The News-Press Wednesday, April' 28, 2010 - Page Two ,,.ASbOI. A View From TheFence Imagine for a moment that your young child has just slipped across the road to play with a friend. That's not too bad, is it? Now suppose you live next to a four lane highway and your toddler tried that. Would you simply scold them and then say "It's okay"? What if they did it again? Any parent in their right mind would make sure that child knew that was not acceptable. Not because you are a mean parent, but because you love them and care about their safety. There are rules (laws) for a reason. The majority of those are for our protection. Right now people across the nation are struggling to cope with an influx of illegal immigrants/lost jobs. Washington says the answer is to consider amnesty again as a solution. To consider that fairly, let's look at past results. In 1790 immigration began to be restricted by law. In 1891 the Federal Government took over the task of inspecting, admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the U.S. In 1892 came the opening of stations to process immigrants on Ellis Island. In 1986 the Immigration Reform and Control Act was enacted by Congress. Throughout our history imm!grants came from all around the globe to seek refuge in this brave new land called America. At some point since the federal government assumed this responsibility, laws were put in place to both maintain the level of jobs necessary to employ a nation and ensure its security, however like most politically advantageous programs, they became overlooked and no longer enforced. Did Americans suddenly become dispassionate about mankind, or no longer care about those seeking refuge? Are we to become a nation of the lawless where right is wrong, and wrong is applauded? To quote Mike Cutler "We are not anti-immigrant, we are pro- immigrant. The government is more concerned about people making counterfeit Gucci handbags than people making counterfeit Social Security cards." In the late 1980's and early 1990's about 2.7 MILLION received "green cards". Did this pardon solve the problem, or did it rather encourage people to flaunt the laws? By 1997 these had been replaced by an even greater influx of illegals, numbering up to about 5 MILLION. The I.N.S. estimated in 2000 that the population of illegal immigrants had risen to about 7 MILLION. By March of 2005 that number had risen to 10 MILLION. Many experts believe these are conservative numbers, and that the true count could be closer to 20 MILLION. In a population study of a sample of 55,322 illegal aliens, researchers found that they were arrested at least a total of 459,614 times, averaging about 8 arrests per illegal alien. Nearly all had more than 1 arrest. Thirty- eight percent (about 21,000) had between 2 and 5 arrests, 32 percent (about 18,000) had between 6 and 10 arrests, and 26 percent (about 15,000) had 11 or more arrests. Most of the arrests occurred after 1990. (Jim Kouri - Renew America) 61% of Americans oppose amnesty. It is estimated that undocumented immigrants ages 18 to 64 cost the health system about $6.5 billion A YEAR! Since illegal immigrants are generally willing to work for much less than American workers, they have often been preferred as a method of cost-cutting by unscrupulous employers. A study by Olga Rodriguez shows that "Mexican traffickers supplied 77% of the cocaine, 53% of the methamphetamine and approximately 50% of the heroin that enters the U.S." Illegal alien violence on the border, as well as most cities is sky high. Most Americans fear the risk of terrorists sneaking in through those borders, making this a matter of national security. Statistics prove that not only is illegal immigration a national security threat when left unimpeded, but it has strained the health care system, helped topple the economy of many border states, and over-populated our already-crowded prisons. Through all of this, Congress has deemed it "unfair" to enforce our laws, and protect this nation. The road to citizenship has not been improved, but simply ignored. Bureaucratic red tape impedes citizenship, but still Congress fails to act responsibly, and deems illegals as more of a potential vote than a law-breaker. Their answer .... Sen. Christopher Have You Made A Covenant With Death I realize this title sounds a little spooky. But let me explain. Some people think that death can't come unless they give it permission. They think it must wait until they're old and lying on their deathbed. They don't believe they have to worry about death coming in the next minute or even the next year. In other words, they have a covenant with death. Death isn't allowed to come yet. They don't think they need to listen to God's warnings right now, because they have this standing agreement with death. It's not that people consciously reason this way. Rather, they unconsciously live as though this were true. The people of God in Isaiah's day had this very same problem. When God warned them of coming judgment, they acted like they had a covenant with death. Listen to the way they thought about God's warnings: "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us" (Is. 28:15). Isaiah is expressing in words what they believed in their hearts in order to show them how foolish they are. They foolishly lived as though death couldn't come. They believed they were safe from judgment. But God made it clear that they were trusting in lies. Listen to the words He puts into their mouths: "For we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves" (v. 15). Lies cannot stop God from passing judgment, no matter how firmly people believe them. "Your covenant with death will be annulled," " says God, "and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it" (v. 18). In the end, their refuge of lies will provide no protection from God. Let me bring this point home to those of you who aren't too concerned about God's warnings of judgment. The lies you've been telling yourself about death will not protect you. They will provide no refuge. They cannot hold God off for one second. The truth is: you're afraid to die. That's why you believe the lies. And you should be afraid. Job called death, "the king of terrors" (Job 18:14). May I offer you a better way? The only real way you can make a covenant with death is to make a covenant with God first. In the face of all these lies, God pointed His people to the Cornerstone, "a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation" (Is. 28:16). According to Paul, this Cornerstone is none other than Jesus, in whom we are called to trust. "And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame" (Rom. 9:33). Believing in Christ is the only safe place. Every other place will be trampled. You will either fall on this Stone and be broken or He will fall on you and "grind you to powder" (Matt, 21:44). Your hiding places won't hide you then. If you're in covenant with God through Christ, you have peace with the one who holds the keys to death (Rev. 1:18). He has power to release people "who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14-15). In His own death and resurrection, "Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15:54). He has taken the sting out of death (I Cor. 15:55) and has made it a means of gain: "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (phil. 1:21). Those who believe in Him shall never die (John 11:26). In Christ even death is ours (I .By Margaret Shepherd Dodd, D-Conn., said Sunday that Congress needs to act to make sure other states do NOT follow Arizona's lead. In this upside- down world we seem to be living in, this Senator has the audacity to urge others not to follow a state simply forcing its citizens to follow the law, since the federal government has failed to do so. Is it any wonder so many of our elected representatives are currently, or have been, under investigation? The Obama administration is now considering their legal options AGAINST Arizona, not the legality of immigrants. When a country's leaders are no longer the enforcers of justice, it is past time to replace them with strong leaders willing to stand up for the Constitution they swore to uphold. If we hope to survive as a Republic, accountability must start at the top and trickle all the way down to the lowest of public servants. In the words of Samuel Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, "A general dissolution of principles... will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of a common enemy. While the people are virtuous [have the love of God flowing through them] they cannot be subdued; but when they lose their virtue they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader... God Bless America. - By J0hn Belden Cot. 3:22). If we are in Christ, we can be sure that death will come at exactly the right time, the best time for us. And when it does come, it need not be a terror to US. If you're not a Christian, forget your covenant with death. Death cannot honor the terms. It has a previous agreement. It will come exactly when God sends it. Enter into covenant with God by coming to Christ in faith. God has never broken a covenant yet, especially one sealed with the precious blood of His Son. John Be/den is the pastor of Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church. Millstone Missionary Baptist Church To Host Singing Cookes The Millstone Mission- ary Baptist Church will host a free concert by The Sing- ing Cookes and The Cooke Brothers Sunday, May 2 at ,6 p.m. Pastor Bill Craft in- vites everyone to attend. The News-Press Published in Cromona, Kentucky Since 1959 Charles Whitaker Tina Whitaker Publisher Editor The Price of Liberty is Vigilance "There are few things, if any, that are free in this world. Liberty is not now, and never has been, one of them." - Benjamin Franklin The News-Press is published weekly by Superior. Printing Company, Incorporated, Cromona, Kentucky. Postage paid at Cromona, Kentucky 41810. For information about advertising rates, subscription rates, or comments about editorial content, write: The News-Press, P.O. Box 217, Cromona, KY 41810 or phone: (606) 855-4541. POSTMASTER: Send address chang- es to The News-Press, P.O. Box 217, Cromona, KY 41810. Greetings from "Moore's Chapel Freewill Baptist Church- McRoberts By: Katherine Pratt Gabriel Burns, Pastor Can you believe it's been a week since the last writing of our Church News? My, how time does fly. I hope everyone had a good week, and was able to attend Church Services. Bro. John opened our Sunday Worship with a warm welcome, and taking of prayer requests, prayer, and congregational singing. What A Friend We Have in Jesus+ was sung and the thought came to my mind that, "Jesus is truly our Best Friend." He is always as close as we want him to be, and listens to our prayers if we ask in faith believing. Happy Birthday was sung to Sis. Ollie Profit who was celebrating her birthday. She is a dedicated Christian and a Prayer Warrior for God. Please remember in prayer the lost, Sick, military, our church, people traveling, cancer patients, and the storm victims in Mississippi. Also, pray for the people with a personal need in their life. Special singing was enjoyed by all just before Bro. Gabe brought the anointed message God had given to him. Bro. Gabe's message was, "3 Fold Duties of Mankind." The 1 st duty is Appropriation-Taking. Psalms 113:16, Rev. 22:17. We are to Fear God and Keep His Commandments. When Jesus knocks at our hearts door, let him in. Don't turn him away. Take what Jesus has to give, (salvation and eternal life). The still small voice lets us know that God lives in us. God gave Christians a light and told us to let it shine. Let the World see Jesus in us. The 2nd duty is Formation-Making. Romans 12:2 a Christian Life is what we make it. We are to pray, read God's Word, witness, and attend Church. Keep God's Commandments. We will all stand unexcusable before God. Let us serve him with everything that is within us. We should always have time for God, and let him be in control. Church is what we make it, and we get out of services what we put in. A blessing is there if we want it. The 3rd duty is Donation-Giving. Acts 20:35, 1Peter 4:10 and Matthew 10:8, God gave to you, freely give to others. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Share with others what God has done in your life. God will lead in the way we should go. Help to win the lost to Jesus. If you don't have a Church to go to, we extend a hearty welcome to Moore's Chapel. + Remember our Church Schedule: Sunday School at 10:00 Sunday Morning Service at 11:00 Wednesday Prayer Service at 6:00 Bro. Gabe and Congregation welcomes everyone to any/all of our services. Until Next Week May God Bless Everybody, Katherine Jeremiah 29.llTLB "For I Know The Plans I Have For You, "says the Lord. "They Are Plans For Good... To Give You A Future and A Hope." For Honest to Goodness Barbecue Flavor Born In The Letcher County Coalfileds, Taste l00i00hop's Call for your order 832-2043 -+ i;i;++s :'+ s "' People read the per for manY different reasons. Some want to stay abreast of the latest local and state news, while others read the sports pages word-for-word. Still others enjoy reading about the arts and entertainment scene, or scanning the latest auto classifieds. Readers like the newspaper for those reasons and more. Subscribe today and plug into the complete news resource - your weekly paper. Subscribe To The News-Press Call Today 855-4541 ) ', ,