We Must Speak Up

April 13, 2021Blog, Personal Growth, The Asaph Filescall to action, HR5, speak updebio7 Leave a comment

The Asaph Files– collected and shared because you need to know.

Sometime back, I created this category for my blogs (The Asaph Files) with the sole intention of using it to make known information that I have collected that I feel is important for you to know about. Whether or not you are in the loop on the issue or unaware of it, my intention is to shed as much light on it as I can. So that you too, can speak up.

HR 5 – The Equality Act

U.S. Representative, David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island of the 117th Congress has authored this bill that has already passed the House on February 25, 2021, and now is in committee in the Senate.

Here is the cover page of the Bill THAT I HAVE READ in entirety. Phew…

After reading the whole, dang thing, it is clear beyond a doubt that what this bill is proposing to do is CHANGE THE LAWS of America. Many very specific laws are addressed and particular sections are highlighted for language change, with the specific language that must be amended in the previous law.

Here’s an example-

section of HR5, changing the language of previous laws

This happens dozens of times in HR5. Civil Rights Laws are being rewritten with the stroke of a pen with this bill.

Here is the stated purpose of HR5 –

to define sex, sexual orientation and gender identity
expand the definition of public accommodations to include places and establishments that provide exhibitions, exercise, amusement, gatherings of displays, goods, services or programs
allow the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in Federal Court
prohibits an individual from being denied access to shared facilities, including rest rooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms that is in accordance with their gender identity

All under the banner of nondiscrimination protections provided for all LGBTQ people.

According to Theo Santos from the American Center of American Progress –

“The Equality Act would meaningfully expand civil rights protections for many Americans and advance treatment for LGBTQ people, women, people of faith and people of color. It’s time to extend these benefits of equality to all.”
Center for American Progress

Now, I’m for freedom for all and as you know, I believe all men (and women) are created equal. I just happen to believe there is a better, more permanent way to achieve equal justice for all under the law, other than HR5.

Because here’s what HR 5 would really do –

redefine sex under civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity – overriding basic biology along with millennia of tradition
make it illegal to distinguish identity from biology thereby prioritizing transgender people over women
erases sex as a distinct legal category
forbids policy makers from ever making a distinction between male and female ( which is necessary of course for providing safety and equality of the sexes)
thrashes the Civil Rights Acts of 1964
guts the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
threatens constitutional freedoms by eliminating conscience protections for employers, doctors, educators, & religious groups
have the government dictate how Americans think about gender and sex
use the Department of Justice to punish those who violate the government imposed beliefs
violates constitutional freedoms and weaponizes civil rights laws
expands the scope of accommodations to any establishment and opens them up to liabilities for discrimination claims
biological males will be allowed to participate in female only activities
all single sex spaces will be open to both sexes and adds sexual orientation and gender identity
doctors and counselors could be punished for violating their conscience in gender identity treatments
undermines parents rights

After researching from many different sources, I created this list with the data I gleaned from: The Wall Street Journal, The Heritage Foundation, Congress.gov, and AmericanProgress.org

OPINION

This bill would not only drastically change the country that I live in and love, but more importantly it would seek to reshape and redefine the very nature of mankind. It would discard our Judeo Christian foundation and belief in God creating male and female with the intent of them becoming one to reproduce and steward the Earth.

It would threaten faith based organizations and expose them to federal prosecution. It would stigmatize long held, virtuous and godly views about sex and marriage and the sanctity of life.

In fact, discrimination would be the law of the land.

I do not want to live in that America, that is why I am speaking up.

I cannot remain silent.

I urge you to do the same and join me in writing and calling your government representatives and speaking out against this bill and its passage.

Contact your Senator at:

https://www.senate.gov

Many times I have asked you to rise up, step up, branch out, take risks, or to do something different, here is another with easy steps you can take that WILL make a tremendous impact on our nation.

Please, please, we must speak up.

Cheers.

Standing at the hinge of history

April 5, 2020Blog, Personal Growthcall to action, history changing, holy weekdebio7 2 Comments

I actually had no intention of writing this blog on this topic, but as the prophet of old has said,

” But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore…”, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
Jeremiah 20:9

So here goes…

I cannot express the depth of the urgency I feel inside about the spiritual mandate upon us, our nation, for this next week in our history. This week, I believe is a turning point – HINGE – in our history.

What happens this next week, will mark forever how our history plays out.

I cannot escape this, I cannot downplay it. I cannot soften it. And I am not seeking to instill fear or have you consider me a weirdo-fanatic of some kind. It is burning in my heart like a fire and must be shared. That is my job. Results are not.

What happens this next week?

I beleive totally in the timing of God. All things are in his time and controlled according to his timetable. This has always been, through the ages – a meticulously designed series of events involving nations, people, kings and leaders has been woven and played out.

This week, starting today, is the start of “Holy Week”. Today peoples from all over the world celebrate Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as they proclaimed him “King!”.

On this day as well, in 1270 BCE, Joshua and the Israelites had just successfully crossed the Jordan River, perched and almost ready to enter Canaan. But first, after 40 years of disregarding this covenant sign, there had to be a mass circumcision.

Tuesday, in Jewish tradion, is the “Formal Search for Chametz”, leading up to Passover on Thursday.

This search for chametz is when they thoroughly clean their homes of any and all leaven. All products containing leaven are burnt, sold or stored away in a special container. The understanding is not only diligently searching for that hidden leaven but diligently searching their hearts for hidden sins, pride, and hypocricy. Cleaning their heart of these things so they can enjoy The Passover.

Wednesday is The Fast of the Firstborn for the Jews and Christians celebrate Holy Wednesday, the day Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

Thursday is the first day of Passover. It is also known as Maundy Thursday, the day Christians celebrate Jesus’ Last Supper, or the day Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples. Passover is when the Jews remember the miraculous deliverance from Egypt and the plagues, including the Death angel passing over them because of the blood of the lamb on their doorpost.

Thursday, of this week also marks the 40th day of a 40 day global fast that was called last year. It began March 1 and ends April 9. A fast that hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe have committed to. A fast who’s goal was to bring worldwide awakening in the spirit realm and turning of hearts to Jesus and His kingdom. (My husband and I have been so blessed to be able to join with those throngs. )

Friday, we know is Good Friday. The day when we remember Jesus’ horrible beatings, mockings, and crucifixion. The day the world turned dark, the Earth shook, the veil was torn and graves were opened. The day he was sealed in a tomb and attended by the Roman guard. The day the disciples fled away in fear.

Friday night passed. Saturday passed. But Sunday arrived! And with it the resurrection of Jesus, triumphant over death and the grave! Easter Sunday. Resurrection Day!

Please understand, the convergence of all of these events we’ve listed WITH the coronavirus pandemic and its astronomical effects are not by accident. Fears, ilnesses, deaths, fatigue, shut downs, economic collapse, loss of education, celebrations, freedoms, relationships, hope…

They are by design. God’s divine timing. We are standing at the hinge of history.

I believe what we personally do this next week will not only impact our lives for good but more widely impact our nation for good. This is the fire in my bones. This is the call to action for each and every one of us.

Where do we need to allow Jesus to enter our lives, ways, thoughts? Where do we need to declare his victory and not our own? What needs to be cut away from our life?
What “leaven” – hidden (or open) sins need to be found and discarded from our lives?
How can our communion with the Divine be closer and more intimate? How can we feed that spirit?
What does that resurrection power look like in my life? in my family? my city? my state? my nation? How can it arrest the dark plague that has gripped us?
How can my stand see these freedoms from the Divine One extended to all who are in need and affect our future?

What we do this week matters. Never has our nation stood at such a threshhold.

” If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray… I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7″14

If not now, when?

We are standing at the hinge of history.

Cheers to you.

I would love to hear your comments and thoughts. Please leave them below.