11.20.2007

lincoln's thanksgiving proclamation

I was sent this "Thanksgiving Proclamation" by Abraham Lincoln from 1863. It is very good.

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

(signed) A. Lincoln October 3, 1863

11.17.2007

wow, this is cool

Thanks to Reformissionary for posting this video. How cool!

11.08.2007

beauty evolution

I came across this brief film that is part of the Dove campaign to help women be released from the slavery to what they look like. I'm increasingly convinced that this is not merely a women's issue--guys too struggle deeply with how their appearance and how they are perceived. This video helps expose the unrealistic expectations that are created by media and marketing. I see this and I can only think of Psalm 139:14, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

11.05.2007

mark driscoll on electronic gadgets

I recently read this helpful post by Mark Driscoll, preaching pastor at Mars Hill Church, regarding the way that we are often chained to our electronic gadgets in an unhealthy way. I know this is an issue for many people, including myself. It's often easy to neglect time with family or time with God because of the urgency that comes with phone calls, emails or text messages. I hope this provokes some thought. Enjoy.