America – Dobra Family Ministry

Household Prayer: gardens, working, keeping, protecting

”… I had men stand in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I had the people stand by families with their swords, spears, and bows. Then I saw their fear. And I arose and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not fear them; remember the Lord who is great and fearsome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”“ Nehemiah 4:13-14 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/neh.4.13-14.LSB

Brothers, I’ve been out of commission for a bit. How is it April already? Makes me think of the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15) and 4/19/1775 at Lexington and Concord (Gen. 14, Neh. 4). I also do a family safety stand down. I pray we are preparing our gardens, working and keeping, cultivating and protecting (Gen. 2:15).

”Then Yahweh God took the man and set him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.“ Genesis 2:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gen.2.15.LSB

”So Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, and he led out his trained men, born in his house, 318 in number, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.“ Genesis 14:14 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gen.14.14.LSB

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World: Pastor Jonas Clark and Lexington’s Law of Liberty

“This day, April 19, should be forever marked in the American mind as the day a few Americans stood their ground, refusing to surrender their God-given rights in the face of British tyranny… Many of the militiamen were members of Pastor Jonas Clark’s church. Clark stood close by on the road, along with forty to one hundred spectators, watching the events that morning as church member Captain John Parker (for whom the Minuteman Statue was dedicated in 1900 at the 125th anniversary) modeled the principles he had been taught from the Scriptures. Captain John Parker of the Lexington militia was a deacon in Pastor Clark’s church. In addition to being a believer submitted to the Bible, his militia was under the Continental Congress. The Americans were not rebels, for the vast majority of those who resisted British tyranny had been taught the Biblical doctrine of interposition by their pastors. Simply put, it meant the only lawful way to resist tyranny is to do so under duly constituted authority. They understood that direct resistance is rebellion and had been taught that only a defensive war in a just cause can be blessed by God. That is why Parker’s orders, engraved on the Lexington militia line marker, are so significant: Stand your ground, don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here. After Revere alerted Hancock and Adams at Pastor Clark’s home that the British regulars were coming, Clark was asked, “Are your men ready?” He replied, “I have trained them for twenty years for this hour.” … Jonas Clark taught from the Bible that true liberty was a result of covenanting with God under the rule of law-God’s law. Why is the “shot that was heard ’round the world” so important? It is important for Americans to remember that our War for Independence was both lawful and just. It was a defensive war fought in a lawful manner consistent with Biblical principles. It was not a rebellion nor was it lawless. Where did the many militia units get such teaching, and why would they adhere to such Biblical principles? It was taught almost universally by the “Black-Robed Regiment”-the patriotic pastors who led the Revolution behind the scenes as well as taking up arms themselves.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

Rights

President John F. Kennedy in where human rights come from “ …the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe-the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution… proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. “ President John F. Kennedy, 1961 Inaugural Address, The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

”¶But You, O Yahweh, abide forever, And the remembrance of Your name from generation to generation… So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh And all the kings of the earth Your glory… “The children of Your slaves will dwell securely, And their seed will be established before You.”“ Psalm 102:12, 15, 28 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.102.12-28.LSB

Fear God, Make disciples, Protect your family!

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Genesis‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“The right to life is a good example of what legal historians refer to as an objective right: it is objective in the sense that it exists outside ourselves and is unalienable… The right to life imposes obligations: you must do everything in your power to preserve it.”
#SlayingLeviathan https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan/

AMENDMENT II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
https://ministry.family.blog/america/second-amendment/

“Religion and liberty must flourish or fall together in America. We pray that both may be perpetual.” Pastor William Smith, Christ Church Philadelphia, 1775
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” John Witherspoon, 1776
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“And if our religion is given up, all the liberty we boast of will soon be gone.” Samuel Langdon, 1788
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

THE GOOD NEWS

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV

Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV

But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV

““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV

We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV

There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV

It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV

Household Prayer: culture building faith

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.9-10.NKJV

Culture building

Brothers, when we pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10), what does that look like? Our faith has real world consequences as God works in and through us. I pray we have faith to pray for God’s will in our lives and families today and faith to walk in His will. I pray we live out a Christian culture in this world (Matt. 5:14-16, I Peter 2:12), and I pray we disciple and pass the faith and culture on to our children to do the same. I pray reformation and Christian culture begin in our homes.

I read an article about young Americans being inspired by Osama Bin Laden’s letter to America and one recommended antidote is to build and live out a distinctly Christian culture as a light to the world (Matt. 5:14-16, I Peter 2:12).

Take dominion. Make disciples. By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

“Duty is ours, results are God’s” – John Quincy Adams

What Does Osama bin Laden’s Viral Moment on TikTok Mean for America? “A hyper focus on criticizing the West ignores the positive developments that have come out of the West. Christian ethics are foundational to Western civilization, and the order, justice, and understanding of human rights that Western civilization brought to much of the world is a very good thing. Many (particularly younger) Americans refuse to see this. Thus, we may be left with a society that hates itself. Such a society-wide suicidal inclination is exceedingly dangerous… The antidote to the allure… is to create a culture that teaches, values, and lives by the Christian ethics and …American values that have contributed to this country’s flourishing.” https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/what-does-osama-bin-ladens-viral-moment-on-tiktok-mean-for-america

“Osama Bin Laden Viral TikTok Letter — THIS is What Gen-Z Doesn’t Know. In this episode of ‘Ideas Have Consequences,’ we will examine the reasons why Gen-Z is connecting with this letter and explain why their ideology is flawed in doing so” https://x.com/larrytaunton/status/1729500391434301860?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw

““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.14-16.NKJV

“having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” I Peter 2:12 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.2.12.NKJV

“The Church has a lot of motion — reading and talking about dominion online. This feels like action but it is NOT. – read and obey your Bible – pick up heavy things often – don’t eat trash – love your wife – discipline your kids – develop mastery in one thing – invest – repeat” https://x.com/thespearing/status/1729473324449759442?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw

“John Quincy Adams (1825-1829), sixth president of the United States stated: The first and almost the only book deserving of universal attention is the Bible. I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you, Search the Scriptures! The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice or thrice through, and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions of one or two chapters every day, and never to be intermitted, unless by some overruling necessity.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

Household Prayer: thanksgiving for undeserved grace

“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” Luke 4:18-21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.4.18-21.NKJV

Thanksgiving

Brothers, meditating on Luke 4:18-21 and Isaiah 61. It is shocking what Christ has done for us, undeserving as we are. It is double shocking that there is a double portion reward awaiting. Much to be thankful for. I give thanks for all of you and the homeschool community. Rejoice and give thanks!

““The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”” Luke 4:18-21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/luk.4.18-21.NKJV

“But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant.” Isaiah 61:6-8 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.61.6-8.NKJV

“Whittaker Chambers, an American writer and editor who had formerly been a Soviet communist spy before he recanted and defected to the West, stated: Freedom is a need of the soul, and nothing else. It is in striving toward God that the soul strives continually after a condition of freedom. God alone is the inciter and guarantor of freedom. He is the only guarantor. External freedom is only an aspect of interior freedom. Political freedom, as the Western world has known it, is only a political reading of the Bible. Religion and freedom are indivisible. Without freedom, the soul dies. Without the soul, there is no justification for freedom.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

Fire Pit Friday: the sins of secularism and silence

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.3.9.NKJV

Fire Pit Fridays – first three Fridays of November 6pm – watch No Quarter November blog post, have a drink if desired, and some theological and applicational discussion. https://noquarternovember.com

Love in unity of the essentials.
Love in discussion of the practical lived out faith.
Love in rejoicing together in our Savior.
Love in growing in the faith.

May it be in love, fruitful, edifying, and a blessing. “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.3.9.NKJV

Nov. 17 NQN Fire Pit Friday 6pm – Man, no qualifications can sting! This issue reminded me of Isaiah 8. Calling us to ignore the “mediums and wizards”, or the voice of secularism and silence of the pulpits, and return to God’s word. So some questions for discussion, how do we live out our faith in a way to reject and cast down the secular “arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (II Cor. 10:4-5) How do we encourage our pastors to preach on the “untouchable” topics?

Video: https://youtu.be/9cPswFkQlgo?si=-50OAsMLtEjia-9R
Blog: https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-pinch-of-incense-to-the-genius-of-democracy-2-2.html

“The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread… Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples… And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:13, 16, 19-20 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.8.13-20.NKJV

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” II Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.10.4-5.NKJV

“This last week, the voters of Ohio enshrined a right to abortion in their state constitution, in what might be called Ohio’s suicide note. In the heady days after the Jericho of Roe fell, this was the gut punch that we might call the first battle of Ai… The foundational issue is that our entire nation is riddled and shot through with the pox-ridden disease of secularism, and we have gone so far as to trick it out as some kind of a virtue… And this relates to a secondary disease in the pulpits of our land, one which absolutely refuses to confront this problem, or to name the sin in any way… Prophetic denunciation is right and proper, but our muddled and confused murmuring and fearful complaining is not the same thing as clear-headed prophetic denunciation. In a time when our nation has declared open war on the God of heaven, despising His law/word, we, ostensibly His people, have responded with a farrago of lame theological excuses… We have struck down Roe, and thank God for that. But have we received forgiveness for Roe? Has there been atonement? We still have the blood of innocents on our hands, up to the elbows. Doesn’t anybody realize we still need to seek forgiveness? We, in the name of a demented constitutionalism, have dashed out the brains of far more infants than Hamas could ever dream of… And so here we are. America is currently acting the part of Gollum falling backward into the crevasse, holding his ring, and savoring his moment of triumph. We laugh as though we had just proven that there is no such thing as judgment, and we do this while clutching at the judgment itself. The cackling is hard to listen to, but it is over soon enough… And so all of this has happened in a country that is the home to tens of millions of evangelical Christians. What has our response been? Well, we dither… The foundational disease is in our pulpits, which have gone largely silent when it comes to the Word of Jehovah on any of these subjects, or on any topic that seems remotely connected to them. It sounds noble to say that you want to stay focused on the gospel of Christ and Him crucified. It is less noble to refuse to mention any of the high-handed sins that made such a crucifixion necessary. The New Testament message of repent and believe has been transformed into believe if you would like. to. And so now all the godless have to do to get evangelicals to lay off is deck their rebellions out in the camouflage of public square neutrality… The lie of secularism is that we have the right to make decisions like the people of Ohio just did… So evangelicals believe in democracy, do they? So what did democracy do in Ohio last week? Can democracy sin? And, if democracy can sin, can democracy be forgiven? The only way to answer that question properly is to acknowledge the authority of the risen Lord Jesus Christ over the nations, including ours, and that would run the risk of being labeled a Christian nationalist by the cool kids. No, no! Anything but the disapproval of the cool kids. Ah, cool shame . . . thy name is craven evangelical… Secularism is the delusional pretense that there is no transcendent authority above us. It is the daydream that there is no divine voice that could ever tell the majority of the American people no. Faith in democracy amounts to the implicit claim that 55% have the right to vote on whether or not the 45% are persons. Faith in Christ amounts to the explicit claim that we have no right whatever to autonomous law. And by autonomous law, I mean bloody law. I mean murderous law. I mean anti-fertility law. I mean death-wish law… And this is why the evangelical sheepdogs didn’t bark. The intelligensia of the evangelical movement, some of them educated well beyond their intelligence, and many of them educated in such a way as did not erase their aching insecurities, are deathly afraid of being called out for their lack of sophisticated and/or sophistical academic cred. They try very hard to fix it.” https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-pinch-of-incense-to-the-genius-of-democracy-2-2.html

Fire Pit Friday: Justice, Sympathy, Christian Nations?

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.3.9.NKJV

Love in unity of the essentials.
Love in discussion of the practical lived out faith.
Love in rejoicing together in our Savior.
Love in growing in the faith.

Nov. 10 NQN Fire Pit Friday 6pm – Two big topics: (1) Justice (rooted in God’s absolute standard) vs. Empathy (untethered from reality or morality) in the Israel-Hamas context, and (2) can political ideals (democracy, religious freedom) pre-suppose a Christian worldview? Or do those ideals come from a Christian worldview pre-supposition (and is that an attribute of Christian Nationalism)? Could tackle both or one, wherever the conversation leads.

1) Video: https://youtu.be/VDGwGfPl9WQ?si=E0drsjjxAY8EYjIs
Blog: https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-pinch-of-incense-to-the-genius-of-democracy-2.html

2) Video: https://youtu.be/AHyoPYcz_xk?si=EiWzYOpPtFJlLwPD
Blog: https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-pinch-of-incense-to-the-genius-of-democracy.html

Three articles I read this week emphasize that we do not look to secular, Godless, thought or systems to address the practicalities of Christian cultural engagement! God’s absolute truth and biblical standard must pre-suppose all thought and understanding. Justice and Politics must be informed by our Christian worldview.

Justice. Current “a la carte approach to theology starves us of the riches of the historic Christian tradition. Moreover, it forces many to look to secular thought to address the practicalities of Christian cultural engagement rather than to Scripture… What if we applied our big-God theology all the way out to the corners, even in the area of justice?” As Lord over every aspect of our spiritual, physical, and thought lives? “God’s sovereignty applies not only to personal salvation; it also means that he governs the whole course of redemptive history according to his unchanging plan (Eph. 1:11)… As heirs of the Reformation mantle of sola Scriptura, we should always bring our systems under the intense scrutiny of Scripture. At the same time, we must not be bare biblicists, neglecting the treasures of covenant theology and its particular applications to our cultural moment.” How Covenant Theology Clarifies Justice Issues https://founders.org/articles/how-covenant-theology-clarifies-justice-issues/

Sympathy. the difference between sympathy and empathy was the difference between objective truth and subjective felt “truth.” … Mankind is fallen, bent, twisted. It is not prudent or wise to untether any of his emotional states—even the ones we glibly assumed were benevolent… The biblical view of man is that he is by nature an object of wrath (Eph. 2:3). Is anyone righteous? Not even one (Rom. 3:10). Left to our own devices, we spend our energy hating one another and being hated (Tit. 3:3). Before conversion to Christ, we must be restrained and held back from evil externally. After conversion to Christ, we are constrained internally by the Spirit of God, who enables us to mortify our remaining sinful impulses. Not to put too fine a point on it, man is not basically good…. If you have a biblical doctrine of man, you will want to see him tethered to the rock of justice. If you have an unbiblical doctrine of man, you will assume that he is a natural-born sweetie pie, and that leaving him to pursue his ethical development in some self-paced way will somehow turn out well. This is the thin mist of naive ethical theory, seeping out from under the door jams of all our major Thinkeries.” Empathy as the Headwaters of Cruelty https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-pinch-of-incense-to-the-genius-of-democracy-2.html

Christian Nation? “Our new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has freaked a bunch of people out by acknowledging his Christian faith openly and unashamedly, and by saying that he plans to begin every work day there at the Capitol by utilizing a little prayer chapel that is close by his new offices. Now whether or not Johnson actually is a Christian nationalist, he certainly drew the charge of Christian nationalism almost instantly. He did this by means of a little trick where he avowed that his Christianity would have something to do with how he discharged his office. He did not use any approved line like “my faith, which is very personal and precious to me, will not have any influence on how I make political decisions.” … a number of conservative Christians who are very critical of formal Christian nationalism are mysteriously fine with Johnson and friends praying together on government property because, say they, that kind of devotion is personal and private. They approve of that sort of piety. The problem for them would come if someone tried to extract an agenda for action from the Scriptures, and on the basis of scriptural authority. That is where they would start to get restive and more than a little bit jumpy.” But where do the ideas of “religious liberty”, “democracy”, “free speech”, and the “Constitution” come from? “Religious liberty makes sense in some worldviews, and is flatly rejected by others. The idea of limited government as represented by our Constitution is dependent upon a certain worldview, and cannot be sustained by other worldviews. Is Owen willing to recognize that in order for us to have all the things he believes in, we must first have an established and shared set of preconditions that makes belief in such things possible? … I believe in religious liberty also, but I know and understand that such liberty arises from one worldview, and not from others. So if you believe in religious liberty, and you actually want it to happen, then that means you must also want the framework of such liberty to be understood by our rulers, and incorporated into our constitutional infrastructure. And that is what we mean by Christian nationalism… you cannot consistently believe in the Constitution unless you also believe in the kind of society that produced it. And the kind of society that produced it was a Christian one.” The Joy Juice of Democracy https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/a-pinch-of-incense-to-the-genius-of-democracy.html

Interesting applicational exercise: all cultures equal, or a Christian worldview of the value of life, evil of murder, and justice applied. “Charles James Napier, commander-in-chief of British India, enforced a ban on the Hindu practice of burning widows. When a group of irate Hindu priests asserted that the customs of their nation should be honored, here is how Napier responded: ‘This burning of widows is your custom; prepare the funeral pile. But my nation has also a custom. When men burn women alive, we hang them and confiscate all their property. My carpenters shall therefore erect gibbets on which to hang all concerned when the widow is consumed. Let us all act according to national customs.’” https://x.com/benzeisloft/status/1722727774505284092?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw

You are the Christian governor of the colony. Do you empathize with the colonized and allow the burning of widows? Do you look to truth tethered justice to establish a Christian worldview based civil order?

Concluding thought question: How are we as the church preparing to care for one another if God sends cataclysmic judgement, to fight against evil, to advance the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Supporting Ref.

Eric Metaxas: Awake, You Who Sleep (2023) https://youtu.be/8AkvuGZfTg0?si=aBpVlgzKNh-UocDs “In the face of a darkening and confused culture, Eric Metaxas makes a career out of bringing both encouragement and a challenge to believers. He calls for Christians of conviction to stand firm, speak the truth, and do so with the hope that comes from our faith in the gospel. Eric is a happy warrior for the application of a Christian worldview to every aspect of our lives.”

TS&TT: Larry Taunton | Infiltrating The World Economic Forum https://youtu.be/9WzDFMC17fg?si=5Z1f3D2473iCBn0f “Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden welcome Larry Taunton back to the show to discuss the World Economic Forum. They talk about some the WEF Genesis and their agenda, while hearing about Larry’s personal experience after infiltrating their 2023 meeting in Davos, Switzerland.”

Coming soon to Founders Press. “A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case For Lawful Subjection To The Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance To Tyrants” – By Timothy Decker

The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella https://a.co/6Mn2RHk

The Magdeburg Confession: 13th of April 1550 AD by Pastors of Magdeburg https://a.co/cWOPNHu

If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty by Eric Metaxas https://a.co/5vUxwdQ

Celebrate Liberty! Famous Patriotic Speeches & Sermons by David Barton https://a.co/8FZFVWt

Hitler, God, and the Bible by Ray Comfort https://a.co/7Oc9vB9

When a Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn From Nazi Germany by Erwin W. Lutzer https://a.co/hFGQ1zI

The Founders’ Key: The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It by Larry P. Arnn https://a.co/iIqY7ad

God’s Double Agent: The True Story of a Chinese Christian’s Fight for Freedom by Bob Fu, Nancy French https://a.co/8oUBngH

The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great by Ben Merkle https://a.co/64ce4sw

Household Prayer: Our God is greater! No fear, rejoice!

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:38-39 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.7.38-39.NKJV

Brothers, our God is greater! I pray for preparedness and security of our households and that we would not be anxious or fear but “remember the Lord who is great and awesome.” (Neh. 4:13-14) I pray that in the power of the Gospel and resurrection we “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4-7) And I pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that “rivers of living water” would wash over our families (John 7:38-39) with words that give grace (Eph. 4:29).

“I am thus far a Quaker [a pacifist]: I would gladly agree with all the world to lay aside the use of arms and settle matters by negotiation; but unless the whole will, the matter ends, and I take up my musket and thank Heaven He has put it in my power. THOMAS PAINE, Patriot, Author

Nehemiah 4:14 (NASB) [14] When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB) [4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! [5] Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. [6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 7:38-39 (NASB) [38] “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” [39] But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Ephesians 4:29 (NASB) [29] Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Fear God, Make disciples, Protect your family!

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Genesis‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Religion and liberty must flourish or fall together in America. We pray that both may be perpetual.” Pastor William Smith, Christ Church Philadelphia, 1775
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” John Witherspoon, 1776
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“And if our religion is given up, all the liberty we boast of will soon be gone.” Samuel Langdon, 1788
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

Household Prayer: A shining light of good works

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.16.NKJV

Brothers, praying that our households, homeschool communities, and local assemblies of the Church are set apart as lights in the darkness (Matt. 5:16), illuminating God’s truth and grace. Lord I pray that our salvation produces the fruit of good works (Eph. 2:10, James 2:20), and May our good works shine a light (Matt. 5:16) that adorns “the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus 2:7, 10)

The pilgrims, according to William Bradford, “sought a better country for a more fruitful life, body and soul, but most importantly, to protect their children from corruption… they swore ‘in the Presence of God’ to form a ‘civil Body Politick’ for the ‘Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.’”

It’s often told of the persecution of the reformation time period that led the pilgrims across the ocean. But what is overlooked is the concern they had for the spiritual development and protection of their children from the degenerate corruption of the culture. This motivated them to be set apart as a shining example of “the ‘Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.’”

“Do it for the kids”

“What was intolerable—“of all sorrows most heavy to be borne”—was that some of the children of Bradford’s group had been influenced by the “great licentiousness of the youth in that country, and the manifold temptations of the place” been “drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses, getting the reins off their necks and departing from their parents… to the great grief of their parents and dishonour of God. So that they saw their posterity would be in danger to degenerate and be corrupted.” … They sought a better country for a more fruitful life, body and soul, but most importantly, to protect their children from corruption… There they swore “in the Presence of God” to form a “civil Body Politick” for the “Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” The Pilgrim exodus was both evangelical and political, and not born from a martyrdom complex but from zeal to build anew and, most of all, to acquire space to exercise their preferred way of life. The security and longevity of their children were paramount… Though the proclamation of the Gospel would, of course, not be neglected, the Pilgrim emigration was effectively flight from a blue state to red territory. Would-be modern pilgrims needn’t feel ashamed of their decidedly natural and sensible impulses to safeguard their families and way of life by seeking out greener pastures.” ‘The Pilgrim Option, or On the Blue State Exodus’ by Timon Cline, American Reformer https://americanreformer.org/2023/07/do-it-for-the-kids/

William Bradford’s (1590-1657) ‘Of Plymouth Plantation’ https://books.google.com/books/about/Bradford_s_History_of_Plimoth_Plantation.html?id=1SwSAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&ovdme=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

Household Prayer: Approach education as if doing it for the Lord God Almighty!

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” Colossians 3:23 (NASB)

Brothers, for family worship this week we considered Colossians 3:23 as it applies to school (parents and students). Approach your education as if doing it for the Lord God Almighty! Praying for good attitudes and joyful hearts in the labor this year. Praying that our labors would bless and glorify God until “the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.” (Ps 72:19)

“The Bible tells us that no matter the assignment before us, we should undertake it as though we are doing it on behalf of the Lord Himself-that we are to use our utmost skill and put all of our heart and mind into that task. Because God wants the best effort from us in every area… Our Founding Fathers understood the broad scope of these passages and thus applied their message not just to so-called “spiritual areas,” but also to endeavors in politics, education, law, entertainment, employment, and… even dictionaries! The story of Founding Father Noah Webster’s creation of his famous dictionary is an excellent illustration of how they infused the “do the absolute best I can, and do it for God!” mentality throughout every conceivable undertaking… Webster was so committed to doing everything for the Lord, including even his massive dictionary, that in the preface to that famous work, he openly dedicated it to God: To that great and benevolent Being, Who during the preparation of this work has sustained a feeble constitution [body] amidst obstacles and toils, disappointments, infirmities and depression; Who has borne me and my manuscripts in safety across the Atlantic and given me strength and resolution to bring the work to a close, I would present the tribute of my most grateful acknowledgments. And if the talent which He has entrusted to my care has not been put to the most profitable use in His service, I hope it has not been “kept laid up in a napkin” [Luke 19:20] and that any misapplication of it may be graciously forgiven… He also announced: I present this to my fellow citizens not with frigid indifference but with my ardent wishes for their improvement and happiness and… the moral and religious elevation of character, and the glory, of my country. A dictionary dedicated to the “moral and religious elevation” of citizens’ character and that of the country? It is unlikely that many today would approach the making of a dictionary with the commitment that it was a spiritual undertaking, but Webster did.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers

Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

Small town love of neighbor “Hate evil, love good; Establish justice” Amos 5:15

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:12-14 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.13.12-14.NKJV

I wouldn’t classify Jason Aldean’s song “Try that in a small town” as a “Christian” song, but it displays the virtues of love of neighbor and the hatred of lawlessness.

The demons are raging and trying to censor. Good time to make it go to number 1 on YouTube or whatever video streaming https://youtu.be/b1_RKu-ESCY

Anyone that tells the truth about the wicked lawlessness is hated on. We need to back them up and encourage them to continue to “cast off the works of darkness” and “put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12-14

“And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:39 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.22.39.NKJV

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.4.32.NKJV

“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalms 97:10 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.97.10.NKJV

“Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” Amos 5:15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/amo.5.15.NKJV

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.12.9.NKJV

Fear God, Make disciples, Protect your family!

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Genesis‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Religion and liberty must flourish or fall together in America. We pray that both may be perpetual.” Pastor William Smith, Christ Church Philadelphia, 1775
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” John Witherspoon, 1776
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“And if our religion is given up, all the liberty we boast of will soon be gone.” Samuel Langdon, 1788
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

Loadout – Genesis 14:14 – Project Appleseed 2023

‘loadout’

1. the equipment carried into battle by a soldier. 2. any set of equipment carried while engaged in a task, expedition, etc.

STANDING ORDERS ROGERS RANGERS
1. Don’t forget nothing.
2. Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute’s warning…
MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS 1759 – RANGER HANDBOOK SH 21-76 UNITED STATES ARMY https://www.atu.edu/rotc/docs/3_21-76_Ranger_HB.pdf

Genesis 14:14

“Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.” Genesis 14:14-16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.14.14-16.NKJV

Abram provided for his household:
1 equipment (loadout)
2 training
3 defense and protection

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1ti.5.8.NKJV

Project Appleseed https://appleseedinfo.org

Our training this weekend (Project Appleseed https://appleseedinfo.org) includes:
1 planning and preparing equipment (loadout)
2 rifleman training
3 and we will be better equipped to provide for the defense and protection of our households

And Abram was blessed by Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of God Most High.

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.” Genesis 14:18-20 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.14.18-20.NKJV

Motivation

Love

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.15.13.NKJV

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬, ‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.4.7-11.NKJV

Justice

“Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalms 82:3-4 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.82.3-4.NKJV

Fear God, Make disciples, Protect your family!

“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Genesis‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Religion and liberty must flourish or fall together in America. We pray that both may be perpetual.” Pastor William Smith, Christ Church Philadelphia, 1775
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both.” John Witherspoon, 1776
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

“And if our religion is given up, all the liberty we boast of will soon be gone.” Samuel Langdon, 1788
Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment, Dan Fisher, 2015

American Constitution
AMENDMENT II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Militia: an army composed of citizens… called up in time of emergency. (Webster’s 2010)

There are four places in the American Constitution that affirm the Militia’s prior existence, and no law can alter it. The militia is all able bodied members of a community.

Article I, Section 8, Clauses 15 & 16:

[The Congress shall have Power To…]

Clause 15: [ ] “To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;”

Clause 16: [ ] “To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;”

Article II, Section 2, Clause 1:

“The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States…”

AMENDMENT II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

From the Founders… Original Intent

“[T]he said Constitution [should] be never construed … to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.”
SAMUEL ADAMS, Signer of the Declaration, “Father of the American Revolution” …

“A free people ought … to be armed.”
GEORGE WASHINGTON, US. President, Signer of the Constitution …

“[N]o man should scruple or hesitate a moment to use arms in defense.”
GEORGE WASHINGTON, US. President, Signer of the Constitution …

“The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them…. This is a principle which secures religious liberty most firmly.”
ZECHARIAH JOHNSTON, Revolutionary Soldier, Virginia Legislator, Ratifier of the U.S. Constitution

Quotes from “The Second Amendment” by David Barton