Giving Thanks

Okay here we are at Thanksgiving, I hope you have had a good Thanksgiving meal and are sitting with family and friends enjoying varied stories and lots of laughter. I know that I had a very good day both Thursday and Friday, two meals so far with family in different cities. Another day today with more family.

Isn't it a shame that we spend only once or twice a year to be thankful for what we have. Have you ever thought what the American society would be like if we spent more time in thanking the creator for what we have been given, than in demanding that the Government give us what we feel we are entitled too.

Proverbs 21:25 (NIV)
"The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work."

You must understand me here, I am definitely for helping the poor, and the disadvantaged but I also believe that that they must also be willing to help themselves. Just demanding that the Government give something is not helping, it is enabling. You don't give an alcoholic a drink because he demands it. So why do we feel that everyone is entitled. There are a few things that we as American citizens are entitled to. We are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ... we are not entitled to everything that we want. If you want something then go out and earn it, don't steal it or demand that it be given to you.

James 1:27 (NIV)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

The above verse say: to look after.... in their distress. It does not say to enable their distress. We are to give when needed to help them through difficult times, and to encourage them to move forward.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

You might be asking, What is the point to this blog post? Well I have been doing alot of thinking about the way that this great country is headed and to tell you the truth....... I'm terrified. We are a country that was founded on Godly principles and now it appears that we are headed back to tyrannical principles. Our founding fathers came to this land to get away from an oppressive government, to live a life free of government intervention. We are moving towards a society that is government controlled. Our founding fathers set up this government to be a republican form of government. I did not say a Republican run government but a republican from of government. Article 4 section 4 of the United States Constitution states: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence. republic n 1 : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and is usually a president; also : a nation or other political unit having such a government 2 : a government in which supreme power is held by the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives governing according to law; also : a nation or other political unit having such a form of government.

Did you notice the definition item 2: supreme power held by the citizens. I don't see in the Constitution anywhere that the Government is suppose to take what is mine and give it to someone else.

So back to the title of this blog: Giving Thanks, yes I am thankful for this country, I am thankful that I have the right to state my opinions, I have the right to worship who, where, and how I choose. I am also thankful for what God has given me personally: A great wife, good kids, parents that are still living, a good job, and understanding friends that allow me to vent my frustrations without ridicule. So I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a life filled with happiness. So go out there and pursue it. ===Skid===