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Continue reading →: Welcome to It’s About TimeWelcome to It’s About Time — a new home for the teaching ministry of Dennis Tuuri. This site brings together decades of sermons, a forthcoming book on the Christian Sabbath, voter guides for faithful civic engagement, and new reflections on Scripture and the Christian life. The name comes from Psalm…
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Continue reading →: Measure 100 (2016) – Prohibits purchase or sale of parts or products from certain wildlife species
Environment/Stewardship Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Biblical stewardship of creation; God made a covenant with animals as well as Noah; opposes radical environmentalism but supports proper care. Summary Bans the trafficking of parts (like ivory) from endangered species. Biblical Reasoning While it is complicated, its basic goal is…
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Continue reading →: Measure 97 (2016) – Increases corporate minimum tax when sales exceed $25 million
Taxation/Economy Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO Massive tax increase ($3 billion) shifts money from private to state control (oppression); regressive tax hurts the poor by raising prices. Summary Imposes a massive gross receipts tax on corporations with high sales. Biblical Reasoning So, first, we oppose it because it…
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Continue reading →: Measure 96 (2016) – Amends Constitution: Dedicates 1.5% of state lottery net proceeds to funding sup
Spending/Veterans Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Defense is the most important biblical purpose of civil government; prioritizes spending correctly. Summary Dedicates a portion of lottery funds specifically to veterans’ services. Biblical Reasoning While so-called “ballot box budgeting” has some problems, this particular Measure would support the most important…
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Continue reading →: Measure 95 (2016) – Amends Constitution: Allows public universities to invest in equities
Economy/Education Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Bible affirms investing for profit (Parable of the Talents); allows for better stewardship of funds. Summary Allows public universities to invest their funds in the stock market to increase returns. Biblical Reasoning God in the Bible affirms the development of businesses and…
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Continue reading →: Measure 94 (2016) – Amends Constitution: Eliminates mandatory retirement age for state judges
Judiciary/Aging Failed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES The Bible values the wisdom of the aged; physical decline is no reason to force capable judges out. Summary Removes the requirement that judges retire at age 75. Biblical Reasoning The Bible has many texts commending the aged and encouraging respect for…
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Continue reading →: Measure 92 (2014) – Requires food manufacturers, retailers to label “genetically engineered” foods a
Economy/Regulation Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO Highly technical issue best left to the legislature (representative government) rather than a ballot measure (Psalm 131 humility). Summary Mandates labeling of certain genetically engineered foods. Biblical Reasoning The representative system of government in our country and state finds its origins in…
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Continue reading →: Measure 91 (2014) – Allows possession, manufacture, sale of marijuana by/to adults, subject to state
Drugs/Criminal Justice Passed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO Scripture forbids drunkenness/intoxication; establishes a state bureaucracy; linked to crime. Summary Legalizes recreational marijuana use and creates a state regulatory system. Biblical Reasoning The Bible commands us to avoid drunkenness, which would include marijuana intoxication. God doesn’t want us drunk, nor…
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Continue reading →: Measure 90 (2014) – Changes general election nomination processes: provides for top two vote getters
Elections Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO While the two-party system has biblical flaws (factions), the top-two system in other states has advanced progressivist policies; prefers instant run-off voting. Summary Replaces party primaries with a single open primary where the top two candidates advance regardless of party. Biblical Reasoning…
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Continue reading →: Measure 88 (2014) – Provides Oregon resident driver card without requiring proof of legal presence i
Immigration/Law Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO Biblical love for the stranger applies to those obeying the law; providing tax-funded benefits to law-breakers is theft and encourages sin. Summary Allows the DMV to issue driver cards to illegal immigrants. Biblical Reasoning One of the most repeated commands of God…
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Continue reading →: Measure 87 (2014) – Amends Constitution: Permits employment of state judges in National Guard and st
Judiciary Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Allowing judges to teach brings more information to voters about judicial candidates, helping to elect better judges. Summary Allows state judges to serve in the National Guard or teach at public universities. Biblical Reasoning From the Bible’s perspective, it is hard to…
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Continue reading →: Measure 84 (2012) – Phases out estate and inheritance taxes, and any tax on property transfers betwe
Taxation/Family Failed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Inheritance tax is anti-family and double taxation; Bible supports leaving inheritance; property tax is unbiblical. Summary Eliminates the state estate/inheritance tax. Biblical Reasoning This tax is inherently anti-family, as well as pro-state, moving assets out of the private sector and the family…
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Continue reading →: Measure 82 (2012) – Amends Constitution: Authorizes establishment of privately-owned casinos; mandat
Economy/Gambling Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO While gambling isn’t prohibited, the Bible discourages it; this measure is flawed because it doesn’t give private casinos equal footing (high taxes). Summary Amends the constitution to allow privately-owned casinos. Biblical Reasoning While the Bible does not call all gambling sin, it…
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Continue reading →: Measure 81 (2012) – Prohibit Commercial Gillnet Fishing (Initiative)
Economy/Regulation Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO Attempt by one group (sport fishermen) to use government to crush competition; violates biblical justice of one law for everyone. Summary Bans non-tribal commercial gillnet fishing on the Columbia River. Biblical Reasoning The Bible in part defines justice as having one law…
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Continue reading →: Measure 80 (2012) – Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to r
Drugs/Public Safety Failed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO Public safety is the primary role of government; drugs are contrary to a “quiet and peaceable life”; link to violent crime. Summary Legalizes recreational marijuana use and cultivation. Biblical Reasoning The purpose of the civil government is first and foremost public…
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Continue reading →: Measure 79 (2012) – Amends Constitution: Prohibits real estate transfer taxes, fees, other assessmen
Taxation/Property Rights Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Protects family assets from new taxes; prudent step to avoid increased costs during economic struggle. Summary Prohibits the state or local governments from imposing taxes or fees on the transfer of real estate. Biblical Reasoning Measure 79 is a preemptive attempt…
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Continue reading →: Measure 78 (2012) – Amends Constitution: Changes constitutional language describing governmental sys
Government Structure Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Clarifies language; three branches reflect the Triune God (Isaiah 33:22). Summary Updates constitutional language, changing “departments” to “branches” of government. Biblical Reasoning [As an aside, we note that these three branches reflect the triune God, as described in Isaiah 33:22 “For…
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Continue reading →: Measure 77 (2012) – Amends Constitution: Governor may declare “catastrophic disaster”; requires legi
Government Structure Passed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Bible provides variety of governing systems; reasonable to allow temporary changes in extreme disasters. Summary Grants emergency powers to the Governor and Legislature in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Biblical Reasoning In the Bible, God provided a variety of governing…
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Continue reading →: Measure 76 (2010) – Amends Constitution: Continues lottery funding for parks, beaches, wildlife habi
Spending/Environment Passed General Election ✗ PEAPAC Recommends: NO “Ballot box budgeting” ties the hands of the legislature to prioritize spending; prevents necessary budget cuts. Summary Permanently dedicates 15% of lottery proceeds to parks and conservation. Biblical Reasoning Principles Applied: Representative Government (Acts 6:3), Debt is Negative (Proverbs 22:7) Election Results…
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Continue reading →: Measure 75 (2010) – Authorizes Multnomah County casino; casino to contribute monthly revenue percent
Economy/Gambling Failed General Election ✓ PEAPAC Recommends: YES Breaks the state/tribal monopoly on gambling; the issue is not gambling itself (which Bible discourages but doesn’t prohibit) but free markets. Summary Authorizes a privately-owned casino in Multnomah County to compete with tribal casinos. Biblical Reasoning The Bible certainly warns against some…
Hello,
I’m Dennis Tuuri
I’ve been a pastor and Bible teacher for over forty years. My passion is helping Christians think biblically about all of life — work, rest, family, community, and our responsibilities as citizens.
This site is a home for my teaching: sermons spanning decades of expository preaching, a book on the Christian Sabbath, and voter guides for faithful civic engagement.
Thanks for visiting. I hope these resources are a blessing to you.
“They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.” — Psalm 84:7
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Dennis Tuuri 