Wednesday, June 26, 2013

We Need a New Level of Thinking

As people we tend to just ride the waves of ease, especially in America. We have some significant challenges ahead of us. We will not solve those problems with the same level of thinking that got us here. We need to repent. We need to redirect our thinking and change our lives or the government is going to change them for us.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Independence Day - 6 - Final in Series

We covered all the reasons why our Founding Fathers wanted independent from the Mother  Country, here is the close of our Declaration ...

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
___________
Wow! Check out the stuff I put in bold ...
1. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Now that speaks to our day. Think, then act on that prompting. A Prince who acts like a tyrant.
2. Representatives of the united States of America Remember who is speaking here. The sitting Congress at the time - see what they say next ...
3. Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions our original Congress is appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world; that would be God. Today? Think real hard on this one.
4.  these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States the operative words here are 'United Colonies' meaning they are independent but United; and then they say of 'Right' they ought to be 'Free and Independent' - 'States' ... think, if the Mother Country didn't have the 'right' to interfere before 'God' why does the Federal government today have that 'right'?
5. as Free and Independent States again they reiterate 'free and independent states'.
6.  to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do this is important; the 'independent states' can do 'all other Acts and Things which Independent States my of right do'. Think. They are laying out the foundation of what would become the greatest and most successful nation on earth.
7. for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, who did they reach out to for support of their Declaration? They sought the protection of 'divine Providence'. Why? Because they believed that God had a hand in the creation of the first country on earth to recognize the rights of the individual and not the right of the government. Why did America become the beacon of hope to a darkened world? Think. It has everything to do with the inspired documents of our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights and the character of the men behind them.
8. we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. What did these men pledge to deliver our Declaration of Independence? "Their lives - their fortunes and what, 'our sacred honor'. What kind of honor? Sacred honor. These were men far superior to anyone in leadership today.
As we close this review of a sacred document, the Declaration of Independence, think about it and what it has meant to the world at large. Our declaration and the Constitution of the United States of America changed the course of the world. It was unquestioned for just over 150 years of world leadership and then the attacks began. And as those attacks have increased in both volume and intensity, we see where we are today. You be the judge.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Independence Day - 5

Missed yesterday but we continue with the reasons for seeking independence here ...

18. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:


19. For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

20. For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

21. For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
If you watch carefully you will see this is happening in America right now.

22. For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
Executive Orders are currently being used to rewrite laws around Congress as we speak.

23. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

24. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

25. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
Our current Administration currently supports regimes around the world who state their intent on our destruction as a country and our way of life.

26. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. 
Think Fast and Furious and our current Attorney General

27. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Our current leader is the Divider-in-Chief and chief supporter of Islam, by their own words our stated enemy
________________
We will conclude the declaration tomorrow. The twenty seven reasons listed in the past three posts are the reasons our Founding Fathers declared our independence and became the greatest nation on earth. We have enjoyed the fruits of the independence they declared. We are currently losing that independence.
For a better tomorrow ...


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Independence Day - 4

We'll continue with the reasons for declaring our independence ...

8. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

Think about what is happening?

9. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.


Think Obamacare, the Supreme Court and many lower courts.

10. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.


Think Czars and an Attorney General who defies a contempt of Congress order.

11. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.


Watch for this as planned in Executive Orders.

12. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.


He has actually done the opposite.

13. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:


Think treaties with the United Nations in violation of our Constitution.

14. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:


Coming soon.

15. For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:


Think our Attorney General, Fast and Furious, Benghazi.

16. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:


Think his treatment of our Allies around the world.

17. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: 


Think Obamacare for starters ...

________________________

More reasons our Founding Fathers had tomorrow ...

For a better tomorrow ...

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Declaration of Independence - 3

The last two days we've been talking about the foundation principles of the Declaration of Independence that this great country was founded on. Now lets look at the reasons stated in the Declaration for the need for independence. Its very interesting when you apply it to what is happening today ...

1. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

    Think about that for a minute. He (England) refused the application of laws for the public good.

2. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.


    Think about that one.

3. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. 


     Think.

4. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. 


      Does that happen in DC? Does that happen in Congress between the parties.

5. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.


      Ummm? Sound familiar in today's world?

6. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.


      Are our states exposed? Think immigration?

7. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.


     Is the opposite happening today?

________________

If we are to become better people we have to face reality. We are needed in this world. We cannot change that which we do not acknowledge. Think about it as we approach 'Independence Day'.

For a better tomorrow ...

Monday, June 17, 2013

Declaration of Independence - 2

In the opening paragraph we learned that declaring our independence came with a reason and was founded on a basic belief in a God who had blessed us. In paragraph 2 we read ...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."
There are some real important things in here. Lets look ...

1. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator" - What? Once again there was the belief that we have a Creator. Not evolution or science but a Creator who granted us certain rights. What are they?
2.  "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happines"s.-- That seems to say that our Founding Fathers believed every individual is granted rights to life (think Abortion here) Liberty and the pursuit (not guaranteed) of happiness. No other country in the world ever had such thoughts before.
3. "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, "-- Whats the purpose of government? To secure our rights as a people Created by our God. Pretty plain to me. And who does the government get its power from? The governed. That was the intention and plan of our Founding Fathers.
4. "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness" -- Umm? And what do we have a right to do if the government infringes on those rights? Abolish it and go back to the beginning. Ever hear that spoken of before?
5."Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security".-- They're telling us to not throw off the government at every whim, but, if Despotism should arise - thats another matter. Think about this one.
6. "Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." -- Our Founding Fathers did not take these things lightly. They did not declare their independence on a whim. They took the time to debate, argue and come to the conclusion that their rights were being taken away by the Mother Country.
Tomorrow we'll get into some of the reasons they did what they did and in the process created the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
For a better tomorrow ...


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Declaration of Independence

As we approach our nations founding celebration let's take a look at the document worked out amongst the thirteen original states. We'll look at it in parts and see what can be learned and how it is important to each one of us today. Evil things are happening in our country that will dramatically impact America, you, your children and grandchildren.

The important thing to know is that God had more than a hand in creating the greatest and most free nation on the earth, he showered the not only the founding Fathers with rich blessings, he blessed the early founding settlers who were committed to Him. He blessed our nation beyond belief as we became a beacon of hope and faith for millions of people around the world. We can learn much from what is written in the actual declaration. It has everything to do with our becoming better people.

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Note in line one and two they are specifically talking about dissolving our relationship with England. They are dissolving it because they desire 'separate and equal' station which is afforded us by what? By the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God to which entitle us. (And all men I am sure). They conclude this section by saying they feel compelled to declare the causes for the separation from their Mother Country.
You see, they were men of honor, commitment, courage and dignity. They didn't revolt from the Mother Country without much debate, thought and consideration. They felt compelled to seek a new political direction for the sake of what God entitled them.
Tomorrow we'll look at the next paragraph and work our way to the reasons for the declaration. I believe you will find them enlightening in view of what is taking place in our country as we speak.



For a better tomorrow ...

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Choose Who You're Around

If we're going to become better people its important we spend time with better people. Remember, we have the power of choice.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Do Something for Someone

May we seek to set an example each day and in our own small way make the world and our country a better place.

Monday, June 3, 2013

What We Do Everyday is What We Believe, All the Rest is Just Talk


        Think about that statement. What we do everyday is what we believe, all the rest is just talk. What does that mean to you? What we do, our actions each and every day is what we truly believe. We can say what we want, but what we do is who we are.
Think about it this way. Imagine two circles. In your mind or on paper label one, words and the other, deeds. Our words are what we say we believe. We all say a lot. We love America, we’re Christians, Catholics, Jews, Atheists, Goths, we love our kids, our spouse, you name it. We tell people that is what or who we are. All those things go in the circle you labelled ‘words’.
Now each day we get up in the morning and we take action. We get up, interact with our household, go to work or school, come home, more interactions, recreation and we go to bed. All the actions you took that day comprise your behavior and result in what we’ll call your deeds. What you do everyday, your behavior, is your deeds. They go in the circle you labelled ‘deeds’.
Now you have two circles. One full of your words, the other full of your deeds. Your circle full of words is what you say you believe and probably intend, plan or would like to believe. The other circle, your deeds, are what you actually do everyday and when you act on something that is what you believe.
As you look at your circles how big is the gap? The gap is the difference between what you say you believe, your words, and what you actually believe, your deeds. How can we become better people? By bringing our circles together to the point that we have only one circle. When you look down at them they are one. When you do, your a person of integrity.
Apply the look in the mirror test. Think through one day in your life. What goes in the circle for words; what goes in the circle of deeds. Be honest. Look in the mirror and decide how far apart your circles currently are and make a commitment, day by day, to become a person of integrity. Become a person where your circles get closer and closer, your words and deeds are coming together, and one day, they’ll come closer and closer.
As you embark on this journey think it through. Lets look at a few examples. Say you call yourself a Christian. Do you have a church? If not why not? Don’t deal in excuses, deal in reality. Be who you say you are? There’s an old adage, ‘If you were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to prove it?’ Think about that. It applies to whatever you say you are.
Most people are employed, they have a job. That makes you an employee. Your paid to deliver a result everyday that makes your employer better, makes them money. If they make money they keep paying you and grow. Does your performance at work match what you tell your boss. Or do you spend time away from the boss talking trash about them or the company.
Words and deeds. We say, we do and then we should look in the mirror and decide. How did we do? Words and deeds. Make them match.

For a better tomorrow ...

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Amazing Grace in a New Way

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dy3h6--fMBA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>