I ended part 1 with the startling statement, “I learned that 2/3’s of lynchings happened to Blacks, which means 1/3 of recorded lynchings in America did not happen to Blacks…I was shocked!” Of course, when I discovered this important information, the questions that immediately popped into my mind were two-fold:
            1.who were those being lynched other than Blacks?
            2.who was doing the lynching? Up to this point, I was taught
                White people lynched Black people because their skin was
                Black, i.e.racism!
 
   From my high school Black history class, television documentaries, the media, friends, etc., I was given the impression that lynchings were perpetrated by White people against Black people...because of racism. Through research however, I discovered this to be a half-truth! What is a half-truth? A half-truth possesses at minimum, two positions:
            1.a person who is ignorant of a complete truth, i.e.God’s
              providential view, and innocently offers that information to
             others as truth. Most honest people who innocently possess
             only partial facts fall under this category.
           2. a person with an evil agenda, who only offers that information
              that both supports and furthers their agenda, with a willful
              intent to deceive.
 
   While I do not believe many of the people, such as my teacher in High school, willfully tried to deceive me, I do however believe that many contemporary teachers and leaders use their status as a platform to deceive!  Romans 1:18 identifies these people as those who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” Truth suppression is one of the three methods* of deception employed by liberalism.
   So…what group or people comprised the 1/3 of the non-blacks lynched? White people! The Tuskegee Institute records show that between the years 1880 and 1951, 3,437 Blacks(72%) and 1,293 Whites were lynched(27%). When I first learned these horrendous facts, I was both angry and confused.
   First, I was angry because those who taught me the history of lynchings taught me a half-truth**!! But why? Remember, if something is a half-truth, what is the other half? By default, what remains is a half-lie***! But, what happens to the half-truth when a half-lie is added? That is like asking what happens to a pure, refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade on a hot day... after watching someone add one drop of urine!!! Would you drink it?
   Again, I had to ask myself, did the people who taught me about lynchings in America actually know the truth? Why would they make it ‘appear’ that only Blacks were lynched? If they did know the whole truth, why didn’t they tell me? Once again, I became driven to know!
   Second, I was confused because I did not understand why a White person would lynch another White person! Obviously, Whites can look at Blacks and see the color of their skin, and through their irrational hatred, determine to lynch a Black person.  On the contrary, a White man would not look at another White man, and then determine to lynch him simply because he is White! Why then would a White lynch another White? Shockingly, I discovered that the answer lay in the lyncher’s political identity! Whites were not lynched because of their skin color, but because they were Republicans! Why were White Republicans lynched? Because White Republicans helped Black people, and were labeled as “N****r-lovers”! Here is the remaining million dollar question--who then was doing the lynching? Democrats!!
   In other words, the often-heard sentiment: ‘Whites lynched Blacks in American history, therefore Whites (America) are racist’ is a half-truth; which through truth-suppression, overtime, actually evolved into a whole lie! And what is that lie? Very simply: “Whites are racist because they lynched Blacks!”  Or, “America is racist because Whites created systems that oppress Blacks, for example lynching.” On the contrary, it was not ‘Whites who lynched Blacks in American history’, but Democrat Whites who lynched Blacks!!!!
   As shocking as this may be to some, my preceding statement is yet an incomplete truth! The complete truth is that Democrat Whites did not just lynch Blacks because they were Black. On the contrary, Democrat Whites lynched Blacks for two reasons…not just one reason!! What are those reasons?
            1.Blacks were lynched because of their skin color
            2.Blacks were lynched because they were Republicans
 
     Let me repeat myself in a visual:
1.Democrat Whites lynched Blacks because of their skin color, i.e.racism
2.Democrat Whites lynched Republican Whites because they helped
​    Blacks
3.Democrat Whites lynched Blacks because Blacks were Republicans
 
If you are not aware of these facts, ask yourself, Why?
If you are aware of these facts and don’t care, ask yourself, Why?
If you are aware of these facts and are now angry at me because I presented them, and then start accusing the Republicans of past evils**** in order to justify your affiliation with the present Democrat Party, ask yourself, Why?
 
These facts are not a promotion of Republicans, they are simply Biblical and political facts!
 
 Stay tuned!
 
 
*Liberal methods of deception: 1.Word Manipulation; 2.Truth Suppression; 3.Derision/Mockery
**Which I have found to be true of many liberals who teach both American and Black history!
***Or, a full-lie forced into a half-lie container.
****Remember, to identify the evils of Republicans neither erases nor reduces the evils perpetrated on Blacks by the Democrats! It does however reveal two things:
1.No political party is guiltless, because all mankind has sinned.
2.Identifies an irrational emotional attachment to the Democrat Party!
 
Quotebit
The Legacy You Leave Is the Life You Lead. Deeds supersede creeds. Credibility is not founded upon intentions but on actions.                      -James Kouzes and Barry Posner

6/13/22
 
Why I Am Not A Democrat!
   One of the more perplexing realities I have encountered in my lifetime is Black people’s fetish for the Democrat party. I have been actively researching this phenomenon for nearly 30 years, which began when I took a Black history class in 1972, my sophomore year in high school.
   My first encounter with the ‘black-equals-Democrat’ phenomenon happened in 1964 as a young 8-year-old boy walking along College Ave. in Wheaton, Illinois with a now-deceased friend named Tyrone Watkins, who at 10, was 2 years older than me. The street was lined with parked cars of people who were attending a Republican rally at Wheaton College sponsored by 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. As we walked by a car with a Goldwater window sticker, Tyrone reached out with a stick he was carrying and violently scratched at a Goldwater sticker on the back driver’s side window. He muttered a few racial epithets before we moved on to watch a few moments of the rally through a chain-linked fence. Although I was too young to understand either racism or politics, however, from his behavior, I was not too young to pick up Tyrone’s rancor toward Goldwater. I had no idea that by 1964, and even among children as young as 8 and 10, the ‘black-equals-Democrat’ phenomenon was in full force! 
   As I grew through the turbulent ’60s, my few encounters with parental political comments occurred, when ever-so-often, I would hear my dad criticize the Democrats for trying to pay him for his vote while growing up in the city of Chicago. Just in case you’re wondering, he said they offered him $1.00 for his vote!
  On my mom’s side, one day while in my late teens, for some reason I was talking about my pro-abortion position (after the 1973 Roe decision) in my mother’s earshot. Of course, I really had no idea why I was pro-abortion other than I was black, and therefore a Democrat, and Democrats are abortionists. After hearing my statement, my mother turned and  said, “Well, you’re a Democrat.” She wasn’t criticizing me for being a Democrat, nor my abortion stand, but was merely pointing out that because I was pro-abortion, I was a Democrat. I think the only other memory I had growing up was my mother volunteering at a Republican voting precinct across the street from my house…and as I remember, that was one time experience!
    Entering the early 70’s, from my mid to late teens, with cultural pressure mounting, like every good ‘black’ person, I succumbed to the ‘black-equals-Democrat’ mandate and became a Democrat. I sincerely did not have a clue why I was a Democrat, other than listening and watching neighborhood friends.  Of course, this did not motivate me much, because I remember the first time I was eligible to vote at 18, I didn’t…and I was shamed by a white friend who mocked me for my hypocrisy! 
   Now, back to my first Black history class in 1972 in my sophomore year of high school. I had a black female teacher with a large Angela Davis black power Afro. I sat in a nearly all-black class, in a 97% white school; learning about black leaders of yesteryear—and I had no idea why! However, the lyrics of James Brown reverberated in my soul: “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!’
  Through the years, that Black history class stuck in my mind because I can remember the instructor teaching us about lynchings. My interest was piqued after seeing a few of the horrible images of blacks terrorized and murdered. I can remember thinking about how similar those images looked to Holocaust victims.
   How does this relate to my present rejection of the ‘black-equals-Democrat’ cultural mandate of my upbringing? From my youth, I always wanted to know about the Holocaust, and after viewing the similar-looking images of the Black lynchings, in my late 20s, God began to create in me a growing intensity to study history! Once I discovered all history is ‘Providential’* History, I was hooked! However, to study ‘Providential History’, one must first understand that God’s Word is ‘THE’ foundation, and from that foundation emerges Christian history, Jewish history, American history, World history, political history, and even Black history! Now…I was really hooked!!!
  For example, when I learned that 2/3’s of lynchings happened to blacks, which means 1/3 of recorded lynchings in America did not happen to blacks….I was shocked! I thought what else did my black history teacher, and my other history teachers in high school and college suppress—and most of all, what does this all mean?!?!!** I now understood that they could not help me because they did not understand Providential history!!! However, my soul was exploding with an insatiable thirst to know what God was doing in history and why…which means I could not satisfy my thirst by reading only the Bible!!! On the contrary, to quench my newfound thirst, I had to study the Bible AND history!
          Stay-tuned!!!!
 
 
*Providential history is God’s view of the events of history. In other words, Providential history is uncovering God’s work in the past to bring about His perfect will and plan(Rom15:4).
**We (humanity) can never understand, apart from God’s view(Jn1:4,9; Ps36:9)!

Quote Bit
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances…”
                      -Viktor Frankl, Holocaust Survivor, and author of, ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’

  General George Washington wrote his brother John the day after Saratoga: “I most devoutly congratulate my country, and every well-wisher to the cause, on this signal stroke of Providence.”
  When Roger Sherman of Connecticut, a signer of the Declaration of Independence heard of the Saratoga Victory, he declared, “This is the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in our eyes!”
  Historian Edward Creasy identified* Saratoga as one of the 15 most important battles in World history!!
  What makes the Saratoga victory so miraculous is the Providence of God that created the atmosphere and directed the steps of battle, and its results, to reveal His glory; or as Washington called it: “signal stroke of Providence.”
   As I unpack this incredible story, it is critical that you look for God’s providence, which means God sovereignly works in history behind the scenes, using both good and evil, to bring about His good will.
  The miracle victory of Saratoga does not begin on the battlefield but with two providential events happening simultaneously on two different continents.
1.First, even after the miracle victory at Trenton, the Colonial army was still losing more battles than they were winning. For example, at the battle of Brandywine**, the Americans encountered a horrific defeat, losing over 1200 soldiers. Emboldened by such a lop-sided victory, the British determined to attack quickly having regained the momentum. British Prime Minister Lord North decided to move General Howe’s 30,000 troops north from New York to Saratoga to join Burgoyne’s 7,000 for nearly 38,000 men, to crush the 9,000 American troops. However, rushing to go on a holiday, the Prime Minister forgot to sign the orders. In addition, reinforcements who were sent across the Atlantic were delayed by unexpected weather and arrived late to the eventual battle.
2.Second, simultaneously while the movements of troops were occurring Jane McCrea was murdered. After British General John Burgoyne, a.k.a. “Gentleman Johnny” captured Fort Ticonderoga, he marched his 7,000 man force down the Hudson River Valley, and made a treaty with the Mohawk Indians that included attacking and harassing the American settlements. However, what Burgoyne did not know was that one of his recruits was David Jones, who was an American ‘turncoat’. David is central to this story because he recently proposed marriage to Jane McCrea. So, after a recent Mohawk Indian raid, they returned to show Burgoyne some of the fruit of their labors. When they pulled out a female scalp, David was horrified, recognizing it as his fiancee’s, Jane McCrea. General Burgoyne was caught between a rock and hard place and was forced to tell the Indians to show restraint. The Indians were immediately insulted and left Burgoyne stranded deep in the forest. Immediately, the news hit America, and 15,000 men rallied to the cause.
  Ironically, in direct defiance of General Horatio Gates's orders, and before becoming a traitor, Benedict Arnold took a regiment of American soldiers and attacked the British flank which directly led to the surrender of between 5000-6000 British troops! Arnold’s action propelled him to national prominence, and declared him the hero of the Saratoga!!
  When King Louis XVI of France heard of the British surrender***, he entered the war on the side of the Americans, making the War for Independence a global war. Congress**** immediately proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving and praise*****.
  This incredible story is not over yet! The Americans asked and received a pledge from the British prisoners of war that they would not again take up arms against the Americans, who subsequently returned to the British their arms---and three armed Americans---marched 6,000 British prisoners back to Boston and put them on ships back to England******!!
 
Oh my!!! The liberties of America were/are secured by the Sovereign God!!!
 
“That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is none else!”
-1Kgs8:60
 
 
*Sir Edward Creasy. ‘The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World from Marathon to Waterloo’, (New York, Harper Brothers, 1918) pg298.
** David Barton, ‘The American Story’, Wallbuilder Press, (Aledo Texas), pg 189-190.
***Susie Federer, Miracles in American History, Amerisearch, Inc., (P.O. Box 20163 St. Louis, MO 63123), pg55-56.
****Obviously, this debunks the liberal re-definition of the Separation of Church and State!!!!!
*****Journals of the Continental Congress (1907), (:854-855, day of thanksgiving and praise, November 1, 1777 [Evans #15679].
****** David Barton, ‘The American Story’, Wallbuilder Press, (Aledo Texas), pg 190.

  The miraculous of God authenticates the one through whom or for whom God works the miracle (Acts2:22; Heb2:4). The miracles at America’s founding authenticate God’s stamp of approval upon this nation.
  Just a few months after the miracle of the Battle for Brooklyn Heights in August of 1776, aka the retreat from Long Island, Almighty God once again confirmed His calling on both George Washington and America at the miracle of the Battle of Trenton.
  At the beginning of the War for Independence, Washington asked Americans to sign a one-year enlistment agreement which ran through the end of December 1776. Tragically, because the Continental army had experienced more defeats than victories in that first year, the morale of the enlisted men was at an all-time low.  Accordingly, at the beginning of December 1776, it was widely understood that many soldiers would not be reenlisting at the end of the month for another year/term.  If this expectation proved to be true, the war would be over, and the American dream would have been turned into a nightmare.
   In this context, God works His divine providence. Watch closely how the only Sovereign fits people, events, and even the weather to all work together, to create an impossible scenario, in order to:
      1.make His great Name known to the present and future
        generations
      2.to confirm His calling upon George Washington and America
 
  With less than five days remaining until the re-enlistment deadline, another British victory would in all likelihood destroy any remaining hope for American liberty. Washington knew he had to do something quickly to keep his army together and the war for independence alive.
   Across from Washington on the other side of the Delaware River, in Trenton, New Jersey stood the Hessians, an armed force of over 1000 German mercenaries fighting for the British. On December 25, 1776, Washington decided to cross the partially frozen Delaware river beginning just before dawn to hide their attack under the cover of darkness. Adding to the already impossible odds, a sudden raging snow and hail storm erupted that reduced their visibility to zero. What they did not know was that the storm ALSO sent the Hessian sentries scrambling from their posts seeking shelter. In addition, the night before the Hessians had been celebrating the holiday by drinking themselves into a drunken stupor. The Continental Army crossed the river in total secrecy and entered Trenton without resistance. The battle was short, lasting only 45 minutes, and was completely lopsided. The Americans killed 20 Hessians, wounded over 100, and captured over 1000 men. On the American side, 3 were wounded, and only two American casualties died from freezing to death. I repeat, not one American soldier was killed in the battle!  A Christmas Miracle!!
   Furthermore, General Henry Knox, who was in charge of the Delaware crossing declared, “the hurry, fright, and confusion of the enemy was not unlike that which will be when the last trump will sound”*. He continued, “Providence seemed to have smiled upon every part of this enterprise.”** 
   Incredibly, in the middle of the Trenton miracle, God worked yet another miracle.  One of the three Americans wounded was James Monroe, who would later become the 5th president of the United States.
   While marching under the cover of the morning darkness toward the Hessian encampment, the Continental army passed the home of Dr John Riker who was awakened from a deep sleep by the noise of barking dogs.  Throwing on an overcoat, he angrily rushed out into the darkness to see what was going on. Once outside, his anger immediately turned to patriotism as he discovered the intent of the Americans. He declared, “I know something is to be done, and I’m going with you. I’m a doctor, and may help some poor fellow.”*** In the providence of God, as it turned out, as the battle raged, James Monroe was shot in the chest, severing an artery. Monroe later testified: “I would have bled to death if this doctor had not been near.”**** In other words, barking dogs saved the life of the future fifth president of the United States!!! Jeremiah 23:23 declares: “Am I a God near at hand, says the Lord…”
  The miracle(s) of Trenton provided the American war effort not only with a much-needed victory but was also a morale booster breathing new energy and encouragement for the patriots to fight on. George Washington’s leadership, grounded in his trust and reliance on God’s providence, provided strong leadership inspiring the Continental Army to persevere against impossible odds and on to victory!
  In Job 12:9, he cried, “Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this.”
 
 
*The General was quoting from 1Corinthians 15:42. I repeat, this American General was a man of God, who knew the scriptures.
**Drake, Life, and Correspondence of Henry Knox, Major-General in the American Revolutionary War (Boston; Samuel G. Drake, 1873), 36, to Mrs. Knox on December 28, 1776.
***The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (1880), 5:152-153, Lewis S. Coryell’s account of what was personally told to him by James Monroe.
**** The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (1880), 5:152-153, Lewis S. Coryell’s account of what was personally told to him by James Monroe. 
 
 
Quotebit
The two great words of antiquity are behold and beware. Behold the possibilities and beware the temptations. – Jim Rohn
 

George Washington & The Miracle of the Battle at Brooklyn Heights!
  Two purposes for the miraculous are:
           1.To make God’s name known (Josh4:24; 1Kgs8:60)
           2.Authenticates the one through or for whom God works the
              miracle (Acts2:22; Heb2:4)
 
The miracles of our founding authenticate God’s stamp of approval upon the United States of America.
  In August of 1776, at Brooklyn Heights, New York, British General William Howe lined-up 32,000 crack soldiers against America’s 8,000 troops, 1500 of which were raw recruits without a single day of military training. The British army not only outnumbered, but out-experienced, out-Generaled; and out-gunned the Americans*. On paper, General George Washington and the Americans faced IMPOSSIBLE odds—it was the classic David vs Goliath scenario*. As the fighting which became known as the battle for Long Island began, the odds were holding true as 1500 Americans were immediately captured or killed.* The British forced the Americans up against the mile wide East River, and formed a semi-circle around them. In the natural, it appeared the ‘War for Independence’ was about to end just one month after it began.* The only two available options appeared to be annihilation or surrender. While surrender seemed unthinkable Washington’s Generals encouraged him to fight to the last man. However, God had a third option—the ‘Miracle of Brooklyn Heights’!
  Part of the new recruits were men from Massachusetts who could row boats without a sound.* They became critical to the Miracle because the only route available was the East river. At the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Washington ordered every boat they could find to be used to retreat the 1 mile across the river. His Generals argued for the impossibility of such an attempt*, but Washington’s word prevailed.
  Incredibly, the ‘Miracle’ began with the stormy weather that kept the British ships from sailing up the East River to complete their encirclement of the American army*—BUT—the weather
did not keep the smaller boats from evacuating the American army across the river!!! The waters were so turbulent that the boats could only be partially filled with American soldiers*. Around midnight however, the harsh weather ceased, allowing the Americans to continue their evacuation all night long. On the other hand, the British still could not sail-up the East River to complete the encirclement, because it was now too dark*. The skill to row without a sound by the Massachusetts rowers became critical in preventing the British from hearing the evacuation. Furthermore, the quietness of the night gave the British confidence that they could delay their attack til morning.
  Incredibly, the Miracle was just beginning! As the Americans were landing on the opposite of the East River, a family of British sympathizers saw what was happening and sent a servant to alert General Howe*. The servant was able to slip past the Americans, but incredibly, ran into Hessians, who were German-speaking mercenary allies of the British. Incredibly, because the servant could not speak German*, the Hessians detained him until morning.* When the British finally arrived the next morning to question the servant, it was too late!
 The best part of the ‘Miracle’ however, is yet to come. The Americans continued their evacuation under the cover of darkness all night. However, as dawn approached there were still American soldiers that had not yet been evacuated. Just as the sun’ rays began to peak over the horizon, incredibly---a dense fog began to rise from the earth!* The fog rested only upon the areas covering both the American and British encampments!* Both British and American reports described the scene, but Major Ben Tallmadge, an American officer, described it best:
“As the dawn of the next day approached, those of us who remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety, and when the dawn appeared there were several regiments still on duty. At this time a very dense fog began to rise and it seemed to settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments. I recollect this peculiar Providential occurrence perfectly well; and so very dense was the atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at six yards distance.”
   Incredibly,* the fog began to lift just as the last boat of Americans pushed-off from the shore. The British sentinels saw what was happening and ran down to the shore, but the boats were just out of range. And finally, British troops arrived after having learned of the evacuation from the servant of the British-sympathizer, but again—it was too late!
  By God’s grace, Washington successfully evacuated all of the American troops to safety without loss of life or supplies. It was God’s Providence that birthed and miraculously saved American Independence as a sign (Gen1:14; Deut29:2,3) that God’s good hand(Ezra8:18) is both upon and guiding the United States of America!
 
 
*These events are all part of the providence of God! In other words, God was sovereignly making the Brooklyn Heights situation even more more impossible that the world might know the power of His miraculous intervention. 
 
QuoteBit
Man maintains his balance, poise, and sense of security only as he is moving forward.
                                                -Maxwell Maltz 

  The miraculous works of God affirm and confirm!
10.All thy works shall praise thee…
11.They shall speak (God’s works) of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
12.To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his
    kingdom
                                                           -Ps145:10-12KJV
 
 In my February 21 tidbit, I wrote of the “Bullet Proof George Washington” as my first miracle affirming and confirming the hand of God upon George Washington as the first president of the United States. The betrayal by Benedict Arnold is yet another miracle.
  General Benedict Arnold participated in several Continental Army victories at the beginning of the War for Independence. For example, along with Ethan Allen, Arnold helped with the capture of a British Garrison at Fort Ticonderoga. He led an American flotilla against the British General Guy Carlton at Lake Champlain, delaying him just enough time for General Carlton’s forces to arrive in New York too late for the battle season, forcing his army to return to Canada. Arnold’s heroic effort helped avert potential disaster for the Americans.
  However, he resigned from the Continental Army after Congress promoted five men before him, but George Washington talked him into returning. He then played a pivotal role in the surrender of British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777. Subsequently, while serving under General Horatio Gates, whom he despised, he defied direct orders and took a contingent of American soldiers and won a battle at Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777. News of this victory caused France to enter the war on the side of the Americans. However, General Gates took all the credit, multiplying the hatred between the two men.
  After Arnold re-injured his leg in the Bemis Heights battle, he was temporarily forced to accept the position of military governor of Philadelphia in 1778. Tragically, he began to accept bribes, and married a much younger woman named Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a man suspected to be a Tori—who immediately began to speak in his ear against the Americans. The final straw happened in 1779 when he began secret negotiations with the British to betray the fort at West Point in New York in exchange for money and a command in the British army.
 
Now…the scene is set for the miraculous power of God to:
     1.Make His Name known among the nations!
     2.To affirm and confirm His purpose for America!
 
  Arnold’s contact with the Red Coats was British Major John Andre. Arnold gave Major Andre critical information on how and when to capture the Fort, which would have led to the British either capturing or killing George Washington. The information was hidden in the heal of Major Andre’s boot. Upon Andre’s return to a British-held region, I repeat, he was already in British territory; he ‘just so happened’ to cross the path of 3 men, one of which was wearing a British-Hessian coat, whom Major Andre assumed were British. However, the 3 men ‘just so happened’ to be Americans who had just escaped from a British prison camp. After Major Andre ‘just so happened’  to talk too much--remember the old adage, “Loose lips sink ships”--the 3 men suspected him, arrested him, and decided to search him!! Miraculously, they found the information in the heal of his boot. Major Andre began pleading with them, offering huge sums of money to let him go…but being patriots—they refused. Later George Washington wrote about the 3 men, “they were offered, I am informed, a large sum of money for his release, and as many goods as they would demand, but without effect. Their conduct gives them a just claim to the thanks of their country.”*
  BUT…the greatest miracle was yet to come!!! The 3 patriots marched Andre back through British territory, to what ‘just so happened’ to be the nearest American outpost, where the commanding officer carried the news to his immediate superior.
  Do you want to take one guess who that ‘SUPERIOR’ officer was? YEP—in the providence of God—it was General Benedict Arnold!!! I repeat, the 3 patriots brought General Arnold’s own plot right back to him!! Of course, the traitor and coward Benedict Arnold immediately crossed over to the ‘dark’ side.
  George Washington wrote: “Treason of the blackest dye was yesterday discovered! General Arnold, who commanded at West Point, lost to every sentiment of honor, of public and private obligation, was about to deliver up that important post into the hands of the enemy. Such an event must have given the American cause a deadly wound if not a fatal stab. Happily, the treason has been timely discovered to prevent the fatal misfortune. The Providential train of circumstances which led to it affords the most convincing proof that the liberties of America are the object of Divine protection.”**
  Subsequently, Washington wrote to John Laurens, “In no instance since the commencement of the War has the interposition of Providence appeared more conspicuous than in the rescue of the post and garrison of West Point from Arnold’s villainous perfidy (treachery).***
  And, when the Congress heard, they declared a NATIONAL day of prayer and thanksgiving!!!**** I repeat, the ‘Congress’ of the United States declared a day of prayer and thanksgiving---to GOD---for the deliverance of West Point from Arnold’s betrayal!!!
  Not to be excluded from this incredibly miracle, John Hancock, the Governor of Massachusetts, ALSO declared a day of Thanksgiving for his state!!!! He wrote, “the late [recent] remarkable interposition of His [God’s] watchful Providence in rescuing the person of our Commander-in-Chief [George Washington] and the Army from imminent dangers at the moment when treason was ripened for execution…” He then encouraged the people to “offer up their devout and thankful acknowledgements” to Almighty God.*****
 
The miracle of revealing the betrayal of Benedict Arnold demonstrates once and again:
1.God’s hand of protection upon America
2.God’s call to liberty on America
3.God’s call on America to the world
 
 
 
 
*Washington, Writings (1835), 7:220, to the President of Congress on September 26, 1780.
**Washington, Revolutionary Orders (1844), 109, September 26, 1780
*** Washington, Writings (1835), 7:256, to John Laurens on October 13, 1780
****Journals of the American Congress: from 1774-1788 (Washington DC: Wand and Gideon, 1823), 3:537-538, Day of Thanksgiving, October 18, 1780 [Evans #16748].
 *****John Hancock, “A Proclamation for a Day of Thanksgiving,” issued November 8, 1780.
 
QuoteBit
The only difference between the rut and the grave is its depth- Mark Sanborn

     Principle Truth: if you want to know the purpose of a thing, examine its origin. For example, the Bible begins with “In the beginning God created…” (Gen1:1).
   The word “Genesis” means beginnings.  The reason God placed the book of Genesis first is so that humanity might understand not only that He created all things but also that He gifted His creation with unique purpose.
  Therefore, one way to know the purpose of America is to examine its origin. Over the past several weeks I have shared several things about the life of George Washington.  Looking at our first President can help us understand God’s call upon both Washington and America.
   The First Inauguration of a U.S. President happened in New York City which was the nation’s capital at the time. Everything was planned. Nothing was left to chance.   However, as the inaugural parade proceeded toward Federal Hall, one official remembered that a Bible for administering the oath of office was missing. The contribution of the Bible to this ceremony was not merely a simple oversight but was literally a New York law*.  In other words, no Bible, no ceremony! Well, needless to say, the Parade Marshall hurried back to obtain a Bible! 
   Thousands were in attendance to witness this historic event taking place on the balcony of Federal Hall. The Bible was laid upon a beautiful crimson cloth. Robert Livingston, the Chancellor of New York, who was one of the five men chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence**, administered the swearing in ceremony. The Bible was opened randomly and fell to Genesis 49. George Washington placed his left hand upon the Bible, and took the oath raising his right hand. After the conclusion, he bent down and kissed the Bible.
  Immediately, Washington and the other officials proceeded from Federal Hall to the Senate chamber where he delivered the first ever Inaugural speech. Before delivering the speech, he opened in prayer:
      “My fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the
       universe, Who presides in the councils of nations, and Whose
       Providential aids can supply human defect, that his benedictions
       (blessing) may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the
       people of the United States a government instituted by themselves
       for these essential purposes.” (April 30, 1789)
 
During the speech he declared:
          “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the
          have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems
           to have been distinguished b some token of Providential
           agency(Divine power). (April 30, 1789)
 
At the end of the speech, he prayed a second time:
            “humble supplication that…His divine blessing may be equally
              conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations,
              and the wise measures on which the success
              of this government must depend.” (April 30, 1789).
 
After the prayer had concluded the Inaugural speech, President Washington and the entire U.S. Congress walked over to St Paul Chapel for a “Divine Service”! In other words, the entire group of government officials went to church to hear a message preached from the Word of God!!!! Remember, that every event of the Inauguration including this had been previously approved by the United States Senate.
    FYI, there were seven “Christian” activities in America’s first Inauguration:
      1.the use of the Bible3*
      2.solemnifying the oath4*
      3.Two Prayers offered by the President Washington
      4.Christian Words from Washington’s Inaugural address
      5.Other People who offered Christian words during the ceremony
      6.Worship service
      7.Clergy prayers5*
 
   This was the ceremony that ‘officially6* began the  nation of America!  From the very beginning, our founding fathers established “God First” as the governing moral principle of the United States by incorporating the Word of God into its official activities, ceremonies, documents, and laws, etc. It is for this reason…God has blessed this nation!!!
    Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for
his own inheritance.                            -Ps33:12
 
 
*James Parker, Conductor Generalis; Or the Office, Duty and Authority of the Justices of the Peace (New York: John Patterson, 1788), pg 302-304. “Of oaths in general”
**Declaration of Independence ‘Committee of Five’- On June 11, 1776, Congress appointed  John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut.
3*I’m sorry to report to all the ‘religious liberty’ and ‘diversity’ advocates, but there was no Koran(Islam), nor Veda (Hinduism), nor Sutras (Buddhism), nor Granth Sahib (Sikhism)!
4*Although we do not know if Washington used the term “So help me God”, what we do know is that certain states had requirements to use “So help me God!”. For example, Virginia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Georgia etc. (The American Story. David Barton, pg242)
5*The American Story. David Barton, pg242
6* Unofficially America began in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence…another Christian document! However, our continued existence after 1776 was solely contingent upon winning the War for Independence.
 
Quotebit
"To change a habit, make a conscious decision, then act out the new behavior." - Maxwell Maltz

‘Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation’ is the title of a small booklet written by George Washington, our first President. What I find most amazing is that he wrote it when
he was 14 years old!!!! You read that right…I repeat, 14 years old!! In other words, George Washington was such a precocious young person, that he was thinking about the virtue of manners, i.e.how to treat people in social settings… at the age of 14!!! I can remember was I was 14…my thoughts were not on writing a book on manners!!!
   The book is an easy read, because it is only 30 pages long and lists 110 rules; and many of the rules are hilarious!!!  Allow me to give you several of the Rules conceived in the heart and mind of a 14 year old.
 
4.In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.
23.When you see a crime punished, you may be inwardly pleased, but always show pity to the suffering offender.
51.Wear not your clothes foul, ripped or dusty, but see that they be brushed once every day, at least, and take heed that you approach not to any uncleaness.
56.Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.
65.Speak not injurious words, neither in jest or earnest, scoff at none although they give occasion.
66.Be not forward but friendly and courteous; be the first to salute, hear, and answer; and be not pensive when its time to converse.
70.Reprehend not the imperfections of others, for that belongs to parents, masters, and superiors.
71.Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of others and ask not how they came. What you may speak in secret to your friend, deliver not before others.
81.Be not curious to know the affairs of others; neither approach those that speak in private.
82.Undertakd not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise.
89.Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust
90.Being set at meat, scratch not, neither spit, cough, or blow your nose, except if there is a necessity for it.
91.Make no show of taking great delight in your victuals; feed not with greediness; cut your bread with a knife; lean not on the table; neither find fault with what  you eat.
95.Put not your meat to your mouth with your knife in your hand; neither spit forth stones of any fruit pie upon a dish nor cast anything under the table.
98.Drink not, nor talk with your mouth full
100.Cleanse not your teeth with the table cloth napkin, fork, or knife; but if others do it, let it be done with a pick tooth.
101.Rinse not your mouth in the presence of others.
105.Be not angry at the table whatever happens, and if you have reason to be so, show it not; put on a cheerful countenance especially if there be strangers, for good humour makes one dish of meat a feast.
 
   George Washington was an amazing human being!!!To write 110 rules at just 14, means he was practicing them at 10,11,12,13, etc. These ‘110 Rules’ just offer more evidence why God chose him to be our first president, and why God has blessed this nation---more than any other nation in American history!!
 
 
Quotebit
We do not have to know where we are going, as long as we know Who we are following!
                                            -Dr. James O Davis, pastor

Why has God blessed America? One reason is her godly leadership:
“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”  -Ex18:21
 
Last week I offered George Washington’s Sunday Morning Prayer. Now I offer excerpts from a several days of his prayers:
 
Sunday Evening Prayer:*O most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving father, I acknowledge and confess my guilt, in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins, but so coldly and carelessly, that my prayers are become my sin and stand in need of pardon…
 
Monday Morning Prayer:…Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit…
…But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life… 
 
Monday Evening Prayer:Most Gracious Lord God, from whom proceedeth every good and perfect gift, I offer to thy divine majesty my unfeigned praise & thanksgiving for all thy mercies towards me. Thou mad'st me at first and hast ever since sustained the work of thy own hand; thou gav'st thy Son to die for me; and hast given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to conform my life to his holy precepts and example…
 
Tuesday Morning Prayer:O Lord our God, most mighty and merciful father, I thine unworthy creature and servant, do once more approach thy presence. Though not worthy to appear before thee, because of my natural corruptions, and the many sins and transgressions which I have committed against thy divine majesty; yet I beseech thee, for the sake of him in whom thou art well pleased, the Lord Jesus Christ, to admit me to render thee deserved thanks and praises for thy manifold mercies extended toward me, for the quiet rest & repose of the past night, for food, rainment, health, peace, liberty…
 
Tuesday Evening Prayer:O Lord, what is man, or the son of man, that thou regardest him; the more days pass over my head, the more sins and iniquities I heap up against thee. If I should cast up the account of my good deeds done this day, how few and small would they be; but if I should reckon my miscarriages, surely they would be many and great. O, blessed father, let thy son's blood wash me from all impurities, and cleanse me from the stains of sin that are upon me. Give me grace to lay hold upon his merits; that they may be my reconciliation and atonement unto thee, -- That I may know my sins are forgiven by his death & passion…. 
 
  The heart of a man is revealed through his prayer life. What you just read is evidence of three things:
1.a glimpse into the heart of our first President!
2.a glimpse into the heart of God on the reason He called GW to be our first President
3.a glimpse into God’s love for America and why we must fight for her!
 
   To call George Washington a deist**…is complete dishonesty!
 
* https://www1.cbn.com/george-washingtons-prayer-journal-4.  Taken from William J. Johnson, George Washington, The Christian (New York: The Abingdon Press, 1919) 
** Deism rejects the idea that God has any active role among humans. They believe God created the world and left it to be run by humans.  
 
Quotebit
“Losers look at what they’re going through. Winners look at what they’re going to.” -Dr. Ed Cole