http://www.hslda.org/landingpages/crpd/default.aspx

Bad News: UN Disabilities Treaty has Returned—Stronger than Ever

	Mike Farris is the founder and chairman of HSLDA and a homeschooling father of 10. Read more >>

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
We have bad news. The dangerous UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), that you narrowly defeated through calls and emails in 2012, has returned. It has come back stronger than ever, and its supporters are preparing to ram it through the U.S. Senate.
This United Nations treaty says “in all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” Not “parental rights,” as our U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. But “best interests of the child,” a legal term only used during divorce and abuse and neglect cases.Government officials could use this section to override parental decisions for their child with a disability. Other provisions of this treaty threaten U.S. sovereignty, promote abortion rights, and require a national registry of all children with disabilities (the term “disability” isn’t even defined).

Freedom at Risk

The UNCPRD isn’t about protecting people with disabilities—our nation’s own laws and strong leadership overseas already do this. It’s about whether we will surrender our freedom to an unelected, unaccountable United Nations.
You defeated this treaty in December 2012. But the supporters were looking for a way to win the second time and ratify the UNCRPD. And they believe they have found it with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bond v. United States, which was issued last week.

Bond v. United States dealt with a jilted wife who used household chemicals in a bungled attempt to poison her rival. But it quickly turned into a major constitutional case dealing with the Chemical Weapons Ban treaty, congressional action, and the Constitution.
The Supreme Court made the right decision and found that it was ridiculous for the federal government to prosecute this hapless chemical user. But the Court’s decision was very narrow, and never addressed the treaty power found in the U.S. Constitution.
Only three justices—Scalia, Thomas, and Alito—brought this issue up. And they—like HSLDA—are very worried about how treaties can threaten our system of limited federal government and our constitutional freedoms. We encourage you to read the decision here. You can read the concurring opinions of justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito starting after page 21.

Aggressive Lobbying

Supporters of the UNCRPD such as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (NJ) seemed to not even have read this decision in their haste to urge ratification of this United Nations treaty. In the days since the decision, countless organizations have issued press releases calling for swift ratification of the UNCRPD. Supporters of the treaty are aggressively lobbying on Capitol Hill at this very moment. This treaty is roaring back, possibly as early as the week after Independence Day.
HSLDA’s federal relations staff and our allies are fighting back on Capitol Hill as hard as we can. But ultimately,only you can stop this treaty. We ask that you immediately take a moment to email your two U.S. senators and urge them to protect our nation’s sovereignty against the United Nations, to protect parental rights, and to vigorously oppose the UNCRPD. If you have the time to send a letter, that would be even better.
We know emails and letters take time. But this battle is crucial. Let’s hold off on phone calls for now so we can save that powerful action for when a vote is scheduled. But please make your voice heard by sending a letter or email in your own words. Then please forward this email to three of your homeschool friends and ask them to do the same.
You can find the addresses of your two U.S. senators by using HSLDA’s Legislative Toolbox, and you can send an email to your two U.S. Senators at this page. You can find out more about the dangers of the UNCRPD on our website.
Thank you for standing with us to preserve our freedom in the face of the United Nations and transnationalists in the U.S. Senate. This is going to be a tough fight. By the grace of God and the tireless work of parents and concerned citizens like you, this treaty was defeated in 2012. I believe we can defeat it again.
For liberty,

Michael P. Farris, JD, LLM
Chairman, HSLDA

P.S. We greatly value you and your support—it is a privilege to serve you! If you or someone you know is not a member of HSLDA, will you consider taking a moment today to join or recommend us? Your support enables us to defend individual families threatened by government officials and protect homeschooling freedom for all.Join now >>

New Summer hours – and don’t forget to come on Sundays for church – Community Bible Church Bluffton Extension!

If you would like to sign  up for meals for the Greenwalts here is the sign up schedule, password is blessing –  http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=YTCE3670 

If you missed the update on Friday here it is – https://cbccahomeschooling.com/2014/04/04/thank-you-from-the-greenwalts/

The one thing that can be counted on in an emergency is a constantly changing flow of information!

I spoke to Tristan and Angie at length about an hour and a half ago and hopefully have gotten the answers to many of the questions you may have.

They thank EVERYONE so much for your kind blessing of prayer. This has made such an impact on them as they collect their thoughts and plan their next steps.

~ The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

They also thank everyone for their kind concern for their physical needs,  including clothing, furniture etc. in addition to gift cards and financial benevolence. They are overwhelmed by the love of the body and how everyone has met their needs abundantly and beyond anything they could ask. Tristan and Angie want all of you to know that they know that the Lord has worked through his children and they appreciate every one of you.

The Greenwalts are in no further need of any material or financial assistance at this time. However, as we consider the situation in Ukraine, if you feel that the Lord is leading you to contribute somehow financially, please consider a donation to the HIS Kids Ministry through Community Bible Church. This is the ministry that provides orphan care in Ukraine and that Dr. Greenwalt volunteers for (see picture). It is well established with an orphanage, foster homes and even an adoption component.

~But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18

Correction – They are actually not borrowing a house at this time, although they had several offers. They have elected to remain with Tristan’s mom while they look for a furnished rental that will accommodate their family. The insurance company will be covering this expense fully for a year, so they will not have out of pocket expenses for this, for which they are very thankful.

The kids are taken care of, distributed between family and friends when not directly with Tristan and Angie.

There will be a meal schedule put up sometime after next week. Their immediate meal situation is taken care of and they are not in need of any more gift cards etc.

Below is Tristan’s post from Facebook from this morning that he has given me permission to share ~

Thank you to everyone who is praying for our family. We covet those prayers as we have had an eventful day of sifting through charred, smokey, wet “stuff” to find a corner of a picture, or a sliver of a necklace, or a piece of a shoe, while trying not to fall through the floor or get cut up by hanging metal shards. All while giving thanks to God for only having to bury our dog and not our child or children. We realize the important things are the little feet that run down the halls that no longer exist and the little fingers that smudge the refrigerator now sitting crumpled and burned under the collapsed ceiling. Thank you Lord for your mercy to our family….

 

Here are the Greenwalts prayer requests –

• Wisdom/discernment for many decisions, dealing with insurance, future plans, etc.
•  They lost their dog in the fire.  Please pray especially for the children as they deal with the loss of their pet, home, and belongings.
• Tristan and Angie’s work – how to balance fire clean up/details and dental patients.
• For rest and clarity of mind.

Glad to report that God has provided for a cottage for the Greenwalts near their house.

They are extremely grateful for all of the support and encouragement they are receiving as their church family and Christian brothers and sisters reach out to them. If you do not receive a reply to a message, please do not be concerned, there are many details to consider as they sort through their home, care for their business and children and they had a lot of calls to make. I am sure we will need to get a full report to the church when this is all over!

Tristan and Angie give praise to God for His goodness to them and His provision.

Many of you would like to know what you can do to help. Here are some things that the church has suggested that would be helpful.

• Any monetary donations can go through the church – check made to CBC with Greenwalt’s on the memo line.
• If you would like to help with everyday things there will be a meal rotation that Kelly McDaniel will be heading up through Take Them A Meal. I will put out the link as soon as she gets it set up.
• Gift cards of any type would also be helpful, especially for restaurants. These can be left at the church.

We are also working on specific prayer requests for all of the prayer warriors out there. Initially, please pray for this transition, dealing with paperwork, claims adjusters and being able to get enough rest.

Thank you so much for your love and prayers.

We will keep everyone posted.

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts. Zech 4:6b