Divorce rate down, but marriage rate down
From World magazine: "The ratio of married US adults has fallen to its lowest since 1960, to about 55 percent from 69 percent, according to "The State of Our Unions" study. Other startling statistics from the study: More than half of all married couples live together before tying the knot. The ratio of US households with children has been dropping since 1960, when it was almost half. The figure dropped to about 33 percent in 2003 and is expected to fall to 28 percent in 2010."
A friend mentioned last night that in his observation, "divorce is war at the family level."
So people avoid war because they don't get married. In the words of comedian Brad Stine, "Cowards!"
Actually, I suspect it is because the Baby Boomer generation has given a fairly poor model of what a biblical marriage is like. Covenant? As a generation, we haven't done covenant well. Let us each work to be exceptions, and win back families.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Promote Bible reading
By now several million people -- of all ages -- have read the latest Harry Potter book. Many of them read it in the first twenty-four ours. They sat transfixed, absorbed, putting off sleep or food or other distractions to focus on the prize. They turned page after page, hungry with desire to see how the story works out.
You don't see this happen with the Bible very often.
But the Bible is far, far superior to a Harry Potter book. It's God's very Word to us. It's a love letter from the Lord to us. It's the message of hope in this world, the most wonderful story of redemption ever told!
I remember reading the whole New Testament in three days after being challenged to actually read what I was criticizing. I was transfixed, absorbed, astounded, and awed. This Jesus was not like what I had imagined. And later, after accepting Christ, I read verses like John 16:23 and ran into my roommate's room to wake him up I was so excited. "Do you know what this says? Wow!"
I think there are two (and a half) reasons why few people get excited about reading the Bible like millions do for a Harry Potter book.
1. The majority of people -- even Christians -- perceive the Bible is hard to understand and dull. Let us repent of how we as contributed to this perception! Dads, pastors, and teachers all need to give the children and adults in their charge an accurate picture of the Bible. We frequently voice concern about "dumbing down" Scripture, and we should. Let us be careful about making the Bible seem like a book only experts and weirdos would enjoy.
2. Very few people have models or coaching on how to read large amounts of Scripture, in order to develop breadth. Nearly all Bible studies push for depth. Which is important. But love for the Bible also should lead us into breadth of study. We celebrate people who read the Bible in a year, or even a chapter a day. That's good. But we would also do well to challenge people to read the Bible over and over again. I outline specific strategies to help people read the Bible in 30-40 days in my book, Teach the Bible to Change Lives. I get gasps of "you've got to be kidding" when I lay out this challenge. But people (of all ages) who take up the challenge consistently tell me it has transformed their view of the Word, and of God. Dads, pastors, and teachers need to lead the way and model this.
The half-reason is that Satan cares not a whit if people read Harry Potter or watch CNN or clean their garage. He just wants to steer people away from the Word of God, and from prayer.
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in the hearts of His people, and give them an unquenchable desire for His Word. May it begin with dads, pastors, and teachers everywhere!
The Bible is the coolest, most wonderful book in the world. Settle that fact in your heart, and everything else will fall into place.
By now several million people -- of all ages -- have read the latest Harry Potter book. Many of them read it in the first twenty-four ours. They sat transfixed, absorbed, putting off sleep or food or other distractions to focus on the prize. They turned page after page, hungry with desire to see how the story works out.
You don't see this happen with the Bible very often.
But the Bible is far, far superior to a Harry Potter book. It's God's very Word to us. It's a love letter from the Lord to us. It's the message of hope in this world, the most wonderful story of redemption ever told!
I remember reading the whole New Testament in three days after being challenged to actually read what I was criticizing. I was transfixed, absorbed, astounded, and awed. This Jesus was not like what I had imagined. And later, after accepting Christ, I read verses like John 16:23 and ran into my roommate's room to wake him up I was so excited. "Do you know what this says? Wow!"
I think there are two (and a half) reasons why few people get excited about reading the Bible like millions do for a Harry Potter book.
1. The majority of people -- even Christians -- perceive the Bible is hard to understand and dull. Let us repent of how we as contributed to this perception! Dads, pastors, and teachers all need to give the children and adults in their charge an accurate picture of the Bible. We frequently voice concern about "dumbing down" Scripture, and we should. Let us be careful about making the Bible seem like a book only experts and weirdos would enjoy.
2. Very few people have models or coaching on how to read large amounts of Scripture, in order to develop breadth. Nearly all Bible studies push for depth. Which is important. But love for the Bible also should lead us into breadth of study. We celebrate people who read the Bible in a year, or even a chapter a day. That's good. But we would also do well to challenge people to read the Bible over and over again. I outline specific strategies to help people read the Bible in 30-40 days in my book, Teach the Bible to Change Lives. I get gasps of "you've got to be kidding" when I lay out this challenge. But people (of all ages) who take up the challenge consistently tell me it has transformed their view of the Word, and of God. Dads, pastors, and teachers need to lead the way and model this.
The half-reason is that Satan cares not a whit if people read Harry Potter or watch CNN or clean their garage. He just wants to steer people away from the Word of God, and from prayer.
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in the hearts of His people, and give them an unquenchable desire for His Word. May it begin with dads, pastors, and teachers everywhere!
The Bible is the coolest, most wonderful book in the world. Settle that fact in your heart, and everything else will fall into place.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Encouraging story from Zambia
Check out this encouraging story from Zambia. Look for this line: "But when the choice is made, the joy is great."
Check out this encouraging story from Zambia. Look for this line: "But when the choice is made, the joy is great."
Why Islamofascists Despise Democracy
Useful insights, via a Larry Elder column:
How can one "solve" the problem of Islamic extremism? The problem is this: to Islamic extremism, democracy is toxic. Al Qaeda-affiliated Abu Musab al Zarqawi, just before the January Iraqi elections, gave a speech in which he listed seven reasons to condemn democracy: Democracy requires obedience to man, not Allah; democracy allows freedom of religion, even to convert from Islam to another religion; under democracy, the people, rather than Allah, rule and pass judgment; democracy's freedom of expression would allow condemnation of Allah; separation between religion and state calls for secularism, totally inconsistent with Islam; democracy's freedom of association would allow one to join an unacceptable party; and finally, that majority rule is "totally wrong and void because truth according to Islam is that which is in accordance with the Koran and the Sunna [i.e., the tradition of the Prophet], whether its supporters are few or many."
We need to be clear-thinking men on the issue of combating terrorism. We are fighting to defend our families, and to project liberty for an ever-larger number of people in this world.
One of the interesting comparison things to note about Islam is the extreme de-emphasis on the Genesis account, that we are all made in the image of God. Imageo Deo undermines those who prefer hate to love.
Useful insights, via a Larry Elder column:
How can one "solve" the problem of Islamic extremism? The problem is this: to Islamic extremism, democracy is toxic. Al Qaeda-affiliated Abu Musab al Zarqawi, just before the January Iraqi elections, gave a speech in which he listed seven reasons to condemn democracy: Democracy requires obedience to man, not Allah; democracy allows freedom of religion, even to convert from Islam to another religion; under democracy, the people, rather than Allah, rule and pass judgment; democracy's freedom of expression would allow condemnation of Allah; separation between religion and state calls for secularism, totally inconsistent with Islam; democracy's freedom of association would allow one to join an unacceptable party; and finally, that majority rule is "totally wrong and void because truth according to Islam is that which is in accordance with the Koran and the Sunna [i.e., the tradition of the Prophet], whether its supporters are few or many."
We need to be clear-thinking men on the issue of combating terrorism. We are fighting to defend our families, and to project liberty for an ever-larger number of people in this world.
One of the interesting comparison things to note about Islam is the extreme de-emphasis on the Genesis account, that we are all made in the image of God. Imageo Deo undermines those who prefer hate to love.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Training the Mind is Important
John Piper has some excellent thoughts here. He is talking about training children to read and think critically, which I applaud. Keep in mind that many adults today have not really learned how to read well and think through Scripture. (This wasn't something they emphasized on Sesame Street.) No matter what age, nor current skill level, we all have room to improve. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (Matthew 22:37)
I've reproduced the FreshWords article here; you can get a copy at Desiring God. (Better yet, sign up to receive Pastor Piper's sermons and writings by email each week -- no charge.)
Thoughts on the Significance of Reading
July 13, 2005
I was reading and meditating on the book of Hebrews recently, when it hit me forcefully that a basic and compelling reason for education—the rigorous training of the mind—is so that a person can read the Bible with understanding.
This sounds too obvious to be useful or compelling. But that’s just because we take the preciousness of reading so for granted; or, even more, because we appreciate so little the kind of thinking that a complex Bible passage requires of us.
The book of Hebrews, for example, is an intellectually challenging argument from Old Testament texts. The points that the author makes hang on biblical observations that come only from rigorous reading, not light skimming. And the understanding of these Old Testament interpretations in the text of Hebrews requires rigorous thought and mental effort. The same could be said for the extended argumentation of Romans and Galatians and the other books of the Bible.
This is an overwhelming argument for giving our children a disciplined and rigorous training in how to think an author’s thoughts after him from a text—especially a biblical text. An alphabet must be learned, as well as vocabulary, grammar, syntax, the rudiments of logic, and the way meaning is imparted through sustained connections of sentences and paragraphs.
The reason Christians have always planted schools where they have planted churches is because we are a people of THE BOOK. It is true that THE BOOK will never have its proper effect without prayer and the Holy Spirit. It is not a textbook to be debated; it is a fountain for spiritual thirst, and food for the soul, and a revelation of God, and a living power, and a two-edged sword. But none of this changes the fact: apart from the discipline of reading, the Bible is as powerless as paper. Someone might have to read it for you; but without reading, the meaning and the power of it are locked up.
Is it not remarkable how often Jesus settled great issues with a reference to reading? For example, in the issue of the Sabbath he said, “Have you not read what David did?” (Matthew 12:3). In the issue of divorce and remarriage he said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4). In the issue of true worship and praise he said, “Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have prepared praise for yourself’?” (Matthew 21:16). In the issue of the resurrection he said, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’?” (Matthew 21:42). And to the lawyer who queried him about eternal life he said, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (Luke 10:26).
The apostle Paul also gave reading a great place in the life of the church. For example, he said to the Corinthians, “We write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end” (1 Corinthians 1:13). To the Ephesians he said, “When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3). To the Colossians he said, “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea” (Colossians 4:16). Reading the letters of Paul was so important that he commands it with an oath: “I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren” (1 Thessalonians 5:27).
The ability to read does not come intuitively. It must be taught. And learning to read with understanding is a life-long labor. The implications for Christians are immense. Education of the mind in the rigorous discipline of thoughtful reading is a primary goal of school. The church of Jesus is debilitated when his people are lulled into thinking that it is humble or democratic or relevant to give a merely practical education that does not involve the rigorous training of the mind to think hard and to construe meaning from difficult texts.
The issue of earning a living is not nearly so important as whether the next generation has direct access to the meaning of the Word of God. We need an education that puts the highest premium under God on knowing the meaning of God’s Book, and growing in the abilities that will unlock its riches for a lifetime. It would be better to starve for lack of food than to fail to grasp the meaning of the book of Romans. Lord, let us not fail the next generation!
John Piper has some excellent thoughts here. He is talking about training children to read and think critically, which I applaud. Keep in mind that many adults today have not really learned how to read well and think through Scripture. (This wasn't something they emphasized on Sesame Street.) No matter what age, nor current skill level, we all have room to improve. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (Matthew 22:37)
I've reproduced the FreshWords article here; you can get a copy at Desiring God. (Better yet, sign up to receive Pastor Piper's sermons and writings by email each week -- no charge.)
Thoughts on the Significance of Reading
July 13, 2005
I was reading and meditating on the book of Hebrews recently, when it hit me forcefully that a basic and compelling reason for education—the rigorous training of the mind—is so that a person can read the Bible with understanding.
This sounds too obvious to be useful or compelling. But that’s just because we take the preciousness of reading so for granted; or, even more, because we appreciate so little the kind of thinking that a complex Bible passage requires of us.
The book of Hebrews, for example, is an intellectually challenging argument from Old Testament texts. The points that the author makes hang on biblical observations that come only from rigorous reading, not light skimming. And the understanding of these Old Testament interpretations in the text of Hebrews requires rigorous thought and mental effort. The same could be said for the extended argumentation of Romans and Galatians and the other books of the Bible.
This is an overwhelming argument for giving our children a disciplined and rigorous training in how to think an author’s thoughts after him from a text—especially a biblical text. An alphabet must be learned, as well as vocabulary, grammar, syntax, the rudiments of logic, and the way meaning is imparted through sustained connections of sentences and paragraphs.
The reason Christians have always planted schools where they have planted churches is because we are a people of THE BOOK. It is true that THE BOOK will never have its proper effect without prayer and the Holy Spirit. It is not a textbook to be debated; it is a fountain for spiritual thirst, and food for the soul, and a revelation of God, and a living power, and a two-edged sword. But none of this changes the fact: apart from the discipline of reading, the Bible is as powerless as paper. Someone might have to read it for you; but without reading, the meaning and the power of it are locked up.
Is it not remarkable how often Jesus settled great issues with a reference to reading? For example, in the issue of the Sabbath he said, “Have you not read what David did?” (Matthew 12:3). In the issue of divorce and remarriage he said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4). In the issue of true worship and praise he said, “Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have prepared praise for yourself’?” (Matthew 21:16). In the issue of the resurrection he said, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’?” (Matthew 21:42). And to the lawyer who queried him about eternal life he said, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (Luke 10:26).
The apostle Paul also gave reading a great place in the life of the church. For example, he said to the Corinthians, “We write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end” (1 Corinthians 1:13). To the Ephesians he said, “When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3). To the Colossians he said, “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea” (Colossians 4:16). Reading the letters of Paul was so important that he commands it with an oath: “I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren” (1 Thessalonians 5:27).
The ability to read does not come intuitively. It must be taught. And learning to read with understanding is a life-long labor. The implications for Christians are immense. Education of the mind in the rigorous discipline of thoughtful reading is a primary goal of school. The church of Jesus is debilitated when his people are lulled into thinking that it is humble or democratic or relevant to give a merely practical education that does not involve the rigorous training of the mind to think hard and to construe meaning from difficult texts.
The issue of earning a living is not nearly so important as whether the next generation has direct access to the meaning of the Word of God. We need an education that puts the highest premium under God on knowing the meaning of God’s Book, and growing in the abilities that will unlock its riches for a lifetime. It would be better to starve for lack of food than to fail to grasp the meaning of the book of Romans. Lord, let us not fail the next generation!
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Hold her hand
A few years back I heard an older man talking about what makes for a successful marriage. He was counseling a young guy about what habits to start early in marriage. Frankly, I only remember one of them:
"Hold her hand when you pray together."
I've become consistent on this one, guys, and it really helps. Just don't squeeze too hard :-) And be prepared to be happy when you get a few 2nd-looks from strangers.
"All hat, no cattle"
I was amazed to learn that Bob Geldolf's Live 8 concerts were intentionally suppressing fund-raising for people in Africa. They had all this attention, all this self-promotion, all this noise, expressly to put pressure on the G8 leaders to give more money to Africa, and forgive loans.
The Texas phrase "All hat, no cattle" came to mind immediately.
We've done the "forgiving loans to 3rd world countries" experiment many times . It does not help. It encourages corrupt money-stealers to continue ungodly ways, and props up evil governments.
If we're going to sing, let us sing to the Lord and encourage everyone to live righteously. That is the path to peace, and blessing.
I was amazed to learn that Bob Geldolf's Live 8 concerts were intentionally suppressing fund-raising for people in Africa. They had all this attention, all this self-promotion, all this noise, expressly to put pressure on the G8 leaders to give more money to Africa, and forgive loans.
The Texas phrase "All hat, no cattle" came to mind immediately.
We've done the "forgiving loans to 3rd world countries" experiment many times . It does not help. It encourages corrupt money-stealers to continue ungodly ways, and props up evil governments.
If we're going to sing, let us sing to the Lord and encourage everyone to live righteously. That is the path to peace, and blessing.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Feelings need to be acknowledged, but mastered
Some months ago someone complained to me about how hard it was to have a regular quiet time. “I’m not like you Glenn, I don’t like reading the Bible all the time.” My response: “I feel like getting in the Word about two mornings a week. I feel like praying about one day out of ten. My feelings can’t be in charge.”
I feel like exercising, oh, one morning out of fifty. I feel like eating a Big Mac, Doritos, and a Mountain Dew several times a day.
I nearly always feel like being passive and avoiding confrontation. I feel like letting others take out the trash, clean the kitchen, and drive the kids around. I feel like criticizing politicians and the newspaper editors, but I rarely feel like praying for them. I feel like shrinking back and rationalizing when others provide “helpful” criticism about my actions (or inactions).
My internal “committee” of whiners has a lot of feelings.
Feelings need to be acknowledged (we are flesh and blood, and our emotional life is very strong), but mastered.
Self-mastery is key. Self-leadership should occupy a lot of your energy, and then leading others (including your family) falls into place. It’s very true when we say “It’s not about you.” But this issue – mastery over yourself for the sake of maturity and bearing fruit for the Lord – is COMPLETELY about you.
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Some months ago someone complained to me about how hard it was to have a regular quiet time. “I’m not like you Glenn, I don’t like reading the Bible all the time.” My response: “I feel like getting in the Word about two mornings a week. I feel like praying about one day out of ten. My feelings can’t be in charge.”
I feel like exercising, oh, one morning out of fifty. I feel like eating a Big Mac, Doritos, and a Mountain Dew several times a day.
I nearly always feel like being passive and avoiding confrontation. I feel like letting others take out the trash, clean the kitchen, and drive the kids around. I feel like criticizing politicians and the newspaper editors, but I rarely feel like praying for them. I feel like shrinking back and rationalizing when others provide “helpful” criticism about my actions (or inactions).
My internal “committee” of whiners has a lot of feelings.
Feelings need to be acknowledged (we are flesh and blood, and our emotional life is very strong), but mastered.
Self-mastery is key. Self-leadership should occupy a lot of your energy, and then leading others (including your family) falls into place. It’s very true when we say “It’s not about you.” But this issue – mastery over yourself for the sake of maturity and bearing fruit for the Lord – is COMPLETELY about you.
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Learning from Robert Murray M'Cheyne
You would do well to print off these quotes from Robert Murray M'Cheyne, and ponder them for a few minutes today. Let me highlight two:
"I am tempted to think that I am now an established Christian,—that I have overcome this or that lust so long,—that I have got into the habit of the opposite grace,—so that there is no fear; I may venture very near the temptation—nearer than other men. This is a lie of Satan. One might as well speak of gunpowder getting by habit of resisting fire, so as not to catch spark. As long as powder is wet, it resists the spark; but when it becomes dry, it is ready to explode at the first touch. As long as the Spirit dwells in my heart, He deadens me to sin, so that, if lawfully called through temptation, I may reckon upon God carrying me through. But when the Spirit leaves me, I am like dry gunpowder. Oh for a sense of this!"
[What a terrific image -- we're always subject to explosive failure in sin!]
"The greatest need of my people is my personal holiness."
[Our families need to set the spirital pace, brothers!]
You would do well to print off these quotes from Robert Murray M'Cheyne, and ponder them for a few minutes today. Let me highlight two:
"I am tempted to think that I am now an established Christian,—that I have overcome this or that lust so long,—that I have got into the habit of the opposite grace,—so that there is no fear; I may venture very near the temptation—nearer than other men. This is a lie of Satan. One might as well speak of gunpowder getting by habit of resisting fire, so as not to catch spark. As long as powder is wet, it resists the spark; but when it becomes dry, it is ready to explode at the first touch. As long as the Spirit dwells in my heart, He deadens me to sin, so that, if lawfully called through temptation, I may reckon upon God carrying me through. But when the Spirit leaves me, I am like dry gunpowder. Oh for a sense of this!"
[What a terrific image -- we're always subject to explosive failure in sin!]
"The greatest need of my people is my personal holiness."
[Our families need to set the spirital pace, brothers!]
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Dependency?
Dependency on God is a good thing -- humility is praised, and it's realistic. In the real world God is sovereign and providing everything we need. Every breath is grace from God.
Edwin Feulner writes about a government dependency index. It's curious to be reminded of how quickly Americans have come down this path -- in less than 3 generations, really. I'm not sure the 5th or 6th generation will come down the same path. A friend mentioned to me that he can't find the USA anywhere in Revelation.
Let's coach our children and lead our families in dependency upon the Lord God Almighty. That's timeless. That's for ever generation.
Dependency on God is a good thing -- humility is praised, and it's realistic. In the real world God is sovereign and providing everything we need. Every breath is grace from God.
Edwin Feulner writes about a government dependency index. It's curious to be reminded of how quickly Americans have come down this path -- in less than 3 generations, really. I'm not sure the 5th or 6th generation will come down the same path. A friend mentioned to me that he can't find the USA anywhere in Revelation.
Let's coach our children and lead our families in dependency upon the Lord God Almighty. That's timeless. That's for ever generation.
Monday, July 04, 2005
A Commercial, A Family Laugh
My kids found this incredible video documenting how I became a supervisor at work.
http://www.StupidVideos.com/?VideoID=792
We all had a good laugh watching it. I used to do fight workouts to this tune :-). Of course, now I'm off caffeine entirely.
My kids found this incredible video documenting how I became a supervisor at work.
http://www.StupidVideos.com/?VideoID=792
We all had a good laugh watching it. I used to do fight workouts to this tune :-). Of course, now I'm off caffeine entirely.
May God bless America, and have mercy upon us!
The Declaration of Independence:
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -
-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refuted his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.
--And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Preparing Our Girls
Doug Giles has some blunt advice for our older daughters. Girls need their dads to explain how to handle themselves with ungodly men.
Doug Giles has some blunt advice for our older daughters. Girls need their dads to explain how to handle themselves with ungodly men.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Communication, communication, communication
A lot of husband and father success is wrapped up in communication. I believe that the Fall corrupted communication deeply. Sin created separation from
Persevere at it. Do not get discouraged. Keep trying, keep going.
And occasionally some humor helps. Even communication "experts" (that would be marketers) blow it. Here are some brand names that some well-intentioned person selected that didn't do as well as they hoped:
Spunk - Danish sweet bar
Zit Lemon-lime - Greek soft drink
Colon Plus Liquid - Spanish detergent
Polio - Czech detergent
Krapp - Swedish toilet paper
Homo Sausage Beef jerky - Japan
Mucos - Japanese soft drink
Pansy - Chinese men's underwear
Fockink - Dutch liqueur
Pshitt - French soft drinkChevy
Nova - Spanish for "it doesn't go."
A lot of husband and father success is wrapped up in communication. I believe that the Fall corrupted communication deeply. Sin created separation from
- God
- Nature
- One another
- Ourselves
Persevere at it. Do not get discouraged. Keep trying, keep going.
And occasionally some humor helps. Even communication "experts" (that would be marketers) blow it. Here are some brand names that some well-intentioned person selected that didn't do as well as they hoped:
Spunk - Danish sweet bar
Zit Lemon-lime - Greek soft drink
Colon Plus Liquid - Spanish detergent
Polio - Czech detergent
Krapp - Swedish toilet paper
Homo Sausage Beef jerky - Japan
Mucos - Japanese soft drink
Pansy - Chinese men's underwear
Fockink - Dutch liqueur
Pshitt - French soft drinkChevy
Nova - Spanish for "it doesn't go."
Friday, July 01, 2005
Appropriate Reading for July 4th
If you'd like to help your family celebrate this July 4th appropriately, remind them of God's providence in the founding of this country. The story of the Continental Army's miraculous escape from the British at Brooklyn Heights is worth retelling.
A good source to check is
http://www.npl.com/~tkrell/writings/bible/american-heritage.html
A few points to add to this telling of the story:
If you'd like to help your family celebrate this July 4th appropriately, remind them of God's providence in the founding of this country. The story of the Continental Army's miraculous escape from the British at Brooklyn Heights is worth retelling.
A good source to check is
http://www.npl.com/~tkrell/writings/bible/american-heritage.html
A few points to add to this telling of the story:
- Before he announced his plan, George Washington had spent several hours in private prayer.
- The wind shifted and prevented the British from bringing their ships up the East River.
- George Washington was in the last boat. The British soldiers recognized him when the fog lifted, but he was outside of musket range.
- General Howe asked his chaplains what sins they had committed that caused God to be against them.
A Purpose Driven Death
For several years now I've had a vague discomfort with the popularity of The Purpose-Driven Life and The Prayer of Jabez books (and derivative products from bracelets to bumper stickers to videos).
I read Nick Jackson's A Purpose Driven Death and several things clicked into place for me. I'm pumping my arm and saying "Yes!" to this one. Read it and I think you'll see why.
For several years now I've had a vague discomfort with the popularity of The Purpose-Driven Life and The Prayer of Jabez books (and derivative products from bracelets to bumper stickers to videos).
I read Nick Jackson's A Purpose Driven Death and several things clicked into place for me. I'm pumping my arm and saying "Yes!" to this one. Read it and I think you'll see why.
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