Tag: It Seems to Me

Our National Anthem–Robert Surgenor

 

Our National Anthem

A video by Robert Surgenor

(link at bottom of page)

Posted 5 July 2016 by Bob Beanblossom

This is one of those productions that deserves to be not only a ‘go-to’ when we consider our  National Anthem, but a ‘return-to’ as we reflect on our history as we look to the future.

Mr. Surgenor, the producer, has done us a great service by making this video available to us.

In it he quotes President George Washington: “The American Christians will die on their feet before they die on their knees.” Many loyal Americans have proven General Washington’s words true.

This is our heritage, written in the blood of our fathers, our grandfathers, and our children.

 This is not revisionist history.  This is not the lie of those who deny the foundations of our nation. This is the opening stanza of the United States: One Nation Under God, united in spite of the best efforts of a new breed of haters who are doing their best to destroy it.

As I do occasionally, I would ask that you watch this video, and share it with your children and grandchildren. It is our responsibility to teach the next generation the truth about the United States of America.

Click on the green title or link below to watch the video.

https://www.facebook.com/robert.surgenor.5/videos/10204458888057032/

Be Ye Holy

By Bob Beanblossom

29 June 2016

It seems to me that the path of life always presents choices–maybe they are better called challenges. Our instructions from our Creator are clear: “Be ye holy as I am holy.” (from I Peter 1:13-16) That’s a big order. I have never quite met that goal.  In fact, I miss it constantly. But with His help, through the salvation we receive from Jesus, and the indwelling leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes it seems like we are caught in a burning building with no way out. We either don’t see a good choice, or don’t know which way to go.

When we come to an intersection in life where the choice seems to be between equals, it seems that the best choice is that one that provides the most benefit to others–not ourself: “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the rule of choice.

In our society we have graduated from “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” to “Do unto others before they do to you” (from Luke 6:31),  to today’s version of “Forget others. If it feels good, do it.”

As Christians we are called to peace and unity with our fellow Christians.  Paul said it best:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-7)

While he left an ‘out’ (“endeavoring”), the goal is still for behavior and attitudes that reflect our Savior. When we realize that our strength, our desire, is inadequate to reach the goal, we join Paul as he said:

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)

Maybe we should look at the whole passage. Sometimes we quit at the command and forget to look to the power:

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:20-25)

There is hope, after all. Paul’s answer is ours: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The battle won’t be over on this side of death, but we have help in choosing our path through this world.  It is a help certain, but requires our due diligence in maintaining and growing our relationship with our Savior:

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:25-26)

The journey will have bumps. But none will have eternal consequences. We are promised an otherworldly peace. The rest of that passage is:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

The bottom line is that we can try to travel through this life on our own, or trust the One who knows what our future holds, holds our hand, and leads through all minefields. If we loose Him, or feel alone, remember–He is where He always is. We only need to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

We the People

It seems to me that “We the People” have forgotten who we are and where we came from.

Historical revisionism is multi-generational. Our own children and grandchildren are taught revisionist history by teachers and historians who only know the politically correct versions of American and world history. Many of them–and us– have never explored the original sources.  They have read ‘about,’ but many have never read what the source actually said and did. They teach what they were taught. 

“We the People” established this nation at great personal cost. They escaped persecution in Europe for their beliefs and an overwhelming desire for freedom, and soon found the English intent upon empire in the New World.

Our forefathers built this nation,  to “establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense.” 

Somewhere along the way we have become lazy and inattentive to those freedoms that our founding fathers and so many American fighting men and women paid for. We gave our authority to politicians who became arrogant elitists who now tell us what to do. We traded European domination for English tyranny for American Politicians. The revisionist Preamble now states:

“We the politicians of this government run this nation to pick and choose the capitol-hilllaws we will enforce, stir up every group we can think of against every other, and dismantle our defense system against internal and external enemies.”

All the while “We the People” dispel our indignation in useless patter that is suspended as we transfer our short-sighted energy and attention to the next ball game or TV show.

The politicians learned well from Nero.  We have not.  If that one is lost on you, please take some to look up the history of Nero. He was crazy as a loon, but an astute politician, adept at distracNerotions, and at switch and bait tactics. Crooked as could be, self centered and abusive to all who didn’t agree with him, he probably could have been elected President.

 

 

 

NEED RELIEF ?

 

It Seems to me . . .

By Bob Beanblossom

23 May 2016

It seems to me that we are the stressed out generation. Everything needs to be done now, we schedule activity on top of activity. This sort of endless rush creates stress on our minds and bodies, our relationships, and even our ability to do all the things we think we should be doing.

On top of that, we are bombarded with information that our nation, our economy, our ecological systems are all in dire straits. We are to prepare for the future, but how we should do that is as elusive as a straight answer from a politician.

Where do you look for relief from the problems you face personally, or for those we face as a nation?

Do you look to your ‘inner strength,’ or perhaps your superior intellect?

Do you believe that the Republicans or the Democrats or the Independents will save our country–maybe Hillary, or Bernie, or Donald is the coming savior of America?

 

 

 

If you are a Christian, when you pray, do you tell God what and when you want Him to do something to solve all of life’s problems–your way?

Do you ‘straighten out’ folks on the social media who are obviously uninformed, dangerous, and radical–because they don’t agree with you?

Here is what the Psalmist said (62:1-2):

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. HE ONLY is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.”

 

 

 

The Hebrew word translated “salvation” means deliverance from, or something (or someone) saved from a threat or danger. It also includes more than simply being yanked from the lions’ jaws. It carries the thought of being brought into a quality of life and well-being,  encompassing the physical, emotional and positional health.

In other words, God’s salvation for the Psalmist included relief from a situation that he was unable to overcome on his own, relief that not only rescued him, but elevated him to be more in tune with what God would have for him.

This is not the Psalmist telling God what and when. Notice that his soul–his entire being–waits for the Lord’s schedule.

The Psalmist is confident that when he does wait upon the Lord that he “shall not be greatly moved.” He still anticipated some buffeting, some storms. But he is sure of God’s ultimate victory, with himself as a beneficiary thru the grace of God–he brought nothing to the battle. He learned the reality of faith and trust in his God.

Maybe we should rethink our confidence in ourselves, in our own great wisdom, and seek the strength of the God of the universe.