(07/10/2016) Cultural, Political, Spiritual Growth?

Today, points are shared on how America and all its people must undergo continuous change that appears as development, learning, and growth.  As we receive correction, those of us who are wise also change.  With their people, nations rise or fall by responding to challenges, issues, and obstacles against their various routines for daily living.  A commonwealth or state must have at its core commitment to life, peace, progress and stability.  The justice of GOD as well as diversity, flexibility, integrity, and variety then can be seen as benefits that enrich the shared quality of life throughout the entire community.  For mature Christian believers, growth to full citizenship means embracing the best and highest values of an America that also gradually changes.  Commitment to the Nation is a further expression of agreement with the doctrine and teachings of the faith:  None of us are completely matured and spiritually perfected, yet; and we are to encourage, nourish, be patient with, and protect one another.  The gradual revelation of divine righteousness and truth call the living into accepting permanent and irreversible changes.  At the coming of Jesus to harvest those who are “ripe” from the earth the present ongoing transformation will be completed—in the twinkling of an eye.  Areas that now should display divine alteration, improvements, and increase include awareness of divine intent, commitment to eternal purposes, holy boldness, longsuffering, meekness, sacred knowledge, self discipline and self restraint.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Bobby” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since March 10, 2012) posted the following:

Obama thinks that I'm a bitter religious fanatic because I believe that men should go to the men's restroom and women to the women's?

Isn't it sad how much society has DEGENERATED that this is now controversial?

When I was a kid it wasn't!

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.  For this is as the waters of Noah unto me:  for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.  For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.  O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.  And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.  In righteousness shalt thou be established:  thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear:  and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.  Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me:  whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.  (Isaiah 54:  6-17, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Once We Know Better? (07/01/2016); Natural and Spiritual Law? (06/30/2016); About Other People's Beliefs (06/22/2016); The Cross and Arbitrary Differences (06/17/2016); Sodom and Gomorrah Again? (05/30/2016); Where Society Is Headed? (01/11/2016); One Faith, One Lord? (09/26/2014); Healing is By Relationship? (09/27/2014)

“Bobby”, society has not degenerated so much as we have acquired greater secular knowledge, and are now being challenged to respond to issues and other Americans who have been ignored, overlooked, and rejected, yet, were calling for acknowledgment all the time.  Just as a child may receive status as a Christian by inheritance (i.e., by being born to Christian parents) and by their own water baptism that depicts death and burial of their inborn spirit, and rebirth from divine DNA, most of us are born into status as Americans.  Despite our being acknowledged as citizens, while we are minor children we are without full understanding of the cultural heritage, guiding principles, political process, and provisions by law that distinguish our Nation.  As surely as children must experience growth of their physical bodies and their inner spirit content, they also must acquire mature (i.e., balanced, complete, consistent, effective, productive, stable) understandings of the major ideas and values for prosperity, success, and survival within their family, their home, the larger society, and the world. 

Since the beginnings of our Nation, all Americans have not had the same depth and level of access, knowledge, or participation, regarding Democracy, civil rights, franchise, taxation, the three branches of America’s government, or voting rights.  There were many passionate debates and exchanges with adjustments in ones perception and position that finally resulted in the Declaration of Independence.  A goal was set and put into place that described achieving an ideal or perfect State; and, in effect, it was agreed, we may not make it, but our time won’t be wasted if we try (another leader of a revolution is credited with something similar, The journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step….). 

There is far more that could be said, must be carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (For example, in the Bible, King Solomon complains that unfair and unfruitful aspects of life never seem to change, and there is nothing new under the sun.  In the course of meeting challenges to our continued existence, Americans at every economic, educational, emotional, psychological, and social level have had to learn, grow, and accept change.  America operates as though a living entity, and therefore, we may describe the Nation as being dynamic, empathetic, forward-looking, full of surprises, organic, and proactive.  From its beginnings America has included Africans, Christians, Europeans, immigrants, Indigenous Peoples, Latinos, migrants, non-Christians, the poor, the wealthy, and those struggling with the common “growing pains” of personal development that include sexual appetite, sexual identity, and sexual preference.  Where America will continue to be an expression of life, rather than death, America must also be careful to nourish righteousness, and the Spirit of Truth.)  Even so, I am sure this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(01/18/2013) A Godly Take on Guns

With others of various faiths across our Nation, since the birthday of citizen Martin Luther King, Jr., who advocated nonviolence as a standard for all our living, I have been prayerfully reflecting upon the President’s proposals regarding our Nation’s gun laws. Through ill-advised application of and emphasis upon our principles that encourage separation of Church and State, there is increased denial of divine authority and sacred law, disbelief, dismissal and lack of faith, with increasingly widespread ungodly public behavior. (The principle that should have prevailed most is that of Checks and Balances where the contributions of both Church and State would be continually blended.) America has arrived at a peculiar “bottom line.” Our children, our federal leadership, and our citizens who are committed to nonviolence are again forced to make passionate appeals that empathy and reason be shown by their less likeminded countrymen who manufacture, distribute, own, and use firearms. Once again, I have become sharply aware that, where GOD is not acknowledged as Head for the Chain of Command, there are no “god-given rights” that include liberty to vote, maintain families, bear arms, or own lethal weapons. The persistence and popularity of idolatry and whoredom are not enough to establish them as the righteousness of a people. To insist that there be “freedom” that allows those who are godless and wicked to abuse the conscience of a nation is absurd. Seeking to share what my Savior has now impressed upon me and other defenders of the Nation and its Capital, I am posting today’s blog entry (below):



THE GOLDEN ARROW: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. (Psalms 33: 12-22, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: GOD in Schools? (12/20/2012); Mob Rule and Violence (09/27/2012); Dispatch 32: Now Will I Rise (09/11/2011); Dispatch 26: The Shield (09/05/2011); Things? (11/13/2010); Mealtime Grace (11/14/2010)



The issues of responsible gun-ownership and access to firearms have become more than one of haves versus have nots—men and women coveting exotic and expensive things; some promoting knowledge and skill through partiality and prejudice; or some having personal pleasure, pride and satisfaction as a collector and owner of property that is not available to all. Accountability, purpose, and trust are now issues of gun legislation; and, for this reason, there is a threat to the health of the Nation; and the present public concern is also a sign of divine displeasure. Our home has become a place where insistence upon “privacy” and “rights” does not encourage and permit strict acknowledgement of duty and responsibility; and this threatens to become an undoing of our national covenant. Americans are now living in a nation where elected officials are not free to attend public gatherings and social events without putting their lives at risk, and being in jeopardy of assassination. Children in day care or public school classrooms may be targeted by deranged adults, and enemies of the State. The President of our Nation, and his family, have been under threats of assassination and murder, since he formally became a candidate for the Office.

The time has come that we must admit: Gun ownership is not a “god-given right” for Americans, and this is particularly so for those who have forfeited everything “god-given” through their disbelief and ignorance of GOD. Those who insist that people are not free, or are not full citizens without a gun are liars. Such betray their ignorance of our public contract for Nation: In the absence of “divine law” and covenants from GOD, the “law of the land” is the agreement and consensus that a group of people will continue together as a “commonwealth.” To the dismay of many gun advocates, apart from addressing the needs of the commonwealth there is no legitimate need for gun ownership described in the law. In fact, the Constitution and other public covenants assume and imply that gun ownership is for personal and national defense, rather than unlicensed hunting and unregulated recreation. With this unspoken aspect of our national pact in view, all militias are to operate openly, are under authority of the Nation’s Commander and Chief, and are in an agreement as reserved forces that are to buttress and support our active military. Certainly, in a national emergency, those that would not rally to the Chief Executive, and would challenge him as a dictator, a hypocrite, or a tyrant may reasonably be identified as fomenters of rebellion, sedition and treason.

The present proposals focused upon assault weapons and their ammunition are lacking. To limit the size of gun magazines without limiting the frequency and numbers that may be purchased (e.g., no more than 4 clips every 3 months) is as vain as selling weapons without firing pins, and expecting American owners to honor the law and not to rearm and refit such weapons. Also, the stockpiling of weapons (e.g., 3 of a kind, 10 different kinds) is superfluous, and is not yet being properly challenged. The detailed inventory for all arsenals within our communities of 5 or more weapons should be known to both local and federal law enforcement.

As those appearing to embrace a false god for protection of their lives and property, the gun owners of America increasingly speak as those who worship an idol. Where a man values his dog, his job, his truck or a sports team, and declares he cannot live without them, or treasures them more than his wife, his children, his parents and co-workers, his homeland, he may call himself a believer in some religion, however, his inner spirit is caught up in a disguised form of idol worship. It is no different from those who claim to be Christian believers, yet do not obey Christ (see Ezekiel 33: 30-33 and Luke 6: 46, KJV). Those claiming to be Americans who deny the truth of our national consensus are liars. No matter what false claims they may now make, those not in national covenant with us are not Americans. They may be predators, outlaws, gunslingers and desperadoes, however, they are not fellow citizens, and should not be trusted as genuine Americans.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, idolatry and worship of false gods are characterized by exploitation, fear, pride, and self-promotion. Where there are repeated efforts to exalt some dead and lifeless thing that contains no divine substance, love (the motive to unselfishly benefit others) is suppressed or only given “lip service.” Foundations for the quality of life, and the valuing of human experience become questionable and shaky. In the place of love, combativeness, competition, and a mentality and attitude of refusing to respect any that cannot employ force and violence naturally develops.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC