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Posts Tagged with Idaho House of Representatives

You Have 90 Seconds. What Do You Say?

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I was on CrossPolitc a few weeks ago (a completely enjoyable experience). While there I was asked, “You have 90 seconds to speak to Rep. Steven Harris, what do you say?” Rep. Steven Harris is the chairman of the Idaho State Affairs Committee who has been holding the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act (IAHRA) since it was first introduced by Rep. Heather Scott and Rep. John Green.

I had been trying to get an appointment with Rep. Harris since the IAHRA was introduced. By the grace of God, I was able to get a meeting with Rep. Harris last Tuesday. It was my expectation to have just a few moments so I had been working on fine tuning what I would say if I had 90 seconds with Rep. Harris. (I actually had 1 hour and 15 minutes, but following is my early attempt to speak clearly and articulate.)

Following is what I wrote, I said most of this (and a bit more). It was a pleasure to travel with several men from the Magic Valley

__________________________

We are first and foremost Ambassadors of the reconciliation of Christ. Christ the only begotten son of God, as described by the Bible, stands as a required atonement for sinful people who have broken the law of God, that includes the very matter we are here before you today. Life.

God himself told all of humanity “Do not murder.”

A people have sinned against God. A state has sinned against God. Today, while it is still called today, hear our redeemer, repent of delaying what you claim you hold a true, and allow the gate to be opened to end the murdering babies in the womb.

The Bible describes contrasting conditions of nations. One of splendid comfort, thriving economies, flourishing families, bumper crops, abundant water supply for the coming growing season. Another of a barren wasteland, a day of grave darkness, a land with no moister, a cloud that rains no rain.

I would not want to think of living in either condition without the protection and salvation of Almighty God. Whether the economy is abounding or the crops are failing, God will not abandon His obedient people.

I’m here today to ask you to give the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act a path for debate.

  • It may die in committee.
  • It may survive a heated debate.
  • It may become a law that claims every child in the blessed womb of women in the state of Idaho is sacred and worthy of defense at all costs.
  • It may get challenged in court
  • It may get defeated and cost Idahoans millions and millions of dollars.
  • It may withstand the scrutiny of supreme court.

We want to assure you we will not abandon our God. We will not abandon our fellow citizens. We will not abandon the child in the womb.

Rep. Harris, rise up today and submit to the Almighty God of the Bible who stands as a righteous judge with indignation against nations who oppose Him. Do not bury the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act in the rear guard of the winter barracks. Set this bill loose and let it cry out for the babies in the womb.

Rep. Harris, when will someone in our state finally stand up for the unwanted baby? Who will defend them? Who will fight for their rights?

These are Idaho citizen who will never dip their toes in the Clearwater or float the Salmon, they’ll never hear the mountain blue bird sing or hear the roar of the Niagara of the west. These citizens will not have the temporal pleasure of seeing the mighty Sawtooths, breath our fresh air or eat a world famous Idaho potato. Thousands of Idaho citizens will never experience these blessed temporal pleasures.

No nation, no people, no government can withstand the righteous indignation of the Holy God.

You have been appointed by God for this day. You are not responsible for the unpredictable path of how men will respond. You answer to higher authority. May God have mercy upon our land in this day with clouds that rain down righteousness that the fruit of salvation may bear forth and righteousness spring up with it. (Isaiah 45:8)

Will you fear men today, who can kill the body, or will you fear God who can destroy both body and soul?

Rep. Harris, will you be the principled man today and give the children in the womb a path to let the state of Idaho speak for them? Will you print this bill?

_________________________

Rep. Harris: “No, I will not print this bill.”

You have 90 seconds to speak to Rep. Harris, what would you say?

Continue praying. Pray for Rep. Harris. Pray that God will awaken the conscience of the legislative branches of Idaho to not fear men (Planned Parenthood) and introduce legislative language that abolishes abortion in the state of Idaho.

Write Rep. Harris.

email: sharris@house.idaho.gov

snail mail: Rep. Steven Harris
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0038

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(All posts are eligible for ongoing editing for spelling and typo)

Apostate Preaching

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The experience at the Idaho state house on Monday (January 26, 2015) was memorable and made a profound impact upon my civil minded being. Yet, I can not escape the kind of blaspheme and apostate preaching that took place in the Lincoln auditorium from some “clergy.”

I was pleased to meet others from the Twin Falls area at the hearing. I was pleased to hear their appeal from Scripture. I am thankful for their willingness and kind appeal to the committee to not pass House Bill No. 2 out of committee for full house action. May the Lord bless their ministry.

But there were also some from the Twin Falls area representing various faith based churches that appear to have given little consideration to the authority of Scripture and exchanged obedience to God for popularity of men.

The Twin Falls Times-News reported the hearing HERE.

Because I was there, I can testify to you that the reporting of those quoted in the article is accurate. As usual, context is missing from some of the quotes, but as a whole, the article fairly represented the hearing. My full testimony is posted HERE.

Because the hearing and the reporting of the hearing is a matter of public record I am bound by duty to warn all of the apostate preaching of Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, Brian Thom.

No, bishop Brian Thom, the bible is not ambiguous on homosexuality. It is not innate, unalterable, permanent and a gift from God. God does not want anyone to be “happy in a same-sex relationship.”

Can you offer any biblical evidence for your apostate opinion?

After reading this, and you are a member of an Episcopal church in Southern Idaho, you should ask your leadership for biblical evidence for this unbiblical position. When no biblical evidence is given to you, request for a removal of any bishop or spiritual leader in your church. If no removal or biblical evidence is given, flee from that apostate church.

P.S.
Gary Lancaster, pastor of Canyon View Baptist Church in Filer, Idaho testified last night. His testimony was biblically strong. His appeal to the committee was compassionately strong. I’m thankful to the Lord that I met him and his wife and will look forward to other gospel proclaiming moments in the future.

 

I’m Just A Bill?

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Yesterday as Renee and I were walking up the steps of the Idaho Capitol Building I was trying to remember that classic School House Rock song “I’m Just A Bill”. I fear I could not recall many of the lyrics. But the real reason I was on Capitol Hill yesterday was of greater weight than a Saturday morning childhood memory of someone perhaps trying to redeem the time for something of greater value.

My purpose to be on Capitol Hill in Boise, Idaho yesterday was to give testimony. A copy of that testimony is available HERE.

My day old observation of the experience is one of appreciation for the process. It is from three vantage points.

  1. What country is like the United States of America? Wow. If you have never witnessed or participated in such an experience you should plan a family day outing to Capitol Hill. When a bill is in committee there is an opportunity that the committee has a hearing open for public discussion. It is an open invitation for the citizens to express their desire in regards to the committees action. It is an invitation to appeal.

    Here’s what I would do if I had privilege to raise young children in my home again. We would learn about a bill we wanted to follow all the way through the process. One of significance. And then I would plan regular field trips to Capitol Hill and make plans to participate at all available processes.

  2. I learned that I did not agree with everyone who spoke to House Bill No. 2 (2015). This was not a surprise, it is to be expected. There are opposing views on a bill of this magnitude. It would be expected that the person I sat next to would not be speaking to the bill in agreement. There would be no mistaking to anyone in the Lincoln auditorium that I was a man. And there would be no mistaking to anyone that I was sitting next to a man dressed as a woman, presenting himself as a woman with physical alterations.  No one in the room would have difficulty making this distinction.

    We sat next to each other in a civil manner. I said hello, commented on a few things while waiting for the proceedings to begin, and respectfully sat next to each other the entire time.

    I respect a process that lets every citizen testify and express emotion for their desires.

    I appreciated others who spoke against House Bill No. 2, as I too am opposed. I was pleased that there were others who spoke boldly of their hope that Idaho would honor God and not equate sexual orientation and gender identity as a simple civil rights issue.

    I was pleased to hear others speak with precision of the Lord Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible, clergy and laymen alike.

    It was not long in the proceedings that the reality that I would not be in agreement with everyone who claims to be a bible believing Christian. I would find that I’m equally opposed to some of the defense of the bible from some on the same side of the bill as I.

    But even more troubling was to begin hearing clergy from some denominations defending sexually deviant behavior as ordained by God and supported from Scripture.

    This was a moment of great significance for me.

    It is not only important that a Christian voice be heard, it is of eternal importance that a Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ learn to articulate with pin point precision what one believes and able to defend this with kindness, compassion and appeal for the soul of all men and women.

  3. Finally, I have been spiritually, profoundly impacted by my time spent on Capitol Hill.

    Indeed there is a great sin in in the land. I sat next to an individual who is equally fit for hell as I. I have tasted the kindness of God upon my own soul. And I have a duty to all humanity to act compassionately and truthfully with all.

What If God Were Against Us?

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My speech to the House of Representatives State Affairs committee:

The hearing can be viewed via live steaming here: http://www.idahoptv.org/insession/leg.cfm

Colossians 1:9-23 (NASB)

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven…

Judges 21:25 (NASB)
In those days… everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

When humanity is zealous to support their own agenda and authority above that of God’s we become a public danger to all. When legislation is made in favor of personal desire rather than public wellness; or when we give a path to equate sinful liberty with civil equal rights we become positioned to invite the judgment of God upon us, our descendants, and the general prosperity of the land.

Rather, today, I call upon you as elected, public servants of the citizens of Idaho, appointed by the sovereign order of God, to give sober reality to this historic moment given you to be a blessing rather than a curse to all who live or hope to live in this great state. This sober reality is to submit to Jehovah God and be an agent of blessing. Better today to repent of rash oaths disguised as champions of equal rights and avoid the guilt of being wrong before God.

When law advises others to acts of pride, selfishness and idolatry it really proves a strong stubbornness and a blindness of the human mind. Legislating acts of lawful immorality is the result of the fatal effects of a conscience, under ignorance and error, and is paved with misguided hope and expectations.

I respect that not all will understand my plea to you. I mean no disrespect to anyone present. The jurisdiction of this proposed law moves dangerously beyond the jurisdiction of civic law and duty.

All citizens have equal rights already promised them by Idaho code and law. This proposed addition is really no addition at all and moves to legislation of the conscience of all and gives lawful permission to sexual deviant behavior that becomes a danger to all.

God is not confused over sexuality. God created us male and female. Will you act so arrogantly today and redefine what God has already ordered as good? There may be confusion within the mind but all created nature must submit to the Lordship of its creator. Sexual orientation and gender identity is already settled as male and female, not by you and me, but by Almighty God.

I’m not appealing to you on behalf of religious freedom or separation of church and state. This is the least of my concern… I’m appealing to you as one who has tasted the kindness of God. I’m a fellow citizen, a bond-servant under the Lordship of Christ, an ambassador of Christ’s reconciliation. My appeal is to everyone of you and everyone here today, repent of your sin and submit to the Lordship of Christ.

Equal rights law already protects male and female; don’t make law that protects acts against nature or sexually deviant behavior. This is a road that will surely not end well for any citizen in Idaho, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It is a law that will make a mockery of all things created and an offense to the Lord of creation.

In arrogance some may say, “if God be for us, who can be against us” but listen, if God be against us, it will no longer matter who is for us.

Thank you for hearing from all of us today.

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