Monday, February 28, 2011 "Living Constitution"

Monday, February 28, 2011

"Living Constitution"

First From Julie's keyboard:

Can We Sleep, when the Wind Blows?

The season is here once again for those storms of Spring.  Any more it seems, these are more than just common thunderstorms.  Some of these torrentuous winds get quite disturbing.

It's easy in a time such as this to allow fear to creep into our lives.  Be it a storm of nature or any other "storm of this life,"  the enemy of our lives wishes to cloud our way with FEAR.

Wouldn't you know, provision has been made for us even in events of this nature.  As always, we must simply go to God's Word and find our "help in time of need."
Even though the storms of life are often in proportion beyond our ability to control, we have a Heavenly Father who loves to have everything in control that concerns our lives.

Jesus did walk on the water and calm great storms.  Jesus did give authority to His followers to do the works that He did.  Great power is available to the Disciple of the Lord if exercised.
Yet, even if we've exercised this power (or at least, thought we were) and spoken in heated terms to our "storm" with no seeming obvious results, He can still be trusted.

His way is not "FEAR."  His way is "LOVE."  He told us that "perfect love casts out all fear."  We know that fear has torment.  Our lives as Christians should be characterized by His peace.  If we consistantly find ourselves struggling with fear and the cares that approach us in this life, we need to check our "love meter" in the Lord.

The type of "FEAR" that is required in our lives is the "Fear of the Lord."  All reverence and respect must be given our Almighty Father.  He watches over us with an all seeing eye and can be trusted to never leave nor forsake His own.  Since He is always there with us, why would we be afraid?  If we'll draw very near to Him, He will draw very near to us.

The winds are going to blow.  The storms of life will come.  How blessed it would be to have great peace in the midst of the storm.  It is found in the shelter of His arms.

Can we sleep when the wind blows?  
Jesus did.
Praise God He's greater than the storms!  We should fear Him.  (great  respect, reverence and awe)


Scripture References:
Matthew 8:24-27 "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.  And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?  Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

May God Bless You With Great Peace,
Julie

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http://spiritualheritage.blogspot.com/

"Living Constitution"

"On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifisted in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." - - - - Thomas Jefferson. June 12, 1883, in a letter to Justice William Johnson.

It has recently brought to my attention the view held today that the United States Constitution is a living document.  The pragmatist view contends that interpreting the Constitution in accordance with long outdated views is often unacceptable as a policy matter, and thus that an evolving interpretation is necessary.

An extended view, relating to intent, contends that the constitutional framers specifically wrote the Constitution in broad and flexible terms to create such a dynamic, "living" document.

Jefferson's understanding was clearly opposite to this conclusion. But one will have to admit there are some merit to the living Constitutional view.  So what is one to do?  How do we govern a modern society with an old document hundreds of years old?  Of course with the provision that our Founders left us in Article Five of the Constitution itself.

The Constitution begins with "We the People" not "We the Judges!"  It was not intended for the Judges to interpret the Constitution for us, by what they decide is a evolutionary understanding of the current times.  Their responsibility is to interpret the law as it was written at the time and make judgment in accordance. 

But we the people have the provision and right to amend, change, or institute new law into the Constitution when we the people see the need. This applies to any and all aspects of the Constitution, and has been my argument for the 1st Amendment all along.  This idea of removing all public references of our religious heritage from our institutions should be done by the people and not by some new interpretation of the Judicial Branch.

In the understanding of our Founders, this Constitution is a living breathing document, but it is living and breathing only by the life we the people give it.  It does not receive it's life from the Judicial Branch of government.

As our society changes, perhaps we will become so non-religious or so multi-religious that we will demand all our previous references to faith removed from our public site. If so it is our right as a people to be so, but this should be done by the people through the provision provided in the Constitution by our Founders. It should not be done by a new interpretation laid upon a Constitution principle by the Judicial Branch without the consent of the governed and the inactment of the Leglislative Branch of Representives elected by the people, with the peoples demands fresh upon their minds.

May God bless each of you,


David