"We don't have a tillion dollar-debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. " - Ronald ReaganFriday, November 27, 2009
Ronald Reagan; Quote of the Week
"We don't have a tillion dollar-debt because we haven't taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. " - Ronald Reagan
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
America's Traditional Thanksgiving Day
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
October 3, 1863
This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise."
According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28, 1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise."
According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary that he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
Sunday, August 23, 2009
America's JUDEO - Christian Roots
From the Heritage Foundation
"Scholars often mistakenly refer to the god of the Founders as a deist god. But the Founders talked about God in terms that are radically Jewish: Creator, Lawgiver, Governor, Judge, and Providence. These were the names they most commonly used for Him, notably in the Declaration of Independence. For the most part, these are not names that could have come from the Greeks or Romans, but only from the Jewish Testament. Perhaps the Founders avoided Christian language because they didn’t want to divide one another, since different colonies were founded under different Christian inspirations. In any case, all found common language in the language of the Jewish Testament. It is important for citizens today whose main inspiration is the Enlightenment and Reason to grasp the religious elements in the founding, which have been understated for a hundred years."
Faith and the American Founding: Illustrating Religion's Influence
by Michael Novak
First Principles #7
"Scholars often mistakenly refer to the god of the Founders as a deist god. But the Founders talked about God in terms that are radically Jewish: Creator, Lawgiver, Governor, Judge, and Providence. These were the names they most commonly used for Him, notably in the Declaration of Independence. For the most part, these are not names that could have come from the Greeks or Romans, but only from the Jewish Testament. Perhaps the Founders avoided Christian language because they didn’t want to divide one another, since different colonies were founded under different Christian inspirations. In any case, all found common language in the language of the Jewish Testament. It is important for citizens today whose main inspiration is the Enlightenment and Reason to grasp the religious elements in the founding, which have been understated for a hundred years."
Faith and the American Founding: Illustrating Religion's Influence
by Michael Novak
First Principles #7
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Total Solar Eclipse and the Ninth of Av
Signs in the heavens? This year’s only total solar eclipse occurs today, July 22, 2009 little more than a week before the critical date in the Hebrew calendar called "Tish B’Av." This year's Tish B’Av (July 30, 2009) is the day of fasting and mourning that concludes three weeks of the austere remembrance of (the curse on Israel down through the centuries beginning with) the failure of 10 of the 12 spies Moses sent to spy out the promised land.
It was on this day of the Hebrew Calendar in 586 BC that Solomon’s Temple was destroyed. It was on that day in 70 AD that the second (Herod’s) Temple was destroyed and on it goes.
August 4, 135 AD, the Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered; Jerusalem was plowed under and later rebuilt as a pagan city forbidden to Jews.
Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade. Tens of thousands of Jews were killed, and many Jewish communities were obliterated
July 25, 1290 [9 Av 5050] marked the first nation-wide rejection of Jews when the official decree expelling them from England was signed.
In 1492, [9 Av 5252] King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tish B’Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.
August 6, 1555 [9 Av, 5315] Jews were first ordered into a ghetto on when the Jews of Rome were ordered to live in a district near the Tiber.
W.W. I broke out on [9 Av, 5674] August 1, 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. German resentment from the war set the stage for the Holocaust. A total solar eclipse occurred on August 21st of that year. (This agrees with the theory that solar eclipses occurring within the proximity of Tish B’ Av effect gentile nations more than Israel which bases their dates on a lunar calendar).
August 2, 1941 [9 Av 5701] Reinhardt Heydrich was ordered to carry out the “final solution” on European Jewry.
August 14, 2005 [9 Av 5765] 8,000 Jewish settlers were forcefully expelled from their homes in Gush Katif, the Southern Gaza strip.
That brings us up to the current trifecta of TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES that occur around the 1st of Av on each of the year’s 2008, 2009 and 2010.
August 1, 2008 there was a total solar eclipse. On August 8, 2008 [9th of Av] Russia attacked Georgia.
This year, on July 22, 2009 (Today at this writing) a total solar eclipse will occur. It's the only total Solar Eclipse of the year, anywhere on the globe. The 9th of Av happens about 8 days later as well. In our Gregorian calendar that translates to July 29th and 30th (since Hebrew days begin and end in the evening). We’ll see what happens.
If something does occur, then we can expect another event in 2010 when a total solar eclipse repeats on July 11 (1st of Av) and see what happens on July 19 – 20 (9th of Av).
Why do I think that these three solar eclipses are significant? Because this is the only time in (Hebrew) history, they occur in such a pattern in conjunction with this austere Jewish remembrance.
One skeptic has already accused me of inferring that naturally occurring cosmological events determine events on earth. Not true! My answer is this: The order and magnitude of cosmological events is repeated throughout the Biblical record. The Magi, or wise men from the East for example, knew of the birth of the King of the Jews (Christ) by observing ‘signs’ in the heavens. The motion of heavenly bodies does not govern human events on the earth! I never inferred that it did; but rather an all-wise, all knowing God has pre-determined their motions, like the intricate workings of a grand clock, set from the beginning of creation. God said that the sun, moon and stars were for signs (Hebrew: "oth" – meaning a signal, flag or warning) and seasons (Heb: "mo-ed,"festivals, convocations, appointments). – Genesis 1:14
It’s God’s ‘alarm clock’ set by His infinite foreknowledge untold centuries ago, to alert us of coming events. As for me, I am unashamed in taking this unprecedented 'trinity' of total solar eclipses that precede Tish B’Av as God’s signal to prepare for a coming event. Personally, I hope this year’s Tish B’Av will peacefully pass unnoticed; but since I really believe there is danger ahead to prepare for, would I be less than responsible to keep silent?
Frequent Biblical references to events in the sky permeate both the Old and New Testament – Why did Jesus talk about things like,
“…there will be fearful sights and great signs…from heaven.” - Luke 21:11.
Or the Torah which says, “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth.” – Daniel 6:27.
Interestingly however, the Bible also says this, “...be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." This makes a clear distinction between believers and non-believers. Whatever happens, God has promised to be our "Jehovah Jireh," the provider of all our needs.
The Bible speaks of the sun being darkened and the moon turning blood red as ‘signs’ in both the Old and New Testaments. Isn’t that also a description of both solar and lunar eclipses?
From this moment you have six days to prepare. I would at least have extra food and water available, to last a minimum of a week. Frankly, that is not too bad an idea in the world we live in anyway. Fueling up vehicles and propane containers (by July 27th ) as well.
Flashlights, radios extra batteries, lanterns and candles etc. It’s not going to cost any more in the long run whether or not anything actually does happen, but you know the saying – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That seems to be the most sensible attitude to have now since nobody knows what and where an event (if any) will happen, on this ‘Tish B’Av.
One should at least consider having emergency supplies on hand in any event. Other suggestions could be found online.
We know the world we live in is becoming more dangerous. Israel is on record affirming that they are not about allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, and Iran is on record affirming that their intent is to destroy Israel. We know that Iran has been conducting experiments that seem to indicate they are preparing to initiate an EMP attack. Then there’s North Korea, Venezuela etc.
Last year’s eclipse overshadowed Northern Canada, Greenland, Siberia (Russia), Mongolia, and China. Russia invaded Georgia.
This year it overshadows India, Nepal, China and the Central Pacific.
In 2010 it overshadows the South Pacific, Easter Is., Chile and Argentina.
Whatever the future holds, is it written in the sky?
It was on this day of the Hebrew Calendar in 586 BC that Solomon’s Temple was destroyed. It was on that day in 70 AD that the second (Herod’s) Temple was destroyed and on it goes.
August 4, 135 AD, the Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered; Jerusalem was plowed under and later rebuilt as a pagan city forbidden to Jews.
Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade. Tens of thousands of Jews were killed, and many Jewish communities were obliterated
July 25, 1290 [9 Av 5050] marked the first nation-wide rejection of Jews when the official decree expelling them from England was signed.
In 1492, [9 Av 5252] King Ferdinand of Spain issued the expulsion decree, setting Tish B’Av as the final date by which not a single Jew would be allowed to walk on Spanish soil.
August 6, 1555 [9 Av, 5315] Jews were first ordered into a ghetto on when the Jews of Rome were ordered to live in a district near the Tiber.
W.W. I broke out on [9 Av, 5674] August 1, 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. German resentment from the war set the stage for the Holocaust. A total solar eclipse occurred on August 21st of that year. (This agrees with the theory that solar eclipses occurring within the proximity of Tish B’ Av effect gentile nations more than Israel which bases their dates on a lunar calendar).
August 2, 1941 [9 Av 5701] Reinhardt Heydrich was ordered to carry out the “final solution” on European Jewry.
August 14, 2005 [9 Av 5765] 8,000 Jewish settlers were forcefully expelled from their homes in Gush Katif, the Southern Gaza strip.
That brings us up to the current trifecta of TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES that occur around the 1st of Av on each of the year’s 2008, 2009 and 2010.
August 1, 2008 there was a total solar eclipse. On August 8, 2008 [9th of Av] Russia attacked Georgia.
This year, on July 22, 2009 (Today at this writing) a total solar eclipse will occur. It's the only total Solar Eclipse of the year, anywhere on the globe. The 9th of Av happens about 8 days later as well. In our Gregorian calendar that translates to July 29th and 30th (since Hebrew days begin and end in the evening). We’ll see what happens.
If something does occur, then we can expect another event in 2010 when a total solar eclipse repeats on July 11 (1st of Av) and see what happens on July 19 – 20 (9th of Av).
Why do I think that these three solar eclipses are significant? Because this is the only time in (Hebrew) history, they occur in such a pattern in conjunction with this austere Jewish remembrance.
One skeptic has already accused me of inferring that naturally occurring cosmological events determine events on earth. Not true! My answer is this: The order and magnitude of cosmological events is repeated throughout the Biblical record. The Magi, or wise men from the East for example, knew of the birth of the King of the Jews (Christ) by observing ‘signs’ in the heavens. The motion of heavenly bodies does not govern human events on the earth! I never inferred that it did; but rather an all-wise, all knowing God has pre-determined their motions, like the intricate workings of a grand clock, set from the beginning of creation. God said that the sun, moon and stars were for signs (Hebrew: "oth" – meaning a signal, flag or warning) and seasons (Heb: "mo-ed,"festivals, convocations, appointments). – Genesis 1:14
It’s God’s ‘alarm clock’ set by His infinite foreknowledge untold centuries ago, to alert us of coming events. As for me, I am unashamed in taking this unprecedented 'trinity' of total solar eclipses that precede Tish B’Av as God’s signal to prepare for a coming event. Personally, I hope this year’s Tish B’Av will peacefully pass unnoticed; but since I really believe there is danger ahead to prepare for, would I be less than responsible to keep silent?
Frequent Biblical references to events in the sky permeate both the Old and New Testament – Why did Jesus talk about things like,
“…there will be fearful sights and great signs…from heaven.” - Luke 21:11.
Or the Torah which says, “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth.” – Daniel 6:27.
Interestingly however, the Bible also says this, “...be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." This makes a clear distinction between believers and non-believers. Whatever happens, God has promised to be our "Jehovah Jireh," the provider of all our needs.
The Bible speaks of the sun being darkened and the moon turning blood red as ‘signs’ in both the Old and New Testaments. Isn’t that also a description of both solar and lunar eclipses?
From this moment you have six days to prepare. I would at least have extra food and water available, to last a minimum of a week. Frankly, that is not too bad an idea in the world we live in anyway. Fueling up vehicles and propane containers (by July 27th ) as well.
Flashlights, radios extra batteries, lanterns and candles etc. It’s not going to cost any more in the long run whether or not anything actually does happen, but you know the saying – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That seems to be the most sensible attitude to have now since nobody knows what and where an event (if any) will happen, on this ‘Tish B’Av.
One should at least consider having emergency supplies on hand in any event. Other suggestions could be found online.
We know the world we live in is becoming more dangerous. Israel is on record affirming that they are not about allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, and Iran is on record affirming that their intent is to destroy Israel. We know that Iran has been conducting experiments that seem to indicate they are preparing to initiate an EMP attack. Then there’s North Korea, Venezuela etc.
Last year’s eclipse overshadowed Northern Canada, Greenland, Siberia (Russia), Mongolia, and China. Russia invaded Georgia.
This year it overshadows India, Nepal, China and the Central Pacific.
In 2010 it overshadows the South Pacific, Easter Is., Chile and Argentina.
Whatever the future holds, is it written in the sky?
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Hand of Providence - Quote of the Month
"The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations. ... The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be abused by human depravity. ... It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors." --George Washington
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
