Is God A Democrat?

Or a Republican?

That was the question our son asked on Election Day, this year.

It's no wonder he would ask.  With all the rhetoric and the dispersions being cast back and forth, it makes one wonder where God really is in this big, beautiful mess we call democracy.

We've removed God from our schools, but he's everywhere in the political process.  Politicians love to throw in little bits of Scripture or "God bless America"'s when they feel it's to their political advantage.

So, where does that leave God?  Democrat or Republican?

As we have been studying the names of God in our weekly Bible study, the name Melek Ha-Goyim "The King of the Nations" was introduced.  He is God over all nations.  All powers, authorities, and rulers bow to him.  He answers to nobody.

"...and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.  From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.  His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us."  Acts 17:25-27

However you feel about the outcome of the elections - whether you are elated or disgusted,  let us be reminded that we can't place our total faith in any political party.  They can and will disappoint us.  While it's imperative to keep doing our part keeping the wheels of democracy moving, we cannot forget the "purpose of the nations" in our individual lives.

Seek after God.  Feel your way toward him.  Find him.  He is not far from any one of us.

Republican or Democrat.

When in the course of human events...

I just stumbled across an incredible site today.  I was looking for a photo and transcript of the Declaration of Independence and found the government archives where images and transcripts of all our government's most cherished documents are cataloged.

If you want to get lost in history, go to the National Archives site www.archives.org.  Besides the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, they have Edison's patent for the light bulb, the canceled check for the purchase of Alaska, the Apollo 11 flight plan and more.  I had to keep pulling myself out of this incredible website to refocus or you would be staring at a blank page right now.  Well, not really, you would be looking at yesterday's post, but you get the drift.

I just read the Declaration of Independence.  I thought I had read it before, but when I went to the archives, I realized that I had only read or heard snippets.

It is wordy, cumbersome and over half of it is devoted to a list of the colonies' grievances against 'The King of Great Britain'.  In spite of this, I felt overwhelmed and emotional as I read the words and realized their full impact.

"We hold these truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..."

This page looks so unassuming - stained, faded and smudged with fingerprints.  Copies of this beloved document have sold for over $8 million dollars.  It is impossible to place a monetary value on the original parchment.

The members of the Second Continental Congress in 1776 were considered rebels and traitors by the King.  Rewards were posted for the capture of prominent rebel leaders and at that time a British armada was assembled outside New York harbor.  56 members of Congress (one of them a Rutledge!) from all 13 colonies signed this document and pledged their lives, their fortunes and their honor to freedom's cause.

I am honoring these men and others like them, who pledged their lives to secure our freedom.  They are my personal heroes.

God bless America!

Freedom Isn't Free

 "It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you."
   ~Author unknown


What a great weekend!  It has been jam-packed with fun - a church picnic, an amazing Jazz Concert in the park (thank you, Brad and Michelle!), great times visiting with family and friends.  I wish every weekend had as many opportunities to hang out and eat good food!

In all the fun and food, it is easy to forget the real reason behind Memorial Day.  We need to take time to reflect on our freedom and the cost behind it.  The pictures below are to honor my friends and loved ones who make me proud to live in 'the land of the free'.

So...
to all the brave men and women who are have served and are now serving around the world, in order to preserve freedom

to the families that are left behind, praying for their safety

to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives

You are not forgotten.
Thank you!

"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it."
-- Daniel Webster (1834)