Guest Post

Yes, I took the easy way out this week.  Not actually.  In our conversations my good friend Spitfire told me about this bill and that she was doing some research on it.  It is very important and thanks to Spitfire we now have some good information for discussion and debate.


So as they say without further adieu here is her post and a very interesting one I might add.

Hi Folks. Pops asked me to prepare a guest post for him. I contemplated one about the immigration issue, but haven't had time to research it well. Then I thought about something on Ms Kagen...Mr. Obama's choice for Supreme Court Justice. But again didn't have time to research it well, and frankly didn't want to get all upset. So I chose to write about something that was emailed to me about a week ago. It deals with a Senate bill (S510) that is supposed to forbid the home gardens so many of us have.

When I first was notified about this bill, I have to admit to having a gut reaction that was not particularly pretty. I believe my response was something to the affect of "First time they come to tell me I can't grow my garden is the first time I aim my pistol at someone's face!!!!! They don't have the right to tell me I can't grow fresh fruits and veggies!!!!" Let me also admit to being a bit embarrassed about being so violent in my response. I'm not normally violent...but this was hitting below the belt as far as I was concerned. Nowhere in the Constitution does it give Government the right to micro-manage my life!

After a few minutes of stewing and getting angrier by the minute, I started googling S510. I searched Govtracker.us and even went to the Library of Congress site (Thomas) to research this monstrous bill. How in the world could those folks in DC decide they had the time, manpower and chutzpah to decide what I can do in the privacy of my yard!?!?!?!?!?

Well, it turns out they made no such decision. The Senate bill S510 deals more with those who import or export food or prepare food for commercial purposes. No where that I could find does this bill say anything about not being able to grow my own fresh fruits and veggies and giving them to family, friends or even selling them at the farmer's market if I so desire. It does say the Secretary of Health and Human Services has the authority to 'regulate food, including by authorizing the Secretary to suspend the registration of a food facility.'  But no where can I find anything that says this secretary can outlaw home gardens. In fact, I couldn't find home gardens even mentioned at all!!!!

So I reckon the main idea of this post is that we need to be careful what we get all excited about. We all have the ability to research for ourselves. As times get more and more chaotic and we proceed further and further into what many believe to be the 'end times', it becomes more important that we use our abilities to discern what is truth and what isn't. And if we practice discerning in things that have no eternal value, then when it comes time to discern things of eternal value, we'll be really good at it. Because in the grand scheme of things, we know that if we love YHWH, He'll provide for us. We don't have to worry about it. His word tells us that "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." So before we invest time, energy and work ourselves into a frenzy over nothing, let's remember to search for the truth of a matter. We'll be seeing more and more falsehoods and outright lies circulating. Rest in His peace, knowing YHWH loves you and wants the best for you. Shalom, Spitfire


Shalom to you  and many thanks for doing us all a great favor.


Pops