In A Free Society

Sometimes, there is a difference between obeying God and obeying the law.  Government is more concerned that the citizenry obey the laws and not necessarily obey God.  I understand the quote below.  However, in a sense, it is incomplete, because it fails to deal with the teachings of morality.  It is incomplete because it ignores the fact that one can deeply hurt others without threatening them, or infringing on their rights or property.  In the privacy of one's home, is it acceptable to lie to someone?  Is it acceptable to spread malicious rumors?  No to both questions.  It is unacceptable to God.  The government does not even know about it.  This is because the government is not holy.  It is not omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal.  However, I will give government its due.  Mainly because the Word of God tells me to do so.

"In a free society, individuals have the right to do wrong, as long as they do not threaten or infringe upon the rights or property of others."   Mark Skousen

A Ronald Reagan Quote

"Government has laid its hand on health, housing, farming, industry, commerce, education, and to an ever-increasing degree, interferes with the people's right to know.  Government tends to grow, government programs take on weight and momentum as public servants say, always with the best intentions.  But the truth is that outside of its legitimate function, government does nothing as well or economically as the private sector of the economy."    (Ronald Reagan)

I'm Going To The Desert

If God permits, tomorrow, all of us are leaving for a week and going to Palm Desert.  We will be having fun at the pool and other places.  We will barbecue, play and just have fun.  The whole gang is going.  I plan to play ball with the grandkids.  As a result of good planning, I will miss no football games at Sweetwater and Southwestern.  Awesome!

Faith Is Rewarded

It has been said that faith is faith and logic is logic.  Okay. Sometimes it is difficult to argue matters of faith.  Sometimes it is not.  To desire good things seems so normal and natural to me.  To desire good health, friendship, a good job, a happy marriage, and basically a good life seems normal and natural to me.  Nevertheless, there are many confused people out there.  They are perhaps, not sure of what they want.  Some have faith in things that do not reward.  This is due to confusion and ignorance.  In the final analysis: Why bother with faith if it does not reward?  There is very, very much to say about this, but I will keep it short. God is the rewarder of the faithful.  "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a REWARDER  of those who diligently seek Him.     (Heb. 11:6)   (caps mine)

For Want Of A Nail And Some Hip Pads

"For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail."

Recently, a High school football  team lost a game by two points.  The reason?  Some of the players chose not to bring their hip pads because they traveled to an area that is known for its hot weather. They were penalized.  Those players who were without pads, came out of the game, and subs took their places.  While the subs were in, and the starters putting on the hip pads borrowed from their team mates, the opposing team, which was losing by 12 points, scored two touchdowns.  With the extra points kicked, they scored 14 points.  This was enough to defeat their opponent.  This was kind of sad for the losers, considering that they thought for sure that victory was theirs.  Sometimes the seemingly minor things are not so minor. 

Ariel Castro

On August 1, 2013, Ariel Castro was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years after pleading guilty to 937 counts, including kidnapping and rape.  He pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.  His words to the judge:  "I'm not a monster.  I'm sick."
On Tuesday, September 3rd, Castro was found in his cell, hanging from a bedsheet.  He had committed suicide.  It was a choice that he made.  He probably could not envision spending the rest of his life in prison.  Particularly for the crimes he had committed.  This type of criminal is not usually respected by other convicts.  I am thinking he knew his life would be miserable.  Maybe he thought he could be sent to a mental institution where he could be on "permanent vacation."  I don't know.  On the other hand, had he been a "cop killer," he may have been considered a "hero" by the other convicts.  I can only speculate.  Lastly, the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, Christine Link, called for a "full investigation."  My question:  What for?  I am not a cold-blooded person.  There was hope for Castro.  Jesus said:  "Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly at heart and you shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  (Matt. 11:28)  On the other hand, the yoke that Satan puts on people is not at all easy, and his burden is heavy, heavy, heavy.  The future of Ariel Castro is now in God's hands.

Civilian Control Of The Military

"If there is one basic element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military."
Harry S. Truman  (1884-1972)   33rd US President

When the Constitution of the United States was written, the authority over the military was placed in civilian hands. This has not always been a popular idea.  Nevertheless it has been beneficial to the nation.  This has always been an issue that all countries have had to deal with.  There is much to say about this, but I will simplify things.

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that "Congress shall have the power to raise and support Armies, and to provide and maintain a Navy."

Article II, Section 2 states, "The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States."

The President and the Congress have always had to work together to use the military.

A Letter To Mr. Carlton

The following is a letter I wrote to a Mr. Carlton regarding a discussion about war and religion.  I shared a few brief words with him.

Mr. Carlton, you are correct when you say "people have used religion as an excuse to kill."  I do not like the word "religion," it is too often misused in speech as well as action.  It is a poor substitute for the real deal.  What is the "real deal"?  Jesus Christ is.  His teachings teach peace.  The "religious" of His day had a great deal to do with his execution by crucifixion.  Nevertheless, He taught forgiveness.  "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you."  (Matt. 5:44)  Do those sound like the words of a warmonger?  Read all of chapter 5.  Jesus is the "Prince of Peace."  His Word declares it.  I also speak from personal experience.
On the other hand, what if the government of the nation of which I am a citizen, and enjoy the benefits thereof, asks me to take up arms and go to war?  Well.......that is a separate issue......with resolutions.

Bradley Manning

Bradley Manning is a United States Army soldier who was court-martialed  for sending classified information to WikiLeaks.  To complicate matters even more, he wants to be a woman.  Well.........he is  29 years too late.  That decision was made for him on the day he was born.  ( on the day he was conceived?  That way of saying it is okay too.)  Bradley Manning (not formerly Bradley Manning) is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth Kansas for HIS conviction of disclosing information.  Like I said:  It is too late for him to become a woman.  His gender was decided a long time ago.

Freedom Is Risky

Freedom is very difficult to maintain.  However, it has its benefits.  Those who practice certain freedoms are often at odds with those who disagree with them.  Is this so bad?  No.  But the problem occurs that those who practice certain freedoms want to deny  freedoms to those who disagree and want to practice their freedoms.  "I'm not hurting anybody," he declares.  "Stop doing what you are doing!"  "Move on if you don't like it."  "Move on? I live here.  I'll call the cops."  "You do and I'll kick your ass!"  Just one question.   Whose freedom is being denied here?

"Freedom is risky.  Nature makes no promises."  (Eric Schaub, activist)

On Liberty

I am thoroughly convinced that liberty is of major importance.  But I am also thoroughly convinced that it is difficult to maintain.  Without a doubt, liberty requires an ordered society because liberty can be one step away from chaos and anarchy if society is not well-ordered.  I love liberty.  Liberty has made this country great.  Below are three quotes from three philosophers who have influenced my views of liberty

 "The love of liberty that is not a real principle of dutiful behavior to authority is as hypocritical as
the religion that is not productive of a good life."   Bishop Joseph Butler   (1692-1752) English bishop, theologian, apologist, and philosopher

"By the side of these religious men I discern others whose looks are turned to the earth more than to Heaven; they are the partisans of liberty, not only as the source of the noblest virtues, but more especially as the root of all solid advantages; and they sincerely desire to extend its sway, and to impart its blessings to mankind. It is natural that they should hasten to invoke the assistance of religion, for they must know that liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith; but they have seen religion in the ranks of their adversaries, and they inquire no further; some of them attack it openly, and the remainder are afraid to defend it."         Alexis de Tocqueville     (1805-1859) French historian

"The only liberty that is valuable is a liberty connected with order; that not only exists along with order and virtue, but which cannot exist at all without them. It inheres in good and steady government, as in its substance and vital principle."   
 Edmund Burke(1729-1797) Irish-born British statesman, parliamentary orator, and political thinker