Stop Me If You've Heard This Before . . .

In the 1850's a political party was born in the United States called the "American Party". The foundation platforms for this new party were anti-Catholic, xenophobic, and hostilty to immigration.

When asked by outsiders what the party stood for the common response was "I know nothing" which resulted in the party being renamed the "Know Nothing" party. Because of the wide net of conspiracy regarding a shadow government being ran from the Vatican the party didn't grow very quickly and in fact in the South the anti-Catholic vision was struck from the party altogether.

In the vacuum of opposition to the Democrat Party a new party was born in the mid 1850's, the Republican Party. This party was born out of opposition to "the slave power" but they needed to reach out to the Know Nothings to further establish their base. The Republican party rose to power with the election of Abraham Lincoln and the Know Nothing party was dissolved. Yet, their vision, their call of a common fear of outsiders, and conspiracy theories is woven in the Republican party DNA today.

In 2016 we see the takeover of a political party by one man who has appealed to the worse characteristics of what is to be an American. When our call to make America great means we leave a swath of people on the outside of this vision then we have failed to demonstrate the love of liberty and justice that birthed this great nation in the first place. Though there will always be a tension between the current population and the immigrants wishing to also make their home here it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. When fear dictates our policy rather than faith in the goodness of our people and values then we have truly lost our way as a nation.

Have You Ever Thought About . . .

I'm wondering if you have ever thought about the time after God created humans and before we rebelled and got kicked out of our first residence.

I wonder how long that period of time was? We know time existed because Genesis talks about God creating the universe in six days. But how long did humans reside in peace and harmony with the universe and God? Six months? Six years? Six hundred years?

Solsbury Hill

(To my brother, on his birthday,  who doesn't like this song. Ha!)

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill

I could see the city light

Wind was blowing, time stood still

Eagle flew out of the night

He was something to observe

Lesson From The Judges

The book of Judges is not a great bedtime read. If you're looking for a book that will leave you feeling filled with optimism than I suggest the Book of Ruth. (Which conveniently follows the Book of Judges in God's eternal grace) But if you want a stark reminder of  the effect that our stubborn and rebellious nature will produce than this is the book for you.

Starting in the first chapter we hear the story of the failure that Israel exhibited over and over. (Literally over eight times we see the phrase, "but they did not drive them out") Charged with the task of driving out the people from the land that God had given them they found occasion after occasion to disregard His instructions. The price of their disobedience haunts the nation of Israel to this day. Sin always has a price and that behavior left unchecked impacts not only us but our loved ones as well. Check out chapter two for these sad words, ". . . and another generation grew up after them who did not know the Lord or the work that He had done for Israel. Then the Israelite's did what was evil in the sight of the Lord . . . and they abandoned the Lord."