The Preamble of the Declaration of Independence gives us the right to pursue happiness. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
It does not give a guarantee. Happiness is defined so differently by each person. And we are given the right to pursue them as we want. There are limitations of course. We cannot hurt others in our pursuit.
Obama overreaches as he tries to micromanage the rehab of big banks. He has no expertise in banking and neither do his advisors. It’s going to backfire. He has already looked foolish in allowing the officers of AIG to take their bonuses and then take it all back by taxing it. That is so childish. And yet many people seem to approve. Do they not see who is ultimately at fault here?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
1 Samuel 16:4
1 Samuel 16:4
We are so used to a rule of law. We do not have personal experience with a rule of men. Maybe with Obama we might get to experience it. But that's another story.
Men can be capricious. It is scary when so much power is invested in one man.Israel has come to regret perhaps demanding a king.
Saul, we are going to see later, can be very capricious. By this time have the people already experienced some of it.
So 1 Samuel 16:4 brings a chuckle to my heart. Why? The elders tremble to meet Samuel. This is sort of a meeting of state with a man no longer in power. Samuel is like a former president or a former prime minister. You still give him respect but it is awkward.
But the people of Bethlehem know Samuel is not in favor with the new king. What has occurred between the confrontation described in chapter 15 and the events of chapter 16? Has Saul forbid Samuel from traveling? Saul, as king, has the power of life or death. It is scary for one man to have such power. So that is why the elders of Bethlehem tremble when they meet Samuel and ask if he comes in peace.
What does it mean to come in peace? Do they suspect that Samuel might foment revolution. In a sense, a real sense, Samuel is not telling the truth here. Samuel has come to commit treason. He is planning to anoint a new king. This is certain to be the same as fomenting revolution. He may come in God's peace but it means the opposite of peace to Saul and his descendants.
1 Samuel 16:2 - Samuel also fears Saul. Something must have gone on between the last visit that we read about in chapter 15 and now. We do not know why Samuel would fear traveling. Samuel hears God and responds with a comment. God does not disagree with Samuel's assessment of the situation. God comes up with a solution. He essentially travels with a cover story. He is like a spy in a modern movie.
We are so used to a rule of law. We do not have personal experience with a rule of men. Maybe with Obama we might get to experience it. But that's another story.
Men can be capricious. It is scary when so much power is invested in one man.Israel has come to regret perhaps demanding a king.
Saul, we are going to see later, can be very capricious. By this time have the people already experienced some of it.
So 1 Samuel 16:4 brings a chuckle to my heart. Why? The elders tremble to meet Samuel. This is sort of a meeting of state with a man no longer in power. Samuel is like a former president or a former prime minister. You still give him respect but it is awkward.
But the people of Bethlehem know Samuel is not in favor with the new king. What has occurred between the confrontation described in chapter 15 and the events of chapter 16? Has Saul forbid Samuel from traveling? Saul, as king, has the power of life or death. It is scary for one man to have such power. So that is why the elders of Bethlehem tremble when they meet Samuel and ask if he comes in peace.
What does it mean to come in peace? Do they suspect that Samuel might foment revolution. In a sense, a real sense, Samuel is not telling the truth here. Samuel has come to commit treason. He is planning to anoint a new king. This is certain to be the same as fomenting revolution. He may come in God's peace but it means the opposite of peace to Saul and his descendants.
1 Samuel 16:2 - Samuel also fears Saul. Something must have gone on between the last visit that we read about in chapter 15 and now. We do not know why Samuel would fear traveling. Samuel hears God and responds with a comment. God does not disagree with Samuel's assessment of the situation. God comes up with a solution. He essentially travels with a cover story. He is like a spy in a modern movie.
Friday, April 10, 2009
back from Camp Peniel
Back from Camp Peniel
These are nice people. I don't feel worthy.
High points for me are that we played a very friendly Scrabble game with a couple with last name of Taft. It was very fast. Everyone played common words and The four of us totally over 500 points. I think that is pretty good. Everywhere scored pretty close except the wife who emptied her board for a 92 point word. Very cool. That put her ahead to stay.
Second high point was that DW and I sang a children's song with the motions for our "talent" in the talent show. We sang "I'm a little stone in the house of Jesus". Some might remember that little ditty. We thought about "The Butterfly Song". Maybe next year. DW would have done it. I was afraid we would fumble on the order of the animals.
(Parenthetically some of the "acts" were unbearable.) But the dog acts were good especially the first one. She knew a lot of great tricks.
There were Christian talks that bore on reaffirming our commitment to Jesus. Talks like that confuse me. Am I totally committed? I think I am and at the same time I know I can do better. I think God has me where he wants me and I have to trust he will roust me up if I need to do more. So I am pretty confused to know how to proceed with such talk. Perhaps it is simply to say, "yes Lord". And to aks God to show me what more he wants me to do. But I think we can easily outrun the Lord. We can do things God is simply not calling us to and think we are great people for doing so. And yet ... And yet ... God help me to know your mind on this.
The third high point was to see the UMHB Passion Play Wednesday night 5:00 PM. Well we got lost getting there so we got there for only half of the play. We got there just as the Passion part was starting. The visit to Herod must have just ended. Looked like from the set that we missed the woman at the well and the Upper Room/ Last Supper. Naomi got there at the same time so she filled us in.
Actually God very much blessed us with a miracle parking spot and then Naomi to give us advice as to where to sit. DD3 was playing one of the sorrowful women who cried when Jesus was suffering and dying. She was on the large outdoor set most of the time. Later we got a nice Mexican meal with her. It was great to do some catching up. We also saw here roommates, which include Naomi.
But she had to rush off for more of the festivities. We had to cut it short. We headed back to Camp Peniel. We got there at 10 PM. Some people were having a jam session like they did the night before. More of us stayed up to sing along.
They also use the Celebration Hymnal and like Sam they choose a lot of songs that are famous in Baptist churches. Many of these people are about the same age as the people in Brighton Home.
I peevishly wanted to ask them to sing an old Redeemer song but I refrained. There are several of them in this hymnal. No doubt none of the guitar players nor any of the singers have ever heard of it and would not appreciate my raining on their trip down memory lane. These songs are "heart songs" for them as they are really not for me. But I can sing them.
Eventually there will be pictures of us on the Camp Peniel website of us on horses. But there are not up yet.
These are nice people. I don't feel worthy.
High points for me are that we played a very friendly Scrabble game with a couple with last name of Taft. It was very fast. Everyone played common words and The four of us totally over 500 points. I think that is pretty good. Everywhere scored pretty close except the wife who emptied her board for a 92 point word. Very cool. That put her ahead to stay.
Second high point was that DW and I sang a children's song with the motions for our "talent" in the talent show. We sang "I'm a little stone in the house of Jesus". Some might remember that little ditty. We thought about "The Butterfly Song". Maybe next year. DW would have done it. I was afraid we would fumble on the order of the animals.
(Parenthetically some of the "acts" were unbearable.) But the dog acts were good especially the first one. She knew a lot of great tricks.
There were Christian talks that bore on reaffirming our commitment to Jesus. Talks like that confuse me. Am I totally committed? I think I am and at the same time I know I can do better. I think God has me where he wants me and I have to trust he will roust me up if I need to do more. So I am pretty confused to know how to proceed with such talk. Perhaps it is simply to say, "yes Lord". And to aks God to show me what more he wants me to do. But I think we can easily outrun the Lord. We can do things God is simply not calling us to and think we are great people for doing so. And yet ... And yet ... God help me to know your mind on this.
The third high point was to see the UMHB Passion Play Wednesday night 5:00 PM. Well we got lost getting there so we got there for only half of the play. We got there just as the Passion part was starting. The visit to Herod must have just ended. Looked like from the set that we missed the woman at the well and the Upper Room/ Last Supper. Naomi got there at the same time so she filled us in.
Actually God very much blessed us with a miracle parking spot and then Naomi to give us advice as to where to sit. DD3 was playing one of the sorrowful women who cried when Jesus was suffering and dying. She was on the large outdoor set most of the time. Later we got a nice Mexican meal with her. It was great to do some catching up. We also saw here roommates, which include Naomi.
But she had to rush off for more of the festivities. We had to cut it short. We headed back to Camp Peniel. We got there at 10 PM. Some people were having a jam session like they did the night before. More of us stayed up to sing along.
They also use the Celebration Hymnal and like Sam they choose a lot of songs that are famous in Baptist churches. Many of these people are about the same age as the people in Brighton Home.
I peevishly wanted to ask them to sing an old Redeemer song but I refrained. There are several of them in this hymnal. No doubt none of the guitar players nor any of the singers have ever heard of it and would not appreciate my raining on their trip down memory lane. These songs are "heart songs" for them as they are really not for me. But I can sing them.
Eventually there will be pictures of us on the Camp Peniel website of us on horses. But there are not up yet.
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