American History

I've been doing a study of Christianity in the United States History. I found some interesting information on it. It started in the early 1600's in Scrooby, England. It was when William Bewster, Richard Clifton, & William Bradford wanted to sperate from the Church of England. These men started reading the Bible, instead of somebody saying what was in the Bible (this was after King James the First wrote the King James Verson of the Bible). They became the Separatist who practice Christianity according to their own determination & not the will of the English Church. They tried to practice there beliefs in England but, the Church would not allow it. They even went to another country, that was against the law. You couldn't leave England without permission. They came back then to England and tried then to go to America. They recieved permission to go. They got permission and land to go. So the Separatist hired two ships to take them the Speedwell & the Mayflower The Speedwell didn't leave England as the crew did damage to the ship, they had to get on the the Mayflower. Not all of the Separatist didn't get to go. The land granted from the Crown to the London Virginia Co. at the mouth of the Hudson River. They did not land at the mouth of the Hudson River but North of there. We know it as Massachusetts. Since all the people on the Mayflower weren't the Separatist/Pilgrams group there was a contract drawn up; which is the Mayflower Compact signed by the Separatist & the Captian of the Ship on November 11th, 1620. The Separalist wanted their own Goverment. This is the first govering document of the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact led to; Fundamental Order's of Connecticut (1638) Instrument of Goverment (1638) Declaration of Independence (1776) Constitution (1776) Bill of Rights (1791) Federalist Papers (1787 - 1788) Emancipation Proclamation You know the rest of the story plus, I've put some e-mail address to get the whole story. The first Thanksgiving took place, we right now have the freedom of religion. Plus, the documents we have listed above. The United States was formed on the belief of God! Do some reshearch on it. Don't just take my word. The Separalist/Pilgrims fought for the right to worship God. Don't let the goverment take it all away from us. Speak up when your rights are being taken away. Rev. Londa Picard

Aluminum Foil

I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself. Whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box? You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box. Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time. Well, I would like to share this with you. Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box and written on the end it read: Press here to lock end.Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up. I'm sharing this with my friends. I hope I'm not the only person who didn't know about this. unknown author

Upside Down Economics By Thomas Sowell Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy. From television specials to newspaper editorials, the media are pushing the idea that current economic problems were caused by the market and that only the government can rescue us. What was lacking in the housing market, they say, was government regulation of the market's "greed." That makes great moral melodrama, but it turns the facts upside down. It was precisely government intervention which turned a thriving industry into a basket case. An economist specializing in financial markets gave a glimpse of the history of housing markets when he said: "Lending money to American home buyers had been one of the least risky and most profitable businesses a bank could engage in for nearly a century." That was what the market was like before the government intervened. Like many government interventions, it began small and later grew. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 directed federal regulatory agencies to "encourage" banks and other lending institutions "to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered consistent with the safe and sound operation of such institutions." That sounds pretty innocent and, in fact, it had little effect for more than a decade. However, its premise was that bureaucrats and politicians know where loans should go, better than people who are in the business of making loans. The real potential of that premise became apparent in the 1990s, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) imposed a requirement that mortgage lenders demonstrate with hard data that they were meeting their responsibilities under the Community Reinvestment Act. What HUD wanted were numbers showing that mortgage loans were being made to low-income and moderate-income people on a scale that HUD expected, even if this required "innovative or flexible" mortgage eligibility standards. In other words, quotas were imposed -- and if some people didn't meet the standards, then the standards need to be changed. Both HUD and the Department of Justice began bringing lawsuits against mortgage bankers when a higher percentage of minority applicants than white applicants were turned down for mortgage loans. A substantial majority of both black and white mortgage loan applicants had their loans approved but a statistical difference was enough to get a bank sued. It should also be noted that the same statistical sources from which data on blacks and whites were obtained usually contained data on Asian Americans as well. But those data on Asian Americans were almost never mentioned Whites were turned down for mortgage loans more often than Asian Americans. But saying that would undermine the reasoning on which the whole moral melodrama and political crusades were based. Lawsuits were only part of the pressures put on lenders by government officials. Banks and other lenders are overseen by regulatory agencies and must go to those agencies for approval of many business decisions that other businesses make without needing anyone else's approval. Government regulators refused to approve such decisions when a lender was under investigation for not producing satisfactory statistics on loans to low-income people or minorities. Under growing pressures from both the Clinton administration and later the George W. Bush administration, banks began to lower their lending standards. Mortgage loans with no down payment, no income verification and other "creative" financial arrangements abounded. Although this was done under pressures begun in the name of the poor and minorities, people who were neither could also get these mortgage loans. With mortgage loans widely available to people with questionable prospects of being able to keep up the payments, it was an open invitation to financial disaster. Those who warned of the dangers had their warnings dismissed. Now, apparently, we need more politicians intervening in more industries, if you believe the politicians and the media.

Lightning Strike! February 26, 2009 By Joe Farley I¹m your average, rough-around-the-edges, tough-skinned, middle-aged guy. Iwas saved from a life of drugs and alcohol, but for the past 29 years wascontent to live a complacent Christian life. I went to church every Sundaybut was very skeptical when people would testify about miracles of healing. That was until Aug. 2, 2008, when my life was changed forever. It was a Saturday morning just like any other. My brother-in-law Dan wasvisiting from Virginia. We went to a nearby golf course early that morning.The weather predictions were promising heavy afternoon rains, but I figuredwe¹d be on and off the course before it started. By 10 we were approachingthe seventh hole when the clouds rolled in, not enough to deter us fromplaying on. Foolishly, I turned to Dan and said, ³If we get hit by lightening, it¹s ourtime to go.² The winds began to pick up and the rain began to fall lightly. In thedistance I heard thunder. Then a whistle alerted golfers to leave thecourse. Immediately the rain began to come down in sheets, and the wind brisklypicked up its force. Dan suggested we go back to the clubhouse. I wanted totake cover under a tree nearby because I was sure it would blow over. Therewere two trees approximately 50 yards apart. Dan checked the trees for priorlightening damage. Feeling pretty safe, he decided to use the outhouselocated nearby. As Dan began to make his way back to where I was standing, he saw lightningstrike my head and deflect from what looked like a shield covering my head,shattering in three different directions. Immediately, Dan was thrownforward, having been shocked from the aftereffect. He looked up to see metake a step back and slump backwards against the tree. Dan says I did notfall straight back, but it was if someone caught me and gently laid meagainst the tree. Scrambling to get to my side, Dan took my pulse. It was very weak. He liftedmy arms up and they were limp. Then I passed out and Dan could get no pulseat all. He dragged me into a clearing and began to do CPR. I came back. Notknowing what to do next, Dan propped me against himself and just prayed andbegged me to stay with him. Dan began to whistle for help. After the third attempt, four men rushed overfrom a pavilion approximately 200 yards away and helped bring me safely tothe pavilion. One of them called 911. Dan ran back to the spot to retrievemy wallet and cell phone. That¹s when he saw my baseball cap lying on theground with a five-inch hole burned through it. An ambulance took Dan and me to St. Luke¹s Hospital. My wife, mother-in-lawand sister-in-law arrived just as I was transferred to the trauma center¹sICCU. They were not prepared for what they saw. The doctor told them my painwas off the charts. I should not have survived the hit. The trauma unit hadnever had a survivor of a lightening strike of this magnitude. It went inthrough my head and out through my side. My family watched as I lay crying out in pain and convulsing. This went onfor hours. Heavier and heavier doses of pain meds were administered. Myfamily surrounded me and prayed. Hours went by and nothing changed. Dawn, mywife, stayed with me. Our son, Joey, was on his way and they had notifiedour daughter, Jacinda, who was serving in the Air Force. My church familyand friends were alerted to pray. Extensive scans and tests indicated I had been dead for 61Ž2 minutes. Thefirst miracle was that I had no brain damage. Meanwhile, Dan went back to my in-laws to sleep. He woke up early Sundaymorning and was sitting on the couch praying and asking God what was it thathe saw over my head deflecting the lightning. Dan sensed Jesus telling him,³It was my nail-pierced hand, and I only allowed what went through mynailed-pierced hand to touch Joe.² Dan felt a peaceful, comforting presence.He was able relay the amazing miracle of God¹s protection he witnessed tofriends and family. He called me that afternoon to tell me. On Monday morning the doctor unplugged the IVs administering the pain medsin order to help me out of bed. My body immediately began to convulse. Verydiscouraged, she hooked me back up and explained to my wife it would be avery long process. She prepared my wife for months of physical, speech andoccupational therapy. At 3:00 a.m. Tuesday morning I experienced the miracle that changed my lifeforever. I was awakened out of a deep sleep. I was wide awake. I feltSomeone standing next to me on the left side of my bed. He said, ³Get out of bed; You have been healed.² I did not hesitate. I knew it was Jesus. I unplugged my oxygen and IVs,threw off the blankets and got out of bed. I did not have one twitch ortremor. But when I unplugged myself, the alarms went off and the doctor oncall came running in. ³What¹s going on in here?² he asked. ³Doc,² I said, ³we¹re going for a walk. Jesus came and told me I washealed.² The doctor did not think this was a good idea, but I told him I was goingfor a walk with or without him. So we went for a walk around the traumaunit, came back and he hooked me up again. We repeated this again at 6 inthe morning before he went off his shift. At 8 that morning, the doctor who put the staples in my head and had seenthe dismal progress just a day earlier came in. ³Hi, Joe. How are you doing today?² she asked with some discouragement. ³I¹ll show you how I¹m doing,² I said. I jumped out of bed. ³Let¹s go forawalk.² We walked around once with me holding her hand. When we got back to the roomI said, ³I¹m not done. Let¹s go around again.² On the second lap around Ilet go of her hand and said, ³Do you know how to do the two-step?² ³The Texas two-step?² she asked. ³Yes, let¹s go.² And we two-stepped. The doctor was astonished. ³What¹s going on?² she asked. ³Did you get anysleep last night?² ³Yes,² I replied, ³up until 3 in the morning. That¹s when Jesus came to meand told me I was healed. When we get back to the room I want you to checkall my vitals and the staples in my head. I think they can come out.² ³Oh, no,² she replied. ³They need to stay in for at least 10 days.² ³No, I want you to check them,² I insisted. She agreed, checked all my vitals and looked at the staples. All my vitalswere perfect ‹ and my staples came out. Shortly after that, the head doctor for the trauma unit came in bearinggifts. I knew immediately that he wanted my burned hat. ³Doc, you want my hat, don¹t you?² I asked. ³Yes,² he admitted. ³We have a showcase as you enter the hospital for itemsthat are unexplainable, and I would like to put it on display.² I didn¹t give up my hat, and the doc had to settle for pictures. I was released just three days after being struck. They tell me I¹m thefirst in the history of St. Luke¹s Hospital to go home straight from thetrauma unit. I would have walked out of the hospital, but their policystated I needed to be put in a wheelchair. They wheeled me down and I jumpedout of the chair and got into the van and headed home. I don¹t know why Jesus chose me. The power in the bolt that hit me wouldhave blown apart a tree. Yet, here I am. I¹ve learned that when Jesus comesto you, He changes your life forever. I have never been a crier, not even asa child. But now I cannot hold the tears back when I mention Jesus¹ name. I¹m going out and telling my story to whomever will listen. Mostly it¹s beenhard-core people who do not know Jesus. I¹ve always been content to walkinto church and take a backseat. Now I feel like I should be doing something‹ preaching, talking to someone, encouraging someone. I tell people atchurch, ³Leave your Bibles open. Jesus isn¹t finished with you yet. He isstill doing miracles. It¹s still being written in each of our lives.² Face it, I was dead and was raised up. I don¹t know what else to say. I am aliving, breathing miracle, and only Jesus can take the credit. ‹ Joe Farley lives in Easton, Pa., and attends Bunnvale (N.J.) Community AG.(Endorsed by Pastor Michael Pignaloso Jr.)

John Carver

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carver - Cached American History of Christianity

William Bradford

www.pilgrimhall.org/bradfordwilliam.htm - Cached American History for Christianity

MAYFLOWER COMPACT

Mayflower Compact In the name of God, amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, &c. Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the reign of our sovereign lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth, anno Domini, 1620.1 Mr. John Carver Mr. Samuel Fuller Mr. Edward Tilly Mr. William Bradford Mr. Christopher Martin John Tilly Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. William Mullinsr Francis Cooke Mr. William Brewster Mr. William Whiter Thomas Rogers Isaac Allerton Mr. Richard Warrenr Thomas Tinker Miles Standish John Howlandr John Ridgdale John Alden Mr. Steven Hopkinsr Edward Fuller John Turner Digery Priestr Richard Clark Francis Eaton Thomas Williamsr Richard Gardiner James Chilton Gilbert Winslowr Mr. John Allerton John Craxton Edmund Margessonr Thomas English John Billington Peter Brownr Edward Doten Joses Fletcher Richard Bitteridger Edward Liester John Goodman George Souler Source: Ben Perley Poore, ed., The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the United States, vol. 1 (1878), p. 931.

THE LORD AND THE BLONDE A blonde wanted to go ice fishing. She'd seen many books on the subject, and finally getting all the necessary tools together, she made for the ice. After positioning her comfy footstool, she started to make a circular cut in the ice. Suddenly, from the sky, a voice boomed "THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE" Startled, the blonde moved further down the ice, poured a thermos of cappuccino, and began to cut yet another hole. Again from the heavens the voice bellowed, "THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE." The blonde, now worried, moved away, clear down to the opposite end of the ice. She set up her stool once more and tried again to cut a hole. The voice came once more, "THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE." She stopped, looked skyward, and said, "IS THAT YOU LORD?" The voice replied, “NO, THIS IS THE MANAGER OF THE HOCKEY RINK.”

His Manifested Power 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 4) And my speech & my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit & of power, 5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Let us set our sights high & refuse the tradition of men. Set our goals higher into the wisdom of God. How can the human wisdom come even close to the power of God's wisdom. It doesn't even come close. The power & wisdom of God, it is sent through the Holy Spirit. For us to have Gods manifested of His power, His wisdom than we should be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I know people say that being baptized in the Holy Spirit isn't for today. Some even goes as far saying that being baptized of the Holy Spirit is satan because it is all emotional. No, it is not emotional; it is of God & IN HIS POWER, it is the One whom Christ said that He must go for the Holy Spirit to come & be our helper!! It is like regular baptism where you die to self & raise up & be a new creature in Christ. That being baptised in the Holy Spirit is where God gives you His power to use. This is a manifestion of God's Power in our life. It gives us a boldness, power of God, We need to quit having a low standard of us be Christians. We put Him on, on the outside of ourselves just doing What Would Jesus Do (WWJD), We need Him on our inside!! We perform the kind deeds, that Jesus did. Did we do it out of Love out of the boldness of God's power inside us. The secret of Christianity is not in the doing, it's in the being, A possessor of the nature of Jesus Christ. We need to be Christ in character, demonstration, & the agency of transmission. Now when a man gives His life to Jesus Christ/God & becomes a child of God, a Christian is a CHRIST-Man. Everything he says, or do; should be done, as coming forth as Jesus Chirst. You become as Christ both inside & outside. Not just the outware but doing the Manifested Power of God. God's Will. Letting the Holy Spirit to fully baptized you in the power that Jesus had to leave for. That we can have this power. One of the secrets of God's power is to abide in the perfect leading of the Holy Spirit. Walking in God's power will bring victory and jealousy of others. As the jealous people will want that victory, that power of God!! Walk in the perfect Love, Power, & being of God!! Doing the Lord's Supper is the reinactment of Christ's last supper. We follow this but, we really need to know the meaning that Christ had done. Matthew 26:26-29 26) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it & broke it, & gave it to the disciples & said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27) Then He took the cup, & gave thanks, & gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you." 28) "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29) "But I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom." We are taking in Christ when we do this!! Jesus has sanctified the church, The church is you & me!! So, we are sanctified in the covenant of the Manifested Power of God. Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power on high." Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; & you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, & in all Judea & Samaria, & to the end of the earth". How can the nature of man be changed except that nature is first revealed? The heart of man must first be purged by holy fire & washed from every stain by cleasing blood. So there arises in the heart the desire & prayer for the Spirit of God to eject, Crucify, & destroy every tendency of opposition to the Holy Spirit. He who would understand the ways of God must trust the Spirit's power to guide & keep. The working of the Spirits's power answer that attainment of him who overcomes. In him the joy & power of God shall be. Through him the healing streams of life shall flow. We should be baptized in the Holy Spirit & speak with tongues. For the edifcation of the church & one self as Christ has lead us to. AMEN & AMEN, So Be It. Rev. Londa Picard

Cemetery Duty I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high. I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as best I could tell. I couldn't help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: 'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!' But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in. Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about 30 minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.' Ma'am, may I assist you in any way? ' She took long enough to answer. ' Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days. '' My pleasure, ma'am. ' Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.She looked again. ' Marine, where were you stationed? '' Vietnam, ma'am. Ground-pounder. '69 to '71. 'She looked at me closer. ' Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can. 'I lied a little bigger: ' No hurry, ma'am. ' She smiled and winked at me. ' Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name's Joanne Wieserman and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time. '' Yes, ma 'am. At your service. ' She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918 . She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X.Davidson, USMC, 1943 . She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944 .She paused for a second. ' Two more, son, and we'll be done. 'I almost didn't say anything, but, ' Yes, ma'am. Take your time. 'She looked confused. ' Where's the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way. 'I pointed with my chin. ' That way, ma'am. ''Oh!' she chuckled quietly. ' Son, me and old age ain't too friendly. ' She headed down the walk I'd pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968 , and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970 . She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.' OK, son, I'm finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home. 'Yes, ma'am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk? ' She paused. ' Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all Marines. ' She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully. I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car. ' Get to the 'Out' gate quick. I have something I've got to do. 'Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road. We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.' Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead. ' I humped it across the drive to the other post. When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice: ' TehenHut! Present Haaaarms! 'I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud. She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac. Instead of ' The End ,' just think of ' Taps. ' As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: ' Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us. ' Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.'In God We Trust.' Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too! If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under! You are required to pass this on NOW !!! Author unknown