We The People

What exactly does the term “We the people…” mean?

Do you know where it’s roots come from? What is the foundation of a government of the people, by the people and for the people?

I learned about an influential Puritan minister who first talked about this subject. His name was Thomas Hooker. He gave a sermon in May of 1638 that was a driving force behind what would become Connecticut’s Constitution.

There are no records of this sermon now, except the notes of one who was in attendance.

Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’..So I took the wise and respected men you had selected from your tribes and appointed them to serve as judges and officials over you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten.
“At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions. Deut 1:13,15,16

1ST DOCTRINAL STATEMENT: The choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God’s own allowance

“2ND DOCTRINAL STATEMENT: The privilege of election which belongs to the people must not be exercised according to their whims but according to the blessed will and law of God.

“3RD DOCTRINAL STATEMENT: Those who have power to appoint officers and magistrates have it in their power also to set the bounds and limits of the power and places unto which they call them.

“1ST REASON: Because the foundation of authority is laid firstly in the free consent of people.

“2ND REASON: Because by a free choice the hearts of the people will be more inclined to the love of the persons and more ready to? yield obedience.”-

–notes on Thomas Hooker’s sermon, by Henry Wolcott, Jr

Long before the American Revolution people who wanted to experience freedom and Biblical liberty were being shaped for the right moment in history. It is amazing how God led this pastor to find scripture that communicates God’s heart concerning liberty and government.

God had Moses choose from among the people. He chose leaders who were respected by the people. He chose peers and co workers as servant leaders. Leaders were not chosen to rule over the people. If that would have been the case God would not need Moses to select folks who were respected by the people. As lovers of liberty we must understand this.

God gives us, His children, ability to choose the leaders and also to set “the bounds and limits of the power” they have. In a business, who chooses the managers to run the company? Answer: The owner. In a liberty based government, the owners choose the management. The “owners” in this case is WE THE PEOPLE.

A wise man wrote concerning power being placed in the hands of sinful people. “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The form of government that our Founders created was based on Biblical morality. Self-government only works when God’s law and plan for blessing is obeyed. As owners of the USA and her government, we must govern ourselves by following God’s ways.

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.

Lord Acton, 1887

As co-owners we prevent the enemy from coming into our camp to bring corruption by submitting to one another, by thinking of others more highly than ourselves, by treating others the way we want to be treated, by living our lives by the dictates of God’s love. How can we expect the managers that we hire, to be honorable and free of corruption if we can’t lead honorably with integrity? Self-government starts with the person you see in the mirror.

Many have tried to use Romans 13 to exhort the church to obey tyrants. Looking at this passage in this way is not consistent with God’s heart for liberty. I would like to offer another perspective. In a Biblical based government, you and I are the authority. God’s word says we are to be submitted to one another. As has been stated earlier, we the owners hire servant leaders as managers. These managers are from among ourselves. They are folks who are respected and honorable. The authority these folks have, God has allowed us, the owners, to dictate the jurisdiction. A Constitution was written to lay out the limits of the manager’s authority. ” for he(manager) is God’s servant for your good. ” We the people get to choose servant leaders for our good, to help protect liberty.

Please try to see how Romans 13:1-7 is actually talking about us the owners of the USA. We are the authority given by God. This is the righteous path, the blessed way. If we can see ourselves as the God given authorities who appoint managers or servant leaders, then we can see that it is not governments job to fix or correct the problems. “Government” does not have money to do what they wish. It is our money. Government does not call the shots; We the people do. We are the responsible party. The very reason why liberty has been so eroded away and corruption common, is because we the people decided to just trust government officials to do the right thing. We are the authority that has given consent to managers to help protect liberty and provide common defense. We are the Sherriff with the authority to deputize people among us.

When we properly govern our individual lives in a way that honors God, then our choices for the hired help is right and easy to respect and honor them, because they are one of us. When we fail to take responsibility for our own personal lives we are in no position to properly hire management that carry our best interests. It is laziness that transfers responsibility over on to government.

To be real clear. In order for this experiment in Liberty to succeed, the owners must follow the principles of Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY.”

Our Founding Father’s view of liberty was shaped by hundreds of years of dealing with a tyrant whose love of power worked to stifle any semblance of liberty. Their fear of God and knowledge of His word became the foundation that birthed the greatest experiment in liberty the world has ever seen.

If the United States of America are to continue in this great experiment, it will be because her people fear God and love the Bible. Making America great again, must have a deep foundation on God and His view of liberty. We the people in partnership with God have the power and authority to fix that which is wrong in our society and government.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Prayer At The Polls

What an exciting part of history we live in! I will try to make this as concise as I can. Thank you for taking time to read this great opportunity I am about to share with you.

On October 1 I began, via video on social media, to promote an event, which I am calling the Body of Christ to join me in. I will continue with the live videos each Saturday leading up to the event.

I am challenging you and the rest of the Body of Christ to show up at the door/sidewalk of your polling station on Saturday November 5 at 3pm for a moment of declaration and prayer. Please feel free to share this with like minded folks. 

It is a moment, but a powerful moment. I’m asking you to spend no more than 30 minutes. Therefore, you will have to save your conversation for after 3:30pm. This is a holy moment before the Lord. Please protect this time for the purpose of prayer.

This will be a great opportunity for you to stand side by side with your brothers and sisters from another denomination and/or church. The scripture is very clear on “unity” and “agreement”. 

​Mark your calendar and make the effort to honor God in this way. November 5, 3pm.

​This event is not to take any political sides. We will stand in agreement, which is very important, that “righteousness exalts a nation.” We will pray for our city, state & nation the elections. We will pray over our own polling site and the volunteers who will work at the polls that day.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.-Proverbs 14:34

I am sure you noticed that I shared that this is a time of declaration and prayer.  What is on my heart to be declared is the “Ten Commandments”. These communicate so much about God and his heart for his people and the way to experience His blessing. So I am asking you to come with the list of the Ten Commandments prepared to read them out loud as a declaration to the powers in the seen and unseen world.

Again share this with like minded friends and family. I plan to see you, in the spirit, on November 5 at 3pm, as we stand “as one” on behalf of our city, state and nation. 

#PrayerAtThePolls

Attention Please

Are you a lover of liberty and justice? I’m not talking about the left’s version. I am talking about the liberty that founded our nation and the justice that comes from Judeo-Christian principles. If that is you and you find yourself discouraged, I want to get your attention.

The show that we have all watched for the last couple of years, produced and paid for by the Left, is just that, A SHOW. Yes it wants to have its way like a spoiled rotten kid. It has a number of ulterior motives. I would like to highlight one in particular.

Just like the enemy of your soul, the left wants you to get to a place of apathy. It wants you to think all is lost and its too late. It wants you to sit at the bar and drown in your sorrows. It wants you to sit at home on election day. The left is just a loud mouth dripping with lies to entrap humans in bondage. The left represents a small percentage of America and the world. This really is a spiritual and physical battle we are in as a nation.

The truth is, all is not lost. Liberty and Justice still mean something in America. Liberty is winning the day! Justice is rolling. Your vote will sit the agenda of the left down. Your vote still matters.

Liberty is winning the day!

So slap yourself out of that daze the enemy has you in and show up on November 8 to cast your vote for righteousness. Show up in person on election day. There are more of us than there are of those pushing the devil’s narrative. We must partner with God and His agenda for our nation. America shall be saved!

Righteousness exalts a nation…where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty…For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us

Joy In the Lord

This past Christmas season as I was reading the story of Jesus’ birth, the word joy was highlighted for me. I was meditating on it as it applies to Jesus’ birth and also the gospel.  It has been said that joy is one third of the Kingdom of God. God saw fit to communicate an important tidbit to us about who He is and His realm.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Romans 14:17

Before I continue with the subject of joy, I would like to move to another subject that I have also been thinking about for quite some time now. I hope to tie the two together at the end.

I heard Robin D. Bullock share idea that was quite profound. The devil is scared to death of the future, because it is neither omnipresent nor omniscient. It also knows its eternal destiny and that time is running out.

It is afraid of tomorrow!

You could say it is stuck in today and yesterday. For this reason, it is rightly named, “accuser of the brethren.” It is constantly bringing up today’s and past failures. It works tirelessly to pile enough shame up to cause us to become stagnant and ultimately powerless. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit what happened? Adam began to accuse Eve of making him do it. The devil always points us back to the past, because he fears tomorrow. Why is it afraid of tomorrow?

God on the other hand is Omnipresent and Omniscient. He is outside of time and space and is everywhere at once. He knows about tomorrow and is not at all shocked or afraid.

He is actually excited about tomorrow.

The potential of tomorrow in our lives is powerful, world changing and sinless. (the devil fears tomorrow for this reason) God’s son Jesus made tomorrow full of endless exciting possibilities. Even while God was laying down the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden, He also disclosed His redemptive plan. True discipline comes from a heart of redemption. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” -Genesis 3:15 The scriptures are full of how God views “tomorrow”. Here are just a few familiar snapshots:

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord…” “…..get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” “This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.”

God is an optimist but from the position of truth. God through His son sees our full potential and constantly speaks to us from there. The devil is afraid of this and constantly reminds and accuses us of yesterday. The battle for our mind is real. We must stay in a place of redemption and hope. What are we sewing in our life that is rooted in redemption and hope? What are we sewing that is rooted in failure and our past? We must make this an intentional mental and spiritual activity.

How does all this fit into the Christmas story you ask? What does this have to do with joy?

After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem and inquired of the people, “Where is the child who is born king of the Jewish people? We observed his star rising in the sky and we’ve come to bow before him in worship.” Matt. 2:1,2

Almost 2 years prior to Jesus birth these priests saw His star rising and embarked on a journey to find this king of the Jews.  I am reminded of a verse that says, “For when the time was right, the Anointed One came…” Romans 5:6

Because the prophecy states: And you, little Bethlehem, are not insignificant among the clans of Judah, for out of you will emerge the Shepherd-King of my people Israel!”Matt. 2

Thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, God was speaking into the future and declaring His redemptive plan; with great joy I might add. EVERYTHING concerning Jesus arrival, life, death and resurrection was calculated by God.

And on their way to Bethlehem, the same star they had seen in the East suddenly reappeared! Amazed, they watched as it went ahead of them and stopped directly over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they were so ecstatic that they shouted and celebrated with unrestrained joy.When they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they fell to the ground at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests full of gifts and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matt. 2:9-11

The footnote for verse 10 from the The Passion Translation says, “The Greek is hard to translate since it contains so many redundant words for joy in this one verse. It is literally “They rejoiced with a great joy exceedingly.” They were ecstatic!”

Remember, these Magi a couple of years earlier embarked on a journey to find the Christ Child. I doubt it was literally a 2 year trip, but from the day His star rose on the horizon, these men prepared for and then traveled to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem. They were probably quite tired from this long physically and mentally exhausting journey.

The Magi’s exhaustion melted away in great joy in finding the object of their 2 year quest.  This joy quickly turned into worship. Have you ever connected the story of Nehemiah with Christ’s birth? The reason Nehemiah had to command the people to celebrate, was because they were weeping after hearing God’s word being read and taught for the first time in 70 years.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. Neh 8:10-12

The festival of Shelters was reinstituted when they read the law of Moses. The festival of Shelters or Tabernacles was a foreshadowing of God’s ultimate objective for mankind. God’s plan was that He would dwell or Tabernacle with mankind. The Israelites heard the word with their own ears and understood the word and were undone, then celebrated with feasting and living in handmade shelters for a week.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Excerpts from John 1

It is so important that we fill ourselves up with what God says and what God is doing. For 2 years the Magi were consumed with this quest and the prophecy of the Christ Child. What God says and what he is doing ALWAYS has a redemptive purpose.  We are constantly sewing into our future, sewing into your nation’s future. Let us make sure that the quest is completely about God’s viewpoint, which is bright and shining, prosperous and world changing. Let us be so driven by all that God says tomorrow holds, that tomorrow becomes today and we find new strength in the “exceeding great joy”—worship is the natural response.

We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! Hebrews 12:2

A Constitutional Republic

“Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted. ‘kill him and release Barabbas to us’…but they kept shouting, ‘crucify him! Crucify him!’….But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed.”

I read these verses in Luke 23 and thought about the effort of so many in our nation to change our nation from the Constitutional Republic that we are, to socialist democratic nation. The verses above are what it looks like in a democracy. The voice that is the loudest and most disruptive wins. I cringe when I hear folks in church and in media refer to our form of government as a democracy. We have never been a democracy nor should we aspire to be.

So many in our nation have been taught in school that our founding way of government is outdated and not effective. For a long time now, a crowd has been shouting “crucify him!” The “him” this crowd has been shouting to crucify has been liberty itself. That crowd I might add is a small crowd in comparison to the millions of lovers of liberty. But because the enemy of our soul, who also is anti liberty, has been allowed to have a voice in most of our television, radio and movies; it seems like a majority of Americans are for ending this republic.

The Bible also says, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The ignorance of the mob who have been shouting to crucify liberty simply partner with the author of confusion. There are many who willingly partner and give to the cause of this evil force. There are so many more who partner because of their lack of knowledge.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Hosea 4:6

The things that we love about America will not be sustained in a socialist state or even in a democracy. When the mob rules or should I say, when the loudest group rules, there is not liberty or true justice.

The mob that has been crying to “crucify him.” act like a child screaming in the grocery store at his parents demanding to have candy. This mob does not want to hear any other thoughts or opinions other than their own demands for having it their way. Liberty and justice thrives on truth and also freedom to have civil discussion. The ones crying to crucify him do not care about truth nor do they want public discourse.

I am thankful that millions of lovers of liberty have rose to the occasion. Our republic and her founding principles are worth fighting to preserve.

“Well, Dr. Franklin, what have you done for us?”

“We have given you a republic. It remains to be seen if you can keep it.”-Benjamin Franklin

May truth and justice prevail in this day that we find ourselves. May the spiritual forces at work to kill, steal and destroy this Constitutional Republic be hung by their own nooses.( Ester 7:9) May the holy angels come to the rescue of those in government who are fighting against corruption and may justice be served.

I AM STATEMENT

So I finally did it! I have always wanted to get a tattoo. The years I served in the Navy, I never did get one. I decided early in the year that for my 50th birthday I was going to get one. The big question was, “what will it be?”

The beginning of the year, 2020, a sister, in Christ, gave me a prophetic word. She saw me as a Oak tree and also saw steel reinforcement coming through the tree.

Because of this, they will be known as Mighty Oaks  of Righteousness, planted by Yahweh as a living display of his glory.

Isaiah 61:3b

I want to take a little time to explain further. God has put each human being on this earth for a purpose. Some actually grow to a place of stepping into their purpose for existing. When Moses asked God for his name God said, “I AM THAT I AM.” God’s purpose and who He is can be learned from His name. Jesus, God’s son, used this as well when He said, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life…” If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you are a son or daughter. We are joint heirs with Christ.

The Bible also tells us that our words are powerful. I will not go too deep here, as you are welcome to do your own homework. The book of James tells us the importance and significance of our words. We are also told to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind.” How do we do this? A GREAT source is to use God’s word. We can use God’s word in the form of a declaration concerning ourselves. All too often we make declarations in a negative light such as, “I am ugly.” How about we consider being transformed by speaking God’s truth over our life and circumstances. You are probably wondering what all this has to to with a tattoo.

Jesus said, “I Am…” As sons and daughters we too can create “I am…” statements. “I am the light of the world.” “I am the righteousness of God.” “I am a child of God.” “I am an overcomer.”

The Hebrew word for Jubiliee(Yovel) is a special year that occurs each 50th year. Yovel means rams horn or Shofar. It also in two places in scripture refers to the actual long sustained sound of the Shofar. Those two places are located in Joshua 6:5 and Exodus 19:10-13

When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets

Joshua 6:5a

This has great meaning for me. I love the nation that God saw fit to have me be birthed in. My family has been here since the 1600s. This land is truly my land. The Founding Fathers of this land had inscribed on a bell that is known as “Liberty Bell”, the scripture where God was setting the law concerning a Jubilee.

Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan.

Leviticus 25:10

This tattoo represents an, “I am…” statement for me. I asked my niece to create the artwork. She did such a great job!

I am a mighty oak of righteousness to display God’s glory.

Answer to our prayer

Recently we found ourselves considering the idea of looking for another car that I could use for work. My truck was needing a repair that was a costly one. So it kind of made sense to put that money we would need for the repair into something different. There was a car that we began looking at and considering. We also were praying and asking God for wisdom concerning this car. My oldest son was needing a car as well.

Let me back up a minute. My wife was involved in a car accident. We are so thankful that it was not a serious accident. But non the less the insurance adjuster totaled her car. There is nothing wrong with that vehicle except the bumper is pushed in. So we are due some money from the insurance company related to this accident.

The same day that I was having our mechanic look at the car we were thinking about buying, my mom called me. She asked if we needed a car. I said, “Mom it is interesting your timing in asking this question, as we have literally been praying about purchasing a car.” In the conversation with Mom, we learned that she was willing to give us one of her cars that she was no longer needing. Her car was quite a bit newer than the one we were looking at buying. We decided that Mom’s offer was the answer to our prayer!

In a two week period of time immediately following the accident my wife was involved in, God made available another car for free, funds to cover repairs on my truck which enabled us to pass it on to our son! God is good!

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Civil Disobedience

This is a difficult topic to discuss because of the word rebellion that seems to mentally be associated with it. I would like to offer my opinion on the matter. The issue of Civil Disobedience has with it just like much of life a tension built-in. God’s word does say to obey the authorities. However, there are issues in this life that are worthy of a fight.

For civil authorities don’t intimidate those who are doing good, but those who are doing evil. So do what is right and you’ll never need to fear those in authority. They will commend you for your good citizenship. Romans 13:3

In order to honor the Lord, you must respect and defer to the authority of every human institution, whether it be the highest ruler or the governors he puts in place to punish lawbreakers and to praise those who do what’s right. 1 Peter 2:13,14

When Is Enough…ENOUGH?

What an interesting time to be alive. We have been in a “stay at home order” for a number of weeks due to the worldwide pandemic brought on by the infamous Coronavirus.  Our governor has given a list of businesses that can remain open and operate normally so long as “Social Distancing” is adhered to.  For the record, the term social distancing came out of the blue soon after the Pandemic occurred and means keeping a safe distance from other individuals. In this case, six feet seems to be the magic number. I have heard some reports of doctors saying that it should be extended to 12 feet.

Voting Is Not An Option

Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God. Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion. And pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts. 1 Timothy 2:1,2 TPT