Old Glory

Independence day will be a day of displays of the American Flag and of fireworks, which lit the sky so that Francis Scott Key could see the Flag during the dark hours of battle.

When I was in grade school, I was permitted to help take down the flag that was flown on our flag pole. I was instructed as to the proper lowering and folding of the flag. Part of those instructions included the warning that if the flag should be permitted to touch the ground that it would have to be burned, for the flag was never to be dishonored by letting it touch the ground.

To me this was terrifying!

The thought of having to burn my nation’s flag was a terrifying thought. I had been taught to know what this flag represents. Such a precious symbol should be held in the highest regard.

After all, my grandfather left Germany and became a naturalized citizen, devoted to all that the United States of America was founded to be. He told his household, “We speak English in this house, for it is the language of this country!”

When Old Glory flies, it shows that the bounties of God are still upon this nation. Not only is it beautiful in design, but glorious in the standard that it represents.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Both this pledge and the Flag have come under attack by those who do not love this nation nor the standards under which it was founded. This pledge makes clear what the United States of America is and what it means to those who flee to her from all over the world. Men and women have bled and died for these precious gifts in order to help insure them to our posterity.

Consider the words of this pledge.

“I pledge allegiance.”

This is a voluntary pledge that flows from being taught to understand what the Flag and Nation are. It flows from a love of others, one’s fellow countrymen, and even for those who will benefit worldwide from the existence of a nation that stands for the things declared in our Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution. It is a pledge to stand firmly upon and unmoved from those principles that place the liberty and justice above even one’s own life and rights and freedoms. It is a pledge that moves one to sacrifice on behalf of others. It is a pledge that flows from a shared faith in what is right and good.

“. . . and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, . . .”

This flag stands for a united republic with a clear definition and identity. This republic is united in understanding the basis for the blessings and privileges and rights and security that its citizens enjoy. It is a nation that is founded upon the confident faith that the God of love who created and redeemed the world has established His goodness for all to enjoy, goodness that the founders of this nation did their best to secure in the founding documents. They realized that such goodness does not generate from the hearts of men but must come from above and then flows from a people grounded in this knowledge.

Such a nation is truly indivisible, as history clearly shows. But as history is also showing, when a nation loses this grounding, it becomes deeply divided.

“. . . with liberty and justice for all.

Clearly, liberty and justice must be for All, or else it crumbles. Liberty and justice flow from one source, from the One who IS Love and is just.

This is the source of the liberty and justice which have been enjoyed for generations. Any nation that recognizes this and abides by it enjoys the same freedom and beneficence.

Truly this is a pledge worthy of those who would live in unity and harmony together for the benefit of all. This is what the Flag of the United States of America represents.

Yes! I love this flag and I love this nation! God preserve us from seeing either being dragged down to the ground to be defamed or destroyed.

God bless America and cause her to continue as a blessing to all!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Chuck Baldwin Interview

Finally, an intelligent, articulate, constitutional, and credible candidate!



This video and other discussions are also available at Chuck Baldwin For President Forum and Freedom Money Bomb.

Abortion Not Covered in the Constitution?

Scalia: Abortion not a court issue was the first headline in today’s Wichita Eagle.

This article gave very little actual context, in fact, it hardly quoted any complete sentences, so I checked a little further. The following is from Scalia Is Wrong About Abortion by Joseph Farah:

"The reality is the Constitution doesn't address the subject at all," he said. "It is one of the many subjects not in the Constitution which is therefore left to democracy. If you want the right to an abortion, persuade your fellow citizens it's a good idea, and pass a law. If you feel the other way, repeal the law."

This quote gives enough context to get the sense of what the acclaimed Supreme Court Justice is intending to convey. This is quite concerning, considering his claim and reputation as a “conservative” and “originalist” regarding the Constitution.

Consider these portions from the Constitution, which Mr. Farah also rightly quotes and applies the Preamble and the Fifth Amendment in his article.


Preamble:

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.

Amendment V.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of
a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of
War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for
the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb;
nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment XIV.

SECTION 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.



The Preamble specifically declares that the entire Constitution is written for both those writing it and living under it at its writing AND for our Posterity, that is, the UNBORN.

How exactly does this not apply to providing “for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty” for our posterity? How is the protection of the unborn from being raped and tortured and ripped to pieces not covered by this Constitution?

Joseph Farah’s article Scalia Is Wrong About Abortion is a worthy read.

Additionally, Fetal Development gives a beautiful chronology of the development of the human baby or fetus. For example, do you know when your heart began to beat? Check it out!

Michael Clancy, a professional photographer, was present to observe and photograph a spina bifida corrective in utero surgery. When the mother’s uterus was incised, little Samuel Armas reached out toward the surgeon. Michael captured the event. The photograph below shows the tiny 21 week old reaching out with his hand and grasping hold of the surgeon’s finger. The full story with slide show is available at Samuel Armas’ hand.


Clearly this shows that little Samuel Armas was fully one who is included in the protection of the United States' Constitution.

But what would have happened to little Samuel if his mother had not loved him?

THIS is why the Constitution includes our posterity in the declaration of those for whom it is written.

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Technorati Tags: +abortion, life, hope, Constitution, Scalia, protection, unborn, posterity

Saint Patrick’s Day

It seems to me to be a special treat that this year Saint Patrick’s Day coincides with Holy Week. After all, the focus of St. Patrick’s Day is the Gospel of our salvation, the very Gospel that is so powerfully held before us during this week of progression from our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the day of suffering and death to redeem us from the powers of sin, death and the devil, and finally having reestablished the eternal Sabbath or Rest, rising to everlasting life.

Truly this is a fitting time for observing the ardent zeal of St. Patrick for the Gospel. Truly St. Patrick’s Day represents for us what these final days of Lent really mean. For even as dear St. Patrick was taken captive and then became free from his captivity so that he learned to know the joyous freedom of the Gospel, so also this week draws us ever more to the preaching of Christ crucified where our freedom has been won for us. Moreover, as St. Patrick grew in his understanding of the freedom that Christ won for him, his great desire was that he could carry this liberating Gospel to those who previously were his captors and abusers. Such is the power of God’s forgiveness. As we observe the ensuing ministry of Patrick, we behold the necessity of purity in the preaching and practice by which we are made to be communicants of Christ’s body and blood. For the Gospel is emptied of its power when it is conjoined to anything other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

For more on the history of St. Patrick, Aardvark Alley has a nicely written piece.

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Technorati Tags: +St. Patrick, Holy Week, Gospel, freedom