On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our official flag. In honor of Flag Day, here is our National Anthem--all FOUR verses:
The Star Spangled Banner
lyrics by Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Freedom isn't free
Those words can become trite unless we ponder their meaning and the sacrifice that millions have given so that we, their posterity (descendants) might remain free.
From the Revolutionary War through today's War on Terror, those who have fought and died or been horribly and permanently injured on our behalf have been mostly young men (and now women). Teenagers, early twenties at most, but all in the prime of their young lives. They gave up their futures fighting for a cause greater than themselves. It humbles me profoundly.
What are we doing to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain? We are the guardians of that precious gift of God--freedom. Most of us are not called upon to defend it by giving up our lives, as our heroes have done. But we have a duty to keep their memory before us always as a reminder to see our freedom as a blood-bought gift, very similar to our soul's salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Honor the dead. Pray for the living who are in the midst of the fight. And don't take for granted our legacy of freedom; defend it for generations to follow.
From the Revolutionary War through today's War on Terror, those who have fought and died or been horribly and permanently injured on our behalf have been mostly young men (and now women). Teenagers, early twenties at most, but all in the prime of their young lives. They gave up their futures fighting for a cause greater than themselves. It humbles me profoundly.
What are we doing to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain? We are the guardians of that precious gift of God--freedom. Most of us are not called upon to defend it by giving up our lives, as our heroes have done. But we have a duty to keep their memory before us always as a reminder to see our freedom as a blood-bought gift, very similar to our soul's salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Honor the dead. Pray for the living who are in the midst of the fight. And don't take for granted our legacy of freedom; defend it for generations to follow.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
My favorite patriots
Doing our part to educate Texans about the Revolutionary War era....
Saturday, May 8, 2010
How big should government be?
After reading an article in this weekend's Parade magazine, I had to comment on their website in answer to their question, "How big should government be?"
The best government is that which governs least; government should stay out of the citizens' way and provide only those things that individuals cannot do alone, namely national security. When government does what individuals should do, it robs us of our creativity to solve problems and our compassion to help our neighbors. Our allegiance should be to the rule of law, not to power-hungry individuals, for even the best-intentioned public servant will become corrupted over time when tempted by unlimited power over the national treasury.
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." President Gerald R. Ford (a paraphrase of an original quote by Thomas Jefferson)
The best government is that which governs least; government should stay out of the citizens' way and provide only those things that individuals cannot do alone, namely national security. When government does what individuals should do, it robs us of our creativity to solve problems and our compassion to help our neighbors. Our allegiance should be to the rule of law, not to power-hungry individuals, for even the best-intentioned public servant will become corrupted over time when tempted by unlimited power over the national treasury.
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." President Gerald R. Ford (a paraphrase of an original quote by Thomas Jefferson)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Social Justice?
We hear this term a lot these days. On the surface it sounds like it must be a good thing. After all, when we pledge allegiance to our nation's flag, we end with, "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Justice" implies fair, equal treatment under law. God is perfectly just. Because He is omniscient, all-knowing, He can make perfect judgments. He is Lawgiver and Judge.
We imperfect humans often make imperfect judgments, even when we are trying our best to follow the perfect law that God has given us.
But when humans pervert true justice and bend it to further their greed for money and power, they make a mockery of God's justice.
So it is with "social" justice. Although we may think that term has to do with helping folks down on their luck, those currently in power see the term far differently. They use it as an excuse to take from those who produce and give to those who will not help themselves--i.e., redistribution of wealth, otherwise known as Marxism or communism.
Stealing from those who work hard to take care of their own families and giving that money to ungrateful recipients helps no one. Workers should be encouraged to do their best by allowing them to keep the fruits of their labors; shirkers should be treated with "tough love" so that they might grow in character and learn to earn their own way. ("If any will not work, neither let him eat." II Thessalonians 3:10)
True justice would send those who push for "social" justice to prison for thievery as well as aiding and abetting the destruction of our society's moral fiber.
"Justice" implies fair, equal treatment under law. God is perfectly just. Because He is omniscient, all-knowing, He can make perfect judgments. He is Lawgiver and Judge.
We imperfect humans often make imperfect judgments, even when we are trying our best to follow the perfect law that God has given us.
But when humans pervert true justice and bend it to further their greed for money and power, they make a mockery of God's justice.
So it is with "social" justice. Although we may think that term has to do with helping folks down on their luck, those currently in power see the term far differently. They use it as an excuse to take from those who produce and give to those who will not help themselves--i.e., redistribution of wealth, otherwise known as Marxism or communism.
Stealing from those who work hard to take care of their own families and giving that money to ungrateful recipients helps no one. Workers should be encouraged to do their best by allowing them to keep the fruits of their labors; shirkers should be treated with "tough love" so that they might grow in character and learn to earn their own way. ("If any will not work, neither let him eat." II Thessalonians 3:10)
True justice would send those who push for "social" justice to prison for thievery as well as aiding and abetting the destruction of our society's moral fiber.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tea Party Time!
April 15th has long had significance as "tax day," but beginning with last year's T.E.A. parties ("Taxed Enough Already"), it now has a new incarnation.
In nearly every town and city across America average, hard-working citizens like you and me will exercise our Constitutional rights enumerated in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Some may scoff or cynically say, "What does a rally accomplish?" I can tell you from personal experience that it accomplishes much. The most important reason to attend is to be encouraged that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! The concern and patriotism of so many of your friends and neighbors, all gathered in one place as you pray to Almighty God, pledge allegiance to the Flag, sing the National Anthem, and listen to others put into words what you are feeling in your heart is priceless. You will be lifted up and motivated to continue to educate yourself and be involved in the political process.
Remember, the current crop of Alinsky disciples wants to make you feel alone and hopeless, full of despair. That's part of their tactics: "Isolate the target. Freeze it. Polarize it. And then destroy it."
If we stand together, arm in arm, not only in our local communities, but state by state across this land, we can become a human tsunami to wash away the rotten taint of hedonism and Marxism that has invaded and pervaded our centuries-old values and institutions.
"If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
In nearly every town and city across America average, hard-working citizens like you and me will exercise our Constitutional rights enumerated in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Some may scoff or cynically say, "What does a rally accomplish?" I can tell you from personal experience that it accomplishes much. The most important reason to attend is to be encouraged that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! The concern and patriotism of so many of your friends and neighbors, all gathered in one place as you pray to Almighty God, pledge allegiance to the Flag, sing the National Anthem, and listen to others put into words what you are feeling in your heart is priceless. You will be lifted up and motivated to continue to educate yourself and be involved in the political process.
Remember, the current crop of Alinsky disciples wants to make you feel alone and hopeless, full of despair. That's part of their tactics: "Isolate the target. Freeze it. Polarize it. And then destroy it."
If we stand together, arm in arm, not only in our local communities, but state by state across this land, we can become a human tsunami to wash away the rotten taint of hedonism and Marxism that has invaded and pervaded our centuries-old values and institutions.
"If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
Monday, April 12, 2010
Corrupting the Heart
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23
Just as our physical heart is vital to sustaining our life, our spiritual heart is vital to our morality, our moral compass, if you will. Our heart can be trained, along with our conscience, to seek God's ways. Conversely, if we neglect our heart or seek baser ways, it will quickly be corrupted.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 says, "A bribe corrupts the heart." Bribery is defined as a "Crime of giving a benefit (e.g., money) in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust (e.g., an official or witness). Accepting a bribe also constitutes a crime."
How does giving or accepting a bribe corrupt one's heart? By shifting the heart's allegiance from the Creator to a created thing, by corroding the godly principle of justice with covetousness, by leaving the path of light and truth and entering the shadowy realm of darkness and sin.
It's no accident that Article II, Section IV of the Constitution states, "The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." If elected officials engage in bribery, there is no respect for the rule of law. Our Republic cannot survive such corruption. It must be rooted out.
"But there will be no justice, there will be no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, as long as the government and its officials permit bribery in any form." John Jay Hooker
Just as our physical heart is vital to sustaining our life, our spiritual heart is vital to our morality, our moral compass, if you will. Our heart can be trained, along with our conscience, to seek God's ways. Conversely, if we neglect our heart or seek baser ways, it will quickly be corrupted.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 says, "A bribe corrupts the heart." Bribery is defined as a "Crime of giving a benefit (e.g., money) in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust (e.g., an official or witness). Accepting a bribe also constitutes a crime."
How does giving or accepting a bribe corrupt one's heart? By shifting the heart's allegiance from the Creator to a created thing, by corroding the godly principle of justice with covetousness, by leaving the path of light and truth and entering the shadowy realm of darkness and sin.
It's no accident that Article II, Section IV of the Constitution states, "The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." If elected officials engage in bribery, there is no respect for the rule of law. Our Republic cannot survive such corruption. It must be rooted out.
"But there will be no justice, there will be no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, as long as the government and its officials permit bribery in any form." John Jay Hooker
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