Tyranny

Which is the tyrant - the government that holds citizens responsible for their actions however irrational, or the government that assumes responsibility for its citizens however benevolent? - Janie B. Cheaney

Liberty

Led to Worship

Ah! mine iniquity crimson has been,
Infinite, infinite, sin upon sin;
Sin of not loving thee, sin of not trusting thee, infinite sin. (Horatius Bonar)

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God shouldst die for me?

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. (Charles Wesley)

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood. (Isaac Watts)

One of our deacons, Craig Riggall, led worship using these hymns today. In light of what I've been given in Jesus Christ, I don't want to be charmed by anything less.

Today, both of my state senators (Pennsylvania) effectively voted against the full audit for the Federal Reserve. Their alternative allows the Federal Reserve, a private bank, to remain largely unaccountable for their woeful mismanagement of money and destructive manipulation of the economy – even while they appear to vote for an (incomplete) audit.

If you write to them expressing your displeasure at their decision, please also insist they vote against Senator Dodd's Restoring American Financial Stability Act (S. 3217), which actually increases the Federal Reserve’s powers. Attached is the contact information for both senators as well as the official press release from the Campaign for Liberty, which has rallied support for the Audit the Fed movement.

Sen. Robert Casey
393 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6324

Sen. Arlen Specter
711 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4254

Full Fed Audit Amendment Voted Down in Senate

Washington, D.C., May 11, 2010 - Today, the U.S. Senate voted 62 to 37 against an amendment to allow greater transparency at the Federal Reserve.

This amendment was introduced to counter a weaker amendment that would have required only a one time audit just of Fed emergency programs. The new amendment was similar to the original H.R. 1207 audit bill introduced by Congressman Ron Paul and added to the House financial reform package.

"The Sanders Amendment is no substitute for a complete and thorough audit of the Fed," said John Tate, President of Campaign for Liberty. "With this vote, we now have a record of those who really want transparency and those who only pay lip-service to it while upholding the status quo."

If the entire financial regulation bill makes it out of the Senate, it heads to the House, where House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank will choose which version to move forward on.

“The Dodd bill itself is just another bad piece of legislation, which will benefit no one except the Fed and its friends at big banks,” said Tate. “It institutionalizes bailouts for banks and subsidizes risky financial decisions.”

"Despite what happens with the financial regulation bill, we will continue pushing Congress for an up or down vote on H.R. 1207, which is the only full audit to allow true transparency in our financial system.”

Topics of Conversation

Great people talk about ideas.
Average people talk about things.
Petty people talk about people.

- a tidbit my wife shared with me from somewhere or other...

Bored and Rest-less?

I’ve had a longstanding beef with the concept of boredom. I see it as a character deficiency at best and the sin of discontent at worst.

Today in chapel we were pointed to Matthew 11: 28-30. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and burden is light.” This brought to mind the quote of Augustine’s approximated here: “Our souls are restless till they rest in Thee.”

We are marked by our restlessness (literally “without rest”). We constantly look for something to “rest” in whether it be resolute inactivity or our industrious accomplishments or any variety of pleasurable stimuli – the sorts of things that the Teacher of Ecclesiastes pursued. If we aren’t satisfied with whatever it is, we claim boredom and look elsewhere for rest.

Isaiah 55:1-2 parallels Jesus call in Matthew 11. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”

If I am resting in Christ – completely satisfied with my portion in God – then there is no place in my life for restlessness, discontent, or boredom! Or put another way: if I am restless, discontent, or bored, Jesus calls me to come and rest and be satisfied abundantly in Him.

Ten minutes or less

I'm being reminded again that any foundation other than God is bound to fail. Emotions of the past week have been tumultuous. Even three snow days and a federal holiday (making for a six day weekend from school!) were insufficient to lighten the tensions of keeping house, doing homework, hosting my brother and a friend-in-transition, feeling helpless with the effects of pregnancy, wanting to start readying the house for the baby, knowing our reliance on God was weak, struggling with complaining and laziness and fear and indecision, wanting to be thankful...

Yesterday and today, my own stress lightened. I don't know why. Katlyn smiled (even when her body ached). God is growing us. We pray lots; others pray for us, too. In the midst of a stressful morning I tried to sing what I know is true:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

All glory, laud, and honor to my Redeemer King!