Eclogue III
Charles:
I’m tired of your nonchalant attitude; this tree is coming down…
Matthias:
There is no need to raise your voice Charles, I take this very seriously and I think that you’re being too hasty in this decision. You are somehow… misrepresenting the facts and you do not understand Father’s wishes.
Charles:
You are arrogant, Matthias, extremely arrogant.
Matthias:
Charles, please, take a breath. Let’s continue to discuss this. You can’t tear down this tree after a four minute deliberation. You’ve plainly heard Father’s words. I’m sorry if I sound arrogant, but I want you to understand, in the simplest terms, what is intended…
Charles:
You are the master of intentions, are you? We have covered this. The tree is dead or at least dieing. I’m not intending to tear it down but to simply move it along the natural process more quickly. Look at the limbs…
Matthias:
That’s the point that I was going to refute before you interrupted me. The limbs and leaves can be sick while the tree itself is healthy. This tree hasn’t been properly cared for. Bugs are eating the leaves and the late frost sickened the tiny green branches, they can’t handle such an onslaught. Look at the bark; this tree is gloriously healthy, it simply wants of care.
Charles:
You’re a fool. Look at the fruit. My children couldn’t be fed on them; worms would reject such slop.
Matthias:
Charles, it hasn’t been pruned, in who knows how long. If we just prune it, so that there are fewer sickly branches, than the rest will grow strong and thus, the fruit will be more luscious.
Charles:
Matthias, if Father had intended for this tree, so far out on his property, to flourish than he would have cared for it.
Matthias:
I think what he intended was this; for us to talk calmly about it and come to a like-minded solution. That is why He sent us. He cares so much that He sends His own children to ensure the best work, it’s a great responsibility. I have several books and worked with an arborist, many years ago, but I still recall much of what he taught me. We can minister to this tree and with diligent stewardship it will continue to grow and be filled wi…
Charles:
So that’s it, smarty, you intend to “teach” the simpletons, do you? Command me about and order me around?
Matthias:
Of course not. You’ve skills with saw, clippers and axe while I know where to lay the blade to achieve the most effective use of them and achieve what Father always wished for this tree and for us.
Charles:
You are obstinate. That’s a lot of work for an old, no good tree. What if, for all our trimming and pruning, it still crumbles? It is large and in the fall the wind will beat against it and the snow in winter will bend its branches low and break them.
It does not seem worth it. Let us relieve all this tension of the natural order and eliminate it, take it down and build something out of it; something useful.
Matthias:
It was not meant to be so. It is intended to bear fruit. Father will have it pruned one way or another. He will remove you form his employment and send you on your way. He will have the hired man fulfill what is required and the hired man will eat the fruit of it’s labor at our Father’s table.
The tree is tall but the roots are deep. The wind is strong but the limbs are stronger; if we cut away the useless, lifeless branches. The snow is heavy but that is a burden it was meant to bear.
Come Charles…
Charles:
How do you condescend to know Father’s mind so thoroughly?! You arrogant Wretch! You intend on having your own way. I can’t be removed from His service, I am His son…
Matthias:
Yes, yes. How easily you forget our brother Levi!
Charles:
You compare…
Matthias:
How are you acting differently?!
Charles:
…You are an ASS!
Matthias:
Peace, brother, peace. Charles…calm yourself!
Charles:
You order me about! Shall the older brother serve the younger?!
Matthias:
WE together shall serve Father. Our talents complete the plan. We must peacefully reconcile our minds to HIS intent. This is HIS field. Look at the bigger picture. We have for too long quarreled and let our duties relapse his desire into a faint notion. His hand is barely perceived to be at work. The harvest APPEARS to fail, but we must diligently proceed and strengthen the crop of this beautiful tree. We are his workers and we must do what he has called us to do. What has he always intended? Do not think of the modern notions or consider the Almanac, daily with its predictions and suggestions. What has Father always intended for this farm and this tree?
We MUST proceed with his wishes…
Charles:
You are wiser than I. Father intended it so, yes I see it. We are lazy and I do not have a mind for such drawn out plans, but I am willing to work, though I doubt that I am fit for it. What is the best way to proceed?
Matthias:
We are fit; we were born to do it. Let us proceed…MERRILY. You lead in song and we shall clear the lifelessness from our Father’s tree.
Look, even now, there is a bird building a nest in the lower branches. …
Friday, July 11, 2008
A problem with the numbers
This country is a republic, well it was designed to be a republic, and republics function on a Representative model of Government. What does this mean? What is the nature of this form of governing?
What is a reasonable ratio between the Governed and the Representatives. Should a representative know the names of his constituents? Jethro advised Moses that it should be broken down by 10s, 100s and 1000s.
Should we keep going? 5000? 10000? Surely in the modern world with easier travel and communication a far great number of people can be reached more quickly, but what should the ratio be set at?
I believe to make our current Congress and the Senate truly representative it would be too large to function. So here we come to one of my main premises; smaller local Governments are the most effective means to restrain the people, manage defense and really stay out of people's lives.
Smaller Republics that are confederated for common defense and trade is the best way to govern a population.
Not Greek republics but Christian Republics. Not secular Republics but Christian Republics. But how big? Is Washington to large an area and too heavily populated to be governed well? Should it be broken down into two republics?
The "experiment" of our current Constitution has failed and we must ask ourselves how to improve the American system of government and mature; in order to glorify God and secure our liberties.
What is a reasonable ratio between the Governed and the Representatives. Should a representative know the names of his constituents? Jethro advised Moses that it should be broken down by 10s, 100s and 1000s.
Should we keep going? 5000? 10000? Surely in the modern world with easier travel and communication a far great number of people can be reached more quickly, but what should the ratio be set at?
I believe to make our current Congress and the Senate truly representative it would be too large to function. So here we come to one of my main premises; smaller local Governments are the most effective means to restrain the people, manage defense and really stay out of people's lives.
Smaller Republics that are confederated for common defense and trade is the best way to govern a population.
Not Greek republics but Christian Republics. Not secular Republics but Christian Republics. But how big? Is Washington to large an area and too heavily populated to be governed well? Should it be broken down into two republics?
The "experiment" of our current Constitution has failed and we must ask ourselves how to improve the American system of government and mature; in order to glorify God and secure our liberties.
Put on the full Armor of God
Numbers 14:5-12 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
What we see here is Israel’s lack of faith in God to deliver them. The warning is for us and for our children.
God had destroyed Egypt and parted a sea to lead his people through the desert. Now, after telling them throughout their journey that he would deliver these pagans in to their hand and after generations of promising this land to them, they are confronted with the size and strength of the people who inhabit it and they look at the situation with eyes of flesh.
36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord.
The people were responsible for their actions, but the spies who reported falsely to Israel were the leaders God had appointed over them and their lack of faith led to a general lack of National faith. God destroyed them to show his Righteous judgment against unfaithful men and grumblers who have a greater amount of responsibility and calling. Let our leaders note this in their hearts.
25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”
They feared men, instead of believing in God’s strength and resting in his promises. This is not the end of the lesson. The death of the spies was noted and it led to the proper fear, but the damage had been done and they were ordered into the wilderness. Let us understand this things and give them their proper weight.
39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.
Israel decides that maybe God was right, they are Israel after all; the anointed, and they go to fight the inhabitants of the land. These tribes, who God was going to deliver into their hands utterly defeat them. It is the same tribes and the only difference is the God factor. The same tribes that would have been delivered to them defeated them because Yahweh was not with them. Yahweh turned away and did not fight for Israel and when Yahweh does not fight for you nothing can give you victory.
Even if there is an appearance of victory as we see in Judges chapter 2.
Judges 2:1-5 Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the Lord.
This was our condition even has the ink was drying on the Constitution. We have to understand the if we are properly going to repent as a nation and so we can explain it to our children.
If God is Against us, whom can we turn to? The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.
And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
What we see here is Israel’s lack of faith in God to deliver them. The warning is for us and for our children.
God had destroyed Egypt and parted a sea to lead his people through the desert. Now, after telling them throughout their journey that he would deliver these pagans in to their hand and after generations of promising this land to them, they are confronted with the size and strength of the people who inhabit it and they look at the situation with eyes of flesh.
36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord.
The people were responsible for their actions, but the spies who reported falsely to Israel were the leaders God had appointed over them and their lack of faith led to a general lack of National faith. God destroyed them to show his Righteous judgment against unfaithful men and grumblers who have a greater amount of responsibility and calling. Let our leaders note this in their hearts.
25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.”
They feared men, instead of believing in God’s strength and resting in his promises. This is not the end of the lesson. The death of the spies was noted and it led to the proper fear, but the damage had been done and they were ordered into the wilderness. Let us understand this things and give them their proper weight.
39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, “Here we are. We will go up to the place that the Lord has promised, for we have sinned.” 41 But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? 42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.” 44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.
Israel decides that maybe God was right, they are Israel after all; the anointed, and they go to fight the inhabitants of the land. These tribes, who God was going to deliver into their hands utterly defeat them. It is the same tribes and the only difference is the God factor. The same tribes that would have been delivered to them defeated them because Yahweh was not with them. Yahweh turned away and did not fight for Israel and when Yahweh does not fight for you nothing can give you victory.
Even if there is an appearance of victory as we see in Judges chapter 2.
Judges 2:1-5 Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the Lord.
This was our condition even has the ink was drying on the Constitution. We have to understand the if we are properly going to repent as a nation and so we can explain it to our children.
If God is Against us, whom can we turn to? The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Put on the full armor of God
2 chron 14:9 Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. 10 And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” 12 So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil. 14 And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15 And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Put on the full armor of God
The Nation if Israel did not always put her faith in Yahweh even though Yahweh had a well established history of delivering her out of all her trouble. Instead of trusting in God to deliver them in battle, they relied on allegiances and treaties of mutual need with foreign powers.
God deals with this attitude and lack of faith in a very interesting way. He included these national sins in the long list of Israel’s whoring in Ezekiel 16:26.
The French influence on the early years of the United States is undeniable and unfortunate. Most people do not see it that way. The religion of reason and rationalism had a profound effect on the minds of many of our founders. It soiled them. We allied with the Frenchies against their nemesis, the English, because we did not believe we could win the war standing alone with nothing but a just and righteous God defending us and it is taught in modern Government schools that we only won the war because of the French assistance.
We sought out the Frenchies and got in bed with them instead of trusting that God would deliver us.
Now, there are allegiances that are righteous and upright but this is not an example of one of them. It was pragmatism and faithlessness. The effects of French secularism on American thought and institutions has handicapped us and eaten away at us like cancer since the 18th century and justly so.
This is national sin that keeps on keeping on. The UN, NATO, G-8; the list of groups we have whored ourselves out to is long. The water is severely muddied, however because now we are such a secularized country it’s hard to justify why these alliances are beneath us.
They are beneath us if we have any hope of putting on the full armor of God. It is beneath us if we are to restore the sovereignty of our true King, Jesus. It is beneath us if we hope to reestablish national sovereignty and it is beneath us as un-repented sin.
We must seek God’s face in this. We must repent of this ongoing sin and ask the Triune God to deliver us in his Mercy. We must detach ourselves from these entanglements and not enter into them.
God deals with this attitude and lack of faith in a very interesting way. He included these national sins in the long list of Israel’s whoring in Ezekiel 16:26.
The French influence on the early years of the United States is undeniable and unfortunate. Most people do not see it that way. The religion of reason and rationalism had a profound effect on the minds of many of our founders. It soiled them. We allied with the Frenchies against their nemesis, the English, because we did not believe we could win the war standing alone with nothing but a just and righteous God defending us and it is taught in modern Government schools that we only won the war because of the French assistance.
We sought out the Frenchies and got in bed with them instead of trusting that God would deliver us.
Now, there are allegiances that are righteous and upright but this is not an example of one of them. It was pragmatism and faithlessness. The effects of French secularism on American thought and institutions has handicapped us and eaten away at us like cancer since the 18th century and justly so.
This is national sin that keeps on keeping on. The UN, NATO, G-8; the list of groups we have whored ourselves out to is long. The water is severely muddied, however because now we are such a secularized country it’s hard to justify why these alliances are beneath us.
They are beneath us if we have any hope of putting on the full armor of God. It is beneath us if we are to restore the sovereignty of our true King, Jesus. It is beneath us if we hope to reestablish national sovereignty and it is beneath us as un-repented sin.
We must seek God’s face in this. We must repent of this ongoing sin and ask the Triune God to deliver us in his Mercy. We must detach ourselves from these entanglements and not enter into them.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
A problem with the Numbers
In 1789 a large number of the population was worried about the brake down of citizens to representitives in the Government. There were roughly 3.9 million residents at the time. There were 66 Congressmen. That is 59,000 per Congressmen.
This has got me thinking and I am going to be discussing this problem here under the title "A problem with the numbers".
There are currently 303.5 million Americans. The set number of Congressmen is 453.
?!?
That is 697,701 people to every Congressman, and the founding generation was worried?
Hm. Representitive?
This has got me thinking and I am going to be discussing this problem here under the title "A problem with the numbers".
There are currently 303.5 million Americans. The set number of Congressmen is 453.
?!?
That is 697,701 people to every Congressman, and the founding generation was worried?
Hm. Representitive?
Congress
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_performance/congressional_performance
Why? In the last big election the Democrats took control. They believed it was a vote of confidence in the Democratic party, but it was really a vote of no confidence in the system and the voters are willing to try anything, why not give the democratic party a chance to lead us into utopia? We have been led to believe that the 9-'s were some kind of roaring good time and every one was better off.
The problem here, is memory. History has shown that neither of these parties can lead this country in an honest, upright way. These parties serve the system, the system that keeps them in power and live to expand its power and authority. They believe it is autonomous.
However, the people of this country are beginning to understand that there are no difference in these parties. They are big business: big government. One is going toward the cliff at 85 and the other is going 45, but both are still headed toward the abyss.
Our Representatives do not represent the interest of the commonality, they do not represent the people. They represent the machine parties and the government. They are agents of the government not representatives of their constituents.
We must remember. The list is long. There are some things we do not even know we have forgotten. The founders railed against tyranny because of the stamp act, because they were not allowed to govern themselves.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves ( 1 Samuel 8).
When Yahweh gave Israel a king he told them that the king would take 10% of their belongings and He called it tyranny.
We must remember to whom we owe our allegiance; Christ. We must remember true Liberty. We must repent of our ecclesiastical and national sins. We must restore the true worship of God. We must reform our civic codes and our civic and ecclesiastical magisteriums. We must continue to reform them.
It is not enough to dislike the smell in the room. We must recognize what it is and remove it.
Remember. Repent. Restore. Reform.
Why? In the last big election the Democrats took control. They believed it was a vote of confidence in the Democratic party, but it was really a vote of no confidence in the system and the voters are willing to try anything, why not give the democratic party a chance to lead us into utopia? We have been led to believe that the 9-'s were some kind of roaring good time and every one was better off.
The problem here, is memory. History has shown that neither of these parties can lead this country in an honest, upright way. These parties serve the system, the system that keeps them in power and live to expand its power and authority. They believe it is autonomous.
However, the people of this country are beginning to understand that there are no difference in these parties. They are big business: big government. One is going toward the cliff at 85 and the other is going 45, but both are still headed toward the abyss.
Our Representatives do not represent the interest of the commonality, they do not represent the people. They represent the machine parties and the government. They are agents of the government not representatives of their constituents.
We must remember. The list is long. There are some things we do not even know we have forgotten. The founders railed against tyranny because of the stamp act, because they were not allowed to govern themselves.
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves ( 1 Samuel 8).
When Yahweh gave Israel a king he told them that the king would take 10% of their belongings and He called it tyranny.
We must remember to whom we owe our allegiance; Christ. We must remember true Liberty. We must repent of our ecclesiastical and national sins. We must restore the true worship of God. We must reform our civic codes and our civic and ecclesiastical magisteriums. We must continue to reform them.
It is not enough to dislike the smell in the room. We must recognize what it is and remove it.
Remember. Repent. Restore. Reform.
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