Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A, InForum, NDFA MTF, Ephesians 5

By now most of you know of Chick-Fil-A, even though the fast food chain does not have a store in North Dakota.  Chick-Fil-A’s owner voiced his support for traditional marriage in an interview, and as such, his lack of support for same-sex marriage.

Response to Dan Cathy’s statement went viral.  The gay community threatened protests.  Mayors of a number of major cities where Chick-Fil-A was planning to locate first time stores, including Boston, vowed to keep them out.  Gay rights activists planned ‘kiss-in’ demonstrations at Chick-Fil-A stores.

To show support for Cathy’s right to share his support for traditional marriage, Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day was organized by Mike Huckabee for Wednesday—asking supporters to show up at one of their 1600 plus locations.  Lines were long, waits in excess of two hours, and a single day sales record was set.

Some of you are aware of the Forum newspaper in Fargo changing its policy on posting wedding engagements.  A gay couple asked that their same-sex wedding engagement be printed in the Forum.  The Forum initially declined citing existing policy.  The couple challenged the policy.

Gay right’s activists started an online petition, letters to the editor began in mass, and the talk show airwaves were flooded.  The Forum changed its policy.

Some of you know of NDFA’s initiative to restore and preserve traditional marriage, the NDFA Marriage Task Force.   We had our 5th meeting on Thursday.  We heard a presentation on the merits of churches incorporating a marriage mentorship program.  We also had a general discussion on the overall merits of marriage, and especially for children.

Many of us are familiar with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  In Ephesians 5:18, Paul exhorts them (us) to be filled with the Holy Spirit; giving thanks, singing hymns, worshipping, and submitting to one another in the fear of God.

And then Paul’s inspired words present the most powerful message on the commitment and duty of marriage.  Paul compels us: husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, husbands love your wives as your own bodies, wives submit to your husband as to the Lord, and husbands give yourself for your wife just as Christ gave Himself for the church.

Christ the Bridegroom, the church His bride, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish—so too is the marriage between man and woman, husband and wife.  How awesomely powerful to know that God elevates the relationship of husband and wife to the level of Jesus’s relationship to His church.

How revealing, how clear, how awesomely convicting is the Word.

Just a few verses later in chapter 6, Paul informs the Ephesians (and us today) of trouble, trials, and
difficult times.  He implores them (us) to put on the full armor of God, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and spiritual enemies. 

Paul tells us to stand against evil, defending what is true.  He tells to use the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  We are exhorted to stand for truth.

Supporters of truth stood in line at Chick-Fil-A.  They did not angrily protest, but by their actions supported the right of a business owner to voice his belief.   They did not boycott.  They did not show disrespect or hatred for anyone.

When made aware of a LGBT ‘kiss in’ event at their stores, a Chick-Fil-A spokesman said, "we understand from news reports that Friday may present yet another opportunity for us to serve with genuine hospitality, superior service and great food,"

Chick-Fil-A stresses that its employees abide by a service tradition to "treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."  That policy includes customers and fellow employees.

While Dan Cathy and Chick-Fil-A stood firm in its beliefs, the Forum of Fargo was quite different.  It cited any number of reasons for changing its policy, the greatest being the perceived sentiment of the public.  But one thing stood out in the Forum’s rationalization for it decision.  It stated there is much more to this issue than whether a newspaper prints a same-sex wedding announcement.  True.

Following the Forum’s policy change, same-sex activists agreed.  This is just the first step.  Legislatively pass measures to classify “sexual orientation and gender identity” in anti-discrimination law.  And then civil unions, and then same-sex marriage.  The strategy is simple: desensitize, normalize, and legitimize.

The Forum was correct in its assessment about the larger issue—it’s not about publishing an engagement announcement, or about homosexuality, or even about divorce, or cohabitation—it’s about promoting, restoring, and preserving the institution of marriage between one man  and one woman.  It is about understanding the foundational value of traditional marriage for all of society, and especially our children.

Traditional marriage has been the cornerstone of the family for thousands of years, as the family is the foundation of society.  As in past cultures, the survival of America rests on marriage and the family.

Will we stand for marriage, as those who stood in line at Chick-Fil-A?

Will we stand for life, or will we look the other way?

Will we stand for religious freedom, or will be put our finger to the wind and go with the prevailing wind?

Will we stand, taking action, for what is right, for what is truth?

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Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment
June 12, 2012 Primary Election Ballot


Purpose & Need Fact Sheet

www.yesonmeasurethree.org

Protect religious liberty in North Dakota from government mandates

What it is?

Measure 3 is a state constitutional amendment that restores a well-tested way of preserving religious liberty for all North Dakotans for future generations.

How?

Measure 3 restores and preserves a person’s or organization’s religious liberty for our children and grandchildren, while respecting legitimate government interests as provided by our Founding Fathers.

Why?

Because our religious liberty is a treasured freedom on which America was founded, and now is being threatened and under attack, it is time to act.

Why now?

We can’t wait. As we see an administration (HHS), by government mandate, forcing religious organizations to provide contraceptives, sterilization drugs, and abortifacients in violation of sincerely held religious beliefs. These attacks are on our religious liberty. We need protection, and we need it now.

Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment

Government may not burden a person's or religious organization's religious liberty. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be burdened unless the government proves it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A burden includes indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities.
www.yesonmeasurethree.org

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The social driving the fiscal.

The social driving the fiscal.


Rick Santorum’s recent surge in the Republican presidential polls would indicate the public’s interest and support, in no small part due to his stance on the social issues.


Santorum is unashamedly pro-family, pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-faith—just about pro everything we stand for here at the NDFA. But he has a much deeper understanding of where America is today. Santorum has a firm recognition of the correlation of the cultural state of the family and the fiscal crisis in our country.


Today the breakdown of the family is evidenced in lower marriage rates, increased out of wedlock birth rates, higher cohabitation numbers, as well as other indicators. At the same time, we see a fiscal crisis pushing the debt limits to unparalleled levels.


Fiscally, the bottom line is this—married couples provide the most stable, sustaining revenue for the government, federal and state. The federal fiscal crisis we are in is due in part to the declining number of married couple families, with marriage rates having declined by 50% over the past 35 years.


Conversely, those providing the least revenue to government fall into the category of separated, cohabitating, and divorced. And in many cases, these require government assistance. This population is rising, with cohabitation rates increasing over 1500% since 1960.


This trend is of great concern. The number of families supporting the government revenue needs (taxes) is declining, and the number of families providing very little support if any, and very likely accepting government assistance is rising. As one researcher stated, “we cannot tax, spend, or borrow enough to counteract this trend”. Most estimates cite the cost at $112 billion per year, one trillion over a ten year period.


Compounding this spiraling trend is the slowdown of our birthrate, decreasing the number of working, tax paying citizens. In addition, of the births, 41% occur in a non-marital situation, with many requiring government assistance.


Understanding that research documents the common denominator of those doing better financially is the stability of the married couple structure, today an obvious phenomena is occurring. Over 83% of those in the higher income groups are married, only 44% of those in the middle/blue collar, working class groups are married. This gap between the “haves” (those married) and the “have nots” (those not married) is increasing. Where we are today is very reminiscent of where the inner city African-American communities were some generations ago.


Not only is this trend alarming for the fiscal future to this country, it is a moral crisis which we cannot ignore. We have an ever increasing number of children growing up in non-traditional homes, with 27% of children living in a single parent home and 55% having experienced a break up of their family by time they reach 18 years of age. And these children have a greater likelihood of not doing as well in school, turning to drugs, having children out of wedlock, and living in poverty.


Vast amounts of research document the undeniable link between marital status, the welfare of children, and the economic status of both the children and their parents. As a society, we must remove our heads from the sand and seek to affect this issue on a moral basis. As a government, our elected officials must recognize the criticality of understanding the importance of this issue and take action. The future of our country is depending on us.



Posted by Tom Freier
Executive Director
North Dakota Family Alliance

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Polictics : Rick Santorum: What’s not to like?

Polictics : Rick Santorum: What’s not to like?

As I listened to Rick Santorum as he spoke in Fargo last week, I was impressed with his openness, genuine demeanor, and common sense approach to the important issues of the day. He spoke addressing all issues; including, jobs, the economy, health care, the national debt, taxes, national defense, Iran, and of course, the social issues of life/abortion and marriage.

He most certainly understands the importance of the breakdown of the family, not only as a social issue, but its economic effect on the country. He outlined the financial cost to the taxpayers. He understands that as traditional marriage declines, adults and children are put on public assistance—costing billions of dollars per year.

Santorum is truly pro-life. He does not have to be convinced of his position. He does not have to look at the polls to determine where he stands. Santorum is genuine, he knows where he stands.

Because of Santorum knowing where he stands, he was able to give his clear view on the president infringing on the soundly held religious beliefs of those who wish not to furnish sterilization and abortifacients. When addressing issues relating to his faith, faith related issues, he can speak from his heart.

With gas prices soaring, the cost of a bag of grocery staggering, the family is struggling to balance their checkbook. All this at a time when federal government spending is out of control, the national debt threatening the stability of our financial system, and who will be called on to bail out this failed policy? The Family. Families will pay higher taxes, and see their take home pay buy less due to inflation.

Santorum spoke with authority on America’s defense needs, restoring our relationship with Israel, and the real threat posed by Iran. He spoke of restoring America to being the leader of the free world respected around the world.

Some have suggested Santorum may be too conservative. Could someone really think that? Some say he is too socially conservative. America is crying out for a man of integrity. America is seeking a leader who respects life and the God given institution of marriage, a candidate to do what is right—representing the American dream.

A final observation, Santorum seems to elicit trust. And aren’t we all looking for a place to place our trust. And so, what is there not to like about Rick Santorum?

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Faith, Family, & Freedom Banquet a Success

Faith, Family, & Freedom Banquet a Success!!

Jeff Kemp hits a home run with the crowd at the Faith, Family, & Freedom Banquet. He shared personal stories of his NFL career, his home life with his wife, and an overview of where marriage is today. He based the totality of his remarks as related to his faith. He inspired all to relate to the banquet theme to “Restore the sanctity of marriage”.

Chris Berg emceed, sharing his strong support for family and marriage. To personalize the evenings theme, a video titled “For Better, For Worse”, shared a real story of a married couple incurring marital problems. Through their faith they were able to save their marriage—a great, encouraging story.

Pastor Doug Vandermeulen, Community Baptist Church, Fargo, shared by video a wonderful overview of the “Role of the Church” in today’s culture, and in specific marriage.
To view Pastor Doug’s video, go to www.ndfa.org

As a Friend-Raiser the event proved very successful, bringing many new faces to the event to hear for the first time what NDFA is all about. As a Fund-Raiser, the event generated funds to help support NDFA’s major initiatives.

To view Pastor's Doug's video: click here.
To view the "For Better, For Worse" video, click here.

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Faith, Family, & Freedom Banquet

Faith, Family, & Freedom Banquet
6:30 Thursday, February 2, 2012
Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND

You are invited. First, please come. Second, consider hosting a table. Next, please consider financially underwriting the event's cost.

To learn more or exercise any of these options, contact the NDFA at 701-364-0676, email admin@ndfa.org, or go to www.ndfa.org

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