ABOUT FAITH & FREEDOM

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Losing Our Way--Finding Our Way

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When longtime New York Times journalist, Bob Herbert, left the paper nearly two years ago, his farewell article was titled, "Losing Our Way."

His last words were used to encourage a greater move toward the far left progressive philosophy as the method of finding ourselves and restoring the country.

In the past 24 months, our government and its leadership has generally followed suggestions.

They haven't worked. They have never worked because they stand in direct conflict with the founding principles that led America to greatness.

Another farewell, by someone far more invested in the country and more closely associated with its founding and in full agreement with its founding principles, gave a very different narrative in his last column.

Here is the path to finding our way:

But first: The New Pope Francis I is very clear on positions of abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage.

He has said, "We should be conscious that people cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortions, euthanasia, or other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated. This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors and health professionals."

In 2010, he wrote to all the priests in Latin America regarding the political attempts to legalize same-sex marriage: "Let's not be naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God."


Although his words are read each year in Congress around the time of his birthday, perhaps we the people need to review them ourselves so we can better help our elected officials implement them as they "serve the public."

President George Washington's Farewell address, which was actually a letter to the American people---A directive for the future---an affirmation of the past.

1. Avoid Debt

"As a very important source of strength and security cherish public credit...use it as sparingly as possible, avoiding occasion of expense...[Use the] time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden we ourselves ought to bear."

Today our national debt is over $16.5 trillion and is increasing by about $4 billion per day.

Every taxpayer in America is in debt $146,193. If we continue as we are, this will be passed on to your children and grandchildren and their children.

2. Stay True To God

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports...Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation deserts the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

The Founding Fathers did not and would not have supported the notion of separation of church and state the way it is imposed on our country today.

3. Foreign Aid

"In the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more."

He essentially told us that gift giving in foreign affairs is a good way to be universally hated.

Think 16, F-16 fighter jets, 200 Abram Tanks and $1.8 billion to Egypt last year.

Do they love us yet?

And if we cut back or discontinue this "favor," who will the Muslim Brotherhood, who control the country, attempt to attack with these state of the art weapons? The United States or Israel?

4. Special Interests. "Avoid Combination and Associations."

He was referring to a small minority who would seek to suppress the desires of the majority in favor of minority interests.

He warned that these factions, "May answer popular ends and become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of the government."

And he gave the antidote for such an occasion.

Here's how he suggested we deal with special interests: "Resist with care the spirit of innovation"---upon basic constitutional principles no matter how well spoken the advocates may be, or "specious the pretext."

He knew there would be those who would attempt to undermine the power, the restraint and the original intent of the Constitution, in an attempt to empower themselves.

He said the Constitution is an instrument for good, but it is also the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.

5. Standing For Freedom Will Not Be Popular.

He said, "Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests."

Tools and Dupes.

It seems they are too many on the stage of today's political theater.

I'm talking more about this on my radio program today. If it is on in your area please listen in at 9 AM and again at 7:30 PM on your local station. Or, click here to listen on your computer or get your free phone app and listen anywhere.


Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Active. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.