"Government protecting the good of the people and staying out of their economic affairs was what Thomas Jefferson claimed to be "good government."Still one more thing, fellow-citizen, a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government; and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities. (Jefferson)
Scripture teaches that government is ordained by God to punish evildoers and praise those who do right. Government was not given absolute sovereignty over man. It must function within its limits to be most effective."
From "It's Time to Remember, America!" Michael R. Myers.
"...which God will bring about in his own time —God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lord,.." 1 Timothy 6:15.
We can't guess what God is up to today with all that's going on, but I am certain He will bring about something in His own time which shows His sovereignty and power and will bless us. He will "close the circle of our felicities," in some way; of this I am certain.
Have a great Sunday...keep praying for our country, she sure needs it.
(Could it really be JULY already?!)
Z
29 comments:
Yes, the Lord really IS in charge.
Hard to take the long view sometimes, however.
God is in charge, but he's also given us free will. If we elect crappy, venal leaders he will allow us to be ruled by them.
Yes Z this is an excellent reminder
Your new formatting with separated paragraphs looks really nice. I like the colors you chose too.
We need to pray for our country more than ever!
Thanks - Z - for these words of wisdom about our government. May
God smile on her and Bless her.
And you too - Z. Have a great day.
Yeah Joe, that's a fact.
We are watching the power of Kapital to destroy everything in sight. That is after all it's nature, it has no internal governance. I believe Chris Hedges gets it right in his new book.
Take a look at Pine Ridge reservation, Camden, N.J, migrant worker towns in Florida and strip mined towns in West Virginia and you see what's coming. The protests are here and the backlash will be violent including crypto-Fascist groups like the Tea Party looking for people to blame and dumping on the weak.
People enslaved in many ways by force or debt. But there will always be those among us who do a stint in the military, store some weapons and eat lots of grilled beef and think they are Daniel Boone who will support this abomination.
And when the time comes Joe, pray. For you may be tallied with those who abandoned the weak and it might not all go as planned.
Funny thing is the people who seem to be alienated are not the 'kapitalists' but those who decided that our mixed economy is somehow better off with larger unions (where the worker is objectified), larger corporations supported by a larger government (again the citizen is alienated). My experience in private industry has been one in which hard work and performance are rewarded. It wasn't till I went to a union shop with a govenrment job that I saw the destruction of the American worker. Duhkkky can drivel on all he wants making his six figures and bemoaning capitalism, he hasn't a clue who or what is causing the alienation. If our lives are to have meaning it wont be as a slave to the machinations of a government or a group who are too large to recognize our existence.
If our lives are to have meaning it wont be as a slave to the machinations of a government or a group who are too large to recognize our existence."
Elbro, thank you for that. SO well said.
And you should know.
God is clear about our fallen nature. The One who places value on the individual will search for the one lost sheep out a hundred and rejoices in heaven when one person finds Him. Political and economic systems will do neither so I encourage you duhkkky to find Someone else to place your faith in. Any system devised by man will always disappoint.
Thanks for the beautiful post, Z. I needed that, and I am sure others do, too.
The Supreme Court ruling is what it is, and we are the architects of our own problems. Once you let the Feds levy a tax, you cannot stop them.
I believe the Tea Party will be energized, and I will still be a member. Hard working Americans are tired of being used as the purse to enslave them to socialism. The issues are simple, we need to vote the Fascists out of office.
As Friedrich Hayek said, "Socialism is slavery".
Got a hunch, bet a bunch, Elmo.
But remember, faith is not a guarantee.
I know where I'm going when I die duhkkky, do you?
Some people seem to falsely believe in some inherent good in man, that somehow in his finite wisdom there lurks a Utopia. God knows our nature is not bent naturally to the good and it's PERFECTLY clear from history that He will not ne mocked by some silly notion of economic and political bliss brought on by our own wisdom. Bow to that idol if you wish, suffer the disappointments, include our own political and economic system...as I said any system devised by man will disappoint.
In what way does your Democratic Socialism not also alienate? At least Christianity starts by reminding me that I'm not a citizen of this world, that I'm a stranger in a strange land. In this regard I will always be a foreigner? This isn't my home.
You see the God of the Bible has been upfront about OUR alienation all along
Z,
I have that quote, among others from Jefferson on the wall of my classroom. While president he didn't exactly adhere to a lot of his stated philosophy, he was the voice of republican government.
As for Ducky's post, for those of us who served thereby allowing people to spout idiocy, you're welcome.
Ducky "But remember, faith is not a guarantee."
Very clever on your part. I'm wondering if you feel faithful Christians don't have doubt? It sounds like it.
And wouldn't that be nice.
No, sorry....we all know that there are no guarantees but many of us are constantly pulled back in a million ways to all that Elbro's saying here about God.
Law & Order...I won't apologize for Ducky, but I am sorry that was written in my comments section.
You know very well how much most Americans think of all of those who served our country by putting their lives on the line. I guess some think that's 'fun and games' and 'playing MAN'...Actually, it's BEING MAN, in my book.
Interesting that that quote's in your classroom; what a great one. I hadn't read it before I found it yesterday looking through the book I quoted from.
Elbro....the joy and peace some of us get out of praise-ful church services can't be denied...as if HE is not there and we all just FEEL GOOD at the same time? :-)
Bob, I'm hoping we hear more and more from the Tea Party people..and soon. And may they continue to 'protest' leaving the parks "cleaner than they were before," as the cops say. In other words...let the difference of OWS be emphasized.
And let the message SING.
I was at a soul food restaurant today with a friend (i have black eyed peas, corn bread and greens in my fridge now ...leftovers from a terrific meal with simply THE NICEST people I've been with in one room in a LONG time...well, since church this morning, but you know :-)!..
Anyway, I was loving the place ... Had never been there, and it's in a pretty much Black-American part of town and I got there 20 minutes late so I went in....people were SO nice, and I chatted with a bunch who were waiting for take-out and then I saw a BIG stand-up cardboard of OBAMA smilin'....then I saw a picture of Dr King superimposed on a poster of Obama striking a similar position to his.........makes you sick. I was hoping against hope SOME of them don't like him anymore.
My friend and I don't talk politics, but I did mention Star Parker and what she stands for...subtly and carefully and enthusiastically....my friend smiled and seemed to agree with her stance. but..........who knows!?
Tea Party message?
"Constitutionalism" means scrambling to save Medicare and praising Supreme Court justices for creating taxes.
No thanks.
You're absolutely right Z.
Elbro, my new church LIVES...all about TRUTH and GRACE and LOVE... and that's how the teachings are given.........what a relief.
Z,
No apolgy necessary. I'm used to it. I don't ever recall in my life asking for a thank you for anything I've done. My dad didn't nor will I. I did what I considered to be my duty as an American.
Jefferson as a philosopher is great. As a president he went a little off the trail. It's proof to me that power is a tough thing to deal with. More proof that the constitution is a necessary document to control the exercise of power. That's why the SCOTUS is important.
We have to depend on them to read the constitution and interpret it. Sometimes they stumble and sometimes they get it right. Better batting average than congress.
Wonderful!
some of you responded to a comment I wrote back to Ducky...I've deleted mine; just wanted you to know.
"I am certain He will bring about something in His own time"
Reminds me of one of the best quotations I ever heard someone say(and I don't remember who said it):
"God may not always be on time, but He's never late."
Mark, excellent quote!
Post a Comment