Buddy Hanson Passes Away

We are sad to report that Buddy Hanson passed away this week. He was 76. 

Buddy was a good friend and a very generous man who was zealous for Christ's Kingdom. He was a prolific writer, having written a large number of books on applying God's word to all areas of life. 

Buddy's obituary can be read here.

A listing of his published books can be seen on Amazon here. An archive of posts about Buddy Hanson (including articles written by him) can be seen here.

Please keep his family in prayers, especially his wife. 

  

Samuel Blumenfeld, a Father of the Home School Movement, Passes Away

The great education historian and defender of homeschooling, Samuel L. Blumenfeld, has passed away. He was 89. 

Blumenfeld is known for creating the Alpha Phonics program, and for such books as Is Public Education Necessary?, Homeschooling: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Children, Why Schools Went Public, and his newest, Crimes of the Educators: How Utopians Are Using Government Schools to Destroy America’s Children.

Our friend, pastor Paul Michael Raymond, has written the following tribute to Blumenfeld:

Samuel Blumenfeld was a giant in the field of education. His passion for Truth and the proper education of children marked his life in an extraordinary way. He, alongside of R. J. Rushdoony, worked tirelessly to promote True education, exposing the wicked agenda of the government school system. 

Sam was, what you might call, an unassuming scholar, and should be considered a father of the home school movement. 

His resurrection of Phonics was a direct assault against the destructive "whole language" word identification movement. His writings have influenced hundreds of thousands of parents and families and will continue in the many years to come. 

Sam will be missed, but his work will live on, educating, encouraging and challenging us to fight the "good fight" against Statist education for the Glory of God. 

God bless you Samuel Blumenfeld.


   

John Lofton Passes Away

John Lofton, a longtime defender of the Christian worldview, passed away this week. Please pray for his family. The Chalcedon Foundation's Facebook page said this about Lofton:

Our friend, Christian brother, commentator, and uncompromising champion of God's Kingdom, John Lofton, passed away. He loved and served Rush and Chalcedon for years and remained a stalwart voice for righteousness until his final days. He is now triumphant with the Triune God that he so dearly loved. Pray with us for his family and loved ones.

   

Howard Phillips Passes Away

Howard Phillips (1941-2013)

Howard Phillips has passed away. But he leaves behind a legacy of commitment to God's glory in family and state.  

Howard Phillips' family legacy is evidenced in his son, Doug Phillips, a relentless defender of the biblical family who has done much to equip the church in this area. Doug Phillips is founder of Vision Forum, perhaps the most influential biblical pro-family organization in the country. Doug's ministry is a reflection of the uncompromising family values instilled in him by his father. 

Howard Phillips has also made an important impact in battling injustice in civil government. According to the Conservative Caucus website:

From 1974 to 2011, Howard Phillips was the Chairman of The Conservative Caucus (TCC), a non-partisan, nationwide grass-roots public policy advocacy group. TCC provided leadership in opposition to the Panama Canal and Carter-Brezhnev SALT II treaties during the 1970s. Since then TCC has led national campaigns to end judicial tyranny, restore a U.S. military presence at Panama, deploy SDI, eliminate the graduated income tax, and terminate Federal subsidies to ideological activist groups. Other TCC campaigns have involved opposition to NAFTA and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and withdrawal from all institutions of the New World Order, as well as continuing efforts to oppose socialized medicine and abortion.

Phillips was also founder of the U. S. Taxpayers Party, which became the Constitution Party. The goal of Phillips was to restore America to its biblical foundations. According to the same website:

Howard Phillips founded the U.S. Taxpayers Party (USTP) in 1992 to offer America leadership committed to restoring the Federal Republic to its delegated, enumerated Constitutional functions and returning American jurisprudence to its original "common law" Biblical foundations. Phillips was nominated in 1992 and 1996 to be the USTP candidate for President of the United States. In 1999 he was chosen to be 2000 Presidential nominee of the Constitution Party, the renamed USTP.

Phillips is missed, but his legacies continue. May God grant comfort to his family during their time of mourning. 


Howard Phillips on Christian versus anti-Christian Civil Government

Jeff Ziegler Passes Away

We are sad to report that Jeff Ziegler, a man committed to reconstructing society to the glory of God, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on February 28. 

Jerry Johnson of the Nicene Council said this about Jeff:

"Jeff Ziegler a man whose heart's desire was to see the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ throughout our nation and the world was called home yesterday by our Heavenly Father. Thanks for being my friend Jeff. I wish I could have done more. Our prayers will be for your family, but you my brother are in a better place." (Facebook, February 29, 2012)

You can leave your condolences at Guest Book.

One of Jeff's legacies: the defense of God's law

 

Francis Nigel Lee passes away

We were saddened to learn that theonomy defender Francis Nigel Lee passed away yesterday. We pray that Almighty God comforts Nigel Lee's family in this time of mourning. The following is a post from Facebook about his passing:

At 7.50 am today, Friday 23rd December, 2011, Nigel Lee was taken peacefully to his Lord. The funeral will be at the Pinnaroo Lawn Chapel Aspley [Queensland, Australia] on Friday morning (time yet to be announced) 30th December, 2011. This will be followed by the Committal at the graveside. Please uphold Dr Lee's wife Nellie and his two daughters Johanna and Anna-Marie in your prayers.

A Facebook post in appreciation of Nigel Lee said the following:

Grieving with hope of the resurrection this morning from the news we've just received of the home-going of our dear friend, Dr. Francis Nigel Lee. He earned 10 doctoral degrees and was a prolific writer for Christ and His kingdom. We honor your memory, Nigel, and pray God's comfort for your grieving family and many friends.

A Tribute to Rep. Bobby Franklin

We would like to recognize the recent passing of GA state Rep. Bobby Franklin. Franklin was a statesman of faith and character--a very rare thing in American politics. May his example encourage all Christians to contend courageously for a just, godly society. 

Below is a statement released on the website of the Constitution Party of Georgia, a video of Franklin courageously defending an unborn child's right to life, and a video tribute by Covenant Commission.

Reflections on the Life and Public Service of State Representative Bobby Franklin 

Submitted by RonneHaag on Thu, 07/28/2011 - 7:50am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:                July 26, 2011

Contact:           Ricardo Davis / RicardoDavis@gaconstitutionparty.org / 770-778-5039

“Georgia has lost one of its most principled men in the General Assembly,” remarked State Chairman Ricardo Davis.  “It saddens me because Bobby was a dear family friend who I had the pleasure of knowing and working with for over a decade.  He was a fellow advocate for constitutional government and defender of our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and property.  I gladly supported his leadership and rallied supporters for his legislation.”

Franklin was motivated to run for the Georgia House of Representatives in the mid 1990’s after seeing Christians in public office “keep their powder dry” by not opposing ungodly legislation put forward by the ruling Democratic majority, thus “saving” their opposition for only the seemingly “religious” issues.  But because Franklin rightly understood that every vote cast is rooted in a particular religious and moral view of law he faithfully acted based on what the Bible says is the proper authority and jurisdiction of civil government.

“Bobby took the preamble of our state constitution seriously, ‘relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God’ as he upheld his oath and worked ‘to perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty.’”  Davis continued, “Bobby wasn’t a perfect man and, like us, he had struggles and challenges; but he humbly strove to live out the principles that he learned from the Scriptures.”

Franklin brought a refreshingly independent and courageous spirit to the General Assembly that did not allow loyalty to his political party to obscure his vision to honor Jesus Christ and uphold the principles of constitutional governance.  He refused to do anything out of fear that doing the right thing could bring negative consequences to his political career; thus he was a bane to his own political party when he voted against their legislation.  Franklin read every bill and if it violated the principles of godly constitutional governance he would vote “no” even if he was alone.  When his party’s leadership stripped from him the chairmanship of the Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee, he did not relent in his writing and speaking – and voting – to protect our liberties.

Davis concluded, “Even though we will miss him my heart is greatly comforted that Bobby’s trust was not in himself but rather in the Lord Jesus Christ who saved him as a young man.  Bobby persevered to the end, holding fast to and growing in the faith he received.  This weekend he heard the words that every true Christian longs to hear: “Well done good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25).

originally posted by the Constitution Party of Georgia

Rep. Bobby Franklin defends the rights of unborn children

see also part 2 and part 3
 
Covenant Commission's statement on Rep. Franklin's passing