The U.S. American Foundations

This is an important video, whether you agree or not, this presents the worldview of one side of the political and social debate.

The foundation of this worldview is established on the premise that first: everything is laid on Faith; second: Morality; third: on and from these two comes and is established Law; forth: on and from these is build Education.

Debate as you like, but realize that you are debating with and from your own worldview.

Truth will prevail because truth does not come from debating, but rather the act of debating is to help the hearers better understand the issue and come to the truth.

Remember, Truth is not an object or a belief, Truth is a person. 

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."  The Gospel According to John; chapter 14 verses 1-7.

If They Didn't Believe, Why Publish This Legal Ordinance?

We need to be reminded of what the people of the United States called the fundamental foundations before our day of enlightenment (confusion -Editor) and understanding (ignorance -Editor).

Here for your reading and consideration is the text of the Northwest Ordinance courtesy of Yale Law School.

Pay special attention to Articles 1-3.

An Ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the River Ohio.

Section 1. Be it ordained by the United States in Congress assembled, That the said territory, for the purposes of temporary government, be one district, subject, however, to be divided into two districts, as future circumstances may, in the opinion of Congress, make it expedient.

Sec 2. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the estates, both of resident and nonresident proprietors in the said territory, dying intestate, shall descent to, and be distributed among their children, and the descendants of a deceased child, in equal parts; the descendants of a deceased child or grandchild to take the share of their deceased parent in equal parts among them: And where there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal parts to the next of kin in equal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in equal parts among them, their deceased parents' share; and there shall in no case be a distinction between kindred of the whole and half blood; saving, in all cases, to the widow of the intestate her third part of the real estate for life, and one third part of the personal estate; and this law relative to descents and dower, shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the governor and judges shall adopt laws as hereinafter mentioned, estates in the said territory may be devised or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sealed by him or her in whom the estate may be (being of full age), and attested by three witnesses; and real estates may be conveyed by lease and release, or bargain and sale, signed, sealed and delivered by the person being of full age, in whom the estate may be, and attested by two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, and such conveyances be acknowledged, or the execution thereof duly proved, and be recorded within one year after proper magistrates, courts, and registers shall be appointed for that purpose; and personal property may be transferred by delivery; saving, however to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers of the Kaskaskies, St. Vincents and the neighboring villages who have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them, relative to the descent and conveyance, of property.

Sec. 3. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That there shall be appointed from time to time by Congress, a governor, whose commission shall continue in force for the term of three years, unless sooner revoked by Congress; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein in 1,000 acres of land, while in the exercise of his office.

Sec. 4. There shall be appointed from time to time by Congress, a secretary, whose commission shall continue in force for four years unless sooner revoked; he shall reside in the district, and have a freehold estate therein in 500 acres of land, while in the exercise of his office. It shall be his duty to keep and preserve the acts and laws passed by the legislature, and the public records of the district, and the proceedings of the governor in his executive department, and transmit authentic copies of such acts and proceedings, every six months, to the Secretary of Congress: There shall also be appointed a court to consist of three judges, any two of whom to form a court, who shall have a common law jurisdiction, and reside in the district, and have each therein a freehold estate in 500 acres of land while in the exercise of their offices; and their commissions shall continue in force during good behavior.

Sec. 5. The governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt and publish in the district such laws of the original States, criminal and civil, as may be necessary and best suited to the circumstances of the district, and report them to Congress from time to time: which laws shall be in force in the district until the organization of the General Assembly therein, unless disapproved of by Congress; but afterwards the Legislature shall have authority to alter them as they shall think fit.

Sec. 6. The governor, for the time being, shall be commander in chief of the militia, appoint and commission all officers in the same below the rank of general officers; all general officers shall be appointed and commissioned by Congress.

Sec. 7. Previous to the organization of the general assembly, the governor shall appoint such magistrates and other civil officers in each county or township, as he shall find necessary for the preservation of the peace and good order in the same: After the general assembly shall be organized, the powers and duties of the magistrates and other civil officers shall be regulated and defined by the said assembly; but all magistrates and other civil officers not herein otherwise directed, shall during the continuance of this temporary government, be appointed by the governor.

Sec. 8. For the prevention of crimes and injuries, the laws to be adopted or made shall have force in all parts of the district, and for the execution of process, criminal and civil, the governor shall make proper divisions thereof; and he shall proceed from time to time as circumstances may require, to lay out the parts of the district in which the Indian titles shall have been extinguished, into counties and townships, subject, however, to such alterations as may thereafter be made by the legislature.

Sec. 9. So soon as there shall be five thousand free male inhabitants of full age in the district, upon giving proof thereof to the governor, they shall receive authority, with time and place, to elect a representative from their counties or townships to represent them in the general assembly: Provided, That, for every five hundred free male inhabitants, there shall be one representative, and so on progressively with the number of free male inhabitants shall the right of representation increase, until the number of representatives shall amount to twenty five; after which, the number and proportion of representatives shall be regulated by the legislature: Provided, That no person be eligible or qualified to act as a representative unless he shall have been a citizen of one of the United States three years, and be a resident in the district, or unless he shall have resided in the district three years; and, in either case, shall likewise hold in his own right, in fee simple, two hundred acres of land within the same; Provided, also, That a freehold in fifty acres of land in the district, having been a citizen of one of the states, and being resident in the district, or the like freehold and two years residence in the district, shall be necessary to qualify a man as an elector of a representative.

Sec. 10. The representatives thus elected, shall serve for the term of two years; and, in case of the death of a representative, or removal from office, the governor shall issue a writ to the county or township for which he was a member, to elect another in his stead, to serve for the residue of the term.

Sec. 11. The general assembly or legislature shall consist of the governor, legislative council, and a house of representatives. The Legislative Council shall consist of five members, to continue in office five years, unless sooner removed by Congress; any three of whom to be a quorum: and the members of the Council shall be nominated and appointed in the following manner, to wit: As soon as representatives shall be elected, the Governor shall appoint a time and place for them to meet together; and, when met, they shall nominate ten persons, residents in the district, and each possessed of a freehold in five hundred acres of land, and return their names to Congress; five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as aforesaid; and, whenever a vacancy shall happen in the council, by death or removal from office, the house of representatives shall nominate two persons, qualified as aforesaid, for each vacancy, and return their names to Congress; one of whom congress shall appoint and commission for the residue of the term. And every five years, four months at least before the expiration of the time of service of the members of council, the said house shall nominate ten persons, qualified as aforesaid, and return their names to Congress; five of whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as members of the council five years, unless sooner removed. And the governor, legislative council, and house of representatives, shall have authority to make laws in all cases, for the good government of the district, not repugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance established and declared. And all bills, having passed by a majority in the house, and by a majority in the council, shall be referred to the governor for his assent; but no bill, or legislative act whatever, shall be of any force without his assent. The governor shall have power to convene, prorogue, and dissolve the general assembly, when, in his opinion, it shall be expedient.

Sec. 12. The governor, judges, legislative council, secretary, and such other officers as Congress shall appoint in the district, shall take an oath or affirmation of fidelity and of office; the governor before the president of congress, and all other officers before the Governor. As soon as a legislature shall be formed in the district, the council and house assembled in one room, shall have authority, by joint ballot, to elect a delegate to Congress, who shall have a seat in Congress, with a right of debating but not voting during this temporary government.

Sec. 13. And, for extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected; to fix and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions, and governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said territory: to provide also for the establishment of States, and permanent government therein, and for their admission to a share in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as early periods as may be consistent with the general interest:

Sec. 14. It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact between the original States and the people and States in the said territory and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit:

Art. 1. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.

Art. 2. The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury; of a proportionate representation of the people in the legislature; and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law. All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offenses, where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate; and no cruel or unusual punishments shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; and, should the public exigencies make it necessary, for the common preservation, to take any person's property, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. And, in the just preservation of rights and property, it is understood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the said territory, that shall, in any manner whatever, interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud, previously formed.

Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.

Art. 4. The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein, shall forever remain a part of this Confederacy of the United States of America, subject to the Articles of Confederation, and to such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made; and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled, conformable thereto. The inhabitants and settlers in the said territory shall be subject to pay a part of the federal debts contracted or to be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government, to be apportioned on them by Congress according to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall be made on the other States; and the taxes for paying their proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the district or districts, or new States, as in the original States, within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assembled. The legislatures of those districts or new States, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States; and, in no case, shall nonresident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other States that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor.

Art. 5. There shall be formed in the said territory, not less than three nor more than five States; and the boundaries of the States, as soon as Virginia shall alter her act of cession, and consent to the same, shall become fixed and established as follows, to wit: The western State in the said territory, shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio, and Wabash Rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post Vincents, due North, to the territorial line between the United States and Canada; and, by the said territorial line, to the Lake of the Woods and Mississippi. The middle State shall be bounded by the said direct line, the Wabash from Post Vincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio, by a direct line, drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami, to the said territorial line, and by the said territorial line. The eastern State shall be bounded by the last mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the said territorial line: Provided, however, and it is further understood and declared, that the boundaries of these three States shall be subject so far to be altered, that, if Congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have authority to form one or two States in that part of the said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. And, whenever any of the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever, and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State government: Provided, the constitution and government so to be formed, shall be republican, and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles; and, so far as it can be consistent with the general interest of the confederacy, such admission shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less number of free inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand.

Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: Provided, always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.

Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the resolutions of the 23rd of April, 1784, relative to the subject of this ordinance, be, and the same are hereby repealed and declared null and void.

Done by the United States, in Congress assembled, the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of their soveriegnty and independence the twelfth.

"You didn't (verb here) that!"

It is rather offensive when an individual is told that their blood, sweat and tears meant nothing to build a business, house or worthy successful effort. In fact I find it rather hypocritical that Mr. Obama say this to the American people and then later turn right around and claim for himself the success of saving the automobile industry.

Excuse me? Mr. Obama didn't save the automobile industry, even by his own standard! The money spent to save the automobile industry was collect from the People in taxes. The President didn't save the auto industry. We the tax-payers did!

Here is a video segment of Mr. Obama's "You didn't build that" speech.


AP reports, "The American auto industry was on the verge of collapse. And some politicians were willing to let it just die. We said no," Obama told college students last week in Ann Arbor, Mich. "We believe in the workers of this state."

"We"? It was the decision of one person. I want CEO's held responsible financially if they are going to rely on government funding rather than using my collected income tax to support an unsustainable corporation.

Now the AP states that Mr. Obama is wearing this decision as a "badge" in this election cycle. This "we" seems rather shallow and self-serving.

Yeah, I 'm ready for change; back to Liberty away from Socialism and only Forward if we first turn 180 degrees from our current path leading to Communism and humble ourselves before the Almighty God and Creator of the Universe.

WallBuilders - Historical Writings - Should Christians - Or Ministers - Run For Office?

WallBuilders - Historical Writings - Should Christians - Or Ministers - Run For Office?

A fascinating and history document written in rebuttal to the first Constitution of the state of Georgia regarding the prohibition of ministers (or clergy) from involvement in the Georgia state legislature. Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon a very astute and certainly involved member of the crafting sessions of the Declaration of Independence and signer of it, he had a practical and well rounded perspective on the reason that perhaps a clergyman should not be involved, and yet he in this sarcastic reply to Georgia's constitutional resolution, strongly disagrees.

Please read the article in link above.

Antagonism or simply hatred?

Yes the post title includes sarcasm.

Allow me to illustrate my point with some more humor.

There are a lot of words that people use. Sometimes within the context they speak you can hear that they improperly used a word, while at other times one cannot be certain but only suspicious.

Mandy Patinkan who played the part of Inigo Montoya in the movie "The Princess Bride", makes a point of telling the Sicilian "Vizzini" played by Wallace Shawn "You keep using that word! I do not think it means what you think it means."

We improperly use words partly in ignorance and also in part because of a massive push from influential people with great publicity capability to create a kind of public opinion. Now I say "create" carefully, because in the truth of reality, public opinion cannot be "created" with the consent of each individual who as a whole make-up "the people". 

Confused? So am I. Let's break it down to the basics.

In general terms: Mr. X. is the Public Relations officer in an organization whose purpose is to "protect the civil liberties" of Special Interest Group (SIG) "A". SIG "A" holds a belief that their civil liberties include the freedom to manage the finances of people whom they deem financially incompetent. So SIG "A" works to gain the trust of these individuals and persuade them to sign Financial Power of Attorney over to SIG "A" and SIG"A" promises to provide for their "needs" providing certain acceptable requirements are met by the individual (community housing, dining, utilities and sanitary facilities, etc).

Now that SIG "A" has gained some trust and "protected community" residents; SIG "A" decides to change what they see as the "needs" of the "protected community" residents. This is where Mr. X. must earn his pay by putting together a well articulated statement for why SIG "A" has changed the list of "needs" for which they will provide. So Mr. X's statement is going to say in basic terms that "Provisions 'b' and 'c' are not seen as 'needs' because of set of facts 'd'."

Now, if you caught this change from "needs" to "provisions", this is part of what I am addressing. The other part of my addressed issue is the changing meaning of words.

The word "cool" before the 1960's was used only in reference to temperature.

Now as to the post title, "Antagonism" means

"an·tag·o·nism/anˈtagəˌnizəm/Noun: Active hostility or opposition.Inhibition of or interference with the action of a substance or organism by another."

So the sarcasm of the title is this: if someone is being antagonistic does not mean they hate something about the person to whom they are antagonistic. However, it could be argued that to hate someone or something about them would be antagonistic. So you see, it is the way that the title is composed that causes the sarcasm.

This understanding requires an understanding of the meaning of words. Let's learn more about what we hear and especially the meaning of the words we use!

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

Insane, Immoral or Incompetent - Part 2

Our decline as a  people; is not simply the issue that we do not think about the affects of our actions on others. The root to this sinister plant is "we want to". Again: I will say this in a direct and personal way, "I want to".

"Where do wars and fights come from between you and another? Don't they come from your own un-bridled desires?" (Personal paraphrase by the author from the book of James, section 4 verse 1.)

"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?"

Not all desires are wrong. Desires that are uncontrolled may not be wrong either, but the fact that they are not controlled is wrong. We can talk about control, but let "control" go to the sides for the moment and finish this discussion of "desires". Like I said, not all desires are wrong:

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:3 & 4

According to this passage, "the Lord" gives your heart desires. However, before passing the blame off on God for every desire I have I should consider the rest of the statement: "Delight[ing] ...in the Lord". I cannot find in this passage evidence that Delighting in the Lord could end with God giving me a desire to do damage to myself or others. For instance another quote from the book of James:

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

 So if I give my will over to view pornography, I have made a choice based on my desire to watch it. This is not a desire under control or a desire from God. I will finish out with one last quote from the book of James, 3rd section verses 13 through 18:

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."

Insane, Immoral or Incompetent?

The America I live in today is far different from the America I studied from historians and books in school. What is going on? We have politicians who are involved in scandals before taking office; Individuals consciously active in premeditated murder and friends and neighbors who only seem interested in saving the lives of people already born in an effort to ensure that no harm comes to them.

So many things are so wrong in every way that confusion will easily take over if we are not careful to guard against it. I have not be ashamed in previous posts to quote scripture and point out some important things from a worldview based on Scripture; nor will I start to be ashamed now. If there is one thing we need most in America today it is a return to humility before God, each confessing our rebellion toward Him and turning from them.

However, I have noticed from my limited time on this earth that we Americans who used to know so well what pleased God and what did not please God, now have almost forgotten; but what makes it worse, is that many of us do not care! We look at consequences not as a helping correction to guide us into a more respectable, simplified and brighter way of life, but rather as an inconvenience we must pay to continue in our own way, doing only what we want to do.

We do not care how it affects others; we do not care what expense others must pay for our pleasure. Let me say it another way: I would not care how it tares away at a young girl's conscience or soul so that I can enjoy the pleasure of a pornographic film. I would not care what it costs her in her life so that I can enjoy a little bit of temporary pleasure. I am not saying that I caused her to enter the pornographic market, but it is my choice to watch, rent or buy these videos.

What of the young men? In making these videos are they not being taught to believe some things about the girls or other men that are not true?

The issues all come down to this most simplistic root problem. I no longer know what is truth. I have stopped searching for truth (for whatever reason). I care only that my life is comfortable for me with some pleasure in-between responsibility.

We each ought to come back to discerning the truth. This is only possible when we give up our foolishness (to be in of watch a pornographic video); confess there is a God who rules over the earth, our lives (as a master or otherwise an enemy) who has established natural laws, moral laws as immediately consequential as the laws of physics.

More details in the post to follow on Wednesday August 1st.

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12

" There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." Proverbs 16:25

" Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 21:30

"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:16