Views by the Sea

Dear readers: We are entertaining company.

We plan to post again, Friday, January 1

2020...goodbye and good riddance 

2021...you're on probation

Scary, but Happy New Year! 

What did the clock do when it was hungry?

It went back four seconds.

Why did the turkey join the band?

He had the drumsticks.

What subject are snakes best at?

Hisstory

Boo! Hiss!

Third C - the Constitution 

   Along with Christianity and Capitalism, our Constitution is responsible for America's success, however imperfect, say authors Mike Huckabee and Steve Feazel. 

   Its first three words - We the People - set the table for all that follows, and separated this new nation from monarchies and dictatorships. For those today who would rewrite or replace our Constitution, it is the lone document established for the benefit of its people - not for those who govern them. 

   The authors contend that most Americans have little idea how precarious was the summer of 1787. The 13 colonies had become states, united to declare independence. But could they remain one nation? 

   Our Constitution was a foundation on which the rest of the country's laws would be built. The national government had to be strong enough, but with not so much power that puts fundamental rights at risk.     

   Government was a necessity, but the founders were suspicious of it becoming so powerful that individual liberties might be jeopardized. 

   Today, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) work to protect liberties and restrain the power of centralized government. 

   At the end of the book, the authors wrote a section, "Corruption," which exposes corruption in government and our culture, undermining the Constitution. Will the Constitution continue to withstand the test of time? 

   President John Adams said: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." 

           Jimmy

The Second C - Capitalism

   We pick up where we left on Saturday - Christianity, one of the THREE Cs THAT MADE AMERICA GREAT, written by Mike Huckabee and Steve Feazel. 

   Capitalism is the second C. 

   Settlers in the colonies were escaping feudalism, common in Europe, where kings owned and dispensed land to nobles. They in turn gave kings political security.

   Peasant farmers did not own land, which was key to wealth. Ordinary citizens had little hope of owning land or gaining wealth. 

   After the Revolutionary War, the Washington administration sold western land at a dollar an acre to help pay off debt to France. Soldiers were paid in land grants.

   Capitalism grew, and other means of acquiring wealth became reality. The authors explain how America overcame some of capitalism's imperfections. 

   They also discuss personal stories of entrepreneurs, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, Sam Walton, Alexander Graham Bell and Rush Limbaugh.  

   "More people have been lifted out of poverty by capitalism than any other economic system ever to appear in the history of the world," they wrote.

   Tomorrow, the Constitution - the third C. 

       Jimmy

 Wisdom and Judging  

   We ... speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 

   No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

                                               1 Corinthians 2:6-8 

   Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. 

                                                1 Corinthians 4:5 

   Then what?

   Do you not know we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

                                                 1 Corinthians 6:3 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wonderful Counselor - our legal helper

Mighty God - our powerful helper

Everlasting Father - head of the family

Prince of peace - eternal ruler, guarantor of peace

Isaiah 9:6-9

 What We Stand to Lose, if...   

   Here we are, a few hours after we again celebrated the human birth of God himself. And we wonder when those in Washington might change Christmas to Gift-Giving Day.

   Those who want God out of the way are increasing in strength. They are related to religious Sadducees and Pharisees who rejected Jesus 2000 years ago. (That "knowledge" -  attributed to our nephew, a pastor in Oregon.)    

   If America turns away from tradition and the ideas that made America successful, we stand to lose. This comes from a book, The Three Cs That Made America Great, by Mike Huckabee and Steve Feazel, both Christian ministers, retired. Huckabee as you know was governor of Arkansas and twice a candidate for president.

   The first C - Christianity.

   The authors believe America's relationship with God influenced colonial life and was at the heart of many of our laws. They write about early colonists, charters of the colonies, and the religious ideas of the founders. 

   Immigrating from Europe, where worship meant official state churches, the colonists established their own relationship to God. 

   The "establishment clause" in the First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." This was not written to deny Christianity's influence, but to make sure that one denomination would not be favored over another. 

   (You may know that unbelievers intentionally misconstrued the comment of one of our founders to claim that church and state must be separate.) Many now believe that sleight was and is the law. It isn't.

   Justice Samuel Alito Jr. said, "In certain quarters religious liberty has fast become a disfavored right." 

   Monday, the second C - Capitalism. 

        Jimmy

    

   

 Immanuel, to Thee We Sing 

   The angelic message said the baby was to be named Jesus (Savior), so what's with the Old Testament name Immanuel? Are Scriptures a little confused here? 

   In the 1600s a German believer wrote a hymn focused on Immanuel. Other names in the hymn include Prince of life, almighty King and heavenly Guest.  

   Names are what we are called. In Bible times, names could also mean who you were. For example, in Acts, Paul's helper Joseph took on the name Barnabas, "encourager."

   Immanuel means "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14) That's who Jesus was in human flesh, and is, and eternally will be ... with us. Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14 in his first chapter, after providing genealogy starting with Abraham. 

   In Isaiah chapter 9 the prophet provides other, awesome names of the "child," the "son" to be given to us centuries later.

   "And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince (ruler) of Peace."  

   It doesn't get any better than who he is. There is one God. If we have the Holy Spirit, we have the Son and we have the Father ... inseparable ... both here and above ... on our behalf ... no matter what ... in this fickle world. 

   Merry Christmas.

        Jimmy

 

Young and Old, Rich and Poor

*

   Suddenly, the night lights up with the glory of the Lord over poor shepherds tending their flocks. Were they speechless? "Terrified!" the Book says. The angelic message is good news and great joy to them. Then a great company of angels of the heavenly host gives glory to God. Excited shepherds find the manger, see the child, and return to their fields, spreading the news as they go.

   When they were able, Mary and Joseph travel six miles to Jerusalem, to present the child to the Lord. By the Law of Moses, a first-born male was to be consecrated / dedicated to the Lord, and parents would offer a sacrifice. Being poor, they offered a pair of doves. 

*

   Simeon, an old priest, received the child. He knew. Simeon praised God, saying: For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

   Then, Simeon gave Mary something to ponder. This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul also.        ...and so it did. 

*

   Then there were the rich. Coming from the east were "wise men" who had seen glory in the sky resembling a star. Somehow they knew it was leading them to a house in Jerusalem, where the family now was staying. They worshipped the child and delivered valuable gifts. 

   A fiction novel might have Mary and Joseph returning to Nazareth, and years later tearfully waving goodbye as their son goes off to save the world. 

   But this world is vile. King Herod is troubled by the report of wise men searching for a newborn king. He learned from priests and teachers that Bethlehem was the place in prophecy. To assure his rival was eliminated, he ordered all babies in the city killed, up to age 2. Paranoia? 

*

   Six centuries earlier, Jeremiah received a word: This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more." 

   A fictitious hero would have saved the children. 

* *

   Instead, an angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt, where they lived two years. When Herod died, the angel told Joseph it was safe to return home. 

   Hosea, seven centuries prior, foreknew this: Out of Egypt I called my son. 

 The birth was a miracle, and acts of God continued.

This was written in the book of life before there was a world. (Rev. 17:8)

The Lamb that was slain conceived his plan to 

 redeem humanity before there was humanity. (Rev. 13:8)

   Merry Christmas