Category Archives: Reformation of society

Manners and Civics? Lessons from The American Revolution

Leave a reply

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:20 — 22.7MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Here is our special for our 250 year anniversary. Things to think about in terms of your children’s learning. How are manners and civics related? Character and government? These are things that we seldom think about today, but are vital. They were the root of the success of our culture and our nation. Yet, almost unknown today.

Consider these videos and articles. Please watch them with your children (age appropriate. Young Washington and the Civilian Defense intro are bloody.)

Then, consider encouraging your children with their own self-improvement projects. Talk about this at your church or club.

Have a great summer.

Young Washington Official Trailer
Young Washington Movie
Historians react to Young Washington Movie

Is what others call ambition wrong?
Where does ambition come from? (At least 2 answers.)
What is the best way to use ambition?
Does “calling” from God have anything to do with ambition?

Rules of Civility by George Washington from Wall Builders
What are the most important manners (aka rules for civility) in your world?
What are the most important manners for the economic category just above yours? Higher or lower?
How can you find out what the rules are in any group?
Do you know anyone who raised there status? How did they do it? What rules did they master that they can tell you about?

What Students were Reading in 1776
What 1, 2 or 4 books from this list might you want to read this summer — while you are in the air conditioner.
They should be in your public library. If they are not, then please consult the librarian about how to obtain.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a study group to discuss these books with?
Do you know any one who knows about these books who could teach or lead a study group? If not, ask a professor. If you don’t know any professors, ask a pastor.

Famous Quotes of Ben Franklin

Pick a quote and memorize it. Maybe do this each week for the rest of the summer?

Ben Franklin’s plan for self-improvement in 4 weeks (Not recommending OCPD Foundation, as I do not know them, just passing along the Franklin article)

Can you improve your life in just 4 weeks? Yes! much better than randomly trying all the time. See book by Ed Rush *Twenty-one Day Miracle* which is based on science and an easy read.

Civilian Defense Won the Revolution (Patrick Henry & the Bell Ringers etc.)
What was the success behind Patrick Henry?
Can you replicate that at all in your life?
Do you know a prepping group? A political group? A self-improvement group? Find one you like and see what you can learn.

Parents Teaching Civics?

Leave a reply

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:07 — 8.6MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Is it a good idea that parents teach civics? Shouldn’t that be done by professionals? How is that working out for you?
Deuteronomy 6 tasks parents with education. Even if you hire a private school or send your child to governments schools, still, in the end a parent is responsible.
So, do we teach civics? Meaning … the knowledge and training how to contribute to the common good by properly interfacing with the government.
Let’s consider that. What would civics consist in? The small child might have to share responsibility to clean up shared space. The moppet may learn to enforce non-bullying on his playground. The “junior higher” may learn about governmental affairs by participating in an ordered voluntary association, as perhaps a club with officers. The “high schooler” may be trying out her speaking ability, promoting some measure at city council to restrain government. We all had best be continuing to learn about history and governmental philosophy.

Today, we take one episode from our Manner product to consider civics:
that we must teach it,
that parents should be involved in being sure it is taught and properly,
and consider what might best be taught.

Open to your ideas, too.

I hope you have a wonderful Independence Day celebration — our 250th.

Here are some resources you might enjoy:
Dinesh D’Souza on John Adams’ Warnings: Necessity of Virtue of the Population for National Survival
Dinesh D’Souza on Benjamin Franklin’s Secret: Self-Improvement

Celebrate the 250th by Studying the Founders’ Principles

Leave a reply

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:58 — 10.5MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Let’s review the principles of the founders. Here is an introduction, a primer. (Not to be confused with the New England primer that taught reading.) Returning to and understanding of the basic principle’s of the founders is of great need.

1. Rights are given by God, not government.
2. Governments are given the power to protect the citizens.
3. Citizen should be freemen who hold government accountable to the original principles.
4. For this reason, all citizens must be able to read, so they can read the Bible, so they can be sure that the laws are following the Bible.

Think how very different that is from our philosophy today. I had a pastor actually argue with me that governments, not God, give rights! And surely, to suggest that laws should be founded on Biblical principles is hardly under consideration.

But let’s us consider it. Let’s read actual history and actual political philosophy. And the very words of the founders, which we indeed have.
BTW, then, one highly educated like I am will see that not only was most of this left out of our education, we were actually taught lies. Washington being a deist is ridiculous; he was a very devout Church of England man. There is a reason why so many pictures of him are in the kneeling position. Why would a general kneel down and pray to a Deist type God? Ben Franklin’s suggestion of seeking the help of Providence was not some perfunctory break, as my students would like to think. And Thomas Jefferson’s “cutting up the Bible” was in order to make a non-reptitive gospel with which to evangelize the natives.

Please see the movie about George Whitfield and Benjamin Franklin. Go see the movie coming out about the young George Washington. Take children. Then start reading history with them!

We apologize for Apple Podcast incorrectly saying we are a monthly. We post weekly. We have re-arranged our posting so that Apple now can not not know that.

Passover Freedom and Liberty

Leave a reply

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:30 — 24.7MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

This year, in honor of Resurrection Sunday, I am picking up themes from the Passover. Yes, God passes over us, while He judges wickedness. Yes, we passover from darkness to light. But have we thought enough about passing over from slavery to freedom to liberty?

God sums up the Passover story in Exodus 20:2 as “I took you out of the house of slavery.” Let’s think about that.

Freedom is freedom from. Yes, we have freedom from sin. (Even if some Christians deny it. None of us use that freedom to fullest extent.) But realize, please that liberty is greater. Liberty is freedom instantiated with discipline. So it becomes not just personal spiritual freedom but civil liberty.

Here is a basic gospel point. Here is a basic Civic point. Here is true freedom: liberty. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Let us think on this this holiday season, and this year — especially this year as we celebrate the founding of our nation.

The passover is our primarly, singular, most important key to our liberty in Christ that we celebrate once again on Resurrection Sunday.