FREEDOM -What Does It Mean?

Freedom means a lot of things to different people, but what did it mean to those who established this country?  Did it mean the freedom to be sinful and fulfill the lusts of the flesh, whatever they might be?  Did it mean the freedom to do whatever?

We are endowed by our "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 ...", which is, of course, a quote from our Declaration of Independence in 1776, signed by 56 men who stated that the purpose of government is to protect our God-given rights.  

Since the Founders acknowledged that our right to freedom comes from God, do you think that they believed that freedom was to be used for sinful behavior condemned by God?  No!  In their many writings, in the laws they made, and in their actions and policies, it is abundantly evident that they believed the freedom God gives us is to used for His purpose and pleasure, which means that freedom is to be used for good and not evil.

God is pleased when a person is fully alive, fulfilling the potential he has been given, and given the opportunity to achieve, produce and bless others with his gifts, making the world a better place!  Hence, the Founders in 1787,  placed in Article I, Sec. 8, the protection of intellectual property to do just that! They demonstrated in their policies the ideals of freedom.

God wants all persons to be treated fairly under the laws that are made. All people should be able to speak their minds about the government without fear of reprisal by an out of control, vindictive government administration. The people should not have to fear the government, and the government should always protect the rights of the people.

And that's a little bit of what freedom is supposed to be all about.        

Merry Christmas from the moon, but not on the earth?

Around south Alabama we're saying, "Merry Christmas!" all over the place! Everywhere I go and everyone I see is smiling real friendly like and declaring a hearty, "Merry Christmas!"   Because the Merry Christmas greeting is being threatened by the anti-God crowd, it's being celebrated around here like never before!

I couldn't help but think back to 1968 before our nation was "changed and transformed" by the politically correct gang, when Apollo 8, the 1st manned mission to circle the Moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve. Three astronauts-Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders-did a live t.v. broadcast, which was at the time, the most watched program ever. They showed pictures of the Earth and Moon seen from Apollo 8 and ended the broadcast taking turns reading from the book of Genesis.  "We are now approaching a lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..'.And we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas-and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

Americans were blessed that Christmas Eve fairly long ago with a "Merry Christmas" greeting from outer space to earth, a good reminder of the first Merry Christmas greeting from even farther in outer space-from heaven itself, "when God became man and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Merry Christmas!  Merry Christmas "to the uttermost parts of the earth!"  Merry Christmas forever and ever!  Amen.

What Do I Want My Grandchildren To Learn? (These are a few of my favorite things...)

I love history.  I  haven't always love history, and in fact, found it quite boring until the Living Lord awakened me and began to show me what all He has done in history.  Then I sat up and took notice.  It was interesting. It was consuming.  It was all about Him.  It still is.  I want my children, grandchildren and all people to learn about the wonders of the Lord in the history of the world, and most especially what He has done here in our great country.

My youngest grandchildren are Jack, about to be age 10, Anlynn, age 9, and Sam, about to be 8.  I've been very blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with them, and it's one of the greatest joys of my life.  I love to read to them and I choose very carefully the stories that teach timeless truths that will be interesting to them. I'm so thankful for what I've learned over the years that I can share frequently in a very natural way as I build a foundation for further learning.  It's not for better grades in school for them but for being better fitted for life. It's a priority for me.  I consider it a privilege, a pleasure, and a calling.  There's so much I don't know, but what I have learned, I give to them as the opportunities arise.

Lately we've been crazy about a new card game called, "The Explorers", played like "Go Fish" but with about a dozen famous explorers to match up.  It's been amazing the great history they're learning in the course of playing this exciting and sometimes boisterous card game! ( as they act out some of the daring deeds of these great men!)  I'm very repetitive about the explorers backgrounds and achievements, but add on new information as we go.  The cards themselves have some info, too, so anyone can use these and benefit from them.

What a blessing it's been!  To me, sharing history is a way of honoring God and those who've gone before us that have left us so much to appreciate and emulate.  We can't do that unless we know of it.  St. Augustine once said, "What we don't know, we don't appreciate.  What we don't appreciate, we discard."   Let's turn that around:  We and our posterity will not discard our country's history because we fully appreciate it, knowing it well.  I love history.

What do we want our children to learn? What kind of people do we want them to be?

That's a mighty big subject and one which won't be covered in one blog, but let's at least get started on it.

What kind of people do we want them to be?  Do we want them to be honest?  If so, then that has to be held up to them as desirable and attainable.  It has to be modeled before them and praised not only when honesty is demonstrated by them, but also needs to be evident in what they see, hear, and experience in life.  So, in their reading material and what they watch on t.v., honest people should be shown as admirable.  Remember George Washington and the cherry tree that he chopped down but could not tell a lie about doing it?  When that story was written, it was believed that stories illustrating the virtue of honesty were necessary to teach and train children.  Do we really think that somehow children no longer need that training in honesty?  Are we practicing that in our educational system?

I think that a lot of what children see today points them toward getting away with whatever they can, just so they don't get caught.  Honesty is portrayed as a bit old fashioned, and only "losers" are really honest. Cheating is rampant and many times is just laughed about.  The polls reveal that a lot of people are doing it. The newspaper headlines say that many teachers are cheating and helping students to do it, too!

Have we forgotten, or never learned, that lying is an abomination in the sight of God?  That liars shall have no place in the kingdom of God?  That one of the Ten Commandments given to us by God states, "Thou shall not bear false witness?"  Since it's wrong in God's sight, shouldn't it be wrong in ours?

Children learn what they're taught.  We just haven't focused on character building education for the most part.  Has honesty been valued enough to be given priority in our children's education, both at home and at school? Years ago children were fed a steady diet of inspiring stories from  the lives of good people who struggled through many hardships and handicaps to accomplish great deeds and become honorable people of good character.

What was it Teddy Roosevelt said?  Something like, "To educate a child in mind but not morals creates a menace to society."   It seems like we've been seeing more and more of that lately.  Perhaps we need to take another look at what it takes to build good character in our children, if we want them to be people of integrity and good character.  I believe we can find it if we look.

 

What Would I Like To See In Education?

What would I like to see in education?

I'd like to see the first years of a child in a school setting begin around six years old.  Prior to that time lots of great stories read by adults to children, "once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived,"...interesting to engage the mind, uplifting to reach the heart, moral lessons to fashion the soul and conscience.

The same should continue in the elementary grades with the students now reading themselves, but continuing to be read to by parents and teachers with more challenging material introduced and continued by both. From the beginning and throughout this time, there should be dramas, music, and art  related to what's being enjoyed.  Enjoyed!  Introduction to the world and how we are to live in the world should be enjoyable! That's when the real desire to learn is fostered.  The joy of discovery and the satisfaction of learning is developed during these early years.

Simple basic math taught in the early years builds a strong foundation for the more difficult, abstract math later "...line upon line, precept upon precept..." Seeing the order and structure of math helps children embrace order and structure in their own lives, in the classroom and beyond.  Memorization of math facts builds a confidence within them that they've learned some things that never change, that there are absolutes in life. Respect for authority is a by product in learning absolutes.

 Imagination and creativity must be encouraged and directed to that which is noble, true, and kind.  These are the years when hearts are softened and tenderized to others and away from selfish concerns only.

I am aware that not all children have the benefit of a two parent home with these ideals being realized.  But-it could be and should be done in every school throughout the country by teachers and pre-k teachers. Children need to be nurtured, trained, enjoyed and directed to that which is inspiring and good by caring adults. It's not to be rushed, rushed, rushed.  It takes time, and the time it takes speaks volumes to children of their worth and and what life is all about.

"The Duke" said..'.

John Wayne passionately loved America and Americans.  And Americans loved him right back.  He once said, "Give the Americans a cause and there's nothing they can't do!"  Don't you love that enthusiastic confidence that he had in us?  I believe "the Duke" was right because we've proven it time and again.  But the American people have to know there is a cause, and that may be the problem we're facing today.

Many Americans don't realize that our schools have been nationalized, with Washington D.C. Dept. of Education dictating the curriculum.  It's been moving in that direction for many years now, but speeded up after the Dept. of Education was established under Jimmy Carter.  The National Education Association played "Let's Make a Deal" with him, pledging their support for his presidency in return for the new agency and cabinet position being created. (Even though it was unconstitutional)

The Common Core/Obama Core Education System puts the nails in the coffin, so to speak.  It is the end of education as we have known it.  It is the final part - the completion - the total transformation of America's school system, with the authority and power of the parents and local boards of education usurped.  Both parents and boards continue to exist but have absolutely no control over education under the Common Core/College and Career Readiness Standards.  85% of the curriculum with its' anti-American, anti-Christian bias is copyrighted and cannot be changed by states, local boards or parents.

The way to change it is state by state, with the legislatures repealing and defunding it.  We've got to let everyone know about it so we can work together with our legislatures to remove it.  Protecting our children and preserving our republic is a worthwhile "cause."  Give us a cause and there's nothing we can't do!

Dictatorship

A dictatorship is the simplest form of government because it requires nothing more from the people than obedience to the dictates of the dictator.  The people don't have to be informed on the issues or evaluate them in the light of some standard, such as a constitution.  There wouldn't need to be a constitution because whatever the dictator wants would be done, regardless of any objections. But if a constitution remained, it would be ignored by the dictator anyway, and thus rendered useless.

In a federal republic such as ours, under the rule of law, not the rule of man, the people are responsible for their government.  The plan of government must be learned and understood by the people so that they can protect their freedoms.  The people have to be alert to any infringement of their rights and take action to remove those threats. The people have to vet their representatives thoroughly to make certain that the rule of law, not the rule of man will be upheld.  This requires time, effort, and commitment to this lifestyle that ends only at death.

In today's world the people are just too busy to bother with maintaining a federal republic, and are opting for a dictatorship. It's must easier-doesn't require any thought, study or action on behalf of their country.   A dictatorship can be established right under the noses of the people when they are not paying attention, so it's accepted by default, not conscious choice.  It's easy, it's simple, and life goes on.  A country is changed and transformed from within by the people.  A bloodless coup d'etat into a dictatorship.