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Founding Father Ruminations

As election season wraps her sinuous hands around a sound-bite driven electorate, I thought it would be good to have an infusion of some of the  thoughts, quotes, and ponderings from the founding fathers of our nation. So take a break from the mud slinging and Facebook political overload and refresh your mind with thoughts from the minds that birthed a dream called America.

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Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government.

~George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

All see, and most admire, the glare which hovers round the external trappings of elevated office. To me there is nothing in it, beyond the lustre which may be reflected from its connection with a power of promoting human felicity.

~George Washington, letter to Catherine Macaulay Graham, January 9, 1790

I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong.

~George Washington, letter to Francis Van der Kamp, May 28, 1788

I hope, some day or another, we shall become a storehouse and granary for the world.

~George Washington, letter to Marquis de Lafayette, June 19, 1788

(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; …the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…”  

~George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789
A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal.
~John Adams,Thoughts on Government, 1776
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.~
~John Adams,letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775

Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.     ~John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety. ~ Benjamin Franklin

He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.  ~Benjamin Franklin, from his writings, 1758

How many observe Christ’s birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.

~Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1743

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.     ~Benjamin Franklin, letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, November 13, 1789

A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism, at least in a republican government.     ~Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Ritchie, December 25, 1820

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.

~Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18, 1781

But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.

~Thomas Jefferson, September 6, 1789

Excessive taxation will carry reason & reflection to every man’s door, and particularly in the hour of election.

~Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, November 26, 1798

If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws — the first growing out of the last…. A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

~Alexander Hamilton, Essay in the American Daily Advertiser, Aug 28, 1794

A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.

~Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1792

But where says some is the King of America? I’ll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain…let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING.

~Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute.

~Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.  ~Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

~Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.

~Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 4, September 11, 1777

Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  ~John Adams

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.”  ~Patrick Henry

“The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them … the weak will become prey to the strong.”  ~Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War

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It’s Time To Get Back To Church

September 16th (next weekend) is national Back to Church Sunday…For me the fact that there actually is a “National Back To Church Sunday”  is a mixed love-hate relationship. The campaign exists because summertime is full of trips, excursions, vacations and a million other adventures that can easily draw you away, knowingly or unknowingly, from engaging with your community of faith.

On The Plus Side…

I love it (NBTCS) in the way that we have a re-gathering of people back towards the life of faith and community. The National Back To Church Sunday campaign works kind of like a get out of jail free card for truant church-goers who might be feeling some guilt or shame for being AWOL from the church for a while. I think we all need the occasional get-out-of-jail-free card. Theologically most people know that the church would easily welcome them back and that God is gracious, but often we are hard on ourselves and we create justifiable excuses to disengage.

Another group of people who disconnect from church are those who feel they don’t have anything to offer, or perhaps they are experiencing hard times financially and their inability to participate financially becomes for them a reason to stay away until they are in a better position to give. This absolutely breaks my heart and misses the point of why God established the church in the first place. I just want to see you, not your cash.

A community of faith is supposed to be the place where guilt is forgiven and the person is freed from the weight of Shame. The church is supposed to be a place where you are loved and supported particularly if you have hit some hard times financially or other. Shame on the church if it continue to places loads of guilt on people, and erecting barriers to the life of God’s community.

So maybe you have elicited some of those reasons, or reasons noted in the video, for staying away from church. If you have, it’s time to get some good theology, and immerse yourself back  in the atmosphere where God can more powerfully work in and through you. This will begin to address the areas of struggle or doubt and realign you with the grace and abundance of God. You’ll be amazed at how God has designed the church to be a safe place, a forgiving place, a guilt-free place so that you can grow some serious spiritual muscle.

It has been about a 100% truism in my 26 years of ministry that those who for whatever have disconnected from the life of God’s community of people are the ones who are in the most desperate need of what it can truly offer.

So the love side of this equation for me is that I would say to you”Come home…the door is open and the light is on and you’ll find whatever you need in the fridge…no cost, no story, no guilt, no shame, we just simply miss you and long to journey together with you! So come this Sunday and reestablish some powerful God-patterns in your life!

On the minus side…

The hate side of the equation for me is that we even have to have a day called “National Back To Church Sunday.” God is at work in and through His people all the time, yet we forget Him and the spiritual life so easily. I love being with God’s people. I love my community of faith…I love the energy that transpires between a full congregation and the pastors…this makes for a greater dynamic in the worship, preaching, energy and total experience.

I know that church happens every day, but there is something powerful about the gathering of God’s people as one family each week whether that is on Saturday or Sunday. The overwhelming sense of God’s presence revealed as peace, power and empowerment is something that I truly long for everyone to experince…not just once in a while…but whenever we gather together.

While God is with me everywhere I go, there is something mysterious about a community of grace gathering together…so I wish we didn’t have to have a day to try to market going back to church as if it was another American commodity…it makes me sad.

So my mind wanders and prays…

O’ God, that we would become a people who desire you and long for you above all things…
O’ God, may you remove our bad theology of toxic faith that make the church a bunch of dead rules and regulations that so easily create justifications for disengagement…
O’ God would you show up in such a way as we gather that the greatest human experience fades in comparison…
O’ God may we not turn church into something other than your people gathered to center on your centrality
…..love each other unconditionally
………..serve each other and our communities passionately
……………….and hear your voice through Word and Heart
…………………….and make Jesus famous by our actions.

So I wish there didn’t have to be a National Back To Church Sunday, but I’m glad there is one so that grace can again be the ingrediate that lathers us all in God’s love as the prodigals return.

So would you go out there this week, and with grace and authenticity, invite that friend, family member, or co-worker to get back to church with you…It just might be the most spiritual thing you do all week as you choose to reengage…no need to say where you’ve been…just show up, the Body of Christ needs you, and God is waiting for you to move in faith…I promise you, He’ll reach you before you reach Him 🙂

~Monty

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Act Well Your Part

Our lives are wrapped up in, surrounded by, and playing out a myriad of stories. Each story intersects another, which intersects another. All flowing from an over-arching narrative that continues its march towards a close.

When we turn on our cable TV or Dish system, we are submerging our minds and time into more stories. Some real, like on the news, some fictional as in sit-coms, and others with a slice a realism, but not really, when we watch Reality TV.

I was talking with a friend this week and the topic of superstar pastors came up. We bobbed and weaved around the stories of some pastors who started their ministry really attuned to two different stories. First, they were attuned to the overarching narrative of God at work in the world and why that matters for everyone. Second, we noted  how they were , (at least at the onset) attuned to the stories of the people they were ministering to.

As we looked at how their churches and ministries changed over the years it seemed most often the change was not in a positive direction. We wondered aloud, why, and where did the story change for them? When did they stop listening to God’s story and the people’s and begin to think that only their own personal story mattered?

I like the way my friend articulated it, he said, “It’s like they started to drink their own Kool-aid” I think he was right. They began to believe their own press, and their story became so big that other peoples story and God’s story was edged out.

In An Essay on Man, Alexander Pope wrote: “Act well your part, there all the honour lies.” I like that thought. Yes you do have a story. You do have a part to play in the larger stage production of life. Yes, your story is important…but yours is not the only story, and in fact, your character development gets better and better as you move away from a narcissistic view of life and instead move toward an integrative way of life. Life affecting life…story enlarging story…and the Kool-aid stays away.

Sometimes we are more focused on changing other peoples stories…this rarely turns out well. We don’t like their story so we try to change it, more specifically we try to change them! We become the Holy Spirit demanding how we want their story to play out, and if they don’t change the script we erase their story from our book.

Sometime we forget that life gifts us with chapters. Our story has moments when one chapter ends, and a fresh new chapter begins. When we think life is one long never ending chapter, we tend to drag the past around from scene to scene spoiling any opportunity to to experience something different. Our suitcase of pain, unhealthy emotional damage, and trauma show up in every scene.

When a chapter ends, stop, re-calibrate, realize the next chapter can be different! Thast is the power of God at work in you. 2 Corinthian 5:17 unleashes a new reality…the old has gone, the new has come. Your relationship with God ushers in the ability to continually morph the story in positive ways…to navigate through painful chapter in amazing way.

Confession and repentance create new paragraphs, chapters, and potentialities because the realign you with the heart of God and His presence submerges us in infinite possibilities.

Today you have been handed a new script and you get to write it with God. It doesn’t matter where you were in the last chapter, you can change it in today’s chapter. I agree with Pope in that how we act out our story matters. If we would remember that ours is not the only story, and that it is perhaps not even the most important one, and choose to live out our story with honor and integrity adding value to all the other stories around us…then we will begin to find the true meaning of the abundant life.

Today live out your story untethered from the last chapter and unafraid of the next chapter. God’s story is always moving, choose to allow your part to be absorbed into the larger narrative at work. Two things will happen,

1. Your story will find more and more joy and purpose.
2. You will stop worrying about judging, and interfering with everyone else’s story.

This will free you to allow your life to affect others in a positive way that brings about transformation and God-centricity.

Okay, go write!

Monty

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Sunday Night Quotes 5/20/12-Faith

Faith is powerful…we all have faith in something, whether it is faith that the brakes on our car will actually work when we depress the brake pedal, or faith that we don’t need to purchase our next breath…faith is the state of assured trust that something will happen.

Faith puts a smile on God’s face and causes the Divine to respond. Faith lifts us out of the ordinary into the extraordinary! Tonight’s quotes center on faith…read, be inspired and make God smile 🙂

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Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.  ~Khalil Gibran

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.
~Thomas Aquinas

Faith is a passionate intuition.  ~William Wordsworth

Faith is spiritualized imagination.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.  ~Rabindranath Tagore

Faith isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It’s simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.  ~Joni Erickson Tada 

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.  ~ Corrie Ten Boom

Worry is spiritual short sight. Its cure is intelligent faith.  ~Paul Brunton

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.  ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some things have to be believed to be seen.  ~Ralph Hodgson

Faith sees what isn’t as if it were…. 🙂