My Brother Erik on: Separation of Church vs. State, Part II

The purpose of the First Amendment was to declare that the federal government had absolutely no jurisdiction in matters of religion. It could neither establish a religion, nor prohibit the free exercise of religion. 

I want to emphasize that it is freedom of religion NOT freedom from religion, which is what many groups truly want for our nation.

The First Amendment clearly erected a barrier between the federal government and religion on a state level. If a state chose to have no religion, or to have an established religion, the federal government had no jurisdiction one way or the other.  This is what Thomas Jefferson meant by the "wall of separation." 

In context, the word "state" really referred to the federal government. The First Amendment did not apply to the states. It was only applicable as a restraint against the federal government.

There is nothing wrong with the way Jefferson used the "wall of separation between church and state" metaphor. The problem has arisen when the Supreme Court in 1947 erroneously picked up the metaphor and attempted to construct a constitutional principal. Not only did they distort the First Amendment, but misinterpreted the intent of Jefferson's letter.

The "wall of separation between church and state" phrase as understood by Jefferson was never meant to exclude people of faith from influencing and shaping government. Thomas Jefferson and our other Founding Fathers would be shocked to learn that Jefferson’s letter has been used as a weapon against religion.

Fifty on Faith, Family and Friends

Yesterday, September 19th 2010 I turned 50 years old.  Reflecting back, I have discovered the three most important things in life!?  They are Faith, Faith and Faith.  Faith, however in just faith is no good.  It is what I put my "Faith In" that is important.  Let me explain.

1.  My Faith:  What good is it if I was to obtain all this world can give and miss going to heaven?  Last year when we gave up what few toys we had to adopt Caleb and get custody of Corina, it was much easier than I thought.  It is not that Carey and I don't want things, we do.  It is that things are less and less important.   I was going to use the word sacrifice, but that implies we gave up something - we didn't, we gained a Son and Daughter!  We thought we were rescuing them, when in fact they rescued us!

I am the selfish one in the family.  I graduated from the University of Self-Centeredness with honors no less.   Most of you whom have taken the time to read this probably know how sinful I am (it is still my nature).  I have blasphemed in both word and action The One True God whom I have claimed to serve, but when I called upon the name of Jesus, repented and put my trust in Him and Him alone, He saved me!

2.  My Family's Faith:  I told my oldest daughter Breana several years ago that Reading, Writing and Arithmetic were important, however the most important thing is that we "finish together".  The only way to do that is that our entire family all goes to Heaven.  God is not a grandfather, but a Father which means Breana cannot get to heaven on my faith but must have her own relationship with The Lord.

Carey and I are blessed.  Breana, Joshua and Corina are all soundly saved.  As for Caleb, he is only 22 months and is "safe".  When the time comes Caleb will need to put his trust and faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  We pray over him that he gets soundly saved at an early age.  What faith is it that I have that I cannot share it with my children?  Even worse, what father am I that because of my arrogance and pride reject Christ and just at the end I am able to receive Him as Savior but leave my family to perish a sinners death?

3.  My Friends Faith:  Some of my friends are saved and some are not and some I just don't know.  It is truly my desire for all of you to have eternal life with Christ.  If you are one that doesn't believe this then it is you I need to pray for the most.  You are not saved because you go to church, know a church or built a church.

As Pastor Tom Peters from Trinity Church International once said:  "It is not an affiliation or denomination that saves.  As a matter of fact, you better get rid of those denominational tags, because they are going to fall off if you go up or burn off if you go down!?"  It is a relationship with Jesus Christ, the only Son of God whom left heaven to be born of a virgin, was beaten and crucified and died for our past sins, present sins and future sins, raised to life on the third day and now sits at God's right hand to intercede on our behalf to those who have put their Faith in Him.

What you have done in the past is not nearly as important as what you will do with the present!

Love ernie

My Brother Erik on: Separation of Church vs. State, Part I

One of the most disturbing trends of the last 70 years in America has been the eradication of this nation’s Judeo Christian principles and influences from all walks of government and even general society.

Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State has attempted to create an environment in which government and religion are enemies.

Their favorite phrase that they and their friends in the liberal mainstream media keep trumpeting over and over has been "separation of church and state."  They have touted the phrase so many times that most people believe the phrase is in the Constitution. Nowhere is "separation of church and state" referenced in the Constitution.

In 1947 the Supreme Court popularized Thomas Jefferson's "wall of separation between church and state."  Taking the Jefferson metaphor out of context, these groups have often used the phrase to silence Christians and to limit any Christian influence from affecting the political system.

The obvious first problem with the above assertion is that this quote, “wall of separation between church and state”, is not from an official government document.  It was in a letter from Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association.

The Danbury Baptists sent a congratulatory letter to Thomas Jefferson upon his election as President in 1801.  The Danbury Baptists was alliance of churches in Western Connecticut. The Baptists were a religious minority in the state of Connecticut where Congregationalism was the established church. 

In a nutshell, the Danbury Baptists expressed concern in their letter to President Jefferson that the Federal Government would establish one religion for all the states. 

Jefferson, in a draft of his letter to the Danbury Baptists stated “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that legitimate powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; thus building a wall of separation between church and state.”

It is clear as one read’s Jefferson’s letter in its entirety that it was Jefferson's original intent that "wall of separation between church and state" meant that the church was to be protected from the government, not the reverse. 

Next week, I will discuss the true purpose of the First Amendment that our nation’s Founding Fathers wrote in the United States Constitution.

President Obama on 911: Deceiver or Deceived?

On Saturday President Obama made this statement: "As Americans we will not and never will be at war with Islam. It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was Al-Qaeda, (a) sorry band of men, which perverts religion,"   


While outside the White House Randall Terry, a leading anti-abortion campaigner, and one of six people who took part in ripping pages from koran said: "Part of why we're doing that, please hear me: the charade that Islam is a peaceful religion must end."


I was going to site numerous instances, articles and writings to show how either misinformed or downright deceptive this president is, however I will just give you this to think about.  We are all at war!?  Most call it a battle between "Good" and "Evil".  This is not to far from the truth, but the real battle is "TRUTH"!  There can only be one true truth for truth to be true!  On the other hand there can be many lies which may look true but are designed to hide the truth?


So the question: Is America and the principles that are Founding Father's used to create this great nation part of the deception and islam the true truth or the other way around.  After all the islamic world refers to us as the "great satan" (no capitalization on purpose my English majors).


For those of you thinking that there are many ways...  you have been deceived already!  You are either the "pawn" or the "prize" in this battle.  The Giver of Truth not only allows you to choose but has made The Way for you.


This September 11th needs to be remembered on November 2nd!!!

911, It's Not That We Have Forgotten - It Is What We Chose To Remember!?

Tomorrow commemorates the ninth anniversary of the attack from Islamic Terrorists against the United States.  It is said Americans have short memories so the motto was "Never Forget"!

This Great Nation was attacked outwardly by the most deadly enemy - one that is dedicated to our destruction.  Islam is dedicated to ruling its enemies, all of them.  Islam does not have a short memory.  Those who practice this religion have made it clear that they will destroy America from within no matter how long it takes.

This country has been betrayed by people from within our own government, starting with its highest office!  Ernie, you didn't just say what I thought you said?  I sure did!!!  Stop talking to yourself and writing it down.  Ok, oh sorry.

I am not attacking people, but their behavior.  I'm not pushing a socialistic agenda.  I'm not the one who said that they were embarrassed with this country.  I'm not the one who bows before other leaders.  I'm not the one doesn't salute our Flag.  I'm not the one raised muslim.  I'm not the one who denounces our Christian Heritage.  I'm not the one who voted for him either!

This September 11th needs to be remembered on November 2nd!!!

"Professional Football". Why Don't Players Act Like It?

Well, college and pro-football are upon us and I am glad for several reasons - Fall Season, cooler weather and watching our favorite teams.  My wife Carey, graduated from FSU, however we now live "Between The Hedges" in North Ga.!

Today we are going to focus on "Professional Football".  During Labor Day weekend my brother Erik told me that if he was a college football coach that he would tell his players;  When you score in the end-zone, act like you have been there before and not a prima-donna.  Further more the only excessive celebration should occur at the end of the game when you have won!


This got me thinking about Humility or Meekness and the lack of it today.  Whatever your job was or is, did you jump up and down, come up with a special dance or yell to your coworkers to look at you and what you did?  This was or is what you get paid to do!  Others should be "tooting our horn" like the crowd in the stands and your fellow players - NOT YOURSELF!


Don't imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call "humble" nowadays: he won't be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who's always telling you that, of course, he's nobody. Probably all you'll think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him, it will be because you feel a bit envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He won't be thinking about himself at all. There I must stop. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you're not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed. --C.S. Lewis


A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility.-- D. L. Moody

Just a thought...
ernie

My Father on The Declaration of Independence / Constitution Part 2

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that 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,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.  Prudence, indeed will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes, and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.  But when . . .

I shall continue at some future date and with God’s help we shall go through the entire Declaration and Constitution during the future issues.  

I would like to make one point.  Our country was founded on Christian principles and anyone who tells you differently is not telling the truth.  As we progress with this American History Lesson, I shall include proof of the statement  just made.  Beloved, we need to get back to the roots of our nation and get back on our knees before God Almighty while He still holds us in His hands.  We are very close to stepping out of His grace and I for one do not want that to happen.  

Pray about this and keep returning here as we continue our journey to rekindle the fires of patriotism and pursuit of our rights and do let your friends know about this blog because they need to have their fires rekindled as well.

More to come. .