Bravado vs Rule of Law

I am utterly amazed at the bravado of those that would call for violent resistance to the federal government. Many of those same people that voice such bravado.....turn around and literally cower in fear over the thought of using the lawful, peaceful, Constitutional process given to us by the framers in Article V in order for the states to amend the Constitution and rein in the staggering power drunken federal Leviathan. The bravado on one hand and the sheer cowardice on the other....betrays a disconnect...or a fraud.

For those of you reading this that claim Christ....you have nowhere to go on this. Perhaps you think that a rather assuming perhaps even arrogant position. Permit me to explain. If you claim to be under Biblical authority….as do those of us that claim Christ…you are duty bound to follow the Rule of Law as long as you have recourse under the Rule of Law. Romans 13 tells those that claim Christ that they are to obey the governing authorities. There is no ambiguity there, it is a crystal clear command. Unfortunately, there is mass ignorance as to who that governing authority is in our country. For decades now, the Church has suffered from erroneous or no teaching on Romans 13. Let’s go through this piece by piece. Unlike most other countries around the world, certainly outside the west…the governing authority in the United States of America is not a human....the governing authority in the United States is the Rule of Law. The great reformer Samuel Rutherford wrote about this in his work titled “Lex Rex”, Latin for law is king. Rutherford wrote about the Biblical principle that Law should be King, not the other way around as was the prevailing political philosophy of his day where the King was Law (Rex Lex). A radical concept in the mid 1600s….radical enough to cause you to lose your head under your King.

Indeed it is clear that God infused the minds of many of the founders / framers with the understanding that because of the Biblical doctrine of the Depravity of Man, civil government under a Biblical Worldview would involve setting law above men. That is precisely what our founders did with the United States Constitution. Every federal elected official and every member of the Armed Forces takes an oath to that document. Now before anyone misunderstands....I will remind you that for the one who claims Christ, our ultimate governing authority is the Word of God. That said, we do not live in a theocracy, we live under a Constitutional Republic where the Rule of Law (Lex Rex) is set above the Rule of Men (Rex Lex) in order to protect the people from despots and tyrants. Unfortunately, the people that ought to have the most interest in protecting this (The Church) since we were blessed to inherit this radical, Biblical form of civil government, unfortunately we have been left in the dark on these principles and Truths due to a vacuum in training from the Church….for various reasons that I will not go into here. We have been asleep at the wheel for so long, we know see a growing “soft tyranny” to use the words of radio talk show host Mark Levin.

Therefore, under Romans 13, the Christian is duty bound to follow the Rule of Law and our Constitution. That means before following ANY idea that is outside the Rule of Law, the Christian is duty bound to use all recourse UNDER the Rule of Law. Many people will bring up the founders and the American Revolution to refute this, but they show a lack of historical perspective. The founders had no option under the Rule of Law; there was no rule of law. They were under tyranny with no recourse under a “Rule of Law”….which is instructive in and of itself to understand what they did when they set up a governing manual based upon a law higher than men.

Which brings us full circle back to Article V of the United States Constitution. Under the Rule of Law in the United States of America today, there is a lawful, peaceful, Constitutional (think Rule of Law) available to us that has never been exercised. Now this does not mean that the Christian that does not think that the use of a Convention of States is a good idea is somehow being sinful, that is NOT what I am saying at all. Honest people can disagree. However I take great issue if the opposition is based on fear rather than reason….which defines about 99% of the oppositions today…but I digress. What I am saying is that if you claim Christ and you advocate for ANY solution outside the Rule of Law BEFORE utilizing the solution INSIDE the Rule of Law….then yes….you are clearly way out of bounds. SHAME on any believer that would advocate for going outside the boundaries of the Rule of Law and advocating for any solution that clearly today would lead to violence….shame on them for doing so before exhausting all lawful, peaceful, Constitutional options that God has blessed us with.

The Article V Convention of States is not an easy solution. I heard one so called conservative leader the other day state that using it was wrong because we (those of us involved) think it is a “quick fix”. That statement alone told me volumes about this individual and that he has never taken the time to even look at the process to amend the Constitution in either mode of Article V nor has he taken the time to perform due diligence on the Convention of States Project itself. This is no “quick fix”….I tell everyone that gets involved with the Convention of States Project that the framers intentionally made the amendment process very difficult…and for good reason…they did not want our governing document amended on the whims of just a few people. Therefore it takes VERY broad consensus across the nation to get an amendment proposed through either mode much less run the gauntlet of 38 states ratifying any proposed amendment. This effort is probably the most difficult political effort in our nation’s history since the founding era. Indeed, if God grants us favor…and we are successful….it will be the greatest single historical event in our nation’s history since the founding era.

If you desire to learn more about the Biblical Worldview of civil government in order to be able to better connect the dots between your faith and our Constitution, just click on the image below and send the website link to your pastor. I would be more than happy to bring the course series I specifically developed to teach these principles into your church if your pastor is willing.

Christian Worldview Studies: The United States Constitution and American Government

God is in Control

Have you ever heard or had another Christian (or even a non Christian) say to you "God is in control"?  Those words of truth can be reassuring and comforting words of reminder to us when we are overcome by the heaviness of our circumstances. Make no mistake about it...the scriptures are replete with the testimony that those words are indeed the absolute Truth. Indeed the God of the universe is in complete control.

I bring this up because of the amount of times I hear those words stated to me in relation to my passion to encourage Christians to be, at a minimum...cognizant of what is going on in their nation, if not much more engaged in pursuing a minimum understanding of how our government is designed to work under the Constitution. The statement "God is in control" is not used so much to relate its truth, as it is as some sort of message to silence those that are engaged. I am convinced that it also is used many times to relieve oneself of his/her responsibility to be engaged.

Let's try this on for size...how many people that use that phrase are apt to let go of the steering wheel on their vehicle as they are driving around town? After all, "God IS in control"...right?  Are you not trusting of God enough to "let go and let God" when it comes to the steering wheel of your vehicle as you hurtle down the road navigating turns, lanes of traffic, and intersections?? After all God is in control....why "worry", He will take care of everything for you!

You say, "come on Bob, that's way different, and your being silly and making a ridiculous comparison....you can't just let go of your steering wheel on your car, it's a machine...and after all Bob, you got into the car of your own mind, God would expect you to keep your hands on the wheel".  All true.  I couldn't agree more.

But let me show you why you're telling me the EXACT same thing when you tell me not to "worry" about what is going on in our country, because God is in control.  I would be the first to agree with you again, that as Christians, we never have to "worry".  We serve a God that we know IS in control.  However, just as you would not let go of the steering wheel of your vehicle as you drive down the road, why would you let go of the "steering wheel" of your government? Both the vehicle and our government are designed to operate with people at the controls. Just as you would never quit steering your car as you go down the road, why would you think you could quit "steering" our government which was actually designed for much more input from you than the few corrections you make on your steering wheel as you navigate the streets and highways.

Permit me to take this illustration a few steps further. Any sensible driver will pay at least minimum attention to the gauges on the dashboard to see if everything is running ok.  Why would you not pay attention to the "gauges" on the dashboard of our government to make sure that everything is operating within the parameters of the design manual?

God is indeed in control. He left us here on earth specifically to "operate" and make a difference in His Kingdom until he returns, so let's keep our eyes on the gauges and our hands on the wheel.

Christmas Without Christ

The following is a guest post on my blog by my good friend Det Bowers.

There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.[1]

EPISTLE  TO  THE  READER

Cultural Christians celebrate Christmas without Christ.  They have read the story of Christ’s birth and they understand the season. They appreciate the holiday from work or school and they welcome the good cheer.  Nevertheless, they have no personal relationship with Jesus. 

The season of Christ’s birth has become more of a “man-mas” than a “Christ-mas.”  Gold, frankincense, myrrh, busyness and stress have replaced the simplicity of a peasant’s womb, an unadorned manger, and God’s holy Son cloaked in humble humanity so that you might be draped in His gown of righteousness.  The God who resided in a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day determined to tabernacle in the flesh of His people.

Jesus’ incarnation fulfilled Scripture and humanized godliness.  He is the Seed of the woman (Eve).  Jesus is the One descended from a particular nation (Jews), a particular tribe (Judah), a particular family (David), a particular mother (Virgin), and in a particular place (Bethlehem Ephrathah). 

While the world slumbers in its sleep, you approach Bethlehem deliberately, expectantly and humbly.  Bare cupboards and empty pockets cannot keep you from your Lord Christ.

WHEREAS, there was a night like no other, and a child like no other; and

WHEREAS, God did bespeak His desire to have you good gentlefolk attend to the tidings of His Son; and

NOW, THEREFORE, GOD SPEED you in your pursuit of the Holy of Holies. 

O come, let us adore Him … We’ll praise His name forever…

We’ll give Him all the glory … For He alone is worthy … Christ the Lord.[2]

Though Christians think of Christmas as a peaceful time, it was birthed in conflict.  Christmas began in Eden with God’s promise to Satan that One coming from Eve would be the devil’s demise.[3]  The record provided by the sacred chroniclers of Christmas’ foretelling and happening is an immense understatement. 

The God of all creation, moved by holy mercy that births unconditional compassion, sent Himself (Immanuel) to a people who refused to receive Him.[4]  Abraham rejoiced to see His day and he saw it and was glad – Moses esteemed Christ’s reproach as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt – Job knew that his Redeemer did live and at the last He would take His stand on the earth.[5]  Immanuel, whose former condition was glorious, came amidst the censure of your world.[6]   

The decree of the pagan King Augustus moved Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea where the prophecy of the ages would be fulfilled.  The world that was taxed with death would now be blessed with the only One able to remove the death-tax.  God did what man could not do and He accomplished His desires in ways designed to confound man’s imaginings.

No birth has ever been more humble yet glorious.  Consider a new star, myriads of angels declaring their hosannas, and wise men attending Jesus’ early childhood.  Simeon’s gnarled and spotted hands held eternity’s rest and peace.  Anna offered thanksgivings to her God and spoke of Immanuel to all who were interested in being redeemed. 

The Church was not ready for Christ’s first advent.  Humanity will not be ready for His final advent.

What is Christmas for you?  Family parties, clusters of ceiling-hung mistletoe tempting you, caroling, gifts, hearths with blazing fires and feasting on the finest meats, the freshest breads and the plumiest puddings.  Perhaps remembrances of your first bicycle, your prettiest doll or your favorite baseball glove capture your mind, or laughing about weddings and crying about funerals. 

Christmas affects people in varied ways.  O. Henry’s wife sold her beautiful hair to buy her husband a watch fob, while he sold his watch to buy her an expensive comb.  Christmas is the season when giving affects the giver more than the receiver because he realizes that God gave what cannot be wrapped in green and red paper – God’s gift, Immanuel, was wrapped in swaddling clothes. 

Christ’s teaching has influenced more people than all the potentates, parliaments and presidents the world has known.  For you, Christmas is a day of hope when Christ reclaims the center of life, the schedules of men and hearts of the godly.  Mary declared, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”[7]  Your soul also magnifies your Lord.  Though you cannot improve God’s awesomeness, you do recognize, appreciate and practice His glory. 

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, a promise was made to the people who walk in darkness that they would see a great light, and to those who live in a dark land that light would shine on them?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, a promise was made to a burdened people that the yoke of their burden, the staff on their shoulders and the rod of their oppressors would be broken?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, a Child was born?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, a Son was given?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, the government of your life rested on the shoulders of this Son who was given?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, the name of this Child who was born was called Wonderful Counselor?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, the name of this Son who was given was called Mighty God?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, the name of this Child who was born was called Eternal Father?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, the name of this Son who was given was called Prince of Peace?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, you were promised there would be no end to the increase of His government or of His peace?

WHAT  IF a long time ago in a land far, far away, these promises and these occurrences were all accomplished for you?

When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,

born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law,

that we might receive the adoption as sons.[8]

EPILOGUE

During your life, you receive few glimpses into heaven.  God leaves much to your study of Scripture.  Nonetheless, earth was allowed to pierce the heavenly veil when “suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’”[9]

Your Lord’s company of angels praised God and their praises have been shouted down to humanity throughout the ages.  This angelic doxology was paralleled nearly three decades later when Jerusalem’s multitudes praised this same Jesus singing, “Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest!”[10]

The praises to God offered in the earth’s hearing bear a unique blessing.  The multitude of the heavenly host announced that peace would be the commonwealth of those “with whom He is pleased.”  The question of the ages is: “Who pleases God?”

Most people search for a better job, a better spouse, better children, better friends, and the list continues.  Nevertheless, you will not.  Your desire is to please God so you daily pray for a God-shaped conformity to the image of Christ.  You desire a resemblance to Simeon, Anna, and Joseph of Arimathea.[11]  Christmas is your season for recapturing the Christlikeness you have forfeited amidst the press of life.

During this season of your life, may your Lord Christ bless you and keep you; make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.[12]

PRAYER  OF  CHRISTIAN  CONSECRATION

God, You are the Holy One of Israel.  You alone have made glorious Zebulun, Naphtali and Galilee of the Gentiles.  In Your Light I see light.

I confess I am a person who walks in darkness and I live in a dark land.  I have rejected the increase of Your government and of Your peace in my life.  I have mocked the throne of David with my feeble practice of Christianity and confess that the zeal of the Lord of hosts has not become my own. 

I live in a land knowing no scarceness except the scarceness of holiness.  Strangers to the commonwealth of heaven, those ungraced with Christ, have yoked their lives with ruin.  Cause Your goodness to pass before me in order for me to witness Your holy glory.  Make me an uncommon vessel – uncommon because Christ perfumes my walk.

Will You increase my gladness by bringing me into Your presence?  Break the yoke of my burdens – remove the staff from my shoulders – spare the rod that scourges my back – free me from my love for this present darkness.  Fragrance me now with trusting eyes that I may more fully harness and practice the Lordship of my Immanuel Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen and Amen. 

---

[1] Lk. 2:11

[2] Traditional; Wade’s Cantus Diversi, 1751.

[3] Gen. 3:15

[4] Jn. 1:11

[5] Jn. 8:56; Heb. 11:26; Job 19:25, respectively.

[6] II Cor. 8:9

[7] Lk. 1:46f.

[8] Gal. 4:4f.

[9] Lk. 2:13f.

[10] Mt. 21:9

[11] Lk. 2:25, 38; Mk. 15:43

[12] Nu. 6:24-26

Connecting the Dots for The American Church

I've been pondering the receding / retreating global missionary footprint of the American Church. Have we considered the impact of our out of control, burgeoning federal leviathan outside its Constitutional fence upon the mission efforts of the American Church? Bear with me for a minute...for those that will be honest with history, it is indisputable that your America was founded with the purpose of advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. She grew into the largest, most powerful, and most prosperous nation on the face of the earth primarily due to Christian influence and Biblical principles of government and economics. That prosperity was used to launch the largest organized missionary works known to man in modern times. Bar none, America in the 19th and 20th century was the launch pad for more foreign missionaries than any other nation in the world. Unfortunately this history and truth has had little voice in America's pulpits.

That said, today, the foreign missionary works of major denominations that have led the way for decades are receding and in retreat due to lack of funding. Giving to foreign missions is on the downgrade. This is not an excuse for those that might have dropped off on their giving to missions, but it stands to reason that the growth of the federal leviathan has had a direct impact on giving. It would behoove the American Church to wake up from its slumbering funk and begin to connect the dots between the inaction and lack of engagement of the Church of Jesus Christ in America and the receding American foreign missionary footprint globally. Make no mistake about it...that lack of engagement by God's people in your country's government affairs has had a direct impact on policy's that have an indirect as well as a direct effect upon the blessings that we have taken for granted, in this instance the work of taking the gospel of Christ worldwide.

In this humble servants opinion, it is high time that Christian leaders begin to connect the dots between lack of engagement and direct loss of impact in the culture and indeed the world. It is not enough to begrudgingly prompt believers to go "vote". The time for encouraging folks to simply cast a vote is long gone. It is time for God's people to become like the men of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32 and gain an understanding of the times in which they live. It is time for believers to understand who is making policy, what policy is being made, and begin to impact the making of that policy to the Glory of Almighty God!

How do we rein in Washington D.C.?

There are seven Articles that make up the content of the United States Constitution. Article V is very short and is solely there for the purpose of outlining how our government manual can be amended (changed). We don't have to wonder about the intent of the framers (those who debated and drafted the document) as to how we interpret the text. The text has one meaning...the meaning intended when it was written. This is just like the things you might write today, you mean what you write...and you desire and expect others to interpret them as you wrote them...not as they wish to interpret them. Only when dealing with the manual for our government...the need for interpreting according to original intent is obviously much more crucial. The alternative to interpreting the Constitution according to original intent...is to have it interpreted according to whatever you want it to mean....therefore negating the need for the document all together. That said, the framers were not idiots, they understood that over time, there would be a need to be able to make changes...in order to adapt the document to either it's own shortcomings or changes due to technological advances. One of the things that also becomes crystal clear when studying those framers is also the need to be able to change the document to correct those portions that might be abused due to misinterpretation over time (see Madison's letter to Edward Everett dated Aug 1830).

This brings us back to Article V....Article V of the Constitution as I stated previously, contains the mechanism for amending the content of the Constitution. When Article V was being debated and drafted during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 (referred to by modern historians as the Constitutional Convention), initially in the draft there was only a single process for amendments that involved only the new "National Legislature", what you and I refer to today as the United States Congress. In other words, only the federal government would be able to propose amendments to the Constitution which would then have to be sent out to the states where it would require 3/4th of the states to ratify (agree) to them before any amendment would be binding on all the states. Again, just to be sure....that first draft only contained a way for Washington D.C. to propose changes to the document....and to be plainer...only the fox guarding the hen house could make changes that might affect the fox.

One of those framers, a Virginian by the name of George Mason vehemently opposed the idea of only giving the fox the power to propose amendments. He stated the following on June 11th, 1787 during the Convention: “Amendments therefore will be necessary, and it will be better to provide for them, in an easy, regular and Constitutional way than to trust to chance and violence.  It would be improper to require the consent of the Natl. Legislature, because they may abuse their power, and refuse their consent on that very account.” Mason was describing EXACTLY what we see today....an abusive federal government that refuses to do the things necessary to correct itself and roll back it's amassed usurped powers.

On September 15th, 1787, just two days before the Philadelphia Convention adjourned (that's why we celebrate Constitution day on September 17th) Mason and others that were leary of investing too much power into a central government convinced the other convention delegates to adopt a 2nd mechanism into Article V that would provide an alternate means to amending the Constitution....the alternate method would permit the states to propose amendments to the Constitution just like Washington D.C. This provision that Madison referred to as the 2nd "mode" would require 2/3rds of the states to "apply" in their own legislatures for an amending convention that would involve only the states, thereby end running the National Legislature (Washington D.C.) altogether. Those amendment proposals would then in turn have to be sent back to all the states for ratification just like the first mode in Article V. This was a brilliant addition to our Constitution that again points us to the hand of Almighty God....for without it....today...the states would have no recourse for what is going on in our country due to the ever growing, out of control, staggering power drunken cartel that has been created in all three branches of our federal government.

So....that brings us to where we are today. Did you realize...that our founders....those fallen, fallible, but brilliant men that framed our Constitution had the God given wisdom to insert a process so that today....in the early 21st century....we....you and I....the people in the states....we have a recourse through our state legislatures....the elected representatives that are closest to us....we have a recourse. It ought to be clear to ANY living, breathing, thinking American citizen today....that the party of Washington D.C. is NEVER going to do the necessary things to rein itself in....it also should be clear by now that elections ALONE....cannot reverse the amassed power structure that has accumulated in the federal government through decades of twisting, contorting, and perverting of the original meaning in the text of our Constitution that was designed to LIMIT the size, scope, and powers of the federal government.

It is time...it is time to use this provision that God providentially gave us in late September of 1787...it is time to get our state legislators to understand the expedient need to pass the Convention of States resolution so that we can get to the requisite 2/3rds (34) states required to get to an amending Convention for the specific and limited purpose of proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, amendments that will limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and amendments that will impose term limits on Congress and the federal courts. It is time! Let's move beyond ALL the misinformation, diversions, fear of using this God given provision that can actually try to rein in our out of control federal government.

Thanksgiving History and The Glory of God

The Man Named Squanto

As we prepare for our traditional holiday dedicated to the giving of thanks in our nation, permit me to share a fascinating thing that we see from the historical account provided by William Bradford, about the people we refer to today as the "Pilgrims". God's hand of provision for this small groups dwindling numbers in the early part of year following their arrival at what they called "New Plymouth".  Their first encounters with native American Indians are interesting and nothing short of miraculous. Keep in mind that the "frontier" of North America would have been literally at the beach line on the east coast. This group of Pilgrims was desperately in need of help in how to survive this new land with its unknown wildlife and other unforeseen dangers and hardships. With that in mind, let’s look at this account from Bradford's journal in the first months after landing at the northern tip of Cape Cod in November of 1620:

"All this while the Indians carne skulking [sneaking] about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof [remote, unapproachable] off, but when any approached near them, they would run away. And once, they stole away their [the Pilgrims’] tools where they had been at work, and were gone to dinner. But about the sixteenth of March a certain Indian came boldly amongst them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but marveled at it. At length they understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts, where some English-ships came to fish, with whom he was acquainted, and could name sundry of them by their names, amongst whom he had got his language. He became profitable to them in acquainting them with many things concerning the state of the country in the east-parts where he lived, which was afterwards profitable unto them; as also of the people here, of their names, number, and strength; of their situation and distance from this place, and who was chief amongst them."

"His name was Samoset; he told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than himself. Being, after some time of entertainment and gifts, dismissed, a while after he carne again, and five more with him, and they brought again all the tools that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their great Sachem [chief, tribal leader], called Massasoit; who, about four or five days after, carne with the chief of his friends and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto."

Interestingly enough, what followed is not talked about much today, the next part of Bradford's journal records an agreement that was reached between these two groups. The journal records that "they made a peace with him [Massasoit]" (which continued for 24 years). This is important to note due to revisionist historians today that try to paint a distorted picture of the relationship between these early settlers and Native American Indians.  Just like depravity resides in all men today, it resided in all men at that time too. Just like there are "peaceful" people today, there were "peaceful" Indians back then.  Just as there are "wicked" people today, there were "wicked" people back then (both European and Native American Indian).  One cannot lump all of history into one sock so to speak. When we look at history from a Biblical Worldview, we ought to look at all of it; the good, the bad, and the ugly!  However, what we see in Bradford's account is God's hand at work bringing a group [tribe] of peaceful native Indians to the rescue of this group of English Separatists looking for the early vestiges of religious freedom in a new land. Take note of the items agreed to in Bradford's journal:

"1. That neither he nor any of his, should injure or do hurt to any of their people.

2. That if any of his did any hurt to any of theirs, he should send the offender, that they might punish him.

3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs [the Pilgrims’], he [Massasoit] should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his.

4. If any did unjustly war against him [Massasoit], they [the Pilgrims] would aide him; if any did war against them, he [Massasoit] should aid them [the Pilgrims].

5. He should send to his neighbor’s confederates, to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace. [That is, different tribes should share members to prevent warfare or serve as hostages in case of war.]

6. That when their [the Indians’] men came to them [the Pilgrims], they [the Indians] should leave their bows and arrows behind them."

"After these things he [Massasoit] returned to his place called Sowams, some 40 miles from this place, but Squanto continued with them, and was their interpreter, and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died. He was a native of this place, and scarce any left alive beside himself."

Don't miss the significance of this, nothing short of miraculous is the fact that this group of English Separatists were originally bound and chartered for a settlement in Virginia but were blown off course and landed in a desolate location unknown to them.  A harsh winter is awaiting them, and they desperately need help from someone knowledgeable of the local area. Into this God sends an Indian that speaks broken English [Samoset], but who knows another Indian that speaks fluent English [Squanto].  Ask yourself what the chances are that this group of Pilgrims accidentally landing in a location with one of the few if not only friendly English speaking Indians in North America? Coincidence or the providential hand of God?  Today we have all kinds of revisionists historians that have tried to rewrite our nation’s history and rewrite the hand of God out of it...look closely at this and decide for yourself.  Recall Bradford's words that I quoted above, Bradford referred to Squanto as "a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation".Bradford records that in late September of 1621, a group from New Plymouth set out to help another group that had settled in a nearby area, that in Bradford's terms had "made havoc of their provisions" and realized that "want [or need] would press them" in the coming winter months. In other word's this group had made unwise choices for their provisions and needed help. So they set out with this group to help them. Bradford records the following:
 

"All things being provided, Captain Standish was appointed to go with them, and Squanto for a guide and interpreter, about the latter end of September; but the winds put them in again, and putting out the second time, he [Captain Standish] fell sick of a fever, so the Governor went himself. But they could not get about the shoals of Cape Cod for flats and breakers, neither could Squanto direct them better, nor the master durst venture any further, so they put into Manamoyick Bay and got what they could there. In this place Squanto fell sick of an Indian fever, bleeding much at the nose (which the Indians take for a symptom of death), and within a few days died there; desiring the Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen’s God in heaven, and bequeathed sundry of his things to sundry of his English friends, as remembrances of his love; of whom they had a great loss."

God had used this incredible man, Squanto. God through His marvelous works had ordained for Squanto to be taken to England years before by an earlier north Atlantic fishing expedition. This Indian had learned fluent English, and miraculously had been returned to his native land a few years later. Think about that...think about the time we are talking about...do you realize how utterly incredible those events are?  Then this group of Separatists from the Church of England set out to cross the Atlantic bound for a colony in Virginia...the end up in a place far from their intended destination.  They end up in a place where maybe the only fluent English speaking Native American Indian resides! God uses this man to train and help these early settlers and seekers of religious liberty.

The words of the Mayflower Compact tell us why these Pilgrims crossed the foreboding and dangerous north Atlantic ocean: "Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith".  These words tell us that they came to engage God's creation in a new world, they came to take God principles to the rest of His creation.  Let me be sure about one thing as I bring this to a close; these men were not perfect men, they were flawed men. But God was using them to take baby steps towards the liberty that we see written into the Bible. Lastly, don't miss what happened to Squanto! By all indications God used these Pilgrims to draw Squanto unto Himself, Bradford tells us that Squanto's last dying wish was to know this great God of these Englishmen and I am sure they were more than happy to share the good news of salvation with their Indian friend!

My hope is that you will read this incredible story of God's goodness to your families as you observe our great national tradition and gather for a Thanksgiving meal. Pass on these great historical events that point to the great guiding hand of Almighty God. Give thanks for all our Great God has done for us in this incredible nation, founded for HIS PURPOSES and for HIS GLORY!

The 231 Year Old Message From Col. George Mason

Permit me to share a very Important Constitutional history lesson with you. The delegates to the Philadelphia Convention (today referred to as the Constitutional Convention) had been going over every section of every article in the final months of the Convention in 1787. 231 years ago, on a Saturday, just two days before the Convention in Philadelphia completed its work, we find a gem in the notes of James Madison, who took extensive notes just about every day of the convention. This item that I refer to as a “gem” is little known and hardly talked about today. On September 15, 1787, George Mason of Virginia (referred to in Madison’s notes as Col Mason), was alarmed that in the text of Article V (the provision for making Amendments to the Constitution), Congress would have sole power to propose amendments; Mason insisted, as he did earlier in June, that the states have authority to call for conventions. Mason explained that an oppressive Congress would never agree to propose amendments necessary to restrain a rogue, tyrannical legislature.

"Col. Mason thought the plan of amending the Constitution exceptionable & dangerous. As the proposing of amendments is in both the modes to depend, in the first immediately, in the second, ultimately, on Congress, no amendments of the proper kind would ever be obtained by the people, if the Government should become oppressive, as he verily believed would be the case.” (See Madison’s notes 15 Sep 1787).

To make sense of that, you must understand that earlier in the summer when the issue of even having an Amendment process was first brought up as a provision in the Constitution, many of the delegates thought it unnecessary. Madison’s notes record the following on June 11^th: “Col. MASON urged the necessity of such a provision [Amendments]. The plan now to be formed will certainly be defective, as the Confederation has been found on trial to be. Amendments therefore will be necessary, and it will be better to provide for them, in an easy, regular and Constitutional way than to trust to chance and violence. It would be improper to require the consent of the Natl. Legislature, because they may abuse their power, and refuse their consent on that very account…”.

Then by the time the convention reached its final days in mid September, the Amendment provision had been added as Article V, and the provision had two methods; the national legislature (Congress) could propose Amendments and the states could request that Congress propose specific amendments. However, both methods were left in the hands (power) of the national legislature, that’s what Mason meant when he referred in the first quote above as “both the modes to depend, in the first immediately, in the second, ultimately, on Congress”. Mason had objected to this back in June and now as the convention drew to a close, he rose to his feet to forcefully object with his reasons stated above (“It would be improper to require the consent of the Natl. Legislature, because they may abuse their power, and refuse their consent on that very account”). Madison’s notes of 15 Sept tell us that Mason’s motion was accepted and the language was changed in order to require [mandate] Congress to call a convention upon application of 2/3 of the states.

It is noteworthy to point out that this process does not call for a Constitutional Convention; the language specifies calling a convention for the purpose of “proposing amendments”…to the existing Constitution…it would still require 3/4ths of the states (38) to ratify any amendment proposed in this convention.

We owe George Mason and the other framers a huge debt for this...they had the foresight to understand first of all, that we needed an orderly process in which to amend our Constitution (“regular and Constitutional way than to trust to chance and violence” – Mason 11 June). Secondly we owe them a huge debt for recognizing and understanding the depravity of man and the extremely intoxicating effects of years of power in the hands of the same people (hence a need for term limits) and that these power intoxicated occupants of the United States Congress would “abuse their power, and refuse their consent” (Mason 11 June) to any amendments that would “injure” themselves and return powers never intended for the national legislature or any of the other branches for that matter, they would never take steps to return that power on their own to the rightful owner, the states/people (“no amendments of the proper kind would ever be obtained by the people, if the Government should become oppressive” – Mason 15 Sep).

The least we can do as citizens of this great nation today, citizens that do not seem to want to be bothered with taking the time to understand the underpinnings of their liberty, the least we can do is take the time to understand what the framers of this amazing document did for us. When the framers agreed on September 15^th, 1787 to change the text in Article V, they in effect were telegraphing a message to us in 2018, a message to us showing us the way back inside the fence of the Constitution, a way back to what Thomas Jefferson called the “chains of the Constitution”.