OUR COLUMNISTS Democracy's Delusion? Commentary by Joe Murray It is time for the yearly ritual where the elected branches of the federal government abdicate their authority to the unelected "men in black" sitting on the Supreme Court. Sacrificing Truth for Love Commentary by Jane Jimenez Modern pundits despair when people make statements claiming an absolute truth. They have forgotten the wisdom of the ages .... Truth endures for the very reason that it does not tolerate untruths. Seeking a Savior Commentary by Brad Locke Our sports heroes will err, sometimes so egregiously that we can't justify or ignore it. Yet we continue to raise up new idols for worship, placing them precariously on the rubbish of the last fallen idol. A Father's Influence Extends to Generations Commentary by Mark Creech There's no escaping it. Dads either build a place of blessing for their children, or they build a prison. They either grow weeds -- or roses.

...Manny Miranda of the organization known as the Third Branch Conference is working hard to get Senate Republicans to push for votes on several of President Bush's judicial nominees. Miranda believes this is still an important issue to the voters and is trying to force Senate action. "We're trying to do that by getting them to bring up for a vote all of the obstructed nominees that the President has had -- some of them obstructed for five years, three years, two years. And really, the time is now," the Third Branch Conference spokesman asserts. According to Miranda, much of a delay in taking action on these nominees could kill any hope of seeing them get an up-or-down vote this session because the Senate agenda is growing rapidly as the November elections approach. [Bill Fancher]

...A large Washington State union recently abandoned its attempt to bar three employees from diverting their union dues to charity. The three individuals, who were all employed by the State of Washington, contacted Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) separately, expressing nearly identical frustrations. Each was concerned about positions being advocated by their union, Washington Federation of State Employees, that conflicted with their religious beliefs. The workers did not want their dues supporting the WFSE and its parent organization, the AFL-CIO, both of which promote abortion and homosexuality. But when the employees tried to exercise their rights under federal law to opt out of supporting the union and instead pay the equivalent of their mandatory dues to charity, the WFSE denied their requests, claiming the workers were not eligible for exemption. Union officials also rejected demands from PJI insisting that they honor the employees’ rights. PJI teamed up with affiliate attorney Doug Lee to file a formal complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). After the EEOC began its investigation, however, the WFSE changed course and separately notified all three employees that their requests had been reviewed and their dues would now be diverted to charity. Matthew McReynolds, the PJI staff attorney who first wrote to the union on the employees’ behalf, stated, “We’re pleased that the WFSE finally recognized that it couldn’t deny these employees their federal rights." PJI president Brad Dacus commented, “No employee should be forced to choose between their conscience and their job." He says federal law requires unions to accommodate religious objectors, but oftentimes the unions need "a little prodding." [Jenni Parker]

...The U.S. House of Representatives has settled a battle that has raged for years between individual homeowners and the associations to which many belong. Republican Congressman Roscoe Bartlett says the passage of a bill known as HR 42 has now settled the dispute. "Many homeowners associations had clauses that prohibited the flying of the American flag," Bartlett explains. He says these associations "have a right to protect the value of their homes, but the homeowner has a right to fly the flag; and so HR 42 is a resolution that we think is a common-sense bill." This legislation "recognizes the rights of the homeowners association to have reasonable limitations on what the homeowner can do," the congressman asserts, "but those limitations cannot include prohibiting the flying of our flag. It's hard for me to understand how flying the American flag could depreciate the value of anything that it's flown on." Bartlett says he cannot understand why the flying of the Stars and Stripes would depreciate property. The bill protecting homeowners' right to fly the U.S. flag passed unanimously. [Bill Fancher]

...The ministry Revival Fires International has launched an effort to distribute the Bible to every Marine, sailor, soldier, airman and Coast Guardsman serving America in combat areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Revival Fires' spokesman Tim Todd, U.S. military personnel who are deployed and serving their country, in harm's way daily, are open to the gospel and desperately need God's Word. However, he notes, the U.S. government no longer provides God's Word for America's troops. "Because of the foolish 'separation of church and state' battle going on in this country, our military stopped this years ago," Todd observes. "Now our chaplains have to depend on Christian organizations ... to provide these Bibles for our servicemen and women." Over 140,000 soldiers who have served or are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have received a Bible provided by Revival Fires. The Bibles are air-lifted on military transports to these countries and given to U.S. military chaplains to distribute to the armed services personnel to whom they minister. As a result, Todd points out, many soldiers have come home with changed lives and many have confessed Christ as their Savior. He is urging Christians to partner with Revival Fires International by giving to this effort to supply God's Word to the men and women who are defending America's freedom and fighting the war on terror. "You and I will never do anything more important or patriotic this July 4 than providing Bibles for our troops," Todd says. A ministry web page has been set up to provide would-be supporters with more information. [Jenni Parker]

...A Memphis church has erected a 72-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty. It is tall and green like the original, with the right arm extended upward in the familiar pose. But instead of a torch, this statue holds a cross. And the famous inscription -- "Give me your tired, your poor ..." -- has been replaced by Roman numerals representing the Ten Commandments. A tear is running down her face. It has a $260,000 price tag. World Overcomers Outreach Ministers Church is calling it the "Statue of Liberation." It will be unveiled at an Independence Day ceremony. The pastor, Apostle Alton Williams, says people cannot drive by the statue "without thinking about their relationship with God." [AP]

...An official with Focus on the Family says the Church needs to reach out to isolated Americans, many of whom are caught up in contemporary culture's epidemic of loneliness. A study funded by the National Science Foundation says Americans have a third fewer close friends than they did 20 years ago, and one out of every four Americans say they have no one in whom to confide. Focus on the Family vice president Dr. Bill Maier blames the change on TV, careers, and the Internet. But he says the current situation provides "an excellent wakeup call for the church," which needs to start asking questions. "First of all," he asks, "are we really living out the 'one another' commandments that we find in scripture? Are we living those out in the body of Christ. And when I say the 'one another' commandments, I'm referring to statements like pray for one another, confess your faults to one another, encourage one another, bear one another's burdens. Those are not suggestions," the pro-family official emphasizes. "Those are commandments that we find in God's Word." Maier says widespread American isolation gives the Church a great opportunity for evangelism. [Natalie Harris]

...The U.S. Border Patrol says a new "zero-tolerance" program being used along a 190-mile section of the border with Mexico is proving to be a strong deterrent to illegal alien crossings. It's called Operation Streamline, and it is being used in the Border Patrol's Del Rio, Texas, sector. Supervisory agent Hilario Leal claims the zero-tolerance policy is just what it says. "Anyone caught crossing in that area is to be processed for illegal entry, which is a misdemeanor and carries up to 180 days, if convicted," he notes. "And at the same time, while they're being processed for the criminal violation, they are being processed administratively for expedited removal back to their country of origin." Statistics suggest the program is working. "We are down 58 percent in apprehensions from last year," Leal says, "simply because the word has spread that in Del Rio Sector, if you cross and if you are caught, then you will go to jail and you will be returned to your country -- and that the aliens, if they cross again, could face penalties more severe than just 180 days." Once people are convicted of illegal entry, the Border Patrol agent points out, they become remanded to the United States Marshal Service, which in turn can designate detention facilities in the local area or as far out as necessary. "In other words," he says, "the marshals have the room to hold these people while they're serving their sentences. And while they're serving their sentences, they're being moved back to their country." Leal believes other Border Patrol sectors will adopt similar "no tolerance" programs. [Chad Groening]

...Some Christian pilgrims visiting Israel have personally offered their support to Israeli forces positioned along with border with the Gaza Strip. About 25 people strummed guitars and sang religious songs Thursday as hundreds of troops milled about in the distance alongside tanks and armored vehicles. The pilgrims -- from the U.S., Europe and Australia -- also wore white T-shirts that said "Your God is my God." And they waved Israeli flags. The group had planned to visit Israel long before this week's invasion was launched. Some evangelical groups support Israel, believing that Jewish domination over the region is part of biblical prophecy. [AP]

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