We live in a very mobile society and because of this there has been an increase in the need for judicial determination regarding intrastate custody disputes. A Florida court must have subject matter jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction over the parties in a family law matter in order to make a judicial determination regarding custody.

For example, if there is a divorce here in Florida and both parties and the children live in Florida at the time the Final Judgment is entered establishing custodial issue, but later one of the parents relocate with the children to another state. Sometime at least six months after the children have been living in the other state, issues arise and the parent still living in Florida wants to file a modification seeking majority timeshare of the children asking the court to move the children back to Florida. The first question which must be addressed is where should the modification proceeding be filed. Should it be filed here in Florida where the original action and one parent still lives or in the new state where the children and the other parent have lived for more than six months?

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [hereinafter UCCJEA] was enacted, in part, to attempt to avoid jurisdiction conflict with courts of other states in child custody matters, to promote cooperation between the different state courts so that the court which can best decide the best interest of the child has jurisdiction over the case, to discourage the use of the interstate system for continuing controversies over child custody, to deter abductions, avoid relitigating the custody decisions of other states in this state, to facilitate the enforcement of custody decrees of other states, to promote and expand the exchange of information and mutual assistance between the courts that are concerns with the same child and to make uniform the laws among the states enacting it. The UCCJEA was drafted in 1997 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and has been adopted in 48 states, including Florida which adopted it October 1, 2002, Fla. Stat. Section 61.501-542(2012) To read further about the UCCJEA, click HERE

In my last blog post, I told a fictional story to get your attention. It was a story of how quickly “the system” can literally remove a child from the custody of a loving parent. What does that have to do with YOU?

The point is that whenever there is a “power” in your life, which can use force to make you do what they think is correct and best for you – then you should have some ability to determine whom those people are in order to hold them accountable.

In the case of the mother who lost custody of her child,  she could go to the news and get them to tell her story. She could contact the mayor or the governor.  She could file a lawsuit right in her community’s courthouse asserting various legal principals.  If she did not get help, she could go to her neighbors and start a petition.

She could go to the local church where they know who she is and believe in her intergrity.  They can join together, go to the state legislature, and try to change the law.  If that does not work, she could tell everyone in her state what kind of people are in office and challenge them not to elect them anymore.  She could get someone to introduce new legislation.  She could exert intense effort to change the system.

So you see, YOU have a means of changing the system.

HOWEVER, on a larger scale, our rights are being systematically taken from us for the “benefit of the whole” (really?)  and we do not even know or understand how it is happening.

How do you suppose a country, formed by Christians, birthed out of a desire by godly men and women to have a place, a nation, wherein they could worship God, came to such a place that our Nation is in right now?

I submit to you, it has happened one bite at a time.  Just as in the case with the mom in my story, each step of the way, her rights were being taken from her and there was nothing she could do because it was “the Law.”

In our case, as a Nation, there are laws and treaties with other nations that keep taking away our rights and if we do not do something, then it will be too late.

I always say, “How do you eat an elephant?”  The answer is, “One bite at a time.”  Well, it works both ways.  We are headed toward radical change in our society and our lifestyle by passively allowing others to set the standard. Before we know it there will be laws enacted, which we simply cannot abide by and still maintain our personal Christian beliefs and convictions.

For example, treaties could be enacted with other nations where several of the smaller nations get together and decide that if they join as a voting block, they can enact certain laws that are beneficial to their way of life which they believe is the best way. Then, they enforce some of the small print in the treaty that may state if it is good for the majority then it can be enforced. The majority could be a block of third world countries who join together and become able to tell the United States what to do.  Or is could be as simple as you not going and voting because you think “what difference will it make.”

It is as simple as that and as complicated as that.

Apparently, a world system has decided since there is no other leadership, they will just take over.  It is a scientific fact that a void will be filled.  We, as a Christian nation, have left a void and it is being filled by a world system.

We have become so self-intrigued that we stopped participating in the world system to the point we cannot see what is actually going on in the world.  There will not be a need for war; it will just be done one bite at a time while we “eat each other.”  It would seem to be a perfect takeover plan.

We are losing the battle one bite at a time.  If we saw it coming, we would have done something about it.  As we lift up our heads, open the gates to allow the King of Glory to come in, we will then be able to see in which direction to move.

One bite at a time our right to live life under godly, moral standards is being taken from us.  This is not new to this world.  Even a brief, look through “His-story” will show that one conquering ruler after another begins a battle plan, take over plan, acquisition, one-step, one bite at a time.

Sometimes our government enacts  laws we do not even understand and it seem so far away from us.  It seems to have little bearing on how we live.  How is helping defeat laws that allow abortion or casinos or other such laws going to help the mom in my story get her child back?  Most of you would say it would not.  However, please help me here.  It is the many parts of the puzzle that make up the finished product.  WE CAN DO IT!!!!!! In Him is our strength!”

I hope I have stirred you with this ~ I speak to the Caleb spirit within each one of you and stir it up in order to take us beyond ourselves.  We are in the promised land.  Our tent pegs have been expanded from sea to shining sea; however somewhere along the way, we have allowed the enemy to move in with us.  He has established his camp in our midst.  Now is the time to start cleaning house. Why not start here and now?

Part 1 of this Series is HERE
Part 2 of this Series is HERE

 

Submitted by Susan V. Carroll, Esquire