“The shadow of the jackboot…”
…and a message about the transcendent power of faith over the worldy power of government from The Anchoress.
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Unfortunately for us, if Obama ordered some to kill their first born child, they would not question and glady obey. That’s the truth of it.
***
God’s rules are the best guide to living a happy and healthy life. Those who follow their own “better ideas” and reject the traditional Bible based values have much worse lives.
***
Read George Washington’s speeches–his strong faith and belief in God stand out strongly–even hundreds of years later. God was his guide in the times of disaster. And His word guided those who framed our Constitution–they wanted a better future for our country.
***
John Bibb
***
My 80 year old father gave me a wonderful analogy yesterday about the democrats. He asked me how you trap an animal. You offer him food. The animal takes it gladly, and while he’s eating, you encircle him with a fence. He looks up and notices the fence, is alarmed ..so your response is to appease him by giving him something else to take his attention away from the fence. While he is busy with that, you close the gate and walla he is now yours.
No question, there is a great number of people that would do anything the pretender orders.
I am embarrassed that they are Americans.
Right about now zz’s eyeballs are rolling over white, back into his head.
I feel better now. Thanks MM.
Thanks for posting this link Michelle, it comes at a particularly difficult time for me personally and in due time will share the details.
If these 4 years are America’s crucifixion, I pray that 2012 will be our resurrection. Perhaps we have to pass through Liberal wilderness in order to reach the Promised Land. It’s a sore test.
God is still in control.
Yes, absolutely.
The best part is when you deny that fact, God has a way of ultimately making you understand that he is.
I am reluctant, well more cautious, about comingling politics and religion. There are foundational principles that are drawn from religion that established our political system. However, there is a line that can be crossed that makes political realities difficult when over exposed to religion.
There is a balance where politics should not involve itself in religion, and where religion should minimize its impact on politics.
Your ignorance of faith is truly profound.
zyzzyg – I doubt you are wise enough to determine the balance. I don’t have alot of faith in people’s ability to make wise choices, especially as of late. Many people are highly educated, but few are very wise.
I am oh so tired of people spewing stuff that is actually empty words and vanity.
b-cat – wow, we posted the same thing and I hadn’t read your post – hahahahaha! Now that made my day!
zyzzyg said:
Really — I guess you should go to Mecca or Medina and state that philosophy to the muclims in attendence there.
(spew!) I need some napkins over here!
Misscheryl
Happy to be in the company of great people!
Though I am not a very good Christian, and way back-slidden, I have a very low tolerance for those that despise the cross or the faithful.
I thank God for the opportunity to defend the faith.
The godless are oh so incredibly “god like” aren’t they? Little gods stroking each other’s egos with empty words..running around, chasing their tails, telling each other how smart they are….heck, who needs God when you are one!
I believe you are mixing politics with a princple beyond politics. Religious faith in a God is the foundational principle on which our nation was founded. It provides a framework which the political system works within.
The underlying basis for our country is all people have certain unalienable rights given to them not by humans, but a Being, the Creator of all things. These “gifts” cannot be taken away by any other human being.
Politics operates within those established limits.
So Z you can see why Progressives want God removed. They want people to think anything they have is given to them by the State and not by God.
b-cat, Our Lord is such a merciful God! He loves ALL of us deeply. I am nothing, but HE is everything!
God is in control, and while He knows the future, we each have free will.
If the majority of the United States willingly chose the most pro-abortion candidate to ever serve in the US Senate, than the majority has used its free will to reject God.
Recall what happened to the Northern Kingdom, then the Southern Kingdom, when the Israelites rejected the love of God.
I just pray that God may treat us as he promised Abraham He would treat Sodom and Gomorrah, spare us for the sake of the God fearing minority.
Agreed.
And what a coincidence!
My post on the John Muhammad thread is apt here as well!(Partly repeated here):
granite – absolutely!
According to the POTUS, we are not a Christian nation.
How interesting is it that your post contains the number of the beast?
More importantly, how did you conclude anything about my knowledge of faith? And, exactly which faith are you saying I am ignorant of? Or, is it all faith that I am ignorant of?
I rest my case.
Few people are wise enough to determine the balance, what is unfortunate is that there are people who do not acknowledge there is a balance.
You have doubts, and that is a good thing. Do you doubt that we could live today according to the original teachings of religion?
Me too.
AN had some advice, something about crocodiles I believe.
Politics without God is better, just ask Stalin…or the millions dead.
Politics without God is better, just ask Stalin…or the millions dead.
Throw in Chairman Mao also.
Don’t guess. Ask me. Though why would I go there and say anything? I referenced our political system. I acknowledged that religion was a part of our political system.
Who gives a flying fig about other countries? Do you? I don’t.
Yes, me too!
Great link Michelle. And thanks to The Anchoress, there is always something good to read at her place.
Very powerful indeed but I must admit I most appreciated, enjoyed and will now use:
The Ghastly Mrs. Pelosi
The shadow of a jackboot, poised just above our nation is a given as far as I am concerned, do believe. All too many of our people have sold their liberty, their autonomy to the State for bread and circus. Yes we should be wary, cautious of commingling politics and religion-but that is EXACTLY what is happening. This State demands and will do whatever it takes to be our god. Jackboots and all.
As with Paul before Festus we dare not be silenced. And as an American with God Given Rights and Our Constitution there is only so far I will be “reasonable”-jackboots be damned.
“Who gives a flying fig about other countries? Do you? I don’t.”
Well, guess that just says it all eh!
Aye, there is nothing sadder than a hungry crocodile-them them a troll.
–
If you must feed the trolls feed them to the crocodiles.
Nope. I am not mixing anything, any more than you are. We both agree that religion was a source for our Nation’s beginnings.
OK. We agree that some form of faith is integral to our Nation’s founding. It does not mean we must live according to the tenents of religion.
Exactly. There are limits. And, there is a balance that can tip the scales if we are not careful.
I am not prepared to know, or think, what progressives want, or don’t want. I would not be surprised if there were progressives who are indifferent.
As for people having things given to them by God or the State, I prefer to think that people earn what they have based on their best efforts. Both the State and God have their roles in our lives. Too much of one over the other has resulted in negative consequences.
Therein lies the question of balance.
A great example of too much of one over the other, and the negative consequences that flowed from it.
In the Garden man was given a choice between a tree of life or a tree that would allow man, like God, to discern what was good and what was evil. The lie was that man could be like God and make such judgments. Only God is good and only God knows what is from Him.
Sometimes our worse temptations is to do good. The world says be fair, be just, treat every person as good. In the process of doing what man calls good we create slaves to men who would be God.
Without God establishing good and evil we are lost and we see its effects more each day. God allowed the choice and the consequences in the garden and He continues to allow that choice today.
Our only way out is to accept God back into our lives, to accept Christ and the cross. Willwe be ruled by evil or by good? Will be sons of purdition or God’s adopted sons? It is our choice.
The biggest mistake we made when this country was founded was claiming that everyone has rights.. No, actually, if we all lived as though we don’t have any rights – we’d all find that utopia most crave. That’s true for our marriages, our work enviornment and our friends and families. Peace and contentment is not found is serving one self. Nor is it found in doing good works to make one feel good about themselves. Religion aside, this is what Christ Himself is about and is how he tells us to live. Therein is my answer to your question. Let me ask you a question. How can a people who cry “give to me,” and “I have rights” have peace (which I assume is everyone’s idea of utopia)?
I really appreciated the Anchoress’ take on the effects of “incremental” socialism which this health care bill truly is. We shouldn’t be like Europe that thinks that practicing the “common good” is to ban smoking in pubs. I find that outrageous, not only as a former bartender who got tips from both smokers and non-smokers but as a former smoker myself.
What is immediately obvious is how the loss of religion has transferred to a bigger practice of power by the government. If people had some sense of morals, ethics, belief systems, perhaps they could tell when they’re being BS’ed and dominated. Yet, they don’t because many people have ceded a lot of their decision-making and life choices to a government that will never care about them.
When I first married my military husband I thought that the military cared about “me.” What I discovered was that I had married into an incompetent bureaucracy. I continually hear how the federal government’s only example of “competence” and success is the military. It isn’t. When you’re “assigned” a doctor instead of one that you choose, that isn’t competence. When your husband’s personnel records are still not correct because of imcompetence, even though he’s been trying to have it fixed for YEARS, that’s not some isolated incident.
The willful blindness of Americans, even progressive Catholic Americans (like my brother-in-law) concerning this health care bill is astounding. Just because the bill “exists” for the “common good” doesn’t mean it’s a good bill with a “good” purpose.
We’re Europe. We were created as a nation that broke away from all things “European.” We became our own unique success story based on forging a new identity, not on copycatting Europe’s. What’s so galling is that so many Americans want to be like Europe who taxes its citizens and takes away so many of their choices.
There’s no deep-thinking, honest analysis about the choices that Americans are making or those of its government. It’s more of a instinctual “we want it” and “we’re entitled to it” approach that is alien to the greater heritage of our country. That’s the shame of it all.
I guess you could say:
Mmm Iran with a Nuclear Weapon – but hey, that’s in another country- who cares.
Mmm Saudi Arabia financing Mosques that spread their rhetoric about kill the Infidel – who cares they can spend their money any way they like.
Mmm Mexico falling apart at our door step – that’s Mexico – that’s their problem to sort out.
Mmm China expanding their Military out of all proportion to their needs – Hell that’s China – let them do what they want.
Hell forget about Tibet and their way of life being torn to shreds for the sake of the State – hell, they should not be practicing their “Faith” anyway.
Who can forget dear Hugo and his buying and Russias selling of vast amounts of arms – hell that’s South America and no business or ours.
But, we will always have Dear Leaders Nobel Prize to console ourselves Huh!
zyzzyg – based on past comments you’ve made on this blog, I believe God, in His Holy Word, refers to you as a fool. I for one am not about to argue with God.
This is where the disconnect comes in. I marvel at the fact that people fail to acknowledge religion – especially Catholicism – has done a marvelous job of living in the world while not being of the world. Evolving, as it were, while still holding fast to the central tenets of the faith.
This is because Catholicism realizes that there are universal Truths, and one of them is things of this world are fleeing. Times change, Christ doesn’t. Which is why we are not bound to live in tents with sandals on our feet, but are bound to acknowledge God throughout the ages.
So when people point back through the millenia and say, “See, we couldn’t live like that today!” the response is simply: “You’re right. We couldn’t. We don’t have to.” The Catholic Church recognized that worldly things in 100 AD would not be the same as 1700 AD or 2009 AD.
As for the balance, you’re right zz, there needs to be one. But few can determine it appropriately. All we know for sure is that the scales are tipping and not in favor of a balance between religion and politics, but of politics bashing religion out of the public sphere altogether.
The Anchoress is one of the most talented writers on the web. Every post is poetry and I wish I wrote half as well as she.
I dunno. Went to the link over at the Anchoress site, and what came across was:
1. She worries — rightly — about the “shadow of the jackboot” over this country; but then
2. Gets lost in religion to assuage herself that it’s some kind or illusion or something. Whatever.
Sorry, but it’s clear by now — or should be — that Jesus is sitting this one out. In this situation I don’t care what the scriptures say; if we’re going to avoid the bad end that the donks have in mind for this country, or to reclaim this land if we can’t avert it, then falling back on “Pie in the sky when you’re by-and-by” isn’t going to cut it.
God didn’t get us into this fix. People did. And God won’t get us out of it. Hope-a-Dope and the donks are their own “Man-Caused Disaster,” and the sooner people put the Bible down and focus on Man-Caused Solutions in 2010 and 2012 the better.
I’ll vote my conscience..the devil roams the earth seeking whom he will devour.
“the devil roams the earth seeking whom he will devour.”
Yes and it is called “Islamofacisism”
Speaking of must-read articles, here’s one that should be forwarded to your local Bishop as soon as possible:
http://tinyurl.com/yjppnk3
Jesus realized that one of the fundamental premises of the 10 Commandments was your relationships with your neighbors. If you see the sacred and value in your neighbor, then you will love your neighbor as yourself and not turn that love over to a government.
I have heard many times that Jesus was a liberal. Well in today’s terms, liberals seem to think the answer to everything is the government. I would remind those liberals that it is the government that killed Jesus not those who valued his message.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” –Ephesians 6:12-13.
I suspect zyzzyg believes that line is when a Christian opens his or her mouth…
This country is unique precisely because it was founded and governed on Christian principles for the majority of its first 200 years. It has plunged into disaster over the last 80 years as the “progressives” have sought to eliminate religion from the public sphere.
Untrue. Not everyone calaimed to have rights. It was landowners that had rights, and women could not vote.
I’m sorry but I do not follow and don’t understand your point. I would very much like to know what you mean. The thing is, we do have rights. Again, I am missing something. Please explain.
Ummmm, OK. If you are looking for peace and contentment, how you find it is your individual right, and not a requirement set in stone by others.
Though I fail to see the connection between that and a balance of religion and politics. Maybe you can reach peace and contentment with a balance of religion and politics? I don’t know, but it remains your right to do so.
Religion aside from The Christ? Are you suggesting approach The Christ as a philospher and not a deity? That being the case, there are a number of philosophers who suggested how we live. Which philosopher do you listen to and follow? Well, that is your right.
As for your answer, then you don’t doubt that you could live according to the original teachings of Religion?
I am not prepared to accept, or assume, everyone’s idea of peace is utopia. Or, that they are seeking utopia.
I have no idea how an individual has peace, or goes about getting it. Certainly each individual has their own way.
If people are crying, “give to me” and “I have rights”, as you suggest, in an effort to have peace. Then so be it. That is their choice on how to achieve peace. Maybe they will get it, maybe they will not.
Bottomline, people will find peace their way, you will find it your way, and I will find it my way. Is that OK?
Ummmm, OK. Don’t argue with God.
And, thank you for regularly reading my posts. Though what you ‘believe’ and what you ‘know’ are two entirely different things.
And, yes there is a balance between religion and politics. Too much of one, and not enough of the other can result in negative consequences.
On November 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm, englishqueen01 said: #839802
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You get it. Yep, politics is pushing down on the scale of balance. And no, the proper response is not to pull a page from the Old Testament and stone people. It might feel good, but it remains a bad idea for today’s society.
And, of course there are universal truths that are welcome. No, we should not walk around in sandals, nor should we have the expectation to live, and practice, fully the agrarian ways of two thousand years ago.
Absolutely, draw lessons from religion, draw lessons from politics (other forms of governance) and find a balance.
It’s silly for anyone to definitively state that people will find peace their own way. Some people might – others may not. But it can’t be stated definitive that people will.
People better expect to live this way – if the CO2 taxers win.
Don’t suspect (or, guess, assign motive, speak rhetorically) because it is less than helpful, when you can ask a question and know for sure. You may have noticed by now that I do my best to respond to everyone who takes me to task.
Yep, and I have said as much.
Yep, though I would not quite characterize it as a disater. So you agree that politics has tipped the balance over the past eighty years?
There is political correctness, and there is religious correctness. Too much of one, and not enough of the other, can have negative consequences.
On November 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pm, zyzzyg said:
A very wise man once agreed with you. See Matthew 22:21. His comment there had an enormous influence on the development of western civilization.
The Anchoress, huh? The same dumb azz The Anchoress who made an unfounded ASS-UMPTION of Sarah Palin’s resignation as governor of Alaska…
I don’t care for that gossip queen. She and her reputation are full of sh*t. The Palin-basher Anchoress should go work for a soap opera instead of commenting on political blogs.
An interesting point, though I am not that doctrinaire on the subject. I acknowledge the influence of religion on politics and vice versa. There is room for each as a part of the other. My point, said another way, is that one should not dominate the other.
Balance between the two is a good thing.
On November 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pm, zyzzyg said:
What is truth? – Pontius
Just what is it that you DO know?
And what is it that you do believe?
Or are you content to argue with the seasoned faithful?
Your questions are overly broad, but I will give it a go.
I know that we are all entitled to our opinions.
I believe that when asked a question, it should be answered.
I am content to give my opinion and engage anyone who engages me, no matter who they are.
Your turn to answer the questions you asked me.
Alligators-trolls-feeding.
Is there so sad a sight as a hungry alligator?
ZZ: Simply put, if you love unconditionally, the welfare (rights, needs, wants) of your husband, neighbor, mother, father, etc. is more important to you than your own. Today, we have people scrapping and clawing for what they feel they have a right to. Where does one person’s right begin and another’s ends? This thinking does nothing but steal from others, hurting one another. Me first! Me most! Me! Myself and I! It’s perpetuates man feeding on man. It’s leads to distruction and death. One of the commandments says “Thou shalt not steal.” That doesn’t just apply to material things. It applies to someone’s happiness or peace, which also intersects with “thou shalt not bear false witness.” Dont steal someone’s happiness by lying, coveting, destroying etc. In many cases, in an effort to “get what we deserve” this is the behavior we employ.
Therein is my answer to your next question:
Christ said “I am the Way, the TRUTH and the Life.” Let that come before the discussion of “religion vs government” and everything else will fall into place. Because if we live as HIS creation, created to commune with Him, that discussion is mute. The only “right” we have is to worship our God and He will be our defender, He will meet any need we have so that we don’t have to beat someone else to get what we think is our right or what we think we must have and we willingly, selflessly, in joy help others because we love them.
Within the context of balance between religion and politics, and MM’s post addressing “. . . the transcendent power of faith over the worldy power of government . . .” both have boundaries concerning rights.
There are religious boundaries to rights and there are political boundaries to rights. And, each has it’s own impact on the other. It is about finding the balance for you, for me, for society, for everyone.
One person’s rights begins and ends in that balance between religion and politics.
Yep, and that is why we have religious boundaries and political boundaries. To stop us from feeding on ourselves, or at least both attempt to do so. We need both, and in balance, so that one does not usurp the other.
Yep, and there are political boundaries and religious boundaries that address your example. Some of these boundaries are interwoven in a balance that we as a Nation, accept.
And, when you don’t follow the teachings of The Christ, what then? Do you force it on others? You earlier asked that The Christ be approached as a philosopher. Now you are shifting your premise and are approaching The Christ as a deity.
Agreeing with The Christ as a philospher is one thing, accepting him as a deity is another. And, that further demonstrates my point. I am not prepared to compell anyone to accept The Christ as a deity and to live according to his teachings. Are you?
Nope. We have rights because of the balance and interwoven nature of our system, that is both religious and political.
We are better served when the two are in balance.
We might be talking past one another, so I am suggesting a specific example. You, of course, are welcome to provide your own specific example.
During the Christmas season people dress up their yards with lights and stuff. Should people who do not celebrate Christmas be forced to put up lights? Do they have a right not to? Should they be compelled to do so? Do our politics protect that individual from putting up lights.
Again, within the context of MM’s post discussing the “. . . transcendent power of faith (religion) over the worldy power of government (politics) . . . “ I maintain that one should not be ‘over’ the other, and that they should be in balance.
On a sliding scale of 1 to 10, 1 being religion and 10 being politics, I would not want to live in a world of all 1, or all 10. I would prefer the balance to be between 4 and 6. I believe there, in that balance, rights are ensured. Your right to pursue peace the way you want, and the right of others to pursue peace the way they want.
ZZ – I’m glad you have it all figured out. Good luck to you. I mean that sincerely.
Misscheryl -
Thank you, though you did not answer any questions. Well, good luck to you, too. I mean that sincerely.
Z
I haven’t seen anyone one else here comment on this post, so I will. I agree with Regulus! However, we can spend time on our knees AND fight the good fight too! In other words…don’t count on God to get us out of this mess. God helps those who help themselves, and this is one of those times. He will give us courage and strength, and the assurance that we are on the side of right. But the fight is ours and we can’t sit back and think God will take care of this problem for us. One thing I don’t agree with…we shouldn’t “put the Bible down”. We should pick it up a bit more often!
I know it is a mistake to comment to the troll…but I can’t resist this one. ZZ asks a lot of questions. A LOT. And then expects them all to be answered. However, none of us are obligated in any way to answer any questions we don’t want to. Especially those of a troll who hi-jacks a religious-based thread and destroys the great feeling we got from reading MM’s original comments. I got real inspiration from those comments, but ZZ has taken this entire thread off the tracks. And no, I won’t be answering any of its questions. And yes, it can go ahead and bash me for commenting. I’m use to it from the troll.
Happy – I don’t think I could answer her questions to her satisfaction and I wonder if its answers she really wants. Clearly, she has her opinions formed and I don’t think she and I are coming from the same place anyway so though I believe I answered from my perspective they simply aren’t in-line with her thinking. Oh well…
Is ZZ a female? Or some reason, I was convinced it was a male troll. Don’t know why.
Why you would think it was a mistake is beyond me. When you take me to task, I will respond.
Yep, I do. And, that is because I may not know something or seek greater understanding. That is how people learn. I accept that there are fearful people who want to keep their heads in the sand, content to remain oblivious to knowledge that might broaden their horizons. And yes, internal and external horizons.
Absolutely. And you have no obligation to take me to task or comment on what I post. But, when you engage me in a discussion, asking me questions, as Misscheryl has, then yes, there is the expectation that you answer questions, as I have answered your questions.
Don’t call me out, then run and hide. Now that is troll behaviour. Cowboy up and don’t crawl back under the bridge from where you throw bombs from the shadows.
No one highjacked anything. Did you happen to read these few words from her post? “. . . the transcendent power of faith over the worldy power of government . . .”
That is “faith” over “government” and in my initial post I spoke of “religion” and “politics”. I spoke to the interwoven system that we have, using both, in balance.
Some one else, need I say Misscheryl, jumped the rails and brought up “rights”. Others added comments concerning Saudi Arabia, Stalin, arguing with God, progressives, etc.
If anything was highjacked it was my initial comment by the reponses where those individuals read more into it than what was actually said.
MM spoke of “faith” and “government” I spoke of “religion” and “politics”. Nope. No higjacking by me, but certainly jumping the rails by others.
As for your feelings, they are your own. More power to you.
Where you find inspiration and that you are able to recieve it, is wonderful for you. You may have received inspiration from MM’s post, but she did not mention it. She mentioned “faith” and “government”.
I understand your fear of questions, your fear of expanding your horizons and your fear of others having a greater understanding of your position, therefore I have avoided asking you any questions.
If you feel ‘bashed’ well that is on you and your feelings, of course, are your own. But, when you, or anyone else, takes me to task, please know that I will respond.
Yep, when you opine on what I say, I will opine on what you say. That is what you should get used to.