Articulating the Problem

I have heard many people say that articulating the problem well is half of the solution. Listening to Os Guiness on RZIM this morning he articulated the second point of this. I added the rest.

The problem in America today is that American's need 1) to be re-convinced that we can be worthy of the Freedom our Founders envisioned and gave us, 2) how to be worthy of that freedom and 3) that we can use that kind of absolute freedom (body, soul and spirit) for good to better the whole world and recommend our freedom to other peoples and nations with not just a clear conscience but with confidence that their condition will transform into something laudable.

THAT is hope.

Prophetic Quotes from American Notables

Here is one from Calvin Coolidge, for whom I have developed a great deal of respect. So far I have found him to be rock solid on all things except race. What I know so far on that topic is unfortunate.

We live in an age of science and abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create the Declaration. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all of our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp.
Speech on the Declaration of Independence sesquicentennial, 1926


Here we go. 

Legalizing Pot

Hat tip to Morgan.




Think before you act Americans.

A High Standard of Living

Moral excellence is the foundation upon which all other excellence is developed (science, medicine, industry, economics, government...)

When we lower our moral standards we lower our quality of life.

The core of the most excellent system:

Mat 22:37-40  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Go figure it. When love is at the core of the system, it rocks!

Government Sanctioned Rape

It is time for this to stop. I have not flown since this insanity started. I cannot imagine my children having this happen to them.

WHAT? Obama Re-elected???

Just a link to a friend's post. I highly recommend his blog for watchers. He's very articulate and well read. His post on Wednesday morning was spot on for how I felt but after some thinking there may be something deeper we are not considering. Read the comments too.

United States of America: 1776-2012

Divided We Fall

In the remaining hours running up to the election I would like to introduce another line of thinking.

For the last five election cycles the phrase, "it's the economy stupid," has become the bottom line of every election. Now standing in the middle of the melted down "greatest economy in the world" it's clear that it's not the economy that is the main issue of American civilization, culture and our current election. We do not have an economic problem in the United States primarily speaking. We have a moral problem. We have an economic problem, because we have a moral problem.

The misguided morality of a few politicians in control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set us up for an economic disaster. Built on these politician's poor moral judgement, financial institutions were forced to make ill conceived loans to patrons that would not be able to pay them back. Rather than make their moral case through the courts, those banks then sought to mislead and defraud investors to jettison the tainted products, they were forced to create, by selling them in bundles of mortgages containing these sub-prime loans.To assign blame evenly, borrowers who applied to these financial institutions should have known, on a moral basis, that they were unable to repay the principal amounts they were loaned. We are in an economic crisis because we are having a moral crisis.

Adding to the sub-prime loan crisis our government began to bail out institutions that engaged in unethical, poorly conceived business practices. Instead of letting poor business practices be rewarded with their just outcome, the United States government chose to bail out these institutions with the hard-earned money of honest, innocent and mostly unaware American citizens. This is a moral problem.

All of our current ills in this great United States are linked to moral failure.

Americans, we have been removing the thought of God from our public life. In removing God from our culture, public life and government we have pulled out the structural integrity of our nation. In our haste to separate church from state we have separated our civilization from its foundation.

Think about this for a minute. Without God there is no objective morality. Without God and His established absolute standards, morality is mere opinion. Forgive me my liberal and progressive friends but your opinion has proven no better than mine or President Bush's or President Obama's or Gov. Romney's or Joseph Stalin's or Adolf Hitler's when it comes to morality.

In our quest to be free from morality we have become chained to consequences. Reality is not a morality free zone.

We are foolishly hoping for a return of economic prosperity... “morality free.” Prosperity without moral and spiritual context is what got us into the trouble we are in. And let me take the liberty of making the point… prosperity without moral or spiritual context is what has given socialists a foot in the door here in our great United States.

The sanctity of private property is a MORAL pillar taken from our Judeo-Christian heritage and is the bedrock for capitalism. Capitalism without the moral framework of Christianity is a system of abuses, exploitation, corruption and cronyism. Chinese economists have noted that American Capitalism was such an unequaled success because of Christianity’s governing influence on it.

With our moral fabric gone, all bets are off for social and economic stability. Larger, more intrusive, more controlling, domineering government will be required. When we are free from a moral conscience that governs us from the inside, large, intrusive, domineering big government on the outside will be required to prevent us from hurting each other. As one of our former statesmen Robert Winthrop once said, “It will be the Bible or the bayonet.”

It can be said that the very government that destroyed our moral framework enforcing the separation of church and state meme will be the sole dispenser of recourse for abuses. Without a revival of our Christianity we are destined to serve an all-powerful government that legislates and enforces morality (exactly what they said couldn't be done) ruling with absolute control.

We are all affected by what is good and what is evil. We all come from the same heritage. We find ourselves at a place in history where we must discern and pursue what is good for the sake of our families, for the sake of our community, for the sake of our state, for the sake of our country and the destiny of the world. In the absence of American influence for good, the world will slip into very darkness for a very long time barring God's intervention.

In the history of this nation a belief and trust in God has pulled us together. You may have been told a lie. You may have been told that we cannot, as a nation, embrace a belief in God and His word together. That is a lie that has divide us. Let us cling to those things that we can all agree are good. Let us renew our belief and trust in God as a nation and support public policy that has a sound moral bases.

We are facing a choice tomorrow of weather to re-elect a man who has accepted an America that has lost its moral compass and needs big, intrusive government to govern it's citizens from the outside or to elect a man who believes we are still perfectly capable of governing ourselves responsibly from the inside with the moral compass we were given from our Founders. Let's choose wisely for our children's sake.Large, intrusive governments do not go away without a fight.

Friends, neighbors, acquaintances, you who are wealthy, you who are poor, you who are on the right, you who are on the left, you who have checked out completely, listen, we cannot continue to be divided on this core, foundational, absolutely essential issue of morality. Friends, on this issue, divided we fall.

Prove It!

                “Prove it!” The man nearly yelled with an angry finger pointed in the direction of the man standing behind the other podium. “Prove that there is a God. When you can prove to me that there is a God then I’ll rethink everything about life. “

                “That’s just it the other man said I cannot scientifically prove to you that there is a God. It is a matter of faith. The God of Scripture requires that we look around us and see the evident of His designs and believe in Him. Everything has His fingerprint on it. It is too sophisticated and intricately intertwined to be the result of chance and time.”

                “Natural selection is the guiding “designer” in this process of evolution. The mutations that improve survival are naturally what survive to reproduce. No “god” is needed,” the atheist professor said smugly.

                “Too many mutations have to be in place at once for that to be the case. Remember Philip Johnson’s example of the woodpecker. Which of the three mutations happened first to the woodpecker to make it better able to survive? The structure of the long beak that made is possible to penetrate hard wood trees, the structure of the skull that made it possible to hit the tree without splitting its head open, or the long tongue  for grabbing grub larva that would not allow the bird to fly safely were it not encased in the long bill? The thousands of DNA base pairs for each of these genes would all have to be spliced into the genome at one time or none of them would work and the bird’s ‘intermediate specie’ would surely not survive,” the creationist professor replied.

                “You are asking me to accept as fact something that cannot be tested or proven. Prove it!” the first professor demanded.”

                “But evolution cannot be proven scientifically either Professor. If it could we would not be calling it a theory. I could say the same to you sir. Prove that there is not a God,” the creationist professor softly replied. “Both of our views are a matter of faith, the only difference is I’m will to admit it.” 

                I have been watching this argument for a long time now. Since I finished my Animal Science degree in 1988 I have watched the debate go on back and forth between atheist/naturalist and creationists. When I was in college there was really no response to speak of from the creationist side of the argument. At least I was not aware of one. The forces were certainly aligned on the side of naturalism against what I had believed all my short, green life.

                I don’t hold a grudge against an honest question about the existence of God. Everyone who is honest has their doubts. I don’t blame those searching for proof of what they are considering.

                I was listening to the radio this week and heard a message from the book of Daniel. I think Nebuchadnezzar was an honest atheist to start with. Not long after Daniel was taken into Nebuchadnezzar’s royal court, the king had a dream that “troubled his spirit”. I think he was a pragmatist king who used whatever influences were expedient for his success to become the powerful sovereign he was. I say this because of what he did to try to understand why his dream was so troubling in the second chapter of Daniel:

Dan. 2:1-9 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.  And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream."  Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation." They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation." The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm-- if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation."  (ESV)

Nebuchadnezzar had a brush with something he perceived as spiritual. The dream was apparently of such magnitude his usual confidence was shaken to the core. He was now facing the question of the ages, “Is there a spiritual dimension to man’s existence?”  I say he was an atheist/pragmatist at heart because he knew too well the phonies he kept in his court. I am assuming he used them for influencing the “religious and superstitious” under his reign. The way he treated them, it sounds like he was all too aware of their shallow trickery. He had a spiritual problem and he needed a spiritual answer. He turned to the brokers of all things spiritual, (magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans) and at spear point he commanded them to be well… spiritual. It was time to earn their keep by their trade or get off the payroll.  

The king had come to a crisis in his life and needed to know what the significance of this crisis was. If there is no spiritual component to life he would chalk it up to indigestion, have another glass of wine and move on in life. His decree was “firm.” He had to know. If I may, everyone has this moment in their life; a critical time when a crisis of the mind, body and spirit has to have an answer. Nebuchadnezzar simply knew how to expedite the process and frankly had the means at his disposal to do it (Dan 2:12).

It is my belief that when you come to this place in your life personally that God has someone in your sphere of influence that can help you with the question. Of course I am assuming that there is a God. Isn’t that fair though? If there is a God who cares isn’t it fair to ask for and expect confirmation? And if there is a God who cares wouldn’t He have someone or some way around you to give you an answer for that crisis? It is ok to seek proof of the spiritual dimension.

In Nebuchadnezzar’s life that person was Daniel. Daniel’s crisis had already passed in his young life and he had received his confirmation (Dan. 1:8-17). Daniel trusted the same source he had relied on before to help the king. It was a comfort to me when I read: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. (Dan 2:20-22 ESV)

And to the king:

Dan 2:30  But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.  ESV

The answer was given to Daniel so that Nebuchadnezzar would know the thoughts of his mind.  Understanding the crisis of his mind was the reason the answer was sent and Nebuchadnezzar could be certain the answer was true because the answer’s credibility was inherent in the answer itself. The question of the supernatural came supernaturally. The thoughts of Nebuchadnezzar’s mind were exposed and explained to him. In the answer he received confirmation of the dream’s content and meaning. He also got affirmation of the purpose of his life (this probably being the core of what cause him to be troubled in his spirit).

The heart knows when it hears the truth like the lungs know when they are full of fresh air. It affirms and provides meaning to life’s big question: Is there a God that cares for me?

You have a right to ask that question. If I may, my crisis was answered shortly after I finished my Animal Science degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. I got mine from a search of the Bible. The Bible makes a promise to give you an answer about the supernatural supernaturally.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  ESV

An answer that affirms the question and the questioner is waiting. It will help you understand the thoughts of your mind and where you fit into life. You will find it in the pages of the Bible.

Isa 55:10-11  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

From seed to bread is start to finish, beginning to end. Take a walk in the rain. Sit quietly in the woods during a snow shower. The answer will come.

Thanksgiving

Copied from:  http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=17901

This is the text of a proclamation for a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, issued by George Washington when he served as President. It was published in the Columbian Centinel on January 1, 1795.

When we review the calamities, which afflict so many other nations, the present condition of the United States affords much matter of consolation and satisfaction. Our exemption hitherto from foreign war – an increasing prospect of the continuance of that exemption – the great degree of internal tranquility we have enjoyed – the recent confirmation of that tranquility by the suppression of an insurrection which so wantonly threatened it – the happy course of public affairs in general – the unexampled prosperity of all classes of our citizens; are circumstances which peculiarly mark our situation with indications of the Divine beneficence towards us. In such a state of things it is, in an especial manner, our duty as people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experience.
Deeply penetrated with this sentiment, I, George Washington, President of the United States, do recommend to all religious societies and denominations, and to all persons whomsoever, within the United States, to set apart and observe Thursday, the nineteenth day of February next, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer: and on that day to meet together and render their sincere and hearty thanks to the great Ruler of nations for the manifold and signal mercies which distinguish our lot as a nation. particularly for the possession of constitutions of government which unite and, by their union, establish liberty with order; for the preservation of peace, foreign and domestic; and for the seasonable control, which has been given to a spirit of disorder, in the suppression of the late insurrection; and generally for the prosperous course of our affairs, public and private; and, at the same time, humbly and fervently to beseech the kind Author of these blessings. graciously to prolong them to us – to imprint on our hearts a deep and solemn sense of our obligations to Him for them – to teach us rightly to estimate their immense value – to preserve us from the arrogance of prosperity and from hazarding the advantages we enjoy by delusive pursuits – to dispose us to merit the continuance of His favors by not abusing them, by our gratitude for them, and by a correspondent conduct as citizens and as men – to render this country, more and more, a propitious asylum for the unfortunate of other countries – to extend among us true and useful knowledge – to diffuse and establish habits of sobriety, order, morality, and piety – and, finally, to impart all blessings we possess or ask for ourselves, to the whole family of mankind.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States of America, to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done, at the city of Philadelphia, the first day of January, 1795, and of the independence of the United States of America, the nineteenth.

Go Washington,
President of the United States
EDMUND RANDOLPH, Secretary of State.

Moral Neutrality

Just a reminder Americans, nothing we do, say or think is completely neutral in the area of morality. Either we are fighting for good or against it. If you are attempting to be neutral morally you are hindering good.

Seek Good and you will find Good. Explore Good and you will find no end to blessing and wonder. Your life and the lives of those around you will change for the better.

Do good and it will reward you in the doing of it.

The Courage of Romney

I haven't been a Romney fan from the start but I'm warming up to him quickly. I was favorable impressed by his performance in the first debate. It occurred to me today that for Romney the debate was just another board meeting. Romney has been doing this for 25 years. He has been preparing himself with solid facts and accurate data, that will be checked by potential investors, to make his pitch for successful endeavors as part of his job for much longer than President Obama has been in politics.

Romney is obviously up for this kind of work.

What impresses me most about Mr. Romney is his willingness to take the helm right before the proverbial excrement hits the fan. If we are really looking for a reason for President Obama's poor performance in the debate, I would say look to what the next 4 years will bring if he remains. No doubt record setting inflation is heading our way. You cannot print money from thin air without consequence. The next 4 years are nothing to look forward to for Mr. Obama. He won't have a friendly congress either. Why bust your hump to get your hump busted. If he gets out on the 4 year plan he won't be at the helm when the crop of inflation he has sewn turns into a bumper.

Mr. Romney, my hat is off to you for fighting for the helm on the eve of a hurricane. God help you.

Truth Does Not Exist...

Now think about it, which statement is true:

There is no such thing as truth.

OR

There is such a thing as truth.

Moral Excellence and Freedom

The late Chuck Colson was in the process of getting out the message that without virtue, freedom cannot stand. Just weeks before he passed away I heard him on the radio making the case articulately, as he was so capable of doing.

I have in the past shared my conviction that without Christianity's moral excellence, our American brand of freedom cannot survive. Our Founders trumpeted this as well. For instance:

The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If "Thou shalt not covet," and "Thou shalt not steal," were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.-- John Adams

History will also afford the frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion, from its usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons; the mischiefs of superstition, &c. and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern. -- Benjamin Franklin

(Wallbuilders.com is an excellent resource for more...)

It is becoming painfully obvious that moral excellence is the foundation upon which all other pursuits of excellence rest. Can you think of any other great or significant achievement that cannot be undone by moral lapse? Remember Pete Rose? Barry Bonds? What about our own economic debacle? At the heart of this crisis is a core of moral decay: Government officials sought to buy votes by mandating loans to their constituent communities. Then the institutions that were forced to make the loans manufactured products that would allow them to hide these "sub-prime" loans and sell them to anyone who would buy them. Moral corruption is at the heart. The politicians forcing banks to loan money to people who could not repay is larceny. Then the bank refusing to take the loss themselves,  sold faulty products to other institutions. This is fraud. Thus began the financial crisis we are now in. Our economic system is at risk of collapse. At the core of this crisis is moral corruption. Will we learn from this? American excellence is at stake and the stability of the world rides on American success.

We cannot experience any other form of excellence without a revival of our traditional Christian Morality. 

It is not just about rules friends. Christian Morality is not just about rules that rock. The Moral Law Giver of this moral system is in the business of giving life and liberty to those who come to know Him personally. It is about a life of excellence that is guided by an incredible moral framework that leads to an abundant life.

I will live to my dying day believing that Americans, because of our unique life experience as a free people, will want the excellence at the heart of all other forms. We know inherently that greatness springs from goodness. Without an understanding of what is good, we will never taste of lasting greatness again.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Aggravation with Atheists

Christians are often accused of being hypocritical. It's true sometimes we are. But when we take a hypocritical stand and we are confronted, we are forced to repent and make it right. Atheists, on the other hand, are unrepentant about their hypocrisy and continue to press their cause.

Atheist deny that God exists, the primary prerequisite for being an Atheist. If there is no God then there is no ultimate authority on right or wrong, no Moral Law. If there is no moral law then why do they continue to make moral judgements at all, including judgements against Christians?

They know and take every advantage of a freedom they inherited from Believers who understood that freedom is a moral ideal that can be realized only through blood and sacrifice. Believers know inherently that freedom is good. If it were left to Atheism, would freedom exist in America and subsequently in the world? Remember, Atheism denies any transcendent Moral Law or "good".

They rail against any Moral Law/Moral Law Giver while making moral judgements on anyone who would acknowledge the Moral Law Giver in the public square. Pure hypocrisy.

They rail against any Moral Law Giver yet expect everyone around them to act in accordance with a transcendent moral law; expecting their banker to know "Thou shalt not steal," and abide by it with their money; expecting their doctor to know "Thou shalt not bear false witness," and abide by it in caring for them...

I know and love a few people who call themselves Atheist. I suspect down deep in my heart they are not really Atheists. They are just angry, hurting individuals who are seeking to vent that anger at any Superior Being who could possibly have let something terrible happen to them or someone they love.

Another question to ask: If there is no ultimate Moral Law/ Moral Law Giver, how can they judge whether what has happened to them or their loved one as being bad (or evil)? They have eliminated the possibility of God's existence because evil has happened to them. How can a loving God allow suffering and misery? (I address this problem in The Message of Pain. See also Frank Turek's, crossexamined.org)

There is such a thing as Truth. You can know it. You can act on it. We can know what is good and what is evil. In most cases we already do because an Ultimate Moral Law Giver has written this Moral Law into our conscious. The guilt that rises involuntarily when we violate that Moral Law is evidence on the inside of this truth.

Presumtion of Dishonesty

It is chilling and enlightening to see the casual way liberals talk of deliberate dishonesty by their candidate. He can't run on what he really believes or wants to do, you see, and we are perfectly fine with it. As a matter of fact we only punish our candidate if he isn't convincing enough in the lie.

Hey, conservative candidates give that a try...right.


http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/08/15/Maher-on-Pot-Obama-has-been-dismal-failure-and-a-liar

On Fast and Furious...

Just read Ann Coulter's page on Fast and Furious. As usual she has a gift for bringing things to a sharp point. Had to repost her summary. Check out the whole article here.


"Innocent people dying was the objective of Fast and Furious, not collateral damage.

It would be as if the Bush administration had implemented a covert operation to dump a dangerous abortifacient in Planned Parenthood clinics, resulting in hundreds of women dying -- just to give pro-lifers an argument about how dangerous abortion clinics are.

That's what Fast and Furious is about"

Just one more instance of the anti-American bent of the current administration.

Obamacare vs. Freedom

A great deal has changed in the US since I last posted. The upholding of Obamacare by the Supreme Court being the major change. Astonished by the court's ruling, I hardly know where to start. I have to say a few very pointed statements.

John Roberts whiffed his opportunity to defend the intent and spirit of the Constitution and its authors.

As power concentrates freedom evaporates. This bill and the way it is instituted constitute the largest power consolidation in the history of the US, a direct affront to the Constitution itself which is designed to limit the power of government. The Democrats in Washington have pulled off the greatest loss of freedom in one piece of legislation ever in the US.

While we are readying ourselves for retribution at the poles in November they are doing everything they can to lessen the impact of the reaction by insuring that no state successfully reforms their election laws to insure elections are fair. Every voter ID law in the US is currently under legal attack from Eric Holder's Justice Department. Yes, fast and furious Eric Holder.

In contrast to the current administration I happen to believe that freedom works. It not only works, it is a creative force that defies explanation. Our Founders believed this by faith because they had never seen it instituted and protected any time or place before in history. Their faith was wise and well placed.

We are now watching an assault on the self evident truths they articulated in the American founding. We are seeing what Democrats do when trusted with power, they grab more. Apparently, personal freedom is a foolish pipe dream to them.

I'll sign off with 2 things you can do to fight this and do what John Roberts did not have the courage to do.

Call you local Congress person and tell them to pass election reforms NOW.

Call your Federal Congress person and tell them Eric Holder needs to go NOW.

Freedom??? (Yawn)

I have written several times about the unique nature of American freedom. History has shown us that the conception of the American experiment emerged from Christianity. I offer Original Intent by Barton and The Light and the Glory by Marshall and Manuel as my well documented supports for this statement. These two works let the Founders themselves tell of the philosophies and beliefs that inspired them.

With this kind of a conception, birthing and rearing (Christian), the U.S. launched on its way to an incredible future that included saving various peoples and the world from tyranny on several different occasions. Yes, the kind of freedom that comes from God (as defined in the Declaration) is that empowering.

Our Founders sought to establish a government "of the people, by the people and for the people" so that no one person could force their narrow views on the rest of us by fiat. All citizens including those elected to public office are to be governed by laws. It was their intent to establish the "rule of law" to prevent any one person from assuming dictatorial power.

In the past our Christian upbringing kept us vigilant against any threat to this system where we acknowledge that all men were created equal and the laws kept the playing field unbiased for all to have the same opportunity for improvement.

Since we have lost our Christian moorings, even shunned them, do we really love, admire, respect, covet, cherish our freedom? Do we appreciate the cost it came with? Do we understand how fleeting it is or how rare?

I hear one gigantic national yawn.

We have a president with the allegiance of his party that has begun the business of ruling your life through running your health care, being the sole dispenser of student loans, prosecuting only the laws they as an administration agree with (not prosecuting charges of voter fraud when they are brought by white citizens, not enforcing the DOMA legislation, by-passing immigration rules, making recess appointments while congress is not in recess...), regulating the banking system out of making loans to you, executing a monetary policy that is destroying the value of your savings, pension, salary, wages, life insurance... anything else measured in dollars, proposing legislation and policy that forces one to violate their conscience (not just the recent push for Catholic hospitals to provide contraception and abortion but also the forcing of Christian Pharmacists to dispense abortifacient drugs, the forcing of Christian public officials to write marriage licenses to gay couples, forcing Christian orphanages to place children with gay couples...) The list is ongoing and extensive.

The current administration and his party are actively destroying what is left of our Christian influence. In its wake will be a nation of government-dependent sheep seeking to avoid the rail car to the processing plant.

Moral conviction is what comes from an experience with a righteous God, a God who values human life to a degree we can hardly understand, a God who ascribes meaning and purpose to all of human experience. But I digress...

The conception of this country and what she would represent to the world was the culmination of Christian philosophy working in men who dreamed of a free nation on earth... because men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights and that AMONG these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Friends this is a Christian moral concept. Without Christianity this flavor of freedom dies.

If this administration is how it ends, well, it was our own doing.

It has been a long a glorious ride for the United States as a Christian nation. We understood and pursued good as a nation (with some missteps no doubt) with grand effect. We have delivered a world relatively free and certainly with an experience of freedom that has changed the course of human events.

Friends, Christianity will not die, but Its stalwart champion among nations may. We are in grave danger.

Seek God. Seek freedom through His truth. Seek a return to pursuing good with His guidance as a nation.

Shun those who know nothing of what is morally good. Call evil for what it is, evil. Evil is the spiritual way of saying something is harmful. It's not that hard. When you embrace something harmful, it will bring your pain. When you know something is harmful, yet compromise with it, you guarantee someone will be harmed.

The Seeds of Socialism in the Hearts of Men

De Tocqueville is always worth hearing. He had some incredibly insightful comments on early American government and society. Here's one on the depraved desire in the heart of man to crave "equality."

"There is, in fact, a manly and lawful passion for equality that incites men to wish all to be powerful and honored. This passion tends to elevate the humble to the rank of the great; but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom. Not that those nations who social condition is Democratic naturally despise liberty; on the contrary, they have an instinctive love of it. But liberty is not the chief and constant object of their desires; equality is their idol: they make rapid and sudden efforts to obtain liberty and, if they miss their aim, resigned themselves to their disappointment; but nothing can satisfy them without equality, and they would rather perish than lose it."

Democracy in America – Alexis de Tocqueville page 53

Things haven't changed much Mr. President. Playing to and encouraging the basest of human desires is not honorable, inspiring or good.

The Bible Says That?

I just finished reading an article by Metaxis, the author of Bonhoeffer. It is really telling. The cultural pillars, sayings and principles that have been supplied to us from Christianity are so numerous it is hard to list them all (e.g. why we take Sunday off, why our government has 3 branches, where saying like "I took my life in my hands" came from etc...). Yet the elite are so devoid of knowledge of the Bible they make glaring errors about sources and histories that are entertaining at best and tragic at worst. The article is a fascinating read.

God Bless.