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.