May I be bold? Let me tell you a truth.

[I'm going to take a break from reporting about NAIS for a little while. It is more important at this point to give you, dear reader, the tools with which you can be saved from the coming struggles. - Hen]

The truth is this: Jesus is real. Now, if you are an unbeliever you are going to take exception to that truth and you may even get angry and think me "one of those...a bible thumper", though you will be wrong.

I was not brought up believing in Jesus, no. It was in 1996 that I took heed of God's call to me. In retrospect, I can see that He was calling me my whole life. It took me 46 years to pay attention. In these twelve years I have ample evidence that Jesus is real and that is what I want to share with you.

The Bible is the owners manual for living on earth. We are all sinners, everyone of us. My own sin is ever before me, can't get away from it even though I'd like it if I didn't sin. I'm sure God would, too, but really it is impossible to not be a sinner. That is why Jesus was crucified, a perfect man made imperfect, to atone for the sins off all of us, every person since the beginning until the end. You might think that is unreasonable, but you must remember that God's ways are different (and higher) than our ways, so our own logic and understanding cannot puzzle that out on our own.

Of course, the world is telling a different story, as it has always told a different story. That story is 180 degrees opposite of the truth.

God loves YOU desperately, desperately...deeply, madly, truly. He wants to give you everything He has in mind for you. Why do you resist getting gifts from the maker of the universe? Since God made the universe and knows all the stars by name, He is where everything your heart desires is to be found. Why not look to Him?

Oh, I understand your unbelief, I really do. Ask yourself what have you got to lose by just trying? You have more to lose by not trying, that's for sure. And don't let your pride (that's for you, Pop) stand in the way. Don't be stiff-necked because you don't understand what is at stake; being separated from God for all of eternity.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

The truth, again, is that God wants you to return to Him, He has a plan for your life, a much better life than you could ever get on your own, and Jesus is real!

Ready for the challenge? Say this prayer. You have absolutely nothing to lose by trying it and everything to gain.


"Father, my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Come on back and tell me what happens after you say it.

Shalom!

What's that? A rainbow?

Donate, donate, donate! This is what we have been dreaming about. You can't afford to NOT donate some money to the defense fund.

Hen

http://www.ftcldf.org/press-15May2008.html

Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Legal Defense Fund Moves to Stop Animal ID Program;
Files Intent to Sue Letter with USDA and Michigan Department of Agriculture

Falls Church, Virginia, (May 15, 2008) -- Attorneys for the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund today sent a Notice of Intent to Sue letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) over implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a plan to electronically track every livestock animal in the country.

The Notice asks the USDA and MDA to "immediately suspend the funding and implementation of NAIS," and "fully and fairly examine" whether there is even a need for such a program.

Taaron Meikle, Fund president, said that contrary to USDA's claim, NAIS will do nothing to protect the health of livestock and poultry. "At a time when food safety and costs are a concern, the USDA has spent over $118 million to promote a program that will burden everyone from pleasure horse owners to ranchers and small farmers to individuals who raise a few chickens or steers on their own land for their own use."

Once fully implemented, the NAIS program would require every person who owns even one livestock or poultry animal (a single chicken or a pet pony) to register their property with the state and federal government, to tag each animal, and to report "events" to a database within 24 hours. Reportable events would include such things as a private sale, a state fair, or a horse show.

The Notice charges that USDA has never published rules regarding NAIS, in violation of the Federal Administrative Procedures Act; has never performed an Environmental Impact Statement or an Environmental Assessment as required by the National Environmental Policy Act; is in violation of the Regulatory Flexibility Act that requires them to analyze proposed rules for their impact on small entities and local governments; and violates religious freedoms guaranteed by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

"We also think there are constitutional issues at stake here," Meikle noted. "The requirement to use electronic ear tags or RFID chips violates the religious beliefs of some farmers, such as the Amish, and provisions in a memorandum of understanding between the USDA and the MDA could violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution by requiring the state to stop and inspect vehicles carrying livestock without a warrant or probable cause."

The MDA has implemented the first two stages of NAIS –property registration and animal identification – for all cattle and farmers across the state as part of its mandatory bovine tuberculosis disease control program, which is mandated by a grant from the USDA.

"While touted as a disease control program, the NAIS will drive many small farmers out of business" Meikle noted, "and burden every person who owns even one horse, chicken, cow, goat, sheep, pig, llama, alpaca, or other livestock animal with expensive and intrusive government regulations."

Joe Golimbieski, a farmer from Standish, Michigan and Fund member, explains: "The cost of the tags is just the start. We're at the mercy of whatever price the stockyards charge to do the tagging. And our farm doesn't have extra employees to deal with paperwork. NAIS is likely to put us out of business."

Gary Cox, General Counsel for the Fund, states that "USDA and MDA have exceeded their authority and they have completely failed to follow the proper procedures. We are calling on the agencies to immediately halt implementation of the program or face appropriate action."

About The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund: The Fund's mission is to defend the freedoms and to broaden the rights of sustainable farmers and their consumers to produce and consume local, nutrient-dense foods. Concerned citizens can support the Fund by joining at www.farmtoconsumer.org or by contacting the Fund at 703-208-FARM. The Fund's sister organization, the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation (www.farmtoconsumerfoundation.org), works to support farmers engaged in sustainable farm stewardship and promote consumer access to local, nutrient-dense food.

Editor's Note: The Notice of Intent to Sue the (USDA) and (MDA) is available at www.farmtoconsumer.org

###

Contacts:

Taaron G. Meikle
President, Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund and Farm-to-Consumer Foundation
703-537-8372
tgmeikle@aol.com

Brian Cummings
Cummings & Company LLC
214-295-7463
brian@cummingspr.com

The Press Release
Notice of Intent to Sue
Excerpts from the Notice of Intent to Sue

To learn more about NAIS and our lawsuit, attend the teleseminar -

Stop NAIS NOW!
May 28, 2008
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
$15/phone line
Click here to learn more.