Today the Supreme Court ruled, in a 5-4 split vote, that the death penalty for raping a child was cruel and unusual punishment.  Justice Anthony Kennedy said "the death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child".  He's right in a way, only the certain eternity of burning in a lake of fire is a proportional punishment for harming a child.

Jesus says in Matthew 18:7-8:

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"

But are we to wait around, feeding, housing, and clothing the man for thirty years until the woe of the Lord comes?  Are there men whose acts are so heinous that we should immediately serve them up to the Lord for his ultimate judgment?  Here is an excerpt from the court case against child rapist Patrick Kennedy, convicted for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter:

"It was not disputed that the victim was brutally raped.  On the morning of March 2, 1998, the victim was transported by ambulance to Children’s Hospital where she was examined in the emergency room.  The victim’s predominate injury was vaginal with profuse bleeding.  Her entire perineum was torn and her rectum protruded into her vagina.  Dr. Scott Benton of Children’s Hospital testified as an expert in pediatric forensic medicine that the victim’s injuries were the most serious he had seen, within his four years of practice, that resulted from a sexual assault.  A pediatric surgeon was called in to repair the damage, which was repaired successfully."

(Here I will say that, if you are not weeping for this child after reading that account, I care not for your opinions concerning the death penalty.)

Today the Supreme Court of the United States thwarted the will of the people of the State of Louisiana. It was the will of the people that such horrendously violent and evil acts should be punished in the severest way possible, death.  "Woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"

No one is saying that the death penalty should be applied in all cases of rape; Louisiana has only sentenced two such child rapists to death.  But, even those who are opposed to the death penalty generally will agree that it is warranted in extreme cases. 

The next President will certainly get an opportunity to appoint one or more Supreme Court Justices.  This brings us to presidential candidate Barack Obama, a man that voted in support of partial birth abortion.  On that basis alone, we can see the agenda of the radical left will trump any sympathy he might have for protecting children.

But what kind of Supreme Court Justice would Barack Obama appoint?  Barack Obama has already praised Stephen G. Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and David H. Souter -- all of whom just voted to protect child rapists from cruel and unusual punishment.

So what can Christians do to stop Barack Obama?  First, let's get John McCain to select a devout believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as his Vice President, such as Mike Huckabee. 

Then, let's get McCain/Huckabee elected in a way that only the community of believers can do it -- by organizing our churches to support, campaign for, and vote for McCain/Huckabee en mass.  This, I believe, is the only way that Barack Obama will be stopped.  And, by flexing the power of the community of believers we will ensure that no more mistakes are made by Republican Presidents in appointing Supreme Court Justices

You have worked hard to raise-up your children and teach them the admonitions of the Lord.  Perhaps you have even raised-up a future Legislator, Governor, or Senator.  Do you really want your children ruled over by the judicial tyranny of leftist old men on a Supreme Court appointed by Barack Obama?

If you really want change, let's change the Supreme Court.  Hopefully the likes of Ruth Bader Ginsburg will repent and come to the Lord (or more likely she will continue to wither and die as it appears God has hardened her heart).  Until then, we must do everything we can to prevent anymore Ginsburgs from being appointed; our children and the will of the people need protection, not child rapists.

From Considering Homeschooling.

As I noted before, homeschoolers are helping Huckabee and will be key to his victory.  It is one thing for the winners to say so, it is another for the vanquished to acknowledge.  In the story from Byron York over at National Review, Romney spokesperson Eric Fehrnstrom noted:

We're going up against a loose confederation of fair taxers, and homeschoolers, and Bible study members, and so this will be a test to see who can generate the most bodies on caucus day.

According to entrance polling, nearly 60% of Iowa caucus goers identified themselves as "Born-Again or Evangelical Christian".  Huckabee pulled 46% of those Christians.  Huckabee also did well in the majority of all the demographics.

Here is a story out of Iowa about Christian homeschoolers supporting Mike Huckabee.  For all the $7 million plus that Mitt Romney has poured into Iowa (compared to Mike Huckabee's < $400K), I think Romney will be singing "can't buy me looove..." when the caucuses are over.  For who can stand up to the political power of Christian homeschoolers and their children? 

From the article, Vicki Crawford says:

"From here on out, we are for the next month going to go and volunteer for Governor Huckabee. That's part of our school. Life is a field trip."

And, field trips that matter give life so much more meaning.  That's why, whether it is standing in front of our local abortion clinic or canvassing our precinct before an election, our children are beside us.

Pray for the Christian homeschoolers in Iowa, that God gives the strength and organizational skills to help Mike Huckabee to victory.

To help support Mike Huckabee, go to his website:  www.mikehuckabee.com

I would like to officially announce my endorsement of Mike Huckabee for President of the United States.

There is no clearer choice.  Mike Huckabee appears to be a man of deeply held convictions and faith.  In word and deed Mike Huckabee is pro-life, pro-family, and pro-homeschooling.  Conservative, articulate, and likeable... I like Mike.

If you have been waiting to support a Presidential candidate, now is the time to consider carefully and act.  Mike Huckabee needs your support.  Mike Huckabee has shown that he can win Iowa.  Give him your support and contributions so he can win South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Florida too.

Mike Huckabee can beat Hillary Clinton (as well as Barack Obama or John Edwards) next year.

Please pray that God guides Mike Huckabee's steps and his heart.  And pray that Mike Huckabee's victory glorifies God.

The Herald Tribune is reporting that "Aqua Dots" Chinese-made children's toys contain the 'date rape' drug.

Scientists say a chemical coating on the beads, when ingested, metabolizes into the so-called date rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. When eaten, the compound — made from common and easily available ingredients — can induce unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.

Could this Chinese toy thing get any stranger?  Lead, asbestos, gamma hydroxy butyrate... could they try any harder to make this look like a sinister communist plot to kill American children?

We have long boycotted Chinese made products -- yes, it is possible.  It takes more time shopping and sometimes we go home empty handed.  But, like most Americans, who needs more stuff?  As someone who loves toys, those three little words - Made in China - sure help us save a lot of money.  Try it; just put the stuff back on the shelf.

Our little family is like a chorus going through a toy store: "Made in China", "Made in China", "Made in China".  I believe those are the first words most of our children learned to read -- dad's homeschool of consumer awareness. 

Our little boycott started, not because of consumer safety reasons, but because the communists represent real evil in this world.  Christians are persecuted in China.  Political freedom is suppressed.  Individual expression is punished.  Information is controlled by the state.  Every industry profits from slave labor (through forced labor of political prisoners in energy and mining).  And, women are forced to have abortions.

Also, a portion of every dollar that goes to China gets invested into the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army), China's military, which is engaged in a great strategic expansion in anticipation of the coming conflict with the United States.  Historically, China views the United States as an enemy.  All of their military build-up is targeted at countering the United States -- anti-satellite weapons to target our communications, blue water navy and submarines to counter our aircraft carriers, hacking to disrupt our information infrastructure, anti-surface missiles to counter our navy, short and medium range missiles to target Taiwan and US bases in Asia, ICBM's to target American cities.

Please pray that this coming conflict does not come to pass.  Pray that the communist government of China would be destroyed and freedom would come to the Chinese people.  Too long have they suffered under the suppression of totalitarian government (at key historical points reinforced by western powers). 

In 1989 brave individuals stood up for political reform in China, the result was death and prison for thousands.  The west largely ignored these tyrannical acts and expanded trade relations with China.  Trade has done little since then to give the Chinese people political freedom.  Instead, the power of the communist dictators has been reinforced and strengthened by the influx of western cash.

Please stop giving your cash to China; instead give them your prayers and determination to see them free to worship Christ as you do.  Don't you think that is a better lesson for your children then that plastic (and perhaps lead painted) toy?