Conservative Manifesto

The Conservative Manifesto -- In great victories, expect attacks.

• Marriage Can't be Redefined
  
  Not shouldn't be redefined.
  
  Truthfully can't be redefined.
  
  Conservatives, including myself, have made the mistake of succumbing to the idea that humankind has the authority to redefine marriage -- at the very least with our use of language pertaining to as much. How many of us have discussed the "redefining of marriage" with family and friends?
  
  I certainly have.
  
  But it struck me today that, regardless of man's attempts at this and other points in our history, it's entirely impossible to do so.
  
  Sure, governing authorities can construct and curtail laws around the logistics of people's lives, but something authored by God can't be redefined by man. Marriage is an ordained estate, regardless of how man has screwed it up. From creation to the lips of Jesus, marriage has always been and will always be one-man-one-woman in the eyes of its creator.
  
  Its author.
  
  Marriage isn't ours to (re)define anymore than Homer's Odyssey, or Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. And though there are many aberrations of marriage described in the Bible, only one form of marriage is prescribed in the Bible. We would do well to remind folks with whom we discuss this issue of just that.
  
  For it was through and for Jesus that marriage was created. (Col. 1:16)
  
  And it will never change.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 9th Circuit: Prop 8 Unconstitutional
  
  That was the ruling released by the 3-judge, San Francisco-based court today.
  
  You're as shocked as me, I'm sure.
  
  =)
  
  

  The court ruled 2-1 to uphold the decision of a lower court judge, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of San Francisco, who determined in Aug. 2010 that Proposition 8 was a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians.

  
  You can read the full decision here.
  
  Off to the Supremes it goes!
  
  (Of course, it should go without saying that it doesn't really matter what the SCOTUS decides. God is the author of marriage, not man. So while man attempts and often succeeds in justifying a deviation from the biblical prescription for marriage, from creation to the lips of Jesus, marriage has always been and will always be one-man-one-woman in the eyes of its Creator.)
  
  UPDATE: ADF President & CEO Alan Sears responds
  
  
  (Feed readers click through for video)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• On Marriage, Women, Men, and a Gentle Tongue that Breaks a Bone
  
  Over the weekend the college and young adult ministry I shepherd put on The Marriage Initiative, an event serving to restore a more Biblical view of the roles of women and men in marriage.
  
  It was the first event put on by the young adults since I was called to revamp the ministry last summer -- and a smashing success.
  
  The Holy Spirit showed up, over 150 people and 16 children were ministered to in some capacity, and only had to put out one literal fire. (Something about a tea candle and the tissue paper from a raffle prize torching the ticket basket. We simply redistributed new tickets.)
  
  The event received the highest of compliments from those in attendance.
  
  That said, nothing is perfect.
  
  I've posted the two video sermons we screened here at TCM before, but wanted to do so again and add the sermon response to the event -- or more accurately, Pastor Mark's tone in the Marriage and Men sermon -- from Pastor Rob. For full context, you should watch all three videos in the following order, or just Rob's video at the end if you've already seen the first two.
  
  Marriage and Women
  
  
  Marriage and Men
  
  
  A Gentle Tongue Breaks the Bone
  
  (Feed readers click through for all videos)
  
  After the sermon and during communion, Pastor Rob came over to me, put his hand on my shoulder and whispered: "We okay?"
  
  "That's why you're my pastor," I replied. And I meant it.
  
  So blessed by him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Romney Wins Most Conservatives in First Five Contests
  
  I'm just sayin'.
  
  

  Mr. Romney capped off that showing with a win in Nevada that included support from a majority of self-identified conservatives, a feat neither Mr. Gingrich nor the other two remaining candidates have been able to accomplish.
  
  “He may be more conservative than Romney, but that does not mean that he is winning over more conservative voters,” said Mark Rozell, a political science professor at George Mason University. “The primary voters are not aligning themselves solely on the basis of ideology. They are looking as well to electability, character, leadership ability, among other factors. So being to the right of the front-runner is not enough to convince conservative voters to pick a Gingrich.”

  
  Bingo.
  
  Conservatives should -- and appear to -- be above the sort of emotional idealism so prevalent on the left. Ideology is important. But politicking is about finding common ground to move the nation forward.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Happy Birthday, Gipper
  
  
  
  Washington could sure use your wit these days.
  
  
  (Feed readers click through for video)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• "Men, this whole thing changes with you."
  
  "And we're coming after you, in love, with the gospel of Jesus. Because you are the problem. You are perpetuating the global sex trade with your sexual decisions. But by the grace of God, you can become the solution."
  
  
  (Feed readers click through for video)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Article of the Week: O'Sullivan's First Law in Action
  
  Courtesy of Steven Hayward over at Power Line.
  
  

  O’Sullivan’s First Law, named for John O’Sullivan, former editor of National Review, speechwriter for Margaret Thatcher, and author of the fine book The President, The Pope, and the Prime Minister, goes as follows: Any institution that is not explicitly right wing will become left wing over time. Good example include such seemingly anodyne institutions like the League of Women Voters, PTAs, National Public Radio, most professional associations like the American Bar Association, the Pew Charitable Trust (which actually was intended to be explicitly conservative, and still got captured by the left), and so forth. This week is seeing a good example of the logic and action of O’Sullivan’s First Law at work.
  
  We noted here the other day how the leftist climateers are pressuring the American Meteorological Association to submit to climate orthodoxy. But an even more revealing case is the way the left is reacting to the decision of the Susan G. Komen Foundation to discontinue most of their funding for Planned Parenthood. The left has gone into full denunciation and outrage mode. Feminist organizations went directly to DefCon1. The Komen Foundation’s website has been hacked. Board members are being pressured to resign.

  
  Be sure to read the entire post.
  
  Hat tip: Nate B.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• CalSTRS: "...benefit(s) cannot be taken away..."
  
  Apparently, not even if you hold children as sex slaves.
  
  

  A teacher charged with 23 counts of lewd conduct in his classroom successfully thwarted attempts by the Los Angeles Unified School District to fire him. In the process, the teacher, who is accused of spoon-feeding his semen to blindfolded children, managed to retain lifetime health-benefits provided by the nation’s second-largest school system.
  
  Former Miramonte Elementary School teacher Mark Berndt also automatically receives nearly $4,000 a month in pension from the California State Teachers' Retirement System.
  
  Investigators were a year away from filing charges against Berndt, 61, when they brought copies of disturbing photos to the school principal on Jan. 3, 2011, according to investigators. Sheriff's investigators had pictures of boys and girls gagged with tape, blindfolded and some were being fed a milky substance from a spoon.

  
  If/when convicted, this evil specimen should be CA's #14.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The Essence of Masculinity Is Taking Responsibility
  
  Huge.
  
  
  (Feed readers click through for video)
  
  Absolutely huge.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales
  
  That's the title of this latest poetic piece from Spoken Word phenom, Jeff Bethke.
  
  
  
  Here's the inspiration behind the work...
  
  
  (Feed readers click through for videos)
  
  I read Real Marriage at the beginning of this month and can attest that it is incredibly encouraging and challenging, and highly recommend that you read it as well -- even if you're not married. It's only $12.
  
  As I mentioned, I also picked up the Real Marriage DVD and am actually beginning the study with a few close, young married couples from our fellowship this evening. Really stoked on that.
  
  Dig the book, dig the study, dig the poem.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• There are many aberrations of marriage described in the Bible...
  
  But only one form of marriage prescribed in the Bible.
  
  And within marriage, God has set apart each spouse to fulfill a specific role.
  
  That of husband or wife.
  
  Head or helper.
  
  How those roles play out will be the topic of The Marriage Initiative, an event being put on by the college & young adult ministry I shepherd this Saturday evening from 5-8PM.
  
  It's free, open to all, and going to be an entertaining, insightful, and challenging evening.
  
  You should come.
  
  I'm serious.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Romney Wins Florida
  
  That's right, I said it. Already.
  
  It's time to get on the Romney Rail, fellow conservatives.
  
  Let's move on to making the 2012 election about President Obama's dismal economic record with a guy who specializes in turning things around.
  
  Join me.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)
  
  It's important to note that God allows storms to occur in your life even when you're being obedient.
  
  It's how you respond to Jesus that determines whether you make it to the other side safely.
  
  
  (Feed readers click through for video)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• An Excerpt from Reagan's Diary on Gingrich
  
  From Ch. 3, 1983.
  
  Click image to enlarge.
  
  

  Newt Gingrich has a proposal for freezing the budget at the 1983 level. It's a tempting idea except that it would cripple our defense programs. And if we make an exception on that every special interest group will be asking for the same.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• President Obama's Economic Record
  
  Despite the spin, it's bad.
  
  
  America needs a decisive right turn this November.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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