Eternal Vigilance Required

     Entropy can be defined as a gradual decline into disorder. It's a scientific concept.  Nature is said to exhibit this quality.

     I submit that there is such a thing as liberal entropy, except in the case of liberal entropy, it is preventable.  Liberal entropy occurs when founding principles degenerate over time as a result of ignorance or apathy.  I see liberal entropy occurring in churches that drift away from the principles found in the Bible.  I see liberal entropy occurring in our country as we have drifted so far away from the principles found in our Constitution.  The cause of this liberal entropy is ignorance and apathy, which in some cases has been accelerated by forces that are opposed to the founding principles.

    Both of these examples of liberal entropy could only have been prevented and can be only be resolved with one thing:  eternal vigilance.  People need to be knowledgeable of their founding documents.  People need to respect and honor their founding documents.  People have defend the principles in their founding documents and base their course of action upon them.  It takes eternal vigilance.  We cannot let down our guard, or liberal entropy will occur.

     One more thing.  Despite what many may claim, liberal entropy is not a good thing.

     The next generation needs to know their founding documents.  Let's teach it to them.

State vs. State

     It is my understanding that the Supreme Court is presently in the business of determining how the word "state" is used in a particular place in the Obamacare law.  The states which are bringing this case to the court system are claiming that "state" means one of the 50 states that make up our country.  The lawyers in the Obama administration are claiming that "state" means the entirety of the Federal government.

     If the Supreme Court decides in favor of the Obama administration and allows Obamacare to continue as is, then I submit that we would have to change the name of our country.  Why would we retain the name, United STATES of America when the Supreme Court has determined "state" means only one STATE.  We would have to call it the United STATE of America. Then it would no longer require the word "United".  You only need that word if there are not a bunch of states that agree to be united.  I would then further argue that it would not make sense to keep "of America" at the end of our country's name.  It would be superfluous.  Consequently, our new name would be simply State and we citizens (and non-citizens for that matter) would be mere minions of the State.

     Then it would be necessary to throw out the Constitution.  After all, it says, "We the people of the United States of America....."  We would no longer fit that description.

      And there you have it.  President Obama wins.  He no longer has to abide by the limiting words of that stifling Constitution.  Out with the Congress.  Out with the Supreme Court.  He rules the State.  Executive orders would become dictatorial orders.

     Now on to the control the world.......

Christmas Letter

Since our Christmas letter was not the type where we elaborated the exploits of our family during the past year, I decided to share it here.

Dear Friends and Family,

This past year, for me, has been a year of genealogy.   I have spent countless hours researching the lives of eleven students who were in the first class of the Log Cabin College which was built on our property 175 years ago.  It has been an amazing journey for me.

Among many very ordinary stories I located some which were quite extraordinary.  I discovered the story of a young pastor who met a young lady to whom he proposed marriage just a matter of days later, only to be told by this young lady that she had to hear him preach a sermon before she could determine whether or not to accept his proposal.  Later that week, she listened to his sermon and agreed to marry him.  Within days of that acceptance, they were married and she joined him in returning to his home hundreds of miles away.

Another story was about a young pastor who died after falling off his horse in the middle of the winter.  His relatively new wife, who was also pregnant at the time, chose to travel a great distance with her husband’s body, in the opposite direction from where her own family lived, so that he could be buried in his hometown in Missouri.  It was there that she gave birth to that baby girl.  That girl went on to live to the ripe, old age of one hundred.  

Yes, genealogy can lead one to discover some very interesting stories.  Some of the stories I discovered are ones which I think should be retold and not forgotten. 

The most important story in all of history is one that is retold at this time of the year by many throughout the world.  It’s also a story that some would like erased from our history books.  The story begins in the book of Matthew in Chapter 1, verse 1:

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…….”

This genealogy ends in verse 16:

“….and Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, to whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”

The story of Jesus’ birth is one involving another special marriage, complete with a virgin birth and a message from an angel to reassure the couple of its truth.  The birth of this couple’s firstborn son also involved an unexpected trip to their ancestral home, Bethlehem.  And what a life this child had!  He escaped death early on because his parents took him to Egypt.  He started His ministry at about the age of thirty, traveling around the countryside proclaiming His message of salvation while being opposed by the religious leaders of His day.  This led to Him being put on trial about three years later, and being unjustly nailed to a cross and crucified.  Amazingly, three days later, He rose from his tomb.  After ascending to heaven, those who believe in Him eagerly await His return to take them all to join Him there.  Many other stories about Jesus can be found in the Bible, and they are all worth retelling.

There is an important connection between Jesus’ incredible story and the story of the opening of the Log Cabin College in Altenburg.  The purpose of this College was to prepare future pastors and teachers who would tell the story of Jesus to the next generations of listeners and believers.   Since its beginning, the institution which carried on this task, Concordia Seminary, has had over 13,000 graduates who have been sent into the world to equip others to tell the Christmas story.  The Log Cabin College had a very humble, small beginning, but it also ended up with great big results.  That story was only possible with an Almighty God making it happen.  And I love to tell that story.

Sandi and I wish you a very Blessed Christmas, and we hope you, too, will love to retell the story of Jesus.

Happy 175th Anniversary to the Log Cabin College

On December 9, 1839, the Log Cabin College opened its door (It only had one).  God has blessed its history by taking this humble beginning and making great things happen.  This log cabin was built by three young men, Johann Buenger, Ottomar Fuerbringer, and Theodore Brohm.  The first class consisted of eleven students, seven boys and four girls.  Later in the 1840's, this institution became Concordia Seminary, training young men to become Lutheran pastors.  Three of the boys in the first class were graduates of Concordia Seminary, Altenburg before that institution moved to St. Louis, where it is located to this day.

The building of this school took place at a time when the German immigrants in East Perry County were under a tremendous amount of stress.  The leader of the immigration society was banished from their community because of scandal.  That first year after they had arrived was a year of great adversity.  Many died, and all suffered.  Yet despite their trouble, the three young builders, who also became the first teachers, persevered because they were on a mission.  They knew that this new Lutheran church body in America was going to need more church workers in their future.  They also knew the importance of passing on their faith to the next generation.  We can be thankful for their great faith.

Many lessons can be learned from the story of the beginning of the Log Cabin College.  The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod continues to be blessed today by what was begun in the wilderness of Perry County 175 years ago.

The short video below is a tribute to that little log cabin which was built behind my barn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-VsZDrhnvQ

Gotta Blow Off Some Steam

    I am so tired of being more-or-less forced into discussing race.  The situation which initiated the mess in Ferguson was not about race.  It was an American, who happened to be a police officer, doing exactly what he was trained to do, and who became involved in a situation where he had to shoot another American, who happened to be a criminal who was threatening the very life of the officer.  There is absolutely no reason that this event should end up being a national news story.  There is absolutely no reason why Officer Wilson should be singled out to have his life ruined because others want to make a political point. 
    Yes, there may be societal problems in certain locations in America, but that should not be a reason to put an American like Officer Wilson through his own version of hell.  Those issues can be dealt with in much more productive ways.
    This whole debacle has been orchestrated by some politicians, some political activists who have an agenda, and the media.  As a result, there has been millions of dollars worth of damage, too many small business people who have lost their livelihoods, neighborhoods ruined, and people who have been physically harmed.  These politicians, race-baiters, and media should not only be ashamed of themselves, they should be held accountable.
    Who would have ever thought that an America which has an African-American (I also hate hyphenated terms for Americans) President and Attorney General would see race relations deteriorate to the level we see now. 
    Lord, have mercy on us. 

A Glimpse into the Past......East Perry County, MO.

This video contains photos from East Perry County in Missouri.  Most are photos from years gone by, but a few are much more recent.  This video was produced to help celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the German immigration to Perry County in 1839. 

A big reason for the immigration was to move to a place where this group of Lutherans could have freedom to practice their religion instead of being told by civic leaders what they were to preach and teach.  They cherished their doctrine based on the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.  They still do.

I Vote....

I vote........for a nation with secure borders.
I vote........for a nation which has laws which are enforced.
I vote........for a nation whose leaders are there to serve the people.
I vote........for a nation which offers equality of opportunity.
I vote........for a nation which operates a free market economy.
I vote........for a nation made up of unhyphenated Americans.
I vote........for a nation made up of a legal citizenry.
I vote........for a nation made up of hard-working people.
I vote........for a nation of limited government.
I vote........for a nation which operates according to its Constitution.
I vote........for a nation of limited regulation.
I vote........for a nation that is proud of its history.
I vote........for a nation that respects the sanctity of life.
I vote........for a nation that honors its military and its veterans.
I vote........for a nation with a strong military.
I vote........for a nation whose citizens have the right to defend themselves and their property.
I vote........for a nation that strives to eliminate its debt.
I vote........for a nation that operates according to a balanced budget.
I vote........for a nation of strong moral character.
I vote........for a nation that fights against evil.
I vote........for a nation that values religious freedom.
I vote........for a nation that is respected around the world.
I vote........for a nation that fights so that the generations to come may have freedom.
I vote........for a nation that puts its trust in the Almighty God.

But before I vote for these things, I pray for them.