out against the coercion of people of faith who are being discriminated against because they merely hold to the laws of nature and nature’s God. Our institutions, once based on the Creator of life, have now appointed themselves to usurp the authority of God, who is the author of life, marriage, and family.


The most elemental sovereign unit, our families, has been destroyed by our foolish decisions. We are told instead by those of us sworn to uphold the law that murder is not murder, marriage is not marriage, and family is not family. We have allowed constitutional constructs to kill a child and call it a choice.


We have seen discreet behaviors and private sexual preferences promoted to public display while what is constitutionally guaranteed to be able to express— religion—is now being publicly prohibited. This nation, at its highest level, has taken a position against God. Is it possible, if that be the case, that we can form a more perfect union? Can we establish justice absent the giver of law? Can domestic tranquility be ensured when we abandon His precepts? Can we provide for a common defense absent a mighty fortress and an unfailing bulwark?


How do we promote the general welfare when every American is unanchored, adrift to do what seems right in his own eyes? Do we suppose that we can secure the blessings of liberty without Him? Can those of our posterity expect to obtain His blessing without acknowledging His existence?


So, Madam Speaker, like our forebears, I cannot be


silent. My faith directs that I act with love and civility in a gentlemanly manner. As a warrior on battlefields, I have seen the worst that human beings have to offer. But my optimism is secured by eternal hope and everlasting truth. My conscience speaks to God’s eternal being. So I am without excuse. His love and mercy cannot be separated from those that answer His call.…


Like the Founders of our nation and Framers of our great Constitution, I speak with many as a representative in this august body, “With a firm reliance on the protections of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”


So, Madam Speaker, I will stand with Joshua when he said: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”


I stand with the apostle Paul when he said: “Putting away falsehood, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”


So I ask America: Who will stand with me? Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


Protecting Against the Dangers of Playtime


Reprinted with permission from Church Mutual’s Risk Management Tidbit, September 2016. Church Mutual is a Corporate Sponsor with ACSI and provides insurance to many of our member schools. For more information, go to www.churchmutual.com.


It is difficult to think of a playground as a place of danger. Yet, too often, it is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 200,000 playground accidents cause children to be transported to the emergency room each year. That means 548 children are significantly injured every day on a playground. Unfortunately, these often turn fatal. On average, 15 children die every year from playground-related injuries. Most deaths are due to strangulation or falls.


• Recently, a three-year-old girl accidentally hanged herself on a playground climbing frame. She was unsupervised at the time.


• A two-year-old girl was hospitalized with a fractured skull and broken back after she fell and an improperly anchored swing set toppled onto her.


Both of these accidents were preventable if proper safety measures were followed.


Inspect Playgrounds on a Regular Basis


Playgrounds should be inspected on a regular basis. If any of the following conditions are noted, they should be removed, corrected, or repaired immediately to prevent injuries.


1. Landing areas—Provide a landing surface under and around equipment that has at least 12 inches of soft material for landing. Grass and asphalt lack true shock-absorbing properties. Some acceptable materials include sand, mulch, wood chips, or safety- tested rubber.


2. Proper coverage—The proper protective surface around the equipment should extend at least 6 feet in all directions. For swings, the protective surface should extend twice the height of the suspending bar to the front and back.


3. Proper spacing—Play structures more than 30 inches high need to be spaced at least nine feet apart.


4. Sharp edges—Check for sharp edges and protrusions. Hardware most likely to be hazardous is open “S”


36 | 27.2 © 2016 by the Association of Christian Schools International


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