10-13-13
Where does the Country go from here?
We see news; we see protests; we see ideas. But now what?
Just seeing glimpses of what the government is doing, or not doing, and then
glimpses of those who are acting in their own good faith to preserve, or to
regain, the freedoms outlined and promised in the Constitution does little more
than make us all a tad more aware of our own discontent or sleepy acceptance.
What can those who have patriotic stirrings in their souls actually do? Where
do we go from here?
I've followed the bikers' march and the truckers' march and
their efforts are exemplary. They have shown our veterans respect and devotion.
But we know that the mainstream media is ignoring them or undermining their
efforts by saying that they are tea party lunatics or such. So are we going to
let the liberal media and the liberal educators continue to write our history?
In 20 years from now, what will the school buddy history books say about today?
I'm afraid that if we all don't get involved in some logical, unified way,
these efforts will be buried or be perversely documented as lunacy. So how do
we help focus these efforts into true directives? How can patriots gain a
unified voice and a united vote in order to change the direction we are
heading? What are we willing to do as a people to preserve those things which
we claim to be precious?
These marches have to be the beginning of bigger things. Who
else values our service men and women? Who else values our veterans? Who else
values our Constitution and the legacy of the founding of the greatest country
ever? For those who think that the last statement is prideful nationalism--No,
it is humble gratitude to God for helping to establish a country devoted to
freedom and progress of individuals and families, who could pursue their dreams
and seek happiness in their fulfillment. It is acknowledging the wisdom of our
forefathers in trying to keep the federal government’s power to a minimum in
order to preserve personal freedoms and state freedoms. And, it is showing
gratitude to those who developed and gave us a good America and a good
childhood, and having the desire to pass that America on to our children and
our posterity, instead of the parallel universe that has been erupting
alongside it. One has to die and the other remain. Which one are we seeking to
preserve?
I can’t think about patriotism, defense of country, and
preservation of country and Constitution without turning my thoughts to God. We
have to be disciples of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Without His aid,
we are doomed to fail. The Lord Jesus Christ is both our spiritual and our
temporal salvation. We need to acknowledge Him, and we need to acknowledge that
we need Him now. To become strong again as a nation, we need to become strong
again individually; and that strength needs to begin with our spiritual selves.
Today, the speaker in church noted some things that we
should be doing to become better disciples. These are the very things that we
must also do to become better citizens, so that we can ask God the Father in
the name of His Son Jesus Christ to aid us in our quest for freedom from both
spiritual and physical bondage. To say that we are not in bondage currently in
our nation is either a lie, or else we are too spiritually dead to notice. We
are indeed in bondage to our national debt and to a government that is not
representing the people who voted them in office.
Steps outlined by Bishop Johnson:
1) Have daily prayer and scripture
study.
To this, I would add, study the Constitution and the history of the rise of
this great nation.
2) Take time to ponder. Think about
your prayers and listen to the Spirit for insights and promptings. Think deeply
about the things that you read and incorporate the things that you learn into
your life.
3) Don’t raise your voice. Practice
diplomacy and patience. You can’t enforce your will, but you can use
gentleness, persuasion, and love unfeigned.
4) Be in control of your appetites
and passions. Make the necessary day-to-day choices that will help you gain
self-mastery.
5) Be active in church and in the gospel.
Remember that your church should help you live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Attend your meetings.
6) Be humble. Accept righteous
counsel.
7) Serve others and forgive.
Especially, remember the two great commandments: to love the Lord with all your
might, mind, heart, and strength; and to love your neighbor as yourself.
In reviewing the above seven points, I can’t help but think
that Benjamin Franklin would endorse these himself. He practiced these
principles of self-discipline in his life, and his wisdom helped guide and
bring about the birth of this nation.
Back to the beginning question: Where does the Country go
from here? We do not have any extra time to dally and play with sin and
destruction. We don’t. Individually, we need to devote ourselves to God and to
Country. I know that I am going to do better. We need to seek righteous leaders
and we need to constantly seek to redress wrongs. And if called upon by the
Spirit of God and by the wisdom of righteous men and women, we need to be
prepared to defend our Country and its Constitution. The question still
remains. I don’t have the answers. But I know that our safety and our
preservation lies in the righteousness of each individual citizen.
No trust for current media or government
