The unalienable rights are gifts of God and are part of being made in His image. We look at the US Constitution and how it basically "ties" the hands of the government so that they cannot violate the unalienable rights given to the people. We are concerned about a government which appears to be out of control as seen by the normal man on the street. The founding fathers if they saw our nation today would be appalled by the size and power of the Federal government. "That government is best which governs least" - Thomas Jefferson. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

Has the Constitution always guided our country? Does the Constitution allow the Supreme Court to make law? Does the Constitution empower the President to make law? What about the field of education - does the Constitution give any power to the Federal Government in this area? The answers may surprise you. Finally, does the Constitution allow a president the power to take a nation into war? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

We continue our discussion from last week. Are there limits to tolerance? The twin towers in Lower Manhattan were a symbol of American capitalism. They were destroyed, and nearly 3000 people were murdered. Technically, the mosque is allowed to be built on Ground Zero strictly on the basis of the first amendment - however there are other factors; factors relating both to wisdom, and to the notion of not offending others. It is clear that such a mosque being constructed on Ground Zero would not be reaching out as a unifying action. We study the case of Christian freedom as balanced with offending others, and encourage Muslim sympathizers to take a lesson from it. We review what has happened to Christian aid workers who go to Muslim countries - it is not a pretty picture. We close considering what is the best response to the Muslim in our land. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

Today our nation looks back nine years ago and thinks about one of the worse attacks on our soil in our nation's history. Nine years ago today, Muslim terrorists hijacked civilian planes and used them as tools of destruction on our people. Ground Zero is the area in lower Manhattan where the twin towers once stood - symbols of American capitalism. The terrorists struck at these as well as the governmental seat (Pentagon and would be Capital). Instead of honoring this hallowed ground, there are some who now want to build a mosque at Ground Zero. This offends many, many people. We discuss the limits of tolerance. We come to the general conclusion that tolerance has its limits in society if that "tolerance" is taken to extremes. Some extremes which would be unacceptable, would cause societal suicide and be unconstitutional. Tolerance cannot be promoted when it becomes antithetical to our whole way of life.

This is a follow-on discussion from last week. We talk about the environment and the Christian responsibility in caring for this earth. God gave His people dominion over the earth and it's animals. We discuss forest fires, global warming, the Hudson River - a variety of practical areas. We end our discussion with an explanation of the evangelical necessity of repentance and rebirth. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

We look at the environment and "environmentalism" from a Biblical perspective. What is pantheism? How do we look at God's earth? Is it to be protected to the point of no development, and no experimentation? What is the difference between conservation and preservation? What about the worldview which says: "Leave only footprints, take only pictures?" Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

When President Obama addressed the victims of the Fort Hood shooting, he used the phrase Freedom of Worship, but not Freedom of Religion. We are concerned about the marginalization of religion and the privatization of it. We are concerned about breaking the cultural influence of Christianity upon American society. Even the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has noted this shift in phraseology, as noted in their 2010 annual report. They say this could well be viewed by human rights defenders as "having concrete policy implications." Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

We take a look at the distinctions between Religious Freedom in America (as guaranteed by our Bill of Rights) and as carried out in our nation's history. We then compare that with a mere "Freedom of Worship." The current administration repeatedly uses the phrase freedom of worship in their general communique's and speeches - we find this troubling. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

If Congress was filled with Godly representatives come November - representatives who respected state's rights and the Constitution, would that change us substantively? The answer may surprise you. Was the Christian faith front and center in the minds of our Founding Fathers? What is the difference between group rights and individual rights? Elected officials are supposed to be "dis-interested" and put aside their own interests for the sake of the people whom they serve. We review the fact that public worship and the chaplaincy were encouraged by the Founding Fathers. Christianity was assumed in the minds of our Fathers. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf

In talking with people we repeatedly find a general unease regarding the lack of limits the current government in America is exhibiting. As opposed to a sphere sovereignty as espoused by Abraham Kuyper, where there are boundaries as to the legitimate role of government, we are seeing a massive government takeover of many areas which formerly were not run by the federal government, and further would not have been seen as appropriate by our founders. We look at the original intent of our founders as well as what is prescribed Biblically. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf