First From Julie's Keyboard:
Is It Spring Time?
In this portion of the world we're beginning to see the signs once again of the blessedness of Spring. The sounds of the evenings, with the crickets chirping and frogs croaking, are as sweet music to ears. The warm Spring sun and the breezes that make us want to fly the highest kite, set upon us to make us wish for those youthful days in their simplicity. The fresh garden plowed and the early budding of dogwood blooms are among my favorites of the season. Yet, with all the excitement of the season when new life begins to form, we're reminded of the most wonderful occasion of all within this time. The celebration of life, through the Resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord, comes ushering in the specialness of things that are truly alive because of Him.
Someone once said, "The Spring Time of our lives decide the adults we'll become." Surely there's some great truth in this comment. Those early years, and the hands that guided them, are so persuasive in the formation of the mature product. This "product" of course, being the human life and the soul within it. Just as we have the favor of a Spring Season each year, it's good to know that spiritually speaking, we may have this season as well.
The time of springing forth in newness of life has come. The old has been purged away much like the prunning of one's favorite fruit tree. Now the freshness will come bounding in with a new crop for the year.
If we're in Christ today, we know that just as He was crucified, dead and buried, that He arose again on the 3rd day. Now He is seated at the right hand of the Father God where He lives to make intercession for us. When we came into a right relationship with Him, we to had to die to our own selfishness and take up His life within. As we celebrate His Resurrection Sunday (or what many will call Easter) this year, may we be mindful of all that He has provided for us through this spiritual time of Spring.
The Apostle Paul said this so well when speaking to the Corinthian Church:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." I Cor. 5:17
May we thank the Lord for the beauty of Spring and all that it entails. He surely makes all things beautiful in His time.
Have a blessed week,
Julie
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"Second Amendments Rights" Part II
Feinstein's bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be on it's way to the the full Senate later this year, as it stands it would ban semi-automatic weapons, guns that fire one round and automatically reload, guns that can take a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature like a pistol grip. In order to make it more acceptable to the public it has measures to allow for guns for hunting and sports and also allows for purchases that occured before the passing of the bill, assuming it makes it pass the full Senate.
What I want to do over the next few weeks is not argue the pros or cons of gun control, not even my view for now, but the meaning of the Second Amendment as stated in the Constitution and understood by our Founders at the time of it's ratification and governance there after.
You see, if we are indeed a nation of laws, then it's orginal meaning means something. If we disagree with that meaning then there are provisions within the law that allow for us to make our argument to change it. But we first must admit to its true meaning and then attempt to make our argument. What we must not do, is attempt the apply our peticular views of Second Amendment Rights as an interpretation of the Admendment itself. This applys to any portion of the Constitution to the United States of America.
So, having said that, lets see what we can find!
Is It Spring Time?
In this portion of the world we're beginning to see the signs once again of the blessedness of Spring. The sounds of the evenings, with the crickets chirping and frogs croaking, are as sweet music to ears. The warm Spring sun and the breezes that make us want to fly the highest kite, set upon us to make us wish for those youthful days in their simplicity. The fresh garden plowed and the early budding of dogwood blooms are among my favorites of the season. Yet, with all the excitement of the season when new life begins to form, we're reminded of the most wonderful occasion of all within this time. The celebration of life, through the Resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord, comes ushering in the specialness of things that are truly alive because of Him.
Someone once said, "The Spring Time of our lives decide the adults we'll become." Surely there's some great truth in this comment. Those early years, and the hands that guided them, are so persuasive in the formation of the mature product. This "product" of course, being the human life and the soul within it. Just as we have the favor of a Spring Season each year, it's good to know that spiritually speaking, we may have this season as well.
The time of springing forth in newness of life has come. The old has been purged away much like the prunning of one's favorite fruit tree. Now the freshness will come bounding in with a new crop for the year.
If we're in Christ today, we know that just as He was crucified, dead and buried, that He arose again on the 3rd day. Now He is seated at the right hand of the Father God where He lives to make intercession for us. When we came into a right relationship with Him, we to had to die to our own selfishness and take up His life within. As we celebrate His Resurrection Sunday (or what many will call Easter) this year, may we be mindful of all that He has provided for us through this spiritual time of Spring.
The Apostle Paul said this so well when speaking to the Corinthian Church:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." I Cor. 5:17
May we thank the Lord for the beauty of Spring and all that it entails. He surely makes all things beautiful in His time.
Have a blessed week,
Julie
________________________________________
"Second Amendments Rights" Part II
Feinstein's bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be on it's way to the the full Senate later this year, as it stands it would ban semi-automatic weapons, guns that fire one round and automatically reload, guns that can take a detachable magazine and have at least one military feature like a pistol grip. In order to make it more acceptable to the public it has measures to allow for guns for hunting and sports and also allows for purchases that occured before the passing of the bill, assuming it makes it pass the full Senate.
What I want to do over the next few weeks is not argue the pros or cons of gun control, not even my view for now, but the meaning of the Second Amendment as stated in the Constitution and understood by our Founders at the time of it's ratification and governance there after.
You see, if we are indeed a nation of laws, then it's orginal meaning means something. If we disagree with that meaning then there are provisions within the law that allow for us to make our argument to change it. But we first must admit to its true meaning and then attempt to make our argument. What we must not do, is attempt the apply our peticular views of Second Amendment Rights as an interpretation of the Admendment itself. This applys to any portion of the Constitution to the United States of America.
So, having said that, lets see what we can find!
Justice James Wilson was one of the most active members of the Constitutional Convention, speaking 168 times on the floor. He understood that any of the specific protections found in our government documents did not create new rights, but rather secured old ones. Governments do not gives rights, they are only to attempt to secure them. The Rights come from God and are thus embodied within our Constitutions of Government as Civil protections.
Wilson Stated: " . . . to acquire a new security for the possession or recovery of those rights to . . . which we were previously entitled by the immediate gift or by the unerring law of our all wise and all beneficent Creator." ~ James Wilson. Wilson, Works, Vol. II, p. 454.
The Second Amendment as well as any of the other Amendments did not grant or bestow any new rights on citizens; rather, it simply recognized and provided protection to the already existing, natural, God given rights of the people.
Wilson Stated: " . . . to acquire a new security for the possession or recovery of those rights to . . . which we were previously entitled by the immediate gift or by the unerring law of our all wise and all beneficent Creator." ~ James Wilson. Wilson, Works, Vol. II, p. 454.
The Second Amendment as well as any of the other Amendments did not grant or bestow any new rights on citizens; rather, it simply recognized and provided protection to the already existing, natural, God given rights of the people.
So, would this all wise and all beneficent Creator afford to me the right to own a gun, does that come from Him or from the government? Alexander Hamiliton, who was killed in duel himself by Aaron Burr believed it came from God.
"The Supreme Being gave existence to man, together with the means of preserving and beautifying that existence. He . . . invested him with an inviolable right to personal liberty and personal safety." ~ Alexander Hamiliton. The Farmer refuted: Or, A More Impartial and Comprehensive View of the Dispute Between Great Britain and the Colonies (New York: James Rivington, 1775), p.6.
When Government takes the responibility for one's safety it cesses to be personal safety. The most influential legal commentary at the time the Second Admendment was framed was Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws. Blackstone's commentaries became the standard for American attorneys and judges. In his commentaries concerning the right of citizens to own and use arms he stated:
"The Supreme Being gave existence to man, together with the means of preserving and beautifying that existence. He . . . invested him with an inviolable right to personal liberty and personal safety." ~ Alexander Hamiliton. The Farmer refuted: Or, A More Impartial and Comprehensive View of the Dispute Between Great Britain and the Colonies (New York: James Rivington, 1775), p.6.
When Government takes the responibility for one's safety it cesses to be personal safety. The most influential legal commentary at the time the Second Admendment was framed was Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws. Blackstone's commentaries became the standard for American attorneys and judges. In his commentaries concerning the right of citizens to own and use arms he stated:
"The . . . right of the [citizens] that I shall at present mention, is that of having arms for their defense. . . .
[This is] the natural right of resistance and self-preservation when the sanctions of society and laws are found insufficient to restrain the violence of oppression. . . .
To vindicate these rights when actually violated or attacked, the [citizens] are entitled, in the first place, to the regular administration and free course of justice in the courts of law; next, to the right of petitioning the [government] for redress of grievances; and lastly, to the right of having and using arms for self-preservation and defense." ~ Sir. William Blackstone. Commentaries on the Laws (Philadeliphia: Robert Bell, 1771), Vol. I, pp. 143-144.
Blackstone also supported the understanding of the Founders that all laws are derived from the Creator and any man made laws not supported by such are invalid.
Well, we have dug a litter deeper and discovered a little more of the mindset and understanding of those who wrote the Second Amendment, next week God willing we will continue to dig. The treasure we find will be weighted at the end, may the value of all lay claim upon our lives.
May God bless each of you,
David
[This is] the natural right of resistance and self-preservation when the sanctions of society and laws are found insufficient to restrain the violence of oppression. . . .
To vindicate these rights when actually violated or attacked, the [citizens] are entitled, in the first place, to the regular administration and free course of justice in the courts of law; next, to the right of petitioning the [government] for redress of grievances; and lastly, to the right of having and using arms for self-preservation and defense." ~ Sir. William Blackstone. Commentaries on the Laws (Philadeliphia: Robert Bell, 1771), Vol. I, pp. 143-144.
Blackstone also supported the understanding of the Founders that all laws are derived from the Creator and any man made laws not supported by such are invalid.
Well, we have dug a litter deeper and discovered a little more of the mindset and understanding of those who wrote the Second Amendment, next week God willing we will continue to dig. The treasure we find will be weighted at the end, may the value of all lay claim upon our lives.
May God bless each of you,
David