#23 Why The Founders Chose A Republic  – 03/26/2012    By Karla Perry

   When Benjamin Franklin emerged from The Constitutional Convention that convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787 to address the problems facing post Revolutionary War America, he was asked by a passerby what was the outcome of the assembly. Franklin responded, “It’s a Republic, if you can keep it.”

   The great American government created by those men in 1787 was not anything akin to the current or past governments of the world. It was not just a democracy, it was a Republic, and therein lies an important distinction.

   The best source on the meaning of the Constitution and the authority on the government created by the Founders is a collection of essays written in 1787 to the average American, posted in the newspapers of the day. These essays were written under the pseudonym of Publius by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. ...Read

#22 Reining in Political Pendulum Shifts  – 03/20/2012    By Debra Durstewitz

   The Occupy Wall Street movement that started in New York on September 17 still has quite a way to go to establish a cohesive message or to solidify into a political movement. If its predecessor, the Tea Party, is any indication, that process should take about a year. What is clear, however, is that America is now watching and waiting as the counter-swing of the political pendulum comes to a state of equilibrium.

The Physics
   Webster’s defines a pendulum as: “a weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely backward and forward.” If not for the forces of gravity and air friction, a pendulum would swing endlessly and proportionately back and forth through space and time, applying Newton’s Law of Motion, “to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” ...Read

#21 The Restoration of America: John Locke  – 03/12/2012    By Karla Perry

   Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, but it was Locke who provided the political philosophy it popularized. Modernity champions John Locke as a secular Enlightenment fellow, at best a Deist.  In actuality, he espoused a Christian worldview deriving his political philosophy from the Bible.

   It is necessary to rediscover the Christian origins of American political philosophy for it provides the values that sustain the entire system. A structure that has lost its supporting foundation is but an empty shell. For a time, the infrastructure will hold as long as the values remain in the culture, but once they have faded it cannot continue to stand. American values have become so far removed from their biblical mooring that they can no longer continue unsupported. G.K. Chesterton opines that every revolution is a restoration.  In order to bring a restoration, we must illuminate the true history of America and make it available to the common citizens. ...Read

#20 Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance  – 02/02/2012    By Margaret Mayfield & Bill NeSmith

   According to the Center for Religious Freedom of the Hudson Institute and their published report entitled ‘Saudi Arabia’s Curriculum of Intolerance’ (download or read), it has become quite clear that extreme Islamist ideologies have been gaining adherents throughout the world.  Where they are implemented as governing ideologies, we see a brutally enforced hierarchy of group rights, favoring Muslims over non-Muslims, men over women, and a dominate Muslim sect over other Muslims, with individual rights and freedoms subordinated for all.  (See YouTube video “Shariamerica: Islam, Obama and the Establishment Clause”)  Such extreme rule lies at the heart of the Islamist terrorists’ radical agenda and it is equally clear that much of this extremist religious thought is originating from and being spread by the Saudi Arabia’s Islamist sect known as Wahhabism. ...Read

2011

One of the five greatest Senators in U.S. history, the State of New Hampshire placed his statue in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.

His career spanned almost four decades, serving as Secretary of State for Presidents William Harrison, John Tyler and Millard Fillmore.

His name was Daniel Webster, born JANUARY 18, 1782.

From a New Hampshire farm, he attended Dartmouth College and became the highest paid attorney of his day.

He fought the slave trade and negotiated the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which set the nation's Northeast boundary. ...Read
 

    An ongoing argument over modern political and social issues centers on whether the U.S. Constitution is relevant in today’s world. With all the advancements in technology, communication, transportation, commerce, and in the medical field, some argue that the Founding Fathers could not have foreseen what would be necessary for the United States to remain a healthy society 224 years in the future.

    Such arguments are generally connected to an agenda for social entitlement and the redistribution of wealth. The original intent of the U.S. Constitution stands in the way of advancing their agenda.

    In spite of arguments over our Constitution’s modern relevance, the Founding Fathers did consider our constitutional republic form of government in an advancing world of diverse breakthroughs. For example, Benjamin Franklin articulated how quickly the world could change based on inventions and personally proved it with the success of his own creative experiments. ...Read

 

    As you know, if we can change a person’s mind, we will change their actions. One of the most powerful tools a Christian has is the power to pull down strongholds or change beliefs and thereby change actions of people.

    I have found that the interpretation of Romans 13 repeated at the OAK Initiative and in many Christian circles is not helpful to the cause in America currently. In fact, it doesn’t differ much at all from the interpretations used in Germany under Hitler. Hitler considered the following his favorite verse.

       'Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God' (Romans 13:1).

    He was able to use this belief to influence and eventually control the church. I have also found this belief to be a hindrance when endeavoring to mobilize church leaders ...Read

 

    What I am about to tell you is something you've probably never heard or will ever read in history books. I believe that I am an eyewitness to history.

    I cannot tell you that Hitler took Austria by tanks and guns; it would distort history. We elected him by a landslide—98 percent of the vote. I've never read that in any American publications. Everyone thinks that Hitler just rolled in with his tanks and took Austria by force. In 1938, Austria was in a deep depression. Nearly one-third of our workforce was unemployed. We had 25 percent inflation and 25 percent bank loan interest rates.

    Farmers and business people were declaring bankruptcy daily. Young people were going from house to house begging for food—not that they didn't want to work—there simply weren't any jobs. My mother was a Christian and believed in helping people in need. Every day we cooked a big kettle of soup and baked bread to feed those poor, hungry people, about thirty daily. The Communist Party and the National Socialist Party were fighting each other. Blocks and blocks of cities like Vienna, Linz, and Graz were destroyed..     ...Read
 

     Both the American and the French Revolutions had a significant effect on the history of mankind but in very divergent ways. The American Revolution was the first time in history that men created a government based on the principles that God was sovereign over man and man was sovereign over government. The Declaration of Independence placed before mankind a language so simple that any could comprehend that all mankind was equal in the sight of God and therefore had a right to expect equal treatment from their government. It explained that rights were given by God and not by government, and certain rights were inalienable, including those foundational rights of life, liberty, and property.

     The French Revolution was based upon the cry of liberty, equality, and fraternity! Equality in this case meant something very different than in the American context. It did not mean equal in the sight of God or the equal distribution of legal justice; it instead attempted to equally distribute resources and hence became the first socialist revolution. While the American Revolution was brought to a head over the theory of the authority to tax, the French Revolution was brought to a head over the cost...     ...Read

 

     Already, many candidates and major media are moving into full swing for next year’s elections. We must first understand what must be done before we can identify who can best help do it. Perhaps as important as any time since our founding, those who believe in divine providence and eternal principles must become well-informed and actively involved in the political process. Christians, pastors, and all church leaders must totally reject the lie that “separation of church and state” means people of faith must remain silent, uninformed, and uninvolved. Those who recognize truth and stand for it can turn the tide.

     Our nation’s founders knew that the limits of the Constitution were placed on the government, not the people or religion. The right to stand up and support first principles is both a privilege and a responsibility. True freedom grants citizens the right to choose and we have a responsibility to choose right. The Bible declares, “Righteousness exalts the nation”1 The psalmist affirms, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”2 “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice.”

     The only solid ground on which individual lives, families, communities, and nations can safely build is the foundation consistent with unshakable biblical truth. When the weight of God’s kingdom impacts planet earth...     ...Read
 

     In his eighth annual address as President, George Washington said, "A primary object . . . should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing . . . than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"

     As a nation, great efforts have been taken to preserve our early writings. A wealth of information is available if you will look for it. Many books have been written about the lives and events surrounding the birth of our nation. However, with the passing of years, events have been fabricated and the truth has been distorted. When reading original documents, in the Founders’ own words, and accounts written by those who knew the Founders, we acquire a different perspective. Astonishingly, what unfolds is the hand of God guiding brave men and women, resolute to leave behind the former things and start a new life.

     In the past few years, several political leaders have stated that America is not a Christian nation. Is this true? Was America ever a Christian nation? ...     ...Read
 

     There remains a great need in America, namely that our citizens understand our Constitution and the price that was paid to create it. All effort must be initiated to redeem those things forgotten and to shed light on things presently unknown. It is important to understand the history of America, our founding fathers, and the foundations on which our country was built. History is a powerful tool that can be used to redeem the past and stabilize the future.

     According to a study done in September 2010 by the Montpelier Center for the Constitution, 78% of those polled say they understand some of the Constitution, only 28% say they’ve actually read the entire document and the survey indicates that older people know more about the Constitution and make up the majority of those that have read it.  ...Read
 

     One of the most accurate barometers of our country’s economic health is the number of corporate aircraft flying. When general aviation is growing, the economy is growing. When general aviation is under stress, so is the economy. There may not be another industry that is such an accurate barometer of our total economic health because there are few things as vital to our economic health as corporate jets. Why?

     Very few corporate aircraft are luxuries. Many companies could not operate without them, and many others would have their growth and profitability severely undermined without them. They are not toys, but highly effective, cost-cutting tools. Many are essential tools for managing companies with diverse and widely scattered operations, which is just about every major company in America. ...     ...Read
 

     As Sammy Rodriguez shared in one of our first Oak Summits, we are not following the donkey or the elephant, but we will follow the Lamb. This has been our resolve. Even so, it would be disingenuous to not admit that the majority of Oak members are conservative and Republican. However, we do have many who consider themselves independents, and quite a few who are registered Democrats. For these we are thankful. An eagle needs a right wing and a left wing to fly, and so does America.

     From time to time eagles go through a molting process when they lose their feathers so that new ones can grow. This is a time of weakness and great vulnerability for an eagle. For some of this time they cannot hunt and therefore don’t eat. Even so, when they come through this they are renewed and like a young bird again physically, ...Read
 

     When I was running for the U.S. Congress in the 2010 primary here in Ohio, I had the chance to speak with many of the county Republican Parties around Ohio’s 18th Congressional District. My message was constant throughout. A major part of the fix for our nation’s unraveling is neither the Democratic nor the Republican Party, but our fix will be in following the Constitution.

     I believe that the Constitution “saved” this nation once, and that it can save it again. For that to happen there is going to have to be a restoration of Constitutional authority and restraint to Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Supreme Court....Read
 

2010