From my Reading Notebook...

               Recently I discovered the idea of keeping a notebook for writing thoughts, quotes, or ideas I discover while I’m reading. I found a 9” by 6” binder with pockets so I can keep letters, pens, etc. If you glance through my notebook you will find everything from notes on hunting elk, to table settings for a formal meal, to books I would like to read. Here are some of the notes I’ve taken on recent books.

                 “One day, as he (John Adams) and Benjamin Rush sat together in congress, Rush asked Adams in a whisper if he thought America would succeed in the struggle (against Britain). “Yes,” Adams replied, “if we fear God and repent our sins.” (John Adams-David McCullough, pg. 160)

                “I believe nature has assigned each sex its particular duties and sphere of action, and to act well your part.”-Abigail Adams (John Adams-David McCullough, pg. 171) Imagine saying that today! People think the founding fathers (and mothers) agreed with their egalitarian ideas!

                “(These are) times that tried women’s souls as well as men’s…”-John Adams, after the birth of their stillborn daughter. (John Adams, David McCullough, pg. 172) Sometimes we think that the “old days” were somehow better than today. “If only we lived in the time of the American War for Independence!” It’s hard to realize that all of time has been blotted by the malevolent effects of sin.

                 “Improve your understanding, for acquiring useful knowledge and virtue such as will render you an ornament to society, an honor to your country, and a blessing to your parents…and remember you are accountable to your Maker for all your words or actions.”-Abigail Adams to John Quincy before his departure for Europe. (John Adams, David McCullough, pg. 177)

                 “Popularity was never my mistress, nor was I ever, or shall I ever be a popular man.”-John Adams to the Warren family (John Adams, David McCullough)

                 “As non-theists, we begin with humans, not God, nature, not deity…While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us, we must save ourselves.” (The Humanist Manifesto, quote from The American Covenant, Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson) Sometimes we need to know the antithesis!

                “To wield music well in the fight for joy we should be filled with the Word of God, so that the minds are shaped by biblical truth. If our mind and heart have been molded by the contours of God’s character and humbled by the grace of the gospel, we will discern better what sounds reveal and correspond to the varied glories of God. And since this depends so much on cultural contexts and personal backgrounds, we will need not only a grasp of musical richness, but also a deep theological grounding in God-centered truth, and cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of the dynamics of the heart, and a profound love for people of all kinds. We must make it our aim that the joy awakened by music be a joy in God. Not all pleasures of music are pleasures in God. Then the efforts to delight in God through music will involve a prior shaping of the mind by the Word, so that the structures of sound that do not conform to God’s character are not pleasing in the first place. Then, the efforts to delight in God through music will involve a thoughtful testing after the music has already awakened joy. Is this joy, we ask, rooted in something good about God? Is it shaping my emotions into a Christ-exalting configuration? Is it stirring desires to know Christ better and love him more, and show him to others at the cost of my own comfort? So before and after music has its immediate effect, we pursue the goal that music make us more glad in the glory of God.”-John Piper, When I Don’t Desire God, ­pg. 194

-Jewel

Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

               

Meaningful Quotes

"Never forget for what cause your freedom was won!"-John Adams

"In America the law is king, in America the law must be king."-Thomas Paine, Common Sense

"If there is nothing that is absolutely there is no way you can be absolutely safe-ever."-George Grant

"If we will not adhere to the principles of these declarations it will be necessary to have a revolution every generation."-Thomas Jefferson

"By all rights, the patriots cause should have failed. Militarily the patriots were out-mannered and outmatched at every turn. But there was far more at work for them than mere men at arms."-Daniel Webster

"Victory comes as a surprise to the patriots, partly attributable to General Washington's persistence and partly due to the aid of France, yet it was providence that ultimately made all the difference."-John Quincy Adams

"I consider it a considerable and indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the Protection of Almighty God and those who have superintendents of them His holy keeping. Mr. President, I yield my sword and my command, having now finished the work assigned me; I retire from the grand theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this auguos body under whose orders i have so long acted, I here offer my commission, I offer my sword, I offer my honor, and take leave of all the employments of public life, Amen, Amen"- Washington's Farewell Address

"I know what really matters and now all I care about is tasting my summer corn."-Washington in a letter to Alexander Hamilton, a few days after he gave his farewell address

" Our constitution was made only for a religious people, it is wholly inadequate to a government of any other."- John Adams

"I can now see how the gospel creates a government that sets men free."-Carl Van Door, The Great Rehearsal


"...To know how to say what other people only think is what makes men poets and sages; and to dare to say what others only dare to think, makes men martyrs or reformers, or both."- Elizabeth Charles, From Dark to Dawn
-Jewel Dieu decletare, Dieu laudes decorare

Power over Fear

I, Mark Pascal, leaned my head against the cold rock and gazed out the steel bars of "Ost-Bataillone" to the rough waters of thge Alantic's English Channel. Around me lay the sleepiong figures of my fellow soldiers, or should I say, prisoners. Although many of them had been with me form the beginning of my troubles, captured by the Nazis and held in Hiwis, or German POW camps, I still despised them. Of course we had agreed to fight instead of such harsh conditions. wqhy wouldn't we? But I still felt a secret bitterness against the cursed Germans, but I dare not admit it lest I be caught. The others, the wounded, well, why were they here anyway? But most of all I hated General Hienz for his ever blabbering constent orders and renown crueltly.
My thoughts drifted lazily to the water below. The waves dashed powerfully against the conrete fortifications, sending chills down my spine. I had, form childhood, been enthralled with the power of those waters. And now, at their greatest spring tide they dashed with undescribable fury. The full moon shone brilliantly through the dense fog. For some time we had expected an Allied attack of Nromandy Beach, where we now guared, but I had no fear in this weather. No aircraft of navy would attempt a move in the English channel, not now.
Finally the bare clock ticked 6:00 and I stretched my arms. This was what I had been waiting for; no one would be awake now. Carefully i slipped my boots on and tiptoed around the sleeping figures.
I weaved through the barracks and to the narrow, but strong doorway. I shoved open the concrte door and slipped into the sheets of rain. Behind me the door closed tightly with a bang that made my muscles cringe. if someone heard, my dreams of freedom woudl vanish immediatly. For a fleeing moment I stood alone, amonst the waves crashing and the dimly lit shore. Free for the first time in five years.
Soon I found myself walking along the bare shore. I didn't know where I was going but to get away from my cursed capturer. On one side of me the high cliffs of Juno Beach protruded form the landscape. High atop these natural fortifactions perched two 155 mm guns and 75 mm batteried pionted defensively toward the coming Allies. But the sleepless night finally took it's toll on me and I slumped against the bare cliff to catch some much-needed sleep.
Some time later, as I long as I slept I know not, but I awoke to find a young man, a few years younger than I, sitting nearby gazing anxiously into my face. "Who are you?" I demanded in a somewhat harsh tone, while trying to wake fully.
"Ah, man, that's exactly the question posed in my mind regarding you! What brings you here on a stormy night like this? But my name is Peter." he seemed as though he almost told me more, but declined for some unknown reason.
"Mark Pascal," I murmered. "What are you doing here spying on me like that!" my voice rose to a pitch and I clenched my fists.
"I a truly sorry, I was not mweaning to spy. You seemed like you needed help." With this he brought out some stale bread and some water in a metal canteen and handed them to me.
While before I felt like punching him in the face, now I felt a liking for this boy. The bread and the water felt good on my empty stomach and I ate with noticable deliberatness. He noticed this and asked, "Have you a home?"

I glanced around before answering. By means of the descending sun, I estimated it to be around 5:00 in the evening.

“I must have slept a long time!” I thought to myself absently.

I took my attention back to Peter and answered, “Not really.” His concerned questioning enticed me, and soon I found

myself telling the whole story. I told how I left with my father five years ago to fight the invading Germans with our fellow

Russians. My father was killed in a drunken brawl amongst the men and I taken prisoner of war soon after. I told him of

the conditions I endured in the Hiwis and my regretful vow to fight for Germany’s cause. “And now,” I looked around to

make sure no one but Peter heard. “I’ve escaped. I couldn’t bear to stay any longer so I left. I know they won’t be coming

until the weather gets better but I wanted to get out as soon as possible. Last night was my only chance in three years to

escape from the 716^th German Division.”

He smiled at me when I mentioned the Allies not coming soon but declined to say anything until I had finished. Then he

spoke, “Can I trust you? If I told you secrete information only a few know, would you tell? How can I prove you’re not

sent out as a spy to the French Resistance?”

“Trust me?” I wanted to cry. “I’ve been a prisoner of war three years and have I betrayed Russia or the Allies once?”

The thought of my unashamed oath three years ago haunted me, but I pushed it out of my mind.

“You do not need to reveal any information to me, only allow me to help you. If you are fighting for Allied freedom I will

lay my life on it.” I jumped with renewed zeal after my repast.

“Then follow me.” He stood up and led me through a confusing path between German blockades and large batteries until

we reached a high cliff protruding directly in front of us. Peter did not stop as I did but walked to its base, brought out a

rope from his pocket, and tied it in a lasso. He stepped back and threw it with steady aim. It went whizzing through the air

and pulled tight over a strong metal picket. Then he motioned me to follow his example as he climbed hand over hand to

the top.

When we stopped, we found ourselves under a low arch, overlooking the vast waters. Settling down in what seemed like

a frequented spot, he took a small radio out of his knapsack. I watched in silence as he turned it on and tuned it to BBC

at 21:00 CET. Together we listened in silence.

“Les carottes sont cuites, Les dés sont jetés,” The voice spoke clearly in French.

“The carrots are cooked, the dice have been thrown?” I questioned, wondering if my limited French had deceived me

this time. “What does that mean?”

“Peter only gravely smiled at me and answered somberly. “It means it’s happening soon, soon as in tomorrow morning,

early. Yesterday a message personal was transmitted declaring Paul Verlaine’s poem, Chanson d'Automne, "Bercent

mon coeur d'une langueur monotone."

“Sooth my heart with monotonous languor,” I recited. What is going on?”

He looked at me with sober eyes, as if measuring my trustworthiness. I looked at his sober face and wrinkled my brow.

Then I threw back my head and laughed. Here I was, in the middle of nowhere and yet so close to the Orne River

Estuary and Peter was telling me nonsense and saying it meant something was happening soon.

When I subsided Peter spoke. “I might as well tell you, you already know too much. Although the German

headquarters has been led to believe the weather is too bad for an Allied attack, the weather is much better closer to

England. The Operation Overlord attack is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 6:30. But we, along with
the Jedburgh reinforcements, have our own work to make this happen. For the last few days we have been
sabotaging railroads and

message exchanges. Now we are here to help our forces land. It will be a hard struggle, but by God’s sovereign

hand we will win, we will crush these power-driven enemies of God.”

The expression on my face was one of contempt. I, Mark Pascal, knew the power of our enemies more than he.

Surely no god of his could overrule Hitler’s tyrannical power?

That night we were able to catch only a few hours’ sleep in between orders. The excitement of it all proved too

much for me and I slept little. Finally, I believe I fell into a deep slumber when I was awakened by the sound of

battery fire in the distance. Peter had his rifle loaded and poised against the rock canyon.

The air was dense with smoke and the noise of airplanes was deafening. The water continued to splash against

the concrete seawall.

I watched as barges of the 2^nd Canadian Armoured Brigade and the 3^rd Canadian Infantry Division landed on

Normandy. The dead bodies of half their fellow men lay strewn on shore and yet they continued fighting their

way on shore. I glanced over at Peter. His gaze was focused on a young Canadian stepping onto shore.

Then I noticed one of my former comrades of the 716^th German Division aiming his machine gun directly at

this new conqueror. Peter’s hands trembled as he pulled the trigger to his rifle, ending the life of yet another Nazi.

By then four prominent tanks had reached their objective line. The opposition was heavy, however and they

were forced to turn back as their infantry hadn’t joined them yet. By the end of that day, only two German Rader

stations remained to be overtaken. The 3^rd Canadian division had advanced farther than any other division

of the five beaches, as I later learned.

“What was that?” Peter cocked his head to the side and listened intently. The sun was showing her last rays

before disappearing for the night. In the distance we could hear a cry, and then a soft moan.

“I need to go see if someone’s in trouble. It could be serious!” Peter strapped his rifle on and started

climbing down.

“No!” I grabbed his arm and yanked him under the overhang. For once I was right. I was the older of us

two and I was not going to be a wimp. “You don’t know what’s down there. Thousands of hidden grenades,

lurking Nazis, and it’s getting dark. If you go, you go to your death. You have a family waiting for you.

Don’t go.”

For a moment he stopped and thought. “What would Father say?” He mumbled to himself. Then again,

the low cry was heard and Peter sprang down the cliff. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear…”

I listened intently but couldn’t hear the rest for the dashing waves. The dark began to settle in and the air

was dense and foggy. I shivered and crept closer to the canyon wall. Every sound, every moment I imagined

General Hienz had found my hiding place and I would be betrayed. He, of all men, hated traders and I was one.

With Peter gone, there was nothing I could do, no excuse I could make of why I left late last night. No excuse

for teaming up with an enemy…

Then I heard the shuffle of man’s foot at the canyon wall. I listened in frozen silence as he began climbing the

rocky precipice. I was in for certain. Desperately I glanced around for some way of escape but there was none.

I was to be taken back to the German POW camps or… I could not bear to think what they might do otherwise.

Nazis had no pity on any and I was no exception. A public example was exactly what they needed to keep others

from escaping the way I had done. If I only had died in battle! While I thus thought bitterly a thought popped

into my mind. Surely if there was a God out there, he would have some type of pity on me. Peter often prayed

and I felt certain God would hear him. But me... so many times I had cursed him…

My muscles tensed as I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Mark, I need your help.” I looked into Peter’s worried face

and opened my mouth.

“You made it!” I stared at him wide-eyed in disbelief.

“Sure, but I brought him back.” He pointed to the figure of a man lying on the opposite side of the overhang.

Bring me my bag over there.”

As I came closer I studied the features of the man. His grimy face was pale and he wore a tattered German officer

uniform. Then I looked into his eyes. They were dark and cruel looking.

“Peter! How dare you pick up any man of the street and bring him into our secrete hideout! Don’t you understand?”

I felt like pitching them both off the edge of the cliff but restrained myself.

“Why?” Peter’s reply was unhurt as he busily bandaged the man’s wound.

“He was my old commander, and a nasty cruel one too. You don’t know what he’d do to me if he knew who I was.

And he’ll blame you for helping me escape!” I clenched my teeth as I hissed in his ear.

“Mark,” Peter looked in my face and motioned me to sit next to him. “Why are you so bitter, against God and against

man? Let me tell you a story.

When I was a young boy, my father was a successful German businessman. My family and I enjoyed many worldly

comforts. Well, my father came home one day only to tell us that his partner stole all his money and had run off

with it. The business was lost and my father soon after lost his eyesight due to worry. My family suffered a lot

and I was forced to leave for France and work at a factory.”

“Who was that man who stole your father’s business? You should seek revenge on him. If I were you I would

pledge my life to make an end of him!”

“Hienz was his name, he later, I believe, became a general in the German army.” All was silent for a moment as

Peter silently began wrapping the wound.

“Peter, how do you do it? I mean, how can you be so fearless?” I gently asked.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Peter then looked into

my face. “I can forgive others because He who died for me has forgiven me. I have no fear because I have Him

to watch over me.”

It was that night that I asked something I’d never dreamed of asking before. I looked into
Peter’s bright eyes and spoke in a calm resolved voice. “I too can have His power over fear?”

“Yes,” said Peter. “Only ask.”

The Purpose of History

"What is History?"
Good question! I had never thought about the word until a couple of years ago I was introduced to the idea of history actually being the sotry of our saviour. but think about it, since Christ didn't leave the world to fend for itself until his return he is governing it's every move. In fact, he has a purpose in everything that happens form the good to the bad. So the anwer is a resounding yes!
History-a bore?
For the first time in all history we all have more access to learn of our heritage than ever before. Anyone, at any time can type a few words into their computer and a whole host of imformation will come up within seconds. With cars and planes we can easily visit the very sites where world-changing events took place. Why, of all times, are most people bored in history class? is all they are learning dates and dead people in an evolved world of pure luck and chance? not wonder they're sleeping through history class! Whay others did in the past had no application to everyday life of ipods, TV, and itouches. Plus, they had no cool stuff like high powered sniper rifles that can shoot two miles or teloscopes that can see thousands of miles into space.
I like how George Grant describes the purpose of history. he says,
"God gives us glimpes of the past, that we might undersatnd the present, that we might have hope for the future."
Today's technology
When we study history we are showing that we care about our future. Since no one lives 500 years the only way we can make a difference in this world is by standing on the soldiers of those past us; learning form their mistakes and applying what they did well to our own life. The only reason we have the technology we have today is not because we are smarter or the "most evolved" people but because we have stood on the slodiers of giants.
God's gloru-the real reason to study history
But the real reason to study our past is because is reveals the glory of God. history is really His Story as we can cleary wee the amazing providences history is full of. Of course, we were never taught this in school because they don't want you to worship God. They want you to worship the state and that is exactly why the puplic schoold were created: to indoctrinate the next generation so we will have a country of Marxist state worshipers. And that is why they hate homeschoolers so much!
Bt back to the subject at hand, God is sovereign over every squre inch of dirt this world is made of. Some examples of this are the Batlle of Dorchester Heights, D-day, Midway, the Alamo, and many others!
The Two Cities
Because we are Christians we have a unique visage and overlook of what's going on around us. Instead of descending form premortla slime, we are made in God's image for a purpose. And so were our ansestors all the way back to Adam and Eve. Christians have never been lost in history. We know Christ is coming soon, though we no the exact timing. but apart form the final judgement, we have learned through history that God judges on nationwide scale, as well as on individual.
Therefore, throughout history we can witness the story of tow cities, two kingdoms. One is the kingdom of man. Revelation entitles it the beast. Tnis kingdom is ever seeking for more power and glory for itslef by means of top-down centralized systems. What happens to these empires? Well, think of Babel, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Britian, France, and the many other empires that fell throughout history.
The city of God, however, doesn't grow by force, it grows by faith. Even when it doesn't seem visible, it's still there. listen to what Calvin writes to the king of France.
"Both that the Church may exist without any apparent form, and, morever, that the form is not ascertained by that external splendor, that they (the Roman Catholic Church) foolishly admire, but by a very different mark, namely, by the pure preaching of the woprd of God, and the due administration of the sacraments. They make an outcry whenver the Church cannot be pionted to with a finger. But how oft waas the fate of the Church among the Jews to be so defaced that no comliness appeared? What do we suppose to ahve been the splendid form when Elijah complained of being left alone?
(1 Kings 19:14) How long after the advent of Christ did it lie hid without form? How often since has it been oppressed by wars, seditions, and heresies, that it was nowhere seen in splendors? But Elijah learned that there reamined seven thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal; nor we to doupt that Christ has always reigned on earth ever since he ascended to heaven. had the faithful at the time required some descernible for, , must they no forthwith given way to despondency?"
In conclusion, the psalmist states in psalm 78,
" but tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that he has done...(so that they will) not be like thier fathers, a stubbron adn rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart, and hwose spirit was not faithful to God."