An Unbelievable Law Going into Effect in February!

I'm happy to say there's an update (click here) to the below concern which will exempt used items from being banned...not new ones; even all new books will have to be certified lead-free...and the language of the law is still vague. So continue to pray, and to act on this as you feel led to do.
I can hardly believe what I've learned about a new law coming into effect this February severely limiting sale of children's items: books, clothing, toys, furniture. Even used items would have to be certified lead-free in order to be sold. I can't put it all into my own words very well, so I will copy what was e-mailed to me so you can read it.
And today I found a blog that addresses this law at http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/ ("National Bankruptcy Day" because the day the law is implemented will be the day that many smaller businesses start heading into bankruptcy as a result). If you are skeptical that the US could implement any law that would be so expansive in its costliness and control, read the links below. It's true, and it's incredible. Another link that relates many small business owners' concerns: http://www.squidoo.com/FixCPSIA. Click here for a television news report on the new law, from Austin.

Here is the article in the e-mail; please don't be put off because it initially mentions homeschooling concerns, because the e-mail is directed to homeschoolers; but this incredible law will greatly increase the price of new items, fill garbage dumps, eliminate pricing competition for manufacturers, close many small businesses and thrift shops, and impact any parent who ever bought and intends ever to buy anything used for their children (or grandchildren). One more action you can take in regard to it is pray: pray that the law will be repealed, and that this isn't an indicator of typical controls our government might ever come to implement.

Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming, almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in production are required to include a "lead-free" certification and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale. What does this mean to the homeschooling family? Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books! Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army. Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child. No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or giving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" -- libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves. (The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included in "children's toys".) Just how serious is this new law? Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply. No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manufacturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause to be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-print books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead. I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living books from the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book after February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book. (Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly violating Federal law.) So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that sells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business? Or your EBay business selling children's items? ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at 888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.
Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local [Federal] representatives. For their contact information, just enter your zip code. http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition.
http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

For the complete story, read the following links:
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index page for Children's Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and other rulings
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html#summaries

Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory requirements -- The use of forward effective dates appears to force current inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html

Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be included in the testing of lead based products
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html

Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180 days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date can be found on our web site at
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf

Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's books
http://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html

There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pediatrician
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/childhealth/3955/is-there-lead-in-baby-books/

This article was provided with permission by:
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The Homeschooler's Notebook Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 10 No 2 January 8, 2009 ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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We, the Christian People of the United States of America...

I am trying to put together in my mind what I see as a weakness in the American Christian's view of our government, and our expectations that we have in it. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what we expect, but I have something of a list, and I think it's fairly accurate if too short. It isn't to criticize American Christians; it is only to point out what I think could cause us to dive headlong into despair if we are to depend on a "righteous" government and not on Christ. We should always put our trust entirely on Christ, and not on our government. Humanity cannot govern perfectly, because we are not perfect, and because the power inherent in government appeals to the pride of man. Psalm 118:9, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes," and Psalm 146:3, "Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation," are verses that together express that very same thought.
The following are ways that I see that because we have never known anything different, American Christians may be more part of the American culture than of the sheer biblical Christian culture that I hope and suspect is more prevalent worldwide:

1. We tend to assume that we are by our very American citizenship, because we are born here, entitled to freedom of religion (freedom to assemble for worship or Bible study, and acceptance of the fact that we are Christians), freedom of expression (regarding proselytizing, wearing expressions of faith on clothing, Christian radio stations, certain subjects in sermons, etc.), and that we would expect the government to promote family unity and allow us a choice in how our children are educated, such as homeschooling or private school as alternatives to public school. These expectations are because we have enjoyed them in the past; we have been raised with most of these freedoms. It is hard for us to imagine life here without them.
2. We tend to assume that our government should embrace and reflect our beliefs as belonging to the entire population, with the Ten Commandments in our courtrooms and parks, and with Christmas decor and Christmas carols in public places and with Christian beliefs reflected in our public schools, from prayer to Christmas break to Bible classes. The fact that God is Lord of all doesn’t mean that He will be acknowledged as such by earthly governments, or that our own government will continue to do so even though it has to various extents done so in the past.
3. We tend to assume that our government should legislate faithfulness to God by banning at least the extreme expressions of sin and rebellion: abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, and the more accepted but no more acceptable other sins as well. These behaviors are becoming more and more sanctioned by our government as time goes on, and aren't likely to be reversed any time soon.
4. We tend to assume that it is our right to live physically comfortable and financially prosperous lives when in fact there is nothing of our faith or our lives that should cause us to expect such comfort. Most Christians throughout the world do not experience nearly the comfort that we Americans do. And there is nothing we Americans have done to deserve any more comfortable lives than anyone else, especially so many Christians in the most difficult circumstances elsewhere in the world. So many Christians not only live less comfortably but are persecuted while their government ignores or even originates the persecution.

It may be arguable that our government should honor some of these things, but it is unrealistic that we should be able to expect any government to actually do what it ought to. No Bible verse said that earthly, human government is a good thing, that governments wouldn’t be prone to being corrupt and doing evil. It was never assured that we could live in happy freedom under human government. In fact, it is clearly an accommodation of humanity’s demands that Israel ever got away with demanding an end to the theocracy that characterized the first part of their existence. There are various ways that American Christians might assume that our life of faith ought to be acknowledged, supported, and defended, but Jesus never taught that we should expect it. We are to pray for those in authority over us; remember 1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
I have a hard time imagining what it would be like to see a president come to know Christ while in office--but who says it couldn't happen? Wouldn't that be fantastic! Lets keep our presidents, present and future, in prayer and hope that we might witness such a change in times to come. Meanwhile, let us be content with (and thankful for) what God gives us, and pray, and watch for His provision and His goodness, His lovingkindness and grace, like no government on earth can ever provide.

I Can See The Election Outcome as a Good Thing...

Well, tonight was the election. I see various people on facebook have put their status in various nearly hopeless-sounding terms. I am not very thrilled about the outcome, but it was pretty much as I expected, considering the prevailing attitude toward Bush and the war, and the financial upheavals that have been happening. I feel calm about the election outcome, though, and of this I am certain: God has ordained that it would come out the way it did, and He will be glorified. He is not out of control, He is not off the throne. I'm not expecting that our new leaders will glorify Him in the way they lead; I expect that the pressures that might come upon Christians in the coming few years might bring us to rely more fully upon Him, and the distressing results might bring us to pray more faithfully for the salvation and guidance of those in authority over us.
I remember when Clinton was in office and everything seemed to be pointing to socialized health care. People I knew were praying fervently. Also when homeschooling looked like it was going to be outlawed with HR6, people were praying fervently. When since then has there been such impassioned prayer for the needs of believers, and for our country's leaders? It seems that there has to be such a thorn in our sides, any of various possible threats, to bring us to rely on Him, to realize the dreadful powers that would consume our nation, and to seek protection and defense from a power greater than our government, greater than the evil forces that surround and deceive those in authority.
Of course we should already be praying. Already we have a country where abortion is all too legal and convenient, where the most unthinkable forms of it are defended. There are various rights that should never be rights; whether they are scriptural is not even a concern. Whether these rights are right or wrong is not deemed a concern. Whether there is a God in heaven...well, that's already been under attack as well, in our schools and judicial systems. These evils won't be a new thing resulting from this administration; the avenue to extend them further will just be clearer, straighter, more streamlined. We already have evils in this country, and we have not been as fervent in prayer as we should have been. These challenges haven't been so bothersome for us that they would be as uppermost in our minds and hearts as they could be.
So I think perhaps this election may be the best thing for American believers. We are a complacent, comfortable, self-absorbed and shallow bunch, and I really think we would benefit from a little trouble. This wouldn't be the first time that Christians would ever face an evil government, now, would it? Far from it! The freedoms and comforts we enjoy are, rather, unusual--rare--and we take them for granted; we tend to consider ourselves entitled to them. It wouldn't be the first time, or the first place, that Christians in our world face the possibility that we might be opposed, maybe even some day attacked in some ways, by authorities. Tim today was imagining a time when we might have prayer made illegal (though I'm not sure how it could be enforced). I reminded him of Daniel, asking if he remembered what Daniel did when it was declared illegal; he knew that Daniel just kept on praying, kept on obeying God rather than men.
I also wonder how long homeschooling will be an option, and again I think of Daniel and his friends, who were in Babylon, having the Babylonian culture impressed upon them, and yet they stayed faithful. What we need to be doing, rather than fretting, is praying for those in authority, praying for the schools, praying for our children, and raising them in such a way as to be able to cope and be a light to unbelievers if they were required to attend public schools. Our children need to learn to stand firm for their faith, to know how to follow the Holy Spirit's leading, and to make the most of every opportunity. They need to learn to be Daniels. It could be the best thing that ever happened in their lives, to be made useful to God in their faith. This kind of trouble tends to separate the wheat from the chaff, and I think it will happen in our country at least to an extent; I think God has so directed the outcome of this election, directing the economic and political environment and the hearts of the voters to bring it about, because it will be good for His kingdom.

The Church has to Accommodate Earthly Requirements

Last night our church had its second meeting in a few weeks, in order to recreate our bylaws to keep them up to date and adequate. At one point one of the women was grieved that we had to use such things in order to accomplish the business of the church--she would so much rather that we just do things biblically, and leave these other means to the business world (or at least, that's what I understood her to say). And ideally, I think she is right. If we were all continually living according to the biblical standards, it seems that we would never even have to consult this document of human origin. Still, there are a few reasons why we need the document.
The first is that we live in the world and the world requires (by law) that we set our church business up according to certain standards, such as how to deal with designated giving. Jesus acknowledged at least twice that we have to accommodate the world's requirements: first in Mt 17:24-27 Jesus said that the sons are exempt from taxes, but that Peter should take the coin from the mouth of the fish to pay the tax so that they would not offend the tax collectors; then when He said in Mt 22:21 to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." I find it delightful that in finding the coin in the mouth of the fish, Peter received God's provision for the world's requirements of His people, and God provides for us in that regard as well.
For that matter, one of the elders last night pointed out that though we live in the world and not of the world, and God is our true and ultimate authority, He has established earthly authority over us: authority in government, in business, in families, and in church. These people are there entirely by His hand; He establishes leaders and deposes them (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1). The Scriptures tell of elders being selected, but leave out the exact method by which we are to choose them except that they fit certain qualifications. This leaves it up to the church to determine the further details, and if these details are recorded in the bylaws, then the church can continue to operate in an orderly manner and avoid strife and confusion; since God is a God of order, this is in line with His will. This is just one of the areas where the bylaws become helpful.
At one point I tried to articulate in the meeting (and I did a poor job of it; I was thankful for our elder and what he said that I related above) was that if we all were continually living according to the Scriptures, we wouldn't need bylaws for our own purposes; we would all be functioning according to God's will and everything would get done that He wanted. Not only that, it would be done well and without conflict or confusion. The fact is, we don't continually live very attuned to His will, and so we need an earthly framework to work out the details that aren't fully prescribed in the Scriptures. It isn't that we'd all be doing all the functions of the church, but God provides the giftedness that we need and ideally, we would each know what we individually need to do and would do it.
So we live in the world and not of the world; so our church, a living organism as our pastor points out, has to operate in this world as a business. We don't operate that business in worldly ways, suing and declaring bankruptcy and such, but we have a constitution and bylaws that help us to live peaceful and orderly lives and operate to the glory of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.