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Comments
I haven't been by here for a year or two ... 9th corps threads dried up ... good to see some living souls still on board.
Good thoughts Mike ... much of what "the world" pushes on us seems intended to sell us on something or direct our thinking. Being grounded in some genuine beliefs is important. Those founding fathers laid a pretty good framework that has enabled us to live free. But they were willing to sacrifice their lives and fortunes to accomplish a more secular/civic goal, which led to peace and prosperity for many.
It may be that those in Russia or China can also be spiritually free like us, but to achieve and maintain the "blessings of liberty" I think requires involvement in our political process. The internet has made that easier and more efficient, where we can select our news sources, and even blog/discuss with very wise people (like here).
So I guess I agree with all the comments here ... the best way to "get our country back" would be to have a lot of honest, spiritual people, not overwhelmed with the negatives of the news world, as Mike notes. But as Michael and dick note, we need to also be hands on with the political process. Certainly if we aren't, there are powerful nefarious turkeys that will take over the job of "we the people". Russia has a painful route "back", but our state is pretty far down the wrong road as well.
If the Marxist Minstrel concept is right, we need Lisa and the other musicians to lead the way out, though I think Madonna and Gangster Rap have grabbed that spotlight, at least on the national stage. I try to blog a little, and debate the local and national corruption. Shining some light on the darkness is supposed to be the best disinfectant. In the political realm, I think the "silent majority" has been too quiet.
cheers to all you folks ... thanks for putting me on the Lisa song list Mike ... great quality recording. :)
Mike T. I totally agree with you in that "getting back in line" would be painful. I personally think that we Americans are spoiled and we wouldn't want to go back. It's like a junkie and his fix, we need our fix. But what a price to pay, loss of our freedoms, and for what? With freedom comes great responsibility. If we choose government security over freedom we deserve our chains of bondage.
But bottom line, gettting back to practicle Christainity, is America was great because America was good (Alexsis De Toqueville said that) the free enterprise system works when people are honest and living the word. Without God and Christ and the Word in our hearts it ends up in greed. I think all of us here know that and we are all attempting to do that as best as we know. I'm thankful for people such as yourself and let us continue the good fight. Love you guys
The phrase I love to use is; THE CONSERVATIVE POET, or the application into the practical world of spiritual realities. or THE WORD IN CUILTURE.
Old testament we have Proverbs.
I think the men and women of the American Revolution, put more into practice into a civil society, than we dare to dream about.
If you haven't watched the Mini-series, John Adams, I highly recommend it.
I think rockets, oil, guns, corn, wheat, cattle, iron ore, coal, gravel, cotton, big honkin pick-up trucks, wonderful heavy machinery, lumber, make for the poetry of the AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN.
I applaud the inspiration of Edison, the determination of the Wright Brothers, the men who built America's highways. Without the interstate system, it is unlikely the Ministry known as The Way, could have flourished to the degree that it did. I have friends who have had open heart surgey, where 30 years ago, they would no longer be alive. the people who now survive cancer, and countless other malaties. All the result of the application of belief.
If you have ever heard the phrase; THE REAL MCCOY that comes from an oiler on a locomotive back at the turn of the century, who developed better ways to lubricate trains. An uneducated black man developed almost every known system for lubricate machinery that we use today, from the grease zerk, to the automatic oilers.
The testament that we have the time to devote to other interest is a testament to the practical success of the United States. Farmers now plant corn without steering. The GPS does it, and plants the seed, and adds the fertilizer. I was at a dance in a Kansas town, and I got talking to the cowboys. They pasture cattle. Move the herds to one pasture to another. They decide by satalite. We have the time, because we have abundance. Affordable food is the first great brick in prosperity for a civil society. In 1972 when I was working Construction, moving a 30 ton crane was a three man job, and one day to break down, and one to set up. In 2002 I was moving a 30 ton crane to as many as 4 jobs a day, by myself. In 1972 to dig one cubic yard of dirt, cost about 25 cents, and in 2002 about 35 cents. Why? effeciency. Better equipment.
In 1977 to make a long distance call from Japan had to be done after the sun passed the zenith (12 noon) and then a radioi operator would contact an operator in the u.s. and then he would place a person to person long distance call to my parents. There was about a 5 second delay, and you have to use radio lingo, as in over so the two operators could switch between mike and receive, and today we take for granted the worldwid web, and the ability to talk anywhere in the world. Look how far we have come in terms of practrical. Cordless drills, saws, and such.
In Closing Columbus, Sir Walter Raliegh, all the explorers, Newton, Galileo, and the like were alike in one manner, they were men of faith, men of courage and men of practice, and men of inspiration.
I think the big ironic proverb yet to be written is that when Columbus finally sailed for the new world, the continents of North and south America are so broad, he could not have missed it if he wanted to. That is Grace unfounded, and yet it is part of our humble heritage as Americans, and as believers. It still excites me.
Dick - speaking of Russia and China - I just posted Lisa's song "China and Russia" onto our page here. You might enjoy it. No kidding Christians have backed out - and that has allowed government to step in to assume responsibilities that would have been far better left to the Church. I fear that getting that back into line may be painful.
Good points shared by both Mike P. and Mike T. Practical Christianity is exactly what I strive to do, first in my own life and in whatever surrounding I may be involved in. George Washington prayed and read his Bible everyday. His Godly character was known by all who knew him. I think one of our problems in this country is Christains backed out of the public arena of discussion. We've allowed a secular mentality to rule. Partly because we stopped keeping God first, partly because we gave government the responsibility of thing we and the "church"should have been doing.
As far as OWS, all I'm saying is we need to speak out and discus these ideas being put out there. Ideas that are contrary to what our forefathers believed in. Believe me, it will affect your walk. If you think this country can't become like Russia or China, think again. Anyway, just thought I'ld share those thoughts. Thanks for sharing guys.
Very interesting insights and very well written Michael.
I personally try to spend far more effort in putting the Wrod of God into practice in my own life than I do in anything else. (For instance - putting effort into making sure that YOU put God's Word into practice). A concept that has been interesting to me for several years now is the concept of "practical Christianity" - putting what I believe into practice everyday, in each encounter with another human, into how I deal with my environment, etc. I guess that the point of this particular essay. As one mentor said "Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job". And as I do those things I find a variety of ways to be of service in my community. Faith demonstrated by works!
Mike and Lisa,
I will humbly add this
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
The phrase "separation of church and state," is the mantle over the fireplace which all liberal logic rest. Their finest pieces are proudly displayed. It assumes an authority given to the state. It is from this point that arguments dismissing any church value are heralded as sort of a GOSPEL politic. It also assumes that this statement was ever made in any legal document, or that it has ever been prosposed as law. It is a statement in which inference is measured for wieght rather than the reality of substance. It should be noted that those who hold this tenant, do not themselves believe in separating the state from its sway over the church, or in plain terms, they seek to have the right do that which has been the historical practice of the church.
The First Ammendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, of the abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peacably to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The word abridge means to lesson to give substance in fewer words, to shorten, to curtail, to lesson as in rights.
History is plain as to what this is in reference to, which was but the known governments of the world at the point and time of this writing. Those governments who through some sort of mandate from religion sought political force over its subjects. There were birth rights; noble born, and slave decreed. There were mandated enemies, dictated observances, and the very direction of life. The founding of this nation sought at its sorce to eliminate a religion dictated center, and instead moved it out to a citizen centered government. One that recognized the unalienable rights of man, with regards to, and with other men. They understood that no law could truly direct the heart of man towards God. It would be an individual choice. How truly revolutionary! Government have as their one and only duty. The conduct of man with other men.
Never intended nor written anywhere in our founding is the idea of elimination of religion, nor is it to question the religion of an individual, except in regards to his conduct towards his fellow man. The wide freedom granted is recognized as endowment, and if that is true, the government is simply the trustee of the execution of the inheritance obtained from our Creator. As with any inheritance, it may be invested wisely, or squandered foolsihly. The greater point is; That the fundemental American revolutionary principle is to become the guiding beacon, not only of our laws, but the policies of our agencies as well. We are a different set of the same bunch of people, in that WE all have the exact same endowment. No one is better placed, and no one should be pooorer served.
In reality religion and politics belong together. They are the brick and mortar by which a civilized society is built. Religion is best described as how man deals with the divine. The state or politics and is best described as how man deals with man. Or more simply; Religion equals Love God, and politics or the state equals love your neighbor
Hey Mike,
To be involved in current events and to stay up on that crap doesn['t mean one is not involve with God, the Bible, etc. Each person must figure out for him and herself where they believe God wants them. Our forefathers could not separate their politics from their faith. For me, I sense no need or call to be a pastor, teacher, apostle, evangelist, etc but I do fee the need or calling to be a Christain where ever God plants me, be it politics or whatever. You don't believe that to be your calling. Praise God for the body of Christ. We can't all be an eye.
So what ever you do, do it heartly as unto the Lord. Bless you
I like it Mike. Another way of saying it is this world is not our home.
I recently bouhgt a DVD of a film done by National Geographic called World Without Humans. What would happen on the earth if all humsans suddenly disappeared? It was astounding and for some reason a little disturbing.
In no time nature reclaims the entire world and heals itself and thrives abundantly, even in spite of the thousands of nuclear meltdowns that occur. All traces of mankind slowly disappear over time including buildings and highways and houses. The atmosphere is clean again and the oceans are pure. Life thrives better without us really. Could it be because we live in a fallen world? A broken world?
Therefore, why not try to make the world a better place by helping others as you indicate. Why not give hope to those in need? We are here only a brief time.