Hi and thanks for checking out my blog.
I'll be taking a short break while contemplating "The Rubicon: Part 2" which should be posted December 12th.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the Archives section.
Until then, live adventurously.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Giving Thanks
On October 3, 1863, Abrahan Lincoln proclaimed the first official Thanksgiving Day holiday. His proclamation is listed below. Read and remember to give thanks for our rich blessings. Also remember those we must continue to support.
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President
of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is
drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields
and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we
are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added
which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and
soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful
providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of
a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to
foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been
preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been
respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the
theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by
the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful
diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to
the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the
ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the
iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than
heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that
has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country,
rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to
expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel
hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are
the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger
for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to
me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully
acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I
do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and
also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday
of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father
who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the
ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they
do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience,
commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners,
or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably
engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the
wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the
divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and
union.
In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed.
Done at the city
of Washington, this 3d day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of
the United States the eighty-eighth.
Abraham Lincoln
By the
President:
William H.
Seward,
Secretary of State.
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Rubicon, Part 1
You may have heard the term, "crossing the Rubicon" as a metaphor for making a daring decision. One that involved risk. Make or break. No turning back once you cross a point.
Here's where that term came from.
Back in the days of the Romans, the Rubicon stream in Italy served as a boundary between Italy and Gaul (a Roman province in that day that included present-day France, Belgium, and Switzerland). It goes without saying that Rome was the most powerful city in the world, having colonized a significant portion of the European continent, as well as part of Asia now known as Turkey.
Julius Caesar became a very powerful figure, being a great army General and rising political figure. However, many elite Romans became suspicious, if not fearful, of his successes.
Enter one such elite named Pompey - another powerful military leader. Pompey became jealous of Caesar's success and came to fear his return from Gaul because Caesar would most-likely become his superior. Pompey began planning a coup so that when Caesar returned, he (Pompey) would surely be crowned the most powerful man in the world.
Pompey's plan was to have the Roman Senate command Caesar to return to Rome alone - without his army. That way, Caesar would be unprotected by his fiercely committed army. Caesar, however, knew better, knowing full well that he would be arrested and tried for treason with trumped up charges.
When Caesar got the message, he gathered his army officers together and told them what the situation was. If he crossed the Rubicon with his army, he would be considered a traitor.
His officers told him they would never leave him: If Caesar was to become an enemy of Rome, they would also. The footsoldiers under command also showed the same dedication, saying that they wouldn't expect their regular pay, even offering to pay their own expenses for the long journey! (Now THAT'S loyalty!)
History shows that the journey back to Rome was not easy. Mountains were climbed, rivers crossed, and other perils stood in their path. But the men were dedicated to Caesar and made the long trek.
As Caesar arrived at the Rubicon, he stopped. On the other side was Italy. Crossing the river would be seen as declaring war on Rome. Caesar considered the fallout of his return, which would certainly put the Roman Empire into chaos for a very long time.
Caesar gave the order to cross the Rubicon without further hesitation, yelling "We have crossed the Rubicon! There is no turning back!"
Word travelled quickly across the countryside and news made it to Rome. In fact, the closer he got to Rome, the more the citizens cheered his arrival.
When they reached the gates of the great city, there was no opposition. Pompey and his army retreated before Caesar arrived.
One could say that we, as Christ-followers, have crossed a Rubicon and cannot turn back.
Before we crossed, we were dead because of sin.
After, we were made alive in Christ.
Before, we lived under God's anger.
After, we were shown God's mercy and given salvation.
Before, we lived our lives in "the world," not knowing the God chose us.
After, we stand for Christ and truth.
Before, we were God's enemies.
After, we are God's children.
Before, we were enslaved by the evil one.
After, we are free in Christ to love, serve, and sit with him.
Before, we followed our own desires.
After, we have renewed minds, being raised up with Christ to glory.
If we call the Lord our master, he owns us and we are to do his will. He chose us and there are others He has chosen - they may not know it yet! A point in time was crossed and we never turn back.
Be sure to check back for "The Rubicon, Part 2" next week.
Here's where that term came from.
Back in the days of the Romans, the Rubicon stream in Italy served as a boundary between Italy and Gaul (a Roman province in that day that included present-day France, Belgium, and Switzerland). It goes without saying that Rome was the most powerful city in the world, having colonized a significant portion of the European continent, as well as part of Asia now known as Turkey.
Julius Caesar became a very powerful figure, being a great army General and rising political figure. However, many elite Romans became suspicious, if not fearful, of his successes.
Enter one such elite named Pompey - another powerful military leader. Pompey became jealous of Caesar's success and came to fear his return from Gaul because Caesar would most-likely become his superior. Pompey began planning a coup so that when Caesar returned, he (Pompey) would surely be crowned the most powerful man in the world.
Pompey's plan was to have the Roman Senate command Caesar to return to Rome alone - without his army. That way, Caesar would be unprotected by his fiercely committed army. Caesar, however, knew better, knowing full well that he would be arrested and tried for treason with trumped up charges.
When Caesar got the message, he gathered his army officers together and told them what the situation was. If he crossed the Rubicon with his army, he would be considered a traitor.
His officers told him they would never leave him: If Caesar was to become an enemy of Rome, they would also. The footsoldiers under command also showed the same dedication, saying that they wouldn't expect their regular pay, even offering to pay their own expenses for the long journey! (Now THAT'S loyalty!)
History shows that the journey back to Rome was not easy. Mountains were climbed, rivers crossed, and other perils stood in their path. But the men were dedicated to Caesar and made the long trek.
As Caesar arrived at the Rubicon, he stopped. On the other side was Italy. Crossing the river would be seen as declaring war on Rome. Caesar considered the fallout of his return, which would certainly put the Roman Empire into chaos for a very long time.
Caesar gave the order to cross the Rubicon without further hesitation, yelling "We have crossed the Rubicon! There is no turning back!"
Word travelled quickly across the countryside and news made it to Rome. In fact, the closer he got to Rome, the more the citizens cheered his arrival.
When they reached the gates of the great city, there was no opposition. Pompey and his army retreated before Caesar arrived.
One could say that we, as Christ-followers, have crossed a Rubicon and cannot turn back.
Before we crossed, we were dead because of sin.
After, we were made alive in Christ.
Before, we lived under God's anger.
After, we were shown God's mercy and given salvation.
Before, we lived our lives in "the world," not knowing the God chose us.
After, we stand for Christ and truth.
Before, we were God's enemies.
After, we are God's children.
Before, we were enslaved by the evil one.
After, we are free in Christ to love, serve, and sit with him.
Before, we followed our own desires.
After, we have renewed minds, being raised up with Christ to glory.
If we call the Lord our master, he owns us and we are to do his will. He chose us and there are others He has chosen - they may not know it yet! A point in time was crossed and we never turn back.
Be sure to check back for "The Rubicon, Part 2" next week.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The Gospel According To Archie Bunker
I happened upon this episode of "All In The Family" purely by accident while wasting precious time flipping through worthless channels. As I watched, the script made me pause, think, and search out the episode several times. Each viewing revealed more meaning beyond the reputation of the show, especially by today's standards.
That said, I wrestled with posting this for several weeks. However, with some critical thought and digestion of the script, it was impactful to the point where it had to be shared.
*For those of you not familiar with the TV series, some content may be offensive. Yet this is where we discover that the entire family is rather confused and greatly conflicted on a number of levels. The success of the series was largely due to the cast and writing that contributed to continuous friction in the family.
In this episode, Archie is upset at his grandson's parents for not wanting their son to be baptised. Archie, however, will stop at nothing to ensure his grandson, Joey, "gets to heaven."
Also included are Archie's views on donating to the poor, mission work, and salvation among other things (which are clearly off, I might add). Don't miss Edith's ultimate answer to a difficult theological question that has stumped everyone at one time or another. Also note that Gloria leaves the infant Joey on the porch for a nap! These were different times!
Ultimately, the content demands thought.
Be sure to watch all 3 parts and consider: Is Archie a Christian? What do you think of the other character's statements/lines in this episode?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCuAYD2XFDY
That said, I wrestled with posting this for several weeks. However, with some critical thought and digestion of the script, it was impactful to the point where it had to be shared.
*For those of you not familiar with the TV series, some content may be offensive. Yet this is where we discover that the entire family is rather confused and greatly conflicted on a number of levels. The success of the series was largely due to the cast and writing that contributed to continuous friction in the family.
In this episode, Archie is upset at his grandson's parents for not wanting their son to be baptised. Archie, however, will stop at nothing to ensure his grandson, Joey, "gets to heaven."
Also included are Archie's views on donating to the poor, mission work, and salvation among other things (which are clearly off, I might add). Don't miss Edith's ultimate answer to a difficult theological question that has stumped everyone at one time or another. Also note that Gloria leaves the infant Joey on the porch for a nap! These were different times!
Ultimately, the content demands thought.
Be sure to watch all 3 parts and consider: Is Archie a Christian? What do you think of the other character's statements/lines in this episode?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCuAYD2XFDY
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