A Choice of Conscience

I've really been struggling internally with all the attention the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates are generating. It makes me angry that Americans can't see that they are like little pawns being used in a game. The social networks are a buzz with all the latest debate gossip and people are just glued to their television sets. I'm glad I cancelled our TV reception a couple of years ago, so I don't have the option. I suppose people are wanting to educate themselves about these two candidates they've been presented with by the ruling parties. And I suppose that's a good thing, I guess. But if you're going to spend your time participating in this wicked, no rules system of usurpation, wouldn't it have been a much better idea to put some attention to politics back when there was a viable candidate running who actually spent his entire political career on a foundation which fully supported and upheld the Constitution?

Americans today resemble a frog in a hot pot of water. Not only are they slow to react to the increasing heat, they just don't seem to care enough to get the heck out of the pot! Not only this, but they're actually kind of entertained by the bubbles and steam which slowly envelop their fat little bodies!

Many of you know that I don't really care about the political races going on right now. To me, it's just more of the same. And the debates, though I appreciate a good Jerry Springer episode as much as the next guy (not), are just a big joke. It's kind of like that movie, "The Hunger Games", where that guy asks, "What if no one watched?" That movie left me with a sickened feeling after watching it, but in the end, I think there is a lesson that some of us could take from it. What if we didn't watch? What if, rather than parking our rear ends in front of the television for these debates, political nonsense, and watching our own destruction in progress, we instead spent this valuable time to educate ourselves a bit on what lawful government is really supposed to look like, and what laws we're actually responsible to obey?

Look, Ron Paul isn't the answer. In fact, in a country founded on the ideals of limited government, subject to the people, NO president should be the answer. Ever. But this is my point. The level of freedom that Americans are currently satisfied with is so incredibly low, that we can't even get enough fire under us to get a guy like Ron Paul elected to this de facto government.

The founders didn't need permission to exercise their rights. They wrote a Constitution, which, if not upheld by those elected, was to be a general guideline of resistance and possible "butt kicking" by the people. People today don't even want to kill trees, much less kick any butts. We are weak, slow, lazy, and we deserve the government that we have, because, well, bubbles, steam, and melting flesh are kinda cool, right? "It's all good." We can walk around all day long complaining about the way the system is, the corruption of the politicians. But in the end, flapping our gums and checking boxes is about all we're capable of. So what if our children inherit this mess of a country? So what if God's laws are thrown by the wayside in exchange for a system that supports and promotes immorality, irresponsibility, and lawlessness? Oh, and God's still on the throne. Forgot about that.

Indeed He is. And so this should be our fire so that we will not be lukewarm in our efforts. The founders sacrificed their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for liberty. A checkbox in a voting booth just ain't gonna cut it. My rights come from God, not a president or vice president. In this country, a president should be my servant, regardless of which person holds this office. In a lawful system, his power would be limited, restrained by the chains of the Constitution. I no longer vote for candidates in these offices. They represent an overthrow of law. But rather, I vote in my mind, a choice of conscience, that I will exercise my rights and obey lawful forms of government. It is my belief that IF this personal effort, along with its potential sacrifices, was made by all; then surely, surely, we the people could restore this Constitutional Republic for ourselves and our posterity.

I Am A Christian

I support the legalizing of all plant-based drugs.

I support the legalizing of alcohol before noon on Sundays.

I don't drink, but I have friends who do.

I support personal responsibility.

I support taking care of the environment. But I do not believe in forcing it on others.

I support helping and developing relationships with other countries. But I do not believe in forcing it on others or making them pay for it through taxation. Our military should NOT police the world.

I am a man, married to a woman. I support REMOVING the government from the institution of marriage. If God created it, I do not need to ask permission first. No license required. And I do NOT want government benefits for being married.

I believe parents should educate the children they create.

Contrary to popular belief, as a Christian, I do not support stoning people, slavery, or killing disobedient children.

I support the right to free speech, right to bear arms un-infringed and without permission; and the right to keep the fruits of your labor, also without permission.

I believe America is...

• ...a Union of many demi-sovereign states, NOT a nation of one.
• ...a Constitutional Republic, NOT a democracy.
• ...is not broken, but has been overthrown.

I believe in state citizenship, not nationalized U.S. citizenship.

I support lawful resistance to unlawful government. An unconstitutional act is not a law (Norton v. Shelby County, 6 S.Ct. 1121) and liberty wasn't won in a voting booth. I do not believe such resistance is sin. Romans 13 tells us to be subject to the higher powers, and I have taken the time to educate myself on what those are in this country.

I support the liberty to worship, or not, as you please. I support the freedom of religion.

I believe we can have a Union under God AND freedom of religion, both, at the same time.

I believe the government should stay out of the church, not the other way around. Separation of church and state is NOT in the Constitution.

I believe in community involvement and helping others in need.

I believe the church, not the government, should be responsible for the welfare of the community.

I am a Christian.

Looping Back to Liberty - 16 Steps Illustrating the Decline and Subsequent Restoration of America

1. People don't understand the system.
2. A lack of knowledge coupled with being "fat and happy", combined with propaganda promotes apathy and stupid decisions by the people concerning their political choices. 
3. Things get bad. People lose their homes, their jobs. The economy takes a nosedive.
4. Things get SO bad, the media actually starts talking about it and folks like Ron Paul finally start getting recognized as honest people who are just telling the truth and waving the warning flag saying "You're headed for disaster! Save yourselves!!!"
5. People slowly put two and two together and begin getting concerned.
6. They participate in the rigged 2 party system. They check a box in a voting booth, voting for the "better" of two evils while still voting for evil, yet believing it will fix things.
7. They fail, or they "succeed" by electing their chosen candidate which was already chosen for them by the rigged 2 party system.
8. Things continue to get worse, whether slower or faster.
9. The people get depressed and hopeless because they failed and the country is still going downhill.
10. Things get worse. The people get concerned and even a little worried for their family, their children. A new Great Depression looms on the horizon.
11. Things get SO bad, the media reveals a little deeper truth (like the devaluation of the dollar, the artificial propping up of our monetary system through inflation, etc.), people start studying a little more and then start to realize that even "weirder" folks like John Ainsworth and Cliff & Sara Muncy are really just honest people telling the truth, waving their warning flags, shouting "That system is rigged! The solution is in YOUR hands, not the politicians!! It takes more work than just a vote! Resistance is key! It takes personal sacrifice!" 
12. The people realize the truth of what they are saying. They turn and humble themselves before God and pray for guidance. They start making efforts in their own lives to resist tyranny and to live moral, responsible lives. The country bands together and says "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We're not taking this any more! The government is OUR servant!" More people get on board to learn, promote, and live the philosophies of the founders. Philosophies like personal responsibility, morality, sound money, state citizenship, lawful/Constitutional government, LIBERTY!
13. The Federal government resists and puts up the best fight it knows how.
14. It fails because the people refuse to support it.
15. Re-established, demi-sovereign states are once again re-populated as lawful body politics and independent countries. Over time, statutory laws and processes are re-examined to be eliminated or conform with the intent of the Constitution. Federal agencies are reduced greatly in number, and people's dependency upon them is reduced. People start depending on each other, their communities. The federal government is once again subject to the will of the states. The government is MUCH smaller. Income tax is GONE. Social security is GONE. Public education (as it is now) is GONE. Free markets return, productivity and profitability skyrocket, and small businesses are allowed to prosper. People no longer fear their government. Money is once again backed by precious metals. Inflation is GONE.
16. The world once again respects America as a country whose people epitomize such words as "the land of the free, the home of the brave." The founders' sense of perseverance and dedication in maintaining the ideals of liberty is once again renewed in the minds of the people.

Will the people maintain their Republic?

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"A woman asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government the Constitution was bringing into existence. Franklin replied, 'A republic, if you can keep it.' ”

Obsessing Over Professionalism

The blog below started out as an email to my wife, Sara, as a word of encouragement in her photography endeavors. Sara, I hope you continue to strive in what you do. Enjoy the gifts that God has provided, help others with those gifts, and He will provide you with everything you need.

I'm always amazed, especially in the photography industry, at how much angst and worry stems just from using (or wanting to use the word) "professional". Here's the definition:

Professional: engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime; having or showing the skill appropriate to a professional person; competent or skillful.

Check out this article I stumbled upon recently from one of our Photography friends on Facebook:

http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm?postID=1425&get-over-it

The standards created today, whether it be photography, graphic design, or heck, even carpentry, or auto mechanic (ie. pick your field) -- these standards are placed there by society, schooling, customer expectations, in comparing ourselves to others in the field, and often in standards-based organizations. They are also affected by technology, and just what is "possible", based on what has been done already. But, I for one believe that it is up to the "professional", indeed the business owner, to make the judgement call internally concerning where they currently reside and/or wish to go in the prices they charge, how they provide their service, where they will limit themselves in those services, and the level of quality they provide. After this is decided and/or obtained, it is ultimately up to their customers to decide upon their own happiness with the level of service they have received. This final indicator is the most important. This final indicator supersedes any college degree, any accreditation, or other outside inputs or criticisms. This is the true judge, for these are the people paying for the service. Customer feedback even supersedes our own shortcomings and/or self-criticisms. In my business experience, if the customer is happy, they'll let you know. If they're unhappy, they will also tell you.

My wife Sara has longed to continue growing her photography business and expanding her skills in this field. I have experience in this field as well, but I've learned even more being around her. I've tried to help Sara build her confidence and she's done some AMAZING work, both for design clients (business owners) I brought to the table, as well as some work she's done for newlyweds, engagement shoots and more. But one thing I've noticed along the way from hearing Sara talk about this field is just how much photographers compare themselves to each other. I suppose this happens in just about every field of study. But with photography, it seems to have escalated to the point of creating a new standard at which, unless you obtain it, you are no longer professional or "good enough".  Maybe somewhere along the line, the word "professional" started to mean "unless you're the best, you're not going to survive."

Back in 2000-2002, when I started out designing print media and websites, my work wasn't very artistic. Some of it wasn't really all that eye catching, and I'm sure the code/programming behind each site wasn't perfect in the least. I didn't have a college degree, and I wasn't "approved" by any organization. But my customers still paid me. They still loved that I was available to do the work. I was providing them with a website that served a purpose. It filled a need. Many of my customers referred me to new customers, and my clientele began to grow. With this growth, I learned more, got better with my designs, and made more customers happy.

Somewhere along the line, between our parents telling us that college was the only way to get a good job, and society expecting absolute perfection to the point of being "certified" for every single job and task on the planet -- somewhere, we lost our way. We began believing that this earth is perfect. We began believing that a service isn't a service unless it first passes the judgement of the government, the associations, and the school board. Somewhere along the way, we stopped being independent and thinking for ourselves. We also forgot how to have fun with what we do. Somewhere we stopped putting the customer first, and instead would rather rely on the expectations of people who aren't even paying us, even though the customer may quite often want something altogether different than what society "recommends."

It is my hope that we can get back to individual creativity, create our own standards of excellence, and stop comparing ourselves one with another. We're living in a connected world, so it's hard not to compare. But if we would take the time to occasionally disconnect, we would see that there are plenty of great customers in our own back yard who will absolutely adore our services, no matter where we were are in our professional journeys.

Independence Day or Dependence Day?

Do you celebrate Independence Day on July 4th? Most folks do. After all, fireworks are hard to resist. However, because the majority of Americans today recognize the government which was put into place March 2, 1867, they should actually be celebrating a little known holiday called Dependence Day. On March 2nd, 1867 the first of the unconstitutional Reconstruction Acts was passed. These acts annulled State governments, subjugated their citizens, created new States with new body politics (which are now being recognized), and unconstitutionally coerced the adoption of the 14th Amendment. This did away with states rights, nationalized our citizenship and totally removed the principles of self government and independence which had been established nearly 100 years before.



So this July 4th when someone says “Happy Independence Day”, perhaps your response should be, “Are you a state citizen?” Because unless they are, they may want to shoot their fireworks on March 2nd.



Check out the proclamation below for a short history lesson, and learn more about state citizenship at AmericasRemedy.com and NCRepublic.org.

Proclamation

Whereas, on May 20, 1775 the Citizens of Mecklenburg County, North-Carolina proclaimed their Independence from the Crown of England, and;

Whereas, on July 4, 1776 the Representatives of the People of the several Colonies issued the Declaration of Independence, declaring the several Colonies independence from the Crown of England, and;

Whereas, on September 3, 1783 the Treaty of Paris was signed whereby the Crown of England acknowledged the Thirteen Colonies to be free, sovereign and Independent States, and;

Whereas, on March 4, 1789 the United States Government meets for the first time organized under the Constitution of the United States of America inaugurating George Washington as President, and;

Whereas North-Carolina maintained her Independence until November 21, 1789 when she voted to ratify the Constitution of the United States of America, and;

Whereas, The People of North-Carolina voted on February 28, 1861 to remain in the American Union, and;

Whereas, the people of North-Carolina believed that the Federal United States Government could not force one State to wage war upon another State, and;

Whereas on April 15, 1861 President Abraham Lincoln called on North-Carolina Governor John Ellis to provide two regiments of troops to wage war upon the principles of “all government of right comes from the consent of the governed” and “the people have a right to alter or abolish their form of government,” and;

Whereas, the people of North-Carolina were forced to decide to fight for President Lincoln or for the principles this Country was founded upon, and;

Whereas, Governor John Ellis replied to President Lincoln “I can be no party to this wicked violation of the laws of the country and to this war upon the liberties of a free people. You can get no troops from North Carolina.” and;

Whereas, North-Carolina left the American Union on May 20, 1861, and;

Whereas, in July of 1861, both houses of the United States Congress passed resolutions that the war was not for any purpose of conquest or subjugation and was in fact to “preserve the union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired.,” and;

Whereas, The Armies of Abraham Lincoln were victorious, and;

Whereas, the Radical Republicans of the 39^th Congress of the United States Government, having a super majority, on March 2, 1867, passed an unconstitutional enactment, called the Reconstruction Act, that annulled State governments, subjugated their citizens, created new States with new body politics and unconstitutionally coerced the adoption of the 14^thAmendment to the United States Constitution, and;

Whereas, the 14^th Amendment “rid this nation of that pestilent heresy of states rights” through nationalizing citizenship and creating a “national” government in place of the Federal government established in the Constitution, and;

Whereas, James Madison stated in Federalist Paper # 39 “The idea of a national government involves in it, not only an authority over the individual citizens, but an indefinite supremacy over all persons and things, so far as they are objects of lawful government.” and;

Whereas, James Madison went on to say “In this relation, then, the proposed government cannot be deemed a national one; since its jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects only, and leaves to the several States a residuary and inviolable sovereignty over all other objects.” and;

Whereas, the United States Supreme Court stated in Elk Vs Wilkins, concerning national citizenship as founded in the 14^th Amendment “The evident meaning of these last words is, not merely subject in some respect or degree to the jurisdiction of the United States, but completely subject to their political jurisdiction, and owing them direct and immediate allegiance.,” and;

Whereas, July 4^th has been considered the date of the birth of Independence in our country, and;

Whereas, on March 2, 1867, the principles of self government and an Independent people were snuffed out giving The United States of America a new birth in Dependence upon the National Government.

Therefore be it proclaimed by John C. Ainsworth, Chief Magistrate of the North-Carolina American Republic, Re-established, December 1, 1997 that March 2, 2010 be celebrated as Dependence Day, in celebration of the 14^thAmendment making United States citizens residing in North-Carolina dependent upon the National Government.

Done this Second day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten.

_______________________________________________

John C. Ainsworth, Chief Magistrate

Fun, Freedom and Sacrifice

The ironic thing about the fight for liberty is that oftentimes the fight finds you at exactly the point you are trying to accomplish something. Sometimes it comes right when you're wanting to do something incredibly fun or life changing. I think it is for this very reason that it is so tempting at these times to just cave -- to just "give in" to the great heel of government pressing down upon you so that you can just do what you want, even though it requires "permission." These are the times which test your faith, your resolve, your intestinal fortitude. Today, I am discovering this truth all over again.

The Free-Wheelin' Fun

About two months ago, while browsing the Auto Trader website, I found a pristine, black, one-owner, garage-kept, 1985 Pontiac Firebird. Those that know me casually may not think much of this, so I'll give a little back story on this unique vintage sports car.

"A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist......"

Back in the 80s, there was a super cool show on television called Knight Rider. It starred David Hasselhoff as an ex police detective, Michael Knight, who was given a second chance at life by an organization called F.L.A.G. (Foundation for Law and Government). Ironic, I know, but stay with me. Now, the other star of this show was K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand), a super-futuristic, nearly-indestructible, talking car driven by Michael Knight to aid him in his "crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law" (to quote the opening narration). This slick, super-modified, computerized car with a personality could turbo-boost over semi-trucks, read finger prints, "micro-jam" locks from a distance, and jet into 200+ MPH "super pursuit mode!" Whatever it took to catch the bad guys! Are you starting to connect the dots? This vehicle NBC used as "KITT" in this show that created so many of my childhood memories, was actually a black, modified 80's model Pontiac Trans Am! A car with basically the same body style as the car I spotted two months ago in the Auto Trader.

"I want that car."

Now, those die hard Knight Rider fans out there (you know who you are) will readily tell you that this car I spotted in the Auto Trader would make the perfect "donor car." So what's a donor car? Well, as it turns out, I'm not the only fan of the show who thought it would be cool to own my own KITT car. In fact, there are KITT replicas all over the country. There are Knight Rider conventions where these KITT owners gather. There are even companies out there who sell specially-made parts just for KITT conversions!

Several years ago, I spotted a mint-condition Pontiac Trans Am for sale in a local parking lot and ever since I've regretted not pushing myself to buy it. So, this April, when I spotted this beautiful car at a reasonable price, I wasn't about to pass up this unique opportunity to live up a childhood dream. And so, with my loving and encouraging wife at my side, we did some strategic budget planning and proceeded to make payment arrangements with the vehicle owner.

I was fairly content just owning the season DVDs of Knight Rider. Actually owning the car with the possibility of converting it into a replica? I never would have thought it was possible. This was truly a dream come true.

The Sacrifice.

Surprisingly, saving for the purchase of my "dream car" has been relatively easy. Working with the owner to work out payment arrangements has been relatively easy. I'll be making the final payment and picking up the car next week! So, what's left? Now we get to deal with the title change through the state, registration, insurance verification, temporary tags, making sure inspections are up to date -- you know, all the many things the government believes it must do to keep me and my property "safe." After all, without these elaborate protections, my very life may be in jeopardy, right? But of course.

Last year I decided not to renew my drivers license. I did this because I believe this contract represents several encroachments upon my liberty. Firstly, I made this decision because the de facto state of North Carolina absolutely REFUSES and is UNABLE to prove its jurisdiction and lawful title over this soil. Quite frankly, I don't really care to obey a government which is unable to defend its own lawful existence. In addition, I am a firm believer that traveling from point A to point B is a right, not a privilege; and that harassing people for moving around on the face of the earth without the permission of some government official, though no actual crime has been committed, is a violation of this most fundamental principal.

Today, I began the process of getting things in order to pick up the car next week. In addition to some other details, I needed to know what documents the DMV needed to register the vehicle, upon my purchasing it from a private seller. I was hoping that this knowledge could save me several back and forth trips to the DMV. After a good half hour conversation with the DMV staff person, I was informed that their website-promoted list of 10+ acceptable forms of ID was totally useless, and did not in fact represent what would be needed to register a vehicle. Instead, she says that they will require either a current valid NC Drivers License or an NC ID Card, neither of which I have, nor do I care to obtain.

So here I am. Tired. Frustrated. Angry. The tangled web of enslavement that we live under in this country is astronomical. The licenses, the taxes, the permits, the registrations, the regulations. And it's as if nobody sees it. But you know why we don't see it? Because we are used to it. Americans are accustomed to asking for EVERYTHING. And only when we make the slightest attempt to buck the status quo -- when we actually TRY to "live free or die", only then do we realize how truly enslaved we are. Only then can we truly recognize what "sacrifice" really means.

I am so excited about getting this car next week. I can't wait to sit behind the wheel. But, sadly, during this time of transition -- while I'm placing the required government shackles upon my wrists and the stocks around my ankles -- this once-in-a-lifetime moment is slightly soured by the heavy burden of decades of complacency. To many, this increasingly smaller fence is preferred. But not to me. I want liberty. I want freedom to contract with my neighbor; to buy and sell; to travel freely upon the roads and highways; to be responsible for my own actions. I want that old-school freedom. The kind of freedom the Wright Brothers enjoyed when they experimented on the first aircraft. The kind of freedom that owners of Henry Ford's first automobiles enjoyed while they travelled around without government restriction.

I WILL sit behind the driver's seat of this car. I WANT to do it without first asking permission.

To be continued...

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The fight for freedom looks great to the American people until they suddenly realize that the true remedy may require more personal sacrifice than just a day at the voting booth. Sometimes, it requires that you actually fight whatever is in place which attempts to subjugate or restrict you in some way. This is what the founders believed, as they sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to ensure their posterity would enjoy freedom. As the old saying goes, "freedom isn't free." Sometimes, taking a stand requires that even the greatest times of possible enjoyment take a back seat to a lot of struggles, hardships, and trials. This is true patriotism.

Who Owns Marriage, Indeed

Today I watched the above sermon beginning to end, and I would like to provide some feedback based upon what I observed. First off, I appreciate this video being posted by a good friend of mine, Mr. Randy Dye. Randy has been instrumental in the movement to restore liberty to this land. He is a fellow patriot. Though I may not fully agree with the end activity promoted by this video, I'm thankful for this man, his family, and the fact that this church is wanting to at least "do something."

During the first three quarters of the sermon, the pastor, referencing scripture all the way, speaks out about what the Bible says marriage should be and it is indeed clear that marriage was ordained by God to strictly be between a man and a woman. He pounds this home and I agree and support the stance and the Biblical perspective 100%. I applaud his taking a stand, and actually wanting to get involved. Like it is said near the end of the clip, the church has been sitting for far too long. However there are some deeper issues which are addressed only briefly by the woman at the end of this video which I believe are VERY important, and should be looked at a little closer. I think a lot of Christians are voting for this amendment out of excitement at the rare opportunity of standing up for what they believe in, and also excitement because they believe it fights something they know is wrong. Yet, I also believe that this excitement is overpowering their ability to "look before they leap" -- to first consider the consequences of allowing the government to continue sticking its nose into business which it ought not be in in the first place. Twice during this video (4:40 & 52:15) it is mentioned that before the government ever got involved, God alone had ordained marriage for his people. The woman at the end says, "...from Adam and Eve, they were married. It was not legislation. It was not a marriage license. It was God." Later again at the 53 and 54 minute marks she brings up several of the government sanctioned "benefits" that didn't even exist prior to the government being involved. Amen! So, we see here, bright and clear, a very important ROOT issue. But when you compare this to the ultimate "action" promoted by this sermon, there appears to be a contradiction. To me it looks like we are saying that it's a God thing, but yet we are participating in a venue which says otherwise. We're saying that it's a marriage because God says it is, and yet we care greatly that the government also promotes one or the other. And we think that there is actual authority placed in the form of a vote to say one way or another, when it's really up to God. Make sense? It's kind of like we're serving two masters here.

Toward the end the pastor here tells the story about Bob Jones losing their tax exempt status and at 48:20 he says that, "if this passes, folks....there's a chance...that this would be a hate crime if I were to preach this sermon today...we would lose our tax exempt status and we'd have to pay $30,000-$40,000 to the government." Firstly, I think this 501c3 status would be a fantastic thing to lose! This is a root issue that ought to be discussed. Would the church be having this problem if it weren't a 501c3 church and its pulpit was no longer under restriction by the government? Stay with me, this gets a little technical. If you read the 501c3 (non-profit) paperwork, you will see that even the IRS admits that churches are tax exempt by their very nature, pursuant to IRS Publication 526, and IRS Code § 170(c)(2)(B). So why is a 501c3 status even required? It's not! Again, let's dig a little deeper. I'm also wondering if by preaching about the marriage amendment in the first place, this in and of itself is a violation of the 501c3 status agreement. See section VIII, part 2a & 2b of IRS form 1023 which requests Form 5768 to be filled out. Then check out Form 5768. Under the general instructions you see the words, "Section 501(c)(3) states that an organization exempt under that section will lose its tax-exempt status and its qualification to receive deductive charitable contributions if a substantial part of its activities are carried on to influence legislation." In other words, you want to affect change? Fine, you are no longer tax exempt. Now, does a single sermon qualify as "substantial?" I'm not so sure. But the point is, the power to influence what is preached behind the pulpit is in the hands of the government. And it ought not be that way. The 501(c)3 status is bad for churches. Check out HushMoney.org. They've got some great information on this topic.

The pastor also says that they would "have to" pay the government thousands of dollars, but if it does become a hate crime to preach against homosexuality, shouldn't churches be the first to resist such payments/tyranny? If we're going to start "fighting" things, we really need to get this "have to" attitude out of our minds. NO, we don't HAVE TO. We should fear God, not the government (our servant). It's not easy, but at some point, we've got to draw the line and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I believe many Christians are being deceived by things like this simply because it appears on its surface to support their beliefs. However, we need to ask ourselves whether this amendment coincides with the Constitution's original intent and limited powers that we have delegated to the government. Do we want to further confirm, by our vote, that the government DOES indeed have a place in the institution of marriage?

At minute mark 53:00 the above video states, "it comes down, simply, to money." Homosexual couples want those "privileges" and "benefits" which our government has granted to heterosexual couples. So, if these benefits did not exist, would the 'gay agenda' be clamoring for them? Again, if we would tell the government (our servant) not to get involved in marriage AT ALL, this 'special treatment' would not exist, for anyone! If I were to vote, that's what I would vote for -- to get the government out of marriage altogether. I believe that then, the push for legally attacking the traditional marriage would not be as strong, and the opposition would not have as much need to do so. The attacks would only exist within our society through immorality, which they always will, until God returns. No law can change that.

I don't believe any law will ever stop immorality or homosexual unions. They have existed from the dawn of mankind. The heart of man is desperately wicked and repentance must start in the soul. I don't think any of this should be in the hands of the government. In my 30 years I've seen that group of folks mess up far too many things to be trusted with something like this.

You cannot legislate morality, and there are plenty of other ways to affect change in society without building another fence around it.

Voting is only one method by which we protect our liberties. Asserting our rights is another. This is where the legal system comes into play. I call it resistance with a legal foundation. In August of 2009, after much study, thought and prayer, my future wife and I asserted our right to be married through the vehicle of a covenant marriage. We did this without the permission of the government because we believe this right is inherent and God given, and because we believe God would not be pleased if we participated in asking permission for something He ordained in the first place. A state-licensed marriage does NOT a marriage make. God created this institution and so we believe that it is no right of the government to interfere. We've had to face personal sacrifice as a result of our decisions. In fact, the de facto NC state government does not recognize our marriage, in much the same way as they do not currently recognize a homosexual marriage, with or without the passing of this amendment. Yet, we are married in God's eyes regardless of these supposed "man made" laws. As you can see, the government didn't stop US from getting married, and they certainly won't be able to stop homosexuals from coming together either.

By voting for the marriage amendment, no matter how badly we want to "defeat" the opposition, I believe that with this vote, we would only be sending a message that we DO want the government involved in this institution. From most Christians' standpoints, not supporting this amendment will not be a popular choice. I have no doubt that by opposing this amendment, we may be labelled similarly to those who support homosexuality. But that's okay. I believe that when the government comes up with some "law" that seems beneficial to your own viewpoint, it takes far more guts to recognize the government shouldn't get involved in it at all than to vote out of benefit for your own cause.

The Free Family

It seems things in our country continue to crumble. The economy continues on it's downward trend -- though the mainstream misleadia would have us to believe otherwise. Unemployment is at an all time high and moral standards are, well... what moral standards? The government continues to get more and more power hungry with laws like the NDAA (H.R. 1540), which allows for the removal of due process rights and contains a very generalized provision for indefinite detention. And there's the National Defense Resources Preparedness Executive Order, supposedly giving Obama and his specifically designated Secretaries the authority to commandeer all domestic resources, including food and water, both in times of national emergency AND in peacetime.

Yes, things are scary. BUT, I am encouraged by some of the things I see happening around me. I can see a few of the tables starting to turn on a local, most fundamental level. In their home life, several friends of ours have recently started to grow their own food. They have a desire to become self-sufficient. Many have also been involved for some time now in the home birth movement. Yep, contrary to popular belief, you DON'T have to have your baby in a hospital. Several of them are also foregoing the public indoctrination system and are instead educating their kids at home.

I must commend these parents because by taking the stance which they have taken, they have put themselves right in the middle of the fight for liberty that is going on in this country. In a country claiming to be free, you would think that the aforementioned tasks wouldn't be that big of a deal. Unfortunately, that just isn't the case. There are laws being introduced, like Senate Bill 510, which attempt to shut down our independence in the food arena. And you may think that home birth is a personal choice, but did you know that Certified Professional Midwives have been arrested in North Carolina for assisting with home births? And let's not even mention the tragic event which occurred on the 27th of this month in Pennsylvania where a newborn was seized by police when the mother delayed in signing for a Hepatitis B shot. There are also restrictions placed upon us for homeschooling, one of the very reasons there are organizations like HSLDA.

Now, this leads me to another fight. There are parents we know of who have decided NOT to get Social Security numbers for their children. I'm sure you're wondering just how that's going to work. Quite frankly, we are anxious to see the outcome as well, as we live in a society today which no longer looks at your name, but at your number. Ever try getting a job without one? How about a bank account? A cell phone? How about a simple birth certificate for your "un-numbered" baby. It's a tangled web out there, and to fight this one requires the ultimate intestinal fortitude.

So this got me thinking. Here we are, 30 years old, and we actually know parents now who are doing these things. It makes me wonder what things will look like in 20 years. Will more parents get on this "freedom bandwagon?" Will children be successfully raised without links to this system? Without Social Security Numbers? Will there be at least one generation of "free families?" Will they have to go into hiding, or will they need to be off the grid to avoid some type of felony charge or be accused of being terrorists? Or will this new generation usher in new laws -- a new status quo?

What will be the future of the free family? Perhaps we the people should make that determination.

Resources:

NC Friends of Midwives:

http://www.ncfom.org/

Home School Legal Defense Association

http://www.hslda.org

New Life on a Homestead

http://newlifeonahomestead.com/

North-Carolina American Republic

http://www.ncrepublic.org

America's Remedy

http://www.americasremedy.com

A Word On Resistance

I stumbled upon a blog post recently entitled "The Resistance Needs You." I was thankful to the author to see so many of my thoughts echoed. Over the past few years, I've been a huge advocate of what I like to call "legal resistance" -- in other words, not just resisting for resisting's sake, but resisting unlawful government based upon your knowledge of the law, jurisprudence, and the application of the Constitution and your God-given, inherent rights.

After reading this blog, I decided to compose a comment to further elaborate on the topic of resistance. As it sometimes happens, this comment got longer and longer, and I decided to just turn it into a separate blog post. And so, here is my response:

Excellent information. I believe that another way we can put up a resistance is to each participate in lawful government. People may not understand what this means. But essentially this is simply knowing WHAT your rights are as protected by the Constitution, and then asserting those rights (rather than begging for them) regardless of what "laws" are in force which attempt to circumvent these inherent, God-given rights. The supreme court has stated that an unconstitutional law is really not a law at all, but a complete nullity (see Norton v. Shelby County, 6 S.Ct. 1121). There are many rights which are protected by the Constitution that many people don't even know about, or have been long forgotten.

The Right to Travel

The right to travel is one that is most obvious. Today we have contracted away this right and turned it into a privilege with something called a driver's license. The simple act of traveling from point A to point B in America is now ILLEGAL, unless permission is granted by the government. A servant can now pull you over at any point in time and request, "papers, please." This is not what the founders intended for a truly free country.

The Right to Keep What You Earn

Another is the right to keep the fruits of your labor. There are so many things wrong with the income tax in this country, I don't even know where to start. If you were to do a study on this topic, you will find that the 16th Amendment (which supposedly grants authority for such a tax) was never properly ratified. You will also find many strange anomalies even within the IRS's own documentation concerning requirements to pay the income tax. One such anomaly is that this tax is actually "voluntary." Another such anomaly is in the very definition of "income." You will find that this term is more associated with corporate gain than with personal accumulation of wealth. Was it ever intended by the founders that our population be punished for their success? And if not, why do we continue to obey this rogue organization?

The Right To Be Married

The right to be married is another right I won't get into too much right now, but is most definitely and obviously a right -- one that I personally have asserted. God put the institution of marriage in place, and it is no right of the government to be involved in that institution.

The Right of Lawful State Citizenship

The right to be a state citizen is also something which has been long forgotten. And if you study deeply on this right in particular, you will find that this is the root cause of MANY, if not ALL of the federal government's encroachments into our everyday lives. Reconstruction came two years after the Civil War, and was not one of its intended outcomes. These Acts completely reversed the relationship of our states to the federal government, and in turn, the relationship between the federal government and the citizenry of this country. In fact, prior to this time, the federal government had VERY little influence over our personal lives. But now, our citizenship is nationalized. We are now citizens of a nation, rather than citizens of our demi-sovereign states which had ultimate authority OVER the federal government. The founders never intended the federal government to control the states. They intended it to be the complete and total opposite. THIS is an issue that has been long forgotten, but is something that we MUST assert if we want our rights back.

The Supreme court has ruled that: "The only absolute and unqualified right of a United States citizen is to residence within the territorial boundaries of the United States," US vs. Valentine 288 F. Supp. 957. So, we see that from a legal perspective, even if you know what your rights are, you need to have proper standing in order to assert them. A US citizen has one right -- the right to live here. A US citizen is also not party to the Bill of Rights, contrary to what you may have been taught. The only way we can have these rights returned to us is by asserting our right to state citizenship. And we can't do this if we are consistently making declarations to the contrary.

Consenting to Encroachment.

Our Signatures Give Them Permission.

Through our participation in Social Security, the tax system, banking, driver licensing, mortgages, even the voting system, we are declaring (often under penalty of perjury) that:

1) We are US citizens (citizens of a nation), and we desire to be such.

2) We no longer have the rights of a state citizen.

3) We are citizens of Washington and the federal government is our master.

4) We honor the overthrow of lawful government, and believe that those who overthrew it have rightful dominion over us.

We've been had. Through a complicated web of legalese run-around and by the use of our own ignorance, the federal government has the control. And they have for a VERY long time. They've got our signatures to prove it. By our very participation in the same system of government that we so often rail against, we contribute to our own demise and our continual loss of liberty. The only way we can break free is to do just that. But we have to have the knowledge it takes to know their tricks (and believe me they have a lot of them).

How We Participate

We are participants (citizens) of lawful government through the re-established body politic of our state, the North-Carolina American Republic. This vehicle gives us the education, the standing, and the know-how to assert our rights and to beat them at their own game of legal jujitsu.

We can beg this government all we want, but until we assert our rights on the most fundamental levels, they will continue to be our master.

Resources:

Right to Travel and other great resources for study:

http://www.carolinaliberty.com

http://carolinaliberty.com/about_study.php

Re-establishment of Lawful State Gov't for NC:

http://www.ncrepublic.org

http://www.americasremedy.com

http://www.youtube.com/ncrepublic

Object/History of the War vs. Reconstruction:

http://ncrepublic.org/lib_objectofwar.php

http://vimeo.com/29993113

http://vimeo.com/29933007

Info on the Income Tax Scam:

http://www.republicmagazine.com/magazines/Republic-Magazine5.pdf

I originally stumbled upon Daisy's blog post "The Resistance Needs You" through a comment which was posted on the following article:

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/for-millions-of-americans-the-collapse-is-now-video-documentary_02172012