
 
Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel