The Basis for American Exceptionalism

Where does American Exceptionalism come from?

American Exceptionalism comes from a worldview – a Biblical Worldview.  The whole basis for American Exceptionalism is the Biblical Worldview!  

The Founding Fathers studied the Bible more than any other book.  Most of them read the Bible through from cover to cover every year –Genesis through Revelation- in addition to topical Bible studies and the 4 hour church services they attended on Sundays.  It’s known that George Washington began every morning on his knees in prayer before an open Bible and the last hour of the day likewise.  

The Bible says that all people are created in God’s own image and likeness with the ability to observe, think, learn, and express our ideas with spoken and written words.  We’ve been given the gift of language and use it to communicate with God and with others.  God is our Creator and has given us this good earth and all its resources to create from and develop things that will benefit mankind.  We get to create from what God has placed under our dominion. 

Think about Ben Franklin, inventor extraordinaire!  He tamed lightning with the metal lightning rod so that fewer houses would be hit by lightning and destroyed by fire, with many lives saved!  At a time when heat was given and all cooking done in the fireplace with the leading cause of death for women being burned to death, Ben invented the famous “pot-bellied” stove.  It provided safer and more even heat.  Bifocal reading glasses and many other helpful products were invented by Franklin. 

Thomas Jefferson invented the “dumb-waiter” to move goods from one story to another, and the lazy Susan for his books so he could keep 3 or 4 open at a time with only a flick of a finger to move from one to another. 

George Washington invented the 16 sided threshing barn with two stories to improve the threshing of grain at Mt. Vernon, and many other helps to farming, as well.

God is pleased when we use and develop what He has given us to bless others!  There are countless examples of the creative spirit of man, and we are creative because we are created in God’s own image and likeness. 

 The God who “gathers the wind in His fist” allows man to harness that wind energy and put it to use!  The God who created water allows man to harness that water energy and put it to good use in many different ways.  The paths in the oceans were discovered by the American Naval Officer Mathew Maury after he meditated on the Scripture from Psalms about the paths of the sea – which brought about much greater safety for ocean going vessels- lower costs for goods transported on ships, etc…

Knowing that the Bible says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God, for God, the Founding Fathers carefully established a foundation from which the genius of mankind could be unleashed, to the glory of God.   

Proverbs 8:12 says, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions,” so when the Founders established a plan of government in 1787 to ensure liberty and opportunity for all Americans, in the very first article, section 8 of that Supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, the representatives of the people and the states are given the power and authority “to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;”

And the creative genius of mankind was unleashed to produce over 95% of the entire world’s wealth!  In America inventors’ intellectual property was protected by law and they were free to produce and profit from their ideas and inventions!  America became the wonder of the world!  It wasn’t just trained engineers but farmers, factory workers, manual laborers, cooks, people from all walks of life that invented and produced new and exciting products!  An immigrant could land on the shores of this great country with nothing but the clothes on his back and with a dream and hard work go from rags to riches!  95% of the inventors in the World’s Hall of Fame for Inventors were either Americans or they did their work here.  I love that and I love American Exceptionalism!

"The Greatest Fraud"

The Common Core or College and Career Readiness System is masquerading as good reform but is in fact,” the greatest fraud being perpetrated upon the American people,”and is dependent upon data collection for the total implementation of it. In the 2013 Department of Education Report entitled, “Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance”, the federal government recommends the use of data mining techniques that use physical responses from biofeedback devices to measure mood, blood volume, pulses and galvanic skin responses, to examine student frustration, and to gather “smile intensity” scores.  Using posture analysis seats, a pressure mouse, wireless skin conductors, schools are encouraged to learn which students might lack “grit, tenacity, and perseverance,” in engaging with, or in believing what is being taught.   Welcome to Common Core/Obama Core!

The Alabama State School Board approved a new resolution which Superintendent  of Education Tommy Bice says will protect students’ privacy.  It will instead open up a Pandora’s Box, allowing even third parties to have students’ personal family information to use and sell for any reason!

In December 2011, President Obama changed without congressional approval, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.  (FERPA)  All Personally Identifiable Information and Records on students and their families taken at the local level may legally be accessed by government and non government agencies .  The Longitudinal Data system is capable of tracking student information over multiple years in multiple schools.  Federal funding is provided to aid the design and implementation of such systems through the State Longitudinal Data System Grant Program.  

Added to the FERPA changes President Obama made is the definition:  “Biometric record,” as used in the definition of Personally Identifiable Information.  Automated recognition of our children can be obtained through one or more measurable biological or behavioral characteristics, including fingerprints, retina and iris patterns, voice prints, DNA sequence, facial characteristics and handwriting.  Personally Identifiable Information includes but is not limited to:  students’ and parents’ names, addresses, dates and places of birth, social security and students’ numbers, mothers’ maiden names and biometric records.  Is this really for better education?

 Alas, Alabama has signed on to Obama Ed, and no meaningless resolution is going to change that.

I AM THE FLAG

I don't know who wrote this but I love it and think that you will, too.

"I AM THE FLAG

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings. 
I stand watch over America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners, 
my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped; I am saluted.
I am revered.
I am respected and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war 
for more than 200 years. 
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, 
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, 
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam.
Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me,
I was there.

I led my troops,
I was dirty, battle-tested and tired, 
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.

America has been attacked by cowardly fanatics
And many lives have been lost
but those who would destroy me cannot win
For I am the symbol of freedom,
Of one nation
Under God
Indivisible
With liberty and justice for all.

I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn 
and trampled on the streets of my country. 
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle it hurts.
But I shall overcome for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages 
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms 
of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
            LONG MAY I WAVE"   



  

FLAG DAY IN AMERICA!

FLAG DAY

The American flag has been heralded as the symbol of freedom, opportunity, and the wonders of mankind!  What a country and what a flag!

I think about the millions of American soldiers over the years who have fought for and defended freedom, and who have proudly saluted that beautiful flag.  I've been inspired and profoundly touched as I've witnessed many of our older veterans stand so straight, so tall, as they've saluted the flag they love so much.

Looking back, I'll mention a few of the many historic events where our flag was flying first and foremost in the world. 

Rear Admiral of the Navy, Robert Peary, labored long and hard for over 23 years to plant the American flag at the North Pole, the first and only national flag to fly there. That flag was lovingly sown by his own wife, and determinedly carried next to his heart by Robert Peary, through ice, snow, storms, deprivation, and every imaginable hardship!  It reached it's destination, the North Pole, in 1909.    

On November 29, 1929, at 1:14 A.M., Rear Admiral of the Navy, Richard Byrd, with his fellow explorers, accomplished the long dreamed of goal of flying over the South Pole.  They were the first to attempt and attain this incredible feat!  An American flag, weighted by a large stone, was dropped to mark the spot.   

In 1969 Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that Commander James Lovell, Jr. landed on the moon and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked and planted the American flag.  No man and no flag had been there before.  The event was described by Armstong to a listening world on live TV as, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

What better way to close a tribute to our glorious Red, White, and Blue emblem of hope than with the simple words of a great American hero, David Crockett, who said, "There's just something about that flag that makes me feel good all over!"   
  

The Full Service Filling Station

"Be filled with the Spirit," Ephesians 5:18

I'm remembering back to the days when gas stations were called Full Service Filling Stations because they were so much more than self service ones.

First of all, everything was done by the people there. The attendant (yes, they were actually called that) filled cars with gas, washed  the windshields, checked the air pressure in the tires and measured the oil levels.

It was necessary to visit the stations regularly to get fuel to run on, windshields cleaned to see clearly so that vision wouldn't be cloudy or impaired, tires filled with air to run smoothly, and oil at the proper levels to prevent overheating and breakdowns of the vehicles.

I'm struck with the similarity of my walk with God.  I, too, must visit my "Full Service Filling Station" regularly to be refueled and filled with the Spirit of God.  I pull into that quiet place, that "secret place of the most high God" in Christ, where I meet with Him.  I "enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart and into His courts with praise."  Sometimes I'm still half full if I've been faithful to seek Him, but at other times I'm totally out of fuel and just running on fumes.  I desperately need to be filled again because I simply cannot move and live rightly with joy, peace, hope, and love, without being filled with His Spirit.

My "windshield" must be cleaned regularly to see as God sees.  Only as I read His thoughts written in His Word, and dwell in His presence is my vision restored. God's view becomes my view looking out upon the world, as I allow Him to remove all the dirt from my mind and heart.  Being with Him softens me and brings me to sorrow that I've let Him down.  The water from my eyes assists in the process.  I receive His cleansing and forgiveness.

The oil of the Holy Spirit fills me and I am refueled, renewed, and restored by Him to go forth to proclaim Him once again.  I put the pedal to the metal and off I go to tell everyone I meet about the great Full Service Filling Station up ahead, just waiting to service them.

Memorial Day-A Time of Remembering, lest we forget...lest we forget

“What do these stones mean?” the children of Israel asked their fathers as they viewed the memorial stones.  They were told that it was the evidence of God‘s presence leading all of their people into the freedom of the promised land.  Every child was to be told the meaning of the stones lest they forget who it was that gave them their freedom and how it was done.    

On Memorial Day many of us will view the gravestones of our brave countrymen who fought and died for America.  Our children, too, must learn the meaning of those stones, lest the memory of those who lay beneath them and what they fought for, be forgotten-and their deaths be in vain.

They were Americans.  They came from all over our nation:  the north, the south, the east and the west, to answer their country’s call.  They were the rich and the poor of every color; they were from the farmlands and the cities; they were the scholars and the factory workers from all different ethnic backgrounds, but they were all Americans.  They were prepared and dedicated to defend our freedom.  They stood for America, where a man could be a man-where he could hold his head up and walk shoulder to shoulder with every other man, without having to grovel and cower in fear before tyrants.  They stood for America, where the circumstances of one’s birth did not dictate the course for one’s life-the place where a man could choose and fulfill his own destiny.   He could, with hard work and God-given ability, make his dreams come true.  Yes, America has always been the place where dreams could come true!  We even call it, “The American Dream!”

You and I can still dream the dream only because of the sacrifices of those beneath the gravestones.  What do these stones mean?  Do these stones help us remember that there is a cost for our freedom?  A note was found beside one brave American who had died in battle and it said, “I gave my today for your tomorrows.”  He gave his all.  Can we give anything less than he?  We are living those tomorrows for which he died.  We are alive and can live for those American ideals for which he and many other Americans died.  We can honor their lives by lifting high “the sacred fire of liberty” and passing it on to future generations, lest we forget…lest we forget. 

The Deleting of America

Many of us have been frightened about the lack of knowledge among Americans regarding their own history. Less than ten years ago a survey conducted by the University of Connecticut of high school students showed that basic freedoms such as the freedom of speech and of the press found in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution were found to be unimportant to them.

The study was the largest of its kind and cost $1 million.  It consisted of 112,003 high school students, 327 principals, and 7,889 teachers from 544 public and private high schools.  The results showed an ignorance concerning fundamental constitutional rights in the U.S. by the leaders of the next generation.  The survey found that the absence of basic government tenets in our schools has led to a lack of understanding of the republic our forefathers fought and died to defend.

Less than fifteen years ago the National Constitution Center survey revealed that only 5% of Americans could correctly answer 10 simple questions about the constitution.  Almost 25% couldn't name a single 1st Amendment right.  

This is alarming enough but it gets worse. With the implementation of the Common Core Initiative the radical progressive philosophy of education is put on steroids!  It's all about social justice, redistribution of wealth and grades, and Environmental Protection Agency indoctrination.  It transitions from hard copy to online, so whoever controls the curriculum controls the children.  Common Core eliminates the authority of the local and state school boards through they still exist.  They just remain without the power citizens entrusted to them.  How easy will it be to continue to revise, erase, and now simply delete the history of America?

The public libraries throughout the United States have been systematically packing up old books for shredding, making room for new ones.  I've been told that it's because the federal government offers the incentive of new books if the old ones are removed.  The libraries are increasingly going high tech and we're just seeing the beginning stages of it.  I think we'll be seeing fewer and fewer books in the future.  Perhaps we'll see incentives offered for more ebooks, as well.

The erasing, rewriting,and revising of American History has been disastrous for our nation but the deleting of American History removes all but what we've stored up in our homes and in our hearts.

Everything is Quiet Now

Everthing is quiet now

The kids are grown

With homes of their own,

And everything is quiet now.

The silence speaks

of memories and loss,

Of times gone by

Never to return.

No giggles, no shouts,

No running about.

I've never heard...

Such emptiness.

I'm tempted to fill the space around me with noise,

The t.v., music...some sound

But I hold myself back to listen to

The silence, the quiet, the emptiness.

It is palpable, tangible and real,

I let myself feel the longing for the times I let slip away.

Thinking it'd never end, that we'd always have other days

To live, love, laugh, and play.

Everything is quiet now,

The kids are grown

With homes of their own,

And everything is quiet now.

"Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees" Isaiah 10:1

The Bible says in Isaiah 10:1, "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees..." and I've been pondering that verse in my heart and mind recently.  I'm one of those Americans who has become very active in the last 30 years in trying to apply God's Word to all of life, especially to those institutions that have influence over the hearts and minds of Americans, (church, education, arts and the media, law and government).

My journey began when I came to know the Lord personally and intimately, those many years ago. I devoured God's Word and thirsted for the Living Waters that come only from the Fountain of Life, God Himself.  The more I know Him, the more I love Him.  The journey with Him continues daily and the deep satisfaction that it brings makes life worthwhile.  The longing of my heart is that all should come to know Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  (As God changes us inwardly, we change our world outwardly.  Following every Great Awakening, God's people changed their world.)

That same desire for others to know salvation sparked the evangelism of the Spanish, English and French as they discovered and settled this beautiful land of America.  When they began to establish laws for the settlements - colonies - and then states, they acted on the truth of God's Word that only those nations that honor God, will God honor.  When the Pilgrims came in 1620, they worded the Mayflower Compact this way,"...(we) solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and of one another, covenant, and combine ourselves into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid: (the glory of God, advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of king and country,) and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, act, constitution, and offices...for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience."

Do you think that the Pilgrims would elect any person to a place of authority and power that would determine policy that was contrary to the will of God?  Do you think they would choose lawmakers and leaders who would promote the killing of babies in the womb,  the teaching of ungodliness in the schools, the same-sex marriages, sexual immorality of all types, laws that subsidize illegitimacy, etc...  Do you think the Pilgrims knew that God would hold them responsible for those wicked policies if they voted for leaders who wrote those unrighteous decrees?  Do we know that?

"Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees..." and everyone who votes for those who decree unrighteous decrees?

What Made America Great? (continued)

"Life, Liberty, Property!" was one of the rallying cries for colonial Americans as they faced the challenges of increasing tyranny from their government.  Property was defined as an extension of the individual, not simply material possessions, but including them, of course. Acquiring material goods through labor or inheritance, and disposing of  them was part of the sacred right of property.  A person owns himself, his thoughts, ideas, writings and conscience, so that after the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787, it included in Article I, Section 8, the legal protection for intellectual property through copyright and patents.

Respect for the right of property was taught in homes, churches and schools throughout America.  "Thou shalt not steal," was the moral basis for all laws regarding theft.  Children memorized the Ten Commandments so Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbors Goods was also ingrained in them.  This high standard continued even into the 20th Century with the extremely low number of thefts during the Great Depression verifying that.

Throughout the school years, the many stories and books that students read were selected with great care and deliberation to teach the highest moral lessons about all of life.  As such, it helped form and fashion the identity of young Americans.  Respect for themselves, others, and everything that belonged to themselves and others became a part of who they were.

One of the lasting results from the good education of America's young people was the wholesomeness of our American communities.  I remember that we did not ever lock our doors and windows, and probably most of us didn't even have locks for our doors and windows!  There was a general atmosphere of safety and peace in America.  Respect for the right of "Life, Liberty, and Property" was one of the reasons for it, and one of the reasons for the greatness of America.          

Time Well Spent

One of the good things that can come from a time of illness is the slowing down that it demands of us. Yesterday was one of those times.

When grandson Jack came down with a fever, I got to spend some "down" time with him, relaxing together with reflective conversation and the shared reading of a good book.  He had just finished reading "Old Yeller", had passed the Accelerated Reading test on it with a 100, but wasn't quite ready to let it go.  It was just too good and satisfying.  ("Come back, Yeller!)  He said it was one of the best books he'd ever read. That and "Robinson Crusoe." Those were his two best books.  Fortunately I had my copy of "Old Yeller" near by because I had read mine last week while he was reading his.  He wanted more of it so I began reading Chapter One again while he tried to close his eyes (very difficult).  We laughed and discussed it. Jack asked me my favorite part of the story.  While I was thinking long and hard, he said that his favorite part was the end of the story so and we read the last chapter again, which was really touching and profound.

Our discussions about books, libraries, my childhood, his childhood and shared memories with our own perspectives on every topic made the hours fly by.  It was time well spent for both of us.  And it never would have happened had it not been for a bit of illness and the slowing down that it demanded of us.  

A Few Thoughts About The Father Of Our Country On His Birthday

George Washington was said by Thomas Jefferson to have had the best judgment of any man of his day. The brilliant Jefferson said that Washington wasn't the most intellectual, but possessed the very best judgment. He also said that it was the most pure and uncompromisingly fair judgment, without any self-interest.

Although he had little formal education, George Washington read the Bible for an hour each morning upon awakening, and an hour each night before bedtime. The Bible says that in God's light we shall see light, and knowledge of the holy is understanding.  I believe that General Washington's good judgment was a result of his in depth knowledge of His Word. His daily prayer journals reveal that he trusted in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of his soul, and the wisdom needed for the many challenges he faced.  

George Washington, the Father of Our Country.  "First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen."

What Made America Great? Reason # 2

What Made America Great?

# 2  Respect for Others

America became a place where respect was earned, not inherited.  Respect for others was not dictated, it developed. 

Carving settlements out of the wilderness was hard work so initiative, cooperation, persistence, ingenuity, creativity, talent, honesty and dependability were needed and valued among the settlers.  Inherited status in society came to mean nothing in the face of danger and difficulties.  So here in this land of hope and opportunity, the circumstances of one’s birth did not determine the course for one’s life.

Although the aristocracy was still inspiring awe at times, a new way of seeing others was spreading just as surely as the settlements.   Through the skills they developed and the services they provided, Americans made themselves valuable in their communities and they earned respect.

The Greatness of America!

The Greatness of America

What was it that made America the wonder of the world?  Can we look back and trace those steps to greatness?  Is there a trail that we can follow?  Did the movers and shakers of long ago leave some clues for us to find?  What are some of the ideas that led to the belief all over the world, that America was the place where dreams could come true?

The Ideas That Made America Great

Respect and Reverence for God

From the very beginning in 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, God was acknowledged and honored by the leaders who discovered, explored, and settled this great continent. Christopher Columbus wrote, “It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. ..there is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit…”

 The actions of Columbus show that God was respected and reverenced.   When land was first sighted, hymns of praise to God reverberated throughout the three ships!  Upon landing, Columbus and his crew planted a large wooden cross and fell to their knees, giving thanks to God.  Columbus didn’t name the land for himself or for the king and queen of Spain who financed the voyage, but for the Lord Jesus Christ.  He called it San Salvador, which means Holy Savior.

The Spanish, French and English all explored and settled the great wilderness of North America in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and for the spread of the gospel.   Missions, churches, schools and hospitals were established to that end.  In 1620 the Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact stating that the Plymouth colony was planted, “For the Glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.”

John Adams a century and a half later wrote, “I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in Providence…”

Indeed, it was “the opening of a grand scene and design” by God.  "Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord!" (Psalm 33:12) America became the wonder of the world, a place of freedom where hopes and dreams could come true!     

The true and living God of the Bible reveals Himself as the God of all Hope.  Everyone who came here was filled with the hope of some gain – a new discovery, an adventure, a new beginning, a better life with hope for freedom, opportunity and land.  America became a beacon of hope throughout the world because the knowledge of God and His Word was the first idea and the chief cornerstone upon which it was built. 

Purpose Of A Public Education

In this battle for the minds and souls of our children, it's helpful for us to examine what a good public education should be.  With over 85 % of America's children educated in public schools, the philosophy of education determines what our country becomes.  Do we really like what we see in our country today?  The morally debased and depraved world that we see in the t.v., movies, music, and social media is the product of what has been taught in our secular schools for several generations now. It's the "new normal."  Although mature adults avoid most of it, it's the daily diet and total world for most young people now.  The Common Core/College and Career Readiness curriculum cements the secular education with the goal of low level job training in a global system. Our children deserve better.  Much better.

What is the real purpose of a public education?  William Samuel Johnson, president of Columbia University, said to the first graduating class after the War for Independence:

You have...received a public education, the purpose whereof hath been to qualify you the better to serve your Creator and your country...Your first great duties...are those you owe to Heaven, to your Creator and Redeemer.  Let these be ever present to your minds and exemplified in your lives and conduct.

Imprint deep upon your minds the principles of piety toward God, and a reverence and fear of His holy name.  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and its consummation is everlasting felicity...Remember, too, that you are the redeemed of the Lord, that you are bought with a price, even the inestimable price of the precious blood of the Son of God.  Adore Jehovah, therefore, as your God and you Judge.  Love, fear, and serve Him as your Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. Acquaint yourselves with Him in His Word and holy ordinances.  

Make Him your friend and protector and your felicity is secured both here and hereafter.  And with respect to particular duties to Him, it is your happiness that you are well assured that he best serves his Maker, who does most good to his country and to mankind. 

The knowledge of God and His Word was the foundation of education that unleashed the genius of mankind to the world - that with less than 5% of the world's population, the United States created over 95% of the world's wealth with freedom and opportunity for all!  Now THAT was good public education!

"What We Don't Know..."

"What we don't know, we don't appreciate.  What we don't appreciate, we discard," wrote St. Augustine many years ago, but is still quite true today.  In fact, he could have been describing present day America. The State of the Union Address this past week is a good example of that.

At the time of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, Americans knew that the legislative branch of government was to be dominant over the other two branches. Whether the U.S. Constitution should be ratified was hotly debated throughout the country, and there was no lack of knowledge about it.  The Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, were published to encourage ratification and the Anti-Federalists were just as vocal, with Patrick Henry as one of the leading spokesman.

The leading Federalists assured Americans that the power of government would be limited and separated into three distinct parts, with each branch able to restrain the other two branches.  A further assurance was that the Representatives of the People and the States would be more powerful than the Chief Executive and the Supreme Court Justices.  (Americans were a little "king" shy, having just come out from under the tyrannical rule of King George III.)  As stated in Federalist Paper # 48, written by Madison, "The legislative department derives a superiority in our government...its' constitutional powers more extensive and less susceptible of precise limits...

The departments are listed in the Constitution in their order of power, Article I Legislative, Article II Executive, Article III Judicial.  The Legislative Branch being listed first and is by far the longest of the three, because "We the People" give them more authority and responsibility.

After the Constitution was ratified by the states, President George Washington searched the District of Columbia for the highest hill in the area to place the Capitol Building, where the peoples' representatives would make the laws.  He located a hill 88 feet high - known as "Capitol Hill" today.  President Washington chose the highest place to indicate that the highest authority was "the People".  "Here, Sir, the People rule!" spoke Federalist author Alexander Hamilton.

Back to the dismal State of the Union Address from last week,  I don't think the President or most of Congress have this knowledge- it hasn't been taught in many years.  It obviously wasn't appreciated and was discarded.  

"A Very Present Help in Trouble"

The bad weather has certainly brought many difficulties for large numbers of people here in the south ( and elsewhere), but I'm hearing tales of  great heroism and acts of kindness to total strangers who found themselves stranded and in great distress because of the snow and icy conditions.

How uplifting and inspiring it is to see help coming in the midst of trouble!  As human beings, our hearts are warmed and softened when we experience it, hear of it, or read about it.  It's a God thing. Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  God's people love to give and help others because we are His hands and feet here on this earth.  Whether it's handing out food to the hungry, trudging through the ice and snow for miles to bring your children home from school, or  rescuing the stranded by helicopter, God's people are a very present help in trouble.

On a personal note, we lost power and had no heat for quite some time and it was really hard to get warm-especially without my morning coffee.  We had plenty of invitations to warm houses and hot breakfasts, but we chose to stay and wait for the power to come on.  The cold I endured was so worth it when my daughter brought a jug of hot coffee and built a roaring fire in the fireplace, and my son brought in freshly made rich onion soup!  They were so glad to help us and be able to "do something" for us that made it almost a party!

So...I'm thinkin' there may be a pattern here, that regardless of what's going on in the circumstances we're facing, we can truly know, and God wants us to know, that He is a present help in trouble, and we can count on it.

Learning To Love Our Country

Noah Webster, known as America's Schoolmaster, believed that learning to love one's country began at the time children began to walk and talk with stories-stories-stories!  That would of course, necessitate the parents knowing and loving their country to be able to share about it with the little children.  It would have to be a priority with the parents to spend a lot of time teaching their children, carefully selecting inspiring books to read to them, and taking them to historical sites when possible. Music and art could be explored and enjoyed to further enhance the experience of learning to love one's country.

During the early years of our great republic, learning was highly prized and eagerly sought after.  Our literacy rate was very high because we were a Bible reading people who understood the necessity of teaching our children how to read at an early age.  Americans knew that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, the beginning of wisdom," so it was essential for every individual to read the Bible for himself.  In America's early years before our people became sophisticated, worldly and corrupt, the purpose of life was known to be not about pleasing oneself, but God.  Harvard University's Rules and Precepts stated:  "Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life, John 17:3 and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning..."  The story of America is the story of its' Bible believing, God loving people who achieved unparalleled success and upward mobility as a consequence of who they were and knowing what they were called to be.

Every Bible believing, Bible reading Christian still knows and understands this truth, but in the world and even the church world, it's not acknowledged or seems to be known.  It as if almost everyone has bought into the idea that education is for the purpose of getting a good paying job or acquiring a prestigious profession/position with good benefits, etc...so if that's the case, what's the purpose of fostering the love of country and the founders of it?  We've been going down this road a long time now and it would be difficult to change direction even if enough of us had the will to do it. But in the early years of our great republic, it was done and done well.  We have the blueprint left to us - we are Americans.  Our children are American children.  They have a heritage, a great treasure to learn about, to love and to claim.

"Take Away A Peoples' Heritage..."

For several days now I've been brooding over some disturbing news I was recently given.  I've known for quite some time that our country's glorious heritage has been hidden for some 60 plus years now-almost a century, I suspect.  I know how it was done, why it was done, and by whom it was done.  But I won't go into that now except to say that it was planned and executed by enemies of God and freedom.

A lovely librarian/journalism teacher/grandmother told me about her brilliant granddaughter in her 3rd year of college who is not required to take any history courses.  She had graduated high school at the top of her class and was highly intelligent and articulate.  They were together over the 4th of July, so the grandmother decided to do a little pop quiz about the holiday being celebrated. She was terribly disappointed and alarmed to discover that her very smart granddaughter knew absolutely nothing about it or the Declaration of Independence and its' signers, etc.!  Nothing about the history of her own country!

"Take away a peoples' heritage and they are easily persuaded," wrote Karl Marx, the father of modern communism, who plotted and planned a takeover of the world, and left it to the progressives, leftists, and fellow socialists/communists to execute his plan.

I believe that we are quite far along into that plan now and although I still have a glimmer of hope for the restoration of our foundational principles, I'm concerned that most of the effort taking place is just the application of band aids to the wounds, and the treatment of symptoms rather than getting to the cause.

Do I think I know what will really help restore our principles to rebuild/restore our foundation?  Yes, I think I know a part of it, and I'll be writing about it real soon.

A Little Boy's Prayer

"Please dear Lord, keep all the football players safe and if they get hurt, help them, Lord, and help them play their best. All the basketball players, too, Lord."  Jack had been at the Dothan Classic High School Basketball Tournament the night before, where he had seen the very best basketball players-ever! And of course last night was the spectacular Texas A&M vs. Duke game where he cheered his lungs out for Texas and Johnny Football.

This is a boy who always has a ball in his hand and is mesmerized by any ball game being played. He talked to his Lord about what was on his heart and what was important to him.  He thanked God for family and the Christmas holidays, but he definitely was in earnest praying for all the athletes.  Praying from the heart.

New!

New!  We're starting a new year, based on the Gregorian Calendar or Christian Calendar from the 16th century.  Pope Gregory XIII improved the Julian Calendar and the Western world has been using it ever since, with it being the basis for the international standard, as well.

Cool-very cool.  And no matter how much anti-God talk and action being demonstrated in the world today, everyone acknowledges the Christian world view of time, Anno Domini-In the Year of Our Lord, 2014, for everything in life!  (Of course the Muslims have their own dating system for their personal habits of Jihad etc., but still acknowledge the Christian Calendar in global trade, business, etc.)  

So we're starting an exciting brand new year!  We've never been this way before!  It's new!  It's unlike any year has ever been before or will be again.  So this new year is an opportunity to pursue our hopes and dreams that are, hopefully, the Lord's hopes and dreams for us. It's a new opportunity to be faithful to God's call on our lives, in this Year of Our Lord, 2014.

Happy New Year!