Freedom Has Demands (Part 2)

There are many homeless people in San Diego County.  Most of them are situated in Downtown San Diego.  Some have drug and alcohol problems. For a variety of reasons, some are disenfranchised from their families. Some just do not have the discipline and/or skills to keep a job.  Some have mental and/or physical problems.  And then some are recently laid off or fired from their jobs and are newcomers to living in the streets and parks.  Some like being homeless because of the freedom. Some receive a pension or a Social Security check every month.  Many panhandle.  In any case, most relish their freedom.  Particularly when they receive a handout. Freedom has demands. Freedom has costs.  The costs are distributed.  Is freedom always comfortable? No, sometimes it is not.  At times it can be very lonely, and loneliness is one of the heavy prices one pays for freedom.

Freedom Has Demands (Part 1)

Freedom is not easy in society.  It has requirements.  It is difficult to be free if you depend on others. It is difficult to be free if one is lazy.  It is difficult to be free if one lives  in serious poverty.  It is difficult to be free if one is weak and ignorant.  I know there are those who do not agree with the aforementioned.  I also know that they might have a point.  I have heard some say : "The dumbest people are the most free people."   I agree that freedom has a price, and I think that the previous quote represents a high price to pay.  Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States was a quiet, and reserved person.  He addressed the issue in the following quote.

"We demand entire freedom of action and then expect the government in some miraculous way, to save us from the consequences of our own acts. Self-government means self-reliance."

The Screening At Ellis Island

Between 1892 and 1954, over 15 million immigrants were screened at Ellis Island.  All immigrants were required to submit to the standards of the early 20th Century.  They were all screened at Ellis Island where they had to produce 4 things:

1.  Good Health. Sickly immigrants were returned to their home country. (millions were returned)
2.  A sponsor. Most were sponsored by a church that shared their ethnicity.
3.  Evidence of a job.  Often provided by the church or relatives.
4.  An oath to respect American (and only American) law and to assimilate into the cultural fabric of this nation.

Abraham Lincoln Died For Freedom

I do not know the exact date that he said it, however, he said it.  Lincoln said it because he was no ordinary man.  He said it because he respected freedom.  He was willing to die for it.  And he did.
Below, is a quote that supports my statements.


"I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the Declaration of Independence. That all should have an equal chance.  This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence.  I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it."
Abraham Lincoln   (1809-1865)   16th US President

A Quote By Louis Brandeis

"Liberty is the secret of happiness, and courage is the secret of liberty."  (Brandeis)

Pray For Your President

When Barack Obama was President, I often reminded my conservative friends, readers, and listeners that scripture commands we pray for our leaders. Many of them would reply that they had prayed Obama resign, die, lose re-election, not cause lasting harm, or otherwise prayed every which way they could pray about him without actually praying for him. Having mentioned on social media last week that people complaining about President Trump should pray for him, some demanded to know if I had ever done the same for Barack Obama. Yes and repeatedly over the course of eight years. Others, however, did exactly as some had done to Barack Obama. They prayed all sorts of things about the President, but did not pray for the President.If you are a Christian, scripture commands you to pray for the President. You should pray for his protection, his well being, that God grants him wisdom, that he is a faithful instrument of God’s will, that he glorifies God in all he does, etc. You are to pray God’s blessings on the President and ask God to be with the President. Yes, you can pray that God turn the President’s heart, but pray for him too. Scripture commands it. Put bluntly, if you cannot bring yourself to pray positively for the President, you are no better than your view of the President. Pray for his safety, his leadership, his    wisdom, his family, and that he is surrounded with capable people. Again, this is what scripture says to do. There is no reason to obfuscate it or try to weasel your way out of it.  Pray for the President and pray sincerely.

 

 

Pray For The USA

I suppose there is a reason why I look at it this way.  To me, July is a month when I truly reflect upon my love for this country.  The United States of America is a great country.  It is a great country in spite of the fact that some of the it's political and business leaders are not impeccable. Well, what can I say?  Do we expect perfection from people?  We can do our part to keep some of them in line, but most of us do not have that kind of time.  But we can pray.  When it comes to the topic of prayer, volumes could probably be written.  My point in this short message is this: Pray for this country.  As I have already mentioned, patriotism rings clear for me during July.  As you probably have already surmised, it is because it is the month when Independence Day is celebrated.  Perhaps that is the reason.  However, I am patriotic 12 months a year.  We live in a great country.  Prayer has a great deal to do with it.  "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."  Of course this nation is blessed.  And, of course we need to keep on praying for it.